Did you know? Finnair, the flagship carrier of Finland, serves as a gateway to the nation’s joyful spirit. With the direct flights connecting Delhi to Helsinki India, travelers can now visit and explore the beautiful destination of Finland…reports Asian Lite News
It’s no surprise that Finland was crowned as the happiest country in the world for the sixth time in a row. With its unparalleled natural beauty, high quality of life, and strong sense of community, Finland has once again claimed the spot as the happiest country in the world, bringing smiles to the faces of Finns and admirers worldwide.
The Finns place great importance on preserving the great outdoors and in Helsinki, sustainability plays a key role in the lives of Helsinkians. The capital is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030 and was ranked the fourth most sustainable travel destination in 2023.
Did you know? Finnair, the flagship carrier of Finland, serves as a gateway to the nation’s joyful spirit. With the direct flights connecting Delhi to Helsinki India, travelers can now visit and explore the beautiful destination of Finland.
So, what truly makes people living in Finland happy? Here are four favourite things shared by the employees at Finnair:
The great outdoors: Finland’s breathtaking natural landscapes, including forests, lakes, and pristine wilderness areas, offer ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Access to nature is deeply ingrained in Finnish culture, promoting physical and mental well-being.
Safe & Steady environment: Finland is a destination which is extremely safe and has a steady environment to live in. Safety is one of the most important aspects for Finnish people. Another very important factor is free education that ensures equal opportunities for kids growing up regardless of their family’s economic backgrounds, along with free public healthcare.
The very ‘Finnish’ things: Finns take immense pride in their cultural heritage, cherishing traditions that have been passed down through generations. From the tranquil ritual of sauna bathing and refreshing swims in natural waters to savouring delicious cuisine made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, certain quintessentially ‘Finnish’ experiences evoke joy and contentment among the Finnish people.
The lovely & lively ‘Finns’: Last but not least, the people living in Finland are perceived to be very warm and welcoming. Respect, honesty, and trust are the basis of people’s values, with also a good sense of humour.
To celebrate the accession formally, a flag-raising ceremony has been planned for Monday (March 11) at the alliance headquarters in Brussels…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday vowed to deploy its troops and strike systems near the Finnish border following its accession to NATO.
Putin said Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO is ‘ a meaningless step’, adding that Russia will deploy troops and systems of destruction on the Finnish border following its accession to the alliance last April.
“This is an absolutely meaningless step [for Finland and Sweden] from the point of view of ensuring their own national interests,” Putin told Russia’s RIA state news agency and Rossiya-1 state television in a wide-ranging interview.
“We didn’t have troops there [at the Finland border], now they will be there. There were no systems of destruction there, now they will appear,” he added.
Following the launch of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine more than two years ago, Sweden abandoned its long-standing neutrality and joined NATO on Thursday, becoming the organisation’s newest member. After Hungary–the last of the 31 alliance countries to approve Sweden–submitted its ratification document, the membership became official.
Sweden is now fully covered by Article 5 of the alliance, which requires all other members to defend one another in the event of an attack.
To celebrate the accession formally, a flag-raising ceremony has been planned for Monday (March 11) at the alliance headquarters in Brussels.
Finland, Sweden’s neighbour, became a member of the alliance on April 4 last year. With the two Nordic countries in the alliance, NATO controls almost all of the Baltic Sea.
Both a robust armaments industry and a well-equipped military are present in Sweden.The nation intends to spend 2.1 per cent of GDP on defence this year, about twice as much as it did in 2020 and over NATO’s target. (ANI)
For his part, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said the DCA “is a strong sign of US commitment to the defence of Finland and the whole Northern Europe”...reports Asian Lite News
The US and Finland signed a defence cooperation agreement (DCA), enhancing military collaboration between the two countries by obligating Helsinki to open its military bases to US forces and allowing the two militaries to conduct joint training, among other measures.
During a signing ceremony at the US State Department, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that the agreement, when becoming effective, will enable US and Finnish militaries to collaborate more efficiently and effectively, provide the troops with more opportunities to train together, and bolster NATO’s interoperability.
Finland officially became a NATO member in April, Xinhua news agency reported.
