International

Iran temporarily releases Nobel Mohammadi for medical reasons

The Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi was released for a period of three weeks for medical reasons after the removal of a leg tumor last month, a measure that the family considered insufficient.

“The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office suspended the execution of Mrs. Narges Mohammadi’s sentence for three weeks and she was released from prison,” Mostafa Nili, the activist’s lawyer, reported on social networks on Wednesday.

The lawyer indicated that the temporary release is due to the removal of a benign tumor in a leg and a bone graft performed 21 days ago, after the activist’s family denounced that she was being denied medical care.

The family asks for more time

After the operation, Nili said that the doctors indicated that Mohammadi “needs about three months of care in favorable conditions” and that is why he had requested the suspension of the sentence.

“Therefore, the activist’s family considered that the three-week release is insufficient and demanded her unconditional release or at least for ninety days, as recommended by the doctors.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi or, at least, an extension of his exit permit to three months,” the family said in a statement.

“As the doctors have emphasized, a minimum of three months of recovery is crucial for his cure,” they added.

Condemnations and struggles of Narges

Mohammadi, 52, imprisoned in Evin de Tehran prison since 2021, has been sentenced on six occasions to a total sentence of 13 years and nine months in prison and 154 lashes, among other punishments.

The last sentence of six months in prison against him was handed down in mid-October, a month after protesting in prison against the execution of prisoner Reza Rasai for his alleged involvement in the murder of an intelligence agent during the revolt unleashed by the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.

Despite convictions and imprisonment, the human rights and women’s activist has continued to denounce violations in Iran, including the application of the death penalty or violence against women who do not wear the Islamic veil.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prestigious award to Mohammadi in 2023 “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and to promote human rights and freedom for all.”

The award was collected by her children in a ceremony in Oslo in which the activist asked through them for international support to end an Iranian Government “at its lowest level of legitimacy and popular support.”

International

U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.

All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.

The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.

The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.

“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.

“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.

Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.

According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

International

Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power

Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.

The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.

Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.

Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.

The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.

Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.

In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.