Finnish Newspaper Publishes Anti-Semitic OP-ED Plagiarized From Neo-Nazi Website

An anti-Semitic op-ed was recently published in a Finnish newspaper, the Koillis-Häme-lehti, in the city of Jämsä. It has been discovered that the anti-Semitic op-ed in question was plagiarized from a Neo-Nazi website, The National Alliance.

http://tundratabloid.blogspot.com/2008/01/finnish-newspaper-publishes-anti.html

Finnish Sexual Harassment Often Goes Unreported

Sexual harassment at the workplace often goes unreported in Finland. However, 22 percent of women in Finland have experienced sexual harassment on the job, reports the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Harassment is often downplayed at the workplace. But according to the law, sexual harassment is discrimination, and sufficient grounds for dismissal. Still, some women fear that reporting harassment could be detrimental to their careers.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id81348.html

Gloomy Work Situation at Finland's Aker Yards

There is less work to go around at Aker Yards' Finnish shipyards. The strong euro combined with a dwindling US cruise liner business is putting a damper on the demand for new construction orders. The Helsinki shipyard's situation is the bleakest, where full employment is not guaranteed after the summer, reports the daily Turun Sanomat. Chief shop steward Mikko Mielonen says unofficial labour discussions have already begun, whereas formal labour negotiations are likely to open next month.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id81287.html

Finnish Economic Difficulties to Threaten Medically Disabled Retirees

Economic difficulties to threaten medically disabled retirees, whose retirement pension will be markedly cut back within the two years. Among other things, support for patients with depression and those moving disabilities will decrease, perhaps even by a hundred euroes a month.

http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/oikea/id81172.html

Finnish Consumers’ Confidence in Economy Continues to Weaken

Recent pessimistic economic news as well as the uncertainty of the financial market have unsettled Finns’ belief in the economic outlook. According to the data gathered by Statistics Finland’s Consumer Survey, Finnish consumers’ confidence in the economy was in January already slightly weaker than the long-term average.

The consumer confidence indicator stood at 13.1 in January, having been 20.3 in August 2007, while the long-term average is 13.9. In January, Finns still believed that the financial situation of their own household would remain good, even though their views concerning their own economy were more cautious than before.

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finnish+consumers%E2%80%99+confidence+in+economy+continues+to+weaken+/1135233644516

Most Illegal Drugs Used in Finland Pass Through Helsinki

Most of the illegal drugs sold in Finland pass through the Helsinki region en route to other parts of the country. According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), drugs move in smaller quantities to other parts of Finland from wholesale suppliers in the Helsinki area. "Almost every larger drug case has linkages with the Helsinki region", says special investigator Tuija Hietaniemi of the NBI.

The drug market grew evenly in Finland from the early 1990s to the present decade. Now the market has evened out. Per capita consumption of illegal drugs in Finland is estimated to be at about an average level for Europe.

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Most+illegal+drugs+used+in+Finland+pass+through+Helsinki+region/1135233607701

Finnish Biathlete Kaisa Varis Suspected of Sports Doping

Finnish biathlete Kaisa Varis is under a cloud of suspicion for using illegal substances. Varis herself informed YLE Sports about the suspicions on Thursday. In her message, Varis denied violating any rules of the sport. The Finnish Biathlon Association confirmed that sports doping substances had been found in her A sample.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id80840.html

Finnish Traffic Deaths Rose in 2007

A total of 377 people died in traffic accidents in Finland last year. That's 47 more than in 2006, reports Statistics Finland.However, the number of people injured in traffic accidents fell slightly. In 2007, 8,411 people were injured in road accidents. That is 109 fewer than in 2006.Overall 6,624 accidents involving bodily injury occurred in 2007.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id80791.html

Finnish Schools Subject to Copycat Threats

Twenty-four schools in Finland have been the target of threats of violence since last autumn's Jokela school shooting. According to the newspaper Savon Sanomat, schools in 18 localities have been threatened with shootings or bombings since the Jokela tragedy last November.Thousands of pupils have been evacuated from schools or warned to stay away at times as a result of the threats.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id80462.html

Finnish Provinces Lead Homicide Statistics

In proportion to the population, most homicides in Finland are committed in provincial cities, according to the daily Helsingin Sanomat. Homicide statistics are led by Imatra, Lahti, Kerava, Joensuu and Pori. Larger cities, Helsinki, Espoo and Tampere witness fewer homicides than the national average. The Helsingin Sanomat survey, carried out by the National Research Institute of Legal Policy, looked into homicides in towns with over 25,000 inhabitants committed during the years 2000 - 2006.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id80476.html

