Nepal opens Mt Everest for autumn season

KATHMANDU • Nepal opened Mount Everest yesterday for the autumn season, granting its first climbing permit four months after a deadly earthquake triggered an avalanche.

Hundreds of climbers had to abandon attempts when the avalanche struck this April, marking a second summer season with virtually no one reaching the summit of the world's highest mountain.

The deaths of 16 Nepalese guides in an avalanche last year sparked a shutdown then. Mountaineering is a major revenue earner for the impoverished country, home to eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000m.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

S'porean legal officer won't be deported: KL

PETALING JAYA • Sacked Singaporean legal officer Jessica Gurmeet Kaur Sidhu will not be deported, said Malaysian Immigration Department deputy director-general Sakib Kusmi.

He said yesterday although her permanent residency had been revoked, there was "no need to deport her". He added that she could apply for a special or social visit pass as she is married to a Malaysian.

Ms Sidhu was head of administration and finance for the Attorney-General's Chambers-led task force that was investigating the debt-laden 1Malaysia Development Berhad. It has since been disbanded.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Mt Kinabalu may open to climbers by Dec

KOTA KINABALU • Mount Kinabalu's summit may be open to climbers by Dec 1 if restoration work is completed, but new alternative routes carved out may be tougher and steeper.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun said on Saturday that the path was still obstructed by large boulders. Movements in the earth could cause the rocks to fall, he said, adding that experts have been asked to identify unstable boulders.

He said that only 100 people are allowed to climb and stay overnight per trip currently. Activities on the mountain have stopped since a deadly earthquake struck in June.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK