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Satellite Internet Provider Starlink Now Offering Free Service Inside Iran

Protesters participate in a demonstration supporting protesters in Iran, in front of the US Consulate, Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)
Protesters participate in a demonstration supporting protesters in Iran, in front of the US Consulate, Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)
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Satellite Internet Provider Starlink Now Offering Free Service Inside Iran

Protesters participate in a demonstration supporting protesters in Iran, in front of the US Consulate, Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)
Protesters participate in a demonstration supporting protesters in Iran, in front of the US Consulate, Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)

The satellite internet provider Starlink now offers free service in Iran, activists said Wednesday.

Mehdi Yahyanejad, a Los Angeles-based activist who has helped get the units into Iran, told The Associated Press that the free service had started. Other activists also confirmed in messages online that the service was free.

Starlink has been the only way for Iranians to communicate with the outside world since authorities shut down the internet Thursday night as nationwide protests swelled and they began a bloody crackdown against demonstrators.

Starlink itself did not immediately acknowledge the decision.

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World

China Says Holding American Citizen Suspected of Spying

People enjoy the view of the city's skyline and traditional Hutong alleyway houses from the Drum Tower in Beijing on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)
People enjoy the view of the city's skyline and traditional Hutong alleyway houses from the Drum Tower in Beijing on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)
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China Says Holding American Citizen Suspected of Spying

People enjoy the view of the city's skyline and traditional Hutong alleyway houses from the Drum Tower in Beijing on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)
People enjoy the view of the city's skyline and traditional Hutong alleyway houses from the Drum Tower in Beijing on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)

China said on Friday it was holding an American citizen, who is also an analyst at a policy think tank focusing on Myanmar, on suspicion of spying.

Min Zin, who founded the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar, "has been subjected to criminal compulsory measures... on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endanger China's national security,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing.

The ISP-M researches the political, resource and conflict dynamics of Myanmar, which was plunged into civil war by a 2021 coup.

It is not clear whether Min Zin was conducting research at the time of his arrest.

A person with professional ties to ISP-M, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case, told AFP that Min Zin was arrested on June 3 at Kunming airport in Yunnan province, bordering Myanmar.

"He went there to attend a meeting," said another person with a close relationship to the detained academic, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
 

World

NYT Reports: US Plans Major Cut to Fighter Jets, Warships for NATO Operations in Europe

(FILES) This photograph taken on April 27, 2026, shows Rafale fighter aircraft parked on the flight deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during the NATO military exercise Neptune Strike 26-2, off the coast of the Greek island of Crete. (Photo by Angelos TZORTZINIS / AFP)
(FILES) This photograph taken on April 27, 2026, shows Rafale fighter aircraft parked on the flight deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during the NATO military exercise Neptune Strike 26-2, off the coast of the Greek island of Crete. (Photo by Angelos TZORTZINIS / AFP)
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NYT Reports: US Plans Major Cut to Fighter Jets, Warships for NATO Operations in Europe

(FILES) This photograph taken on April 27, 2026, shows Rafale fighter aircraft parked on the flight deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during the NATO military exercise Neptune Strike 26-2, off the coast of the Greek island of Crete. (Photo by Angelos TZORTZINIS / AFP)
(FILES) This photograph taken on April 27, 2026, shows Rafale fighter aircraft parked on the flight deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during the NATO military exercise Neptune Strike 26-2, off the coast of the Greek island of Crete. (Photo by Angelos TZORTZINIS / AFP)

The United States plans to significantly reduce the aircraft and warships that it makes available for NATO operations in Europe, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing two senior European officials.

The decision would limit NATO's ability to launch long-range strikes and conduct surveillance, the report said.

The US plan includes cutting the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets ‌from roughly ‌150 to 100, as well ‌as ⁠reducing maritime reconnaissance aircraft ⁠from 26 to 15 and removing all eight aerial refueling tanker jets it previously made available to Europe, the report said.

It also aims to redeploy a missile-launching submarine and an aircraft carrier, along with several warships and ⁠scores of jets that join the ‌carrier’s missions, the New ‌York Times said, adding that one of two ‌groups of bombers previously assigned for Europe’s defense ‌may also be reallocated.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. NATO and the US Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The ‌US Eastern Command said in a statement last week that it would "rightsize" its ⁠contributions ⁠to the NATO Force Model, without providing further details.

Reuters reported in May that the US planned to scale back the military capabilities it would make available to its alliance allies during a major crisis.

US President Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly accused European governments of underinvesting in their militaries and relying too heavily on US protection, while urging both Europe and Asian allies to boost defense spending to 3.5% of GDP.

World

NATO Will Gradually Adjust Strength of Peace Support Mission in Kosovo over Next Year

Kosovo Security Forces parade during celebrations to mark the 18th anniversary of independence, in Pristina, Kosovo, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP)
Kosovo Security Forces parade during celebrations to mark the 18th anniversary of independence, in Pristina, Kosovo, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP)
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NATO Will Gradually Adjust Strength of Peace Support Mission in Kosovo over Next Year

Kosovo Security Forces parade during celebrations to mark the 18th anniversary of independence, in Pristina, Kosovo, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP)
Kosovo Security Forces parade during celebrations to mark the 18th anniversary of independence, in Pristina, Kosovo, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP)

NATO will gradually adjust the strength of its peace support mission in Kosovo, which has been in place since 1999, over the next year due to the steady security situation in the country, ‌it said ‌on Friday.

"NATO and ‌KFOR ⁠are fully committed ⁠to safety and security in Kosovo," said US Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) in a ⁠statement according to Reuters.

"It is this commitment ‌that ‌has led to increased stability as ‌the security organizations in ‌Kosovo have become more capable. The current conditions provide an opportunity to optimize KFOR's size ‌and posture further," he added.

Calibrated reductions are ⁠expected ⁠to follow national rotational deployment and redeployment cycles between now and next year, NATO said.

The changes will occur gradually and in line with conditions on the ground, and could be reversed if needed, NATO said.