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Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrested In France Over Moderation Policy On The Pro-free-speech Messaging App
August 25, 2024
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Russian-born founder and owner of Telegram was arrested Saturday, at Le Bourget airport outside Paris shortly after landing on a private jet from Azerbaijan. The 39-year-old billionaire who has dual French and UAE citizenship, has been placed in custody as part of a preliminary investigation into alleged wide range of crimes committed on the messaging app due to a lack of moderation, and a lack of cooperation with police.

Authorities have since reportedly extended Durov's detention to another 96 hours.

There was no initial official confirmation from France of the arrest, but police had reportedly spotted he was on the passenger list and moved to arrest him because he was the subject of an arrest warrant in France.

Telegram is famously known to be among the least censored social media platforms, The company says it "is committed to protecting user privacy and human rights such as freedom of speech and assembly." Durov has resisted attempts to get him to censor legal speech on the messaging app.

“We get too much attention from the FBI and other security agencies whenever we come to the U.S," Durov told popular American journalist and podcaster Tucker Carlson earlier in the year. "The last time I was in the U.S., I brought an engineer who works for Telegram. There was an attempt by cybersecurity officers or agents to secretly hire my engineer behind my back. They were curious to learn which open-source libraries are integrated into Telegram's app, and they tried to persuade him to use certain open-source tools that would serve as backdoors. I personally experienced similar pressure in the U.S. Whenever I would go to the U.S., I would have two FBI agents greet me at the airport, asking questions. My understanding is that they wanted to establish a relationship to control Telegram better.”

A cybersecurity gendarmerie unit and national anti-fraud police unit are reportedly leading the French investigation into Telegram and Durov.

In a statement on X, the company writes: "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 are responsible for abuse of that platform."

Russia's foreign ministry said it had sent a note to Paris demanding access to Durov.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that Durov had misjudged by fleeing Russia and thinking that he would never have to cooperate with the security services abroad.

Russian lawmaker Maria Butina, who spent 15 months in U.S. prison for acting as an unregistered Russian agent, said Durov "is a political prisoner - a victim of a witch-hunt by the West."

Durov arrest drew swift global condemnations with #FreePavel trending on social media, and many comparing France and Europe in general to the totalitarian regimes in China and North Korea where political dissent is not tolerated. Many on X raised concerns over travelling to France as a free-speech-minded tech entrepreneur.

Chris Pavlovski, CEO of YouTube rival Rumble whose platform has been forced to suspend services in France after rejecting regulator's demands to censor some users, wrote on X: "I’m a little late to this, but for good reason -- I’ve just safely departed from Europe. France has threatened Rumble, and now they have crossed a red line by arresting Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, reportedly for not censoring speech. Rumble will not stand for this behavior and will use every legal means available to fight for freedom of expression, a universal human right. We are currently fighting in the courts of France, and we hope for Pavel Durov’s immediate release."

In a earlier post, he noted: "China bans Rumble; France threatens Rumble, we leave; Brazil threatens Rumble, we leave; UK threatens Rumble; Russia bans Rumble; New Zealand threatens Rumble; France arrests Telegram CEO. Free speech is under major assault and I will not stop fighting for it."

X owner and Tesla chief, Elon Musk wrote, "It's 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme." And responding to an X user who asked why Mark Zuckerberg is not facing the same prosecution given the prevalence of prohibited content across Meta platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp, Musk wrote, "Because he already caved into censorship pressure. Instagram has a massive child exploitation problem, but no arrest for Zuck, as he censors free speech and gives governments backdoor access to user data."

Telegram, with close to 1 billion users, is particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine and the republics of the former Soviet Union. The platform is also a political propaganda battlefield used by activists and influential leaders across the world including pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups, the Russian government, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and his officials.

Durov launched Telegram after he was pressured by Russian authorities to sell his social media platform VK. His younger brother, Nikolai, designed the encryption used in Telegram, according to Durov.

"I would rather be free than to take orders from anyone," Durov said in April about his exit from Russia and search for a home for his company, which included stints in Berlin, London, Singapore and San Francisco. He finally settled in Dubai, UAE.

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Andrew Tate, Tristan Arrested In Miami, To Face Charges In UK

Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate were arrested by U.S. Marshals in Miami on Saturday, pursuant to a sealed extradition warrant issued by the United Kingdom. The arrests follow the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) approving 38 new charges, bringing the total against the brothers to 59.

Andrew faces 42 charges, including rape and trafficking, while Tristan faces 17. The alleged offenses span from July 2010 to August 2017 and involve seven total alleged victims, with the new charges stemming from four additional victims reported to Bedfordshire Police.

The specific additional charges authorized by the CPS include rape, arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and offenses relating to indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.

Andrew is charged with seven further counts of rape, three counts of trafficking facilitation, three counts of assault, and 19 counts related to indecent images and extreme pornography.

Tristan faces one count of sexual assault, two counts of rape, and three counts of facilitating trafficking. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed the arrests were made in accordance with extradition treaties, and the brothers are expected to appear in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida early in the week following the arrest.

The Tate brothers, dual U.S. and British citizens, rose to prominence as controversial "manosphere" influencers promoting hypermasculinity. They previously faced charges in Romania for organized crime, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation, which were dropped in 2023. They returned to the United States in early 2025 after Romanian travel restrictions were lifted.

