Category: Finland
Finnish Prime Minister Orpo headed to the summit of the European political community in Spain
Among other things, the EU’s defense capabilities and increasing Europe’s competitiveness are on the agenda of the meeting.
Explanation: The majority of MPs want well-off people to keep the child benefit
The majority of MPs think that wealthy families should continue to receive Finland’s general child allowance, according to Yle’s new study.
Snuff smuggling collapses after the reform of the nicotine bag law
The widespread availability of strong nicotine pouches in Finland has significantly reduced the smuggling of oral tobacco products from neighboring Sweden.
Video: Wolf sightings are increasing on Finland’s eastern border
Border guards have recently encountered more wolves on the Russian border.
Economic forecast: The price of food will finally start to fall next year
According to a recent report by PTT, the economic research institute of Pellervo, the price of food will decrease by approximately two percent in 2024.
Tuesday’s papers: Tougher racism laws, health care payment cap and colder weather
According to Helsingin Sanomat, the EU Commission is pressuring Finland to enact stricter laws against racism and xenophobia.
HS: A notorious Swedish gang is involved in the drug trade in Helsinki
The investigation has been carried out in cooperation with the Swedish authorities. Swedish police have made large drug and ammunition seizures and arrested members of gangs suspected of crimes in Finland. According to information from Helsingin Sanomat, the Swedish gang is believed to have distributed the drugs they smuggled into the country to local street…
YLE: The Finnish labor market is starting to reflect the economic recession
“It’s really an alarming sign of development.” The situation has clearly weakened from the previous year. The number of open jobs has decreased by 37 percent, while the number of unemployed job seekers has increased by 4.3 percent. The number of new vacancies, on the other hand, decreased by 32 percent from a year ago…
STT: A Swedish gang is suspected of smuggling drugs into Finland
Authorities believe the incident is related to the seizure of a large number of weapons in Sweden last spring.
Niinistö headed to Portugal for a meeting with EU presidents
The informal two-day meeting starts on Thursday.
Finland has the warmest September on record
Last month, the country’s average temperature was around 16 degrees on the south coast and slightly below eight degrees in northwestern Lapland.
Luxury car smugglers circumvent Russian sanctions through Finland
Yle reporters installed location tracking on luxury cars near the Russian border and showed the vehicles as they made the 5,000-kilometer journey to a car dealership in Siberia.
Finland is practicing a mass migration event
Various government agencies are testing their capabilities in the face of a sudden wave of migrants.
IS: A 21-year-old woman is suspected of kidnapping a newborn
The police suspect a young woman of kidnapping a baby last week in Huittini, Ilta-Sanomat reports.
Monday’s papers: Inflation winners and losers, Putin’s future and the autumn storm
Does inflation represent borrowers in Finland?
Ministers promise legislative reviews after HS murder conviction report
The newspaper reported that Latif Sharif was sentenced to death by hanging along with the two men who carried out the murder – according to local police, his acquaintances – despite assurances that he would not be executed because of his Norwegian citizenship. He was one of eleven prisoners who reportedly escaped in January 2012…
Orpo urges the counties to improve services, reiterates its commitment to labor market reforms
For example, elderly care services are almost in crisis. “Especially in home support services there are elderly people who are in a worse position than before. I can assure you that we will do everything we can to ensure that the elderly receive all the care they need.” Doctors working in employment offices were also…
Orpo: Street violence was partly caused by the failed integration of immigrants
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) said on Sunday that his government is planning tougher punishments and other measures to ensure that gang crime in Finland does not explode like it did in Sweden.
Musk’s Neuralink begins human trials, 1500 animals died in animal trials
Approval of human experiments On September 19, 2023, Neuralink confirmed that it had received US Independent Review Board approval to begin recruiting for first human trials. In particular, these trials focus on individuals who have experienced paralysis as a result of cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, Neuralink has decided to…
Helsinki-Vantaa’s security checks are disrupted due to JHL’s walkout protest
President of JHL Päivi Niemi-Laine explained that the walkout was a response to the government’s plans to implement employment reforms that could make it easier to terminate employment contracts and increase the prevalence of fixed-term employment. Niemi-Laine condemned the “continuous humiliation of the workers” and criticized the government for not complying with the demands of…
Helsinki-Vantaa’s security personnel will leave work on Thursday
The public and welfare sector union (JHL), the Pro union and the Industry union will all organize walkouts next Thursday.
