Try the Daily Briefing
Try the Daily Briefing for your country of choice for two weeks--free of charge and with no obligation.
Have a service or subscription question? We'd be happy to hear from you.
Intelligence for Better Decision Making
Erudite Risk takes an all risks approach to intelligence reporting. We categorize key intelligence into one of 40 different risk intelligence categories.
The goal is to provide intelligence that allows decision makers to avoid being blindsided by what they may have missed, while informing them to make better decisions as well.
Erudite Risk also includes operations categories so you can monitor the environment for better decision making. Everything is tied together--what happens in risk affects operations and what happens in the market impacts risk profiles.
We categorize key intelligence into one of 30 different operations intelligence categories.
Different roles and functions within the organization can monitor different key issue areas. HR may monitor employment, wages, regulations, labor and management relations, etc., while P&L leaders may monitor overall developing trends.
ホンダ、ベトナムで電動二輪発売 ガソリン車規制が7月に開始
Honda launches electric two-wheelers in Vietnam as gasoline vehicle regulations begin in July
Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News | Jan. 12, 2026 | Regulation
Honda Vietnam announced the launch of its electric two-wheeler model, the "Honda UC3," at a ceremony in Hanoi on January 10, 2026. Sales will begin in June, although the price has not yet been disclosed. The UC3 can travel up to approximately 120 kilometers on a single charge. Its introduction aligns with upcoming regulations on gasoline-powered two-wheelers set to take effect in Vietnam starting in July 2026, particularly targeting major cities like Hanoi, which suffers from severe air pollution.
Honda holds over 80% of Vietnam's motorcycle market and plans to support the electric vehicle rollout by developing charging infrastructure in key urban areas. Daiki Mihara, head of Honda's Motorcycle & Power Products Electric Business Division, stated the company intends to annually introduce electric models tailored to Vietnam's needs to maintain its market presence amidst the regulatory shift.
North Korea vows response as it accuses the South of flying drones across the border
Asahi Shimbun - E | English | News | Jan. 12, 2026 | North Korea
North Korea's military accused South Korea of flying drones across their border in recent days and warned of consequences for what it termed South Korea's “unpardonable hysteria.” North Korea used electronic warfare to bring down a South Korean drone near its border town, claiming the drone captured video footage of key sites. Another drone was said to have been forced down on September 27 after electronic attacks, with video data recovered. South Korea denied operating any drones on the dates mentioned and launched an investigation ordered by President Lee Jae Myung.
Since taking office in June 2025, President Lee has sought to restore dialogue with North Korea, including requesting Chinese President Xi Jinping act as a mediator. However, North Korea has rebuffed these overtures, maintaining a hostile “two-state” policy on the peninsula and focusing on expanding its nuclear capabilities after the collapse of nuclear diplomacy with the U.S. in 2019.
Drone incursions have exacerbated tensions between the Koreas in recent years, with both sides accusing each other of violations. In October 2024, North Korea claimed South Korea flew drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets, and South Korea has also accused North Korea of flying drones into its airspace, notably responding with military actions in December 2022 after what it described as North Korea's first drone flights across the border in five years.
Despite complete ban, asbestos still causing health problems
Asahi Shimbun - E | English | News | Jan. 12, 2026 | Pollution
Japan banned asbestos production and usage in 2006, but health issues related to asbestos exposure continue to emerge due to the long latency period of symptoms. Many buildings constructed between 1956 and 1989 still contain asbestos, with an estimated 260,000 private-sector buildings over 1,000 square meters affected as of March 2024. Regulations now require asbestos surveys by qualified personnel before demolition or repairs, with expanded rules starting in 2026 to include structures like boilers.
Yoshimasa Negishi, a 53-year-old electrician from Tokyo, developed mesothelioma linked to asbestos exposure during his work installing air conditioners where he frequently inhaled dust without protective gear. After his diagnosis was officially recognized as work-related in 2023, Negishi became involved in asbestos-related support and training, advocating for better worker protection against asbestos hazards.
Despite government efforts, compensation payments are limited to workers exposed before September 2004 during certain construction activities, excluding cases like Negishi’s. Asbestos manufacturers have not contributed to the fund, prompting ongoing group lawsuits across Japan. Recent court settlements in Tokyo and Osaka in August 2025 indicate movement towards resolving these legal disputes, with efforts underway to pursue court-mediated settlements for faster resolution.
Try the Daily Briefing for your country of choice for two weeks--free of charge and with no obligation.
Have a service or subscription question? We'd be happy to hear from you.
info@eruditerisk.com
The Daily Briefing is delivered Monday through Thursday via email.
Each day's reports include a combination of:
Takes
Takes are our deep dives into a topic of enduring interest or concern. Takes include copious references to all the media resources we gathered to build them.
Developments
Developments are key issues and incidents being heavily reported on in country. These are the centers of local thought gravity around which everything else revolves.
Risk Media
Summaries and analysis of the most important risk issues reported on in media, arranged by risk category. Learn about risk trends and issues while they are developing--before they blow up.
Ops Media
Summaries and analysis of the most important operational issues reported on in media, arranged by operations category. See what's changing in your market, and what's not.
Government Releases
Government press and data releases on key economic data, regulation, law, intiatives, incidents. Straight from the government's press to your eyes in less than a day.
Embassy and Business Association Releases
Statements and news releases from foreign embassies and business/industry associations, including chambers of commerce.
The Daily Briefing can run 50-100 pages each day!
Luckily, Erudite Risk tailors every report specifically to you.
Content Filtering
We try hard to ensure that every piece of information included in each day's reports will be of interest to our readers.
To fulfill our goal of comprehensively monitoring the intelligence landscape and also keeping reports readable, we build big reports--then deliver only the information that applies to you.
Each Daily Briefing is a bespoke report matched to your concerns. Tell us what you want in it, or we can match it to your professional needs. It's that easy.