Nordic News, Business and Life in Asia
Sweden has declared the mining of critical metals and rare earth minerals a national security interest as it seeks to reduce its dependence on China. China dominates the global supply …
Sweden speeds up mining plans to reduce dependence on China Read More
Thai air conditioner exports to Finland and Sweden have increased sharply this year as hotter weather creates greater demand for cooling in Europe. Exports to Finland rose by 367 percent …
Thailand sells more air conditioners to Finland and Sweden Read More
Bombs fell on Laos every eight minutes between 1964 and 1973. More than 50 years later, unexploded bombs still lie hidden beneath fields, forests and villages, affecting families across 14 …
Video: Living with the danger beneath their feet Read More
More than 50 years after the bombing of Laos, unexploded ordnance still claims lives, causes injuries and forces families to live in fear. In May, ScandAsia visited Yanika’s village in …
Yanika and her family live with the danger of unexploded bombs beneath their home: “We just want to live a normal life” Read More
A mine clearance team from Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) has found and removed 18 unexploded wartime explosives buried in a forest in Hue in central Vietnam. The explosives included artillery …
18 wartime explosives cleared in Hue Read More
Future growth in demand for Norwegian seafood is expected to come increasingly from emerging markets in South and Southeast Asia, according to a new report from the Norwegian Seafood Council, …
New report highlights Asian opportunities for Norwegian seafood exports Read More
Norwegian cruise company Havila Voyages is stepping up its efforts to attract more Chinese tourists to Norway. The company has hired international travel agency Aviareps to promote its coastal cruises …
Norwegian cruise company wants more Chinese tourists Read More
Myanmar has appointed Norwegian football coach Jørn Andersen as the new head coach of the country’s men’s national team, the Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) announced on Wednesday. The 63-year-old replaces …
Myanmar appoints Norwegian coach Jørn Andersen as national team head coach Read More
Finland’s berry industry is warning that prices could rise and large quantities of wild berries could remain unpicked after the country rejected most visa applications from foreign berry pickers, according …
Berry prices could rise after Finland rejects thousands of seasonal worker visas Read More
Malaysia has stopped all new defence purchases from Norway after the Norwegian government blocked the export of missiles ordered for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ships according to …
Malaysia hits back at Norway by stopping new defence purchases Read More
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Oslo on Tuesday as part of the Chinese minister’s Nordic tour. …
Norway seeks cooperation and dialogue after Wang Yi visit Read More
Danish infrastructure investor A.P. Moller Capital has completed its acquisition of a 40 percent stake in Philippine logistics company AC Logistics, the companies said in a joint statement on 8 …
Danish Maersk investor buys 40 percent of Philippine logistics company Read More
Travellers from Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands can now apply for a Philippine e-Visa for stays longer than 30 days. Holders of Danish passports planning to stay in the …
Travellers from Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands can now apply online for Philippine visas Read More
After four years in Hanoi, Norwegian ambassador Hilde Solbakken is concluding her term in Vietnam. The ambassador paid a farewell visit to Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade on 8 …
Norwegian ambassador Hilde Solbakken concludes four years in Vietnam Read More
Malaysia’s armed forces expect it could take two to three years to replace the Norwegian missile system originally intended for the country’s navy following the cancellation of the deal with …
Malaysia says replacing cancelled Norwegian missiles could take up to three years Read More
World-renowned Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson will open his travelling exhibition “Your Curious Journey” in Manila on July 9, marking the final stop of its tour across Asia and Australia, according …
Danish artist Olafur Eliasson opens exhibition on climate change in Manila Read More
Finland has rejected the majority of this year’s seasonal work visa applications for foreign wild-berry pickers after authorities identified risks of labour exploitation and concerns over employers’ ability to meet …
Finland rejects 1,400 berry picker visa applications over exploitation concerns Read More
Swedish automotive safety company Autoliv has signed a new global strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor (GWM), expanding a partnership that began in 2023, according to Autoliv. …
Autoliv and Great Wall Motor expand partnership to support overseas growth Read More
Swedish defence company Saab has delivered the composite superstructure – the upper section that houses the bridge, radar and other key systems – for Singapore’s new next-generation warship, Asian Military …
Swedish defence company delivers first superstructure for Singapore’s new warship Read More
Vietnam Social Security (VSS) and the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam have signed a new three-year agreement to strengthen cooperation on sustainable healthcare and health insurance, VnEconomy reported. The memorandum …
Denmark and Vietnam renew healthcare partnership Read More
Danish brewer Carlsberg and Japan’s Sapporo Breweries are expanding their partnership by forming a new joint venture across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, the Carlsberg Group announced on July 6. …
Japanese brewer invests US$643 million in Carlsberg-led joint venture Read More
Norwegian defence company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has asked to meet with the Malaysian government after a missile deal between the two countries collapsed. Malaysia says it is willing to …
Malaysia agrees to meet Norwegian Kongsberg but makes clear compensation claim cannot be delayed Read More
Vietnam welcomed nearly 12.3 million international visitors in the first half of 2026, a 14.9 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to the Vietnam National Authority …
Vietnam welcomes 15 percent more international tourists, while arrivals from Denmark and Sweden also rise Read More
Thailand is introducing stricter airport security measures after the government approved a series of new screening procedures at a meeting on July 3, chaired by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, according …
Thailand tightens airport screening after Thai Airways drug-smuggling case Read More
China has launched its 16th Arctic scientific expedition, marking the first time the country has sent four research vessels to the Arctic. According to the Polar Research Institute of China, …
China sends four research vessels to the Arctic for the first time Read More