The two countries have had security cooperation over the last three decades in areas like counter-terrorism, Blinken said, adding that such cooperation has also boosted Finland’s defence capabilities, including through the recent purchase of F-35 fighter jets by Finland from the US.
Also attending the signing ceremony, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the signing of the agreement marked “a great milestone” in bilateral relations between the two countries, and “strengthens the security of Nordic and Baltic regions”.
For his part, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said the DCA “is a strong sign of US commitment to the defence of Finland and the whole Northern Europe”.
But the Finnish side does not “expect the US to take care of the defence of Finland,” and Finland will “continue to invest in our defence and shared burden in our area and beyond,” he added.
“However, this agreement significantly enhances our ability to act together in all situations in military, security, defence fields,” Hakkanen said.
According to the text of the DCA published by the Finnish government on Thursday, the deal will grant US soldiers access to Finland’s air force bases, naval bases, garrison areas, training areas, storage areas and Border Guard barracks.
In addition, the DCA would enable US forces to preposition defence equipment, supplies and material in the territory of Finland, and would allow for the entry and movement of US aircraft, vessels and vehicles.
Since the DCA contains provisions of a legislative nature, it is subject to approval by Finland’s Parliament. In August 2022, Finland opened negotiations with the US on a DCA which were concluded in October 2023.
In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war that broke out in February 2022, the US moved to significantly enhance bilateral defence cooperation with Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, which, plus Iceland, are collectively known as Nordic countries.
Washington amended an existing DCA with Oslo in 2022, signed a new defence agreement with Stockholm earlier in December, and will ink a similar pact with Copenhagen later this week, Blinken said at Monday’s ceremony.
In August 2022, Finland opened negotiations with the US on a DCA….reports Asian Lite News
The government of Finland has decided to sign the so-called Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the US, which would allow American armed forces to use 15 of the Nordic nation’s military areas.
he government published the DCA document on Thursday, which would grant US soldiers access to Finland’s air force bases, naval bases, garrison areas, training areas, storage areas and Border Guard barracks, reports Xinhua news agency.
The DCA would enable the American forces to preposition defense equipment, supplies and material in the territory of Finland, and would allow for the entry and movement of US aircraft, vessels and vehicles.
In August 2022, Finland opened negotiations with the US on a DCA.
These were concluded in October this year.
The government of Finland proposes to authorise Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen (or in his absence Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen) to sign the DCA on December 18 in Washington D.C.
Since the DCA contains provisions of a legislative nature, it is subject to approval by Finland’s Parliament.
The exclusive stay in Finland will be available for 3 nights from 18-21 December 2023…reports Asian Lite News
Santa’s Official Post Office1 in Rovaniemi, Finland, is expected to receive over 30,000 letters daily from children and adults around the world this year. In a bid to attract novice elves, Santa Claus’ Cabin has been listed on Airbnb for guests – free of charge – to roll up their sleeves, lend a hand with the backlog of letters and experience the joy of the holiday season from the Arctic Circle.
Katja, Chief Elf of Santa Claus’ Main Post Office and Airbnb Host said: “The elves have been working around the clock to transform Santa Claus’ Cabin into a winter wonderland. We want this to be a magical and immersive experience for a family in search of the ultimate yuletide experience. Not only will guests get to sleep in Santa Claus’ Cabin, they’ll also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of the world’s official Santa Claus’ Post Office during our liveliest time of the year.”
About the stay
Guests will be invited to roll up their sleeves and become fully fledged elves for a day at Santa Claus’ Post Office. Guests will be given a crash course in ‘elfing’ by Chief Elf and Host Katja, and will work with her team to help sort through the letters from children and adults all around the world – cross referencing with Santa Claus’ naughty and nice list.
Guests will also participate in all kinds of tasks; emptying mailboxes and helping the elves to stamp the post with the special Arctic Circle postmark before it goes to Santa Claus, and learn about the day-to-day workings of the Post Office. After tending to their elf duties, guests will be treated to traditional Finnish meals, a snowmobile activity, a trip to see the northern lights and – the most Finnish experience of all – a traditional sauna.
