meta: Meta launches WhatsApp Cloud API for businesses

New Delhi: Meta Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg said on Thursday that the company is opening WhatsApp to any business of any size around the world with the WhatsApp Cloud API.

Zuckerberg said, “In a matter of minutes, any business or developer can easily access our service, build directly on top of WhatsApp to optimize their experience, and our secure WhatsApp cloud hosted by Meta. Using the API can speed up response times to customers.” Speaking at the Conversation Business Messaging conference and said that more than a billion users join a business account in the company’s messaging services every week.

He added that messaging has become the ‘centre of digital life’, and the launch of the WhatsApp Cloud API is a ‘significant step’ to help more businesses connect with people and help more people to message businesses that need them. They want to support.

Speaking separately to ET, Matthew Idema, VP of Business Messaging at Meta, said that while the company has small business apps and has done very well, APIs for large businesses are a ‘cumbersome’ process and that means companies. has had to work with third parties to set up, run and maintain the Services on its own.

“It (WhatsApp Cloud API) makes it very easy for any business that wants to use WhatsApp programmatically in a matter of minutes. Developers and entrepreneurs can do it. In a large company development teams can do it. And this is immensely beneficial for our partners who have helped us work with all the big brands around the world as it means they no longer need to worry about setting up, hosting and running this software is,” he said.

“We’re going to be doing this for them. And then they can focus on building out their tools and services so we’re really excited about this for our current customers. We’re looking forward to seeing that for the developer community.” Excited what they will do with it,” he said.

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Idema also said that the company will be adding capabilities to the free small business app in the coming months with some premium features such as providing a dedicated branded URL for businesses that acts like a website address, and managing a phone Ability to number from multiple devices.

“So if you’re a small business that has a team of 5-6 people answering messages, now they each have to have their own number, you only have one number for the business because it makes it easier for customers.” We will introduce these premium features to the free small business app in the coming months.”

According to a recent study by Meta, two out of three people agreed that messaging is their preferred way of communicating with a business.

Idema said Meta has seen strong acceptance and decent growth for business messaging on WhatsApp in India. “People in India use WhatsApp a lot to communicate with each other, to communicate with colleagues, and are increasingly using it to communicate with businesses as well. India is definitely a country which has taught us this at the world level. This is really what people want to do. They are also using the messaging app throughout the day to talk to businesses. This is our research,” he said.

“I noticed in some of my recent trips to India that people were using the WhatsApp app to run their small businesses. So, they were using the same app that we use to answer customer questions and take orders. And we realized that we needed to build better tools for them. Over the past few years, we’ve been building tools to help businesses respond to customer demands. What we see is that it’s really starting to work for businesses. They are seeing real benefits,” he said.

He added that the new suite of offerings and solutions will not affect the entire encryption technology of the platform. “There is no change in the privacy and security of end-to-end encryption. For cloud-hosted API technology, it’s the same thing. It’s the same Signal encryption protocol between the customer’s phone and the cloud server hosting the API.” The only difference is that in the cloud, the business has access to information and is a service provider,” he said.

“Users need to understand that the business can use that information by making it clear to them in the chat thread before we begin talking to the business. The business can view the information and they can use it in accordance with their Privacy Policy. No changes to encryption technology here. No changes to the way the small business app works. The only difference is that systems that run in the cloud, a third host of software for you -is. Hosting information for you as a business. We just need to ensure that users are aware of and comfortable with it before initiating a conversation,” he said.

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Originally published at Pen 18

World Boxing Championships 2022: India's Nikhat Zareen wins gold

Originally published at Pen 18

bjp: BJP to hit streets against MVA’s ‘inability’ to secure MP-like quota for OBCs

The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Madhya Pradesh government to hold local body elections by giving political reservation to OBCs has adversely affected the MVA government of Maharashtra as it has not been able to give equal quota to OBCs for local body elections in the state. A move by the state to delay the election till the empirical data for the OBC quota was ready was also rejected by the SC. The state BJP unit has now pulled up the MVA government for ‘not being serious’ on the OBC quota.

“Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has not paid any attention to OBC quota. Maharashtra government has not been able to do what MP has done. MP government has presented empirical data to justify political quota for OBCs and hence they were given Is sanctioned by SC. Maharashtra government has killed OBC reservation,” former CM Devendra Fadnavis said in Nagpur. Describing the state government as incompetent, he said that those responsible should resign.

The BJP leader said that the party would soon launch an agitation against the state government over the issue. About 38% are OBCs in Maharashtra, who have been wooed by parties like BJP, NCP and Congress.

Maharashtra’s OBC leader and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that the government will follow the example of MP. “SC had rejected MP’s move to delay local body elections like ours. However, he has submitted his OBC commission report which has been accepted by SC. Similarly, we too within a month. Such a report will be given to the SC and the MP should also get the same order as the MP got it.

