October 2026 — 164 articles
EUobserver
🔵 In passing
19.10.
THIS WEEK: Budget fallout, Russian provocations, and could the ICC be awarded the EU’s Sakharov prize?
🇫🇮 On Wednesday, 21 October, MEPs will vote on providing €1.1 million for retraining. The funding is intended for hundreds of workers who lost their jobs because of cuts in Finland’s paper industry.
Further, MEPs will also decide on disbursing €489m to Mediterranean member states ravaged by storms and flooding, and €1.1m to retrain hundreds of workers laid off in Finland’s paper industry cuts – both on Wednesday (21 October).
ScandAsia
🟡 Mentioned
19.10.
🇫🇮 Finland’s ambassador will join the ambassadors of Denmark, Norway and Sweden for a discussion on security and crisis preparedness in Makati on 4 November. Topics include cybersecurity and the Nordic approach to total defence.
The ambassadors of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden will discuss security and crisis preparedness in Makati on 4 November.
DW English
🔵 In passing
18.10.
🇫🇮 Finnish biotechnology company UPM has built a biorefinery producing wood-based chemicals in Leuna, Germany, and is hiring workers there. One chemical technician vacancy requires willingness to work 12-hour shifts, raising questions about whether such shifts comply with German working-time rules.
Among them is the Finnish biotechnology group UPM, which has recently built a biorefinery for wood-based chemicals in Leuna.
Foreign Policy
🟡 Mentioned
16.10.
🇫🇮 The Finnish Navy’s FNS Pori is one of four fast attack craft that patrol the Gulf of Finland and the archipelago near the Russian, Estonian, and Finnish borders. Crews rehearse operating without GPS, while Finland’s military leaders stress the seriousness of the security threat.
It was with boyish excitement that I clambered down the narrow stepladder and into the control room of FNS Pori, one of four fast attack crafts in the Finnish navy. These vessels spend most of the time patrolling the Gulf of Finland and the archipelago of small islands that straddle the Russian, Estonian, and Finnish borders. The top brass of Finland’s military wants you to understand the acuteness of the danger. I was at the Helsinki Security Forum, a gathering of government and industry representatives and military experts from around the world, earlier this month.
Arab News
🟡 Mentioned
16.10.
🇫🇮 The article notes that the Saudi climate envoy met, later the same day, with the ambassadors of Denmark and Finland—Merete Juhlin and Jukka Pajarinen. This highlights Finland’s diplomatic involvement in climate-related discussions in Riyadh.
He also met the Danish and Finnish ambassadors, Merete Juhl and Jukka Pajarinen, later the same day.
Times of India
🔴 Central
16.10.
🇫🇮 The article says that in Finland, people once put live frogs into milk to help keep it fresh. It also explains the science behind this unusual tradition and how the frogs were thought to affect the milk’s keeping quality.
In Finland, people once put live frogs in milk to keep it fresh; the science behind this strange tradition.
Straits Times
🟡 Mentioned
📰 3 sources
16.10.
Macron warns EU leaders they need budget deal before year-end, say diplomats
🇫🇮 French officials said France is not the only country heading to elections next year. They noted that Finland is also due to hold elections, which contributes to the broader concern that reaching an EU long-term budget deal will be harder if it is delayed past year-end.
Asked about Le Pen's criticism, French officials noted that France was far from the only country heading to the polls next year. Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Greece and Finland are also due to hold elections.
The Guardian
🟡 Mentioned
16.10.
🇫🇮 The article does not discuss Finland directly; the only relevant detail is about a Norwegian man. It says Johannes Kongsnes Natland travelled in March last year from his home in Stavanger, Norway, to the UK to carry out a murder-for-hire plot linked to an Iran-backed crime gang.
He travelled to the UK in March last year from his home in Stavanger, but two days later – before he could carry out the hit – armed police arrested him at a hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
EUobserver
🟡 Mentioned
16.10.
🇫🇮 The article says far-right parties are in Finland’s government, alongside those in Italy, Czechia, Slovakia and Croatia. It presents this as evidence that the dividing line between the centre-right and far-right is weakening across EU countries.
Hard-right parties sit in the governments of Italy, the Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia and Croatia, while Slovenia’s government relies on outside support from one.
EUobserver
🟡 Mentioned
📰 3 sources
15.10.
