The West has provided Ukraine with arms and ammunition to help it thwart the Russian assault. It continues to stand by Kyiv and is increasingly providing it with heavier weapons. Apart from the weapons, the West is also providing Ukrainian troops with Intel which is helping it push back the Russians.

SpaceX curbs Kyiv's use of Starlink for UAVs

Who sabotaged the Nord stream pipeline? This is the question that has been doing the realms for months. Experts have given their comments, investigators have probed the blasts and analysts offered their insights.

Russia: US should pay compensation to countries affected

Following Turkey's deadly earthquake, Taiwanese President Tsai-Ing wen and Vice President William Lai will donate a month's salary for the&nbsp;relief efforts, Taiwan's presidential office said on Thursday, Reuters reported.&nbsp;The office said, "Hope to do their part to help Turkey rebuild its homeland as soon as possible."

The salary contribution will add to the existing aid that has been sent already by the island nation.&nbsp;According to estimates, President Tsai-Ing wen earns about T$400,000 ($13,330) monthly.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-syria-earthquake-cryptocurrency-firms-pledge-donations-worth-millions-560266">Turkey-Syria earthquake: Cryptocurrency firms pledge donations worth millions</a>

The Taiwanese president also visited the de facto embassy in Taipei on Thursday to sign the book of condolence, and wrote, "My heart goes with our Turkish friends. Taiwan stands with Türkiye."

The help comes despite Turkey like most countries don't share any diplomatic relations with the island nation. Still, the two countries maintain de facto embassies in each other's capitals and also have direct flights between Istanbul and Taipei.&nbsp;

Taiwan, which itself suffers from frequent earthquakes, has announced aid of T$ 2 million for disaster relief and has sent two rescue teams to Turkey to help in the search for survivors.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-earthquake-how-long-a-person-can-survive-under-rubble-what-role-does-mental-condition-play-in-this-560204">Turkey Earthquake: How long a person can survive under rubble; what role does mental condition play in this?</a>

This is not the first time Tsai and Lai are donating their month's salary for relief efforts.&nbsp;

Last year, both of them donated their one month's salary to aid the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.&nbsp;

The combined death toll for the Turkey-Syria earthquake has surged&nbsp;past 19,300, even as search for more survivors is still underway.&nbsp;

It's just not countries, but several cryptocurrency firms have also pledged to donate millions to help quake-hit countries. &nbsp;These firms including Tether, OKZ, and Kucoin will donate around nine million to victims, according to a report by Decrypt.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Following Turkey's deadly earthquake, Taiwanese President Tsai-Ing wen and Vice President William Lai will donate a month's salary for the relief efforts, Taiwan's presidential office said on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Following Turkey's deadly earthquake, Taiwanese President Tsai-Ing wen and Vice President William Lai will donate a month's salary for the relief efforts, Taiwan's presidential office said on Thursday, Reuters reported. The office said, "Hope to do their part to help Turkey rebuild its homeland as soon as possible." The salary contribution will add to the existing aid that has been sent already by the island nation. According to estimates, President Tsai-Ing wen earns about T$400,000 ($13,330) monthly. Also read | Turkey-Syria earthquake: Cryptocurrency firms pledge donations worth millions The Taiwanese president also visited the de facto embassy in Taipei on Thursday to sign the book of condolence, and wrote, "My heart goes with our Turkish friends. Taiwan stands with Türkiye." The help comes despite Turkey like most countries don't share any diplomatic relations with the island nation. Still, the two countries maintain de facto embassies in each other's capitals and also have direct flights between Istanbul and Taipei. Taiwan, which itself suffers from frequent earthquakes, has announced aid of T$ 2 million for disaster relief and has sent two rescue teams to Turkey to help in the search for survivors. Also read | Turkey Earthquake: How long a person can survive under rubble; what role does mental condition play in this? This is not the first time Tsai and Lai are donating their month's salary for relief efforts. Last year, both of them donated their one month's salary to aid the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The combined death toll for the Turkey-Syria earthquake has surged past 19,300, even as search for more survivors is still underway. It's just not countries, but several cryptocurrency firms have also pledged to donate millions to help quake-hit countries. These firms including Tether, OKZ, and Kucoin will donate around nine million to victims, according to a report by Decrypt. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Taiwan's president, vice president to donate a month's salary for Turkey relief efforts

In pics | Before and after pictures of quake-hit Turkey show the magnitude of destruction

Kourtney Kardashian has been gradually moving from the world of reality TV to that of wellness. The 43 year old has launched a gummy called Lemme Purr. She claims that targets vaginal health and pH levels that support freshness and taste.

Doctors slam Kourtney's vaginal gummies, one bottle of 'Lemme Purr' costs $30

Cricket Legend Shane Warne's will has been made public nearly a year after his untimely passing in March 2022. The bulk of one's 14 and a half million dollar estate has been divided among his three children but there is nothing going the way of his ex-wife Simone Callahan and his former girlfriend Liz Hurley.

Shane Warne's children to inherit millions

Poachers are a huge threat to Uganda's diverse wildlife. But over the past four decades, the country's wildlife population has boomed. Although, more needs to be done to save the declining species.

Wildlife population increases in Uganda

Pakistan is struggling to deal with the aftermath of last year's devastating floods and the skyrocketing inflation the country is witnessing amidst rising terror threat and now adding to its rules is the international monetary funds tightening scrutiny.

IMF seeks flood rehabilitation expenditure details from Pakistan

Firefighters continue to battle dozens of raging wildfires in Chile as they seek to gain control of one of the country's worst natural disasters in years.

Wildfires continue to batter Chile

Former Filipino poachers who used to hunt turtles are now at the forefront of conservation on the beaches of the northern Philippine province of La Union.

