Evening Standard Comment: Iran must release Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
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For the family of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian aid worker being held in Iran, it has been another tortuous weekend.
Her family say that, without even a court hearing, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe lost her appeal against a second prison term, meaning she could be sent back to jail after spending the final year of an initial five-year sentence on parole.
The Iranian government claims she plotted against the regime but her husband alleges his wife is being held hostage over a £400 million debt that the UK owes Iran. The plotting claim is categorically denied by both Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe and the Government.
The Foreign Secretary says the Government is doing all it can to bring her home. Yet it has long been clear that her detention is related to geopolitics rather than any crimes committed. We once again call on Iran to release Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Earthshot’s ambition
In May 1961, US President John F. Kennedy stood in front of a joint session of Congress to make his Moonshot speech, in which he committed America to land human beings on the moon and bring them back safely before the end of the decade.
It was certainly ambitious. Nasa had little idea of how to do this and only days earlier managed to send the first American into space for roughly 15 minutes. Getting to the moon seemed light-years away, yet it was achieved.
It is in that spirit that the Earthshot awards in London were handed out last night by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both to inspire a new generation and to reward those doing what they can to save our planet from catastrophic climate change.
Congratulations to all the winners — we need your talent and determination more than ever.