People walk and shop in a lower Manhattan shopping mall on September 13, 2023 in New York City. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP/LEHTIKUVA

Countries in the Global South, encompassing regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America, are increasingly asserting their stance on corporate social responsibility (CSR) by demanding the transfer of knowledge, resources, and technology from the developed world to their own regions. They emphasize that companies should not infringe upon state sovereignty. This evolving perspective is evident both at the international level, within forums like the United Nations, and at the national level, where these countries are shaping foreign companies' CSR initiatives to benefit their own interests.

Chairperson Annika Rönni-Sällinen of Service Union United PAM during a press conference regarding the effects of the planned legislative changes by the Orpo government in Helsinki on September 8, 2023. LEHTIKUVA

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

Workers under attack in Finland

The proposed changes to employment and welfare rights in Finland by the new right-wing government was covered in an article by Morning Star on September 10.

Over the past two years, inflation in the euro area has surged significantly, and despite recent deceleration, it continues to remain excessively rapid. Consequently, the European Central Bank (ECB) has notably tightened its monetary policy. The policy rates have been raised by 4.25 percentage points, and the ECB's key deposit rate for banks stands at 3.75 percent. "The current scale of monetary policy restrains economic growth and hampers inflation.

Photo: UNICEF / Ayene

As the United Nations General Assembly gathers, a new report from UNICEF underscores the imperative to expedite efforts in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN within the specified timeframe. Placing children at the forefront is crucial to realizing these objectives.

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals, agreed upon in 2015 and valid until 2030, are now at their midway point.

Finnish Customs officials check a car at the Vaalimaa border check point between Finland and Russia in Virolahti, Finland on September 28, 2022 as traffic from Russia enters to Finland and Europe's open-borders Schengen area. LEHTIKUVA

The ongoing geopolitical tensions between the European Union (EU) and Russia have taken a new turn. The Russian Embassy in Helsinki recently warned its citizens to abstain from using vehicles with Russian license plates while visiting Finland. This advisory follows the EU sanctions permitting Finnish authorities and other EU member states to seize vehicles with Russian registration.

School mealtime. LEHTIKUVA

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

Large outbreak linked to school meals in Finland; hundreds sickened

A large outbreak of suspected food poisoning has affected over 600 people across multiple schools in Mikkeli was covered in an article by Food Safety News on August 22.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has sounded the alarm, branding the European Union a "toxic warehouse" for hosting child sexual abuse material and urging Finnish lawmakers to take swift action against this disturbing trend. Criminal gangs have found a haven in EU member states, where they host abhorrent criminal imagery of children enduring sexual abuse, rape, and torture.

People in a bomb-shelter in Helsinki. LEHTIKUVA

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

Finland’s far right has shelved EU exit demand (for now)

Finland’s new pro-EU foreign minister, Elina Valtonen’s statement that the far-right Finns Party’s demand for Finland to exit the EU is currently on hold, was covered in an article by Politico on August 28.

French Foreign and European Affairs Minister's employees work at a crisis management's centre at the French Foreign and European Affairs Ministry in Paris on August 1, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

The cultural landscape within the European Union (EU) continued to thrive, with the sector providing employment for 7.7 million individuals in 2022, constituting 3.8 percent of the total workforce. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, unveiled figures that demonstrated a remarkable 4.5 percent rise from the previous year's 7.4 million.

Dynamics across EU member states revealed an upward trajectory in cultural employment in 19 nations, while eight witnessed a decline.

LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Climate change is taking a significant toll on the quality of river water worldwide, posing threats to ecosystem health and human access to clean water, according to a recent study published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. The study, led by Dr. Michelle van Vliet of Utrecht University, sheds light on the impact of climate change-induced extreme weather events on river water quality.

Firefighters try to control fires in a pine forest near the city of Lac, some 50 km north of Tirana, on August 22, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Recent extreme heatwaves around the world are not only increasing in intensity and frequency due to climate change but are also exacerbating air quality and pollution issues, says a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The 2023 WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, the third in an annual series, highlights the growing impact of heatwaves,

Visitors are seen in the Great Court after the British Museum reopened in London on December 3, 2020. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Hartwig Fischer, the director of the British Museum in London, has stepped down from his position following revelations of stolen artifacts from the museum's storeroom, as reported by Al Jazeera on Saturday.

The renowned museum, a prominent tourist attraction in London, had been alerted to the potential theft or disappearance of valuable artifacts over two years ago when an art historian raised concerns about items being offered for sale online.

President Sauli Niinitö and First Lady Jenni Haukio. LEHTIKUVA

President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö and First Lady Jenni Haukio are set to embark on a diplomatic mission to New York from September 18 to 21, 2023. President Niinistö will lead the Finnish delegation during the High-level Week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly.

The highlight of President Niinistö's visit will be his delivery of Finland's National Statement at the Assembly's General Debate on September 20.

LEHTIKUVA

The European Union's trade balance has made a noteworthy turnaround in the second quarter of 2023, transitioning from six consecutive quarters of deficit to a surplus, primarily attributed to a reduction in energy costs. The latest report released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, revealed this promising shift in trade dynamics.

Trade data from the second quarter of 2023 indicated a decline of 2.0 percent in exports and 3.5 percent in imports, resulting in a modest trade surplus of €1 billion.

A remote worker is working with laptops at their home in Helsinki. LEHTIKUVA

In 2022, Finland emerged as the fifth highest country in Europe for the prevalence of remote work, considering the proportion of employed individuals who worked from home at least occasionally. However, when focusing on those who engaged in remote work for over half of their work hours, Finland ranked second after Ireland, according to an article by Pertti Taskinen, Chief Actuary at Statistics Finland. These insights are based on data from the International Labour Force Survey.