<ul><li>The skies over many parts of Gurugram turned dark on Saturday as swarms of <keyword id="1660797" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="locusts">locusts</keyword> descended on the town.</li><li>The migratory pests are likely to spare the national capital for now, officials said.</li><li>The pests, he said, were headed towards Palwal in Haryana. </li><li>In May, India battled a devastating <keyword id="7710870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Desert-locust">desert locust</keyword> outbreak. The crop-destroying swarms first attacked Rajasthan and then spread to Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. </li></ul>The skies over many parts of Gurugram turned dark on Saturday as swarms of locusts descended on the town, but the migratory pests are likely to spare the national capital for now, officials said. The dark cloud of locusts, spread across two kilometres, crossed the suburban city, touched the Delhi-Gurugram border but did not enter Delhi. "The swarms moved from west to east. They entered Gurugram around 11.30 am," K L Gurjar of the Locust Warning Organisation, Ministry of Agriculture, told . The pests, he said, were headed towards Palwal in Haryana. Alarmed at the invasion of the locusts, which settled on trees, rooftops and plants, many residents of Gurugram shared videos from their high-rise perches. Swarms of locusts were seen in condominiums such as <keyword id="585521" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Beverly-Park">Beverly Park</keyword>, Garden Estate and Heritage City as well as buildings in Sikanderpur in the high-rise town bordering Delhi. In May, India battled a devastating desert locust outbreak. The crop-destroying swarms first attacked Rajasthan and then spread to Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Locust clouds over Gururgram, likely to spare Delhi

<ul><li>On June 27, swarms of locusts were seen in several parts of Gurugram and on the Gurugram-Dwarka expressway near the <keyword id="89772" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indira-Gandhi-International-Airport">Indira Gandhi International Airport</keyword>, Delhi. </li><li><keyword id="9474774" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-delhi-air-traffic-control">The Delhi Air Traffic Control</keyword> (ATC) also directed pilots and airlines to take the necessary landing and take-off precautions. </li><li>The Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has now called for an emergency meeting to tackle the situation. </li><li>A square kilometer of locust swarm containing around 40 million locusts can eat as much food as 35,000 people would in a day. </li><li>This is a first for Gurugram, the city has never been through a locust attack before. </li></ul>On June 27, swarms of locusts were seen in several parts of Gurugram and on the Gurugram-Dwarka expressway near the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. The Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) also directed pilots and airlines to take the necessary landing and take-off precautions. "Pilots of all airlines have been warned about <keyword id="8449878" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Locust">the locust</keyword> seen near the airport, we have set up a team to monitor in view of the locust," a senior ATC official told ANI. <div type="image" title="682ee1ca23c77c32cd63345d1dd7d03b" msid="76660920" hostid="261"></div> The Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has now called for an emergency meeting to tackle the situation. "After the emergency meeting, an advisory will be issued on steps to be taken to deal with the situation," Rai said. The officials from the agriculture department are now being asked to visit the areas near to Gurugram. The dark clouds of locusts covered several parts of the national capital region today - including Rajendra Park of sector 5, Surat Nagar, Dhanwapur, Palam Vihar, Maruti factory in sector 18, DLF phase 1 and other places in old and new Gurugram, IANS reported. <div type="image" title="a2b98ef6add9e94bf19b026a1b2c525d" msid="76660947" hostid="261"></div> This insect, which is more of a grasshopper, can eat more than its actual body weight. A square kilometer of locust swarm containing around 40 million locusts can eat as much food as 35,000 people would in a day. According to PTI, the district administration has issued guidelines for the residents, asking them to stay indoors. The residents in the affected areas are now speaking through the loudspeakers to keep the locusts away. "The swarms moved from west to east. They entered Gurugram around 11.30 am," K L Gurjar of the Locust Warning Organisation, Ministry of Agriculture, told IANS. However, the locust clouds are reportedly approaching South Delhi now. <div type="image" title="ea5704607cfea3599e6386fe0bb66265 (1)" msid="76660950" hostid="261"></div> This is a first for Gurugram, the city has never been through a locust attack before. The locust attacks first happened in May this year. The <keyword id="7710870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Desert-locust">desert locust</keyword> outbreak destroyed crops - spreading across Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The state administrations are now using special vehicles and fire engines to spray insecticides across the northern part of India. Previously, it has happened in remote areas of Gujarat. With inputs from PTI

