The United Nations has denied speculation that it is to appoint an astrophysicist as Earth's representative to extraterrestrial life-forms.

Rumours had been circulating regarding the appointment of Malaysian astrophysicist Mazlan Othman - director of the UN's Office for Outer Space Affairs - to the role of 'first contact point for aliens'.

The story, which first appeared in The Sunday Times, suggested that Othman would be the "nearest thing we have to a 'take me to your leader' [person]".

However, in an email to The Guardian, Othman responded to the claims, saying: "It sounds really cool but I have to deny it."

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