☕️ KLIA's notorious ranking - top major wildlife trafficking route into India

1. MARKET SUMMARY 📈

2. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE 🔢

The French Open, which concluded last weekend, boosted its total prize money at Roland Garros to approximately USD63.7 mil (RM269.61 mil), representing a 5.21% increase from last year. This significant rise included a USD170,000 bump for the men's and women's singles champions, who each took home USD2.9 mil. This marked the fourth consecutive year the French Open, the second Grand Slam on the tennis calendar, increased its purse since a decline in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when the total was USD38.9 mil. The tournament's prize money saw over a 60% increase since then. While substantial, the French Open typically ranked third among Grand Slam events for purse sizes. In 2024, the U.S. Open (USD75 million) had the most purse money, followed by Wimbledon (USD66.1 million), while the Australian Open in January had a total purse value of around USD60 million.

British mountaineer Kenton Cool has scaled Mount Everest for the 19th time, breaking his own record for the most climbs up the world's tallest mountain by a non-Sherpa. The 51-year-old, accompanied by Nepali climber Dorji Gyaljen Sherpa, reached the 8,849-meter (29,000ft) last month. Cool, first summited Everest in 2004 and has since climbed it nearly every year. His record-setting feat comes amidst a challenging climbing season, with at least two climbers, Subrata Ghosh from India and Philipp "PJ" Santiago II from the Philippines, having tragically died on Mount Everest this season.

Over 150 crypto-related robbery or kidnapping incidents have occurred worldwide since 2014, with a notable 23 of those taking place in 2025 alone. This concerning data comes from a GitHub database maintained by Bitcoin cypherpunk Jameson Lopp. Lopp highlights that criminals frequently identify potential victims by monitoring social media posts, public conversations, and attending crypto meetups and conferences. He strongly cautions against engaging in peer-to-peer trades, especially with untrusted individuals, and advises against publicly flaunting crypto-related wealth on social media or by wearing crypto-branded clothing, as these actions can make individuals targets for such crimes.

3. IN MALAYSIA 🇲🇾

Road tragedies spark safety reckoning
Overloaded lorry in Teluk Intan crash failed every safety check
Authorities revealed that the tipper lorry involved in the May 13 collision in Teluk Intan that killed 9 Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) officers failed all seven critical items in the JPJ’s safety audit with a score of 17 out of 70. The lorry was carrying 40.96 tonnes of gravel at the time of the incident, over 70% above its permitted 24-tonne limit, and despite being licensed only to haul coal. Operated by Tashveen Trading, the lorry also lacked GPS and had no safety supervisor. Its driver had 14 prior summonses. The lorry had veered into the opposite lane, hitting the FRU truck, which itself lacked basic safety features like seat belts and UN-standard seating. Investigators found no mechanical faults, and weather conditions were clear. Following the crash, the company’s licence was revoked and a multi-agency task force has called for urgent reforms. This sounds like a systemic failure across the board.

Gerik bus tragedy leads to permanent ban and new safety push
The government has revoked the operating permit of the tour bus company involved in the deadly Gerik crash that killed 15 UPSI students, citing unforgivable negligence, including illegally leasing the bus to a third party and failing to activate its GPS system. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the owner, based in Kedah, had leased the vehicle for RM500 monthly to an operator in Kelantan, breaching licensing terms and demonstrating a clear lack of responsibility. There will be no appeal, as the permit cancellation is permanent. Despite the driver’s claim of brake failure, dashcam footage from other vehicles showed the bus speeding and overtaking recklessly before crashing. Forensic investigations are ongoing. Loke also announced a Cabinet-approved plan to establish a centralised database under APAD to track the records of express and tour bus drivers, preventing those with poor track records from hopping between companies undetected.

Meanwhile, another incident:

Pahang to snuff out vape sales after fatwa ruling
Pahang is set to halt the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes by early next year, following the state government’s endorsement of a fatwa declaring the practice haram. State executive councillor Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad confirmed that the fatwa, issued by the state mufti and endorsed on May 14, has already come into effect, citing health risks and wastage. This move aligns with calls by Pahang ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah for a total ban, and follows similar actions in Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah, Johor, and Kelantan, with Negeri Sembilan and Selangor also weighing bans.

Melaka teen confesses to killing mother and brother over exam pressure
A 51-year-old teacher and her 21-year-old son were found brutally stabbed to death in their Bukit Rambai home this morning, while her 13-year-old son was seriously injured but survived. Melaka police were alerted after neighbours heard cries for help, and later arrested the family’s 17-year-old second son, who allegedly confessed to the attack. Police believe the double murder was premeditated, driven by resentment over constant scolding and pressure to study for the SPM exams. A folding knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was found in the teen’s school bag, and bloodied clothes discarded nearby were recovered. The suspect allegedly first tried to stab his mother in her bedroom but was caught by his elder brother, whom he also killed, while the youngest son was attacked after refusing to flee.

KLIA is flagged as a major wildlife trafficking route into India
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has gained a notorious reputation as a key wildlife smuggling hub into India, alongside Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, with trafficked animals funnelled into Kempegowda, Chennai, and Mumbai airports. Between 2024 and mid-2025, Indian Customs seized over 600 animals, including anacondas, gibbons, hornbills and Fiji Banded Iguanas from 23 smuggling attempts linked to Malaysia and Thailand at Kempegowda alone.