Swarms of locusts blanket India’s national capital region — pilots and airlines alerted ahead

<ul><li>At least 10 Uttar Pradesh districts were on alert on May 26 after a large number of locusts were spotted in Mahoba and Jhansi districts. </li><li>The locusts are currently active in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. </li><li>So far, these <keyword id="8492128" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Locust-attacks">locust attacks</keyword> have had a low impact on crops as farmers have already harvested Rabi crops. </li><li>However, if these attacks are not prevented the present volume of the swarms will grow exponentially and people will have to deal with up to 80 million locusts per square kilometre. </li></ul>From Rajasthan to Uttar Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh, swarms of locusts have attacked different urban and rural areas over the last few days. A locust is a large, mainly tropical grasshopper, with strong powers of flight and it migrates in vast swarms which cause extensive damage to vegetation. At least 10 districts in Uttar Pradesh were on alert on May 26 after a large number of locusts were spotted in Mahoba and Jhansi districts. Their visit came after already attacking crops in neighbouring states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This swarm has come travelling through Iran, Pakistan, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. And now, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/locust-swarms-headed-to-delhi-up-braces-for-2nd-attack/articleshow/76018573.cms">these locusts are headed to the national capital, New Delhi </a>— and could have a severe impact on its 22% of green cover. Several countries have <a href="https://twitter.com/ParveenKaswan/status/1265125736735666176">witnessed an increase in locust swarms </a>in the last two years. The primary reason behind this is Mekunu and Luban cyclonic storms which occurred in May and October 2018 in Oman and Yemen. Here are some pictures showing the movement of highly destructively locusts in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh : Amid coronavirus outbreak, India is struggling with the worst <keyword id="5950671" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="locust-attack">locust attack</keyword> in the last three decades. <div type="image" title="Parveen Kaswan22" msid="76032597" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The movement of locusts. &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Around 50,000 hectares of croplands have been destroyed by the locusts and they are still out there — damaging whatever comes in their way. <div type="image" title="Parveen Kaswan" msid="76032650" hostid="261"></div> Desert Locusts are usually sited in western Rajasthan and Gujarat every year in small groups. <div type="image" title="Parveen Kaswan3. jpg" msid="76032677" hostid="261"></div> They don't attack animals or humans but can devastate crops and other areas of greenery. However, a small group of locusts is capable of eating food equivalent to 35,000 people. <div type="image" title="Locust BCCL" msid="76032689" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Locusts attack in Jaipur&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> They are known to eat leaves, flowers, bark, stems, fruit, seeds and crops including millet, rice, maize, sorghum, sugarcane, barley, cotton, fruit trees, date palm, vegetables, rangeland grasses, acacia, pines and banana. <div type="image" title="23C7247B-D424-43CB-8396-6A1E1E16900E" msid="76032701" hostid="261"></div> The locusts are currently active in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. <div type="image" title="Locust BCCL 2" msid="76032709" hostid="261"></div> Rajasthan is currently the worst-affected state, according to the Union Environment ministry. <div type="image" title="Locust BCCL 3" msid="76032719" hostid="261"></div> So far, these locust attacks have had a low impact on crops as farmers have already harvested Rabi crops. But the next cycle of Kharif crops could be at risk. <div type="image" title="Locust BCCL 4" msid="76032725" hostid="261"></div> If these attacks are not prevented the present volume of the swarms will grow exponentially and people will have to deal with <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/locust-swarms-headed-to-delhi-up-braces-for-2nd-attack/articleshow/76018573.cms">up to 80 million locusts per square kilometre. </a> <div type="image" title="cbdd50b3c452f9dbb550b8598077e164" msid="76032727" hostid="261"></div> At some places in UP, farmers <a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/26/10-up-districts-on-alert-after-locust-swarms-attack-crops-in-rajasthan-mp-2148229.html">have been advised to beat thalis</a> to drive these insects away. People have used a similar technique in Jaipur, Rajasthan too. <div type="image" title="Locust BCCL 1" msid="76032742" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People beating thali in Jaipur, Rajasthan. &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> In Vamsi's district, authorities were arranging sound systems in the fields where crops are vulnerable. <div type="image" title="Jhansi 2" msid="76032753" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Locust attack in Jhansi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Farmers have also been advised to <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/locust-attack-dj-on-up-field-plays-loud-music-to-fight-locusts-up-cop-tweets-video-2235898">play loud music</a> to drive the insects away and save crops like moong and vegetables. <div type="image" title="11a62317181e0fd62ef6b91b15a50d3d" msid="76032764" hostid="261"></div> In Rajasthan, the government <a href="https://www.livemint.com/industry/agriculture/now-drones-and-planes-to-fight-locust-menace-in-rajasthan-11590406443059.html">is using drones and planes</a> to fight the locust attack. <div type="image" title="7478639c5f2f193812c9e120026dbc55" msid="76032774" hostid="261"></div> These attacks can also turn profitable for people who catch them, according to Dr Srinivas Siddharth. Interestingly, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/locust-swarms-headed-to-delhi-up-braces-for-2nd-attack/articleshow/76018573.cms">locusts are rich in protein</a>, which is a healthy food option for birds and fish. <div type="image" title="Rajasthan" msid="76032793" hostid="261"></div> (With inputs from agencies) SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/uttarakhand-forest-fire-pictures-videos-and-visuals-as-north-india-temperatures-rise/articleshow/76025287.cms">Devastating pictures from Uttarakhand forest fires over last four days⁠— forests burn as North India becomes the world’s warmest region</a>

