Nordic News, Business and Life in Asia
The holiday ended before it began. Minutes after landing in Phuket, a Norwegian tourist was taken aside at passport control and locked inside an airport detention cell, Verdens Gang reports. …
Torn passport page detains Norwegian tourist at Phuket airport Read More
The exhibition Leaders of Tomorrow opens on Friday 6 March 2026 from 19:00 to 21:00 at Bangkok 1899. The joint exhibition brings together Danish visual artist Stine Hvid and Thai …
Danish-Thai exhibition marks International Women’s Day in Bangkok Read More
Self-driving vehicles are now part of daily operations for the Swedish furniture giant in China, INGKA reports. IKEA has introduced autonomous electric vehicles at its store in Hefei, Anhui Province, …
IKEA in China adopts self-driving transport after successful trial Read More
Thailand plans to provide financial support to foreign tourists stranded in the country due to global airspace closures linked to the escalating Middle East crisis, Government Public Relations Department (PRD) …
Thailand plans financial support for stranded foreign tourists Read More
First Sweden. Now Norway. In just a matter of weeks, major discoveries of rare and critical metals in the Nordic region have reignited hopes that Europe could loosen Beijing’s grip …
The ground beneath Scandinavia is starting to shift Europe’s dependence on China Read More
A military escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran has prompted several Middle Eastern countries to close or severely restrict their airspace, including the United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu …
Airspace shutdown: What travellers between Southeast Asia and the Nordics need to know Read More
Until recently, mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis remained a public health concern, with some babies infected at birth. Now Denmark has brought that chapter to an end, joining Thailand …
Denmark first in EU to join Thailand and Malaysia in protecting newborns from HIV Read More
What was meant to be a quiet journey home has turned into days of uncertainty. After three weeks in Pattaya, Per Bjørn Lund Jensen and Charlotte Rose from northern Denmark …
Danish couple stranded in Thailand as Middle East conflict closes airspace: – It feels unsafe Read More
US and Israeli forces have carried out strikes on targets in Iran, prompting swift reactions from governments across Asia and the Nordic region, Gulf News reports. In Southeast Asia, Malaysian …
Asia and Nordic leaders urge restraint after strikes on Iran Read More
Construction has officially begun on Horizon X, a new generation ferry for Swedish operator Gotlandsbolaget, The Embassy of Sweden in Manila reports. The vessel is being assembled at the shipyard …
Sweden’s new green ferry is being built in the Philippines Read More
Vietnam is pushing hard to become a global shipbuilding nation and Denmark could play a key role. Under a new national strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, Vietnam …
Vietnam accelerates shipbuilding strategy with Denmark in focus Read More
Sweden has confirmed updated figures for one of Europe’s largest rare earth deposits, EcoNews reports. The state-owned mining company LKAB announced in its 2025 resource report that the Per Geijer …
Sweden finds rare metals that could reduce China dependence Read More
As Russia and China race to expand their fleets of icebreakers, NATO countries are scrambling to keep up. And at the center of this growing Arctic power game stands an …
As China expands in the Arctic, Finland gets a key role in Arctic security Read More
It is the last night in Koh Lipe. Ole Christian Andersen is sitting at a bar with friends, finishing the holiday with a few beers, when he starts talking to …
Ole is tired of prejudice against Thai-Danish relationships: – People think I’m exploiting her Read More
Big money is moving across the oceans. Two giant oil tankers have just secured contracts worth up to USD 94,000 per day – and operations in both Norway and Singapore …
Oil tanker company with operations in Norway and Singapore secures million-dollar deals Read More
A tiny macaque named Punch-kun has turned a local Japanese zoo into a global feel-good story. Born on July 26, 2025, at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, he was rejected …
IKEA sees sales boost after baby monkey’s viral love for plush “mother” Read More
Nordic-affiliated companies and Philippine firms working with Nordic partners are now invited to compete for the Sustainability Leadership Award 2026. The award recognizes companies that demonstrate measurable results in environmental …
Nordic-Philippine firms invited to apply for sustainability award Read More
At the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), Sweden is for the first time featured as a guest country of honor, Newsflare reports. The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is …
Sweden named guest of honor at major China trade fair Read More
A sudden outbreak has put Danish poultry exports on hold. Hong Kong has suspended imports of poultry meat and eggs from Holbæk Municipality following reports of highly pathogenic bird flu, …
Hong Kong cuts Danish poultry supply after virus alert Read More
Cambodia has deported 372 foreigners in a large-scale immigration operation, Khmer Times reports. According to the Director-General of Immigration under the Ministry of Interior, the deportations took place on 19-20 …
Norwegian National included in Cambodia deportation operation Read More
Behind the bright beer billboards of Cambodia lies a far more complex story, Screen Daily reports. A new Danish documentary, Cambodian Beer Dreams, is set to have its world premiere …
Danish documentary exposes Cambodia’s brewing battle Read More
Flying out of Thailand is about to become more expensive, Bangkok Post reports. From 20 June 2026, the passenger service charge on international departures will rise from 730 baht to …
Thailand to raise airport departure fee Read More
A new envoy has landed in Copenhagen at a historic moment, The Philippine Embassy in Denmark reports. On 17 February 2026, the Embassy of the Philippines in Denmark welcomed His …
New Philippine Ambassador arrives in Denmark ahead of 80-year milestone Read More
A year of community life, faith and cultural gatherings is about to be reviewed. The Danish Church in Thailand invites members and friends to its annual general meeting, where chairman …
Danish church in Thailand calls members to annual meeting Read More
Citizens of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland can now enter6 China without a visa for short stays, Travel and Tour World reports. The new policy took effect during the 2026 …