The Tate brothers' attorney, Joseph McBride, has denied all allegations, calling the arrests a "political hit" and stating they are innocent. McBride also noted that the both were held in solitary confinement as they await extradition proceedings, which they are expected to contest.

Assistant Chief Constable Karena Thomas of Bedfordshire Police said in statement: "Officers from our major crime unit have been working closely alongside the Crown Prosecution Service and both national and international law enforcement agencies as part of this complex investigation. There is no place for male violence against women and girls, and we will continue to tirelessly to support victims and investigate all reports made to us."

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What a staggering, chaotic classic! England secured the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place spot—claiming the bronze medal—with a breathless 6-4 victory over France at Miami Stadium in Florida. Spain will take on Argentina for the final match late Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium, to decide the tournament's champions.

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Declan Rice opened the floodgates almost immediately, shocking the French backline in the second minute. Then in the 17th minute, Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage off a set piece. In the 37th and 46th minute just befoire half time break, Bukayo Saka took total control of the half, slotting home two goals in quick succession to firmly establish a four-goal cushion.

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Dembélé clawed it back to 5-4 at 96th minute, deep into stoppage time, setting up a nervy final sequence.

Jude Bellingham finalized the historic scoreline, putting the exclamation point on a 6-4 victory with a brilliant late goal in the 98th minute.

In the Golden boot race, Despite the loss, Mbappé's dynamic brace pushed him to 10 goals for the tournament, putting him two clear of Argentina's Lionel Messi (8 goals) and three ahead of Bellingham (7 goals) heading into the final matchday.

Both teams were heavily tipped to reach the main event. France entered their semi-final match as heavy favorites before being upset 2-0 by a masterful Spain side. England, meanwhile, suffered heartbreak after leading Argentina late into their semi-final, only to see the defending champions overturn the scoreline to win 2-1.

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Two US Troops Killed, Dozens Injured During Iranian Missile Attacks In Jordan, As US-Iran War Escalates

Two U.S. service members were killed and one remains missing following an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan on July 17, 2026, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Four other service members were injured and evacuated to hospitals but have since been discharged, while additional personnel with minor injuries returned to duty. The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification.

The first attack to hit U.S. forces in Jordan reportedly struck a residential facility at King Faisal Air Base, wounding as many as five U.S. service members. The second hit a base in eastern Jordan where U.S. Blackhawk helicopters were operating from, damaging a significant number of them.

Then hours later, Iranian missiles reportedly hit Jordan’s Muwawffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq, which is the same base where the troops were killed on Friday, the officials said. The earlier strike wounded about 20 U.S. troops rushing to take cover in bunkers. No one was killed in that barrage. But on Friday, when the Iranians struck the base again,  two U.S. troops were killed.

Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (also known as Al-Azraq), hosts U.S. troops, combat aircraft (including F-35s, F-16s, and F-15s), and has supported operations in the region. Videos circulating online show missiles impacting the base, with explosions and smoke. Jordan reported intercepting around 10 Iranian missiles, but some penetrated defenses. The flurry of attacks and the losses they have caused are a sign that Iranian forces not only still have ample missile stocks but have also become more adept at evading U.S. air defense systems, according to U.S. officials.

“On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, CENTCON reported earlier Saturday. "Additionally, one service member is currently missing. Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. They have since been discharged. Other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty.”

In his first public reaction, President Donald Trump reportedly said "it’s a very sad thing. We hate to see it happen." And that "it’s in service to our country…we’re never, they’re never going to allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Iranian officials on Saturday, said the country has withdrawn from commitments to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the U.S. "The US has violated and suspended all its commitments within the framework of the Islamabad MoU," Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said. "We have also suspended our commitments... and we are busy defending the country."

In a statement Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said, "The Great Satan's repeated violations of the memorandum of understanding signed between the presidents of Iran and the United States once again proved to everyone how worthless and unreliable the signature of the U.S. president is, and that bullying, hegemonic ambitions, and savagery are inseparable elements of the American way and doctrine.

"The Great Satan has once again revealed its true face without a mask, so that this dark experience of crime and bad faith will stand as yet another powerful testament to America's deceitfulness, irrationality, untrustworthiness, and wickedness. Now that the American enemy is seeking to ignite war and incur even heavier costs and greater disgrace, it should know that the beloved Iranian nation and the Axis of Resistance have unforgettable lessons in store for it. The bravery of the fighters of Islam and the courage of the people of Iran's southern region in recent days have already demonstrated examples of those lessons."

When asked about the supreme leader's statement, Trump told reporters, "I couldn’t care less.”

The attack in Jordan coincided with broader Iranian strikes targeting U.S. facilities and infrastructure in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq, with alerts also issued in Saudi Arabia. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps(IRGC) claimed to have struck specific bases, including Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, and Al Azraq Air Base in Jordan, alleging damage to aircraft and radar facilities.

Iranian missiles and drones also targeted civilian infrastructure as well, including oil facilities and water desalination plants in Kuwait, causing fires and injuries.

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Recent fatalities mark the first U.S. combat deaths in the conflict since a cease-fire unraveled last week, bringing the total U.S. military death toll to 16. The violence follows the collapse of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Iran has suspended its commitments, accusing the U.S. of violating the agreement by resuming airstrikes on Iranian territory, which Iran's Health Ministry says have killed at least 50 people. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz and vowed further repercussions.

U.s. and Iran continue to exchange missile and drone attacks, Saturday night. "Today at 6 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began launching new airstrikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction," CENTCOM announced on X. "The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night."

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