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This is the English mirror of @tginfo. Ask Questions & Discuss: @tginfochaten Beta Channel: @betainfoen TON: @infotonen Other Languages: @tginfoall Feedback & Commecrial: @infowritebot
Nepal Blocks Telegram Due to Rising Fraud Cases
The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has ordered the immediate blocking of the Telegram messenger across the country.
What’s happening:
• An official notice was promptly sent to all telecom operators.
• The ban took effect immediately following directives from the Prime Minister, Ministry of Communications, and Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The decision was made after consultations with police and financial institutions.
Official reasons:
• Sharp increase in online fraud involving Telegram.
• Confirmed cases of money laundering through the app.
• Hundreds of incidents recorded by police, ranging from fake job offers to crypto and financial scams.
#bans #Nepal
Ad Banners Under Videos
Telegram has launched a new advertising format for video playback.
Description:
• A text block appears at the bottom of the screen while watching a video.
• Maximum text length: 160 characters.
Display Parameters:
• Ads appear 5 seconds after the video starts.
• The ad banner can only be dismissed after 9 seconds and will close automatically after 30 seconds.
• A repeat ad may appear no sooner than 2 minutes later.
Targeting:
• Ads are shown only within videos in channels.
• Advertising purchases are available exclusively through ad agencies.
#AboutAds
Telegram Desktop Updated to Version 5.16.3
What's new:
• Allow removing / charging fee in channel direct messages.
• Don't offer creating checklists in channels.
• Support author channel in gifts.
Download:
• Windows/macOS/Linux: official website or GitHub.
• Windows: Microsoft Store.
• macOS: App Store.
• Linux: Flathub or Snapcraft.
#update #desktop
Gift API Restrictions
The Telegram development team has implemented restrictions in the gift purchase system.
Bots may now encounter the following errors:
• 500 Internal Server Error when requesting newly available gifts.
• 400 Bad Request with the code STARGIFT_USAGE_LIMITED when attempting to purchase a gift.
Telegram likely introduced these API limitations ahead of new gift releases to prevent automated bulk purchases and ensure fair access for all users.
Userbots are also affected by these restrictions and receive the same error code STARGIFT_USAGE_LIMITED.
#gifts
Translation Settings Disappear from Telegram for iOS
In version 11.13 of Telegram for iOS, the translation feature settings are no longer visible under "Settings › Language".
It’s likely that the settings were hidden because the translation feature has not been working since June 26.
At the same time, new lines found in the source code of Telegram apps suggest that the developers are planning to fundamentally change how translations work: apparently, users will be able to download translation models directly to their devices.
#translation #iOS
Malfunction of Message Translation
Users report that when they try to translate messages or chats they get a dialog saying that "Translations are currently disabled".
Upd 26.06.2025 19:29 UTC
Telegram has confirmed the issue on X and stated that the feature will remain temporarily unavailable while they are making "some technical fixes".
#outages
Malaysian Court Restricts Two Telegram Channels
The High Court has issued a temporary injunction to restrict the distribution of specific harmful content and to prevent the republishing of similar materials, according to a press release.
The lawsuit was prompted by two Telegram channels — “Edisi Siasat” and “Edisi Khas” — whose content, according to the regulator, violates provisions of the Communications and Multimedia Act. Specifically, it is claimed that publications on these channels may “undermine public trust in national institutions” and “threaten public order”.
“Social media platform providers are responsible for the content published on them”, — noted the MCMC.
#Malaysia #courts
Telegram Desktop Updated to Version 5.15.2
What's new in 5.15.0:
• Direct messages to channels.
• New interface for forums.
• 12 answer options in polls.
• Ability to edit a file's caption while it is being uploaded.
• Support for ton:// links in widgets.
• Numerous fixes and stability improvements.
As of version 5.15.1:
• Fixed a bug causing the app to crash when right-clicking a message.
• Fixed a bug related to a missing required DLL file.
• Various interface improvements.
As of version 5.15.2:
• Fixed sending messages in the new forum layout.
• Added statistics for user stars.
Download:
• Windows/macOS/Linux: official website or GitHub.
• Windows: Microsoft Store.
• macOS: App Store.
• Linux: Flathub or Snapcraft.
#update #desktop
Quick Reaction Resetting to ❤️
On May 29, Telegram users began complaining that their “quick reaction” was being set to ❤️.
