The US will release a limited number of passports that feature a portrait of US President Donald Trump, the White House has confirmed. First reported by Fox News, the passports will be released as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence in July
Kichcha Sudeep defends KD The Devil director Prem amid Nora Fatehi song controversy: ‘People outside Karnataka can…’At a press meet for the Kannada film KD: The Devil, Kichcha Sudeep defended Prem amid controversy over Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke. Apr 29, 2026
Warning: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing. A man in eastern India has said he was forced to carry his sister's skeletal remains to a bank to prove her death after failing to withdraw her savings. A video from Odisha state of Jitu Munda, 52
Man arrested after two people stabbed in North London area with large Jewish populationThe incident happened in Golders Green, an area of north London with a large Jewish population. Published on: Apr 29, 2026 4:50 PM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link British police have arrested a man after
Olivia Wilde shocks fans with her extremely thin look but supportive fans say ‘she just got older’Olivia Wilde's recent appearance raised health concerns among fans due to her sunken cheeks and thin frame. Some also linked her look to poor lighting. Updated on: Apr 29
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Exit Polls 2026: The 2026 Assembly elections in four states and a Union Territory will come to an end after the second phase of polling in West Bengal on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. After the conclusion of polling, all eyes will be on the exit poll results for the four states – Kerala, Tamil Nadu
ET AI-Ready is an AI Readiness Certification by The Economic Times that helps institutions measure how prepared they are for an AI-driven world through a structured, expert-led assessment. ET AI-Ready is the The Economic Times’ response to a simple and urgent question: are institutions prepared
Russia Wants WhatsApp Blocked: 5 Alternative Messaging Apps Available In The World
Russia Wants WhatsApp Blocked: 5 Alternative Messaging Apps Available In The World
WhatsApp claims the Russian government tried to fully block its service in the country to push its own state messaging app earlier this month. The Meta-owned platform and its origins in the United States have a lot to do with Russia looking to block its access for employees and users.
And it is not the first country to consider blocking WhatsApp and probably won’t be the last. Most of the authorities are aware about WhatsApp and its claimed encryption standards which keeps people secure and also makes it easy to use for nefarious reasons. In case, you are worried about WhatsApp getting blocked, you have 5 more apps with similar security traits and most of the features available for free.
Telegram
The other big messaging platform that people use is Telegram, offered by Pavel Durov as a secure app for chats and other interactive features. The company claims to have over 700 million users, offers end-to-end encryption like WhatsApp for secret chats and it is free to use on Android and iOS devices. You also get the ability to share large file sizes and join other chat rooms.
Signal
This one is an easy and obvious choice to replace WhatsApp for many users. In fact, most WhatsApp users prefer having a Signal account on the side, just to keep their content and data private from all entities. Even the calls are encrypted like WhatsApp and no metadata storing is done which keeps you secure. However, you need a mobile number to register for an account.
Wire
The next option to consider as a WhatsApp alternative is Wire. This is also a secure messaging app with its source code available publicly and focuses on being cross-platform across devices. The only issue for some could be that it stores the metadata which is not ideal.
Viber
This app has been around for a few decades and the current version is seen as an ideal substitute for WhatsApp. You get end-to-end encryption, can even self-destruct the messages, support group chats up to 250 members and more. However, Viber shows you ads and the calling features are free but only if you call another Viber user.
Threema
The last on our list is a paid option called Threema which lets you make encrypted calls, and gives you the option to link email or phone number but not a mandatory requirement. It is open source, doesn’t show ads and that’s because it is not free and some might feel the premium is worth it. It is based out of a region where data regulations are strict and no meta storing is done.
Source: News18
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![Harare [Zimbabwe], April 29 (ANI): Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has announced its Women’s squad for their upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan on Wednesday](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/zimbabwe-women-name-squad-for-pakistan-white-ball-tour.webp?width=120&height=70)
