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Tourists to Cambodia’s famed Angkor up 41 per cent

Tourists at the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. PHOTO: XINHUA

PHNOM PENH (XINHUA) – The number of international visitors to Cambodia’s famed Angkor Archaeological Park rose 41 per cent year-on-year in the first four months of 2024, said a report from the state-owned Angkor Enterprise on Friday.

The ancient park recorded 421,379 foreign tourists during the January-April period this year, up 41 per cent from 298,998 over the same period last year, the report said.

The park made USD19.9 million in revenue from ticket sales, also up 42 per cent from USD14 million over the same period last year, the report added.

China was the fifth largest source of international tourist arrivals to the Angkor park after the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and South Korea, the report said.

It added that some 28,172 Chinese holidaymakers visited the park, up 53 per cent from 18,437, it added.

Situated in northwest Siem Reap province, the 401-square-kilometres Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples, which had been built from the 9th to the 13th centuries.

The park, inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1992, is the most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian country.

Cambodia has launched the ‘Visit Siem Reap 2024’ campaign, the 2024 Cambodia-China people-to-people exchange year and the Cambodia-India tourism year, aiming at revitalising the tourism industry.

“These initiatives will give a boost to the tourism sector, attracting more foreign tourists to Cambodia in general and to the Angkor Archaeological Park in particular,” Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a speech during the launch of the ‘Visit Siem Reap 2024’ campaign in March. He said the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, which was put into official use last November, is becoming a potential magnet for international tourists to the Angkor.

With a 3,600-metre-long runway, the 4E-level international airport is currently the kingdom’s largest airport and also the main international gateway to the Angkor.

Tourists at the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. PHOTO: XINHUA

Suho: From EXO to solo

SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Suho, the charismatic leader of K-pop sensation EXO, is gearing up to make a triumphant return to the music scene with his highly anticipated third mini album, “1 to 3.” The excitement is palpable as fans eagerly await the release of this latest musical offering from the talented artist.

Set to drop on online streaming platforms on May 31, with the physical album hitting shelves on June 3, “1 to 3” promises to be a musical journey like no other. Boasting a total of seven tracks, the EP will be led by not one, but two captivating title tracks: “1 to 3” and “Cheese.”

Adding to the anticipation is the revelation that the track “Cheese” will feature the vocal prowess of none other than Wendy from the beloved girl group Red Velvet. This collaboration is sure to set hearts aflutter and ears buzzing with excitement.

Suho’s solo comeback marks a significant moment in his career trajectory, following the successful release of “Grey Suit” in April 2022. While fans have eagerly awaited new music from the multi-talented artist, Suho has been busy expanding his horizons beyond the world of music.

Suho has been expanding his career, starring in musicals and drama series.

He is currently starring in the musical “Mozart!” as the lead actor in the role of Wolfgang Mozart and in MBN’s drama series “Missing Crown Prince.”

A teaser image of Suho’s upcoming third EP “1 to 3”. PHOTO: ANN/THE KOREA HERALD SOURCE

Imams caution Muslims against games of chance

Imams have issued a solemn call to to abstain from engaging in recreational activities that harbor elements of gambling.

In the Friday sermon, Imams underscored the injunction from Allah the Almighty, cautioning against the perils of indulging in practices such as alcohol consumption, gambling, idolatry, and divination, all of which are deemed as reprehensible deeds that believers must unequivocally shun.

Elaborating on contemporary examples, the religious leaders highlighted various modern recreational pursuits that intertwine entertainment with gambling-like characteristics. Notably, games such as claw machines, balloon poppers, basketball machines, and ring tosses were identified as embodying elements akin to gambling, Imams said.

FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. PHOTO: UNSPLASH

Muslims were reminded of the unequivocal prohibition against participation in such activities, whether as players, facilitators, promoters, or in any other capacity, as outlined in the authoritative fatwa series 19/2023.

Examining the mechanics of the claw machine, it was emphasised that players are typically required to stake a monetary amount in exchange for a chance to win a prize. Success in such endeavors is often contingent upon luck rather than skill, thereby entailing the risk of either profit or loss.

In essence, the delineation between gambling and recreational pursuits hinges on the presence of betting, whether in the form of monetary transactions or other valuable assets, where outcomes are dictated by chance rather than skill, ultimately determining whether participants receive rewards or incur losses. – Azlan Othman

Over 9,000 evacuated as Mount Ruang erupts again

In this photo provided by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), residents of Tagulandang island sit on a ship of National Search and Rescue Agency to evacuate after Mount Ruang releases volcanic materials in Sulawesi island, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Indonesia's Mount Ruang volcano erupted Tuesday for a second time in two weeks, spewing ash almost 2 kilometers (more than a mile) into the sky, closing an airport and peppering nearby villages with debris.(Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency via AP)
JAKARTA (Bernama) – The Indonesian government is evacuating 9,083 residents from Tagulandang Island, near Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi which is erupting, to safer areas.
 
