U.N. top official’s visit not related to Geneva resolution: Colombo

U.N. top official’s visit not related to Geneva resolution: Colombo

COLOMBO, February 2, 2016
Updated: February 2, 2016 20:45 IST

Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry says visit would be in response to an invitation extended by the government in February 2015, many months before the adoption of the resolution.

This week’s visit by top United Nations official for human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein to Sri Lanka has nothing to do with the review of the implementation of the Geneva resolution, according to the Sri Lankan government.

Mr. Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, will be here in the country during February 6 - 9.  It was he who told the media in September that “our investigation has laid bare the horrific level of violations and abuses that occurred [during the final stages of the civil war] in Sri Lanka.”

An official at his office in Geneva said a release, providing more details, would be issued shortly.  

In response to government’s invitation

Responding to queries by The Hindu, Mahishini Colonne, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the visit was in response to an invitation extended by the government in February 2015, many months before the adoption of the resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in October. This was on the lines of the previous Rajapaksa regime’s action of inviting Mr. Al Hussein’s predecessor, Navaneetham Pillay, who came to Sri Lanka in August 2013.

On the agenda of the U.N. official, the spokesperson, however, maintained that he had “no agenda.”

Commitment given by Sirisena

She recalled that at the time of the presidential election in January 2015, there was a commitment given (by Maithripala Sirisena) to people of Sri Lanka on good governance and the protection of human rights. “As part of the government’s willingness to work together with international community, the invitation was extended to him,” she explained.

Mr. Al Hussein’s visit will take place at a time when the public discourse in Sri Lanka has again turned to the Geneva resolution.

On Monday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told a seminar, organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), that the government was not deviating from the Geneva resolution in any way and the government had been “implementing” it.  He added that the country “is now in the process of ensuring that human rights will never become an issue again and democracy is further strengthened.”

Key U.S. Trade Official Michael Delaney Visits Sri Lanka Ahead of Trade Negotiations

Key U.S. Trade Official Michael Delaney Visits Sri Lanka Ahead of Trade Negotiations  February 2, 2016

On February 1, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South Asia Michael J. Delaney visited Colombo and met with government, trade, and business officials ahead of the upcoming Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks in Washington.  Delaney met with Minister of Development Strategy & International Trade Malik Samarawickrema and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development, the Board of Investments, the Department of Commerce, and the Prime Minister’s office to discuss ways to increase trade and investment.

Senior Sri Lankan government officials and economic advisors meet with Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Mike Delaney (center) to prepare for upcoming Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks.

“Sri Lanka exports more to the United States than to any other country,” said U.S. Ambassador Atul Keshap.  “Increasing bilateral trade and investment opportunities will enhance prosperity for all.”Delaney discussed labor issues with representatives from unions and the Ministry of Labor and Trade Union Relations, as well as listened to perspectives from the private sector with members of the American Chamber of Commerce.  Delaney also touched upon intellectual property rights during his meetings in Sri Lanka.“Sri Lanka is now well-positioned to make important economic reforms,” said Delaney.  “If implemented, Sri Lanka could maximize its potential with stronger trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) performances.”Trade and Investment Framework Agreements provide strategic frameworks and principles for dialogue on trade and investment issues between the United States and partner countries.  Agreements serve as a forum for the United States and other governments to meet and discuss issues of mutual interest with the objective of improving cooperation and enhancing opportunities for trade and investment.

“Sri Lanka exports more to the United States than to any other country,” said U.S. Ambassador Atul Keshap.  “Increasing bilateral trade and investment opportunities will enhance prosperity for all.”

Delaney discussed labor issues with representatives from unions and the Ministry of Labor and Trade Union Relations, as well as listened to perspectives from the private sector with members of the American Chamber of Commerce.  Delaney also touched upon intellectual property rights during his meetings in Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lanka is now well-positioned to make important economic reforms,” said Delaney.  “If implemented, Sri Lanka could maximize its potential with stronger trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) performances.”

Trade and Investment Framework Agreements provide strategic frameworks and principles for dialogue on trade and investment issues between the United States and partner countries.

 Agreements serve as a forum for the United States and other governments to meet and discuss issues of mutual interest with the objective of improving cooperation and enhancing opportunities for trade and investment.

