Paula Abdul cut a somber figure as she was seen stepping out a day after releasing texts between her and Nigel Lythgoe, amid claims that he sexually assaulted her.

The 61 year-old singer sported a casual ensemble as she left an office building in Century City on Thursday. 

The former American Idol judge wore a light grey long-sleeve top tucked into a pair of dark sweatpants. She completed her outfit with white sneakers, black sunglasses and a black clutch under her arm.

The busy star held a silver iPhone in her hand. Under her other arm she carried a large bottle of water.  

Her shoulder length tresses were parted in the middle and styled straight for the occasion.

A day prior Paula hit back at American Idol producer Nigel, accusing him of ‘vitriolic attacks’ on her character after he denies her claims that he sexually assaulted and harassed her.

In new court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, the singer shared several texts from Lythgoe in which he made risqué suggestions to her including, ‘Let’s gently make love before my drugs wear off’ and ‘Is a small grope of the a** asking too much?’

Abdul filed a lawsuit against Lythgoe, 74, in December, alleging sexual assault and battery on two separate occasions while she was working for him between 2002 and 2015. 

And earlier this month, the British reality TV mogul filed an answer, vehemently denying Abdul’s allegations, saying she was ‘untethered from reality’ and portrayed her as a drug abuser who used to ‘drool and pass out in audition rooms’ during her time on Idol.

Lythgoe’s March 5 response – filed the same day another unnamed woman sued him for sexual assault and battery – contained several affectionate texts and emails from Abdul that he claimed prove the two were actually close friends and ‘show how Abdul really felt about Lythgoe during and after the time she now alleges abuse occurred.’

Now, in her new court filing, Abdul is hitting back with a motion calling for most of Lythgoe’s 22-page answer to her lawsuit to be stricken from the case because his allegations against her are ‘immaterial, false and improper.’

Abdul’s lawyers illustrated Lythgoe’s ‘sexual harassment’ with their own slew of sexy texts he sent her. In one he says, ‘When you get back to LA, will you please make love to me…slowly and lovingly!’

In another, he writes, ‘I’ll come if you promise me a big wet kiss….with tongues!…Is a small grope of the a** asking too much?’

And in a third he writes, ‘Wanna come round and take off that beautiful dress, jump in the pool naked with me? Let’s cling to each other like we’re the last 2 people on Earth and gently make love before my drugs wear off? HaHa!’

Lythgoe’s response ‘is rife with argumentative and vitriolic character attacks on Ms. Abdul and superfluous background that are irrelevant to the sexual assault, battery and harassment claims pled by Ms. Abdul or the defenses asserted by Lythgoe,’ her attorneys state.

‘Lythgoe’s answer clearly is a blatant attempt to smear Ms. Abdul’s reputation and to cure the negative press he has received from now being sued by five separate women for sexual assault and battery.’

Calling Lythgoe’s filed response ‘false and misleading,’ the star’s attorneys accuse him of ‘cherry-picking’ the texts and emails he included in his answer ‘to suggest a friendly relationship while conveniently failing to include messages supporting Ms. Abdul’s claims that she was sexually assaulted and harassed by Lythgoe for years.’

Of Lythgoe’s claims that emails and texts from Abdul show the two were close friends, her attorneys argued, ‘Whether Ms. Abdul gave public praise or adoration to Lythgoe – an executive producer on two shows she worked on – or otherwise approached him with kindness and friendliness cannot negate her claims that Lythgoe sexually assaulted or abused her.

‘The fact that a victim was friendly to their abuser in situations unrelated to the alleged sexual assault and battery does not make the assault and battery any more or less likely to have occurred.

‘Indeed, there is substantial research showing it is common for a victim to respond too their abuser in such a manner.’

Abdul first alleged that she was ‘verbally insulted and belittled by Lythgoe’ during initial meetings to join American Idol in 2001.

She said that Nigel had told her ‘she was a has been celebrity and probably wouldn’t be known by the show’s contestants despite others believing she was exactly what they were looking for.’

The two-time Emmy winner had ‘grave reservations about appearing on the show and informed her representatives about such concerns’ but both she and her team hoped that the incident was only a ‘one-time’ occurrence.

