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20 ஜனவரி 2017 இல் பதவி ஏற்பு

 

 

 

US Election 2016 - நிகழ் பார்வை

அமெரிக்க ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல் 2016

 

முடிவு வெளியிடப்படும் திகதி  09 11 2016  முன் விடி காலை

 

 

 

 அல் ஜசீரா தொலைக்காட்சியின் நேர் முக தேர்தல் காட்சி

 

 

                                                             தேர்தல் முடிவு வரைபடம்

 

                                                     குறிப்பு உருவப் படங்களில் அழுத்துக!

PM spells out Sri Lanka’s third generation of economic reforms

 

PM spells out Sri Lanka’s third generation of economic reforms

Sri Lanka plans to overcome the current economic challenge by uplifting the country from a lower –middle-income country to a higher –middle income country in the first instance and thereafter to a high –income country within the next 3 to 4 years.

With the aim of achieving this target by doubling the personnel income levels by 2025 and escalate growth rate up to 7 percent per annum, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe unveiled the government’s 1500 day economic development programme in his policy statement made in parliament on October 27.

He made a comprehensive statement outlining key reforms the government was planning to introduce for the next 1500 days. This will be followed by the 2017 budget to be presented by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake on November 10.

Along with the IMF, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, lending institutions of the US, Europe and Japan have expressed their willingness to lend Sri Lanka funds at considerably low rates of interest. These funds would enhance and strengthen the economy, the Prime Minister revealed.

Commenting on the policy statement, several, economists said that it is essential to make this plan a reality by promptly implementing it with the necessary financial inputs from the 2017 budget.

The government should set in motion the proposals put forward in the policy statement and the two main parties in the government should reach a consensus and make a commitment towards this end, they pointed out.

 

“Doubling the current level of per capita national income from USD 4000 to USD is no magic trick – rather, it is setting in motion a planned effort to grow at a faster rate. If we continue to grow at our current rate of 5 per cent per annum we will only double our personal income levels by 2033,” the Prime Minister stated.

Inequalities

In 2015, the government addressed the inequality in income distribution at a national level. Consequently, it has been able to uplift the income levels of low income earners and public officials. At the same time, tax levies are being imposed on affluent groups to fund higher wages and minimise government borrowing, he added.

The Government also plans to create a positive investment climate that will generate jobs. Hurdles that stand in the way of achieving growth for business start-ups will be removed.

The processes of starting a business, getting construction permits, electricity connections and bank credit, registering property, protecting minority investors, the payment of taxes, trading across borders, the enforcement of contracts, the resolution of insolvency, and regulations governing labour market will be efficient mechanisms that will facilitate business growth. Additionally, the Government will also prepare legislations to establish a single window for investment approval. Further, the government will hold discussions with the trade unions and relevant stakeholders. The targeted outcome is to bring Sri Lanka within the top 70 nations of the Doing Business Index by 2020.

Towards creating newer markets for exports, the government is also negotiating three trade agreements – ETCA with India and two FTAs with China and Singapore.

These are significant developments even as these two large economic regions struggle to maintain economic momentum in their domestic markets, which have been traditional export destinations for our businesses.

Expressing his views on the economic policy statement, Shiran Fernando, Lead Economist at Frontier Research told the Business Times that this plan should be made practical as it will bring economic stability in the country.

He stressed that the plan and the budget should be agreeable to each without any mismatch.
The main budget proposals should not be counter to the plan put forward by the premier, he said, adding that next year will be crucial for the country to fast-track the economic reform agenda indicated in the policy statement.

Trade pacts

Sri Lanka needs to finalise trade agreements with China and Singapore as trade and FDI need to increase significantly and rapidly, he added.

Regaining the GSP+ facility is also a positive sign for the improvement of Sri Lankan exports, he pointed out.

Mr. Fernando noted that the government should be more clear and transparent on the debt to equity swap with Chinese investors in Hambantota port and Mattala airport. It is better if it comes as FDI, he said.

