NATO Northern Flank Drills: U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs carried out landing and takeoff operations from a Finnish highway during Ramstein Flag 2026, testing how allied jets could keep flying if fixed air bases are hit. Cost of Living Watch: Yle reports Finland’s purchasing power has shifted since 2020—prices rose about a fifth overall, but some essentials (like housing and fruit/veg relative to wages) moved differently than others. Labour Migration Policy: Finland is weighing a points-based work migration system, comparing “ranking” vs “threshold” models while keeping employer needs at the core. Tech & Security: Tampere University launched SecureSoC, a €6.7m project to build secure chip technologies for critical systems ahead of EU cybersecurity rules. Energy Pressure: Aalto University warns EV growth could strain Finland’s electricity supply by the 2030s, especially during cold snaps. Transport Disruption: Major rail works will halt local trains west of Leppävaara for over a month, with bus replacements and longer journeys. Local Life & Culture: Oulu opened its Climate Clock art trail, aiming to make climate change feel more personal through public artworks. Missing Student: After 45+ days, family and authorities are still searching for a Hyderabad engineering student missing in Finland.