Russia imposes curbs on WhatsApp, Telegram calls: state media
'In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram),' communications watchdog Roskomnadzor was quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies as saying.
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Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Russia imposes curbs on WhatsApp, Telegram calls: state media
MOSCOW: Russia announced curbs on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram messenger apps on Wednesday saying this was necessary to fight criminality, state media reported. 'In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram),' communications watchdog Roskomnadzor was quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies as saying.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Russian forces pierce Ukraine lines
A still image, taken from footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry, shows what it said to be a Russian soldier raising a flag following the capture of Ukraine's Yablunivka settlement in the Donetsk region. Photo: REUTERS Russian forces have made a sudden thrust into eastern Ukraine near the coal mining town of Dobropillia, a move that may be an attempt to increase the pressure on Kyiv to give up land as the US and Russian presidents prepare to meet. Ukraine's authoritative DeepState war map showed on Tuesday that Russian forces had advanced by at least 10 km north in two prongs in recent days, part of their drive to take full control of Ukraine's Donetsk region. The advance is one of the most dramatic in the last year, although military analysts said the Russians were using small groups of soldiers to try to establish footholds and that it was uncertain if they could maintain their positions in the face of a Ukrainian pushback. DeepState said the Russians had surged forward near three villages on a section of the frontline associated with the Ukrainian towns of Kostyantynivka and Pokrovsk, which Moscow is trying to encircle by exploiting Kyiv's lack of manpower. "The situation is quite chaotic, as the enemy, having found gaps in the defence, is infiltrating deeper, trying to quickly consolidate and accumulate forces for further advancement," DeepState said on its Telegram channel. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to discuss a possible deal to end the war in Ukraine when they meet in Alaska on Friday. Unconfirmed media reports say Putin has told Trump he wants Ukraine to hand over the part of the Donetsk region that Russia does not control. The Russian Defence Ministry said units of its army grouping "Centre" had improved their positions on the edge of the frontline. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that groups of Russian soldiers had advanced about 10 kilometres in several places. "They are without equipment, only weapons in their hands. Some have already been found, partly destroyed, partly captured. We will find and destroy the rest in the near future," he said. Zelenskiy said the Russian push was part of an attempt by Moscow to shape the narrative ahead of the US-Russia summit to show that Russia was "moving forward and Ukraine is losing". Pasi Paroinen, a military analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group, said the situation had escalated rapidly, with Russian forces infiltrating past Ukrainian lines to a depth of roughly 17 km (10 miles) in the past three days. "Forwardmost Russian units have reportedly reached the Dobropillia — Kramatorsk road T0514 and Russian infiltration groups have also been reported near Dobropillia proper," he wrote on X. Reuters
Express Tribune
3 days ago
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Trump's tariffs trigger boycott calls against US brands in India
ndia, the world's most populous nation, is a key market for American brands that have rapidly expanded to target a growing base of affluent consumers. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article From McDonald's and Coca-Cola to Amazon and Apple, US-based multinationals are facing calls for a boycott in India as business executives and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's supporters stoke anti-American sentiment to protest against US tariffs. India, the world's most populous nation, is a key market for American brands that have rapidly expanded to target a growing base of affluent consumers, many of whom remain infatuated with international labels seen as symbols of upward mobility. India, for example, is the biggest market by users for Meta's WhatsApp, and Domino's has more restaurants than any other brand in the country. Beverages like Pepsi and Coca-Cola dominate store shelves, and people still queue up when a new Apple store opens or a Starbucks cafe offers discounts. Although there is no immediate indication of sales being hit, there is a growing chorus both on social media and offline to buy local and ditch American products after Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on goods from India, rattling exporters and straining ties between New Delhi and Washington. Read More: Pakistan, India should talk before it is too late McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Amazon and Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters queries. Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of India's Wow Skin Science, took to LinkedIn with a video message urging support for farmers and startups to make 'Made in India' a 'global obsession,' citing South Korea's global success with its food and beauty products. 'We have lined up for products from thousands of miles away. We have proudly spent on brands that we don't own, while our own makers fight for attention in their own country,' he said. Rahm Shastry, CEO of India's DriveU, which provides an on-call driver service, wrote on LinkedIn: 'India should have its own home-grown Twitter/Google/YouTube/WhatsApp/Facebook — like China has.' Indian retail companies give foreign brands like Starbucks stiff competition domestically, but going global has been a challenge. Indian IT services firms, however, have become deeply embedded in the global economy, with TCS and Infosys providing software solutions worldwide. On Sunday, Modi made a 'special appeal' for self-reliance, telling a gathering in Bengaluru that Indian technology companies make products for the world but 'now is the time for us to give more priority to India's needs.' He did not name any company. Also Read: India faces tough choices under US tariff pressure Don't drag my McPuff into it Even as anti-American protests simmer, Tesla launched its second showroom in India in New Delhi, with Monday's opening attended by Indian commerce ministry and U.S. embassy officials. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, linked to Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, held small rallies across India on Sunday, urging people to boycott American brands. 'People are now looking at Indian products. It will take some time to fructify,' Ashwani Mahajan, the group's co-convenor, told Reuters. 'This is a call for nationalism, patriotism.' He also shared a table circulating on WhatsApp, listing Indian brands of bath soaps, toothpaste, and cold drinks that people could choose over foreign ones. On social media, one of the group's campaigns is a graphic titled 'Boycott foreign food chains,' displaying logos of McDonald's and other restaurants. In Uttar Pradesh, Rajat Gupta, 37, dining at a McDonald's in Lucknow on Monday, said he was unconcerned about the tariff protests and simply enjoyed his 49-rupee ($0.55) coffee. 'Tariffs are a matter of diplomacy, and my McPuff, coffee should not be dragged into it,' he said.