Locust attacks may come to New Delhi — these 15 pictures show how they have already wreaked havoc in other parts of India

<ul><li>The spokesperson for the <keyword id="6374106" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-external-affairs">Ministry of External Affairs</keyword> (MEA), <keyword id="916281" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anurag-Srivastava">Anurag Srivastava</keyword> announced that India has already asked Pakistan to open channels of communication to address the growing desert locust problem in India — but they are yet to respond. </li><li>Hindustan Pesticides Limited is in the process of producing 20 thousand litres of malathion pesticide to address the problem that now plagues at least five Indian states.</li><li>Srivastava said that malathion has proven to be an effective deterrent against desert locusts in the past.</li></ul>Locusts swarms are causing devastation to India’s agriculture and there is silence on the Pakistan side of things. “We are yet to receive a response from Pakistan,” said the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Anurag Srivastava. During a press conference last night, he disclosed that India and Pakistan have a channel of communication — at the level of locust officials — to address the issue in annual meetings. Normally, these meetings happen in the month of June. “In view of the alarming locust problem this year, we have suggested that this mechanism be activated and coordinated control operations be undertaken,” he said. However, Pakistan has not engaged on the issue yet. Annual locust swarms normally stay centred around the state of Rajasthan. This time around the problem has escalated to other states as well — including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Officials now fear that India’s national capital, New Delhi, may also be under threat. Hindustan Pesticides Limited is producing 20 thousand litres of pesticide “We are in the process of supply 20 thousand litres of malathion pesticide to run for these desert locust operations,” said Srivastava. The pesticide is manufactured by Hindustan Pesticides Limited and has been found “very effective” in controlling desert locusts, according to him. In low levels, the use of malathion is not harmful to humans. However, high amounts of pesticide for extended periods of time in the air, water or even the food can cause difficulty breathing, chest tightness, vomiting, cramps and other undesirable effects, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (<a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=520&amp;tid=92">ATSDR</a>). SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/pictures-of-locust-attacks-in-jaipur-rajasthan-madhya-pradesh-uttar-pradesh/articleshow/76032310.cms">Locust attacks may come to New Delhi — these 15 pictures show how they have already wreaked havoc in other parts of India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/locust-swarms-devour-fields-of-crops-in-a-single-day-that-would-feed-35000-people-and-covid-19-threatens-to-make-the-pest-problem-even-worse/articleshow/75831656.cms">Locust swarms devour fields of crops in a single day that would feed 35,000 people — and COVID-19 threatens to make the pest problem even worse</a>

