The Telegram messaging app, one of the most popular social media platforms in Ukraine and Russia, will likely cross 1 billion active monthly users within a year, its founder said in remarks published on Tuesday.

In a rare interview, Pavel Durov told U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson that the Dubai-based free cloud-based app that allows users to send and receive messages, calls and other files, is spreading like a “forest fire”. 

“We’ll probably cross 1 billion monthly active users within a year now,” Durov, who fully owns Telegram, told Tucker, according to the video interview posted on Tucker’s account on the X social media platform.

The goal of the app, which has now 900 million active users, is to remain a “neutral platform” and not a “player in geopolitics,” Durov said. The Russia-born entrepreneur said he had fled Russia in 2014 citing government interference in a company he founded.

One of Telegram’s main rivals, Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp, has more than 2 billion monthly active users.

The Financial Times reported in March that Telegram would likely aim for a U.S. listing once the company had reached profitability.

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Telegram has become an instrumental tool for both governments and a go-to place for posting and accessing unfiltered information about the war.

Almost all major media, government entities and public figures in both Russia and Ukraine operate content channels on Telegram.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posts his daily video addresses on the app, while his armed forces warn of air raids and document battlefield developments.

The Kremlin announces President Vladimir Putin’s activities on Telegram, while Russia’s opposition rallies for support.

But the app, critics said, has also become a tool of misinformation and manipulation. A bill submitted to the Ukrainian parliament in March looks at stricter regulation of Telegram and other social networks.

The Kremlin told Durov to be more attentive after the messaging application was allegedly used to help recruit the gunmen who attacked a concert hall outside Moscow in Marc

 An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday extended the interim bail of 34 accused including sisters of PTI founder Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan in the Jinnah House attack case.

The duty judge of the anti-terrorism court conducted hearing of the interim bail pleass of 34 accused including Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan.

The court adjourned the hearing, issuing orders of interim bail extension till April 20.

MANY PEOPLE CONTACTED US TO KEEP MUM: ALEEMA KHAN

Talking to media after appearing in the court, Aleema Khan said what did the deal mean? Deal meant to keep mum. “We have been contacted by many people that if we keep quiet they will take PTI founder out of jail,” they said.

She said cases of terrorism had been registered against them. “We have come to the court, but there is no judge, no investigation officer, even there is no judge. People are being harassed for nine months. Still the investigation is incomplete,” she added.

She further said PTI founder and Bushra Bibi were fine. PTI founder had pain in intestine. “Superintendent should have told us so that we could arrange our doctor. The superintendent says we have to take permission from high-ups,” she said.

A group of schoolchildren are set to sing newly-discovered 300-year-old music in Latin as part of a choral performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Music charity Armonico Consort has been working with 80 pupils from three local primary schools in Yeovil.

It is part of a project to get more children into music, with the scheme reaching up to 15,000 young people every year.

Artistic director, Christopher Monks, said: “We’ve been training the kids to be really, really good singers, without blinding them with rocket science – basically making singing fun.”

Teachers from All Saints Church of England Primary School, Preston School and Kingfisher Primary School are being trained as choir leaders, to help with their skills when it comes to music education.

Mr Monks said the project had been “great fun”.

“As long as the person in front of them believes in what they’re doing, the kids will do anything – they will go with whatever you say,” he added.

“They’ve been absolutely hilarious.

“Around here, they’re hungry to learn, they’re hungry for for opportunities and they’re fascinated and curious and just brilliant fun to work with.”

Claire Hodgson, headteacher at Preston Primary School, told BBC Radio Somerset: “It’s absolutely amazing.

“We love every opportunity so when this came along we thought we must be part of it, and they’ve loved every single minute of all the rehearsing that’s gone into it – it’s lots and lots of effort.”

She added: “Creative arts is hugely important in the curriculum.

“It’s the chance to give these children an opportunity to show their talents and what talented children they are so we love it.”

Dexter from Kingfisher Primary School, described singing in Latin as “pretty hard”, but added: “Once you get it, you can sing it properly.”

He said performing at the Royal Albert Hall on 9 July will be “really exciting, because you know you’re going to sing in front of 2,000 people.”

Armonico also performed in Yeovil later on in the evening, after rehearsing with the children.