The Finnish family-owned company Fredman Group Oy has developed new airplane meal trays and boxes in cooperation with Finnair. These Nordic wood fiber-based cardboard trays are already partly in use and will be fully introduced in economy class this spring. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Finnair will also introduce a new menu. Thanks to the new packaging, Finnair will cut back on single-use plastics by 39 tonnes (*).

We are anticipating a busy end of the year for parcel and letter deliveries. E-commerce continues to grow, and international shopping days Singles’ Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the busiest time for parcel deliveries. Posti also delivers Christmas greetings abroad, and they need to be sent out soon.

”Christmas is the time for caring, and we at Posti want to deliver people’s greetings to each other.

European Union Youth Orchestra. Photo: Peter Adamik

Innovative side by side activities with young Finnish musicians, open rehearsals, community performances across Helsinki and a cultural debate: this is the Helsinki Community Day, dedicated to reach diverse groups of people in the city of Helsinki, which hosts the musicians during their first orchestral residency in Finland. There are three main series of events which will happen throughout the day, all supporting the EUYO's focus on new and young audiences:

Vaccine development. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

For a normal person, the loops, kinks and folds in the single strand of RNA that makes up the coronavirus genome might look like a bowl of spaghetti. However, to researchers like Amanda Hargrove, who is a chemistry professor at Duke University, the complex shaped RNA had untapped therapeutic potential in the fight against COVID-19. Hargrove and her colleagues had identified chemical compounds that could latch onto these 3D structures and block the virus's ability to replicate.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin speaks at the Generation Equality Forum, which kicked off in Mexico in March and will end in Paris on Friday, on 30 June/Lehtikuva

Finland has agreed to take on a leadership role in the Generation Equality Forum, currently being held in Paris from 30 June to 2 July, to promote women’s rights and equality. The event, which has been organised with the official support of UN Women, is being co-chaired by France and Mexico.

The Generation Equality Forum is especially significant because it is the first global conference on women’s rights since 1995. It comprises action coalitions—international multi-stakeholder partnerships that include representatives from governments, organisations and the private sector—that will focus on improving women’s status and rights in six key areas. 

GOVERNMENT SPOKESPEOPLE have again reiterated the importance of exercising caution when it comes to using fireworks, ahead of one of the busiest nights of the year for emergency services in Finland.

The divisional officer of the Länsi-Uudenman Rescue Services, Riku Rantala, has warned New Year’s Eve revelers to avoid using fireworks if intoxicated, saying that “if you’re too drunk to read the instructions on a packet of fireworks, you shouldn’t be using them at all”. 

The Finferries autonomous ferry, 'Falco', docked near Turku (Image: Lehtikuva)

AS PART OF A COLLABORATION BETWEEN STATE-OWNED FINFERRIES AND ENGINEERING GIANT ROLLS ROYCE, the world’s first successful autonomous ferry ride was completed in the waters of the Turku archipelago recently.

In a press statement from Rolls Royce, the company has claimed that the voyage, which was attended by 80 VIP guests, marks the “most significant milestone” so far for autonomous shipping.

Otso departing from Helsinki in 2013.

One of Finland’s most famous seafaring vessels, the titanic icebreaker Otso, was deployed on its first mission of the winter season last night, keeping sea routes open for the 22^nd year in a row.

Late in the evening of Christmas Day, Otso, the crowning glory of Arctia Oy’s extensive fleet, departed from Helsinki’s Katajanokka Harbour, heading north to the Bay of Bothnia.

Starting during the Cold War, Helsinki has a long history of playing host to important meetings between American and Russian presidents. The Atlantic places Trump and Putin’s upcoming summit in its historical context.

Despite not qualifying for the tournament, the World Cup has also brought some international news to Finland. The Telegraph has reported that prospective asylum seekers have bought tickets in order to attempt to cross the border from Russia to Finland.

As was reported last month, interest from non-EU students towards Finnish universities has hit an “all-time low”. Study International takes a closer look at just why this is the case.

This week also saw the story of Afghan migrant Mojtaba Hassani cause a stir in the international media. TOLOnews has reported that the 21-year-old is due to be deported by the Finnish police, despite the fact he has a full-time job.

In other news, Helsinki will play host to an important military meeting, Chinese money is being sought to fund the Helsinki-Estonia tunnel, and Finnish startup Space Nation has designed the world’s first astronaut training app.