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Iran is experiencing the longest nationwide internet blackout ever recorded, according to the global monitoring group NetBlocks. Since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28, connectivity has hovered at about 1% of pre‑war levels, effectively cutting the country off from the global web. The blackout follows a prior 20‑day shutdown in January, which coincided with deadly nationwide protests. Combined, these measures mean that Iranian civilians have spent close to two‑thirds of 2026 in digital darkness, relying only on a slow, state‑controlled intranet for basic services and state‑run news. NetBlocks highlighted that while regions such as Myanmar, Sudan, Kashmir and Tigray have endured longer intermittent outages, no other war has forced an entire nation offline to this extent. The monitor added that Iran is the first country to lose previously functional internet connectivity by reverting to a national network. Economic analysts warned that the January shutdown already caused the economy to lose tens of millions of dollars each day in direct damages, with far‑reaching indirect effects. Companies reported that many online businesses could not survive more than three weeks without connectivity, leading to a wave of layoffs and reduced pay raises. One affected worker, Kamran, a product designer in Karaj, said he was dismissed after the latest wave of cuts. He now relies on a local skill‑matching group, but fears competition from thousands of similarly displaced workers. A senior data analyst from a Tehran firm disclosed that the firm is offering lower-than‑expected raises and shifting to three‑month contracts, creating uncertainty about future employment. Compounding the digital crisis, the war has targeted Iran’s steel factories, petrochemical plants and other civilian infrastructure, aggravating pre‑existing problems of high inflation and unemployment. Only a limited segment of the population can access the global internet—either because they are whitelisted by the state or because they pay steep fees for proxy connections that often disappear after a few hours. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani stated that internet access is being granted only to those who can “get the voice out,” such as officials, state‑affiliated entities and news agencies. Citizens on the ground describe a grim reality: frequent power outages, uncertainty about water supplies, and an inability to use services like Google Search or AI tools, even as they watch live feeds from space missions that remain inaccessible. In response to the prolonged shutdown, authorities have begun rolling out a tiered system dubbed “Internet Pro.” Business groups have received a “guide to connect to international internet,” urging them to contact a state‑run messaging app, Bale, for registration. Parallel efforts by a major telecom carrier offer one‑year data packages at prices higher than normal plans, while existing providers have not refunded customers for services they cannot deliver. President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration, which campaigned on unblocking Iran’s internet, has offered no official explanation for the shutdown, leaving both the battered digital sector and the broader economy facing an uncertain future.

The missing crew member of a US F‑15E jet, described by President Trump as a colonel, was located and rescued after a heavy firefight that involved hundreds of special‑forces operators, according to a US official speaking to Al Jazeera.Trump has set a 48‑hour deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint through which 20% of global oil and gas transits. Iran’s central military command dismissed the ultimatum as “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid.”Iran reports that US‑Israeli strikes have killed five people and wounded 170 at the Mahshahr Petrochemical Zone, while more than 30 universities have been targeted since the war began on 28 February.The rescued airman was the second of the two‑person crew; Iran has not yet issued a comment, though officials had previously urged citizens to help locate the missing officer in hopes of gaining leverage against Washington.During the rescue operation, Iranian media said strikes killed five civilians in the southwest. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it shot down a US aircraft searching for the officer near Isfahan and destroyed an MQ‑9 Reaper drone, labeling the US effort a “desperate attempt to cover up a huge defeat.”Additional US‑Israeli attacks in Ardabil province near the Azerbaijani border killed three people, and the IRGC warned that the United States’ “target bank is inaccurate,” dismissing Trump’s threats to strike bridges as “laughable.”Russia has evacuated another 200 staff from the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant after a deadly perimeter attack, while Iran’s foreign minister warned that such raids could expose the region to radioactive contamination.Tehran’s prosecutor’s office ordered the seizure and freezing of assets belonging to more than 100 high‑profile individuals accused of supporting the enemy abroad.In the Gulf, Iranian drones damaged two Kuwaiti power and desalination plants, shutting down two electricity‑generating units but causing no injuries. Bahrain’s civil‑defence teams extinguished a fire at an unspecified facility, also without casualties. Abu Dhabi halted operations at Borouge’s petrochemical plant after debris‑induced fires, and the UAE’s air defences responded to missile and drone attacks aimed at its aluminium industry. Former IAEA director‑general Mohamed ElBaradei urged Gulf nations to act before the situation “turns the region into a ball of fire.”President Trump confirmed the rescue on Truth Social, calling it “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History.” Meanwhile, former Army chief of staff General Randy George submitted a farewell letter after his removal, and satellite‑imaging firm Planet Labs announced an indefinite blackout of Iranian and regional imagery at the request of the Trump administration. Two individuals claiming to be relatives of the late Iranian general Qassem Soleimani were detained in the US, though Iranian media later disputed the familial link.Israel reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen—the fifth such attack since the war’s start—and the Houthis, together with Iranian forces and Hezbollah, claimed a joint long‑range strike on Lod airport. Explosions were heard over Jerusalem, and missile attacks on Tel Aviv and central Israel wounded five civilians.In Lebanon and Syria, Israeli forces bombed the town of Kfar Hatta in Sidon, struck the southern city of Tyre after issuing evacuation warnings, and caused casualties in Maarakeh, where at least five people were reported killed.Energy markets are under pressure: OPEC is set to meet to decide May output policy after a modest April boost of 206,000 barrels per day. The war has driven crude prices above $100 per barrel, up from $65 before hostilities. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar and is expected to travel to the UAE as oil supplies remain disrupted. Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines reported that its LPG tanker Green Sanvi resumed Gulf crossing after being stranded. Iran announced it would allow Iraqi vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz despite maintaining a broader blockade, a move aimed at easing Iraq’s severe economic distress.

