Siemens has signed a $3.25 billion contract to supply India with its service freight trains, the biggest locomotive deal in its history.

Under the deal, the German Engineering company will deliver around 1,200 electric locomotives and provide service for 35 years under the agreement, which is the biggest ever in India.

Siemens has designed 9,000 horsepower trains with a top speed of 120 km/hr that will be assembled in India's Railways Factory in Gujarat over the next 11 years, with deliveries starting in the next 24 months.

As stated by Siemens mobility CEO Michael Peter in a press note, the new locomotives would easily be able to replace 500,000 to 800,000 trucks over their lifecycle.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/world/siemens-ready-to-fix-the-leaks-in-the-nord-stream-1-pipeline-says-gazprom-512680" hreflang="en">Siemens ready to fix the leaks in Nord Stream 1 pipeline, claims Gazprom</a>

According to Michael Peter, who spoke to Reuters, the contract was a significant move for Siemens in India. He noted that the business had previously been very strong in rolling stock in North America and central Europe but mostly provided components and infrastructure in India.

"India is looking for technology, better efficiency, and a longer lifespan for its trains," he said in an interview. "In the past, India built their own trains, but they want to increase reliability and average speeds."

Keeping demand in mind, New Delhi is keen on increasing freight transport to 40-45 per cent from its current 27 per cent, while Siemens seeks this opportunity to increase its revenue, which is touted to rise 6 to 9 per cent.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/videos/indian-railway-suspends-passenger-services-across-india-freight-trains-will-continue-287881" hreflang="en">Indian railway suspends passenger services across India, freight trains will continue</a>

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Although the Indian contract will primarily manifest as orders in 2023, Siemens CEO Peter was optimistic about achieving Siemens's aim of raising revenue at the mobility division.

In India, the largest rail market in the world with 24 million passengers per day travelling on more than 22,000 trains, he claimed Siemens was also considering other train contracts.

That India deal comes as another bumper contract for the German Engineering company, which signed a deal with Australia in December.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Siemens has signed a $3.25 billion contract to supply India with its service freight trains, the biggest locomotive deal in its history. Under the deal, the German Engineering company will deliver around 1,200 electric locomotives and provide service for 35 years under the agreement, which is the biggest ever in India.

Siemens has signed a $3.25 billion contract to supply India with its service freight trains, the biggest locomotive deal in its history. Under the deal, the German Engineering company will deliver around 1,200 electric locomotives and provide service for 35 years under the agreement, which is the biggest ever in India. Siemens has designed 9,000 horsepower trains with a top speed of 120 km/hr that will be assembled in India's Railways Factory in Gujarat over the next 11 years, with deliveries starting in the next 24 months. As stated by Siemens mobility CEO Michael Peter in a press note, the new locomotives would easily be able to replace 500,000 to 800,000 trucks over their lifecycle. Also Read | Siemens ready to fix the leaks in Nord Stream 1 pipeline, claims Gazprom According to Michael Peter, who spoke to Reuters, the contract was a significant move for Siemens in India. He noted that the business had previously been very strong in rolling stock in North America and central Europe but mostly provided components and infrastructure in India. "India is looking for technology, better efficiency, and a longer lifespan for its trains," he said in an interview. "In the past, India built their own trains, but they want to increase reliability and average speeds." Keeping demand in mind, New Delhi is keen on increasing freight transport to 40-45 per cent from its current 27 per cent, while Siemens seeks this opportunity to increase its revenue, which is touted to rise 6 to 9 per cent. Watch | Indian railway suspends passenger services across India, freight trains will continue Although the Indian contract will primarily manifest as orders in 2023, Siemens CEO Peter was optimistic about achieving Siemens's aim of raising revenue at the mobility division. In India, the largest rail market in the world with 24 million passengers per day travelling on more than 22,000 trains, he claimed Siemens was also considering other train contracts. That India deal comes as another bumper contract for the German Engineering company, which signed a deal with Australia in December. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Siemens signs historic $3.25 billion locomotive deal with India

Chile: Scientists exhume megaraptors, feathered dinosaur fossils in Patagonia

Russia and Belarus began their "defensive"&nbsp;joint air drills on Monday, leaving Kyiv and the West concerned that this could lead to the launch of a new attack on Ukraine. One of the only countries that have resolutely supported Russia throughout the conflict, Belarus, allowed Moscow's military to begin their invasion from the country in February.

The air force drills, according to Belarus's defence ministry, will feature combined "tactical" flights from all of the country's airfields. Minska stated that the drills will aim at&nbsp;fortifying the defence. According to Pavel Muraveyko, first deputy state secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, "the exercise is purely defensive in nature," based on a message on the Telegram app of the Belarusian Defence Ministry, Al Jazeera reported.

The drills “will concentrate mainly on patrolling [and] supplies during operations,” as per Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem. “They have been described as defensive drills, not offensive ones, so this is generally the perspective that’s being discussed whenever this issue of the drills is being spoken about. But there are many concerns with the role Belarus is playing with respect to the war [and] whether this is going to have an impact,” he added.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/world/ukraine-insists-western-nations-to-speed-up-weapon-supplies-to-combat-russian-attacks-553307" hreflang="en">Ukraine insists western nations should 'speed up' weapon supplies to combat Russian attacks</a>

As Ukraine’s Dnipro is still reeling under Russia’s Saturday deadly missile attack, the death toll is rising with&nbsp;dozens unaccounted for. The strike in Dnipro is believed to be one of the deadliest civilian incidents of Moscow's three-month missile-firing campaign against cities far from the front, Reuters reported. A Russian Kh-22 missile from the Soviet era struck Dnipro, according to Ukraine, Baltic News Network (BNN) reported. These missiles are meant to destroy warships, but the Ukrainian Air Force lacks the equipment to intercept them.

Ukraine claims that the widespread civilian killings, which it calls acts of terrorism, show why the war-torn country needs more advanced&nbsp;weapons to drive back Russian soldiers. Russia, however, denied intentionally targeting civilians.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/videos/russia-and-belarus-hold-joint-military-drill-553302" hreflang="en">Russia and Belarus hold joint military drill</a>

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In the aftermath of the attack on Saturday in the central city of Dnipro, authorities said there was little possibility of rescuing more survivors, but President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged&nbsp;to continue the rescue&nbsp;"as long as there is even the slightest chance to save lives."

