Thai police arrested a Jordanian man who confessed to murdering his one-year-old son by strapping the child into a stroller and pushing him into the Gulf of Thailand, the country's immigration head said Tuesday.
The alleged infanticide occurred in the seaside town of Pattaya, where 52-year-old Wael Nabil Salman Zureikat was holidaying with his wife and one-year-old son.
His arrest follows the discovery of the toddler's body on Monday by fishermen off Pattaya's main pier.
"Last night, he confessed that he tied his son to the stroller and pushed it into the sea," immigration head Lieutenant General Surachate Hakparn said at a press conference Tuesday.
The couple had checked into a guest house on March 6, and the boy was taken two days later by the father -- who told his wife he was under the care of others.
His wife filed a complaint to the authorities, which led to the man's arrest.
"The father said he could not raise the boy and did not want to have children," Surachate said. "It is a 

Thai police arrest Jordanian for throwing baby son into sea

PTI Automatic

Malaysia Airlines may be sold or shut down, Malaysia's leader said Tuesday, the latest bad news for a carrier that has been in crisis since suffering the loss of two planes.
The 71-year-old airline has been on the ropes since 2014 when Flight MH370 disappeared and MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made missile over war-torn Ukraine.
With the carrier teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, sovereign wealth fund Khazanah stepped in to take it over several years ago and major reforms were instituted, including cutting thousands of staff.
But it has continued to fare poorly and its performance was blamed in large part for a set of poor financial results released by Khazanah last week.
Responding to questions about the airline's future, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told reporters in parliament: "I think it is a very serious matter, to shut down the national airline.
"We will nevertheless be studying and investigating as to whether we should shut it down or we should sell it off or we should 

Malaysia Airlines could be sold or shut down: PM

Air pollution causes 790,000 premature deaths every year in Europe and 8.8 million worldwide, more than doubling recent assessments, according to a study released Monday.
Between 40 and 80 per cent of those excess deaths are caused by heart attacks, strokes and other types of cardiovascular disease underestimated up to now as a driver of smog-related mortality, researchers reported.
On average, a toxic cocktail of pollutants from vehicles, industry and agriculture shortens the lives of those who die prematurely by 2.2 years, they calculated.
"This means that air pollution causes more extra deaths a year than tobacco smoking, which the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates was responsible for an extra 7.2 million deaths in 2015," said senior author Thomas Munzel, a professor at the University Medical Centre Mainz in Germany.
"Smoking is avoidable, but air pollution is not." Small and larger particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) have ...

Air pollution deaths are double earlier estimates: study

Turkey on Tuesday denounced  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "blatant racism" after he called Israel the nation-state of "the Jewish people" only, not all its citizens.
Turkey and Israel often have tense relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who regards himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, a vocal critic of Israeli policies.
"I strongly condemn this blatant racism and discrimination," presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on his official Twitter account both in Turkish and English.
"1.6 million Arabs/Muslims live in Israel. Will the Western governments react or keep silent under pressure again?" he asked.
In campaign mode before April 9 elections, Netanyahu said all citizens including Arabs had equal rights but referred to a deeply controversial law passed last year declaring Israel the nation-state of the Jewish people.
"Israel is not a state of all its citizens," Netanyahu wrote in response to comments from an Israeli actress.
"According to the ..

Turkey slams Israeli PM Netanyahu's 'blatant racism'

A referee who has taken charge of World Cup qualifiers is the latest high-profile figure to be accused of plagiarism in China, joining a slew of top Communist Party officials.
A former vice president and a supreme court judge were among a half-dozen officials who borrowed from other people's work without citing them for their university theses, a recent AFP review found.
Top Chinese football referee Fu Ming has now been dragged into the scandal, triggered by his controversial performance during a top-flight match which saw state media accuse him of "bias".
The 36-year-old's decisions on Saturday in the Chinese Super League game between Shandong Luneng and Henan Jianye were criticised by fans of both sides and threw him into the spotlight.
In the aftermath Fu, one of five professional referees in Chinese football, was accused on social media of plagiarising parts of an academic paper he wrote about the sport.
Nanhang Jincheng College said in a statement on Weibo, China's version of ...