Referring to GSP+, the Prime Minister said: “In 2003, as the then Prime Minister, I set in motion the application process for GSP+, subsequently concluded by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. While Bangladesh also enjoyed concessional entry into the EU markets, Sri Lanka lost the GSP+ incentive in 2010”.

In his policy statement, Mr. Wickremesinghe noted that in 2003, the textile and garment sector in Sri Lanka stood at US$ 2.5 billion, while in Bangladesh; it was $ 5.2 billion. Last year Sri Lanka’s exports went up to $ 4.8 billion while in Bangladesh it stood at$ 26.6 billion.

“Most of us thought that our next generations would have to pay the debts incurred for Hambantota port and Mattala airport. Now, we have entered into a debt to equity swap. Chinese investors have made significant commitments to invest equity in the debt strapped Hambantota Port and the Mattala Airport as PPP ventures,” the PM added.

The Government plans to receive sufficient funds to offset these debts, he revealed.

The government’s development strategy will be aimed at capturing trading opportunities within these identified Indian Ocean markets via pursuing trade liberalisation agreements with their governments. Concurrently, we are focusing on defining the two development corridors across the country – this will be a focal area for investment by the public and the private sector.

The logistical and infrastructural facilities that provide faster, secure links to the global value chain empowering viable business ventures, will be spearheaded for the first time in Sri Lanka, in these development corridors.

The two development corridors will correspond to the two distinct halves of the country irrigated by the two monsoons. The South-Western corridor will have as its major axis the proposed Kandy-Colombo highway linked to the existing Southern highway. This region has the strongest potential to link up with global value chains, because of its close proximity to the Katunayake airport and the Colombo harbour.

This project envisages creating a Megapolis Development Authority to develop the entirety of the Western Megapolis an urban area of over 8 ½ million people.

Sub corridor

A brand new financial city centre is to be based at the new reclaimed land development project alongside the Port of Colombo.

A sub-corridor will stretch along the central highlands from Kandy via Nuwara Eliya to Badulla and linked to the Kandy-Colombo highway.

This will connect the revitalized plantations economy and modernized agricultural pursuits and will also lay emphasis on tourism and service delivery initiatives.

The second North-Eastern development corridor will connect the Eastern Province and the North Central Province to Jaffna linking the Trincomalee Port City to the Rajarata. The completion of the Moragahakanda and the Malwatu Oya reservoirs will create new vistas for the country and will result in the region gaining more land for agriculture. It will further result in the historic cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura emerging as modern urban centres. Trincomalee will be urbanized and transformed into a world-class Port City.

“The government’s intention is to create a lawful economic environment that will set the stage for sustainable development. It will incorporate a sustainable development entity that will provide the necessary framework and initiate mechanisms required. I called this the third generation of economic reforms,” the PM noted.

The first generation was introduced by President Jayewardene, the second by President Premadasa.
The new plan of the government is based on multifaceted economic linkages to global supply chains and the planned increase in trade development. Many qualified people prefer well-paying jobs that are given based on professional capabilities. It is not viable to maintain a low paying production based economy, he said.

When asked to make some comments on the trade and commerce perspective, Thilak Godamanna , President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, said that they welcomed the policy statement of the Prime Minister but the important aspect is its implementation.

The government should allocate necessary funds to relevant state agencies and ministries to implement the programmes stipulated in the plan. Otherwise the whole exercise will become fruitless he added.

The economic success of the plan will depend on the ability to deliver its results to the people effectively and efficiently, he emphasised.

A practical methodology should be developed by the government soon to make this plan a reality, he pointed out.

New board to manage state enterprises

The government will establish a Public Commercial Enterprise Board by law which is an organization that will manage SOEs enabling them to be more efficiently run on a commercial basis ensuring value for money. “We are creating a Public Wealth Trust through which the shares in state-owned entrepreneur enterprises will be held in trust for the people,” the PM said.

