Latest news with #Commonwealth&DevelopmentOffice
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
British couple accused of spying in Iran 'holding strong' after making first call home
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were detained in January while on a motorcycle tour around the world and later charged with espionage The family of a British couple detained in Iran's 'worst' prisons have confirmed that they are "holding strong", following their first direct conversation with them in seven months. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested in January while on a global motorcycle tour that took them to Iran while travelling through the Middle East. They were subsequently charged with espionage, which they vehemently deny. The tourists' son, Joe Bennett, from Folkestone, Kent, shared details of an eight-minute call he had with his mother, during which they experienced a range of emotions. He said: "We laughed, we cried, and for a few brief moments, it felt like the weight of the past seven months lifted. He expressed his belief that his parents are "holding strong", noting their resilience, positivity, and noted "somehow, they're still smiling". Mr Bennett revealed that his parents are being held separately in different prisons and have access only to basic resources. He also shared with BBC Radio Kent that British officials reported his father appeared "dishevelled and had lost a lot of weight". His mother's mobility has been affected due to the conditions in the prison. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has advised British and British-Iranian nationals, who are at significant risk of detention, against travelling to Iran. A spokesperson stated: "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."
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Powys County Times
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.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran Proxies Attack Deep In Israel; Houthis Drone Strike After Ben Gvir's Provocation Inside Al-Aqsa
Terror Alarm On Israeli Assets In Arab Nation; UK's BIG Warning as Khamenei Revives War Council The United Kingdom has issued a rare and mysterious terror warning for the United Arab Emirates, just days after Israel evacuated its embassy in Abu Dhabi. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cited 'increasing regional tensions' and warned that Israeli and Jewish-linked sites in the UAE could be targeted by terrorists. Meanwhile, Iran has revived its Supreme Defence Council, a military body that last operated during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war. The new council will be headed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and is designed to manage Iran's wartime response. 6.7K views | 13 hours ago
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
KP launches ‘ILMpact' to promote literacy
PESHAWAR: The provincial government has launched a new initiative titled 'ILMpact' in collaboration with the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to enrol out-of-school children and improve the quality of education in the province. The programme, being implemented through the British Council, was officially launched by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur. The launching ceremony was attended by Provincial Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Faisal Khan Tarakai, British Council Country Director James Hampson, officials from the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, and representatives of partner organisations. ILMpact programme aims to benefit 80,000 out-of-school children across eight districts of the province — Battagram, Mansehra, Swabi, Buner, Shangla, Khyber, Mohmand, and Dera Ismail Khan. Under this initiative, comprehensive efforts will be made to enrol out-of-school children and to improve the standard of education. As part of the programme, master trainers will be prepared to deliver modern training to teachers, and capacity-building initiatives will be undertaken for Parent-Teacher Councils and School Management Committees in government schools. The programme places particular emphasis on the education of girls, underprivileged and special children and those from minority communities. Additionally, awareness campaigns will be launched to promote education, especially girls' education in the selected districts. Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur expressed his gratitude to all partner organisations for making the ILMpact programme a reality. He stated, 'Our government's mission is not just to provide education but to ensure the provision of quality education. Highlighting his government's commitment to education, the Chief Minister noted that an education emergency has been declared in the province, with a substantial increase in the budget for elementary and secondary education. 'This year, 21 percent of the total provincial budget has been earmarked for elementary and secondary education,' he said. 'Plans are also under way to provide free textbooks, stationery, and school bags to students in government schools. In parallel, attention is being given to improving the quality of education through teacher training, and the recruitment of 18,000 new teachers on merit is currently in progress', he concluded. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P launches drive to educate 80,000
In a bold move to transform the province's education landscape, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government today launched its new 'ILMpact' initiative. Developed in partnership with the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented through the British Council, the programme is designed to enroll 80,000 out-of-school children across eight districts and uplift the overall standard of education. The launch event, held at the Chief Minister's House, was attended by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, Provincial Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Faisal Khan Tarakai, British Council Country Director James Hampson, and senior officials from the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, along with representatives from various partner organizations. Enrolling thousands, reaching the underprivileged Spanning the districts of Battagram, Mansehra, Swabi, Buner, Shangla, Khyber, Mohmand, and Dera Ismail Khan, ILMpact seeks to address the long-standing challenge of high numbers of out-of-school children in the province. Master trainers are set to spearhead the modernisation of teacher training, while capacity-building efforts will extend to Parent-Teacher Councils and School Management Committees in government schools. A central tenet of the programme is its focus on vulnerable groups, girls, underprivileged and special-needs children, and those from minority communities. An accompanying campaign will raise awareness, particularly regarding the importance of girls' education, a cause that Chief Minister Gandapur passionately underscored. A commitment to quality education At the ceremony, Chief Minister Gandapur reaffirmed his administration's pledge to not only widen access to education but also to enhance its quality. "Our government's mission is not just to provide education but to ensure the provision of quality education. From the outset, we have prioritised providing missing facilities in schools," he said. Gandapur added that the government has set an ambitious target for the current year: every child in a government school will have access to a chair and desk, with funds already allocated to meet this goal. The chief minister also linked the ILMpact programme to broader education reforms in the province. "Only an enlightened nation can stand on its own feet, and awareness comes through education. Our focus on girls' education ensures that only an educated mother can raise an educated nation," he remarked. In what officials described as an "education emergency," the provincial government has earmarked 21 per cent of its total budget for elementary and secondary education this year.
