Summary: Opposition parties are challenging the new cabinet over repatriation of Finns from Syria's al-Hol refugee camp.

Finland's new five-party coalition government, headed by SDP Prime Minister  Sanna Marin , hit its first serious bump on Wednesday when opposition parties in parliament filed a motion leading to a vote of no-confidence over  the repatriation of Finnish citizens currently in the al-Hol refugee camp in Syria .
 The motion, initiated by the Finns Party, gained the backing of the Christian Democrats late Tuesday and of the National Coalition Party (NCP) on Wednesday morning. It is also being supported by the sole MP of the Movement Now (Liike nyt) group.
 At a press conference Wednesday morning, opposition Finns Party chair  Jussi Halla-aho  questioned whether Finland has an obligation to aid the women and children of Isis fighters. He did concede, however, that Finnish citizens always have the right to return to the country.
 "This is a question of the adult women. They are a concrete security risk to Finland. Once back in Finland they could continue their terrorist activities," Halla-aho stated.
 Halla-aho added that he wants to know if Foreign Minister  Pekka Haavisto  has supplied accurate information on the issue.
 "Recently we've seen a disconcerting cat and mouse game. In terms of parliamentary oversight, the situation has been unbearable," said Halla-aho. "Are Isis families being brought to Finland? Have parliament and the media been misled?"
 Backing from NCP
 The second main opposition party, the NCP decided Wednesday to back a vote of no-confidence in the government. Its parliamentary group leader, MP  Kai Mykkänen  challenged the new prime minister, Sanna Marin, to shoulder responsibility.
 "You cannot avoid responsibility. Hopefully the government understands now that this is a serious matter," said Mykkänen.
 "There is now great uncertainty whether or not the government has made a political decision and issued a mandate to repatriate Finnish citizens who took part in the operations of the Isis caliphate," Kai Mykkänen stated in parliament.
 The leader of the Christian Democratic Party's parliamentary group,  Päivi Räsänen , echoed a Finnish Security Intelligence Service evaluation that the women in the al-Hol camp would be a security risk. Räsänen did say she would be ready to help the children, though.
 "However, a clear political decision must be made, without hiding behind the backs of civil servants," Räsänen continued.
 The NCP's Mykkänen was also in favour of aiding the children, if a way can be found to do so without compromising security.
 According to Mykkänen the government's statements on the issue have been evasive and those by Foreign Minister Haavisto have been contradictory.
 The NCP's position is that a political decision by the government is required if Finnish citizens in the al-Hol camp are to be actively assisted in returning to the country.
 "If this does not conform to the normal operations based on the law on consular services, but rather on exceptional action, then of course the government must make a political decision. It is extremely corny that apparently an effort has been made to pressure a foreign ministry official to act illegally, without the government's mandate," said Mykkänen.

Marin government facing opposition call for no-confidence vote


Summary: Yle News’ All Points North podcast asks if Sanna Marin will break Finland’s curse of short-lived woman-led governments.

You can listen to our weekly All Points North podcast via this embedded player, Yle Areena, Spotify, iTunes or your normal pod player using the RSS feed.
 Finnish politics hit worldwide headlines this week, with the  appointment of  Sanna Marin  as Prime Minister  prompting media across the globe to pay attention.
 It’s been quite exceptional for a Finnish politician. Indeed the social media analysis firm Meltwater suggests that she received more mentions on social media in one week than President  Sauli Niinistö  received all year.
 The domestic front is also extremely challenging, with a  bubbling controversy over the repatriation of Finnish citizens from Syria  and ongoing tensions with  Katri Kulmuni’s  Centre Party  over the government’s direction of ideological travel .
 Marin was described by The Guardian as representing ‘ a different type of leadership ’, and had the Daily Mail  trawl  through what it described as VERY candid Instagram posts.
 In this special edition of APN we try to unravel the background and implications of the last week’s events, and answer the central  question we posed last week: What just happened?
 Join the conversation
 If you have any questions or comments or would like to participate in the discussion, contact us via WhatsApp on +358 44 421 0909, on our Facebook or Twitter accounts, or at yle.news@yle.fi. You can also give us your feedback on our English language news services via our  survey .
 The All Points North podcast is a weekly look at what's going on in Finland. Subscribe via  iTunes  (and leave a review!), listen  on Spotify  and  Yle Areena  or find it on your favourite podcatching app or via our  RSS feed .
 This week's show was presented by  Egan Richardson  and  Denise Wall ,and the sound engineer was  Tuomas Vauhkonen .

