Oxford News
Banbury – Man denies stealing vans from car parts shop
James Langhor, of no fixed abode, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, May 22.
The 35-year-old is charged with stealing a Ford Transit van and a Toyota Proace City from Euro Car Parts in Banbury.
He pleaded not guilty to the alleged offences which took place on April 18.
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Langhor also pleaded not guilty to going equipped for burglary and one count of burglary.
He is alleged to have stolen keys and had a glass hammer and balaclava when going to the same parts shop.
He pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving and one count of driving while disqualified at Barbridge Road, Bulkington, in a Ford Transit van on the same day.
A trial date was set for October 14, with a time estimate of two to three days.
Judge Ian Pringle KC informed Langhor he would have an interim driving ban and would be remanded in custody.
Oxford News
Evri tests new innovation at Oxfordshire Tesco superstore
The parcel delivery company has installed new lockers at the supermarket just off Hadden Hill in Didcot, one of only a handful across the UK.
A spokesperson for Evri said: “Customers using the lockers will have access to Evri’s pick-up and drop-off services, providing a quick, contact-free method for sending and receiving parcels, with ‘print-at-locker’ functionality, alongside fast and seamless QR code scanning.”
READ MORE: Evri service update after UK delivery contractor firm shuts
Since March this year a number of parcel lockers have been installed at Post Office branches and Asda stores but this announcement marks a new step forward with Tesco.
Evri van (Image: Alamy/PA)
A spokesperson for the supermarket said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to make the shopping trip even more convenient for our customers.
“As part of an ongoing locker hub partner trial across a small number of stores, we have introduced parcel lockers to give even more customers a convenient way to collect and drop off their parcels as part of their shopping trip.”
READ MORE: Evri statement as UK delivery firm contractor shuts with drivers fired
In addition Royal Mail, Yeep and InPost are introducing lockers including at the Didcot branch and Tesco said it was excited to see how customers respond to this new innovation.
A spokesperson for Evri added that the new scheme comes amid a growing trend in consumer appetite for choice.
Its internal data showed a 19 per cent increase in parcel diversions to lockers, compared with 2025, and a 343 per cent increase in usage of the lockers.
Oxford News
Sri Lanka Prime Minister speaks at Oxford University
Dr Harini Amarasuriya spoke at St Antony’s College on Tuesday, May 19, as part of the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) Annual Lecture.
Her address, titled ‘The politics of development: Sri Lanka and beyond,’ explored the realities of development policy in practice, with a focus on governance, gender equality, and the influence of grassroots women’s groups on political participation in Sri Lanka.
Professor Diego Sanchez-Ancochea, head of department at OSGA, said: “We were honoured to welcome Dr Amarasuriya to Oxford to deliver the OSGA Annual Lecture.
“She offered an important and timely reflection on the relationship between politics and development, drawing on both scholarly insight and direct political experience.”
During the lecture, Dr Amarasuriya discussed how development theory collides with the complexities of real-world politics.
She considered her role as Sri Lanka’s third female prime minister and the country’s ongoing efforts to recover from its recent economic crisis.
As a social anthropologist, activist, and development practitioner, Dr Amarasuriya drew on her extensive experience to highlight the challenges of implementing reform in complex political environments.
She also emphasised the importance of productive engagement between international agencies and domestic institutions.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, covering topics such as judicial independence, the pace of political change, and the balance between academic ideals and political pragmatism.
The OSGA Annual Lecture is the department’s flagship event, designed to bring leading academics, policymakers, and practitioners to Oxford to reflect on contemporary global challenges.
Oxford News
Tech CEO Sara Wahedi graduates from Oxford University
Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sara moved to Vancouver, Canada, as a refugee before returning to her country of birth for most of her 20s.
It was then that she co-founded civic technology start-up Ehtesab before moving on to become the CEO of Civaam.
At the age of just 25 years old, she was recognised as one of TIME Magazine’s Next Generation Leaders in 2021.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Sara Wahedi reflects on life in Oxford and studying at the university
Graduated from Oxford University today.
We made it to the finish line. 🎓 pic.twitter.com/pG8t2S7APB
— Sara Wahedi (@SaraWahedi) May 24, 2026
Having completed her undergraduate studies at Columbia University in New York City, Ms Wahedi became a Clarendon Scholar at Oxford University in 2024.
Having undertaken a Master of Public Policy (MPP), the 29-year-old has now graduated from the prestigious institution.
Attending the formal ceremony yesterday (Saturday, May 24), Ms Wahedi shared several photographs across social media.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, she said: “It’s been one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences of my life to study at Oxford.
“I’m especially grateful to the residents of Oxford and how they make students feel like they are at home, especially when we’re far from our parents.
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Sara Wahedi studied in the city for one year. (Image: Sara Wahedi)
“My mother was there, and it was quite emotional to see her there sitting at the top of the Sheldonian, remembering all she’s done, and having sacrificed her own dreams and aspirations to flee Afghanistan so I could chase my own.”
Ms Wahedi remains focused on the future with her role at the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice.
This institute is a partnership between the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and the Clooney Foundation for Justice and sees the 29-year-old placed in a research associate role.
Guiding the technology pillar, Sara is now working in a team with the likes of Amal Clooney and Philippa Webb, as well as other lawyers and technologists leading in the space globally.
READ MORE: New Cotswolds village given green light to be built as plans approved
Sara Wahedi now works in the city and calls Oxford home. (Image: Sara Wahedi)
“During the graduation ceremony, I was constantly thinking about the privilege and opportunity I had been given, having once been a refugee from Afghanistan, to then study at one of the top universities in the world,” added Ms Wahedi.
“Millions of Afghan women and girls will experience their fifth year, half a decade, of being banned from education by the Taliban.
“My work and mission remain to bring awareness to this horrific human rights violation, and to protect the fundamental right to education for every girl across the world.
“I’m grateful that I get to continue to call Oxford home as I remain committed to our important work in responsible AI deployment at the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice.”
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