On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents

Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents

Get a weekly international news dispatch

At least two people have been killed in a drone attack in Russia’s southwestern Saratov region, local authorities confirmed on Saturday, as parts of Ukraine simultaneously faced power outages following targeted assaults on energy infrastructure.

Saratov regional Governor Roman Busargin reported that the drone strike damaged a residential building, with windows at a kindergarten and clinic also blown out.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry stated it had intercepted 41 Ukrainian drones over its territory overnight, as US-led peace talks continue.

In Ukraine, Russia launched overnight drone and missile strikes on five Ukrainian regions, targeting energy and port infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had sent over 450 drones and 30 missiles into Ukraine overnight.

Russia continues to target Ukraine’s power infrastructure in their attacks, Zelensky claims (AP)

“Thousands of families are now left without electricity after strikes last night in Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson and Chernihiv regions,” he wrote on Telegram.

An attack on the Black Sea city of Odesa caused grain silos to catch fire at the port, Ukrainian deputy prime minister and reconstruction minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.

Two people were wounded in attacks on the wider Odesa region, according to regional head Oleh Kiper.

Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia is trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing” the cold.

The latest round of attacks came after Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Friday that Russian police and National Guard will stay on in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas and oversee the industry-rich region, even if a peace settlement ends Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. This underscores Moscow’s ambition to maintain its presence in Donbas post-war. Ukraine is likely to reject such a stance as U.S.-led negotiations drag on.

Moscow will give its blessing to a ceasefire only after Ukraine’s forces have withdrawn from the front line, Ushakov said in comments published in Russian business daily Kommersant.

Meanwhile, Germany is set to host Zelenskyy on Monday for talks as peace efforts gain momentum and European leaders seek to steer negotiations.

For months, American negotiators have tried to navigate the demands of each side as U.S. President Donald Trump presses for a swift end to Russia’s war while growing increasingly exasperated by delays. The search for possible compromises has run into a major obstacle over who keeps Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russian forces.

SOURCE PAGE

NEED TO KNOW

• Jennifer Aniston’s Adidas Sambas are on sale during the brand’s End-of-Year savings event.
• Editor-loved walking shoes, platform styles, and more are up to 60 percent off.

The power of comfortable sneakers can’t be underestimated. Whether you’re running errands or heading to dinner, a good pair can be worn with nearly everything. To help with your search, Adidas marked down its styles up to 60 percent right now during the brand’s end-of-year sale.

Snag Jennifer Aniston’s Sambas that she’s worn on multiple occasions or pick up Jennifer Lawrence’s comfy Taekwondo shoes. We also found editor-loved walking shoes and platform sneakers, but with prices starting at just $28, sizes are selling out fast. If you want to embrace that new year, new sneaker energy, keep scrolling for our favorite finds.

Best Adidas Sneakers on Sale

Samba OG Shoes

adidas

Take a cue from Aniston and style these Sambas with workout gear or a casual day look. They have a durable leather upper accented with a suede toe and Adidas’ signature stripes on the side. Shoppers said they’re “comfortable, stylish, and versatile” and “feel amazing from the first step.”

Cloudfoam Pure Shoes

Adidas

I tested this pair of walking shoes months ago and immediately replaced my previous pair with them. I went on a 2-mile walk wearing them right out of the box, and they didn’t need any break in time. Not only are they lightweight and breathable thanks to the mesh upper, but they have just enough support and bounce without feeling bulky. 

Sambae Shoes

adidas

These sneakers are a writer-favorite thanks to their platform design, instant comfort, and versatile style. PEOPLE writer Jacqueline Tempera wore them for 48 hours and over 15,000 steps, and she “experienced zero pain, blisters, or cuts.” They come in multiple colors, run true to size, and can be dressed up or worn with casual looks.

Grand Court Shoes

Adidas

For a mix of style and performance, consider the Grand Court Shoes. They have Adidas’ sleek, classic look with a leather upper, three recognizable stripes, and thick outsole. Inside, they’re designed with a cushioned and bouncy CloudFoam Comfort insole for a more comfortable feel. In fact, shoppers shared that they “feel incredibly supportive throughout the day,” and one person who wore them “for the better part of six hours” said their “feet never hurt.”