விழுப்புர முக்கொலை: மாணவி கோமளாவின் துணிகர வாக்குமூலம்

விழுப்புர முக்கொலை: மாணவி கோமளாவின் துணிகர வாக்குமூலம்

இரண்டாம் இணைப்பு:

இந்த வாக்குமூலம் புதிய தலைமுறைத் தொலைக் காட்சியின் நேர்படப் பேசு 25-01-2016 நிகழ்ச்சியில் ஒளிபரப்பப்பட்டு அதன் பகுதி You Tube இல் வெளியாகி இருந்தது.

அதன் இணைப்பு வருமாறு:

ஆனால் இந்த  You Tube இணைப்பில் இருந்து அந்த ஒளி நாடா நீக்கப்பட்டுவிட்டது.

எனினும் வாசகர்கள் புதிய தலைமுறை இணைப்பில் கோமாளாவின் துணிகர வாக்கு மூலத்தைக் கேட்க முடியும்.

கீழ்க்காணும் இணைப்பை அழுத்தி நேர்படப் பேசு 25/01/2016 நிகழ்ச்சியை அழுத்தவும்.

Komalas Interview

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Ranil C4 Interview

Republic Day Parade - 26th January 2016 - LIVE

விழுப்புர முக்கொலை

கல்லூரி மாணவிகள் 3 பேர் தற்கொலையில் மர்மம்: பெற்றோர் புகார்!

விழுப்புரம்: கள்ளக்குறிச்சி அருகே தனியார் ஹோமியோபதி கல்லூரி மாணவிகள் 3 பேர் கிணற்றில் குதித்து தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்ட சம்பவத்தில் மர்மம் உள்ளதாக அந்த மாணவிகளின் பெற்றோர் புகார் தெரிவித்து உள்ளனர். அந்த சம்பவம் அந்தப் பகுதியில் பெரும் பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது.

விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம் கள்ளக்குறிச்சி அருகே பங்காரம் என்னும் இடத்தில் தனியார் ஹோமியோபதி மருத்துவ கல்லூரி ஒன்று இயங்கி வருகிறது. இக்கல்லூரியில் பயின்ற 2-ம் ஆண்டு இயற்கை மருத்துவம் படித்த மாணவிகள் மோனிஷா, சரண்யா, பிரியங்கா ஆகியோர் நேற்று கல்லூரிக்கு எதிரே உள்ள கிணற்றில் குதித்து தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டனர்.

இந்த தகவல் அறிந்து சம்பவ இடத்திற்கு விரைந்து வந்த காவல்துறை மற்றும் தீயணைப்புத்துறையினர், 2 மணி நேரம் போராடி மாணவிகளின் உடல்களை கிணற்றில் இருந்து மீட்டனர். அதன்பின் அந்த உடல்களை, விழுப்புரம் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைக்கு பிரேத பரிசோதனைக்காக அனுப்பி வைத்தனர்.

மேலும், மாணவி ஒருவரின் பையில் இருந்து கடிதம் ஒன்றை போலீசார் கைப்பற்றி உள்ளனர். அதில், தற்கொலைக்கான காரணம் எழுதப்பட்டிருப்பதாகவும், கல்லூரியில் வசூலிக்கப்படும் கட்டணத்துக்கு சரிவர ரசீது தருவதில்லை என்றும், நிர்வாகம் அடிப்படை வசதிகளை செய்து தரவில்லை என்றும், அதை கண்டிக்கும் வகையில் தற்கொலை செய்துகொள்வதாகவும் அவர்கள் குறிப்பிட்டு உள்ளதாக தகவல்கள் வெளியாகி உள்ளது.

ஏற்கனவே, இதே கல்லூரியை சேர்ந்த மாணவிகள் சிலர், எந்தவித அடிப்படை வசதியும் இல்லாமல் இயங்கி வரும் இந்த இயற்கை மருத்துவக் கல்லூரியில், மாணவிகளை வேலை செய்யச் சொல்லி வற்புறுத்தியும், சரியாக உணவு வழங்காமல் கல்லூரி நிர்வாகம் கொடுமைப்படுத்தியதாக கூறி விழுப்புரம் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகம் முன்பு விஷம் குடித்து தற்கொலைக்கு முயன்றனர். அப்போது ஆர்.டி.ஓ. விசாரணை நடத்தப்பட்டு சம்பந்தப்பட்ட மாணவிகளுக்கு டி.சி. வழங்குமாறு விழுப்புரம் ஆட்சியர் உத்தரவிட்டார். ஆனால் அந்த உத்தரவை மதிக்காத கல்லூரி நிர்வாகம், மாணவிகளுக்கு டி.சி. வழங்க மறுத்துள்ளது.

தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டதாக கூறப்படும் மாணவி சரண்யாவின் பெற்றோர் கூறும்போது, "அங்கே சரியான சாப்பாடு வசதி, அடிப்படை வசதிகள் இல்லை என்று அவள் பலமுறை கூறி வந்தாள். படிப்பு சொல்லிக்கொடுக்க ஆசிரியர்களும் இல்லை. கழிவறையை கூட நாங்கள் தான் சுத்தம் செய்ய வேண்டி உள்ளது என்றாள். அதை நாங்கள் கல்லூரிக்கு சென்று கேட்டால், உடனே எங்கள் மகளை கல்லூரி நிர்வாகத்தினர் திட்டுவதாகவும் அவள் கூறினாள்.

மேலும், எங்கள் மகள் இறப்பு குறித்து கல்லூரி நிர்வாகத்தினர் எங்களுக்கு எந்தவித தகவலும் தெரிவிக்கவில்ல. காவல்துறையில் இருந்து தான் எங்களுக்கு தகவல் வந்தது. அதுவும் உங்கள் மகள் கிணற்றில் விழுந்து தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டுள்ளார் என்று சொன்னார்கள். இங்கு வந்து பார்த்தால் அவள் தலை உள்ளிட்ட பல இடங்களில் காயங்கள் உள்ளது. அவள் தற்கொலை செய்துகொள்ளும் ஆள் இல்லை. இந்த இறப்பில் மர்மம் உள்ளது" என்று கண்ணீர் வடித்தார்.

இதனிடையே விழுப்புரம் சரக டி.ஐ.ஜி. சரண்யாவின் பெற்றோரிடம் விசாரணை நடத்திய நிலையில், அந்த கல்லூரி தாளாளர் வாசுகி சுப்பிரமணியனை கைது செய்வதற்காக போலீசார் சென்னை விரைந்துள்ளதாக தகவல் வெளியாகி உள்ளது. வாசுகியின் கணவர் சுப்பிரமணியன் சிறுநீரக கோளாறு காரணமாக சென்னை போரூரில் உள்ள ஒரு தனியார் மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளதால், அங்கு வாசுகி இருப்பதாக போலீசாருக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்துள்ளது.

3 மாணவிகள் தற்கொலை சம்பவம் தமிழகத்தில் பெரும் பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது.

Beware the great 2016 financial crisis

Beware the great 2016 financial crisis, 

warns leading City pessimist

Albert Edwards

Albert Edwards joins RBS in warning of a new crash, saying
oil price plunge and deflation from emerging markets will overwhelm central banks, tip the markets and collapse the eurozone
Larry Elliott Economics editor

Tuesday 12 January 2016 19.25 GMT Last modified on Wednesday 13 January 2016 00.20 GMT

The City of London’s most vocal “bear”* has warned that the world is heading for a financial crisis as severe as the crash of 2008-09 that could prompt the collapse of the eurozone.

Albert Edwards, strategist at the bank Société Générale, said the west was about to be hit by a wave of deflation from emerging market economies and that central banks were unaware of the disaster about to hit them. His comments came as analysts at Royal Bank of Scotland urged investors to “sell everything” ahead of an imminent stock market crash.

“Developments in the global economy will push the US back into recession,” Edwards told an investment conference in London. 

“The financial crisis will reawaken. It will be every bit as bad as in 2008-09 and it will turn very ugly indeed.”

Fears of a second serious financial crisis within a decade have been heightened by the turbulence in markets since the start of the year. Share prices have fallen rapidly and a slump in the cost of oil has left Brent crude trading at barely above $30 a barrel.

“Can it get any worse? Of course it can,” said Edwards, the most prominent of the stock market bears – *the terms for analysts who think shares are overvalued and will fall in price. “Emerging market currencies are still in freefall. The US corporate sector is being crushed by the appreciation of the dollar.”

The Soc Gen strategist said the US economy was in far worse shape than the country’s central bank, the US Federal Reserve, realised. “We have seen massive credit expansion in the US. This is not for real economic activity; it is borrowing to finance share buybacks.”

Edwards attacked what he said was the “incredible conceit” of central bankers, who had failed to learn the lessons of the housing bubble that led to the financial crisis and slump of 2008-09.

“They didn’t understand the system then and they don’t understand how they are screwing up again. Deflation is upon us and the central banks can’t see it.”

Edwards said the dollar had risen by as much as the Japanese yen had in the 1990s, an upwards move that pushed Japan into deflation and caused solvency problems for the Asian country’s banks. He added that a sign of the crisis to come was the collapse in demand for credit in China.

