Helsinki correspondent covering Finnish politics, EU relations, and Nordic cooperation
In -43°C record cold, a Finnish guide reluctantly leads French tourists on an ice fishing trip. This story explores the clash between local comfort and global adventure tourism in Arctic Lapland. It highlights the economic and cultural dynamics of extreme weather experiences.
A Helsinki K-Market customer got an unexpected shower when a frozen pipe burst. The incident, caused by severe cold and a faulty door heater, reveals the small-scale infrastructure battles fought every Finnish winter.
Finland's broadcast network undergoes a scheduled frequency change in Pihtipudas, affecting seven HD channels. This technical work, managed by Digita, highlights the continuous maintenance of national infrastructure and its connection to broader EU spectrum policy. While a brief viewing disruption for some, it underscores Finland's commitment to a reliable, nationwide terrestrial television network.
Two separate water main breaks in Kouvola on Friday left residents without supply, highlighting Finland's growing challenge with aging infrastructure. While not a health risk, the breaks cause property damage and hidden costs, forcing a national conversation on funding. Can municipalities afford the billions needed to replace aging pipes before they fail?
Mikkeli launches a new publicly funded play and meeting center for families, highlighting Finland's commitment to open early childhood education. The 'Leikkitupa' aims to combat isolation and support child development through guided, social play.
A major police operation involving armed units, drones, and a helicopter unfolded in Vantaa's Länsimäki district. Authorities remain tight-lipped on the cause, while eyewitnesses report a large-scale search. The incident highlights the balance between operational security and public transparency in Finnish policing.
A Finnish Court of Appeal convicts a dairy farm for environmental pollution due to manure mismanagement from overcrowded cattle, overturning an acquittal. However, the court rejected prosecutorial demands to confiscate over €100,000 in alleged illicit profits, highlighting legal complexities in penalizing agricultural eco-crimes.
The Finnish municipality of Muurame is set to approve a major zoning review, paving the way for multiple new housing districts and industrial expansion. This planned growth spurt highlights how smaller towns manage development pressures in Finland's transparent, plan-led system.
A severe cold snap with temperatures below -30°C is shutting down ski resorts and winter activities in Finnish Lapland, forcing a safety reckoning during peak tourist season. Industry leaders balance the demand for an authentic Arctic experience with the real dangers of extreme frostbite and mechanical failure. The closures reveal the economic and operational vulnerabilities of a region that markets itself on the very conditions now proving too harsh.
A 79-year-old woman's death while restrained in a private Finnish care home exposes critical flaws in elder care oversight. The tragedy sparks a criminal probe and urgent calls for reform in a rapidly privatizing system.
A minor traffic collision in Jyväskylä opens a window into Finland's massive, politically charged infrastructure overhaul. With €24 billion in planned spending and 21% of projects delayed, the government balances EU safety directives against domestic budget pressures. Can Finland build its way to safer roads?
Jyväskylä, Finland is offering free public lectures in 2026 on local art history and emergency preparedness. This initiative highlights Finland's deep investment in lifelong learning and community resilience as a public good, not a private luxury.
A car slid off a slippery road in Karstulla, Finland, knocking over a light pole but causing no injuries. This common winter incident opens a window into Finland's national struggle with icy roads, infrastructure costs, and driver safety. We examine the policy and human factors behind surviving the season on Finnish roads.
A fake 100-euro bonus offer exploited a Finnish city's travel contest, targeting participants via Facebook. The scam highlights the ongoing vulnerability of social media promotions and the need for greater public and official vigilance against digital fraud.
Finland now has the highest unemployment rate in the EU at 8.5%, a shocking blow to its economic model. PM Petteri Orpo admits 'no one wanted to see these numbers' as pressure mounts on his 100,000-jobs pledge. We analyze the political and economic crisis unfolding in Helsinki.
An 80-year-old woman with Alzheimer's has died in a Finnish care home after reportedly being restrained in a chair. The incident has sparked a police probe and a national debate over elder care safety, staffing, and oversight in Finland's welfare system.
Finland faces a severe influenza surge with a mutated strain causing breakthrough infections in vaccinated people. Health experts explain the science while affected citizens share their experiences. What does this mean for public trust and winter health policy?
A Helsinki court sentenced Pekka Vihtori Vesikoski to 11 years for a brutal murder and rape, labeling him 'particularly dangerous.' The victim died after being beaten and left in a cold storage room. The case tests Finland's rehabilitative justice system.
Helsinki's iconic Marmoripalatsi, designed by Eliel Saarinen, is now selling ultra-luxury apartments after a major renovation. With prices reaching €4.75 million and per-square-metre costs near €19,000, the listings test the limits of Finland's high-end real estate market and target an international elite. Experts see the sale as the monetisation of cultural heritage with significant implications for Helsinki's urban landscape.
A Finnish road contractor received a formal warning after a school bus crash linked to icy conditions. The incident exposes potential flaws in winter maintenance forecasting and contractor oversight, raising broader questions about infrastructure safety.
Finnish police search for suspects in a Christmas-week assault in Jyväskylä, captured on video by a bystander. The unsolved case sparks a national debate on urban safety and policing.
Construction starts on Jyväskylä's district heating network, a routine yet vital project that underscores Finland's deep reliance on this efficient energy system. While traffic will snarl on Salvesenintie, the work strengthens a national infrastructure key to climate goals and winter survival. This local dig is part of a much larger story about energy security, EU policy, and Finland's pragmatic approach to urban living.
A Helsinki court has handed down an 11-year sentence to a man for a fatal assault, formally classifying him as 'particularly dangerous.' The ruling was influenced by his prior conviction for a similar aggravated rape. The case highlights Finland's legal mechanisms for dealing with high-risk violent offenders.
A Finnish court has jailed a British man for 5.5 years for traveling to Finland to murder a woman he knew only online. The court called the plotted attack 'exceptionally premeditated,' highlighting a dark case of digital obsession. The victim escaped after a violent chase in a Joensuu parking lot.