The United States has revoked the permanent residency of two women identified as relatives of the late Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, the former head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps foreign arm.According to a State Department statement released on Saturday, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar—Soleimani’s niece—and her daughter were arrested on Friday night and are now in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is seeking their removal from the country.The decision has sparked a debate over the limits of free‑speech protections in the United States and whether family members should be penalised for the actions or affiliations of their relatives.In its release, the State Department described Afshar as “an outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran,” adding that such rhetoric would not be tolerated under the Trump administration. The statement read: “The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti‑American terrorist regimes.”Iranian media, however, quoted Afshar’s daughter, Zeinab Soleimani, who denied any connection to the late Quds Force leader, stating, “The individuals arrested in the United States have no connection whatsoever to martyr Soleimani, and the claim made by the US State Department is false.”The arrests occur at the five‑week mark of the U.S.‑Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28, 2026.This is the second known instance this month that the Trump administration has stripped legal immigration status from individuals allegedly linked to senior Iranian figures.Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to social media to claim credit for the action, writing, “This week, I terminated both Afshar and her daughter’s legal status.” He added that Afshar had “celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the ‘Great Satan.’”The State Department also highlighted Afshar’s “lavish lifestyle” in Los Angeles and noted that her husband has been barred from entering the United States.Similar pressure was applied earlier this month to Fatemeh Ardeshir‑Larijani, the daughter of the late Iranian official Ali Larijani. Both she and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, had their U.S. immigration status revoked and were prohibited from re‑entering the country. Larijani, a former head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 17.The moves reflect growing influence from conservative politicians and activists demanding the expulsion of individuals with familial ties to Iran’s leadership.Far‑right influencer and Trump ally Laura Loomer claimed she had reported Afshar to the State Department and thanked Rubio, calling the removal a “big scalp.” An online petition on Change.org, launched two months ago, had already gathered more than 4,000 signatures calling for Afshar’s deportation.Ardeshir‑Larijani, who previously worked in oncology at Emory University’s School of Medicine, became a target of protests after Iran’s crackdown on anti‑government demonstrators in December and January. A separate Change.org petition demanding her deportation amassed 157,017 signatures by Saturday.The petition emphasized her familial links to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war, arguing that while she lives peacefully in the U.S., “countless young Iranians are dying in Iran due to the policies and decisions made by Ali Khamenei and his inner circle, including her father.”U.S. Congressman Earl “Buddy” Carter of Georgia echoed the call, urging that Ardeshir‑Larijani’s medical license be revoked. He wrote, “America’s medical institutions must not serve as a safe harbor for individuals connected by blood and loyalty to regimes that openly call for the death of Americans.”According to Emory’s student newspaper, The Emory Wheel, Ardeshir‑Larijani was no longer employed by the university as of January.

