Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (December 16, 2019).

Climbing Everest will now require a full medical history, insurance and a certificate

All climbers seeking a permit to climb Mount Everest will now need to disclose their full medical history, according to a set of new rules drafted by the Tourism Department.

In addition to disclosing their medical history, climbers must also submit a medical report by a certified doctor in order to obtain a permit to climb mountains in Nepal, including the world’s tallest peak.

Read the full story here.

Bureaucratic change at Indian Ministry of External Affairs likely to further delay Kalapani talks

As Nepal awaits foreign secretary-level talks with India to resolve the Kalapani boundary dispute, a possible change in India’s Ministry of External Affairs is likely to further delay the expected meeting.

Officials in New Delhi told the Post that Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale retires at the end of January and whoever comes in next will have a host of pressing issues to deal with. The Narendra Modi government is currently embroiled in a number of controversies, both internal and external. Among them, the recent citizenship amendment bill has sparked riots and protests across India.

Read the full story here.

Miscarriages are common but women continue to suffer in silence

According to the Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2016, nine percent of pregnancies across the country result in miscarriage. The World Health Organization regards miscarriage as one of the most common reasons for losing a baby during pregnancy. Estimates from the UN body suggest that globally about 10 to 15 percent of pregnant women, on average, miscarry. But despite how common the phenomenon is, miscarriages continue to be associated with secrecy, taboo and shame, leading to emotional distress and anxiety.

Read the full story here.

Rasuwagadhi border sees a decline in the number of tourists entering Nepal

A total of 28, 896 tourists, which includes mostly Chinese citizens, entered Nepal through the Rasuwagadhi border point during the first 11 months of 2019, according to data by Rasuwagadhi Immigration Office.

This is 3,750 tourists short of last year’s data of 32,646 from the same period.

Read the full story here.

Number of districts declared fully immunised increases to 58, but immunisation coverage is far from target

In April 2017, the government declared Lalitpur a fully immunised district. The following year, Kathmandu was given the same status. According to the government, 58 out of 77 districts are now fully immunised, meaning all children under 15 months have not missed out on any of the routine vaccines.

The Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services says the government is working to declare the remaining 19 districts fully immunised.

However, the immunisation data provided by the section shows 27 percent of children are yet to receive the second dose of measles-rubella vaccine.

Read the full story here.