Plans are underway to set up a fully empowered National Agricultural Marketing Authority to coordinate the marketing of agricultural products, and develop existing markets, transport and storage facilities. In addition, new infrastructure facilities such as cool storage will be added at a divisional and regional level, for preservation of food before or after purchase.

It is also planned to create 250 ‘polas’, farmer markets island-wide for farmers to bring their produce to local markets.

Under the education reforms, a fresh policy initiative for making 13 years of education mandatory is now in place.

A pilot project on providing 13 years of mandatory education will commence next year. Those who do not pursue higher education after O/Ls will be trained under an upper Secondary Vocational Education system.

The digital economy will empower the nation – through providing affordable and secure Internet connectivity to every citizen in any part of Sri Lanka, removing barriers for cross-border international trade.

A platform for cashless payments will also be created. Digital technology will be included as a new subject in the school curriculum. The government plans to foster entrepreneurship opportunities in digital commerce while providing training in cyber security monitoring and response.

Commenting on the digital economy and creating agencies for this purpose, Subhashini Abeysinghe, Head of Economic Research at Verite Research, noted that it is essential to eliminate bottlenecks that hamper successful implementation of a paperless trading platform and the main impediment is the non-acceptance of electronic documents and e-signatures.

In 2006, the Electronic Transaction Act No 19 was passed in Parliament, providing the legal framework for the country to accept e-documents, she said adding that there must be assurance the courts will accept the e-signature in the event of a dispute and the matter ends up in courts. This Act gives that validity to the e-signature. But it’s still not accepted in any transactions, she pointed out.
This was because of the inability to accept electronic signatures in situations where a signature is required for processing, she said.   Even 10 years later, to clear cargo or process the documentation, hard copies of the documents, signed by hand should be physically submitted and e-documents are not accepted she revealed.   - (Bandula)

யாழ் ஈழ மாணவர் கொலை வழக்கு

யாழ் ஈழ மாணவர் கொலை வழக்கு

 

 

தொடரும்............................

News Broadcasters Association wants govt to review NDTV ban

Broadcasters body wants govt to review NDTV ban

TNN | Updated: Nov 6, 2016, 12.40 PM IST


NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has expressed "deep concern" over the one-day ban imposed on NDTV India by the interministerial committee set up by the Union information and broadcasting ministry. The NBA, which represents private television news and current affairs broadcasters in India, said the Hindi news channel had been "singled out when the rest of the media also did cover the (Pathankot) terror attack, and all such reports were available in the public domain".

 The committee has ordered that the channel go off air for 24 hours from 00:01hrs on November 9 as it found its coverage of the January terrorist attack to be in violation of broadcasting norms.

 It said the channel gave out sensitive information that could have been used by the handlers of the terrorists involved in the attack.

 "It is surprising to note that NDTV India has been singled out by the IMC/MoI&B (inter-ministerial committee/ministry of information and broadcasting), when the rest of the media also did cover the terror attack and all such reports were available in the public domain. The IMC and the MoI&B should have seen it from the prism of freedom of the media, which is guaranteed in the Constitution and not gone strictly by the regulations under the Cable Act," NBA secretary general Annie Joseph said in a statement.


 "It would have been appropriate if the ministry of information & broadcasting had referred the alleged violations of NDTV India to the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), the independent self-regulatory body of the NBA," she added.

 The NBA urged the ministry to reconsider its decision "in the interest of the freedom of the media".

Source: Times of India
 

இலங்கை - இந்திய பாதுகாப்பு மாநாடு

இலங்கை - இந்திய பாதுகாப்பு மாநாடு

 

04-11-2016 05:25 PM

இந்தியா மற்றும் இலங்கைக்கு இடையிலான நான்காவது வருட பாதுகாப்பு மாநாடு, கொழும்பில் நேற்று இடம்பெற்றது.

இந்தியாவின் பாதுகாப்புச் செயலாளர் ஸ்ரீ.ஜி.மேகன் குமார் மற்றும் இலங்கையின் பாதுகாப்புச் செயலாளர் ஆகியோர் இணைத்தலைமையில் இந்த கலந்துரையாடல் நடைபெற்றது.