Paula claimed in court documents that the first instance of sexual assault had happened during one of American Idol’s first seasons, while on the road for regional auditions.

‘One evening, following the day’s auditions, Lythgoe and Abdul entered the elevator of the hotel where they were staying,’ the legal docs read.

‘Upon entering the elevator, Lythgoe shoved Abdul against the wall, then grabbed her genitals and breasts, and began shoving his tongue down her throat.’

The lawsuit claims that the DWTS guest judge ‘attempted to push’ Nigel away and that she hurried to her room once the elevator doors opened. She immediately reached out to her reps to inform them of the incident.

The second alleged occurrence took place during a dinner held at the former dancer-choreographer’s house, after Paula had signed a contract to appear as a judge on SYTYCD in 2015 – the same year he was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire).

Assuming the dinner was on a professional basis, Abdul attended the dinner. However, the Muppets Mayhem guest star claimed that at one point, while they were both sitting on a couch, Nigel had tried force himself on top of her.

Paula also stated in the documents that Lythgoe had also ‘attempted to kiss’ her while telling her that they would make an ‘excellent power couple.’ 

The lawsuit claims that Abdul, ‘pushed him off, explaining she was not interested in his advances, and immediately left.’

However, due to fear of ‘possible implications to her career,’ the Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers star chose to stay quiet on the incident.

In the documents, Paula additionally claimed that she had witnessed Nigel sexually assault one of her assistants.

The star is not only suing Nigel, but also 19 Entertainment and Fremantle Media North America.

‘Throughout her tenure on American Idol, Abdul not only was discriminated against in terms of compensation and benefits as compared to one of the show’s male judges and host (making nearly pennies to the dollar of what one of her male counterparts were making)…’ said her lawsuit.

‘But she was the target of constant taunts, bullying, humiliation, and harassment from Lythgoe and other executives, agents, employees, and/or representatives of the show’s producers, 19 Entertainment and Fremantle.’

In his answer to her lawsuit, Lythgoe calls Abdul a ‘well-documented fabulist, with a long history of telling wild stories that are untethered from reality and are primarily designed to attract attention and make Abdul appear to be the victim of dreadful misfortune.’

Among the online communications he included in his response was a September 12 2014 email from Abdul to him reading, in part: ‘Hi sweetheart — thank you for this lovely ‘gift.’ Please forgive me for not calling yesterday. Forever grateful to have you in my life! Love, love LOVE YOU! XO P.

Another, dated June 20, 2014, says: Thank you for the beautiful flowers — they were exquisite! But, I have to say the kicker was the birthday card last night. I am still howling! I truly appreciate our friendship and am looking forward to launching our project.’

The filing also included Abdul’s public tweets at his account, starting in 2009 and continuing through 2015 when they both worked on So You Think You Can Dance?

Abdul shared photos of the pair together and tweeted on Thanksgiving ‘I’m grateful that I met you too, Nigel! Have a very Happy Thanksgiving! xoxoP.’

Lythgoe claimed the messages ‘show how Abdul really felt about Lythgoe during and after the time she now alleges abuse occurred.’

He said that he pushed for her to be hired on Idol and SYTYCD ‘despite the opposition from other executives due to Abdul’s already well-known erratic behavior.’

He also maintained that her alleged substance abuse issues caused concern for executives on Idol, alleging: ‘At her worst, Abdul was slurring her speech, unintelligible, drooling and passing out in audition rooms, having to be carried out on two separate occasions.

Abdul has previously revealed her past dependency on painkillers. In 2009 she revealed she had been reliant on them for 12 years.

Lythgoe asserted that her credibility has been called into question on a serious issue’, the plane crash she says she survived in 1992.

‘There are no records whatsoever of the supposed plane crash,’ he said. ‘In one interview Abdul explained that she was able to keep the story under wraps with NDAs and because ‘there was no internet at the time.’ In another interview, she explained that at the time of the crash, there were ‘no computers.”

Lythgoe is asking the court to dismiss Abdul’s lawsuit and he wants her to cover his attorney fees.

Paula notably appeared as one of the original judges on American Idol from 2002 through 2009. Nigel had been one of the executive producers on the hit show.

She later became a judge on the American version of So You Think You Can Dance alongside Lythgoe during the show’s 12th season, but made her exit shortly before season 14 to focus on her tour.

