Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office on Friday detained an EU lawmaker for questioning in a corruption scandal that rocked the EU Parliament in December, as police continued to conduct further raids.&nbsp;The office stated that a banking safe which belonged to Belgian lawmaker Marc Tarabella was searched by the police in the city of Liege.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the police also raided the offices in the town hall of Anthisnes, where Tarabella worked as mayor.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qatar-corruption-scandal-eu-parliament-to-lift-immunity-of-two-meps-548934">Qatar corruption scandal: EU parliament to lift immunity of two MEPs</a>

Earlier this month, the protective immunity of Tarabella was removed by the European Union's parliament to ensure that the investigators can question him.

The assembly had overwhelmingly voted in favour of lifting the parliamentary protection of Tarabella and another Italian lawmaker Andrea Cozzolino.

Through their lawyers, both men have conveyed their willingness to co-operate with Belgian authorities.

The prosecutor’s office said that the police detained Taraballa for questioning, adding that it is now for the investigating judge to decide if they would hear him in the next few hours.

Tarabella has denied having any links with the corruption scandal, in which it was suspected that bribes were paid by Qatari and Moroccan officials to influence the European Parliament's policy-making and decisions.

WATCH | Gravitas: The couple at the heart of EU Corruption scandal

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As per the report compiled to lift the immunity of Taraballa, a Belgian investigation stated that he “may have been involved in acts of corruption connected with interference by one or more foreign states aimed at influencing the debates and decisions taken in the European Parliament.”

It stated that “testimony against him suggests that such payments were made to him on several occasions, amounting to a total of between $132,00 and $154,000.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office on Friday detained an EU lawmaker for questioning in a corruption scandal that rocked the EU Parliament in December, as police continued to conduct further raids.

Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office on Friday detained an EU lawmaker for questioning in a corruption scandal that rocked the EU Parliament in December, as police continued to conduct further raids. The office stated that a banking safe which belonged to Belgian lawmaker Marc Tarabella was searched by the police in the city of Liege. Meanwhile, the police also raided the offices in the town hall of Anthisnes, where Tarabella worked as mayor. ALSO READ | Qatar corruption scandal: EU parliament to lift immunity of two MEPs Earlier this month, the protective immunity of Tarabella was removed by the European Union's parliament to ensure that the investigators can question him. The assembly had overwhelmingly voted in favour of lifting the parliamentary protection of Tarabella and another Italian lawmaker Andrea Cozzolino. Through their lawyers, both men have conveyed their willingness to co-operate with Belgian authorities. The prosecutor’s office said that the police detained Taraballa for questioning, adding that it is now for the investigating judge to decide if they would hear him in the next few hours. Tarabella has denied having any links with the corruption scandal, in which it was suspected that bribes were paid by Qatari and Moroccan officials to influence the European Parliament's policy-making and decisions. WATCH | Gravitas: The couple at the heart of EU Corruption scandal As per the report compiled to lift the immunity of Taraballa, a Belgian investigation stated that he “may have been involved in acts of corruption connected with interference by one or more foreign states aimed at influencing the debates and decisions taken in the European Parliament.” It stated that “testimony against him suggests that such payments were made to him on several occasions, amounting to a total of between $132,00 and $154,000. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Belgian police detain EU lawmaker Marc Tarabella for questioning in corruption scandal

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

The power facilities in Ukraine were hit by Russian missiles on Friday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned after completing a tour of Western capitals and Ukrainian officials confirmed that the Russian offensive was underway in the east and had escalated.

The armed forces of Ukraine said that more than 100 missiles were fired by the Russian forces throughout the country and 12 air attacks and 20 shelling attacks had taken place.

Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko said that the power facilities were hit by Russian drones and missiles launched in six regions, which led to blackouts across most of the country.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-claims-russian-missiles-entered-romanian-airspace-romania-denies-560667">Ukraine claims Russian missiles entered Romanian airspace, Romania denies</a>

Biden's visit to Poland

The White House has announced that US President Joe Biden will be visiting Poland from February 20 to 22 to show his support for Ukraine before the first anniversary of its invasion by Russia on February 24 and will speak about additional security assistance and aid to be extended by the United States.

The White House National Security Council's spokesperson John Kirby said, “The president will make it very clear that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

IMF to hold talks with Ukrainian officials

The staff of International Monetary Fund staff will hold talks with Ukrainian officials next week in Warsaw, reports suggested on Friday, as Ukraine is demanding a multi-billion dollar borrowing programme to meet its expenses in the wake of war with Russia.

The sovereign rating of Ukraine was downgraded to Ca by the global ratings agency Moody's on Friday, as it predicted long-lasting challenges for the nation as the war continues.

As per Moody's website, the rating reflects that debt obligations are "likely in, or very near, default."

Civilian infrastructure under attack 

The latest attacks were launched by Russia as Zelensky completed his tour of European allies.

"London, Paris, Brussels - everywhere I spoke these past few days about how to strengthen our soldiers. There are very important understandings and we received good signals. This concerns long-range missiles and tanks and the next level of our co-operation — fighter aircraft,” he stated in his nightly video address.

WATCH | Russian missiles hit energy sites across Ukraine

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Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that Russia shot down 10 missiles over the capital as sirens blared in the morning hours and civilians took shelter.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the country was without 75 per cent of thermal power and 44 per cent of nuclear generation capacity.