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard confirmed that she raised the recent espionage case involving two detained men during talks with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to Swedish …
Sweden raises espionage case and Gui Minhai with China’s foreign minister Read More
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has completed the first three stops of his Nordic tour, which runs from July 2 to 8 and includes Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. The …
Three stops down, one to go on China’s foreign minister’s rare Nordic tour Read More
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Sweden on Saturday, July 4, where he is set to meet both Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. According …
Sweden welcomes China’s foreign minister Saturday: Trade and security talks on the table Read More
After more than 20 years in Norway’s energy sector, Chinese energy expert Yang Tao has begun a new chapter as a distinguished professor at China University of Petroleum-Beijing. Yang previously …
After 20 years in Norway, Chinese energy expert takes university role in China Read More
China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, is set to tour Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway next week for high-level talks with Nordic foreign ministers. Wang Yi will travel to all four …
China’s foreign minister heads to Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway Read More
Swedish pop star Zara Larsson will bring her Midnight Sun Tour 2026 to Southeast Asia later this year. Known for international hits including Lush Life, Never Forget You, Symphony and …
Zara Larsson brings Midnight Sun Tour to Bangkok and Manila Read More
Thirty former international students from Swedish universities will begin paid traineeships at Swedish companies abroad in 2026 through a programme launched by the Swedish Institute. The programme includes 21 Swedish …
Swedish companies in Asia offer paid traineeships to international graduates Read More
The Embassy of Finland in Hanoi has introduced a new electronic appointment booking system for selected consular services from June 2026. The new system covers appointments for residence permit identification …
Finland launches new online appointment system at embassy in Vietnam Read More
Thailand’s higher airport departure fee for international travellers came into effect this weekend on Saturday 20 June. The passenger service charge for international departures has increased from 730 baht to …
Thailand’s higher airport fee has now taken effect Read More
The European Union Film Festival is taking place in Thailand from 18-28 June, bringing a selection of films from across Europe to audiences in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. The …
Watch Danish and Swedish at European Union Film Festival in Bangkok this week Read More
The Swedish Restaurant at Ikea’s Cheras outlet in Kuala Lumpur has been ordered to close for 14 days by Malaysian health authorities. According to The Sun Malaysia, the closure took …
Ikea restaurant shut down by Malaysian health authorities Read More
A tailor shop in Singapore’s Chinatown has been carrying a Scandinavian connection for nearly half a century. ABBA’s Department Store, a 47-year-old tailor shop, was named after the Swedish pop …
Swedish pop icons ABBA are still attracting customers to a Singapore tailor shop Read More
Cambodian First Lady Dr Pich Chanmony Hun Manet has received the Princess Benedikte Award during an international gathering of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in Siem …
Cambodian First Lady receives award named after Danish Princess Read More
The Finnish biotech company developing a new treatment for blindness, StemSight, has secured patent in Singapore, the company announced in a press release. StemSight, based in Tampere, is working on …
Finnish biotech company granted Singapore patent in fight against blindness Read More
Finland and Sweden will take part in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, one of the largest multinational air force exercises in the Asia-Pacific region. Hosted by Australia from July 20 to …
Finland and Sweden join major Asia-Pacific military exercise Read More
Finland launches new Asia strategy to reduce dependence on China. That is the main message in Finland’s first-ever Indo-Pacific policy, unveiled this week by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The …
Finland wants stronger ties with Asian countries and less dependence on China Read More
A Chinese citizen arrested near a military facility in northern Norway on suspicion of attempted illegal intelligence activity has been released from custody after investigators said the grounds for suspicion …
Chinese citizen released from custody in Norway espionage case Read More
The Danish Embassy in Thailand has announced that Danish Ambassador to Thailand, Danny Annan, will host an informal gathering for Danes in Hua Hin on Thursday, June 18. The event …
Got a question for Denmark’s ambassador? Meet him in Hua Hin on Thursday Read More
Finnish authorities are investigating an alleged student recruitment scam after hundreds of young Myanmar nationals were charged thousands of euros for promised study opportunities in Finland. According to BBC Burmese …
Myanmar students paid €10,000 for a Finnish dream: Now a suspected scam is under investigation Read More
Interest among Danish students in studying in China has dropped after COVID-19 and growing geopolitical tensions, according to Morten Laugesen, director of the Sino-Danish Center in Beijing. Fifteen years ago, …
Fewer Danes dream of China: University project now considers shorter stays Read More
Inside a former factory building in Beijing’s trendy 798 Art District, visitors move slowly between photographs, handwritten reflections and installations about womanhood, ageing, mental health and relationships. At the entrance, …
Only a few are allowed here: “You can’t really find this anywhere else” Read More
Outside, tourists and electric scooters squeeze through the narrow hutong alleyways of Beijing’s old Dashilar neighbourhood. Inside a small hidden shop packed with old maps, archive photos and dusty newspapers, …
“Everything is so big”: Danish Lars became obsessed with Beijing locals’ stories Read More
The Sino-Danish Center (SDC) in Beijing is searching for a new director after current director Morten Laugesen announced he will step down later this year following more than 17 years …
Director of Sino-Danish Center in Beijing steps down after 17 years Read More
Children sit around a long table in a covered outdoor classroom surrounded by cherry trees on the outskirts of Beijing – trees that will be ready for harvest in just …
He quit full-time architecture for farm life in China: “It’s the most fun when I don’t know what I’m doing” Read More
When world leaders meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, almost everything is planned down to the smallest detail. “There should be no surprises,” Finnish ambassador to China Mikko Kinnunen told ScandAsia …
“Big country, big rooms”: What a meeting with Xi Jinping actually looks like Read More