'Underhand dealings': Chinese FIFA referee in spotlight

A team of scientists in Japan has successfully coaxed activity from 28,000-year-old cells from a frozen mammoth implanted into mouse cells, but the woolly mammal is unlikely to be walking among us soon.
The project by an international team took cell nuclei from a well-preserved mammoth discovered in 2011 in Siberian permafrost and placed them into several dozen mouse egg cells.
Of those, five displayed the biological reactions that happen just before cell division begins, said Kei Miyamoto, a member of the team at Kindai University in western Japan.
None, however, produced the actual cell division needed for a mammoth rebirth, the researcher told AFP.
"This suggests that, despite the years that have passed, cell activity can still happen and parts of it can be recreated," he told AFP.
"Until now many studies have focused on analysing fossil DNA and not whether they still function," he added.
The research -- published Monday in the journal Scientific Reports -- doesn't provide much ...

Mammoth moves: frozen cells come to life, but only just

Argentina's flagship carrier has joined airlines that have grounded their Boeing 737 Max 8 planes after the crash in Ethiopia.
Aerolineas Argentinas said late Monday it had ordered the suspension as it awaited the result of investigations into the crash of the Ethiopian Airlines plane, which killed all 157 aboard.
"For Aerolineas Argentinas, safety is the most important value," the company said in a statement on the grounding of its five 737 Max 8 planes, out of a total fleet of 82.

Argentina joins countries grounding Boeing 737 Max 8s

Trade tensions between the US and China will hammer air cargo this year, an industry body warned Tuesday, the latest sign the tariff slugfest is damaging the global outlook.
The world's top two economies have been locked in a trade war since last year, swapping tit-for-tat duties on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods and sending markets into a tailspin.
The fallout has gone far beyond their shores, with manufacturing in many export-dependent Asian economies taking a hit.
In the latest sign of the dispute's effects, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) sharply cut its forecast for air cargo growth this year, citing US-China tensions as a major factor.
It said air cargo volumes are expected to grow 2.0 per cent this year, nearly halving its projection made in December for 3.7 per cent.
Air freight traffic contracted 1.8 per cent in January alone, IATA director general and chief executive Alexandre de Juniac told a conference in Singapore.
"We are facing a ...

US-China trade tensions to hammer air cargo: industry body

Australia on Tuesday barred Boeing 737 MAX planes from its airspace, joining a host of countries which have blocked the model after the deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash at the weekend.
"This is a temporary suspension while we wait for more information to review the safety risks of continued operations of the Boeing 737 MAX to and from Australia," Shane Carmody, CEO of Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority, said in a statement.
"CASA regrets any inconvenience to passengers but believes it is important to always put safety first."
Fiji Airlines is the only 737 MAX operator affected by the Australian ban, according to CASA. Singapore-based SilkAir used the planes for flights to Australia, but those were already suspended after the city-state barred the model from its airspace.

Australia bars all 737 MAX planes from its airspace: statement

Carmakers Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors announced the creation of a joint board Tuesday, as they seek to plot a future for their alliance after the downfall of former boss Carlos Ghosn.
The new board structure will be headed by Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard and replaces two previous bodies based in the Netherlands -- one joining Renault and Nissan, the other combining Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors.
"We have decided to join our forces again, to enhance the strength of our collaboration." Senard told reporters.
This is a "new start" for the alliance, Senard said.
Ghosn, recently released on bail in Japan ahead of a trial over alleged financial misconduct, is widely credited with creating the three-way alliance, which now outsells all other rival groups.
As boss of Renault, he took what many observers at the time thought was a gamble by saving Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy and tying it to the French firm.
In a complicated management structure, Renault -- itself ...

Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi unveil new joint board post-Ghosn

Malaysia's prime minister said Tuesday the surprise release of an Indonesian woman who was on trial for assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother followed the "rule of law", after suspicions of meddling amid an intense lobbying effort by Jakarta.
Siti Aisyah was freed by a Malaysian court Monday after prosecutors withdrew a murder charge without any explanation, more than two years after her arrest for the 2017 assassination of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur airport.
Her sudden release prompted questions about interference in Malaysia's justice system, particularly after the Indonesian government revealed that it had lobbied Kuala Lumpur on the case, including pressure from President Joko Widodo.
But Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told reporters in parliament that the decision was in line with "the rule of law".
"There is a law that allows charges to be withdrawn. That was what happened. I do not know in detail the reasons," he said, adding he was unaware of any ...

