A patron wearing a face mask at the counter of a pub in Helsinki on 19 August 2020. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

RESTRICTIONS to the late-night sales of alcohol could be warranted also in Finland, estimates Lasse Lehtonen, the director of diagnostic services at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS).

Lehtonen on Saturday told Iltalehti and YLE that a fairly large proportion of new coronavirus infections in the country have been linked to nightlife, restaurants and parties.

There is no doubt that the covid pandemic will remain in history mostly for other reasons than the infections and the mortality and morbidity statistics. At least so far, these stats fade out easily when compared to historical plagues such as the outbreaks of typhoid, cholera and the infamous Spanish flue - which by the way started in Kansas, Texas, and by Trump’s logic should be called USA virus, instead of Spanish.

Affiliation marketing, or ‘affiliate’ marketing as it is also known, is one of the commonly used online sales tactics today. So common, that it is more than likely that you have purchased some products through an affiliate marketing tactic. But what is affiliate marketing and how do online businesses use it? 

E-commerce is undoubtedly big business these days. With the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down many retail storefronts globally, record number of customers are increasingly switching to online shopping.

Viking Line’s MS Amorella ran aground south of Långnäs on Åland Islands on Sunday. (Handout – Finnish Border Guard)

PASSENGERS AND CREW aboard MS Amorella, a passenger ferry operating between Turku and Stockholm, were evacuated after the ferry touched the seabed south of Långnäs on Åland Islands at about 12.35pm on Sunday.

The ferry was carrying around 200 passengers and 80 crew, according to Viking Line.

“The coronavirus is no excuse to do less and borrow more,” says Ville Tavio, the chairperson of the Finns Parliamentary Group. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

THE OPPOSITION PARTIES have announced their intention to table an interpellation accusing the government of abandoning its economic and employment objectives, according to Helsingin Sanomat.

The interpellation is backed by all four opposition parties in Finland: the Finns Party, National Coalition, Christian Democratic Party and Movement Now.

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) is not prepared to boost employment among the over 55-year-old population by cutting social security or the income of job seekers, according to chairperson Jarkko Eloranta. (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

THE CENTRAL ORGANISATION of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) has welcomed the additional funds allocated for employment policy in the newly released budget, saying they enable authorities to support unemployed job seekers as individuals.

SAK on Wednesday also said it is ready to sit down with other labour market organisations to discuss measures to promote employment among over 55-year-olds.

The cities of Helsinki and Tallinn are hosting the third World Summit on Digital Built Environment, WDBE, for experts in the field of urban development. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the WDBE is partnering with Epic Games and Zoan to bring the guests an immersive virtual event experience like nothing before.

The WDBE brings participants from over 50 countries together September 29–30, 2020 around the unlimited possibilities of digitalisation as an enabler of a more socially, culturally, ecologically and economically sustainable urban future.

A bullet hole inside the school that was the scene of an attack that left 11 dead, including the gunman, and three injured in Kauhajoki, Western Finland, on 23 September 2008. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

THE EUROPEAN COURT of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Thursday that Finnish authorities violated the right to life of 10 young people by failing to do their due diligence to prevent the school shooting that occurred in Kauhajoki, Western Finland, in September 2008.

The ruling was delivered by a vote of six to one.

The Finnish government announced the conclusions of its budget session in a news conference in Helsinki on Wednesday, 16 September 2020. (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

THE RULING COALITION has agreed on “numerous measures” to improve the employment situation and promote the transition to a carbon-neutral society in Finland, according to Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP).

The government yesterday announced it has wrapped up its budget negotiations, revealing it decided on measures that should add 31,000–36,000 people to the ranks of the employed.

Ossi Hiekkala / Burger King Finland

International coverage of Finland this week has included the fall out from Storm Alia where 60,000 people were left without electricity. Households mostly in the areas of Mustasarri Pori, and Uusikaupunki faced life without power as the storm hit.

Alia also caused several tress to be uprooted or broken, while boats were also damaged along the western coast as the vessels were already moored. 

Many others still had to face the wrath of Aila, as storm was expected to rage across Finland before heading towards Russia. 

After a several-month break necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic, Finnair will resume flights to Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kemi and Kokkola for the period between 25 October and 27 March. (Vesa Moilanen – Lehtikuva)

FINNAIR on Thursday announced it is resuming domestic flights to five regional airports after a several-month hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic but discontinuing them altogether after the upcoming winter season.

The Finnish majority state-owned airline said it will operate commercial flights to airports in Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kemi and Kokkola between 25 October and 27 March.

The visa policy of the European Union is changing. From 2022, travellers from third countries who had previously been able to cross an external EU border using just a passport will need to register with ETIAS. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is being introduced to boost EU border security and reduce the threat of terrorism and other serious crimes. Whilst Finland already ranks as one of the safest places on earth, this additional layer of security provides even greater peace of mind for residents and visitors.

Vandalism on the rise in Sweden/TT NEWS AGENCY,Lehtikuva

While the average person is buying eggs for their household needs, a youth gang in Sweden is now using them to create chaos.

Youths have been witnessed throwing eggs at buildings, store fronts, houses, parked cars, moving cars and even directly at families who are enjoying their day at the park.  Police were able to locate the stores which the youth gang was buying eggs from, and made the store owners aware of the current situation.  

Storm Aila, which was named after today’s name day in the Finnish calendar, left more than 90 thousand homes across Finland without electricity. Repairs of damages will take several days.

Look through today in pictures from all over the World, includes photos of satellite images, Israeli soldiers and Covid-19.