Not all users encountered the bug, but apparently it is not related to a specific application: complaints have come from users of all platforms — Android, iOS, and Windows.
The reason behind the bug is currently unknown.
Here’s how you can change your quick reaction if it was changed in error:
• Telegram Android: Settings › Chat Settings › Stickers and Emoji › Quick Reaction
• Telegram iOS: Settings › Appearance › Stickers and Emoji › Quick Reaction
• Telegram Desktop: Settings › Chat Settings › Double-Click Reaction
#reactions
Grok Integration
Pavel Durov announced that Telegram has reached an agreement with Elon Musk to integrate Grok into the messenger this summer.
The one-year partnership will give Telegram users access to xAI’s Grok chatbot.
Telegram will receive $300 million in cash and equity from xAI, as well as 50% of revenue from xAI subscriptions sold through Telegram. Grok may be sold as a separate subscription.
Privacy
Pavel Durov claims that Telegram will only send Grok the data that the user and their chat partners decide to share. The founder of the messenger did not specify whether xAI has the right to train its models on data received from Telegram users.
Note that these words should not be taken as a long-term guarantee — Telegram has changed its approach to privacy in the past, even after making promises.
What features can we expect?
In his post, Pavel Durov presented a video concept of future features. It is worth noting that in their final forms, the features may not work as shown in the demonstration.
1. Grok pinned for all users (0:02)
It is likely that the bot can be unpinned — there is an “unpin” button displayed in the video.
2. Questions through global search (0:04)
A Grok button will appear in global search, clicking on which sends the search query to the Grok chatbot.
3. Communication in threads (0:08)
Communication with Grok may be done in several threads in parallel, the interface will look similar to forums, but in private with the bot.
4. Editing text before sending (0:12)
Upon selecting text in the message input field and pressing “AI Tools”, you will be offered options to rewrite the text: to “Improve”, “Expand”, or “Change Tone”. The new menu is added right before Formatting options in the floating bar.
5. Chat summarization (0:16)
By holding down the unread message indicator, you may select the “Summarize” option to get a summary of the chat’s unread messages.
The interface also shows a selector for the range of messages the model will have access to, and the tone of the narrative. It may be possible to get a summary not only for unread messages, but also for messages you choose.
6. Document summarization (0:20)
In the context menu of PDF files uploaded to Telegram, you will be able to select the “Summarize” option to get a digest of the text inside, without opening the file.
7. Link summarization (0:24)
If you long press a link in a message and select the “Summarize” option, the chatbot will generate a digest of the Instant View article. The summary text may be listened to as audio.
It is not clear whether this function will be available for links without Instant View.
8. Moderating groups (0:28)
Automated moderation of group chats is shown.
In the example, Grok issues a warning to the user and threatens with a ban for repeated violations. How exactly admins will be able to set rules and control the number of warnings is unclear.
9. Grok in 1-on-1 chats (0:32)
It will be possible to configure the chatbot so that it responds in personal messages on behalf of the user. The video also shows how you will be able to monitor the bot’s responses in real time and a button to intercept control.
10. Fact-checking in channels (0:36)
A “Fact-Check” button will appear in the context menu of messages in channels.
What sources the model will use and how reliable such reviews will be is unknown.
11. Generating stickers (0:40)
The sticker editor will allow you to describe the desired sticker using text to generate new stickers, including video stickers.
12. Generating avatars (0:44)
Similar to stickers, it will be possible to generate avatars for your profile.
In the video, the user asks to change the background of their avatar, while the user’s face is preserved. Perhaps users will be able to not only generate images from scratch, but also ask to edit their own photos.
#Grok #AI
Vietnam Blocks Telegram
Vietnam's technology ministry has ordered telecoms providers to block the Telegram app for failing to cooperate in combating alleged crimes committed by its users, Reuters reports.
According to police, 68% of the country's 9,600 Telegram channels and groups violate the law in terms of fraud, drug trafficking, and alleged terrorism-related cases. In addition, according to police, "many groups with tens of thousands of participants were created by opposition and reactionary subjects spreading anti-government documents".
The document, dated May 21, orders telecommunications companies to take measures to block Telegram and report them to the ministry by June 2.
#bans #Vietnam
Financial Performance of Telegram in 2024 and New Debt Issuance
Telegram is issuing bonds worth approximately $1.5 billion to refinance its existing debt. The issuance started on Tuesday and may be completed as early as next week.