Abdul made the decision to finally come forward with the lawsuit due to California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act.

The law, which was officially passed earlier this year, offers a ‘three-year window for survivors of sexual assault to file a claim and recover damages as a result of crimes that occurred on or after January 1, 2009

From January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2026, sexual assault and abuse claims, which would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations, will be revived and officially be eligible to be brought in civil court.

The former LA Laker Girl’s successful career began as a choreographer when she was discovered by The Jacksons. She later released her debut studio album, Forever Your Girl, in 1988 – which launched her success in the music industry.

Abdul was married to Emilio Estevez from 1992 until their divorce in 1994. She later tied the knot with Brad Beckerman in 1996 until the pair divorced in 1998.

Lythgoe has two sons – Simon, 48; and Kristopher, 44 – from his 33-year marriage to Bonnie Shawe, which ended in 2007.

A CONCERNED parent discovered their child was sending ‘hidden’ text messages.

These so-called “invisible” messages are actually built into every device iPhone – but they are easy to miss.

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The feature is a standard part of iOS if you use the standard Messages app.

In a Reddit post, a parent wrote: “My child found a way to hide texts.”

They shared a screenshot of the Messages app showing several texts hidden with a mysterious message fade.

Several Apple fans quickly responded to the post, revealing that it is an official iPhone feature called Invisible Ink.

HOW TO SEND INVISIBLE TEXT

Invisible Ink is one of Apple’s message effects, found only in a hidden menu.

When you receive an Invisible Ink message, it is blurry and cannot be read.

The only way to view it is to swipe or tap parts of it.

It’s a great trick because it can stop “shoulder surfers.” reading your messages if so next one to you.

The feature is also a fun way to send surprises to friends family.

And it’s very useful if you’re discussing a TV show or movie in a group chat and want to talk about spoilers.

To send an Invisible Ink message, first go to an iMessage chat.

Importantly, it doesn’t work on SMS, so make sure you’re texting someone who also has iMessage.

Type a message that you want to send as invisible ink, but don’t press Send.

Instead, hold your finger on the Send button to reveal a hidden menu.

Now choose the option on the right called Invisible Ink and then press Send.

This message will fade out and only appear when you tap it.

For a very long message, you’ll need to tap or drag different parts of the message to view the full text.

You can also tap and hold the message to view it.

TEXT BEST THING

Of course, your Messages app is packed with tips and tricks.

One of the best is the ability to send special effects just by using specific phrases.

Try sending:

• Happy new year
• Happy Chinese New Year
• Congratulations
• Pew Pew
• Congratulations
• Congratulations

These all have their own special effects that appear on the recipient’s phone when the text is opened.

• The team-based messaging app was offline Monday evening
• Outage tracking site Downdetector received hundreds of reports from users
• The blackout is the latest in a series of technical issues across various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Reddit

By Mackenzie Tatananni for Dailymail.Com

Published: 6:05 PM EDT, March 11, 2024 | Updated: 6:51 PM EDT, March 11, 2024

The Oscars is the biggest event of the year in the movie calendar, but it’s also all about fashion as the stars step out on the red carpet dressed to impress in glamorous attire.

However, many outfits hold meaning beyond what meets the eye, with stars purposefully conveying messages through fashion statements.

Elsewhere, eagle-eyed fans have derived meaning from A-listers and their choice of gown.

For instance, Margot Robbie ditched the typical pink attire that she’s been wearing on repeat while promoting her role in Barbie in favour of a black dress – a move some have claimed is a reaction to her Oscar nomination snub.

Other stars, such as Emma Stone and Carey Mulligan, have openly declared the sweet meaning behind their glamorous dresses for the event – and how they link to the characters they portray on screen.

Here, FEMAIL reveals the A-Listers who conveyed hidden meanings through their fashion choices at the the 96th Annual Academy Awards. 

MARGOT ROBBIE 

Margot Robbie sent social media into a frenzy after she arrived at the Oscars 2024 red carpet in Los Angeles wearing an unexpected outfit.

The Australian beauty displayed her trim physique in a shimmery, structured Versace gown with help from stylist Andrew Mukamal. The metal-mesh gown is from the fashion house’s Fall 2024 collection.

