Nordic News, Business and Life in Asia
The Philippine passport has climbed six places in the latest global ranking but continues to lag far behind the Nordic countries in terms of travel freedom. According to the Henley …
Philippine passport improves in global ranking but still trails Nordic countries Read More
Norwegian authorities have expelled 12 foreign nationals from Malaysia and China over the past three months as part of a wider crackdown on illegal Northern Lights tourism in northern Norway, …
Norway expels Malaysian and Chinese nationals in crackdown on illegal Northern Lights tours Read More
A Danish-Vietnamese research team supported by Copenhagen University has published a saola genome study in the journal Cell. The saola is often called the “Asian unicorn” because it is rarely …
Danish-Vietnamese study maps saola DNA and outlines rescue path Read More
Philippine immigration officials said they denied entry to two foreign nationals flagged as sex offenders. The cases were linked to the Bureau of Immigration’s #ShieldKids campaign. The Bureau of Immigration …
Philippines blocks Swedish man at border under #ShieldKids campaign Read More
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR said Sweden has contributed 2.9m$ to support the SAFE+2 programme for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The programme focuses on expanding access to …
Sweden gives 2.9m$ to UN Rohingya clean energy programme in Bangladesh Read More
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it arrested a 21-year-old woman using a Swedish passport at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Manila, according to Philstar Global. The …
Swedish ‘impostor’ arrested at Manila airport Read More
New developments in the Finnish berry-picker case as Finnish police have completed a preliminary investigation into suspected bribery involving berry picking businesses and Thai authorities. The case is now being …
Finnish berry firms suspected of bribery linked to Thai labour officials Read More
Thai immigration police said they raided a foreign-run poker den in central Pattaya, Chonburi, on 10 January 2026. Police said 10 people were arrested, including two Finns, two Danes, three …
Finns and Danes arrested during Pattaya immigration police raid on poker den Read More
Thailand will introduce a new tourist entry fee for foreign visitors from February 2026. The fee will be set at 300 baht and will apply to foreign travellers arriving by …
Thailand to introduce 300-baht tourist entry fee in 2026 Read More
A 47-year-old Swedish man has died after a motorcycle crash in Rayong province, according to Thaiger. Police from Klaeng Police Station said the crash happened around 5pm on January 6. …
Swedish groom-to-be dies after motorcycle crash in Rayong Read More
Football for All in Vietnam (FFAV), a grassroots programme founded by the Football Association of Norway and the Vietnam Football Federation, previously covered by Scandasia, has announced the death of …
FFAV mourns Norwegian director Anders K.A. Krystad Read More
A dream vacation to a Thai island paradise quickly turned into a nightmare for a Swedish family, as a four-year-old Swedish boy was injured after walking into a closed glass …
Swedish boy, 4, receives 239 stitches after walking into glass door at Koh Lanta hotel Read More
A 59-year-old Swedish national died after drowning while swimming at Somprasong Beach in Chon Buri province, Thai police confirmed. The incident occurred on Sunday 4 January 2026 in the Na …
Swedish man drowns at popular beach in Thailand Read More
Vietnam welcomed its first international visitors of 2026 on New Year’s Day, as major destinations reported a busy start to the year following a record-breaking tourism performance in 2025. At …
Vietnam starts 2026 with strong tourism momentum Read More
Denmark’s prime minister has rejected renewed talk from the United States about acquiring Greenland, stressing that Denmark will stand firm on the status of the autonomous territory. In her New …
Denmark’s prime minister rejects renewed US talk of acquiring Greenland Read More
The Scandinavian Christmas Eve service returned to Christ Church in Bangkok in 2025, continuing a long-standing tradition that for years has brought together Nordic communities in the Thai capital on …
Scandinavian Christmas service draws full house at Christ Church in Bangkok Read More
“What the fuck was that?” Norwegian Espen Jacobsen thought when a loud bang awoke him and his girlfriend Friday night at 4 a.m. on 19 December. The couple lives in …
