Helsinki Times - Helsinki Times

Russia struck Kyiv’s Northern Bridge on Saturday, damaging its road surface and trolleybus power lines as attacks on the Ukrainian capital’s transport network continued for a third day.

McDonald’s has opened a heated waiting room for Wolt couriers at its Autotalo restaurant in central Helsinki, giving delivery riders a place to sit and charge their phones between orders, Helsingin Sanomat reports.

G7 countries have agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency reserves over four months as governments seek to curb fuel prices and ease pressure on households and businesses.

The Eastern Finland Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentence of a British man convicted of attempting to murder a Finnish woman in Joensuu after travelling from Britain and monitoring her movements for several days.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government and Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen retained the confidence of Finland’s parliament on Friday after separate opposition challenges over the government’s Middle East policy and Häkkänen’s visit to Israel.

Eurozone inflation rose more than expected in September as energy costs pushed consumer prices further above the European Central Bank’s target, leaving policymakers to decide whether the latest surge requires another interest rate rise.

Finland has marked the arrival of its first F-35 fighter jets with a ceremony at Rovaniemi, beginning a transition that will replace the Air Force’s Hornet fleet by 2031.

Finland is heading towards colder and wetter weather after a slow start to autumn, raising the risk of icy roads across a growing part of the country.

Finnish police have opened a preliminary inquiry into suspected unauthorised entries at the homes of some MPs after Parliament reported a series of unexplained signs inside residences.

Jace Eon Ilias, 32, an American citizen with terminal Huntington’s disease, had to be carried from his care-home bed in Tuusula, Finland, into a chartered medical jet on Tuesday morning.

The prevalence of common diseases in Helsinki fell by 10 per cent between 2019 and 2025, with residents recording lower levels of illness than Finland as a whole, according to data published by the City of Helsinki.

Finnish News Agency STT has started restructuring talks covering 95 employees as financial losses threaten the future of its news and photo operations.

Finland’s National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) has proposed €9 billion in public spending reductions for the next parliamentary term, with the largest savings aimed at healthcare and pensions.

Finnish-founded smart ring maker Oura has postponed its planned Nasdaq listing, citing uncertainty in the US initial public offering market despite strong demand from investors.

OpenAI has cancelled the planned release of its GPT-6.1 Astra artificial intelligence model after internal tests found problems with deception, user authorisation and compliance with instructions.

Finland’s Chancellor of Justice has criticised Social Affairs and Health Minister Wille Rydman and his ministry over the preparation of new criteria for state grants to social welfare and health organisations, saying their wording risked giving a false im…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to deny reports that he had warned Netanyahu of a Hamas attack shortly before October 7, 2023, during a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, according to the Associated P…

Finland’s household purchasing power is moving in different directions across income groups, with the lowest earners losing ground while incomes at the top support spending power, according to new data from Labore.

New European Union consumer rules targeting greenwashing took effect on 27 September 2026, setting tighter limits on environmental and sustainability claims used on products and in marketing.

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act after three suspicious vehicles were reported travelling towards RAF Fairford, a British airbase used by the US military for operations against Iran.

Finland’s opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) will seek a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government, accusing the governing coalition of sending conflicting messages over Finland’s Middle East policy.

An exceptionally rare Moomin mug has sold for €46,023, setting what is believed to be a new world record for the highest price ever paid for a single Moomin mug.

US President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected an Iranian proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and restarting negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme, despite both sides continuing indirect diplomatic contacts.

One in three women born in Finland in 1997 had received mental health-related sickness allowance, disability pension or rehabilitative psychotherapy by age 28, according to an analysis by Kela.

Six in ten young people in the Nordic countries consume energy drinks at least once a week, while more than one in five drink them daily, according to a study funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Finland is heading for warmer and drier weather next week after several days of rain, cloud and stronger winds, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

Chinese President Xi Jinping used his state visit to Washington to press for the China-U.S. relationship to move from a shared political formula to practical work, telling President Donald Trump that their vision of “constructive strategic stability” shou…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned world leaders not to allow “another Nakba” as he addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday, hours before dozens of delegates walked out when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium and rejec…

Two Finnish trade unions have asked the Parliamentary Ombudsman to investigate the authorities’ supervision of Wolt after a court ruled that couriers working under the delivery company’s operating model met the legal criteria for employees.

Finnish Customs seized more than 34 million illegally imported cigarettes during the first six months of 2026, twice the amount confiscated during the whole of last year, as authorities report a shift towards larger and more organised smuggling operations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a state visit to the United States on 23 September, returning to Washington for the first time in a decade as Beijing and Washington seek firmer channels for managing trade, technology and security disputes.

Finland and Ukraine have signed a defence cooperation agreement that sets the framework for producing drones and other weapons systems in Finland, as Kyiv seeks more production capacity and Helsinki expands cooperation between the two countries’ defence i…

The number of foreign-language speakers living in Finland’s Uusimaa region is projected to reach about 674,000 by 2045, close to twice the current level, according to a new regional population projection.

Life expectancy for newborn boys in Finland reached 80 years for the first time in August, according to Statistics Finland.

President Alexander Stubb called on world leaders to recommit to international law and proposed reforms to the UN Security Council as Finland launched its bid for a seat on the body for 2029–2030.

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen faces a no-confidence move in parliament after his visit to Israel and meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz prompted criticism from opposition parties.

Finland had 34,000 more employed people in August than a year earlier, while the number of unemployed fell by 5,000, according to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey.

Finland’s Supreme Court has ruled that police had lawful grounds to use force to remove the hijabs of two asylum seekers for registration photographs, ending a case that began at Hämeenlinna police station in 2017.

Finnish prosecutors have charged seven people over suspected unlawful practices at the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, known as Supo, following an investigation into the use of intelligence powers and classified information.

The United States has prepared sanctions against the International Criminal Court that would target the tribunal as an institution, expanding Washington’s existing measures against individual judges and prosecutors.

Germany’s Alternative for Germany won the state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Sunday, while far-left Die Linke finished first in Berlin, dealing another electoral setback to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union.

Finland’s economy has entered a stronger period of growth, but the recovery will not stop public debt and deficits from rising, according to a new forecast from the Ministry of Finance.

Finland has the second-highest reported rate of work-related stress, depression or anxiety in the European Union, according to a survey from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

Finland’s economy is set to grow by 1.7% this year as exports, investment and household consumption strengthen, according to separate forecasts from research institutes Etla and Labore.

The European Union has called on the United States to reconsider visa restrictions on Palestinian officials ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to address delegates by video.

Finnish authorities are investigating whether logging at two Google data centre sites breached environmental rules, after the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation raised concerns over work in Muhos and Kajaani.

The United States, Denmark and Greenland have reached an agreement on Arctic security that gives Washington permanent military access to Greenland and restricts military activity and sensitive investment by countries outside NATO, while keeping the territ…

Finnish regulators have disclosed a series of patient safety failures at Plastic Surgery Center in Helsinki, including indications that staff washed disposable liposuction equipment by hand and in a dishwasher against manufacturer instructions.

The European Parliament has called for stronger protection of the EU’s external borders and closer cooperation with Morocco after mass irregular crossings into the Spanish city of Ceuta, where 141 people died at sea during events on July 30 and 31.

Finland is examining whether prisoners sentenced by Finnish courts should serve their terms abroad as authorities seek more space in an overcrowded prison system.