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xyzt Since: Apr, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
#1376: May 31st 2020 at 2:57:52 AM

Crops destroyed as India faces 'worst locust attack in 27 years'

Huge swarms of desert locusts are destroying crops across western and central India, prompting authorities to step up their response to the country's worst plague in nearly three decades.

Drones, tractors and cars have been sent out to track the voracious pests and spray them with pesticides. The locusts have already destroyed nearly 50,000 hectares (125,000 acres) of cropland.

"Eight to 10 swarms, each measuring around a square kilometre (0.39sq miles) are active in parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh [states]," the government's Locust Warning Organisation's deputy director KL Gurjar told the AFP news agency.

India has not seen locust swarms on this scale since 1993, the warning centre said.

The insects have caused enormous damage to the seasonal crops in both the states, devastating many farmers already struggling with the impact of a strict coronavirus lockdown.

They destroyed harvests in the agricultural heartlands of neighbouring Pakistan in April, before entering Rajasthan.

Smaller swarms are also active in a handful of states across India, Gurjar said.

A swarm of 40 million locusts can eat as much food as 35,000 people, or six elephants, according to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Residential areas in Rajasthan state's capital Jaipur were overwhelmed by the insects as bewildered locals banged on pots and pans to try and ward off the insects.

Locusts destroy crops in some parts of Rajasthan close to the border with Pakistan most years, but it is rare for the insects to move further into the state.

Experts warn the situation could worsen with more expected to reach India via Pakistan from the Horn of Africa in June.

Heavy rains and cyclones enabled unprecedented breeding and the rapid growth of locust populations on the Arabian Peninsula early last year, according to the UN.

Locusts destroy crops in some parts of Rajasthan close to the border with Pakistan most years, but it is rare for the insects to move further into the state.

Wind patterns have been pushing the swarms southwest, the locust warning centre said.

Edited by xyzt on May 31st 2020 at 3:28:19 PM

CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
xyzt Since: Apr, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
#1378: Jun 16th 2020 at 11:07:37 AM

Indian Army says 20 soldiers killed in clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan area

    Article 
Twenty Indian personnel, including a Colonel, were killed in violent clashes with Chinese troops on Monday along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, in what is possibly the worst incident between the two countries in decades. The clashes came amidst a “de-escalation” process in the Galwan area that was started last week, after a month long standoff between troops at several points along the LAC in Ladakh and Sikkim.

“Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of June 15/16 June. Seventeen Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the standoff location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20,” the Army said in a late-night statement.

Casualties on both sides

The violent face-off took place during the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley and resulted in “casualties on both sides”, the Army stated. Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation, it added. However, Army sources said there was no firing during the face-off. Three of the personnel killed have been identified as Colonel B. Santosh Babu from Telangana, Havildar Palani from Tamil Nadu and Sepoy K.K. Ojha from Jharkhand.

During the day talks were held at the Major General-level in the Galwan area at Patrolling Point 14 to defuse the tensions. As news of the brutal clash, that according to sources included the use of iron clubs and rocks by the Chinese troops emerged, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the operational situation in Eastern Ladakh along with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and three service Chiefs, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. In a statement, The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) accused India “of going back on its word” and “violating commitments” reached by both sides at Corps Commander-level talks on June 6. The Indian Army “violated its commitment and crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) again, illegally and deliberately launched provocative attacks, triggered fierce physical confrontation between the two sides, resulting in casualties,” said PLA Western Theater Command spokesperson Zhang Shuili, making the claim that “the sovereignty of the Galwan Valley region has always belonged to [China]”, something India has always contested. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesman Zhao Lijian said China has “lodged strong protest and representation with the Indian side”. It is understood this was conveyed in meetings on Tuesday held between Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui. Neither the PLA nor the MFA gave details of casualties on the Chinese side.

