标签： Asia

Rescue teams are working tirelessly to save dozens of students and workers trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed school building in East Java, Indonesia. The incident, which occurred on Monday at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, has already claimed three lives and left 99 others hospitalized, some with critical injuries. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as at least 38 individuals, predominantly teenage boys, remain unaccounted for. The collapse happened during a prayer gathering, with the two-story building succumbing to its unstable foundation, exacerbated by the ongoing construction of two additional floors. The disaster mitigation agency described the structure as having a ‘pancake-like’ formation, with layers of concrete slabs creating narrow voids that complicate rescue efforts. The girls, who were praying in a separate section of the building, managed to escape unharmed. Local media footage depicts the collapsed section of the building completely sunken, with large concrete slabs protruding. The sounds of crying and shouting emanate from the rubble, as anxious relatives camp outside the school, desperate for news of their loved ones. Rescue operations were temporarily halted on Tuesday due to the risk of further collapse. Mohammad Syafeii, head of the search and rescue agency Basarnas, highlighted the challenges of using heavy equipment, which, while aiding in lifting concrete slabs, could endanger survivors still trapped. The agency is preparing a specialized operation, deploying units equipped with advanced extrication tools. Families of the missing, like Rosida, whose son Kaffa Ahmad Maulana is among those trapped, are enduring agonizing waits. Survivors, such as seventh-grader Muhammad Rijalul Qoib, recounted their narrow escapes, describing the terrifying moments before the collapse. The school’s caretaker, KH Abdus Salam Mujib, apologized to the families, attributing the tragedy to ‘God’s will.’ Sidoarjo’s regent revealed that the school had not obtained the necessary permits for the building’s expansion. Al Khoziny, a traditional Islamic boarding school, or pesantren, falls under the jurisdiction of Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, which often lacks stringent oversight. This incident underscores Indonesia’s poor construction safety record, as highlighted by the International Labour Organization. Earlier this month, a similar tragedy in West Java resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.

Fahima Noori, a young Afghan woman, once harbored ambitious dreams. After graduating with a law degree, completing a midwifery program, and working in a mental health clinic, her aspirations were shattered when the Taliban regained power in 2021. The militant group banned girls over 12 from attending school, severely limited women’s employment opportunities, and recently removed books authored by women from university curricula. For Fahima, the internet became her sole connection to the outside world—a lifeline that was abruptly severed on Tuesday when the Taliban imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, set to last indefinitely. ‘Our last hope was online learning. Now that dream has been destroyed,’ she lamented. Her identity, along with others interviewed, has been concealed for safety. Over recent weeks, the Taliban began cutting fiber-optic connections across provinces, citing the prevention of immorality. This move culminated in a ‘total internet blackout,’ according to internet watchdog Netblocks, crippling essential services and disrupting mobile internet, satellite TV, and flights from Kabul airport. The shutdown has devastated countless lives. Shakiba, a resident of Tahkar province, shared her despair: ‘We want to study, be educated, and help people in the future. When I heard the internet was cut, the world felt dark.’ Fahima, now feeling ‘helpless,’ described how she and her sisters relied on the internet to study, stay informed, and acquire new skills. ‘We dreamed of finishing our education and helping our father financially, but now we sit at home doing nothing,’ she said. Since 2021, the Taliban have enforced strict interpretations of Islamic Sharia law, including banning books by women and outlawing the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment. Around 140 books, including ‘Safety in the Chemical Laboratory,’ were deemed ‘anti-Sharia.’ The Taliban claim to respect women’s rights within their cultural and religious framework, but their actions tell a different story. The internet shutdown has also impacted teachers like Zabi, who relied on online English classes to support his students preparing for the IELTS exam. ‘Two days ago, 45 of my students were mid-exam when the internet was cut. It was heartbreaking,’ he said. Zabi, like many others, faces an uncertain future. ‘I’ll need to leave the country if the internet isn’t restored soon,’ he admitted. The shutdown has also disrupted businesses, with Anas, a money changer in Takhar, reporting a 90% drop in operations. ‘My brother couldn’t even send an email to a client,’ he said. Anas’s primary concern, however, is his three daughters, who can no longer access online education. ‘Their last opportunity to study is gone. Seeing them so helpless is the hardest thing,’ he said. The Taliban have yet to provide an official reason for the shutdown, leaving millions in limbo.

In a landmark case, Zhimin Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, has been convicted for her pivotal role in what is now recognized as the largest cryptocurrency seizure globally, valued at over £5.5 billion ($7.4 billion). Qian, a 47-year-old Chinese national, pleaded guilty on Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London to charges of illegally acquiring and possessing cryptocurrency. The Metropolitan Police revealed that between 2014 and 2017, Qian orchestrated a massive scam in China, defrauding more than 128,000 victims and converting the stolen funds into Bitcoin assets. Her arrest followed a seven-year international investigation into a complex money laundering network. Detective Sergeant Isabella Grotto, who led the investigation, noted that Qian had been evading justice for five years before her capture, which required coordinated efforts across multiple jurisdictions. Qian fled China using falsified documents and entered the UK, where she attempted to launder the stolen money through property purchases. She was aided by Jian Wen, another Chinese national, who was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison last year for her involvement. Robin Weyell, deputy chief Crown prosecutor, emphasized the growing use of cryptocurrencies by organized criminals to conceal and transfer illicit assets. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is actively working to prevent the fraudsters from accessing the stolen funds. Many victims have already received partial compensation through a scheme established in China. Qian remains in custody awaiting sentencing, with the date yet to be determined. This case underscores the increasing challenges posed by cybercrime and the critical need for international cooperation in combating such sophisticated financial frauds.

The family of Cheryl Grimmer, a three-year-old girl who vanished from Fairy Meadow beach in New South Wales, Australia, in January 1970, has expressed frustration over the police’s handling of the case. Despite a four-year review, no new evidence has emerged, and three potential eyewitnesses who came forward after a BBC podcast were not formally interviewed. Cheryl’s brother, Ricki Nash, described the situation as ‘total frustration,’ emphasizing that the family cannot move forward without police assistance. The podcast, which has been downloaded five million times, prompted witnesses to share their accounts, including one man who claimed to have seen a teenage boy carrying a child from the beach changing rooms on the day of Cheryl’s disappearance. Retired detective Damian Loone criticized the police for not pursuing these leads, calling it ‘sloppy police work.’ In 2016, a man was charged with Cheryl’s abduction and murder based on a 1971 confession, but the charges were dropped in 2019 after the confession was deemed inadmissible. The family has launched a petition for an inquiry into missing persons investigations, which garnered over 10,000 signatures but has yet to result in action. NSW Police stated that all information received was assessed, but not all leads warranted formal interviews. The case remains unresolved, leaving Cheryl’s family desperate for answers.