About Santa Claus’ Cabin
Guests will stay in Santa Claus’ Cabin, just a hop, skip and a jump away from Santa Claus’ Post Office. The room in the cabin has been given a Yuletide makeover complete with traditional Lapland decorations, a wardrobe of elf-wear and all the accessories you could ever expect from a cozy eleven bolt hole in the depths of the Arctic circle. The stay at Santa Claus’ Cabin will be free of charge.
Guest Rules
Please ask Santa nicely before taking an elfie with him.
Boots off in Santa Claus’ Cabin – yule be sorry if you trample snow into the handwoven Lapland rugs.
Roasting chestnuts by the open fire is permitted.
An elf is always an elf: a felt hat with a jingling bell paired with a freshly ironed tunic is the preferred attire in the Santa Claus Village.
How to book
The exclusive stay in Finland will be available for 3 nights from 18-21 December 2023.
2 Guests can request to book this stay on Monday December 11 at 3:30pm IST at airbnb.com/santa. Guests will receive complimentary return flights to Rovaniemi from London Heathrow Airport via Finnair – thanks to Visit Finland. The stay is suitable for up to two adults and two children, and will be free of charge, with breakfast and dinner included.
Amanda Cupples, General Manager of Northern Europe at Airbnb, said, “Staying in Santa Claus’ Cabin in the Arctic Circle, amidst the magic of Finland, is not just a holiday, it’s a journey to the heart of the holiday spirit. We’re thrilled that the Chief Elf has decided to share their space on Airbnb and invite a family to experience this unique festive stay, where they’ll help sort through Christmas letters from children worldwide and participate in unforgettable adventures like snowmobile excursions, northern lights sightings and traditional saunas – creating memories that will last a lifetime along the way.”
Heli Jimenez, Senior Director, International Marketing at Business Finland, said, “There is nothing more magical than visiting Finland during the festive Christmas period – from taking in the wonder of the northern lights, strolling the festive streets, or enjoying the snowy white scenery. We’re delighted this family will get to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity as they work alongside Santa’s Chief Elf in her official post office.”
To bring awareness to children with special needs, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Special Children’s Omaiset ELO, a peer support association aimed at Lappish children and young people with special needs and their loved ones.
Finland starts construction of Russia border fence ( https://raja.fi/en)
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Finland’s ascension into NATO, there has been an increasing effort by Helsinki to restrict crossings from Russia…reports Asian Lite News
The last operating checkpoint on Finland’s Russian border will close on Thursday, completely closing off the NATO (North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation) country’s eastern border with Russia for two weeks, CNN has reported.
“Russia is enabling the instrumentalization of people and guiding them to the Finnish border in harsh winter conditions. Finland is determined to put an end to this phenomenon,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said in a press release on Tuesday.
At midnight on November 30, the Nordic country will close the last checkpoint, remaining closed until December 13, Finland’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said in Tuesday’s press release.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Finland’s ascension into NATO, there has been an increasing effort by Helsinki to restrict crossings from Russia, according to CNN.
Finland’s Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said in the press release that it is necessary to close the entire eastern border with Russia, adding that the decision was taken to “protect Finland’s national security against this Russian hybrid operation.”
In a post on social media by the Finnish Border Guard, they said, “Finland’s goal is to end the illegal entry from Russia.”
“Finland takes care of its own border security and the Finnish Border Guard is ready to quickly implement new decisions of the Government,” the border guard added.
Finland shares an 830-mile-long border with Russia, one of the few entry points for Russians after many Western countries shut their airspace and borders to Russian planes in response to the Ukraine invasion.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko called the move “irrational” and stated that it would harm Finnish citizens.
“They closed the border, how can we react? Finnish citizens will suffer,” said Grushko on the sidelines of the Primakov Readings forum in Moscow.
“We can comment on some rational decisions, then we can look for some kind of logic. But sometimes the decisions are simply irrational,” he said, adding that only about 700 migrants during this period tried to cross the Russian-Finnish border.
On November 16, in an effort to stop illegal border crossings, the Finnish government announced it would temporarily close four crossing points along the 820-mile stretch of borderland from this week until February 2024.
Illegal crossings have continued despite the imposed restrictions, Finland’s interior ministry said during Tuesday’s press release.
“Since the beginning of August, almost 1,000 third-country nationals have arrived in Finland without a visa via the border crossing points at the eastern border. Most of them have applied for asylum in Finland,” the ministry said.
