WhatsApp Accuses Russia of Trying to Fully Block its Servicehttps://english.aawsat.com/world/5240007-whatsapp-accuses-russia-trying-fully-block-its-service
WhatsApp Accuses Russia of Trying to Fully Block its Service
FILED - 21 January 2022, Berlin: The icon of Whatsapp is seen on the screen of a smartphone. Photo: Fabian Sommer/Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH/dpa
US messenger app WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, accused authorities in Russia on Thursday of trying to fully block its service in order to drive Russians to a state-owned app, which it alleged was used for surveillance.
"Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia," WhatsApp said in a statement.
"We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected."
Some domain names associated with WhatsApp on Thursday disappeared from Russia's national register of domain names, meaning that devices inside Russia stopped receiving its IP addresses from the app and that it could be accessed only by using a virtual private network (VPN), Reuters reported.
Roskomnadzor, the state communications regulator, and the Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Roskomnadzor first began restricting WhatsApp and other messenger services in August, making it impossible to complete phone calls on them, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of failing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases.
It said in December it was taking new measures to gradually restrict the app, which it accused of continuing to violate Russian law and of being a platform used "to organize and carry out terrorist acts on the territory of the country, to recruit their perpetrators and to commit fraud and other crimes."
Since then, many Russians have been able to use WhatsApp only in conjunction with a virtual private network and have switched to using rival messenger apps, though some of those - like Telegram - are also under pressure from the authorities for the same reasons.
In a video published by state news agency TASS on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was a possibility of reaching an agreement if Meta entered into dialogue with the Russian authorities and complied with the law.
"If the corporation (Meta) sticks to an uncompromising position and, I would say, shows itself unready to align with Russian legislation, then there is no chance," Peskov said.
Russian authorities, who also block or restrict social media platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, are heavily pushing a state-backed messenger app called MAX, which critics say could be used to track users.
The authorities have dismissed those accusations as false and say MAX, which integrates various government-related services into it, is designed to simplify and improve the everyday lives of citizens.
People in Guam and the Northern Marianas moved to emergency evacuation centers and made last-minute preparations hours before Super Typhoon Bavi was projected to bulldoze through the US Pacific territories. Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP
'Very Dangerous' Super Typhoon nears US Pacific Islands
People in Guam and the Northern Marianas moved to emergency evacuation centers and made last-minute preparations hours before Super Typhoon Bavi was projected to bulldoze through the US Pacific territories. Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP
People in Guam and the Northern Marianas moved to emergency evacuation centers and made last-minute preparations on Sunday, hours before a "super typhoon" was projected to bulldoze through the US Pacific territories.
Super Typhoon Bavi was forecast to roar westwards over the area from early Monday with winds of 260 kilometers per hour (160 miles per hour) -- equivalent to a category 5 hurricane -- and gusts of up to 315 kph.
The National Weather Service called the typhoon "very dangerous", warning of "tropical storm force" winds from Sunday afternoon or evening and "catastrophic" damage near the system's center later, said AFP.
"Significant flooding from torrential rains, and coastal inundation are expected," the NWS said, with projected waves of up to 35 feet (10.7 meters) -- the height of a 10-storey building -- creating "extremely dangerous" conditions at sea.
Pinky Cubacub, 55, said as she boarded up the windows of her eatery in Guam that she had lined up early on Saturday morning to buy $500 worth of plywood at a lumber store.
"I cannot afford to lose so many days. It hurts," she told AFP. "Because I just started, whatever we're making right now is just for rent, utilities, and my people, and supplies. I don't even pay myself yet."
Call center employee Arabella Paulino, 48, said: "My girls were saying to me it's scary. But it will be okay."
"My house is concrete, so the worst that can happen is a window could blow in," she told AFP.
Derma Soaladaob said she was going to a hotel.
"I have a concrete house but with the noise and the wind, it's scary," said the 51-year-old, who drives a school bus for the US military.
Japanese tourist Miku Sakurai, 25, was supposed to fly back to Tokyo with her friends on Sunday but their flight was cancelled because of the weather.
"We will stay in the hotel when the storm comes. I am scared," the office worker told AFP as heavy rain began to fall.
- 'Praying' -
The Northern Marianas in the western Pacific has a population of around 40,000, and nearby Guam -- a separate US territory, although both are part of the Marianas archipelago -- about 170,000.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which hit the region in mid-April, knocked out power for tens of thousands of inhabitants, uprooted trees, overturned cars and ripped metal roofs off buildings.
A cargo ship, the MV Mariana, suffered engine failure and overturned in the storm. The body of one crew member was recovered and five others were missing, presumed dead.
