Several locally-developed instant messaging applications were reportedly restored in Iran on Tuesday (20 January), partially easing communications restrictions imposed after recent unrest.
Users were again able to access key functions on the platforms, including group chats, dynamic posts and multimedia sharing, marking the first significant rollback of controls since the nationwide shutdown.
Despite the move, Internet access remained blocked nationwide on Monday. Netblocks, a watchdog organization that monitors cybersecurity and digital governance, confirmed very slight increases in connectivity, though overall traffic remained far below normal levels.
Hossein Afshin, deputy for scientific affairs to the Iranian president, told reporters on Monday that internet restrictions will be “gradually” eased starting at the end of the week, though he offered no additional details.
Access to Google’s search engine was restored on Sunday, according to local media, a day after short message service (SMS) was reinstated.
The restoration of messaging apps follows a broader phased easing of communication bans amid one of the most extensive internet blackouts in the country’s recent history, imposed on 8 January.
The blackout was imposed amid the Iranian protests, which saw mass demonstrations against economic hardship and political repression that began in late December and continued into January.
The shutdown greatly limited the ability of journalists, rights groups and citizens to document or share news about the unrest, prompting criticism from international organisations, including calls from a United Nations fact-finding mission to restore internet and mobile communications amid reports of serious human rights violations.
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The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is escalating further with missile and drone attacks, expanded strikes on key infrastructure, and growing regional fallout. At the same time, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate began to emerge amid rising global energy and security concerns.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The Australian government has threatened to go to court in a bid to sue social media giants for allegedly flouting a ban on under-16s, as its internet regulator disclosed it is investigating some of the biggest platforms for suspected non-compliance with the world-first measure.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
A senior Iranian military officer warned that American troops will become ‘food for sharks’ on Sunday if the U.S. launches a ground offensive in Iran. The threat came as contingents of U.S. Marines began to arrive in the Middle East, with thousands expected to be deployed in the region.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
Israel’s parliament has passed a law allowing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of carrying out deadly attacks on Israelis, a move that has sparked sharp criticism both domestically and internationally.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday urged U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene in the escalating Gulf conflict, warning that only he could prevent it from spreading further.
The Middle East conflict has entered a new phase, with Israel expanding its operations into southern Lebanon and tensions with Iran escalating. Analysts warn that the collapse of traditional deterrence and rising nuclear risks could trigger a global arms race.
Imports of industrial goods into Kyrgyzstan surged in January 2026, driven by a construction boom and the modernisation of production capacity, with China supplying $51.2 million in electrical equipment to become the country’s largest trading partner.
Georgia’s Minister of Economy, Mariam Kvrivishvili, met UK Ambassador Gareth Edward Ward in Tbilisi on 27–28 March to discuss trade, investment and transport links between Georgia and the United Kingdom.
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