More than 1,100 people have been arrested in Ethiopia since the nation declared a state of emergency following the prime minister's resignation last month, state media reported today.

Hailemariam Desalegn's surprise resignation came after more than two years of anti-government protests and increasing divisions in the ruling party.

The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has for the first time picked an ethnic Oromo, Abiy Ahmed, to be its new leader.

He is set to be sworn in as prime minister early next week.

The state-affiliated Fana Broadcast Corporate said 1,107 people have been detained for violating the emergency decree, which suspends the constitution and allows police to hold people without trial.

"They were detained for killing peaceful civilians and security forces, setting houses and financial institutions ablaze, illicit movement of firearms, destroying government and public institutions (and) blocking roads," Fana reported, citing Tadesse

Hordofa, chairman of a board overseeing the decree.

Ethiopia spiralled into crisis in late 2015 when the country's largest ethnicity the Oromo began protesting a plan to expand the borders of the capital Addis Ababa into the surrounding Oromia region.

A 10-month state of emergency declared in October 2016 quelled the unrest but only after hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests.

The arrests under the latest state of emergency were mainly in Oromia, but also in the Amhara region, where anti-government sentiment is also strong, the broadcaster reported.&nbsp

Hailemariam Desalegn's surprise resignation came after more than two years of anti-government protests and increasing divisions in the ruling party

More than 1,100 people have been arrested in Ethiopia since the nation declared a state of emergency following the prime minister's resignation last month, state media reported today. Hailemariam Desalegn's surprise resignation came after more than two years of anti-government protests and increasing divisions in the ruling party. The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has for the first time picked an ethnic Oromo, Abiy Ahmed, to be its new leader. He is set to be sworn in as prime minister early next week. The state-affiliated Fana Broadcast Corporate said 1,107 people have been detained for violating the emergency decree, which suspends the constitution and allows police to hold people without trial. "They were detained for killing peaceful civilians and security forces, setting houses and financial institutions ablaze, illicit movement of firearms, destroying government and public institutions (and) blocking roads," Fana reported, citing Tadesse Hordofa, chairman of a board overseeing the decree. Ethiopia spiralled into crisis in late 2015 when the country's largest ethnicity the Oromo began protesting a plan to expand the borders of the capital Addis Ababa into the surrounding Oromia region. A 10-month state of emergency declared in October 2016 quelled the unrest but only after hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests. The arrests under the latest state of emergency were mainly in Oromia, but also in the Amhara region, where anti-government sentiment is also strong, the broadcaster reported.

Over 1,100 arrested under Ethiopia state of emergency

In the annals of India's political history, twice it has happened that all non-ruling parties came under one umbrella for the sole objective of dethroning the ruling dispensation and usurp the power. Both the times the ruling party was Congress. It was in the decade of seventy against Indira Gandhi and during the late eighties against Rajiv Gandhi.

The coincidence is that during both occasions, coalescing of parties was preceded by a very strong hegemonic run of Congress. Indira became a very strong and undisputed leader in seventies, particularly after India's thumping victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and liberation of Bangladesh. Congress under Rajiv Gandhi won more than 80 per cent seats in the 1984 general elections (highest ever) and swept state polls as well across the nation, barring just a handful number of states.

In 1977, all non-Congress parties coalesced behind Jai Prakash Narayan (JP) and Indira lost. Twelve years later, it was VP Singh who became the symbol of the anti-establishment crusade. In 1989, VP Singh could even bring BJP and Left parties on the same platform as both supported VP Singh's government post-1989 general elections.

The current situation is somewhat reminiscent of 1975-77 and 1987-89, in a sense that ruling party is enjoying the unparalleled power and unending electoral run. Opposition parties are wondering that how will they survive in days to come.

Mamata Banerjee is toiling hard. A few days back, she was in Delhi to meet all the opposition leaders. She even met BJP rebels like Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha and Arun Shourie. She is trying hard to create a mega anti-Modi alliance and in the process, she believes that she will become the epitome of anti-establishment crusaders like JP and VP Singh and her political career would be elevated to an upper level.

But make no mistake. Mamata's efforts are only only saddled with her own personal political ambitions but also with her personal disliking for Narendra Modi and BJP. Her endeavour is bound to be nothing but a damp squib in the days to come because barring the only similarity from the past the one party (BJP) is in strong command, the situation is entirely different than 1977 and 1989.

First of all, let's see that what happened in 1977 and 1989 after the ruling party was toppled. Janta government under Morarji Desai in 1977 and VP Singh's government in 1989 were disasters, right from the word go. The root cause was common. All those leaders who were vouching for unity before coming to power, turned in to the different lot once they were in power. Ego clashes started and everybody started pursuing his own interests and agenda. None of those governments survived beyond a period of two years.

But in the first place, can Mamata and united opposition pull it off this time like JP or VP Singh did? The answer would a resounding and firm 'NO'. In 1977 and 1989, Indira and Rajiv themselves gave loose points to opposition, on which JP and VP Singh built the massive narrative. But now Modi is sitting firmly with tight control on the overall proceedings. He is giving any loose balls to the opposition.

Moreover, JP and VP Singh were mass leaders, vastly experienced with proven probity in public life and had that natural knack for connecting with voters. Currently, there is only one politician in that class and it is Narendra Modi himself. So Modi can only be rattled if there is someone as big in stature among opposition leaders as Modi is, which actually not the case.

The third thing is media's stand. I remember that how media, particularly Indian Express group of Ramnath Goenka, played a massive role in building an anti-Congress atmosphere. On the contrary, in an extremely unparalleled situation, despite being in power for 46 months, Modi has the support of a larger section of media and rightly so. This fact will play a pivotal role in days to come.

Ultimately everything boils down to the narrative. Unless united opposition has a story to sell among voters, they can't achieve anything.

So what united opposition is trying to achieve is far from achievable in the first place. However if they can do it, it would only be counter-productive for the nation, as history suggests us.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The current situation is somewhat reminiscent of 1975-77 and 1987-89, in a sense that ruling party is enjoying the unparalleled power and unending electoral run.

In the annals of India's political history, twice it has happened that all non-ruling parties came under one umbrella for the sole objective of dethroning the ruling dispensation and usurp the power. Both the times the ruling party was Congress. It was in the decade of seventy against Indira Gandhi and during the late eighties against Rajiv Gandhi. The coincidence is that during both occasions, coalescing of parties was preceded by a very strong hegemonic run of Congress. Indira became a very strong and undisputed leader in seventies, particularly after India's thumping victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and liberation of Bangladesh. Congress under Rajiv Gandhi won more than 80 per cent seats in the 1984 general elections (highest ever) and swept state polls as well across the nation, barring just a handful number of states. In 1977, all non-Congress parties coalesced behind Jai Prakash Narayan (JP) and Indira lost. Twelve years later, it was VP Singh who became the symbol of the anti-establishment crusade. In 1989, VP Singh could even bring BJP and Left parties on the same platform as both supported VP Singh's government post-1989 general elections. The current situation is somewhat reminiscent of 1975-77 and 1987-89, in a sense that ruling party is enjoying the unparalleled power and unending electoral run. Opposition parties are wondering that how will they survive in days to come. Mamata Banerjee is toiling hard. A few days back, she was in Delhi to meet all the opposition leaders. She even met BJP rebels like Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha and Arun Shourie. She is trying hard to create a mega anti-Modi alliance and in the process, she believes that she will become the epitome of anti-establishment crusaders like JP and VP Singh and her political career would be elevated to an upper level. But make no mistake. Mamata's efforts are only only saddled with her own personal political ambitions but also with her personal disliking for Narendra Modi and BJP. Her endeavour is bound to be nothing but a damp squib in the days to come because barring the only similarity from the past the one party (BJP) is in strong command, the situation is entirely different than 1977 and 1989. First of all, let's see that what happened in 1977 and 1989 after the ruling party was toppled. Janta government under Morarji Desai in 1977 and VP Singh's government in 1989 were disasters, right from the word go. The root cause was common. All those leaders who were vouching for unity before coming to power, turned in to the different lot once they were in power. Ego clashes started and everybody started pursuing his own interests and agenda. None of those governments survived beyond a period of two years. But in the first place, can Mamata and united opposition pull it off this time like JP or VP Singh did? The answer would a resounding and firm 'NO'. In 1977 and 1989, Indira and Rajiv themselves gave loose points to opposition, on which JP and VP Singh built the massive narrative. But now Modi is sitting firmly with tight control on the overall proceedings. He is giving any loose balls to the opposition. Moreover, JP and VP Singh were mass leaders, vastly experienced with proven probity in public life and had that natural knack for connecting with voters. Currently, there is only one politician in that class and it is Narendra Modi himself. So Modi can only be rattled if there is someone as big in stature among opposition leaders as Modi is, which actually not the case. The third thing is media's stand. I remember that how media, particularly Indian Express group of Ramnath Goenka, played a massive role in building an anti-Congress atmosphere. On the contrary, in an extremely unparalleled situation, despite being in power for 46 months, Modi has the support of a larger section of media and rightly so. This fact will play a pivotal role in days to come. Ultimately everything boils down to the narrative. Unless united opposition has a story to sell among voters, they can't achieve anything. So what united opposition is trying to achieve is far from achievable in the first place. However if they can do it, it would only be counter-productive for the nation, as history suggests us. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why Mamata's bid is not only unwarranted but also futile

Ethnic dissidence is a worldwide phenomenon and Sri Lanka is no exception to it with her multiplicity of ethnic composition. Within the ethnic frame lies the religious societal subdivisions also with its cognitive diversity impacting on internal political dynamics. Sri Lanka, a nation of immigrants alongside minuscule aboriginals, has been fighting within to secure political spaces in regional geographical spreads of their settlements. As a young Major in Indian Army, I do have reflections of Sri Lankan societal milieu, characterised by an extremely low threshold for violence based on ethnic sensitivities. The religion mattered but was not a reason for a conflict situation. What is happening in Kandy was waiting to happen with Sinhala chauvinism and their deep-set antagonist attitude towards minority ethnic groups.