Grab a pair of new Adidas sneakers while the sale lasts through the end of the year, and keep scrolling for more discounted styles.

SL 72 OG Shoes

adidas

Gazelle Indoor Shoes

Adidas

Handball Spezial Shoes

adidas

Taekwondo Lace Shoes

adidas

SOURCE PAGE

Ultra-woke AFL WAG Dee Salmin has slammed Fairfax Media’s coverage of the Silvagni family’s reaction to son Tom’s stunning rape conviction. 

The AFL WAG, 29, who is dating Collingwood captain Darcy Moore, shared an image on Saturday of a Fairfax media headline which had been crossed out and replaced with another headline.

The original headline read ‘AFL Great Stephen Silvagni Speaks Out After Son Faces Court’.

But the amended version was much more inflammatory.

‘Convicted rapist Tom Silvagni’s family ignore victim statement and claim rapist son is innocent after being found guilty of rape,’ the post read. 

Silvagni, the 23-year-old son of Melbourne celebrity couple Stephen and Jo Silvagni, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman inside his family’s luxurious home in the east Melbourne suburb of Balwyn North in January 2024.

His victim, who legally cannot be named, read aloud a victim impact statement to the court on Friday, as Silvagni watched on via video link from remand.

In her impact statement the victim said Silvagni could no longer deny what he had done to her.

Dee shared a post created by Tarang Chawla who altered a Fairfax Media headline to ‘help’ the outlet

Dee is going out with Collingwood captain Darcy Moore

She has developed a reputation for speaking out about her very ‘woke’ views

Silvagni’s parents, Stephen and Jo Silvagni, have maintained their son’s innocence throughout the trial

Ms Salmin shared the Instagram story following the court hearing, blasting the entire Silvagni family over the episode. 

The post was originally created by Tarang Chawla who claimed to have uploaded it only to ‘help’ Fairfax strengthen its coverage. 

‘Hello Fairfax Media, I thought I might give you some help,’ Chawla wrote. 

‘It’s not important how great your dad is at sport when you are a convicted rapist which is what Tom Silvagni now is. 

‘The family was not present for the victim’s impact statement and outside court maintained their son is innocent. 

‘Let’s maybe try to improve reporting?’ 

Silvagni was found to have got into bed where his victim was sleeping and pretended to be her boyfriend as he digitally raped her. 

His identity was suppressed from the time he was first charged in June 2024, with lawyers arguing that publication could harm his mental health.

Judge Andrew Palmer lifted the order on Thursday, saying it was no longer necessary after the trial and given Silvagni would be closely monitored in custody.

Silvagni, 23, was found guilty of raping a woman following a 10-day trial 

His victim said Silvagni could no longer deny what he had done to her in a victim impact statement read before the court

Judge Palmer said Silvagni had to come to grips with what he had done.

‘At some point he will have to reconcile himself to the reality that he has committed these offences and there is media interest,’ Judge Palmer said on Thursday.

During the nearly 10-day trial, Crown prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams told jurors the rapes were committed ‘not through threats, not through force… but through deception,’ with Silvagni impersonating his friend to trick the woman.

Salmin has developed a reputation for speaking out about her very ‘woke’ views.

In July last year, she was labelled incredibly woke for her explanation of why she doesn’t want to live with Darcy.

Dee, who hosts Triple J radio’s The Sunday Hook Up sex education programme, went into detail about their romance on the ABC show, Ladies, We Need To Talk… Back.

‘I don’t live with my partner at the moment and we have such different, independent, busy lives,’ she said.

‘We get to have so much of what we had when we were still single in our relationship. But I wonder how much you can actually upkeep that when you do end up living together.’

‘So much of it is hetero-dynamic learnt behaviours you might fall into.’ 

SOURCE PAGE

VR headsets are offering injured, traumatised Palestinian children some respite from hardship in war-torn Gaza.