பாதுகாப்பு அமைச்சர்கள், வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர்கள் மற்றும் பாதுகாப்பு படையினர் ஆகியோரும் இந்த கலந்துரையாடலில் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

 

இதேவேளை, ஜனாதிபதி மைத்திரிபால சிறிசேன மற்றும் இந்தியாவின் பாதுகாப்புச் செயலாளர் ஸ்ரீ.ஜி.மேகன் குமார் ஆகியோர், நேற்றுச் சந்தித்து பேசியுமுள்ளனர்.

- See more at: http://www.tamilmirror.lk/185380#sthash.Jdjw3cKY.dpuf

குறிப்பு: தமிழ் மிரரின் இச்செய்திக் குறிப்பு என்ன பேசினார்கள் என்பதைச் சொல்லவில்லை!

மீனவர் விவகாரம்: 3 மாதங்களுக்கு ஒரு தடவை கூடி ஆராய முடிவு

மீனவர் விவகாரம்: 3 மாதங்களுக்கு ஒரு தடவை கூடி ஆராய முடிவு

 05-11-2016 04:45 PM

இலங்கை- இந்திய மீனவர்கள் விவகாரம் தொடர்பில் 3 மாதங்களுக்கு ஒரு தடவை, இருதரப்பும் கூடி கலந்துரையாடுவதற்கு தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இலங்கை- இந்திய மீனவர்கள் பிரச்சினை தொடர்பில் புதுடில்லியில் இன்று சனிக்கிழமை (05) நடைபெற்ற இருநாட்டு இராஜதந்திர மட்டத்திலான பேச்சிவார்த்தையிலேயே மேற்கண்ட தீர்மானம் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது.

இந்தப் பேச்சுவார்த்தை தொடர்பில், இருநாட்டு வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சுகளும் அனுப்பி வைத்துள்ள கூட்டு ஊடக அறிக்கையில் மேலும் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது,

இருநாட்டு மீனவர்கள் விவகாரம் தொடர்பில், புதுடில்லியில் உள்ள இந்திய வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சின் கேட்போர் கூடத்தில் இருநாட்டு இராஜந்திரிகள் மட்டத்திலான, பேச்சுவார்த்தை இன்று இடம்பெற்றது.

இந்தப் பேச்சுவார்த்தையில் இந்திய தரப்பில், இந்திய வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் சுஷ்மா சுவராஜ், விவசாயம் மற்றும் விவசாயிகள் நலன்புரி அமைச்சர் இராதா மோகன்சிங், இந்திய வீதிப் போக்குவரத்து மற்றும் கப்பல்துறை அமைச்சர் பொன் இராதாகிருஷ்ணன் ஆகியோரும் இலங்கை தரப்பில், இலங்கை வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் மங்கள் சமரவீர, மீன்பிடித்துறை அமைச்சர் மஹிந்த அமரவீர மற்றும் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் எம்.ஏ.சுமந்திரன் ஆகியோரும் பங்கேற்றிருந்தனர்.

மீனவர் விவகாரம் தொடர்பில், பொறிமுறையொன்றை ஏற்படுத்தி அதனூடாக நிரந்தரத் தீர்வொன்று காண்பதற்கு, இந்தப் பேச்சுவார்த்தையின் போது, இருநாடுகளையும் சேர்ந்த மீனவக் குழுக்கள், ஒவ்வொரு  3 மாதங்களும் கூடி ஆராய்வதற்கு இணக்கம் காணப்பட்டது.