Malaysia PM says release of Indonesian in N Korea case within rules

Mammoth German carmaker Volkswagen reported Thursday growing profits and revenues in 2018, beating analysts' forecasts despite enormous charges linked to its "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal and headwinds from tough new pollution tests.
The Wolfsburg-based group said it boosted its bottom line 6.0 percent year-on-year to 12.15 billion euros ($13.7 billion), higher than expectations from analysts surveyed by Factset.
Selling 10.8 million vehicles around the world from its 12 brands brought in 235.8 billion euros, with revenues posting slower growth than profits at 2.7 per cent.
And operating, or underlying profit added just 1.0 percent, to 13.9 billion.
"We performed very well in spite of strong headwinds," chief executive Herbert Diess said in a statement.
One major burden was the WLTP emissions tests, introduced since VW's 2015 admission that it manipulated millions of cars worldwide to appear less polluting, .
The new process' introduction in September cost VW almost one ...

VW beats forecasts in 2018 still marked by diesel fallout

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen will visit three Pacific nations this month to shore up ties, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, as Beijing seeks to lure away Taipei's dwindling number of allies.
Tsai will visit Palau, Nauru and Marshall Islands between March 21 and March 28 -- her second official visit to the Pacific amid growing concerns about China targeting countries in the region.
Beijing has stepped up diplomatic pressure on Taiwan since Tsai took office in 2016, as she has refused to acknowledge its "one China" policy.
The two sides split after a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still sees the self-ruling island as part of its territory to be brought back into the fold.
Five countries have switched official recognition to Beijing since Tsai became president, leaving Taipei with only 17 diplomatic allies including six in the Pacific.
Beijing has also made progress with the Vatican, Taiwan's most powerful official ally and its only one in Europe, by signing a landmark agreement ...

Taiwan leader to visit Pacific allies to firm up ties

The United States will withdraw all remaining diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Caracas as the crisis in Venezuela deepens, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said.
The move worsens already tattered relations, with President Donald Trump having said he rules out no options including military intervention to oust President Nicolas Maduro as Washington monitors rapidly unfolding events in the oil-rich but crippled South American nation supported by Russia and China.
The US has already imposed sanctions designed to choke off Venezuelan oil sales, the lifeblood of the leftist government in Caracas.
Much of Venezuela has been without electricity for going on five days now due to a power outage that the government blames on what it calls sabotage encouraged by the US.
Venezuela is in the grips of an acute economic crisis that has fueled the rise of opposition leader Juan Guaido, the national assembly speaker who in late January declared himself to be the interim leader. More than 50 .

US to pull all remaining diplomatic staff from Venezuela

Turnout in North Korea's single-candidate elections hit 99.99 percent this year, state media said Tuesday -- up from a seemingly unimprovable 99.97 per cent the last time they were held.
With participation figures that Western democracies would never achieve, millions of North Koreans head to nationwide polls every five years to elect the rubber-stamp legislature known as the Supreme People's Assembly.
But with only one approved name on each voting slip in the isolated country, which is ruled with an iron grip by Kim Jong Un's Workers' Party, the result is never in doubt.
This year's turnout fell just short of 100 percent as those "abroad or working in oceans" were unable to take part, the North's official KCNA news agency reported.
Like in 2014, results for the nationwide election held at the weekend came in 100 percent in favour of all named candidates.
"All the electors participated as one in the election to cement our people's power as firm as a rock," KCNA said, citing a report ..

N Korea election sees 99.99% turnout: KCNA

Ailing world number three Alexander Zverev crashed out of the ATP Indian Wells Masters, where Novak Djokovic's third round match was suspended by rain with one game completed.
Jan-Lennard Struff, ranked 55th in the world, notched his first victory over Zverev in five tries, breaking him once in the first set and three times in the second for a 6-3, 6-1 victory.
"I've been sick for a week," said the 21-year-old Zverev, who lost the Acapulco final to Australian Nick Kyrgios the week before Indian Wells began. "That hasn't changed, unfortunately.
"I think I just got unlucky, I got a virus somewhere and that's how it is." Zverev, the owner of three Masters 1000 titles who has never made it to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells, said he would now focus on recuperating and preparing for the Miami Masters, where he'll be hoping to improve on his runner-up finish to John Isner last year.
"Now it's about getting healthy and about recovering and preparing myself for Miami, because Miami is the .

