Nordic News, Business and Life in Asia
I travelled across four islands in the Philippines to meet Nordic people living there. Along the way, I took buses, ferries and tricycles, got sick, missed a bus and …
I travelled across four islands in the Philippines on a budget. Here’s how it went Read More
For the past six months, I have been making my way around Bangkok’s many, many corners. One thing I have made particularly good use of is working from cafés. And …
Three Bangkok cafés I’d send my friends to 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
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) will introduce new baggage security rules from October 16, allowing airport officers to open checked luggage without passengers being present if X-ray screening detects suspicious …
Thailand airports to allow baggage inspections without passengers present Read More
Finnish design brand Marimekko is inviting visitors to explore its colourful prints at a special pop-up exhibition in Bangkok. The event runs until 22 July at Mega FoodWalk in Mega …
Finnish design brand Marimekko opens floral pop-up in Bangkok Read More
Finland has approved visas for just 123 Thai berry pickers this year after rejecting more than 2,000 applications, a decision expected to worsen labour shortages during the country’s wild berry …
Finland grants visas to only 123 Thai berry pickers Read More
Thailand is preparing a 2.45-billion-baht tourism boost aimed at making travel cheaper and attracting more visitors as the country faces stronger competition from destinations across the region, Bangkok Post reports. …
Thailand launches billion-baht plan to boost tourism with cheaper hotels and flights Read More
Indonesia is looking to strengthen defence cooperation with Finland in cybersecurity, data protection and advanced defence technology. The plans were discussed during a meeting between Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin …
Indonesia seeks stronger cybersecurity cooperation with Finland Read More
Finnish Nokia has signed a new agreement with Taiwan Mobile to expand its 5G partnership and help develop AI-powered mobile networks across Taiwan. The agreement will see Nokia deploy its …
Finnish Nokia expands AI-powered 5G partnership with Taiwan Mobile 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
The Nordic business community in the Philippines is preparing for the return of Viking Party Manila, which will take place on 12 September 2026 at the Dusit Thani Manila. Organised …
Viking Party Manila returns on 12 September 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
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’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 authorities reportedly tried to persuade the Finnish Embassy in Beijing to cancel its annual Rainbow Run, an event organised to promote diversity and inclusion, Finnish media Yle reports. According …
China urged Finnish Embassy to cancel LGBT Rainbow Run in Beijing Read More
A 59-year-old Finnish man was stabbed in Pattaya by his partner in the early hours of 2 July after an argument over about 200 baht, according to local police. The …
Finnish man stabbed in Pattaya by partner after dispute over 200 baht Read More
Fine Scandinavia operates as a trusted, versatile provider for industrial metal solutions (including warehouse trolleys, roll containers, and industrial workstations etc.) alongside quality mixed-material residential furniture. Vietnam-based, this Swedish-founded manufacturer …
What Happens When a Metal Manufacturer Moves Beyond Material Handling Read More
Singapore-based Penguin Shipyard International has delivered the first composite superstructure for the Republic of Singapore Navy’s new Multi Role Combat Vessel (MRCV), using Saab’s composite technology, Naval News reports. The …
Swedish Saab technology powers Singapore’s new naval vessels Read More
Consumers across the EU, including Denmark, Sweden and Finland, will now pay more when ordering goods from non-EU online retailers such as Chinese retailers Temu and Shein. The new customs …
3 euros more; EU’s new import duty goes into effect hitting Chinese products Read More
Finland and Singapore are strengthening cooperation in digitalisation, artificial intelligence and sustainable construction following a high-level industry meeting in Singapore, In Diplomacy reports. The event, hosted by the Embassy of …
Finland and Singapore deepen cooperation on sustainable construction Read More
A Helsinki court has ordered the detention in absentia of an Indonesian man in his 50s, suspected of leaking classified security information connected to Finland’s nuclear infrastructure, Finnish media Yle …
Finnish authorities suspect Indonesian man of leaking security secrets 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
A Finnish man wanted through an Interpol Red Notice has been arrested in Bangkok after Thai immigration police disguised themselves as gardeners to lure him out of hiding, Bangkok Post …
Finnish fugitive arrested in Bangkok after police pose as gardeners Read More
Renny Harlin says his six years working in China gave him valuable insights into Chinese filmmaking and audiences, experiences that continue to shape his work today. Speaking during the Mediterrane …
Finnish director Renny Harlin reflects on China’s film boom and embraces AI Read More
Finland is exploring new education partnerships with universities in Mindanao, Finnish Ambassador Saija Nurminen said during a forum in Davao City. Finland is also considering expanding labor recruitment beyond Metro …
Finland explores education and labor partnerships with Mindanao 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