இதேவேளை, இருநாடுகளைச் சேர்ந்த மீன்பிடித்துறை அமைச்சுகளுக்கும் இடையில், இந்த விவகாரம்  தொடர்பில் 6 மாதங்களுக்கு ஒரு தடவை கூட்டம் நடத்துவதற்கும் தீர்மானம் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது. இதன் அடிப்படையில், அமைச்சுகள் மட்டத்திலான முதலாவது கூட்டம், எதிர்வரும் ஜனவரி மாதம் 2ஆம் திகதி கொழும்பில் நடத்துவதற்கு தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

- See more at: http://www.tamilmirror.lk/185425#sthash.t4KSdIgM.dpuf

KASHMIR- Forces fire shells, pellets at teenager’s funeral, 40 injured

Forces fire shells, pellets at teenager’s funeral, 40 injured

Witnesses said that forces arrived outside the youth’s ancestral house at Ganderpora Eidgah and resorted to massive tear gas and pellet firing in which 10 people sustained injuries.

ABID BASHIR
Srinagar, Publish Date: Nov 5 2016 10:59PM | Updated Date: Nov 5 2016 10:59PM

 

At least 40 people including three women sustained pellet and tear gas shell injuries in old Srinagar on Saturday when security forces fired on the funeral of a 16-year-old boy who succumbed at SKIMS late Friday evening.

Witnesses said that forces arrived outside the youth’s ancestral house at Ganderpora Eidgah and resorted to massive tear gas and pellet firing in which 10 people sustained injuries.

“As the body of the boy was being taken to martyrs graveyard, police and paramilitary forces again fired tear gas shells and pellets in which 30 more people including six female relatives of the slain teenager sustained injuries. The police also fired bullets in which two youth sustained injuries, one in the abdomen and another in leg,” witnesses said. They said that forces didn’t even spare the body the youth and resorted to heavy tear gas shelling at the funeral procession outside martyrs graveyard.

 

 

Witnesses said that despite forces firing, people managed to take the body to martyrs graveyard where they offered his funeral in which at least 10,000 people participated. The boy was later laid to rest at the martyrs graveyard Eidgah amid pro-freedom slogans.

Reports said that clashes were going on in the area till late evening. Reports of clashes also poured in from Nopora, Sekidafar, Eidgah, Rajouri Kadal, Nawa Kadal and Narwara areas.

Late evening reports said that forces barged into residential houses at Eidgah, Tangbagh and resorted to vandalism. Locals alleged that forces broke window panes and hurled abuses
at the women.

Late evening reports said that some unknown persons hurled stones at a bus carrying staff of SKIMS in Qamarwari area of Srinagar. A staff member told Greater Kashmir that five staffers were injured.

Reports from north Kashmir’s Bandipora said that a school building was gutted in a fire incident. “A fire broke out in old building of Government High School at Saudinara in Bandipora district last night,” an official said.

Unknown persons on Friday night attempted to torch a building of Panchayat ghar in Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district. Reports said that windows of the building suffered minor damage in the fire.

Reports said that a petrol bomb was hurled at a boutique in main chowk Chadoora.  At least seven youth were detained from Mazhama and Kanihama twin villages of Magam, Beerwah, during nocturnal raids.

Reports from Palhalan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district said that unknown persons torched a shop of automobile mechanics Farooq Ahmed and Talib Ahmed.

In Baramula town, unidentified persons hurled four petrol bombs on tehsil and park road resulting in panic among the locals. According to reports, the incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m when people had thronged the markets on the relaxation call of freedom leadership.

Police Version: “Situation across the valley remained peaceful and under control although a stone pelting incident was reported from Eidgah in Srinagar today. In Srinagar, after the burial of Qaiser Sofi, a mob of miscreants pelted stones upon police/security forces deployment near Eidgah, Safakadal in which some police/security personnel were injured. While dealing with the situation some persons who were part of the stone pelting mob also got injured. They were shifted to hospital where their condition is said to stable till filing of this report,” a police statement said.
 