Filipino turtle poachers now at forefront of conservation

Several parts of Bolivia are inundated after heavy rain flooded the South American nation. Displacing over 5500 families and destroying some 30,000 hectares of crops.

Heavy rain inundates several parts of Bolivia

Thousands of Israelis are up in arms against the government's plans to give lawmakers more control of the judicial system. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies say the reforms are crucial for the country.

Israel Government: Parliament be allowed to overrule Supreme Court decisions

For users in India, Twitter has launched its premium membership service, Twitter Blue.

The paid subscription allows users early access to innovations that the platform introduces, as well as adds the desired blue tick next to their profile names&nbsp;that is nothing but a verified status for social media users. But a paid subscription undermines the verified status and may not give it the same standing as before.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/longing-for-longer-tweets-twitter-blue-subscribers-can-now-type-in-up-to-4000-characters-560201">Also read |&nbsp;Longing for longer tweets? Twitter Blue subscribers can now post up to 4,000 characters</a>

The "Blue Tick" was previously used to identify genuine accounts of well-known actors, politicians, journalists, and public figures before the firm launched its Twitter Blue Service.

Now, anyone who pays the subscription cost can purchase the checkmark.

Both iOS and Android smartphones, as well as Twitter's website, now support the purchase of Twitter Blue in India.

Users of iOS and Android in India must pay a monthly subscription cost of $11, while web users pay a fee of $8.

Indian users can also pay an annual charge of $82 to subscribe to the premium service. However, this is only available for web users.&nbsp;The subscription rates are similar to those in the United States.

In addition to the Blue Tick, early access to features like edit tweets, bookmark folders, custom app icons, and NFT profile images is available to Twitter Blue Members.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/mass-outage-facebook-instagram-youtube-twitter-were-all-down-on-wednesday-560173">Also read |&nbsp;Mass outage: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter were all down on Wednesday</a>

These users will also have the option to select multiple colour schemes for their app, prioritise tweet replies, and delete a tweet before it is seen by other users.

The other advantages include a larger character limit of 4,000, while other users' character limits are 280. Moreover,&nbsp;Twitter Blue subscribers can upload longer videos of 60 minutes or 2 GB in size.

The Blue subscription is available in several countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

However, Twitter said new sign-ups will not be allowed to subscribe for 90 days, with an additional waiting period also likely without any prior notice.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

For users in India, Twitter has launched its premium membership service, Twitter Blue. The paid subscription allows users early access to innovations that the platform introduces, as well as adds the desired blue tick next to their profile names that is nothing but a verified status for social media users.

For users in India, Twitter has launched its premium membership service, Twitter Blue. The paid subscription allows users early access to innovations that the platform introduces, as well as adds the desired blue tick next to their profile names that is nothing but a verified status for social media users. But a paid subscription undermines the verified status and may not give it the same standing as before. Also read | Longing for longer tweets? Twitter Blue subscribers can now post up to 4,000 characters The "Blue Tick" was previously used to identify genuine accounts of well-known actors, politicians, journalists, and public figures before the firm launched its Twitter Blue Service. Now, anyone who pays the subscription cost can purchase the checkmark. Both iOS and Android smartphones, as well as Twitter's website, now support the purchase of Twitter Blue in India. Users of iOS and Android in India must pay a monthly subscription cost of $11, while web users pay a fee of $8. Indian users can also pay an annual charge of $82 to subscribe to the premium service. However, this is only available for web users. The subscription rates are similar to those in the United States. In addition to the Blue Tick, early access to features like edit tweets, bookmark folders, custom app icons, and NFT profile images is available to Twitter Blue Members. Also read | Mass outage: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter were all down on Wednesday These users will also have the option to select multiple colour schemes for their app, prioritise tweet replies, and delete a tweet before it is seen by other users. The other advantages include a larger character limit of 4,000, while other users' character limits are 280. Moreover, Twitter Blue subscribers can upload longer videos of 60 minutes or 2 GB in size. The Blue subscription is available in several countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. However, Twitter said new sign-ups will not be allowed to subscribe for 90 days, with an additional waiting period also likely without any prior notice. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Twitter launches 'Blue' subscription for users in India

An energy crisis in the UK is showing a newly created government department. The department of energy security and net zero is to push households and businesses to slash energy usage by 15.

UK's Energy Challenge: Britons urged to cut usage by 15%

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Papua on Thursday and claimed lives of four people besides damaging&nbsp;many buildings, the country's disaster agency said. Agency's head Asep Khalid in a statement said that the victims were at a cafe when the quake hit, causing the building to collapse, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Putri Kurita, who was having lunch at another restaurant bolted for the exit fearing that the building would collapse. She said, "I was having lunch when things suddenly swayed, then jolts&nbsp;got much stronger."

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5.5 Magnitude Earthquake hits Indonesia killing four people as floating restaurant collapse into the sea. <a href="https://t.co/Pqn7Xclic6">pic.twitter.com/Pqn7Xclic6</a>
— NUAMAHONLINE.NEWS (@nuamahonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/nuamahonline/status/1623652736309903360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ire-over-standards-of-buildings-in-turkey-as-earthquake-death-toll-tops-12000-report-560211">Anger over construction standards in Turkey as combined quake toll tops 17,500</a>

The quake in the easternmost region of Papua was felt strongly for two to three seconds, causing panic among people.&nbsp;

According to the country's geophysics agency BMKG, the epicentre of the earthquake was one kilometre from Jayapura, the capital of Papua province at a depth of 10 km.