Navigating the fabric of the Belt and Road Initiative: opportunities, challenges and the complex dance between Europe and Finland
The luminescent vision of the BRI, while hosting a pantheon of economic opportunities, particularly by improving global connectivity and promoting trade, also effortlessly overshadows challenges such as debt diplomacy, fair competition and intellectual property rights. Critics, for example, worry that states will be subtly indebted, and European companies struggling with competitive disadvantages against their Chinese…
Helsinki is threatened by Finland’s worst ever labor shortage
Thousands of nurses, early childhood education teachers and doctors will retire in Helsinki in the next few years.
The survey reveals a gender divide due to restrictions on the right to strike
The political historian told Uutissuomalai that Finnish men are generally politically more right-wing.
The Minister of Labor promises that the labor market reforms will proceed despite the recession; unions announce more walkouts
Labor Minister Arto Satonen (NCP) was confident that the economy would return to growth by the time the reforms planned by the government come into effect.
The survey shows little trust in Orpo’s government – or the opposition
Confidence in the ability of the government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s NCP to remain in office throughout its term is significantly lower than in other recent governments.
Women’s employment increases, men’s unemployment increases in August
However, the gender gap was clear, women’s employment increased significantly, by 49,000 compared to the previous year, while men’s employment remained almost unchanged. The number of employed men decreased by 4,000 compared to the previous year,” pointed out Tatu LeskinenSenior statistician at Statistics Finland. “It is worth noting that during the same period the number…
Climbing the stairs every day: A simple step to heart health
The Tulane study, which used data collected from 450,000 adults from the UK Biobank, assessed participants’ susceptibility to cardiovascular disease based on family history, established risk factors and genetic predisposition. The researchers also asked the participants about their life habits and the frequency of stair climbing, and the median follow-up time was 12.5 years. The…
The use of a seat belt could have saved more than a hundred lives in five years, a new report states
A total of 642 accidents were analyzed in the OTI report, which is based on studies conducted by traffic accident investigation boards in 2017–2021. The report focused on understanding the consequences of wearing or not wearing a seat belt in these accidents. Seat belts are a lifesaver In accidents involving passenger cars and small vans,…
Helsinki is looking for great Christmas trees in iconic places
A 12-20 meter tall tree is being sought for the Senate square and a 12-15 meter tall tree for the Hakaniemi shopping hall. The city’s arborists handle the felling and transportation of the selected trees. It is recommended that the selected tree is located reasonably close to accessible roads to facilitate the process. This initiative…
The Finnish Immigration Service enhances student permit monitoring with automated monitoring
Within the framework of this follow-up initiative, student residence permits sanctioned for degree-oriented studies starting on June 1, 2022 are subject to strict evaluation. The Finnish Immigration Service checks the start and progress of studies, the validity of the student’s right to study, and the fulfillment of other relevant criteria for the student’s residence permit.…
Ukraine awarded Halla-aho an honorary medal
The award is the country’s second highest honor for a foreign citizen.
See: Yle’s popular “Puppy live” stream is back
Cameras follow mother Sini and her cubs for eight weeks.
A Chinese company is building a 1.3 billion euro battery material factory in Finland
Ningbo Shanshan is the world’s largest supplier of battery materials for electric cars.
Inflation in Finland is slowing down slightly, while the euro area has seen its lowest level in two years
Inflation slowed slightly this month in Finland.
Security guards need more training, the working group states
The group did not specify how much security training should be expanded, but noted that guards need more guidance on the legal requirements for the use of physical force.
Finland continues the preparatory year for foreign children to improve their Finnish skills
Currently, immigrant children with little or no Finnish language skills usually spend one school year in preparatory classes before they move on to general education.
Russian-owned cars are gathering dust in Helsinki-Vantaa
The Finnish government has given owners of Russian-registered vehicles six months to get their cars out of Finland.
The Supreme Administrative Court approved the dismissal of the former auditor
The Parliament unanimously dismissed Tytti Yli-Viikari in 2021.
Friday papers: Secret land deals, Russia’s old consulate and questionable practices
For six years now, the defense forces have made pre-emption agreements near strategic targets in Eastern Finland, reports Helsingin Sanomat on Friday.
Syke: Lapland’s nature is changing rapidly and partly irreversibly
In the sub-region of Finnish Lapland, in Tunturi-Lap, temperatures have already risen by about two degrees compared to pre-industrial times. The rise in temperature has a significant impact on Lapland’s nature and livelihoods: habitats change and disappear as permafrost and permafrost melt, landscapes become greener as grass and bushes take over open areas, and animal…
YLE: Finland is at a standstill in the circular targets for construction and demolition waste
“There are big regional differences in Finland, but some municipalities have reached their goals – even exceeded them.” Hanna Salmenperäsenior advisor from the Finnish Environmental Center (Syke), told YLE on Tuesday. An excellent recycling rate was achieved, for example, in the demolition of an apartment building in Mäntsälä, Central Finland. “99 percent of the materials…
Migri checks the residence permits of foreign students retroactively
Migri has been conducting post-decision inspections of selected license holders since 2017, but now plans to do it more systematically with the help of automatic monitoring.
