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.
There was a common theme in speeches at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday (20 January). China’s Vice-Premier, He Lifeng, warned that "tariffs and ...
Afghanistan is confronting an escalating humanitarian emergency as freezing winter conditions, widespread food insecurity and sharp reductions in inte...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his country’s support for a ceasefire deal between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic...
Several locally-developed instant messaging applications were reportedly restored in Iran on Tuesday (20 January), partially easing communications res...
The United Nations says Israeli crews have begun bulldozing the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters in east Jerusalem. The move comes amid...
There was a common theme in speeches at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday (20 January). China’s Vice-Premier, He Lifeng, warned that "tariffs and trade wars have no winners," while France's Emmanuel Macron, labelled "endless accumulation of new tariffs" from the U.S. "fundamentally unacceptable."
Dozens of beaches along Australia's east coast, including in Sydney, closed on Tuesday (20 January) after four shark attacks in two days, as heavy rains left waters murky and more likely to attract the animals.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 20th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
More than 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 96 in western Michigan on Monday (19 January), forcing the highway to shut in both directions amid severe winter weather.
Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has died at the age of 93, his foundation said on Monday.
More than 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 96 in western Michigan on Monday (19 January), forcing the highway to shut in both directions amid severe winter weather.
Speaking on Armenian public radio on 9 January, Armenia’s Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan made some important announcements for 2026. Among them, discussions between Yerevan and Baku over the range of products Armenia can potentially export to Azerbaijan.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he told NATO chief Mark Rutte that Greenland was critical to global security, underscoring his determination to pursue control of the territory while escalating trade pressure on European allies.
Five skiers were killed in a pair of avalanches in Austria’s western Alpine regions on Saturday, with two others injured, one critically.
Afghanistan is confronting an escalating humanitarian emergency as freezing winter conditions, widespread food insecurity and sharp reductions in international aid leave millions struggling to survive, aid agencies have warned.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his country’s support for a ceasefire deal between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which calls for the latter’s integration into the Syrian state apparatus.
The United Nations says Israeli crews have begun bulldozing the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters in east Jerusalem. The move comes amid increasing crackdowns on humanitarian groups.
Syrian government troops tightened their grip across a swathe of northern and eastern territory on Monday after it was abruptly abandoned by Kurdish forces in a dramatic shift that has consolidated President Ahmed al-Sharaa's rule.
Syria's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that about 120 Islamic State detainees escaped from Shaddadi prison, after the Kurdish website Rudaw reported that a spokesperson for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Farhad Shami, said around 1,500 Islamic State members had escaped.
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