Latest news with #terrorist activities
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Russia restricts calls on WhatsApp, Telegram as internet control tightens
Russia has announced restrictions on voice calls made on the WhatsApp and Telegram messaging apps, the latest moves by Moscow to tighten its control over the internet. The curb on calls is set to impact WhatsApp's estimated 96 million monthly users in Russia and Telegram's more than 89 million users, according to Russian media monitoring service Mediascope. In a statement on Wednesday, Russia's media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, justified the measure as necessary for fighting crime. 'According to law enforcement agencies and numerous appeals from citizens, foreign messengers Telegram and WhatsApp have become the main voice services used to deceive and extort money, and to involve Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities,' the regulator said. 'Repeated requests to take countermeasures have been ignored by the owners of the messengers,' it said. Moscow wants the online messaging services to provide access to user data upon request from law enforcement. 'Access to calls in foreign messengers will be restored after they start complying with Russian legislation,' Roskomnadzor said. While authorities said only voice calls on the platforms were restricted, users in Russia also reported that video calls were also affected. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has been expanding control over the Russian part of the internet. Security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using Telegram to recruit people or commit acts of sabotage in Russia. The Russian government adopted a law last month punishing online users for searching content deemed illicit by authorities. Plans are also in place for popular messaging services to be replaced by a domestic Russian app called Max, which critics fear will allow authorities access to the data. A WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement that the encrypted messaging app 'defies government attempts to violate people's right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people'. In a statement sent to the AFP news agency, Telegram said that it 'actively combats misuse of its platform, including calls for sabotage or violence, as well as fraud', and removes 'millions of pieces of harmful content every day'. Telegram, which was developed by Russian tech entrepreneur Pavel Durov, faces longstanding accusations in several countries, including Russia, of not doing enough against criminal users.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anon. Israeli military officials deny Hamas routinely steals aid
IDF International Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani dismissed the report as 'fake news.' Anonymous IDF officials claimed there was no evidence to suggest thatHamas routinely stole humanitarian aid, the New York Times reported on Saturday, while denying the Israeli military ever published proof that the Palestinian terror group systematically looted humanitarian resources. Military officials allegedly told the American outlet that the UN's aid distribution system had been relatively reliable and less susceptible to Hamas's looting efforts than other aid organizations. The officials also said that concern was raised by senior members of the IDF to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military advisor about the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's position as Gaza's sole aid provider, according to the report. Officials from the IDF reportedly encouraged the UN to be allowed to hand out aid not included in GHF packages, such as medical supplies. However, three people familiar with the discussions told the NYT that this suggestion was dismissed. IDF International Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani dismissed the report as 'fake news.' 'It has been well documented throughout the war how Hamas systematically exploited humanitarian aid to fund terrorist activities in various ways,' he wrote on X/Twitter. 'Part of the Evidence of Hamas' exploitation was sent to the @nytimes and many other news outlets.' Theft of USAID The report comes only shortly after a US State Department official dismissed an internal US government analysis that found no evidence of systematic theft by Hamas of US-funded humanitarian supplies. The analysis was conducted by a bureau within the US Agency for International Development and completed in late June. It examined 156 incidents of theft or loss of US-funded supplies reported by US aid partner organizations between October 2023 and this May. It found 'no reports alleging Hamas' benefited from US-funded supplies, according to a slide presentation of the findings seen by Reuters. A State Department spokesperson disputed the findings, saying there is video evidence of Hamas looting aid, but provided no such videos. The spokesperson also accused traditional humanitarian groups of covering up "aid corruption." Asked about the USAID report, the IDF told Reuters that its allegations are based on intelligence reports that Hamas terrorists seized cargoes by "both covertly and overtly," embedding themselves on aid trucks. Those reports also show that Hamas has diverted up to 25% of aid supplies to its fighters or sold them to civilians, the IDF said, adding that GHF has ended the militants' control of aid by distributing it directly to civilians. Hamas denies the allegations. A Hamas security official said that Israel has killed more than 800 Hamas terrorists who the group claimed were 'trying to protect aid vehicles and convoy routes.' However, a large amount of evidence and testimony has been shared throughout the nearly two-year war, confirming that Hamas has stolen aid. The study on USAID admitted that aid recipients cannot be vetted, supplies could have reached Hamas administrative officials without detection, and officials had lost access to classified intelligence systems, which would have highlighted Hamas's theft of resources. Ezra Taylor contributed to this report. Solve the daily Crossword
