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Year: 2024

What happened in Burkina Faso attack on villagers?

What happened in Burkina Faso attack on villagers?

NewsFeed The bodies of more than 200 people have been found after an attack by an al Qaeda-linked armed group in Burkina Faso. Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque reports on what we know. Published On 26 Aug 202426 Aug 2024 Adblock test (Why?)

Who is Telegram founder Pavel Durov? All to know about his arrest in France

Who is Telegram founder Pavel Durov? All to know about his arrest in France

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov was detained at the Paris-Le Bourget airport on Saturday, after arriving by a private plane from Baku, Azerbaijan. He is accused of having failed to moderate criminal activity on the platform. Here is what we know about Durov, Telegram and the case: Who is Durov and why was he detained? Russian-born Durov, 39, co-founded what became one of Russia’s most popular social media networks, VKontakte, in his native St Petersburg, in 2007. He has been compared with Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg. In 2013, he grabbed global headlines by publicly offering a job to whistleblower and former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. In an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson earlier this year, Durov claimed that he was under pressure to give Russian authorities access to data from accounts of Ukrainian pro-democracy activists in 2014 — and that he refused to do so. As the Russian government tightened its grip on the internet and President Vladimir Putin’s allies started to take control of VKontakte, Durov sold his stake in the platform in 2014 and fled the country. He then shifted his focus to Telegram, an app he co-founded with his brother Nikolai when he was 28. Durov has been living in Dubai and is a citizen of the United Arab Emirates and France, according to Telegram. It is unclear whether he has given up his Russian citizenship. Business magazine Forbes estimates his wealth at $15.5bn, as of Sunday morning. Co-founder and CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov delivers a keynote speech during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona [File: Albert Gea/Reuters] Durov has maintained a hands-off stance on moderation, positioning the app as private and censorship. Nonetheless, some experts have cautioned that this approach has led to Telegram becoming a hotspot for illicit activity and extremism. According to a report by the AFP news agency, he was detained “over offences alleged to have been conducted on Telegram, ranging from fraud, to drug trafficking, cyberbullying and organised crime, including promoting terrorism and fraud.” While the European Union and the United States have fined other social media platforms for violations their rules and regulations, and their lawmakers have hauled up leaders of digital firms for public hearings, they are not known to have arrested major tech leaders. In 2016, a senior Facebook executive was arrested in Brazil after the company didn’t give information from WhatsApp related to a drug trafficking investigation. The parent company of Facebook, which was renamed Meta in 2021, owns WhatsApp. What is Telegram? Launched in August 2013, Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app. The platform allows users to send messages, photos and large files as well as create groups for “up to 200,000 people or channels for broadcasting to unlimited audiences”. These features, coupled with the app’s minimal moderation, made it an ideal venue for individuals and groups banned from other platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Since its creation, the platform has surged in popularity; it now has nearly one billion active users and has emerged as an important communication tool in conflict zones, including the Russia-Ukraine war. The Telegram development team is currently based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ⚖️ Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. ✈️ Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. 😵‍💫 It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner… — Telegram Messenger (@telegram) August 25, 2024 According to a report by Statista, Telegram is the third most downloaded messenger app globally following WhatsApp and Snapchat. In 2023, India, Russia, and the US were the app’s top markets based on download figures. In 2021, it was the most downloaded app worldwide with one billion downloads. Telegram says that Durov “supports Telegram financially and ideologically”. The platform specifically stays away from “politically motivated censorship”, however, it specifies that it does block “terrorist bots and channels”. The platform makes money through revenue from advertising and a premium subscription programme launched two years ago. “We are hoping to become profitable next year, if not this year,” Durov told the Financial Times in March. “The main reason why we started to monetise is because we wanted to remain independent,” he said. “Generally speaking, we see value in [an IPO] as a means to democratise access to Telegram’s value.” The Telegram messaging app is seen on an iPhone screen in Warsaw, Poland, on August 25, 2024 [Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images] How has Russia responded to Durov’s arrest? The relationship between Russia and Durov has been fraught with tension. After Durov left the country, Russia began blocking Telegram in 2018 when the app refused to provide state security services with access to users’ encrypted messages. The ban was lifted in 2020, though the app — like other online platforms in Russia — faces censorship and government scrutiny. However, after the entrepreneur’s arrest, Russia was quick to respond, and its embassy in France demanded consular access to Durov and demanded that he have access to his rights. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Vienna, accused France of acting as a “totalitarian” society — while also calling Durov “naive” for believing in Western claims to defend the freedom of speech. “Some naive persons still don’t understand that if they play more or less visible role in international information space it is not safe for them to visit countries which move towards much more totalitarian societies,” Ulyanov wrote on X. According to Ben Aris, Russia watcher and editor of the agency bne IntelliNews, Durov was flying from Azerbaijan where Putin has been for the last few days. “The talk was that he was there wanting to lobby Putin in order to prevent having Telegram blocked or turned off inside Russia,” Aris told Al Jazeera. Protesters hold a portrait of messaging app Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov designed as an icon, protesting against the blocking of the app in Russia, during a