Norwegian witness fleeing the war in Cambodia Read More
The electricity consumed annually by ChatGPT to answer user prompts alone is now roughly equivalent to the total yearly electricity consumption of Iceland, or about half of Denmark’s annual electricity …
ChatGPT uses energy similar to half of Denmark’s annual electricity consumption Read More
It was in the afternoon on Monday 15 December when Norwegian Espen Jacobsen and his girlfriend first became aware that things between Cambodia and Thailand were getting serious. Families of …
Norwegian eyewitness to Thai-Cambodia conflict: “This is gonna mark people forever” Read More
Reuters reports that Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo issued a public apology on Wednesday, 17 December 2025. The apology addressed offensive images posted by far-right parliament members. Orpo’s apology was …
Finnish prime minister apologises to Asian nations after MPs share racist posts Read More
In July 2025, news of military clashes on the Thai-Cambodia border dominated headlines around the world. Ever since, the border crossings between the two countries have been closed, and tensions …
Holiday plans on hold: Nordic travelers navigate changing government guidance Read More
Norway’s Parliament control committee is moving ahead with a probe into how Telenor and the state handled the company’s exit from Myanmar. The Norwegian state owns just under 54% of …
Norwegian Parliament committee probes Telenor’s controversial Myanmar exit Read More
A Swedish citizen has died while in custody in the Philippines after being arrested in connection with a drug smuggling case, according to Swedish authorities. The woman, who also held …
Swedish citizen dies in prison in the Philippines Read More
Denmark’s Foreign Ministry has updated its travel guidance for Thailand after an escalation in the Thailand–Cambodia border dispute. It now advises against all travel to a 50 km zone along …
Denmark updates Thailand travel advice amid worsening Cambodia border dispute Read More
The Miss Finland Organizing Committee has revoked Sarah Dzafce’s title after a racial discrimination controversy, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle. The committee said she failed her responsibilities as a …
Miss Finland title revoked after racism controversy in social media post Read More
The 2025 Nobel Prize ceremonies were held on Tuesday 10 December 2025 in two separate Nordic capitals, in line with long-standing tradition. The Nobel Prizes in Medicine, Literature and the …
The Nobel Prize ceremonies Read More Telenor has issued an official response to the Norwegian OECD National Contact Point’s (NCP) final statement on the company’s forced exit from Myanmar in 2022. The statement follows a period …
Telenor rejects key criticism in OECD review of Myanmar exit Read More
Novo Nordisk Pharma Thailand and the Royal Embassy of Denmark in Bangkok have donated 430,000 THB (about 86,000 DKK) to the Diabetes Association of Thailand. The money will support flood …
Novo Nordisk and Royal Danish embassy donate 430,000 THB for flood relief in southern Thailand Read More
Thai-Danish beauty queen Anntonia Porsild joined Team Philippines during the 2025 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony in Bangkok. The Miss Universe 2023 first runner-up carried the Philippines placard at Rajamangala …
Thai-Danish beauty queen leads the Philippines into the SEA Games Read More
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports continued growth in travel from Sweden and Norway this year. According to TAT, Thailand welcomed 185,580 visitors from Sweden, up 9.52% year-on-year, while …
Swedish and Norwegian arrivals to Thailand increase, says TAT Read More
Denmark has sealed a new recruitment agreement with the Philippines for health and social care staff from 2027. The deal will initially allow Danish municipalities to hire up to 100 …
Denmark to recruit Filipino health workers from 2027 under new agreement Read More
United Nations experts have formally ruled that Swedish publisher Gui Minhai is being arbitrarily detained in China and must be released. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted its …
UN panel rules Gui Minhai’s detention arbitrary and presses China to act Read More
Finland has been ranked the world’s lowest-risk country for money laundering in the Basel AML Index 2025. Myanmar, in contrast, is rated the highest-risk jurisdiction worldwide. The Basel AML Index …