Right Struff: Ailing Zverev toppled, Djokovic rained out at Indian Wells

Darren Lehmann was named coach of the Big Bash League's Brisbane Heat Thursday, his first cricket role since quitting the Australian team over the sandpaper cheating scandal.
Lehmann said returning to the Heat, the team he steered to a Big Bash title in 2013, was a chance to "come back to where it all started" after his bruising experience with the national team.
"I think you learn a lot about yourself during the dark times and for me it's all about enjoying the game," he told reporters.
"I've fallen in love with the game again, so I'm really looking forward to getting back working with some young guys with a lot of talent."
Lehmann was Australia coach in March last year when batsman Cameron Bancroft was caught trying to scuff the ball with sandpaper during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
At the time captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner were directly implicated in the cheating plot and all three received lengthy bans.
Lehmann later quit, along with much of 

Lehmann makes coaching comeback after sandpaper-gate

Brazilian star Neymar blasted as a "disgrace" the stoppage-time VAR award of a penalty which gave Manchester United a sensational Champions League last 16 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Marcus Rashford converted the last-gasp spot-kick to send United through on away goals after a 3-1 second-leg win in the French capital.
"It's a disgrace. They get four guys who don't understand football to watch a slow motion replay in front of the TV," Neymar, who was injured and watched the game from the stands at the Parc des Princes, wrote on Instagram.
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said he sympathised with Neymar's frustrations.
"Sometimes you use words you take back a few hours later," said Tuchel.
"You see how badly he wanted to help us.

'It's a disgrace': Neymar blasts ref after PSG crash

Stunned Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel said his side's Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United on Wednesday was "cruel" but refused to blame the match officials after the late VAR-awarded penalty that decided the tie.
"I am a big supporter of VAR and I stay a big supporter of VAR," said Tuchel, who looked white as he spoke to media after PSG's 3-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes in their last 16, second leg.
Having won 2-0 in the first leg last month, the French side wobbled in the return but were still going through until Slovenian referee Damir Skomina gave a stoppage-time penalty for a Presnel Kimpembe handball in the box, after reviewing the images.
A Diogo Dalot shot had struck Kimpembe, and Marcus Rashford duly converted from the spot, as United went through on away goals.
"From my point of view I watched Dalot take the shot. I saw the ball flying straight from his foot and for me it was clear that it was going way over the bar," said Tuchel.
"There are ..

PSG coach Tuchel refuses to blame VAR after 'cruel' Champions League exit

Toyota Europe's CEO has warned the firm could end production in Britain by 2023 if the country exits the European Union without a deal, the Nikkei business daily said Thursday.
Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, Johan van Zyl told reporters that "if the business environment becomes very, very difficult to operate," a withdrawal "should be on the agenda as well," the Nikkei said.
He also raised other less drastic possibilities, including scaling back production or investment, the daily said.
A Toyota spokesman confirmed van Zyl's comments.
"In the exchange of questions and answers with Japanese reporters there, he replied to a question on whether future withdrawal from the business in the UK is possible, saying it is 'an option', in general terms," the spokesman told AFP.
"Of course we have to compete and the business environment is important," the spokesman added.
But he stressed that Toyota's position on Brexit was unchanged, namely "that a hard landing is not desirable." "But we ...

Toyota warns could leave UK under no-deal Brexit: report

Alex Telles converted a VAR-awarded penalty deep into extra time as Porto defeated Roma 3-1 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals following a tense 4-3 win on aggregate.
Francisco Soares nudged Porto ahead with a simple tap-in on 26 minutes, but Daniele De Rossi equalised from the spot before half-time after Eder Militao chopped down Diego Perotti on Wednesday.
Moussa Marega restored the lead on the night for Porto early in the second half to level the tie as he struck in his sixth successive appearance in Europe.
An additional half-hour was required to settle an encounter that looked to be heading for a shootout before Telles tucked home from the spot on 117 minutes after a tug on Fernando by Alessandro Florenzi was spotted upon review.
"It was not just me that scored the penalty, it was the whole team. The Dragao, the full stadium, made me feel at ease. It was a very good energy," said Telles.
"We've got to accept it, even if the way it happened is terrible to accept," Roma ..

AFP

AFP

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