Independent daily English-language reporting on Finland for a global audience.

Helsinki
Finland plans to acquire one million anti-personnel landmines at a cost of approximately €100 million, following its withdrawal from the international treaty banning the weapons. The Finnish Defence Forces aim to establish domestic production by 2028 as the country strengthens its military preparedness amid security concerns involving Russia. f.mtr.cool/cmj823tbqt
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Finnish lift manufacturer Kone has been named Finland's most reputable company in 2026, while electric carmaker Tesla has recorded an improvement in public perception across the Nordic countries, according to a survey published by Reputation and Trust Analytics on Tuesday, 20 October. f.mtr.cool/clrdy4f60i
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Airports in Finnish Lapland expect passenger numbers to increase by 5–10% during the coming winter season, prompting airport operator Finavia to recruit 20% more seasonal workers and expand facilities to accommodate growing international tourism. f.mtr.cool/7bqlp7t4po
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Finland is considering restrictions on homeschooling, including a permit system and a possible ban, after a government report found gaps in supervision and concerns over children's access to education. Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz announced on Monday that he would begin preparations to tighten the rules governing home education, although legislation will not be completed during the current parliamentary term. More Details: f.mtr.cool/xb4nbdaaqk
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Finland recorded a 19% decline in international tourist arrivals during summer 2026, but foreign visitors spent €1 billion, matching the previous year's total, according to figures released by Business Finland on Thursday. f.mtr.cool/33xhqeawsh
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A Finnish appeals court has reduced the prison sentence of Nigerian-born separatist leader Simon Ekpa from six to four years while upholding his convictions for terrorism offences linked to armed groups operating in southeastern Nigeria. f.mtr.cool/v3o56axr5r
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Finland's government is considering a €60 million package to help motorists and transport businesses cope with rising fuel costs, but disagreements between coalition parties over how to reduce petrol and diesel prices have delayed an agreement. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Tuesday that negotiations had narrowed the proposed support package to approximately €60 million, with measures aimed at commuters, transport companies and other groups affected by fuel prices. f.mtr.cool/q51s7nsufd
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Finland's Ministry of Transport and Communications has proposed introducing congestion charges in major cities and increasing taxes on electric vehicles as part of a transport funding reform intended for the next government. The proposals form part of recommendations prepared by ministry officials ahead of the 2027 parliamentary elections. They also include ending state subsidies for regional flights and increasing funding for road and railway maintenance. f.mtr.cool/7k4pdxz1yc
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Finland has begun distributing its 2026 maternity package, known as the baby box, with 52 products instead of last year's 38, following an increase in the state maternity grant from €170 to €210. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) announced the distribution on Wednesday, introducing additional baby supplies, a soft play ball and a redesigned box. f.mtr.cool/idnrqel0ab
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Google has defended its decision to clear hundreds of hectares of forest for data centres in Finland before completing environmental assessments, claiming it believed authorities had agreed to the work. The dispute has also reached local government, where a senior building inspector has taken leave after alleging that she faced dismissal over comments to the media. f.mtr.cool/juzciu603p
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A state-funded school renovation project in Helsinki has become the centre of a labour exploitation scandal involving unpaid wages, false employment records and a subcontractor allegedly managed from an Estonian prison by a man convicted of involvement in organised crime. f.mtr.cool/8kocljxuiq
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Finland has called on the European Union to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens until Moscow ends its war in Ukraine, as disagreements among member states threaten to delay restrictions on travel from Russia. f.mtr.cool/2yi6tf3y9u
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September 2026 was the world's second warmest September on record, with global temperatures reaching 1.63°C above pre-industrial levels for the second consecutive month, according to data released on Monday by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The global average temperature reached 16.27°C, exceeding the 1991–2020 September average by 0.82°C. Only September 2023 was warmer, by 0.11°C. f.mtr.cool/nlyed7y9sr
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Telecommunications operator Telia Finland has announced restructuring negotiations that could result in the elimination of 355 positions as part of a wider reorganisation affecting approximately 900 jobs across its Nordic and Baltic operations. f.mtr.cool/xxepje2sny
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Finland faces heavy rainfall, strong winds and possible snowfall as a low-pressure system moves across the country on Friday, 9 October, with the first measurable snow of the autumn expected in parts of the northeast by Saturday morning. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) said on Thursday that the weather system would bring widespread rain to southern and central Finland, with precipitation reaching 30–40 millimetres in some areas. f.mtr.cool/fqhk6rxdyo
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Finland has rejected six applications involving buyers from outside the EU and European Economic Area seeking to acquire properties in four municipalities, with one transaction blocked over concerns about national security and security of supply. Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen issued the decisions on Wednesday, covering properties in Kotka, Viitasaari, Miehikkälä and Imatra. f.mtr.cool/2gcxlpec37
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French artificial intelligence infrastructure company Sesterce has announced plans to invest more than €10 billion in a data centre campus at the former Kaipola paper mill in Jämsä, central Finland, with construction scheduled to begin before the end of 2026. The project, announced on Thursday, 8 October, would create around 2,000 jobs during construction and approximately 300 permanent positions once the facility becomes operational, according to the company. f.mtr.cool/e61s09nn53
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Helsinki will require pupils, teachers and other staff to keep their faces visible in schools and nurseries under new safety guidelines, while rejecting proposals for a blanket ban on headscarves and other face-covering clothing. The decision follows a Helsinki City Council meeting on Wednesday, 7 October, where councillors considered two proposals seeking restrictions on face coverings in educational institutions. f.mtr.cool/7ccu7nwtsz
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Nokia plans to cut up to 253 positions in Finland as the network equipment maker seeks to reduce costs and direct investment towards areas including defence, artificial intelligence and data centres, Helsingin Sanomat reported on Wednesday. The company informed employees about the plans but did not issue a public statement, according to the newspaper. Nokia later confirmed to Yle that it had started the change negotiation process. f.mtr.cool/43e74jqu8t
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