Following the Dnipro incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western allies to bolster military supplies to Ukraine to put an end to Russian terrorism and attacks on civilian targets. The transfer of the needed&nbsp;military equipment to Ukraine has now been agreed upon by the Western countries. The United Kingdom added its offer to that of Poland and France on Saturday, saying it will deliver 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine to combat Russian forces.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Russia and Belarus began their "defensive" joint air drills on Monday, leaving Kyiv and the West concerned that this could lead to the launch of a new attack on Ukraine.

Russia and Belarus began their "defensive" joint air drills on Monday, leaving Kyiv and the West concerned that this could lead to the launch of a new attack on Ukraine. One of the only countries that have resolutely supported Russia throughout the conflict, Belarus, allowed Moscow's military to begin their invasion from the country in February. The air force drills, according to Belarus's defence ministry, will feature combined "tactical" flights from all of the country's airfields. Minska stated that the drills will aim at fortifying the defence. According to Pavel Muraveyko, first deputy state secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, "the exercise is purely defensive in nature," based on a message on the Telegram app of the Belarusian Defence Ministry, Al Jazeera reported. The drills “will concentrate mainly on patrolling [and] supplies during operations,” as per Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem. “They have been described as defensive drills, not offensive ones, so this is generally the perspective that’s being discussed whenever this issue of the drills is being spoken about. But there are many concerns with the role Belarus is playing with respect to the war [and] whether this is going to have an impact,” he added. Also Read | Ukraine insists western nations should 'speed up' weapon supplies to combat Russian attacks As Ukraine’s Dnipro is still reeling under Russia’s Saturday deadly missile attack, the death toll is rising with dozens unaccounted for. The strike in Dnipro is believed to be one of the deadliest civilian incidents of Moscow's three-month missile-firing campaign against cities far from the front, Reuters reported. A Russian Kh-22 missile from the Soviet era struck Dnipro, according to Ukraine, Baltic News Network (BNN) reported. These missiles are meant to destroy warships, but the Ukrainian Air Force lacks the equipment to intercept them. Ukraine claims that the widespread civilian killings, which it calls acts of terrorism, show why the war-torn country needs more advanced weapons to drive back Russian soldiers. Russia, however, denied intentionally targeting civilians. Watch | Russia and Belarus hold joint military drill In the aftermath of the attack on Saturday in the central city of Dnipro, authorities said there was little possibility of rescuing more survivors, but President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to continue the rescue "as long as there is even the slightest chance to save lives." Following the Dnipro incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western allies to bolster military supplies to Ukraine to put an end to Russian terrorism and attacks on civilian targets. The transfer of the needed military equipment to Ukraine has now been agreed upon by the Western countries. The United Kingdom added its offer to that of Poland and France on Saturday, saying it will deliver 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine to combat Russian forces. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

War in Ukraine: Russia, Belarus conduct ‘defensive’ air drills

Delhi police are looking for a man who pretended to be an employee of the Abu Dhabi royal family and stayed at the Leela Palace Hotel for over four months. He duped the 5-star hotel of Rs 24 lakh ($29,330) and also&nbsp;stole silverware and a mother-of-pearl tray from the hotel room.

The accused, Md Sharif, told the hotel staff that he resided in the UAE and is in India for some official work. Sharif, who stayed in room number 427 at the hotel, even said he personally worked with the Office of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the royal family of Abu Dhabi, Leela Hotel’s management said at the time of filing the complaint, according to News18.&nbsp;

“One of our in-house guests… has run off from the hotel on 20th November 2022 with valuables and also without settling his outstanding bills… and has cheated The Leela Palace New Delhi of amount worth INR 23,46,413/- The guest checked into the hotel with a fake business card and had impersonated as an important functionary of the government of United Arab Emirates,” the FIR read.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/india-news/indian-railways-staffer-fakes-robbery-at-gun-point-to-steal-money-reveal-cops-442139" hreflang="en">Indian Railways staffer fakes robbery at gun-point to steal money, reveal cops</a>

While speaking with the hotel staff, he’d often boast about his “work and life with the Royal family of Abu Dhabi” to look influential, authorities said.

Sharif stayed at the hotel from August 1 to November 20 last year and fled&nbsp;without settling the pending bills of $29,330, The Tribune reported. Out of the total bill of Rs 35 lakh ($42,796), he had reportedly paid Rs 11 lakh ($13,444) to the luxury hotel.&nbsp;

“This seems to be completely pre-planned since we were under the impression that by 22nd November 2022, the hotel will get dues cleared through the cheque he had submitted. This clearly signifies that Mr Sharif had malafide intentions and a clear intent to deceive hotel authorities,” the complainant told police.

Watch |&nbsp;Two held for stealing royal golden tiffin box worth millions in southern India

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">The man fabricated a business card, UAE resident card, and other official documents, police said, according to The Indian Express.</div>

“We don’t think his ID cards are genuine and he is not related to the royal family in Abu Dhabi. We are checking if he has done this before. He paid part of the bill in August-September last year and later gave the hotel a cheque of Rs 20 lakh ($24,455). The cheque was submitted in November and it was found that it bounced due to insufficient funds,” a senior police officer told the publication.

On Saturday, a case was registered against the accused and he was booked for impersonation, theft and cheating. Police, who are yet to verify his personal details and occupation, assured that the accused will soon be apprehended.&nbsp;

“At this stage, it’s unclear where the man stayed before coming to the hotel. We are checking CCTVs and have mounted technical surveillance. He will be nabbed soon,” the officer stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Delhi police are looking for a man who pretended to be an employee of the Abu Dhabi royal family and stayed at the Leela Palace Hotel for over four months. He duped the 5-star hotel of Rs 24 lakh ($29,330) and also stole silverware and a mother-of-pearl tray from the hotel room.