Kashmir Day 117

DAY 117: 40 civilians injured in Soura after forces’ raid

70-yr-old critical after hit by tear-gas shell in head; 4 youth get pellets in eyes; SP Hazratbal critically injured; Girl fired with pellets in face in Shopian

ABID BASHIR
Srinagar, Publish Date: Nov 2 2016 11:14PM | Updated Date: Nov 2 2016 11:14PM
DAY 117: 40 civilians injured in Soura after forces’ raid

Photo: Aman Farooq/GK

At least 40 civilians sustained injuries in security forces action after a police raid in Anchaar area of Soura in Srinagar today. An elderly man who sustained tear gas shell injury is battling for life at SKIMS while four youth received serous pellet injuries in their eyes and are being treated at SMHS Hospital Srinagar. Police said its 35 men were also injured in the incident.

As the news of injuries at Soura spread, massive clashes erupted in various parts of Kashmir including South Kashmir’s Pulwama and Pampore areas. Old Srinagar areas witnessed clashes against the forces action at Anchaar. As per reports at least 70 people sustained injuries in the day-long clashes with the forces across Kashmir.

Eyewitness account: “As the clock ticked 10 in the morning, two police vehicles stopped at the famous shrine of JenabSahab (RA) at Soura,” residents said. “And within no time, a heavy contingent of CRPF personnel arrived at the spot in their vehicles along with the police men from various police stations that include Zadibal and Zakura.” Showkat Ahmed, a resident of Anchaar said the forces cordoned two localities, TaplooMohalla and ShalbafMohalla, and asked the youth to board the “police vehicles without creating any fuss.” “The forces diktat triggered anger among the residents; with youth, children and women hitting streets amid pro-freedom slogans. The policemen fired dozens of tear gas shells and pellets on protestors, triggering massive clashes,” Ahmed said.

He said that the protestors resisted the police drive to launch door to door searches to arrest youth. “Massive clashes started at noon and

remained on till 4 p.m. We didn’t allow the forces personnel to enter our homes,” a group of residents said. They said that youth from various adjoining areas came in support of the residents of Anchaar and Soura. “We heard people especially youth coming in our support from Nowhatta, 90-feet road, Nowshehra and other areas forcing the police and CRPF men to call off the operation.”


Residents accused forces of lobbing tear gas shells at the Auqaf office of JenabSahab (RA) shrine. Earlier, scores of women and youth had taken shelter inside the shrine to save themselves from the forces wrath. Elderly residents condemned the forces action and termed it unprovoked. Eye-witnesses said over 40 protestors were injured in the forces action while four youth sustained grave pellet injuries who were identified as MehrajudinKoundoo, Hilal Ahmed Taploo, Abdul Majeed War and Ishfaq Ahmed. Mehraj was hit by pellets in his eyes, eye-witnesses said.

Residents of Soura said that 70-year-old Ghulam Ahmed was hit by a tear gas shell in his head and was admitted at the nearby SKIMS. Doctors said the elderly man has grave head injury and is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. The residents also accused the police and CRPF men of resorting to vandalism. “The forces personnel broke the window panes of houses situated on the main road and also damaged private vehicles parked in lanes and by-lanes,” the residents alleged.

Police, however, said that “miscreants” in large numbers pelted stones on the deployments at Anchaar, Soura in Srinagar resulting in the grievous injuries to SP Hazratbal (PeerzadaNaveed) and 35 other police and security forces personnel. “While dealing with the law and order in the area, three civilians who were part of the mob also sustained injuries. They were shifted to SKIMS for treatment. The condition of all of them is stated to be stable,” a police statement read. Meanwhile, as soon as the reports of injuries to 40 people and an elderly man spread in Srinagar, clashes broke out in Batamaloo in uptown Srinagar and also in various old city areas that include Nowhatta, Gojwara, SarafKadal, 90-feet, Khanyar, SafaKadal and other areas. Late evening reports said that patients at the SKIMS Soura complained of irritation in chest due to intense use of pepper gas by the forces while dealing with the protestors.

South Kashmir: Protests erupted in Anantnag town against the alleged highhandedness of forces in Soura area of Srinagar, reports said. Forces launched a crackdown in housing colony and Baba MohallaBijbehara town and conducted door to door searches. Reports said that five people were arrested in Bugam village in Kulgam district during night raids. Reports said that four youth were arrested during a raid at Batengoo village of Anantnag. Similar raids were reported from various villages that include Lalal, Ganoor, Chicharpora, Chidhama and Kamad.