Published On 13 Dec 202513 Dec 2025

Click here to share on social media

share2

Share

Inside a makeshift tent in the heart of the besieged Gaza Strip, Israel’s genocidal war, which has destroyed neighbourhoods, schools and hospitals, decimated families and shattered lives for more than two years, no longer exists.

Virtual reality technology is taking Palestinian children struggling with physical and psychological wounds to a world away, where they can feel safe again.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

“After I was injured in the head, I try to forget the pain,” Salah Abu Rukba, a Palestinian child taking part in the sessions, told Al Jazeera at the VR Tent in az-Zawayda, central Gaza.

“When I put on the headset, I forget the injury. I feel comfort as I forget the destruction, the war, and even the sound of the drones disappears.”

Salah Abu Rukba sustained an injury to his head during Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza [Screen grab/ Al Jazeera]

Lama Abu Dalal, communication officer at Gaza MedTech – the technology initiative spearheading the project – said Abu Rukba and the others have constant reminders of the war etched in their bodies.

But the VR headset makes them forget their life-changing wounds and simply be children again, if only for a few moments.

Gaza MedTech was launched by Palestinian innovator Mosab Ali, who used VR to comfort his injured son. Ali was later killed in an Israeli attack.

Studies have confirmed that VR can have beneficial effects in the treatment of mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Offering this service in Gaza is hard to sustain, as spare parts of the equipment are barred from entry into Gaza by Israel’s ongoing punishing blockade.

Gaza MedTech was launched by Palestinian innovator Mosab Ali, who used VR to comfort his injured son [Screen grab/Al Jazeera]

Since a ceasefire formally went into effect on October 10, Israel has allowed slightly more aid in, although far less than Gaza’s needs and what the agreement clearly stipulated. Israel continues to restrict the free flow of humanitarian aid and medical supplies.

Authorities in Gaza say the truce has been violated by Israel at least 738 times since taking effect.

The United Nations estimates that more than 90 percent of children in Gaza are showing signs of severe stress driven by the loss of safety and stability, and will require long-term support to heal from the psychological effect of the conflict.

Multiple UN bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN humanitarian office OCHA, and independent UN experts, have called for immediate and unimpeded access to Gaza for essential medical equipment and psychological support.

SOURCE PAGE

Keir Starmer is poised to choose a new ambassador to Washington from a shortlist of three as relations with the US are tested over Ukraine and Donald Trump’s attacks on European leaders.

The prime minister held interviews with three finalists for the role this week, the Guardian has learned, with Downing Street preparing to make an appointment before the end of the year.

The trio of candidates seen by Starmer were Varun Chandra, his business adviser who has helped negotiate a series of deals with the Trump administration, Christian Turner, a diplomat due to become ambassador to the UN, and Nigel Casey, the British ambassador to Russia.

Whoever is chosen will be taking up the role at a critical stage in US-UK relations, with insiders warning of rising tensions over Ukraine and the White House’s pugnacious national security strategy.

Chandra, a former managing partner at the corporate intelligence firm Hakluyt, has played a central role in negotiating bilateral deals with the US on trade, tech and pharmaceuticals and is seen as the frontrunner.

However, the Foreign Office is said to be pushing for a career diplomat to be chosen, with some insiders arguing this carries less political risk.

Varun Chandra. Photograph: The Hollywood Reporter/Getty Images

Turner, who previously served as political director of the Foreign Office and high commissioner to Pakistan, and Casey, who has served as high commissioner to South Africa and private secretary for foreign affairs to David Cameron and Theresa May, are both highly regarded in Whitehall.

Casey was a late entrant to the contest, with his addition seen as a sign that Downing Street was disappointed with the original list put forward by the Foreign Office. If the prime minister is not satisfied with any of the three candidates, he could decide to directly appoint someone else.

Earlier this week Starmer met Warren Stephens, the US ambassador to the UK, in Downing Street to discuss implementing the trade and tech deals announced earlier this year.