Delhi police are looking for a man who pretended to be an employee of the Abu Dhabi royal family and stayed at the Leela Palace Hotel for over four months. He duped the 5-star hotel of Rs 24 lakh ($29,330) and also stole silverware and a mother-of-pearl tray from the hotel room. The accused, Md Sharif, told the hotel staff that he resided in the UAE and is in India for some official work. Sharif, who stayed in room number 427 at the hotel, even said he personally worked with the Office of Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the royal family of Abu Dhabi, Leela Hotel’s management said at the time of filing the complaint, according to News18. “One of our in-house guests… has run off from the hotel on 20th November 2022 with valuables and also without settling his outstanding bills… and has cheated The Leela Palace New Delhi of amount worth INR 23,46,413/- The guest checked into the hotel with a fake business card and had impersonated as an important functionary of the government of United Arab Emirates,” the FIR read. Also Read | Indian Railways staffer fakes robbery at gun-point to steal money, reveal cops While speaking with the hotel staff, he’d often boast about his “work and life with the Royal family of Abu Dhabi” to look influential, authorities said. Sharif stayed at the hotel from August 1 to November 20 last year and fled without settling the pending bills of $29,330, The Tribune reported. Out of the total bill of Rs 35 lakh ($42,796), he had reportedly paid Rs 11 lakh ($13,444) to the luxury hotel. “This seems to be completely pre-planned since we were under the impression that by 22nd November 2022, the hotel will get dues cleared through the cheque he had submitted. This clearly signifies that Mr Sharif had malafide intentions and a clear intent to deceive hotel authorities,” the complainant told police. Watch | Two held for stealing royal golden tiffin box worth millions in southern India The man fabricated a business card, UAE resident card, and other official documents, police said, according to The Indian Express. “We don’t think his ID cards are genuine and he is not related to the royal family in Abu Dhabi. We are checking if he has done this before. He paid part of the bill in August-September last year and later gave the hotel a cheque of Rs 20 lakh ($24,455). The cheque was submitted in November and it was found that it bounced due to insufficient funds,” a senior police officer told the publication. On Saturday, a case was registered against the accused and he was booked for impersonation, theft and cheating. Police, who are yet to verify his personal details and occupation, assured that the accused will soon be apprehended. “At this stage, it’s unclear where the man stayed before coming to the hotel. We are checking CCTVs and have mounted technical surveillance. He will be nabbed soon,” the officer stated. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Delhi: Man pretending to be UAE royal family employee dupes Leela Palace Hotel of $29,330

Kyrgyzstan's famous Issyk-Kul lake froze because of extreme cold conditions on Saturday (January 14), the news agency Reuters reported, sharing dramatic visuals of the lake.&nbsp;

The magnificent lake is known for its scenery and it is also one of the largest high-mountain lakes globally. Issyk-Kul is a lake without a drain and is located in the northeastern part of the Central Asia nation.&nbsp;

It also keeps scientists intrigued as the water of this lake never freezes due to the lake's depth and natural warmth of the water. This is the reason, it was named Issyk-Kul, which means "warm lake" in Kyrgyz.&nbsp;

The lake is the seventh-deepest lake in the world and it is also the tenth-largest by volume.&nbsp;

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د سختې یخنۍ په وجه د "Issyk-Kul" جهیل چې د نړۍ اووم ژورپروت جهیل بلل کېږي کنګل شوی دی. په قرغیزستان کې دې جهیل ته د نژدې سیمې اوسیدونکي ادعا کوي چې د لومړي ځل لپاره ددې جهیل د کنګل کیدو شاهدان دي.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/voasocial?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#voasocial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/voapashto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#voapashto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/voaafghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#voaafghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kyrgyzstan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kyrgyzstan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Issyk_kul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Issyk_kul</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Winter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Winter</a> <a href="https://t.co/gSzKtWJwHu">pic.twitter.com/gSzKtWJwHu</a>
— VOA Pashto (@VOAPashto) <a href="https://twitter.com/VOAPashto/status/1614643364946739202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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But the lake froze this year. A local told Reuters that he and his neighbours never saw the lake freeze. During his conversation with the news agency, the resident said: "On January 14, the lake froze. The ice goes about 150 metres (492ft) from shore to the centre of the lake."&nbsp;

"There were huge ice-boulders but they have all broken up. In some places the ice was 1.5 metres (5ft) thick. We, the locals. have never seen anything like it. It's new for us," the local added.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/videos/over-1100-join-ice-run-on-frozen-lake-in-china-194059" hreflang="en">Over 1,100 join ice run on frozen lake in China</a>

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The report also mentioned that as&nbsp;the lake froze&nbsp;during extreme cold,&nbsp;the temperature was recorded at -30C on Saturday.&nbsp;

This comes amid harsh winter weather that has swept across Central Asia in the past few days.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Kyrgyzstan's famous Issyk-Kul lake froze because of extreme cold conditions on Saturday (January 14), the news agency Reuters reported, sharing dramatic visuals of the lake.

Kyrgyzstan's famous Issyk-Kul lake froze because of extreme cold conditions on Saturday (January 14), the news agency Reuters reported, sharing dramatic visuals of the lake. The magnificent lake is known for its scenery and it is also one of the largest high-mountain lakes globally. Issyk-Kul is a lake without a drain and is located in the northeastern part of the Central Asia nation. It also keeps scientists intrigued as the water of this lake never freezes due to the lake's depth and natural warmth of the water. This is the reason, it was named Issyk-Kul, which means "warm lake" in Kyrgyz. The lake is the seventh-deepest lake in the world and it is also the tenth-largest by volume. د سختې یخنۍ په وجه د "Issyk-Kul" جهیل چې د نړۍ اووم ژورپروت جهیل بلل کېږي کنګل شوی دی. په قرغیزستان کې دې جهیل ته د نژدې سیمې اوسیدونکي ادعا کوي چې د لومړي ځل لپاره ددې جهیل د کنګل کیدو شاهدان دي.#voasocial #voapashto #voaafghanistan #Kyrgyzstan #Issyk_kul #Winter pic.twitter.com/gSzKtWJwHu — VOA Pashto (@VOAPashto) January 15, 2023 × But the lake froze this year. A local told Reuters that he and his neighbours never saw the lake freeze. During his conversation with the news agency, the resident said: "On January 14, the lake froze. The ice goes about 150 metres (492ft) from shore to the centre of the lake." "There were huge ice-boulders but they have all broken up. In some places the ice was 1.5 metres (5ft) thick. We, the locals. have never seen anything like it. It's new for us," the local added. WATCH | Over 1,100 join ice run on frozen lake in China The report also mentioned that as the lake froze during extreme cold, the temperature was recorded at -30C on Saturday. This comes amid harsh winter weather that has swept across Central Asia in the past few days. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Never seen anything like it': Extreme cold weather freezes Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul lake

Consuming just one portion of freshwater fish locally caught in a river or lake in the United States is equivalent to a month of drinking water full of “forever chemicals,” a new study revealed on Tuesday.