At one level there is an ethnic divide between Sinhala majority and Tamil minority which saw three decades violent mayhem culminating in literally a genocide in North and Eastern region. The second level is the religious ingredient of the larger ethnic frame which has a politically strong Sinhala Buddhist lobby and deprived South Indian migrants comprising Hindu, Christians and Muslim minorities under the Tamil political umbrella. Overbearing conduct of Sinhalas with their unchallenged political power has been the main cause of socio-political turmoil in the island nation. It continues even today despite fair progress in the grant of regional autonomy.

Kandy, the scene of current disturbances, is the gateway to economically vibrant western coastal areas and dominating central high lands famous for its tea plantations. It also happens to be the frontier bastion of Buddhist culture in the face of other religious entities who dominate the north and eastern regions. Accordingly, Kandy is the cultural centre of gravity of Sri Lanka which has been the focus of umpteen number of ethnic, religious and military forays in the known historical accounts including Indian mythological beliefs. Therefore, Kandy is treated as a symbol of Buddhist pride and Sinhala assertiveness in the island nation. Hence, needs to be nurtured and protected from negative cultural afflictions.

On the face of it, there doesn’t seem to be such a grave situation when looked at from Indian perspective as such religious riots are routine affairs here. The district administration is good enough to take care of such social disturbances in normal circumstances. Imposing emergency and sacking the Prime Minister&nbspafter reported police inaction speaks of something more serious and sinister than what meets the eye. The Buddhist and Islamists have been reported to be at loggers head for quite some time in the central region where both are reasonably well entrenched. Minor religious confrontations are obvious in such a situation.

The decimation of majority Hindu insurgents fighting for a separate Tamil Elam has created a political space on the cusp of central and eastern regions. What probably is happening in Sri Lanka is an expression of the partial shift from ethnic-centric opposition to religious aggressiveness in a typical pattern of emergence of political Islam as seen in other parts of the world. What, probably, is worrying the political establishment, are the inroads of religiously indoctrinated radical elements as an added point of friction disturbing the socio-political synergies achieved after a military purge of LTTE and its affiliates.

With social media blackout, it is not clear if it is only an innocuous religious outburst, or a deliberate politically surcharged movement likely to impact on the political fabric of the island nation. There are telltale signs of high handedness of Sinhala majority across the island as seen earlier in the mid-80s which led to the emergence of Tamil insurgency. Is the cycle of antagonist political opposition starting once again, albeit in a different format wherein Islamic forces would be in the forefront with other Tamil minorities in back up support? After all the terrain, demographic composition and sense of political deprivation in face of Sinhala chauvinism continue to be the same.

Maybe it is a passing phase which happens in any multi-ethnic, multi-religious society and will get resolved after some time. The government in power needs to resolve the matter through cooperative approach taking all the stakeholders on board. Suppression of politico-religious opposition through imposing emergency and one-sided police actions may further alienate the minorities. The silver lining is that there is no indication of organised armed clashes making it a case of a disturbed public order requiring a mature socio-political treatment, lest it translates into a politico-military problem as it has happened in the past. Sri Lanka has to take a call.&nbsp

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Crisis in Sri-Lanka is a passing phase which happens in any multi-ethnic, multi-religious society. The government in power needs to resolve the matter through cooperative approach taking all the stakeholders on board.

Ethnic dissidence is a worldwide phenomenon and Sri Lanka is no exception to it with her multiplicity of ethnic composition. Within the ethnic frame lies the religious societal subdivisions also with its cognitive diversity impacting on internal political dynamics. Sri Lanka, a nation of immigrants alongside minuscule aboriginals, has been fighting within to secure political spaces in regional geographical spreads of their settlements. As a young Major in Indian Army, I do have reflections of Sri Lankan societal milieu, characterised by an extremely low threshold for violence based on ethnic sensitivities. The religion mattered but was not a reason for a conflict situation. What is happening in Kandy was waiting to happen with Sinhala chauvinism and their deep-set antagonist attitude towards minority ethnic groups. At one level there is an ethnic divide between Sinhala majority and Tamil minority which saw three decades violent mayhem culminating in literally a genocide in North and Eastern region. The second level is the religious ingredient of the larger ethnic frame which has a politically strong Sinhala Buddhist lobby and deprived South Indian migrants comprising Hindu, Christians and Muslim minorities under the Tamil political umbrella. Overbearing conduct of Sinhalas with their unchallenged political power has been the main cause of socio-political turmoil in the island nation. It continues even today despite fair progress in the grant of regional autonomy. Kandy, the scene of current disturbances, is the gateway to economically vibrant western coastal areas and dominating central high lands famous for its tea plantations. It also happens to be the frontier bastion of Buddhist culture in the face of other religious entities who dominate the north and eastern regions. Accordingly, Kandy is the cultural centre of gravity of Sri Lanka which has been the focus of umpteen number of ethnic, religious and military forays in the known historical accounts including Indian mythological beliefs. Therefore, Kandy is treated as a symbol of Buddhist pride and Sinhala assertiveness in the island nation. Hence, needs to be nurtured and protected from negative cultural afflictions. On the face of it, there doesn’t seem to be such a grave situation when looked at from Indian perspective as such religious riots are routine affairs here. The district administration is good enough to take care of such social disturbances in normal circumstances. Imposing emergency and sacking the Prime Minister&nbspafter reported police inaction speaks of something more serious and sinister than what meets the eye. The Buddhist and Islamists have been reported to be at loggers head for quite some time in the central region where both are reasonably well entrenched. Minor religious confrontations are obvious in such a situation. The decimation of majority Hindu insurgents fighting for a separate Tamil Elam has created a political space on the cusp of central and eastern regions. What probably is happening in Sri Lanka is an expression of the partial shift from ethnic-centric opposition to religious aggressiveness in a typical pattern of emergence of political Islam as seen in other parts of the world. What, probably, is worrying the political establishment, are the inroads of religiously indoctrinated radical elements as an added point of friction disturbing the socio-political synergies achieved after a military purge of LTTE and its affiliates. With social media blackout, it is not clear if it is only an innocuous religious outburst, or a deliberate politically surcharged movement likely to impact on the political fabric of the island nation. There are telltale signs of high handedness of Sinhala majority across the island as seen earlier in the mid-80s which led to the emergence of Tamil insurgency. Is the cycle of antagonist political opposition starting once again, albeit in a different format wherein Islamic forces would be in the forefront with other Tamil minorities in back up support? After all the terrain, demographic composition and sense of political deprivation in face of Sinhala chauvinism continue to be the same. Maybe it is a passing phase which happens in any multi-ethnic, multi-religious society and will get resolved after some time. The government in power needs to resolve the matter through cooperative approach taking all the stakeholders on board. Suppression of politico-religious opposition through imposing emergency and one-sided police actions may further alienate the minorities. The silver lining is that there is no indication of organised armed clashes making it a case of a disturbed public order requiring a mature socio-political treatment, lest it translates into a politico-military problem as it has happened in the past. Sri Lanka has to take a call. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Sri Lankan crisis can be resolved if government takes cooperative approach

Ethnic dissidence is a worldwide phenomenon and Sri Lanka is no exception to it with her multiplicity of ethnic composition. Within the ethnic frame lies the religious societal subdivisions also with its cognitive diversity impacting on internal political dynamics. Sri Lanka, a nation of immigrants alongside minuscule aboriginals, has been fighting within to secure political spaces in regional geographical spreads of their settlements. As a young Major in Indian Army, I do have reflections of Sri Lankan societal milieu, characterised by an extremely low threshold for violence based on ethnic sensitivities. The religion mattered but was not a reason for a conflict situation. What is happening in Kandy was waiting to happen with Sinhala chauvinism and their deep-set antagonist attitude towards minority ethnic groups.

At one level there is an ethnic divide between Sinhala majority and Tamil minority which saw three decades violent mayhem culminating in literally a genocide in North and Eastern region. The second level is the religious ingredient of the larger ethnic frame which has a politically strong Sinhala Buddhist lobby and deprived South Indian migrants comprising Hindu, Christians and Muslim minorities under the Tamil political umbrella. Overbearing conduct of Sinhalas with their unchallenged political power has been the main cause of socio-political turmoil in the island nation. It continues even today despite fair progress in the grant of regional autonomy.

Kandy, the scene of current disturbances, is the gateway to economically vibrant western coastal areas and dominating central high lands famous for its tea plantations. It also happens to be the frontier bastion of Buddhist culture in the face of other religious entities who dominate the north and eastern regions. Accordingly, Kandy is the cultural centre of gravity of Sri Lanka which has been the focus of umpteen number of ethnic, religious and military forays in the known historical accounts including Indian mythological beliefs. Therefore, Kandy is treated as a symbol of Buddhist pride and Sinhala assertiveness in the island nation. Hence, needs to be nurtured and protected from negative cultural afflictions.

On the face of it, there doesn&rsquo;t seem to be such a grave situation when looked at from Indian perspective as such religious riots are routine affairs here. The district administration is good enough to take care of such social disturbances in normal circumstances. Imposing emergency and sacking the Prime Minister&nbsp;after reported police inaction speaks of something more serious and sinister than what meets the eye. The Buddhist and Islamists have been reported to be at loggers head for quite some time in the central region where both are reasonably well entrenched. Minor religious confrontations are obvious in such a situation.

The decimation of majority Hindu insurgents fighting for a separate Tamil Elam has created a political space on the cusp of central and eastern regions. What probably is happening in Sri Lanka is an expression of the partial shift from ethnic-centric opposition to religious aggressiveness in a typical pattern of emergence of political Islam as seen in other parts of the world. What, probably, is worrying the political establishment, are the inroads of religiously indoctrinated radical elements as an added point of friction disturbing the socio-political synergies achieved after a military purge of LTTE and its affiliates.

With social media blackout, it is not clear if it is only an innocuous religious outburst, or a deliberate politically surcharged movement likely to impact on the political fabric of the island nation. There are telltale signs of high handedness of Sinhala majority across the island as seen earlier in the mid-80s which led to the emergence of Tamil insurgency. Is the cycle of antagonist political opposition starting once again, albeit in a different format wherein Islamic forces would be in the forefront with other Tamil minorities in back up support? After all the terrain, demographic composition and sense of political deprivation in face of Sinhala chauvinism continue to be the same.

