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Russian lawmakers claim WhatsApp is a national security threat, should prepare to leave the country

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A Russian lawmaker who regulates the country’s IT said Friday that WhatsApp should prepare to leave the Russian market, warning that the messaging app would likely be put on a list of restricted software.

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Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the lower house of parliament’s information technology committee, said in a statement that MAX, a state-backed messaging app integrated with government services, could gain market share if WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, left the country.

«It’s time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market,» Gorelkin said, adding that Meta is designated as an extremist organization in Russia.

Facebook and Instagram, both also owned by Meta, have been banned in Russia since 2022, when Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in a war that continues.

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A Russian lawmaker who regulates the country’s IT said WhatsApp should prepare to leave the Russian market. (Reuters)

Gorelkin made his comments after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law last month authorizing the development of MAX as Russia seeks to reduce its dependence on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.

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Russian lawmakers approved sweeping legal amendments this week, proposing fines of up to 5,000 rubles, or $63, for anyone searching for material online the government considers to be extremist, including Instagram and Facebook, and opposition politicians and activists.

The proposal sparked criticism, including from some Kremlin backers like Margarita Simonyan, a state media executive who said journalists would be unable to investigate the activities of opposition groups such as the Anti-Corruption Fund founded by deceased opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

Anton Nemkin, a member of the parliament’s IT committee, said it was determined that WhatsApp would leave Russia.

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«The presence of such a service in Russia’s digital space is, in fact, a legal breach of national security,» Nemkin said, according to TASS, a state-owned news agency.

A person holds a smartphone displaying the WhatsApp app

Anton Nemkin, a member of the parliament’s IT committee, said it was determined WhatsApp would leave Russia. (Getty Images)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said all services must follow Russian law when asked if WhatsApp may leave the country.

Russia has long attempted to establish what it describes as digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services.

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But critics have expressed concerns that Russia’s new state-backed messaging app may track its users’ activities and have suggested Russia could slow WhatsApp’s speeds to encourage downloads of the new app.

YouTube has had its audience in Russia decline significantly in the last year to fewer than 10 million daily users from more than 40 million in mid-2024 because slower download speeds have made it more difficult for people to access the video platform.

Shares in state-controlled technology company VK, which is developing homegrown digital services like VK Video, a rival to YouTube, grew 1.9% Friday.

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Putin

President Vladimir Putin signed a law authorizing the development of a state-backed messaging app integrated with government services. (Sergei Bobylyov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

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The Kremlin released a list of instructions this week from Putin, including a directive to introduce additional restrictions on the use in Russia of software, including communication services produced in «unfriendly countries» that have imposed sanctions against Russia.

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Putin gave a deadline of Sept. 1.

Referring to Putin’s order, Gorelkin said WhatsApp would likely be among the communication services to face new restrictions.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Guerra en Medio Oriente hoy: mapas, gráficos y fotos satelitales del ataque a Irán

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El último conflicto en Oriente Medio es veloz, violento, extenso y profundamente complejo. Y con todos los acontecimientos que se mueven con rapidez, la escalada de los combates entre Estados Unidos e Israel por un lado, e Irán y sus aliados por el otro, puede ser difícil de entender, y mucho menos de visualizar.

Los ataques aéreos destruyen manzanas y recintos enteros. Los misiles cruzan las fronteras. Los drones descargan una destrucción letal. Como se observa en el mapa anterior, los ataques aéreos de ambos bandos han resonado en toda la región durante días.

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Esta colección de elementos visuales de The Associated Press —mapas interactivos, imágenes satelitales, tomas deslizantes de antes y después— está diseñada para ofrecer una alternativa, o al menos un complemento, a las palabras que describen lo que está sucediendo.

En este espacio, mostraremos las formas en que se desarrolla la guerra, las personas involucradas en ella y el impacto que está teniendo: físico, político y visceral. Algunos mapas y otros elementos serán fijos y evolucionarán día a día. Otros serán sustituidos según lo justifiquen los acontecimientos. A la izquierda: el recinto del Líder Supremo de Irán, Ali Khamenei, antes de la mañana del 28 de febrero. A la derecha: el mismo lugar tras los ataques aéreos.

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Ataque al complejo de Ali Jameini


Tocá para explorar el contenido

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visualization
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Fuente: AP
Infografía: Clarín





Esto es lo que los periodistas gráficos llaman un «deslizador»: arrastre las flechas del centro para ver el antes y el después completo; arquitectura antes, simples escombros después.

Khamenei y un número indeterminado de otros líderes iraníes murieron en el ataque, lo que efectivamente descabezó al gobierno teocrático en una medida aún desconocida. Las fotos muestran no solo la destrucción, sino la precisión milimétrica de la carga útil de los aviones en este ataque: mientras que el complejo en sí fue nivelado, muchos de los edificios a su alrededor permanecen visiblemente intactos.

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Este «carrusel» gráfico muestra la lista de aspirantes que podrían sustituir a Khamenei como máximo líder espiritual de Irán.

