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Oxford and Cambridge university students have set up pro-Palestinian encampments on campus lawns.

They were started outside King’s College in Cambridge and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford.

The “liberated zone encampment” at Oxford University consists of tents erected on sodden ground, with dozens of protestors slushing through mud for teachings on Palestine and “well being circles”, Sky News correspondent Shamaan Freeman-Powell, who is at the scene, reports.

Kendall Gardner
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Kendall Gardner said protesters were ‘keeping things peaceful’

“Come rain or shine, we will free Palestine” they chant.

There’s a food tent serving hot meals, a medical site for emergencies and workshops for arts and crafts.

Kendall Gardner, a Jewish student at the university, told Sky News she was “really inspired by the events that have been happening across the world”.

“The US started a global chain of student activism for Palestine,” she said.

“We have six demands for this protest – the top line is to demand closure of all university-wide financial assets that benefit Israel.

“We will stay here until those demands are met. I brought a big bag, I have everything a girl could need.”

According to the Oxford for Palestine organisation, the demands include the following: disclose university-wide assets, divest university-wide assets, overhaul investment policy, boycott institutional relationships, drop Barclays bank and rebuild and reinvest.

The protest at Oxford University
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Oxford University said it respected students’ ‘right to freedom of expression’

Ms Gardner said protesters had “every intention of keeping things peaceful”.

“I am actually Jewish and I have never felt safer on campus than I have with this community of people,” she said.

“The last few months have been really hard for me personally. I am horrified of what is being done in my name and it has been so comforting for my community members – most of who are Arab, Muslim and Palestinian – to say my culture has nothing to do with what has been going on in Gaza.”

The pro-Palestine protest at Oxford University

An Oxford University spokesperson said: “We are aware of the ongoing demonstration by members of our university community.

“We respect our students and staff members right to freedom of expression in the form of peaceful protests. We ask everyone who is taking part to do so with respect, courtesy and empathy.

“Oxford University’s primary focus is the health and safety of the university community, and to ensure any impact on work, research and learning, including student exams, is minimised. As we have stressed in our student and staff communications there is no place for intolerance at the University of Oxford.”

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The university added that the Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum remained open.

Many students across the UK have started to gather in protest against the war in Gaza, with encampments set up in cities including Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Leeds.

Pro-Palestine Activists Encampment At University Of Bristol ** STORY AVAILABLE, CONTACT SUPPLIER** Where: Bristol, United Kingdom When: 03 May 2024 Credit: Yat Him Wong/Cover Images  (Cover Images via AP Images)
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A pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Bristol. Pic: AP

As well as the encampment which started on Monday, pro-Palestinian students had already disrupted open days at the University of Cambridge in recent days.

Demonstrators told prospective undergraduates and their families they would be “complicit in Israel’s genocide” in Gaza if they applied to Trinity College.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied his country is committing genocide, saying the case brought to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) earlier this year was “outrageous”.

He also vowed to continue the military action that began after the Hamas attack on 7 October.

“We will continue to do what is necessary to defend our country and defend our people,” Mr Netanyahu said after an ICJ ruling compelling Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide.

“Like every country, Israel has an inherent right to defend itself.”

In response to Monday’s demonstrations, the University of Cambridge said it was “fully committed to academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law” and said it acknowledged the “right to protest”.

“We ask everyone in our community to treat each other with understanding and empathy,” it said. “Our priority is the safety of all staff and students.

“We will not tolerate antisemitism, Islamophobia and any other form of racial or religious hatred, or other unlawful activity.”

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The wave of university protests in the UK follows a series of violent clashes at campuses across the US, most prominently at Columbia University in New York.

Protest groups in the UK have called on their universities to divest from Israel in response to its military operation in Gaza.

This would mean selling off stock in Israeli companies or otherwise dropping financial ties.

Encampments have also been set up in recent days in France, Ireland and Finland.

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Craig and Lindsay Foreman: British couple detained in Iran are named – as family ‘significantly concerned’

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Craig and Lindsay Foreman: British couple detained in Iran are named - as family 'significantly concerned'

A British couple who have been detained in Iran have been named by their family as Craig and Lindsay Foreman.

The family said they are “significantly concerned” by the “distressing situation”.

According to Ms Foreman’s social media, the couple were on a motorbiking trip across the globe to Australia as part of a positive psychology mission.

On 30 December, she posted about how they were about to face “one of the most challenging” parts of their trip, Iran and Pakistan.

Lindsay Foreman (who along with husband Craig) is being detained in Kerman, Iran. Source: family handout via FCDO
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Lindsay Foreman. Pic: Family handout via FCDO

Craig Foreman (who along with wife Lindsay) are being detained in Kerman, Iran. Source: family handout via FCDO
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Craig Foreman. Pic: Family handout via FCDO

The post reads: “Despite the advice of friends, family, and the FCDO (which strongly advises against travel to Iran for British nationals), we’ve chosen to keep moving forward.

“Why? Because we believe that, no matter where you are in the world, most people are good, kind humans striving for a meaningful life.

“Yes, we’re aware of the risks. But we also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear.”

A screenshot from Ms Foreman's post from Armenia. Pic: Instagram/Lindsay Foreman
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A screenshot from Ms Foreman’s post in Armenia, from where they crossed into Iran. Pic: Instagram/Lindsay Foreman

A screenshot from Ms Foreman's post from Armenia.. Pic: Instagram/Lindsay Foreman
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Ms Foreman appears in her post from Armenia. Pic: Instagram/Lindsay Foreman

In a statement, the couple’s family expressed their concern and said they were engaging with the UK government.

