India's COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,04,50,284 with 18,645 infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries have surged to 1,00,75,950, according to the Union Health Ministry's data updated on Sunday.

The death toll reached 1,50,999 with 201 more people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The number of people who have recuperated from the infection so far surged to 1,00,75,950, pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 96.42 per cent, while the case fatality rate dropped to 1.44 per cent.

The COVID-19 active caseload remained below three lakh for the 20th consecutive day.

There are 2,23,335 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprise 2.14 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one crore-mark on December 19.

According to the ICMR, 18,10,96,622 samples have been tested so far with 8,43,307 samples being tested on Saturday.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
COVID-19 Testing Update. For more details visit: <a href="https://t.co/dI1pqvXAsZ">https://t.co/dI1pqvXAsZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MoHFW_INDIA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoHFW_INDIA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptHealthRes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptHealthRes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICMRFIGHTSCOVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICMRFIGHTSCOVID19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaFightsCOVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaFightsCOVID19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaUpdatesInIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaUpdatesInIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unite2FightCorona?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unite2FightCorona</a> <a href="https://t.co/gZk3vXHwID">pic.twitter.com/gZk3vXHwID</a>
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICMRDELHI/status/1348117201060982791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The 201 new fatalities include 57 from Maharashtra, 22 from Kerala, 20 from West Bengal, 15 from Chhattisgarh and 12 each from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

A total of 1,50,999 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 50,027 from Maharashtra followed by 12,215 from Tamil Nadu, 12,138 from Karnataka,?10,666 from Delhi, 9,922 from West Bengal,8,481 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,128 from Andhra Pradesh and 5,439 from Punjab.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

India's COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,04,50,284 with 18,645 infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries have surged to 1,00,75,950, according to the Union Health Ministry's data updated on Sunday.

India's COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,04,50,284 with 18,645 infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries have surged to 1,00,75,950, according to the Union Health Ministry's data updated on Sunday. The death toll reached 1,50,999 with 201 more people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the infection so far surged to 1,00,75,950, pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 96.42 per cent, while the case fatality rate dropped to 1.44 per cent. The COVID-19 active caseload remained below three lakh for the 20th consecutive day. There are 2,23,335 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprise 2.14 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one crore-mark on December 19. According to the ICMR, 18,10,96,622 samples have been tested so far with 8,43,307 samples being tested on Saturday. COVID-19 Testing Update. For more details visit: https://t.co/dI1pqvXAsZ @MoHFW_INDIA @DeptHealthRes #ICMRFIGHTSCOVID19 #IndiaFightsCOVID19 #CoronaUpdatesInIndia #COVID19 #Unite2FightCorona pic.twitter.com/gZk3vXHwID — ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) January 10, 2021 × The 201 new fatalities include 57 from Maharashtra, 22 from Kerala, 20 from West Bengal, 15 from Chhattisgarh and 12 each from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. A total of 1,50,999 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 50,027 from Maharashtra followed by 12,215 from Tamil Nadu, 12,138 from Karnataka,?10,666 from Delhi, 9,922 from West Bengal,8,481 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,128 from Andhra Pradesh and 5,439 from Punjab. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. "Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

18,645 fresh cases push India's COVID-19 tally to 1,04,50,284

World's richest person Elon Musk is asking people to switch to a messaging app called Signal over WhatsApp and Facebook due to a change their policy which has raised privacy concerns.

Tesla CEO Musk appealed to people to switch to more encrypted apps than&nbsp;WhatsApp and Facebook and specifically mentioned Signal when asked about a safer alternative by his followers.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Use Signal
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1347165127036977153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Musk's tweet comes after&nbsp;Signal and Telegram messaging apps are seeing a sudden increase in demand due&nbsp;larger rival&nbsp;WhatsApp's updated terms of service raised eyebrows on social media.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WhatsApp will share its users' personal information, including phone numbers, IP addresses, contacts, &amp; more with Facebook from Feb. 8, according to the new T&amp;Cs. No opt-out. The only way to object is to leave the service &amp; move to a service like Signal or Telegram. <a href="https://t.co/FbGcq5T3JB">https://t.co/FbGcq5T3JB</a>
— Mike Butcher (@mikebutcher) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikebutcher/status/1346959937679798274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

WhatsApp, which uses Signal's encryption technology, laid out fresh terms on Wednesday, asking users to agree to let owner Facebook Inc and its subsidiaries collect user data, including their phone number and location.

Some privacy activists questioned the "accept our data grab or get out" move on Twitter, and suggested users to switch to apps like Signal and Telegram.

Signal's popularity shot up further on Thursday after it was endorsed by Elon Musk, who has one of the most-followed accounts on Twitter and by the micro-blogging site's top boss Jack Dorsey.

More than 100,000 users installed Signal across the app stores of Apple and Google in the last two days, while Telegram picked up nearly 2.2 million downloads, according to data analytics firm Sensor Tower.

New installs of&nbsp;WhatsApp&nbsp;fell 11 per cent&nbsp;in the first seven days of 2021 compared with the prior week, but that still amounted to an estimated 10.5 million downloads globally, Sensor Tower said.

World's richest person Elon Musk is asking people to switch to a messaging app called Signal over WhatsApp and Facebook due to a change their policy which has raised privacy concerns.

World's richest person Elon Musk is asking people to switch to a messaging app called Signal over WhatsApp and Facebook due to a change their policy which has raised privacy concerns. Tesla CEO Musk appealed to people to switch to more encrypted apps than WhatsApp and Facebook and specifically mentioned Signal when asked about a safer alternative by his followers. Use Signal — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021 × Musk's tweet comes after Signal and Telegram messaging apps are seeing a sudden increase in demand due larger rival WhatsApp's updated terms of service raised eyebrows on social media. WhatsApp will share its users' personal information, including phone numbers, IP addresses, contacts, & more with Facebook from Feb. 8, according to the new T&Cs. No opt-out. The only way to object is to leave the service & move to a service like Signal or Telegram. https://t.co/FbGcq5T3JB — Mike Butcher (@mikebutcher) January 6, 2021 × WhatsApp, which uses Signal's encryption technology, laid out fresh terms on Wednesday, asking users to agree to let owner Facebook Inc and its subsidiaries collect user data, including their phone number and location. Some privacy activists questioned the "accept our data grab or get out" move on Twitter, and suggested users to switch to apps like Signal and Telegram. Signal's popularity shot up further on Thursday after it was endorsed by Elon Musk, who has one of the most-followed accounts on Twitter and by the micro-blogging site's top boss Jack Dorsey. More than 100,000 users installed Signal across the app stores of Apple and Google in the last two days, while Telegram picked up nearly 2.2 million downloads, according to data analytics firm Sensor Tower. New installs of WhatsApp fell 11 per cent in the first seven days of 2021 compared with the prior week, but that still amounted to an estimated 10.5 million downloads globally, Sensor Tower said.

Elon Musk asks people to use Signal app instead of WhatsApp and Facebook over privacy issues

January 10 in history: Signing of Tashkent Declaration between India and Pakistan and more

Apple Inc and&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc have suspended Parler from their respective App Store and web hosting service&nbsp;for allowing "threats of violence," after the deadly attack on the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.

