Thuppahi's Blog

Netherlands: Today’s GLOBALISE Project ….“GLOBALISE and Sri Lanka–related archival materials”

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Michael Roberts

I got to know Kushil Gunasekera in the early 2000s because of his services to SL Cricket Board and a side-benefit was information on the wide range of welfare benefits provided by the FOUNDATION OF GOODNESS …. shorten-form FOG. This welfare work was/is not limited to its immediate environs -though obviously, the greatest reach is local.

The philanthropic commitments of FOG have been recognized publicly by such well-known cricketing personalities as Kumar Sangakkara, Ian Botham, Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahela Jayawardene. What better ENDORSEMENT can an NGO get!!

So — dip into your pockets ladies and gents and consider donations towards its activities.

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Observer in A Black Sea Resort

In a stunning moment of candour, Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, shreds the facade of the ‘US Rules-Based Order’, confessing it was a ‘living lie’ where the strong break rules with impunity and enforcement is fatally biased. But not wishing to offend Trump and suffer the consequences of economic retaliation, if not outright economic asphyxiation, Carney deliberately avoided mentioning the order was fundamentally the ‘US-led Rules Based Order’.

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HOT NEWS: A TELEGRAPH Editorial

The secret to a longer life may lie in gardening as opposed to more exercise, according to Harvard scientists who believe they have found the formula to extend your longevity. Laura Donnelly, our Health Editor, has analysed the findings to show you what a perfect weekly routine looks like, and it’s surprisingly achievable.

Elsewhere, US-UK trade talks are on hold after Sir Keir Starmer was said to have “let down” Donald Trump over the Chagos Islands. Trump was on his way to the World Economic Forum in Davos but Air Force One had to turn around over the Atlantic owing to an electrical issue. In the past hour, Trump has landed in Switzerland, where European leaders are braced for a president on the warpath after fresh swipes at Sir Keir and Emmanuel Macron.

Chris Evans, Editor

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Item in THE ISLAND, 21 January 2026, entitled “Dushmantha Chameera, Dhananjaya de Silva return for England ODIs”

Charith Asalanka, who was sacked as Sri Lanka captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup, will resume leadership duties in the upcoming ODI series against England, with the selectors also recalling Dushmantha Chameera and Dhananjaya de Silva after their recent absences in the 50-over format.

Charith Asalanka will continue to lead the ODI side despite losing the role ahead of the T20 World Cup [CricibuzAsalanka had cut short Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan midway, returning home along with Asitha Fernando before the T20I tri-series after falling ill, but is now deemed fit to lead the side once again. Chameera’s comeback strengthens the pace attack, while Dhananjaya de Silva adds depth and versatility to the middle order. Lahiru Udana, who featured in the ODI squad in Pakistan, is the absentee this time around.

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Observer in  a Black Sea Resort

Trump says peace no longer interests him, after the Nobel Peace Prize committee snubbed him.  He was deeply offended he didn’t get the peace prize: after all, he ‘stopped 8 wars in 9 months’. He claimed one of those wars went for 3,000 years, before the time of Jesus Christ.

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ITEM in NEW YORK TIMES, 15 January 2026…. “Chinese Universities Surge in Global Rankings as U.S. Schools Slip”

Harvard still dominates, though it fell to No. 3 on a list measuring academic output. Other American universities are falling farther behind their global peers. Until recently, Harvard was the most productive research university in the world, according to a global ranking that looks at academic publication.

Harvard …..

That position may be teetering, the most recent evidence of a troubling trend for American academia. Harvard recently dropped to No. 3 on the ranking. The schools racing up the list are not Harvard’s American peers, but Chinese universities that have been steadily climbing in rankings that emphasize the volume and quality of research they produce.

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ESPNcricinfo staff: “Vikram Rathour joins Sri Lanka as consultant batting coach till end of T20 World Cup”

The appointment is “with a primary focus on the team’s preparation for the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2026,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement on Thursday. Rathour will join the squad on January 18, four days before the start of Sri Lanka’s white-ball series at home against England, and remain with the team till March 10. The final of the T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is scheduled for March 8.

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An Observer in a Black Sea Resort

U.S. President Donald Trump wants countries to pay at least $1 billion to remain on the Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ beyond a three-year limit, according to the text of the body’s charter obtained by multiple media outlets (including the Times of Israel, Bloomberg and Reuters). Under the draft charter, participating nations are limited to three-year terms. To bypass these term limits and secure permanent membership, countries must contribute at least $1 billion in cash within the first year of the charter’s entry into force. While the White House has described reports of a ‘fee’ as misleading—stating the board simply offers permanent status to partners showing a ‘deep commitment’—the leaked charter specifically outlines the $1 billion threshold as the mechanism for earning that status.

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Dr NISHAN  DE MEL reviews the situation in Sri  Lanka today in his typical incisive and holistic manner. Listen. Then post critical comments and sharpen our reflections …Thuppahi Editor

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzQfBQJFrrFDQTTcLrBWhCThfklf?compose=new&projector=1

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