Locust swarms are turning into a diplomatic issue between India and Pakistan

Drone-as-a-Service (DAAS) provider Garuda Aerospace will soon start spraying anti-locust pesticide in several parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Noida near Delhi, said a top company official. "We have got the order to deploy five drones for anti-locust operations from <keyword id="9479061" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="banda-university-of-agriculture-technology">Banda University of Agriculture &amp; Technology</keyword>, Uttar Pradesh. We will be sending 10 pilots for operating the drones. The mandate is to deploy the drones for a total of 50 hours at the locations specified by the University," Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Managing Director of city-based Garuda Aerospace, told IANS. He said the company has already deployed its drones in Rajasthan in <keyword id="9446117" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="locust-control-operations">locust control operations</keyword>. "This is the first time drones are being used in locust control measures in India. It is a new case scenario," Jayaprakash said. According to him, there are two methods of spraying the pesticide -- one by flying above the swarm of locust and spraying on them and the other is to spray the pesticide beforehand on the areas where the locusts are expected to land. He said the state government agencies predict the flight path of the locust and give us one/two days notices on the location where the drones are to be used. Sometimes the notice is very short. Jayaprakash said the locust hit percentage is about 70 per cent as per the state government officials. "Unlike bees that attack an adversary, locusts swarm does not attack drones. Perhaps they see it as a big bird, their enemy and avoid. Their main purpose is to eat, procreate and fly," Jayaprakash said. According to him, the Banda University order will be executed in three/four days as the total 50 hours of flying can be completed by the five drones in that time. "The five drones will be flown by air on Monday," he added. Garuda Aerospace has been carrying out drone based anti-coronavirus sanitation orders from several municipal corporations and smart cities like <keyword id="6357203" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Varanasi">Varanasi</keyword>, Rourkela, Raipur, Chennai and Hyderabad. "While the government contracts for anti-coronavirus sanitation orders have been completed, the corporate sector has started using our services. And now the orders are for locust control operations," Jayaprakash added. According to him, the Covid-19 pandemic and locust attack has increased the focus on drones and their use. Apart from spraying anti-coronavirus disinfectants, drones were used by police in Tamil Nadu to monitor the lockdown violators. Jayaprakash said Garuda Aerospace has manufactured and serviced drones for several government departments in Tamil Nadu, like forests, electricity, police, mining, agriculture, Indian Coast Guard and others. "Already drones are being used for spraying pesticides, weedicides and liquid fertiliser on farms and is also used for monitoring of pipelines and surveillance and now for locust control operations," Leo Peter Charles, Managing Director, Jane Aerospace Private Ltd told IANS. Jane Aerospace is into consulting, marketing, sales and provision of skilled manpower support for drone operating companies. Agreeing with Jayaprakash, Charles said there will be more interest on drones from different agencies. "The challenge for the drone makers is importing critical components from China given the current border tussle," Charles said. Jayaprakash said there are other markets wherefrom the critical components can be imported and China is not the sole market place. The only advantage China offers is the price, but there is also the issue of quality. Meanwhile, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has set up a nine member working group to suggest suitable insurance cover for drones as their numbers are on the rise. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-records-biggest-single-day-spike-of-19906-covid-19-cases-tally-reaches-528859/articleshow/76670166.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">A record single-day surge of 19,906 COVID-19 cases on Sunday on June 28 in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/locust-attacks-in-up-jhansi-chitrakoot-prayagraj-pratapgarh-bhadohi-azamgarh-and-ambedkar-nagar/articleshow/76669556.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Swarms of locusts reach Uttar Pradesh, several districts put on alert</a>

