Two killed in knife attack in China
Beijing/Kunming, May 7: At least two people were killed and 21 others injured in a knife attack at a hospital on Tuesday in China’s Yunnan Province, local authorities said, in the latest incident of mass stabbing in the country. The attack took place at around 11:30 am when a man assaulted people with a knife at a local hospital in Zhenxiong County, the county’s public security bureau said. The injured are being treated in the hospital, and the case is under investigation, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. (PTI)
Lanka continues free tourist visas for India, others
Colombo, May 7: Visitors from India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia will continue to receive tourist visas free of charge, the Sri Lankan government has said. This decision comes amidst a controversy surrounding increased fees for on-arrival visas, which were being handled by a foreign company. A statement issued by the office of President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday said, “It was decided today to maintain the existing USD 50 fee for a 30-day visa for foreigners visiting the country and the free visa service currently offered to citizens of seven countries — India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.” (PTI)
Indian Naval ships in S’pore for operational deployment to SCS
Singapore, May 7: Three Indian Naval Ships have arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit as part of the operational deployment of the Navy’s Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea, underscoring the strong linkages between both navies. Led by Rear Admiral (RAdm) Rajesh Dhankhar, Indian Naval Ships Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan reached the Changi naval base in the city-state on Monday, the Indian Navy spokesperson said in a post on X. The three ships will leave for Malaysia on Thursday and then visit the Philippines. The visit is part of the “Op Deployment of #IndianNavy’s @IN_EasternFleet to the #SouthChinaSea,” it said, amidst China flexing its muscles in the South China Sea. Currently, the Chinese navy is involved in a standoff with the US-backed Philippines naval ships in the South China Sea. (PTI)
Prez Xi appoints new envoy to India
Beijing, May 7: Chinese President Xi Jinping has appointed senior diplomat Xu Feihong as the new Ambassador to India after an unusually long delay of 18 months amid frozen relations between the two countries over the eastern Ladakh military standoff. While there is no official announcement here yet, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed to PTI that Xu, former Ambassador to Afghanistan and Romania, has been appointed as China’s new envoy in India. Xu, 60, is expected to travel to New Delhi soon to take over his new posting. He will succeed veteran Chinese diplomat Sun Weidong who completed his tenure in India in October 2022. Sun, who was China’s envoy to Pakistan before his India stint, is currently the Vice Foreign Minister overseeing China’s South Asia policy. (PTI)