His party colleague Jitendra Awhad claimed that Maharashtra will also benefit from the relief given to MP. Awadh wanted to know, ‘If MP is given relief, then Maharashtra will also benefit. How can there be two different decisions for two states in one country?

Originally published at Pen 18

shiv sena: Maharashtra Congress accuses Sena, NCP of changing ward boundaries to its disadvantage

The Congress has complained against two of its allies for trying to curtail their electoral influence in the state. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Wednesday accused the Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena of redistributing wards so as to adversely affect the Congress. The party has also warned that it may take the matter to court.

Patole said, ‘If the parties delimit the wards according to their own interests, then there will be an objection and we will go to the court.

The Congress alleges that rescheduling of municipal wards for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections and Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections has been done in such a way that it divides the pockets of the Congress and benefits the NCP in Pune and the Shiv Sena in Mumbai.

Patole said that being an ally in the Congress Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), its interests should be kept in mind while remodeling these wards. “Everyone has to be taken into confidence.

If the interests of your own partners are not considered, and they are adversely affected, we will object. We also had an issue regarding the number of proposed election panels for municipal bodies,” the state Congress chief said. Responding to a question, he admitted that in Pune the delimitation of wards would help the NCP, while in Mumbai it would help the Shiv Sena.

A Congress leader in Mumbai said the party would be adversely affected in at least 12 to 15 wards in Mumbai. “NCP does not have a presence in Mumbai, so they are not complaining against Shiv Sena’s move, and similarly in Pune, Shiv Sena does not have much presence, so they are not talking big. However, we have a presence in both the districts, and this will adversely affect us,” the Congress leader said.

A week ago, Patole publicly criticized the NCP for forging an alliance with the BJP for the Gondia Zilla Parishad elections. He had also briefed the Congress leadership in Delhi about the NCP’s move.

Originally published at Pen 18

congress: Congress to hold state-level ‘shivirs’ across country on June 1-2

The Congress on Wednesday said it would organize state-level ‘camps’ across the country on June 1 and 2 to communicate the decisions of the ‘Udaipur Manifesto’ adopted after a three-day ‘Chintan Shivir’. AICC General Secretary and Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said similar conferences would be organized at the district level on June 11 to take the message of the party to the grassroot level workers.

The decision was taken at a meeting of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretaries and in-charges of various states at the party headquarters here on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the recommendations and decisions made at Udaipur Chintan Shivir.

After the conclusion of the “Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir” and the adoption of the “Udaipur Declaration”, under the guidance of the General Secretary (Organization), all the in-charges and General Secretaries of the Congress deliberated and posted these two days. During the discussion, some decisions were taken. were taken, Surjewala said.

“On June 1 and 2, there will be state level camps in all states, in which leaders and grassroot level workers will be made aware of the highlights of Udaipur manifesto, point and way forward. Camps will be organized. Our MPs, MLAs, MPs And MLA candidates, District Congress Committee President, State Congress Committee office-bearers and prominent party leaders participated.

“As a follow-up exercise, a similar one-day camp will be organized at District Congress Committees on June 11. The idea is to take the various highlights and points to the grassroots level, on which the way forward has been decided. Udaipur Party at Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir.

The party leaders also decided that a three-day “Azadi Gaurav Yatra” would be taken out by all district units between August 9 and August 15, where 75 people, marking the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, would work permanently and hundreds And thousands will join them.

Surjewala said, “On August 15, state Congress committees will organize a big function to remember the sacrifices and lessons of the freedom movement.”

Surjewala said the Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India (NSUI) will conduct “rozgar do yatras” and “we will hold talks with their leadership and the way forward will be decided at that time”, Surjewala said.

The office bearers’ meeting takes place immediately after the Chintan Shivir, where Congress leaders from across the country brainstormed to develop ways and means to prepare the party for elections.

With a focus on giving 50 per cent representation to people below the age of 50 and giving them 50 per cent voting tickets from the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Congress has brought about several structural changes within the organisation. ,

The party has decided to implement the formula of “one family, one ticket” and “one man, one post”, with the exception of allowing election tickets to only those family members who have served for a term of five years. work done. organization.

Congress has also decided to create new departments – a Department of Public Insights, an Elections Department and an Assessment and Training Department.

It has been decided that no person shall hold the office of the party for more than five years.

In this context, after the Udaipur announcement, New Delhi DCC President Virendra Kasana has submitted his resignation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Kasana also met senior party leader Ajay Maken after his resignation and reaffirmed his commitment to the Congress.

“Congratulations Kasana ji! Hope others follow suit,” Maken said in a tweet.