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) head Lt Gen Suharyanto said 3,364 residents have already been relocated, while the remaining 5,719 are currently being evacuated in stages.
 
“This evacuation process is taking place in stages from April 30 to May 2 and is expected to be completed within the next three days,” said Suharyanto in a statement on Friday.
 
In this photo provided by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), residents of Tagulandang island sit on a ship of National Search and Rescue Agency to evacuate after Mount Ruang releases volcanic materials in Sulawesi island, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. PHOTO: AP
Tagulandang Island is adjacent to Ruang Island, where Mount Ruang stands alone as a separate island within the Sitaro district.
 
Suharyanto said the residents were transported by ships provided by various private and government agencies including the military, customs, and rescue agencies.
 
About five temporary shelters have been set up on nearby islands like Manado and Siau, he said.
 
The evacuation exercise for Tagulandang Island followed the advice of the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) in response to the identification of a risky zone within a seven-kilometre radius of the Mount Ruang crater.
 
PVMBG head Hendra Gunawan pointed out that stratovolcanoes historically emit hot clouds and undergo frequent eruptions, directly impacting human life and livelihoods.
 
Records showed eruptions of the 725-metre-high Mount Ruang dating back to 1808, with notable occurrences in 1871, which triggered a tsunami wave claiming up to 400 lives, he added.
 
Suharyanto said the government also intends to move residential areas permanently especially those on Ruang Island.

M’sian High Court dismisses Guan Eng’s bid to strike out bribery charges

GEORGE TOWN, 3 Mei -- Mahkamah Tinggi Pulau Pinang hari ini menolak permohonan bekas Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng (dua, kiri) dan isterinya, Betty Chew (kiri) serta ahli perniagaan, Phang Li Koon untuk membatalkan pertuduhan rasuah melibatkan projek asrama pekerja asing bernilai RM11.6 juta dan pengubahan wang haram. --fotoBERNAMA (2024) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA
GEORGE TOWN (Bernama) – The Penang High Court on Friday dismissed the bid by former chief minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon to strike out their corruption and money laundering charges involving a foreign workers’ hostel project worth MYR11.6 million.
 
Judicial Commissioner Rofiah Mohamad, in her brief judgment, stated that the doctrine of autrefois acquit or rule against double jeopardy argued by the defense did not apply as it did not meet the requirements.
 
She noted that the court found significant differences between the charges in the first proceeding (the purchase of a bungalow by Lim on Jalan Pinhorn) and Friday’s case.
 
“This includes differences in the dates of the alleged offenses; the position/status of the accused at the time of the alleged offenses; the bribes alleged to have been given for the benefit of different parties, the actions alleged to have been taken by the accused to commit the offenses are different, and the types of offenses are also different.
 
“Therefore, the condition for the application of the doctrine, which is that the charges are the same or involve the same facts and evidence and should have been dealt with in the first proceeding, is not fulfilled. There are significant differences in the allegations of the offenses. Therefore, the case must proceed,” she said.
 
Lim Guan Eng (2L)) dan wife, Betty Chew (1L) at the Penang High Court. PHOTO: BERNAMA
 
On May 26, 2023, Lim, Chew, and Phang filed an application to strike out the corruption and money laundering charges on the grounds that the prosecution used evidence from a previous case involving Lim’s purchase of a bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn, even though he was acquitted and discharged in 2018.
 
Rofiah clarified that in the initial proceedings, despite the testimony of 25 prosecution witnesses, no findings were made or facts proven concerning the guilt or innocence of the accused.
 
“The acquittal and discharge of the accused in the initial proceedings stemmed from the prosecution’s decision to halt or refrain from pursuing the accused’s prosecution by withdrawing the charges during the continuation hearing stage.
 
“The acquittal was not upon a judicial adjudication by the court on the available evidence in the first trial or in other words the order of acquittal was not based on merit,” she said, subsequently setting July 26 for case management.
 
Deputy public prosecutors Syed Faisal Syed Amir, Ashrof Adrin Kamarul, and Shafiq Hasim appeared for the prosecution.
 
Lim, Chew, and Pang’s defense team was led by Datuk V Sithambaram, and included RSN Rayer, Ramkarpal Singh, P. Thandayuthabany, and A. Ruebankumar.
 
According to the charges, Lim, as a public officer holding the position of Penang chief minister and chairman of the Penang Development Corporation tender board, was alleged to have used his position to receive a bribe of MYR372,009 for his wife through Excel Property Management & Consultancy Sdn Bhd.
 