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Gempa berkekuatan magnitudo (M) 5,4 mengguncang Kota Jayapura, Papua. Sejumlah bangunan dilaporkan mengalami kerusakan dan hanyut ke laut. 
"Menurut informasi yang kami terima benar ada beberapa bangunan yang rusak di Kota Jayapura. Sebuah kafe di Ruko Dok II Jayapura rubuh dan <a href="https://t.co/lKPdNdjquz">pic.twitter.com/lKPdNdjquz</a>
— Kodok Ijo 🐸 (@Midjan_La_2) <a href="https://twitter.com/Midjan_La_2/status/1623599409404715008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) recorded the quake at a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale.

This quake is one of more than a thousand recorded in the area since the beginning of this year, BMKG said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-bird-caged-in-turkey-after-anger-swamped-social-media-over-erdogans-quake-response-560125">Twitter back online in Turkey after being blocked following devastating quake</a>

Agency's chief Dwikorita Karnawati said, "Since January 2, 2023, there have been 1,079 quakes around Jayapura, with about 132 felt by its residents."

Several unverified footages of the quake were shared on social media, where a harbour-side building collapsed into the sea besides damage to a mall and hospital in the city.&nbsp;

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A shallow magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred in the Indonesian province of Papua today. Early reports coming out says there is at least some damage to various infrastructure. 
The video below from the city of Jayapura, seems to show a building having collapsed in the sea. <a href="https://t.co/z8dkF0fNUN">pic.twitter.com/z8dkF0fNUN</a>
— Øystein L.A. (@oysteinvolcano) <a href="https://twitter.com/oysteinvolcano/status/1623602862935924736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Indonesia's meteorological agency has warned of potential aftershocks.&nbsp;

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where the tectonic plates are likely to collide, AFP reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Papua on Thursday and claimed lives of four people besides damaging many buildings, the country's disaster agency said.

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Papua on Thursday and claimed lives of four people besides damaging many buildings, the country's disaster agency said. Agency's head Asep Khalid in a statement said that the victims were at a cafe when the quake hit, causing the building to collapse, Reuters reported. Putri Kurita, who was having lunch at another restaurant bolted for the exit fearing that the building would collapse. She said, "I was having lunch when things suddenly swayed, then jolts got much stronger." 5.5 Magnitude Earthquake hits Indonesia killing four people as floating restaurant collapse into the sea. pic.twitter.com/Pqn7Xclic6 — NUAMAHONLINE.NEWS (@nuamahonline) February 9, 2023 × Also read | Anger over construction standards in Turkey as combined quake toll tops 17,500 The quake in the easternmost region of Papua was felt strongly for two to three seconds, causing panic among people. According to the country's geophysics agency BMKG, the epicentre of the earthquake was one kilometre from Jayapura, the capital of Papua province at a depth of 10 km. Gempa berkekuatan magnitudo (M) 5,4 mengguncang Kota Jayapura, Papua. Sejumlah bangunan dilaporkan mengalami kerusakan dan hanyut ke laut. "Menurut informasi yang kami terima benar ada beberapa bangunan yang rusak di Kota Jayapura. Sebuah kafe di Ruko Dok II Jayapura rubuh dan pic.twitter.com/lKPdNdjquz — Kodok Ijo 🐸 (@Midjan_La_2) February 9, 2023 × The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) recorded the quake at a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale. This quake is one of more than a thousand recorded in the area since the beginning of this year, BMKG said. Also read | Twitter back online in Turkey after being blocked following devastating quake Agency's chief Dwikorita Karnawati said, "Since January 2, 2023, there have been 1,079 quakes around Jayapura, with about 132 felt by its residents." Several unverified footages of the quake were shared on social media, where a harbour-side building collapsed into the sea besides damage to a mall and hospital in the city. A shallow magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred in the Indonesian province of Papua today. Early reports coming out says there is at least some damage to various infrastructure. The video below from the city of Jayapura, seems to show a building having collapsed in the sea. pic.twitter.com/z8dkF0fNUN — Øystein L.A. (@oysteinvolcano) February 9, 2023 × Indonesia's meteorological agency has warned of potential aftershocks. Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where the tectonic plates are likely to collide, AFP reported. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indonesia: 5.2 magnitude earthquake hits Papua, four killed as building collapses

In comparison to the same period in the previous year, Iranian arms shipments increased over threefold from March to December 2022. This year, the export of defense-related goods is progressively growing and has increased from last year.

Iranian Minister: The export of defence prooducts gradually growing

The country's prime minister, Rishi Sunak, clearly implied on Wednesday that Britain's recent agreement to train Ukrainian pilots on NATO-standard jets is merely a "first step" towards supplying Ukraine with modern British fighter planes to aid in the fight against invading Russian forces.

UK promises to train Ukrainian pilots, Zelensky makes 'wings for freedom' plea

North Korea showcased its military might during a parade at night. According to North Korean media, unveiling as many as 11 Hwasong 17s which is North Korea's largest intercontinental ballistic missile or ICBMS and also a possible solid fuel weapon.

North Korea holds 75th anniversary of army and unveils ICBMs

For users in India, Twitter has launched its premium membership service. Twitter Blue, the paid subscription allows users early access to innovations that the platform introduces as well as the desired Blue Tick added next to their profile names.

Indian phone users to pay $11 per month for Twitter blue

The Earth scientist who accurately predicted the Turkey/Syria earthquakes had also mentioned that the Indian subcontinent could be next...

Indian Subcontinent is next – says scientist  who predicted turkey quakes

A young Syrian boy smiled and started to play with rescue workers who pulled him from the rubble of a building. At least 2,500 people have been killed, and thousands more injured in Syria following several deadly earthquakes and aftershocks in neighbouring Turkey.

Syrian boy smiles after being pulled from the rubble

An eye doctor from India's Hyderabad state recently shared a Twitter thread detailing how a young woman's vision was seriously damaged as a result of routine behaviour of using smartphone. Watch this to know more.

