Oulu Neighbourhood Rated Finland's Best Place to Live

[News] published yesterday 08:21 PM

The modest neighbourhood of Karjasilta, near the centre of the northern city of Oulu, has been voted the best place to live in Finland.

Nokia to Shed Hundreds of Jobs

[News] updated yesterday 06:40 PM

Mobile phone giant Nokia announced on Friday that it could cut up to 230 research and development jobs at its Oulu location. Another 100 employees will face the axe at the company's Copenhagen site -- a reduction of roughly 10 percent at each location.

Finnair's pilot strike grounded flights.

Finnair Flights Resume Normal Schedules

[News] updated yesterday 03:41 PM

Finnair flights are back on track on Friday following a two-day strike by pilots earlier in the week.

Gym Chain Scraps Sunbeds Because of Cancer Risk

[News] updated yesterday 02:26 PM

The Nordic region's biggest chain of fitness gyms, SATS, is removing all tanning equipment from its sites.

Swine Flu Peak to Last Several Weeks

[News] updated yesterday 05:23 PM

The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) estimates that the peak period of the H1N1 epidemic in the most heavily populated parts of Finland will continue for at least one to three more weeks.

Finland Sets Gaze on EU Post for Olli Rehn

[News] updated yesterday 08:39 PM

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen says the chances of winning a top EU position for Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn have improved following the recent nominations of EU president and foreign policy chief. President Tarja Halonen praised the two chosen for the posts.

Top Art Prize to Jussi Kivi

[News] updated Thu 08:19 PM

Finland's biggest art prize, the Ars Fennica, has been awarded to multimedia artist Jussi Kivi, aged 50. He was handed the award at Helsinki's Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art on Thursday afternoon. The prize is worth 34,000 euros.

Mail-in ballots may be a reality in 2011.

Expat Finns May Get Mail-In Ballots

[News] updated Thu 03:33 PM

The Ministry of Justice is looking into the possibility of allowing expatriate Finns to cast votes for Finnish elections via mail - something Finns living abroad have requested for a long time.

Fadayel has lived with her son in Vantaa for two years.

Top Court Suspends Grandmother's Deportation

[News] updated Thu 08:22 PM

Finland's Supreme Administrative Court has suspended the deportation of a 64-year-old Egyptian pending the handling of her appeal.

OECD Downgrades Finnish GDP Forecasts

[News] updated yesterday 11:47 AM

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) predicts slight growth for the Finnish economy next year. However on Thursday the organisation downgraded its prediction for this year, estimating that gross domestic product (GDP) will shrink by 6.9 percent.

Atria to Cut 115 Jobs

[News] updated Thu 08:25 PM

Food producer Atria is cutting 115 jobs in Finland. The company believes this will save them around five million euros a year.

Some immigrant children are being educated back home.

Government to Look into Forced Repatriation of Immigrant Kids

[News] updated Thu 01:12 PM

The Finnish League for Human Rights is looking into the phenomenon of immigrant parents sending their children back to their homeland in order to de-westernise them. They want to make sure that the children's rights are not violated in the process.

Finland Mulls Plea System to Unburden Courts

[News] updated Thu 12:22 PM

The Justice Ministry is considering a legal change that would allow criminals to cut down their sentences by literally paying for their crimes - in cash. Officials say such a system could shave time off lengthy trials; but some critics are wary of letting criminals buy lighter sentences.

Björk Pens Song for New Moomin Movie

[News] updated Thu 08:27 PM

The Icelandic singer Björk has written a new song for a forthcoming Moomin feature film, Moomins and the Comet Chase.

Domestic Vaccine Production Too Expensive

[News] updated Thu 09:41 AM

The slow arrival of swine flu vaccines has sparked debate on the necessity of domestic vaccine production. However experts say vaccine R&D is not financially viable for small nations such as Finland.

Architects' rendering of the proposed towers.

Plans Drawn to Bring Skyscrapers to Helsinki's Landscape

[News] updated Thu 06:02 PM

An Italian architecture firm has drawn up plans to build a 40-storey high skyscraper in Helsinki’s Pasila district. If the plans materialise, 10 towers could be built in the area.

Single Parenthood a Common Destiny for Somali Women

[News] updated Wed 07:51 PM

Immigrants are more likely to be single parents than mainstream Finns. Somalis in particular have a significantly higher rate of being a lone parent.

Higher Income Taxes Next Year for Half of Finland

[News] updated Thu 12:17 PM

More than half of the municipalities in Finland plan to increase their income taxes next year. On average, taxes will rise nearly 0.4 percentage points to 18.98 percent in 181 municipalities.

Fewer Foreigners at Construction Sites

[News] published Wed 08:57 AM

The use of foreign labour at construction sites has declined, says the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries (RT).

A salesperson helps a woman try on a coat.

Sunday Shopping Becomes Reality

[News] updated Thu 06:11 PM

Parliament voted on Wednesday in favour of allowing retailers to open for business on Sundays. Shops will now be permitted to open year round, except on national holidays.