Economy
Finland’s two leading forest industry companies, UPM and Stora Enso, reported improved second-quarter earnings on Thursday, though sales remained largely unchanged amid persistent market challenges. Stora Enso’s adjusted operating profit rose by 27% year-on-year to 160 million euros, while revenue held steady at 2.42
Society
Finland’s population reached approximately 5.65 million at the end of June 2026, growing by just 16 people in the first half of the year, according to preliminary data from Statistics Finland. The minimal increase was driven entirely by net migration, as the country experienced a significant natural population
Economy
The former Finnish Navy minelayer Pohjanmaa, which later served as the hydrographic survey vessel Pohjanmeri, has been decommissioned and transferred to Millog Marine & Power’s Teijo shipyard in Salo for dismantling. Arctia, the state-owned company responsible for the vessel in its later years, announced that no suitable new
Economy
The former Finnish Navy minelayer Pohjanmaa, which later served as the hydrographic survey vessel Pohjanmeri, has been decommissioned and transferred to Millog Marine & Power’s Teijo shipyard in Salo for dismantling. Arctia, the state-owned company responsible for the vessel in its later years, announced that no suitable new
Economy
The European Central Bank (ECB) has revealed the final proposals for the first complete redesign of euro banknotes since their introduction in 2002. The new designs, selected from over 1,200 submissions, will undergo public voting before the ECB Governing Council makes a final decision in late 2026.
Economy
Global oil prices surged past $100 per barrel on Thursday, marking the first time in over two months that Brent crude exceeded this threshold. The spike followed attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on oil tankers in the Red Sea, further escalating tensions in the Middle East. Yle reports that
Culture
The Museum Card, introduced in Finland in 2015, has nearly doubled the number of annual museum visitors over the past decade. However, its success has also contributed to a significant rise in admission prices, with some museums reporting prices doubling since the card’s launch. The increase in ticket prices
Politics
Finnish Finance Minister and Finns Party chair Riikka Purra has proposed abolishing automatic indexation increases for public expenditures, arguing that such adjustments should instead be subject to separate political decisions. Ilta-Sanomat (IS) reports that Purra outlined her stance in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, stating that the current system
Culture
The Museum Card, introduced in Finland in 2015, has nearly doubled the number of annual museum visitors over the past decade. However, its success has also contributed to a significant rise in admission prices, with some museums reporting prices doubling since the card’s launch. The increase in ticket prices
Economy
The European Commission has imposed a total fine of €890 million on Google for breaching the EU’s Digital Markets Regulation. The penalties stem from two separate violations, with the company accused of favoring its own services in search results and restricting app developers' ability to communicate with customers.
Economy
The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept its key interest rates unchanged at 2.25%, following its latest policy decision on Thursday. The move comes amid economic uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, including the wars in Iran and Ukraine, which have contributed to instability in financial markets (Yle). Reijo Heiskanen,
Economy
UPM has announced a significant improvement in its financial performance for the second quarter of 2024, with comparable operating profit rising sharply compared to the same period last year. The forestry company’s comparable operating profit increased by 71% to €212 million, up from €124 million in Q2 2023, as