“That happens when people lose confidence that policymakers know what they are doing. This is what is going to happen in Europe and the US.”

Europe has shown tentative signs of recovery in the past year, but Edwards said the efforts of the European Central Bank to push the euro lower and growth higher would come to nothing in the event of a fresh downturn. “If the global economy goes back into recession, it is curtains for the eurozone.”

Countries such as France, Spain and Italy would not accept the rising unemployment that would be associated with another recession, he said. “What a disaster the euro has been: it is a doomsday machine in favour of the German economy.”

Source: The Guardian Uk 13-jan-2016

Entire JK our integral part: India

Entire JK our integral part: India

"We have seen recent media reports stating that various options are under consideration in Pakistan regarding the political status of Gilgit-Baltistan.

 "India's position is crystal clear on this. The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which includes areas currently under Pakistan's occupation is an integral part of Union of India," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson VikasSwarup said.

Press Trust of India

New Delhi, Publish Date: Jan 15 2016 12:44AM | Updated Date: Jan 15 2016 1:25AM

ENB File Photo

In sharp reaction to Islamabad's reported move to make strategically located Gilgit-Baltistan a province, India today said the entire Jammu and Kashmir including Pakistan Administered Kashmir is its integral part.

"We have seen recent media reports stating that various options are under consideration in Pakistan regarding the political status of Gilgit-Baltistan.

"India's position is crystal clear on this. The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which includes areas currently under Pakistan's occupation is an integral part of Union of India," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson VikasSwarup said.

Gilgit-Baltistan is strategically located and provides the only land link with China. The USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is also proposed to pass through the area, which India objects due to the disputed status of the region.

He said India's concerns are regarding "exploitation of resources" and implementation of economic projects in Pakistan Administered Kashmir are well known and have been shared with all the countries and organisations concerned.

There were reports that Pakistan was planning to make Gilgit-Baltistan as its fifth province.
Elections were held in Gilgit-Baltistan region in June last year. India had objected to the elections strongly, saying it is an attempt by Pakistan to "camouflage its forcible and illegal occupation" of the regions which are its integral part.

Replying to a question on whether India was seeking extradition of Khalistani militant Paramjeet Singh alias Pamma from Portugal when some Sikh advocacy groups were opposing such a move, Swarup said government wants him to face trial for the crimes he committed in India.

"As far as we are concerned, Paramjit is a known terrorist and has Interpol Red Corner notices against him. He was detained by authorities in Portugal on December 18, 2015 based on these Red Corner alert.

"He is accused of a number of criminal cases in India including the murder of the president of Rastriya Sikh Sangat and for this reason we are seeking his extradition from Portugal," the spokesperson said. 

BORDERS MIA

BORDERS MIA

MIA's Borders: artist braves boats and barbed wire in video crusade for refugees
Rap artist releases self-directed video for new track Borders that follows refugees on hazardous journey to Europe, as lyrics chastise governments’ failure to act

Harriet Gibsone
Friday 27 November 2015 14.28 GMT Last modified on Wednesday 9 December 2015 14.25 GMT

Most artists would be incapable of approaching a subject as serious as the refugee crisis in song. Not MIA, however, whose new album is on course to politicise pop once again. “The world I talked about 10 years ago is still the same,” she recently posted on Twitter. “That’s why it’s hard for me to say it again on a new LP.”

Today, the British artist of Sri Lankan descent premiered Borders, a track that proves she remains unique in her ability to implement ideas about pop culture and important global topics. With it comes a self-directed video, which makes a compelling statement on the continuing migration crisis, chastising the response of European politicians and lamenting the arrival of border fences to keep out migrants. The video mimics the hazardous journeys faced by migrants, showing a flotilla of boats laden with refugees. Other scenes show individuals scaling massive fences topped with barbed wire, a reference to the series of securitised border fences erected by number of countries to keep out refugees.

The track, which sonically fuses eastern and western styles, questions the fabric of modern society – politics, identities, privilege, “being bae”, “breaking the internet” and smartphones – before reducing the world down to its essentials: your values, your beliefs, your families, your power.

Borders is the first track we’ve heard from new album Matahdatah since Swords back in July. According to a statement from her label, both songs and videos are part of “a truly global and characteristically DIY MIA project. The two pieces will ultimately come together in a larger body of work that explores the concept of Borders, an element of which will be a full-length album and film experience entitled Matahdatah.”


Her fifth record will be released on Interscope Records. Until then, you can watch the video below.
The Guardian