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☆ I planned on confronting my absent father about his parenting. But when I asked to hear his side, I learned a powerful lesson.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Justin Jones-Fosu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

My father was absent throughout most of my life, so I went to Ghana to confront him about it. AdvertisementA few years ago, I visited my father in Ghana and asked to hear his story about why he was an absent parent. My father told me about his journey with his dad, his custody struggles, and the interpersonal conflicts between him and my mother. I also asked my father to share his experiences growing upMy father grew up in Ghana, and his own father was only a kid at the time. We hugged, and my father told me he was proud of me, which I never heard growing up.

Persons: —, I'd, Justin Organizations: Service, Finland —, quicken Locations: Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Finland, defensiveness

☆ Here are the most powerful passports for 2024 — Switzerland tops the list
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The 2024 Nomad Passport Index states: "Citizens of different countries deal with very different requirements to pay tax, live freely, comply with regulations, and avoid scrutiny when traveling. In that regard, the number of countries a passport holder may visit does not tell the whole story." A slight corporate tax adjustment in Ireland was more than offset by its top scores for travel and global perception, according to Nomad Capitalist's research team. The drop was caused by a change in UAE tax policy that affected domestic and overseas company owners, including residents with foreign company ownership, it said. Many people are curious to know how their passports compare to their global peers, but that's not why Nomad Capitalist produces the annual ranking, it said.

Persons: Hong Kong, Andrew Henderson Organizations: Nomad, Ireland, United, United Arab Emirates, The UAE, Macao Locations: Ireland, Portugal, Finland, United Arab, Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Hong, China

☆ Hungary votes to approve Sweden's NATO membership
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, as Hungary remains the last NATO member to not ratify Sweden's bid to join NATO, on (Photo by Balint Szentgallay/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Hungary on Monday voted to approve Sweden's NATO accession bid, ending months of diplomatic negotiations and finalizing Stockholm's membership almost two years after it first applied to join the military alliance. Hungarian lawmakers voted in favor of Sweden's membership after overcoming long-standing opposition from governing party members led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The Scandinavian country will become the 32nd NATO member, coming under the fold of Article 5 of the treaty, which vows that an attack on one member is an attack on all of them. Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022 — at the same time as Finland — in a historic overhaul of its policy of military non-alignment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While a vast majority of NATO members backed Stockholm's bid from its early days, Orban was resistant amid Swedish criticism over Hungary's democracy.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Viktor Orban, Balint Szentgallay, —, Orban Organizations: Swedish, Hungarian, NATO, Getty Images, Monday, Finland —, Gripen Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Sweden, Finland, Ukraine, Europe, Swedish

☆ 11 things people do in Finland — the happiest country in the world — that Americans might find strange
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Mykenna Maniece | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

In 2023, the World Happiness Report named Finland the happiest country in the world. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementFinland has been named the happiest country in the world by the World Happiness Report for the past six years. But whether it's satisfaction or true happiness Americans are chasing, it seems like Finland is onto something. Here are 11 things people do in Finland that Americans might find surprising — and some could provide valuable insight into unlocking a more comfortable life.

Persons: — Organizations: Service Locations: Finland

☆ Finland, which shares a border with Russia, plans to build 300 new shooting ranges as interest in national defense surge
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Finland plans to open new shooting ranges due to a surge in interest following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Finnish government aims to increase the number of civilian shooting ranges from 670 to about 1,000 by 2030. Since existing shooting ranges also cater to other users like hunters and the police, more facilities are required due to heavy usage. AdvertisementThere are about 670 shooting ranges for civilians in Finland — down from over 2,000 before the year 2000. Meanwhile, the Finnish defense ministry plans to "safeguard the activities of Finland's shooting ranges and promote the establishment of new shooting ranges," a spokesperson told the Guardian.

Persons: —, Russia —, People shouldn't, Jukka Kopra Organizations: Nordic, NATO, Service, Yle, Finns, People, National Coalition, Guardian, Helsinki, US, Kremlin Locations: Finland, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Finnish

Unlike in most European countries, the president of Finland holds executive power in formulating foreign and security policy, particularly when dealing with countries outside the European Union like the United States, Russia and China. “Clearly, the main task of the president is to steer foreign policy,” said Teivo Teivainen, professor of world politics at the University of Helsinki. Finland became the Western military alliance’s 31st member in April last year, much to the annoyance of Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Under the Finnish Constitution, the president decides on foreign and security policy issues together with the government. Late last year, Finland closed its border with Russia after some 1,300 migrants without proper documentation or visas arrived across the frontier just months after Finland joined NATO.

