Huawei Talent Summit opening

The holiday season is not only a time of celebration, but of contemplation of things past, present and future. It's crystal clear that in this age of global pandemic, probable climate catastrophe and digitization and artificial intelligence that the world is at a global inflection point.

Two American F-15C Eagle -figther jets, three Finnish F/A-18C Hornet -fighter jets and a German Eurofighter Typhoon -figther jet in the air force practice common lap in Finnish air space on 17th of March 2021.

The choice concerns the fighter plane for Finland's future air defence. I am not competent to assess which criteria are most important in the selection, performance, or finances. Therefore, it is best to abstain, even if the price tag is something that any layperson can have opinions about.

A picture shows a child's shoe amidst the rubble of buildings, destroyed by Israeli strikes, in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip on May 21, 2021. - A ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, controlled by Islamist group Hamas, came into effect after 11 days of airstrikes and rocket fire. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

So, it has happened again. Riots in Jerusalem. Random rocket fire and precision bombings, both with civilian casualties. The parties are involved in a spiral of revenge with the goal of exhausting the opponent. The pattern is repeated year after year. The outside world demands a cease fire; mediators sign up. This has been the case throughout my adult life. No lasting peace for Israel, no solution for the stateless Palestinians. Cease fire is fine, but for how long?

Generous social benefits aren’t enough to change the life prospects of kids from low-income families.

Nordic nations are proud of their social policies—justifiably so. As we know, high taxes fund social security, education, disability, housing and unemployment benefits that reduce inequality and increase social mobility.

SDP Member of Parliament Sanna Marin is seen checking her smartwatch during a plenary question time session in Helsinki on September 7, 2023. Marin announced today that she has been appointed as a strategic advisor to the Tony Blair Institute and, as a result, has requested to resign from her position as a Member of Parliament. SDP Member of Parliament Ilmari Nurminen is pictured alongside her. LEHTIKUVA

Despite being hailed as the world's youngest serving prime minister when she took office in 2019, Sanna Marin carries with her a notably thin résumé. Having risen quickly through the ranks of Finnish politics, she spent little time in each of her preceding roles, prompting critics to question the depth of her experience and her ability to govern. With the ink on her master’s degree still fresh, and a relatively short tenure in the Finnish parliament, concerns abounded regarding her competence in managing complex political landscapes, both domestically and internationally.

Viewpoint by Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.

‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – these two words capture a deep philosophy. It means ‘the world is one family’. This is an all-embracing outlook that encourages us to progress as one universal family, transcending borders, languages, and ideologies. During India’s G20 Presidency, this has translated into a call for human-centric progress. As One Earth, we are coming together to nurture our planet. As One Family, we support each other in the pursuit of growth.

Participants at the "We Won't Be Silent!" demonstration in Helsinki on 3rd of September. LEHTIKUVA

The government's statement against racism declared that the denial of the Holocaust would be criminalised in Finland's legislation. Prohibiting the public use of Nazi symbols is a contemporary concern, and celebrating the memory of Holocaust victims is undoubtedly a commendable idea. However, criminalising Holocaust denial presents a different kind of issue. It is not primarily a question of freedom of speech because this right is not absolute and cannot legitimise hate speech.

LEHTIKUVA

On one sunny autumn afternoon in Finland, I felt the desire for a cup of coffee. Thus, during my short work break, I ventured out to a nearby cafe. The establishment was bustling with people, but I managed to place an order for coffee and a slice of cheesecake. The friendly barista directed me to wait at a nearby table. Before long, my coffee arrived, and as I sat there, I overheard a conversation at a neighbouring table. The discussion took place in English, making it easy for me to understand, since the speakers were seated close to me.

Finnish and Nato flags flutter at the courtyard of Foreign Ministry in Helsinki, Finland ahead of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 2023. LEHTIKUVA

The security environment across the Atlantic is turning unpredictable and complex with a resurgent Russia, NATO increasing its military presence in Eastern Europe, and the EU imposing financial sanctions on Russia. It has become the need of the hour for the EU as well as NATO as security actors to enhance their collective defence capabilities and move towards greater cooperation. This was made visible in the signing of their joint declaration on January 10, 2023 which reiterated the Union’s commitment to NATO Treaty Article 5.

Pro-government protesters wave the Israeli flag as they gather near Israel's parliament in Jerusalem on April 27, 2023 in support of the hard-right government's controversial push to overhaul the justice system. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

As Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary, every Israeli should remember that the occupation stains the country’s independence day and that Israel is not and will not be a true democracy as long as it remains an occupying power.

I couldn’t applaud and admire enough the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who protested for 17 consecutive weeks against the Netanyahu government’s scheme to subvert Israel’s judiciary under the pretense of necessary ‘reforms.’