Latest Finland government News

NATO will step up Baltic Sea patrols as Finland probes the possible sabotage of undersea cables

Dec. 27, 2024 15:38 PM EST

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Friday that the military alliance will step up patrols in the Baltic Sea region as Finnish investigators work to establish whether a ship linked to Russia sabotaged undersea cables there this week. Finnish authorities seized...

Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea

Dec. 26, 2024 13:19 PM EST

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finnish authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables, police said, in the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure in the region. Finnish...

As Russia threats loom, Finland's people are learning to shoot back

Dec. 19, 2024 07:16 AM EST

KERAVA, Finland (AP) — Unsettled by Russia's expansionism and emboldened by its recent accession to NATO, Finland is rallying to strengthen its national self-defense beyond its traditional military capabilities. The popularity of weapons training in the Nordic country has soared in...

Activists release images of foxes at Finnish fur farms to push EU to ban the trade

Dec. 15, 2024 07:09 AM EST

GENEVA (AP) — A red fox frantically scratches the wires of its small cage. An Arctic fox meanders lazily with a bloody tail. Other furry creatures, some with teary eyes, stare blankly into a light on an activist's video camera. Finnish advocacy group Oikeutta Elaimille, or Justice...

As tourists discover Finland's Santa Claus Village, some locals call for rules to control the masses

Dec. 12, 2024 04:42 AM EST

ROVANIEMI, Finland (AP) — Shuffling across icy ground on a cold December afternoon, lots of tourist groups poured into Santa Claus Village, a winter-themed amusement park perched on the edge of the Arctic Circle. They frolic in the snow, take a reindeer sleigh ride, sip a cocktail...

Germany and other European countries suspend decisions on Syrians' asylum bids after Assad's fall

Dec. 09, 2024 12:11 PM EST

BERLIN (AP) — Germany and several other European countries said Monday they are suspending decisions on asylum claims by Syrian nationals because of the unclear situation in their homeland following the fall of Bashar Assad. Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees said...

Finnish authorities open probe into ruptured undersea cable between Finland and Germany

Nov. 20, 2024 12:02 PM EST

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) — Finnish authorities said Wednesday they have opened an investigation into the rupture of a data cable under the Baltic Sea, adding to a Swedish probe into the possible sabotage of that link and another cable. The C-Lion1 cable, which runs between Finland...

Germany's defense minister says damage to 2 Baltic data cables appears to be sabotage

Nov. 19, 2024 10:37 AM EST

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's defense minister said Tuesday officials have to assume damage to two data cables under the Baltic Sea, one of which ends in Germany, was caused by sabotage — though he said they have no proof at present. Damage was detected Monday to the C-Lion1 cable that...

Germany and Finland investigate a severed data cable through the Baltic Sea

Nov. 18, 2024 13:35 PM EST

HELSINKI (AP) — German and Finland expressed deep concern over the discovery Monday of a severed undersea data cable between the countries through the Baltic Sea, saying it raised suspicions of sabotage and that an investigation was underway. The foreign ministries of the two...

Finland charges a combatant with war crimes allegedly committed in 2014 in Ukraine

Oct. 31, 2024 15:35 PM EDT

HELSINKI (AP) — Prosecutors in Finland filed charges Thursday over alleged war crimes in 2014 by a combatant who fought against Ukrainian forces in a Russian-backed separatist region of Ukraine. The National Prosecution Authority did not identify the suspect when announcing the...