"Parler has not taken adequate measures to address the proliferation of these threats to people's safety. We have suspended Parler from the App Store until they resolve these issues," the iPhone maker said in a statement Saturday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-suspends-american-social-networking-app-apple-gives-24-hour-warning-355520" hreflang="en">Google suspends American social networking app; Apple gives 24-hour warning</a>

Apple&nbsp;had given the service 24 hours to submit a detailed moderation plan, pointing to participants' using the service to coordinate Wednesday's siege of the US&nbsp;Capitol.

Parler Chief Executive John Matze said&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;was banning the service until it gives up free speech and institutes "broad and invasive policies like Twitter and Facebook."

"They claim it is due to violence on the platform. The community disagrees as we hit number 1 on their store today," Matze said in a post on Parler.

Amazon&nbsp;has suspended Parler from its&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;Web Services (AWS) unit, for violating AWS's terms of services by failing to effectively deal with a steady increase in violent content on the social networking service&nbsp;late on Saturday.

The Parler social network has become a haven for conservatives who say they have been censored by other social media platforms.

It had soared in popularity in recent months, becoming the No. 1 free app on&nbsp;Apple's App Store on Saturday after Twitter's decision hours earlier to permanently ban Trump from its platform.

Right-leaning social media users in the United States have flocked to Parler, messaging app Telegram and hands-off social site Gab, citing the more aggressive policing of political comments on mainstream platforms such as Twitter Inc and Facebook Inc.&nbsp;

"More details about our next plans coming soon as we have many options," Matze said.

Apple's action follows a similar move by Alphabet Inc's Google, which on Friday suspended Parler, saying that it must demonstrate "robust" content moderation if it wants to get back in the store.

Angry Trump supporters swarmed the building as lawmakers met to certify Joe Biden's November 3 election win, leaving five people -- including a policeman -- dead.

Other mainstream social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitch have also suspended Trump following the attack on the Capitol.

Parler started in 2018 and was initially a home for the extreme right, but now it attracts more traditional conservative voices including Republican lawmakers.

Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc have suspended Parler from their respective App Store and web hosting service for allowing "threats of violence," after the deadly attack on the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc have suspended Parler from their respective App Store and web hosting service for allowing "threats of violence," after the deadly attack on the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump. "Parler has not taken adequate measures to address the proliferation of these threats to people's safety. We have suspended Parler from the App Store until they resolve these issues," the iPhone maker said in a statement Saturday. Also read: Google suspends American social networking app; Apple gives 24-hour warning Apple had given the service 24 hours to submit a detailed moderation plan, pointing to participants' using the service to coordinate Wednesday's siege of the US Capitol. Parler Chief Executive John Matze said Apple was banning the service until it gives up free speech and institutes "broad and invasive policies like Twitter and Facebook." "They claim it is due to violence on the platform. The community disagrees as we hit number 1 on their store today," Matze said in a post on Parler. Amazon has suspended Parler from its Amazon Web Services (AWS) unit, for violating AWS's terms of services by failing to effectively deal with a steady increase in violent content on the social networking service late on Saturday. The Parler social network has become a haven for conservatives who say they have been censored by other social media platforms. It had soared in popularity in recent months, becoming the No. 1 free app on Apple's App Store on Saturday after Twitter's decision hours earlier to permanently ban Trump from its platform. Right-leaning social media users in the United States have flocked to Parler, messaging app Telegram and hands-off social site Gab, citing the more aggressive policing of political comments on mainstream platforms such as Twitter Inc and Facebook Inc. "More details about our next plans coming soon as we have many options," Matze said. Apple's action follows a similar move by Alphabet Inc's Google, which on Friday suspended Parler, saying that it must demonstrate "robust" content moderation if it wants to get back in the store. Angry Trump supporters swarmed the building as lawmakers met to certify Joe Biden's November 3 election win, leaving five people -- including a policeman -- dead. Other mainstream social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitch have also suspended Trump following the attack on the Capitol. Parler started in 2018 and was initially a home for the extreme right, but now it attracts more traditional conservative voices including Republican lawmakers.

After Google, Apple and Amazon suspend Parler social networking app for 'threats of violence'

A prominent follower of conspiracy theory QAnon who featured prominently on social media wearing horns, a fur pelt, face paint and brandishing a spear adorned with the US&nbsp;flag during the&nbsp;Capitol hill riots has been charged with felony crimes by federal agents.

"Jacob Anthony Chansley, a.k.a. Jake Angeli, of Arizona, was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds," the Justice Department said in a statement on Saturday.&nbsp;

Chansley, who calls himself&nbsp;'QAnon Shaman' was arrested after&nbsp;the FBI had asked the public for help identifying participants, given the proliferation of images of the riots on the internet.&nbsp;

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-tear-gas-explosives-and-gunfire-trump-supporters-storm-capitol-clash-with-police-354961">In pics-Tear gas, explosives and gunfire: Trump supporters storm Capitol, clash with police</a>

Chansley was identified on social media as being from Phoenix, Arizona.

Federal agents also arrested Adam Christian Johnson, whose photo as he smiled and waved as he carried off House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern also went viral. Johnson, of Parrish, Florida, also streamed live video on Facebook of himself as he walked the halls of the Capitol, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The video has been removed from online platforms and all of Johnson's pages have been taken down.

On Saturday Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who is the incoming chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote to the chief executives of 11 mobile carriers and social media companies, urging them to preserve content and associated meta-data connected to the riot, which erupted as lawmakers gathered to certify the election of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden.

In his letters, Warner emphasized how the rioters took time to document the event and share it through social media and text messages "to celebrate their disdain for our democratic process."

Before his arrest, NBC network reported, Chansley gloated about how the crowd infiltrated the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to flee.

"The fact that we had a bunch of traitors in office, hunkered down, put on gas masks and retreat to their underground bunker, I consider that a win," he said to NBC News.

<img alt="aa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="29b774a5-e684-4449-8623-a7d8520720cc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_87.jpg" />

In picture:&nbsp;Supporters of US President Donald Trump, including a member of the QAnon conspiracy group Jake Angeli, aka Yellowstone Wolf (C), enter the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC/AFP

Chansley faces several federal charges including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Media reports said Chansley had often been seen at rallies supporting Trump.&nbsp;It was unclear where Chansley was being held Saturday, or whether he or Johnson had legal representation.

Johnson, who has a first appearance in federal court on Monday, is being charged out of Washington.

Threats to speaker

One man who was arrested in connection with the events at the Capitol and threats to lawmakers told FBI agents he arrived in Washington on Thursday, a day late for the rally, after being delayed en route in Ohio, federal court documents showed.

Cleveland Meredith was found with a Tavor X95 assault rifle, a Glock pistol, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and was detained in connection with making threats to Pelosi after an FBI agent read January&nbsp;7 text messages in which Meredith talked about "putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV" and running her over with his truck, according to a criminal complaint.

At least a dozen other people were facing criminal charges in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in connection to the riot, and at least another 40 people faced lesser charges in the District of Columbia Superior Court, a local venue. Many of them were arraigned on Thursday and released, with an order from the judge not to return to Washington unless for court appearances or meetings with their attorneys.

They included Richard Barnett, the Gravette, Arkansas, the man who was photographed sitting at Pelosi's desk, his feet up on the furniture.