Pressure on govt

The casualties in combat action, have increased pressure on the government to make a full statement on the month long standoff, as demanded by Opposition parties. Last Saturday, in the first acknowledgement of the ongoing standoffs, Army Chief Gen. Manoj Naravane had stated that troops of India and China were “disengaging” in a phased manner from the standoff areas along the border following the series of ground talks and even claimed that a “lot of disengagement” had happened in the Galwan river area. Neither the Army nor the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) gave further details of the clash on Monday night in the Galwan valley. Sources said the Indian Army patrol had set out to check on positions of the Chinese troops to ensure they had retreated. The troops were attacked by a much larger group of Chinese soldiers, said the sources, who did not wish to be identified. The standoff had begun with a scuffle in the Pangong Tso area on the intervening night of May 5/6, resulting in serious injuries on both sides. Around 76 Indian personnel were injured including a Commanding Officer, who had to be airlifted to Delhi. There was a second scuffle on May 9 at Naku La in North Sikkim. While faceoffs and standoffs keep occurring on the LAC and even stone throwing and fist-fights between troops due to differences in perception on the alignment, there has been no instance of firing on the 3,488 km long LAC since 1975. The last incident of firing and fatalities on the border with China occurred in October 20, 1975 when a patrol team of the Assam Rifles was ambushed by the Chinese troops at Tulung La in Arunachal Pradesh resulting in the death of four personnel.

Edited by xyzt on Jun 16th 2020 at 11:42:03 PM

AzurePaladin She/Her Pronouns from Forest of Magic Since: Apr, 2018 Relationship Status: Mu
She/Her Pronouns
#1379: Jun 16th 2020 at 11:10:52 AM

Well, shit.

The awful things he says and does are burned into our cultural consciousness like a CRT display left on the same picture too long. -Fighteer
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#1380: Jun 16th 2020 at 8:39:13 PM

Waiting for Pakistan to attempt to take advantage of the situation, and then send everything to hell in doing so.

AngrokVa indighost from america, unfortunately Since: Feb, 2012 Relationship Status: Saddled with unnecessary feelings
indighost
#1381: Jun 16th 2020 at 9:10:04 PM

Sounds like doomsaying...

Ominae Since: Jul, 2010
#1382: Jun 16th 2020 at 9:58:29 PM

There's some media in Pakistan blaming India for instigating the LOC firefight.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#1383: Jun 16th 2020 at 10:06:05 PM

India has currently been riding a toxic militant nationalist wave for awhile.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Lazlo74 from A tropical hell-hole Since: May, 2018
#1384: Jun 16th 2020 at 10:32:31 PM

There's been disturbingly large occurrences of xenophobic attacks on Muslims in India lately, and it doesn't help that what was once among Delhi's largest COVID clusters are traced back to an Islamic religious event back in January.

Scaled seeker
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#1385: Jun 16th 2020 at 10:40:45 PM

There was a terrifying story of Modi supporting vigilante squads out to prevent Muslims from having any form of romantic contact with Hindu women.

https://www.wired.com/story/indias-frightening-descent-social-media-terror/

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#1386: Jun 16th 2020 at 10:50:52 PM

Modi's a hardcore Hindu Nationalist, with all that implies.

Disgusted, but not surprised
eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#1387: Jun 16th 2020 at 10:55:56 PM

Anyone remember when we all thought that Balakot was crazy? Those were the days.

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
xyzt Since: Apr, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
#1388: Jun 17th 2020 at 12:16:26 AM

What are the chances we will issue trade bans or such on China in protest of this? I don't think the situation will reach the same level of aggressive bloodlust as the Pulwama attack had caused.

Edited by xyzt on Jun 18th 2020 at 12:46:42 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#1389: Jun 17th 2020 at 12:24:02 AM

What's interesting is that apparently they didn't fire a single shot. They simply beat each other to death with rocks, clubs, and their own fists.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#1390: Jun 17th 2020 at 1:53:18 AM

Going old school doesn't make it less of an international incident.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#1391: Jun 17th 2020 at 2:07:41 AM

Never said it did.

I just found it interesting (and more than a bit disturbing) that they managed to kill that many people without relying on firearms. They really wanted to kill each other. This was coming from a place of serious rage.

Edited by M84 on Jun 17th 2020 at 5:10:05 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#1392: Jun 17th 2020 at 2:19:51 AM

Given where it took place, I suspect gravity greatly helped with the numbers.

The terrain is worse than trying to clumsily negotiate Anor Londo's ledges while fighting a black knight.

Having said that: never underestimate the killing potential of the humble club.

