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The Star
19-05-2025
- The Star
Climbers flock to Everest before permit fees hike
Nepal is preparing for an exceptionally high number of climbers on Mount Everest this spring, before fees are set to rise by almost a third to US$15,000 (RM64,455). The number of permits issued to climb the world's highest mountain is already higher than in 2024, ahead of the usual peak demand in early May, officials have announced. So far, more than 430 permits had been issued to applicants from 52 countries, compared to a total of 421 last year, according to figures from the Tourism Department of Nepal's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation (DoT). 'This is not the final number, as climbers are still coming and applying for permits,' said DoT spokesman Liladhar Awasthi in Kathmandu. The increase is not only due to individual schedules, said Mingma Sherpa of the private tour operator Seven Summit Treks. The planned hike in permit fees also plays a role, he added. Some of his clients are still awaiting approval for the pre-monsoon season. Standing at 8,849m, Mount Everest lies on the border between Nepal and China. Climbers can ascend the mountain from either country. The Nepali government plans to significantly increase climbing permit fees for foreign climbers starting Sept 1. The official fee of US$11,000 (RM47,267) currently charged for ascents via the so-called southern route during the main season will rise to US$15,000. Additionally, a draft law, currently under consideration in Nepal's parliament, would require climbers to prove they have previously climbed a mountain over 7,000m before receiving a permit to climb Everest. Whether the new law will pass remains unclear. Scepticism prevails among experts. 'What is the real difference between climbing a 7,000m peak and an 8,000m peak?' the newspaper The Kathmandu Post quoted the former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Ang Tshring Sherpa, as saying. 'You can die on both.' Climbing fees and other expenses paid by mountaineers are important sources of revenue for the impoverished country. Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 mountains that rise above 8,000m. DoT figures show climbers from the United Sates hold the highest number of permits at 82, followed by India with 74 and China with 60. Britain has 28 climbers, Russia 23, Brazil 16, Ukraine, Japan and Australia 12 each. Spring, the most popular season for climbing Everest, runs from mid-April through early June, drawing climbers from around the world and sometimes causing traffic jams around the so-called death zone with low oxygen concentration. Operators said that hundreds of climbers have already gathered at the Everest Base Camp for acclimatisation, a ritual preparation phase before summit attempts. Experienced Sherpas known as icefall doctors, have successfully opened the route up to Camp II, establishing a path through the Khumbu glacier with ladders and fixed ropes. As in previous years, new records are expected to be set. Notably, Kami Rita Sherpa, who holds the record for the most Everest ascents, with 30, is leading another expedition and could improve his record if successful. Mount Everest straddles the border between Nepal and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, with climbers able to ascend from either side. Since the first successful ascent by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953, more than 12,000 summits have been recorded, according to the Himalayan Database. – dpa
New Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Palm rises on firmer Dalian oils, weak ringgit, but set for second weekly loss
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures opened higher on Friday for a second straight session, supported by stronger rival Dalian oils and a weak ringgit. The benchmark palm oil contract for July delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained RM47, or 1.24 per cent, to RM3,848 (US$890.74) a metric ton in early trade. The contract has lost 1.19 per cent so far this week and is poised to log a second consecutive weekly decline. FUNDAMENTALS Dalian's most-active soyoil contract rose 1.21 per cent, while its palm oil contract added 1.32 per cent. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) eased 0.08 per cent. Palm oil tracks prices of rival edible oils as it competes for a share of the global vegetable oils market. The ringgit, palm's currency of trade, weakened 1.01 per cent against the dollar, making the commodity cheaper for buyers holding foreign currencies. Oil prices were little changed after rising more than 3 per cent on Thursday, as trade tensions between top oil consumers US and China showed signs of easing and Britain announced a "breakthrough" trade deal with the United States. Stronger crude oil futures make palm a more attractive option for biodiesel feedstock. Palm oil may bounce more into the RM3,867-RM3,906 per metric ton range, as it has stabilized around support at RM3,702, Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao said. Japanese stocks jumped on Friday, supported by the dollar's surge against the yen, after a US trade deal with Britain fuelled hopes of progress in tariff talks with other countries.
