Indian politician Rahul Gandhi has been convicted by a court in Gujarat's Surat city in a criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged 'Modi surname' remarks.

Indian politician Rahul Gandhi has been convicted by a court in Gujarat's Surat city in a criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged 'Modi surname' remarks. The court sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail while imposing a fine of Rs 15,000 ($183), under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 (defamation), 500 (punishment for defamation). After Gandhi's lawyers appealed, his sentence has been suspended and bail granted to move an appeal against the conviction in under 30 days. Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Verma heard the final arguments last week and pronounced his decision on Thursday (March 23). Reportedly, Gandhi was present in the court when the sentencing was announced. The Indian MP from Wayanad, a district in the southern Indian state of Kerala made the alleged remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “Why all the thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names,” remarked the Congress leader. ALSO READ | Rahul pleads not guilty in 'why all thieves share Modi surname' defamation case Afterwards, Gujarat BJP MLA Purnesh Modi filed a criminal defamation suit, arguing that the former INC president defamed the entire Modi community with his statements. "There is a large number of people with Modi surname. Does it mean all members of the Modi community are thieves? He has defamed the community and also me as I carry the surname," said Purnesh Modi. "This is why we have moved a complaint (against Gandhi) in a Surat court under IPC sections 499 and 500," he added. After the court hearings began, the Gandhi scion pleaded not guilty and filed an application for a permanent exemption. ALSO READ | New day, new look: Rahul Gandhi trims beard, hair for Cambridge lecture Meanwhile, Gandhi's lawyers have argued that the court proceedings were 'flawed'. The counsel said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have been made a complainant in the case, instead of Purnesh Modi as the Congress leader targetted the PM in his speech. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Rahul Gandhi convicted in 2019 'Modi surname' defamation case, gets two-year jail term

The Indian government is planning to deploy 6G network and communication services at an affordable cost to the public by 2030, informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday during the unveiling of the 'Bharat 6G' vision document in the capital city of New Delhi.

The Indian government is planning to deploy 6G network and communication services at an affordable cost to the public by 2030, informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday during the unveiling of the 'Bharat 6G' vision document in the capital city of New Delhi. The vision document has been introduced to present India as a global leader in 6G innovation and fasten the digital inclusion of citizens. It is also expected to help identify, fund research and deploy the next-generation technology across the country. As per the document, the 6G rollout will be implemented in two phases (2023-2025 and 2025-2030) with the centre appointing an apex council to oversee the project. Speaking at inauguration of ITU Area Office & Innovation Centre in Delhi. Initiatives like 6G Test Bed & 'Call Before You Dig' app are also being launched. https://t.co/z6hRdeTPbB — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 22, 2023 × In the first phase, the government will facilitate in the testing and brainstorming of ideas with the related stakeholders. The second phase will be about establishing use cases for the technology and attempting to commercialize it. “The new 5G technology promises a speed range of 40 – 1,100 Mbps with the potential to hit maximum speeds of 10,000 Mbps through technologies such as millimetre-wave spectrum and beamforming. While 5G itself seems very futuristic as of now, 6G will offer ultra-low latency with speeds up to 1 Tbps," read the document. WATCH | Will 6G make smartphones extinct by 2030? × Currently, the 6G technology in the country is being developed by a collaboration of Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) - India's leading technical institutes. The launch of the vision document comes barely six months after PM Modi formally launched 5G services in India on October 22. At the time, the Indian leader egged the related stakeholders to launch 6G services within the next decade. Watch: PM Modi launches 5G services in India, automotive sector to be biggest beneficiary “Today, we are talking about 6G only after six months of 5G rollout and this shows India’s confidence. We have also presented our vision document. This will become a major basis for 6G rollout in the next few years,” Modi said. The fund the research for 6G innovation, the centre has recommended to set aside a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Is India planning to launch 6G services? PM Modi lays down the blueprint

Facing an unprecedented economic crisis, Pakistan has been dealt yet another blow. Saudi Arabia has decided to not provide easy financial bailout or interest-free loans to Pakistan, according to an ET report.

