Nineteen not out!

Legendary Sherpa climber Apa completed his 19th ascent of Everest this morning, extending his own record for the number of summits. This amazing feat was to raise awareness of climate change's impact on the Himalayas. Apa Sherpa's expedition team collected rubbish from the mountain and spent around 30 minutes at the top of Everest, unfurling a banner saying "Stop Climate Change". http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jKo0nDn0AQAUS82q3qfbTR3q8efQD98AS6N80

The World's Highest Tweet?

A Northern Ireland man is hoping to send the world's highest tweet, but only if he makes it to the summit of Mount Everest. Gavin Bate, 37, from Belfast, has never reached the summit of the world's highest peak and is hoping this time, his fifth attempt, will be different. Using a satellite phone, he has been detailing his ascent to the summit on the microblogging Twitter website. His main aim is to raise money for the charity Moving Mountains, which he set up in 2001 to help build schools, hospitals and monasteries in both Nepal and Kenya. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8054493.stm

Another political crisis in Nepal?

One year after elections and the abolition of the monarchy, Nepal has slipped back into its political turmoil that marked the country for over a decade. A detioration of relations between the former Maoist rebels turned politicians and the army led to the resignation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Also known as Prachandra, he stepped down after the president opposed his decision to sack the chief of the army. In response a group of political parties have agreed to form a "national government". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8033198.stm