Latest news with #Meta-owned


See - Sada Elbalad
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
France Blocks RT Editor's Account on X Platform
Israa Farhan France has blocked the X (formerly Twitter) account of Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT and the international media group Rossiya Segodnya, in a move that highlights the increasing restrictions on Russian media in Europe. Simonyan confirmed the suspension via her Telegram channel, stating that she was unaware of the reason behind the decision. She remarked that she had not posted anything that could justify the action and questioned whether it was politically motivated. The account ban comes amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Western countries following the Russian military campaign in Ukraine. Since the outbreak of the conflict, the European Union has implemented widespread sanctions and restrictions targeting Russian state media outlets, including RT and Sputnik. As part of these measures, access to RT and Sputnik has been blocked across EU member states. Their websites remain inaccessible through Google in Europe, and their channels have been restricted or removed from platforms including YouTube and Meta-owned services like Facebook and Instagram. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks


Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘It'll be our little secret': UK cafe worker's act of kindness touches Indian woman
An Indian woman says she was touched by a small act of kindness she experienced after landing in the UK for the first time ever. Divya Sitani revealed that after arriving in the UK late at night, she realised she had forgotten to bring a universal adapter. A cafe worker's kindness left a big impression on one Indian traveller. (Representational image) The realisation dawned only after she had exited the airport. Sitani started panicking – likely because her phone would be running out of battery – and because she had to catch a train to another place. 'Landed in the UK last night, first time here. Realized after leaving the airport that I didn't bring a universal adapter. Started to panic a bit,' she wrote on the Meta-owned platform Threads. A universal adapter is essentially a converter that can make a charger compatible with other country standards. With no adapter and little time on her hands, Sitani would have been facing a tough situation, but for the kindness of one woman. A small act of kindness Sitani said she approached a woman working at a cafe hoping for a solution. A cafe is not a place where one would find an adapter, but the cafe worker did not dismiss Sitani. Instead, she offered her a universal adapter from their store of 'lost and found' items. Even more touching was the fact that the cafe worker helped Sitani knowing full well her boss would not approve. 'She said, 'Wait, there's one in lost and found. Just take it. But quickly, off you go. My boss doesn't need to know. It'll be our little secret',' Sitani revealed. The small act of kindness made a big impact. 'That small act of kindness made my night. Faith in humanity: quietly restored,' wrote Sitani. 'Hugs to you, girl at the cafe,' she added. (Also read: Students' unmatched kindness in heartfelt gesture for physically challenged classmate wins internet's hearts. Watch)


The Star
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
WhatsApp should prepare to exit Russian market, senior lawmaker says
The Meta-owned service is likely to be added to a list of software subject to restrictions due to its ties to Western countries, Gorelkin said. — AFP MOSCOW: Messaging app WhatsApp may soon be blocked in Russia, as lawmakers push for tighter restrictions on digital platforms from "unfriendly countries". "It's time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market," Anton Gorelkin, deputy chairman of the Duma Committee on Information Policy, wrote on Telegram on July 18. The Meta-owned service is likely to be added to a list of software subject to restrictions due to its ties to Western countries, he said. Programmes from Western IT companies that have left Russia have long been a thorn in the Kremlin's side. Back in May, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for their services to be curtailed. In 2021, following a decree by Putin, the Russian government began compiling a list of "unfriendly countries," which initially included the United States and the Czech Republic. It was expanded after the invasion of Ukraine to encompass the European Union as a whole. In June, the Russian parliament, the State Duma, also passed a law to create its own messenging service. At the time, it was said that government services would also be integrated into this chat programme, likely to be called Max. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, Moscow has massively tightened censorship and control of the Internet. On Thursday, parliament passed new legislation that makes searching for content that the authorities classify as "extremist" punishable by fines of up to 5,000 roubles (RM 269 ). Internet resources that criticise the ruling elite, such as The Anti-Corruption Foundation started by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, are among the sites targeted. Until now, there has been no legal regulation in Russia that would have hindered the free search for information. Only the creation and dissemination of "extremist content" was prohibited. Numerous websites, including those of Western and independent media, are already blocked in Russia. To make it even more difficult for Russians to access content, VPN services are increasingly being blocked. Mobile internet is also being shut down with increasing frequency. – dpa


India.com
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Reels Scrolling On Their Own? It's Not a Glitch; Instagram Is Testing New Auto-Scroll Feature
Instagram New Feature: Instagram, the Meta-owned platform, is testing a new feature that enables reels to play automatically one after another—no swiping needed. This feature is known as the Auto-Scroll feature. It ensures that once a reel ends, the next one starts playing instantly. If you wish to rewatch a reel, you can scroll back up, but it will continue auto-playing the next reel afterward. By default, this feature is turned off. To enable it, tap the three-dot menu below the share icon and toggle on Auto-Scroll. Moreover, Instagram has already introduced a new feature called Blend, designed to offer a more personalized and shared Reels experience. According to the company, Blend creates a unique feed of Instagram Reels, curated based on content recommendations tailored to both users involved. Instagram's turning into TikTok one scroll at a time Auto-scroll is here for some users, posts now swipe themselves. Got it yet or still waiting? — Shohag Hossain (@Iammdshohag) July 18, 2025 The feature is located within the chat section of the app. To start a Blend, one person must send an invite, which the other must accept—meaning it requires mutual consent from both accounts before the shared feed is created. How To Activate Blend Feature On Android and iOS Step 1: Open Instagram and navigate to a chat — this can be either a one-on-one conversation or a group chat. Step 2: In the chat window, tap the Blend icon located in the top right corner. Step 3: A preview screen will appear, showing what the Blend feature includes. Tap Invite to send the invitation. Step 4: The other person (or group members) must accept the invite. Once accepted, the Blend will be created and a shared Reels feed will be generated based on both users' interests.

Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Lawmaker warns WhatsApp to prepare for potential exit as Russia eyes dependence on native apps
In a fresh blow to foreign tech platforms operating in Russia, a senior Russian lawmaker has said that Meta-owned WhatsApp should brace itself to exit the country, as it is likely to be placed on a list of restricted software in the near future. Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the State Duma's information policy committee, made the remarks on his official Telegram channel on Friday. He cited the Russian government's ongoing efforts to promote digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on platforms developed in so-called "unfriendly countries", a term used by Moscow to describe nations that have imposed sanctions on Russia following its military action in Ukraine. 'It's time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market,' Gorelkin stated, adding that the growing push to use domestic alternatives could pave the way for a broader exit of Western digital services. His comments follow President Vladimir Putin's recent approval of a law aimed at creating a government-backed messaging service, which will be integrated with official state services. The legislation forms part of a wider Kremlin strategy to bolster Russian-made digital tools and limit public exposure to foreign platforms. Meta Platforms, which also owns Facebook and Instagram, has already faced sweeping bans in Russia since 2022, when both platforms were blocked and the company was declared an 'extremist organisation' by a Russian court. While WhatsApp has so far avoided similar action, its future in Russia now appears increasingly uncertain. The Kremlin this week issued a directive to restrict the use of software and communication tools developed by companies based in 'unfriendly' nations, with a deadline of 1 September for compliance. Although WhatsApp was not explicitly named in the presidential order, Gorelkin indicated that it is very likely to be included on the list of targeted services. Meta has yet to respond publicly to the development. Russia's efforts to replace foreign platforms with domestic alternatives have intensified since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, with officials pushing for greater technological self-sufficiency in the face of Western sanctions and corporate pull-outs. (With inputs from Reuters)