Finland

University of Helsinki student demonstrations in support of Palestine have entered their second month, with protesters continuing to demand that the University of Helsinki sever its ties with Israeli universities and terminate research collaborations

The Advisory Committee on Social Medicine of Kela, the Finnish social security organisation, expressed concern about the rapid increase in ADHD diagnoses and the resulting pressure on the healthcare system

PM Petteri Orpo's government gained parliamentary support for its proposals to curb political strikes, and solidarity with MPs who voted for bills to limit strike rights

Linnanmäki, Finland's best-loved amusement park, officially opened its gates for 2024 season introducing 'Swingi', a giant pendulum carousel at speeds approaching 100 km/h reaching a zenith of 40 metres at an angle of 120 degrees

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