Finland

Mine Hunter, Coastal Vahterpää. Photo: Finnish Defence Forces.

UNTIL 18 JUNE

Finland sent two ships to NATO exercise BALTOPS in the Baltic Sea

The Nomad Today 6/7/21

The maneuver will include defensive cyber warfare tactics for the first time.

06 June 2021, Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg: A voter casts his ballot in a ballot box at a polling station during the state parliament election in Saxony-Anhalt, the last state election before the federal election in September 2021. Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

ELECTIONS

Foreigners underrepresented among candidates for municipal elections

The Nomad Today 6/6/21

Underrepresentation is highest in areas where the proportion of the population of foreign language speakers is higher, especially in the Greater Helsinki region and in southwestern Finland.

seasonal work Lingon berry pickers by Lena Svensson Pixabay

FOREIGN WORKERS

Finland prohibits charging berry pickers for recruitment, training

The Nomad Today 6/5/21

The new Act that comes into force on June 14 2021 will also ban "unreliable" companies from operating in this sector.

OPERATION KURI1

Helsinki Police reprimanded over ethnic profiling of Roma people

The Nomad Today 6/5/21

On Saturday, around 100 people held a demonstration in Helsinki in solidarity with the Roma community of Finland and on behalf of their rights.

Prime-Minister-Sanna-Marin-2-by-Lauri-Heikkinen-Vnk

'BREAKFASTGATE'

Marin says she will repay the 14,000 euros of the 'breakfastgate'

The Nomad Today 6/5/21

Between January 2020 and May 2021, a total amount of 14,363.20 euros was paid with public money for breakfasts and other meals for the Prime Minister and her family.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin during a meeting with the cultural organization Kalevala Women's Association. Photo: Laura Kotila/Vnk.

'BREAKFASTGATE'

Finnish tax authority doubts legality of Marin's meal benefits

The Nomad Today 6/4/21

The tax administration also says that the € 14,000 in food benefits enjoyed by the prime minister and her family at the official residence must be declared and taxed.

26 March 2021, Lower Saxony, Wolfsburg: A Volkswagen ID.4 stands in a car tower at Autostadt where the German Automaker company started deliveries of the all-electric SUV today. Photo: Ole Spata/dpa

BUSINESS

Car sales in Finland grew 95%

The Nomad Today 6/4/21

However, the sector has not yet reached its pre-pandemic sales volume.

Police-control-alcohol-Helsinki-by-Helsingin-Poliisi

SECURITY

Police to monitor intoxicant use at end of school celebrations

The Nomad Today 6/4/21

The police have detected in Espoo the use of an unknown chemical which causes aggressive and unpredictable behavior.

PM Sanna Marin wearing a face mask. Photo: Laura Kotila/Vnk.

'BREAKFASTGATE', THE UNKNOWN

Did Sanna Marin's office pay for consumer goods with public money?

The Nomad Today 6/2/21

The scandal has eroded confidence in the prime minister, according to a poll published Wednesday.

Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen (R), with Prime Minister Sanna Marin (L) talking with the former Prime Minister Antti Rinne in Parliament. Photo: Kimmo Brandt/Eduskunta.

LABOUR MARKET FORECAST

Unemployment in Finland will not fall to prepandemic level until 2023

The Nomad Today 6/2/21

The number of long-term unemployed is forecast to rise to 111,000 during 2021 and peak at 115,000 in early 2022.

People queuing early Friday morning outside Migri's office in Helsinki. Photo: Bambi Dang.

IMMIGRATION

Migri deletes from web a list of countries with 'unreliable passports'

The Nomad Today 6/2/21

Foreigner.fi published on 17 May an article on a list of ten African and Asian states mentioned on the Finnish Immigration Service website that provoked outrage.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin, in Parliament. Photo: Kimmo Brandt/Eduskunta.

'BREAKFASTGATE'

Marin orders suspension of meal purchases during scandal investigation

The Nomad Today 6/2/21

The Prime Minister’s Office sent a request for an opinion to the Finnish Tax Administration on the taxation of the breakfast and meal services provided for Sanna Marin's official residence.

RACISM

Helsinki court fines man for racial abuse of 'Husu' Hussein

The Nomad Today 6/1/21

The court ruled the man has to pay a fine of 1,440 euros.

A police officer from the city of Turku. Photo: Twitter/@L_S_poliisi

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Police investigate pressure on foreign voters to back some candidates

The Nomad Today 6/1/21

A security guard also of foreign origin warned the Turku Electoral Commission of what was happening.

Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä. Photo: Finnish Government/Vnk.

BUSINESS

Minister Lintilä to make a (virtual) export promotion visit to China

The Nomad Today 6/1/21

The aim of the visit is to strengthen relations between Finnish and Chinese companies.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Photo: Jussi Altonen/Vnk.

'BREAKFASTGATE'

Marin's tax-free meal benefits total more than 14,000 euros

The Nomad Today 6/1/21

The amount is equivalent to an average of 845 euros per month in meal benefits since January 2020, which were never declared or taxed .

'BREAKFASTGATE'

Sanna Marin, outraged on Twitter: 'I paid for my own wedding'

The Nomad Today 5/31/21

The Finnish prime minister emphasizes in the social network that she herself combed her hair and applied makeup for the celebration, "like every day."

David R. Malpass President, World Bank Group. Photo: World Bank Group.

NORDIC MINISTERS MEETING

World Bank President David Malpass visits Finland

The Nomad Today 5/31/21

Malpass will attend the meeting of Nordic and Baltic ministers in Vantaa on 1 June.

'BREAKFASTGATE'

Marin's meal payments total € 850 a month, government now says

The Nomad Today 5/30/21

The Prime Minister's Office admitted on Sunday that the "average" amount spent on food payments with public money almost tripled the 300 euros revealed when the scandal broke last week.