O’Canada! A standing ovation for a Nazi veteran prompts the speaker’s resignation and Trudeau’s apology
None of the 338 MPs stopped to consider that Russia was a major ally in the Second World War. If someone had fought against the Russians, it would mean aligning with the Nazis. Among those applauding was the German ambassador to Canada. It soon emerged that Hunka had served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division…
WWF calls for restrictions on most herring
The main herring populations in the Baltic Sea have fallen below the target level, which is an alarming sign of changes in the marine ecosystem, according to WWF Finland.
APN Podcast: Fighting for rights across Finland
In the program, we will hear how the right-wing government’s savings plans get employees and students into action.
Shell-brand gas stations in Finland will soon be a thing of the past
The rebranding to St1 will take place after the end of the license agreement.
Socio-economic differences in neighborhoods can affect the quality of children’s diets and increase the risk of obesity
Previous studies have shown that the characteristics of a child’s eating behavior as well as factors related to parenting and socioeconomic environment are connected to the development of risk factors for early childhood obesity. However, the relationships between different levels of nutrition quality and weight have not been extensively studied. In his doctoral research Saija…
Northern nature is changing quickly and irreversibly
Changes are observed in different ecosystems, as the permafrost melts, the palsa swamps disappear, and the mountain birch forests in many areas turn into secondary fell heaths and pines. Arctic nature turns green when open areas become green and grassy. Northern animal species are still threatened, and some may even become extinct. Currently, almost 40…
The Finnish president and foreign minister will meet their Latvian and French counterparts
“We are like-minded countries, but we are also countries facing similar geopolitical challenges,” Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said.
Domestic violence continues in Finland: helping the perpetrators of violence could be a solution
Professional help to stop violent behavior is an effective way to prevent domestic violence. “Violence will not end without helping the perpetrators. More resources are needed for anti-violence work to help not only survivors but also those who use violence. Violent perpetrator programs have shown positive results, but more research is needed,” said said. Jaana…
In August, apartment prices fell from the previous year
The Financial Supervisory Authority also announced that the mortgage ceiling will remain.
The occupiers of the University of Helsinki will remain in place until the president’s arrival at the defense event
“At no point have we sought to prevent the use of the space. We have proposed the idea of sharing the space to the university,” the protesters said.
Thursday’s papers: ministerial salary cuts, NATO nuclear weapons and father figures
The newspaper asked 19 government ministers whether they would support pay cuts. Only one answered.
Many healthcare services in Finland are worse than in other EU countries, says the minister
The government has promised to commit at least three billion euros to compensate for the predicted increase in costs for the current season, he reminded. However, the government simultaneously urges 21 provinces to rationalize their operations in a way that balances their budgets by the end of 2026. According to the calculations of the Ministry…
The Finnish government is aiming for a billion euro pension reform
The reform’s goal of one billion euros corresponds to both the predicted need to increase pension contributions and what was discussed in the labor market organizations. “I think the goal is realistic,” the prime minister said. Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday wrote that the goal can be interpreted as a concession by the government, as the…
Helsinki’s world’s first autonomous water taxis can revolutionize sustainable island travel
Successful innovations smart mobility includes autonomous transport solutions such as robot buses, drones delivery of first aid supplies and robotic sweepers. Autonomous transport on water is also technically possible, as has been shown Invitation boats the company’s water taxi trials. Callboats’ electronic water taxis can be ordered through a mobile app, in the same way…
Mental health support services under threat in welfare areas
They facilitate recovery and promote readiness for work and education through peer support and personal guidance. Before the reorganization of social and health care, Klubitalos cooperated with municipalities. Now, however, they are mainly partners with welfare regions in most regions. said Annika HäggqvistPori Klubitalo manager. About 200 people dealing with mental health problems participate in…
Alko announces moderate price revisions for autumn
Alko’s retail prices change twice a year, typically between the end of March and September. This fall, the new prices came into effect on September 26, when the average price revision was 0.4 percent. Beer prices rose on average by 0.4 percent, spirits by 0.7 percent, sparkling wines by 0.9 percent, red wines by 0.2…
The cow sculptures at Rautatintor spark a discussion about the climate impacts of the dairy industry
In honor of the anniversary, Flora Plant B+tter now encourages to continue the discussion about milk production and to think about reducing the consumption of animal products. Flora Plant B+tter commissioned British recycling artist Ptolemy Elrington to design three cow sculptures, which aim to spark a conversation about the environmental impact of milk production on…
Syke: Livelihoods and nature in danger when Lapland warms up quickly, irreversibly
According to the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), many species may disappear as temperatures rise in the coming decades.