According to Interesting Engineering, the invisible chemicals called Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) such as water-proof or non-stick coatings that people get to see on products like mobile phones, food packages, etc. are called forever chemicals. PFAS is a group of over 9,000 varied chemicals – the usage of some of which is banned or highly restricted, Study Finds reported.

“The extent to which PFAS has contaminated fish is staggering,” said first author Nadia Barbo, a graduate student at Duke University, in a statement, Local Today reported. “There should be a single health-protecting fish consumption recommendation for freshwater fish nationwide.”

The data that researchers examined were collected from over 500 samples of fish filets in the U.S. between 2013 to 2015. &nbsp;The median level of total PFAS in fish filets was 9,500 nanograms per kilogramme, with a median level of 11,800 nanograms per kilogramme in the Great Lakes, Eurekalert reported.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/science/fishes-feel-pain-stress-and-anxiety-organisation-introduces-proposal-for-their-humane-slaughter-523756" hreflang="en">Fish feel 'pain, stress and anxiety': Organisation introduces proposal for their 'humane slaughter'</a>

PFAS is believed to have penetrated local waterways that impact drinking water supplies and contaminate the irrigated plants and fish found living there. Fish consumption has long been associated with exposing eaters to PFAS, as per the study. In 1979, for the first time, researchers identified such contamination in catfish inhabiting the Tennessee River.

“Food has always been a kind of hypothesis for how most people are exposed to PFAS compounds,” The Hill quoted author David Andrews, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, as saying.

The study by Environmental Working Group scientists suggests the quantity of PFAS in freshwater on an average across the US was 280 times higher than forever chemicals found in commercially caught fish.

“People who consume freshwater fish, especially those who catch and eat fish regularly, are at risk of alarming levels of PFAS in their bodies,” one of the study’s lead authors Andrews said. “Growing up, I went fishing every week and ate those fish. But now when I see fish, all I think about is PFAS contamination.”

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/videos/rare-fish-with-transparent-head-spotted-in-deep-sea-wion-originals-513859" hreflang="en">Rare fish with transparent head spotted in Deep Sea</a>

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This discovery was "particularly concerning due to the impact on disadvantaged communities that consume fish as a source protein or for social or cultural reasons," he added. "This research makes me incredibly angry because companies that made and used PFAS contaminated the globe and have not been held responsible."

Repetitive exposure to these chemicals not only weakens the immune system but results in severe health issues like cancer. These toxic substances don’t easily degrade in nature or inside the human body and therefore,&nbsp;Andrews urged for more rigorous regulation to discontinue non-essential uses of PFAS.

On Friday, European countries, including Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands jointly submitted to the EU's European Chemicals Agency a proposal to ban PFAS, France 24 reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Consuming just one portion of freshwater fish locally caught in a river or lake in the United States is equivalent to a month of drinking water full of “forever chemicals,” a new study revealed on Tuesday.

Consuming just one portion of freshwater fish locally caught in a river or lake in the United States is equivalent to a month of drinking water full of “forever chemicals,” a new study revealed on Tuesday. According to Interesting Engineering, the invisible chemicals called Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) such as water-proof or non-stick coatings that people get to see on products like mobile phones, food packages, etc. are called forever chemicals. PFAS is a group of over 9,000 varied chemicals – the usage of some of which is banned or highly restricted, Study Finds reported. “The extent to which PFAS has contaminated fish is staggering,” said first author Nadia Barbo, a graduate student at Duke University, in a statement, Local Today reported. “There should be a single health-protecting fish consumption recommendation for freshwater fish nationwide.” The data that researchers examined were collected from over 500 samples of fish filets in the U.S. between 2013 to 2015. The median level of total PFAS in fish filets was 9,500 nanograms per kilogramme, with a median level of 11,800 nanograms per kilogramme in the Great Lakes, Eurekalert reported. Also Read | Fish feel 'pain, stress and anxiety': Organisation introduces proposal for their 'humane slaughter' PFAS is believed to have penetrated local waterways that impact drinking water supplies and contaminate the irrigated plants and fish found living there. Fish consumption has long been associated with exposing eaters to PFAS, as per the study. In 1979, for the first time, researchers identified such contamination in catfish inhabiting the Tennessee River. “Food has always been a kind of hypothesis for how most people are exposed to PFAS compounds,” The Hill quoted author David Andrews, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, as saying. The study by Environmental Working Group scientists suggests the quantity of PFAS in freshwater on an average across the US was 280 times higher than forever chemicals found in commercially caught fish. “People who consume freshwater fish, especially those who catch and eat fish regularly, are at risk of alarming levels of PFAS in their bodies,” one of the study’s lead authors Andrews said. “Growing up, I went fishing every week and ate those fish. But now when I see fish, all I think about is PFAS contamination.” Watch | Rare fish with transparent head spotted in Deep Sea This discovery was "particularly concerning due to the impact on disadvantaged communities that consume fish as a source protein or for social or cultural reasons," he added. "This research makes me incredibly angry because companies that made and used PFAS contaminated the globe and have not been held responsible." Repetitive exposure to these chemicals not only weakens the immune system but results in severe health issues like cancer. These toxic substances don’t easily degrade in nature or inside the human body and therefore, Andrews urged for more rigorous regulation to discontinue non-essential uses of PFAS. On Friday, European countries, including Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands jointly submitted to the EU's European Chemicals Agency a proposal to ban PFAS, France 24 reported. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Consuming one wild fish is equivalent to month of drinking ‘forever chemicals’ water: Study

The Calcutta High Court has finally reached a resolution in one of the oldest pending cases in the nation. This week, a panel of India's oldest high court—whose current Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava was born ten years after the case was initially filed in 1951—decided the country's longest legal dispute.

Although the dispute surrounding the dissolution of the former Berhampur Bank Limited has finally been resolved, Calcutta High Court has still two of the five oldest pending cases to resolve. All the cases were filed in 1952, The Times of India reported.