Entre ellos: el expresidente Hassan Rouhani, quien alcanzó el histórico acuerdo nuclear con la administración Obama que Trump desechó; Mojtaba Khamenei, hijo del fallecido líder de alto rango. Aunque solo es un clérigo de nivel medio, se le considera ampliamente como un potencial sucesor de su padre, a pesar de que nunca ha ocupado un cargo político.

También figura en la lista un moderado relativo, Hassan Khomeini, poco conocido fuera de Irán y de sus círculos religiosos y políticos. Es nieto del ayatolá Ruhollah Khomeini, quien orquestó la revolución islámica de Irán en 1979 y gobernó como líder supremo durante una década antes de morir y ser sustituido por Khamenei.

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Cada vez que ocurre algo en Oriente Medio, especialmente en el Golfo Pérsico, la cuestión del petróleo nunca está lejos de la conversación, particularmente cuando se trata de Irán.

Este gráfico muestra la volatilidad de los precios del petróleo en los días posteriores a los primeros ataques contra Irán antes de la madrugada del sábado. Los precios del petróleo suelen ser volátiles, pero los conflictos tienden a desequilibrarlos de formas más agudas y, mientras el conflicto continúe, bien podría ser el caso.

Nótese en particular los picos: el precio actual por barril de crudo estadounidense, que ya estaba en ascenso este año a medida que aumentaban las tensiones con Irán, superó los 70 dólares por barril en los días posteriores al ataque del sábado contra Irán. Fue el precio más alto del crudo estadounidense desde julio, cuando la guerra de 12 días entre Israel e Irán lo elevó temporalmente a casi 75 dólares por barril.

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Un elemento clave en cualquier guerra relacionada con el Golfo Pérsico es la potencia y capacidad marítima. Este mapa muestra la ubicación aproximada de los destructores bajo el mando de Estados Unidos y la administración Trump.

Cuando Irán es atacado por Estados Unidos y sus aliados, contraataca regionalmente contra quienes albergan operaciones estadounidenses y aliadas.

Como muestra este mapa, una gran cantidad de naciones cercanas han sufrido ataques de Irán en los últimos días, incluidos Israel, Chipre, Irak, Kuwait, Bahréin, Qatar, Arabia Saudita y los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, incluido Dubái.

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Millions lose power across Cuba as Trump sanctions continue to fuel ongoing energy crisis

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A large-scale blackout struck western Cuba on Wednesday, leaving millions without power in the latest outage to hit the island as it grapples with dwindling oil supplies due to sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump.

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The U.S. Embassy in Cuba said that at approximately 12:41 p.m., there was a «disconnection of the national electrical grid resulting in a complete power outage» stretching from Camagüey to Pinar del Río, including the greater Havana metropolitan area.

«Cuba’s national electrical grid is increasingly unstable and prolonged scheduled and unscheduled power outages are a daily occurrence across the country to include Havana,» the embassy said. 

«Outages affect water supply, lighting, refrigeration, and communications. Take precautions by conserving fuel, water, food, and mobile phone charge, and be prepared for significant disruption.»

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Neya Perez, 86, paints the nails of her neighbor Reyna Maria Rodriguez, 77, during a mass blackout across most of the country, in Havana, Cuba, on March 4, 2026. (REUTERS/Norlys Perez)

The incident was reportedly caused by an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, located roughly 62 miles east of Havana.

Local reports indicate the island may need at least three days to restore operations, according to the Associated Press.

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Vicente de la O Levy, the minister of Energy and Mines of Cuba, added that «We are working on the restoration of the SEN amid a complex energy situation.» 

At least one power plant, Felton 1, remains online, he said.

CUBA’S PRESIDENT DEFIANT, SAYS NO NEGOTIATIONS SCHEDULED AS TRUMP MOVES TO CHOKE OFF OIL LIFELINE

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President Trump in the Oval Office

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on Oct. 6, 2025 in Washington, D.C.  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Reuters reported that, because Cuba is accustomed to frequent power outages caused by state-imposed energy rationing, some traffic lights and businesses remained operational thanks to solar panels or backup generators. Many residents have also installed solar panels on their homes and vehicles to maintain electricity amid soaring fuel prices, the outlet said.

Cuba has endured a string of widespread blackouts in recent years due to long-standing issues with its aging power infrastructure and chronic fuel shortages.

However, the situation worsened in January after a U.S. military operation captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and halted Venezuelan oil exports, effectively choking off Cuba’s key source of fuel.

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Miguel Diaz Canel

FILE – Cuba President Miguel Diaz-Canel walks through the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

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Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated in January that, despite the U.S. severing Havana’s energy lifeline, his administration would not negotiate with Washington to establish a new agreement.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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GOP senators tangle with Noem during heated hearing on her handling of deportation surge

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Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem faced heat from Republican senators during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, including criticism about her leadership during the Trump administration’s deportation surge.

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One GOP senator compared her past animal killings to decisions she has made as DHS secretary.

Outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., both got into testy exchanges with Noem Tuesday during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) oversight hearing with lawmakers.