Persons: ”, Teivo Teivainen, —, Sauli Niinistö, Alexander Stubb, Pekka Haavisto, Haavisto, Jussi Halla, Olli Rehn, Niinistö, Vladimir Putin, Teivainen, Petteri, Putin, Washington —, ” Niinistö Organizations: HELSINKI, NATO, Union, University of Helsinki, Bank of Finland, Kyiv —, Hamas, Helsinki, Washington, YLE, Nordic, Kremlin Locations: Nordic, Ukraine, Russia, United States, China, Sunday’s, Finland, Ukraine —, Moscow, Sweden, Finland’s, Finnish, Moscow , Washington, Beijing, Baltic, Vainikkala

☆ Hamas is testing the layers of Israel's sophisticated air-defense network. Here's how it fends off threats.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Israel confirmed using its David's Sling air-defense system to intercept a Hamas rocket on Friday. Iron DomeIsrael's Iron Dome defense missile system is on alert, stationed close to the southern Israeli town of Sderot on October 12, 2023. Iron Dome has a reported intercept success rate of around 90%, but some inbound threats do manage to break through. US Missile Defense AgencyThe upper layer of Israel's air-defense network consists of Arrow systems. The Patriot is a top US air and missile defense system and is capable of engaging ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.

Persons: Israel, —, Daniel Hagari, Jack Guez, Tamir, Sebastian Scheiner, Brian Kimball Organizations: Service, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, country's Missile Defense Organization, Getty, IDF, Iron, Pentagon, Sling Air Defense, Hatzor, Base, Sunday, David's, AP, Interceptor, US Missile Defense Agency, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Arrow, Patriot US Army Patriot, US Defense Department, Tech, Patriot Locations: Israel, Gaza, Sderot, AFP, U.S, Iranian, Lebanon, Finland, Washington, Midia, Romania, US, Ukrainian

☆ Worried about vulnerable airbases, a US ally landed a F-35A stealth fighter on a highway for the first time in NATO's newest member
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Norway's military did something that's never been done before and landed a F-35A on a highway for the first time. Not only for the Norwegian Air Force, but also for the Nordic countries, and for NATO. Norwegian F-35A taking off from a highway in Finland for the first time. Norwegian F-35A taking off from a highway in Finland for the first time. The F-35A is used by the Air Force while the F-35C is employed by the Navy and Marine Corps aboard carriers.

Persons: that's, Finland —, —, Rolf Folland, Folland, Eivind Byre, Eirik Kristoffersen, Ole Andreas Vekve, it's, Lockheed Martin, Tony Bauernfeind Organizations: Service, Norwegian Armed Forces, Norwegian Air Force, Nordic, NATO, Royal Norwegian Air Force, US Air Force, Air Force, Lockheed, Marine Corps, Marines, Pacific, Navy, Air Force Special Operations Command Locations: Wall, Silicon, Norway, Finland, NATO, Finnish, Nordic, Michigan, Wyoming, Texas, Norwegian, Southern California, Russia, China

☆ 5 surprising facts about Finland, the world's happiest country
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the last six years. Finland is also known for its saunas and strong welfare state, and it has several unusual traditions and social norms. ShutterstockIn Finland, speeding fines are based on how much money a resident makes, along with how fast they were driving. PictureItSoldTourist site Visit Finland estimates that there are three million saunas in Finland — or the equivalent of just over half a sauna per Finn. The country is home to a sport called "wife-carrying"eukonkantoWife-carrying is now an international sport, but the world championships are still held in Sonkajärvi, Finland.

Persons: —, Bahadur Organizations: Service, Shutterstock, Finns Locations: Finland, Nordic, New Mexico, New York City, Finnish, Sonkajärvi

☆ I visited Helsinki, Finland's capital city. I can see why it's one of the happiest places in the world — even if the locals don't think so.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The city has a strong sense of communityHelsinki may be a capital city, but at times it felt like a small town. Visit Finland calls design an "essential cornerstone of the city," integral to the way the capital city functions. Public spaces, such as Oodi Helsinki's new central library, receive large amounts of state funding for construction. InsiderHelsinki's public spaces are often built to blend into natural settings. The city felt safeFinland benefits from high levels of social trust — and despite being the capital, Helsinki is no different.

Persons: —, they'll, Alvar Aalto Organizations: Service, Gallup, Helsink, metros, Helsinki Locations: Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki's

☆ Arctic Risks Loom Large as Blinken Tours NATO’s North
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Steven Erlanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As polar ice melts, Russia, already a major Arctic power, wants to make the region its own. China has ambitions for a “Polar Silk Road.” And NATO is embracing Finland — and Sweden too, Washington hopes — giving the alliance new reach in the Far North. Climate change is accelerating and amplifying competition in the Arctic as never before, opening the region to greater commercial and strategic jostling just at a moment when Russia, China and the West are all seeking to expand their military presence there. Mr. Blinken is making a point of visiting Sweden and Finland as well, meeting the leaders of all three countries as they press Turkey to ratify Sweden’s quick entry into NATO. He is scheduled to deliver a major speech on Russia, Ukraine and NATO on Friday in Helsinki, the capital of NATO’s newest member.

Persons: —, Antony J, Blinken Organizations: NATO, Finland — Locations: Russia, China, ”, Finland, Sweden, Washington, U.S, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine, Helsinki, NATO’s

☆ Videos capture Russian MiG-31 jet bursting into flames before it crashed into a lake
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian interceptor aircraft crashed into a remote area in northwestern Russia on Wednesday. Both pilots ejected before the MiG-31 went down, and there were no report of civilian injuries. The accident comes just days after another jet accidentally bombed a Russian city. Footage published by state-run media outlet Russia Today showed wreckage of the MiG-31 strewn across a frozen lake, where law enforcement also told TASS the plane crashed. RT cited witnesses saying that the aircraft crashed over 200 feet from the shore.

