Chinese parliament expels ex-carmaker chief
BEIJING • The former chairman of one of China's top state-owned carmakers, FAW Group, has been expelled from the country's largely rubber-stamp parliament as he is being investigated for graft, state news agency Xinhua said yesterday.
It said in a brief report that Xu Jianyi had been"disqualified" as a member of the National People's Congress. It gave no further details, but the decision removes the immunity from prosecution he had enjoyed as a member of parliament.
The ruling Communist Party said in March that Xu was being investigated for "violating party discipline", the usual euphemism for corruption.
It has not been possible to contact Xu for comment.
REUTERS
South Korea waives visa fees for some visitors
SEOUL • South Korea yesterday said it would waive visa fees for visitors from China and South-east Asia as it struggles to recover from the Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) outbreak which has seen tourist numbers plummet.
The announcement came as the country reported no new cases for a fourth consecutive day in the Mers outbreak, which has infected 182 people and killed 33.
The Justice Ministry said visas that had been already issued would be extended for another three months as South Korea enters its peak tourist season of July and August. "These measures are aimed to help boost the tourism industry, which has been affected by the Mers outbreak," it said in a statement.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Five arrested in India over monkey kidnapping
MUMBAI • The Indian authorities said yesterday they have arrested five men over the kidnapping of a monkey after video footage emerged of a distressed primate being bundled into the boot of a car.
The short clip carried by Indian media shows a young monkey desperately trying to free itself from the clutches of two men as several distraught primates looked on helplessly.
The accused are in the custody of the Forest Department and will be charged under various sections of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, a forestry official said.
Monkeys are often trained to be street performers in India but it is illegal to capture them under the 1972 Act.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
