Taiwan to hold referendum on same-sex marriage law
Taiwan will hold a public vote on whether its civil law should recognize same-sex marriage, two election officials told Reuters on Tuesday, reviving a debate over a separate law for civil unions between gay couples.
Fire in SAIL’s central Indian steel plant kills at least nine
A fire in a gas pipeline at a plant of Steel Authority of India Ltd’s in the central state of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday killed at least nine people, the company said.
North Korea wants to ‘ardently welcome’ Pope Francis, South says
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has invited Pope Francis to visit Pyongyang, a gesture designed to highlight peace efforts, South Korea’s presidential office said on Tuesday.
Britain warns: Do not underestimate Russian spies
Recent failings by Russian military intelligence (GRU) have made it easy to laugh at its spies but the West should not underestimate the skills of the Kremlin’s once mighty espionage services, Britain’s Security Minister said on Tuesday.
Blast in SAIL’s central Indian steel plant kills at least six: police official
A blast at Steel Authority of India’s plant in the central state of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday killed at least six people, a police official said.
Norway police file ‘procedural’ accusations over 1993 shooting of Satanic Verses publisher
Norwegian police have filed accusations against several suspects in the 1993 shooting of author Salman Rushdie’s Norwegian publisher, the National Criminal Investigation Service said on Tuesday.
Syria offers amnesty to deserters and draft dodgers
The Syrian government has announced an amnesty for men who deserted the army or have avoided military service, giving them several months to report for duty without facing punishment, it said on Tuesday.
Singapore court convicts activist, opposition politician over Facebook comments
A Singapore court on Tuesday convicted a rights activist and an opposition politician of contempt of court, punishable by up to three years in jail, for online comments posted on Facebook, the first such ruling under a new law.
Health fears turn from injury to disease as Indonesia quake toll rises above 2,000
Health workers in Indonesia are struggling to care for tens of thousands of people displaced by an earthquake and tsunami, with a lack of shelter and clean water among major problems as the focus turns from injury to disease.
North Korea wants to ‘ardently welcome’ Pope Francis, South Korea says
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has invited Pope Francis to visit Pyongyang in a gesture designed to highlight peace efforts on the Korean peninsula, South Korea’s presidential office said on Tuesday.