According to Financial Times, the company stated that an investigation in France concerning Pavel Durov could pose an obstacle to conducting an IPO. The documents indicate that the matter could be resolved this year, but the final timeline depends on the progress of the investigation.
Key financial figures:
• Telegram's revenue for 2024 amounted to $1.4 billion ($343 million in 2023).
• Profit reached $540 million (compared to a $173 million loss in 2023).
• Around 50% of revenue came from partnership projects and mini-apps based on TON and Toncoin.
• Advertising revenue totaled $250 million, while Premium subscription revenue reached $292 million.
• As of February 2025, the company had $530 million in its accounts (excluding crypto assets).
• In 2025, revenue is expected to grow to $2 billion, with profits projected to reach $720 million.
Telegram considers an IPO as one of its potential development strategies, but legal restrictions imposed on Pavel Durov could influence investor decisions.
#IPO #profit
Message Channels
In the Beta version of Telegram for iOS 11.12 (30793), users may now send messages to channel admins, the channel "teleLakel" reports.
The price for messages may range from 0 to 10,000 Telegram stars. Previously, this feature appeared in Telegram for macOS.
The feature is currently in early development, only works on the test server, and may change in the future.
#iOS #beta
Errors When Buying Gifts
In recent days, users have been encountering issues when trying to purchase gifts on the Telegram marketplace. The two most common situations are:
1. Nothing happens when the purchase button is clicked.
2. The app displays an error message with the code STARGIFT_RESELL_TOO_EARLY_xxxxxxx, where xxxxxxx is a number.
The cause of these errors lies in the fact that the marketplace may display gifts that are not actually available for purchase.
This is because, as of May 13, Telegram introduced a rule stating that a gift cannot be listed for resale until 21 days have passed since it was received or upgraded by its current owner. However, gifts that were listed for resale before this rule came into effect still appear in the resale list, but they cannot be purchased.
If the app displays the STARGIFT_RESELL_TOO_EARLY_xxxxxxx error when attempting to buy a gift, the xxxxxxx number represents the number of seconds remaining until the gift becomes available for purchase. Divide this number by 86,400 to find out how many days remain before you can buy the gift.
#Gifts
New Rules for Boost-Based Level Ups
The May 9, 2025 update not only gave users several new features but also simplified how channels achieve level ups.
Unfortunately, at the time of the update, the official Telegram website provided no information about the new rules for calculating the number of boosts a channel must receive to move to a particular level.
The @tginfo team is publishing the results of its own investigation into the new mechanism in its article: https://tginfo.me/new-levels-ranking-en
You can find out how many boosts your channel needs to reach a level in our Mini-App calculator.
#FAQ #boosts
Telegram User Identification via Facial Recognition
Users on Telegram’s test server have discovered an officially verified bot that scans faces using the camera — likely for identity verification purposes.
This bot’s development is presumably linked to a law that will soon take effect in the United Kingdom. The law requires websites and apps distributing adult content to verify the age of users seeking access to such material.
The @tginfo editorial team firmly believes that no identity verification requirements will be introduced for users outside the UK in the near future.
#UnitedKingdom
Translations Are Becoming Available Again
The message translation features seem to be gradually returning.
It is worth noting that not all attempts to translate messages are successful: Some users can translate all messages, others only in specific chats, and some are not able to translate any message at all.
The translation of entire chats is still not completely working.
#translations
Gift API Restrictions Were Not Intended
On July 4 around 23:00 UTC, the official channel BotNews made a post about the issues with gift purchases that occurred earlier.
They made it clear that it was a technical issue, and not an intentional restriction. They also mentioned that the outage occurred exactly between 18:10 and 19:35 UTC.
Links From Non-Contacts No Longer Work in Telegram for iOS and macOS
In the latest versions of Telegram for iOS and macOS, links received from unknown users in private chats are displayed as plain text—they are not highlighted and cannot be clicked.
This behavior appears to be an intentional security measure by Telegram to protect users from scams and malicious content.
To make a link functional again, you can:
• Add the sender to your contacts
• Dismiss the banner with action buttons at the top of the chat
• Forward the message to your “Saved Messages” — the link will become clickable there
This change has not been officially documented in Telegram’s changelogs, but it aligns with broader efforts to reduce spam and phishing attempts on the platform.
