Coronavirus forces Modi govt to defer NPR, first phase of Census

Madikeri, Jan 17: Kannada and Telugu actor Rashmika Mandanna is likely to be further interrogated by Income Tax (I-T) officials on Friday.

The residence and properties by the family of Rashmika were raided by I-T officials on Thursday morning. Following summons issued by I-T officials, Rashmika rushed to her residence on Thursday night and gave details on investments and other financial transactions.

After the interrogation, the I-T officials left for Serenity hall, which is owned by Rashmika's father, at Virajpet at around 2.30 am and stayed back there.

The I-T officials have reportedly directed Rashmika and her father Madan Mandanna not to leave the house.

New Delhi, Apr 29: WhatsApp on Tuesday said it will now allow up to eight people to connect on a group video call as an increasing number of people turn to digital platforms to connect with friends and family amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Facebook-owned company said over the last month, people on average are spending over 15 billion minutes talking each day on WhatsApp calls, well above a typical day before the pandemic.

"...we see that people all over the world are turning to voice and video calling on WhatsApp more than ever before. Group calling has been particularly useful and our users have asked to connect with more people at once," WhatsApp said in a blogpost.

Starting Tuesday, the company is doubling the number of participants one can have on a WhatsApp video or voice call from 4 to 8 people at a time, it added.

WhatsApp emphasised that like written messages, all calls on its platform are protected with end-to-end encryption.

"We have built group calling in a way that makes it available for as many users as possible, including people on lower-end devices and slow network conditions," it added.

Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths

WhatsApp said that to access the new, higher participant limit on WhatsApp calls, all participants in a call need to update to the latest version of WhatsApp available on iPhone or Android.

Video calling tools like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and others have also seen a significant jump in userbase and traffic as people connect while maintaining social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Last week, Facebook had introduced Messenger Rooms that will soon hold up to 50 people with no time limit.

It had added that the company will also add ways to create rooms from Instagram Direct, WhatsApp and Portal.

Noting that between WhatsApp and Messenger, more than 700 million accounts participate in calls every day, Facebook had said, adding that video calling on Messenger and WhatsApp more than doubled in many countries.

Also, views of Facebook Live and Instagram Live videos have also increased significantly in March, it said.

Assan, Feb 9: Coming down heavily on Amit Shah, JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda said that the Union Home Minister is dreaming of a Hindu nation. Addressing the crowd at an anti-CAA/NRC rally in Hassan, he said that the Home Minister has forgotten that India is a secular, multi-lingual country.

“Shah cannot make India into a Hindu nation. People should come forward and oppose the Acts in the interest of peace and welfare of the nation,” the former PM said, urging secular leaders to unite and fight against the undemocratic policies put forth by the Centre.

“Only secular forces can protect minorities by taking to the streets,” he said. Talking about the controversy around former Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde’s statements, Gowda said BJP leaders are airing anti-national comments, which is disturbing peace. “Muslims, Christians and Hindus should unite to fight against the BJP’s unilateral decisions.”