King Sasanka – Sri Lankan Writer & Retired Aviation Professional.

Global development is evaluated through multi-dimensional frameworks that look beyond gross domestic product (GDP) to assess health, education, social equality, environmental sustainability, and governance. Multiple independent non-governmental organisations, research institutes, and international agencies continuously monitor and report on national progress. Key Global Entities Measuring Development Progress Several prominent organisations publish annual indexes to measure global development: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Key Metric: Human Development Index (HDI) Focus: Life expectancy, expected/mean years of schooling, and gross national income (GNI) per capita. UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Key Metric: Sustainable Development Report (SDG Index) Focus: Tracks country performance against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covering poverty reduction, climate action, clean energy, and social justice. Social Progress Imperative K...

The "Three Sisters" approach is an ancient method of companion planting developed by the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, particularly the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and various tribes across Mesoamerica. Instead of planting crops in isolated, single-species rows (monoculture), this method involves growing three specific crops in close proximity so they can benefit one another. The three "sisters" are corn (maize) , climbing beans , and winter squash . When planted together, they create a highly efficient, self-sustaining ecosystem. Here is how each plant contributes to the group's survival: 1. Corn (The Support) Corn is the "older sister." It grows tall and strong, providing a natural vertical structure for the climbing beans to wind their way up. This eliminates the need to build artificial trellises or poles. 2. Beans (The Fertiliser) Beans are the "giving sister." As legumes, they absorb nitrogen from the air and, with the help of symbi...

  ETOPS is one of the most famous and transformative acronyms in modern aviation. What Does ETOPS Stand For? Official Definition: Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (or Extended Twin Operations ). Modern Expansion: As rules evolved to cover three- and four-engine jets too, regulators often refer to it simply as Extended Operations or EDTO ( Extended Diversion Time Operations ). Aviation Industry Joke: Pilots and dispatchers informally refer to ETOPS as "Engines Turn Or Passengers Swim" —a nod to long flights over open ocean! The Core Concept: Beyond the 60-Minute Rule In the early days of jet aviation, engines were far less reliable than they are today. In 1953, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) established the "60-minute rule" . This rule mandated that twin-engine passenger planes could never fly more than 60 minutes away from a suitable emergency diversion airport on one engine. As a result, long transoceanic routes (like ...