“In such very exceptional circumstances, the short-term total closure of the eastern border is a necessary and proportionate measure to put an end to this phenomenon and to limit the serious consequences that it has for national security and public order,” the ministry added in the press release.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday accused Russia of using migration as a “tool” to create “pressure” along its border with Finland, CNN has reported.
“We have seen them using energy, we have seen them using cyber attacks, we have seen them using different kinds of clandestine operations to try and undermine our democracies. The fact that Russia is using migration as a tool is now another example of the attempt to put pressure on neighbours,” Stoltenberg said at a news conference in Brussels.
Stoltenberg said he is “confident that Finland is capable of dealing with” the issue. NATO has not received a request from Finland for support in guarding its borders.
Although he welcomed the move by the European Union’s border agency, Frontex, to deploy 50 guards along the Finnish border.
Helsinki closed its border at the end of September 2022, around the time traffic over the frontier intensified as Russians tried to flee President Vladimir Putin’s “partial mobilisation” of hundreds of thousands of citizens to fight in the war. More than 8,500 Russians crossed the border in one day alone.
The Finnish Border Guard has also begun to construct a border barrier fence earlier this year along some of the border, where crossings are rife, CNN has reported. (ANI)
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov.
Kremlin warns of tensions
Any decision by Finland to allow a “concentration” of troops on its border with Russia would be viewed by Moscow as a threat, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, after Poland offered to send military advisers to help Helsinki police the frontier.
The head of the Polish National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, said in a post on social media X late on Tuesday that Poland would send military advisers to its NATO ally Finland, in response to “an official request for allied support in the face of a hybrid attack on the Finnish border.”
“A team of military advisers will provide on-site knowledge on border security, also in operational terms,” he said.
Finland said on Wednesday it was unaware of the Polish offer. It has closed its entire 1,340 km border with Russia for two weeks in a bid to halt an unusually large flow of asylum seekers that Helsinki says amounts to a “hybrid attack” orchestrated by Moscow, a charge the Kremlin denies.
Asked about the Polish offer to Finland during a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “This is an absolutely redundant measure to ensure border security because there is no threat there.”
“The Finns must be clearly aware that this will pose a threat to us — an increase in the concentration of military units on our borders.”
Any planned deployment would be unprovoked and unjustified, said Peskov.
Finland’s Border Guard and the interior ministry both said they were unaware of any plan to bring Polish military advisers to Finland’s eastern border.
The Finnish foreign and defense ministries and its defense forces did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto held talks with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda in Warsaw last week but they did not discuss military cooperation on the Finnish border with Russia, Niinisto’s office said in a statement to Reuters.
Finland infuriated Russia earlier this year when it joined NATO, ending decades of military non-alignment, due to the war in Ukraine.
The Governor noted that as many as 400 foreigners were waiting to enter Finland from Murmansk on Wednesday, and only 50 of them were let through…reports Asian Lite News
A high-alert has been sounded and a number of additional measures introduced in Russia’s Murmansk region to ensure the safety of local residents after Finland closed almost all of its border checkpoints, a top official has confirmed.
On Wednesday, the government of Finland announced o close almost all checkpoints on its border with Russia, except the one in the far north adjacent to Russia’s Murmansk region, reports Xinhua news agency.
The decision will remain in force until December 23.
The number of foreign citizens wishing to enter Finland through Murmansk may increase several times as a result of the closure, the region’s Governor Andrey Chibis said on Thursday in a post on Telegram
The Governor noted that as many as 400 foreigners were waiting to enter Finland from Murmansk on Wednesday, and only 50 of them were let through.
The number was expected to further increase.
After closing four checkpoints on the border with Russia last week, the Finnish authorities decided to temporarily close three more checkpoints on the border with Russia, leaving only the northernmost checkpoint “Raja-Jooseppi” operating, citing the deteriorating migration situation.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Finland should have raised its concerns in order to work out a mutually acceptable solution.
She also said that Russian authorities were willing to work with Finnish officials to reach an agreement on the issues.
Finland starts construction of Russia border fence ( https://raja.fi/en)
From Friday night, only the Raja-Jooseppi crossing point in the municipality of Inari will remain accessible…reports Asian Lite News
The government of Finland has decided to restrict road traffic on its border with Russia to just one crossing point in the far north, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced at a press conference.
