IN BRIEF (Page 12)

MALAYSIA

Royals pick new king after abdication

Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of central Pahang state has been named Malaysia's new king, replacing Sultan Muhammad V who abdicated unexpectedly after just two years on the throne. The 49-year-old ruler resigned on Jan 6 as Malaysia's 15th king, marking the first abdication in the nation's history and cutting short his five-year term. No reason was given, but the move came after he reportedly married a 25-year-old former Russian beauty queen in November. Sultan Abdullah is a key figure in several international sports bodies. He will be sworn in on Jan 31 for a five-year term.

UNITED STATES

Nurse held in rape of incapacitated woman

A nurse who was supposed to be looking after an incapacitated woman at a long-term healthcare facility has been charged with raping her, weeks after she stunned her caregivers and family by giving birth to a baby boy, Phoenix police said on Wednesday. Investigators arrested Nathan Sutherland, a licensed practical nurse, on suspicion of one count of sexual assault and one count of vulnerable adult abuse. The surprise birth late last month highlighted safety concerns for patients who are severely disabled or incapacitated. It also prompted authorities to test the DNA of all the men who worked at the Hacienda HealthCare facility.

UNITED KINGDOM

Hopes fade for Sala as search scours seas

Hopes of finding soccer star Emiliano Sala alive were fading on Wednesday, as a recording emerged of a fearful voice message he apparently sent from his stricken plane before it disappeared over the English Channel. Search teams were reviewing satellite imagery and mobile phone data as four aircraft scoured seas off the channel island of Alderney, where unidentified debris was earlier spotted. But with Cardiff City-bound Sala and his pilot already missing for 40 hours, rescuers said chances of finding either of them alive were almost vanishingly slim. The 28-year-old Argentina-born forward was en route from Nantes in western France to Cardiff for his debut with his Premier League club.

SPAIN

Taxi drivers threaten to take strike to border

Taxi drivers striking to demand tighter regulations for companies using ride-hailing apps blocked traffic for another day in Spain's two major cities on Tuesday, while threatening to take their protest to the French border. Hundreds of taxi drivers continued to block major roads in Madrid and Barcelona, with many wearing the yellow traffic safety vest that has become the symbol of protests in neighboring France. Taxi drivers in both cities already went on strike against the internet-driven ride-hailing platforms in July. They complain that ride-hailing app drivers compete unfairly since they don't have the same regulations and costs.

Ap - Afp - Reuters

(China Daily 01/25/2019 page12)