#iOS #macOS
Telegram for Android and iOS Updated to Version 11.13
Checklists for Tracking Tasks
• Collaborative management: Telegram Premium users can create checklists in any chat to organize teams or personal goals.
• Granular permissions settings: Ability to control who can mark tasks as done or add new tasks.
• Easy to create: Available in the attachment menu in chats, groups, and Saved Messages.
Suggest Posts in Channels
• User content: Subscribers to Telegram channels can submit content for publishing through an automated interface.
• Transparent process: Channel administrators can suggest edits to the text or media or change the cost of a post before it is accepted.
• Post scheduling: The ability to publish an approved post immediately or schedule it for a specific time.
Monetization for Channel Owners
• Payment options: Reward for publication in Toncoin or Telegram Stars internal currency.
• Secure payments: The channel owner receives payment 24 hours after the post is published.
• Anti-fraud protection: Automatic refunds when a post is deleted within 24 hours, enhanced payment security in Toncoin.
Article: https://telegram.org/blog/checklists-suggested-posts/
How to Update
• Android: Download from Google Play, APK from the official website, or the verified channel.
• iOS: Download from the App Store.
#update #Android #iOS
Collaborative To-Do Lists
The beta version of Telegram for iOS now has the ability to create to-do lists. It is likely this potentially upcoming feature will only be available to Telegram Premium subscribers. Only Premium subscribers are able to mark items as completed in existing lists.
Each list may contain up to 30 tasks and their creation is available in both personal and group chats.
When creating a list in a group, the creator of the list may choose to allow all participants to add new tasks. It is also possible to allow other users to mark and unmark tasks as “completed”, in which case the avatar of the person who completed the task will be displayed next to the check mark.
#iOS
Media: Telegram and the FSB — what is known
This week, journalists from "Important Stories" released an investigation which discusses possible close ties between Telegram and Russian intelligence services. Journalists found that Telegram's infrastructure is serviced by companies that are alleged to simultaneously fulfill contracts for the FSB — Russian intelligence service.
The investigation also claims that a vulnerability in the messenger's protocol, which allows for the tracking of user activity and movements worldwide, could have been intentionally created for the needs of Russian intelligence services.
The reaction from Telegram and its key network partner, GNM Inc., only added more questions. In their rebuttals, they either denied theses that weren't in the investigation to begin with or made statements that contradicted the facts.
@tginfo conducted its own analysis. In the article, we analyze the technical nuances of the vulnerability, assess the reality of the threats, and weigh the arguments of all sides.
Our conclusion: there is no direct evidence of cooperation between Telegram and the FSB, but the suspicious partners, the ignoring of inconvenient questions, the lack of transparency, and the messenger's often reckless attitude towards privacy and security are problems that cannot be ignored.
Considering all this, we do not advise using either cloud or secret chats in Telegram if you have a reason to be concerned about your security. The messenger can only rectify this situation with significant changes in the company's culture.
https://tginfo.me/tg-fsb-overview-en/
Telegram for Android and iOS Updated to Version 11.12
The latest Telegram update brings users the following features:
Direct Messages to Channels
• Channel owners can enable the ability to receive messages from users and set a fee per message: from free to 10,000 stars.
• When a user sends a message, a "Messages" chat is created, resembling a forum. Channel administrators with the "Post Messages" permission can respond to user messages.
• Communication takes place without revealing the contact details of the channel administration.
Ability to Trim Voice Messages
• Users can trim a voice message before sending it. To do this, they need to pause the recording, after which trimming functions for both the beginning and end become available.
• After trimming, users can continue recording the voice message, edit it again if necessary, and then send it.
Forum Topics as Tabs
• Forum administrators can customize the way topics are displayed. Two modes are available: "Tabs" and "List."
• The setting affects the forum’s appearance for all participants.
High-Quality Photos
• When sending an image, users can choose the quality in which the photo will be sent. Two options are available: HD and SD.
• Image quality is preserved when forwarding media files.
Sending Media Files to Stories on iOS
• iOS users can now send photos and videos from other apps directly to the Telegram Stories editor via the "Share" button.
• This simplifies publishing, for example, old photos from the gallery—making them accessible without switching between apps.
12 Answer Options in Polls
• The maximum number of answer options in polls has been increased from 10 to 12.
• Users now have the ability to create polls in "Saved Messages" to forward them to other chats later.