President Donald Trump posted a terse three‑sentence message on Truth Social, giving Iran a 48‑hour deadline to either negotiate a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international traffic. The post, which omitted any reference to the ongoing hunt for a U.S. pilot believed to have ejected after an F‑15 fighter crashed in Iranian airspace, reignited diplomatic friction. Iran’s central military command responded within hours. General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi dismissed the ultimatum as a “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action,” warning that the “gates of hell will open” for the United States. Earlier this week, Tehran claimed to have shot down an A‑10 Warthog near the Hormuz Strait, casting doubt on Trump’s earlier assertion that the United States has established dominance over Iranian airspace. The current threat follows a 10‑day deadline announced on March 26, which required Iran to open the strait or face the “destruction” of its energy facilities. That deadline expires on Monday, prompting Trump to write: “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!” In Tehran, the Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters echoed Aliabadi’s criticism, labeling the message as reckless and unbalanced. Trump’s rhetoric this week has also targeted Iranian infrastructure more broadly. He has threatened to strike power plants, oil facilities, and even “possibly all desalinization plants,” and in a recent national address warned he would bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages.” More than 100 international law experts have warned that such attacks on civilian infrastructure could violate the Geneva Convention and constitute war crimes. Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran stays open to negotiations but rejected a “15‑point” plan from the Trump administration as “unreasonable.” The United States, meanwhile, views Iran’s demand for sovereignty over the Hormuz Strait as a “non‑starter.” Pakistan has pledged to continue supporting cease‑fire talks despite the “obstacles.” While Trump has not publicly addressed the missing pilot, NBC News reported that he told the network the incident would not affect negotiations: “No, not at all. No, it’s war.” Experts caution that if Iran captures the pilot, it could give Tehran a powerful bargaining chip and undermine U.S. claims of air‑space dominance. Marina Miron, a researcher at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that the F‑15 shoot‑down demonstrates Iran’s ability to target U.S. aircraft, contradicting statements from Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth about complete U.S. control of Iranian airspace. She noted that Iran’s likely use of man‑portable air‑defence systems makes locating and neutralising them “much more difficult.” Miron warned that any U.S. rescue attempt could risk additional casualties and further escalation. “It’s a race for time,” she said, noting a critical window of up to 72 hours during which both sides are scrambling to secure the pilot for military and political purposes.

The Trump administration has filed an emergency motion to resume construction on its White House ballroom project, citing national security concerns. The project, which has been temporarily halted by a court decision, is estimated to cost nearly $400m and has sparked controversy over its potential impact on the White House's historic design.Lawyers for the Trump administration and the National Park Service have called the court decision to pause construction 'shocking, unprecedented, and improper'. They argue that the court-ordered suspension has left a 'massive excavation' site next to the executive mansion, threatening grave national-security harms to the White House, the President and his family, and the President's staff.The motion outlines various security measures slated to be incorporated into the ballroom project, including drone-proof roofing materials and glass meant to withstand bullets and blasts. 'Time is of the essence,' the motion reads.The court filing is the latest response from the Trump administration to a March 31 ruling from Judge Richard Leon, an appointee of former Republican President George W Bush. Judge Leon had issued a 35-page ruling ordering construction on the project to stop, citing the need for congressional approval for a project so transformative.The Trump administration has appealed Leon's injunction against the project and has claimed broad authority to make changes to the White House, citing past renovations under earlier presidents. The project has grown from a $200m structure to a nearly $400m one, by current estimates, and is set to span 90,000 square feet.

Satellite‑imaging firm Planet Labs confirmed it will indefinitely suspend the distribution of visuals covering Iran and the wider Middle East conflict zone, responding to a direct request from the United States government.The California‑based company communicated the decision to its customers via email on Saturday, stating that the administration had asked imagery providers to impose an “indefinite withhold of imagery.”This restriction builds on a 14‑day delay introduced last month, which itself extended an earlier 96‑hour hold. Those temporary measures were intended to prevent hostile actors from exploiting commercial satellite data to target U.S. and allied forces.Planet Labs will withhold all imagery captured since March 9 and expects the policy to stay in place until the end of the war, which began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched aerial strikes against Iran. Since then, the conflict has escalated, with Iran firing missiles and drones at Israeli and U.S. assets and striking civilian infrastructure throughout the Gulf region.Founded in 2010 by former NASA scientists, the company said it will shift to a “managed distribution” model, releasing images only on a case‑by‑case basis for urgent, mission‑critical needs or when deemed to serve the public interest.“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders,” Planet Labs said in its statement.Satellite technology remains vital for military operations—supporting target identification, weapons guidance, missile tracking, and communications. Some space analysts warn that Iran could still access commercial imagery through adversarial channels, while journalists and researchers rely on such data to monitor hard‑to‑reach areas.