Facing an unprecedented economic crisis, Pakistan has been dealt yet another blow. Saudi Arabia has decided to not provide easy financial bailout or interest-free loans to Pakistan, according to an ET report. Instead, the kingdom wants the south Asian country to focus its energy on signing a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Only after a deal with IMF is struck that the kingdom will decide on extending any loans. The decision by the kingdom has left the Pakistani government in shock which is in dire need of US dollar inflows. The country is on the verge of defaulting on $80 billion of international loan repayments while having only $3 billion in forex exchange reserves. Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan indicated the newfound stance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, earlier this year. “We used to give direct grants and deposits without strings attached and we are changing that. We are working with multilateral institutions to actually say we need to see reforms," al-Jadaan said on the platform. For a large part of Pakistan's existence, Saudi Arabia has stepped up on multiple occasions to bail Islamabad out of its financial mess by extending zero-interest loans. A mere phone call by the Pakistani prime minister or a visit by the army chief was enough to secure the funding. However, the inability of the Pakistani government to repay those loans has irked the kingdom. The usual bailout avenue has now been shut leaving the lawmakers in a tizzy. In January, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said it was shameful for a country like Pakistan to have a nuclear weapon in one hand and a begging bowl in the other. WATCH | Is Pakistan's economic crisis getting worse? × Pakistan's inflation broke all previous records when the consumer price index reached 31.5 per cent in February. Since data-keeping began in July 1965, this is the first time inflation has crossed the threshold of 31.5 per cent in Pakistan. In April 1975, the inflation rate came close to February's figures but stood still at 29 per cent. ALSO READ | It's shameful for a nuclear power to beg for funds, says Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Food and gas prices have touched new highs in recent months as Pakistan's import-based economy cannot handle the devaluation of its local currency. To secure IMF funding, the Pakistani government has implemented new tax measures as suggested by the global body. However, securing the final tranche of payment looks uncertain at the moment ALSO READ | Inflation breaks 50-year record in Pakistan, touches high of 31.5% (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Saudi Arabia refuses to provide interest-free loans to Pakistan, demands reforms

A mysterious and deadly fungal infection called Candida auris is spreading its tentacles across the USA at a rapid speed, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracking the fungus informed.

A mysterious and deadly fungal infection called Candida auris is spreading its tentacles across the USA at a rapid speed, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracking the fungus informed. The development comes on the heels of the World Health Organization last year listing C auris as one of 19 fungal priority pathogens. The multidrug-resistant yeast was first identified in Japan 15 years ago. It has infected as many as 2,377 people in the US in 2022, according to the Wall Street Journal. New research by the CDC published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that in 2021, the health centres in the country reported a 95 per cent increase in cases between 2019 and 2021. For comparison, the fungus had only infected 53 people in the US in 2016. Additionally, a total of 28 states and the District of Columbia have confirmed reporting the infections - suggesting the current safety measures were not effectively helping tackle the fungus. Both WHO and CDC have labelled the fungus as a growing threat to public health as it has a mortality rate of up to 60 per cent. People who are old or have compromised immune systems are particularly more vulnerable after contracting the fungus. ALSO READ | After invasive ants, Texas to be hit hard by a killer fungus It causes bloodstream wounds and ear infections and has also been found in urine and respiratory samples, but it's not clear if the fungus actually infects the lung or bladder. Not only does this yeast cause serious illness in patients but it is also hard to identify without the proper tests. "Specialised laboratory methods are needed to accurately identify C. auris. Conventional laboratory techniques could lead to misidentification and inappropriate management, making it difficult to control the spread of C. auris in healthcare settings," said CDC in a circular. A 2022 study stated that the fungus had spread to more than 30 countries since its first sighting in 2009. "The reported interregional spread as well as regional endemicity in one country show that C. auris is in the process of establishing itself as a healthcare-associated pathogen in the EU/EEA, similar to other countries such as the United States," read the report. WATCH | 11-year-old Cambodian girl dies of H5N1 virus, infected girl's father also tests positive × CDC has attributed the rapid rise of yeast infection to the reuse of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment in crowded hospitals due to COVID-19. A class of antifungal drugs called echinocandins is used to treat most C. auris infections. However, in some cases, the fungus is known to have shown extreme resistance to all three main classes of antifungal medications, making them more difficult to treat. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Deadly Candida auris fungus spreading across the US leaves agencies puzzled

A group of friends had a narrow escape when their 44 ft sailboat was turned upside down by a giant whale in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. Rick Rodriguez, a resident of Florida in the US and three friends embarked on a three-week sailing trip from the Galápagos Islands to French Polynesia when the incident transpired.