Can excessive use of smartphones lead to loss of vision?

New York Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced that he will be lifting the controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandate for municipal workers and the city's Department of Education employees. The Democrat said this vaccine mandate will end this Friday (Feb 10) if the decision is ratified at the upcoming city Board of Health Meeting, Reuters reported.

In a statement, Adams said, "with more than 96 per cent of city workers and more than 80 per cent of New Yorkers having received their primary COVID-19 series and more tools readily available to keep us healthy, this is the right moment for this decision."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-might-ask-countries-to-reserve-vaccines-to-avoid-covid-19-like-catastrophic-failure-draft-shows-558170">Also read |&nbsp;WHO may ask countries to reserve vaccines for poor to prevent ‘catastrophic failure’ like Covid</a>

He urged New Yorkers to take necessary steps such as proper vaccinations and boosters to protect themselves and others from the virus.&nbsp;

This decision comes four months after the city ended a Covid vaccine mandate for private employers and 10 months after the vaccine requirements were lifted for athletes and performers.&nbsp;

According to CBS News, Sophy Medina, a firefighter said, "I'm just one person, and I'm one of many people, one of many women, one of many people of colour that have been affected by this mandate. It's preposterous and I definitely never want to see this again. So for me this is a big win but it's not the end of the fight and I personally won't stop fighting until everybody gets the opportunity to get their jobs back and that we have it in writing that this can never happen to us again."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-end-covid-19-emergency-declarations-on-may-11-557568">Also read |&nbsp;US to end COVID-19 emergency declarations on May 11</a>

Unions representing workers who were fired for not submitting their vaccine proofs welcomed this decision but said that the job is half done. Patrick Lynch, a union leader said, "we call on the City to ensure that our members who were fired or had their employment unfairly impacted are reinstated, with back pay and without condition."

Over 1,700 municipal workers who were fired last year will be able to reapply for their old jobs.&nbsp;

The United States' most populated country will also be ending the 2021 vaccination requirement, for nonpublic schools, childcare, and daycare staff.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

New York Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced that he will be lifting the controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandate for municipal workers and the city's Department of Education employees.

New York Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced that he will be lifting the controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandate for municipal workers and the city's Department of Education employees. The Democrat said this vaccine mandate will end this Friday (Feb 10) if the decision is ratified at the upcoming city Board of Health Meeting, Reuters reported. In a statement, Adams said, "with more than 96 per cent of city workers and more than 80 per cent of New Yorkers having received their primary COVID-19 series and more tools readily available to keep us healthy, this is the right moment for this decision." Also read | WHO may ask countries to reserve vaccines for poor to prevent ‘catastrophic failure’ like Covid He urged New Yorkers to take necessary steps such as proper vaccinations and boosters to protect themselves and others from the virus. This decision comes four months after the city ended a Covid vaccine mandate for private employers and 10 months after the vaccine requirements were lifted for athletes and performers. According to CBS News, Sophy Medina, a firefighter said, "I'm just one person, and I'm one of many people, one of many women, one of many people of colour that have been affected by this mandate. It's preposterous and I definitely never want to see this again. So for me this is a big win but it's not the end of the fight and I personally won't stop fighting until everybody gets the opportunity to get their jobs back and that we have it in writing that this can never happen to us again." Also read | US to end COVID-19 emergency declarations on May 11 Unions representing workers who were fired for not submitting their vaccine proofs welcomed this decision but said that the job is half done. Patrick Lynch, a union leader said, "we call on the City to ensure that our members who were fired or had their employment unfairly impacted are reinstated, with back pay and without condition." Over 1,700 municipal workers who were fired last year will be able to reapply for their old jobs. The United States' most populated country will also be ending the 2021 vaccination requirement, for nonpublic schools, childcare, and daycare staff. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US: New York Mayor Eric Adams to end Covid vaccine mandate for city workers

Airports are one of the biggest transit points for smuggling all kinds of contraband including drugs. Almost all the airports in the world are vulnerable to smuggling, but some are more favoured by smugglers like Cayenne airport in French Guiana, the departure point of cocaine to Europe.

Cayenne airport, the departure point of Cocaine to Europe

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said that the bankruptcy will last for three more years, as he works his way to repair the country’s finances. The president took office last year after the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to resign and flee the country amid widespread protests. In&nbsp;a&nbsp;parliament address, the president said, "If we continue according to this plan, we can rise out of bankruptcy by 2026."

His initiatives include tax hikes and negotiations with international creditors after a default on the country's foreign debt to clear its way for the IMF bailout, AFP reported.&nbsp;

The tax hikes and removal of fuel subsidies have been unpopular in the already crisis-hit country.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/not-rebooting-economy-through-painkillers-says-sri-lanka-president-559000">Also read |&nbsp;Not rebooting economy through 'painkillers', says Sri Lanka president</a>

But assuring the public, Wickremesinghe said, "Introducing new tax policies is a politically unpopular decision. Remember, I'm not here to be popular. I want to rebuild this nation from the crisis it has fallen into."&nbsp;

The South Asian island country has been in an economic crisis for over a year, which led to financial loans, violence and ouster&nbsp;of its former president over his mismanagement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-confirms-offer-of-two-year-moratorium-to-sri-lanka-on-loan-repayments-558581">China confirms offer of two-year moratorium on loan repayments to Sri Lanka</a>

He also mentioned that though the country's GDP contracted by up to 11 per cent last year, it will be back to its position by the end of 2023.&nbsp;

Sri Lanka has reached the final stage of IMF discussions to secure a preliminary $2.9 billion bailout. This process has been delayed by protracted debt restructuring negotiations with China and other major creditors. Wickremesinghe&nbsp;said that the country is in direct discussions with China regarding its outstanding debt and has received a positive response from all the parties and is working towards a final agreement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Live TV

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said that the bankruptcy will last for three more years, as he works his way to repair the country’s finances.