Garuda Aerospace to deploy drones in Uttar Pradesh to help control locust

By Shakoor Rather New Delhi, Feb 6 () The recent locust outbreak along the India-Pakistan border may have been driven by the longer-than-usual monsoon rains across the region, and frequent cyclones in the Indian Ocean, scientists say. In India, the outbreak -- the biggest in 26 years -- began late last year in Gujarat and Rajasthan states, and recently Punjab was also affected. In Pakistan, the government declared national emergency last week to eliminate the attacking swarms of desert locusts, which were destroying crops on a large scale in the country's Punjab province. "The current locust outbreak is the biggest in 25 years in Ethiopia and Somalia, 26 years in India, 70 years in Kenya," Keith Cressman, locust forecasting officer at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) told . "The outbreak started after heavy amounts of rains over east Africa and the Arabian Peninsula," Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune added. According to the FAO, locusts are the oldest migratory pests in the world. These insects differ from ordinary grasshoppers in their ability to change behaviour, and form swarms that can migrate over large distances. The most devastating of all locust species is the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria), according to FAO. The locusts, which are considered to be among the most dangerous pests known to humanity, reproduce fast -- 20-fold within three months, the FAO experts noted. An adult locust can eat quantity equal to its weight daily, and just a single square kilometer of swarm can contain up to 80 million adults, they said. Koll noted the heavy rains which drove the locust outbreak occurred due to intense storm activity sourced from the Arabian Sea during the last two seasons. "Heavy rain triggers growth of vegetation in arid areas where desert locusts can then grow and breed," he said. Koll explained that recently climate change accentuated the phenomenon called the "Indian Ocean Dipole", with warmer than usual waters to its west, and cooler waters to its east. "On top of that, the rising temperatures due to global warming made the Western Indian Ocean particularly warm," he said. Cressman added that the current locust invasion in India by an unprecedented number of swarms originated in southern Iran from their breeding in spring last year. "Summer breeding along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border was much higher than normal due to the swarm invasion and the monsoon rains lasting one month longer than normal, allowing up to three generations of breeding," Cressman said. The outbreak originated from two cyclones (May and Oct 2018) that allowed three generations of breeding - from June 2018 to March 2019 -- in the Arabian Peninsula, and caused an 8,000-fold increase in locust numbers, he added. According to Cressman, this was followed by further breeding after unusually heavy rains in Iran and Yemen, and finally another cyclone in the Horn of Africa in early December 2019. "Generally enhanced convection (cloud formation and rains) and cyclone activity follows the warm waters as they derive the energy and moisture from the ocean," Koll explained. As a result, he said, regions surrounding the warm western Indian Ocean -- such as East Africa, Arabian Peninsula and Indian subcontinent received a lot of rains during the last two seasons. "Along with that, the cyclone activity over the west Indian Ocean was also exceptional -- we saw the largest number, and the strongest cyclones this year -- releasing more rains. This might have triggered the locust outbreak," he said. India has not witnessed any full-blown locust cycles after 1962, however, they experts said, large-scale upsurges were observed during 1978 and 1993. Globally, Cressman said, the current generation of swarms formed shortly after last season's crops were harvested, but there has been considerable damage to pastures -- a primary livelihood in the Horn of Africa. "It is not only warm temperatures that favour locusts but also rainfall. The latter is not expected to occur is sufficient quantities until the start of the summer monsoon in Rajasthan which is usually in July, therefore, breeding now is not very likely in India," he said. "Climate models do show that the number and intensity of Indian Ocean Dipole events -- like the one we saw in 2019 -- are going to increase further in the future," Koll added. SAR VIS AKJ SARSAR