It featured a subtly sloped neckline and flattering draping at the hips, creating a gorgeous hourglass silhouette. 

But it was the colour of Margot’s glamorous Versace gown that led to speculation online.   

The 33-year-old actress — whose hit film Barbie received eight nominations — ended her run of pink awards show looks in the strapless black gown.

The colour choice led some to believe that Margot was commenting on her lack of nominations through the colour. 

Despite Barbie’s impressive eight nominations, Robbie was not nominated for Best Actress, while Greta Gerwig was not nominated for Best Director.

America Ferrera was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, with pundits saying her character’s impassioned speech on feminism sealed the deal.

Barbie’s other nominations include Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling and two nods for Best Song — including Gosling’s tune I’m Just Ken.

In a decision that sparked controversy, Margot was notably absent from the slew of nominations.

Social media users have claimed that Robbie ditching her typical Barbie-esque red carpet look in favour for a black outfit choice represents her ‘mourning the award she didn’t get’.

EMMA STONE 

It was a successful night for Emma Stone, who took home the prize for Best Actress following her role in Poor Things.

But before the big win, Emma, 35, wowed in pastel green and showed off her stunning frame in a peplum detail Louis Vuitton gown with floral brocade on the red carpet.

Fans of Poor Things will know a bit about its main character, Bella Baxter, a young woman explored in the tale after being brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, Dr Goodwin Baxter.

With a special nod to the character that secured her one of the most significant accolades in her career, Emma dedicated her dress to Bella.

In an interview with British Vogue, Petra Flannery, Emma’s stylist said: ‘We wanted to keep Emma, Emma but show her affinity with the character and Bella’s spirit.’

The peplum feature nods to Bella Baxter’s love of ruffles, as created by costume designer Holly Waddington.

After winning the award, the Cruella star said she was ‘in awe’ of all of the team behind the surreal comedy, where she plays a woman who is reanimated and implanted with the brain of a baby.

Emma looked visibly pleased with herself as she entered the Winners’ Room at the ceremony.

The actress fought off competition from Maestro actress Carey Mulligan, Rye Lane’s Vivian Oparah, Anatomy of a Fall actress Sandra Huller and former American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino – who had been nominated for her role in The Color Purple – for the gong.

LILY GLADSTONE 

Best Actress nominee, Lily Gladstone, looked sensational as she arrived at the 2024 Oscars on Sunday.

Gladstone, 37, was the first Native American nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon – and was the favourite in the category thanks to her wins at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards.

She missed out on the award to Emma Stone. However, the 37-year-old made a touching nod to her Indigenous community through her attire.

The Killers of the Flower Moon actress radiated glamour on the red carpet in a midnight blue strapless gown with a flowing train.

While the dress, which featured a lavender trim and white floral detail across the skirt, was stunning in itself, it was the designer that created meaning behind the look.

Lily, whose heritage includes Blackfeet and Nez Perce roots, and her stylist, Jason Rembert, chose to bring a design that represents Native American culture to cinema’s most prestigious event.

The custom look was made in collaboration by Gucci’s creative director Sabato De Sarno and Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain comes from the Mohawk, Cree & Comanche Nation.

Talking of the collaboration, Sabato De Sarno told Vogue: ‘Lily is an incredible talent. Her selecting Gucci to dress her for this historic moment is an honour.’

‘Creating a dress that conveys beauty and illuminates Indigenous designers and artistry, passed down through generations, is powerful; The collaboration with Joe and [his wife] Sunshine in Italy was a special moment for me.’

It comes after Lily was the first Indigenous actor to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in the ceremony’s 81-year history.

Gladstone said: ‘This is a historic one, and it doesn’t belong to just me,’ Gladstone said in English, after opening their acceptance speech speaking in the Blackfeet language.

‘I’m holding it with all of my beautiful sisters in the film and my mother [in the film], Tantoo Cardinal.’

SYDNEY SWEENEY 

Sydney Sweeny caused waves online for emulating Marilyn Monroe’s iconic sex appeal as she posed on the red carpet at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

However, it wasn’t just Marilyn who Sydney took inspiration from on Sunday, but also Angelina Jolie. 