Maybe it is a passing phase which happens in any multi-ethnic, multi-religious society and will get resolved after some time. The government in power needs to resolve the matter through cooperative approach taking all the stakeholders on board. Suppression of politico-religious opposition through imposing emergency and one-sided police actions may further alienate the minorities. The silver lining is that there is no indication of organised armed clashes making it a case of a disturbed public order requiring a mature socio-political treatment, lest it translates into a politico-military problem as it has happened in the past. Sri Lanka has to take a call.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Ethnic dissidence is a worldwide phenomenon and Sri Lanka is no exception to it with her multiplicity of ethnic composition. Within the ethnic frame lies the religious societal subdivisions also with its cognitive diversity impacting on internal political dynamics. Sri Lanka, a nation of immigrants alongside minuscule aboriginals, has been fighting within to secure political spaces in regional geographical spreads of their settlements. As a young Major in Indian Army, I do have reflections of Sri Lankan societal milieu, characterised by an extremely low threshold for violence based on ethnic sensitivities. The religion mattered but was not a reason for a conflict situation. What is happening in Kandy was waiting to happen with Sinhala chauvinism and their deep-set antagonist attitude towards minority ethnic groups. At one level there is an ethnic divide between Sinhala majority and Tamil minority which saw three decades violent mayhem culminating in literally a genocide in North and Eastern region. The second level is the religious ingredient of the larger ethnic frame which has a politically strong Sinhala Buddhist lobby and deprived South Indian migrants comprising Hindu, Christians and Muslim minorities under the Tamil political umbrella. Overbearing conduct of Sinhalas with their unchallenged political power has been the main cause of socio-political turmoil in the island nation. It continues even today despite fair progress in the grant of regional autonomy. Kandy, the scene of current disturbances, is the gateway to economically vibrant western coastal areas and dominating central high lands famous for its tea plantations. It also happens to be the frontier bastion of Buddhist culture in the face of other religious entities who dominate the north and eastern regions. Accordingly, Kandy is the cultural centre of gravity of Sri Lanka which has been the focus of umpteen number of ethnic, religious and military forays in the known historical accounts including Indian mythological beliefs. Therefore, Kandy is treated as a symbol of Buddhist pride and Sinhala assertiveness in the island nation. Hence, needs to be nurtured and protected from negative cultural afflictions. On the face of it, there doesn’t seem to be such a grave situation when looked at from Indian perspective as such religious riots are routine affairs here. The district administration is good enough to take care of such social disturbances in normal circumstances. Imposing emergency and sacking the Prime Minister after reported police inaction speaks of something more serious and sinister than what meets the eye. The Buddhist and Islamists have been reported to be at loggers head for quite some time in the central region where both are reasonably well entrenched. Minor religious confrontations are obvious in such a situation. The decimation of majority Hindu insurgents fighting for a separate Tamil Elam has created a political space on the cusp of central and eastern regions. What probably is happening in Sri Lanka is an expression of the partial shift from ethnic-centric opposition to religious aggressiveness in a typical pattern of emergence of political Islam as seen in other parts of the world. What, probably, is worrying the political establishment, are the inroads of religiously indoctrinated radical elements as an added point of friction disturbing the socio-political synergies achieved after a military purge of LTTE and its affiliates. With social media blackout, it is not clear if it is only an innocuous religious outburst, or a deliberate politically surcharged movement likely to impact on the political fabric of the island nation. There are telltale signs of high handedness of Sinhala majority across the island as seen earlier in the mid-80s which led to the emergence of Tamil insurgency. Is the cycle of antagonist political opposition starting once again, albeit in a different format wherein Islamic forces would be in the forefront with other Tamil minorities in back up support? After all the terrain, demographic composition and sense of political deprivation in face of Sinhala chauvinism continue to be the same. Maybe it is a passing phase which happens in any multi-ethnic, multi-religious society and will get resolved after some time. The government in power needs to resolve the matter through cooperative approach taking all the stakeholders on board. Suppression of politico-religious opposition through imposing emergency and one-sided police actions may further alienate the minorities. The silver lining is that there is no indication of organised armed clashes making it a case of a disturbed public order requiring a mature socio-political treatment, lest it translates into a politico-military problem as it has happened in the past. Sri Lanka has to take a call. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Mobs torched Muslim-owned businesses in a central Sri Lanka district on Wednesday as hundreds of police and troops struggled to restore order after days of rioting.

The soldiers poured into Kandy to reinforce police but arson attacks persisted even though the government has imposed a nationwide state of emergency and suspended the internet locally to quell attacks by mobs from the majority Sinhalese community.

An evening curfew was extended till Thursday evening in the troubled hill district popular with tourists, officials said.

Telecommunication providers were instructed to block Facebook nationwide and suspend internet services in the district after police warned that rioters were using social media to urge violence against Muslims.

Schools were shut across Kandy, a hill resort famed for its tea and Buddhist relics, as rioters defied curfews and clashed with police who used tear gas to disperse them.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/curfew-re-imposed-in-kandy-govt-blocks-internet-35000" target="_blank">Curfew re-imposed in Kandy, government blocks internet</a>

Government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne vowed those responsible for the lawlessness would be punished.

&quot;This is organised violence,&quot; Senaratne said in Colombo. &quot;We have identified four individuals behind the riots and they will be arrested soon.&quot;

He said police were also ordered to detain those accused of spreading messages fomenting hate against Muslims via social media.

At least three police officers were wounded overnight at Menikhinna, a suburb of Kandy which has been a focus of the new trouble, said police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera.

Foreign governments issued travel warnings after Sri Lankan authorities granted sweeping powers to police and troops to arrest and detain suspects.

&quot;The state of emergency may include curfews in specific locations,&quot; the UK government said on its website.

&quot;You should exercise caution, avoid protests and rallies and comply with local security requirements.&quot;

The US State Department said further violence was possible and advised visitors to monitor local media for updates.

The United Nations condemned the violence and urged Colombo &quot;to ensure that appropriate measures are swiftly taken to restore normalcy in affected areas&quot;.

- Trouble brewing - 
More than 150 homes, shops and vehicles belonging to Muslims were set ablaze by mobs of Sinhalese rioters Monday and Tuesday.

The violence began after a man from the mainly Buddhist Sinhalese majority died at the hands of a Muslim mob last week.

The trouble escalated when a Muslim man was found dead in a burned building on Tuesday.

The Sinhalese are the majority ethnic group in Sri Lanka, making up 75 percent of its 21 million people. Muslims make up 10 percent.

There was no immediate estimate of the damage from Wednesday&#39;s arson attacks.&nbsp;

Parliament Tuesday issued an apology to the Muslim minority for the violence.

City planning minister Rauff Hakeem described the riots as a &quot;monumental security lapse&quot; and recommended disciplinary action against those responsible.

But the trouble in Kandy is just the latest violence targeting Muslims in the Indian Ocean island.

Mobs set fire to Muslim-owned businesses and attacked a mosque in the east of the country last week after a Muslim chef was accused of adding contraceptives to food sold to Sinhalese customers.

Last November riots in the south of the island left one man dead and homes and vehicles damaged.

In June 2014 riots between Buddhists and Muslims left four dead and many injured. That bout of violence was instigated by a Buddhist extremist group whose leaders are on trial, accused of fostering religious conflict.

The government has imposed a nationwide state of emergency and suspended the internet locally to quell attacks by mobs from the majority Sinhalese community

Mobs torched Muslim-owned businesses in a central Sri Lanka district on Wednesday as hundreds of police and troops struggled to restore order after days of rioting. The soldiers poured into Kandy to reinforce police but arson attacks persisted even though the government has imposed a nationwide state of emergency and suspended the internet locally to quell attacks by mobs from the majority Sinhalese community. An evening curfew was extended till Thursday evening in the troubled hill district popular with tourists, officials said. Telecommunication providers were instructed to block Facebook nationwide and suspend internet services in the district after police warned that rioters were using social media to urge violence against Muslims. Schools were shut across Kandy, a hill resort famed for its tea and Buddhist relics, as rioters defied curfews and clashed with police who used tear gas to disperse them. Also read: Curfew re-imposed in Kandy, government blocks internet Government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne vowed those responsible for the lawlessness would be punished. "This is organised violence," Senaratne said in Colombo. "We have identified four individuals behind the riots and they will be arrested soon." He said police were also ordered to detain those accused of spreading messages fomenting hate against Muslims via social media. At least three police officers were wounded overnight at Menikhinna, a suburb of Kandy which has been a focus of the new trouble, said police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera. Foreign governments issued travel warnings after Sri Lankan authorities granted sweeping powers to police and troops to arrest and detain suspects. "The state of emergency may include curfews in specific locations," the UK government said on its website. "You should exercise caution, avoid protests and rallies and comply with local security requirements." The US State Department said further violence was possible and advised visitors to monitor local media for updates. The United Nations condemned the violence and urged Colombo "to ensure that appropriate measures are swiftly taken to restore normalcy in affected areas". - Trouble brewing - More than 150 homes, shops and vehicles belonging to Muslims were set ablaze by mobs of Sinhalese rioters Monday and Tuesday. The violence began after a man from the mainly Buddhist Sinhalese majority died at the hands of a Muslim mob last week. The trouble escalated when a Muslim man was found dead in a burned building on Tuesday. The Sinhalese are the majority ethnic group in Sri Lanka, making up 75 percent of its 21 million people. Muslims make up 10 percent. There was no immediate estimate of the damage from Wednesday's arson attacks. Parliament Tuesday issued an apology to the Muslim minority for the violence. City planning minister Rauff Hakeem described the riots as a "monumental security lapse" and recommended disciplinary action against those responsible. But the trouble in Kandy is just the latest violence targeting Muslims in the Indian Ocean island. Mobs set fire to Muslim-owned businesses and attacked a mosque in the east of the country last week after a Muslim chef was accused of adding contraceptives to food sold to Sinhalese customers. Last November riots in the south of the island left one man dead and homes and vehicles damaged. In June 2014 riots between Buddhists and Muslims left four dead and many injured. That bout of violence was instigated by a Buddhist extremist group whose leaders are on trial, accused of fostering religious conflict.