Prolonged monsoon in Indo-Pak region drove recent locust outbreak: Scientists

New Delhi, Apr 27 () State-run HIL India is looking for joint venture investments from agro-chemical makers in China, South Korea and Japan after the government asked fertiliser and chemical PSUs to convert the current COVID-19 adversity into an opportunity.Fertiliser and Chemicals Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has advised that "Indian corporates especially PSUs under his ministry should try to convert COVID-19 adversity into an opportunity of attracting investments from abroad.""Following on the advice, HIL, a CPSU under the department, is looking for expanding its business area and has sent proposals to Indian Embassies/Missions in China, Japan and South Korea for inviting interested agro-chemical manufacturers in respective countries for investment in India," an official statement said.HIL is looking for business tie up in areas of contract manufacturing or plan-on-lease arrangement, it said. For smooth running of its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals has taken initiatives to overcome the hurdles posed by Covid-19 pandemic and has suggested them to strengthen their performance by exploring joint ventures with global enterprises looking for investments. Despite facing a lot of hurdles due to COVID crisis, the ministry said HIL is ensuring supply of essential chemicals such as DDT in health segments, while seeds and pesticides in agriculture segments in various parts of the country.The ministry said that production in HIL units has been affected during the lockdown period. However, the company has shown good sales during the last week ended April 24.HIL sold 37.99 tonnes of agro-chemicals, dispatched 97 tonnes of DDT, executed an export order of 10 tonnes of Mancozeb to Peru, it said.HIL has also drafted an agreement, which has been shared with the Ministry of Agriculture, for supply of Malathion Technical for Locust Control Programme, it added. LUX MKJ

HIL looking for JV investments from China, S Korea, Japan amid COVID-19 crisis

New Delhi, Jun 28 () The country will have to focus on defeating coronavirus and bolstering the economy as it exits from the lockdown and enters the "unlock" phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday underscoring the need to keep guard against the deadly virus. He also stressed that India has always transformed adversities into stepping stones to success and this year won't be different. "During this unlock period, one will have to focus on two points -- defeating coronavirus and strengthening the economy," Modi said in his monthly "Mann ki Baat" radio address.He said as people move out during the unlock period, they have to remain more vigilant compared to the lockdown period. "Always remember, if you do not wear a mask, do not observe the two-yard social distancing norms or do not take other precautions, you are putting others at risk besides yourselves, especially the elderly and children at home," he cautioned. Referring to the recent decisions taken by his government, Modi said during this unlock phase, "many other things are getting unlocked", which had shackled the country for decades. He referred to reforms in the mining, space, agriculture and other sectors, saying these will not only pace up the movement towards self-reliant India, but also boost the advancement of technology in India. On the various challenges thrown up during the year 2020, Modi said people often discuss as to when the year will end. Referring to coronavirus, the prime minister said as if one calamity wasn't enough, the country has had to face an unending slew of challenges. "A few days ago, our east coast had to face the fury of cyclone Amphan; on the West coast it was cyclone Nisarg. In many states, farmers had to bear the brunt of swarming locust ... many parts of the country have been witnessing intermittent earthquakes," he said. In an apparent reference to China's actions in east Ladakh, he said, "amidst all these, the country has had to deal with the designs of some of our neighbours." Rare are the occasions when one gets to hear of adversities of this kind, that too simultaneously, he said. The prime minister was of the view that despite adversities, people should not consider 2020 as a bad year. "Historically, India has always emerged brighter and stronger, ensuring victory over all kinds of disasters and challenges. For centuries, myriad tyrants invaded India pushing her to the edge of such an abyss of adversities that people once used to feel that the very idea, the fabric of Bharat would be wiped out: her culture would be annihilated. But India overcame the scourge, and more gloriously so," he said. India has always transformed adversities into stepping stones to success, he said adding that this year will prove to be a "record setter, path breaker on new fronts for the country". KR/NAB DV DV