A visiting Finnish politician has praised China’s development model, highlighting its long-term planning, technological progress and focus on social improvement, Bastille Post Global reports. Jiri Mantysalo, vice chairperson of the …
China’s development model praised by Finnish communist party leader Read More
Thinking about moving to Thailand? Already living here but still discovering new things every day? The Thailand Expat Guide 2026 is now available, bringing together practical advice, local insights, …
Thailand Expat Guide 2026 Read More
A high-level forum is planned for April 2027, bringing together government officials and companies from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland with Philippine counterparts to explore new investment opportunities, Business World …
Nordic-Philippine business summit set for Subic in 2027 Read More
A new EU rule is about to hit something many Europeans do almost without thinking: late-night online shopping from cheap global platforms. From 1 July, small parcels arriving from outside …
Online shopping from Temu and Shein set to get more expensive in EU 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
At the Nordic-Philippine Business Awards 2026, four companies were recognized for applying Nordic values in a Philippine setting. The awards highlighted leadership across sustainability, digital innovation, diversity, and community impact. …
Philippine firms honored for Nordic-inspired leadership at Business Awards Read More
The European Union and the Philippines have launched a €22.6-million initiative to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and use of satellite data, NewsBytes.ph reports. The project is designed to …
Finland supports Global Gateway project in the Philippines Read More
Finnish telecom company Nokia has been selected to upgrade the Malaysia-Cambodia-Thailand (MCT) subsea cable system, strengthening digital connectivity between Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. The project will be carried out with …
Nokia will upgrade key Southeast Asian subsea cable network 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
Thailand is preparing legal changes to accelerate the deportation of foreign nationals involved in criminal activity, as authorities say current procedures are too slow to prevent repeat offences, Bangkok Post …
Thailand to speed up deportation of foreign criminals 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
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
A researcher from the National University of Singapore has been awarded the first Global Climate Research Prize for work that could reshape how the world responds to floods and droughts. …
Singapore scientist wins Finland-founded award for flood and drought innovation Read More
Krabi could soon welcome more Scandinavian visitors as both Finnair and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) have proposed new direct flights to the southern Thai destination, Bangkok Post reports. According to Thailand’s …
Finnair and SAS plan new direct routes to Krabi Read More
Thailand has entered a period of mourning following the announcement that Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati passed away on 11 June at the age of 47. The Princess had …
Thailand enters mourning following death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Read More
A Vietnamese province is looking to deepen ties with Finland in areas ranging from investment and skilled labour to tourism, Vietnam Investment Review. A delegation from Phu Tho province met …
Vietnamese province seeks closer cooperation with Finland Read More
The Finnish Embassy in Manila has invited movie lovers in Tacloban to a free screening of the Finnish film Summer is Crazy on 15 June. The screening will take place …
Finnish film Summer is Crazy to be screened in Tacloban Read More Finnish telecom giant Nokia has entered a new partnership with Indonesian operator Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) to modernize the country’s mobile network with advanced 5G technology and artificial intelligence capabilities, …
Finnish Nokia to help build Indonesia’s AI-powered 5G future Read More
A Finnish court has sentenced a former berry company executive to two and a half years in prison for trafficking Thai seasonal workers in what has been described as Finland’s …
Finnish court jails former berry company CEO over trafficking of Thai workers Read More
Finnish cave-diving expert Mikko Paasi has described the recent rescue mission at a flooded mine in Laos as one of the most difficult operations of his career. Paasi, who helped …
Finnish diver Mikko Paasi reflects on challenging Laos cave rescue Read More
Karlovy Vary turned into a stage for Vietnamese culture, as the Mrs. Ao Dai Europe 2026 finale brought together contestants from across the continent in a vibrant display of tradition …
Vietnamese woman from Finland wins European Ao Dai title in Czech cultural celebration Read More
Finland has blocked 14 property transactions, including ten linked to a Chinese corporate network, over concerns that the acquisitions could threaten national security, yle reports. Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen …
Finland blocks property purchases linked to Chinese corporate network Read More
Multiple countries have launched a new international defence cooperation initiative aimed at protecting critical underwater infrastructure. The “Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges” (GUIDE) was launched in Singapore on …
Nordic and Southeast Asian countries join new underwater infrastructure defence initiative Read More