Europe Finland The University of Helsinki is home to a Confucius Institute that teaches Chinese language and culture; it will now be closed due to accusations of spreading Chinese soft power, conducting espionage and attempting to block discussions on Tibet
Europe Finland 40% of board seats in large publicly listed companies in Finland are held by women, data from the Chamber of Commerce show, a record figure that reflects ongoing shifts in governance ahead of new diversity recommendations set to take effect in 2026
Europe Finland The mushroom season began early and shows strong potential in several regions, according to experts, with mushroom foragers confirming a satisfactory harvest has begun: the cool, wet start of summer is an ideal condition for fungi
Europe Finland The world’s largest operational sand battery storage, holding 2.000 tonnes of crushed soapstone, has been activated in Pornainen; it stores as heat up to 100 megawatt-hours of renewable energy, supplying the local district heating network
Europe Finland Police in Helsinki have reported a rise in incidents involving organized pickpocket groups operating across Europe; composed of a few individuals, they move quickly from country to country flying in, robbing and leaving