In unlock phase, focus on defeating coronavirus, boosting economy: PM

<ul><li>India and China have five treaties between them to address border disputes like the current tension along the <keyword id="49399" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Line-of-Actual-Control">Line of Actual Control</keyword> in Ladakh. </li><li>Experts believe that Chinese aggression along the border may only be masking other issues that the country is facing on the home front. </li><li>Spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Anurag Srivastava, clarified said that India is ‘firm’ in its resolve to maintain national security along the border.</li></ul>The standoff between China and India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has reportedly been intensifying with both sides sending in more troops to defend their respective sides. “We remain firm in our resolve to ensure India’s sovereignty and national security,” said Anurag Srivastava, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs addressing a press conference last night. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/manWNu9YrTU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>]]></cdata></div> "Our troops have taken a very responsible approach towards border management and strictly followed the procedures laid out in different bilateral agreements and protocols with China to resolve any issue that may arise in the border areas,” said Srivastava. He outlined five treaties between the two nations that their disposal to address border disputes: <ol><li>1993 agreement of maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LAC</li><li>1996 agreement of confidence-building measures in the military field along the LAC</li><li>2005 protocol on the modalities of confidence-building measures in the military field along the LAC</li><li>2012 agreement on the establishment of a working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs</li><li>2013 border defence cooperation agreement</li></ol>Experts opine that the reason that border issues continue to reemerge between India and China is because the claim line has not been explicitly demarcated. China’s version of the claim line is different from India’s version of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Decoding China’s aggression Even though the above treaties are in place for both sides to negotiate, “It is hoped that miraculously China may change, but for now, unless Xi Jinping mends fences, New Delhi must continue to frame policies assuming the worst about Beijing’s intentions,” said <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/the-ladakh-lesson-india-must-guard-against-chinese-tech-intrusion-66974/?amp">Gautam Chikermane</a>, the Vice President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). “This time around, China’s incursions may be another episodic distraction for its territorial ambitions in Hong Kong and Taiwan,” he added. Retired Lieutenant General HS Panag believes that China is under the impression that India wants Aksai Chin back — and area of eastern Ladakh that was the central issue of the 1962 War. “My assessment is that the PLA has deployed maximum one brigade each in Galwan River valley and along the north bank of Pangong Tso,” he wrote in <a href="https://theprint.in/opinion/china-believes-india-wants-aksai-chin-back-thats-why-it-has-crossed-lac-in-ladakh/430899/">The Print.</a> Other experts like <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-domestic-motivations-of-beijings-lac-aggression-66928/?amp">Harsh V. Pant</a>, the director of studies and head strategic studies programme at ORF, and Kartik Bommakanti, an associate fellow also with ORF, believe that China may be trying to gain India’s support in the global investigation of the origins of the coronavirus — or may just be rooted in nationalism. “China is picking fights with multiple actors simultaneously amid an ongoing health pandemic precisely because of what it sees as a nationalist imperative,” they said. Media reports claim that the People’s Liberation Army has crossed over to India’s side of LAC and physically secured <a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-all-you-need-to-know-about-india-china-stand-off-in-ladakh/353519">three to four kilometres</a> along the Galwan Valley in addition to the entire area between Finger 5 and Finger 8 along the northern bank of Pangong Tso Lake — which is around <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-china-conflict-in-ladakh-the-importance-of-the-pangong-tso-lake-6419377/">eight to ten kilometres</a>. “The two sides have established mechanisms, both at military and diplomatic levels, to resolve situations which may arise in border areas peacefully through dialogue. We continue to remain engaged through these channels,” Srivastava explained. Modi isn’t in a ‘good mood’, says Trump In lieu of US President Trump’s offer to help mediate on the ‘raging’ border issue, Srivastava said, “We’re engaged with the Chinese side to peacefully resolve this issue.” <div type="image" title="US President Donald Trump offers to mediate on border dispute between India and China" msid="76085382" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;US President Donald Trump offers to mediate on border dispute between India and China&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Following which <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/trump-feels-that-modi-is-not-in-a-good-mood-over-big-conflict-with-china/articleshow/76084735.cms">Trump told White House reporters</a>, “I can tell you, I did speak to Prime Minister Modi. He is not in a good about what is going with China.” “They have a big conflict India and China. Two countries with 1.4 billion people (each). Two countries with very powerful militaries. India is not happy and probably China is not happy,” he said when asked if he was worried about the border situation between India and China. However, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/modi-and-trump-did-not-discuss-india-china-border-issue/articleshow/76084815.cms">government sources</a> told PTI that Modi and Trump have had no recent conversations. The last time they spoke it was about the SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-china-border-dispute-beijing-sends-more-troops/articleshow/76060995.cms">China is reportedly adding troops on the Ladakh border⁠ and India is matching up to it</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/donald-trump-offers-to-mediate-india-china-border-dispute/articleshow/76037792.cms">Donald Trump offers to mediate the ‘raging’ border dispute between India and China</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/locust-swarms-are-turning-into-a-diplomatic-issue-between-india-and-pakistan/articleshow/76083482.cms">Locust swarms are turning into a diplomatic issue between India and Pakistan</a>