The authority announces the delay in processing the nuclear waste facility’s permit
The Swedish Radiation Protection Agency granted permission to start mining the Onkalo disposal facility in 2021.
Two opposition parties will vote the government’s confidence in healthcare and care for the elderly
Both parties, the Center and Movement Now, said they wanted to make sure public services were available.
Prime Minister meets labor market leaders; both sides emphasize the need for open dialogue
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) met for the first time with the leaders of trade unions and business life amid the increasing tension of the labor market reforms planned by the government.
Research: Food shrinkage becoming more common
According to the Consumers’ Association, one of the most frequently reduced product groups is pet food.
Finns order less liquor from abroad
Excise duty enforcement may be behind the contraction of trade.
The Russian Åland consulate is under scrutiny when a petition to abolish it goes to parliament
On a political level, there have been attempts to close the Russian Åland consulate in the past.
The Supreme Court rejected the appeal application of the former auditor
The former head of the Audit Office is still awaiting a three-month suspended sentence for embezzlement and abuse of office.
Wednesday papers: Lost property, gas price jumps and permanent jobs
The price of gasoline can reliably be expected to rise every Wednesday.
Vantaa will not give in to the government’s pressure to cut social and healthcare spending
Its budget for this year is 62 million euros in deficit. Provincial decision-makers are scheduled to discuss the reform program later this fall, which is expected to slightly reduce the deficit. However, Aronkytö emphasized to the newspaper that the program is not a series of spending cuts, but a real development program, the effects of…
Three Finnish companies are added to the US trade blacklist
Most of the companies are Russian or Chinese, but the new entries also include companies registered in Germany and Finland. Two of the Finnish companies, Luminor and Siberica, were added to the trade’s blacklist about two weeks ago, but the latest update also includes a company called Evolog, According to Helsingin Sanomat. The list includes…
The Yle Areena application will soon require logging in
Yleisradio wants to improve its content offering.
Helsinki is rethinking the fence design of the iconic statue
Some residents said the proposed structure was too large, while others suggested it would be too easy to climb.
Kiasma exhibitions 2024: Getting to know the essence of home, belonging and identity
At the turn of the year, the museum welcomes art enthusiasts to explore the concept of belonging through a curated selection of works from the National Gallery’s collection. The exhibition explores the complex relationship between belonging, identity and society. It offers a multifaceted perspective on how people relate to each other and their environment, including…
Cases of electric shock are decreasing – Climbing on the roof of a train is often fatal
“In Finland, there are an average of 2-3 deaths caused by electric shock every year, a significant part of which is caused by a young person climbing on top of a train. These deaths of young people caused by high-voltage electric arcs are particularly tragic, because they could have been avoided by being aware of…
The NBI is investigating a former employee of Business Finland who is suspected of embezzlement
The news has said that Business Finland suspects its former employee of embezzling almost five million dollars while working in the US office.
Mikael Pentikäinen: Urgent need for labor market reforms
The trade unions present a strong argument against why the Finnish labor market should not be reformed even during this government. They want to continue the path of avoiding reforms and complicating business primarily to secure their power, which Finland has followed for decades. Let’s repeat why there is a dire need for reforms. Growing…
According to OAJ’s research, only a fraction of teachers feel valued
The survey revealed that only 10 percent of teachers feel fully valued for their professional competence and work, and an additional 22 percent partially agree that their expertise is valued in society. The information comes from OAJ’s spring survey, in which more than 2,200 teachers working at different educational levels participated. “The result is extremely…
Job growth is recovering, but unemployment is slowly rising in Finland
The employment rate for the age group 20–64 was 77.8% and for the traditional 15–64 age group 74.1%. The development of the employment rate has remained relatively stable in a horizontal direction since last fall. “We had quite a shock last month when employment fell sharply in July. Now it looks like it was an…
Microscopic but gigantically important: Finland and Espoo’s opportunity to lead chip technology
When part of the production chain falters, as was seen during the automotive industry’s COVID-19 pandemic, Finnish chips, household appliances and cars can get stuck in the production pipeline. However, Finland has excellent opportunities to become Europe’s leading center of chip expertise, where Espoo is at the forefront of chip technology and manufacturing. What are…
The food services of the City of Helsinki ensure hygiene and microbiological quality in fast food restaurants
A total of 42 raw hamburger patties and 143 samples of chopped vegetables were collected for analysis, with an additional 14 resamples due to poor results. The samples were examined for spoilage bacteria and disease-causing bacteria. In addition, 282 samples were taken from the kitchen surfaces for microbiological studies to evaluate the cleanliness of the…
The police suspended the investigation into suspected vandalism at the Russian Åland consulate
The incident happened on May Day.
