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FinnGen plans to collect health data on Finland’s entire population
Finland’s largest genetic research project, FinnGen, plans to expand its database to include health information on the entire Finnish population, reports Yle.
The expansion could involve data on around 7.1 million people, including diagnoses, hospital visits and laboratory results. FinnGen already holds genetic and health-related data on more than 500,000 Finns.
The plans have raised concerns about privacy and data security. Tomi Voutilainen, a professor of public law, warns that it is unclear to citizens how their data will be processed.
Yle also reports two security breaches involving FinnGen, in 2020 and 2023.
Sweden and Finland tighten cooperation in the High North
Chief of Defence Command Finland, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen visited Boden, Sweden earlier this September.
The topic of the visit was Finnish-Swedish defence cooperation (FISE), particularly from the perspective of Forward Land Forces Finland (FLF Finland).
As HNN has reported, NATO's Forward Land Force Finland (FLF Finland) was officially established during a ceremony in Boden in June 2026.
The core of NATO Forward Land Forces Finland (FLF) is a battle group in the Norrbotten Brigade, in Boden, Northern Sweden. It will be able to move rapidly to Finnish Lapland to conduct operations under a multinational staff element in Rovaniemi.
The Chief of Defence Command Finland inspected the battlegroup and met with its commander.
“The unit specialises in Arctic conditions, which is important not only to Finland but to the entire Alliance’s deterrence and defence. I was impressed, seeing the trained and motivated unit in action”, Lieutenant General Virtanen said.
“Our cooperation with Sweden has advanced steadily, which we can now see as concrete steps in operational planning and activities. I want to thank the Swedes for their commitment. Finland and Sweden are working side-by-side and we are stronger together”, he concluded.
During the visit Lieutenant General Virtanen and his hosts also had broader conversations on developing bilateral cooperation and cooperation in the High North. The conversations also included cooperation on the monitoring and safeguarding of territorial integrity, which Finland announced late August.
Tourism is booming in Finnish Lapland
Tourism in Finnish Lapland is growing rapidly, and tourism businesses are investing heavily to meet demand.
Apukka Resort in Rovaniemi has more than quintupled its revenue since 2022, reaching around €27 million, according to Finnish broadcaster Yle.
At the same time, the tourism industry fears that such rapid growth could come at the expense of quality.
According to Harri Mällinen, CEO of Apukka Resort, a poor visitor experience could lead tourists to choose other destinations.
"That is my biggest fear right now. If the quality does not remain high, it will reduce tourists’ interest in Lapland," she told Yle.
The industry is also vulnerable to global crises. The war in the Middle East, for example, led to a decline in visitors when airports in the region were closed.
Finnish Defence Forces to participate in the Denmark-led Arctic Endurance 26
The Finnish Defence Forces will participate in the Denmark-led Arctic Endurance 26 -exercise complex in the Arctic region in early autumn.
That is stated in a press release from the Finnish Defence Forces.
The service personnel that will participate are from the Navy and from the Utti Jaeger Regiment.
"Finland maintains an active posture as a NATO member nation, and takes part in strengthening security in the Arctic region together with its Allies. Participation in the exercise complex will develop the Finnish Defence Forces’ interoperability, information exchange, and competence in the Arctic operating environment," the press release states.
Participation in the exercise will offer the Finnish Defence Forces’ special forces an opportunity to develop their capability to operate in a demanding Arctic environment and to strengthen cooperation with international Allies.
Arctic Endurance is one of the enduring exercises included under NATOs Arctic Sentry. This is NATO's enhanced Vigilance Activity for the High North and aims to strengthen the Alliance's posture and presence in the Arctic region.
Finland had its warmest March in history
This year, the average temperature in March was higher than any other month since records began, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
The average temperature throughout the country was 1.1 degrees Celsius, a new record for March, YLE reports. The previous record, 0.0 degrees Celsius, was set in 2007.
The average temperature for the month ranged from +3 in southwestern Finland to -2.5 in northern Lapland.
The heat caused the snow to melt rapidly in almost all of the country.
In Sodankylä in Lapland, the average temperature was the warmest in over a century, namely -0.7 degrees Celsius.