Tillis likened Noem’s decisions as a farmer and dog owner to what he described as Noem’s disastrous leadership amid Trump’s border crackdown. 

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Kennedy got into a back-and-forth with Noem over her decision to describe Renee Good and Alex Pretti as domestic terrorists in the early days after they were killed and her subsequent reasoning for doing so.

«Those are bad decisions made in the heat of the moment. Not unlike what happened up in Minneapolis,» Tillis said, comparing Noem’s time as an animal owner to her leadership as Secretary of DHS.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is sworn in before she testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington Tuesday, March 3, 2026.  (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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Noem came under fire in the Spring of 2024 when reporting based on an advanced copy of her memoir, «No Going Back,» described an incident of her killing her family dog Cricket and a separate incident during which she killed a goat. Noem explained that the dog had proven itself «untrainable» after several violent attacks and described the decision to eventually shoot the dog. 

«I hated that dog,» Noem recalled, according to The Guardian and other media reports that covered the pre-released copy of Noem’s book at the time. «[Cricket was] dangerous to anyone she came in contact with.

«It was not a pleasant job,» Noem added, «but it had to be done. And after it was over, I realized another unpleasant job needed to be done.» Noem then went on to describe slaughtering the goat that she described as «nasty and mean,» adding it smelled «disgusting, musky, rancid» and complained that it «loved to chase» her children. 

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The reporting on Noem’s memoir prompted a group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill to start a Dog Lovers Caucus, and Noem’s memoir excerpt led to criticism against her from animal rights groups and other critics.

«You decided to kill that dog because you would not invest in the appropriate time and training, and then you have the audacity to go into a book and say it’s a leadership lesson about tough choices. It’s in your book. We could play it if we had time,» Thillis said during his heated comments about Noem’s leadership, which also included criticism about her approach to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). 

«And you killed a goat because you said it was behaving badly. You are a farmer. You don’t castrate a goat. They behave badly. You should have probably done that before, but my point is, those are bad decisions made in the heat of the moment. Not unlike what happened up in Minneapolis.»

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Kristi Noem participates in the South Dakota Buffalo Roundup in September 2023 (Fox News Digital )

In addition to getting hounded by Tillis, Noem also got into a testy exchange with GOP Sen. Kennedy, who signaled concern over who she was taking direction from during her tenure running DHS.

‘YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!’: PROTESTER DRAGGED FROM KRISTI NOEM’S SENATE HEARING

«At the time you said [what Renee Good and Alex Pretti engaged in] were acts of domestic terrorism,» Kennedy told Noem, who said that was the initial assessment of what the pair’s actions «appeared» to be. Noem attempted to interject that the assessment came at a time when there was a lot of information circulating about the Trump administration’s deportation efforts in Minneapolis, but Kennedy stood firm and continued with his line of questioning. 

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«As I’ve said previously in this hearing is that …,» Noem began before Kennedy cut her off.

«Did you say that? I think it’s been widely reported. Did you say that?» he asked.

Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy speaks to reporters

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pauses while speaking to members of the media on Capitol Hill. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Noem continued to try and explain the reasoning for the domestic terrorism label,until Kennedy interjected. 

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«I think it’s safe to say you got some pushback on that,» Kennedy said, adding he did not want to make a judgment on the fairness of it but wanted to point it out. 

«Yes,» Noem agreed, before Kennedy got to the root of his question.

«What got my attention was that you blamed those statements on Mr. Stephen Miller at the White House, did you not?» he asked.

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Noem fervently denied the accusation, arguing the claim was from an anonymous source that could not be trusted. 

«Where you’re seeing that is in a news article of anonymous sources, and anonymous sources say a lot of things, but I’ve never said that at all,» Noem claimed.  

Kennedy shot back that she «said on the record» that «everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen.» Kennedy then provided an exact date on which Noem made the remark.

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«Do you think it was fair to blame Mr. Miller for your words?» Kennedy asked.

Noem dismissed the question again and continued to contest the legitimacy of the claim she made such statements, adding she «did not» blame Miller for her decision to call Good and Pretti domestic terrorists. 

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«You’re reading from a newspaper article with anonymous sources,» she said. 

«Are you denying that you said that?» Kennedy asked. 

«Sir, I am not going to speak to that situation that is relayed on anonymous sources,» Noem said again.

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White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller

White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller has offered to appear on CNN to discuss any topic. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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The report in question was a January article from Axios, which wrote that the «episode illustrates the confusion that gripped the administration after the Saturday shooting death of Minnesota protester Alex Pretti. And it shows the influence of Miller, Trump’s close and longest-serving political adviser whose dominion in the White House far exceeds his title.» 

«They’re quoting you on the record saying it’s Stephen’s fault,» Kennedy replied before the committee chairman gaveled that the senator’s time was up. 

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«Thank you,» Kennedy said before another senator began to speak.    

Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for comment on the testy exchanges Noem had during the hearing Tuesday but did not receive a response in time for publication.

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