What will happen if a state actor, such as Russia, is identified as being behind the damage to the gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia discovered last weekend?
That is a question posed by Iltalehti in its Friday edition.
In answer, Joel Linnainmäki, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told the paper that if this is the case, Finland, Nato and the European Union have opportunities to act.
"As the investigation progresses, a conclusion can be reached whether a private or state actor was capable of causing the damage. If it is a state actor, it can be concluded who had an interest and the capability to do it. In the case of a state actor, Finland would certainly react in concert with Nato and the EU," said Linnainmäki.
Nato could increase its presence and control in the Baltic Sea. According to Linnainmäki, Nato's larger member states, such as the United States, Great Britain and France, could consider how to increase deterrence, for example with cyber attacks.
"It should be remembered that the West has capabilities to respond to hostile hybrid actions. At the same time, it is clear that Nato wants to avoid a direct escalation with Russia," Linnainmäki pointed out.
The EU, for its part, can complement Nato's measures by increasing sanctions.
According to Linnainmäki, Finland itself can take diplomatic countermeasures, for example, by denouncing any actor responsible for the destruction of infrastructure.
"This could happen, for example, at UN meetings and bilateral meetings with different countries, Finland can raise awareness of Russia's activities and push for its condemnation. Bilaterally, Finland could respond by expelling Russian diplomats from the country," Linnainmäki told Iltalehti.
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Car ban in Helsinki?
The City of Helsinki is looking into whether it is possible to ban petrol and diesel-powered cars in certain areas of the inner city, according to a report in Helsingin Sanomat on Thursday.
The Helsinki daily Hufvudstadsbladet reminds readers that this will become a reality in central Stockholm next year. The Swedish capital has decided to permit only electric cars, hybrids and low-emission natural gas vehicles in a 20-block area.
The chair of the Swedish-language environmental association Natur och Miljö, Joel Lindholm, applauded the news that Helsinki is now investigating a similar move as "an incredibly good initiative".
Lindholm noted that in addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, a ban would also reduce other air pollution, particle emissions and wear and tear on infrastructure.
Lindholm told the paper that he believes that this type of initiative makes us look at infrastructure in a different way.
"There will be more focus on light vehicles, bicycles and public transport. Changing transport and logistics would be a good step towards opening up a discussion about how we develop our cities in the future. And, it will be much easier for other cities, both small and large, to follow suit," he said.
Helsinki currently has a goal of reducing traffic emissions by 69 percent by 2030.
Kaisa-Reeta Koskinen, who heads Helsinki's climate unit, told Hufvudstadsbladet that the City is taking a broad look into how traffic emissions can be reduced. At this stage, there is no specific area being examined where petrol and diesel cars would be banned.
"We are still very far away from political decisions," Koskinen said.
Nicotine tax
Only a few months after becoming an over-the-counter product, nicotine pouches are now a target of higher taxation by the government headed by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP).
According to Helsingin Sanomat, the government's excise tax on nicotine pouches would be higher than that levied in Estonia and Sweden, a factor that could lead to a spike in smuggling.
The retail merchants' association PTY says that imposing higher taxes than those in neighbouring countries creates incentives for the import of nicotine pouches and sales within the gray economy which will not generate any tax revenue for Finland at all.
The government's proposal to change the law on tobacco tax advanced to the parliament's consideration from the beginning of the week. The presentation concerns nicotine pouches and similar smokeless tobacco products that are not yet on the market.
The government's proposal would bring nicotine pouches under the scope of the tobacco tax from the beginning of next year. According to the impact assessment of the bill made by the Ministry of Finance, the tax would raise the retail price of a typical 6-euro, 12-gram nicotine pouch by around 2.50 euros.
In Finland's neighboring countries, the tax levels for nicotine pouches are clearly lower than what is being proposed by the government.
Among the EU countries, the highest tax on nicotine pouches is in Estonia, at 1.30–1.40 euros for a 12-gram pack. In Sweden, the tax is 0.20 euros for a similar package.
Looking at the Finnish government's proposal, the retail merchants' association PTY stated that, "If the proposal is implemented, Finland's tax level would be more than one and a half times that of Estonia and ten times that of Sweden."
A night (or two) at the museum
Savon Sanomat is among the papers carrying a reminder from the STT news agency that Finland's National Museum will be open day and night this weekend before being closed for renovations until the spring of 2027.
Entry to the museum's exhibitions will be free of charge.
Those who bought an advance ticket will be able to climb up the stairs of the tower for a nighttime view of the capital, or even stay overnight in the museum. Tickets for tower visits and museum stays are sold out, however.
Several free events are also organized in the museum premises, including the chance to bathe in a "sauna village" in the museum's courtyard.
After this weekend, the National Museum will be closed for more than three years for renovations and additional construction. An expansion of museum facilities will be mostly underground, increasing its exhibition space by a third.
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