According to a new study conducted by experts at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria, ordinary levels of traffic pollution can damage human brain function in a matter of hours.

The peer-reviewed findings, published in the journal Environmental Health, show that just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust causes a decrease in the brain's functional connectivity - a measure of how The study provides the first evidence in humans, from a controlled experiment, of altered brain network connectivity induced by air pollution.

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The Facebook and Instagram accounts of former US President Donald Trump will be reinstated by Meta after a ban of two years, according to New York Times.

Notably, Trump's accounts on Facebook and Instagram were suspended by Meta following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

A Ministry for Foreign Affairs building in Katajanokka, Helsinki, in April 2020. Officials at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs have rejected the idea of setting up a security policy advisor role under the prime minister’s office, viewing that it could blur the division of foreign and security policy duties between ministries and the office. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

THE MINISTRY for Foreign Affairs has rejected the idea of setting up a position for a security policy advisor under the office of the prime minister, arguing that it would blur the division of responsibilities between the office and ministries responsible for security policy, reports YLE.

The position, it added, could also create uncertainty about a partial transfer of power from the ministries to the office of the prime minister.

President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö. LEHTIKUVA

THE OFFICE of President Sauli Niinistö has voiced its strong reservations about the notion of creating a position for a security policy advisor and dedicated security policy unit under the prime minister.

Citing the position adopted by the Parliament’s Constitutional Law Committee, the office stated that the majority of matters to be discussed at Nato have fallen and will continue to fall within the purviews of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry for Foreign Affairs, according to YLE.

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In its statement submitted to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) states that the licence-holder of the Loviisa nuclear power plant, Fortum Power and Heat Oy, has demonstrated that it is able to continue operating both units of the Loviisa nuclear power plant safely even after the expiry of the current licence period.

An electric light bulb and money in Helsinki on 11 January 2023. The Finnish government has reached an agreement on its scheme to compensate households for electricity costs incurred between November 2022 and February 2023, report YLE and Helsingin Sanomat. (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

THE RULING COALITION of Finland has reached an agreement on the details of its proposal to retroactively compensate households for electricity costs and extend the payment terms of electricity bills, write YLE and Helsingin Sanomat.

Although the five ruling parties discussed the conditions of the compensation scheme exhaustively, the agreement reached this week is largely unchanged from the proposal unveiled a few weeks ago.

Pedestrians crossing a street near the market square in Turku, Southwest Finland, on 18 January 2023. Southwest Finland was one of six regions that saw their population increase from the previous year in 2022, indicates preliminary data unveiled by Statistics Finland. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

STATISTICS FINLAND on Thursday released preliminary data revealing that immigration was the sole driver of population growth in Finland in 2022.

The data shows that the number of births fell by 4,661 from the previous year to 44,933, its lowest level in more than 150 years. The number of deaths contrastively jumped by 5,227 from the previous year to 62,886, representing a new high in the post-war era.

KONE headquarters. LEHTIKUVA

KONE plans to renew its operating model to strengthen its competitiveness and customer focus. The target is to drive KONE’s strategy forward with greater speed and efficiency and operate more closely with customers, through stronger geographic Areas.

The planned operating model builds on many of KONE’s existing strengths, combining scale and local accountability.

President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö in the Presidential Palace. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

Governor General of Canada Mary Simon will make a state visit to Finland from 6 to 10 February 2023. The visit will be hosted by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö together with his spouse, Dr. Jenni Haukio.

The Presidential couple will receive the Governor General at an official welcoming ceremony on Tuesday 7 February at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.

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According to a new study led by researchers from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, protected natural areas in the UK are struggling to halt declines in insects and spiders that have occurred over the last 30 years (UKCEH).

Nature reserves, Special Areas of Conservation, and other forms of protected habitat have long been regarded as critical tools in conservation efforts to preserve and restore natural habitats.

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The United States said on the candidacies of Sweden and Finland for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) that the two Nordic countries are ready and should be added to the world's strongest defense alliance at the earliest possible opportunity.

Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said that the US has been very clear about its views on Finland and Sweden's candidacies for NATO membership in public, as well as in private.

A crowd gathered to celebrate Chinese New Year in Helsinki on 21 January 2023. The idea of converting offices to flats in the heart of the Finnish capital has received little support from city officials, reports Helsingin Sanomat. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

OFFICIALS at the City of Helsinki have rejected proposals to convert commercial premises into residential ones at the heart of the city, reports Helsingin Sanomat.

Rikhard Manninen, the head of land use at the City of Helsinki, said officials oppose the idea of converting offices into flats due to the master city plan, which does not outright prohibit such conversions but prescribes that the amount of commercial space should not decrease in central Helsinki.

Founded in 1873, the Design Museum turns 150 this year. During its anniversary year, the museum will feature works by some of the most compelling names in design today.

The next main exhibition to open at the Design Museum will introduce us to the world of artist and designer Kustaa Saksi (b. 1975), who is renowned for his textile designs.

Minister of Defence Mikko Savola (Centre) spoke to reporters in the Parliament House in Helsinki on Wednesday, 25 January 2023. Savola said Finland will contribute to the international effort to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine, adding that both the scope and nature of the contribution remain undecided. (Antti Hämäläinen – Lehtikuva)

MINISTER of Defence Mikko Savola (Centre) on Wednesday stated that Finland will take part in the international effort to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, according to YLE.

“We’re preparing this together with the Finnish Defence Forces. The final decisions will be made by the heads of state,” he declared, adding that both the scope and nature of the contribution remain to be decided.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens) spoke to reporters in the Parliament House in Helsinki on Tuesday, 24 January 2023. Finland and Sweden, he assured, continue to look to join Nato at the same time. (Vesa Moilanen – Lehtikuva)

FINLAND and Sweden are continuing to work toward a simultaneous accession to Nato, assures Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens).

Haavisto on Tuesday stated in a press conference that he has discussed the recent hiccoughs in the accession process with both Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.