He is accused of committing the offense by acting to ensure Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd was awarded the Invitation to Propose a Workers’ Settlement on Lot 631, Mukim 13, Juru, Seberang Perai Tengah and part of Lot 282, Mukim 13, Batu Kawan, Seberang Perai Selatan in Penang valued at MYR11,610,000, in which Chew had an indirect interest.
 
Lim, who is the Bagan member of parliament, allegedly committed the offense between Aug 19, 2013, and March 3, 2016, at the Chief Minister’s Office, Level 28, Komtar in George Town, Penang.
 
He was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification or MYR10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
 
Phang, on the other hand, was charged with allegedly conspiring to commit the offence with Lim at the same place and date.
 
Chew is facing three money laundering charges for allegedly receiving MYR372,009 from Excel Property Management & Consultancy Sdn Bhd, which was credited into her Public Bank Berhad account.
 
She is accused of committing the offences between Oct 7, 2013 and Aug 4, 2014; between Sept 3, 2014 and Aug 11, 2015; and between Sept 4, 2015 and March 3, 2016, at Public Bank Berhad, Taman Melaka Raya Branch, Melaka.
 
The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which is punishable by a fine not exceeding MYR5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
 
Approached by reporters, Rayer said they would examine the rationale for the High Court judgment before filing an appeal at the Court of Appeal, and also apply to suspend the High Court trial pending the appeal.  

Pro-Palestinian protesters set up encampments at universities in Australia

Protesting students occupy an area of the quadrangle at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Friday, May 3, 2024.. PHOTO: AP

SYDNEY (AP) — Pro-Palestinian protesters were camped on university campuses across Australia on Friday, with some scuffling with pro-Israel protesters in Sydney, mirroring similar events in the United States.

Students have set up encampments at universities in major Australian cities over the last two weeks to protest the apartheid regime’s offensive in Gaza. The students are demanding that universities sever all academic ties with Israel and cut off research partnerships with arms manufacturers.

No arrests were made, as the violence seen on some American campuses has not occurred in Australia.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters on Friday met a counter-protest supporting the regime at the University of Sydney, Australia’s oldest university. The Australian Broadcasting Corp reported a scuffle between the groups.

Supporters of both sides later backed down because of a heavy security presence.

University of Sydney Vice Chancellor Mark Scott said there was space for both groups of protesters.

“They may strongly disagree with the matters that have been discussed. … We can host that conversation and we should be able to do that in a non-threatening way,” he told ABC.

Scott said not all of the protesters were students, and that some might not be committed to peaceful and productive engagement. “We are working with security and police,” he said.

Protesting students occupy an area of the quadrangle at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Friday, May 3, 2024.. PHOTO: AP

Orangutan spotted treating wound with medicinal plant

This combination of photos provided by the Suaq foundation shows a facial wound on Rakus, a wild male Sumatran orangutan in Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia, on June 23, 2022, two days before he applied chewed leaves from a medicinal plant, left, and on Aug. 25, 2022, after his facial wound was barely visible. (Armas, Safruddin/Suaq foundation via AP)
BERLIN (Bernama-dpa) — An orangutan in Indonesia has been spotted treating a wound with a medicinal plant, the first time the behaviour has been seen in a wild animal, German researchers have revealed.
 
Biologists from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour in Germany and Universitas Nasional in Indonesia observed a male Sumatran orangutan, called Rakus, who had sustained a facial wound.
 
Rakus was observed eating, and then repeatedly applying, sap from a climbing plant with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties commonly used in traditional medicine, to his wound. He also covered the entire wound with the green plant mesh, biologists said, reported German news agency (dpa).
This combination of photos provided by the Suaq foundation shows a facial wound on Rakus, a wild male Sumatran orangutan in Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia, on June 23, 2022, two days before he applied chewed leaves from a medicinal plant, left, and on Aug. 25, 2022, after his facial wound was barely visible. PHOTO: AP
Isabelle Laumer from Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour said Rakus probably sustained the facial wound during a fight with a neighbouring male.
 
“The behaviour of Rakus appeared to be intentional as he selectively treated his facial wound on his right flange, and no other body parts, with the plant juice,” Laumer said.
 
“The behaviour was also repeated several times, not only with the plant juice but also later with more solid plant material until the wound was fully covered. The entire process took a considerable amount of time.”
 
The wound showed no signs of becoming infected, the scientists said.
 
The plant, known locally as Akar Kuning, is used as a medicine by the Indonesians. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antioxidant and other healing properties, Laumer said.
 
The findings could offer insight into the evolutionary origins of wound medication, scientists said.