Sri Lanka: Fresh attacks in Kandy despite emergency, mobs torch Muslim-owned businesses

Maldives Ambassador Ahmed Mohamed has clarified that the Maldives is not participating in the naval exercise Milan because of the ongoing state of emergency in the country. The official statement also noted that the state of emergency requires forces to be in a state of heightened readiness.&nbsp;

&quot;I would like to clarify that the Maldives is unable to participate in the naval exercise during this time due to the current circumstances of a State of Emergency being in effect for those under investigation for serious crimes. During such a time especially, security personnel are expected to be at a heightened stance of readiness,&quot; noted the statement.&nbsp;

Mohamed also noted that when situations back at home require officers to be there, they are held from being deployed overseas.

&quot;The Maldives and India enjoy a long history of excellent defence and military cooperation and it is a tradition that we are confident that will endure and continue indefinitely,&quot; read the statement.&nbsp;

The Maldives <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maldives-turns-down-indian-invite-to-naval-exercise-34200">turned down an invite to a naval exercise</a> hosted by India earlier today.&nbsp;

&quot;The Maldives was sent an invitation to attend &#39;Milan&#39;, a multilateral naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy but it declined the invitation,&quot; Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said in Delhi on Tuesday. &nbsp;

The official statement also noted that the state of emergency requires forces to be in a state of heightened readiness

Maldives Ambassador Ahmed Mohamed has clarified that the Maldives is not participating in the naval exercise Milan because of the ongoing state of emergency in the country. The official statement also noted that the state of emergency requires forces to be in a state of heightened readiness. "I would like to clarify that the Maldives is unable to participate in the naval exercise during this time due to the current circumstances of a State of Emergency being in effect for those under investigation for serious crimes. During such a time especially, security personnel are expected to be at a heightened stance of readiness," noted the statement. Mohamed also noted that when situations back at home require officers to be there, they are held from being deployed overseas. "The Maldives and India enjoy a long history of excellent defence and military cooperation and it is a tradition that we are confident that will endure and continue indefinitely," read the statement. The Maldives turned down an invite to a naval exercise hosted by India earlier today. "The Maldives was sent an invitation to attend 'Milan', a multilateral naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy but it declined the invitation," Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said in Delhi on Tuesday.

Invitation for MILAN exercises declined due to ongoing state of emergency, Maldives clarifies

With the Maldives&#39; government extending the state of emergency for another 30 days, India feels &quot;deeply dismayed&quot; by the move.

&quot;Deeply dismayed that the Government of Maldives has extended the State of Emergency for a further 30 days,&quot; noted the official Ministry of External Affairs statement.

The release noted that the manner &quot;in which the extension of the State of Emergency was approved by the Majlis in contravention of the Constitution of Maldives is also a matter of concern&quot;.&nbsp;

The MEA noted that the move will further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives.&nbsp;

&quot;The consequent delay in the resumption of the political process and the continuing suspension of the functioning of democratic institutions including the judiciary is likely to further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives,&quot; noted the statement.

India yesterday voiced its opinion over the extension of emergency in the Maldives saying that it would not want the Maldives to go ahead with the extension.&nbsp;

&quot;It is important that the Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged,&quot; the MEA noted yesterday.

The MEA noted that the move will further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives.

With the Maldives' government extending the state of emergency for another 30 days, India feels "deeply dismayed" by the move. "Deeply dismayed that the Government of Maldives has extended the State of Emergency for a further 30 days," noted the official Ministry of External Affairs statement. The release noted that the manner "in which the extension of the State of Emergency was approved by the Majlis in contravention of the Constitution of Maldives is also a matter of concern". The MEA noted that the move will further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives. "The consequent delay in the resumption of the political process and the continuing suspension of the functioning of democratic institutions including the judiciary is likely to further delay restoration of normalcy in the Maldives," noted the statement. India yesterday voiced its opinion over the extension of emergency in the Maldives saying that it would not want the Maldives to go ahead with the extension. "It is important that the Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged," the MEA noted yesterday.

Extension of emergency will delay restoration of normalcy in Maldives: MEA

Parliament in the Maldives on Tuesday approved a 30-day extension of a state of emergency sought by President Abdulla Yameen who cited an ongoing national security threat and constitutional crisis.

Countries including the United States, India and Canada along with the United Nations have urged Yameen to lift the emergency and restore normalcy.

Tour operators say hundreds of hotel bookings have been cancelled daily since the 15-day emergency was imposed on Feb. 5 despite government assurances that all is normal in the resort islands, which are far from the capital.

Yameen imposed the emergency to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed the convictions of nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison.

The emergency &quot;shall only apply to those alleged to have carried out illegal activities &ndash; it shall not apply to otherwise law abiding residents of, or visitors to, the Maldives,&quot; a statement from Yameen`s office said on Tuesday.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement on Tuesday saying Washington was disappointed by the extension of the state of emergency.

Since Feb. 5, the government has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on charges of attempting to usurp power.

Yameen has ignored the court rulings but stopped short of saying he would not obey them. He has jailed opposition members and fired two police chiefs who said they would uphold the court rulings.

Yameen took power in 2013 and his recent moves aim to consolidate power ahead of an election this year.&nbsp;

The country`s neighbour India urged the government to release the nine opposition leaders as required by the Supreme Court.

All 38 ruling party lawmakers approved the vote at an extraordinary session of parliament boycotted by the opposition who cited the constitution to say it required 43 MPs.

Former president Mohamed Nasheed, who is in exile, said the government could not extend the emergency without 43 votes.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, leader of the opposition coalition`s parliamentary group, said: &quot;This state of emergency is illegal .... Yameen has, in effect, hijacked the entire state and is ruling the Maldives like a military dictator.&quot;

Parliament says it passed the extension to the emergency under a procedure that does not require a quorum and it sought an opinion on the matter from the Supreme Court.

Former attorney general Ahmed Ali Sawad said more than half of MPs should be present for a vote on the emergency decree.

&quot;This is fundamental legislative check on an executive action having wide ranging ramifications on the rights, liberties and affairs of the people,&quot; Sawad told Reuters.

Shahinda Ismail, executive director of Maldives Democracy Network said the ruling party has effectively and completely removed all democratic and lawful systems of governance.

President Yameen imposed the emergency to annul a Supreme Court ruling

Parliament in the Maldives on Tuesday approved a 30-day extension of a state of emergency sought by President Abdulla Yameen who cited an ongoing national security threat and constitutional crisis. Countries including the United States, India and Canada along with the United Nations have urged Yameen to lift the emergency and restore normalcy. Tour operators say hundreds of hotel bookings have been cancelled daily since the 15-day emergency was imposed on Feb. 5 despite government assurances that all is normal in the resort islands, which are far from the capital. Yameen imposed the emergency to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed the convictions of nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. The emergency "shall only apply to those alleged to have carried out illegal activities – it shall not apply to otherwise law abiding residents of, or visitors to, the Maldives," a statement from Yameen`s office said on Tuesday. The U.S. State Department issued a statement on Tuesday saying Washington was disappointed by the extension of the state of emergency. Since Feb. 5, the government has arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on charges of attempting to usurp power. Yameen has ignored the court rulings but stopped short of saying he would not obey them. He has jailed opposition members and fired two police chiefs who said they would uphold the court rulings. Yameen took power in 2013 and his recent moves aim to consolidate power ahead of an election this year. The country`s neighbour India urged the government to release the nine opposition leaders as required by the Supreme Court. All 38 ruling party lawmakers approved the vote at an extraordinary session of parliament boycotted by the opposition who cited the constitution to say it required 43 MPs. Former president Mohamed Nasheed, who is in exile, said the government could not extend the emergency without 43 votes. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, leader of the opposition coalition`s parliamentary group, said: "This state of emergency is illegal .... Yameen has, in effect, hijacked the entire state and is ruling the Maldives like a military dictator." Parliament says it passed the extension to the emergency under a procedure that does not require a quorum and it sought an opinion on the matter from the Supreme Court. Former attorney general Ahmed Ali Sawad said more than half of MPs should be present for a vote on the emergency decree. "This is fundamental legislative check on an executive action having wide ranging ramifications on the rights, liberties and affairs of the people," Sawad told Reuters. Shahinda Ismail, executive director of Maldives Democracy Network said the ruling party has effectively and completely removed all democratic and lawful systems of governance.

Maldives parliament extends emergency by 30 days

New Zealand&#39;s national carrier on Tuesday cancelled all flights in and out of the capital, Wellington, and the southern city of Christchurch declared a state of emergency as the remnants of tropical cyclone Gita pummelled the country.

Even before the storm hit in full force, heavy rains in the centre of New Zealand brought floods in Christchurch, prompting a warning from Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

&quot;The full impact of the storm will be felt overnight and tomorrow morning,&quot; she said, urging residents of low-lying areas to evacuate. &quot;We are expecting homes to be flooded.&quot;

Air New Zealand said all flights to the capital would be grounded from 2.45 pm&nbsp;(0145 GMT) as weather authorities issued warnings of severe weather and heavy rain and gusts of up to 150 kph (93 mph).&nbsp;

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said troops had fanned out to areas likely to be the hardest hit and the national Civil Defence office in Wellington was on standby to help.

&quot;My message still to people is please look out for your local warnings and expect disruption to travel and please just be careful,&quot; she told reporters at parliament.&nbsp;

Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week, packing winds up to 275 kph (171 mph). Fiji escaped major damage but Tonga suffered widespread destruction and flooding. Earlier, the storm had caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa.

The cyclone had since been downgraded to a storm, but forecasters said it was still likely to wreak havoc on Tuesday evening as it traversed the centre of New Zealand.

Parts of the country are still reeling from a huge storm that prompted authorities to declare states of emergency at the beginning of February.

More than 40 schools and preschools shut in the upper South Island, while mayors urged people to stay home.

Transport authorities shut a stretch of highway along the east coast of the South Island and the Department of Conservation was closing seaside hiking tracks and campsites along the West Coast and ushering tourists away from low-lying areas, media said.