IS: Police suspect controversial former advisor of human trafficking
The suspicion is related to the relationship of former Jyväskylä city councilor Teemu Torssonen with his ex-spouse, Ilta-Sanomat reports.
The Consumer Disputes Board says "unreasonable" electricity contracts can be terminated
Consumers should now be able to cancel expensive fixed-term electricity contracts without large fines.
Employment increased in August as more women find work
In August, there were 49,000 more women at work in Finland than at the same time last year.
The mayor of Helsinki denies having committed a crime: "I was the one who called the police"
The suspected crime is related to the activities of a non-governmental organization, whose board is also chaired by mayor Juhana Vartiainen.
The United States adds three Finnish companies to Russia’s blacklist
According to the US Department of Commerce, three Finnish companies have been part of a supply chain that supplies components to a St. Petersburg company that manufactures drones for Russian military intelligence.
Tuesday’s papers: Sports day, labor struggles and warm weather
A teacher’s concern about boys and girls competing against each other in a sports day organized for Swedish-speaking elementary schools in Helsinki has caused a storm on social media.
There are still plenty of Finnish house building companies filing for bankruptcy
Helsingin sanomat newspaper highlighted Last week, the monthly number of bankruptcy filings has been as high only seven times since 2003, with the record 53 set in February 2009. Between January and August, 294 house building companies have started bankruptcy proceedings, which has left the sector with the worst year since the beginning of the…
Stockmann is considering selling the department stores and changing the name to Lindex
Sari PohjonenStockmann’s board chairman assured that the name change will not affect the department stores’ branding or day-to-day operations. Lindex’s turnover in 2022 was EUR 661 million, which is more than two-thirds of Stockmann’s turnover. The fashion retailer was also the group’s main producer with an operating profit of 90 million euros, which kept its…
Nordea Survey: Finns think interest rates have risen permanently
Finns believe that interest rates have risen permanently. In Nordea’s recent housing survey, 2,000 Finns were asked about their expectations for the 12-month Euribor interest rate five years from now. The general consensus is that interest rates will fall slightly from their current levels, but will remain higher than in the past decade. The average…
More than 60 events behind the scenes of museums in different parts of Finland – The Museum Association of Finland celebrates its birthday on Saturday
The “Behind the Museum” celebration coincides with the foundation day of the Association of Museums on September 30, 2023. During the festivities, the public gets to explore areas that are usually off-limits, and participate in guided tours and workshops led by museum professionals. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet museum experts who will…
Fatal traffic accidents have decreased in Finland this year
Of those who died in traffic accidents in January-August, 96 were in motor vehicles, 13 were pedestrians and 14 were cyclists. These figures are based on preliminary data from the investigation boards of traffic accidents. Advance information refers to information that is reported immediately after the on-site accident investigation. More detailed background information and information…
Mayor Vartiainen: Converting premises in the center of Helsinki into apartments
“We need more apartments in the city center. It is a clear and long-term trend that business and offices require less square footage. At the same time, all major cities are thinking about how to attract people back to the city center. One essential way to achieve this is to increase housing options in the…
The Finnish Immigration Service accepts the inspection agency’s recommendations to improve procurement practices
To ensure the transparency and efficiency of these processes, the Finnish Immigration Service takes into account the recommendations recently issued by the National Audit Office (NAOF). The Immigration Office has recently inspected some long-term service procurements at the Immigration Office. The timing of these inspections coincided with the agency’s ongoing and upcoming major tenders this…
In an interview with the Washington Post, Finnish FM Valtonen discusses Russia’s future, Sweden’s NATO bid
Finland’s foreign minister sat down for an interview with the Washington Post when he visited New York last week at the UN General Assembly.
The Prime Minister of Estonia and the FM of France will visit Finland this week
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and her Finnish counterpart Petteri Orpo will discuss, among other things, border security, the security situation in the Baltic Sea region and support for Ukraine.
Finland’s top police: Gang, youth crime a "a big problem"
The Swedish police commissioner has warned his Finnish colleague that Finland must take concrete measures to avoid “Swedish” youth crime.
Explanation: The majority of foreign workers would consider leaving Finland if the government’s immigration policy comes into force
Those who responded to the survey said they were particularly worried about plans to cancel a residence permit if the holder is unemployed for three months.