logo
Couple make first call home since being detained in Iran

Couple make first call home since being detained in Iran

A British couple detained in Iran are 'holding strong', their family have said after being able to speak to them directly for the first time in seven months.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, of East Sussex, were detained in January while on a motorcycle tour around the world and later charged with espionage.
They deny the allegations.
Their son Joe Bennett, of Folkestone, Kent, told the BBC he had an eight-minute call with his mother.
He said: 'We laughed, we cried, and for a few brief moments, it felt like the weight of the past seven months lifted.'
He feels his parents are 'holding strong', adding that 'they're resilient, they're positive, and somehow, they're still smiling'.
The couple have been separated, are being held in different prisons and have access to basic resources, according to Mr Bennett.
He also told BBC Radio Kent that British officials saw his father was 'dishevelled and had lost a lot of weight'.
His mother is not walking well due to prison conditions.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises British and British-Iranian nationals, who are at significant risk of detention, not to travel to the Middle Eastern country.
A spokesman said: 'We are deeply concerned by reports that two British nationals have been charged with espionage in Iran.
'We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities.
'We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gregg Wallace gives a very direct response to fan asking if he has trousers on
Gregg Wallace gives a very direct response to fan asking if he has trousers on

Daily Mirror

time9 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Gregg Wallace gives a very direct response to fan asking if he has trousers on

Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has hit back at social media users questioning the findings of a report that saw him forced to leave the BBC cooking show Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has hit back at an Instagram user seemingly referring to his alleged conduct during his time working at the BBC. ‌ In November 2024 it was announced that Wallace would step away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. ‌ Wallace issued an apology saying he was "deeply sorry for any distress caused" and that he "never set out to harm or humiliate" in the wake of the Lewis Silkin review, which upheld 45 out of 83 allegations made against him. One of the allegations came from a complaint from a former MasterChef worker who accused Wallace of dropping his trousers in front of her - something Wallace denies. ‌ In a fresh comment on social media today, Wallace claimed the allegation was one of the 38 dismissed by the independent inquiry. Posting on Instagram, Wallace shared a video of himself and wife Anna celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary. But the comment section was more focused on discussing Wallace's recent scandal. One Instagram user wrote to Wallace: "I'm surprised she stayed with you after the things you were accused of though." ‌ Wallace replied: "Maybe because she realised I was just accused and they weren't true." Another comment aimed as Wallace reads: "Are your trousers up or for a friend." In response, Wallace wrote: "no allegations of that type were upheld. What made you think they were, please?" Last month, Wallace again apologised to anyone hurt by his behaviour, but insisted he is "not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher". In fresh comments to The Sun, Wallace acknowledged that he had said things that "offended people, that weren't socially acceptable and perhaps they felt too intimidated or nervous to say anything at the time. I understand that now – and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry." ‌ He added: "I'm not a groper. People think I've been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I am not a flasher. People think I'm a sex pest. I am not.' The former greengrocer also said his recent autism diagnosis means he struggles "to read people". "I know people find me weird," he said. "Autism is a disability, a registered disability." Earlier this week, Wallace and John Torode's final series of amateur MasterChef landed on BBC iPlayer after both presenters were dropped from the popular cooking show. ‌ The first three episodes of the 21st series were released on iPlayer early on Wednesday morning, ahead of the first episode airing on BBC One at 8pm. Both presenters can be seen in the introduction shots of episode one, with Torode saying: "This is the sort of stuff that dreams are made of", while Wallace can be seen telling a contestant 'that is a cracker of a job'. Torode was the subject of an allegation about using racist language that was upheld as part of the Lewis Silkin review, but the TV star said he had "no recollection of the incident" and was "shocked and saddened" by the allegation. Last month the BBC confirmed the series, which was filmed last year before allegations against Wallace and Torode were upheld, would be broadcast in August, adding that it had "not been an easy decision in the circumstances."