By Sunday morning, Bavi was forecast to pass nearest to Rota, a small island roughly halfway between Guam and Saipan, the Northern Marianas' main island and home to around 1,500 people.
"By working together and taking the necessary precautions, we can help protect our families, neighbors and community. We pray for the safety of our people," Rota mayor Aubry Hocog said.
Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teams were on the ground in Guam and its distribution center was stocked with 1.1 million liters of water, 1.2 million meals, 6,700 cots and 90 generators.
The NWS said the "window to evacuate or seek shelter is closing", and Guam opened five evacuation centers in schools with total capacity of 1,900, primarily for those in vulnerable homes.
- El Nino -
The world's oceans experienced their hottest June on record and could set fresh highs in the months ahead, the European Union's Copernicus Marine Service said on Wednesday.
Warmer oceans help tropical storms to intensify and add more moisture, which can fall as heavy rain.
The World Meteorological Organization warned on Friday that El Nino, which typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts nine to 12 months, has already begun in the tropical Pacific and is likely to be strong.
The natural climate phenomenon warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns.
North Korea’s Kim Oversees Latest Naval Weapons Testshttps://english.aawsat.com/world/5292244-north-korea%E2%80%99s-kim-oversees-latest-naval-weapons-tests
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observes an assessment of the newly built naval destroyer Kang Kon's combat systems, including the test firing of a strategic cruise missile, at an unknown location in North Korea, July 3, 2026, in this picture released July 5, 2026 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA via Reuters)
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North Korea’s Kim Oversees Latest Naval Weapons Tests
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observes an assessment of the newly built naval destroyer Kang Kon's combat systems, including the test firing of a strategic cruise missile, at an unknown location in North Korea, July 3, 2026, in this picture released July 5, 2026 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA via Reuters)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw weapons tests this week of the 5,000-ton destroyer Kang Kon, including cruise missile launches and "electronic warfare means", state media reported Sunday.
The naval vessel was notably the one that tipped over last year during its launch ceremony, but later repaired.
The tests took place on Friday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, less than two weeks after another 5,000-ton destroyer, the Choe Hyon entered military service.
During that commissioning ceremony, Kim vowed to equip his navy with nuclear weapons and develop new 10,000-ton warships.
After the weapons test on Friday, Kim "gave an instruction to complete the trial process of the destroyer in a responsible manner and commission it for the Navy within two months," KCNA said.
A photo released by KCNA shows Kim, wearing a yellow hat, watching a weapons test from a coastal observation point, flanked by officials.
Another photo shows Kang Kon firing a missile at sea, with a plume of smoke rising from the launch.
While reiterating the need to strengthen the country's "war deterrent", Kim also pledged to demonstrate North Korea's determination to possess "absolute power", KCNA said.
The Kang Kon suffered a setback in May last year when it partially capsized after tipping into the water during its launch, damaging the vessel in full view of Kim.
He blamed the accident on "absolute carelessness" and "irresponsibility", ordering that those responsible be held accountable.
- Naval ambitions -
Analysts said Kim's instruction to commission the vessel within two months could be linked to a major political anniversary.
"Given North Korea's political calendar, the most likely scenario is that the vessel will be commissioned to coincide with the 78th anniversary of the country's founding on September 9," Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul told AFP.
Once deployed, the warship is likely to operate off the Korean peninsula's eastern coast, he said.
"For the time being, the focus is likely to be on building proficiency in low-threat, nearshore operations."
Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state since a 2019 summit between Kim and US counterpart Donald Trump in Hanoi collapsed over the scope of denuclearization and sanctions relief.
North Korea remains technically at war with the South because the neighbors' 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
The South Korean navy runs more than 10 ships over 5,000 tons compared to the North's two.
Trump Mixes Patriotism with Partisanship as He Celebrates America’s ‘Joyous’ 250th Anniversaryhttps://english.aawsat.com/world/5292240-trump-mixes-patriotism-partisanship-he-celebrates-america%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98joyous%E2%80%99-250th
Fireworks light up the DC Skyline as seen from the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 04 July 2026. (EPA)
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Trump Mixes Patriotism with Partisanship as He Celebrates America’s ‘Joyous’ 250th Anniversary
Fireworks light up the DC Skyline as seen from the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 04 July 2026. (EPA)
President Donald Trump mixed partisan politics with patriotic appeals on Saturday as he commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence, a moment he declared “one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time.”
