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Finland

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Finland. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Helsinki

Head of State

President Alexander Stubb

Head of Government

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo

China has dropped sanctions it imposed on a retired member of the European Parliament to clear the way for new rounds of engagement. Illustration: Reuters

China-EU relations

Exclusive | China lifts its sanctions on retired EU lawmaker Reinhard Buetikofer

The move is seen to lead to new engagement between European Parliament and China’s National People’s Congress, which have not met since 2018.

16 Jul 2025 - 12:04AM

Crime

4 injured in stabbing attack at Finland shopping centre

4 Jul 2025 - 2:21AM

Ukraine war

Zelensky signs decree for Ukraine’s withdrawal from anti-personnel mines treaty

30 Jun 2025 - 2:27PM

Video gaming

Tencent-owned Supercell to launch titles like Clash Royale as WeChat mini games

The video game Brawl Stars is already available within WeChat, while Clash Royale will exclusively launch on the messaging app in September.

26 Jun 2025 - 8:00AM

Tencent-owned Supercell, maker of the popular mobile game Clash of Clans, is bringing its titles to WeChat as mini games.

European Union

Finland accuses Russia-linked crew of damaging undersea power cable

Finnish authorities have accused senior officers of a Russia-linked vessel of offences related to the damage of undersea power cables last year.

14 Jun 2025 - 5:15PM

Science

Mathematician Zhong Xiao leaves Finland for China with award-winning work

Celebrated China-born mathematician Zhong Xiao returns home after living in Finland for almost three decades.

3 Jun 2025 - 3:06PMvideocam

Hong Kong courts

Ship captain remanded in custody in Hong Kong over damaging Baltic Sea pipeline

Wan Wenguo, captain of Hong Kong-flagged ship, faces count of criminal damage and two charges for alleged violation of marine by-laws.

8 May 2025 - 9:36PM

Prosecutors held the defendant liable for the damages caused to the 77km Balticconnector, a natural gas pipeline that is a key source of energy for Finland. Photo: Handout

Nordic nations

Finnish fighter jet crashes in Arctic town, pilot ejected

The plane crashed during a rehearsal for an air show.

7 May 2025 - 11:31PM

TikTok

TikTok confirms plans to build €1 billion data centre in Finland

Nordic countries have become attractive destinations for data centres as the colder temperatures reduce energy costs.

1 May 2025 - 1:00PM

Donald Trump

Trump losing patience with Putin, US’ Marco Rubio tells Nato

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump probably wouldn’t accept the Russian president’s delaying tactics much longer.

4 Apr 2025 - 10:09PMvideocam

At a Nato foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump probably wouldn’t accept the Russian president’s delaying tactics much longer. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

Finland’s colossal underground bunkers a model for anxious Europe

With over 50,000 shelters, Finland’s defence strategy has attracted international interest since Russia invaded Ukraine.

4 Apr 2025 - 2:28PM

A part of the Merihaka civil defence shelter in Helsinki, Finland. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump

Finland’s president boosts ties with Trump with round of golf in Florida

The meeting comes a day after Trump’s VP J.D. Vance accused Denmark – Finland’s close ally – of doing a poor job keeping Greenland safe.

30 Mar 2025 - 5:38AM

Ukraine war

Trump, Putin agree on partial Ukraine ceasefire. Kyiv wants details

Ukraine ceasefire talks set for Sunday in Jeddah after Trump and Russian president hold lengthy phone call.

19 Mar 2025 - 4:00PM

European Union

Poland, Baltic nations to quit landmine treaty amid Russia threat

Quitting the 1997 treaty will allow Poland and the three Baltic countries to start stockpiling and using landmines again.

19 Mar 2025 - 1:28AMvideocam

A Ukrainian sapper in special shoes takes part in a demining operation in the Kharkiv area of northeastern Ukraine on March 12. Photo: EPA-EFE

Tourism

Welcome to winter in Finland – dog-sledding, river floating, sauna toasting

Finland’s freezing northeast can appear inhospitable but there are still plenty of places to visit, and great views of the Northern Lights.