Nicholas Ochs, self-professed leader of the Hawaii chapter of the far-right Proud Boys group and who made a failed bid for a seat in the Hawaii House of Representatives in November, was arrested on his return to Honolulu and charged with unlawful entry into restricted buildings or grounds, federal prosecutors said in a statement. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

Among those arrested Friday for participating in the riot was West Virginia House of Delegates member Derrick Evans, who announced his resignation on Saturday in a one-line statement.

Evans, who had just been elected in November and on his campaign website had promoted himself as "a Pro-Trump conservative who will always stand up, speak out, and Fight For Christian Values," live-streamed himself entering the Capitol on Wednesday, and was recorded saying, "We're in, we're in! Derrick Evans is in the Capitol," the Justice Department said in a release.

The FBI and the Washington police department's homicide unit are jointly investigating the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was injured while defending the Capitol. Sicknick had just been sworn in with the U.S. Capitol Police Department, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Steven D'Antuono, the FBI Washington Field Office's assistant director in charge, said on Friday that rioters who had since returned home were not safe from arrest.

"Just because you've left the D.C. region, you can still expect a knock on the door if we find out you were part of the criminal activity at the Capitol," D'Antuono said.

&nbsp;

A prominent follower of conspiracy theory QAnon who featured prominently on social media wearing horns, a fur pelt, face paint and brandishing a spear adorned with the US flag during the Capitol hill riots has been charged with felony crimes by federal agents.

A prominent follower of conspiracy theory QAnon who featured prominently on social media wearing horns, a fur pelt, face paint and brandishing a spear adorned with the US flag during the Capitol hill riots has been charged with felony crimes by federal agents. "Jacob Anthony Chansley, a.k.a. Jake Angeli, of Arizona, was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds," the Justice Department said in a statement on Saturday. Chansley, who calls himself 'QAnon Shaman' was arrested after the FBI had asked the public for help identifying participants, given the proliferation of images of the riots on the internet. Also see: In pics-Tear gas, explosives and gunfire: Trump supporters storm Capitol, clash with police Chansley was identified on social media as being from Phoenix, Arizona. Federal agents also arrested Adam Christian Johnson, whose photo as he smiled and waved as he carried off House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern also went viral. Johnson, of Parrish, Florida, also streamed live video on Facebook of himself as he walked the halls of the Capitol, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The video has been removed from online platforms and all of Johnson's pages have been taken down. On Saturday Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who is the incoming chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote to the chief executives of 11 mobile carriers and social media companies, urging them to preserve content and associated meta-data connected to the riot, which erupted as lawmakers gathered to certify the election of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden. In his letters, Warner emphasized how the rioters took time to document the event and share it through social media and text messages "to celebrate their disdain for our democratic process." Before his arrest, NBC network reported, Chansley gloated about how the crowd infiltrated the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to flee. "The fact that we had a bunch of traitors in office, hunkered down, put on gas masks and retreat to their underground bunker, I consider that a win," he said to NBC News. In picture: Supporters of US President Donald Trump, including a member of the QAnon conspiracy group Jake Angeli, aka Yellowstone Wolf (C), enter the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC/AFP Chansley faces several federal charges including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Media reports said Chansley had often been seen at rallies supporting Trump. It was unclear where Chansley was being held Saturday, or whether he or Johnson had legal representation. Johnson, who has a first appearance in federal court on Monday, is being charged out of Washington. Threats to speaker One man who was arrested in connection with the events at the Capitol and threats to lawmakers told FBI agents he arrived in Washington on Thursday, a day late for the rally, after being delayed en route in Ohio, federal court documents showed. Cleveland Meredith was found with a Tavor X95 assault rifle, a Glock pistol, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and was detained in connection with making threats to Pelosi after an FBI agent read January 7 text messages in which Meredith talked about "putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV" and running her over with his truck, according to a criminal complaint. At least a dozen other people were facing criminal charges in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in connection to the riot, and at least another 40 people faced lesser charges in the District of Columbia Superior Court, a local venue. Many of them were arraigned on Thursday and released, with an order from the judge not to return to Washington unless for court appearances or meetings with their attorneys. They included Richard Barnett, the Gravette, Arkansas, the man who was photographed sitting at Pelosi's desk, his feet up on the furniture. Nicholas Ochs, self-professed leader of the Hawaii chapter of the far-right Proud Boys group and who made a failed bid for a seat in the Hawaii House of Representatives in November, was arrested on his return to Honolulu and charged with unlawful entry into restricted buildings or grounds, federal prosecutors said in a statement. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer. Among those arrested Friday for participating in the riot was West Virginia House of Delegates member Derrick Evans, who announced his resignation on Saturday in a one-line statement. Evans, who had just been elected in November and on his campaign website had promoted himself as "a Pro-Trump conservative who will always stand up, speak out, and Fight For Christian Values," live-streamed himself entering the Capitol on Wednesday, and was recorded saying, "We're in, we're in! Derrick Evans is in the Capitol," the Justice Department said in a release. The FBI and the Washington police department's homicide unit are jointly investigating the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was injured while defending the Capitol. Sicknick had just been sworn in with the U.S. Capitol Police Department, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Steven D'Antuono, the FBI Washington Field Office's assistant director in charge, said on Friday that rioters who had since returned home were not safe from arrest. "Just because you've left the D.C. region, you can still expect a knock on the door if we find out you were part of the criminal activity at the Capitol," D'Antuono said.

US Capitol invader 'QAnon Shaman' Jake Angeli charged over pro-Trump riots

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that the&nbsp;United States is ending decades-old restrictions governing official contacts with Taiwan,&nbsp;a move likely to anger China and increase tensions between Beijing and Washington in the waning days of President Donald Trump's presidency.

In a statement, Pompeo said that for several decades the State Department had created complex internal restrictions on interactions with Taiwanese counterparts by American diplomats, service members and other officials.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-taiwan-defence-deal-taiwan-buys-jets-from-lockheed-martin-320755/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The United States government took these actions unilaterally, in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing," Pompeo said in a statement.

"Today I am announcing that I am lifting all of these self-imposed restrictions," he added.

He said the "complex internal restrictions" on contacts with Taipei by diplomats, service members and others had been imposed "in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing."

"The United States government maintains relationships with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception. ... Today’s statement recognizes that the US-Taiwan relationship need not, and should not, be shackled by self-imposed restrictions of our permanent bureaucracy," Pompeo said.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-not-part-of-china-says-mike-pompeo-beijing-fumes-342920">Taiwan not part of China, says Mike Pompeo; Beijing fumes</a>

China claims democratic and separately ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and regularly describe Taiwan as the most sensitive issue in its ties with the United States.

While the United States, like most countries, has no official relations with Taiwan, the Trump administration has ramped up backing for the island country, with arms sales and laws to help Taiwan deal with pressure from China.

The declaration may be more symbolic than substantive in effect, but it nonetheless appears certain to anger China, which sees Taiwan as its own territory.

It comes in the final weeks of the Donald Trump administration, and at a time of already heightened tensions between Beijing and both Washington and Taipei.&nbsp;

It was not clear what the change means in practice, with Pompeo saying executive branch communications with Taiwan will be handled by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which is owned by the US government and serves as the de facto embassy.

The shift comes after a year of mounting US-Chinese tensions.&nbsp;

Pompeo, who has taken an increasingly hard-line stance toward China and identified it as the principal long-term threat faced by the United States, has repeatedly used the red-button Taiwan issue to push back against Beijing.