☆ Hungarian government official argues Sweden isn't nice enough to his country to get approval to join NATO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hungary is one of two countries yet to approve Sweden's bid to join NATO. Sweden — alongside neighboring Finland — requested to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, but it still needs Hungary's approval to do so. "With Finland's admission into NATO now secure, Sweden must face the music regarding its daunting attitude and former derogatory comments toward Hungary," Kovács wrote. Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty ImagesKovács wrote that another reason for the hold up on Sweden's NATO bid is Stockholm's "crumbling throne of moral superiority" and a "lack of care and respect." Sweden and Finland — both of which have historically been militarily nonaligned — applied to join NATO in May 2022 and were invited to join the military alliance the following month.

☆ The US is bleeding tech workers to other countries — it needs to move fast or risk falling behind.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US is losing tech workers to other countries. And so, many tech workers are opting to move and work there instead of the US. Plus, many of these countries are making their immigration systems easier for tech workers. My teammates Emilia David and Paayal Zaveri break down how the US is on the brink of losing an entire generation of tech workers. And it showed that Boomers and Gen Z both love many of the same cars, including the Toyota RAV4.

☆ Ukraine says it's now a de facto member of NATO — further underlining a crucial error in Putin's invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine has become a "de facto" NATO member since Russia's invasion, its defence minister said. Russia used the potential of NATO expanding to Ukraine as an pretense for its invasion. But this appears to have backfired, instead bringing it closer to the Western military alliance. Oleksii Reznikov told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Friday that NATO's support for Ukraine meant "Ukraine as a country, and the armed forces of Ukraine, became [a] member of NATO." Putin partly justified his invasion of Ukraine by saying that he was worried NATO was expanding towards Russia's borders, including into Ukraine.

☆ An often overlooked Swedish fighter may be the jet Ukraine needs to take on Russia now, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet has earned high marks for its capabilities and affordability. But buyers have often passed on the Gripen in favor of other jets, including the US-made F-35. A Saab JAS 39C Gripen jet during an air show in June 2011. US Air Force F-16s with Swedish air force JAS 39 Gripens over the Baltic Sea during an exercise in June 2018. A new Brazilian Air Force F-39E Gripen at an air base in Brasilia in October 2020.

☆ CEO of $4.5 billion tech firm slams his peers over layoffs: 'These are humans'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

HELSINKI, Finland — The boss of European digital insurance startup Wefox offered a damning response to tech companies that have laid off workers en masse. Swedish fintech firm Klarna was among the first major employers in tech to slash jobs this year, cutting 10% of its workforce in May. Several companies have followed suit, from those in Big Tech to venture-backed startups like Stripe. Julian Teicke, CEO of Wefox, told CNBC he is "disgusted" by what he views as a disregard by some of his peers for their employees. Venture capitalists have been advising startups in their portfolios to cut costs and freeze hiring as economists warn of an impending recession.

☆ Klarna CEO says firm was 'lucky' to cut jobs when it did, targets profitability in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

HELSINKI, Finland — Klarna will become profitable again by next year after making deep cuts to its workforce, CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski told CNBC. Klarna lost more than $580 million in the first six months of 2022 as the buy now, pay later giant burned through cash to accelerate its expansion in key growth markets like the U.S. and Britain. "We're going to return to profitability" by the summer of next year, Siemiatkowski told CNBC in an interview on the sidelines of the Slush technology conference last week. Buy now, pay later firms, which allow shoppers to defer payments to a later date or pay over installments, have been particularly impacted by souring investor sentiment. In the public markets, PayPal has seen its shares slump more than 70% since reaching an all-time high in July 2021.

☆ 'We're going to dream a little less': Sequoia's Doug Leone on fallout from FTX's collapse
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Doug Leone, managing partner at Sequoia Capital LLC, speaks during the Bridge Forum conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. The event brings together leaders in finance and technology from Asia and Silicon Valley to connect and share insights. HELSINKI, Finland — Billionaire venture capitalist Doug Leone said there wasn't much his firm Sequoia Capital could do to predict the solvency crisis at FTX. Without mentioning FTX by name — though strongly hinting at it ("I'm not going to mention any acronyms") — Leone, Sequoia's global managing partner, said Sequoia had done "careful due diligence" on FTX. Sequoia was one of numerous blue-chip funds that backed FTX before its demise.

Russia will formally annex four regions of Ukraine partially controlled by its military, the Kremlin announced Thursday, in a major political escalation of the war against its neighbor. It comes after Moscow-backed authorities staged votes in the occupied regions of Ukraine's east and south that were widely denounced as a sham to justify a land grab following Russia's recent military setbacks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin would attend a ceremony on the accession of the four regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia — at the Kremlin's St. George's Hall on Friday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has suggested it could be prepared to use nuclear weapons — a threat Putin has repeatedly made. Many Western experts see the moves as acts of desperation by Putin, whose armies have been pushed back by a lightning Ukrainian counteroffensive in recent weeks.

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