AN anti-government attacker has stabbed and injured a pro-Beijing Hong Kong politician who was campaigning for an election.
Junius Ho has become a hated figure by anti-government protesters over his alleged links to violence against them.
After receiving initial medical treatment, Ho told reporters the knife had been blocked by his rib cage and he was left with a minor wound. Ho, two of his assistants and the attacker were all injured.
A video circulating on social media showed a man giving flowers to Ho and asking permission to take a picture with him.
Instead, the man drew a knife from his bag and stabbed Ho’s chest but was quickly overpowered by Ho and several others. The man kept hurling abusive comments at Ho, calling him “human scum”.
The attack marked a dark turn in the protests.
MEANWHILE, US Democrats have taken full control of the Virginia legislature for the first time in more than two decades while the race for governor in deeply Republican Kentucky was too close to call.
Democratic challenger Andy Beshear held a narrow lead and declared victory in the governor’s race over Republican incumbent Matt Bevin, although Bevin has not yet conceded.
In Virginia, Democrats flipped control of the state Senate and House, gaining outright control of state government in a state that is often a battleground for the White House.
A year before the presidential election, the results offered warning signs for both parties.
ELSEWHERE, a lone attacker has stabbed eight people, including four foreign tourists and their tour guide, at an archaeological site in northern Jordan.
The incident occurred at Jerash, one of the country’s top tourist destinations.
Security officials said the wounded included three Mexican tourists and a Swiss woman, official state-run media reported.
Along with the tour guide, three other Jordanians, including a policeman, were hurt before the attacker was subdued and arrested.
FINALLY, gunmen have fired at security personnel at checkpoints in Thailand, killing 15 volunteer officers and wounding five others.
An army spokesman said some of the attackers may have been injured in an exchange of gunfire during the attack late on Tuesday night.
Officials said the assailants took several weapons from the checkpoints, including an M16 rifle and three shotguns.
A Muslim separatist insurgency has left about 7000 people dead since 2004 in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala. Police, teachers and other government representatives are often targets.
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