In November, he appeared to call into question the long-standing US&nbsp;"one-China policy" by stating in a radio interview that Taiwan "has not been a part of China," causing Beijing to warn that behaviour that undermined "China's core interests and interferes with China's domestic affairs will be met with a resolute counterattack."

The United States is Taiwan's strongest international backer and arms supplier and is obliged to help provide it with the means to defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

Clash over envoy's visit

Trump has sent multiple senior officials to Taipei over the last year, even as he clashed with China on a host of issues, ranging from its handling of the coronavirus pandemic to disputes over trade, security and human rights.

Pompeo's statement also came just two days after China warned the United States it would pay a "heavy price" if its United Nations ambassador, Kelly Craft, made good on plans to travel to Taiwan on Wednesday.

Beijing opposes any diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.

Craft's scheduled three-day visit will come just a week before Joe Biden's inauguration as US president, adding to a string of diplomatic headaches facing the incoming administration.

"The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action," the Chinese mission to the UN said in a statement responding to Craft's planned trip.

"China strongly urges the United States to stop its crazy provocation, stop creating new difficulties for China-US relations... and stop going further on the wrong path."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that the United States is ending decades-old restrictions governing official contacts with Taiwan, a move likely to anger China and increase tensions between Beijing and Washington in the waning days of President Donald Trump's presidency.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that the United States is ending decades-old restrictions governing official contacts with Taiwan, a move likely to anger China and increase tensions between Beijing and Washington in the waning days of President Donald Trump's presidency. In a statement, Pompeo said that for several decades the State Department had created complex internal restrictions on interactions with Taiwanese counterparts by American diplomats, service members and other officials. "The United States government took these actions unilaterally, in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing," Pompeo said in a statement. "Today I am announcing that I am lifting all of these self-imposed restrictions," he added. He said the "complex internal restrictions" on contacts with Taipei by diplomats, service members and others had been imposed "in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing." "The United States government maintains relationships with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception. ... Today’s statement recognizes that the US-Taiwan relationship need not, and should not, be shackled by self-imposed restrictions of our permanent bureaucracy," Pompeo said. Also read: Taiwan not part of China, says Mike Pompeo; Beijing fumes China claims democratic and separately ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and regularly describe Taiwan as the most sensitive issue in its ties with the United States. While the United States, like most countries, has no official relations with Taiwan, the Trump administration has ramped up backing for the island country, with arms sales and laws to help Taiwan deal with pressure from China. The declaration may be more symbolic than substantive in effect, but it nonetheless appears certain to anger China, which sees Taiwan as its own territory. It comes in the final weeks of the Donald Trump administration, and at a time of already heightened tensions between Beijing and both Washington and Taipei. It was not clear what the change means in practice, with Pompeo saying executive branch communications with Taiwan will be handled by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which is owned by the US government and serves as the de facto embassy. The shift comes after a year of mounting US-Chinese tensions. Pompeo, who has taken an increasingly hard-line stance toward China and identified it as the principal long-term threat faced by the United States, has repeatedly used the red-button Taiwan issue to push back against Beijing. In November, he appeared to call into question the long-standing US "one-China policy" by stating in a radio interview that Taiwan "has not been a part of China," causing Beijing to warn that behaviour that undermined "China's core interests and interferes with China's domestic affairs will be met with a resolute counterattack." The United States is Taiwan's strongest international backer and arms supplier and is obliged to help provide it with the means to defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. Clash over envoy's visit Trump has sent multiple senior officials to Taipei over the last year, even as he clashed with China on a host of issues, ranging from its handling of the coronavirus pandemic to disputes over trade, security and human rights. Pompeo's statement also came just two days after China warned the United States it would pay a "heavy price" if its United Nations ambassador, Kelly Craft, made good on plans to travel to Taiwan on Wednesday. Beijing opposes any diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. Craft's scheduled three-day visit will come just a week before Joe Biden's inauguration as US president, adding to a string of diplomatic headaches facing the incoming administration. "The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action," the Chinese mission to the UN said in a statement responding to Craft's planned trip. "China strongly urges the United States to stop its crazy provocation, stop creating new difficulties for China-US relations... and stop going further on the wrong path."

In a move likely to anger China, Pompeo lifts restrictions on US-Taiwan relationship

Sweden, which has long shunned lockdowns and face mask orders as tools in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, has given its government power to act more forcefully to stem the spread of the disease.

Parliament on Friday passed an emergency law that will allow the government to limit the number of people in shops, businesses and public places, like theaters and public swimming pools, or even order their closure in case of violations. The government will also be able to fine individuals for breaking coronavirus rules.

The new powers go into effect Sunday, freeing the government to do more than make recommendations, as it has thus far. But with the country struggling to battle a second wave of the coronavirus, and with emergency wards filling up to critical capacity, the government said it needed more tools.

As of Saturday, Sweden’s total death toll stood at 9,433. The country now has 93 deaths per 100,000 people, less than Britain, which has 120, but far more than its neighbor Norway, with 9.

“We see a great risk that we will be in a difficult situation for some time ahead,” Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told the SVT network. “Of course, that means the pandemic law will be used. And we will be using it in the near future.”

In a separate decision implemented Thursday, face masks, long deemed ineffective by Swedish health officials, are now being recommended for use during rush hour on public transportation. They are not mandatory.

In April, when much of the rest of the world went into lockdowns, Swedes were able to keep going to bars and restaurants, with the government and health officials saying they didn’t believe in lockdowns. The country’s Public Health Authority issued some coronavirus prevention recommendations, but the government legally wasn’t able to order the sort of blanket stay-at-home measures used in other European countries.

Swedish lawmakers supported the stance, saying they would never force people to adhere to the recommendations. But now that the pandemic is showing no signs of abating, many have changed their positions and have backed the government measures.

Some experts are calling for even stricter measures.

“This law is great but not enough,” said Dr. Fredrik Elgh, a professor of clinical virology at Umea University. “We need a four-week lockdown badly to stop this increase. If we do this now, in two weeks time we will see a decrease.” He added: “I don’t understand why my country is one of few countries that cannot do this seriously.”

Sweden, which has long shunned lockdowns and face mask orders as tools in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, has given its government power to act more forcefully to stem the spread of the disease.

Sweden, which has long shunned lockdowns and face mask orders as tools in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, has given its government power to act more forcefully to stem the spread of the disease. Parliament on Friday passed an emergency law that will allow the government to limit the number of people in shops, businesses and public places, like theaters and public swimming pools, or even order their closure in case of violations. The government will also be able to fine individuals for breaking coronavirus rules. The new powers go into effect Sunday, freeing the government to do more than make recommendations, as it has thus far. But with the country struggling to battle a second wave of the coronavirus, and with emergency wards filling up to critical capacity, the government said it needed more tools. As of Saturday, Sweden’s total death toll stood at 9,433. The country now has 93 deaths per 100,000 people, less than Britain, which has 120, but far more than its neighbor Norway, with 9. “We see a great risk that we will be in a difficult situation for some time ahead,” Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told the SVT network. “Of course, that means the pandemic law will be used. And we will be using it in the near future.” In a separate decision implemented Thursday, face masks, long deemed ineffective by Swedish health officials, are now being recommended for use during rush hour on public transportation. They are not mandatory. In April, when much of the rest of the world went into lockdowns, Swedes were able to keep going to bars and restaurants, with the government and health officials saying they didn’t believe in lockdowns. The country’s Public Health Authority issued some coronavirus prevention recommendations, but the government legally wasn’t able to order the sort of blanket stay-at-home measures used in other European countries. Swedish lawmakers supported the stance, saying they would never force people to adhere to the recommendations. But now that the pandemic is showing no signs of abating, many have changed their positions and have backed the government measures. Some experts are calling for even stricter measures. “This law is great but not enough,” said Dr. Fredrik Elgh, a professor of clinical virology at Umea University. “We need a four-week lockdown badly to stop this increase. If we do this now, in two weeks time we will see a decrease.” He added: “I don’t understand why my country is one of few countries that cannot do this seriously.”