The Madras high court is currently hearing a case, while the other remaining cases are civil lawsuits being handled in the civil courts of Malda, Bengal, Satlok Express News reported. In an effort to settle these disputed matters, the Malda courts have scheduled hearings for March and November.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/india-news/there-will-be-no-court-cases-in-india-if-we-have-a-happy-lot-of-citizens-chief-justice-ranjan-gogoi-239700" hreflang="en">There will be no court cases in India if we have a happy lot of citizens: Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi</a>

The National Judicial Data Grid lists the Berhampur case as the oldest case heard in any Indian court as of January 9. On January 1, 1951, a petition questioning the decision to shut down the Berhampur Bank was submitted, and on the&nbsp;same day, it was registered as "Case No. 71/1951." Several lawsuits were filed against debtors by Berhampur Bank in an effort to recover lost funds, many of whom filed court documents contesting the bank's claims.

The petition challenging the bank's liquidation was scheduled for two hearings before the HC last September, but no one showed up, according to court records.

Justice Kapur then asked the court's liquidator to provide a report. On September 19, the assistant liquidator notified the court that the matter had been resolved in August 2006. It was found that this was not corrected in the records, which is why the case was still listed as pending.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Calcutta High Court has finally reached a resolution in one of the oldest pending cases in the nation. This week, a panel of India's oldest high court—whose current Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava was born ten years after the case was initially filed in 1951—decided the country's longest legal dispute.

The Calcutta High Court has finally reached a resolution in one of the oldest pending cases in the nation. This week, a panel of India's oldest high court—whose current Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava was born ten years after the case was initially filed in 1951—decided the country's longest legal dispute. Although the dispute surrounding the dissolution of the former Berhampur Bank Limited has finally been resolved, Calcutta High Court has still two of the five oldest pending cases to resolve. All the cases were filed in 1952, The Times of India reported. The Madras high court is currently hearing a case, while the other remaining cases are civil lawsuits being handled in the civil courts of Malda, Bengal, Satlok Express News reported. In an effort to settle these disputed matters, the Malda courts have scheduled hearings for March and November. Also Read | There will be no court cases in India if we have a happy lot of citizens: Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi The National Judicial Data Grid lists the Berhampur case as the oldest case heard in any Indian court as of January 9. On January 1, 1951, a petition questioning the decision to shut down the Berhampur Bank was submitted, and on the same day, it was registered as "Case No. 71/1951." Several lawsuits were filed against debtors by Berhampur Bank in an effort to recover lost funds, many of whom filed court documents contesting the bank's claims. The petition challenging the bank's liquidation was scheduled for two hearings before the HC last September, but no one showed up, according to court records. Justice Kapur then asked the court's liquidator to provide a report. On September 19, the assistant liquidator notified the court that the matter had been resolved in August 2006. It was found that this was not corrected in the records, which is why the case was still listed as pending. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India’s oldest pending case reaches resolution after 72 years

The secretary general of NATO Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday praised the recent pledges by Western allies to provide heavy weaponry to Ukraine, adding that he anticipated more "in the near future." "The recent pledges for heavy warfare equipment are important -- and I expect more in the near future," Stoltenberg told Germany's Handelsblatt daily.

Stoltenberg’s comments came a day after a series of Russian bombings across war-torn Ukraine once more targeted crucial infrastructure, leaving nearly 30 people dead, Al Jazeera reported. The bombings hit a residential building in the east-central city of Dnipro – an attack Washington condemned.

Kyiv has long been urging its allies to provide it with vehicles, artillery and missiles to defeat Russia in the ongoing war. The NATO-designated Ukraine Defence Contact Group will meet for the third time on Friday at the US Ramstein Air Base in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The bloc is said to coordinate arms supplies to Kyiv during the meet, according to France 24.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/world/explained-european-allies-plan-to-send-tanks-to-ukraine-what-we-know-so-far-552934" hreflang="en">Explained: Are European allies planning to send tanks to Ukraine?</a>

On being asked if Germany needed to take similar action to equip Ukraine with more powerful weaponry, the head of the Intergovernmental organisation said: “We are in a decisive phase of the war. We are experiencing fierce fighting. Therefore, it is important that we provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to win — and to continue as an independent nation.”

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, appealed for more powerful Western weapons on Saturday, claiming that the only way to confront Russian "terror" was on the battlefield. “What is needed for this? Those weapons that are in the warehouses of our partners,” Zelenskyy said during his address.

Last week, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s confidants said that Moscow was currently engaged in combat with the NATO military alliance led by the United States in Ukraine and that the West was attempting to erase Russia from the political map of the world, Reuters reported.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/videos/uk-to-supply-battle-tanks-to-ukraine-amid-russian-strikes-552968" hreflang="en">UK to supply battle tanks to Ukraine amid Russian strikes</a>

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With last week's announcement that it has "completed the liberation" of Soledar, Russia claimed its first major battlefield victory following months of defeats and inaction, a claim that Ukraine repudiated, saying heavy fighting continues in the region.

Countries including the United Kingdom, France and Poland have vowed to send tanks soon for the Ukrainian military to combat Russian forces. While the United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to &nbsp;Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks, Poland may deliver German-made Leopard 2 tanks. Finland may adopt a similar strategy, CNN reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The secretary general of NATO Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday praised the recent pledges by Western allies to provide heavy weaponry to Ukraine, adding that he anticipated more "in the near future.

The secretary general of NATO Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday praised the recent pledges by Western allies to provide heavy weaponry to Ukraine, adding that he anticipated more "in the near future." "The recent pledges for heavy warfare equipment are important -- and I expect more in the near future," Stoltenberg told Germany's Handelsblatt daily. Stoltenberg’s comments came a day after a series of Russian bombings across war-torn Ukraine once more targeted crucial infrastructure, leaving nearly 30 people dead, Al Jazeera reported. The bombings hit a residential building in the east-central city of Dnipro – an attack Washington condemned. Kyiv has long been urging its allies to provide it with vehicles, artillery and missiles to defeat Russia in the ongoing war. The NATO-designated Ukraine Defence Contact Group will meet for the third time on Friday at the US Ramstein Air Base in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The bloc is said to coordinate arms supplies to Kyiv during the meet, according to France 24. Also Read | Explained: Are European allies planning to send tanks to Ukraine? On being asked if Germany needed to take similar action to equip Ukraine with more powerful weaponry, the head of the Intergovernmental organisation said: “We are in a decisive phase of the war. We are experiencing fierce fighting. Therefore, it is important that we provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to win — and to continue as an independent nation.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, appealed for more powerful Western weapons on Saturday, claiming that the only way to confront Russian "terror" was on the battlefield. “What is needed for this? Those weapons that are in the warehouses of our partners,” Zelenskyy said during his address. Last week, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s confidants said that Moscow was currently engaged in combat with the NATO military alliance led by the United States in Ukraine and that the West was attempting to erase Russia from the political map of the world, Reuters reported. Watch | UK to supply battle tanks to Ukraine amid Russian strikes With last week's announcement that it has "completed the liberation" of Soledar, Russia claimed its first major battlefield victory following months of defeats and inaction, a claim that Ukraine repudiated, saying heavy fighting continues in the region. Countries including the United Kingdom, France and Poland have vowed to send tanks soon for the Ukrainian military to combat Russian forces. While the United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks, Poland may deliver German-made Leopard 2 tanks. Finland may adopt a similar strategy, CNN reported. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