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said that the bankruptcy will last for three more years, as he works his way to repair the country’s finances. The president took office last year after the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to resign and flee the country amid widespread protests. In a parliament address, the president said, "If we continue according to this plan, we can rise out of bankruptcy by 2026." His initiatives include tax hikes and negotiations with international creditors after a default on the country's foreign debt to clear its way for the IMF bailout, AFP reported. The tax hikes and removal of fuel subsidies have been unpopular in the already crisis-hit country. Also read | Not rebooting economy through 'painkillers', says Sri Lanka president But assuring the public, Wickremesinghe said, "Introducing new tax policies is a politically unpopular decision. Remember, I'm not here to be popular. I want to rebuild this nation from the crisis it has fallen into." The South Asian island country has been in an economic crisis for over a year, which led to financial loans, violence and ouster of its former president over his mismanagement. Also read | China confirms offer of two-year moratorium on loan repayments to Sri Lanka He also mentioned that though the country's GDP contracted by up to 11 per cent last year, it will be back to its position by the end of 2023. Sri Lanka has reached the final stage of IMF discussions to secure a preliminary $2.9 billion bailout. This process has been delayed by protracted debt restructuring negotiations with China and other major creditors. Wickremesinghe said that the country is in direct discussions with China regarding its outstanding debt and has received a positive response from all the parties and is working towards a final agreement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE Live TV

Tax hikes, subsidy withdrawal will help pull Sri Lanka out of bankruptcy by 2026: Wickremesinghe

In pics | North Korea marks 75 years of the troops' founding, Kim's daughter joins celebrations

The Swiss on Wednesday handed a large stone-carved head back to&nbsp;Peru, where it was sculpted around 2,500 years ago by one of the country's earliest civilisations, the culture office said.

The monolithic sculpture, which weighs almost 200 kilogrammes (440 pounds), was brought into Switzerland by truck in 2016 from Germany at the request of a German art dealer.

Switzerland's Federal Office of Culture (FOC) said in a statement that the sculpture had not been properly declared as a cultural property. It was later confiscated as there was "substantiated suspicion" it had been illegally taken from&nbsp;Peru.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/in-a-first-saudi-arabia-to-unveil-reconstructed-face-of-a-2000-year-old-nabataean-woman-560072">'First of its kind': Saudi Arabia to unveil reconstructed face of a 2000-year-old Nabataean woman. Watch!</a>

FOC head Carine Bachmann presented the decorative stone sculpture to Peruvian ambassador Luis Alberto Castro Joo at the Basel-Weil am Rhein customs office, where the piece was discovered seven years ago.

After it was discovered, FOC specialists reviewed the piece and determined that the "2,500-year-old stone head from the pre-Hispanic Chavin culture (circa 1200 to 550 BC) originates in what is now&nbsp;Peru," Wednesday's statement said.

"That makes it a significant piece of cultural property that should have been declared as such when it was imported."

Peru&nbsp;is heavily affected by the plundering and destruction of archaeological sites.

And pre-Columbian pieces like the stone head returned Wednesday are among&nbsp;Peru's most endangered categories of cultural property, the FOC said.

Switzerland and&nbsp;Peru&nbsp;are both signatories of a 1970 UNESCO convention banning the illegal import and export of cultural property.

The two countries also signed a bilateral deal in 2016 to strengthen their cooperation on the issue.

"This restitution underlines the shared commitment of Switzerland and&nbsp;Peru&nbsp;to combating the illegal transfer of cultural property," the FOC said.

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The Swiss on Wednesday handed a large stone-carved head back to Peru, where it was sculpted around 2,500 years ago by one of the country's earliest civilisations, the culture office said.

The Swiss on Wednesday handed a large stone-carved head back to Peru, where it was sculpted around 2,500 years ago by one of the country's earliest civilisations, the culture office said. The monolithic sculpture, which weighs almost 200 kilogrammes (440 pounds), was brought into Switzerland by truck in 2016 from Germany at the request of a German art dealer. Switzerland's Federal Office of Culture (FOC) said in a statement that the sculpture had not been properly declared as a cultural property. It was later confiscated as there was "substantiated suspicion" it had been illegally taken from Peru. Also read | 'First of its kind': Saudi Arabia to unveil reconstructed face of a 2000-year-old Nabataean woman. Watch! FOC head Carine Bachmann presented the decorative stone sculpture to Peruvian ambassador Luis Alberto Castro Joo at the Basel-Weil am Rhein customs office, where the piece was discovered seven years ago. After it was discovered, FOC specialists reviewed the piece and determined that the "2,500-year-old stone head from the pre-Hispanic Chavin culture (circa 1200 to 550 BC) originates in what is now Peru," Wednesday's statement said. "That makes it a significant piece of cultural property that should have been declared as such when it was imported." Peru is heavily affected by the plundering and destruction of archaeological sites. And pre-Columbian pieces like the stone head returned Wednesday are among Peru's most endangered categories of cultural property, the FOC said. Switzerland and Peru are both signatories of a 1970 UNESCO convention banning the illegal import and export of cultural property. The two countries also signed a bilateral deal in 2016 to strengthen their cooperation on the issue. "This restitution underlines the shared commitment of Switzerland and Peru to combating the illegal transfer of cultural property," the FOC said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Swiss to give 2,500-year-old stone sculpture back to Peru

South Korea's Parliament has voted to impeach the nation's interior minister Lee Sang-min over his responses to a deadly Halloween crush. This, as per Reuters, has set the stage towards making him the first cabinet member to be ousted by the legislature.&nbsp;As per AFP, the vote was passed 179-109.

