Asia News Wrap: Hanoi world's most polluted city, and more

Here are a few stories from around Asia you may have missed this week.

Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, becomes world's most polluted city 

Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, has been covered in thick smog over recent weeks, putting it at the top of a list of the world's most polluted cities, as the government said it would push for more electric vehicles to alleviate the problem. Speaking at a transport ministry meeting on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha called for an accelerated transition to electric vehicles as part of the efforts to reduce pollution. Levels of hazardous small particles, known as PM2.5, were measured at 266 micrograms per cubic meter in Hanoi early on Friday, the highest reading among a list of most-polluted cities, according to AirVisual, which provides independent global air pollution information.

First in nine years: Turnaround in South Korean births 

The number of babies born in South Korea rose for the first time in nine years in 2024. This is a rare turnaround for the nation grappling with one of the world's lowest fertility rates. According to resident registration data from the Interior Ministry, 242,334 babies were born last year, up 3.1 percent from a year earlier. It marked the first annual rise in South Korea after eight consecutive years of decline.

Tourism boost for Thailand in 2024

Thailand saw foreign tourist arrivals jump 26 percent last year after the nation eased entry rules and waived visas for Chinese nationals, the largest group of visitors to the country.

According to provisional data released on Monday from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, an estimated 35.5 million tourists visited Thailand last year, up from 28.2 million in 2023. They spent about 1.67 trillion baht ($48 billion), up 34 percent from a year ago.

The country had set a record for tourist arrivals before the pandemic, in 2019, with almost 40 million visitors and $60 billion in tourism revenue.

Nepal suspends helicopters to Mount Everest

The Nepali government announced on Monday that helicopter flights to Mount Everest had been suspended indefinitely due to safety concerns amid escalating tensions between local communities and aviation authorities. This came after youth groups in the region erected flag barriers on helipads, citing environmental concerns and loss of income from trekkers. The youth groups said only emergency flights will be allowed to land in the region. The Airline Operators Association of Nepal said all flights in the region will remain grounded until helicopter safety can be fully ensured. "We have suspended all our helicopter flights to the Everest region until the government gives assurance of security for helicopter pilots and a separate spot for emergency landing," Pratap Jung Pandey, first vice president of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal, told AFP.

Record price for giant bluefin tuna 

A bluefin tuna from Oma, Aomori Prefecture in Japan, fetched an astonishing 207 million yen ($1.3 million), the second-highest price on record, in the first auction of the year at the Toyosu fish market in Tokyo on Sunday. The bid was around 1.8 times higher than last year's and second only in price to 2019's top catch, which sold for 333.6 million yen.

The prized catch, weighing 276 kilograms and described by some media outlets as“about the size and weight of a motorbike,”attracted the most attention. It was auctioned off at 750,000 yen per kilogram. The winning bid came from Yamayuki, a wholesale intermediary at the market, marking their fifth consecutive year securing the highest-priced tuna. Yamayuki’s president, Yukitaka Yamaguchi, highlighted the fish’s exceptional quality, saying that its "unmatched freshness stood out."

(Cover: An aerial view shows Hanoi city amid heavy air pollution, Hanoi, Vietnam, January 3, 2025. /Reuters)