War-torn Ukraine can expect more heavy weapons deliveries 'in the near future': NATO

The Japanese defence ministry confirmed that the first-ever joint fighter jet drill between Japan and India began on Monday. The exercises, which are being conducted at the Air Self-Defence Force’s (ASDF) Hyakuri Air Base in the northeastern Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, will end on January 26.

The motive of the drills is to “promote mutual understanding, strengthen defence cooperation between the air forces” and enhance the force's tactical skills, the ASDF said in a statement, Japan Times reported.

The military exercises are being carried out in a bid to fortify defence and security ties amid China's expanding military power in the Indo-Pacific area.

While Japan's ASDF is anticipated to field four F-2 and four F-15 planes for the 11-day air combat training, the Indian Air Force is planning to send four Su-30MKI fighters, two C-17 Globemaster transport planes, an IL-78 aerial refuelling tanker, and nearly 150 personnel, as per Kyodo News.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/india-news/malabar-exercise-involving-india-japan-us-and-australia-culminates-in-seas-off-japan-534859" hreflang="en">Malabar Exercise involving India, Japan, US and Australia culminates in seas off Japan</a>

The exercise, which will train participants for a variety of "air combat missions in a complex environment," will strengthen a “long-standing bond of friendship” and pave the way for greater communication between the two air forces, the Indian defence ministry said.

As Tokyo broadens its network of security allies across the world, India has now joined the United States, Australia, Britain and Germany as the fifth nation to send fighter jets to Japan for joint exercises. Joint exercises between Indian and Japanese ground and maritime self-defence troops have already been held.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/videos/wion-dispatch-india-japan-agree-to-hold-military-drills-and-defence-co-operation-514180" hreflang="en">India, Japan agree to hold military drills and defence co-operation</a>

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The drills which were first agreed upon in November 2019 during a security meeting were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both nations decided to intensify their security cooperation through measures, such as joint manoeuvres, towards a “common strategic goal of achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is inclusive and resilient, based on the rule of law and free from coercion,” La Prensa Latina reported.

Japan and India are members of the Quad, along with Australia and the US. Quad is a multilateral security arrangement designed to thwart Beijing's expanding influence in the area. The last Quad summit was held in May 2022 in Tokyo.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Japanese defence ministry confirmed that the first-ever joint fighter jet drill between Japan and India began on Monday. The exercises, which are being conducted at the Air Self-Defence Force’s (ASDF) Hyakuri Air Base in the northeastern Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, will end on January 26.

The Japanese defence ministry confirmed that the first-ever joint fighter jet drill between Japan and India began on Monday. The exercises, which are being conducted at the Air Self-Defence Force’s (ASDF) Hyakuri Air Base in the northeastern Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, will end on January 26. The motive of the drills is to “promote mutual understanding, strengthen defence cooperation between the air forces” and enhance the force's tactical skills, the ASDF said in a statement, Japan Times reported. The military exercises are being carried out in a bid to fortify defence and security ties amid China's expanding military power in the Indo-Pacific area. While Japan's ASDF is anticipated to field four F-2 and four F-15 planes for the 11-day air combat training, the Indian Air Force is planning to send four Su-30MKI fighters, two C-17 Globemaster transport planes, an IL-78 aerial refuelling tanker, and nearly 150 personnel, as per Kyodo News. Also Read | Malabar Exercise involving India, Japan, US and Australia culminates in seas off Japan The exercise, which will train participants for a variety of "air combat missions in a complex environment," will strengthen a “long-standing bond of friendship” and pave the way for greater communication between the two air forces, the Indian defence ministry said. As Tokyo broadens its network of security allies across the world, India has now joined the United States, Australia, Britain and Germany as the fifth nation to send fighter jets to Japan for joint exercises. Joint exercises between Indian and Japanese ground and maritime self-defence troops have already been held. Watch | India, Japan agree to hold military drills and defence co-operation The drills which were first agreed upon in November 2019 during a security meeting were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both nations decided to intensify their security cooperation through measures, such as joint manoeuvres, towards a “common strategic goal of achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is inclusive and resilient, based on the rule of law and free from coercion,” La Prensa Latina reported. Japan and India are members of the Quad, along with Australia and the US. Quad is a multilateral security arrangement designed to thwart Beijing's expanding influence in the area. The last Quad summit was held in May 2022 in Tokyo. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India, Japan begin first joint fighter jet drill near Tokyo:  Japanese Defence Ministry

A child in the United Kingdom was hospitalised every 20 minutes, last year, after consuming either alcohol or drugs to cause self-harm, an investigation has revealed. In the last five years, hospital admissions for kids who self-harmed with drugs or alcohol soared, with hospitalisations for kids between the ages of 10 and 14 rising by 58%, from 5,520 to 8,749, Daily Mail reported.

Hospitalisations for this type of self-harm among all 0 to 19-year-olds also climbed by about 20%, from 22,313 in 2017–18 to 26,450 in 202–22, to one in every 20 minutes on average, according to the survey.

Lockdowns, social media, and a lack of adequate mental health care, according to experts, are to blame for the issue. Timothy Loughton, a Conservative lawmaker and former minister for children, termed the statistics "shocking" and urged the government to investigate the issue thoroughly.

“Despite the determination of this government to achieve parity of esteem between mental illness and physical illness and the extra investment in young people's mental health services, we still need more and more urgent interventions for our children. The unseen consequences of the Covid lockdown are now coming to the surface as we see the impact of closing schools and depriving children of socialising and learning with their peers on their mental health,” Loughton said, as per Daily Mail.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-kate-middleton-urges-drug-addicts-alcoholics-to-get-help--video-529539" hreflang="en">Kate Middleton urges drug addicts, alcoholics to get help | Video</a>

“Every two months represents 1 per cent of a child's childhood and too much of that growing-up process was taken away from them during lockdown. While we still have lots to do on academic catch-up, this will amount to little if we do not attend to repairing the mental well-being of children at the same time,” he added.

Of the 117,616 children hospitalised since 2017 for intentionally poisoning themselves with drugs or alcohol, 400 were under the age of 10. According to NHS Digital statistics, non-opioid medicines, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, were responsible for 18,594 hospital admissions last year. Alcohol was the cause of 113 hospitalisations, while drugs and hallucinogens led to 1,188 admissions.

Watch |&nbsp;UK drugs crackdown: Boris Johnson's $398 million plan to tackle drug menace

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To curb the rising cases of hospitalisations among children, parents were advised to lock away their alcohol and medications, to prevent their easy accessibility.

“Often young people tell me they used alcohol with their overdose as their friend had tried taking just tablets and it had not worked or they saw on a TV series it didn't work, so they did their research and read that alcohol alongside would be more damaging. My strong advice to all families, whether they think their children are depressed or not, is to dispose of any medications they do not need at a pharmacy and to lock away any they do need,” Consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Priory, Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg, said as per reports.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

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A child in the United Kingdom was hospitalised every 20 minutes, last year, after consuming either alcohol or drugs to cause self-harm, an investigation has revealed.

A child in the United Kingdom was hospitalised every 20 minutes, last year, after consuming either alcohol or drugs to cause self-harm, an investigation has revealed. In the last five years, hospital admissions for kids who self-harmed with drugs or alcohol soared, with hospitalisations for kids between the ages of 10 and 14 rising by 58%, from 5,520 to 8,749, Daily Mail reported. Hospitalisations for this type of self-harm among all 0 to 19-year-olds also climbed by about 20%, from 22,313 in 2017–18 to 26,450 in 202–22, to one in every 20 minutes on average, according to the survey. Lockdowns, social media, and a lack of adequate mental health care, according to experts, are to blame for the issue. Timothy Loughton, a Conservative lawmaker and former minister for children, termed the statistics "shocking" and urged the government to investigate the issue thoroughly. “Despite the determination of this government to achieve parity of esteem between mental illness and physical illness and the extra investment in young people's mental health services, we still need more and more urgent interventions for our children. The unseen consequences of the Covid lockdown are now coming to the surface as we see the impact of closing schools and depriving children of socialising and learning with their peers on their mental health,” Loughton said, as per Daily Mail. Also Read | Kate Middleton urges drug addicts, alcoholics to get help | Video “Every two months represents 1 per cent of a child's childhood and too much of that growing-up process was taken away from them during lockdown. While we still have lots to do on academic catch-up, this will amount to little if we do not attend to repairing the mental well-being of children at the same time,” he added. Of the 117,616 children hospitalised since 2017 for intentionally poisoning themselves with drugs or alcohol, 400 were under the age of 10. According to NHS Digital statistics, non-opioid medicines, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, were responsible for 18,594 hospital admissions last year. Alcohol was the cause of 113 hospitalisations, while drugs and hallucinogens led to 1,188 admissions. Watch | UK drugs crackdown: Boris Johnson's $398 million plan to tackle drug menace To curb the rising cases of hospitalisations among children, parents were advised to lock away their alcohol and medications, to prevent their easy accessibility. “Often young people tell me they used alcohol with their overdose as their friend had tried taking just tablets and it had not worked or they saw on a TV series it didn't work, so they did their research and read that alcohol alongside would be more damaging. My strong advice to all families, whether they think their children are depressed or not, is to dispose of any medications they do not need at a pharmacy and to lock away any they do need,” Consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Priory, Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg, said as per reports. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Self-harm: 1 child goes to hospital every 20 minutes in UK for alcohol or drug abuse

The word space debris can commonly be interpreted as man-made objects in space that are no longer serving a useful purpose. This could include large and small defunct satellites, spent upper stages of rockets, etc. However, the larger objects are far lesser in number, and it is far easier to track and predict their movement, whereas the real threat to space assets is posed by millions of millimetre-sized space debris, said a top NASA scientist.&nbsp;

"The biggest objects 10cm and larger are tracked by the US Department of Defense, using their global sensor network. Currently, they track about 47,000 big objects in space, 27,000 of them are 10cm and larger. There are many more debris too small to be tracked, but still large enough to threaten human spaceflight and robotic space missions (satellites)" said Dr. Jer Chyi Liou, NASA Chief Scientist for Orbital Debris.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/science/narrow-escape-international-space-station-dodges-space-debris-from-russian-anti-satellite-test-490218" hreflang="en">Narrow escape! International Space Station dodges space debris from Russian anti-satellite test</a>

He was speaking at a space science workshop organised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Astronautical Society of India (ASI) in India, about Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Management. Sharing data about the orbital debris, Dr. Liou said that are 500,000 objects measuring 1cm or larger and over 100 million objects over the size of 1 millimetre.

Pointing out the hazards posed by objects measuring less than a millimetre, he said that even an object as small as 0.4 mm could penetrate some parts of the spacesuit of a spacewalking astronaut and cause serious damage to space missions.

Explaining why space debris of varying sizes is a constant cause of concern, Dr. Liou mentioned that the average impact speed between two orbiting objects in Low Earth orbit (up to 200 km above the earth's surface) is 10km/second. For context, that is ten times the speed of a bullet and any collision at such high impact speeds could prove catastrophic.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/videos/expanding-problem-of-space-debris-what-is-space-junk-why-is-it-a-problem-472289" hreflang="en">Expanding problem of space debris: What is space junk? Why is it a problem?</a>

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Speaking of the total mass of orbital debris, he said that it had exceeded 9500 metric tonnes and 4000 tonnes of this was in Low Earth Orbit alone. He mentioned that the major man-made events that caused significant fragmentation of space debris were a Chinese Anti-Satellite missile test in 2007, an accidental collision between a Cosmos and an Iridium satellite in 2009 and the Russian Anti-Satellite Missile test in 2021.

He said that orbital debris was not distributed uniformly in space, as Low Earth Orbit (up to 2000 km from the Earth's surface) had the highest concentration, followed by the Geosynchronous orbit (around 36,000 km&nbsp;above the earth's surface). This is explained by the highest concentration of satellites operating in low earth orbit and the rapid growth in the number of cube satellites and constellations in the last two decades.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The word space debris can commonly be interpreted as man-made objects in space that are no longer serving a useful purpose. This could include large and small defunct satellites, spent upper stages of rockets, etc.