"This is a deliberate targeting of infrastructure that keeps Ukrainians alive in winter," said US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. The power facilities in Ukraine were hit by Russian missiles on Friday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned after completing a tour of Western capitals and Ukrainian officials confirmed that the Russian offensive was underway in the east and had escalated. The armed forces of Ukraine said that more than 100 missiles were fired by the Russian forces throughout the country and 12 air attacks and 20 shelling attacks had taken place. Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko said that the power facilities were hit by Russian drones and missiles launched in six regions, which led to blackouts across most of the country. ALSO READ | Ukraine claims Russian missiles entered Romanian airspace, Romania denies Biden's visit to Poland The White House has announced that US President Joe Biden will be visiting Poland from February 20 to 22 to show his support for Ukraine before the first anniversary of its invasion by Russia on February 24 and will speak about additional security assistance and aid to be extended by the United States. The White House National Security Council's spokesperson John Kirby said, “The president will make it very clear that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.” IMF to hold talks with Ukrainian officials The staff of International Monetary Fund staff will hold talks with Ukrainian officials next week in Warsaw, reports suggested on Friday, as Ukraine is demanding a multi-billion dollar borrowing programme to meet its expenses in the wake of war with Russia. The sovereign rating of Ukraine was downgraded to Ca by the global ratings agency Moody's on Friday, as it predicted long-lasting challenges for the nation as the war continues. As per Moody's website, the rating reflects that debt obligations are "likely in, or very near, default." Civilian infrastructure under attack The latest attacks were launched by Russia as Zelensky completed his tour of European allies. "London, Paris, Brussels - everywhere I spoke these past few days about how to strengthen our soldiers. There are very important understandings and we received good signals. This concerns long-range missiles and tanks and the next level of our co-operation — fighter aircraft,” he stated in his nightly video address. WATCH | Russian missiles hit energy sites across Ukraine Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that Russia shot down 10 missiles over the capital as sirens blared in the morning hours and civilians took shelter. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the country was without 75 per cent of thermal power and 44 per cent of nuclear generation capacity. "This is a deliberate targeting of infrastructure that keeps Ukrainians alive in winter," said US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russian missiles hit Ukraine's power facilities, as offensive escalates in east

A multiparty dialogue was called by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Friday to end the political crisis which has gripped the nation, stating that Peru has a “fragile democracy” at present because of two months of deadly anti-government protests raging across the country.&nbsp;On December 7, Boluarte became the country's president, after the impeachment and arrest of her predecessor Pedro Castillo who had tried to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.

However, since then, Boluarte has been facing opposition from protesters who have asked her to resign and demanded fresh elections.

The protests have turned violent&nbsp;and&nbsp;a new death was reported by officials on Friday, bringing the toll of the people killed amid clashes between protesters and security forces to 49.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-unrest-spreads-president-says-violence-will-not-go-unpunished-554305">Peru unrest spreads; President says violence will not go unpunished</a>

"We are living in a fragile democracy," Boluarte said after she refused to resign and also failed to convince Congress to hold elections,&nbsp;which are due in 2026,&nbsp;earlier.

"I think it is the most fragile in Latin America, but it is within Peruvians, within us, to strengthen democracy," Boluarte said while speaking at a press conference, which was also attended by her cabinet ministers.

Boluarte is the sixth president of Peru since March 2018 and the first woman to hold the position.

She was vice president under Castillo before the former president was ousted and charges of rebellion imposed on him.

The fiercest protests have taken place against her in poor southern regions where the population is largely Indigenous and who see Castillo as one of their own.

The protesters have also raised demands for Congress' dissolution and a constituent assembly's formation for rewriting the constitution, which the right-wing opposition rejected.

"In search of peace, I openly call all political leaders of every single party, but also the leaders of social and labour organisations, everyone in general so that we can meet and put the country's agenda on the table," Boluarte said.

In the press conference, Boluarte expressed grief over the death of a 22-year-old who was shot in Apurimac, where the president was born.

WATCH | Peru: Country declares emergency amid protests for 30 days

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"I am very sorry for the death of the citizen in Apurimac yesterday, in that confrontation in which an interprovincial transport bus was set on fire, the toll booth set on fire. My condolences from here to the family," said Boluarte.

She added that few street protests "are not peaceful. They come out with sticks, slingshots, rocks, which are also projectiles that cause damage."

"Not all are marching peacefully. They are coming out to generate violence, chaos and terror,” the president said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A multiparty dialogue was called by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Friday to end the political crisis which has gripped the nation, stating that Peru has a “fragile democracy” at present because of two months of deadly anti-government protests raging across the country.

A multiparty dialogue was called by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Friday to end the political crisis which has gripped the nation, stating that Peru has a “fragile democracy” at present because of two months of deadly anti-government protests raging across the country. On December 7, Boluarte became the country's president, after the impeachment and arrest of her predecessor Pedro Castillo who had tried to dissolve Congress and rule by decree. However, since then, Boluarte has been facing opposition from protesters who have asked her to resign and demanded fresh elections. The protests have turned violent and a new death was reported by officials on Friday, bringing the toll of the people killed amid clashes between protesters and security forces to 49. ALSO READ | Peru unrest spreads; President says violence will not go unpunished "We are living in a fragile democracy," Boluarte said after she refused to resign and also failed to convince Congress to hold elections, which are due in 2026, earlier. "I think it is the most fragile in Latin America, but it is within Peruvians, within us, to strengthen democracy," Boluarte said while speaking at a press conference, which was also attended by her cabinet ministers. Boluarte is the sixth president of Peru since March 2018 and the first woman to hold the position. She was vice president under Castillo before the former president was ousted and charges of rebellion imposed on him. The fiercest protests have taken place against her in poor southern regions where the population is largely Indigenous and who see Castillo as one of their own. The protesters have also raised demands for Congress' dissolution and a constituent assembly's formation for rewriting the constitution, which the right-wing opposition rejected. "In search of peace, I openly call all political leaders of every single party, but also the leaders of social and labour organisations, everyone in general so that we can meet and put the country's agenda on the table," Boluarte said. In the press conference, Boluarte expressed grief over the death of a 22-year-old who was shot in Apurimac, where the president was born. WATCH | Peru: Country declares emergency amid protests for 30 days "I am very sorry for the death of the citizen in Apurimac yesterday, in that confrontation in which an interprovincial transport bus was set on fire, the toll booth set on fire. My condolences from here to the family," said Boluarte. She added that few street protests "are not peaceful. They come out with sticks, slingshots, rocks, which are also projectiles that cause damage." "Not all are marching peacefully. They are coming out to generate violence, chaos and terror,” the president said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Peru president Dina Boluarte calls for multiparty dialogue to resolve political crisis