Starmer has cultivated a strong personal relationship with Trump but this is constantly being tested by their major policy differences, including on green energy and cultural issues.

Relations between the US and Europe are being severely strained by Trump’s growing impatience at the continuation of the war in Ukraine.

The US president has been pressuring Kyiv to cede territory in order to bring the conflict to a speedy end, and has told Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, that he wants a peace deal done by Christmas.

Donald Trump claims Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not read latest Ukraine war peace proposal – video

European leaders including Starmer are due to hold a fresh set of crisis talks in Berlin on Monday to discuss the US-brokered peace proposal, amid concerns that it is too favourable to Moscow.

Meanwhile, senior British MPs rounded on the Trump administration this week over its national security strategy, which said Europe was facing “civilisational erasure” and hailed the growing influence of “patriotic European parties”.

Trump stepped up his attacks in an interview this week, suggesting that many European states would “not be viable countries any longer” unless they change their border policies and crack down on immigration.

Starmer and his ministers have been careful not to criticise Trump over the document or his interventions, while insisting that Europe is strong and investing more in its own defence.

The US ambassador role fell vacant in September after Peter Mandelson was sacked for failing to disclose the extent of his ties with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Documents and emails published that month disclosed that Mandelson had expressed his love and support for Epstein, and urged him to “fight for early release” in 2008, while the financier was facing charges of soliciting sex from minors.

The episode was damaging to Starmer, as it emerged that he had been briefed on details of Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein as well as other “reputational risks” before choosing him.

SOURCE PAGE

Tom McArthurand

Ilma Hasan

Reuters

Angry fans attending Lionel Messi’s tour of India ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch after his appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.

Thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to catch a glimpse of the football star, but were left disappointed when he emerged to walk around the pitch, and was obscured by a large group of officials and celebrities.

When the Argentina and Inter Miami forward was whisked away early by security after around 20 minutes, elements of the crowd turned hostile.

West Bengal’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the events.

Messi is in India for his ‘GOAT tour’, a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

His tour began with the unveiling of a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata, which had been assembled over the course of 27 days by a 45-strong crew.

It was unveiled virtually due to security reasons, meaning thousands of fans instead travelled to the city’s stadium for a chance to see the footballer.

They were chanting, buying jerseys and wearing “I love Messi” headbands.

Messi initially walked around the stadium waving to fans, but after his appearance was abruptly ended on Saturday, frustrated fans stormed the pitch and vandalised banners and tents, as others hurled plastic chairs and water bottles.

The 2022 World Cup winner – considered one of football’s greatest players of all time – had been expected to play a short exhibition game at the stadium, the AFP news agency reports.

Reuters

As it became apparent Messi’s appearance had ended, local media say the scene turned ugly

Reuters

Fans on the pitch in Kolkata after Messi had left

“Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi … Why did they call us then … We have got a ticket for 12 thousand rupees, but we were not even able to see his face”, a fan at the stadium told Indian news agency ANI.

One angry fan told the Press Trust of India news agency people had paid the equivalent of a month’s salary to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“I paid Rs 5,000 for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi not politicians.

“The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame.”

Reuters

Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal and has a large football fanbase in an otherwise cricket-crazed country.

In the city, it is common to see hundreds of thousands of fans gather at stadiums at a derby of local clubs.

Reuters

The Inter Miami forward was mostly obscured by a large entourage at the event

Announcing an enquiry, Banerjee apologised to Messi and “sports lovers” for the incident at the stadium.

“The [enquiry] committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” she said on X.

In the early hours of Saturday, thousands lined the roads and congregated outside the hotel where Messi was staying to try and catch a glimpse of him.

Hitesh, a 24-year-old corporate lawyer, flew nearly 1,900 kilometres from the south Indian city of Bengaluru.

“For me it’s personal. You can see I am quite short, and I love to play football with my friends,” Hitesh told the BBC, standing in front of the statue.

“Messi is the player I related with the most, no one can match his talent. He gives me hope that with talent you can do anything.”

