Helsinki Times

Established in 2007, Helsinki Times is Finlands first ever independent online daily English language newspaper covering news and events in Finland. Viewpoints and columns are written by Finnish and international intellectuals, scientists and politicians.

Articles: 2762

Helsinki Times

19 Apr 2022, 09:41

German armed forces need an additional EUR 25 billion each year

International

Germany’s Armed Forces need an additional EUR 25 billion each fiscal year. This is the amount required to meet the investment of 2 percent of GDP announced by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. For 2022, Germany’s core defense budget amounts to some EUR 50.3 billion, or 1.3 percent of the country’s economic output. Added to this is the debt-financed special program worth EUR 100 billion.

Helsinki Times

19 Apr 2022, 09:36

LUT and LAB offer more study opportunities for those fleeing the Ukraine war

Domestic

LUT and LAB are offering three types of study opportunities until 31 July 2023 for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Ukrainians can complete open university and open university of applied sciences studies or apply for the right to complete non-degree studies, in which the quota reserved for Ukrainians is 60 places at LUT and 60 at LAB. In addition, Ukrainians can apply to degree programmes during ongoing and future admission periods.

Helsinki Times

19 Apr 2022, 02:35

Research institute almost halves economic forecast for Finland

Domestic

THE LABOUR INSTITUTE for Economic Research (Labore) has slashed its growth forecast for this year due to the war waged in Ukraine by Russia. Labore revealed last week that it expects the Finnish economy to grow by 1.8 per cent in 2022, at roughly half the pace of its forecast from last autumn. The growth is expected to continue languid in the next two years, amounting to 1.5 per cent in 2023 and 1.4 per cent in 2024.

Helsinki Times

19 Apr 2022, 00:40

Economists advise households to prepare for interest rates of 1.5–2.0%

Domestic

RAPIDLY RISING interest rates can destabilise the finances of unprepared mortgage borrowers in Finland, reports STT. Euribor 12, the most popular reference rate for housing loans in Finland, has increased faster than analysts expected in the first few months of the year, climbing above zero last week for the first time since 2016.

Helsinki Times

19 Apr 2022, 00:35

YLE: War in Ukraine has prompted Finns to open purse strings

Domestic

THE DEVASTATING CRISIS in Ukraine appears to have had a profound impact on Finns. YLE on Saturday reported that Finns have donated more than 53,250,000 euros to fundraising campaigns launched to alleviate the effects of the war waged by Russia in Ukraine, including 23 million euros to the Finnish Red Cross (SPR) and 17 million euros to Unicef Finland.

Helsinki Times

18 Apr 2022, 20:03

Opinion

As the Finnish Government launches a process to consider the nation's NATO membership, while the frightening news from the war in Ukraine floods the media, all of us living in the country need to stop and think about how we got into this situation and where to turn now.

Helsinki Times

18 Apr 2022, 05:36

Consumer prices beat expectations by rising 5.8% in Finland in March

Domestic

CONSUMER PRICES in Finland increased by 5.8 per cent year-on-year in March, according to Statistics Finland. Statistics Finland on Thursday reported that the main drivers of the increases were electricity, diesel, petrol and capital house repair costs: diesel prices, for example, were over 55 per cent higher and petrol prices 38 per cent higher than one year earlier.

Helsinki Times

17 Apr 2022, 21:14

HS: Public support for Nato seems to have settled at around 60% in Finland

Domestic

ABOUT 59 PER CENT of Finns are supportive of Finland joining Nato, reveals an opinion survey published on Wednesday by Helsingin Sanomat. The level of support found in the survey represents a drop of two percentage points from the previous edition of the survey, conducted two weeks earlier. The proportion of respondents who oppose the membership contrastively crept up by one point to 17 per cent and that of respondents who have no opinion on the issue by one point to 24 per cent.

Helsinki Times

15 Apr 2022, 06:25

HS: Imports of Russian crude oil to Finland could stop in July

Domestic

THE FLOW of Russian crude oil to Finland has slowed down from an average of six tankers to one tanker a week since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, reports Helsingin Sanomat. Neste, a Finnish partly state-owned petroleum company that has sourced about two-thirds of its crude oil from Russia, announced four days after the invasion began that it will mostly replace Russian crude oil with other crude qualities.