APN new Prime Minister special


Summary: Rinne's new post follows his ouster as prime minister over his mishandling of a labour market dispute.

Ministerit, ministeriöt ja valtioneuvosto

Social Democratic Party chair and former prime minister  Antti Rinne  was voted Parliament’s first deputy speaker on Wednesday afternoon.
 Rinne received the vote of 101 MPs for the position, with 59 lawmakers abstaining from the ballot. One vote was rejected. Twelve other votes went in favour of various other MPs.
 The first deputy position became vacant when former office holder SDP MP  Tuula Haatainen  took up the post of Labour Minister in the Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment.
 That followed  a cabinet shakeup  after Rinne resigned as PM and handed over the reins of government to  SDP vice chair Sanna Marin .
 You can listen to our weekly All Points North podcast via this embedded player, Yle Areena, Spotify, iTunes or your normal pod player using the RSS feed.
 Rinne’s  resignation followed a declaration of no confidence  in him by the Centre Party over his role in a labour market dispute between postal workers and state-owned national mail carrier Posti.
 The Centre’s  Matti Vanhanen  continues in his role as parliamentary speaker, while the opposition Finns Party’s  Juha Eerola  remains second deputy speaker.

Ex-PM Antti Rinne confirmed first deputy speaker of parliament


Summary: A local NCP women's branch said a majority of female leaders is too one-sided for proper decision-making.

The Ostrobothnian chapter of the opposition National Coalition Party's (NCP) women's association is reeling in a statement made Tuesday, in which the local group appeared to criticise Finland's government for having too few men as party leaders.
 The statement comes right as Finland's  mostly-female government  and Prime Minister  Sanna Marin  are gaining widespread traction in news media around the world.
 The Ostrobothnian NCP women said that having so many female leaders was bad for equality and too one-sided for proper decision-making.
 "It is a good thing that women have entered politics on a local level and even in the most executive positions," the statement read. "We've switched from a herd of oxen to a lipstick government, but is that the best option?" it continued.
 On Wednesday, chair  Anna-Maija Renko  of the Ostrobothnian women's chapter claimed the statement was not a critique against women in government or female majorities in power.
 "I'm quite surprised the message has been flipped like this," Renko said.
 National group condemns local stance
 The nationwide NCP women's association publicly distanced itself from the opinions of their Ostrobothnian colleagues. Chair and MP  Sofia Vikman  said the local chapter's views as expressed in their statement do not reflect the official ethos of the national association.
 "We are overjoyed that women are in positions of power and that there are female-majority governments and boards in Finland. We are proud that women have opportunities to become leaders of their country. The issues, know-how and actions are what matter," Vikman said on Twitter.
 You can listen to our weekly All Points North podcast via this embedded player, Yle Areena, Spotify, iTunes or your normal pod player using the RSS feed.
 Story continues.
 Local chapter chair Renko said they deliberately used somewhat shocking language to get more views, but that the attention they received was not what they had hoped for.
 "Our choice of words could have been better," Renko said.
 The previous government under  Antti Rinne  comprised 11 female and eight male ministers. In Marin's government there are 12 female and seven male ministers. Renko said that her group's statement was about upholding equality.
 "The intention was to encourage women to enter politics. The new government is a base for that. If there are only men or only women, it's not a good thing," Renko said.
 Renko said that the Ostrobothnian NCP women's association publishes a statement after all of their meetings. Previous ones related to topics such as substance abuse treatment and elder care.
 2:58pm: Corrected gender split of Rinne cabinet.

NCP women's group retracts "lipstick government" criticism


Summary: Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto continued to deny the existence of a firm plan, saying that several options were explored.

