Finland

What you need to know about the 2024 Finnish presidential election

By Elviira Luoma and Canan Sevgili (Reuters) - Finland holds a presidential election on Jan. 28 in a new era marked by the country joining the Western military alliance NATO…

Read More Here

Finland’s presidential hopefuls vie to offer toughest stance on Russia

Finns vote in first NATO-era presidential election on Jan 28 President leads foreign and security policy Finns' stance toward Russia hardened since Ukraine war By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, (Reuters) -…

Read More Here

Finland’s Stubb extends lead in opinion poll ahead of election

By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Finnish centre-right presidential front-runner Alexander Stubb slightly extended his lead against liberal Green Party member Pekka Haavisto in a new opinion poll…

Read More Here

Finland to extend Russia border closing

Finland will extend the closure of its border with Russia, which had otherwise been set to end on Jan. 15, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah told national broadcaster…

Read More Here

Snow, cold spell to hit Italy over the weekend; Finns urged to limit power use amid cold weather

The above-average temperatures Italy has had so far this winter are set to end with a wave of cold weather and snow that is coming following a rainy Epiphany national…

Read More Here

One dead in Belgium as heavy rainfall hits the country; Sweden and Finland freezing in minus 40C

A 59-year-old woman died in Belgium's East Flanders province on Tuesday after being hit by a blown-away fence during a period of heavy rainfall in the country, local governor Carina…

Read More Here

Finland to sign defence pact with US

By Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto HELSINKI, (Reuters) - Finland will on Monday Dec. 18 sign a defence cooperation agreement with the United States, the Finnish government said this week,…

Read More Here

Kremlin, on reported Polish plan to send troops to Finnish border, says it will stoke tensions

MOSCOW, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The Kremlin, commenting on media reports that Poland plans to send troops to Finland's border with Russia, said on Wednesday that such a move could…

Read More Here

Finland to close entire Russian border for 2 weeks to stop asylum seekers

By Essi Lehto Finland will close its entire border with Russia to travellers for the next two weeks in a bid to halt the unusually large flow of asylum seekers…

Read More Here

Finland has closed all passenger border crossings with Russia but one

HELSINKI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Finland has temporarily closed all but one of its eight passenger crossings to Russia in response to an unusually high inflow of migrants for which…

Read More Here

Finland to close all but northernmost border crossing with Russia

By Essi Lehto HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland will close all but the northernmost crossing point on its border with Russia from midnight on Friday in a bid to halt a…

Read More Here

Finland’s president says impossible to return asylum seekers

HELSINKI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Finland's President Sauli Niinisto said on Monday it had become impossible to return asylum seekers who do not meet the criteria for protection, and that…

Read More Here

EU Commissioner Urpilainen to run for president in Finland

Jutta Urpilainen, the EU commissioner for international partnerships, on Sunday announced she would run for the presidency of her native Finland. “I want that we Finns can continue to commit…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Finland closes Russia border posts after days of asylum inflows

By Essi Lehto and Anne Kauranen Finland early on Saturday closed four crossings on its border with Russia as Helsinki seeks to halt a flow of asylum seekers it says…

Read More Here

Finland closes four Russian border crossings to stop asylum seekers

HELSINKI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Finland will close four of the nine crossing points on its border with Russia to stem a flow of asylum seekers to the Nordic nation,…

Read More Here

Nordic countries to cooperate more on returning migrants to countries of origin

By Johannes Birkebaek COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Nordic governments intend to step up their cooperation to return immigrants without legal residence in the region to their countries of origin, ministers…

Read More Here

Finland blocks Russian property acquisitions

COPENHAGEN, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Finland's ministry of defence said on Thursday it had blocked three planned property transactions involving Russian buyers on grounds that allowing the acquisitions to take…

Read More Here

Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets land on motorway

OSLO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A pair of F-35A Lockheed Martin fighter jets have landed on a motorway for the first time, footage from the Norwegian military showed, a step that enables…

Read More Here

Finnish government survives no-confidence vote over racism scandal

HELSINKI, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Finland's government survived on Friday a no-confidence vote in parliament called by the opposition over a racism scandal that has rocked the ruling coalition since…

Read More Here

Finland’s ex-PM Marin to join Blair think tank, leave parliament

HELSINKI, (Reuters) - Finland's former Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who narrowly lost an election in April and stepped down from the leadership of her party last week, plans to leave…