In a touching nod to Angelina’s style prowess, the Euphoria star, 26, replicated her 76th Annual Academy Awards look from 2004. 

The Old Hollywood Marc Bouwer cream gown cemented Angelina’s status as a fashion icon in the early 2000s.

Some 20 years later, Sydney followed Angelina’s footsteps and modelled the glamorous plunging halter neckline at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills yesterday evening.

Sydney recreated the bombshell look with the gown, matching shawl and accessories with a similar collection of layered pendant necklaces.

With the help of hair and makeup, Sydney managed to add her own touch to the archival look.

The White Lotus alum previously rocked her usual long, blonde tresses when she recently hosted Saturday Night Live.

For the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Sydney changed it up and showcased a darker honey-blonde colour and her shoulder-length bob styled in bouncy waves.

The style differed from Angelina’s 2004 red carpet look, which saw the then 29-year-old’s long locks run loose.

With the incredible look, Sydney joined Angelina, 48, and the many A-list bombshells recognized for their red carpet outfits and graced many best-dressed lists.

ARIANA GRANDE 

The singer’s extravagant pink look might seem like a stylish choice merely intended to wow, but film fanatics will know that her attire paid tribute to the Wicked character Glinda.

Ariana Grande took to the prestigious event in a billowing pink gown – as she walked her first red carpet in four years.

After turning up to the red carpet late, the 30-year-old turned heads wearing a fitted, strapless pink gown from Giambattista Valli Haute Couture.

The dress contained ruched material as well as billowing fabric that flowed down into a train behind her for a dramatic flare.

It was a choice that channelled her character – Glinda the Good Fairy – in the upcoming adaptation of Wicked.

The singer – who recently revealed that she ‘cried herself to sleep’ following split from ex Dalton Gomez – is set to portray the beautiful witch with an adoration for all things pink.

The film is based on Gregory Maguire’s best selling novel and the hit Broadway musical adaptation, which debuted in 2003 starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.

It is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz in which the storyline proceeds with Dorothy and details the one-time friendship between the Elphaba and Glinda characters.

It also stars Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, as well as Bowen Yang, Adam James, Keala Settle and Bronwyn James.

CAREY MULLIGAN 

If she’s not behind the camera showcasing her skills as an actress, she’s gracing the red carpet in tasteful looks. 

But Carey Mulligan put a lot of extra thought into the gown she wore to Sunday’s Academy Awards, where she was nominated in the Best Actress category.

The actress wowed in a black and white Balenciaga dress accessorised with opera gloves and Boucheron jewels for her red carpet moment at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

And speaking to Vogue, she revealed how the carefully chosen dress was a tribute to her character in her nominated movie Maestro.

‘I think it’s my favourite dress I’ve ever worn,’ Carey gushed, explaining that the dress is a precise recreation of a 1951 gown from the Balenciaga archives. 

The date is significant as 1951 also happens to be the year that Felicia Montealegre and Leonard Bernstein got married, making the dress a fitting tribute to the woman Carey plays in the movie.

Carey said it was her stylist Andrew Mukamal who pitched the idea to Balenciaga, marking the first time the fashion house has remade a look from its archives for the red carpet.

Carey’s Oscar gown was the pinnacle of her vintage awards season wardrobe, having dazzled in recreations from Schiaparelli and Dior at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs respectively.

And she was delighted with the vintage cut of her Balenciaga gown, describing it as ‘the most incredible shape and so classic, but feels really modern. It just feels amazing to wear, and not constrictive; I’m not going to be sitting there holding my breath for three hours.’

The star was happy her glam squad could accompany her to the red carpet, with the group arriving in a party bus, so Carey could remain upright and not crease the gown, with tunes blasting.

Her arrival was in stark contrast to the 2021 ceremony, the last Oscars red carpet she walked, with Covid restrictions meaning she was only permitted to bring her husband Marcus Mumford.

‘[He] was in charge of everything: he had to make sure the dress was laid out nicely; he was texting my hair and make-up team. He was incredibly stressed,’ she told Vogue.

Carey lost out on the Best Actress Oscar on Sunday night to Emma Stone, who scooped the win for her role in Poor Things. 

