Nepal to issue passports with third gender for sexual minorities
KATHMANDU (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Nepal will issue passports to sexual minorities, adding a third gender category, an official said on Wednesday in a sign of the conservative Hindu-majority country becoming more liberal since the end of a decade…
Suspected Islamist car bombing badly injures Somali lecturer
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – A car bomb critically injured a university lecturer in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Wednesday and was blamed on Islamist rebels who have promised to keep up attacks even as they have lost territory to a military offensive.
All on New Zealand plane parachute to safety before crash
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Thirteen people on board a skydiving plane, including the pilot, parachuted to safety in New Zealand on Wednesday moments before the aircraft crashed into a lake.
China ex-security chief faces graft trial: Xinhua
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have transferred former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang’s corruption case to “judicial organs”, paving the way for his trial, the party’s anti-graft watchdog said on Wednesday.
Hong Kong government cements support for China’s pre-screening of poll candidates
HONG KONG (Reuters) – The Hong Kong government on Wednesday cemented its support for China’s plan to pre-screen candidates for the city’s 2017 leadership election, just weeks after authorities cleared the streets of protesters pushing for greater democ…
Kenya to probe death of defense witness in ICC trial
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s director of public prosecutions has ordered an investigation into the killing of a man who was a defense witness in the case involving Kenya’s deputy president at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Korean Air chairman’s daughter charged over nut case outburst
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean prosecutors charged the daughter of the chairman of Korean Air Lines on Wednesday for delaying a flight following an outburst over the way she was served nuts, in a case that stirred public outrage and ridicule.
UK, Greek election anxiety may see Brexit feed Grexit
LONDON (Reuters) – British elections in May could arguably have as much impact on euro zone stability as this month’s snap poll in Greece, making for an anxious period of up to six months for European investors.
Earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude strikes south of Panama: USGS
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the west coast of Panama on Wednesday, about 261 kms (162.18 miles) south of the city of David, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Syrians largest refugee group after Palestinians: U.N.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syrians have overtaken Afghans as the largest refugee population aside from Palestinians, fleeing to more than 100 countries to escape war in their homeland, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
