Reuters Asia Top

BEIJING (Reuters) – Visa applications by Chinese citizens remain well below pre-pandemic levels following the lifting of travel restrictions in January, data from a specialist visa firm revealed, as the number of international flights remained limited. VFS Global, a visa application outsourcing and technology services firm, said in a statement visa application volumes from China …

Chinese visa applications just 35% of pre-pandemic levels, data show Read More »

By Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is believed to weigh over 140 kg (308 lb) according to an artificial intelligence (AI) estimate, a South Korean lawmaker said on Wednesday in a remark reflecting abiding interest in the health of the North’s secretive ruler. The health of North Korean leaders …

South Korea uses AI to measure North Korean leader’s weight, lawmaker says Read More »

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) – A Malaysian climber narrowly survived after a Nepali sherpa guide hauled him down from below the summit of Mount Everest in a “very rare” high altitude rescue, a government official said on Wednesday. Gelje Sherpa, 30, was guiding a Chinese client to the 8,849 metre (29,032 feet) Everest summit …

Nepali sherpa saves Malaysian climber in rare Everest ‘death zone’ rescue Read More »

By Josh Smith and Sakura Murakami SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) – North Korea is unlikely to be deterred from its quest to place cargoes in space, analysts said, even though a malfunction sent a new launch vehicle and the country’s first spy satellite crashing into the ocean on Wednesday. The secretive country considers its space and military …

Analysis-Why North Korea’s satellite launch attempt may be ‘first of many’ Read More »

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean nuclear safety experts who visited Japan’s wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant said on Wednesday that detailed analysis was needed to verify Japan’s plan to release tonnes of contaminated water from it into the sea. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station, about 220 km (130 miles) northeast of Tokyo, …

South Korea experts say more study needed on Japan’s nuclear water plan Read More »

By Yoshifumi Takemoto and Tetsushi Kajimoto TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed his government on Wednesday to set aside around 3.5 trillion yen ($26 billion) in the annual budget for child care, Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto said, which was slightly more than previously estimated. Kishida has vowed to double childcare spending over the …

Japan PM orders $26 billion to be set aside for childcare, tad more than expected Read More »