School bus crash in Sri Lanka injures 16
Sixteen people were injured after a school bus veered off the road and hit an embankment in Southern Province on Wednesday, police said. Some have been treated and discharged.
The incident comes amid rising road safety concerns, with over 2,500 deaths reported from road accidents in Sri Lanka this year, Xinhua reported.
India to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals from July 24
India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals from July 24, marking the first such move since the 2020 Galwan clashes. The announcement, made by the Indian Embassy in Beijing, signals a cautious thaw in bilateral ties, Firstpost reported.
The decision follows Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s recent visit to Beijing, where he and Chinese vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong discussed ways to improve relations. Both sides agreed on people-centric initiatives, including cooperation on trans-border rivers and resuming hydrological data sharing.
Israeli Defense Minister calls for ‘complete victory’ in Gaza
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday called for a complete victory in Gaza, saying the country is close to achieving its war goals. Speaking with top military officials, he stressed the need to defeat Hamas and secure the return of Israeli hostages, according to Al Jazeera.
Katz also warned of renewed threats from Iran and highlighted the importance of maintaining military presence in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and the West Bank to protect Israeli communities. His remarks came as ceasefire talks continue in Doha, with reports of progress.
Columbia University expels students over Gaza protests
Columbia University has expelled and suspended nearly 80 students for participating in pro-Palestinian protests opposing Israel’s war on Gaza. The university said the disciplinary action was due to disruptions at Butler Library and an earlier encampment during Alumni Weekend, Al Jazeera reported.
Student group CUAD, which has called for divestment from Israel, condemned the punishments as excessive but vowed to continue their activism.
The crackdown follows federal pressure, with the Trump administration freezing $400m in funding over concerns about anti-Semitism on campus. Protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, recently released from immigration custody, met with lawmakers in Washington this week, according to Al Jazeera.
