A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Rafsanjani's son in plagiarism claim
LONDON – The son of the former Iranian president Akbar Rafsanjani is being investigated by Oxford University after claims that his successful doctoral thesis proposal was written with the help of others.
Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former head of Iran’s state-owned gas company, began a five-year DPhil course on the Iranian constitution in October.
An Oxford academic has complained that the university’s high standards have been “subverted” with the help of university insiders to allow Mr Hashemi to study. If proven, he could be asked to leave. Mr Hashemi denies the claims. Friends say he is the victim of a witch hunt.
– (Guardian service)
Man charged in murder of Sian O'Callaghan
LONDON – Police said yesterday they had charged a 47-year-old man with the murder of Sian O’Callaghan, who went missing after leaving a nightclub in Swindon.
Christopher Halliwell, described in media reports as a taxi driver, is due to appear in court this morning, Wiltshire police said on their website.
The disappearance of Ms O’Callaghan (22) last weekend prompted a massive police hunt, backed up by hundreds of locals.
Her body was found in Uffington, about 12 miles east of Swindon.
Mr Halliwell, who was arrested on Thursday, remains in police custody in Swindon. Simon Brenchley, district crown prosecutor in Wiltshire, said: “I must remind the media to take care in reporting events surrounding this case”.
Suu Kyi's party calls for dialogue
YANGON – The party of Myamar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday called for talks with the country’s military rulers to clear up “misunderstandings” before a new government takes office.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) reiterated its demand for talks with the military, known locally as the “Tatmadaw”, to seek the release of more than 2,100 political prisoners and a bigger role for democratic forces in the country’s future.
“It is urged that dialogue be held urgently to eliminate the misunderstandings between the democratic forces and the Tatmadaw,” the NLD said. – (Reuters)