Blamed for unrest, Telegram blocked in Iran
Tehran, May 1: Encrypted messaging platform Telegram has been blocked in Iran, highlighting the regime's concern over its role in organizing widespread unrest that has rippled through the country in recent months, the media reported.
More than 40 million Iranians, which is half of the country's population, use the popular messaging platform to communicate.
"Using the app was prohibited under a ruling by a Tehran-based court," The Wall Street Journal reported late on Monday.
When the ban is implemented, Telegram will join the likes of social media giant Facebook and micro-blogging site Twitter that were banned in Iran.
Meanwhile, Russian telecom watchdog Roskomnadzor on Sunday banned a number of Google IP addresses that allow Telegram to escape blockage in Russia over user data disputes.
"Google failed to meet the requirements of Roskomnadzor and in violation of a court verdict continued to allow Telegram to use its IP addresses to carry out activities in Russia," Roskomnadzor said in a statement cited by Xinhua news agency.
Roskomnadzor began blocking Telegram in accordance with a court decision due to the messenger's refusal to provide encryption keys necessary to decode user data.
However, Telegram managed to bypass the blocking and continued its activities using IP addresses belonging to Google and other technology companies.
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Kangana Ranaut deletes post about Trump, regrets sharing 'very personal opinion'
New Delhi, May 15 (PTI): Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Thursday said she has deleted her post about US President Donald Trump and regrets sharing her "very personal opinion" on social media.
Ranaut said she deleted the post after she received a call from BJP national president JP Nadda.
"Respected national president Shri @JPNadda ji called and asked me to delete the tweet I had posted regarding Trump asking Apple CEO Tim Cook not to manufacture in India.
"I regret posting that very personal opinion of mine, as per instructions I immediately deleted it from Instagram as well," Ranaut, who is BJP's from Mandi, wrote on X.
Trump, who is in Qatar as part of his four-day visit to the Gulf region, on Thursday said he had told Apple CEO Tim Cook that he does not want him to build iPhones in India.
Respected national president Shri @JPNadda ji called and asked me to delete the tweet I had posted regarding Trump asking Apple CEO Tim Cook not to manufacture in India.
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) May 15, 2025
I regret posting that very personal opinion of mine, as per instructions I immediately deleted it from…