🇫🇮 Finland is among the so-called Frugal countries, alongside Germany, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. The group wants several hundred billion euros more cut from the EU’s long-term budget, mainly from agriculture and cohesion funding.
The so-called Frugals (Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden) want “several hundred billion” more to be cut, mostly from agriculture and cohesion funds, while 17 EU member states (self-named as Friends of Cohesion) criticise the savings.
Straits Times
🟡 Mentioned
15.10.
🇫🇮 Estonia’s foreign minister Margus Tsahkna says that the Baltic states, Finland and Poland have been mentally preparing for decades for the possibility that Russia could carry out attacks at different levels. He adds that his main concern is that Western European societies are not ready for Russia’s hybrid efforts, which could erode support for Ukraine.
"I think the Baltic states, Finland, Poland ... have prepared mentally for decades that Russia may commit different levels of attacks," he said.
France 24
🔵 In passing
15.10.
🇫🇮 The piece ends with a brief, humorous remark that Finland is “rocking on its smelly islands,” referring to Finnish islands and their alleged unpleasant smell. It’s presented as a light closing note after the main war-related coverage.
Finally, Finland flaunts its smelly islands.
France 24
🔵 In passing
📰 3 sources
15.10.
🇫🇮 The article notes that elections are looming in Finland as well, contributing to the sense of urgency around EU budget talks. It highlights concern that eurosceptic new governments—potentially including in Finland—could make reaching a 2027 agreement much harder. The broader context is that leaders are trying to lock in a deal before next year’s French election, which could shift the negotiating landscape across the bloc.
The sense of urgency is real, with elections looming in Italy, Poland, Greece, Finland and France – and the awareness that eurosceptic new governments could make it much harder to reach a 2027 deal.
Straits Times
🔵 In passing
📰 2 sources
13.10.
🇫🇮 The article references Finland via a file photo showing U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands in Helsinki in 2018. Beyond that historical Finland link, the main content is Trump’s statements about U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine and his defense of a Russian diesel deal.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they meet in Helsinki, Finland July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
Straits Times
🔵 In passing
📰 2 sources
13.10.
🇫🇮 The article references that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin previously met in Helsinki, Finland (shown in a file photo from July 16, 2018). Beyond this historical Finland link, the text does not discuss Finland or Finnish people further; it mainly covers Trump’s statements about sharing intelligence with Ukraine and defending a Russian diesel deal.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they meet in Helsinki, Finland July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
Al Jazeera
🟡 Mentioned
📰 3 sources
13.10.
🇫🇮 Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen urged Europeans to ban all tourist visas for Russians. The article presents her call as part of the broader tensions in Europe over the Ukraine war triggered by the US-Russia diesel deal.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen called on Europeans on Monday to ban all tourist visas to Russians.
ScandAsia
🟡 Mentioned
13.10.
🇫🇮 Finland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Riikka Purra took part in a high-level discussion on global economic resilience in Bangkok on 13 October 2026. Alongside the heads of the IMF and World Bank, she joined the session “Building Resilience in a Fragmented World,” focusing on how geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation are pressuring international trade, investment and financial stability.
Riikka Purra, Finland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, participated in a high-level discussion on global economic resilience in Bangkok on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, alongside the heads of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
ScandAsia
🟡 Mentioned
13.10.
🇫🇮 Finnish F1 driver Valtteri Bottas took an unusual route between two Southeast Asian races by cycling nearly 420 kilometres from Malaysia to Singapore. Over four days he encountered snakes, lizards and dogs and even cycled through jungle roads after dark, saying the trip let him see much of Malaysia and highlighted the friendliness and encouragement of local people.
Finnish Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas chose an unusual way to travel between two Grand Prix races in Southeast Asia: he cycled nearly 420 kilometres from Malaysia to Singapore.
Al Jazeera
🔵 In passing
12.10.
🇫🇮 The article says that if Spain’s socialists lose, it would end one of Europe’s last remaining left-wing governments. It also notes the broader context of far-right gains across Europe, explicitly mentioning Finland among the countries where the far right has advanced.
If the Socialists lose, it would spell the end of one of the last left-wing governments left in Europe after advances for the far right in France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Finland.
ScandAsia
🟡 Mentioned
12.10.
🇫🇮 Mia Blichfeldt won the women’s singles title at the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, on Sunday, 11 October. She defeated Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in straight games, 21–17 and 21–13.
Blichfeldt won the women’s singles title at the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, on Sunday, 11 October.