14 Jan 2025 - 11:15AMvideocam

Huskies pull a sled through deep snow. Dogsled tours are popular among tourists in Finland. Photo: Shutterstock

Russia

Finland bars tanker suspected of cutting Baltic Sea cables from sailing

The Eagle S, thought to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” was detained in December following suspected sabotage.

8 Jan 2025 - 7:26PM

Education

In Finland, they know a troll when they see one. Online, that is

Trolls, fake news, hoaxes – to prevent people believing everything they see online, Finland integrates media literacy into its school system.

4 Jan 2025 - 5:15PM

Nordic nations

Finland finds drag marks on Baltic seabed after cable damage

Police said tracks drag on for dozens of kilometres where tanker carrying Russian oil is suspected of breaking power line, telecoms cables.

30 Dec 2024 - 4:26AM

A robotic ROV (Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle) used for underwater investigation off Porvoo (Borga), Gulf of Finland, as Finnish authorities investigate sabotaged Baltic Sea power cable. Photo: Finnish Police / AFP / Handout

European Union

Finland moves Eagle S tanker closer to land as probe intensifies

Police in Finland are transferring the tanker closer to land as they step up their investigation into damage caused to undersea cables.

28 Dec 2024 - 7:51PM

Tourism

Finland’s Santa village brings overtourism to the Arctic Circle

Santa’s ‘hometown’ of Rovaniemi, Lapland joins the ranks of Barcelona and Amsterdam as droves flock there for Christmas. Locals aren’t happy.

15 Dec 2024 - 5:15PM

China-EU relations

China’s Xi vows closer links with Finland on green energy, peace in Ukraine

Visa-free entry also among top pledges from Chinese President Xi Jinping as he meets Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb in Beijing.

30 Oct 2024 - 3:23PMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Finland’s Alexander Stubb inspect a guard of honour at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Tuesday. Photo: Pool via Reuters

Banking & finance

Explainer | How 5 international brands are growing in China despite spending downturn

Arc’teryx, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Sam’s Club and Yum China are all growing their China sales, but for different reasons.

22 Sep 2024 - 11:30AM

A woman walks past a store of sporting goods retailer Adidas at a shopping mall in Beijing on March 25, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Banking & finance

Lululemon leads niche apparel brands defying China’s spending downturn

‘Consumers with real spending power still have a strong demand for products that are high-end, experiential and relatively niche,’ analyst says.

22 Sep 2024 - 9:30AM

Performing arts in Hong Kong

HK Phil’s new season kicks off with 24-year-old Tarmo Peltokoski

Named the orchestra’s music director from 2026-27, the young Finnish conductor begins a new season with a programme of Sibelius and Bruckner

2 Sep 2024 - 12:45PM

ANTA Sports

Anta’s interim profit jumps as its ‘Dragon’ Olympic kit boosted sales

Anta’s red-and-white tracksuit, officially named the ‘Champions Dragon Outfit’, used embossing, patchwork and embroidery to create motifs to represent the scales on the dragon’s skin.

27 Aug 2024 - 10:28PM

Anta sportswear store is pictured in a shopping mall in Beijing on Nov. 18, 2023. Photo: Simon Song

Music

Japan’s air guitar queen denied fourth world crown by Canadian

Nanami Nagura of Japan’s campaign for a fourth victory at the Air Guitar World Championships ended after two days of silent shredding with Canada’s Zachary Knowles declared the 2024 winner.

25 Aug 2024 - 2:49PM

Nanami “Seven Seas” Nagura from Japan performs during the final of the 2024 Air Guitar World Championship. Photo: EPA-EFE

Estonia

Finnish PM happy China cooperating in Baltic pipe probe, but ‘case is not closed’

Petteri Orpo was reacting to Beijing’s claim that a Chinese ship had accidentally cut a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia.

15 Aug 2024 - 12:17AM

China-EU relations

Beijing admits Chinese ship destroyed key Baltic gas pipeline ‘by accident’

Beijing passed on findings to Finland and Estonia which are conducting criminal probes into incident involving NewNew Polar Bear: sources.

13 Aug 2024 - 12:06AMvideocam

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