
Tourist ferry sinks at Vietnam's Ha Long Bay killing at least 35
Tourist ferry sinks at Vietnam's Ha Long Bay killing at least 35

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CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: Loving your animal is one thing, but when is owning too many harmful to them?
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16 hours ago
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India resumes visas for Chinese tourists after five years amid thaw in diplomatic tensions
NEW DELHI/BEIJING: India will start issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals from Thursday (Jul 24) for the first time in five years - marking a significant thaw between the two Asian giants after a deadly border clash deeply strained relations. According to an official notice shared online by the Embassy of India in China, applicants must complete an online form before booking an in-person appointment to submit required documents at its embassy in Beijing or consulates in Shanghai and Guangzhou. It follows China's gradual resumption of visas for Indian nationals in recent years, including tourist visas in March this year. Some reports said that Chinese Embassy and consulate offices had issued 85,000 visas from January to Apr 9, without indicating the category of visas. Beijing has welcomed the 'positive' move by India. Speaking on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China was 'ready to maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries'. An opinion piece published on Thursday by the state-owned Global Times tabloid called it 'a positive development' but said there was 'still a lot that the Indian side can do'. It noted that India had imposed 'relatively high thresholds' for Chinese tourists applying for visas, such as providing bank statements over the past six months to show a minimum balance of 100,000 yuan (US$13,966). 'These requirements not only fall short of the visa standards from five years ago but also clearly lag behind the global trend of streamlining visa policies and facilitating cross-border travel,' Global Times wrote. 'India should do more to build mutual trust, bridge perception gaps, and foster goodwill among the two peoples,' it said, adding that it was also important to see if India would take 'more substantial steps', such as improving visa approval rates, tourist services and safety, and the possible relaxation of visa requirements in the future. 04:50 Min The world's two most populous nations share a 3,800 km border that has been heavily disputed since the 1950s. Tensions escalated following a June 2020 military clash that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. The clash led to a military standoff with both armies deploying tens of thousands of troops in the mountains as well as both countries to suspend flights, investments and visa services to each other during the pandemic. Negotiations to settle the dispute made slow progress. But relations have gradually improved, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia last October. Last month, both countries' foreign ministries announced a mutual agreement to expedite the resumption of direct air services and step up communication. China resumed visa services for Indian students and business travellers in 2022 while tourist visas for Indian nationals remained restricted until March this year, when both countries agreed to resume direct air service. Modi is also expected to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin next month, which would mark his first visit to China since 2018.

Straits Times
17 hours ago
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Thailand, Cambodia must stand down over border clash: Malaysian PM Anwar
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Malaysia currently chairs the Association of South-east Asian Nations which includes Cambodia and Thailand. Follow our live coverage here. KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called on Thailand and Cambodia to stand down on July 24 following deadly border clashes between the two South-east Asian neighbours. 'The least we can expect is for them to stand down and hopefully try to enter into negotiation,' said Datuk Seri Anwar, whose country currently chairs the Association of South-east Asian Nations which includes Cambodia and Thailand. Thailand launched air strikes on Cambodian military targets on July 24 as Cambodia fired rockets and artillery in a dramatic escalation of a long-running border row between the two countries. The neighbours are locked in a bitter spat over an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of both countries and Laos meet, and which is home to several ancient temples. Cambodian cross-border strikes on July 24 have killed at least 11 civilians, most of them in a rocket strike near a petrol station in Sisaket province, the Thai ministry of public health said. 'The development is concerning. They are important members of Asean. They are very close to Malaysia and I've given messages to both prime ministers. I'm looking forward to speaking to both of them this evening,' Mr Anwar told reporters. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: Thailand, Cambodia clash with jets, rockets, artillery in deadly border row Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore First BTO flats in Greater Southern Waterfront, Mount Pleasant to go on sale in October Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years in S'pore Boys' Home Asia 'Vampire coach': Coercive blood sampling in school casts spotlight on Taiwan's culture of obedience Business MOM probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: Dinesh Tech From aviation to healthcare, workers have taken small steps to be early adopters of AI in Singapore Singapore Over 2 years' jail for man who worked with wife to cheat her then boyfriend of $220k 'Peace is the only option available.' The clashes on July 24 came just two weeks after Asean foreign ministers met in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, together with their counterparts from major powers like the United States and China. The Thailand-Cambodia squabble has dragged on for decades, flaring into bloody military clashes more than 15 years ago and again in May 2025, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a firefight. The conflict blazed up on July 24, with Cambodia firing rockets and artillery shells into Thailand and the Thai military scrambling F-16 jets to carry out air strikes. Asean's other members are Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. AFP