In response to higher taxes on sugary products proposed by the Finance Ministry in March, Kauppalehti runs an editorial suggesting that the move would likely not make Finns any healthier.
The government's proposal would raise the value-added tax (VAT) on sweets and chocolate from 14 percent to 25.5 percent. The Ministry of Finance calculated that the VAT increase on sweets could add 85 million euros to the Finnish budget annually.
The government has said they are taking the advice of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), although last month the health organisation said it did not entirely agree with the tax hike.
The editorial points out that potato chips and cookies have been left out of the proposal for political reasons.
KL alleged that the Swedish People's Party (SPP) protected the Swedish-speaking autonomous region of Åland's potato chip industry, home to the Taffel factory. The editorial also posited that cookies were excluded because the Minister of Agriculture wanted to protect domestic grain products.
The tax has been referred to as the 'Fazer tax' because it hits Finland's leading chocolate and confectionery manufacturer the hardest.
In response to the tax, Fazer has said it is holding off on a 500-million-euro investment decision.
KL said that in theory the tax sounds good, but may just push more candy-like products onto cookie shelves to circumvent taxation. Additionally, unhealthy snackers may not curb their appetites, but look to other, less-taxed junk food instead.
Summer heat
Tabloid Ilta-Sanomat wrote that the summer looks promising, at least if you like the heat.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts' (ECMWF) June-August forecast promises a hot summer across the continent, between 0.5 and 2 degrees warmer on average.
The Finnish summer this year also seems to be warmer than normal in terms of average temperatures. On the other hand, rainfall looks set to remain fairly normal or below normal.
"The forecast does not say whether we will see hot spells or more evenly distributed warmth; only the daily weather forecasts will show that over time," Foreca meteorologist Joanna Rinne said in a blog post.
Of course, Rinne added that while it is possible to see general trends, predicting the weather this far out is difficult.
"However, the forecast for the Finnish summer shows that although temperatures and rainfall will vary from day to day and week to week, as is always the case in Finland in summer, the overall picture for summer should be warm," Rinne noted.
Zip it and clip it
Finns' reputation for enjoying the silence seems to have extended into haircare, as Helsingin Sanomat covered the growing popularity of barbers offering silent services.
The process involves minimal dialogue between the barber and the customer, only discussing that which is the most necessary for the haircut. As such, the barber promises not to talk about the weather or what a customer does for a living during the 30-minute service.
Kati Hakomeri, a Helsinki barber offering the service, told HS that she needs to say less than 10 words when customers choose the silent treatment.
Hakomeri said that for some people the idea of having to interact with others can make them anxious.
"I'm an introvert myself and I understand how uncomfortable it can be for a client in a situation where small talk is needed. It's against my nature," Hakomeri said.
Using an online application, customers can book and choose the silent option for a haircut ahead of time, so both the barber and customer are on the same page.
Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here.