Nordic citizens granted visa-free access to China Read More
Artificial intelligence is placed at the centre of a new exhibition in Finland. Taiwanese artist Yu-Hsuan Yao presents Thank You Babe But a Statistical Midpoint Is Just Not Enough at …
Taiwanese artist in Finland explores AI and the question of authorship Read More
A book changed the conversation about children in Sweden nearly 50 years ago. Now it is set to inspire families in Thailand, the Embassy of Sweden in Thailand reports. On …
Pippi’s creator inspires new momentum for child protection in Thailand Read More
A Finnish company has secured a key role in China’s growing LNG shipping industry, The Digest reports. Finland’s technology group Wärtsilä has won an order to supply LNG cargo handling …
Wärtsilä secures key role in China’s expanding LNG fleet Read More
Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago in the High North, is emerging as a potential strategic pressure point in the Arctic, according to US-based defense analysis outlet RealClearDefense. While Svalbard is under …
Growing Chinese presence in Norway draws security concern Read More
A protein in the brain may hold new hope for Alzheimer’s patients, and the discovery comes from a Norwegian research team working closely with Chinese partners, University of Oslo reports. …
Norwegian Alzheimer’s breakthrough backed by China collaboration Read More
The Arctic is continuously heating up politically. A senior researcher at the Washington think tank The Heritage Foundation is calling for Denmark and the United States to strengthen their military …
Greenland pulled into US-China security debate Read More
Thailand’s plan to cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days is now being reviewed again, Bangkok Post reports. Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the caretaker government is reassessing …
Thailand reconsiders 60-day visa-free stay after local complaints Read More
A strengthening Norwegian krone could make trips to Norway more expensive for foreign visitors – including travellers from Asia. The currency has gained significant ground in early 2026. According to …
Rising Norwegian Krone could raise costs for Asian visitors Read More
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio, is placing China at the centre of discussions as EU trade ministers gather in Nicosia this week, Finnish Government reports. The …
Finland sharpens focus on China at EU trade talks Read More
Sustainability continues to move higher on the agenda for Thailand’s hospitality industry. On 27 February 2026, the Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce will join the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce and the …
Thai-Norwegian chamber puts green hospitality in focus Read More
The widely discussed reduction of Thailand’s visa-free stay has now moved from speculation to decision. The Thai government has confirmed that the permitted stay under the visa-exemption scheme will be …
Thailand confirms visa-free stay will be reduced to 30 days Read More
New data and investigations show Russian oil being shipped via placeholder destinations and vessels sailing under false flags, affecting both Singapore and Finland. According to Reuters, tankers carrying around 1.4 …
Russian oil tankers draw concern in Singapore and Finland Read More
Norwegian authorities have deported a Chinese citizen from Norway for five years after a traffic accident in Balsfjord, Troms, Dagbladet reports. Police said a Danish-registered rental car crossed into oncoming …
Chinese driver deported from Norway after car crash Read More
A major new global report from the Pew Research Center has now been released, mapping religious diversity across 201 countries worldwide. Six years after the data was collected, the global …
Singapore and Norway far apart on the Religious Diversity Scale Read More
Chinese New Year 2026 begins on 17 February and marks the start of the Year of the Horse. Across China and in several Nordic cities, public events, themed dinners and …
Chinese New Year: What you can experience in China and the Nordic countries Read More
The tragic deaths of two young Danish women in Laos shocked families, friends and travellers across borders. Now, a verdict has finally been delivered, Danish broadcaster TV2 Echo reports. In …
Families outraged: Laos verdict leaves Danish deaths unaddressed Read More
China has significantly reduced planned tariffs on dairy imports from the European Union, lowering rates from as high as 42.7 percent to a final range of 7.4 to 11.7 percent, …
China slashes tariffs on Danish-Swedish dairy giant Arla Read More
Finnish food company Atria has delivered the best financial performance in its history following the launch of chicken exports to China, Xinhua Net reports. In 2025, net sales rose to …
China breakthrough sends finnish food giant to record year Read More
Thailand is preparing to roll back one of its most generous entry policies. The government plans to reduce visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days for citizens of 93 …
Big change for nordic travellers: Thailand plans to cut visa-free stay Read More
Norwegian seafood exporters now have a new direct route to China. On 24 January 2026, Suparna Airlines officially launched weekly cargo flights between Oslo Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, …
Norway strengthens China trade with new direct air route Read More
This week, representatives from Denmark’s Investment & Trade team met with the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration and the Vietnam Register in Hanoi, the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam reports. …
Vietnam and Denmark explore next steps in green shipping Read More
One of Denmark’s biggest international stars is heading to Hong Kong. Mads Mikkelsen will make his debut at Comic Con Hong Kong in May 2026, organisers confirmed on Instagram on …
Mads Mikkelsen confirmed for Comic Con in Hong Kong Read More
The Norwegian government has confirmed that Norwegian organizations were targeted by the China-linked hacker group known as Salt Typhoon, Bank Info Security reports. The acknowledgment appears in the latest annual …
Norway confirms China-linked cyber espionage Read More
Thailand has dropped nine places to 116th in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), with its score declining slightly from 34 in 2024 to 33 out of 100 in 2025, …
Thailand slips further behind Nordic countries in corruption ranking Read More
Thailand’s healthcare system is under growing pressure, and the issue is now appearing more clearly on the bilateral agenda between Thailand and Sweden. This was reflected last week, when the …
An ageing society is reshaping Thailand’s healthcare priorities Read More