It is just a small part of India’s homage to the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward.

Fans can visit ‘Hola Messi’ fan zone where there is a life-sized replica Messi sat on a throne, a hall adorned with some of his trophies and a recreation of his Miami home complete with mannequins of the player and his family sat on a balcony.

SOURCE PAGE

Three Filipino fishermen were injured and two fishing boats suffered “significant damage” after Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannon at them and cut anchor lines, Philippine authorities said Saturday.

The incident, which involved some 20 Philippine fishing boats, occurred on Friday near the Sabina Shoal, a fish-rich area in the South China Sea. 

Beijing claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety in the face of an international ruling that the assertion is legally unfounded.

What was said about the Sabina Shoal incident?

The fishermen were “were targeted with water cannon and dangerous blocking maneuvers,” a Philippine coast guard spokesman said in a statement Saturday.

“Three fishermen sustained physical injuries, including bruises and open wounds. Two [Filipino fishing boats] also suffered significant damage from high-pressure water cannon blasts,” the spokesman, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said in the statement.

“The PCG [Philippine Coast Guard] calls on the Chinese Coast Guard to adhere to internationally recognised standards of conduct, prioritizing the preservation of life at sea over pretensions of law enforcement that jeopardize the lives of innocent fishermen,” Tarriela said.

Chinese coast guard vessels regularly confront Philippine vessels, like seen here in OctoberImage: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP

He said Philippine Coast Guard vessels were initially blocked from reaching the area by “unprofessional and unlawful interferences” but succeeded on Saturday morning in getting through to provide medical attention to the injured.

In a statement released Saturday, the China Coast Guard said it had taken “necessary control measures against the Philippine vessels … including issuing warnings via loudspeaker and conducting external maneuvering to drive them away.”

Chinese territorial claims ‘without legal basis’

China refers to the Sabina Shoal as Xianbin Reef, while the Philippines calls it the Escoda Shoal.

The shoal lies in the Philippine exclusive economic zone, 150 km (95 miles) west of Palawan province.

China’s claims include areas that intrude into the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled that Beijing’s territorial claims had no basis under international law, but China has rejected the ruling.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn 

SOURCE PAGE

NEED TO KNOW

• A man said that he recently asked his wife — who suffers from cystic acne — to not wear pimple patches to his sister’s wedding 
• He explained that he generally thinks the patches are “cute,” but told her he was concerned that they were not appropriate for a formal event
• Now, his wife is “upset” and he’s unsure if he crossed a line

A man says his wife is “upset” because he asked her to refrain from wearing pimple patches at his sister’s wedding, and he’s unsure if he crossed a line.

The 41-year-old detailed his story on the popular Reddit forum “Am I the A——?”, where Redditors can go to seek advice about interpersonal dilemmas. In his post, the man explained that his wife, 43, “has struggled with cystic acne her whole teenage and adult life.”

“She’s a teacher at an all-girls private high school and [wears] visible star-shaped pimple patches (without makeup) in class to help the students feel more comfortable. I think that’s wonderful in that context. Also, I honestly think my wife looks cute wearing those pimple patches,” he added.

The OP then went on to share that their family is getting ready to attend his sister’s upcoming wedding, and that his wife “wants to go wearing visible star-shaped pimples patches without makeup.”

Formal wedding dinner (stock image).

Getty

The problem? His 13-year-old daughter — who he says is also currently “struggling with cystic acne” — feels as though the stickers will draw attention to her mom’s acne, which will in turn draw more attention to her acne.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The man said that he has since asked his wife not to wear the patches to the wedding — though he said he purposefully did not mention his daughter’s feelings because she told him that she did not want her mother to know. Instead, he said that he told his wife that he was worried the patches would not be appropriate for a formal occasion.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

The OP says that his wife is now “upset” and is “questioning my previous statements when I had told her that she looks cute with them.”

“Am I the a——?” he asked at the end of his post.

The vast majority of Reddit users said they sympathized with the man’s conundrum and that they thought his wife was on the wrong side of the argument.

