Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) pleaded with the public and authorities to help to manage the coronavirus epidemic in a press conference in Helsinki on Thursday, 26 November. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

PRIME MINISTER Sanna Marin (SDP) on Thursday pleaded with the public and authorities to assist in the effort to manage the coronavirus epidemic and reduce the number of new infections in Finland.

“Now is the time to pull up your socks,” she declared in a press conference according to YLE.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) spoke to reporters outside the House of the Estates in Helsinki on Wednesday, 25 November 2020. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT convened yesterday to discuss the circumstances in which the emergency powers act could be invoked to manage the coronavirus epidemic, agreeing that it is not yet necessary to declare a state of emergency to gain access to the powers granted in the act.

“I don’t see that we’re yet in such a situation,” Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) told YLE outside the House of the Estates in Helsinki.

The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) has abandoned a task force appointed to mull over means to increase wage transparency in Finland. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

THE CONFEDERATION of Finnish Industries (EK) on Monday announced it will surrender its seat on a tripartite task force appointed to promote the transparency of salary information and reduce wage inequality in Finland.

The task force was scheduled to convene at 2pm on Monday.

Rail passengers on a platform at Helsinki Central Station on 28 September 2020. (Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva)

THE CORONAVIRUS COORDINATION GROUP for Uusimaa is proposing that the restrictions and recommendations outlined earlier this week be introduced across what is the most populated region of Finland.

Markku Mäkijärvi, the chief medical officer at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), told YLE on Wednesday that the time to take action against the virus is now.

Mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavuori and CEO of HUS Juha Tuominen talked at a press conference about the coronavirus situation in the capital region in Helsinki City Hall on Tuesday, 24 November 2020. (Vesa Moilanen – Lehtikuva)

THE CITY OF HELSINKI is drafting widespread restrictions on social activities in collaboration with the rest of the capital region of Finland.

Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday revealed that the city is set to completely shut down public spaces such as libraries, sports facilities and swimming pools in order to rein in the sharp increase in new coronavirus infections.

From Mats Löfström FB page

The financial crises ten years ago left the Åland Islands almost unscattered even though it impacted the economy. However, it was a small summer breeze compare with the winter storm Covid-19 has become for the economy. The Åland Islands’ economy is very dependent on both passenger shipping and tourism, two industries that have been impacted very severely by the crisis.

Vilhelm Junnila in front of a polling station.

TWO FINNISH MEMBERS of parliament participated in the short-term election observation mission organised by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA).

When the pandemic was a fact, people knowledgeable in literature gave out reading tips in magazines and newspapers. The most common one was Camus’ “The Plague”, understandably. But also, other classics were brought forward, side by side with a book that eventually might reach the status of a classic.

The third part of Hilary Mantel’s trilogy about Thomas Cromwell first came out at the start of the year.

In a recently published press release, Finnish Customs announced that their laboratory found five out of the nine extra virgin olive oils they tested did not meet European quality standards.

According to the Director of Laboratory at Finnish Customs Pirjo Saino, extra virgin olive oil is of the highest quality. The oil must be flawless and possess fruity organoleptic characteristics. “Virgin olive oil, on the other hand, may have some sensory defects, albeit very minor ones,” she says.

A view of Almaty

Kazakhstan is firm on its path of structural reforms that the country embarked on at the dawn of its independence. At the opening of the Parliament on September 1, 2020, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his State of the Nation Address presented a comprehensive plan of action. It embraces a new form of governance and a new economic course.

Krista Mikkonen / Lehtikuva

Finnish business life and jobs are in the midst of structural change. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to reform our economy. If we want to improve Finland's competitiveness in the long run, industry and the entire business community must take a sustainability leap. 

Passengers and cabin crew wore face masks on a Finnair flight to Kittilä, Finnish Lapland, on 20 November 2020. A disinformation campaign spreading on social media claims, for example, that there is no scientific evidence of the benefits of masks. (Jussi Nukari – Lehtikuva)

A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN is spreading disinformation about the new coronavirus in order to undermine the instructions of authorities in Finland, reports Helsingin Sanomat.

The campaign launched earlier this week claims that it is possible to prevent coronavirus infections by, for instance, eating healthy food, drinking more clean water, enjoy the serenity of outdoors and focusing on happiness.

Led by Annika Saarikko, the Centre Party would receive 11.7 per cent of the popular vote if the parliamentary elections were held today, shows a poll by Helsingin Sanomat. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

THE POWER BALANCE between Finnish political parties has remained all but unchanged in recent weeks, suggests a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat.

The most notable positive change from the previous month was registered by the Centre Party, which saw its popularity creep up by 0.5 percentage points to 11.7 per cent and consequently held on to its status as the fourth most popular party in Finland.

Marin visiting Google's data centre in Hamina on 20 Nov. 2020 / Lehtikuva

The BBC has revealed the names of the trailblazing women on this year’s 100 Women List, celebrating inspirational and influential women from across the globe – from high profile names to unsung heroes.

In a year of unprecedented turbulence, this year’s theme is ‘How Women-Led Change in 2020’ and celebrates some of the scientists, public health experts, and healthcare workers who have helped us weather the storm