Celebrate every woman and share your love and greetings with your loved ones on this Women’s Day with these most powerful and unique messages.

international Women’s Day is a global celebration that recognizes the achievements of women, honors their contributions and advocates for gender equality. It serves as a powerful reminder of the progress we have made in women’s empowerment, while highlighting the work that remains to be done. On this special day, it is important to deliver powerful messages that inspire and uplift women, encouraging them to embrace their power, voice and potential.

WOMEN’S DAY: TOP 10 WISHES TO SHARE WITH LOVED ones

1. “Happy Women’s Day to all the amazing women out there! May you continue to shine and inspire others with your strength, resilience and determination.”
2. “Wishing a very empowering Women’s Day to all the trailblazing women who are breaking barriers, achieving greatness and making a difference in the world. You are an inspiration!”
3. “On this Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the power and potential that lies within every woman. May you always embrace your uniqueness and strive for greatness. Happy Women’s Day!”
4. “On Women’s Day, I send warm wishes to all the strong and courageous women who have faced challenges with grace and determination. Keep shining and keep believing in yourself.”
5. “Happy Women’s Day to the women who fearlessly pursue their dreams, defy stereotypes and make their mark in every field. Your passion and resilience are truly inspiring!”
6. “I wish all wonderful women a day full of love, appreciation and recognition for everything you do. You are the backbone of society and your contributions are invaluable. Happy Women’s Day!”
7. “May this Women’s Day be a reminder that you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. Embrace your strength, celebrate your achievements and continue to empower others along the way.”
8. “To all the women who have faced adversity and emerged stronger, more resilient and more determined than ever, I salute you. Happy Women’s Day! Your courage is an inspiration to us all.”
9. “On this Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the women who have broken glass ceilings, challenged norms and paved the way for future generations. Your courage and determination continue to inspire us.”
10. “Wishing all phenomenal women a day full of love, empowerment and limitless possibilities. May you always remember your worth and continue to strive for a world where every woman is valued and respected. Happy Women’s Day!”

These powerful messages are intended to inspire women to embrace their potential, speak their truth and make a difference in the world. By supporting and lifting each other up, embracing diversity and advocating for equality, we can create a more inclusive and empowering society for all. Let’s celebrate women’s achievements while recognizing that our work for gender equality is far from over. Together we can continue to empower, inspire and uplift women, not just on Women’s Day, but every day.

Happy Women’s Day to all powerful women!

“With Digital Intelligence Platform and Chakshu, we believe the pace at which we could detect and prevent cyber fraud will further improve significantly,” said IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday announced the launch of ‘Chakshu’ portal, introduced to report suspected fraudulent communications from mobile numbers through calls, SMS or social media like WhatsApp.

It will help strengthen the fight against mobile scams.

Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the launch of ‘Chakshu. He said the DoT’s Sanchar Sathi Portal will also soon be accessible through a mobile app, Business Standard reported.

“With Digital Intelligence Platform and Chakshu, we believe the pace at which we could detect and prevent cyber fraud will further improve significantly,” said IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Spam reporting portal

It is also integrated with the telecommunications department ‘Sanchar Sathi portal’, the new portal Chakshu will trigger re-verification of suspected fraudulent numbers. If re-verification fails, the number will be disconnected. The person reporting such numbers, their username and other information will remain confidential and will never be shared with anyone. The numbers, username and other details of the suspected number are also confidential.

Digital intelligence platform

Now banks, payment wallets, social media platforms and telecom service providers (TSPs) can also share data from suspected fraudulent connections through the newly launched Digital Intelligence Platform. It will provide one unified space for banks and payment wallets so they can compare their database against the master list of fraudulent calls and prevent future fraud.

Complaints portal

The government is still working on a complaint portal to report on accidental disconnections through the Sanchar Sathi portal, DoT officials said.

Officials also said the DoT is working with the Reserve Bank of India and the Department of Financial Services to return the frozen ₹1,008 crore worth of suspected accounts to the citizens.

Trai’s recommendations on CNAP

The telecom minister said the DoT will review TRAI’s recommendations regarding the proposed Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service. CNAP aims to enable users to view the registered name associated with incoming calls.

“User security and protecting user privacy are of the utmost importance. As a user, I have the right to know who is calling me. It is important that people who call at least identify themselves,” said Vaishnaw.