Sexual Harassment in Corridors of Power in Finnish Parliament

As many as one-third of women employed by parliament say they have experienced sexual harassment at their work-place. One in seven says the harassment was physical. In nearly half of the cases, the perpetrator was an MP. According to researcher Hertta Niemi, harassment generally took the form of inappropriate phone calls or emails.

http://www.yle.fi/news/left/id80780.html

Finnish Crime Reports Up

Preliminary figures show a 7% rise in reports of crimes filed with the police in Finland. Statistics show an increase especially in assaults and cases of driving while intoxicated. Regionally, reported crimes shot up most in the eastern area of South Savo (16%), and in the south-western area of Varsinais-Suomi (15%). The number of assaults reported to police last year stood at 34,000, an increase of 11% over 2006 figures. Cases of aggravated assault, 2,400 of them, were up by 16%. During this decade the annual average number of assaults has been around 30,000 and aggravated assaults approximately 2,200.

http://www.yle.fi/news/left/id80180.html

EU Commission Takes Finland to Court Over Car Taxes

The European Commission is taking legal action against Finland over the country's system of car taxation. The dispute concerns the levying of a tax similar to value-added tax on top of the separate vehicle tax, which the Commission says violates EU legislation. The complaint to the Court of Justice of the European Communities involves events in 2002 when Finland lost a dispute over the personal import of a Mercedes Benz car by Antti Siilin, forcing Finland to ease the taxation of personal imports of used cars.

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/EU+Commission+takes+Finland+to+court+over+car+taxes/1135233297778

Finnish Ice Hockey Player Faces Serious Drug Charges

Finnish ice hockey player Jere Karalahti has been slapped with charges of aggravated drug crimes. If found guilty, Karalahti will receive a minimum sentence of one year's imprisonment without parole. The trial will start on January 29 at the Vantaa penitentiary. The charges are part of a wider set of drug-related infringements of the law.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id79972.html

University of Helsinki to Probe Treatment of Jewish Scholar

The University of Helsinki said Thursday that it would investigate whether Israel-Jakob Schur, a Jewish orientalist, had been ill-treated in 1937. In the unprecedented probe in Finnish academic history, the university is to establish how the scholar's honour may be restored in the case wrongdoing is unearthed. The university rejected the Helsinki-born candidate's doctoral thesis in 1937.

http://virtual.finland.fi/stt/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=17693&group=General

Two Finnish Police Officers Face Charges

In February, two police officers will face charges of assault and professional misconduct in conjunction with the September 2006 Smash Asem demonstration in front of Kiasma, the Museum of Contemporary Art in central Helsinki. Two policemen, drafted in to Helsinki from Lahti to assist the local police during the Asia Europe Summit, are suspected of having assaulted an apprehended youngster in a police car on the way to a custody cell in the district of Töölö.

The officers had detained the young person on Mannerheimintie in front of the Parliament Building, as he was suspected of wilful damage and causing a disturbance. According to the prosecutor, the detention did not take place in the demonstration situation itself.

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Two+police+officers+face+charges+in+connection+with+Smash+Asem+demonstration/1135233175009

Finnish Day Care Centres Urged to Beef Up Playground Security

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is ordering day care centres to secure their playgrounds. New directives sent to municipalities at the beginning of the year are also proposing that the centres lay out safety procedures. The objective of the nationwide guidelines is to make safety a part of the everyday routine in day care centres. Every year scores of children slip away on their own and escape day care centres. Last year 11 tots slipped away in Tampere, in Espoo the figure was 16, while in Helsinki and Vantaa the tiny adventurers numbered 14 and 10 respectively.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id79624.html

Finnish Building Costs Going through The Roof

Construction costs in December rose by 5.6 percent compared with a year earlier.Labour costs rose by 4.3 percent while prices for materials shot up by 6.3 percent. Other costs rose by six percent, Statistics Finland reported on Friday.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id79643.html

High Cost of Living Drains Finnish Workforce

Expensive living costs limit opportunities for people to move to the capital city area, and reduce the pool of potential workers. Commuting is often the only reasonable option.However, it is not viable for a family with two children to move to the Helsinki area unless a new job comes with a monthly salary in excess of 3,000 euros. It is more often a better option financially for those with families to commute, rather than move. For an unemployed person living alone, it pays to accept a new job in the greater capital area if the salary is no less than 2,600 euros monthly, calculates the Pellervo Economic Research Institute (PTT).