India says there are five treaties to push the Chinese army behind the Line of Actual Control⁠ — while experts tell Modi to remain cautious

Reiterating his offer to mediate on the border dispute between India and China, US President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> has said that he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is not in a "good mood" over the "big conflict" between the two countries. Interacting with journalists in the Oval Office of the <keyword id="6356037" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="white-house">White House</keyword> on Thursday, Trump said a "big conflict" was going on between India and China. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="76037792" title="Donald Trump offers to mediate the ‘raging’ border dispute between India and China" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> "They like me in India. I think they like me in India more than the media likes me in this country. And, I like Modi. I like your prime minister a lot. He is a great gentleman," he said. "They have a big conflict ...India and China. Two countries with 1.4 billion people (each). Two countries with very powerful militaries. India is not happy and probably China is not happy," the president said when asked if he was worried about the border situation between India and China. "I can tell you; I did speak to Prime Minister Modi. He is not in a good mood about what is going on with China," Trump said. A day earlier, the president offered to mediate between India and China. Trump on Wednesday said in a tweet that he was "ready, willing and able to mediate" between the two countries. Responding to a question on his tweet, Trump reiterated his offer, saying if called for help, "I would do that (mediate). If they thought it would help" about "mediate or arbitrate, I would do that," he said. India on Wednesday said it was engaged with China to peacefully resolve the border row, in a carefully crafted reaction to Trump's offer to arbitrate between the two Asian giants to settle their decades-old dispute. "We are engaged with the Chinese side to peacefully resolve it," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson <keyword id="916281" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anurag-Srivastava">Anurag Srivastava</keyword> said, replying to a volley of questions at an online media briefing. "The two sides have established mechanisms both at military and diplomatic levels to resolve situations which may arise in border areas peacefully through dialogue and continue to remain engaged through these channels," he said. While the Chinese Foreign Ministry is yet to react to Trump's tweet which appears to have caught Beijing by surprise, an op-ed in the state-run Global Times said both countries did not need such help from the US president. "The latest dispute can be solved bilaterally by China and India. The two countries should keep alert on the US, which exploits every chance to create waves that jeopardise regional peace and order," it said. Trump's unexpected offer came on a day when China took an apparently conciliatory tone by saying that the situation at the border with India is "overall stable and controllable." In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday that both China and India have proper mechanisms and communication channels to resolve the issues through dialogue and consultations. Trump previously offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, a proposal that was rejected by New Delhi. The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to "disengage" following a meeting at the level of local commanders. Over 100 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in the violence. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9. On May 5, the Indian and the Chinese army personnel clashed with iron rods, sticks, and even resorted to stone-pelting in the Pangong Tso lake area in which soldiers on both sides sustained injuries. In a separate incident, nearly 150 Indian and Chinese military personnel were engaged in a face-off near Naku La Pass in the Sikkim sector on May 9. At least 10 soldiers from both sides sustained injuries. The troops of India and China were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam tri-junction in 2017 which even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-china-border-dispute-beijing-sends-more-troops/articleshow/76060995.cms">China is reportedly adding troops on the Ladakh border⁠ and India is matching up to it</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/donald-trump-offers-to-mediate-india-china-border-dispute/articleshow/76037792.cms">Donald Trump offers to mediate the ‘raging’ border dispute between India and China</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/locust-swarms-are-turning-into-a-diplomatic-issue-between-india-and-pakistan/articleshow/76083482.cms">Locust swarms are turning into a diplomatic issue between India and Pakistan</a>

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Locust clouds over Gururgram, likely to spare Delhi

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Swarms of locusts blanket India’s national capital region — pilots and airlines alerted ahead

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Locust attacks may come to New Delhi — these 15 pictures show how they have already wreaked havoc in other parts of India

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