The Foreign Ministry took the lead in planning an operation to repatriate  Finnish nationals who wanted to return to Finland  from the al-Hol refugee camp in Syria, according to official documents seen by Yle.
 The material indicated that the draft plan was to have been executed this week and involved chartering a flight to bring Finnish citizens to the Helsinki-Vantaa airport via Erbil in Iraq.
 The target schedule for the repatriation flight was week 50 of this year – this week.
 Minister denies detailed preps
 Foreign Minister  Pekka Haavisto  has been  caught up in a maelstrom over allegations  that he wanted to push through a plan to bring the women and children back to Finland, even going so far as to sideline a top ministry official in the process.
 At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, he rejected assertions that detailed plans existed to bring Finnish citizens home.
 He added that the ministry must constantly have a number of different options ready for possible implementation.
 He also avoided comment on whether or not government should adopt a formal position on the repatriation of Finns with ties to individuals who had fought among the ranks of Isis extremists.
 "The Foreign Ministry’s policy is that at least the children should be brought to safety," he told journalists.
 Safeguarding children’s rights
 However the document that Yle saw contained a detailed draft dated 21 November. It stated that the Foreign Ministry had a working group plan dated 15 November, that would guarantee the personal safety and fundamental rights of the children according to the constitution, international agreements and other legislation.
 The draft plan called for the return to Finland from al-Hol of "all individuals who agreed to repatriation". The documents describe the details of the plan and the proposed role of police at different stages of the operation.
 Yle learned that ministry officials were prepared to make changes to the draft arrangements. The main goal was "to get all persons at the Al-Hol camp who were willing to return [to Finland] to Erbil in Kurd-controlled Iraq in one in attempt, from where they would be brought by charter flight to the Helsinki-Vantaa airport in Finland".
 The document outlined one back-up plan that involved several charter flights and the possible use of other airports in Finland apart from Helsinki-Vantaa.
 Police on board
 It went on to state that the schedule for executing the operation was entirely dependent on conditions laid down by local players in the area and the security guarantees they could provide.
 The Foreign Ministry would take the lead on the operation, which would end once the returnees were on Finnish soil, the document stated.
 Police operations regarding the repatriated persons would be planned and executed separately, according to the official account.
 The chair of the operation, which was drafted in November, is a ministry employee. The working group included representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry, the Social Affairs and Health Ministry and the Defence Ministry.
 The operation was dubbed KORPI by the working group, and the document stressed its extreme sensitivity "from security perspectives and an international dimension". The document was signed by police commissioner  Seppo Kolehmainen .
 Kolehmainen has previously denied seeing any plan outlining preparations to bring Finnish citizens in the Syrian camp back to Finland.
 Minister: "Communication could have been better"
 Meanwhile Haavisto admitted during Wednesday’s press conference that there was room for improvement in communication on the matter. However he said that the situation had been complicated by the children’s right to legal protections.
 "If for example, information emerged that only the children were being removed from the camp, people at the camp might start hiding them," he said by way of explanation.
 The minister noted that different scenarios had been drawn up since last summer in the event that the camp was shuttered. However he preferred not to comment in detail on those options.
 He said that the children’s mothers had done wrong by travelling to a conflict region. However the children needed help and he compared their circumstances to child kidnapping.
 PM: Implicit approval from government
 Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister  Sanna Marin  commented on the situation in Parliament.
 "I have no information about any official operation, dates or persons," she declared.
 She had previously noted that the matter of the repatriations had been discussed at informal government sessions and that Haavisto’s policy had the government’s implicit approval.
 At the same time, opposition parties  tabled a confidence vote on alleged repatriation plans  with a view to getting explicit an explicit account from the minister about his actions.
 The government will respond to the interpellation next Tuesday before facing its first confidence vote on Wednesday.
 Centre's Kulmuni: "No political decisions" yet
 Meanwhile Centre Party chair and Finance Minister  Katri Kulmuni  said it’s now time to consider whether or not Finland’s legislation is up to dealing with the situation.
 "No political decisions have been made. Just like you I am reliant on media information. However the Centre Party’s line is that terrorists should not be helped or supported," Kulmuni commented.
 In a Helsingin Sanomat piece, President  Sauli Niinistö  called on the new government to make a clear political decision on whether or not to repatriate Finnish citizens from the al-Hol refugee camp.
 "Various assumptions have been put forward at an accelerating rate in recent days. The new government would do well to take a moment and consider making clear political decisions," Niinistö a message to HS.
 Last summer the  Antti Rinne -led government said that  it would not actively seek to return Finnish nationals  from the refugee camp in Syria. At the time Rinne said that his administration was not considering evacuations via channels such as consular services.