The Rice's whale, a critically endangered species found only in the Gulf of Mexico, is on the verge of extinction due to the oil and gas industry's activities. With fewer than 50 individuals remaining, the species' survival is threatened by vessel strikes, noise pollution, and habitat disruption caused by drilling and seismic surveys.The Trump administration has made a controversial decision to exempt the oil and gas industry from complying with endangered species laws, sparking concerns among environmental groups and experts. The exemption, granted by the Endangered Species Committee, also known as the 'God Squad,' allows for increased drilling and exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, which could further jeopardize the Rice's whale's survival.Environmental experts and groups have sued to reverse the decision, arguing that it is illegal and could set a precedent for ignoring environmental protections in the name of national security or economic interests. The Rice's whale's precarious status highlights the need for stronger conservation efforts and more stringent regulations to protect endangered species and their habitats.

When Corentin Roudaut arrived in Paris a decade ago, he swapped his student‑era bike for a car, daunted by the city’s traffic and lack of cyclist protection. After a protected lane opened on Boulevard Voltaire in the 11th arrondissement, he reclaimed his two‑wheel commute and now volunteers with the cycling advocacy group Paris en Selle, witnessing a city that has shed its car‑centric image.Roudaut notes that the shift “started slowly but really accelerated in the last ten years,” with a growing network of bike routes that is becoming safe and nearly complete in many districts.Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s 12‑year agenda reshaped Paris’s urban fabric. Since taking office in 2014, her administration planted 155,000 trees, created several hundred kilometres of segregated bike lanes, pedestrianised 300 school streets, and banned cars from the banks of the Seine. Former parking spaces have been turned into green plazas and café terraces, reducing the risk of children being hit while walking to school.As Hidalgo departs on Sunday, her legacy is touted as a blueprint for progressive European cities, especially as some national governments retreat from green initiatives.Nevertheless, the reforms have sparked pushback. Motorists object to the loss of road space, and recent referendums on higher parking charges for SUVs and further school‑street pedestrianisation suffered low voter turnouts. Right‑wing mayoral candidate Rachida Dati described the new public‑space regime as “anxiety‑inducing,” though she stopped short of promising a reversal.In a candid interview, Hidalgo described the Seine‑bank pedestrianisation as “a tough battle” that, once won, left residents reluctant to revert to car traffic. She highlighted a generation of children who have never known cars on those riverbanks, prompting awe‑filled reactions from visitors.Urban scholars attribute the rapid change to Paris’s tight administrative boundaries, which limit suburban influence on city transport decisions, and to groundwork laid by previous mayors. Yet they stress that political courage was essential to implement measures that inconvenienced drivers while delivering social and environmental benefits.Environmental epidemiologist Audrey de Nazelle of Imperial College London, a Paris native, praised the transformation as “fabulous” and warned that many cities lack the bravery to pursue similar legacies.A recent report placed Paris among 19 global cities that cut two major toxic air pollutants between 2010 and 2024. While Brussels and Warsaw saw faster declines in fine‑particle matter, London outpaced Paris in reducing nitrogen‑dioxide levels.By contrast, Berlin—despite opening a new inner‑city motorway and scrapping 30 km/h speed limits on key streets—still records a higher share of cyclists than Paris.Transport researcher Giulio Mattioli argues that Paris simply needed to add bike lanes to unlock latent demand, noting that the city started from a lower baseline but quickly caught up with peers.However, the transformation remains uneven. The extensive suburbs continue to be dominated by cars, hemmed in by the 35 km Boulevard Périphérique ring road. Analyst Jean‑Louis Missika of think‑tank Terra Nova stresses that “as long as this motorway encircles Paris, the Greater Paris metropolis will remain an administrative construct devoid of urban reality.” He calls for dismantling or repurposing the ring road to achieve a truly post‑car metropolis.

A United States federal judge has rejected a motion from the Department of Justice to reconsider his earlier ruling dismissing subpoenas against Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve.In a six-page opinion published on Friday, Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his decision to nullify the subpoenas, stating that they were issued for an 'improper purpose': to pressure Powell into compliance with President Donald Trump's demands.The subpoenas were part of an investigation into Powell's handling of renovations to the Federal Reserve's historic buildings in Washington, DC, which have gone over budget. The Trump administration has accused Powell of 'malfeasance' and called for his premature resignation.Boasberg criticized the Trump administration's efforts, saying they presented 'no evidence whatsoever of fraud' and that the subpoenas were an attempt to undermine the Federal Reserve's independence.The ruling is likely to set the stage for the Trump administration to appeal, with US Attorney Jeanine Pirro previously denying any political motivation for the investigation.