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Finland

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Finland. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Helsinki

Head of State

President Alexander Stubb

Head of Government

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo

US-China trade war

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

World leaders are flocking to Beijing this year as Trump’s trade war spurs US allies to look for new ties.

26 Feb 2026 - 10:55AM

Ukraine war

4 years into Ukraine conflict, Zelensky says Putin ‘did not win this war’

24 Feb 2026 - 8:41PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Captain pleads not guilty to damaging Baltic Sea gas pipeline in Hong Kong court

11 Feb 2026 - 5:26PM

Greenland

Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar

Political theorist says rapid acceleration of the US president’s ‘offensive, almost imperial’ agenda has left Europe disoriented.

9 Feb 2026 - 1:10PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Opinion | American allies are finally hedging against American risk

As US policy becomes more self-centred and unpredictable, traditional allies realise their best bet lies with diplomatic diversification.

3 Feb 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

United States

Outside In | Gradually, then suddenly, the world is waking up to the US threat

Middle powers are pivoting to Beijing and hedging with new partners as China’s economic displacement of the US rapidly expands.

30 Jan 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

US-China trade war

World leaders flock to Beijing in search of trade deals

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be the fifth world leader to visit China this month, as nations seek to increase trade and hedge their reliance on the US.

27 Jan 2026 - 5:19PM

China-EU relations

China’s Xi says major powers must set example as world faces ‘risks, challenges’

‘China and Europe are partners, not rivals,’ President Xi Jinping tells visiting Finnish prime minister.

27 Jan 2026 - 8:24PMvideocam

Mergers & Acquisitions

China’s Anta snags Puma from France’s Pinault family in US$1.8 billion deal

China’s largest sportswear firm is acquiring 29 per cent to become Puma’s biggest shareholder while strengthening its global expansion.

27 Jan 2026 - 5:10PM

China-EU relations

Finland’s leader set for 4-day China visit as Europe seeks to counter Trump

Petteri Orpo to lead executives from more than 20 companies in first China visit by a Finnish prime minister since 2017.

26 Jan 2026 - 4:22PMvideocam

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is expected to land in China this weekend. Photo: Reuters

Canada

Canada considers sending small contingent of troops to Greenland

Canada’s Carney reviews role in Nato exercises as European allies push back against Trump’s threats to take Greenland.

20 Jan 2026 - 11:49AM

Greenland

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

Eight European countries consider US$108 billion retaliation and ‘anti-coercion’ tools after Trump vows tariffs on Europe over Arctic island.

19 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

Donald Trump

Trump hits 8 Nato allies with tariffs to force Greenland sale

The duties will start at 10 per cent in February and go up to 25 per cent in June if no deal is reached for the US to buy the island.

19 Jan 2026 - 3:35AM

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China-EU relations

China’s charm offensive: Beijing bypasses Brussels to soften EU trade push

From aircraft orders in France to reopened beef and pork markets for Ireland and Spain, mainland officials are leaning hard into diplomacy.

17 Jan 2026 - 12:13PMvideocam

European Union flags fly outside the bloc’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Beijing is ramping up bilateral diplomacy as the European Commission prepares for another confrontational year of trade action against China. Photo: AP

Canada

Trump’s Venezuela and Greenland threats make Canada fear it’s next

The shock capture of Maduro and talk of seizing the Arctic island are forcing Canadians to take Trump’s 51st state threats seriously.

11 Jan 2026 - 5:12AMvideocam

In December 2024, US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself standing on mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!”. Image: Truth Social/realDonaldTrump

Food and Drinks

Your Hong Kong weekend food guide for January 9-11

Indulge in a culinary journey this weekend, from limited-time yakitori to a Nordic-inspired afternoon tea, and a brand new weekend Mediterranean brunch.

7 Jan 2026 - 2:08PM

US-Venezuela conflict

Trump doubles down on Greenland after US intervention in Venezuela

US president’s comments on Greenland and a ‘SOON’ social media post by the wife of a top aide spur anxieties in the Arctic.

