As I see it, my duty as an MP is to protect our citizens against terrorist attacks and other security-related incidents. In order to prevent terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism we need to adopt effective legislation and to approve solid budgets that empower our institutions.

An efficient way to keep our legislation up to date is by learning from nations, whose people have already been subjected to terrible and unpredicted terrorist attacks within their borders.

Local news todayfocused on the limited supply of qualified nurses in Finland and Norway’s newly imposed border crossing policy.  

Shortage of nurses drives Finland to look abroad

Finland is currently facing an acute shortage of nurses and care workers with the situation likely to worsen in coming years. The growing demand for nurses, coupled with a steady retirement rate has led to a strong decline in the number of caregivers available.  

One person was killed and two injured during a thunderstorm that hit Oulu on Monday. Police and emergency services had their hands full as strong gusts of wind and heavy rainfall led to widespread damage, including downed trees and flooded streets. 

A falling tree killed one pedestrian in Hiukkavaara, Oulu, while two others were injured in the city centre. The latter two were treated on the spot by emergency services and did not need to be taken to a hospital.  

Representatives of keypolitical parties in Finland have told the Finnish News Agency (STT) that multiple candidates have opted out of standing in municipal elections due to the prevalent toxic online culture, which includes lengthy political debates that often turn ugly and hate speech directed at decision makers.

According toJenny Suominen, head of organisation at the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP), a survey revealed that nearly a third of those requested to run for office by the party refused, citing the negative and often counterproductive attitudes that currently inform political discussions.  

More than 200 COVID-19 infections have been detected among foreign berry pickers in Lapland. In Rovaniemi, 70 per cent—180 out of a total of a total of 262—seasonal workers tested positive for the virus within a week.

According toMarkku Broas, chief infection officer of the Lapland hospital district, the berry pickers are housed in camps that do not follow the quarantine guidelines outlined in the Communicable Diseases Act. These camps consequently act as breeding grounds for infections.

A massive document leak that has come to be known as the “Pandora Papers” has uncovered the hidden and, in certain cases, illegal financial dealings of several rich and powerful individuals across the globe, including celebrities and politicians.

Said to be the largest data leak in history, it includes 6.4 milliondocuments, as well as millions of images, emails and other files. The report waspublished by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) on Sunday.

According to the latest data from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 14 per cent of the adult population in Finland—a figure equivalent to over 320,000 people—reported symptoms of psychological distress last year.

The results of THL’s FinSotesurvey, which monitors changes in health and wellbeing across different population groups in the country, also indicates that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made it increasingly difficult to access healthcare services. 

According to a new survey by popular Finnish online platform Tori.fi, upto 36 per cent of Finns sell the gifts they receive for Christmas. 

The majority of those surveyed—85 per cent—stated that they do not inform the person who gave them the gift that they are selling it. Clothes and furniture or decor items are the most commonly sold items.

The Western Finland cityof Jyväskylä has witnessed an alarming surge in coronavirus infections over the past week. 

On Wednesday, the city reported a record number of 106 new infections. Another 16 people tested positive for the virus on Thursday. Over a thousand residents have been quarantined.

New data from Statistics Finland and the Finnish Grocery Trade Association suggests that the coronavirus pandemic has had a direct impact on grocery shopping and consumer behaviour in the country, resulting in healthier food choices. 

Finns have bought more vegetables over the past year compared to previous years, while the sale of candy and chocolates has dropped significantly. Customers are also purchasing a higher number of non-alcoholic beverages.

AN ADVENTUROUS PENGUIN has been rescued by Australian responders after swimming more than 2500km from its home in New Zealand across the Tasman Sea to Victoria, in Australia. 

THE GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL GIANT PFIZER has announced plans to apply for approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the widespread use of a third dose of its widely-administered COVID-19 vaccine. 

HELSINKI'S NEWEST MALL, The Mall of Tripla, opens in Pasila on Thursday. The gargantuan space adjoining the Pasila railway station will host 250 shops and restaurants and provide employment for up to 7000 people. Upon opening it will be the largest mall in the Nordic countries, a record previously held by the Mall of Scandinavia in Stockholm, Sweden. 

A BRANCH OF K-CITYMARKET IN JÄRVENPÄÄ has been named the 'best grocery store on Earth' at a global retail awards event in London. The IGD, a consumer consortium based in the UK, awarded the store on the basis of lengthy criteria including excellent customer service, unparalleled in-store offerings, and the overall atmosphere. 

A NEWLY-REOPENED BRANCH OF HESBURGER on Helsinki's Kasarmitori is made almost exclusively out of the company's own waste materials. Customers in the restaurant can sit on repurposed ketchup barrels and eat under lights made from deep fat fryers. 

A PROPOSED 'EVENTS AND LIFESTYLE SPACE' dubbed 'Helsinki Garden' has received the green light for construction in Töölö, Helsinki that looks set to become one of the country's largest urban development projects ever. 

A SECTION OF THE ICONIC SEURAHUONE BUILDING in downtown Helsinki, owned by the University of Helsinki Student Union, is to be converted into a luxury Hyatt Hotel, the first Hyatt Hotel in the Nordic countries.

POLICE HAVE COMPLETED THEIR PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INTO THE EXPLOSION that took place in Mäkkylä, Espoo in May. They have ruled that the perpetrator had committed suicide and prepared an explosive device with the intent of harming police officers.

HELSINKI POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING after the flag of the extremist terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS) was found flying from a highway overpass in Helsinki's Myllypuro district. No crime is officially being suspected at the moment. 

Helsinki policehave begun a preliminary investigation into the actions of an employee of the City of Helsinki, who violated data privacy regulations by accessing the personal information of several individuals in the healthcare system without permission. 

In July, the City revealed that the employee, who worked in the social services and healthcare sector, viewed the information of 132 customers and 12 employees. The data included details related to family, financial assistance and other records.