Domestic outlets, including Helsingin Sanomat, report that a rocket launch from Russia prompted multiple emergency calls in Finland overnight, though authorities say there was no danger to the public.
Police report that around 2.20am, the emergency response centre received several calls about a flying object, with sightings near the eastern border.
The authorities said the object was a carrier rocket launched from Russia. These types of rockets generally transport satellites and space probes into orbit.
Teen voters to the rescue?
What would Finland look like if younger people were allowed to vote? Turnout in recent elections has been lacklustre — around 70 percent in the second round of the most recent presidential election, and just 54 percent in the latest municipal elections.
General elections, coming up again in a year, have been drawing around 70 percent of eligible voters to the polls in recent years.
In an editorial, Maaseudun Tulevaisuus highlights a notably unorthodox proposal floated by Evangelical Lutheran archbishop Tapio Luoma — lowering the voting age to 16.
MT also raises the idea of Estonian-style electronic voting, though noting that the risks related to cybersecurity and potential manipulation need to be recognised.
Several countries have lowered the minimum voting age to 16, including Austria, Argentina and Brazil, while the UK government plans to do so. It is already 16 for some elections in Scotland and Wales.
Cool weekend
The approaching weekend will see a pause in the weather's warm spell, reports Ilta-Sanomat.
While Friday will be largely sunny with temperatures in western parts reaching 17-18 degrees Celsius, according to Foreca, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) said readings of 20 degrees are not on the horizon any time soon.
Over the weekend, highs will mostly range from 5 to 10 degrees nationwide.
Meteorologists, however, noted that at this time of year, even southern Finland is typically still shedding the last of its snow, with temperatures hovering near freezing or even dipping below it.
