Economic crisis sees families postpone parenthood
Families are postponing having their first child due to the economic uncertainty. According to a survey by The Family Federation, the current situation resembles that of the early 1990s recession in Finland. International surveys have yielded similar results. Birth rates decrease when an economic crisis impairs the safety network of families with children. The data of the Family Federation survey consist of the views of nearly 2,000 men and women.
HT-STT
Helsingin Sanomat establish a task force on data journalism
Helsingin Sanomat have established a task force on data journalism. The task force’s goal is to produce high-quality journalism and interactive graphics, as well as to employ crowd-sourcing in creating content for the online environment. Data journalism is a novel journalistic process that utilises broad data collections and online visualisations. Helsingin Sanomat regard the Guardian and New York Times as pioneers in data journalism. Data journalism is also be referred to as data-driven journalism or database journalism.
HT-STT
ILO: Youth unemployment record high
Global youth unemployment remains high, indicates International Labour Organisation (ILO). This year, 12.7 per cent (75 million) of the world’s 15 to 24-year-olds are unemployed. The prolonged economic crisis is significant, and ILO estimates that high youth unemployment will continue at least until 2016. The difficult employment situation is driving young people to study as a means to avoid the employment market at the moment. ILO, however, cautions that their graduation will further increase pressure on the labour market. As a solution, ILO proposes tax concessions to companies which employ young people and encourages private entrepreneurship. Youth unemployment in Europe declined slightly to 17.6 per cent. Meanwhile, Statistics Finland indicate that youth unemployment in Finland in March was 24 per cent. Finland’s youth unemployment rate has remained high in European comparison throughout the 21st century.
HT-STT
Only luomu guarantees more than the minimum for farm animals
In Finland, luomu (organic) is the only package marking that guarantees the well-being of farm animals, the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira states. Package markings in, for example, the UK are more advanced. “In Finland, only the organic mark is linked with animal well-being and ensures more than compliance with the minimum legislative requirements,” chief inspector Jaana Mikkola states. However, the creation of a single, reliable system for the EU is challenging. MTK, the Central Union of Agricultural Procedures and Forest Owners, meanwhile remind that the Swan ecolabel is valued by Finns and is, to an extent, an indication of animal well-being.
HT-STT
Summer is here
The Finnish Meteorological Institute forecast temperatures slightly above the seasonal averages. Yesterday, Monday 21 May, may have been the warmest day of the week, but warm weather should continue in most parts of the country – despite the fact that the forecast for the weekend is still precarious. On Monday, temperatures in Espoo, Turku and Kouvola, for example, rose near 25 degrees Celsius. Last week, thermometers soared past the 25 C mark in several parts of the country. The 27.5 C measured in Konnunsuo, Lappeenranta on Thursday is the warmest of the year so far.
HT - STT
Lehtikuva - Viena Kytöjoki
Low-cost coach company to extend operations to Northern Finland
The low-cost coach company Onnibus plans to extend its route network to Northern Finland. Coach service between Jyväskylä and Oulu is set to begin in August. An application was submitted to the North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment on Friday, the company reveals. Tickets for the route start from three euros. From Oulu, the company is looking expand further with Haaparanta recognised as a potential destination. Currently, Onnibus operates a connection between Tampere and Pori and services from Helsinki to Turku and Tampere are set to commence in June.
HT - STT
Taxi fares not regulated in Stockholm
Tourists in Stockholm may be in for a surprise if they hop carelessly into a taxi, cautions Helsingin Sanomat. The fare from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to central Stockholm may vary dramatically. The maximum price for a ten-kilometre, 15-minute journey must be displayed at the taxi window and, as a rule of thumb, should not exceed 310 Swedish kronas (35 euros). Some taxis may charge significantly more, up to 1,114 euros, and the daylight robbery is a concern for tourism officials. Reasonable fares are offered by Taxi Stockholm, Taxi 020 and Taxi Kurir, and customers can freely select a taxi from the taxi line, HS advices.
HT
Lehtikuva - Tor Wennström
Russia worthy winners
Russia recorded an emphatic 6–2 win over Slovakia on Sunday evening in the final of the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Having ended Finland’s hopes of retaining the title in Saturday’s semi-final, undefeated Russia were in a class of their own throughout the tournament. Earlier on Sunday, Czech Republic took advantage of a poor first period from Finland and fended-off a spirited fight back to claim third place with a 3-2 win over the hosts. Meanwhile, the controversy over ticket prices does not abate. The president of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, Kalervo Kummola admitted to Helsingin Sanomat that he may have been blinded by Finland’s triumph in Slovakia in 2011 and reiterated that changes to the pricing policy will be made for the 2013 championship.
HT
Lehtikuva - Markku Ulander
Improved YLE Areena launches
A new, more user-friendly YLE Areena, which offers thousands of programmes for online viewing, launches today. “The amount of programmes necessitated an improved way to organise the content,” explained Kari Haakana, the Head of Services at YLE Internet. The new service is set to enhance functionality, convenience and video quality by addressing, for example, playback problems experienced and by introducing new programme categories and an improved search function. The majority of programmes are available for viewing for a 30-day period. The new service launches today Monday 21 May, after months of extensive beta testing.
HT
Lehtikuva - Heikki Saukkomaa
The number of foreign inmates in Finland bulges
The number of foreign inmates in Finland has grown twenty-fold since 1992, Helsingin Sanomat reports. In 2011, an average of 444 foreign inmates were incarcerated in Finland - which accounts for 14 per cent of all inmates. The number increased particularly in the early 2000s. Some 45 per cent of inmates are Estonian, Russian or Romanian - the share of Romanians in particular has increased substantially over the past two years. Of the offences committed by foreign perpetrators, the share of drug offences has decreased from 61 to 48 per cent, while the share of thefts has doubled to 13 per cent. The statistics is provided by Rise - the national Criminal Sanctions Agency.
HT
More Articles...
- Culinary skills on display on Restaurant Day
- No rush of hockey tourists to Helsinki of yet
- Finland clinch win in the dying embers
- Shock defeats for Canada and Sweden
- Four dead in a road accident in Rovaniemi
- Mothers aim for perfection in childcare
- Travel to Russia could become easier
- Planners thumbs down to residents’ wishes
- Check-up for patient safety
- Upcoming proposal for new paternity law