Heatwave swells Asia’s appetite for air-conditioning

A worker repairs an air conditioning unit on an apartment building in Beijing on May 2, 2024. A record-breaking heatwave is broiling parts of Asia, helping drive surging demand for cooling options, including air-conditioning. AC exhaust units are a common feature of urban landscapes in many parts of Asia, clinging like limpets to towering apartment blocks in Hong Kong or tucked in a cross formation between the windows of a building in Cambodia. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) / To go with AFP story Asia-climate-weather-air conditioning

HONG KONG (AFP) – A record-breaking heatwave is broiling parts of Asia, helping drive surging demand for cooling options, including air-conditioning.

AC exhaust units are a common feature of urban landscapes in many parts of Asia, clinging like limpets to towering apartment blocks in Hong Kong or tucked in a cross formation between the windows of a building in Cambodia.

They offer relief from temperatures that have toppled records in recent weeks, with many countries in the region hitting 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) or higher.

Scientists have long warned that human-induced climate change will produce more frequent, longer and more intense heatwaves.

Only 15 percent of homes in Southeast Asia have air conditioning, according to a 2019 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

A worker repairs an air conditioning unit on an apartment building in Beijing on May 2, 2024. PHOTO: AFP

But that figure obscures vast variations: ranging from around 80 percent installation in Singapore and Malaysia, to less than 10 per cent in Indonesia and Vietnam, the IEA said.

Forecasts suggest that higher temperatures and better wages could see the number of air-conditioning units in Southeast Asia jump from 40 million in 2017 to 300 million by 2040.

That would stretch local electricity capacity, which is already struggling under current conditions.

Myanmar is producing only about half the electricity it needs each day, with the junta blaming weak hydropower because of scant rains, low natural gas yields and attacks by its opponents on infrastructure.

Thailand has seen record power demand in recent weeks, as people retreat indoors to cooled homes or businesses.

Air-conditioning is already responsible for the emission of approximately one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, according to the IEA, out of a total of 37 billion emitted worldwide.

In this photograph taken on May 2, 2024, a man sits in a balcony amid air conditioning units installed on the facade of a building in New Delhi. PHOTO: AFP

Still, cooling options like air-conditioning are a key way to protect human health, especially for those who are most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat: children, the elderly and those with certain disabilities.

With demand surging, dozens of countries last year signed up to the United Nations’ Global Cooling Pledge, a commitment to improve the efficiency of air conditioners and reduce emissions from all forms of cooling.

Some countries have been trying to reduce the impact of cooling for years.

Since 2005, Japan has encouraged office workers to ditch ties and jackets so air conditioners can be kept at 28 degrees Celsius.

The annual “Cool Biz” programme took on new significance during power shortages in 2011 following the shutdown of nuclear plants after the Fukushima disaster.

20 killed in mountain bus accident in Pakistan

Injured are being shifted to a hospital after a bus overturned on Friday on the Karakoram Highway. — Photo via author A bus overturned on Friday morning on the Karakoram Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district.

KHAPLU (AFP) – At least 20 people were killed on Friday when a bus plunged into a deep valley in Pakistan’s mountainous northern region, police said.

The driver lost control of the vehicle on a bend near the city of Chilas, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, around dawn, falling into a rocky ravine where the River Indus flows.

“The local Ulema (Muslim leader) announced the news of the accident from the loudspeaker of the mosque and urged the people to donate blood for the injured,” Azmat Shah, a police official in the city told AFP.

Injured are being shifted to a hospital after a bus overturned on Friday on the Karakoram Highway. PHOTO: ANN/THE DAWN

“Rescue operations have been completed. Among the 21 injured, the condition of five is very critical.”

The bus was travelling from the capital Islamabad to Gilgit.

Road accidents with high fatalities are common in Pakistan, where safety measures are lax, driver training is poor and transport infrastructure often decrepit.

Japan’s Kishida unveils a framework for global regulation of generative AI

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida before a working lunch, Thursday, May 2, 2024 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. PHOTO: AP

PARIS (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled an international framework for regulation and use of generative AI on Thursday, adding to global efforts on governance for the rapidly advancing technology.

Kishida made the announcement in a speech at the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

“Generative AI has the potential to be a vital tool to further enrich the world,” Kishida said. But “we must also confront the dark side of AI, such as the risk of disinformation.”

When Japan chaired the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations last year, it launched a Hiroshima AI process to draw up international guiding principles and a code of conduct for AI developers.

Some 49 countries and regions have signed up to the voluntary framework, called the Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group, Kishida said, without naming any. They will work on implementing principles and code of conduct to address the risks of generative AI and “promote cooperation to ensure that people all over the world can benefit from the use of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI,” he said.

The European Union, the United States, China and many other nations have been racing to draw up regulations and oversight for AI, while global bodies such as the United Nations have been grappling with how to supervise it.

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida before a working lunch, Thursday, May 2, 2024 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. PHOTO: AP
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