Glasgow woman vanished from Greece beach as search ongoing
Glasgow woman vanished from Greece beach as search ongoing

Glasgow Times

timean hour ago

  • Glasgow Times

Glasgow woman vanished from Greece beach as search ongoing

Michele Ann Joy Bourda had been swimming with her husband at Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala at around 12pm on Friday, August 1, 2025. STV News reported that the Glaswegian then reportedly disappeared while her partner, who is of Greek origin, was sleeping on a sunbed. READ MORE: Person rushed to hospital after Glasgow's M8 forced to close amid incident READ MORE: Body of man reported missing found in wooded Ayrshire area Greece's Hellenic Coastguard said the port authority received reports that the 59-year-old was missing on August 1. Following that, a major search was launched. Two patrol boats, two private high-speed boats, five fishing boats, three private lifeboats, and two patrol vehicles from land were involved in the frantic search. The missing woman, who lives in Glasgow, was last seen wearing a two-piece swimsuit with decorative stones, yellow water shoes, and red plastic sunglasses. She is described as having straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, and being 5ft 6 inches tall. The Glaswegian is also said to be thin. According to reports, the British Embassy in Greece shared an appeal to track down Bourda on Facebook. Meanwhile, Lifeline Hellas said her 'life is in danger'. (Image: LIFELINE, Google) In an appeal, Lifeline said: "There is a missing adult. "Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59 years old, disappeared from the beach of Ofrynio, Kavala, where she had gone swimming with her husband, at noon on August 1, 2025. "She has straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, is 1.73m tall, and is thin. "On the day she disappeared, she was wearing a two-piece swimsuit with rhinestones, yellow beach shoes, and red, bone-rimmed sunglasses. LIFELINE was notified by her relatives at noon on August 2, 2025, after collecting the required supporting documents, and is activating the SILVER ALERT Social Alert to mobilise everyone to find her. "Her life is in danger. If you know anything, contact the Silver Alert, 24 hours a day, at the National SOS Line 1065." A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson told STV: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Greece and are in contact with local authorities'. According to LIFELINE's website, they are a 'non-profit voluntary organisation' which was founded in May 2006.

Scotsman shouted ‘f*** the Queen' in front of Her Majesty and was blown away by response
Scotsman shouted ‘f*** the Queen' in front of Her Majesty and was blown away by response

Daily Record

timean hour ago

  • Daily Record

Scotsman shouted ‘f*** the Queen' in front of Her Majesty and was blown away by response

John Davidson was being honoured by Her Majesty the Queen with an MBE at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, when his Tourette's Syndrome caused him to swear at the Monarch Youth worker John Davidson experienced one of the proudest moments of his life in July 2019 when he was honoured with an MBE by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Holyrood. However, instead of the typical quiet murmur of gratitude, John unexpectedly exclaimed: "F*** the Queen!". ‌ John is afflicted with a severe form of Tourette's Syndrome – a neurological disorder that can lead to tics and involuntary sounds such as coughing or whistling, or in John's case, abrupt outbursts of profanity. ‌ "The tic urge often comes when I'm anxious, stressed or tired," he explained to The Times, "and then it's an exhausting mental battle telling myself, 'John, that's the absolute worst thing you could do in this moment,' and then trying not to do it." ‌ The intensity of the occasion began to impact John almost immediately upon his arrival at Holyrood Palace. As police conducted a standard security inspection, using mirrors to search for explosives beneath his vehicle, John's condition manifested, and he shouted: "A bomb! I've got a f***ing bomb!". He also blurted out: "I'm a paedo!" while traversing one of the Palace's tapestry-adorned hallways, yet Her Majesty remained unfazed. John remembered: "Her Majesty was very kind. She was as calm and assured as my granny. She was very good about it." ‌ John first gained public attention in 1989, when he featured in a BBC TV documentary titled John's Not Mad. The show significantly raised awareness of Tourette's syndrome, although The Times pointed out that it also led to "nationwide playground mocking campaigns." A band of religious zealots, having watched the programme, turned up at his doorstep wielding crucifixes, trying to "exorcise the demon" they believed caused John's involuntary exclamations. At that moment, John was tending to his pet rabbit Snowy and recalls telling them: "Look, I need to deal with my rabbit so will you just f*** off?" clarifying that those words were born of annoyance rather than his condition. ‌ Despite some negative reactions, John has since been recognised as a "nationally known ambassador for the condition". He has worked with support groups like Tourette Scotland and the national body Tourettes Action, visiting schools, delivering lectures, and conducting workshops about living with Tourette syndrome. ‌ His relentless advocacy work earned him recognition from The Queen. "The MBE was the proudest moment of my life," he said. "I never thought I'd even have a life, let alone be able to help people and get recognised for it." John's achievements have been celebrated through a book and an upcoming documentary film, both titled "I Swear." His initial encounter with the film's director, Kirk Jones, was memorable due to one of his impulsive episodes when he served the filmmaker a cup of tea and blurted out: "I used spunk for milk."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store