Finland

Kavita Pillay wears a red coat and stands near a sign that says "To the ice" in Finnish.

‘It’s never too late’: How learning Finnish taught me to embrace vulnerability 

It’s relatively easy to get by in Finland's capital, Helsinki, without speaking Finnish. But meeting an American opera singer and a refugee from Iraq here taught reporter Kavita Pillay to embrace the vulnerability of learning a new language. 

‘It’s never too late’: How learning Finnish taught me to embrace vulnerability 
Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson talks during the parliamentary debate on the Swedish application for NATO membership, in Stockholm, Monday, May 16, 2022. 

In historic shift, Sweden will join Finland in requesting NATO membership

In historic shift, Sweden will join Finland in requesting NATO membership
In this photo provided by US Navy, the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Illinois (SSN 786) returns home to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam from a deployment in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility

Aukus security pact sparks Chinese and French ire

Aukus security pact sparks Chinese and French ire
Pedestrians walk along Aleksanterinkatu, the main shopping street, in Helsinki, Finland.

Helsinki’s mayor thinks English should be the city's official language

Helsinki’s mayor thinks English should be the city's official language
A polar bear is shown in the distance standing on a piece of ice among a large grouping of flat floating ice pieces.

How the Trump administration's climate denial left its mark on the Arctic Council

How the Trump administration's climate denial left its mark on the Arctic Council
Blue and white flag flutters in the air against the sky

Finland's national word 'sisu' conjures new meanings for tough times

In a country of 5.5 million, Finland has had just over 320 deaths from the coronavirus. So far, they’ve succeeded in containing the disease. And they’re not making a big deal about it. By some measures, this might be quintessential sisu. 

Finland's national word 'sisu' conjures new meanings for tough times
emojis of a man and a woman in their underwear having a drink.

Kalsarikännit: Drinking at home in your undies, like Finns

With Kalsarikännit, the party starts at home and stays at home — there is no intention of going out.

Kalsarikännit: Drinking at home in your undies, like Finns
Flags of many countries carried by protesters fill the frame.

Power outage: How did global leadership change in 2019?

US President Donald Trump faces a Senate trial over whether to remove him from office in January. But impeachment is not the only way to remove a leader. Here's a look at political shake-ups around the world, where both legal and extralegal means to bring about regime change have made headlines.

Power outage: How did global leadership change in 2019?
A hand holds two food products in plastic boxes at a market

Finland's answer to food waste: 'Best-before' is actually good later — with a discount

S-market in Helsinki has started holding "happy hours" at their stores. But instead of getting a cheap beer, shoppers get a discount on, say, a pound of shrimp or a pork tenderloin nearing its expiration date.

Finland's answer to food waste: 'Best-before' is actually good later — with a discount
European Parliament

Green wave in EU elections illustrates a desire for urgent action on climate

Every five years, citizens of the European Union elect new representatives for the EU Parliament. In the elections that wrapped up on May 26, voters gave a clear signal that the environment was high on their list of priorities.

Green wave in EU elections illustrates a desire for urgent action on climate
senior training

How to build a countrywide AI strategy? Finland is turning its seniors into evangelists.

The mentorship program is just one component of Finland’s national AI strategy, which focuses heavily on getting Finns without a technical or computer science background comfortable with AI.

How to build a countrywide AI strategy? Finland is turning its seniors into evangelists.
Trump and Putin shake hands.

10 defining global security questions of 2018

North Korea, Russia, Ukraine and Myanmar are all countries that led to questions of global security.

10 defining global security questions of 2018
portrait

As the Arctic warms up, a 'new ocean' is bringing new commerce to the top of the world

As the Arctic warms, it’s opening up a whole new economic frontier, with big opportunities for tourism, shipping and resource development, including oil and gas. But that also brings a whole new array of risks for the region and the world.

As the Arctic warms up, a 'new ocean' is bringing new commerce to the top of the world
US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they meet in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, 2018.

Did Trump commit treason in Helsinki?

There's a serious word that's been thrown around a lot since Donald Trump held a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday. It's the word "treason." The thing is, Trump is not guilty of treason as the US Constitution defines the term.

Did Trump commit treason in Helsinki?
players

In waist-deep mud, soccer played in slow motion at swamp World Cup

In the 19th Swamp Soccer World Championships in the small town of Hyrynsalmi, the Russian team Lakes Profi won their second consecutive title by beating Finland's Horstin Honkays in the final in a penalty shootout.

In waist-deep mud, soccer played in slow motion at swamp World Cup