A group of friends had a narrow escape when their 44 ft sailboat was turned upside down by a giant whale in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. Rick Rodriguez, a resident of Florida in the US and three friends embarked on a three-week sailing trip from the Galápagos Islands to French Polynesia when the incident transpired. On March 13, only 13 days since Rodriguez & Co. started the voyage, the disaster struck. Half past one-thirty in the afternoon, the friends were preparing to enjoy a pizza for lunch when they heard a loud noise. Before the crew could react, the boat was flipped to its side. The whale had collided. ALSO READ | Whales can help fight the climate change, scientists say “The second pizza had just come out of the oven, and I was dipping a slice into some ranch dressing. The back half of the boat lifted violently upward and to starboard," Rodriguez said to the Washington Post during an interview. Five seconds after the collision, the alarm bell went ringing, warning that the boat was filling with water. The crew, which had decent boating experience quickly sprung into action and gathered food, fresh water, emergency equipment and other gear. They had food and water to last them at least three weeks if it came to the worst-case scenario. Afterwards, they launched a lifeboat alongside a dinghy and jumped into the water. Prior to taking asylum in the lifeboat, Rodriguez placed a mayday call on a VHF radio. According to Rodriguez, the boat sank completely within 15 minutes. The crew spent 10 hours floating adrift before a civilian ship pulled them out of the ocean waters and onto the deck. Reflecting on the accident, Rodriguez said the entire group remained calm throughout the ordeal. “There was never really much fear that we were in danger,” Rodriguez said. “Everything was in control as much as it could be for a boat sinking.” WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Whales help store planet-heating carbon emissions × Since a worldwide database was launched in 2007, there have been 1,200 confirmed reports of whales and boats colliding. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Megalophobia activated: Giant whale sinks 44 ft boat in Pacific Ocean

In a bizarre incident, train services have been halted in the Netherlands due to badgers burrowing under the railway tracks. The majority of the cancellations and line closures have been reported in the northern and southern parts of the Netherlands.&nbsp;

On Tuesday (March 21) afternoon, all train services were brought to a screeching halt on the busy line between the&nbsp;southern cities of Den Bosch and Boxtel, informed&nbsp;ProRail, the company maintaining the Dutch rail network.&nbsp;

According to experts, badgers like to dig into the steep sides of earthen dikes that carry Dutch train tracks. To provide an alternative, railway workers are planning to build a sandy hillock where the badgers can dig their homes without proving to be a nuisance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Services will not be able to resume quickly as badgers are protected animals in the European country. To move&nbsp;them from their burrowing space or disturb their habitat requires legal permission. Only after that, the repair work can be undertaken by the railway authorities.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/deadly-fungus-spreading-across-the-us-leaves-agencies-puzzled-574162">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Deadly fungus spreading across the US leaves agencies puzzled</a>

John Voppen, CEO of ProRail appealed to the authorities to speed up the process so that the rail services can be resumed as soon as possible.&nbsp;

"I note that we have to suspend train traffic for the second time in a week because badgers undermine a railway track and that it then takes a lot of time to tackle this because we have to get permission from the competent authority," said Voppen.

"In the interests of travellers and carriers, more space is needed to take action more quickly. We are of course in urgent consultation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management about this."

Notably, this is not the first instance when these little animals have brought the rail services to a halt. Earlier this month, the badgers took to burrowing under the tracks of the northern village of Molkwerum in Friesland province.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wideangle-indian-railways-170-years-and-going-strong-506380">WATCH |&nbsp;WION WIDEANGLE | INDIAN RAILWAYS: 170 YEARS AND GOING STRONG</a>

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The services on one of the lines in the region has been shut for at least next month as ProAm continues to seek permission for shifting the animals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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In a bizarre incident, train services have been halted in the Netherlands due to badgers burrowing under the railway tracks. The majority of the cancellations and line closures have been reported in the northern and southern parts of the Netherlands.

