Espoo, Finland - Finnish cell phone maker Nokia is expanding its data services. The new version of its portal Ovi. com allows for synchronisation of appointments, contacts and notes, as well as photos and videos, between a PC and the Nokia cell phone.

It also allows users to use their cell phones to access data stored on a PC. Ovi. com is available in an official beta version, Nokia announced in Espoo. All services are free with the beta version, a corporate spokesman indicated.

Nokia is providing users with new services like Ovi Sync, the Nokia Ovi PC suite and Files on Ovi. The Nokia Ovi PC suite allows for files and information to be copied from a Nokia telephone to a computer, such as to store content.

Helsinki - Finnish flag carrier Finnair is to slash 400 jobs after failing to agree on wage cuts with unions, the company said Wednesday.

Helsinki - Two Finnish paper and forestry groups announced plans to trim jobs on Wednesday, citing the need to cut costs amid lower worldwide demand for paper products.

Stora Enso, one of the world's largest pulp and paper concerns, said it planned to cut 1,700 jobs from its global workforce of 36,000 employees including 600 employees in Germany, 550 in Finland, 400 in Russia, and 150 in other countries.

The company estimated that by 2010 the measures would improve its operating profit by 140 million euros (197 million dollars).

Stora Enso chief executive Jouko Karvinen said the was move aimed at offsetting "anticipated increases in duties on roundwood imported from Russia."

Helsinki  - Qualifying rounds were due late Thursday for hopefuls aiming to take part in the final of the Air Guitar World Championships held in Oulu, northern Finland.

Performers pretend to play rock or heavy-metal electric guitar solos without an instrument, and their skills are assessed by a jury.

Among the contestants is world champion Ochi Yosuke of Japan, winner in 2006 and 2007.

Just before the final due on Friday evening there will be a special ceremony to "promote world peace" as competitors and spectators were to join in a parade in the city of Oulu and listen to a declaration of peace.

Helsinki - Competitors literally started to sweat Friday as qualifying rounds for the Sauna World Championships opened in the small town of Heinola, southern Finland.

Hopefuls - who have proved they have a clean bill of health - sit in the sauna where the temperature is about 110 degrees Centigrade. Every 30 seconds organizers throw about half a litre of water on the stove, generating plenty of steam - and humid heat.

The winner - in the men's and women's respective competition - will be known late Saturday.

Helsinki - Finland, current chair of the 56-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), expressed "serious concern" over the situation in South Ossetia in Georgia.