Last week, the government closed four border crossings in southeastern Finland but left four others still open in the north, reports Xinhua news agency.
From Friday night, only the Raja-Jooseppi crossing point in the municipality of Inari will remain accessible.
The decision will remain in force until December 23.
On Tuesday, a plan by Orpo’s cabinet to close all road crossings with Russia was rejected by Finland’s Chancellor of Justice Office.
The Chancellor’s office approved Wednesday’s plan.
Asked if a complete closure remains an option, Orpo said on Wednesday that “It can be done, but the present situation does not justify it”.
Finland shares a 1,340 km border with Russia, Europe’s longest.
During his visit, Tavio will meet with Indian ministers and business representatives and attend the India Nordic-Baltic Business Conclave…reports Asian Lite News
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio, will travel to New Delhi with a Finnish business delegation on November 22 and 23, informed Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
During his visit, Tavio will meet with Indian ministers and business representatives and attend the India Nordic-Baltic Business Conclave.
The visit aims to increase awareness about Finland in India’s growing markets, to intensify commercial and economic cooperation between Finland and India, and to raise the commercial profile of the Nordic and Baltic countries in India, according to a press release from Finland’s Foreign Ministry.
The visit will strengthen commercial and economic cooperation between Finland and India by showcasing leading-edge Finnish expertise, especially in the areas of sustainability and digitalisation. The aim is also to promote cooperation between business representatives of the Nordic and Baltic countries in India.
The technological excellence of this group of countries and India’s large market offer economic opportunities for all parties. India is the most populous country in the world, with economic growth of around seven per cent in the past few years. The country is predicted to become the third-largest economy in the world by the end of the decade, meaning that its political and economic weight will only increase in the future, it also said.
The India Nordic-Baltic Business Conclave, organised for the second time by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, brings together a number of stakeholders to build and strengthen partnerships in key sectors. The event will be opened by India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar.
Tavio will give Finland’s opening speech at the event. He will also be the keynote speaker of the session on renewable energy and participate in a high-level panel discussion, the release added.
“India is a huge, rapidly growing market, and Finnish leading-edge expertise can respond to its development needs excellently. Partnerships in important themes, such as digitalisation and sustainability, offer significant growth potential for Finnish companies that will seize the opportunity,” the minister said.
During his visit, Tavio will have bilateral meetings with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Minister of New and Renewable Energy. Minister Tavio and the Finnish business delegation will have high-level meetings with Indian conglomerates and think tanks.
The business delegation led by Tavio consists of several Finnish companies, with some aiming to increase their current market share and drive growth while others seeking new markets and internationalisation in India.
The members of the business delegation operate in the energy, construction, circular economy, ICT and quantum sectors, the release stated further. (ANI)
The national flag of Finland flies after a ceremony for Finland's accession to NATO at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 4, 2023. Finland on Tuesday formally became the 31st member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), ending its military non-alignment in the fastest accession procedure in record time. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
The agreement will be published until its passing by the Finnish parliament…reports Asian Lite News
Finland and the US have wrapped up final talks on a bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), the Foreign Ministry in Helsinki announced.
The agreement will be published until its passing by the Finnish parliament, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying late Tuesday.
According to Finnish media, parliamentary passing is not expected before the end of 2023.
The Finnish parliamentary constitutional committee will decide whether the agreement can be passed by a simple majority or by a two-thirds majority.
The agreement will define the rights and duties of US forces when training or otherwise stationed in Finland, while complementing Finland’s NATO membership, Finnish commentators have said.
According to Finnish media, there would be no actual US bases in Finland, but American forces could be present in the country in some form.
Latest round of negotiations for a new Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Finland and the United States were held in Helsinki from 30 to 31 October. 🇫🇮 🇺🇸https://t.co/MHR93fVEO8
Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) on Monday reported that US troops would be granted access to some undisclosed garrisons and military bases, and exclusive access to sites for storing vehicles, weapons and other materials required to conduct military exercises in Finland.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that the results of the final talks will now be examined “at the political level”.
He said the DCA agreement is “crucial to Finland and other Nordics”.