Even before the storm hit in full force, heavy rains in the centre of New Zealand brought floods in Christchurch, prompting a warning from Mayor Lianne Dalziel

New Zealand's national carrier on Tuesday cancelled all flights in and out of the capital, Wellington, and the southern city of Christchurch declared a state of emergency as the remnants of tropical cyclone Gita pummelled the country. Even before the storm hit in full force, heavy rains in the centre of New Zealand brought floods in Christchurch, prompting a warning from Mayor Lianne Dalziel. "The full impact of the storm will be felt overnight and tomorrow morning," she said, urging residents of low-lying areas to evacuate. "We are expecting homes to be flooded." Air New Zealand said all flights to the capital would be grounded from 2.45 pm (0145 GMT) as weather authorities issued warnings of severe weather and heavy rain and gusts of up to 150 kph (93 mph). Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said troops had fanned out to areas likely to be the hardest hit and the national Civil Defence office in Wellington was on standby to help. "My message still to people is please look out for your local warnings and expect disruption to travel and please just be careful," she told reporters at parliament. Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week, packing winds up to 275 kph (171 mph). Fiji escaped major damage but Tonga suffered widespread destruction and flooding. Earlier, the storm had caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa. The cyclone had since been downgraded to a storm, but forecasters said it was still likely to wreak havoc on Tuesday evening as it traversed the centre of New Zealand. Parts of the country are still reeling from a huge storm that prompted authorities to declare states of emergency at the beginning of February. More than 40 schools and preschools shut in the upper South Island, while mayors urged people to stay home. Transport authorities shut a stretch of highway along the east coast of the South Island and the Department of Conservation was closing seaside hiking tracks and campsites along the West Coast and ushering tourists away from low-lying areas, media said.

Former cyclone Gita hits New Zealand; emergency declared in southern city

Maldivian President seeks the extension of the state of emergency in the country.&nbsp;

Amid the ongoing political crisis, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen requested the parliament to extend the state of emergency for 15 days.

The Maldives&#39;s parliament is likely to act upon Yameen&#39;s request after the legislator vote for the move.

A state of emergency was declared on February 5 for 15 days. The Maldivian president quashed Supreme Court&#39;s decision to release nine opposition leaders including self-exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed.

President Abdulla Yameen had ordered the arrest of Former President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, Supreme Court Justice Ali Hameed and Judicial administrator Hassan Saeed.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Maldives police recently noted to have launched an investigation into the attempt to &quot;overthrow the government&quot; of Maldives.

Police said it had brought former president Abdul Gayoom, Chief Justice Al Ustaz Abdullah Saeed, Supreme Court judge Ali Hameed among others into custody to investigate the case.

President Yameen seeks to extend the state of emergency for further 15 days

Maldivian President seeks the extension of the state of emergency in the country. Amid the ongoing political crisis, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen requested the parliament to extend the state of emergency for 15 days. The Maldives's parliament is likely to act upon Yameen's request after the legislator vote for the move. A state of emergency was declared on February 5 for 15 days. The Maldivian president quashed Supreme Court's decision to release nine opposition leaders including self-exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed. President Abdulla Yameen had ordered the arrest of Former President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, Supreme Court Justice Ali Hameed and Judicial administrator Hassan Saeed. Meanwhile, Maldives police recently noted to have launched an investigation into the attempt to "overthrow the government" of Maldives. Police said it had brought former president Abdul Gayoom, Chief Justice Al Ustaz Abdullah Saeed, Supreme Court judge Ali Hameed among others into custody to investigate the case.

Maldives: President Yameen requests parliament to extend state of emergency

India has reacted to the ongoing political crisis that simmers in the Maldives saying that it is disturbed by the declaration of emergency in the Maldives where the government refused to abide by the unanimous ruling of Supreme Court.&nbsp;

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We are disturbed by the declaration of a State of Emergency in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maldives?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maldives</a> following the refusal of the Govt to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full bench of the Supreme Court on 1 Feb, and also by the suspension of Constitutional rights of the people of Maldives: MEA
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/960865616918929412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Supreme Court on Thursday called for an immediate release of former president Mohamed Nasheed along with eight other opposition leaders. The court also demanded their fresh trials noting the previous proceedings to have violated the constitution and international law.

The former president and other eight leaders face charges ranging from terrorism to treason and corruption.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/supreme-courts-order-is-unconstitutional-maldives-president-yameen-31993">The President of Maldives Abdul Yameen quashed the apex court&#39;s directive</a> and declared a state of national emergency for 15 days. Shortly after the emergency was declared, Former President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom along with top justices was arrested. President Abdulla Yameen ordered security forces to seize control of the court and arrest the chief justice among others.&nbsp;

The exiled leader of the Maldives opposition Mohamed Nasheed urged the US and India to help remove the president from office, saying he had &quot;illegally&quot; declared martial law.

Yameen, on the other hand, accused judges of plotting to overthrow him, hours after he declared a state of emergency and ordered the arrest of the chief justice.

The Supreme Court on Thursday called for an immediate release of former president Mohamed Nasheed along with eight other opposition leaders

India has reacted to the ongoing political crisis that simmers in the Maldives saying that it is disturbed by the declaration of emergency in the Maldives where the government refused to abide by the unanimous ruling of Supreme Court. We are disturbed by the declaration of a State of Emergency in #Maldives following the refusal of the Govt to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full bench of the Supreme Court on 1 Feb, and also by the suspension of Constitutional rights of the people of Maldives: MEA — ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2018 × The Supreme Court on Thursday called for an immediate release of former president Mohamed Nasheed along with eight other opposition leaders. The court also demanded their fresh trials noting the previous proceedings to have violated the constitution and international law. The former president and other eight leaders face charges ranging from terrorism to treason and corruption. The President of Maldives Abdul Yameen quashed the apex court's directive and declared a state of national emergency for 15 days. Shortly after the emergency was declared, Former President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom along with top justices was arrested. President Abdulla Yameen ordered security forces to seize control of the court and arrest the chief justice among others. The exiled leader of the Maldives opposition Mohamed Nasheed urged the US and India to help remove the president from office, saying he had "illegally" declared martial law. Yameen, on the other hand, accused judges of plotting to overthrow him, hours after he declared a state of emergency and ordered the arrest of the chief justice.

Maldives: India says disturbed by declaration of emergency

A thick cloud of toxic smog 10 times the recommended limit enveloped India&rsquo;s capital New Delhi on Monday, as government officials struggled to tackle a public health crisis that is well into its second week.

A U.S. embassy measure showed levels of poisonous airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, had reached 495 on Monday morning, compared with the upper limit of &ldquo;good&rdquo; quality air at 50.

India&rsquo;s weather office said forecast rain over the next three days could help clear the smog.

&ldquo;Light rainfall is likely in states surrounding Delhi and in Delhi over the next three days, and this could result in a change in wind pattern in the region,&rdquo; Charan Singh, a scientist at India Meteorological Department, told Reuters. &ldquo;Smog will start to abate starting tomorrow.&rdquo;

The Delhi state government declared a public health emergency last week after pollution levels in the city spiked, a yearly phenomenon blamed on a combination of illegal crop burning in northern states, vehicle exhausts, and dust.

Over the weekend, the government said it planned to use fire trucks to spray water in parts of the capital, but the moves have had little effect.

A senior central government official said there was little more the government could do.

&ldquo;We can only do this much, and now we will have to wait for rains to clean the atmosphere,&rdquo; said Prashant Gargava, an official at the Central Pollution Control Board, a central body.

Gargava, who is in-charge of monitoring air quality, said Delhi&rsquo;s air has been consistently in the &ldquo;hazardous&rdquo; zone, despite measures such as a halt to construction and increasing car parking charges four-fold to encourage people to use public transportation.

The PM 2.5 airborne particles are about 30 times finer than a human hair. The particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing respiratory diseases and other ailments. Hospitals in the capital have seen a spike in the number of patients coming in with respiratory complaints, according to media reports.

&ldquo;Every second we are damaging our lungs, but we cannot stop breathing,&rdquo; said Arvind Kumar, the head of the chest and lung surgery department at the Sir Ganga Ram hospital in the city.

United Airlines said it had resumed flights from Newark, New Jersey to New Delhi, India on Sunday, after suspending the service temporarily over concerns about poor air quality in the Indian capital.

State and central governments decided to reopen schools on Monday after closing them temporarily for a few days last week. The move, however, is likely to add more vehicles on the road.

Enforcement agencies said they were also unable to impose a blanket ban on movement of commercial trucks.

Aarti Menon, a teacher at a primary school in New Delhi, said her family was wearing a mask even when they were indoors during the weekend.

&ldquo;Not everyone can afford an air purifier or air-conditioned car. We are all living in hell,&rdquo; said Menon, a mother of two teenage daughters.

The National Green Tribunal, an environment court, has directed the Delhi government and neighbouring states to stop farmers from burning crop residue. But the federal and state governments have not been able to do so yet.

A New Delhi-based non-governmental organization, TARA Homes for Children, which supports 60 poor children, said it was seeking donations to buy at least five air purifiers. &ldquo;Some of the children have breathing issues and couldn&rsquo;t go to school,&rdquo; said a volunteer at the NGO.