All in all, I sincerely hope the commander that "allowed" that to happen faces the music for it. It was beyond short-sighted.

Edited by Euodiachloris on Jun 17th 2020 at 10:22:46 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#1393: Jun 17th 2020 at 2:28:23 AM

The rock and the club were the oldest murder weapons known to man, after all.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#1394: Jun 17th 2020 at 2:43:51 AM

I’ve seen it claimed that they aren’t given guns specifically to reduce the risk of people getting killed, thing is all it takes is a ledge collapse and you’ve got massive casualties.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#1395: Jun 17th 2020 at 2:50:30 AM

Well, the 1996 bilateral agreement prohibited firearms within two kilometres of the LAC. The mid-'60s border skirmishes between the Chinese and the Soviets also involved both sides brawling with makeshift shields, spears and traditional weapons (plus water cannons and fire extinguishers mounted on vehicles) up till it all escalated to the first lethal incident on Qiliqin Island in early 1968.

(Yeah, I used to call bullshit on my mother telling me the stories until she pulled out the photos.)

As the possibly apocryphal Einstein quote goes: “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#1396: Jun 17th 2020 at 2:53:54 AM

Let's hope cooler heads prevail.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Jun 17th 2020 at 3:11:45 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#1397: Jun 17th 2020 at 2:55:24 AM

[up] ...Wrong thread. This is between India and mainland China.

Edited by M84 on Jun 17th 2020 at 5:55:44 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#1398: Jun 17th 2020 at 3:23:56 AM

Any credible reports about Chinese losses yet?

Some Indian outlets are claiming dozens of Chinese dead and wounded but that's suspect to say the least.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#1399: Jun 18th 2020 at 2:38:11 AM

It's discussed on Foreign Policy's China Brief:

How Many Chinese Soldiers Died in the Himalayas?

The bloody clash between troops on the disputed India-China border, which claimed at least 20 Indian soldiers’ lives and an unknown number of Chinese, is dominating Indian headlines this week—even as Chinese state media downplays the country’s most deadly military action in decades. The story has been relegated to fourth or fifth place in both Xinhua and the People’s Daily, which have led with President Xi Jinping’s phone call with his Ecuadorian counterpart and details of an upcoming China-Africa summit.

Weeks of clashes between Indian and Chinese troops culminated on Monday night in an angry meeting between patrols on a narrow ridge that grew into a brawl. Chinese and Indian patrols on the border customarily go unarmed to avoid escalation—but both sides turned to improvised weapons such as clubs, stones, and iron rods.

The conflict parallels clashes between Chinese troops and the Soviets in the late 1960s, when both armies used hand-to-hand weapons in brawls on the frozen river borders. But then, retrieving the injured was relatively easy. This time, 17 of the 20 killed on the Indian side died of their wounds or exposure to subzero temperatures in high-altitude terrain. Indian media reports as many as 43 Chinese deaths, supposedly based on intercepted transmissions, but that information is unreliable.

Why is China keeping quiet? India and China both have well-developed mythologies of national martyrdom in war, and the Indian soldiers who died are already filling that role. But it seems unlikely that China will even release the names of the dead. There is state hostility toward releasing any sensitive information—and especially for the opaque military. As indicated by the lack of media coverage, Beijing wants to keep its options open—and it doesn’t want to be trapped by public opinion calling for escalation. Deaths could also be read as a sign of weakness, especially if the Chinese side really did come off worse.

Is further conflict likely? Both sides say they want to de-escalate, with each casting the other as the aggressor and refusing to pull back its own troops. A wider conflict seems unlikely, given the range of crises both Beijing and New Delhi are facing—but this will permanently stain public feelings, especially on the Indian side. For more on the roots of the crisis and where it’s headed, see our explainer from yesterday, and read tomorrow’s South Asia Brief.

Edited by eagleoftheninth on Jun 18th 2020 at 2:40:28 AM

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.
eagleoftheninth Shop all day, greed is free from a dreamed portrait, imperfect Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Shop all day, greed is free
#1400: Jun 18th 2020 at 1:39:05 PM

China frees the 10 remaining Indian soldiers.

One day, we will read his name in the news and cheer.

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