Nepali Sherpa scales Mount Everest for a record 31st time
Nepali Sherpa guide Kami Rita scaled Mount Everest for the 31st time on Tuesday, breaking the record he set last year.
The 55-year-old reached the 29,032 foot peak - the highest in the world - by the traditional southeast ridge route while guiding a 22-member Indian army team, officials said, adding that 27 other Sherpas also accompanied the group.
"He is a very passionate climber," said Pasang Phurba, director of the Seven Summit Treks company for which Kami Rita works, adding that Rita was currently descending to lower camps.
Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has done so every year except for three years when authorities closed the mountain to climbers for various reasons.
More than 8,000 people have climbed Mount Everest since it was first scaled by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
After Rita, another Sherpa, Pasang Dawa, has ascended Everest the most with 29 climbs. Among non-Sherpa climbers, the record is held by British guide Kenton Cool who has accomplished the feat 19 times, followed by American climbers Dave Hahn and Garrett Madison with 15 times each.
One of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks and is heavily reliant on climbing, trekking, and tourism for foreign exchange.
Guiding foreign climbers to Everest and other peaks provides crucial family income to many Sherpas.
Authorities have issued 468 permits to climbers for Everest this March-May climbing season, and more than 300 climbers and Sherpas have already scaled the peak, officials said.
Two climbers are known to have died on the mountain this month and there have also been unconfirmed reports of other deaths.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Campaign ME
2 hours ago
- Campaign ME
Ranveer Singh enters the chat to promote Experience Abu Dhabi
Experience Abu Dhabi has launched a campaign targeting Indian travellers, starring Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh and set entirely within the familiar digital setting of a family WhatsApp group chat. The campaign brings to life a behavioural truth: most Indian family holidays begin not at a travel agency or with a Google search – but with a message to the family group. With more than 500 million active users, India is WhatsApp's largest market globally, making it a natural storytelling platform for the campaign's concept. The campaign was developed by Serviceplan Middle East and produced by Déjà vu. It was supported by Spark Foundry, Ogilvy India and Memac Ogilvy. The video opens with Singh seated at a family dining table, excitedly announcing a holiday in Abu Dhabi. One by one, other family members begin to appear – both at the table and in the group chat – mirroring the way Indian families often plan trips through emojis, voice notes, and back-and-forth banter. Characters include a tech-challenged auntie who's always typing but never sending, a good-morning-forwarding uncle, and the younger, Gen Z cousins with cool filters and hotter takes. As each character weighs in, scenes shift fluidly from chat to real-world, showcasing what Abu Dhabi has to offer for every family member – from luxury shopping and theme parks to street food and serene beaches. The film closes with a cheerful CTA from Singh: 'Habibis, so when are you going to Abu Dhabi?' Beyond the film, the campaign extended into digital touchpoints with custom WhatsApp sticker packs featuring Ranveer Singh in playful poses and travel-themed captions like 'Flight mode: on' and 'No kaam, only araam. #InAbuDhabi.' These stickers were designed to organically integrate into Indian WhatsApp conversations, reinforcing both recall and relatability. 'A family holiday is not an easy agreement. Options are proposed, drafted like resolutions, debated in group chats, amended mid-call, and sometimes vetoed by the youngest delegate with the biggest opinions,' said Sajju Ambat, Director of Creative Strategy and Insights. The Ranveer Singh campaign recorded over 143 million impressions, 18.5 million video views, and 254,000 engagements across digital and social channels – highlighting the value of insight-led, culturally resonant creative in travel marketing. Credits Agency – Serviceplan Middle East Executive Creative Director: Nishant Shah Creative Director: Andre Couto Associate Creative Director: Kunal Gagwani Copywriter – Mariyam Maroof Senior Producer: Geetika Sood Junior Production Manager: Saquib Wakankar Business Director: Solange Constantin Account Manager: Mohamad Saboury Production House – Déjà vu Executive Producer – Manasvi Gosalia Head of Production – Kavya Iyer Producer – Nadine Gibbs Head of Postproduction – Rafic Sawaya Post Producer – Adnan Plummer Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi H.E. Nouf Mohamed Al-Boushelaibi – Executive Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications at The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi Imane Zebrini – Special Projects Lead, Strategic Communications Department Kenneth Daniel Monis – Acting Destination Marketing Section Head Ghadeer Khub – Creative & Production Department Director at The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi Emma Campbell – Sector Marketing Director and Acting Director of Strategic Communications at The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi Nada Assaf – Campaigns Section Head at The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi Mohamed ElShorafa – Campaigns Unit Head at The Department at The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi Zain Variawa – Acting Media Planning Unit Head Ady Badawi – Media Planning Specialist Nishita Virkar – Consumer Communications Section Head Muhimma Alriyami – Consumer PR Specialist Spark Foundry Skander Naaman – Media Manager Asad Khan – Senior Executive Anilyn Abitria – Media Executive Anees Abdul Rehman – Senior Executive Frankie Warren – Senior Media Manager Vedrana Strong – Associate Business Director Ogilvy India Arneeta Vasudeva – National Head – PR & Influence Nakul Sagar – Partner – PR & Influence Hetika Gala – Associate Partner – PR & Influence Laksh Kapri – Sr. Consultant – PR & Influence Memac Ogilvy Sarah Edwards – Managing Partner Lameez Mohd – Senior Account Director Mina Kiwan – Media Relations Director Zainab Damji – Senior English Editor Aamina Mohamed – Senior Account Manager Rami Farrah – Senior Account Executive Nayla Ibrahim – Account Executive
