Assad’s son wants ‘normal’ treatment

The teenage son of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has asked to be treated as a “normal student” while competing in the International Mathematical Olympiad in Romania, an education official said on Tuesday. Hafez al-Assad, 16, is one of the 615 students participating in the annual competition, taking place in the central city of ClujNapoca until Saturday. Every country represented has a team of 6 students. Hafez al-Assad, told local media that maths is his “childhood passion” and he is hoping for a good result.