Read More Here

Finland’s Marin, once the world’s youngest premier, steps down as party leader

By Essi Lehto HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's former Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who narrowly lost an election in April, stepped down this weekend as chair of the centre-left Social Democrats,…

Read More Here

Newest NATO member Finland to spend 2.3% of GDP on defence

NATO's newest member Finland plans to spend 2.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence next year, its defence ministry said on Monday. In July, NATO's 31 member-nations agreed…

Read More Here

Finnish academic Mika Aaltola to run for president

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finnish foreign and security policy think-tank chief Mika Aaltola, a political outsider whose profile has been boosted by his role as a TV commentator on the Ukraine…

Read More Here

Norway, Finland battle rapid spread of bird flu

By Louise Rasmussen COPENHAGEN, July 28 (Reuters) - Norway and Finland face record outbreaks of bird flu this year which have killed thousands of seagulls and other species, put livestock…

Read More Here

Biden arrives in Helsinki to welcome Russian neighbor Finland to NATO

HELSINKI, July 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday closes out a week focused on rallying NATO unity behind Ukraine with a day-long visit to new member and…

Read More Here

Finnish minister resigns over Nazi references

HELSINKI, June 30 (Reuters) - Finland's economy minister Vilhelm Junnila resigned on Friday after just 10 days in office, the nationalist Finns Party said, over earlier statements he had made…

Read More Here

New Finnish minister survives no-confidence vote over Nazi references

By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, June 28 (Reuters) - Finland's economy minister Vilhelm Junnila survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday called by the opposition over references he made that…

Read More Here

Finland’s central bank governor to run for president

HELSINKI, June 21 (Reuters) - Finnish central bank Governor Olli Rehn said on Wednesday he plans to run for president next year when Finland is due to elect a new…

Read More Here

Finland’s parliament backs Petteri Orpo as PM, replacing Sanna Marin

Finland's newly elected parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of National Coalition Party leader Petteri Orpo to become prime minister, as widely expected, ushering in a right-wing government and ending…

Read More Here

Finland’s right-wing parties strike deal to form government

HELSINKI, June 15 (Reuters) - Finland's conservative National Coalition (NCP), winner of April's parliamentary election, has reached agreement to form a majority government with the eurosceptic, anti-immigration Finns Party and…

Read More Here

Finland’s Foreign Minister Haavisto to run for president

HELSINKI, June 8 (Reuters) - Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Thursday he will run for president in next year's election, hoping to succeed Sauli Niinisto who is stepping…

Read More Here

NATO launches Arctic manoeuvres, vowing to protect newest member Finland

By Anne Kauranen ROVAJARVI, Finland, (Reuters) - NATO countries are in the middle of Arctic military manoeuvres, vowing on Tuesday to defend their newest member, Finland, which is hosting its…

Read More Here

Sweden’s Handelsbanken to sell Finnish businesses for $1.4 bln

OSLO, May 31 (Reuters) - Sweden's Handelsbanken said on Wednesday it has agreed to sell parts of its Finnish operation to three local companies for about 1.3 billion euros ($1.43…

Read More Here

Finland says Russia set to terminate agreement on military visits

OSLO, May 24 (Reuters) - Russia has informed neighbouring Finland that it will terminate a bilateral agreement on mutual visits to military installations, the Finnish defence ministry said late on…

Read More Here

Around 27 injured in Finland bridge collapse, many of them children

HELSINKI, May 11 (Reuters) - Around 27 people, a majority of them children, were injured on Thursday when a pedestrian bridge collapsed in the Finnish city of Espoo, just outside…

Read More Here

Finland prime minister divorces husband

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin has filed for divorce jointly with her husband of three years Markus Raikkonen, they said on Instagram. "We are grateful for…

Read More Here

Finland’s election winner seeks to govern with anti-immigration party

HELSINKI, April 27 (Reuters) - Finland's conservative National Coalition, winner of this year's parliamentary election, said on Thursday it hopes to form a majority government together with the anti-immigration Finns…

Read More Here

Finland starts fence on Russian border amid migration, security concerns

By Anne Kauranen IMATRA, Finland (Reuters) - Finland is building the first stretch of a fence on its border with Russia, less than two weeks after it joined the NATO…