Reports from Shopian district said that a 19-year-old girl identified as Urfi Rashid daughter of Abdur Rashid Ganai of Chitragam sustained pellet injury in her eyes during clashes in which at least 15 others suffered mild injuries when forces foiled Chitragamchalo march. Reports said that forces cordoned the village but people from adjoining villages tried to march towards the venue, but were prevented by the forces triggering clashes.

Reports said that clashes erupted in Pulwama town soon after forces were withdrawn after 5 p.m. Clashes were reported from Pampore area of Pulwama as well.

North Kashmir: Several youth were injured during clashes that erupted following a raid conducted by police in Hygam area of Sangrama in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. The residents alleged that police ransacked scores of residential houses and thrashed local residents without any provocation. According to locals, at around 2.45 p.m, several vehicles belonging to police appeared suddenly in ParrayMohalla of Hygam. The sudden police appearance in the area gave rise to the speculation that police were to arrest local youth. The police presence led to severe clashes between youths and the police. Police lobbed scores of teargas shells to quell the protesting youths. The clashes continued for several hours. Scores of youths are reported to have suffered injuries in the clashes. Meanwhile, the locals said that several residential houses were ransacked by police and window panes of more than 20 houses were damaged by police. Massive clashes were reported from Tarzoo area of Sopore in Baramulla district where a police officer sustained injuries, reports said.

Central Kashmir: Authorities in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district foiled "SherpathriChalo" program called by joint resistance camp. Locals in Sherpathri area of tehsil Ganderbal said that forces were patrolling on the roads in the area throughout the day to thwart any protest. Three youth were detained after a mild stone pelting incident near Hakim-Gund in the area, reports said. Meanwhile, youth erected barricades at Pandach on Ganderbal-Bauchpira old road. Groups of youth resorted to stone pelting at Ahmadnagar and Takiya on Ganderbal-Soura 90 ft road, reports said.

Police Version: Situation across Kashmir remained under control barring six incidents of law and order problem which took place during the day. “In district Shopian, miscreants pelted stones upon police and security forces deployments at Dachoo, Rabben, Nagbal and Sugan. Police chased them away by using mild force,” the statement said. “In Tarzoo, Sopore, miscreants in order to disrupt the normal life, pelted stones upon police and security forces deployment but were chased away. While dealing with the law and order situation, DySP PC Sopore got injured and was shifted to Sub District Hospital Sopore for treatment.”

(With inputs from Khalid Gul, Altaf Baba, Showkat Dar, Sheikh Nazir)

British government loses court case on how to trigger Brexit

UK | Thu Nov 3, 2016 | 10:53am GMT
British government loses court case on how to trigger Brexit
 

By Michael Holden | LONDON

England's High Court ruled on Thursday that the British government requires parliamentary approval to trigger the process of exiting the European Union, a major upset for Prime Minister Theresa May's plans for Brexit.

Sterling rose on the news, with many investors taking the view that lawmakers would temper the government's policies and make an economically disruptive "hard Brexit" less likely.
The court said it had granted the government permission to appeal against the ruling before the Supreme Court, which has set aside Dec. 5-8 to deal with the matter.

A panel of three of the most senior judges in the country ruled that the government could not trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the formal step needed to start negotiations on the terms of Brexit, without approval from parliament.

"The court does not accept the argument put forward by the government," said Lord Chief Justice John Thomas, reading out the three judges' ruling.

"For the reasons set out in the judgment, we decide that the government does not have power ... to give notice pursuant to Article 50 for the UK to withdraw from the European Union."
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said the government was disappointed with the court ruling and would consider it carefully before deciding how to proceed.
"The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum approved by acts of parliament. The government is determined to respect the result of the referendum," Fox told parliament.

(Additional reporting by Kylie Maclellan, writing by Estelle Shirbon)