Web Release
11 hours ago
- Web Release
Indikaya Launches Sip & Savories: A Luxe Wine & Snack Combo Experience
Indikaya, the city's destination for refined Indian dining led by the iconic Chef Hemant Oberoi, introduces a chic new ritual: Sip & Savories – a weekly combo that pairs curated bar bites with sommelier's choice of wines, perfect for an after-work unwind or a midweek indulgence. Set against Indikaya's elegant ambiance, Sip & Savories is where classic Indian flavors meet modern flair, and indulgence is not just encouraged, it's expected. Guests can mix and match their choice of two gourmet bar snacks, served alongside two glasses of wine, for AED 150 (vegetarian) or AED 200 (non-vegetarian). Light, luxurious, and bursting with creativity, each bite is designed to delight. Bar Bites Menu: Vegetarian · Cheese Papdi · Mini Truffle Naan · Avocado Balloons Non-Vegetarian · Rock Shrimps · Murg Tikka · Galouti Kebab Whether you're toasting to the day, catching up with friends, or just craving something decadent, Indikaya's Sip & Savories delivers bold Indian flavor in a playful, shareable format—served with the signature finesse of Chef Oberoi. Sip & Savories Combo Available everyday | 4 PM – 8 PM AED 150: 2 glasses of wine + 2 vegetarian bites AED 200: 2 glasses of wine + 2 non-vegetarian bites Location: Level 2, Shangri-La Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai. Operational Hours: 12 pm to 11:30 pm (daily)
Int'l Cricket Council
a day ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy unveiled for England-India Tests
England and India greats James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar have been honoured with a newly named trophy – the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy – which will be contested in future Test series between the two nations. The England and Wales Board (ECB) unveiled the new trophy, which features the imagery of both Tendulkar and Anderson and also has their signatures engraved on it as a tribute to the two stalwarts. The two greats were present to mark the occasion ahead of the upcoming five-Test series between the two sides starting Friday, 20 June. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, after whom the previous Pataudi Trophy was named, will continue to be honoured through the introduction of the Pataudi Medal, a new accolade that will be awarded to the winning captain of the series. England and India will compete for the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy for the future Test series // Photo via ECB Anderson, who represented England in 188 Test matches, claimed a whooping 704 wickets in the longest format – the third-highest in the format – before bringing the curtains down on his career last year after a five-Test series in India last year. The masterful seamer brought his best against India, amassing an incredible 149 wickets from 39 Tests, at an average of 25.47, including six five-wicket hauls. 'It's a proud moment for me and my family to have this iconic series named after Sachin and myself,' Anderson was quoted in a statement. 'The rivalry between our two nations has always been something special, full of history, intensity and unforgettable moments. 'To be recognised in this way is a real honour. I'm looking forward to seeing the next chapter unfold in England this summer. It promises to be compelling, competitive cricket - exactly what you'd expect from two great sides. This is elite sport at its finest.' Shastri sings James Anderson's praises | ICC Review India's legendary batter, Sachin Tendulkar, the first player with 200 Test caps, closed his red-ball career in 2013 with the most runs in the format, a record he still holds with a mammoth 15,921 runs, which include 51 centuries. The Indian icon delivered some memorable displays against England, scoring 2,535 runs at an average of 51.73, with a highest score of 193 at Headingley, the venue for the upcoming Test between the two sides. ICC Hall of Fame: Sachin Tendulkar 'For me, Test cricket embodies life – you give your best, and if things go wrong, it gives you another day to regroup, think, unlearn, and bounce back,' Tendulkar said. "It is the highest form of the game that teaches you endurance, discipline and adaptability, against all odds. I owe my foundation to Test cricket, as it has seen me grow from disappointments to triumphs, from aspirations to fulfilment. "India and England have played a big role in shaping Test cricket in a way that it remains an evolving inspiration for subsequent generations. 'And now, as I share this recognition with my on-field challenger and an off-field gentleman James, I hope that the world celebrates the essence of Test cricket even more - allowing it to traverse boundaries yet untrodden.' The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy will be up for grabs in the five-Test series between England and India, marking the beginning of their new ICC World Test Championship cycle. NewsICC World Test ChampionshipSachin TendulkarJames Anderson