Reuters reports that the secret ballot needed 150 votes in the 300-member chamber, where the opposition Democratic Party has a 169-seat majority.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: South Korea Halloween stampede: Under-investigation cop found dead

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Lee will be suspended from duty until a ruling by the country's constitutional court.

On October 29, 159 people were killed, and another 196 were injured in a stampede in the popular Itaewon nightlife area.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-halloween-stampede-cops-blame-fatal-crush-on-negligence-552279">South Korea Halloween crowd crush: Cops blame negligence for fatal incident</a>

The motion alleged that the interior minister "failed to take crisis prevention measures for the large crowd" event where scores of costumed partygoers, mostly women in their 20s, were killed.

It also alleged that his immediate response had contributed to the delay in the "poorly coordinated" deployment of emergency responders.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/2022-year-that-stampedes-shocked-the-world-547473">2022: Year that stampedes shocked the world</a>

His earlier remark that additional deployment of fire and police personnel would not have prevented the disaster also invited ire.

The motion said that he not only failed "to carry out his role bestowed by the Constitution, he also breached the basic integrity demanded of senior officials with his inappropriate remarks."

However, President Yoon Suk-yeol's office called the motion a "shameful episode in parliamentary history."

(With inputs from agencies)

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South Korea's Parliament has voted to impeach the nation's interior minister Lee Sang-min over his responses to a deadly Halloween crush. This, as per Reuters, has set the stage towards making him the first cabinet member to be ousted by the legislature.

South Korea's Parliament has voted to impeach the nation's interior minister Lee Sang-min over his responses to a deadly Halloween crush. This, as per Reuters, has set the stage towards making him the first cabinet member to be ousted by the legislature. As per AFP, the vote was passed 179-109. Reuters reports that the secret ballot needed 150 votes in the 300-member chamber, where the opposition Democratic Party has a 169-seat majority. Watch | Gravitas: South Korea Halloween stampede: Under-investigation cop found dead Lee will be suspended from duty until a ruling by the country's constitutional court. On October 29, 159 people were killed, and another 196 were injured in a stampede in the popular Itaewon nightlife area. Also read | South Korea Halloween crowd crush: Cops blame negligence for fatal incident The motion alleged that the interior minister "failed to take crisis prevention measures for the large crowd" event where scores of costumed partygoers, mostly women in their 20s, were killed. It also alleged that his immediate response had contributed to the delay in the "poorly coordinated" deployment of emergency responders. Also read | 2022: Year that stampedes shocked the world His earlier remark that additional deployment of fire and police personnel would not have prevented the disaster also invited ire. The motion said that he not only failed "to carry out his role bestowed by the Constitution, he also breached the basic integrity demanded of senior officials with his inappropriate remarks." However, President Yoon Suk-yeol's office called the motion a "shameful episode in parliamentary history." (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.

South Korean interior minister suspended over last year’s Halloween crowd crush

After years of work by historians and archaeologists, Saudi Arabia will finally unveil its first reconstruction of a face of an ancient Nabataean woman. Being the first of its kind, the display will start&nbsp;this coming Monday (Feb 13), where the reconstructed model of Hannat, who was discovered in 2015 in a 2,000-year-old tomb in Hegra, &nbsp;an archaeological site located in the&nbsp;ancient oasis city AlUla, northwestern Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;The display will be at Hegra's, welcome centre in AlUla. &nbsp;

The process of reconstruction began in 2019 in the UK, where a group of experts rebuilt bone fragments found in the tomb to reconstruct the image of Hinat using anthropological and archaeological data, CNN reported.&nbsp;

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تحقيقا لالتزامنا في مشاركة إرث <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#العلا</a> مع العالم، أنهى خبراء في مجال الآثار ترميم وإعادة بناء رقمية لهيكل وجه امرأة تعود للعصر النبطي وتُعرف باسم "حنّات". حيث تم اكتشافها في مدينة "الحِجر" التاريخية.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#الممالك_العربية_القديمة</a> <a href="https://t.co/3n0kp06kuS">pic.twitter.com/3n0kp06kuS</a>
— الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العلا (@RCU_SA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCU_SA/status/1622580560731205632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-archaeologists-in-egypt-discover-4300-year-old-mummy-556503">Also read |&nbsp;In Pics | Archaeologists in Egypt discover 4,300-year-old mummy</a>

A sculptor then used a 3D printer to bring Hannat's face to life.

Liala Nehme, Lebanese-french archaeologist said, "the Nabataeans are a bit of a mystery: We know a lot, but at the same time we know very little because they didn't leave any literary texts or records."

According to experts, the Nabatean civilisation didn't leave much significant texts or records, and the information regarding it is mainly derived from inscriptions on tombs and rocks. It was an ancient civilisation that inhabited northern Arabia and the Levant more than 2,000 years ago.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/researchers-discover-ruins-of-2000-year-old-mayan-town-buried-in-guatemalas-rainforest-552940">Also read |&nbsp;Researchers discover ruins of 2,000-year-old Mayan town buried in Guatemala's rainforest</a>

Nheme said, "excavating this tomb was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about their idea of the afterlife."

Nehme added that the tomb has a nice inscription carved on its facade, which says that it belongs to 'Hannat.'

According to her, &nbsp;the Nabataeans' alphabet evolved into modern-day Arabic.

(with inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

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After years of work by historians and archaeologists, Saudi Arabia will finally unveil its first reconstruction of a face of an ancient Nabataean woman. Being the first of its kind, the display will start this coming Monday (Feb 13), where the reconstructed model of Hannat, who was discovered in 2015 in a 2,000-year-old tomb in Hegra, an archaeological site located in the ancient oasis city AlUla, northwestern Saudi Arabia.