“We would like to take this opportunity to address the distressing situation concerning Craig and Lindsay Foreman who are currently being detained in Kerman, Iran,” they said.

“This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family, and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and wellbeing during this trying time.

“We are actively engaging with the British government and relevant authorities, working diligently to navigate the complexities of this matter. The family are united in our determination to secure their safe return.

“We truly appreciate the outpouring of support from friends, family, and the community, which has provided us with strength and encouragement as we face this ordeal.”

They added: “Thank you for your understanding, compassion, and continued support.”

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A Foreign Office spokesperson earlier said: “We are providing consular assistance to two British nationals detained in Iran and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Iranian state media said on Wednesday that a man and woman were in custody in Iran’s southeastern city of Kerman on security-related charges.

The Foreign Office warns that people are at risk of “arrest, detention and a death sentence” if they travel to Iran.

Iran has previously arrested and held British citizens for extended periods of time.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, who are dual British-Iranian citizens, were released in March 2022 after years held captive in Iran.

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Woman named in ‘no body’ murder investigation in Cambridgeshire

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Woman named in 'no body' murder investigation in Cambridgeshire

Police have named a missing woman at the centre of a “no-body” murder investigation as 54-year-old Julie Buckley.

Ms Buckley, from the Fenlands village of Christchurch, Cambridgeshire, hasn’t been seen since late January.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Police have been continuing to search for Ms Buckley, as they try to find out why she is missing.

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“We are trying to piece together Julie’s movements before she disappeared so I would appeal for anyone who has seen her in the past few weeks to get in touch,” said Detective Inspector Richard Stott from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.

“We know she has links to places in the surrounding area including March, Manea, and Chatteris so I would urge people who live in those areas to consider if they have information that could be of use to our inquiry.

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“We are in touch with family of Julie and specially trained officers are keeping them up to date on the police inquiry at this very difficult time.

“Although we have always wanted to find Julie alive, the circumstances suggest she is likely to have come to serious harm, so we continue to treat her disappearance as murder.”

Anyone with information can contact the police online or call 101 and quote Operation Dragonfish.

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Idris Elba on the power of football – and how it can help tackle knife crime

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Idris Elba on the power of football - and how it can help tackle knife crime

Idris Elba hopes providing more access to football in communities will deter youngsters from knife crime and he urged other industries to follow the Premier League’s lead.

The actor dropped in on a session run by the West Ham Foundation – part of the league’s Kicks programme supporting youngsters at risk of anti-social behaviour and youth violence by providing free weekly football.

While it could offer pathways in the sport – including coaching the next generation – Elba sees how it provides the toolset for personal development in life more broadly.

“Football has an amazing aggregated power,” Elba told Sky News. “I think that is a really good sort of example for other industries to think about mentorship programmes.

“Apprenticeship programmes that can just give young people (opportunities) because not every kid wants to play football.

“But at least we’re seeing the Premier League do something. The big tech companies, motor industry companies should say, ‘Hey, what can we do with the young people? What are their interests?'”

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The Premier League has invested more than £90m in the Kicks programme across two decades with a particular focus on reducing violent behaviour.

The need for such a scheme was reinforced by the fatal stabbings of 10 teenagers in London last year being followed by a 14-year-old’s killing in the first week of 2025.

Idris Elba speaking about the Premier League's work to tackle knife crime
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Elba speaking about the Premier League’s work to tackle knife crime


It is a year since Elba launched his own campaign, Don’t Stop Your Future, to call for greater urgency in addressing the knife crime crisis.

“Where there are young people aggregating around football, around teams, should we be messaging that knife crime is no good? Absolutely. Yes,” Elba said. “We should be messaging that wherever you can.

“Just listen to a young person once. If you’ve never asked them what their feelings are about knife crime, about what they want to do with their lives, do it. That’s one thing… The answer is up to you, but ultimately, you’re beginning the conversation.”

It was a conversation Elba had earlier this week in Dagenham with young players and coaches alongside a roundtable with community leaders impacted by knife crime.

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From September 2024: ‘Talk is good, action is more important’

“I absolutely feel that the more we talk, we can do about this, the better,” Elba said.

“Are there mechanisms where football can play a part in a larger scale? Absolutely. Let’s hope that we can all put our thinking caps on.”

That is working – as the Premier League does – with police to confront the knife crime epidemic.

“It feels probably to many that not enough is being done,” Met Police Commander Stephen Clayman, the national policing lead for knife crime, told Sky News pitchside at the Kicks programme.

“But actually, you see things like this. You only need to change the direction of a number of people. You’ve already made a huge difference.

“What you need is more of this, more investment in youth services, in these types of things, and then you start making the difference.”

Commander Stephen Clayman
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Met Commander Stephen Clayman

But can football really make communities safer by providing access to football? Or is it for authorities to search for more impactful interventions – by increasing the number of officers on the beat?

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“Having more cops can make a difference in some areas for enforcement, but it’s not just about enforcement,” Commander Clayman said.

You’re only going to really tackle this if you get to the root cause of why someone feels they have to pick up a knife in the first place.

“That’s not going to be the police solving that. That’s going to be people with some of the sort of coaches and mentors here that will do that and all the other services around. That’s what will make the real difference over time. It’s never going to be a quick fix.”

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From January: Britain’s knife crime epidemic

But football is trying to help in any way it can to prevent the tragedies that trouble West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen.

“Things like this really help people get off the streets and really do something with their life and make a real powerful change – I think it’s such a really important thing,” he said in an interview.

“It teaches them good habits and it teaches them a lot of different things as well. They spoke about the mental side of football and the technical side also.

“I think it also teaches about social skills. You have to play as a team, people making friendships here as well. So, I think it’s a really powerful positive thing.”

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