Former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson dies aged 76

Former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson dies aged 76

Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who coached England’s team from 2001 to 2006, has died at the age of 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Eriksson became the first foreigner to lead the England national team – and also led Swedish, Portuguese and Italian clubs to major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England job in 2001. The charismatic manager announced in January that he was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer. Eriksson’s longtime agent Bo Gustavsson said Eriksson had lost his battle with cancer early on Monday, surrounded by his family. “We knew it was going to end bad, it all went really fast in the last few weeks,” said Gustavsson. “I have been fascinated by him for a long time. He has always been so positive and has had time for others and never thought of himself, and he was that until the very end,” the agent added. Eriksson led England to the quarterfinals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and to the 2004 European Championship, managing a golden generation of players, including David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. We are deeply saddened that Sven-Göran Eriksson, who managed the #ThreeLions from 2001 to 2006, has passed away aged 76. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. Rest in peace, Sven. You will be greatly missed ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aLtqWAG8K4 — England (@England) August 26, 2024 ‘Charisma and passion for the game’ In his native Sweden, where he is known simply as “Svennis”, Eriksson was praised as a great sports leader. In January, he told public broadcaster Sveriges Radio that his doctor’s assessment was that he had “at best maybe a year [to live], at worst a little less”. “We have known about this. but it happened very quickly. We were not prepared for it to happen today,” Gustavsson told AFP news agency. Born February 5, 1948 in Sunne in western Sweden, Eriksson found success as a football manager after retiring from a modest career as a defender. In 1977, he became manager of the Swedish club Degerfors IF. After leading the small club to success in lower divisions, he attracted the attention of bigger clubs. He went on to manage Sweden’s IFK Goteborg before finding success internationally, managing Benfica in Portugal, as well as several Italian teams including Roma and Lazio. His most high-profile position was as the first foreigner to manage England’s national squad, which he left in 2006 after five years in charge. Eriksson then went on to manage the teams of Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines, but never his native Sweden’s national squad. England’s Prince William, who is the president of the English Football Association, led the tributes to Eriksson, calling him a “true gentleman”. “Sad to hear about the passing of Sven-Goran Eriksson. I met him several times as England manager and was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game,” he wrote on X. “My thoughts are with his family and friends. A true gentleman of the game.” Sad to hear about the passing of Sven-Göran Eriksson. I met him several times as England manager and was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game. My thoughts are with his family and friends. A true gentleman of the game. W — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) August 26, 2024 Although Eriksson was unable to end England’s wait for a first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup, his teams produced several memorable performances, including a 5-1 rout of Germany in a World Cup qualifier in 2001. “This is a very sad day. He gave all England fans such special memories. No one can ever forget the 5-1 victory in Munich against Germany under Sven’s guidance,” FA CEO Mark Bullingham said. Bullingham added: “Sven will be rightly recognised and forever remembered for his significant work with the England team, and for his wider contribution to the game.” After stepping down from the England job in 2006, Eriksson managed Manchester City in the 2007-08 season and the Premier League club joined the tributes to their former boss. “We would like to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has passed away at the age of 76. Rest in peace, Sven,” a City statement said. We would like to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has passed away at the age of 76. Rest in peace, Sven. 🩵 — Manchester City (@ManCity) August 26, 2024 Liverpool provided Eriksson with an emotional final football memory in March when they allowed him to fulfil a lifelong dream by managing them in a charity match at Anfield. “Rest in peace, Sven-Goran Eriksson. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Sven’s family and friends at this extremely sad time,” Liverpool said in a statement. Eriksson was a title winner as the boss of Lazio and Benfica, also lifting the UEFA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup and reaching the European Cup final during a memorable career. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said: “On behalf of the European football community, everybody at UEFA is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sven-Goran Eriksson.” On behalf of the European football community, everybody at UEFA is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sven Göran Eriksson. A beloved figure in the game, Sven was a UEFA Cup winner as coach of IFK Göteborg in 1982 before leading Lazio to the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999.… pic.twitter.com/ZlNSFftl97 — UEFA (@UEFA) August 26, 2024 Adblock test (Why?)

Trump expected to slam Harris on 3rd anniversary of deadly Afghanistan attack that killed 13 Americans

Trump expected to slam Harris on 3rd anniversary of deadly Afghanistan attack that killed 13 Americans

Former President Donald Trump is expected to attack Vice President Kamala Harris on the third anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 Americans during the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, is expected to visit Arlington National Cemetery to pay his respects to the service members killed in the bombing outside the Kabul airport. Trump will then go to Michigan to address the National Guard Association of the United States conference. Monday marks three years since the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, which killed 13 American service members and more than 100 Afghans. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. Since President Biden ended his re-election bid, Trump has been zeroing in on Harris, now the Democratic presidential nominee, and her role in foreign policy decisions. He specifically highlighted the vice president’s statements that she was the last person in the room before Biden made the decision on Afghanistan. HARRIS’ ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL A MYSTERY DESPITE BEING ‘LAST PERSON IN THE ROOM’ WITH BIDEN “She bragged that she would be the last person in the room, and she was. She was the last person in the room with Biden when the two of them decided to pull the troops out of Afghanistan,” he said last week in a North Carolina rally. “She had the final vote. She had the final say, and she was all for it.” The relatives of some of the 13 American service members who were killed appeared on stage at the Republican National Convention last month, saying Biden had never publicly named their loved ones.  Democrats wielded allegations that Trump does not respect veterans and had previously referred to slain World War II soldiers as suckers and losers — accusations denied by Trump. HARRIS LEAVES OUT DEADLY BOTCHED AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL IN SOARING PRO-MILITARY DNC SPEECH Under Trump, the United States signed a peace agreement with the Taliban that was aimed at ending America’s longest war and bringing U.S. troops home. Biden later pointed to that agreement as he sought to deflect blame for the Taliban overrunning Afghanistan, saying it bound him to withdraw troops and set the stage for the chaos that engulfed the country. A Biden administration review of the withdrawal acknowledged that the evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan should have started sooner, but attributed the delays to the Afghan government and military, and to U.S. military and intelligence community assessments. The top two U.S. generals who oversaw the evacuation said the administration inadequately planned for the withdrawal. The nation’s top-ranking military officer at the time, then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, told lawmakers earlier this year he had urged Biden to keep a residual force of 2,500 forces to give backup. Instead, Biden decided to keep a much smaller force of 650 that would be limited to securing the U.S. embassy. The Associated Press contributed to this report.