Speaking in Washington after storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall, Trump honored veterans, including several from World War II and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat in Vietnam. They appeared before flags that symbolized some of the most significant and challenging moments in American history, from the one that was draped over Abraham Lincoln's casket to the one that flew on the plane piloted by the Wright Brothers.
Yet Trump also leaned into partisan territory unusual for an Independence Day address, which presidents typically use as a moment to unify the country. Instead, he stumped again for the SAVE America Act, an elections bill that's encountering challenges even from Trump's fellow Republicans in Congress. He highlighted his support for the Second Amendment and revived denunciations of communism, which are becoming an increasingly central part of Trump's message ahead of the November midterms.
The speech capped a holiday that Trump has gone to great lengths to shape to his own tastes. He was introduced by two musical performers who often appear at his trademark rallies, including Lee Greenwood, who performed “God Bless the USA.” The event organizers were largely aligned with the White House, supplanting a bipartisan organization that was launched by Congress a decade ago.
“We will always be on top,” Trump said. "We will never let our country fall. We will always be the best.”
Trump didn’t talk about himself as much as he does during his normal rally speeches. Still, he still found time to include a joke about seeking a third presidential term and about World War II’s “greatest generation.”
“They are the greatest generation,” Trump said. “I hate to admit that, but they are.”
Anticipation for the milestone holiday has been building for much of the year, serving as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on their complicated history as onetime colonists of an empire who became a superpower of their own. Organizers of celebrations months in the making had to adjust or cancel activities entirely as much of the East Coast sweltered under heat that approached and in many cases surpassed triple digits.
Severe weather prompted the cancellation of celebrations in Hartford, Connecticut, along with Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Spectators at Boston’s fireworks and concert were told to briefly seek shelter before events later resumed. An evacuation was also ordered in Philadelphia. New York and Pittsburgh moved forward with fireworks but shifted the time to accommodate the shifting weather.
President Donald Trump raises his fist while speaking at "Salute to America 250" Fourth of July celebrations on the National Mall on July 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
The disruption was particularly acute in Washington, where signs at the Great American State Fair posted an alert shortly after 7 p.m. ET encouraging participants to leave the area. Crowds gathered in museums, subway stations and federal buildings near the Mall. At the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center they waited in chairs and sat on the floor to cool off in the air conditioning.
Crowds were building in the area several hours before the evacuation. Tina Hale, 58, of Cohoes, New York, watched three of her grandchildren children dip their hands into a pool of water near a museum. Hale pointed toward the sky and urged them to look up as three military jets roared above the crowd.
“If that doesn’t make you proud to be an American,” she said.
David Koshko, 42, and his wife, Jennifer Koskho, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, came to Washington for a baseball game but planned to stay for the city’s fireworks show. After baking in the heat for hours during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ win over the Washington Nationals, they took a break in the shade of an overpass near the National Mall to plot their next stop.
“Just to be a part of the 250 years (anniversary) is an amazing thing,” said David Koshko, a commercial driver and veteran of the Marine Corps reserves.
In Philadelphia, fireworks began to crack as early as midday in the birthplace of the nation near the site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Hundreds of visitors were gathering at Independence Hall in the sweltering heat to await the celebrations coinciding with the France-Paraguay World Cup knockout game at Philadelphia Stadium, which began with commemorations of the holiday.
“It’s one big party in here,” Carlos Alban, who traveled to Philadelphia from Chicago to watch the match, said as he arrived at the stadium, adding that he spotted a fan in the parking lot dressed as one of the Founding Fathers.
In New York, tall ships, with their masts, rigging and white sails outlined against a blue sky, made a procession around the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River, recalling the fanfare around America’s 200th anniversary in 1976.
The 43 ships were followed by a display of aerial might with a stealth bomber and the Navy's Blue Angels. Patrouille de France, the French Air Force's acrobatic teams, flew over New York Harbor with their red, white and blue trails, evoking images of the American flag.
“We got up early and just rode our bikes about a mile down here to come see the scene,” said Oona Moore, a Jersey City, New Jersey, resident who took in the New York festivities. “We saw the tall ships and we saw the planes, you know, all different manner of military aircraft. I’ve never seen it so close and in the sky at the same time.”
At George Washington's Mount Vernon, people took the Oath of Allegiance to become US citizens. They stood with eyes closed and hands over hearts for the national anthem.
In Phoenix, Steven Dortch, 25, and his brother JayLn Dortch, 23, gathered at Granada Park to try to forge a new July 4 cookout tradition. JayLn Dortch said young people in the US give him hope by thinking for themselves and not taking the words from older people at face value.
He said the country needs to keep in mind the everyday, hardworking people who “keep America going.”
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