Hospitals in the capital have seen a spike in the number of patients coming in with respiratory complaints, according to media reports

A thick cloud of toxic smog 10 times the recommended limit enveloped India’s capital New Delhi on Monday, as government officials struggled to tackle a public health crisis that is well into its second week. A U.S. embassy measure showed levels of poisonous airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, had reached 495 on Monday morning, compared with the upper limit of “good” quality air at 50. India’s weather office said forecast rain over the next three days could help clear the smog. “Light rainfall is likely in states surrounding Delhi and in Delhi over the next three days, and this could result in a change in wind pattern in the region,” Charan Singh, a scientist at India Meteorological Department, told Reuters. “Smog will start to abate starting tomorrow.” The Delhi state government declared a public health emergency last week after pollution levels in the city spiked, a yearly phenomenon blamed on a combination of illegal crop burning in northern states, vehicle exhausts, and dust. Over the weekend, the government said it planned to use fire trucks to spray water in parts of the capital, but the moves have had little effect. A senior central government official said there was little more the government could do. “We can only do this much, and now we will have to wait for rains to clean the atmosphere,” said Prashant Gargava, an official at the Central Pollution Control Board, a central body. Gargava, who is in-charge of monitoring air quality, said Delhi’s air has been consistently in the “hazardous” zone, despite measures such as a halt to construction and increasing car parking charges four-fold to encourage people to use public transportation. The PM 2.5 airborne particles are about 30 times finer than a human hair. The particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing respiratory diseases and other ailments. Hospitals in the capital have seen a spike in the number of patients coming in with respiratory complaints, according to media reports. “Every second we are damaging our lungs, but we cannot stop breathing,” said Arvind Kumar, the head of the chest and lung surgery department at the Sir Ganga Ram hospital in the city. United Airlines said it had resumed flights from Newark, New Jersey to New Delhi, India on Sunday, after suspending the service temporarily over concerns about poor air quality in the Indian capital. State and central governments decided to reopen schools on Monday after closing them temporarily for a few days last week. The move, however, is likely to add more vehicles on the road. Enforcement agencies said they were also unable to impose a blanket ban on movement of commercial trucks. Aarti Menon, a teacher at a primary school in New Delhi, said her family was wearing a mask even when they were indoors during the weekend. “Not everyone can afford an air purifier or air-conditioned car. We are all living in hell,” said Menon, a mother of two teenage daughters. The National Green Tribunal, an environment court, has directed the Delhi government and neighbouring states to stop farmers from burning crop residue. But the federal and state governments have not been able to do so yet. A New Delhi-based non-governmental organization, TARA Homes for Children, which supports 60 poor children, said it was seeking donations to buy at least five air purifiers. “Some of the children have breathing issues and couldn’t go to school,” said a volunteer at the NGO.

Delhi bears the brunt of smog despite emergency measures

Being born to a middle-class Indian family in the late 1980s-early 1990s in Kolkata, a state capital, one sort of takes Indian democracy for granted. Life was marked in those days with increasing consumer choice, greater creature comforts, and a frequently changing crop of prime ministers. There was nothing in my existence, in the first decade of my life, that ever made me express wonder at the Indian democracy, or reflect on how extraordinary it was.&nbsp;

It was only when I grew up, it became evident that the freedom and security one took for granted in Delhi, Calcutta or Pune, are often not available in Bastar or Kashmir or those who do not have the twin shields of affluence and a Hindu-sounding name. However, it cannot be denied that the resilience and viability of Indian democracy is a remarkable feature and that it owes a lot to the Indian constitution.&nbsp;

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Stepping into adolescence, another word that cropped up a lot was Emergency. The true impact of the Emergency on the psyche of the nation cannot be fathomed by those like me who came afterward. But the importance of Emergency cannot be understated for it brought with it with the abuse of power and the realisation that &lsquo;<a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/emergencys-useful-scars/">no constitution is emergency proof</a>.&rsquo;&nbsp;

On June 25, 1975, the proclamation of Emergency, signed by the President of India, was published. The following <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/recalling-the-emergency-1975-77-the-emergency-at-work/">two years</a> under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi saw series of undemocratic measures, such as the curtailment of freedom of the press, stringent censorship, <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/among-all-draconian-laws-of-the-emergency-period-the-dreaded-misa-was-most-widely-misused/1/436091.html">misuse of security laws</a>, and <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30040790">forced sterilisation </a>of the poor to meet family planning targets.&nbsp;

This history is not lived history for me. It is learned history. But the lessons of this history remain relevant today, forty-one odd years later.&nbsp; References to the Emergency pop-up in our public discourse often, especially with&nbsp; the ascendancy of a prime minister with perceived <a href="http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/JpLkH97P2plR4Z9ebCrKKL/The-Namo-style.html">authoritarian tendencies</a>.&nbsp; The recent proposed one-day ban on NDTV India was condemned by the Editors Guild of India in a statement as being &lsquo;<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/editors-guild-condemns-oneday-ban-on-ndtv-india/article9304760.ece">reminiscent of the Emergency</a>&rsquo;. L.K Advani - a leader who was arrested during the emergency - said in 2015, &lsquo;forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the constitutional and legal safeguards are stronger&rsquo;. Mr. Advani did not rule out the Emergency happening again.&nbsp;

From a <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/lk-advani-is-wrong-why-india-may-not-face-an-emergency-again/story-uoSs88m5NKiuyNIOIKfHnM.html">legal and constitutional point of view</a>, the question of Emergency has been discussed a <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/lk-advani-is-wrong-why-india-may-not-face-an-emergency-again/story-uoSs88m5NKiuyNIOIKfHnM.html">great dea</a>l. The focus of these discussions has been the<a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/lk-advani-is-wrong-why-india-may-not-face-an-emergency-again/story-uoSs88m5NKiuyNIOIKfHnM.html"> 44th Amendment </a>to the Constitution, which put in place legal safeguards against the imposition of the Emergency and ensured that Article 20 and Article 21 cannot be suspended during an&nbsp;Emergency. These laws give protection in respect of conviction for offences and the right to life and personal liberty respectively.&nbsp;

The discussions have also focussed on the procedure for the selection of judges after the Three Judges Case and the presence of a stronger media. Popularity of social media and greater Internet accessibility have ensured growth of independent media platforms and some reduction in information asymmetry. This should, hopefully, be an added layer of protection.

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One must also mention here, the 1973 judgment in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala that has been hailed as the &lsquo;<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-case-that-saved-indian-democracy/article4647800.ece">case that saved Indian Democracy</a>&rsquo;.&nbsp; This case held that any part of the constitution could be amended by the Parliament, as long as the &lsquo;basic structure or essential features&rsquo; of the constitution were not altered or amended. One of the finest lawyers in India, Arvind Datar, in writing about this judgment, said that if the judgment had not read these implied limitations into the amending power of the Parliament, then India would have degenerated into a totalitarian state.&nbsp;

&nbsp;A similar provision can be found in the German constitution. The Ewigkeitsklausel (Eternity Clause) in the German constitution ensures that the basic principles laid down in the Articles 1 to 20 of the German constitution cannot be amended. The Basic Structure Doctrine evolved in India<a href="http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1809/18090950.htm"> owes</a> quite a bit to a German scholar, Dietrich Conrad. The textual safeguards against unconstitutional amendments in the German constitution can, of course, be understood by rise of dictatorial powers in Germany in the first half of the twentieth century.

Like German history, Indian history looms large on the constitution. The shadow cast by the Emergency is not likely to fade soon, nor should it. Even for those of us, born much after the Emergency began and ended, it is important to remember those days and the constitutional changes that followed. In this process, younger Indians should dwell on events that took place within and outside of India.&nbsp;

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We often hear the question, &lsquo;Can the Emergency happen again?&rsquo; Frankly, the answer is that there are far stronger safeguards against the emergency today than there were 41 years ago.&nbsp;

But this is perhaps not a very useful question to ask. Instead, the questions we should ask&nbsp;are: Firstly, knowing how constitutional values and systems can (and have been) subverted around the world, how do we ensure that democratic values and the constitution are protected in India? Secondly, how do we ensure that values of freedom of speech, freedom of association and&nbsp; liberty are made available not just to the privileged but also to those who live on the margins of Indian Society.

The freedom one took for granted in metros are often not available elsewhere, or for less affluent ones belonging to minority groups

Being born to a middle-class Indian family in the late 1980s-early 1990s in Kolkata, a state capital, one sort of takes Indian democracy for granted. Life was marked in those days with increasing consumer choice, greater creature comforts, and a frequently changing crop of prime ministers. There was nothing in my existence, in the first decade of my life, that ever made me express wonder at the Indian democracy, or reflect on how extraordinary it was. It was only when I grew up, it became evident that the freedom and security one took for granted in Delhi, Calcutta or Pune, are often not available in Bastar or Kashmir or those who do not have the twin shields of affluence and a Hindu-sounding name. However, it cannot be denied that the resilience and viability of Indian democracy is a remarkable feature and that it owes a lot to the Indian constitution. As I grew up it became evident that the freedom and security one took for granted in Delhi, Calcutta or Pune, are often not available in Bastar or Kashmir or those who do not have the twin shields of affluence and a Hindu-sounding name. × Stepping into adolescence, another word that cropped up a lot was Emergency. The true impact of the Emergency on the psyche of the nation cannot be fathomed by those like me who came afterward. But the importance of Emergency cannot be understated for it brought with it with the abuse of power and the realisation that ‘no constitution is emergency proof.’ On June 25, 1975, the proclamation of Emergency, signed by the President of India, was published. The following two years under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi saw series of undemocratic measures, such as the curtailment of freedom of the press, stringent censorship, misuse of security laws, and forced sterilisation of the poor to meet family planning targets. This history is not lived history for me. It is learned history. But the lessons of this history remain relevant today, forty-one odd years later. References to the Emergency pop-up in our public discourse often, especially with the ascendancy of a prime minister with perceived authoritarian tendencies. The recent proposed one-day ban on NDTV India was condemned by the Editors Guild of India in a statement as being ‘reminiscent of the Emergency’. L.K Advani - a leader who was arrested during the emergency - said in 2015, ‘forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the constitutional and legal safeguards are stronger’. Mr. Advani did not rule out the Emergency happening again. From a legal and constitutional point of view, the question of Emergency has been discussed a great deal. The focus of these discussions has been the 44th Amendment to the Constitution, which put in place legal safeguards against the imposition of the Emergency and ensured that Article 20 and Article 21 cannot be suspended during an Emergency. These laws give protection in respect of conviction for offences and the right to life and personal liberty respectively. The discussions have also focussed on the procedure for the selection of judges after the Three Judges Case and the presence of a stronger media. Popularity of social media and greater Internet accessibility have ensured growth of independent media platforms and some reduction in information asymmetry. This should, hopefully, be an added layer of protection. Popularity of social media and greater Internet accessibility have ensured growth of independent media platforms and some reduction in information asymmetry × One must also mention here, the 1973 judgment in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala that has been hailed as the ‘case that saved Indian Democracy’. This case held that any part of the constitution could be amended by the Parliament, as long as the ‘basic structure or essential features’ of the constitution were not altered or amended. One of the finest lawyers in India, Arvind Datar, in writing about this judgment, said that if the judgment had not read these implied limitations into the amending power of the Parliament, then India would have degenerated into a totalitarian state. A similar provision can be found in the German constitution. The Ewigkeitsklausel (Eternity Clause) in the German constitution ensures that the basic principles laid down in the Articles 1 to 20 of the German constitution cannot be amended. The Basic Structure Doctrine evolved in India owes quite a bit to a German scholar, Dietrich Conrad. The textual safeguards against unconstitutional amendments in the German constitution can, of course, be understood by rise of dictatorial powers in Germany in the first half of the twentieth century. Like German history, Indian history looms large on the constitution. The shadow cast by the Emergency is not likely to fade soon, nor should it. Even for those of us, born much after the Emergency began and ended, it is important to remember those days and the constitutional changes that followed. In this process, younger Indians should dwell on events that took place within and outside of India. Even for those of us, born much after the Emergency began and ended, it is important to remember those days and the constitutional changes that followed × We often hear the question, ‘Can the Emergency happen again?’ Frankly, the answer is that there are far stronger safeguards against the emergency today than there were 41 years ago. But this is perhaps not a very useful question to ask. Instead, the questions we should ask are: Firstly, knowing how constitutional values and systems can (and have been) subverted around the world, how do we ensure that democratic values and the constitution are protected in India? Secondly, how do we ensure that values of freedom of speech, freedom of association and liberty are made available not just to the privileged but also to those who live on the margins of Indian Society.