Daily Express
21-04-2025
- Daily Express
Drugs worth RM2.5 million seized
Published on: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Published on: Tue, Apr 22, 2025 By: Jeremy S Zabala Text Size: Saidin (centre) and his officers showing the drugs seized. Kota Kinabalu: Several more attempts to smuggle drugs via courier service were foiled by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) in a series of operations with the seizure of more than 70kg of drugs valued at almost RM2.5 million between Jan 3 and March 28, this year. The drugs seized comprised 71.7kg of methamphetamine, 434gm of ketamine and 15.357kg of marijuana. Acting Sabah Customs Assistant Director-General Saidin Jalaluddin said the latest seizure was made on March 28 involving four unmarked packages at Mas Kargo, Kota Kinabalu. Checks found that the packages were believed to contain methamphetamine, weighing 71.719kg, estimated to be worth RM2,295,008,' he told a press conference here, Monday. He said the team also seized a package at Pos Aviation Kota Kinabalu on March 1. 'The package contained items suspected to be ketamine, weighing 434gm, estimated to be worth RM86,800,' he added. Saidin said in an operation conducted from Jan 31 to Feb 28, four packages were seized at Mas Kargo, Kota Kinabalu. 'The packages were believed to contain 15.35kg of ganja, worth RM47,606.70,' he said, adding that the cases were investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act. Saidin said the successes were the result of both public tip-offs and the department's continuous enforcement efforts. He urged the public to continuously play their vital role in channelling information to the authorities in the war against the smuggling of cigarettes, alcohol, fireworks, drugs, vehicles and others. The public can channel information to the Customs toll-free line 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest Customs office in all states. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
21-04-2025
- Borneo Post
Sabah Customs seizes RM2.4 million worth of drugs in air cargo busts
Saidin (fourth left) showing the seized drugs at the press conference. KOTA KINABALU (April 21): The State Customs Department (JKDM) this year has seized RM2.4 million worth of drugs weighing over 70 kilogrammes in a series of raids targeting air cargo services this year. Acting JKDM Sabah assistant director-general Saidin Jalaluddin said in the first case, an enforcement team on March 28 seized four unlabelled packages at MAS Kargo here, and an inspection found 71.719 kilogrammes of suspected syabu worth around RM2.295 million. Saidin said as for the second case, an earlier raid on March 1 found a suspicious package at Pos Aviation here, and further inspection revealed the package contained 434 grammes of ketamine valued at around RM86,800. He said in the third case, an operation from 2pm until 9m in January also found four suspicious packages at Mas Kargo here, which when inspected contained 15.3 kilogrammes of ganja worth some RM47,606. 'All the three cases had attempted to use air cargo to smuggle drugs by evading the eyes of authorities, with an estimated seizure value of RM2,429,414.70. 'Hence, the public is urged to assist JKDM in combating crimes of smuggling, especially cigarettes, liquor, firecrackers, drugs vehicles and others. 'They are also advised not to get involved in such activities, as smuggling not only harms the country in terms of revenue leakage, but it also poses a threat to national security and the well-being of the people,' he told a press conference at the JKDM Sabah Zone office near Sepanggar today. Investigation on the cases are ongoing under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The Star
21-04-2025
- The Star
Sabah Customs seizes over 70kg drugs worth RM2.4mil
KOTA KINABALU: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has foiled a drug smuggling attempt with the seizure of more than 70kg of various drugs valued at over RM2.4mil between Jan 3 and March 28, 2025. Acting Sabah Customs assistant director-general Saidin Jalaluddin said the latest seizure was made on March 28 involving four unmarked packages at Mas Kargo, Kota Kinabalu. Checks found that the packages were believed to contain methamphetamine, weighing 71.719kg, estimated to be worth RM2,295,008," he told a press conference here on Monday (April 21). He said the team also seized a package at Pos Aviation Kota Kinabalu on March 1. "The package contained items suspected to be ketamine, weighing 434gm, estimated to be worth RM86,800," he added. Saidin said that in an operation conducted from January 31 to February 28, four packages were seized at Mas Kargo, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. "The packages were believed to contain 15.35kg of ganja, worth RM47,606.70," he said, adding that the cases were investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. - Bernama
