QR codes

The central banks of Hong Kong and Indonesia are deepening cooperation on cross-border QR code payments, aiming to make retail payments between the two economies faster and more interconnected. The move fits a broader regional push, led by Southeast Asian regulators, to link national payment systems and reduce reliance on traditional correspondent banking channels for everyday transactions.

A court has ruled that ballots marked with barcodes and QR codes are constitutional, clearing the way for their use in elections. The decision resolves a challenge over whether coded markings on ballots compromise vote secrecy. Supporters say the codes help prevent fraud and double voting, while critics had argued they could be used to trace individual voters, raising concerns about ballot confidentiality.

Rakuten Pay has rolled out offline code payment support on Android, roughly two months after the same feature arrived on iOS. The function lets users complete Rakuten Pay and Rakuten Cash transactions even without a network connection, using a barcode or QR code generated on the device. Japanese Android users had been waiting for parity with the iPhone version.