Nepal honours Sir Ed with Mt Everest Day

Nepal has decided that May 29, the date Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquered the world's highest peak in 1953, will be International Mt Everest Day.

"The government has decided to commemorate the historic first ascent," said tourism ministry spokesman Prem Rai.

"This year will be the first time we celebrate the event and pay tributes to Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay." Sir Edmund died in January, aged 88, prompting praise for the man seen by Sherpas as a second father for his work.