With new law, Sweden gains power to impose coronavirus restrictions

Myanmar has&nbsp;ordered&nbsp;30 million coronavirus vaccines from India that are expected to be delivered by the end of February.

Zaw Htay, the President Office director-general said that Myanmar chose the vaccine because it can be stored in a temperature between 2 to 8 degrees centigrade that is suitable as per the country's temperature.

Earlier,&nbsp;Myanmar's de-facto leader&nbsp;Aung San Suu Kyi had&nbsp;announced that her country will get the COVID-19&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-begin-coronavirus-vaccine-roll-out-in-10-days-government-354599">vaccine</a>&nbsp;from India and that a contract has been signed regarding it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Myanmar has reported 129,483 coronavirus cases with a death toll of 2,812. The country's government has been communicating with neighbouring countries to acquire COVID-19 vaccines.

Last year the Indian foreign secretary Harsh Shringla and&nbsp;Army Chief MM Naravane&nbsp;had jointly visited the country. The visit saw high-level assurances from India that Myanmar will be a priority when it comes to the vaccine.&nbsp;

India gifted 3000 vials of Anti Covid Remdesivir to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi as a "symbol" of India‘s commitment to helping Myanmar mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

Myanmar has signed MoU with the Serum Institute of India for Covishield. Over the weekend, India's drug regulator gave approval for its use.

Myanmar has ordered 30 million coronavirus vaccines from India that are expected to be delivered by the end of February. Zaw Htay, the President Office director-general said that Myanmar chose the vaccine because it can be stored in a temperature between 2 to 8 degrees centigrade that is suitable as per the country's temperature.

Myanmar has ordered 30 million coronavirus vaccines from India that are expected to be delivered by the end of February. Zaw Htay, the President Office director-general said that Myanmar chose the vaccine because it can be stored in a temperature between 2 to 8 degrees centigrade that is suitable as per the country's temperature. Earlier, Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi had announced that her country will get the COVID-19 vaccine from India and that a contract has been signed regarding it. Myanmar has reported 129,483 coronavirus cases with a death toll of 2,812. The country's government has been communicating with neighbouring countries to acquire COVID-19 vaccines. Last year the Indian foreign secretary Harsh Shringla and Army Chief MM Naravane had jointly visited the country. The visit saw high-level assurances from India that Myanmar will be a priority when it comes to the vaccine. India gifted 3000 vials of Anti Covid Remdesivir to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi as a "symbol" of India‘s commitment to helping Myanmar mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Myanmar has signed MoU with the Serum Institute of India for Covishield. Over the weekend, India's drug regulator gave approval for its use.

Myanmar orders 30 million coronavirus vaccines from India

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday conducted an emergency meeting of the cabinet at his&nbsp;residence in Kathmandu.

<img alt="aa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3088aaea-ea91-48c9-9bd6-e6dcd4c7c376" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ErWhxfAVEAEekLA.jpg" />

In picture:&nbsp;Emergency Cabinet meeting underway at Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's residence in Kathmandu/ANI

According to officials,&nbsp;Oli&nbsp;also addressed the National Assembly on Sunday. In his address, Oli spoke&nbsp;on current issues of Nepal.

This comes after Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the Lower House on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli`s recommendation on December 20.

After dissolving the Parliament, Oli also proposed elections on April 30 and May 10, 2021.

Nepal's top court began hearings on Wednesday on petitions challenging Prime Minister K.P. Sharma&nbsp;Oli's sudden decision to dissolve parliament, as protesters against his move marched nearby.

Oli, 68, has cited internal squabbling within his ruling Communist party and lack of political unity as reasons behind his Dec. 20 decision, which has triggered public outrage and has been labelled unconstitutional.

In their plea before the Supreme Court, politicians, activists and lawyers are questioning whether it is the legitimate right of the leader to dissolve the parliament and order fresh elections, 18 months before schedule.

The Nepal Communist Party, following the crisis, has broken into two factions, fighting for legitimacy and election sign, where the rival faction is led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who was the leader of the party during the civil war in the country that replaced the constitutional monarchy with democracy.

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday conducted an emergency meeting of the cabinet at his residence in Kathmandu. In picture: Emergency Cabinet meeting underway at Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's residence in Kathmandu/ANI According to officials, Oli also addressed the National Assembly on Sunday.

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday conducted an emergency meeting of the cabinet at his residence in Kathmandu. In picture: Emergency Cabinet meeting underway at Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's residence in Kathmandu/ANI According to officials, Oli also addressed the National Assembly on Sunday. In his address, Oli spoke on current issues of Nepal. This comes after Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the Lower House on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli`s recommendation on December 20. After dissolving the Parliament, Oli also proposed elections on April 30 and May 10, 2021. Nepal's top court began hearings on Wednesday on petitions challenging Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's sudden decision to dissolve parliament, as protesters against his move marched nearby. Oli, 68, has cited internal squabbling within his ruling Communist party and lack of political unity as reasons behind his Dec. 20 decision, which has triggered public outrage and has been labelled unconstitutional. In their plea before the Supreme Court, politicians, activists and lawyers are questioning whether it is the legitimate right of the leader to dissolve the parliament and order fresh elections, 18 months before schedule. The Nepal Communist Party, following the crisis, has broken into two factions, fighting for legitimacy and election sign, where the rival faction is led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who was the leader of the party during the civil war in the country that replaced the constitutional monarchy with democracy.

Nepal: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli conducts emergency cabinet meeting

A Boeing 737 passenger plane of Indonesia's Sriwijaya Air&nbsp;crashed into the sea on Saturday minutes after taking off from&nbsp;Indonesia's capital Jakarta on a domestic flight with 62 people on board, and their fate was not known.

Indonesian investigators said Sunday they had detected a signal from the&nbsp;Boeing passenger plane and&nbsp;found body parts off the coast of the capital Jakarta where a budget airline plane with 62 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff.

"As of this morning, we've received two (body) bags, one with passenger belongings and the other with body parts," Jakarta police spokesman Yusri Yunus told Metro TV.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-sriwijaya-air-boeing-737-goes-missing-feared-to-have-crashed-355610" hreflang="en">Indonesia: Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737 goes missing, feared to have crashed</a>

The Boeing 737-500, en route to Pontianak in West Kalimantan, disappeared from radar screens after taking off just after 2.30 p.m. (0730 GMT) - 30 minutes after the scheduled time because of heavy rain.

Indonesian Transport Minister Budi Karya told a news conference that 62 people had been aboard Flight SJ 182, including 12 crew. The detik.com website quoted him as saying the plane crashed near Laki Island, some 20 km (12 miles) from the airport.

