THE WORLD RECORD FOR 'MOST NATIONALITIES IN A SAUNA' was broken today at a sauna in Suomenlinna, where people from 101 countries crammed together in the heat to bring the accolade back to Finland. International business students from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences were responsible for the feat.

THE LARGELY YOUNG AND FEMALE CABINET of Finland's new government met in Helsinki today, with PM Sanna Marin serving as the youngest sitting prime minister in the world. Joining her cabinet Li Andersson, the Minister of Education since June 2019, Minister of Finance Katri Kulmuni, and Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo. 

HELSINKI'S FINLANDIA HALL HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED in blue to pay tribute to healthcare workers and other people in Finland working in critical sectors during the COVID-19 crisis. The mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavuori tweeted that the illuminations would take place every Saturday night from now on. 

A FIRE BROKE OUT YESTERDAY EVENING at Naistenklinikka, a Helsinki hospital for maternity and women's care, prompting a wholesale evacuation of patients and resulting in dozens of cancelled operations and appointments. 

JOCKEYS DONNED FACEMASKS and raced their horses in front of empty audience stands last night at Joensuu Racecourse, marking the first competitive horse racing event to take place since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered tracks across the country. 

MUCH OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN FINLAND received an even earlier snowfall than usual today, prompting the Finnish Meteorological Institute to issue a driver safety warning. As much as 10cm of snow is predicted to fall on Eastern Finland over the coming hours, considerably more than what is usual for this time of year. 

FLOW FESTIVAL, ONE OF THE MOST INTERNATIONALLY WELL-KNOWN in Finland, kicked off this weekend, drawing tens of thousands of revelers from dozens of countries. The Festival has been plagued with a slew of last-minute cancellations and poor weather, but that didn't stop people coming out to see an impressive roster of global acts.

GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS GATHERED OUTSIDE ENERGY GIANT FORTNUM's headquarters in Espoo earlier today, challenging them to "walk the talk" and adhere to their own rhetoric regarding their clean energy statements. Greenpeace Finland states that the protest was in response to Fortnum's acquisition of utility giant Uniper, which it describes as "one of Europe's biggest utility polluters". 

THE TEAM AT HELSINKI-VANTAA AIRPORT have boosted their ranks with the help of some four-legged friends. Golden retriever dogs have been recruited to help airport staff detect contaminated foodstuffs and anything that may be carrying African Swine Fever.

HELSINKI RAILWAY STATION WAS EVACUATED today after a fire broke out in a Hesburger restaurant inside the station. It is believed that the fire was caused by an electrical outage inside one of the packing freezers, according to initial reports from YLE.

ONE OF THE LARGEST LIGHT ART FESTIVALS IN THE COUNTRY KICKS OFF TOMORROW, one that will see many of Helsinki's most iconic landmarks transformed by illuminating art installations. Preparations for the Lux 2020 Festival have already begun, and we've gathered a sneak-peak of what to expect over the weekend. 

JAN VAPAAVUORI, THE MAJOR OF HELSINKI HAS KICKED OFF INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS by hosting a soiree for local fourth-graders at Helsinki's Finlandia Hall. Over 6000 people reportedly attended the party, with pint-sized revelers being treated to food, music, and live entertainment. 

UNEXPECTEDLY WARM TEMPERATURES AND SUNNY SKIES drew Helsinki residents out of their homes and onto the beaches and parks of the city across the weekend. With temperatures peaking at around 18 degrees, this weekend was one of the warmest of the year so far for the Finnish capital. 

RESIDENTS OF THE CAPITAL REGION flocked to the city's beaches and lakes today, as temperatures continued to rise. As the mercury hit 21 degrees in parts of the capital region today, temperatures in other parts of Finland exceeded 25 degrees Celsius. 

AS SCHOOLCHILDREN UP AND DOWN the country return to class for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, it is clear that there will be no quick return to normal. 

CROWDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDED the opening event of a new mall in Herttoniemi, east Helsinki earlier today, despite social distancing rules put in place by the government and pleas to reduce human contact in the face of the COVID-19 virus. 

HOPEFUL SUPPORTERS FOR THE FINNISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM have gathered in Helsinki tonight to see whether Finland will make history and qualify for the Euros in their match against Liechtenstein. 

AS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS FINLAND PREPARE TO REOPEN tomorrow after almost two months of forced closure following the COVID-19 outbreak, it is clear that staff and students will not be returning to business as usual. 

THE DOORs OF HELSINKI'S ICONIC OLYMPIC STADIUM will finally reopen to the public following a multi-year, €300 million renovation project that is the most far-reaching work the venue has received since it was inaugurated in 1938.

A SOON-TO-BE-DEMOLISHED FIVE-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING IN KERAVA, UUSIMAA, has been given a colourful new lease of life after dozens of artists took over the abandoned rooms to project their own artistic visions.