A person holding an open purse with bills and coins in their hands. Statistics Finland’s preliminary data reveals that a euro does not go any further than it did in 2009, as rampant inflation dented the purchasing power of wage earners in 2022. (Jussi Nukari – Lehtikuva)

THE REAL INCOME of Finnish wage earners declined last year at a clip not seen for over six decades as rampant inflation curtailed the purchasing power of households, reports Helsingin Sanomat.

Statistics Finland on Friday released preliminary data indicating that the real income of wage earners decreased by 4.4 per cent year-on-year in 2022, including by 5.7 per cent in the last quarter of the year.

Summer cottage in the woods. Photo: Rudi & Mikko

"The sale of vacation homes typically picks up when the snow melts and the bright evenings and picturesque sunsets arrive. This year, the general increase in costs and interest rates has also affected cottage sales, resulting in a quieter market compared to previous years," says Tuomas Viljamaa, CEO of the Real Estate Agents' Association.

Sales volumes of vacation homes in South Savo and Lapland have remained at a similar level to last year during the early months of the year.

LEHTIKUVA

A recent study conducted by researchers Mari Vaattovaara and Pekka Vuori sheds light on significant changes in housing construction in the Helsinki metropolitan area and Tampere between 2015 and 2021. The study, titled "Changes in Housing Construction in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Tampere, 2015-2021," reveals a surge in the construction of predominantly small rental studios and one-bedroom apartments.

Chairpersons Riikka Purra of the Finns Party (foreground) and Anna-Maja Henriksson of the Swedish People’s Party were photographed arriving for a presser at the House of the Estates in Helsinki on Friday, 26 May 2023. The two party leaders have offered somewhat distinct interpretations of the compromise reached on immigration policy outlines in the coalition formation talks led by the National Coalition. (Roni Rekomaa – Lehtikuva)

THE CHAIRPERSONS of the Finns Party and Swedish People’s Party have both sought to frame their compromise on immigration policy outlines as a win for their respective supporters.

“We go the kind of amendments and additions that were considered important by the Swedish People’s Parliamentary Group. Most of our proposals were approved in the chairpersons’ table,” Anna-Maja Henriksson, the chairperson of the Swedish People’s Party, commented to YLE on Saturday.

LEHTIKUVA

Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week:

Finland went from energy shortage to negative power prices. Here’s how they did it

LEHTIKUVA

In a new memorandum released by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, it is proposed that the European Union (EU) can effectively address the ecological crisis, enhance resilience, and create new markets by prioritizing nature in decision-making processes and integrating the circular economy into the EU single market.

The memorandum, titled "Putting Nature at the Heart of the European Green Deal: Building Blocks for the Next European Commission," urges the upcoming Commission, set to take office in late 2024, to continue and update the European Green Deal to tackle the climate crisis and halt biodiversity loss.

British musician and co-founder of the Pink Floyd band Roger Waters performs on stage at the Accor Arena in Paris, on May 3, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Roger Waters, the renowned co-founder of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd, finds himself at the center of a controversy following a Berlin concert. The Berlin police have launched an investigation into Waters over a ”Nazi-style uniform” he wore during the concert.

The focal point of the investigation is a costume worn by Waters during the performance of "In the Flesh," a song from the rock opera "The Wall."

Finnish Immigration Service service point in Helsinki. LEHTIKUVA

The Finnish Immigration Service has announced the procurement decisions for the establishment of new reception centres across various geographical areas. A total of 17 new reception centres have been procured through a competitive tendering process. These new centres encompass apartment-based reception centres, collective accommodation centres, and a transit centre.

Members of the Finnish Centre Youth, the youth faction of the Centre Party, participated in the Pride parade in Helsinki on 2 July 2022. Helsinki Pride has confirmed that it will not provide visibility to either the Centre or the National Coalition at this year’s event. (Timo Jaakonaho – Lehtikuva)

HELSINKI PRIDE COMMUNITY has confirmed and shed light on the reasoning for its decision to not co-operate with the Centre and National Coalition in 2023.

Senni Moilanen, the board chairperson at Helsinki Pride, told Helsingin Sanomat on Friday that the controversial decision stemmed from a general discussion on the eligibility criteria imposed on commercial and non-commercial partners of the annual event celebrating gender and sexual minorities.

LEHTIKUVA

A UBC Okanagan researcher warns that bad eating habits developed during post-secondary study might lead to future health problems including obesity, respiratory ailments, and depression.

Dr. Joan Bottorff, a Professor with UBCO's School of Nursing, is one of several international researchers who published a multi-site study looking at the eating habits of university students.

Anna-Maja Henriksson, the chairperson of the Swedish People’s Party, held a press conference at the party’s head office in Helsinki on Saturday, 27 May 2023. Henriksson on Monday criticised the Finns Party and National Coalition for failure to include other parties in drafting the immigration policy outlines for the next government. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

ANNA-MAJA HENRIKSSON, the chairperson of the Swedish People’s Party, has accused the Finns Party and National Coalition of devising the immigration policy outlines by themselves.

“The other parties didn’t listen to us. The Finns Party and National Coalition had drawn up their own base document, which was approved by the Christian Democrats. The Swedish People’s Party didn’t approve it. It wasn’t a genuine negotiation in our view,” she stated to YLE on Monday.

Afghan burqa-clad women walk past a Taliban security personnel along a street in Jalalabad on April 30, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

The European Census Bureau has reported that over the past month, more than 9,000 Afghan citizens have applied for asylum applications in the EU member states, a record-high number of asylum applications by any single country, according to Khaama Press.

According to the European Census Bureau, asylum interests in the EU member states at the beginning of the current year have increased by 40 per cent compared to last year.

VELO branded nicotine pouches.

The sale of nicotine pouches was deregulated at the beginning of April. Nicotine pouches, which fall under the scope of the Medicines Act, are now subject to tobacco and chemical regulations. Nicotine pouches with high nicotine concentrations are harmful to health, and young people are particularly at risk. Nicotine pouches should be subjected to stricter regulations promptly.