Twitter CEO Elon Musk seems to be having sleepless nights for weeks now, as worries consume him about his declining reach on his micro-blogging site.

Musk, last week, changed his Twitter account's setting to private to see if that might boost the number of his audience.

The step was taken after many prominent right-wing accounts complained that their reach has reduced after the recent changes incorporated into Twitter.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-investigating-elon-musks-brain-implant-company-neuralink-heres-why-560510">US investigating Elon Musk's brain implant company Neuralink. Here's why</a>

As per a report published by The Verge, a group of advisors and engineers were asked to assemble in a room at the headquarters of Twitter to find answers to the question that has been bothering him lately - “Why are his engagement numbers tanking?”

The report claims in the meeting, Musk said, “This is ridiculous. I have more than 100 million followers, and I’m only getting tens of thousands of impressions.”

One of the principal engineers of the company said that the declining reach can be a result of waning public interest in Musk's antics.

The internal data of the account's engagement and a Google Trends chart were shared with Musk by the employees. Last April, Musk was told that he is at the “peak” of his popularity in search rankings, which was reflected in his score of “100.”

Today, Musk stands at a score of nine. Previously, engineers had investigated if the engagement of the account is being artificially restricted, however, no evidence was found that claimed that algorithm was biased against Musk.

The news did not go down well with Musk, who told the engineer, “You’re fired, you’re fired”.

As per a current worker, Musk has asked employees to track the number of times each of his tweets is recommended, the report stated.

WATCH | Elon Musk Acquitted In Tesla Fraud Case

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Seven weeks have passed since public view counts have been added to Twitter for every tweet. When the feature was introduced, Musk had promised that this would world understand how vibrant is the social media platform.

“Shows how much more alive Twitter is than it may seem, as over 90 per cent of Twitter users read, but don’t tweet, reply or like, as those are public actions,” Musk had tweeted.

Now two months later, the view counts have given the exact opposite of what was expected out of it and have emphasised on how most posts get very little engagement in comparison to their audience size.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Twitter CEO Elon Musk seems to be having sleepless nights for weeks now, as worries consume him about his declining reach on his micro-blogging site. Musk, last week, changed his Twitter account's setting to private to see if that might boost the number of his audience.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk seems to be having sleepless nights for weeks now, as worries consume him about his declining reach on his micro-blogging site. Musk, last week, changed his Twitter account's setting to private to see if that might boost the number of his audience. The step was taken after many prominent right-wing accounts complained that their reach has reduced after the recent changes incorporated into Twitter. ALSO READ | US investigating Elon Musk's brain implant company Neuralink. Here's why As per a report published by The Verge, a group of advisors and engineers were asked to assemble in a room at the headquarters of Twitter to find answers to the question that has been bothering him lately - “Why are his engagement numbers tanking?” The report claims in the meeting, Musk said, “This is ridiculous. I have more than 100 million followers, and I’m only getting tens of thousands of impressions.” One of the principal engineers of the company said that the declining reach can be a result of waning public interest in Musk's antics. The internal data of the account's engagement and a Google Trends chart were shared with Musk by the employees. Last April, Musk was told that he is at the “peak” of his popularity in search rankings, which was reflected in his score of “100.” Today, Musk stands at a score of nine. Previously, engineers had investigated if the engagement of the account is being artificially restricted, however, no evidence was found that claimed that algorithm was biased against Musk. The news did not go down well with Musk, who told the engineer, “You’re fired, you’re fired”. As per a current worker, Musk has asked employees to track the number of times each of his tweets is recommended, the report stated. WATCH | Elon Musk Acquitted In Tesla Fraud Case Seven weeks have passed since public view counts have been added to Twitter for every tweet. When the feature was introduced, Musk had promised that this would world understand how vibrant is the social media platform. “Shows how much more alive Twitter is than it may seem, as over 90 per cent of Twitter users read, but don’t tweet, reply or like, as those are public actions,” Musk had tweeted. Now two months later, the view counts have given the exact opposite of what was expected out of it and have emphasised on how most posts get very little engagement in comparison to their audience size. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'You’re fired, you’re fired' | Musk sacks top engineer after his reach drops: report

United States President Joe Biden, who has been facing criticism from some lawmakers, on Thursday said that according to him the suspected Chinese spy balloon, which was seen flying in the skies of the US before being shot down in the Atlantic Ocean, was not a major security breach.&nbsp;

Biden, who has tried to maintain good communications with China and keep the tensions with Beijing under control, in a Noticias Telemundo interview said that he has no regrets about not shooting down the Chinese balloon sooner.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-dismisses-questions-about-age-ahead-of-expected-2024-campaign-560252">US President Joe Biden dismisses questions about age ahead of expected 2024 campaign</a>

"It's not a major breach. I mean, look, it's totally … it's a violation of international law. It's our airspace. And once it comes into our space, we can do what we want with it," said Biden.&nbsp;

He stated that the US military officials were concerned if the balloon is shot down over land, the deflated balloon and its parts can fall into a populated area.