After years of work by historians and archaeologists, Saudi Arabia will finally unveil its first reconstruction of a face of an ancient Nabataean woman. Being the first of its kind, the display will start this coming Monday (Feb 13), where the reconstructed model of Hannat, who was discovered in 2015 in a 2,000-year-old tomb in Hegra, an archaeological site located in the ancient oasis city AlUla, northwestern Saudi Arabia. The display will be at Hegra's, welcome centre in AlUla. The process of reconstruction began in 2019 in the UK, where a group of experts rebuilt bone fragments found in the tomb to reconstruct the image of Hinat using anthropological and archaeological data, CNN reported. تحقيقا لالتزامنا في مشاركة إرث #العلا مع العالم، أنهى خبراء في مجال الآثار ترميم وإعادة بناء رقمية لهيكل وجه امرأة تعود للعصر النبطي وتُعرف باسم "حنّات". حيث تم اكتشافها في مدينة "الحِجر" التاريخية.#الممالك_العربية_القديمة pic.twitter.com/3n0kp06kuS — الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العلا (@RCU_SA) February 6, 2023 × Also read | In Pics | Archaeologists in Egypt discover 4,300-year-old mummy A sculptor then used a 3D printer to bring Hannat's face to life. Liala Nehme, Lebanese-french archaeologist said, "the Nabataeans are a bit of a mystery: We know a lot, but at the same time we know very little because they didn't leave any literary texts or records." According to experts, the Nabatean civilisation didn't leave much significant texts or records, and the information regarding it is mainly derived from inscriptions on tombs and rocks. It was an ancient civilisation that inhabited northern Arabia and the Levant more than 2,000 years ago. Also read | Researchers discover ruins of 2,000-year-old Mayan town buried in Guatemala's rainforest Nheme said, "excavating this tomb was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about their idea of the afterlife." Nehme added that the tomb has a nice inscription carved on its facade, which says that it belongs to 'Hannat.' According to her, the Nabataeans' alphabet evolved into modern-day Arabic. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'First of its kind': Saudi Arabia to unveil reconstructed face of a 2000-year-old Nabataean woman. Watch!

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) has been a major cause for concern in the computing chip industry, as it causes unexpected destruction of semiconductor devices. The ESD phenomenon is a high-current and short-duration event caused by the transfer of electrostatic charge between two surfaces or bodies. It can happen due to human handling of chips and even robotic handling of chips. It is to develop ESD protection that South Korean Electronics giant Samsung's semiconductor arm and the Indian Institute of Science have joined hands.&nbsp;

The partnership seeks to build cutting-edge ESD device solutions to protect ultra-high-speed serial interfaces in advanced Integrated Circuits (ICs) and system-on-chip (SoC) products. An integrated circuit refers to a circuit compressed into a small-sized chip, whereas a system-on-chip has computer-like capabilities and can run an operating system.&nbsp;The related research will be carried out by Professor&nbsp;Mayank Shrivastava’s group at the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering (DESE), IISc. Solutions arising from this research will be deployed in Samsung’s advanced process nodes, said the company.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/boeing-to-exhibit-apache-attack-helicopter-simulator-at-aero-india-2023-559612">Boeing to exhibit Apache attack helicopter simulator, at Aero India 2023</a>

The research agreement was exchanged by Balajee Sowrirajan, CVP &amp; MD at Samsung Semiconductor India Research, Bengaluru, and Prof Govindan Rangarajan, Director, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in the presence of delegates from Samsung and IISc. "Our goal is also to increase capacity building through training programmes at the postgraduate level, opening up opportunities for students to pursue industry internships, and encourage entrepreneurial ventures by young researchers,"&nbsp;said Balajee Sowrirajan, CVP &amp; MD, SSIR.

ICs and SoCs are essential for any electronic system, large or small. However,&nbsp;they are very susceptible to ESD failures, especially those developed using advanced nanoscale CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) technologies. The majority of IC chip failures and field returns are attributed to ESD failures. This is also rare expertise and industries holding the art of designing ESD protection devices and interface concepts lead the market. Thus, R&amp;D in ESD technology for highly reliable interfaces and SoCs that operate at low power and high speed is an integral part of the semiconductor innovation effort. IISc is one of the few institutes in the world leading ESD device research.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/garuda-aerospaces-made-in-india-drones-to-aid-new-delhis-rescue-efforts-in-turkey-559980">Garuda Aerospace's made-in-India drones to aid New Delhi's rescue efforts in Turkey</a>

"We have been collaborating extensively with semiconductor industries worldwide on advanced nanoelectronics technologies, including solutions to ESD reliability threats to advanced SoCs. We have carried out both fundamental and applied research on ESD protection devices, with a strong emphasis on creating practical solutions for the semiconductor industry in a range of technology nodes,” said Mayank, who heads the MSDLab, and will be leading this collaborative effort.

Samsung Semiconductor India Research, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, is the technology hub enabling innovative growth in both hardware development as well as software-powered solutions in semiconductor technologies.

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Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) has been a major cause for concern in the computing chip industry, as it causes unexpected destruction of semiconductor devices. The ESD phenomenon is a high-current and short-duration event caused by the transfer of electrostatic charge between two surfaces or bodies.