http://www.yle.fi/news/id79356.html

Surge in Traffic Causes Environmental Problems in Helsinki

High traffic levels have led to a deterioration of the environment in Helsinki. According to Finland's Environmental Administration, the main environmental problems are the worsening of air quality, noise pollution, and an increase in carbon emissions caused by traffic.The review examined expert views on the current and future situation of the environment in the capital.A surge in the number of commuters and the increased use of cars have resulted in heavy traffic, particularly on the outskirts of the capital. Meanwhile, one-third of Helsinki residents live in a region disrupted by the noise of traffic.

http://www.yle.fi/news/left/id79408.html

Public Confidence in Finnish Government Wanes

Just over one third of Finns believe that the four-party coalition government will achieve its most important goals, according to a fresh opinion poll commissioned by the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. Nearly two thirds of respondents felt that the success of the government is fairly unlikely at best. The greatest change has taken place among supporters of the conservative National Coalition Party; a majority of supporters of the party, the second-largest group in the government, no longer believe that the goals of the government can be achieved. In a poll taken in the summer, supporters of the National Coalition were the most confident.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id79251.html

Fraudulent Insurance Claims Cost Finnish Companies Millions

Between 100 and 200 million euros are swindled from Finnish insurance companies each year due to fraudulent claims, estimates the Federation of Finnish Financial Services. The number accounts for five to ten percent of the total amount of reimbursements paid out by insurance companies, reports the Sunnuntaisuomalainen newspaper supplement.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id79226.html

Finland: Arson Suspected Cause of Fire at Lappeen Church

Police are questioning one person after a fire broke out early Sunday morning at the Lappeen Church in Lappeenranta, south-eastern Finland. Officials suspect arson was the cause of the fire. Fire officials were alerted to the scene around two a.m. According to the South Karelia Rescue Department, the fire was started outside the church and had penetrated the building's interior structure. Fire-fighters were forced to break down a side wall to get control of the blaze.

http://www.yle.fi/news/left/id79214.html

Neo-Nazi Organisation Plans Concerts in Finland

A Neo-Nazi network called the Pagan Front has organized a concert tour in Finland, reports the newspaper Aamulehti on its website. The three-band tour made up of German and Finnish groups will perform in February in Tampere and Pori. International anti-fascism groups have warned about the tour on their websites. The Pagan Front calls itself a pro-Aryan organisation that opposes Judeo-Christian and satanic influences.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id79029.html

Kaskeala: Finnish Military Too Big, Poorly Equipped

Admiral Juhani Kaskeala, Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, warns that the country's defence is weakened by a military with too many soldiers and not enough resources. "The credibility of the armed forces does not rest solely on quantity, because insufficiently equipped and trained forces do not constitute an effective preventative defence," Kaskeala told a Defence Forces anniversary gathering in Mikkeli on Thursday.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id79017.html

Dozens Evacuated in Hospital Fire in Helsinki

Smoke spread from the entire wing via ventilation ducts to other wings as well. All four wings in the building were evacuated within an hour, reported the acting fire chief on duty. Altogether 50 people were evacuated.

http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/oikea/id78936.html

More Woes For Finnish Holidaymakers as Flights Delayed

The recent spate of long delays at airports for Finnish holidaymakers continued over the Christmas and New Year period, with the most prominent case being a delay of 15 hours for a Finnmatkat flight to Phuket in Thailand on Sunday. The TUIFly Nordic flight was due to leave Helsinki in the early hours of Sunday morning, but took off only at 18:30 on Sunday evening. The delay was caused by a technical fault in the Boeing 747 aircraft’s wing.



http://www.hs.fi/english/article/More+woes+for+holidaymakers+as+flights+delayed+/1135232955202

Many Foreign Students Over-Paying for Health Insurance in Finland

Many foreign students have been paying far too much for health insurance, reports the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. One of the problems, reports the paper, is that students cannot buy health insurance from any Finnish company.

Authorities have been recommending a Danish company IHI, believing it to be reasonably priced, but this recommendation was based on a mistake. Authorities believed the price quoted was for a full year, when in fact it was only for three months. As a result, many foreign students ended up paying four times that price annually.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id78873.html

Smoke Grenade Empties Nightclub in Turku

A restaurant in Turku was evacuated on News Years Eve, because of a smoke grenade being ignited on the dance floor. There were around a hundred people in the restaurant, with the rescue service treating fifteen people for smoke inhalation.

http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/artikkeli/Savukranaatti+tyhjensi+y%C3%B6kerhon+Turussa/1135232937900

Criminal Investigation Into Discarded Documents

Police in Kuopio have started a criminal investigation after confidential documents were discovered in a paper recycling bin. The case is being investigated as a possible violation of laws governing privileged communications. A conviction could lead to up to a year in prison.

http://www.yle.fi/news/id78793.html