Helsingin Sanomat is among the papers reporting that the Russian Embassy in Finland has forwarded an official diplomatic note to the Finnish Foreign Ministry in the wake of the seizure of Russian state properties in Finland.
In an email to HS, the Russian embassy said that it had not received any official notification from the Finnish Foreign Ministry regarding the move.
The note, according to the embassy, expresses "strong protest against the actions of the Finnish authorities" and asks for a review of the decisions made by Finland's National Enforcement Authority.
Helsingin Sanomat reported on Tuesday that so far the value of the property seized in Finland, including real estate, is 35.5 million euros. The decision to seize the properties was taken on Thursday last week.
The Russian Embassy in Finland says it received the list of items only on Tuesday of this week. According to the embassy, half of the properties are diplomatic property, as they are "used for official and representative purposes of the embassy".
The National Enforcement Authority has stated the properties enjoying diplomatic status have been excluded from seizure.
The seizures follow a ruling by the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague. It says that Russia must pay the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz more than five billion euros in compensation for the damage caused to it by the occupation of Crimea.
Iltalehti reports that on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova threatened Finland with retaliatory measures over the seizure of Russian state assets.
IL referred to a Tass news agency report quoting Zakharova as saying, "a legal assessment of the actions of the Finnish side will be made after receiving answers to our requests. Any illegal decisions will not remain unanswered."
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov also confirmed on Tuesday that Russia will mount a legal challenge to Finland's decision to seize the properties.
Tax card adjustments
The online Uusi Suomi news service reminds readers that 2025 tax cards will come into force from the beginning of the new year, and that income ceilings for the cards will now be calculated for the full 12 months of the year.
Up until now, tax cards have come into force at the beginning of February.
Päivi Ylitalo, senior procedural administrator the Tax Administration, says that the change is intended to make it easier for people to keep track of tax rates and income ceilings.
"Based on our own observations and feedback we have received, the 11-month income ceiling on the tax card is difficult for customers to understand. Around half of the inquiries we receive at the Tax Administration are related to tax cards," Ylitalo said in a release this week.
Tax cards for 2025 will be available via the Tax Administration's OmaVero (MyTax) online service as of mid-December.
According to Ylitalo, the tax card change will also streamline salary payments by companies.
Labour shortages
Ilta-Sanomat looks at what sectors of the Finnish economy are suffering from the biggest shortfalls of qualified workers.
IL reports that the latest data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment found Finland's most pressing needs are for more nurses, general medical practitioners, early education schoolteachers, application designers, welders, security guards, psychologists, excavating machine operators and social work specialists.
Included among the most sought-after abilities are digital skills, and expertise in customer service, medical care, networking, teaching and languages.
In the Uusimaa region, which includes the capital, there is a shortage of employees with first aid skills, expertise in teaching and medical care, skills for working in a multicultural environment and digital skills.
The region needs, for example, early education teachers, health professionals, restaurant and catering workers. The paper gives a region-by-region breakdown of what workers are most sought after.
The paper notes that in Lapland, there is a particularly high demand for nurses, restaurant and catering workers, earthmover and truck drivers, cleaners, construction supervisors and welders.
Five points about winter tyres
A warmer than usual autumn has been kind to Finnish motorists this year. As the almost summer-like driving conditions continue, the thought of changing to winter tyres has probably not yet crossed the minds of many drivers.
Now, however, winter is threatening to take motorists by surprise. The forecast for the rest of the week is for freezing temperatures with the possibility of snow showers in various parts of the country.
Helsingin Sanomat provides its readers with a five-point checklist for the start of the winter tyre season.
- Change your tyres in good time
As of the beginning of November, winter tyres must be used if the weather or road conditions require it.
Since the forecast is for more wintry weather towards the end of the week, winter tyres may be needed very soon.
- Check that your old winter tyres are legal
The main tread groove of winter tyres must have a depth of at least 3mm.
If you're using studded tyres, they must all have studs and the difference in the number of studs between tyres must not exceed 25 percent.
However, the difference may be greater if the number of studs on each tyre is at least 75 percent of the number of studs on a corresponding new tyre.
- Consider whether friction or studded tyres are a better choice
When it comes to buying new winter tyres, drivers have to choose between studded and friction tyres.
According to Sami Kivilä, a training adviser at the traffic safety organisation Liikenneturva, the choice depends on driving needs, and there is no single right answer to the question of whether friction or studs are better.
- Normal winter tyres are suitable for electric cars
Tyre manufacturers have special winter tyre models specifically designed for electric cars.
Should an electric car driver buy tyres specifically designed for an electric car?
According to Kivilä, not necessarily.
He points out that the weight difference between an electric car and an internal combustion engine car, for example, is not necessarily so great that different tyres are needed.
- Adapt your driving style and speed to the weather
When the temperature is close to zero in the morning, the road may be clear and dry in some places, and in others it could be icy and slippery.
Drivers are advised to keep their speeds down and to extend distances between vehicles on the road as the weather turns wintry.
"Let's be prepared for the fact that the weather is not what it has been for the last six months," Kivilä told HS.
