Briton Jailed in Iran Given Additional Two-Year Sentence, Family Says

15 February 2025, United Kingdom, London: Craig Foreman (L) and Lindsay Foreman pose for a family photo. (Family Handout/dpa)
15 February 2025, United Kingdom, London: Craig Foreman (L) and Lindsay Foreman pose for a family photo. (Family Handout/dpa)
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Briton Jailed in Iran Given Additional Two-Year Sentence, Family Says

15 February 2025, United Kingdom, London: Craig Foreman (L) and Lindsay Foreman pose for a family photo. (Family Handout/dpa)
15 February 2025, United Kingdom, London: Craig Foreman (L) and Lindsay Foreman pose for a family photo. (Family Handout/dpa)

The family ‌of British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who are serving a 10-year prison sentence in Iran on espionage charges that they deny, said on Wednesday that a judge had extended Craig Foreman's sentence by two years for speaking to the media.

The couple were arrested in 2025 while travelling through Iran by motorcycle as ‌part of ‌a round-the-world journey. Britain ‌has described ⁠their original sentences ⁠as "totally unjustifiable".

Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman's son and the family's spokesperson, said they had received reports that Craig Foreman had been taken before a judge and informed that his sentence had been extended because ⁠he had spoken to the ‌media.

"We understand ‌he was told he was being taken to ‌see his lawyer, but was instead brought ‌before a judge and informed of the additional sentence," Bennett said in a statement.

He said Craig Foreman had been denied access to ‌a lawyer and a translator and was given no opportunity to ⁠defend ⁠himself.

A spokesperson for Britain's foreign ministry said in an emailed statement that they were "urgently following up with the Iranian authorities about the reported increased sentence".

Last month, two independent UN experts said the Foremans appeared to have been wrongfully detained and sentenced following proceedings that failed to meet basic fair trial guarantees, while expressing concern over a hunger strike the couple began in May.



French Far-Right Accuses Left of Threatening ‘Civil Peace’ if Le Pen Wins

French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, attends a debate with other candidates for the 2027 French presidential election during the MEDEF summer forum "La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, La REF" in Paris, France, August 27, 2026. (Reuters)
French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, attends a debate with other candidates for the 2027 French presidential election during the MEDEF summer forum "La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, La REF" in Paris, France, August 27, 2026. (Reuters)
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French Far-Right Accuses Left of Threatening ‘Civil Peace’ if Le Pen Wins

French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, attends a debate with other candidates for the 2027 French presidential election during the MEDEF summer forum "La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, La REF" in Paris, France, August 27, 2026. (Reuters)
French far-right leader and member of parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party parliamentary group, attends a debate with other candidates for the 2027 French presidential election during the MEDEF summer forum "La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, La REF" in Paris, France, August 27, 2026. (Reuters)

The French far-right on Saturday accused the left of seeking to "undermine civil peace" should Marine Le Pen win the presidential election next spring, underscoring the increasingly confrontational tone of the campaign.

With less than eight months to go before France's presidential election, far-right leader Le Pen, 58, remains the front-runner in the polls.

Analysts say that the appeal of political extremes is growing in France, and recent surveys show that hard-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, 75, may have the best chance of reaching the run-off against Le Pen.

Speaking at an agricultural fair in the northeastern town of Chalons-en-Champagne, Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN) party and Le Pen's prospective prime minister in the event of her victory, said he was concerned by calls from the left for "civil disobedience" if the RN comes to power.

Bardella, 30, said they amounted to "an admission of weakness from the left, which hates democracy and is calling into question the fundamental principles of the rule of law and the electoral process."

"The attitude of France Unbowed at the start of this campaign is deeply worrying," said Bardella.

"They are already seeking to undermine civil peace in our country."

Mathilde Panot, leader of the LFI parliamentary group in parliament's lower house, and Greens leader Marine Tondelier have recently said they would support "civil disobedience" in the event of an RN victory.

Some observers say the election campaign is increasingly at risk of becoming a contest dominated by populist anti-establishment forces, raising concern among investors about the prospect of a presidential runoff between the far right and the hard left.

Bardella said he was concerned about Melenchon's "true intentions."

During a first presidential debate on Thursday, Melenchon vowed to "disobey" European decisions that contradict the wishes of French voters and pressed ahead with his proposals to cancel a chunk of France's public debt.

"France Unbowed and Monsieur Melenchon do not want to win this presidential election," said Bardella.

"They do not want to protect institutions, they want to destroy them."


Kremlin Says It Sees EU as Hostile, No Prospect of Improved Relations

19 December 2024, Russia, Moscow: Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. (Kremlin Press Office/dpa)
19 December 2024, Russia, Moscow: Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. (Kremlin Press Office/dpa)
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Kremlin Says It Sees EU as Hostile, No Prospect of Improved Relations

19 December 2024, Russia, Moscow: Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. (Kremlin Press Office/dpa)
19 December 2024, Russia, Moscow: Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year press conference. (Kremlin Press Office/dpa)

Europe is making statements suggesting that it regards Russia as an "adversary and even an enemy," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov ‌said on ‌Saturday, adding that ‌Moscow ⁠sees no prospect ⁠of improved relations between Russia and the European Union.

It was not ⁠immediately clear which ‌statements ‌Peskov was referring to.

He added ‌that the EU's current politicians are confrontational towards Russia, "not only ‌in words but also in deeds".

"They ⁠are ⁠mobilizing Europe's military capabilities and directing them against our country, whilst taking a direct part in hostilities against us," Peskov said.


Zimbabwe Crash Involving Church Minibus Kills 27

Zimbabwe Crash Involving Church Minibus Kills 27
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Zimbabwe Crash Involving Church Minibus Kills 27

Zimbabwe Crash Involving Church Minibus Kills 27

A minibus carrying churchgoers collided head-on with a truck in central Zimbabwe, killing at least 27 people, police said Saturday, in the latest deadly road crash to hit the country, AFP said.

The crash occurred at around 1830 GMT on Friday near Chivhu, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital Harare, police said.