5 Jan 2026 - 2:57PM

Crime

‘Criminal damage’: Finland police say ship seized after cable damage

Various energy and telecommunications infrastructure has been hit in recent years, with many leaders and experts suspecting Russia.

31 Dec 2025 - 9:45PMvideocam

Two Finnish officials on the deck of an oil tanker in December 2024 that was suspected of sabotaging a power cable linking Finland and Estonia. Photo: Handout via AFP

Nordic nations

2 dead as Storm Johannes batters Nordic nations, thousands left without power

One person was killed after being hit by a falling tree near Sweden’s Kungsberget ski resort, police said.

28 Dec 2025 - 3:05PM

SCMP Highlights

7 scientists, mathematicians, physicists and experts who moved to China in 2025

From a world-leading statistician to a mathematics luminary, here are some experts who made the move.

24 Dec 2025 - 4:15PM

Japan

Japan dismayed over Finnish beauty queen’s ‘slanted eyes’ photos

Sarah Dzafce was stripped of her Miss Finland title after an image of her making the offensive gesture went viral.

18 Dec 2025 - 3:56PM

Finnish beauty queen Sarah Dzafce competes in the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand last month. Photo: EPA

Nordic nations

Finnish PM apologises for MPs’ ‘racist’ gestures in Miss Finland scandal

PM Petteri Orpo offers regrets to Japan, China and South Korea after MPs mimic ousted beauty queen Sarah Dzafce’s offensive squinting gesture.

17 Dec 2025 - 9:20PM

Miss Finland Sarah Dzafce wears an evening gown during the 74th Miss Universe 2025 preliminary competition in Thailand in November. Photo: EPA

Racism and other prejudice

Miss Finland ‘racism’ scandal is damaging country, PM says

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo weighs in as Finnish politicians mimic a racist gesture in solidarity with stripped beauty queen.

17 Dec 2025 - 1:36PM

Racism and other prejudice

Miss Finland loses her crown due to anti-Chinese racism scandal

Sarah Dzafce apologised after a photo surfaced of her making a gesture seen as derogatory to Asian people.

16 Dec 2025 - 2:43PM

Ukraine war

Ukraine sends US a revised peace plan as Trump blasts European allies

US president says ‘pretty strong words’ were used in his discussion with leaders from the UK, France and Germany.

11 Dec 2025 - 2:10PM

A cat protects a boy from a Russian missile with an umbrella, in a mural by Ukrainian artist Andriy Yarmolenko, seen by on Wednesday at a children’s hospital in Kyiv. Photo: EPA

Social media

Editorial | Curbs on children’s social media use and screen time must strike a balance

The digital world is part of young people’s lives; there is a need to limit risks without depriving children of the benefits of being online.

10 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

A schoolboy looks at his phone in Melbourne on November 27, 2024. Australia will ban young teenagers from social media on December 10, launching a world-first crackdown designed to unglue children from addictive scrolling on the likes of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Photo: AFP

TikTok

TikTok to invest more than US$37 billion in Brazil data centre

China is Brazil’s top trading partner and is seeking to expand economic and political ties across the region amid tensions with the US.

4 Dec 2025 - 10:45AM

Ukraine war

‘Issues remain’: US-Ukraine talks advance, but Europe cautious on Russia deal

Trump hails ‘big progress’ in talks, while Germany confirms US plan was modified with Nato and territorial demands removed.

25 Nov 2025 - 1:03AM

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Finland

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

World leaders are flocking to Beijing this year as Trump’s trade war spurs US allies to look for new ties.

4 years into Ukraine conflict, Zelensky says Putin ‘did not win this war’

Captain pleads not guilty to damaging Baltic Sea gas pipeline in Hong Kong court

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar

Political theorist says rapid acceleration of the US president’s ‘offensive, almost imperial’ agenda has left Europe disoriented.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | American allies are finally hedging against American risk

As US policy becomes more self-centred and unpredictable, traditional allies realise their best bet lies with diplomatic diversification.