Helsinki Times

15 Apr 2022, 01:17

THL relaxes mask recommendation in Finland

Domestic

THE FINNISH Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has lifted the general mask recommendation except for three circumstances. THL on Thursday said it continues to recommend that face masks are worn in public indoor spaces and on public transport by people seeking testing or treatment due to a possible coronavirus infection, by people exhibiting respiratory symptoms and by people who know they have been exposed to the virus.

Helsinki Times

14 Apr 2022, 19:25

Rail Baltica Procurement Plan 2022: expected contract value to exceed 2 billion EUR

Business

Rail Baltica global project Procurement Plan for 2022 is announced, providing an overview of the planned tenders, timeline, with the total planned contract amounts exceeding 2 billion euros. In 2022, the Rail Baltica project delivery organisations plan to advance with next phases of the already started construction and consolidated material tenders, as well as launch new construction procurements across the three Baltic States.

Helsinki Times

14 Apr 2022, 19:20

European recognition awarded to Nordic Carbon Neutral Bauhaus project

International

Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and the Faroe Islands will together launch a Nordic Carbon Neutral Bauhaus project to promote low-carbon construction and the circular economy. The European Commission has selected the joint Nordic project to be part of the extensive New European Bauhaus initiative. The project will strengthen the status of architecture, design and art in the transition towards sustainable and carbon-neutral construction.

Helsinki Times

14 Apr 2022, 19:06

Rules on international students moving to Finland relaxed

Domestic

With the entry into force of new legislation on 15 April 2022, students may now be granted residence permits for the entire duration of their studies. Students and researchers will also be eligible for a two-year permit to look for work after graduating.

Helsinki Times

14 Apr 2022, 06:25

Ministry of Finance forecasts sluggish growth, high inflation

Domestic

THE FINNISH ECONOMY will grow by 0.5–1.5 per cent in 2022, depending on the direct and indirect effects of the war of aggression waged in Ukraine by Russia, according to the Finnish Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Finance on Wednesday published its first assessment of the economic impact of the war and the sanctions imposed on Russia.

Helsinki Times

14 Apr 2022, 03:02

Finnish government sets stage for historic parliamentary debate on Nato

Domestic

THE GOVERNMENT of Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) has unveiled its report on changes in the security environment in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, setting the stage for a historic parliamentary debate on whether Finland should seek membership in Nato. Even though the report does not make any recommendations about the membership, it does portray the membership in a fairly positive light.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 14:24

Scientists outline need for new approach to COVID-19 vaccine testing

Technology

Rutgers University's top health researchers are calling for a change in approach to developing COVID-19 vaccines, and vaccines to fight future pandemics to incorporate both conventional and challenging trials.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 14:17

Statement on risks of trafficking and exploitation facing refugees from Ukraine attributed to UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Protection

International

The following statement is attributed to Gillian Triggs, UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Protection The Ukrainian refugee crisis is a protection crisis for women and children - they account for 90 per cent of all those fleeing from Ukraine across the borders.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 14:10

SpaceX, NASA aim to launch Crew-4 mission to ISS no earlier than April 23: Statement

International

The Crew-4 mission will launch to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than April 23, NASA said in a press release. "NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than 5:26 AM EDT [12:26 PM EEST] Saturday, April 23, for the launch of the agency's Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida," the release said on Tuesday.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 13:58

WTO downgrades forecast for global GDP growth in 2022 to 2.8pc

International

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has downgraded its forecast for global GDP growth in 2022 to 2.8% from the previously expected 4.1%, according to a fresh report released on Tuesday. "World GDP at market exchange rates is expected to grow by 2.8% in 2022, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous forecast of 4.1%. Growth should pick up to 3.2% in 2023, close to the average rate of 3.0% between 2010 and 2019," the report said.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 13:54

Government endorses the Commission’s proposal for Data Act

Domestic

On 7 April 2022, the Government submitted a Union communication to Parliament on the European Commission’s proposal for Data Act. The proposed Act is a very important legislative proposal for the data economy, and Finland welcomes the objectives of the initiative.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 13:45

