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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

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Massive locust swarms have been destroying crops across huge stretches of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East this year.</li><li>Kenya had its worst infestation in 70 years, while India, Ethiopia, and Somalia haven't been devastated this badly in decades.</li><li>Experts say the <keyword id="1660797" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="locusts">locusts</keyword> have been thriving due to climate change, poor monitoring, and a lack of resources caused by the pandemic.</li><li>Aid groups and local governments have managed to kill about 450 billion locusts this year. But with funding running out in August, that effort could be in vain.</li><li>In a worst-case scenario, an additional 5 million people will go hungry because of the swarms' devastation.</li></ul>Massive swarms of locusts have devastated large swathes of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East since January, threatening food supplies for millions. This year, Kenya had its worst infestation in 70 years, and India, Ethiopia, and Somalia had the worst infestations they've had in 25 years.The reason for the outbreaks, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/27/world/asia/india-locusts-jaipur.html">The New York Times</a>, is climate change, which has caused warmer weather and more rain —ideal conditions for locusts to thrive.Alongs with the weather, poor monitoring due to armed conflicts — especially in war-torn Yemen, where the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jun/08/rolling-emergency-of-locust-swarms-decimating-africa-asia-and-middle-east">current outbreak began</a> — and a lack of resources caused by the coronavirus pandemic, has led to locusts swelling in numbers that haven't been reported in decades.<div type="image" title="A man takes pictures of a swarm of locusts in Allahabad, India, on June 11, 2020." height="683" width="1024" msid="76539152" hostid="261"></div>Without more intervention, locusts could cause millions of people in 23 countries to go hungry by December, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/plague-amid-pandemic-east-africa-west-asia-combat-surging-locust-n1231669">NBC News</a>.In a worst-case scenario, an additional 5 million people will go hungry because of the infestations. That's on top of the 20 million that already don't have good enough access to food, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Cyril Ferrand, head of FAO's East Africa resilience team, told NBC <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">News</keyword> that FAO and local governments had managed to kill about 450 billion locusts by spraying pesticides.But funding only goes until the end of August, Ferrand said, and non-stop aid was necessary to keep the insects in check."There is a real risk here that all our efforts since January are in vain," he said. Desert locusts are the most damaging breed, found in about 30 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. They can eat their weight in food every day, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/desert-locust-plague-devastates-africa-photos-history-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">Business Insider's</a> Natalie Colarossi previously reported. They only live for about three to five months, but breed quickly, and a <keyword id="56255" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Plague">plague</keyword> can last over a decade.By the end of June, locusts are expected to move west on changing winds. Melissa Williams, a rural development specialist with the World Bank, told NBC News the concern is they'll go deeper into West Africa and hurt some of the least developed nations in the world.FAO's locust forecasting expert Keith Cressman told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jun/08/rolling-emergency-of-locust-swarms-decimating-africa-asia-and-middle-east">The Guardian</a> the weather will greatly impact how long the crisis continues, and which countries will be affected. "It's not a problem that starts in one place and ends in one place, it's a rolling emergency," he said.

450 billion locusts have been killed this year, but devastating swarms still ravage Africa, India and the Middle East

There has been no recent contact between Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> and US President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword>, government sources said on Friday. The clarification came after Trump said in Washington that he spoke to Modi over India's ongoing border row with China in Eastern Ladakh. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="76084735" title="Trump feels that Modi is not in a 'good mood' over 'big conflict' with China" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> On Tuesday, Trump offered to mediate between India and China to resolve the border dispute. "The last conversation between Modi and Trump was on April 4 on the subject of <keyword id="4751090" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hydroxychloroquine">hydroxychloroquine</keyword>," a source said. On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs made it clear that India is directly in touch with the Chinese side through established mechanisms and diplomatic contacts to resolve the row. 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>

Last conversation between Modi and Trump was about hydroxychloroquine not India-China border dispute, clarify government sources

<keyword id="6354576" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="facebook">Facebook</keyword> has started rolling out <keyword id="9477533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="dark-mode-support">Dark Mode support</keyword> on <keyword id="156831" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-users">mobile users</keyword> and the feature is currently live with some users globally. Facebook Dark Mode interface will not be completely black like on <keyword id="819905" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Instagram">Instagram</keyword> and Messenger but a grayscale design with white accents for logos and icons. The <keyword id="6354615" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Social-network">social network</keyword> confirmed to Social MediaToday that Dark Mode for mobile is live for "a small percentage of users globally right now." Facebook has been slow to introduce support for Dark Mode to all of its apps. Some users posted screenshots of Facebook Dark Mode on Twitter, which appears as an option in the Facebook app settings. In May, Facebook rolled out the much-awaited Dark Mode on its revamped and immersive desktop app for all users. The Dark Mode helps users enjoy lower brightness, alongside contrast and vibrancy, thus minimising screen glare for use in low light. Similar to mobile experience, the new desktop website is faster with new streamlined navigation, easy to find videos, games and Groups, while the home page and page transitions load faster. Reports first appeared in April that Facebook was in the process of developing and designing Dark Mode for its main platform on iOS and iPad. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/what-ceos-say-india-can-learn-from-china-to-get-more-electric-vehicles-on-the-road/articleshow/76669260.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">What CEOs say India can learn from China to get more electric vehicles on the road</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>

Facebook rolls outs dark mode on mobile for some users globally

A <keyword id="9316529" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-vaccine-candidate">Covid-19 vaccine candidate</keyword> developed by a Beijing unit of <keyword id="8779112" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="china-national-biotec-group">China National Biotec Group</keyword> (CNBG) has shown positive results in early human trials, the company said on Sunday. According to the company, all 1,120 volunteers in the phase-1 and phase-2 clinical trials produced high-titer antibodies against Covid-19 after accepting two doses of the vaccine, the Global Times reported. The clinical trials which started on April 27 in <keyword id="9481138" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="shangqiu-county">Shangqiu county</keyword> in China's Henan province have shown the vaccine to be effective and safe, said CNBG. The trials were designed as randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled studies. This is not the first Covid-19 vaccine candidate from CNBG, which is affiliated to the state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm). In the middle of this month, another institute under CNBG in Wuhan announced the results of phase-1 and Phase-2 clinical trials of an inactivated Covid-19 vaccine candidate it developed. These trials, which started on April 12, also involved 1,120 volunteers and the results revealed a good safety record, with no cases of severe adverse effects found in the clinical trials. CNBG on June 23 announced an agreement with authorities in <keyword id="3446125" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-United-Arab-Emirates">the United Arab Emirates</keyword> to start phase-3 clinical trials for inactivated vaccine candidates. It is not clear which of CNBG's Covid-19 vaccine candidates will be tested in the phase-3 trial in the UAE. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/dgcas-showcause-notice-to-airasia-india-over-safety-norm-violation/articleshow/76681713.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">DGCA's showcause notice to AirAsia India over 'safety norm violation'</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>

Potential Covid-19 vaccine from China shows promise in human trials

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

PTI

450 billion locusts have been killed this year, but devastating swarms still ravage Africa, India and the Middle East

James Pasley

Last conversation between Modi and Trump was about hydroxychloroquine not India-China border dispute, clarify government sources

PTI

Facebook rolls outs dark mode on mobile for some users globally

IANS

Potential Covid-19 vaccine from China shows promise in human trials

IANS

Trump feels that Modi is not in a 'good mood' over 'big conflict' with China

PTI

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