Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens) spoke to reporters at the Oslo City Hall in Norway on Thursday, 1 June 2023. Haavisto was in the Norwegian capital to take part in an informal meeting of Nato foreign ministers. (Hanna Johre – AFP / Lehtikuva)

MINISTER for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens) on Thursday revealed that Russia has responded to the Finnish diplomatic note about the freezing of bank accounts for Finnish diplomatic missions in Russia.

Haavisto said Russia took the course of action due to the banking difficulties its mission has experienced in Helsinki.

LEHTIKUVA

The construction industry is experiencing significant changes in job availability, with certain professionals in high demand while others face a decline in opportunities. Although the overall number of job postings has decreased due to the economic slowdown, long-term data indicates that the demand for construction workers remains high. This analysis is based on data from Duunitori, a leading job portal in Finland.

Teurastamo, one of Helsinki's distinctive event venues, offers activities throughout the summer. Photo: Jussi Hellsten

Helsinki's prospects for the upcoming tourist season appear highly promising. A diverse range of events and numerous new attractions will inject additional excitement into the capital city. This summer, Helsinki is expected to approach the pre-pandemic levels of domestic, European, and American tourist arrivals, as per current projections.

Helsinki, chosen as the domestic travel destination of the year in 2022, continues to evolve as Finland's most fascinating tourist spot.

Lorries and shipping containers at the Port of Vuosaari in Helsinki in April 2022. Statistics Finland has downgraded its estimate of first-quarter economic growth, from 1.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

STATISTICS FINLAND has revised down its estimate of economic growth in the first quarter of the year.

Statistics Finland on Wednesday published preliminary data indicating that the gross domestic product grew by 0.2 per cent from the previous quarter between January and March, a noticeable downgrade from the 1.1 per cent suggested by a flash estimate published in mid-May.

Photo: Riku Lumiaro / Syke

In sea areas blooms of algae in the spring consume nitrogen, while leaving phosphorus-based nutrients for the blue-green algae that appear in the summer. Warm and calm weather can lead to powerful blooms of blue-green algae.

The risk of extensive blooms of blue-green algae in Finnish sea areas still exists, as the nutrient level in the Baltic Sea continues to favour the appearance of blue-green algae.

On June 1st, World Milk Day is celebrated worldwide. In terms of the vitality of Finnish rural areas, the country's 4,500 dairy farms play a significant role. Last year, dairy sales revenue on these farms exceeded the one-billion-euro mark. The dairy industry considers responsibility as a long-term key factor for success, with animal welfare being one of its most important components. As an example of implemented responsibility initiatives, the globally unique cattle healthcare monitoring system, Naseva, covers over 95% of dairy farms.

A long-distance train at Helsinki Central in July 2021. VR, the Finnish state-owned railway operator, has recently shifted from an 8-tier to a 25-tier dynamic price system in an attempt to steer consumer demand toward less-busy hours and periods. (Roni Rekomaa – Lehtikuva)

VR, the Finnish state-owned railway operator, has carried out a pricing revamp in an attempt to steer consumer demand toward less-busy hours and periods.

The revamp includes a shift from an 8-tier to a 25-tier price system that, in theory, promises savings to passengers booking their trip early and additional costs to passengers buying a ticket at the last minute, according to YLE.

HL's strike guard in front of Attendo Ruusuvuori nursing home in Tampere on May 23, 2023. LEHTIKUVA

Strengthening Finland's economic growth is crucial for the health of public finances. Therefore, the Finnish Entrepreneurs propose numerous actions in their growth program that would allow companies to take more risks and foster growth. The government program should promote local agreements in workplaces, limit political and illegal strikes, and reform unemployment and social security to make work more profitable.

LEHTIKUVA

A recent comparison conducted by Omakotiliitto, the Finnish Homeowners' Association, has revealed significant variations in pricing for district heating services. The study examined the basic fee and energy costs of district heating in 97 areas and 73 companies. The analysis focused on a small residential property with a water flow rate of 0.2 m3/h and a power capacity of 10 kW. The findings highlight disparities in pricing among different district heating providers.

A harvester at a thinning site in a forest area owned by UPM in Janakkala, Southern Finland, in May 2022. A modest decline in logging allowed the land-use sector to sequester a million tonne more carbon dioxide than it emitted, according to a flash estimate published on Wednesday by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

THE LAND-USE SECTOR of Finland was narrowly a carbon sink in 2022, according to a flash estimate published on Wednesday by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).

The sector had turned from a carbon sink into a source of emissions for the first time ever a year earlier, kindling nationwide debate about the declining ability of forests to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – not least due to its importance for the national carbon-neutrality target of 2035.

LEHTIKUVA

Starting from June 1st, 2023, the monkeypox vaccine will be available at health centers in Helsinki for men aged 18 and above who are at the highest risk of contracting monkeypox. The vaccine will be provided by appointment only.

To schedule an appointment, please call your local health center. Contact information for the health centers can be found here.

Ms Päivi Sillanaukee and Mr Pascal Lardier.

Helsinki is soon hosting the Radical Health Festival Helsinki, an entirely new event for those interested in shaping the future of healthcare. The event aims to inspire radical steps for a healthy future with thought-provoking and interdisciplinary ideas.

Radical Health Festival Helsinki 2023 will be held from June 12th to June 14th at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, bringing together policymakers, health professionals, innovators, and health enthusiasts from around the world.

Kuusamo Airport, an important gateway for tourism in the Kuusamo region of Finland, is undergoing significant renovations by airport company Finavia. The repairs, which include the replacement of the runway lighting system and resurfacing of the apron and taxiway, will enhance safety and ensure smooth traffic flow at the airport. However, these renovations necessitate a temporary suspension of flights from 17 July to 15 August 2023.

LEHTIKUVA

The Finnish government announced today that a new nature conservation law will be implemented on June 1st. The updated legislation aims to strengthen the protection of various natural habitats, promote voluntary ecological compensation, and emphasize the precautionary principle. The Nature Conservation Law is considered one of the most important tools for safeguarding Finland's biodiversity.