"This thing was gigantic. What happened if it came down and hit a school in a rural area? What happened if it came down? So I told them as soon as they could shoot it down, shoot it down. They made a wise decision. They shot it down over the water, they're recovering most of the parts, and they're good," Biden said.

On February 2, Biden ordered to shoot the balloon after it crossed into the northwestern United States but acquiesced to the request of the US military to not take any step till it was over water.&nbsp;

A US fighter jet shot down the 200-foot-tall (61-meter) balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. Efforts are being made by the US military to recover the parts of the balloon.&nbsp;

WATCH | US: Probe into Hunter Biden laptop saga

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However, some Democrats and Republicans slammed Biden for not shooting down the balloon as soon as it was spotted.&nbsp;

The officials had first detected the high-altitude surveillance balloon over Alaska on January 28.

(With inputs from agencies)

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United States President Joe Biden, who has been facing criticism from some lawmakers, on Thursday said that according to him the suspected Chinese spy balloon, which was seen flying in the skies of the US before being shot down in the Atlantic Ocean, was not a major security breach.

United States President Joe Biden, who has been facing criticism from some lawmakers, on Thursday said that according to him the suspected Chinese spy balloon, which was seen flying in the skies of the US before being shot down in the Atlantic Ocean, was not a major security breach. Biden, who has tried to maintain good communications with China and keep the tensions with Beijing under control, in a Noticias Telemundo interview said that he has no regrets about not shooting down the Chinese balloon sooner. ALSO READ | US President Joe Biden dismisses questions about age ahead of expected 2024 campaign "It's not a major breach. I mean, look, it's totally … it's a violation of international law. It's our airspace. And once it comes into our space, we can do what we want with it," said Biden. He stated that the US military officials were concerned if the balloon is shot down over land, the deflated balloon and its parts can fall into a populated area. "This thing was gigantic. What happened if it came down and hit a school in a rural area? What happened if it came down? So I told them as soon as they could shoot it down, shoot it down. They made a wise decision. They shot it down over the water, they're recovering most of the parts, and they're good," Biden said. On February 2, Biden ordered to shoot the balloon after it crossed into the northwestern United States but acquiesced to the request of the US military to not take any step till it was over water. A US fighter jet shot down the 200-foot-tall (61-meter) balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. Efforts are being made by the US military to recover the parts of the balloon. WATCH | US: Probe into Hunter Biden laptop saga However, some Democrats and Republicans slammed Biden for not shooting down the balloon as soon as it was spotted. The officials had first detected the high-altitude surveillance balloon over Alaska on January 28. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US President Biden calls suspected Chinese spy balloon 'not a major breach'

The Facebook and Instagram accounts of former US president Donald Trump have been restored by Meta after remaining suspended for more than two years.

After the Capitol riots which shook the United States in 2021, Trump was banned from various social media platforms.

The parent company of the social media platforms, Meta, said that the decision to ban Trump was taken after the latter had praised people who were "engaged in violence at the Capitol".

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-urges-facebook-to-reinstate-his-account-as-he-gears-up-for-2024-run-553984">Trump urges Facebook to reinstate his account as he gears up for 2024 run</a>

If the rules are broken by Trump again, he may be banned again for a period ranging between one month and two years, Meta has stated.

Trump's posts in which the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election was baselessly challenged remain published on both websites.

The last post of Trump is receiving comments from his supporters who are welcoming him back.

Initially, Trump was indefinitely suspended from the two platforms, but Meta had later revised a two-year suspension after the open-ended penalty was criticised by the platforms' Oversight Board.&nbsp;

When the accounts were suspended, Trump had called the move "an insult" to the millions of people who had cast votes in the 2020 presidential election.

Meta had announced the restoration of Trump's account two weeks ago.&nbsp;

WATCH | Former US President Donald Trump eyeing a social media comeback?

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Meta's president of global affairs Nick Clegg argued the public "should be able to hear what their politicians are saying".

He further stated that in a review the accounts of Trump were no longer seen as a serious risk to public safety.

The former president had announced that he will be fighting the presidential elections again in 2024. Trumps has over 23 million on Instagram and 34 million followers on Facebook.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Facebook and Instagram accounts of former US president Donald Trump have been restored by Meta after remaining suspended for more than two years. After the Capitol riots which shook the United States in 2021, Trump was banned from various social media platforms.

The Facebook and Instagram accounts of former US president Donald Trump have been restored by Meta after remaining suspended for more than two years. After the Capitol riots which shook the United States in 2021, Trump was banned from various social media platforms. The parent company of the social media platforms, Meta, said that the decision to ban Trump was taken after the latter had praised people who were "engaged in violence at the Capitol". ALSO READ | Trump urges Facebook to reinstate his account as he gears up for 2024 run If the rules are broken by Trump again, he may be banned again for a period ranging between one month and two years, Meta has stated. Trump's posts in which the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election was baselessly challenged remain published on both websites. The last post of Trump is receiving comments from his supporters who are welcoming him back. Initially, Trump was indefinitely suspended from the two platforms, but Meta had later revised a two-year suspension after the open-ended penalty was criticised by the platforms' Oversight Board. When the accounts were suspended, Trump had called the move "an insult" to the millions of people who had cast votes in the 2020 presidential election. Meta had announced the restoration of Trump's account two weeks ago. WATCH | Former US President Donald Trump eyeing a social media comeback? Meta's president of global affairs Nick Clegg argued the public "should be able to hear what their politicians are saying". He further stated that in a review the accounts of Trump were no longer seen as a serious risk to public safety. The former president had announced that he will be fighting the presidential elections again in 2024. Trumps has over 23 million on Instagram and 34 million followers on Facebook. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Meta restores Trump's account on Facebook and Instagram

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday warned that even if the European allies decide to send fighter jets to Kyiv, they can't be dispatched in "the coming weeks".