On unsolicited commercial communications, the minister said 1.9 lakh text message headers have been blacklisted after 35 lakh headers were analyzed.

WHATSAPP users have been given a new way to find old messages, so you can always find what you need, when you need it.

This is especially useful for users who have old group chats where it takes too long to scroll through years of messages.

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Meta’s messenger has added a feature that allows users to search for messages by date.

Using a calendar, users can easily choose a date and proceed to all messages sent from that date.

According to Meta, it’s ideal for revisiting a message that made you laugh, or double-checking when you’ve sent information to someone.

It is also compatible with media, links and documents in your chats.

So if you want to find an old photo, just click on a chat, tap the contact or group name at the top and click ‘Search’ to choose which date you want to go to.

The feature is already available on iOS, Mac desktop and WhatsApp Web.

But it’s now rolling out to Android devices this week.

You may need to update your app to use it.

Review of third party chats

The new feature comes ahead of a major shake-up that will enable other messaging networks within WhatsApp later this month.

Thanks to new laws laid out in the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), WhatsApp users should see a new inbox option appear on their app sometime in March.

Within the DMA there is a series of new laws that technology companies will have to comply with in order to continue operating in the bloc.

One of these new laws means that tech apps, such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, owned by Meta, cannot be ‘gatekeeper services’.

So-called ‘gatekeeper services’ are apps that can only be used together with other people using the same app.

Therefore, under the new rules, apps must be interoperable with other messaging apps.

This applies to all messenger apps, including iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, and Signal.

In practice, a WhatsApp user will be able to send a text message to a Facebook Messenger user – and vice versa – without having to use the other app.

It is done on an opt-in basis and messages appear in a separate inbox.

While there are concerns, this could put users at greater risk of scams.

The father of schoolgirl Mia Janin – who killed herself after being bullied on social media – claims her school asked the children to ‘delete the messages’.

Young Mia Janin, 14, was found dead at home in Harrow, north London, in March 2021 after being bullied by classmates both online and at the Jewish Free School (JFS), where she was a Year 10 student.

A coroner’s court ruled that she had committed suicide “while still a child and while she was still becoming an adult,” after “experiencing bullying behavior from some male students.”

Her father Mariano, an Argentinian who moved to Britain with his wife Marisa in 2001, now claims the school ‘organized a meeting and asked the children to delete the messages’.

In 2022, it was reported that the school pulled some boys from the Snapchat group aside and told them to delete it; it denied this in a statement at the inquest.

Speak with bBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said, “I didn’t know anything about this online world. They say she was bullied. We found a screenshot showing that she was willing to be severely bullied, with the names of the children who bullied her.

‘They organized a meeting at school and asked the children to delete the messages.

“My common sense says that if you have a police investigation and you have a potential group, you should report it to the police. “Maybe this group of kids have information on their phones, but that’s what they did.”

Ms Kuenssberg also said the Metropolitan Police lost Mia’s phone ‘for a long time’ but are now arranging for it to be returned to her family.

She added that the school said: ‘The coroner’s report was not a reflection of how things are going at the school today.’

The inquest into Mia’s death, held at Barnet Coroner’s Court, heard she was viciously mocked in a Snapchat group of 60 boys after posting a video on TikTok in which she defiantly told her oppressors to leave her alone.

A child who gave a statement to police, which was read out in court, said sick tormentors had photoshopped girls’ faces into pornographic images.

Mr Janin said Mia, who had ambitions to become a doctor or architect, had struggled to integrate with others at the school and had been happier in lockdown when learning remotely.

He added that after the lockdown, she came home in a low mood and asked her parents if she could be home-schooled for the rest of the year.

The inquest later heard a ballot she had sent to a friend that evening, in which she said: ‘I am currently mentally preparing myself to be bullied tomorrow.’ Her parents found her body in her bedroom the next morning, March 12.

Two handwritten notes were found on her bed, written on pages torn from her diary, which was also found in the bedroom.

One was addressed to her family and the other to one of her best friends.

In the note to her family she wrote: ‘I just wanted to let you know that I love you very much. I was raised well by both of you.

“I learned a lot of things, I love you all very much. But I know this decision is the right one for me.

‘On earth I have never felt connected. I felt a desire to get away for a while. I know this is a shock to you.”