Rescue agency Basarnas said in a statement it would send a team to the Thousand Islands area to help in the search for victims "after the crash of Sriwijaya Air SJ 182".

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/news-alert-indonesian-passenger-plane-goes-missing-after-take-off-355631/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

All those on board were&nbsp;Indonesian,&nbsp;Indonesia's transport safety committee said.

Indonesia's Navy had pinpointed the site of the missing aircraft and ships had been sent there, a Navy official said. Authorities did not say whether they believed there were survivors.

Indonesian airline Sriwijaya Air's chief executive, Jefferson Irwin Jauwena, told a news conference that the plane had been in good condition before the flight.

The nearly 27-year-old Boeing 737-500 was much older than Boeing's problem-plagued 737 MAX model, one of which crashed off Jakarta in late 2018, killing all 189 people aboard the Lion Air flight. Older 737 models are widely flown and do not have the system implicated in the MAX safety crisis.

A Boeing spokeswoman said, "We are aware of media reports from Jakarta, and are closely monitoring the situation. We are working to gather more information".

Reliable tracking service Flightradar24 said the Boeing jet took off at 2:36 p.m. local time (0736 GMT) and climbed to reach 10,900 feet within four minutes. It then began a steep descent and stopped transmitting data 21 seconds later.

A transport ministry spokeswoman said air traffic control at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport had asked the pilot why the plane was heading northwest instead of on its expected flight path just seconds before it disappeared.

There were no immediate clues on what may have caused the sudden descent and safety experts to stress most air accidents are caused by a cocktail of factors that can take months to establish.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate plane crash in Indonesia.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate plane crash in Indonesia. India stands with Indonesia in this hour of grief.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1348181997705850881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Distraught relatives

Indonesian television channels showed pictures of suspected wreckage.

"We found some cables, a piece of jeans, and pieces of metal on the water," Zulkifli, a security official said.

Distraught relatives waited at Pontianak, around 740 km (460 miles) from Jakarta.

Yaman Zai, a father of three children who were aboard the plane with their mother, said that he was at the airport in Pontianak waiting for them when he heard the news.

"I will never meet her again," he said, holding up a photo of his oldest daughter.

Indonesia's KNKT safety agency was expected to launch an immediate investigation. The US&nbsp;National Safety Transportation Board will automatically be part of the probe since the plane was designed and built in the United States.

Founded in 2003, Jakarta-based Sriwijaya Air group flies largely within&nbsp;Indonesia. The airline has a solid safety record until now, with no onboard casualties in four incidents recorded on the Aviation Safety Network database.

Indonesia's patchy safety record

The Boeing 737 is the world's most-sold family of aircraft and has undergone several makeovers since it entered service in 1968.

The 737-500 is two generations of development before the most recent 737 MAX, which has been embroiled in a worldwide safety crisis following crashes in&nbsp;Indonesia&nbsp;and Ethiopia. It does not use the software system implicated in those crashes.

Nonetheless, experts say planes such as Sriwijaya's leased 737-500 are being phased out for newer fuel-saving models. Civil jets typically have an economic life of 25 years, meaning they become too expensive to keep flying beyond that compared to younger models, but they are built to last longer.

Indonesia&nbsp;itself has a patchy air safety record.

In 2007, the European Union banned all&nbsp;Indonesian airlines following a series of crashes and reports of deteriorating oversight and maintenance since deregulation in the late 1990s. The restrictions were fully lifted in 2018.

Between 2007 and 2016, the US&nbsp;Federal Aviation Administration lowered its&nbsp;Indonesia&nbsp;safety evaluation to Category 2, meaning its regulatory system was inadequate.

Indonesian officials say they have worked hard to bring a safety up to international standards.

A Boeing 737 passenger plane of Indonesia's Sriwijaya Air crashed into the sea on Saturday minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital Jakarta on a domestic flight with 62 people on board, and their fate was not known.

A Boeing 737 passenger plane of Indonesia's Sriwijaya Air crashed into the sea on Saturday minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital Jakarta on a domestic flight with 62 people on board, and their fate was not known. Indonesian investigators said Sunday they had detected a signal from the Boeing passenger plane and found body parts off the coast of the capital Jakarta where a budget airline plane with 62 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff. "As of this morning, we've received two (body) bags, one with passenger belongings and the other with body parts," Jakarta police spokesman Yusri Yunus told Metro TV. Also read: Indonesia: Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737 goes missing, feared to have crashed The Boeing 737-500, en route to Pontianak in West Kalimantan, disappeared from radar screens after taking off just after 2.30 p.m. (0730 GMT) - 30 minutes after the scheduled time because of heavy rain. Indonesian Transport Minister Budi Karya told a news conference that 62 people had been aboard Flight SJ 182, including 12 crew. The detik.com website quoted him as saying the plane crashed near Laki Island, some 20 km (12 miles) from the airport. Rescue agency Basarnas said in a statement it would send a team to the Thousand Islands area to help in the search for victims "after the crash of Sriwijaya Air SJ 182". All those on board were Indonesian, Indonesia's transport safety committee said. Indonesia's Navy had pinpointed the site of the missing aircraft and ships had been sent there, a Navy official said. Authorities did not say whether they believed there were survivors. Indonesian airline Sriwijaya Air's chief executive, Jefferson Irwin Jauwena, told a news conference that the plane had been in good condition before the flight. The nearly 27-year-old Boeing 737-500 was much older than Boeing's problem-plagued 737 MAX model, one of which crashed off Jakarta in late 2018, killing all 189 people aboard the Lion Air flight. Older 737 models are widely flown and do not have the system implicated in the MAX safety crisis. A Boeing spokeswoman said, "We are aware of media reports from Jakarta, and are closely monitoring the situation. We are working to gather more information". Reliable tracking service Flightradar24 said the Boeing jet took off at 2:36 p.m. local time (0736 GMT) and climbed to reach 10,900 feet within four minutes. It then began a steep descent and stopped transmitting data 21 seconds later. A transport ministry spokeswoman said air traffic control at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport had asked the pilot why the plane was heading northwest instead of on its expected flight path just seconds before it disappeared. There were no immediate clues on what may have caused the sudden descent and safety experts to stress most air accidents are caused by a cocktail of factors that can take months to establish. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate plane crash in Indonesia. Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate plane crash in Indonesia. India stands with Indonesia in this hour of grief. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 10, 2021 × Distraught relatives Indonesian television channels showed pictures of suspected wreckage. "We found some cables, a piece of jeans, and pieces of metal on the water," Zulkifli, a security official said. Distraught relatives waited at Pontianak, around 740 km (460 miles) from Jakarta. Yaman Zai, a father of three children who were aboard the plane with their mother, said that he was at the airport in Pontianak waiting for them when he heard the news. "I will never meet her again," he said, holding up a photo of his oldest daughter. Indonesia's KNKT safety agency was expected to launch an immediate investigation. The US National Safety Transportation Board will automatically be part of the probe since the plane was designed and built in the United States. Founded in 2003, Jakarta-based Sriwijaya Air group flies largely within Indonesia. The airline has a solid safety record until now, with no onboard casualties in four incidents recorded on the Aviation Safety Network database. Indonesia's patchy safety record The Boeing 737 is the world's most-sold family of aircraft and has undergone several makeovers since it entered service in 1968. The 737-500 is two generations of development before the most recent 737 MAX, which has been embroiled in a worldwide safety crisis following crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. It does not use the software system implicated in those crashes. Nonetheless, experts say planes such as Sriwijaya's leased 737-500 are being phased out for newer fuel-saving models. Civil jets typically have an economic life of 25 years, meaning they become too expensive to keep flying beyond that compared to younger models, but they are built to last longer. Indonesia itself has a patchy air safety record. In 2007, the European Union banned all Indonesian airlines following a series of crashes and reports of deteriorating oversight and maintenance since deregulation in the late 1990s. The restrictions were fully lifted in 2018. Between 2007 and 2016, the US Federal Aviation Administration lowered its Indonesia safety evaluation to Category 2, meaning its regulatory system was inadequate. Indonesian officials say they have worked hard to bring a safety up to international standards.