Kempegowda Airport has now overtaken Chennai as the main entry point, with many arrested couriers being Tamil Nadu natives who pointed to syndicates led by Tamil kingpins based in Malaysia and Thailand. NGO Traffic found the seizures involved at least 87 species, including seven critically endangered ones, and called for urgent cross-border enforcement. KLIA remains a key transit route, with Malaysian authorities opening 10 investigation papers between 2023 and April 2025 as smuggling cases continue to rise.

4. AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

US relationships
US-Iran nuclear talk: You strike me, I strike you
Five rounds have passed since Washington and Tehran started their nuclear talks in April, with no agreements in sight. Trump is getting restless and has threatened that the US will attack Iran if no deals are reached. Naturally, Iran retaliates by saying that it would target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out with the US. Tehran’s stance remains: They will not build a nuclear bomb, but who is the US to dictate that they do not have the right to conduct research on the topic? Iran is also adamant that their nuclear programme is purely for civilian purposes. Trump has been wary about Iran’s nuclear research since he took office early this year, and believes that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. During his first White House term from 2017 to 2021, Trump pulled the US out of a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed limits on Tehran’s uranium enrichment drive in exchange for relief from sanctions. The sixth round of talks is expected this week, though Trump and Iran seem to have different days for the talks.

Will Kim Jong Un entertain Trump’s call to meet?
The White House had issued a statement saying the US President is “receptive” A.K.A. quite keen to meet and talk with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, despite reports from a South Korean news site that Pyongyang has repeatedly “rejected” Trump’s advances. In 2018, a meeting between the US President and the leader of North Korea happened during a summit in Singapore, but it did not achieve Washington’s goal of halting the advance of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programmes. Trump is apparently trying to ride on that meeting, aiming to “reopen communication channels between Washington and Pyongyang”. He may also be driven by South Korea’s newly elected president adopting a more reconciliatory posture towards Pyongyang.

Possible tariff deadline extensions and a USD5 mil Trump gold card
A bit of “comfort” for countries still negotiating trade deals with the US — US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Trump’s administration is prepared to extend the cut-off date of July 8, 2025, for trading partners negotiating in “good faith”. This marked the first time a Trump administration official has indicated some flexibility around the expiration date for the pause. So far, the White House has struck only one preliminary deal with a major foreign trading partner affected by the pause — Britain. The White House did not immediately respond to a question about whether Trump shared Bessent’s view. On another note, besides the possible extension, the Trump administration also announced that it is accepting applications for a so-called “Trump Card”, which promises applicants permanent residency for USD5 mil. Check out the site - TrumpCard.gov.

Air India plane carrying 242 crashes
Air India Flight AI171, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport and carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after take-off yesterday in an area between Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and the city's Ghoda Camp neighbourhood. Authorities last reported that there were two survivors found, with one of them confirmed as a British national on the flight. The plane had crashed into a hostel for medical students in a densely packed residential area near Ahmedabad, leading to additional casualties on the ground. The plane was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which adds to the anxiety about the safety of the American-made plane. Before this Air India incident, no Boeing Dreamliner across its three models (787-8, 787-9 and 787-10) had been damaged beyond repair or seen any fatalities, but multiple whistleblowers have raised safety concerns about the Dreamliner's production and assembly processes. This sparked the launch of a probe by the Federal Aviation Administration in May 2024. The delivery of the jets has been delayed since the probe started. Warning — Graphic content below.

Shorts

1. Tencent considers game developer Nexon for USD15 bil

   China’s Tencent Holdings Ltd is considering a potential acquisition of Nexon Co, the creator of popular role-playing game Maple Story, with a market value of about USD15 bil (RM63.4bil). The move comes as Tencent, which previously pursued an acquisition of Nexon in 2019, makes fresh forays into other South Korean assets. Nexon and Tencent have already worked together, developing Dungeon & Fighter, a key revenue generator. Tencent, which is now bolstering its lucrative gaming operations, agreed in March to invest EUR1.16 bil for a 25% stake in a new Ubisoft unit that holds the rights to intellectual properties including Assassin’s Creed.

2. Take a break from Jolly Rancher now

   The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently reported that a number of Jolly Ranchers sweets are unsafe for consumption, as they contain chemical compounds - mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) - which could increase the risk of cancer, particularly if consumed in high quantities over a prolonged period of time. MOAH and MOSH are used to prevent stickiness and create a glossy appearance on the candies. The Hershey Company, owner of Jolly Rancher, has been working with the UK government body to remove the affected Jolly Rancher products from the UK market since 2024, but some businesses in Britain have continued to import the products.

3. Beach Boys musical 'genius' frontman Brian Wilson dies

   Legendary frontman and co-founder of the American band Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, has died at the age of 82. The band went on to become among America's biggest bands and rivalled the Beatles in the 1960s, with more than 100 million records sold globally. The talented musician was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic in 1984 when doctors found evidence that his use of psychedelic drugs had potentially damaged his brain. In February 2024, it was revealed he had dementia. Regardless of generation, you would recognise some of their hits - Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Kokomo, California Dreamin’, Surfin’ USA.

5. FOR YOUR EYES 📺

1. The science of porn addiction and the possibility of causing Erectile Dysfunction (ED). According to a study, Malaysia ranks #3 for people with problematic porn use. After controlling for other variables, being religious is a better predictor of porn-related problems than the actual amount of porn consumed, due to guilt of being religious.

2. Did you get caught in the Dubai Chocolate craze?

3. Have a good laugh watching this man looking for a black person / “purse in” the room. Have a good weekend folks!