The word space debris can commonly be interpreted as man-made objects in space that are no longer serving a useful purpose. This could include large and small defunct satellites, spent upper stages of rockets, etc. However, the larger objects are far lesser in number, and it is far easier to track and predict their movement, whereas the real threat to space assets is posed by millions of millimetre-sized space debris, said a top NASA scientist. "The biggest objects 10cm and larger are tracked by the US Department of Defense, using their global sensor network. Currently, they track about 47,000 big objects in space, 27,000 of them are 10cm and larger. There are many more debris too small to be tracked, but still large enough to threaten human spaceflight and robotic space missions (satellites)" said Dr. Jer Chyi Liou, NASA Chief Scientist for Orbital Debris. Also Read | Narrow escape! International Space Station dodges space debris from Russian anti-satellite test He was speaking at a space science workshop organised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Astronautical Society of India (ASI) in India, about Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Management. Sharing data about the orbital debris, Dr. Liou said that are 500,000 objects measuring 1cm or larger and over 100 million objects over the size of 1 millimetre. Pointing out the hazards posed by objects measuring less than a millimetre, he said that even an object as small as 0.4 mm could penetrate some parts of the spacesuit of a spacewalking astronaut and cause serious damage to space missions. Explaining why space debris of varying sizes is a constant cause of concern, Dr. Liou mentioned that the average impact speed between two orbiting objects in Low Earth orbit (up to 200 km above the earth's surface) is 10km/second. For context, that is ten times the speed of a bullet and any collision at such high impact speeds could prove catastrophic. Watch | Expanding problem of space debris: What is space junk? Why is it a problem? Speaking of the total mass of orbital debris, he said that it had exceeded 9500 metric tonnes and 4000 tonnes of this was in Low Earth Orbit alone. He mentioned that the major man-made events that caused significant fragmentation of space debris were a Chinese Anti-Satellite missile test in 2007, an accidental collision between a Cosmos and an Iridium satellite in 2009 and the Russian Anti-Satellite Missile test in 2021. He said that orbital debris was not distributed uniformly in space, as Low Earth Orbit (up to 2000 km from the Earth's surface) had the highest concentration, followed by the Geosynchronous orbit (around 36,000 km above the earth's surface). This is explained by the highest concentration of satellites operating in low earth orbit and the rapid growth in the number of cube satellites and constellations in the last two decades. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

100mn+ millimetre-sized space debris a serious threat to astronauts, says NASA Chief Scientist

More than 70,000 staff members at 150 universities in the UK will go on strike for 18 days between February and March over several issues, including salary, working conditions and pension. "The clock is now ticking for the sector to produce a deal or be hit with widespread disruption throughout spring," University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said.

The exact dates of the action will be announced next week, according to UCU, The Guardian reported.

The union, which comprises academics, trainers, librarians, and other professionals employed by colleges and universities, stated it was calling for higher pay after employers set a pay raise worth 3% after more than ten years of pay awards that lagged owing to inflation, Reuters reported.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/world/uk-ambulance-workers-go-on-strike-pm-calls-walkout-terrifying-for-patients-551651" hreflang="en">UK ambulance workers also go on strike, PM Rishi Sunak calls walkout ‘terrifying for patients’</a>

If the issues are not resolved, the union will also re-ballot staffers at all 150 universities to extend its mandate and allow industrial action to be called well into 2023, including a boycott of marking and assessment starting in April.

To address the rising cost of living, the union is calling for both -- measures to stop the use of "insecure" contracts and a pay increase. On Wednesday, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which advocates for university employers, presented the UCU with a salary offer worth 4 per cent to 5 per cent, but the union claimed this was insufficient.

Watch | UK strikes over pay to continue

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“Today our union came together to back an unprecedented programme of escalating strike action,” UCU general secretary Jo Grady said. “University staff dedicate their lives to education and they want to get back to work, but that will only happen if university vice-chancellors use the vast wealth of the sector to address over a decade of falling pay, rampant insecure employment practices and devastating pension cuts. The choice is theirs,” he continued.

Amid the pay disputes, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces pressure to end a wave of industrial activities in Britain that started last year as the nation struggles with double-digit inflation. Numerous critical services, including healthcare and rail transportation, have frequently been disrupted by the strikes, with the participation of hundreds of thousands of people.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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More than 70,000 staff members at 150 universities in the UK will go on strike for 18 days between February and March over several issues, including salary, working conditions and pension.

More than 70,000 staff members at 150 universities in the UK will go on strike for 18 days between February and March over several issues, including salary, working conditions and pension. "The clock is now ticking for the sector to produce a deal or be hit with widespread disruption throughout spring," University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said. The exact dates of the action will be announced next week, according to UCU, The Guardian reported. The union, which comprises academics, trainers, librarians, and other professionals employed by colleges and universities, stated it was calling for higher pay after employers set a pay raise worth 3% after more than ten years of pay awards that lagged owing to inflation, Reuters reported. Also Read | UK ambulance workers also go on strike, PM Rishi Sunak calls walkout ‘terrifying for patients’ If the issues are not resolved, the union will also re-ballot staffers at all 150 universities to extend its mandate and allow industrial action to be called well into 2023, including a boycott of marking and assessment starting in April. To address the rising cost of living, the union is calling for both -- measures to stop the use of "insecure" contracts and a pay increase. On Wednesday, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which advocates for university employers, presented the UCU with a salary offer worth 4 per cent to 5 per cent, but the union claimed this was insufficient. Watch | UK strikes over pay to continue “Today our union came together to back an unprecedented programme of escalating strike action,” UCU general secretary Jo Grady said. “University staff dedicate their lives to education and they want to get back to work, but that will only happen if university vice-chancellors use the vast wealth of the sector to address over a decade of falling pay, rampant insecure employment practices and devastating pension cuts. The choice is theirs,” he continued. Amid the pay disputes, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces pressure to end a wave of industrial activities in Britain that started last year as the nation struggles with double-digit inflation. Numerous critical services, including healthcare and rail transportation, have frequently been disrupted by the strikes, with the participation of hundreds of thousands of people. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UK pay dispute: More than 70,000 staff members at 150 universities to strike for 18 days

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