Indonesia: Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737 crashes after take-off with 62 aboard

The verdict of the extradition case of fugitive diamond dealer Nirav Modi will be handed down by the UK judge next month after the Indian government and Modi`s defence lawyers made their final submissions at Westminster Magistrate's Court in London on Friday.

Judge Samuel Goozee will deliver his judgment on February 25, just under two years after Nirav Modi was arrested in London on multiple charges including defrauding the state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) of more than USD 2 billion.

Judge Goozee must decide if there is a `prima facie` case that Modi - the one-time billionaire and jeweller to some of the most glamorous stars in the world - not only defrauded PNB but also laundered the proceeds of that fraud and subsequently attempt to destroy crucial evidence and intimidate witnesses.

Yesterday on the penultimate day of the hearing, Modi`s lawyers have claimed that he is unfit to face solitary confinement. Today`s attention turned to the extraordinary scheme wherein Modi is alleged to have perpetrated to defraud and enrich himself and his family using the funds of one of the oldest and biggest financial institutions in India.

Helen Malcolm QC, the formidable barrister representing the Crown Prosecution Service, which in turn is representing the Indian government began the final day`s proceedings by carefully summarizing that very scheme. It was a summary that clearly made Modi visibly uncomfortable - normally subdued, Modi was seen sighing and fidgeting frequently as he appeared at the court via video link from Wandsworth Prison in south London where he has been held since his arrest.

At the heart of the scheme is a conspiracy between Modi and several members of staff at PNB to siphon money out of the bank using `Letters of Undertaking`, a bank guarantee which allows a bank`s customers to raise money from the foreign branches of other Indian banks as a form of short term credit.

Malcolm outlined how Modi set up a string of shell companies posing as third party suppliers in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates and then colluded with a PNB employee - Gokulnath Shetty - to obtain hundreds of LOU`s over a 6-year period.

Malcolm told the court that the alleged fraud had enriched Modi and his family. One of the shell companies - Pacific Diamonds - had at one point paid out USD 48 million dollars to Modi himself, some USD 150 million to his father and a further USD 21 million to his brother in law Deepak.

"The simple and stark fact is that Modi used three partnership companies to acquire billions of dollars worth of credit which was entirely unsecured and LoUs were issued for wholly bogus trade. While the defence claims this is a mere commercial dispute, there is a plethora of evidence to point to a ponzi-like scheme where new LoUs were used to repay old ones," Malcolm said.

Modi laid the groundwork and took various steps to ensure that the fraud would go undetected for example by registering the shell companies in the UAE`s Ajman Free Zone which does not require companies to file audited accounts.

The funds fraudulently obtained were also recycled through various other companies located in Hong Kong, India and the UAE using the very same jewellery that had made Modi a globally recognized Diamantaire.

Once the fraud was discovered at PNB, Modi and a number of accomplices scrambled to hide their tracks, Malcolm said, by perverting the course of the investigations launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

This included relocating a number of "directors" of the shell companies from the UAE to Cairo Egypt in 2018 where they were threatened and coerced into providing witness statements exonerated Modi.

The court was told that this particular effort was led by Modi`s brother Nihal Modi, an effort that ultimately came to light after one of those forcibly detained in Cairo recorded some of the conversations between himself and Nihal Modi. One of the most explosive moments of the trial had come in early 2020 when the court was played some of those recordings.

Malcolm also told of the elaborate steps taken by Modi, his associates and several employees of the PNB in order to avoid detection - including falsifying documents and creating elaborate but ultimately fictitious paper trails for the LOU's.

In response to Modi`s defence team contends that the transactions, including the issuance of LOU`s on "verbal" contracts between Modi and the bank, were entirely legitimate and above board. Clare Montgomery QC, Modi`s lawyer, also told the court that the so-called shell companies were no such thing and were trading property.

The court had earlier been shown documents that suggested they did. Perhaps the most extraordinary moment of the final day of this extraordinary trial came when Montgomery told Judge Goozee that what transpired in Cairo, Egypt did not amount to "witness intimidation" because they were not witnesses but rather "suspects".

She told the court that Modi and or his representatives were "perfectly able and had a right to offer them advice as co-accused" in the investigations launched by the Indian government.

Apart from charges relating to defrauding PNB through the use of fraudulent loan agreements to the tune of USD 2 billion, Modi also faces charges of money laundering, destruction of evidence and witness intimidation.While Judge Goozee will rule on the February 25, Modi is expected to pursue a long and exhaustive appeals process in the UK.

The verdict of the extradition case of fugitive diamond dealer Nirav Modi will be handed down by the UK judge next month after the Indian government and Modi`s defence lawyers made their final submissions at Westminster Magistrate's Court in London on Friday.

