IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Nigeria

Security boosted for world forum

Nigeria will host the World Economic Forum on Africa in its capital, Abuja, next month, despite a bomb attack on the city on Monday that killed 71 people, Nigerian organizers of the event said. "Our security planning is already well underway and will be the largest security operation ever mounted in this country for an international summit," Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.

India

IDs issued for third gender

India's top court has issued a landmark verdict creating a third gender category, saying transgendered people can now identify themselves as such on official documents. The court directed the federal and state governments to include transgendered people in all welfare programs to help them overcome social and economic challenges.

Libya

Gunmen kidnap Jordanian envoy

Jordan's ambassador to Libya was kidnapped on Tuesday morning as masked gunmen attacked his car and shot the driver, a spokesman for Libya's foreign ministry, Said Laswad, said. The driver survived and has been hospitalized, he said. A Jordanian foreign ministry source said the kidnapping occurred as the ambassador, Fawaz al-Itan, was leaving his house.

Republic of Korea

Officials charged with conspiracy

Park Geun-hye, president of the Republic of Korea, apologized on Tuesday for the latest scandal to rock the intelligence service. Three officials were charged with conspiracy to fabricate evidence against a man accused of spying for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The case is the latest in a long line of controversies marking the ROK National Intelligence Service's troubled history.

Australia

New airport for Sydney approved

The Australian government on Tuesday gave the go-ahead for a second international airport for Sydney, a move that is predicted to boost the national economy. Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirmed that Badgerys Creek in western Sydney will be the site of the new airport, with construction set to start in 2016.

Venezuela

Oil reserves are 'world's largest'

The Venezuelan Oil and Mining Ministry announced on Monday that the country's proven crude oil reserves amount to 298.35 billion barrels, making Venezuela home to the world's largest oil reserves.

Reuters-AFP-Xinhua

(China Daily 04/16/2014 page12)