On Constitution Day: Looking within and outside

Mali&#39;s justice ministry announced today it had opened an investigation into the deaths of 17 soldiers killed in an attack on their base, as Malians observed the first of three days of mourning. 
 
The government declared a state of emergency after two groups, one jihadist and the other ethnic, both claimed to have carried out the raid on the military camp on Tuesday, which also left dozens wounded. 
 
&quot;A preliminary investigation has been opened by the chief prosecutor for terror offences,&quot; the ministry said in a statement, calling on Malians to &quot;inform the judicial authorities of anything that can help to advance our inquiries&quot;. 
 
A previous state of emergency in place since April had only been lifted the week before. 
 
Malian jihadist organisation Ansar Dine claimed responsibility for the attack, along with the recently-founded National Alliance for the Protection of Peul Identity and Restoration of Justice (ANSIPRJ). 
 
The military camp massacre in Nampala, central Mali, was the latest in a series of assaults on security forces in Mali, and was condemned as a &quot;coordinated terrorist attack&quot; by the government.&nbsp;Flags flew at half mast outside many buildings in the capital Bamako today, as President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita travelled to visit the wounded and pay tribute to the dead in Segou, the capital of the region where the attack happened. 
 
Mali has seen repeated violence since it fell under the control of Tuareg-led rebels who allied with jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda in 2012, including Ansar Dine. 
 
Attacks are now becoming more frequent in the country&#39;s centre, close to its borders with Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Niger, both from criminal and jihadist elements.&nbsp;Although Islamists were largely ousted by an ongoing French-led military operation launched in January 2013, sporadic attacks from desert hideouts are common. 
 
(AFP) 
 
&nbsp;

This is the latest in a series of of assaults on security forces in Mali. The government condemned it as a 'coordinated terrorist attack'

Mali's justice ministry announced today it had opened an investigation into the deaths of 17 soldiers killed in an attack on their base, as Malians observed the first of three days of mourning. The government declared a state of emergency after two groups, one jihadist and the other ethnic, both claimed to have carried out the raid on the military camp on Tuesday, which also left dozens wounded. "A preliminary investigation has been opened by the chief prosecutor for terror offences," the ministry said in a statement, calling on Malians to "inform the judicial authorities of anything that can help to advance our inquiries". A previous state of emergency in place since April had only been lifted the week before. Malian jihadist organisation Ansar Dine claimed responsibility for the attack, along with the recently-founded National Alliance for the Protection of Peul Identity and Restoration of Justice (ANSIPRJ). The military camp massacre in Nampala, central Mali, was the latest in a series of assaults on security forces in Mali, and was condemned as a "coordinated terrorist attack" by the government. Flags flew at half mast outside many buildings in the capital Bamako today, as President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita travelled to visit the wounded and pay tribute to the dead in Segou, the capital of the region where the attack happened. Mali has seen repeated violence since it fell under the control of Tuareg-led rebels who allied with jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda in 2012, including Ansar Dine. Attacks are now becoming more frequent in the country's centre, close to its borders with Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Niger, both from criminal and jihadist elements. Although Islamists were largely ousted by an ongoing French-led military operation launched in January 2013, sporadic attacks from desert hideouts are common. (AFP)

Mali opens terrorism inquiry after 17 soldiers killed

Call it the law of unintended consequences. A measure to save Greece from the abyss of a default and crashing out of the eurozone now holds its economy in a stranglehold, preventing its recovery. 
 
Cast back a year: the standoff between the Greek government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the EU and IMF over the terms of a new rescue plan for the country was reaching breaking point. 
 
The talks on a third bailout had been going nowhere since Tsipras took power in January after sweeping elections on an anti-austerity platform, and the EU and IMF warned the country&#39;s place in the eurozone was at risk if it didn&#39;t accept more spending cuts and tax hikes. 
 
Meanwhile, Greeks had been taking out more and more of their savings out of banks, with 20 per cent gone when during the night of June 26 to 27 Tsipras shocked the world by announcing he would put the bailout conditions to a referendum vote. 
 
In order to prevent a run on banks, Greece imposed capital controls, limiting cash withdrawals to 420 Euros ($465) per week. 
 
The restriction is still in place, and it&#39;s having a long-term impact on the economy. 
 
Consumption was down 1.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2015, even though prices have been falling in Greece. 
 
Overall, the Greek economy, which had begun growing again at the end of 2014, shrank by 1.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2016. 
 
&#39;Who has 420 Euros?&#39; 
 
For many Greeks, the 420-Euro weekly limit was not too much of a brake on spending as they had already been progressively tightening their belts since Greece&#39;s first 110-billion-Euro international bailout in 2010. 
 
&quot;Families have cut their expenses so much these past years of the crisis that it didn&#39;t really create a problem ... who now has more than 420 Euros per week to spend?&quot; said Dimitris Sotiropoulos, a draftsman and father of three children. 
 
However, the impact has been greater on businesses, as trade figures show: imports plunged by 12.8 per cent and exports by 11.7 per cent. 
 
The controls, which hampered the ability to import goods and conduct business abroad, added to the &quot;tax pressure and collapse of the social security system&quot; of recent years, said Thanassis Kalabalikis, president of the Athens manufacturers&#39; federation. 
 
&quot;Small entrepreneurs, who before the crisis were the backbone of the Greek economy, had already taken a blow from seven years of recession, and capital controls just added to the sluggishness,&quot; he said. 
 
Some 26,000 Greek businesses of all sizes have shut their doors since capital controls were introduced. 
 
For Panayiotis Petrakis, an economics professor at the University of Athens, &quot;limitations on the free flow of capital and the lack of liquidity are preventing the recovery of the economy and don&#39;t encourage confidence among investors.&quot; 
 
Greece finally clinched the 86-billion-Euro bailout at the end of July, helping to bring back a certain amount of economic stability, including by a recapitalisation of its battered banks at the end of the year. 
 
Low prices, black market 
 
The Greek government has relaxed the capital controls in recent months, in particular allowing higher withdrawals on funds returned from abroad. 
 
A commission is also in place to examine requests from businesses and individuals for transactions above transfer limits. 
 
However, experts worry that capital controls could remain in place to the end of the year, or even to mid-2017, given the experience of fellow Eurozone member Cyprus which took two years to lift capital controls it imposed during the height of its crisis in 2013. 
 
Louka Katseli, a former economy minister who now is the board chairwoman at the private lender National Bank of Greece, is among those who believes the capital controls will be lifted later rather than sooner. 
 
For that, she believes that three conditions need to be met: there are effective incentives for funds to return to the country, the problem of dodgy loans on bank balance sheets has been resolved, and most importantly Greece that receives a positive evaluation from its international creditors in a review later this year. 
 
The only advantage of the capital controls has been to encourage Greeks to use other means of payments when they can: bank transfers and card payments inside the country were not restricted. 
 
That would help reduce problematic tax evasion, if more Greek businesses install card terminals. 
 
&quot;People have adapted but not businesses, as the installation of card terminals has been a headache, because in addition to many bank commissions many indebted companies are in such a terrible state they don&#39;t have the right to install them,&quot; said Kalabalikis. 
 
The result has been, according to Sotiropoulos, that &quot;prices have fallen even more and fostered the black market&quot; as businesses are inclined &quot;to offer considerable discounts to get sales by not issuing a receipt and dodging the tax payments&quot;. 
 
