Finland

The Finnish border with Russia will remain closed indefinitely; initially, in February, the government ordered the border closed until 14 April

The government has begun drafting amendments to the Child Welfare Law to establish a rehabilitation system for children who commit crimes, use violence, and have serious substance abuse problems

Finns will take to the streets of Helsinki today 21 March, UN's International Day against Racism, in what promises to be a major demonstration of unity and commitment against racism organized by a coalition of organizations

Helsinki's Lasipalatsi Square is now hosting an exhibition by Finnish sculptor Kim Simonsson: four giants of bright green moss, each about four meters tall, temporarily placed in the area

A two-week political strike has brought freight traffic to a halt in Finnish ports and railways, with major disruption in the country's logistics and potentially leading to shortages, including fuel; Finnair has decided to refuel some aircraft overseas

The government has proposed significant changes to the unemployment benefit system, including the reform of wage-subsidised work and the introduction of a gradual reduction of income-related unemployment benefits

The Central Criminal Police is currently investigating a major fraud involving the misuse of social benefits provided by Kela, the Social Security Institute of Finland

In 2023, the National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking in Finland recorded a slight increase in the number of new reports, totalling 510, compared to the previous year; forced labour continues to be the predominant form of exploitation

Finnish forest industry giant Stora Enso has announced a new profit improvement programme that could result in the shedding of around a thousand jobs

A recent survey conducted by the Chambers of Commerce reveals that the vast majority of companies (around 74%) are in favour of the employment measures planned by the Finnish government

The population of the City of Helsinki is expected to grow from 664.028 at the end of 2022 to over 700.000 in 2027 and to 722.000 in 2040; at the end of the forecast period, in 2060, the population will reach 906.000

Lux Helsinki will transform Finland's capital into a dazzling display of light art from 3 to 7 January 2024, with the festival promising an immersive 'science from art' experience

Purses and wallets are now rare due to popularity of electronic payments with latest statistics indicating that only 6% of citizens use cash in their daily lives; there are, however, risks and Bank of Finland has recommended to have economic home kits