"I'm not ruling anything out ... but that doesn't correspond to today's requirements," said Macron, after an EU summit in Brussels, where Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was also present.&nbsp;

A renewed offensive has been launched by Russia in the war-torn east of Ukraine and this week, Zelensky visited London, Paris and Brussels as he appealed for more advanced weapons for his country.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-escalation-has-already-started-in-the-east-ukrainian-officials-say-560461">Russian escalation has already started in the east, Ukrainian officials say</a>

Ukraine has been demanding heavy tanks, long-range missiles and western combat jets, however, the nation is running out of basic supplies like artillery shells.

Britain has agreed to provide training to the Ukrainian pilots on Western jets, while Slovakia and Poland have been planning to supply more Soviet-designed Mig-29 fighters which Kyiv is already using.

However, the allies of Ukraine are concerned that sending advanced Western fighter jets would escalate the tensions with Moscow and may result in open conflict between Russia and NATO.&nbsp;

Zelensky was hailed as a hero by Macron along with other EU leaders in Brussels, as they promised to support Ukraine till victory is achieved, however, they remain cautious about sending fighter jets.

WATCH | Russia-Ukraine War: UK promises to train Ukrainian pilots

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"It is essential the allies favour the most useful equipment" and "the fastest", &nbsp;said Macron, citing the MAMBA medium-range surface-to-air defence system and the Caesar guns which were supplied by France.&nbsp;

He added that it may be important to finalise the delivery of munitions and artillery pieces so that Ukraine can resist or launch ground offensives, as he promised to "work on it in the coming days".

(With inputs from agencies)

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French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday warned that even if the European allies decide to send fighter jets to Kyiv, they can't be dispatched in "the coming weeks".

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday warned that even if the European allies decide to send fighter jets to Kyiv, they can't be dispatched in "the coming weeks". "I'm not ruling anything out ... but that doesn't correspond to today's requirements," said Macron, after an EU summit in Brussels, where Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was also present. A renewed offensive has been launched by Russia in the war-torn east of Ukraine and this week, Zelensky visited London, Paris and Brussels as he appealed for more advanced weapons for his country. ALSO READ | Russian escalation has already started in the east, Ukrainian officials say Ukraine has been demanding heavy tanks, long-range missiles and western combat jets, however, the nation is running out of basic supplies like artillery shells. Britain has agreed to provide training to the Ukrainian pilots on Western jets, while Slovakia and Poland have been planning to supply more Soviet-designed Mig-29 fighters which Kyiv is already using. However, the allies of Ukraine are concerned that sending advanced Western fighter jets would escalate the tensions with Moscow and may result in open conflict between Russia and NATO. Zelensky was hailed as a hero by Macron along with other EU leaders in Brussels, as they promised to support Ukraine till victory is achieved, however, they remain cautious about sending fighter jets. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine War: UK promises to train Ukrainian pilots "It is essential the allies favour the most useful equipment" and "the fastest", said Macron, citing the MAMBA medium-range surface-to-air defence system and the Caesar guns which were supplied by France. He added that it may be important to finalise the delivery of munitions and artillery pieces so that Ukraine can resist or launch ground offensives, as he promised to "work on it in the coming days". (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Macron says European allies won't be able to send fighter jets to Ukraine in coming weeks

Thousands of people have expressed their willingness to adopt the baby girl whose birth took place under the collapsed building's rubble in north-west Syria, after the disastrous earthquake on Monday.

When the rescue workers saved baby Aya, which means miracle in Arabic - &nbsp;she was still connected to her mother through an umbilical cord.

Her father, mother as well as four siblings died after the town of Jindayris was hit by the massive quake. Baby Aya is currently admitted to the hospital.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/miracle-amid-devastation-baby-born-under-rubble-rescued-after-syria-turkey-earthquake-watch-559637">'Miracle amid devastation': Baby born under rubble; rescued after Syria, Turkey earthquake. Watch!</a>

"She arrived on Monday in such a bad state, she had bumps, bruises, she was cold and barely breathing," paediatrician Hani Marouf said. The baby is in stable condition now.

The video of rescue workers pulling out Aya from the debris went viral on social media. In the footage, a man was seen coming out of the collapsed building's debris, holding a baby in his arm.

The baby's distant relative Khalil al-Suwadi, who was present when the baby was pulled out, took the newborn to Dr Marouf in Afrin, Syria.&nbsp;

Thousands of people have been asking for details on social media to adopt the baby girl.

"I would like to adopt her and give her a decent life," one person said.

A Kuwaiti TV anchor, also expressing the willingness, said, "I'm ready to take care of and adopt this child... if legal procedures allow me to."

Hospital manager Khalid Attiah said that he has been getting several calls from people across countries who are willing to adopt baby Aya.

Dr Attiah, who is the father of a baby girl, said, "I won't allow anyone to adopt her now. Until her distant family return, I'm treating her like one of my own."&nbsp;

The baby is being breastfed by Dr Attiah's wife, alongside their own child.&nbsp;

WATCH | Turkiye earthquake survivors recall horror

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Meanwhile in Jindayris, the hometown of the miracle baby, people have been looking for their loved ones beneath the collapsed buildings.

