Iltalehti readers reported unusual light phenomena early Monday morning on the eastern border, with many suggesting rockets caused the display.
IL, however, reports that Finnish officials have been tight-lipped on what exactly caused the bright lights. According to the paper, Russian state news agency Tass last week reported that the country was planning to launch a Soyuz-2 rocket from its northwestern Plesetsk launch facility.
The Finnish Defence Forces have not commented on the event, citing operative concerns, according to IL.
Rubble rouble?
Tens of thousands of Russians have arrived in Finland since Vladimir Putin's call-up. Hufvudstadsbladet asks how Russians are managing to get a hold of euros.
While Forex said it had stopped exchanging roubles, Tavex, an Estonian company, still buys and sells the Russian currency.
"There are no limits for how much Russian passport holders with a residence permit can exchange. Those without residence permits can exchange up to 500 euros' worth of roubles," Marek Viskman of Tavex Finland told the Swedish-language daily.
As the demand for roubles outside of Russia has plummeted, HBL asks what Tavex is planning to do with the roubles coming in.
"There's always buyers, including Finns. Our exact rouble amounts or who's buying them is a trade secret. In the end, we carry the risk," he explained.
Forced labour
Police suspect a multi-million euro Finnish berry company and Thai recruitment agency of forced labour, reports Helsingin Sanomat.
Officials said they suspect the pickers were in a dependent position and housed in poor, mould-infested conditions.
An investigation by regional newspaper Keskipohjanmaa found that the company deducted housing, food, flights and use of a shared car from pickers' earnings, according to HS.
Up until last year foreign berry pickers were in a legal grey area, HS explains, as they were considered independent contractors. However, the "berry law," which came into force last year defines the rights of gatherers and the obligations of companies purchasing the natural products. The law has made occupational safety interventions possible.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Border Guard, Helsinki and Lapland police have cooperated in the case.