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) has been a major cause for concern in the computing chip industry, as it causes unexpected destruction of semiconductor devices. The ESD phenomenon is a high-current and short-duration event caused by the transfer of electrostatic charge between two surfaces or bodies. It can happen due to human handling of chips and even robotic handling of chips. It is to develop ESD protection that South Korean Electronics giant Samsung's semiconductor arm and the Indian Institute of Science have joined hands. The partnership seeks to build cutting-edge ESD device solutions to protect ultra-high-speed serial interfaces in advanced Integrated Circuits (ICs) and system-on-chip (SoC) products. An integrated circuit refers to a circuit compressed into a small-sized chip, whereas a system-on-chip has computer-like capabilities and can run an operating system. The related research will be carried out by Professor Mayank Shrivastava’s group at the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering (DESE), IISc. Solutions arising from this research will be deployed in Samsung’s advanced process nodes, said the company. Also read | Boeing to exhibit Apache attack helicopter simulator, at Aero India 2023 The research agreement was exchanged by Balajee Sowrirajan, CVP & MD at Samsung Semiconductor India Research, Bengaluru, and Prof Govindan Rangarajan, Director, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in the presence of delegates from Samsung and IISc. "Our goal is also to increase capacity building through training programmes at the postgraduate level, opening up opportunities for students to pursue industry internships, and encourage entrepreneurial ventures by young researchers," said Balajee Sowrirajan, CVP & MD, SSIR. ICs and SoCs are essential for any electronic system, large or small. However, they are very susceptible to ESD failures, especially those developed using advanced nanoscale CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) technologies. The majority of IC chip failures and field returns are attributed to ESD failures. This is also rare expertise and industries holding the art of designing ESD protection devices and interface concepts lead the market. Thus, R&D in ESD technology for highly reliable interfaces and SoCs that operate at low power and high speed is an integral part of the semiconductor innovation effort. IISc is one of the few institutes in the world leading ESD device research. Also read | Garuda Aerospace's made-in-India drones to aid New Delhi's rescue efforts in Turkey "We have been collaborating extensively with semiconductor industries worldwide on advanced nanoelectronics technologies, including solutions to ESD reliability threats to advanced SoCs. We have carried out both fundamental and applied research on ESD protection devices, with a strong emphasis on creating practical solutions for the semiconductor industry in a range of technology nodes,” said Mayank, who heads the MSDLab, and will be leading this collaborative effort. Samsung Semiconductor India Research, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, is the technology hub enabling innovative growth in both hardware development as well as software-powered solutions in semiconductor technologies. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Samsung's semiconductor division ties up with IISc for R&D on safeguarding computing chips

Japan has abandoned its plans to build its first 'homegrown passenger jet' after years of technical setbacks and rising building costs. A decade after the aircraft was supposed to have gone for commercial services, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said that it will cancel the public-private SapceJet Project, Guardian reported.&nbsp;

The company in its statement said that it was&nbsp;facing "difficulties to obtain an understanding and necessary cooperation from global partners."

The twin-engine plane, designed to carry passengers of fewer than 100, was invented for short flights and was supposed to open a new chapter in Japan's aviation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/with-rollout-of-delivery-robots-japan-set-to-welcome-newcomers-in-human-society-559958">Also read |&nbsp;With rollout of delivery robots, Japan set to welcome 'newcomers in human society'</a>

Being one of the most developed countries in the world, this project for Japan came as a disappointment.&nbsp;

The company in its statement said that the regional jet suffered several delivery delays and technical glitches and "failed to confirm sufficient business viability."

The firm's president, Seiji Izumisawa told reporters that Mitsubishi admits that it "lacked the know-how" to develop the passenger jets and that they are no longer sure of its viability.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sore-backs-and-shoulders-japanese-kids-as-young-as-six-complain-of-too-heavy-backpacks-559697">Also read |&nbsp;'Sore backs and shoulders': Japanese kids as young as six complain of 'too heavy' backpacks</a>

The project was launched in 2008 under the name Mitsubishi Regional Jet, suffered repeated setbacks and even missed its 2013 rollout.&nbsp;

It was put on hold in 2020 after a series of technical glitches and a dramatic fall in demand for the new aircraft.

Many suspects that the North American regulations, pilot shortages and the need to find "decarbonisation solutions" also contributed to the project's failure.&nbsp;

The aircraft which was renamed SapceJet in 2019 was supported by not only the government but many domestic companies like Toyota.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

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Japan has abandoned its plans to build its first 'homegrown passenger jet' after years of technical setbacks and rising building costs. A decade after the aircraft was supposed to have gone for commercial services, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said that it will cancel the public-private SapceJet Project, Guardian reported.

Japan has abandoned its plans to build its first 'homegrown passenger jet' after years of technical setbacks and rising building costs. A decade after the aircraft was supposed to have gone for commercial services, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said that it will cancel the public-private SapceJet Project, Guardian reported. The company in its statement said that it was facing "difficulties to obtain an understanding and necessary cooperation from global partners." The twin-engine plane, designed to carry passengers of fewer than 100, was invented for short flights and was supposed to open a new chapter in Japan's aviation. Also read | With rollout of delivery robots, Japan set to welcome 'newcomers in human society' Being one of the most developed countries in the world, this project for Japan came as a disappointment. The company in its statement said that the regional jet suffered several delivery delays and technical glitches and "failed to confirm sufficient business viability." The firm's president, Seiji Izumisawa told reporters that Mitsubishi admits that it "lacked the know-how" to develop the passenger jets and that they are no longer sure of its viability. Also read | 'Sore backs and shoulders': Japanese kids as young as six complain of 'too heavy' backpacks The project was launched in 2008 under the name Mitsubishi Regional Jet, suffered repeated setbacks and even missed its 2013 rollout. It was put on hold in 2020 after a series of technical glitches and a dramatic fall in demand for the new aircraft. Many suspects that the North American regulations, pilot shortages and the need to find "decarbonisation solutions" also contributed to the project's failure. The aircraft which was renamed SapceJet in 2019 was supported by not only the government but many domestic companies like Toyota. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Japan's Mitsubishi abandons plans to build passenger jet, admits it 'lacked the know-how'

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