Outside In | Gradually, then suddenly, the world is waking up to the US threat

Middle powers are pivoting to Beijing and hedging with new partners as China’s economic displacement of the US rapidly expands.

World leaders flock to Beijing in search of trade deals

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be the fifth world leader to visit China this month, as nations seek to increase trade and hedge their reliance on the US.

China’s Xi says major powers must set example as world faces ‘risks, challenges’

‘China and Europe are partners, not rivals,’ President Xi Jinping tells visiting Finnish prime minister.

China’s Anta snags Puma from France’s Pinault family in US$1.8 billion deal

China’s largest sportswear firm is acquiring 29 per cent to become Puma’s biggest shareholder while strengthening its global expansion.

Finland’s leader set for 4-day China visit as Europe seeks to counter Trump

Petteri Orpo to lead executives from more than 20 companies in first China visit by a Finnish prime minister since 2017.

Canada considers sending small contingent of troops to Greenland

Canada’s Carney reviews role in Nato exercises as European allies push back against Trump’s threats to take Greenland.

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

Eight European countries consider US$108 billion retaliation and ‘anti-coercion’ tools after Trump vows tariffs on Europe over Arctic island.

Trump hits 8 Nato allies with tariffs to force Greenland sale

The duties will start at 10 per cent in February and go up to 25 per cent in June if no deal is reached for the US to buy the island.

China’s charm offensive: Beijing bypasses Brussels to soften EU trade push

From aircraft orders in France to reopened beef and pork markets for Ireland and Spain, mainland officials are leaning hard into diplomacy.

Trump’s Venezuela and Greenland threats make Canada fear it’s next

The shock capture of Maduro and talk of seizing the Arctic island are forcing Canadians to take Trump’s 51st state threats seriously.

Your Hong Kong weekend food guide for January 9-11

Indulge in a culinary journey this weekend, from limited-time yakitori to a Nordic-inspired afternoon tea, and a brand new weekend Mediterranean brunch.

Trump doubles down on Greenland after US intervention in Venezuela

US president’s comments on Greenland and a ‘SOON’ social media post by the wife of a top aide spur anxieties in the Arctic.

‘Criminal damage’: Finland police say ship seized after cable damage

Various energy and telecommunications infrastructure has been hit in recent years, with many leaders and experts suspecting Russia.

2 dead as Storm Johannes batters Nordic nations, thousands left without power

One person was killed after being hit by a falling tree near Sweden’s Kungsberget ski resort, police said.

7 scientists, mathematicians, physicists and experts who moved to China in 2025

From a world-leading statistician to a mathematics luminary, here are some experts who made the move.

Japan dismayed over Finnish beauty queen’s ‘slanted eyes’ photos

Sarah Dzafce was stripped of her Miss Finland title after an image of her making the offensive gesture went viral.

Finnish PM apologises for MPs’ ‘racist’ gestures in Miss Finland scandal

PM Petteri Orpo offers regrets to Japan, China and South Korea after MPs mimic ousted beauty queen Sarah Dzafce’s offensive squinting gesture.

Miss Finland ‘racism’ scandal is damaging country, PM says

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo weighs in as Finnish politicians mimic a racist gesture in solidarity with stripped beauty queen.

Miss Finland loses her crown due to anti-Chinese racism scandal

Sarah Dzafce apologised after a photo surfaced of her making a gesture seen as derogatory to Asian people.

Ukraine sends US a revised peace plan as Trump blasts European allies

US president says ‘pretty strong words’ were used in his discussion with leaders from the UK, France and Germany.

Editorial | Curbs on children’s social media use and screen time must strike a balance

The digital world is part of young people’s lives; there is a need to limit risks without depriving children of the benefits of being online.

TikTok to invest more than US$37 billion in Brazil data centre

China is Brazil’s top trading partner and is seeking to expand economic and political ties across the region amid tensions with the US.

‘Issues remain’: US-Ukraine talks advance, but Europe cautious on Russia deal

Trump hails ‘big progress’ in talks, while Germany confirms US plan was modified with Nato and territorial demands removed.

Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar

Opinion | American allies are finally hedging against American risk