“NTA [not the a——],” one person said. “Tell her that you love her in sexy undies but you wouldn’t want her to go to a wedding in only them. So questioning your previous statements about them being cute is a bit over the top. There is a time and place for everything and pimple patches at a wedding is pretty tacky in my opinion.”

Another person said, “NTA. I know she has good intentions, but [wearing pimple patches] will make her look like an attention seeker … It’s a wedding and there’s a level of class/formality that’s to be expected.”

“I think there is a difference [between] everyday empowerment and being visible in photos for a wedding that the bride will spend a lot of money on. It’s a formal setting and [your wife] needs to [dress as though she’s] in a formal setting,” added someone else.

SOURCE PAGE

Emergency services raced to the scene of the explosion at a two-storey property in South Wales, where two people were sadly pronounced dead at the scene



SOURCE PAGE

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who was awarded the prestigious honour in 2023 for her work defending women’s rights and human rights in Iran, has been “violently” detained, according to her supporters. 

She was detained by Iranian authorities in the city of Mashhad, some 680 kilometres (420 miles) northeast of the capital, Tehran, on Friday, a foundation in her name said.

Ms Mohammadi, 53, was attending a memorial for a human rights lawyer who was recently found dead under unclear circumstances.

A local official reportedly confirmed arrests were made but did not specifically mention Ms Mohammadi.

It was not immediately clear whether authorities would return her to prison, where she had been serving a sentence before she was temporarily released in December 2024 for medical purposes.

Mohammadi’s detention comes amid Iran’s crackdown on intellectuals and activists, as Tehran grapples with sanctions, a weakening economy, and fears of a renewed conflict with Israel.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s detention may also intensify Western pressure at a time when Iran has repeatedly indicated interest in new negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program, which have not yet taken place.

‘Deeply concerned’

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, the body that awards the Nobel Peace Prize, said it was “deeply concerned” by Mohammadi’s arrest.

The committee “calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately clarify Mohammadi’s whereabouts, ensure her safety and integrity, and to release her without conditions,” it said in a statement.

Image:
Ali and Kiana Rahmani receive the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for their mother, Narges Mohammadi. Pic: AP.

She was arrested by police and security forces alongside other activists while attending a ceremony honouring Khosrow Alikordi, a 46-year-old Iranian lawyer and human rights advocate who had been based in Mashhad.

Mr Alikordi was found dead in his office earlier this month, reportedly from a heart attack. His death has prompted over 80 lawyers to demand more information.

Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, said what happened on Friday “is the Islamic Republic’s latest assault on the most basic human freedoms – where even mourning a slain lawyer becomes a punishable act”.

Footage reportedly from the ceremony showed Mohammadi speaking into a microphone, addressing the crowd without wearing a hijab or headscarf.

Read more from Sky News:
Trump threatens Venezuela land strikes ‘soon’
UK sanctions four paramilitary commanders over ‘mass killings’

She led the crowd in chants of Majidreza Rahnavard’s name, a man executed publicly by hanging from a crane in 2022.

Video released by her foundation showed her without a hijab, standing among a large crowd.

Hasan Hosseini, the city governor of Mashhad, said prosecutors ordered the temporary detention of some ceremony participants after “norm-breaking” chants, calling the move preventive to protect attendees.

Video footage reportedly captured additional anti-government chants, though Hosseini did not address claims of violence during the arrests.

Health fears

Supporters had long warned that Mohammadi could be returned to prison after her December 2024 medical furlough, initially set for three weeks but extended, possibly due to activist and international pressure.

She continued her activism during this period, including protests and media appearances, even outside Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.

Mohammadi had been serving nearly 14 years for charges including collusion against state security and propaganda, and for supporting protests following Mahsa Amini‘s 2022 death.

Medical experts warned that returning her to prison, especially under stressful conditions without proper care, could seriously harm her health.

An engineer by training, Mohammadi has been imprisoned 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to over 30 years in total.

Her most recent detention began in 2021 after attending a memorial for a protest victim.

SOURCE PAGE