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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

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.

3 hours agovideocam

Canada

Canada considers sending small contingent of troops to Greenland

20 Jan 2026 - 11:49AM

Greenland

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

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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A boy holds a crossed out map of Greenland topped by a hairpiece symbolizing US President Donald Trump, during a protest against Trump’s policy toward Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on Saturday. Photo: AP

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

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

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

This weekend’s dining highlights include a grill master’s offerings at Yakitori Yamato. Photo: Handout

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

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

People walk in heavy snow as departures are cancelled at the train station in Are, Sweden on Saturday. Photo: TT News Agency via AP

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

(From left) Joshua Zahl, Chen Jing and Zhou Ming. Photo: Handout/Tsinghua University

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

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

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

Miss Finland Sarah Dzafce competes during the Miss Universe pageant on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, in November. Photo: EPA

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

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

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

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

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

TikTok’s offices in Culver City, California. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

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

Africa

Africa attracts smaller EU nations scrambling for influence

Estonia and Finland are among those seeking to boost their presence on the continent, revamping diplomatic and trade ties over the past five years.

23 Nov 2025 - 5:46PM

China-EU relations

Letters | Europe must separate legitimate security concerns from politics

Readers discuss the Nexperia dispute between China and the Netherlands, a suit against the Malaysian government, and Hong Kong patient records.

14 Nov 2025 - 11:30AM

An employee holds a box with wafers in a production line of Dutch semiconductor company Nexperia in Hamburg, Germany, on June 27, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Technology

China dominates global patent race with record filings

China filed nearly half of all patents worldwide in 2024, outpacing the US by more than threefold, WIPO data show.

13 Nov 2025 - 6:13AMvideocam

Computer technology remains the most frequently featured field in published patent applications worldwide. Photo: Shutterstock

SCMP Highlights

How China is closing tech gap on West; rare earth find: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s ‘strategic new frontiers’ to scientists discovering rare earth minerals in a fern, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

12 Nov 2025 - 11:28PM

Science

Rising star mathematician Wu Meng returns to China from Finland

Now affiliated with Hunan University, the award-winning professor solved a major part of Furstenberg’s conjecture dating to the 1960s.

12 Nov 2025 - 2:41PM

Vietnam

Avoiding ‘strategic suicide’: Vietnam’s US-Russia-China diplomatic dance

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s visit pushed military cooperation, but Vietnam wants to ensure it keeps all its geopolitical options open.

9 Nov 2025 - 1:30PM

US and Vietnamese flags fly during a welcome ceremony for visiting US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Hanoi, Vietnam, on November 2. Photo: AP

China-Asean relations

Southeast Asia still under pressure amid US-China trade truce: analysts

Strategically vital region described as remaining on front lines of great-power competition with no easy path forward.

6 Nov 2025 - 5:02PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump speaks in Kuala Lumpur as spectators wave Malaysian national flags on October 27. Photo: AFP

France

Louvre jewels may be irrecoverable as French police race against time

Police hunt for Louvre raiders before priceless Napoleonic jewels are melted down and cut into untraceable individual stones.

21 Oct 2025 - 12:54PMvideocam

South Korea

Is South Korea’s school smartphone ban the answer to teen tech addiction?

The nationwide ban comes after a government survey found nearly 43 per cent of teenagers have trouble controlling their phone use.

21 Sep 2025 - 11:15AMvideocam

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Finland

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

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

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.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}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.

Africa attracts smaller EU nations scrambling for influence

Estonia and Finland are among those seeking to boost their presence on the continent, revamping diplomatic and trade ties over the past five years.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Europe must separate legitimate security concerns from politics

Readers discuss the Nexperia dispute between China and the Netherlands, a suit against the Malaysian government, and Hong Kong patient records.

China dominates global patent race with record filings

China filed nearly half of all patents worldwide in 2024, outpacing the US by more than threefold, WIPO data show.

How China is closing tech gap on West; rare earth find: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s ‘strategic new frontiers’ to scientists discovering rare earth minerals in a fern, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

Rising star mathematician Wu Meng returns to China from Finland

Now affiliated with Hunan University, the award-winning professor solved a major part of Furstenberg’s conjecture dating to the 1960s.

Avoiding ‘strategic suicide’: Vietnam’s US-Russia-China diplomatic dance

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s visit pushed military cooperation, but Vietnam wants to ensure it keeps all its geopolitical options open.

Southeast Asia still under pressure amid US-China trade truce: analysts

Strategically vital region described as remaining on front lines of great-power competition with no easy path forward.

Louvre jewels may be irrecoverable as French police race against time

Police hunt for Louvre raiders before priceless Napoleonic jewels are melted down and cut into untraceable individual stones.

Is South Korea’s school smartphone ban the answer to teen tech addiction?

The nationwide ban comes after a government survey found nearly 43 per cent of teenagers have trouble controlling their phone use.

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

Letters | Europe must separate legitimate security concerns from politics