U.S. border wall expansion destroys sacred indigenous site

The expansion of the U.S.-Mexico border wall has leveled a sacred indigenous site of the Kumeyaay people, threatening cultural heritage and bypassing environmental laws.

As the U.S. rapidly expands the barrier on the border with Mexico, Mount Cuchuma, which has been considered sacred by the Kumeyaay for generations, has been left deeply scarred.

According to anthropologist Pavel Valenzuela, the damage has dealt a serious blow to the preservation of the area's history and the culture of its indigenous population.

"The mountain is a spiritual place for the native peoples, a site of wisdom and veneration," said anthropologist Pavel Valenzuela.

The anthropologist was among the first to notice heavy machinery and explosions on the mountain and called attention to the problem.

Activists took notice, with some raising alarm bells as irreplaceable geological structures were completely removed from the landscape.

"Two monoliths that were dynamited, that were exploded or blown up, were from 60 to 120 million years ago. They were considered sacred places for them. This was their temple, and it doesn't exist anymore," said Demian Vega, a coordinator at La Puerta Foundation, a Mexico-based non-profit organization dedicated to protecting natural and cultural heritages in the border area.

The area on both sides of the border may be protected land, but no warning was given to those charged with caring for it.

"In San Diego City, we were not [notified] about this. We thought it was just going to be a small part of the border, but no, they will continue the whole fence until the connection with Tijuana," Vega said.

Kumeyaay community leaders have written formal letters of complaint to Mexico's Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department, although they don't hold out much hope for a response.

"To feel that one of our temples is being destroyed, it's something you feel deep inside. It's a sacred place, and we cannot defend what is ours," said Isaul Adams, a local community leader.

U.S. border wall expansion destroys sacred indigenous site

Chinese box-office hits are making waves overseas, with animated feature "All Wishes Come True" premiering in Australia and the sports comedy "Kung Fu Soccer" making its international debut in Malaysia on Monday to enthusiastic audiences.

In Sydney, Australia, the event site of the story inspired by the legend of the Eight Immortals was transformed into a mystical "Penglai Wonderland," with many moviegoers posing for photos alongside characters. The film is scheduled for a wide release across multiple Australian cities this Thursday.

"It's such a typical Chinese storytelling, really funny, really fast, full of action, but there's a moral story being told there, which slowly unravels. I love the movie," said David White, an Australian sound editor.

On the same day, another Chinese film, "Kung Fu Soccer", held its premiere in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Distributors said Chinese films have long enjoyed broad popularity in the southeast Asian country, and the strong box-office performance of the movie in China has raised their expectations for its Malaysian run.

The film will hit 138 cinemas across Malaysia starting this Thursday.

"Actually, I was kind of impressed with how Stephen Chow directed his movie before. We watched like since we were young, CJ7 and then Kung Fu Hustle. So this could be another trilogy of him. So that's why we wanted to see it and the comedy of the soccer as well inside it, it was really engaging for us. That's why I want to watch it," said a moviegoer.

"Like Kung Fu or Shaolin things, it's just unique to me, it's very cool to me," said another moviegoer.

In recent years, a number of outstanding Chinese films, including Ne Zha and Dear You, have gained notable acclaim in Malaysia following their releases. The growing overseas presence of Chinese audiovisual works continues to foster mutual understanding and has introduced a wider Malaysian audience to Chinese culture.

Chinese box-office hits light up screens in Australia, Malaysia