Journalist Mohammed al-Adnan said, "The situation is a disaster. There are so many people under the rubble. There are still people we haven't got out yet."

He added that 90% of the town has faced destruction and the local people have extended most of the help so far.

The White Helmets organisation's rescuers have also been helping people in Jindayris.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Thousands of people have expressed their willingness to adopt the baby girl whose birth took place under the collapsed building's rubble in north-west Syria, after the disastrous earthquake on Monday.

Thousands of people have expressed their willingness to adopt the baby girl whose birth took place under the collapsed building's rubble in north-west Syria, after the disastrous earthquake on Monday. When the rescue workers saved baby Aya, which means miracle in Arabic - she was still connected to her mother through an umbilical cord. Her father, mother as well as four siblings died after the town of Jindayris was hit by the massive quake. Baby Aya is currently admitted to the hospital. ALSO READ | 'Miracle amid devastation': Baby born under rubble; rescued after Syria, Turkey earthquake. Watch! "She arrived on Monday in such a bad state, she had bumps, bruises, she was cold and barely breathing," paediatrician Hani Marouf said. The baby is in stable condition now. The video of rescue workers pulling out Aya from the debris went viral on social media. In the footage, a man was seen coming out of the collapsed building's debris, holding a baby in his arm. The baby's distant relative Khalil al-Suwadi, who was present when the baby was pulled out, took the newborn to Dr Marouf in Afrin, Syria. Thousands of people have been asking for details on social media to adopt the baby girl. "I would like to adopt her and give her a decent life," one person said. A Kuwaiti TV anchor, also expressing the willingness, said, "I'm ready to take care of and adopt this child... if legal procedures allow me to." Hospital manager Khalid Attiah said that he has been getting several calls from people across countries who are willing to adopt baby Aya. Dr Attiah, who is the father of a baby girl, said, "I won't allow anyone to adopt her now. Until her distant family return, I'm treating her like one of my own." The baby is being breastfed by Dr Attiah's wife, alongside their own child. WATCH | Turkiye earthquake survivors recall horror Meanwhile in Jindayris, the hometown of the miracle baby, people have been looking for their loved ones beneath the collapsed buildings. Journalist Mohammed al-Adnan said, "The situation is a disaster. There are so many people under the rubble. There are still people we haven't got out yet." He added that 90% of the town has faced destruction and the local people have extended most of the help so far. The White Helmets organisation's rescuers have also been helping people in Jindayris. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Turkey-Syria earthquake | Thousands express willingness to adopt 'miracle' baby girl born under rubble

In another miraculous escape, a mother and her newborn baby were rescued from the rubble of collapsed buildings in Turkey, almost 90 hours after the first of deadly earthquakes shook the region on Monday.&nbsp;The rescue workers saved the 10-day-old boy named Yagiz from a ruined structure located in the southern Hatay province.

The footage shared on social media showed the child being rescued by the volunteers overnight — as the local media called the escape miraculous.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-syria-earthquake-thousands-express-willingness-to-adopt-miracle-baby-girl-born-under-rubble-560467">Turkey-Syria earthquake | Thousands express willingness to adopt 'miracle' baby girl born under rubble</a>

Amid these miraculous escapes, the hopes of saving more lives are diminishing, as the time is slipping by with four days of disaster about to end and the freezing-cold weather continues to make life difficult for survivors.

However, the volunteers continue to carry out search and rescue operations in both Turkey and neighbouring Syria.&nbsp;

In the picture shared, newborn baby Yagiz was seen wrapped in a thermal blanket and the volunteers carried him to the ambulance where he received treatment.&nbsp;His mother was brought out from debris on a stretcher.&nbsp;

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, whose teams as per the report were involved in the rescue operation, shared the miraculous escape in a tweet stating that both mother and son were saved in the town of Samandag.&nbsp;

After the devastating earthquake, fears of a second catastrophe have loomed amid the people, who have become homeless and are facing harsh weather conditions as they remain homeless and without shelter, water, fuel and electricity.

WATCH | Gravitas: Turkey Earthquake: Anger grows over state of infrastructure

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Turkish President Recap Tayyip Erdogan has called it the "disaster of the century".&nbsp;

In this period of despair and loss, stories of miraculous escapes have been emerging in the last few days and rescue workers continue to save the lives of others, by risking their own.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In another miraculous escape, a mother and her newborn baby were rescued from the rubble of collapsed buildings in Turkey, almost 90 hours after the first of deadly earthquakes shook the region on Monday.

In another miraculous escape, a mother and her newborn baby were rescued from the rubble of collapsed buildings in Turkey, almost 90 hours after the first of deadly earthquakes shook the region on Monday. The rescue workers saved the 10-day-old boy named Yagiz from a ruined structure located in the southern Hatay province. The footage shared on social media showed the child being rescued by the volunteers overnight — as the local media called the escape miraculous. ALSO READ | Turkey-Syria earthquake | Thousands express willingness to adopt 'miracle' baby girl born under rubble Amid these miraculous escapes, the hopes of saving more lives are diminishing, as the time is slipping by with four days of disaster about to end and the freezing-cold weather continues to make life difficult for survivors. However, the volunteers continue to carry out search and rescue operations in both Turkey and neighbouring Syria. In the picture shared, newborn baby Yagiz was seen wrapped in a thermal blanket and the volunteers carried him to the ambulance where he received treatment. His mother was brought out from debris on a stretcher. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, whose teams as per the report were involved in the rescue operation, shared the miraculous escape in a tweet stating that both mother and son were saved in the town of Samandag. After the devastating earthquake, fears of a second catastrophe have loomed amid the people, who have become homeless and are facing harsh weather conditions as they remain homeless and without shelter, water, fuel and electricity. WATCH | Gravitas: Turkey Earthquake: Anger grows over state of infrastructure Turkish President Recap Tayyip Erdogan has called it the "disaster of the century". In this period of despair and loss, stories of miraculous escapes have been emerging in the last few days and rescue workers continue to save the lives of others, by risking their own. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Turkey earthquake: Rescue workers save mother and new-born from rubble after four days