Finnish Immigration Service Director General Jari Kähkönen to leave his post

Domestic

The Director General of the Finnish Immigration Service, Jari Kähkönen, is to step down from his post on 1 May 2022. Kähkönen took up the fixed-term position in September 2020. "I set myself ambitious goals when accepting the role of Director General. In recent years, the Finnish Immigration Service has grown into a major actor as immigration has taken on increasing significance in Finnish society.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 13:33

Europol launches operation to identify Russian assets under EU sanctions

International

The EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) has announced the beginning of Operation Oscar to help EU countries identify assets owned by individuals and legal entities sanctioned in connection with Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 11:58

New growth deal boosts Finnish films and series

Business

Finland is currently building an exceptional Growth Deal for the audiovisual industry, which brings together public and private sector actors to accelerate the industry's growth. Launched by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy and the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Growth Deal involves a wide range of companies in the sector and the Finnish Film Foundation and Business Finland, which coordinates Finland's national production incentive.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 11:52

Finland's first science satellite, Foresail-1, is ready for space: Aalto University

Technology

Foresail-1, the first satellite from the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space, is ready for space. ‘With the help of long-term funding from the Academy of Finland, we have created the first scientific space programme in Finland, which aims to develop more sustainable space technology,’ says Professor Minna Palmroth from the University of Helsinki, the director of the Centre of Excellence.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 07:06

Haavisto predicts EU will find way to add oil to its sanctions regime

Politics

FOREIGN MINISTERS of the European Union met in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens) stated to YLE after the meeting that although no decisions on new sanctions were made, the 27-country bloc will continue to ramp up its sanctions regime against Russia.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 02:02

Business

NOKIA on Tuesday announced it will discontinue its operations in Russia. Pekka Lundmark, the chief executive of the Finnish network equipment maker, told Helsingin Sanomat that it has been clear since the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that Nokia would not maintain its presence in Russia.

Helsinki Times

13 Apr 2022, 00:18

Lindén backs down on proposal to obligate nurses to work during strike

Politics

MINISTER of Family Affairs and Social Services Aki Lindén (SDP) on Tuesday revealed he has changed his mind about presenting a proposal for a new patient safety act to the government on Wednesday, reports Helsingin Sanomat. The act would enable health care authorities to obligate nurses to work in circumstances where the health and lives of patients were deemed to be at serious risk due to, for example, industrial action.

Helsinki Times

12 Apr 2022, 19:34

International

China on Sunday unveiled guidelines for accelerating the building of a unified national market, envisioning breaking local protection and market fragmentation and unblocking key sticking points that weigh on economic circulation, as part of a wide-ranging push for an effectively regulated, fairly competitive and fully open market across the country. The far-reaching ordinance encompassing energy, technology, property rights protection and market regulation is intended to address some persistent problems in...

Helsinki Times

12 Apr 2022, 19:33

International

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Sunday stressed the crucial role of "Chinese seeds" in ensuring the country's food security. China's food security can only be safeguarded when seed resources are firmly held in our own hands, Xi said while inspecting a seed laboratory in the city of Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.

Helsinki Times

12 Apr 2022, 19:32

International

With the leadership of the Communist Party of China and help from all over the country, the epidemic in Shanghai will be contained soon, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press conference in Beijing on Monday. China’s central, provincial and municipal governments have sent medical staff and supplies to help Shanghai, Zhao said.

Helsinki Times

12 Apr 2022, 19:30

International

After the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted, the US government has continued sending weapons to Ukraine, imposing sanctions on Russia, and “fanning the flames.” If Washington really cares about the Ukrainian people, it should try to promote peace rather than continuing to provide weapons. The US has constantly poured fuel on the flames, fully exposing its ugliness in its attempt to maintain worldwide hegemony through the intensification of conflicts.

Helsinki Times

12 Apr 2022, 19:29

International

China has honored its solemn promise by presenting the world with streamlined, safe and splendid Olympic Games, said Chinese President Xi Jinping at a gathering to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. In an important speech he delivered at the gathering, he hailed the achievements of the Games and summarized the preparation and hosting of the Games that spanned seven years.