In a bizarre incident, train services have been halted in the Netherlands due to badgers burrowing under the railway tracks. The majority of the cancellations and line closures have been reported in the northern and southern parts of the Netherlands. On Tuesday (March 21) afternoon, all train services were brought to a screeching halt on the busy line between the southern cities of Den Bosch and Boxtel, informed ProRail, the company maintaining the Dutch rail network. According to experts, badgers like to dig into the steep sides of earthen dikes that carry Dutch train tracks. To provide an alternative, railway workers are planning to build a sandy hillock where the badgers can dig their homes without proving to be a nuisance. Services will not be able to resume quickly as badgers are protected animals in the European country. To move them from their burrowing space or disturb their habitat requires legal permission. Only after that, the repair work can be undertaken by the railway authorities. ALSO READ | Deadly fungus spreading across the US leaves agencies puzzled John Voppen, CEO of ProRail appealed to the authorities to speed up the process so that the rail services can be resumed as soon as possible. "I note that we have to suspend train traffic for the second time in a week because badgers undermine a railway track and that it then takes a lot of time to tackle this because we have to get permission from the competent authority," said Voppen. "In the interests of travellers and carriers, more space is needed to take action more quickly. We are of course in urgent consultation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management about this." Notably, this is not the first instance when these little animals have brought the rail services to a halt. Earlier this month, the badgers took to burrowing under the tracks of the northern village of Molkwerum in Friesland province. WATCH | WION WIDEANGLE | INDIAN RAILWAYS: 170 YEARS AND GOING STRONG × The services on one of the lines in the region has been shut for at least next month as ProAm continues to seek permission for shifting the animals. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Rail services halted in parts of the Netherlands due to badgers burrowing under tracks

China is continuing its expansionist policies in the Greater Pacific region. A Chinese state company has reportedly bagged the multi-million dollar contract to redevelop an international port in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.

China is continuing its expansionist policies in the Greater Pacific region. A Chinese state company has reportedly bagged the multi-million dollar contract to redevelop an international port in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. The move has since sparked concerns from the United States and Australia which perceive it as Beijing’s way to extend its influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Mike Qaqara of the infrastructure development ministry informed that China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) had won the bid for the project after being the only bidder. "This will be upgrading the old international port in Honiara and two domestic wharves in the provinces," he said. When quizzed if China will be converting the port to a naval base, Qaqara informed Reuters that there will be 'no expansion'. The island nation has been slowly gravitating towards Beijing in the last couple of years. It struck a security pact with China in April last year which could potentially allow Beijing to deploy its military and dock vessels in the islands. WATCH | US & allies working to COUNTER China's influence; Beijing to redevelop Solomon Islands port × The country severed its diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2019 and established a formal relationship with China. Before breaking the relations, the Solomon Islands was Taiwan's most populous ally in terms of countries that gave it full recognition. The Solomon Islands assumes a significant interest, primarily due to its highly strategic position. It is located not far away from Papua New Guinea where the US has military interests. Australia is wary as the handling of the port brings China closer to the Down Under nation's Eastern coast. Relations between Canberra and Beijing have been frosty in recent times and having the Chinese PLA around it may not be the ideal situation. ALSO READ | Japan is ‘closely monitoring’ security pact between China, Solomon Islands, says foreign minister China has been infamous for its debt-trap diplomacy. The country has trapped numerous African as well as Asian countries by providing capital investment at exorbitant interest rates. Beijing snaffling up the Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka was one of the prime examples of its tactic working magnificently. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China continues its expansionist policies, to redevelop Solomon Islands port

IN PICS | UN report sounds alarm bells over lack of clean drinking water

A new financial scam has been unearthed in which scamsters are exploiting the Twitter Blue service to dupe users, which once again shows the downside of distributing the blue checkmark to anyone who is willing to pay for it.