Official blog post from Telegram: https://telegram.org/blog/direct-to-channel-trim-voice-and-more
How to Update
• Android: Google Play, APK from the official website or verified channel.
• iOS: App Store.
#Update #Android #iOS
Telegram Issues $1.7 Billion in Bonds to Repay Debt
Telegram has successfully issued $1.7 billion in convertible bonds with a 9% annual interest rate. The transaction aims to refinance existing debt and raise new capital — $955 million will be used to buy back bonds, while $745 million will support platform development.
Investors received an option to convert the bonds into shares at 80% of the IPO price if Telegram goes public before the bonds mature. The placement concluded on May 28, with settlements expected by June 5.
Key Figures:
• Coupon rate: 9% (previously 7% in 2021)
• Users: over 1 billion
• Revenue for 2024: $1 billion
• Cash reserves: $500+ million (excluding crypto)
The chart shows how Telegram’s bonds have recovered after their decline in 2022. Currently, they are trading at 99.7% of face value.
#IPO #Profit #Bonds
15 Million Telegram Premium Subscribers
Pavel Durov announced that the number of Telegram Premium users has reached 15 million.
Every 8 months, 5 million more users subscribe: in January 2024, Telegram Premium had 5 million subscribers, and in September, it was 10 million.
#statistics #premium
Telegram Changes The Behavior of Options When Deleting Messages
In the latest versions of Telegram's mobile applications, the behavior of the options "Report spam," "Delete all from...," and "Ban..." has been changed on the screen that group administrators see when deleting messages.
However, the behavior of these options differs between Telegram for Android and Telegram for iOS:
• Telegram for Android now remembers the state of checkboxes for these options when deleting a message and will restore the saved settings the next time a message is deleted.
• The Beta version of Telegram for iOS now always displays the options as enabled.
Some administrators are unhappy with these changes.
Firstly, they were used to all options being disabled by default. Now, they sometimes delete messages and ban users by mistake, simply forgetting to turn off the options that are enabled by default.
Secondly, group administrators do not understand why the app developers assume that if a message was previously deleted along with a complaint and a user ban, the administrator would want to do the same next time.
Which behavior do you prefer? Cast your vote in our poll.
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#ad
Outages in many Telegram services
Our subscribers report that Telegram's data center in Europe (DC2) has been experiencing interruptions since 20:15 UTC.
Symptoms: groups and channels are slow to open, messages and pictures are not being sent in large chats.
Upd 17.05.2025 08:33 UTC
Issue is fixed
#outages
Advertising in Bots Can Now Be Paid With Fiat Currency
Telegram Ads has launched in-bot advertising paid for in euros and rubles, according to OneSpot. Previously, such ads could only be paid for using TON or Telegram Stars.
Important: Unlike payments made in TON, fiat currency payments through Telegram Ads allow advertisers to not only choose specific bots but also to select advertising topics. This is currently only available to advertising agencies.
Key Details:
• Ads are available in bots with more than 1,000 daily users.
• Minimum CPM is €1.
• You can select up to 9 specific bots or ad topics.
• Ad interactions are only available within Telegram - no external links.
• Geotargeting is not supported.
#AboutAds
Telegram for Android and iOS Updated to Version 11.11.0
Telegram's second major update in May brought the following features to users:
Marketplace for Collectible Gifts
• Safe Trading: Users can buy and sell unique gifts for Telegram Stars through the built-in marketplace.
• Filters: Search for specific models, backdrops, or symbols to collect.
• Resale System: The ability to put collectible gifts up for sale by setting the own price.
Publication of Multiple Stories
• Group Upload: Select and share multiple photos or videos at once.
• Auto Split: Long videos (more than 60 seconds) are automatically split into a series of stories.
• Easy Editing: Optimized interface for working with multiple content.
Auto Translation for Channels
• Global Audience: Channel owners can enable automatic translation for all users.
• Personalization: Followers see messages in their own preferred language.
• Expanded Reach: Content is made available to an international audience without additional effort.
Easier Access to Functions
• Reduced Requirements: Reduced the number of boosts required to unlock additional channel features.
• Feature Availability: Features that require a high channel level are now more accessible to channel owners.
How to Update
• Android: Download from Google Play, APK from the official website, or the verified channel.
• iOS: Download from the App Store.
#update #Android #iOS