Originally published at Pen 18

The Kashmir Files Garners Over 2 Million Views on ZEE5 Global, Vivek Agnihotri Celebrates – Pen 18

Watch The Kashmir Files on ZEE5: Bringing another powerhouse film to the global audience by Vivek Agnihotri, The Kashmir Files It made its digital premiere on May 13 on ZEE5 Global, the world’s largest platform for South Asian content in select markets. The film stars National Award winning actors like Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi and Darshan Kumar. The film has garnered wide acclaim worldwide, earning 350+ crores at the box office.Also Read – John Abraham Praises Kashmir Files, Takes Taunt on The Kapil Sharma Show: It Doesn’t Translate Into Ticket Sales

Produced by ZEE Studios and Tej Narayan Agarwal, Abhishek Agarwal, Pallavi Joshi and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, ‘The Kashmir Files’ is Vivek Agnihotri’s second directorial venture after The Tashkent Files on ZEE5 Global. The story narrates the void that still pervades the valleys of Kashmir. Through the film, director Vivek Agnihotri narrates the emotional distress of Kashmiri Pandits, echoing their sense of deprivation, pain of being let go, fear of existence and struggle to survive. Also Read – The Kashmir Files Cast Interview: Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar and Bhasha Sumbali on Politics, Genocide and the ‘Brutal Truth’

Talking about the film’s digital premiere on ZEE5 Global, the director Vivek Agnihotri Said, “We have had a successful collaboration with ZEE5 for The Tashkent Files that released earlier. I am now overwhelmed with the response to The Kashmir Files on the platform, as the film has already garnered 2+ million views within 24 hours. Which is a huge achievement. We are sure that the film will continue to grow from strength to strength.” Also Read – Anupam Kher Not The Only Kashmiri Pandit In Kashmir Files, Meet Bhasha Sumbali – Exclusive Interview

Adding further, the director said, “ZEE5 Global provides a worldwide platform for filmmakers to showcase their creativity and present their stories to a wider audience. With the platform’s huge international presence, we are looking forward to take our film to audiences across multiple countries.”

Along with the addition of The Kashmir Files, ZEE5 Global has also announced a content slate of 80+ titles across languages ​​for its line-up for South Asian audiences across the globe. Catch The Kashmir Files Now Streaming In Select Countries Only On ZEE5 Global!

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Originally published at Pen 18

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank to have 50 per cent in secured loans over next 2-3 years

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, after facing headwinds amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is on a more balanced growth trajectory by increasing its secured loan book to 50 per cent of total assets in the next two-three years. As part of its asset diversification strategy, the lender has already resumed auto loans and plans to enter the gold loan segment soon.

The Bengaluru-based lender, which started its operations as a micro-financier in 2005, transformed itself into a small finance bank in 2017. It turned black with a net income of Rs 127 crore in the March 2022 quarter, but closed FY22. Net loss of Rs 415 crore, hit by the impact of the pandemic.

The lender holds 68 per cent of assets in the unsecured micro-loan segment as of March 2022 and the remaining 32 per cent (up from 27 per cent in FY21) with housing and small business loans in secured accounts.

“Micro credit will continue to be the largest asset base for us in the near term, but in the next two-three years, we want to increase our safe book share from 32 per cent to 50 per cent, so that we can meet Ujjivan Managing Director and CEO Ittira Davies. He said that like the last two years, do not fall into the heap of bad debt.

“As part of this asset base diversification, we have relaunched our auto loan portfolio (two-wheeler financing), which we had closed during the pandemic, and we are looking to book this financial year at Rs 120-150 crore. Let’s hope to end with, Davis said.

“The second step is to enter the gold loan business, which is a fully secured and high-margin segment for all lenders. We expect to launch it by October/just before Diwali,” he added.

He said around 60 per cent of auto loan customers are existing micro lenders while the rest are new customers.

Davis expects his asset base to reach Rs 20,000 crore this fiscal, from Rs 18,162 crore in FY22.

The company registered a growth of 20 per cent in asset base in FY22 as compared to the previous financial year.

Davis said he expects record debt sales to continue in the fourth quarter in fiscal 2013 as well. Davis said it disbursed maximum loans of Rs 4,870 crore in the March 2022 quarter.

Davis said Ujjivan’s deposits grew 39 per cent to Rs 18,292 crore, leading to a 27 per cent increase in current account savings account.

The bank saw a shift in asset quality, with gross NPAs (non-performing assets) falling from 11.8 per cent in Q2 to 9.8 per cent in Q3 to 7.1 per cent in Q4, as collection efficiency reached 100 per cent by March, and net NPAs at 1.7 per cent. percent decreased to 0.6 percent.

The bank’s provision coverage ratio is 92 per cent with a provisional provision of Rs 260 crore, he said, writing off bad loans worth Rs 200 crore in the fourth quarter of FY22. Its total provision was Rs 1,330 crore or 7.3 per cent of the loan book.

The company went public in December 2019 and is to increase the public float to 25 per cent by this December from 18 per cent now. This is being done through a Rs 600 crore QIP issue, after which it will go for reverse merger.

Davis expects equity sales to take place in the second quarter of FY23.

Originally published at Pen 18