Read More Here

After 18 years, Europe’s largest nuclear reactor starts regular output

Construction of Finland's OL3 reactor began in 2005 Work was originally schedule for completion in 2009 Completion boosts Finland's energy security Reactor is expected to produce for 60 years or…

Read More Here

Russia plans air defence reform, to bolster defences near Finland – commander

MOSCOW, April 10 (Reuters) - Russia plans to overhaul its air defence forces after gaining new experience in the war in Ukraine and will also bolster its air defences to…

Read More Here

Far-right Finns Party moves to ECR group in EU Parliament

The far-right Finns Party has decided to leave the nationalist Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament to join the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the party…

Read More Here

What can Finland’s armed forces and arsenal offer NATO?

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland joined NATO on Tuesday, bringing the Western defence alliance significant military capabilities developed over the years. Finland is one of few European countries to have retained…

Read More Here

Finland’s Marin steps down as party leader

HELSINKI, April 5 (Reuters) - Finland's outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin is stepping down as leader of the Social Democratic party, she said on Wednesday, adding she will serve as…

Read More Here

Finland joins NATO in historic shift, Russia threatens ‘counter-measures’

Finland ends military non-alignment adhered to since 1945 NATO accession spurred by Russia's invasion of Ukraine Finland has made dangerous historical mistake, Russia says By Anne Kauranen and Andrew Gray…

Read More Here

Finnish centre-right eyes coalition talks as defeated Marin considers future

Outgoing Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin was left to consider her future after she conceded defeat in a tight parliamentary election on Sunday that handed her centre-right rival Petteri Orpo…

Read More Here

Russia says it will beef up military in northwest as Finland joins NATO

Russia will strengthen its military capacity in its western and northwestern regions in response to Finland's expected accession to NATO on Tuesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said, state-owned…

Read More Here

Petteri Orpo, Finland’s likely next prime minister

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Here is a profile of Finland's conservative National Coalition Party leader Petteri Orpo, who said he would have the first chance of forming a coalition government after…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Finland to officially join NATO on Tuesday

Finland will officially become a member of NATO on Tuesday, the Finnish president's office has announced. The announcement was also confirmed by NATO's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who said the…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Finnish centre-right eyes coalition talks as defeated Marin considers future

HELSINKI, April 3 (Reuters) - Outgoing Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin was left to consider her future after she conceded defeat in a tight parliamentary election on Sunday that handed…

Read More Here

Finland’s Marin faces tough re-election bid in national election

By Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto HELSINKI, April 2 (Reuters) - Finns cast ballots in a closely contested parliamentary election on Sunday that could cost left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin…

Read More Here

Finland’s Marin in battle over state spending to stay in power

Polls show three parties running neck-and-neck Opposition calling for cuts in government spending Early results due when polls close at 1700 GMT on Sunday By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI (Reuters) -…

Read More Here

Turkish parliament ratifies Finland’s NATO accession as Sweden kept waiting

ANKARA, (Reuters) - Turkey's parliament approved a bill on Thursday to allow Finland to join NATO, clearing the way for the country to become part of the Western defence alliance…

Read More Here

Hungary parliament backs Finland’s NATO accession, Swedish bid pending

Hungary's parliament approved a bill on Monday to allow Finland to join NATO once its application has been ratified by all 30 members of the alliance, ending months of foot-dragging…

Read More Here

Nordic countries plan joint air defence to counter Russian threat

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark said on Friday they have signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defence aimed…

Read More Here

Finland should not give Hornet fighter jets to Ukraine, says defence minister

HELSINKI, March 23 (Reuters) - Finland's defence minister on Thursday said he did not want to donate Hornet fighter jets to Ukraine, despite a Ukrainian request for such planes to help with its…

Read More Here

NATO’s Stoltenberg hails Turkish move on Finland membership, sees Sweden joining soon

BRUSSELS, March 17 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday hailed Turkey's decision to move ahead with ratifying Finland's bid for membership of the military alliance and said he was confident…

Read More Here

Turkey plans to ratify Finland’s NATO bid ahead of May polls

By Orhan Coskun ANKARA, March 15 (Reuters) - Turkey's parliament will "highly likely" ratify Finland's NATO accession bid before it closes in mid-April, two Turkish officials told Reuters on Wednesday,…

Read More Here