A Chinese automotive services firm's job posting in Sichuan province has made it crystal clear that pervasive ageism is here to stay.&nbsp;The vacancy post to fill a human resources position in a crystal clear and no-nonsense language stated, “The average age of the team should be less than 30 years old."&nbsp;

The presence of pervasive ageism in the job market of China is not new and has never remained hidden. However, recent developments suggest that the situation is becoming even worse. According to studies, many Chinese workplaces&nbsp;start cutting jobs for employees aged around 35.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paypal-joins-silicon-valleys-layoff-wagon-announces-2000-job-cuts-557908">PayPal joins Silicon Valley's layoff wagon, announces 2,000 job cuts</a>

However, the recent victims have been the youngest jobseekers in China who are tackling age-related obstacles in their career paths amid tough competition in the ever-flooding labour pool of fresh university graduates.&nbsp;

Yang, a 31-year-old woman living in Shanghai, said that no response has been received by her from more than 100 firms to which she had applied for jobs in the last month. She laments how various companies have explicitly stated that they will only select candidates under the age of 30, and some even have dropped the age bracket to 27.&nbsp;

This is the age bracket of the youngest millennials, which reflects that elder members of Generation Z may struggle to find jobs in China.

Yang added that the companies also demand at least three years of work experience and a postgraduate degree, making it difficult for people to graduate and gain the required experience in the specific age bracket. Job seekers fear growing too old for jobs.

WATCH | Job seeker scared of online scam operations in Cambodia

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“This means that I would have had to work in my relevant industry soon after graduation, otherwise I could lose the entry ticket for my career. I’m concerned that the trial-and-error costs in job hunting will rise with age. I was already 27 when I graduated and have worked for only three years. If anything goes wrong, I may forever lose the chance to find my career path, with additional age limits," she added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Chinese automotive services firm's job posting in Sichuan province has made it crystal clear that pervasive ageism is here to stay. The vacancy post to fill a human resources position in a crystal clear and no-nonsense language stated, “The average age of the team should be less than 30 years old.

A Chinese automotive services firm's job posting in Sichuan province has made it crystal clear that pervasive ageism is here to stay. The vacancy post to fill a human resources position in a crystal clear and no-nonsense language stated, “The average age of the team should be less than 30 years old." The presence of pervasive ageism in the job market of China is not new and has never remained hidden. However, recent developments suggest that the situation is becoming even worse. According to studies, many Chinese workplaces start cutting jobs for employees aged around 35. ALSO READ | PayPal joins Silicon Valley's layoff wagon, announces 2,000 job cuts However, the recent victims have been the youngest jobseekers in China who are tackling age-related obstacles in their career paths amid tough competition in the ever-flooding labour pool of fresh university graduates. Yang, a 31-year-old woman living in Shanghai, said that no response has been received by her from more than 100 firms to which she had applied for jobs in the last month. She laments how various companies have explicitly stated that they will only select candidates under the age of 30, and some even have dropped the age bracket to 27. This is the age bracket of the youngest millennials, which reflects that elder members of Generation Z may struggle to find jobs in China. Yang added that the companies also demand at least three years of work experience and a postgraduate degree, making it difficult for people to graduate and gain the required experience in the specific age bracket. Job seekers fear growing too old for jobs. WATCH | Job seeker scared of online scam operations in Cambodia “This means that I would have had to work in my relevant industry soon after graduation, otherwise I could lose the entry ticket for my career. I’m concerned that the trial-and-error costs in job hunting will rise with age. I was already 27 when I graduated and have worked for only three years. If anything goes wrong, I may forever lose the chance to find my career path, with additional age limits," she added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China: Youngest millennials too old for jobs, booming Gen Z in demand now

Media conglomerate News Corp on Thursday announced that it will be laying off 1,250 employees after the company failed to meet the estimate for second-quarter earnings because of it lagging behind in its digital real estate businesses and news.&nbsp;Higher interest rates and rising inflation have forced companies to curb their&nbsp;marketing and ad spend, which dented the major sources of revenue of conglomerates like News Corp, which has major publishing platforms like New York Post and the Wall Street Journal in the US, and the Times and the Sun in the UK under its umbrella.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tech-layoffs-2023-dell-to-lay-off-6500-employees-cut-5-of-its-global-workforce-amid-uncertain-future-559204">Tech layoffs 2023: Dell to lay off 6,500 employees, cut 5% of its global workforce amid 'uncertain future'</a>

In a statement, News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson said, "A surge in interest rates and acute inflation had a tangible impact on all of our businesses."

“The initiatives now underway, including an expected 5 per cent headcount reduction, or around 1,250 positions this calendar year, will create a robust platform for future growth,” he added.

The company's shares fell by 1.4 per cent in extended trading after its first quarterly report since Rupert Murdoch had pulled out from a proposal to reunite News Corp&nbsp;and Fox Corp, which is headed by his son Lachlan Murdoch.

The conglomerate will carry out lay offs across all businesses, which will help in making annual savings of at least $130 million.