Finland tops global anti-money-laundering index as Myanmar ranks highest risk Read More
Vietnam has set a new tourism record in 2025, welcoming more than 19 million international visitors in 11 months. The figure already surpasses the 18 million visitors recorded in 2019, …
Vietnam set new record with more than 19 million international visitors in 2025 Read More
The Danish Christmas Bazaar returned to Gaysorn Urban Resort on Saturday 6 December 2025, once again drawing the Danish community and friends for a day of Christmas traditions, charity, and …
Danish Christmas Bazaar brings festive spirit to Bangkok Read More
Danish facilities group ISS says its Hong Kong unit managed Wang Fuk Court, scene of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades. Reuters reports that at least 156 people were killed …
Danish group ISS dragged into deadly Hong Kong firestorm Read More
NordCham Vietnam took part in the Green Economy Forum 2025 held in Hanoi on 27 November 2025, joining representatives from European business communities to discuss opportunities in sustainable economic development. …
NordCham Vietnam joins EuroCham’s Green Economy Forum 2025 in Hanoi Read More
Thai and Norwegian marine researchers have taken part in a major survey that identified 65 marine species recorded for the first time in Bangladesh. Of these, five species may be …
Thai and Norwegian experts join landmark marine survey in Bangladesh Read More
Three NGOs have criticised Swedish pension funds for investing about 485$ million in companies linked to Myanmar’s military. The groups say the companies either sell weapons to, or do other …
Swedish pension funds face criticism over investments tied to Myanmar military Read More
It’s 8am, and the morning sun warms up the hillside by Lake Vajiralongkorn in Thailand’s Sangkhla Buri district. The chirps from myna birds in the treetops blend with the patter …
Giving hope to stateless kids in Sangkhla Buri Read More
Tommy Balsgård lives in Hat Yai with his girlfriend. The couple has been highly affected by the massive floods that have hit the area. The couple lives about one kilometer …
Hat Yai flooding. Danish eyewitness describes strong currents and days without power Read More
Jane Sorensen, the Thai daughter of a Danish seaman, passed away on 24 March 2025 in the home of her son, Nik. Jane was “discovered” by ScandAsia when the Maritime …
Jane Sorensen passed away Read More
Thai immigration police have arrested a Swedish man wanted on an Interpol Red Notice for an arson case in Sweden. According to Thai authorities, the man was detained in Pattaya …
Swedish arson suspect arrested in Pattaya Read More
Singaporean fugitive Wilson Raj Perumal, linked to major match fixing in Finland, has been convicted of human trafficking. A Hungarian court sentenced him in May 2025 to 11 years’ jail, …
Singaporean man tied to crimes in Finland convicted of human trafficking in Hungary Read More
It was on a bright November morning that I met Michaela Friberg Storey — the tall, warm and energetic Swede who today leads all United Nations work in Thailand. I …
Swedish diplomat Michaela Friberg Storey leads the UN’s work in Thailand Read More
Miss Norway 2025, Leonora Lysglimt-Rødland, made headlines at this year’s Miss Universe pageant in Thailand after appearing in a costume inspired by a Norwegian salmon — a nod to her …
Miss Norway’s serves salmon look at Miss Universe Thailand Read More
A 21-year-old Finnish man was critically injured after falling from the fourth floor of a hotel in Udon Thani on the evening of Friday 14 November 2025, according to Thai …
Finnish man critically injured after Udon Thani hotel fall Read More
Danish theatre company Teater Katapult will make its Hong Kong debut next month with the solo production The Insider, presented as part of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s “European …
Danish theatre company Teater Katapult to perform in Hong Kong Read More
The Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos — where six travellers died from suspected methanol poisoning in November 2024, including two Danish women — is preparing to reopen under …
Laos hostel linked to fatal methanol incident prepares to reopen Read More
Malaysia has launched its Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign in Helsinki, aiming to strengthen tourism ties with Finland and increase Nordic visitor numbers ahead of the country’s major tourism …
Malaysia launches Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign in Finland Read More