Bosses at JFS allegedly ‘deny’ there is bullying in the corridors, the inquest was told, but the coroner accepted evidence from the agency it said it was not aware of.

Despite this, the hearing was told that Mia and her friends were bullied at school, on the street and on the bus, hit with footballs while boys shouted at her; her tormentors called her friendship group the “suicide squad.”

Months after her death, the school’s security was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted inspectors, who noted that students were reporting ‘sexual bullying, including via social media’. The headteacher, Rachel Fink, left.

She closed the note, “Please let my friends have my stuff. I love you very much.’

At the inquest, Mr Janin described Mia as ‘fantastic… she was very cheerful, had a good sense of humour, she was beautiful, she was very kind, very creative.’

He said that “school is not just for the curricula” and that the school must promote “clear values” of respect, adding: “Unfortunately, I am a victim of this failing system.”

When asked if he wanted to see those responsible appear in court, he told the Telegraph: ‘Yes, but this is not about revenge… They must understand for themselves what they have done. I don’t know how they will deal with this in their lifetimes.’

The Jewish Free School says changes have been made since Mia’s death.

Dr. David Moody, the school’s headteacher, said after the verdict: ‘Although I was not in office at the time of Mia’s death, I can only promise that we will continue to do everything we can to embed all the changes that have been made. introduced over the past three years.

“Mia remains a greatly missed member of our school community and our thoughts remain with the family.”

Mr Janin previously spoke of the pain of burying both his daughter and his life partner, months apart, after she died of leukemia at the age of 59.

Mia and Marisa are buried side by side in a Jewish cemetery in Israel; Mr. Janin says he can hardly believe he made the same trip to Tel Aviv twice with the bodies of his loved ones in such a short time.

MailOnline has contacted the Jewish Free School for comment.

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit

By Tamara Prenn

Christian Horner may be breaching an obscure clause in Formula 1’s International Sporting Code after a series of inappropriate texts and photos appearing to be between the Red Bull team boss and a female employee were circulated anonymously on Thursday afternoon.

The FIA International Sporting Code contains a subsection of an article that refers to the moral responsibility that competitors have towards the organization, and explains that breaking their rules is ‘a punishable offence, whether (…) committed intentionally or negligently’.

Article 12.2.1f states that a competitor may be found in breach of the code for: ‘Any words, acts or writings which have caused moral damage or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more in the generally about the interests of motorsport and about the values ​​defended by the FIA’.

Should the FIA ​​want to launch its own investigation into the alleged texts and photos, the way Horner and Red Bull are leading the investigation, or the impact the media storm could have on the way the sport is viewed , whether the email brought F1 into disrepute could be investigated, with possible sanctions imposed.

Some of Horner’s colleagues were initially unhappy with the team’s parent company’s statement in clearing the team’s head on Wednesday, which insisted their KC-led investigation was “confidential.”

Neither the sport’s owners, Liberty Media, nor the FIA ​​have seen the 150-page report, and Mercedes’ team boss was among the first to call for more transparency about the investigation.

‘I believe that as we strive to be a global sport, on such crucial topics, there needs to be more transparency and I wonder what the position of the sport is?’ Wolff told reporters.

“We are competitors, we are a team and we can have our own personal opinions or not. But it’s more of a general reaction or action that we as a sport have to judge, what is right in that situation and what is wrong.

‘Are we talking with the right moral approach, with the values ​​based on the speculations that are out there?’

McLaren CEO Zak Brown reiterated his comments as he pleaded with the sport’s owners and organizers to “ensure that all racing teams and staff, drivers and everyone else involved in the sport operate in a way that we all live by.” ‘

In the wake of the circulating email, Horner insisted his “entire focus” was on the upcoming race weekend.

“I will not comment on anonymous speculation,” Horner said, “but I repeat: I have always denied the allegations.

“I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and cooperated fully with it every step of the way.

‘It was a thorough and fair investigation, carried out by an independent specialist lawyer, and it led to the dismissal of the complaint submitted.

‘I remain fully focused on the start of the season.’

A spokesperson for Red Bull GmbH called the development a “private matter” in a short statement.

“It is a private matter between Mr Horner and it would be inappropriate for Red Bull to comment on this,” their message read.