The verdict of the extradition case of fugitive diamond dealer Nirav Modi will be handed down by the UK judge next month after the Indian government and Modi`s defence lawyers made their final submissions at Westminster Magistrate's Court in London on Friday. Judge Samuel Goozee will deliver his judgment on February 25, just under two years after Nirav Modi was arrested in London on multiple charges including defrauding the state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) of more than USD 2 billion. Judge Goozee must decide if there is a `prima facie` case that Modi - the one-time billionaire and jeweller to some of the most glamorous stars in the world - not only defrauded PNB but also laundered the proceeds of that fraud and subsequently attempt to destroy crucial evidence and intimidate witnesses. Yesterday on the penultimate day of the hearing, Modi`s lawyers have claimed that he is unfit to face solitary confinement. Today`s attention turned to the extraordinary scheme wherein Modi is alleged to have perpetrated to defraud and enrich himself and his family using the funds of one of the oldest and biggest financial institutions in India. Helen Malcolm QC, the formidable barrister representing the Crown Prosecution Service, which in turn is representing the Indian government began the final day`s proceedings by carefully summarizing that very scheme. It was a summary that clearly made Modi visibly uncomfortable - normally subdued, Modi was seen sighing and fidgeting frequently as he appeared at the court via video link from Wandsworth Prison in south London where he has been held since his arrest. At the heart of the scheme is a conspiracy between Modi and several members of staff at PNB to siphon money out of the bank using `Letters of Undertaking`, a bank guarantee which allows a bank`s customers to raise money from the foreign branches of other Indian banks as a form of short term credit. Malcolm outlined how Modi set up a string of shell companies posing as third party suppliers in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates and then colluded with a PNB employee - Gokulnath Shetty - to obtain hundreds of LOU`s over a 6-year period. Malcolm told the court that the alleged fraud had enriched Modi and his family. One of the shell companies - Pacific Diamonds - had at one point paid out USD 48 million dollars to Modi himself, some USD 150 million to his father and a further USD 21 million to his brother in law Deepak. "The simple and stark fact is that Modi used three partnership companies to acquire billions of dollars worth of credit which was entirely unsecured and LoUs were issued for wholly bogus trade. While the defence claims this is a mere commercial dispute, there is a plethora of evidence to point to a ponzi-like scheme where new LoUs were used to repay old ones," Malcolm said. Modi laid the groundwork and took various steps to ensure that the fraud would go undetected for example by registering the shell companies in the UAE`s Ajman Free Zone which does not require companies to file audited accounts. The funds fraudulently obtained were also recycled through various other companies located in Hong Kong, India and the UAE using the very same jewellery that had made Modi a globally recognized Diamantaire. Once the fraud was discovered at PNB, Modi and a number of accomplices scrambled to hide their tracks, Malcolm said, by perverting the course of the investigations launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate. This included relocating a number of "directors" of the shell companies from the UAE to Cairo Egypt in 2018 where they were threatened and coerced into providing witness statements exonerated Modi. The court was told that this particular effort was led by Modi`s brother Nihal Modi, an effort that ultimately came to light after one of those forcibly detained in Cairo recorded some of the conversations between himself and Nihal Modi. One of the most explosive moments of the trial had come in early 2020 when the court was played some of those recordings. Malcolm also told of the elaborate steps taken by Modi, his associates and several employees of the PNB in order to avoid detection - including falsifying documents and creating elaborate but ultimately fictitious paper trails for the LOU's. In response to Modi`s defence team contends that the transactions, including the issuance of LOU`s on "verbal" contracts between Modi and the bank, were entirely legitimate and above board. Clare Montgomery QC, Modi`s lawyer, also told the court that the so-called shell companies were no such thing and were trading property. The court had earlier been shown documents that suggested they did. Perhaps the most extraordinary moment of the final day of this extraordinary trial came when Montgomery told Judge Goozee that what transpired in Cairo, Egypt did not amount to "witness intimidation" because they were not witnesses but rather "suspects". She told the court that Modi and or his representatives were "perfectly able and had a right to offer them advice as co-accused" in the investigations launched by the Indian government. Apart from charges relating to defrauding PNB through the use of fraudulent loan agreements to the tune of USD 2 billion, Modi also faces charges of money laundering, destruction of evidence and witness intimidation.While Judge Goozee will rule on the February 25, Modi is expected to pursue a long and exhaustive appeals process in the UK.

Final verdict on fugitive businessman Nirav Modi's fate to be announced on Feb 25

France Health Minister&nbsp;Olivier Veran&nbsp;has confirmed the existence of two clusters of the mutant UK coronavirus variant and said that they are under investigation.

The French health ministry reported that two clusters of the UK variant affecting a total of 19 people had been detected in a care home in the western French region of Brittany, and in Bagneux, a southern suburb of Paris.

"We are clearly expecting to identify others," Health Minister Olivier Veran told the press conference. &nbsp;

Authorities found no evidence of any contact between one of the infected people in Bagneux and anybody who had travelled from Britain, which the ministry said indicated that the mutant virus is already circulating in&nbsp;France.

It said testing would now be intensified, and people carrying the new strain had been placed in strict isolation.

Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that France will keep&nbsp;in place restrictions on its border with Britain "until further notice".

France closed its border with Britain for 48 hours on December 20 after the emergence of a new UK strain of the disease thought to be far more contagious, but has since reopened it with major restrictions.

Only truck drivers and French or European Union citizens with an essential reason to travel are allowed through if they show a negative Covid-19 test result from the preceding three days.&nbsp;

These measures "will be extended until further notice", Castex said a press conference amid growing alarm in France given the explosion in cases observed in Britain.

Castex did not announce any new curbs in France on top of an existing nationwide curfew and shutdown orders, but said that "all activities and businesses that are closed will remain so until the end of the month".&nbsp;

This came as a huge disappointment for the owners of bars, restaurants, cinemas, theatre and sports clubs who were forced to close their doors at the end of October at the start of a second nationwide lockdown.

Hopes that ski stations might be able to reopen their lifts were also dashed, with Castex saying they would have to wait until at least February.&nbsp;

"The pressure on our health system remains high," the prime minister said while underlining that France is doing better than many of its neighbours in terms of the number of daily infections.

In Wednesday, it recorded 25,379 new virus infections in the previous 24 hours, up from 20,489 the day before.

A total of 66,565 people have died from the virus in France.

Castex also announced that 45,000 people in France had received a vaccine over the last five days after the government came under fire for a slow start to its inoculation campaign.

Fewer than 50,000 people have been given a vaccine since December 27, compared with hundreds of thousands in Germany within the same timespan and more than 1.3 million in the UK, which started slightly earlier.

More people are set to become eligible for the jab, including the over-75s and handicapped people in care homes, Castex announced.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

France Health Minister Olivier Veran has confirmed the existence of two clusters of the mutant UK coronavirus variant and said that they are under investigation.

France Health Minister Olivier Veran has confirmed the existence of two clusters of the mutant UK coronavirus variant and said that they are under investigation. The French health ministry reported that two clusters of the UK variant affecting a total of 19 people had been detected in a care home in the western French region of Brittany, and in Bagneux, a southern suburb of Paris. "We are clearly expecting to identify others," Health Minister Olivier Veran told the press conference. Authorities found no evidence of any contact between one of the infected people in Bagneux and anybody who had travelled from Britain, which the ministry said indicated that the mutant virus is already circulating in France. It said testing would now be intensified, and people carrying the new strain had been placed in strict isolation. Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that France will keep in place restrictions on its border with Britain "until further notice". France closed its border with Britain for 48 hours on December 20 after the emergence of a new UK strain of the disease thought to be far more contagious, but has since reopened it with major restrictions. Only truck drivers and French or European Union citizens with an essential reason to travel are allowed through if they show a negative Covid-19 test result from the preceding three days. These measures "will be extended until further notice", Castex said a press conference amid growing alarm in France given the explosion in cases observed in Britain. Castex did not announce any new curbs in France on top of an existing nationwide curfew and shutdown orders, but said that "all activities and businesses that are closed will remain so until the end of the month". This came as a huge disappointment for the owners of bars, restaurants, cinemas, theatre and sports clubs who were forced to close their doors at the end of October at the start of a second nationwide lockdown. Hopes that ski stations might be able to reopen their lifts were also dashed, with Castex saying they would have to wait until at least February. "The pressure on our health system remains high," the prime minister said while underlining that France is doing better than many of its neighbours in terms of the number of daily infections. In Wednesday, it recorded 25,379 new virus infections in the previous 24 hours, up from 20,489 the day before. A total of 66,565 people have died from the virus in France. Castex also announced that 45,000 people in France had received a vaccine over the last five days after the government came under fire for a slow start to its inoculation campaign. Fewer than 50,000 people have been given a vaccine since December 27, compared with hundreds of thousands in Germany within the same timespan and more than 1.3 million in the UK, which started slightly earlier. More people are set to become eligible for the jab, including the over-75s and handicapped people in care homes, Castex announced.

France confirms two clusters of UK coronavirus variant

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Vyomica Berry

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.