WATCH | Disney to lay off 7,000 employees to make business more profitable

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The company stated that it is likely to witness one-time costs related to withdrawal Fox-News Corp proposal as well as exploration of a sale of Move Inc, which was previously announced, in the third quarter.&nbsp;

The Dow Jones division, under which the Wall Street Journal falls, reported an increase of 11 per cent&nbsp;in revenues to $563 million in the quarter, reflecting growth in its professional information business.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Media conglomerate News Corp on Thursday announced that it will be laying off 1,250 employees after the company failed to meet the estimate for second-quarter earnings because of it lagging behind in its digital real estate businesses and news.

Media conglomerate News Corp on Thursday announced that it will be laying off 1,250 employees after the company failed to meet the estimate for second-quarter earnings because of it lagging behind in its digital real estate businesses and news. Higher interest rates and rising inflation have forced companies to curb their marketing and ad spend, which dented the major sources of revenue of conglomerates like News Corp, which has major publishing platforms like New York Post and the Wall Street Journal in the US, and the Times and the Sun in the UK under its umbrella. ALSO READ | Tech layoffs 2023: Dell to lay off 6,500 employees, cut 5% of its global workforce amid 'uncertain future' In a statement, News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson said, "A surge in interest rates and acute inflation had a tangible impact on all of our businesses." “The initiatives now underway, including an expected 5 per cent headcount reduction, or around 1,250 positions this calendar year, will create a robust platform for future growth,” he added. The company's shares fell by 1.4 per cent in extended trading after its first quarterly report since Rupert Murdoch had pulled out from a proposal to reunite News Corp and Fox Corp, which is headed by his son Lachlan Murdoch. The conglomerate will carry out lay offs across all businesses, which will help in making annual savings of at least $130 million. WATCH | Disney to lay off 7,000 employees to make business more profitable The company stated that it is likely to witness one-time costs related to withdrawal Fox-News Corp proposal as well as exploration of a sale of Move Inc, which was previously announced, in the third quarter. The Dow Jones division, under which the Wall Street Journal falls, reported an increase of 11 per cent in revenues to $563 million in the quarter, reflecting growth in its professional information business. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

News Corp announces 1,250 jobs cut after missing estimates of second-quarter

The United Kingdom government has made a payment of $2.8 billion to the European Union to settle the long-standing dispute over footwear and textiles imported into the UK from China.

This week, the final payment of $1.33 billion will be made by the government, bringing the case to a close.

Chief secretary to the Treasury John Glen, in a written statement to the Commons, confirmed the payment.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-british-mp-jailed-for-corruption-to-fund-his-drug-abuse-560394">Former British MP jailed for fraudulently claiming expenses to fund cocaine addiction</a>

“Whilst the UK has now left the European Union and this is a legacy matter from before our departure, the government is keen to resolve this long-running case once and for all and is committed to fulfilling its international obligations,” he said while addressing the MPs.

Glen added that the final bill represented the interest which is due on the “principal amounts paid” and would “draw a line” under the dispute.

The case started in 2017 when the anti-fraud office of the European Union said that criminals were allowed by the British authorities to evade customs duties after they made false claims about shoes and clothes imported from China.

It was also discovered that more than half of all footwear and textiles imported from China to the UK were below “the lowest acceptable prices”.

“The UK has argued throughout the case that it took appropriate steps to counter the fraud in question. However, since these infringement proceedings were raised, the UK has taken proportionate and increased steps to combat this fraud without impacting legitimate trade, including by liquidating suspect traders through enforcement action," Glen said.

WATCH | UK's Energy Challenge: Britons urged to cut usage by 15%

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“The UK takes a comprehensive and dynamic approach to tackling customs fraud risk and evolves its responses as any new potential threats emerge," he added.&nbsp;

Speaking to the MPs, he said that “throughout this process the government has also been conscious of the risk of further protracted legal proceedings, which could open UK taxpayers to not only a larger principal bill but also continued substantial interest accrual”.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United Kingdom government has made a payment of $2.8 billion to the European Union to settle the long-standing dispute over footwear and textiles imported into the UK from China.

The United Kingdom government has made a payment of $2.8 billion to the European Union to settle the long-standing dispute over footwear and textiles imported into the UK from China. This week, the final payment of $1.33 billion will be made by the government, bringing the case to a close. Chief secretary to the Treasury John Glen, in a written statement to the Commons, confirmed the payment. ALSO READ | Former British MP jailed for fraudulently claiming expenses to fund cocaine addiction “Whilst the UK has now left the European Union and this is a legacy matter from before our departure, the government is keen to resolve this long-running case once and for all and is committed to fulfilling its international obligations,” he said while addressing the MPs. Glen added that the final bill represented the interest which is due on the “principal amounts paid” and would “draw a line” under the dispute. The case started in 2017 when the anti-fraud office of the European Union said that criminals were allowed by the British authorities to evade customs duties after they made false claims about shoes and clothes imported from China. It was also discovered that more than half of all footwear and textiles imported from China to the UK were below “the lowest acceptable prices”. “The UK has argued throughout the case that it took appropriate steps to counter the fraud in question. However, since these infringement proceedings were raised, the UK has taken proportionate and increased steps to combat this fraud without impacting legitimate trade, including by liquidating suspect traders through enforcement action," Glen said. WATCH | UK's Energy Challenge: Britons urged to cut usage by 15% “The UK takes a comprehensive and dynamic approach to tackling customs fraud risk and evolves its responses as any new potential threats emerge," he added. Speaking to the MPs, he said that “throughout this process the government has also been conscious of the risk of further protracted legal proceedings, which could open UK taxpayers to not only a larger principal bill but also continued substantial interest accrual”. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UK settles China import row, pays EU $2.8 billion

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