Emojis are a nearly universal language – symbols that speak clearly across cultures. But Finland has created a set that has a more singular focus: putting a clever and fun spin on the culture and identity of the country.

Happy birthday, have a mountaintop. That’s what a Norwegian campaign is hoping to say to Finland, on the occasion of the latter’s 100th birthday in late 2016. [...] “We would not have to give away any part of Norway,” Harsson explained to the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “It would barely be noticeable. And I’m sure the Finns would greatly appreciate getting it.”

It sounds cliché but an [educational] exchange really is a life changing experience and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to any Brock student. The time I spent abroad was more than just learning new things and travelling, I learned a lot about who I am as a person and as cheesy as it sounds it changed me for the better.

Finland's foreign ministry has launched a set of official emojis, and a once-ubiquitous Nokia handset is among them. More than 30 icons will be available for people to download, representing "important things associated with Finland", the ministry says. 

The Russian government has always understood the interest of the three Finno-Ugric countries – Finland, Hungary and Estonia – in the Finno-Ugric peoples within the borders of the Russian Federation as “a pretext for putting pressure on Russia when the situation requires,” according to Alina Sergeyeva, a St. Petersburg commentator.

This was a formal, and very exclusive, event held by the Diplomatic Sauna Society, a Scandinavian-flavored networking club established by a spokesman of the Finnish embassy in D.C. to help the country’s diplomats forge connections with Washington heavyweights.