UAE frees ‘spy’ academic

– British academic Matthew Hedges returned to London yesterday, his family said, a day after the United Arab Eemirates pardoned his life sentence for spying in a case he described as “very surreal”.

“After almost seven months of detention, including six months in solitary confinement, British PhD researcher Matthew Hedges has returned safely to London,” his family said.

Britain was stunned by the incident. – AFP

London