标签： Asia

Saudi Arabia has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to enhance the spiritual and infrastructural landscape of Makkah. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman officially launched the ‘King Salman Gate’ project, a massive development adjacent to the Grand Mosque, which will add approximately 900,000 indoor and outdoor praying spaces. Spanning 12 million square meters (4.6 square miles), this mixed-use project aims to improve access to the Grand Mosque while integrating residential, hospitality, commercial, and cultural facilities. The RUA AlHaram AlMakki Company, overseeing the project, highlighted its potential to elevate service quality and preserve Makkah’s cultural heritage by restoring 19,000 square meters of historical sites. Additionally, the initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, contributing to economic transformation by generating over 300,000 jobs by 2036. While the project’s cost and completion timeline remain undisclosed, it represents a significant step in modernizing Makkah and establishing it as a global model for urban planning and spiritual tourism.

Kanchha Sherpa, the final surviving member of the pioneering 1953 Mount Everest expedition, has passed away at the age of 92 in Kathmandu, Nepal. His family confirmed that he had been unwell in recent times. Sherpa was just 19 years old when he joined the legendary team led by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, which achieved the first successful ascent of the world’s highest peak. Despite having no prior mountaineering experience, Sherpa served as a porter on the 35-member expedition, carrying essential supplies such as food, tents, and equipment to the base camp during the grueling two-week journey. Remarkably, he was one of only three Sherpas to surpass the 8,000-meter mark (26,247 feet) during the climb. Sherpa’s contributions to mountaineering earned him widespread admiration, with fellow Nepali guides hailing him as a legend and a source of inspiration. After the historic expedition, he continued working as a high-altitude porter in the Himalayas for two more decades before retiring at the request of his wife, who urged him to cease the perilous climbs. His legacy remains an enduring testament to the courage and resilience of the Sherpa community in the world of mountaineering.

Kanchha Sherpa, the sole surviving member of the historic 1953 expedition that first summited Mount Everest, passed away peacefully at his home in Kapan, Kathmandu, on Thursday. He was 92 years old. The Nepal Mountaineering Association confirmed his death, with President Phur Gelje Sherpa describing it as the end of a significant chapter in mountaineering history. Kanchha had been unwell for some time before his passing. His last rites are scheduled for Monday. Born in 1933 in Namche Bazar, the gateway to Everest, Kanchha began his mountaineering career at 19 and remained active in the field until he was 50. He was one of three Sherpas who reached the final camp before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made their historic ascent to the 8,849-meter peak on May 29, 1953. In a March 2024 interview with The Associated Press, Kanchha expressed concerns about overcrowding and environmental degradation on Everest, urging climbers to respect the mountain, which Sherpas revere as Qomolangma, or the goddess mother of the world. He is survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters, and grandchildren.

In a significant move to address the growing issue of online scams, South Korean and Cambodian officials convened in Phnom Penh on Thursday to discuss coordinated measures. This meeting follows the tragic death of Park Min-ho, a 22-year-old South Korean student who was reportedly trafficked and forced to work in a scam center in Cambodia. Park’s body was discovered in August in Cambodia’s Kampot province, with authorities attributing his death to cardiac arrest after enduring torture and beatings.

The South Korean delegation, led by National Security Director Wi Sung-lac, met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to address the repatriation of South Korean nationals involved in online scams and the return of Park’s remains. Wi emphasized the urgency of resolving these issues, noting that disputes over autopsy procedures had delayed the repatriation process. However, an agreement was reached, and the results of the talks were expected to be announced later on Thursday.

Cambodia’s online scam industry has drawn international attention, with an estimated 200,000 people, including around 1,000 South Koreans, working in scam centers across the country. Many victims are lured with promises of high-paying jobs, only to be forced into illegal activities. In the first eight months of 2023 alone, 330 South Koreans were reported detained in Cambodia, with 80% of these cases resolved.

During the talks, both nations pledged to strengthen collaboration in combating transnational crimes, particularly online scams. Hun Manet emphasized that Cambodia and South Korea would work bilaterally to address the issue without third-party involvement. South Korea, meanwhile, is seeking the early repatriation of 60 nationals recently arrested in Cambodia on suspicion of scam involvement. Once repatriated, they will face investigations and potential legal consequences.

In response to the crisis, South Korea has implemented a travel ban for specific areas in Cambodia, including Bokor Mountain in Kampot province, where Park was found dead, as well as border towns Bavet and Poipet. The United Nations has highlighted Southeast Asia, particularly the Mekong Region, as a global hub for scams and illegal online gaming, with criminal gangs earning billions annually through fraudulent schemes.

Jeremy Douglas, Chief of Staff for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, stressed the need for regional cooperation to tackle the issue, stating that the situation cannot be ignored. As both nations work towards a solution, the tragic case of Park Min-ho underscores the urgent need for international collaboration to combat human trafficking and online scams.