(AFP)

To prevent a run on banks Greece limited cash withdrawals to 420 Euros per week, which is having a long-term impact on the economy

Call it the law of unintended consequences. A measure to save Greece from the abyss of a default and crashing out of the eurozone now holds its economy in a stranglehold, preventing its recovery. Cast back a year: the standoff between the Greek government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the EU and IMF over the terms of a new rescue plan for the country was reaching breaking point. The talks on a third bailout had been going nowhere since Tsipras took power in January after sweeping elections on an anti-austerity platform, and the EU and IMF warned the country's place in the eurozone was at risk if it didn't accept more spending cuts and tax hikes. Meanwhile, Greeks had been taking out more and more of their savings out of banks, with 20 per cent gone when during the night of June 26 to 27 Tsipras shocked the world by announcing he would put the bailout conditions to a referendum vote. In order to prevent a run on banks, Greece imposed capital controls, limiting cash withdrawals to 420 Euros ($465) per week. The restriction is still in place, and it's having a long-term impact on the economy. Consumption was down 1.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2015, even though prices have been falling in Greece. Overall, the Greek economy, which had begun growing again at the end of 2014, shrank by 1.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2016. 'Who has 420 Euros?' For many Greeks, the 420-Euro weekly limit was not too much of a brake on spending as they had already been progressively tightening their belts since Greece's first 110-billion-Euro international bailout in 2010. "Families have cut their expenses so much these past years of the crisis that it didn't really create a problem ... who now has more than 420 Euros per week to spend?" said Dimitris Sotiropoulos, a draftsman and father of three children. However, the impact has been greater on businesses, as trade figures show: imports plunged by 12.8 per cent and exports by 11.7 per cent. The controls, which hampered the ability to import goods and conduct business abroad, added to the "tax pressure and collapse of the social security system" of recent years, said Thanassis Kalabalikis, president of the Athens manufacturers' federation. "Small entrepreneurs, who before the crisis were the backbone of the Greek economy, had already taken a blow from seven years of recession, and capital controls just added to the sluggishness," he said. Some 26,000 Greek businesses of all sizes have shut their doors since capital controls were introduced. For Panayiotis Petrakis, an economics professor at the University of Athens, "limitations on the free flow of capital and the lack of liquidity are preventing the recovery of the economy and don't encourage confidence among investors." Greece finally clinched the 86-billion-Euro bailout at the end of July, helping to bring back a certain amount of economic stability, including by a recapitalisation of its battered banks at the end of the year. Low prices, black market The Greek government has relaxed the capital controls in recent months, in particular allowing higher withdrawals on funds returned from abroad. A commission is also in place to examine requests from businesses and individuals for transactions above transfer limits. However, experts worry that capital controls could remain in place to the end of the year, or even to mid-2017, given the experience of fellow Eurozone member Cyprus which took two years to lift capital controls it imposed during the height of its crisis in 2013. Louka Katseli, a former economy minister who now is the board chairwoman at the private lender National Bank of Greece, is among those who believes the capital controls will be lifted later rather than sooner. For that, she believes that three conditions need to be met: there are effective incentives for funds to return to the country, the problem of dodgy loans on bank balance sheets has been resolved, and most importantly Greece that receives a positive evaluation from its international creditors in a review later this year. The only advantage of the capital controls has been to encourage Greeks to use other means of payments when they can: bank transfers and card payments inside the country were not restricted. That would help reduce problematic tax evasion, if more Greek businesses install card terminals. "People have adapted but not businesses, as the installation of card terminals has been a headache, because in addition to many bank commissions many indebted companies are in such a terrible state they don't have the right to install them," said Kalabalikis. The result has been, according to Sotiropoulos, that "prices have fallen even more and fostered the black market" as businesses are inclined "to offer considerable discounts to get sales by not issuing a receipt and dodging the tax payments". (AFP)

For Greeks, emergency economic measures feed today's crisis

The death toll from flooding in the US state of West Virginia rose to 24 on Saturday, as President Barack Obama declared a major disaster, releasing federal aid for some of the hardest-hit areas. 
 
The president &quot;ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides,&quot; the White House said in a statement. 
 
Days of heavy rain have caused massive flooding in the state, where high waters have washed away cars, trapped hundreds and cut power to large areas. 
 
More than 21,300 people were without power across the state on Saturday evening, according to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 
 
Hundreds of homes had been severely damaged or destroyed and more than 60 roads remained closed, it said. 
 
Photos on the division&#39;s Facebook page showed a muddy, swollen river in the West Virginia town of Clendenin, that had spilled over its banks, and inundated a nearby neighborhood with floodwater. 
 
Obama&#39;s disaster declaration makes federal funding available to Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas counties. 
 
The latest fatality from the flooding was reported Saturday in Greenbrier County, bringing the overall tally to 24 people dead, state spokeswoman Jessica Tice told AFP. 
 
Among the dead was an eight-year-old boy who was swept away while walking along a creek bank with his mother and sister, local news station WSAZ reported. His body was found after three hours of searching. 
 
West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin said on Saturday he expected 400 National Guard members to be deployed during the day to assist local emergency responders in their relief efforts. 
 
He said that support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that was released under the disaster declaration would &quot;provide much needed assistance to severely impacted regions.&quot; 
 
In five of the worst-hit counties volunteer centers were being set up, according to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 
 
It said that three Red Cross shelters and a number of community-based shelters had also been established across the state. 
 
&quot;We have so many businesses, individuals and churches really rallying together and gathering supplies,&quot; Tice said. 
 
The devastating flooding also forced the PGA Tour to cancel its Greenbrier Classic scheduled for July 7-10 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. 
 
The torrential rains that hit Greenbrier County especially hard caused extensive flood damage to the course beyond what could be repaired in time to stage the event, tour and resort officials said. 
 
(AFP)

Days of heavy rain have caused massive flooding, high waters have washed away cars, trapped hundreds and cut power to large areas

The death toll from flooding in the US state of West Virginia rose to 24 on Saturday, as President Barack Obama declared a major disaster, releasing federal aid for some of the hardest-hit areas. The president "ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides," the White House said in a statement. Days of heavy rain have caused massive flooding in the state, where high waters have washed away cars, trapped hundreds and cut power to large areas. More than 21,300 people were without power across the state on Saturday evening, according to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Hundreds of homes had been severely damaged or destroyed and more than 60 roads remained closed, it said. Photos on the division's Facebook page showed a muddy, swollen river in the West Virginia town of Clendenin, that had spilled over its banks, and inundated a nearby neighborhood with floodwater. Obama's disaster declaration makes federal funding available to Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas counties. The latest fatality from the flooding was reported Saturday in Greenbrier County, bringing the overall tally to 24 people dead, state spokeswoman Jessica Tice told AFP. Among the dead was an eight-year-old boy who was swept away while walking along a creek bank with his mother and sister, local news station WSAZ reported. His body was found after three hours of searching. West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin said on Saturday he expected 400 National Guard members to be deployed during the day to assist local emergency responders in their relief efforts. He said that support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that was released under the disaster declaration would "provide much needed assistance to severely impacted regions." In five of the worst-hit counties volunteer centers were being set up, according to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. It said that three Red Cross shelters and a number of community-based shelters had also been established across the state. "We have so many businesses, individuals and churches really rallying together and gathering supplies," Tice said. The devastating flooding also forced the PGA Tour to cancel its Greenbrier Classic scheduled for July 7-10 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The torrential rains that hit Greenbrier County especially hard caused extensive flood damage to the course beyond what could be repaired in time to stage the event, tour and resort officials said. (AFP)

Obama declares disaster as West Virginia flood death toll climbs to 24

A stubborn wildfire stoked by triple-digit temperatures raged for a sixth day outside Santa Barbara in coastal Southern California on Monday as crews worked to keep the blaze some have called a &quot;sleeping giant&quot; in check, officials said. 
 
So far, the so-called Sherpa Fire burning in chaparral and tall grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Santa Barbara has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the hilly area. 
 
Authorities said they expected to begin allowing homeowners and farm laborers back into those areas on Wednesday, though county health and environment officials issued an air quality warning for smoke and falling ash from the fire. 
 
The tally of acreage burned held at nearly 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) since late Sunday, said Jim Schwarber, a spokesman for the multi-agency team combating the blaze. 
 
The fire, which broke out last Wednesday in the Los Padres National Forest and was 54 per cent contained by Monday, has been called a sleeping giant due to the triple-digit temperatures and dense, bone-dry brush in the area that has not burned in decades, he said. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re working hard to keep that giant contained so it doesn&#39;t wake up,&quot; Schwarber said. 
 
So far, the blaze has destroyed only one building - a water-treatment center at a campground, he said. 
 
But it has threatened more than 200 structures and forced officials to close the 101 Freeway near the Pacific Coast periodically as flames crept to within less than a mile of the shore. 
 
More than 1,900 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. 
 
&quot;Red flag warnings&quot; were also posted for the mountains around Los Angeles on Monday as two fires erupted in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest north of the city. 
 
One blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, had consumed some 1,500 acres by late afternoon and prompted the evacuation of about 70 homes. The second blaze a few miles away devoured about 1,000 acres, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lulu Castillo said. 
 
About 160 miles farther south, firefighters battled flames roaring through dry brush and chaparral near the Mexican border for a second day, keeping the desert community of Potrero under evacuation. 
 
That fire, about 50 miles southeast of San Diego, had charred more than 1,900 acres and was just 5 per cent contained on Monday, California fire officials reported. 
 
Two states away, the 6-day-old Dog Head Fire in central New Mexico has charred more than 17,000 acres and was 9 per cent contained after destroying 24 homes. 
(Reuters)

It has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the area close to Santa Barbara

A stubborn wildfire stoked by triple-digit temperatures raged for a sixth day outside Santa Barbara in coastal Southern California on Monday as crews worked to keep the blaze some have called a "sleeping giant" in check, officials said. So far, the so-called Sherpa Fire burning in chaparral and tall grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Santa Barbara has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the hilly area. Authorities said they expected to begin allowing homeowners and farm laborers back into those areas on Wednesday, though county health and environment officials issued an air quality warning for smoke and falling ash from the fire. The tally of acreage burned held at nearly 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) since late Sunday, said Jim Schwarber, a spokesman for the multi-agency team combating the blaze. The fire, which broke out last Wednesday in the Los Padres National Forest and was 54 per cent contained by Monday, has been called a sleeping giant due to the triple-digit temperatures and dense, bone-dry brush in the area that has not burned in decades, he said. "We're working hard to keep that giant contained so it doesn't wake up," Schwarber said. So far, the blaze has destroyed only one building - a water-treatment center at a campground, he said. But it has threatened more than 200 structures and forced officials to close the 101 Freeway near the Pacific Coast periodically as flames crept to within less than a mile of the shore. More than 1,900 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. "Red flag warnings" were also posted for the mountains around Los Angeles on Monday as two fires erupted in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest north of the city. One blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, had consumed some 1,500 acres by late afternoon and prompted the evacuation of about 70 homes. The second blaze a few miles away devoured about 1,000 acres, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lulu Castillo said. About 160 miles farther south, firefighters battled flames roaring through dry brush and chaparral near the Mexican border for a second day, keeping the desert community of Potrero under evacuation. That fire, about 50 miles southeast of San Diego, had charred more than 1,900 acres and was just 5 per cent contained on Monday, California fire officials reported. Two states away, the 6-day-old Dog Head Fire in central New Mexico has charred more than 17,000 acres and was 9 per cent contained after destroying 24 homes. (Reuters)

Firefighters hold 'sleeping giant' wildfire in check in California,

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