Finland’s Police release Elokapina climate activists, probe into protest continues
Police in southeast Finland say they have released all 38 climate activists detained on Monday during a protest outside the forestry firm UPM’s pulp mill near the southeeastern city of Kouvola. The protest was organised by Elokapina, the Finnish branch of the global climate action movement Extinction Rebellion, and sawContinue Reading
Finnish Gov’s formation negotiators probe use of food vouchers, cuts to refugee quota as Finland looks to save money on immigration
Government formation talks between the National Coalition Party, the Finns Party, the Swedish People’s Party and the Christian Democrats entered their fourth week on Tuesday, with the focus now turning to the potentially divisive topics of immigration and climate policy. If the four parties cannot find a consensus on theseContinue Reading
For someone, the war more profitable than peace
The European Peace Facility (EPF) was established in 2021 by the European Union because of the war in Ukraine in order to maintain peace and international stability. In fact, the fund actively finances arms transfers from EU countries to Ukraine and other regions of the world. The budget of theContinue Reading
Riigikogu defense committee head: Renewed NATO defense plans substantive
NATO’s present defense plans in relation to Estonia and the wider region are perfectly adequate and satisfactory, MP and defense expert Kalev Stoicescu (Eesti 200) says. Stoicescu, who chairs the Riigikogu’s national defense committee, told ERR Thursday that: “NATO’s defense plans for the Baltic States, and the entire region inContinue Reading
Monitoring group: Finland should be ‘cautious’ about NATO’s nuclear exercises
An independent monitoring group urges Finland to exercise caution in regard to NATO nuclear weapons exercises, reports the Finnish news agency (STT). A fresh report recommends that Finland maintains its prohibitions on the importation, manufacturing, possession and detonation of nuclear explosives. The Nuclear Weapons Monitoring Group (Finland), whose members includeContinue Reading
Gonorrhea infections double in Finland
The number of new gonorrhea cases in Finland almost doubled in 2022 compared to the previous year. While infections have become more common among young women, the majority of all gonorrhea infections are still diagnosed in men aged 25 to 35, according to the Finnish institute for health and welfareContinue Reading
Norway naval officer found guilty of negligence in oil tanker collision
A Norwegian naval officer was found guilty on Monday and sentenced to a two-month suspended jail sentence for negligence leading up to the 2018 collision between a warship he commanded and an oil tanker in which the military vessel sank. Building a replacement for the lost Helge Ingstad frigate wouldContinue Reading
Estonia’s biggest defense exercise Spring Storm starts
Estonia’s largest defense training exercise Spring Storm (Kevadtorm) started on Monday and will last until May 26. Approximately, 14,000 personnel will take part. Army, Air Force, Navy and Defense League units, conscripts and reservists take part in the annual exercise, totaling around 9,000 personnel. Around half are reservists. The restContinue Reading
Estonian opposition plans to continue blocking the Riigikogu and government
Despite the coalition’s quashing of filibustering in the Riigikogu on Monday, the opposition parties plan to stay their course. If the coalition fails to appropriate enough time for procedural questions and introducing new bills, the opposition will simply start filing clusters of draft legislation, which will be just as effectiveContinue Reading
Pekka Haavisto holds onto strong lead in latest presidential poll
Pekka Haavisto (Green) has run for president twice, losing both times to President Sauli Niinistö, who’s stepping down from the office after two six-year terms. Outgoing foreign affairs minister Pekka Haavisto (Green) continues to be the favourite potential candidate in next year’s presidential election, according to Yle’s latest survey. HaavistoContinue Reading