Helsingin Sanomat follows up on its probe into Lithuanian billionaire Gediminas Ziemelis, the new owner of the Helsinki Seagulls basketball team. HS reported on Thursday that the tycoon has been identified as a national security threat in Lithuania due to his connections with Russia. The report also highlighted his company, Avia Solutions Group, which provides ground handling services at Helsinki Airport.
Flag carrier Finnair is one of Avia's biggest clients.
Now HS reports that the Finnish Aviation Union IAU two years ago warned Tytti Tuppurianen (SDP), the minister charged with state ownership steering at the time, twice about Avia. These warnings, sent via email, however, did not lead to any action, according to the paper.
"[We] request that you ensure that neither state-owned Finnair nor Finavia, responsible for Finland's airports, engages in cooperation or enters into agreements with any entity that directly or indirectly supports Russia's sphere of influence," said one of the IAU emails sent to Tuppurainen and her state secretary.
Tuppurainen, who now serves as the chair of the Social Democratic Party's parliamentary group, said she has no recollection of these emails or the matter.
"I can't say what this is about. I have no further comments," she told HS.
Conversion therapy
"Totally unacceptable," is how Finnish author Kaj Korkea-aho describes plans for "ex-gay" Ray Baker to convene a gathering of Swedish-speaking Lutheran congregations in Kokkola next month.
According to Baker, homosexuality and Christianity are incompatible, which is why he married a woman — despite being attracted to men. This is a topic he plans to address, Hufvudstadsbladet reports.
Korkea-aho, whose recent book about a gay couple's journey to fatherhood has sparked a lot of interest in both Finland and Sweden, told HBL that he remembers similar lectures from his youth. "It stirs up a lot — many memories and a lot of discomfort."
Several citizens' initiatives have recently sought to ban conversion therapy in Finland.
Storms ahead
Forecasters say August will go out with a bang. Not only is there a risk of thunderstorms causing flooding in some areas, but Friday is also expected to be unusually warm for this time of year, reports Ilta-Sanomat.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) warns that thunderstorms may cause damage on Friday and Saturday, increasing the risk of urban flooding.
Forecasters expect severe thunderstorms in southern and western Finland on Friday, with the weather front moving on to the eastern part of the country on Saturday.
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