A new financial scam has been unearthed in which scamsters are exploiting the Twitter Blue service to dupe users, which once again shows the downside of distributing the blue checkmark to anyone who is willing to pay for it. Twitter users are being targetted by crooks impersonating banks or banking officials, according to a New York Post report. When a user posts a complaint related to their bank account by tagging the bank (say @ICICI or @Wellsfargo), the scammer posing as the customer service representative approaches them. The scamster usually quote tweets the original tweet and gives a helpline number to the user. Once the customer takes the bait and calls on the number, the scammer manages to collect private information such as login credentials to access the user's bank account. Thanks to Elon Musk's newly launched Twitter Blue subscription service, scammers are able to buy the blue checkmark and trick customers into believing that the particular Twitter account is the legit and official handle of the company. ALSO READ | Twitter to make its code used for recommending tweets public, says Elon Musk With Musk announcing the removal of legacy checkmarks soon, the companies will have to quickly apply for Twitter Blue or risk letting customers fall prey to such elaborate scams yet again. This is not the first instance where Twitter has been used by pranksters and scammers. Last year, after the rollout of the blue checkmark subscription service, a Twitter user impersonating basketball player LeBron James demanded a trade from NBA franchise Los Angeles Lakers. Similarly, American pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly lost billions after its stock plunged following a tweet by a fake, verified account posing as the company. The account tweeted that Eli Lilly, one of the largest producers of insulin in the world was selling it for free. Before the error was rectified, over $15 billion in market cap was erased. WATCH | Elon Musk: Twitter will charge $8 per month for Blue Tick × “We apologise to those who have been served a misleading message from a fake Lilly account. Our official Twitter account is @LillyPad," the company said in a clarification statement later. Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion last year but soon found out that the company was red in most financial metrics. To drive up the revenue, Musk launched the $8 verification system which has received a mixed response so far. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Scammers using Twitter Blue tick to steal bank passwords. Here’s how the scam works

Continuing its streak of indiscriminate missile launches, North Korea has again, on Wednesday, fired multiple cruise missiles, informed the South Korean military.

Continuing its streak of indiscriminate missile launches, North Korea has again, on Wednesday, fired multiple cruise missiles, informed the South Korean military. The firing of the missiles comes in the backdrop of ongoing major joint military drills by South Korea and the USA. "The South Korean military has detected multiple cruise missiles launched into the East Sea by North Korea. Detailed specifications are being analysed by South Korea-US intelligence authorities" read a statement released by S Korea's joint chiefs of staff. US and S Korea kicked off the biggest military drill in the past five years on March 13. It is expected to end on Thursday, but the 10-day drill has severely antagonised N Korea. The hermit kingdom perceives these drills as an attempt at invasion. N Korea's leader Kim Jong Un last week said the country should be ready to launch nuclear attacks at any time to deter war. He went on to slam the US and South Korea for expanding military ties involving American nuclear assets. "The present situation, in which the enemies are getting ever more pronounced in their moves for aggression against the DPRK, urgently requires the DPRK to bolster up its nuclear war deterrence exponentially," state media agency KCNA was quoted as saying. ALSO READ | N Korea’s Kim Jong Un attends nuclear attack drill, calls for readiness against US, S Korea Last Thursday, the rogue state allegedly fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan Ostracised by most countries across the globe, N Korea is a pariah state where the authoritarian regime of Kim Jong Un uses almost all the revenue for its missile programmes instead of food production or public welfare. ALSO WATCH | North Korean missile could hit US in 33 mins, says study; find gaps in US missile defence Last year, the country fired a record number of ballistic missiles, comfortably overtaking its combined tally of four and eight missiles tested in 2020 and 2021 respectively. N Korea even broke all records when it fired as many as 23 missiles in a single day. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Antagonised by US-South Korea military drills, North Korea again fires multiple cruise missiles

Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his whirlwind tour of Russia on Thursday and departed for Beijing, reported Russian news agencies. Xi received a guard of honour at Moscow's Vnukovo airport as Russian and Chinese national anthems were played in the background.

Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his whirlwind tour of Russia on Thursday and departed for Beijing, reported Russian news agencies. Xi received a guard of honour at Moscow's Vnukovo airport as Russian and Chinese national anthems were played in the background. Xi arrived in Moscow on Monday to meet his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin. The leaders attempted to strengthen bilateral relations while sending a message that the two powerful nations were not cowering down in face of threats issued by the western countries. Targetting western bloc The joint statement issued after the summit took potshots at the western countries by terming them as the 'confrontational bloc' which did not want the war to end. “Russia reaffirmed that it was committed to restarting peace talks as soon as possible, and China expressed its approval,” read an excerpt from the joint statement. “Settlement of the Ukraine crisis must respect the reasonable security concerns of every country and prevent the formation of confrontational blocs that add fuel to the flames,” it added. China’s peace plan for Ukraine Since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, China has established a "no-limits" friendship with Russia where it has refused to denounce Moscow's aggressiveness, all the while presenting itself as impartial. However, prior to Xi's arrival in Russia, Beijing had prepared a 12-point peace plan for ending the war. The paper reiterates Beijing's talking points for Ukraine. However, the western world is wary that Beijing's plan will allow Putin to “freeze” its territorial gains in the country. ALSO READ | 'Russian people will...': Xi Jinping predicts about 2024 Russian presidential election Putin's booster shot of confidence Xi's visit assumes significance, particularly because it comes in the backdrop of Moscow being engaged in a vicious fight on the eastern flank of Ukraine. Facing severe economic sanctions and being isolated on the world stage, the visit by Xi may have come as a booster shot of confidence for Putin. Increased bonhomie between Russia-China The summit between the duo was marked by pomp as the exchanges suggested a growing bonhomie. During one of the meetings, Xi said he was convinced that the Russian people will be voting en masse for the Kremlin chief in next year's presidential election. "I know Russia will hold a presidential election," said Xi in Mandarin. "Under your strong leadership, Russia has made great strides in its prosperous development. I am confident that the Russian people will continue to give you their firm support." While Xi called Putin a 'dear friend', the latter jokingly said he was 'envious' of the progress made by Beijing in recent times. "In recent years, China has made a tremendous leap forward in its development," Putin said. "It arouses genuine interest all over the world, and even we envy you a little." WATCH | Xi Jinping: China values relationship with Russia × Strengthening economic partnership The two leaders also declared an enduring economic partnership under which more Russian energy will be brought to China while more Chinese enterprises will be welcomed in Moscow. "The growth of China-Russia relations has not only brought tangible benefits to the people of our two countries, but also made important contributions to the development and progress of the world," said Xi. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Xi Jinping departs for Beijing after series of meetings with Putin. Five key points of his Russia visit

Researchers have warned the increasing light pollution caused by thousands of artificial satellites and space waste orbiting Earth could prove detrimental to the work of astronauts studying the universe, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

Researchers have warned the increasing light pollution caused by thousands of artificial satellites and space waste orbiting Earth could prove detrimental to the work of astronauts studying the universe, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Astronomy. The report added that the menace of light pollution poses an "unprecedented global threat to nature" as well. Modelling data suggested that the darkest part of the night sky will become 7.5 per cent brighter over the next decade for the Vera Rubin Observatory, a giant telescope currently under construction in Chile. Meaning, the astronomers from the said observatory will witness a reduction of 7.5 per cent in the number of stars they can observe. It will add an extra year to their workload, not to mention an additional $21.8 million in funding money to the exchequer, which could have been easily avoided if Earth's lower orbit layers were kept debris-free. Read more: Light pollution from satellites, space waste poses risk to astronomy The researchers warned that current measurements of light pollution had significantly underestimated the phenomenon. They added that the brightening of the Earth's atmosphere threatened "our ancient relationship with the night sky". "Space is our shared heritage and ancestor, connecting us through science, storytelling, art, origin stories and cultural traditions - and it is now at risk," said Aparna Venkatesan, an astronomer at the University of San Francisco in the journal. "The loss of the natural aspect of a pristine night sky for all the world, even on the summit of K2 or on the shore of Lake Titicaca or on Easter Island is an unprecedented global threat to nature and cultural heritage." The total number of satellites in the Earth's low orbit has more than doubled since 2019. Elon Musk-owned SpaceX and its 'mega-constellation' has been the major reason for the spurt in numbers. WATCH | Gravitas: NASA spacecraft to visit most volcanic world in solar system × Scientists are now batting to limit these mega-constellations whilst also urging the world governments to explore the possibility of outright banning them. Sunlight that is reflected and scattered from space objects can look like streaks in observations made by telescopes from the ground, making their work harder. It compromises astronomical data and poses the threat of irretrievable loss of information. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Light pollution from satellites worse than previously thought, warn scientists

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