Yle sources: Foreign Ministry prepped plan for Finns who wanted to leave al-Hol refugee camp


Summary: Many morning papers delved into calls for an official plan to repatriate Finnish citizens from Syria.

Both Yle and Helsingin Sanomat have reported on  documents showing the existence of a draft plan  to repatriate Finnish nationals who wanted to return to Finland from the al-Hol refugee camp in Syria.
 The tabloid  Ilta-Sanomat  writes that a decision on such a plan is needed, but that no one wants to take responsibility. Leading government ministers have avoided questions about making a political decision, and the issue became further clouded on Wednesday.
 This is the case now, notes Ilta-Sanomat, even though President  Sauli Niinistö  stated on Tuesday evening that the government should make a decision.
 During the day Wednesday, Centre Party leader and finance minister  Katri Kulmuni  told this paper that she backed the president's call. Later during an interview with Yle, she denied any knowledge of a plan and stated that it is her party's position that the adult Finnish nationals in the al-Hol refugee camps should not be repatriated.
 Kulmuni added that responsibility lies with Green League Foreign Minister  Pekka Haavisto .
 Social Democratic Prime Minister  Sanna Marin  stated Wednesday that the issue of the repatriations had been discussed at informal government sessions and that Haavisto’s policy had the government’s "tacit approval".
 But she as well denied any knowledge of an operational plan, dates or personnel who could be involved.
 Also in an Yle interview, Interior Minister  Maria Ohisalo , who chairs the Green League, stated that she could not comment on confidential matters that involve the safety of individuals.
 Ilta-Sanomat writes that a 15-minute press conference by Foreign Minister Haavisto did not address many questions and did not clarify who is carrying responsibility in the affair and denied knowledge of a repatriation plan.
 "If it were possible to carry out a concrete operation, I'd be the first to know. At present, there is no such thing," Pekka Haavisto told the media.
 Disinformation frenzy
 Helsinki’s  Iltalehti reports  that a long-planned crisis exercise organized by Finnish Customs and eight other public agencies at Helsinki Airport on Tuesday and Wednesday aroused a deluge of misinformation and disinformation on social media.
 The exercise brought various response units together to practice dealing with a toxic biological threat at the nation's main airport.
 Speculation, and then a flood of social media messages tagged the exercise as a cover-up for the arrival of a flight carrying Finnish nationals from the al-Hol refugee camp.
 The director of communications at Finnish Customs,  Mika Parkkonen , told the paper that there were thousands of postings claiming the exercise was a diversion.
 "As a whole, this can certainly be called disinformation," said Parkkonen, who has been in his post since 2014. "Indeed, this is the largest campaign of disinformation Finnish Customs has been subjected to since I've been in the job. In fact, it's the first major case of disinformation."
 "Finnish Customs is not directly involved in immigration or repatriation, but the discussion on social media linked Customs to those in what we think is an odd way," Parkkonen added
 From strikes to lockouts
 A three-day strike by around 100,000 employees in the industrial sector wrapped up on Wednesday, but now about 4,300 workers in the mechanical wood processing industry find themselves locked out, reports  Helsingin Sanomat .
 Companies, including UPM, Stora Enso, Metsä Group and Versowood, on Thursday began a lockout at more than 30 facilities, sawmills and board mills, around the country.
 The employer's grouping Finnish Forest Industries is using the lockout to pressure union negotiators at the bargaining table. The dispute centres on efforts by the Industrial Union to eliminate extra working hours that were part of a 2016 pact aimed at improving Finland's competitive position in international markets.
 Talks between the two sides are scheduled to resume on the 17th of this month. Finnish Forest Industries members estimate that the lockout will cost them a total of 5-10 million euros in losses a day.
 Dutiful taxpayers
 Kuopio's  Savon Sanomat  carries a STT news agency report of a survey showing that nearly all Finns are dutiful in paying their taxes on time, and in the words of the paper "paying with pride".
 The survey of 1000 taxpayers, commissioned by the Finnish Tax Administration, found that 95 percent said that they pay their taxes on time.
 Also, at 98 percent, they were all but unanimous in agreeing that taxation is important in maintaining a welfare state, while 96 percent see paying taxes as a civic responsibility.
 The lowest positive response was to the question of whether or not people think they get full value for their taxes - 80 percent said they think that they do.
 No, again, to meatless meatballs
 The Pouttu food products company is heading to court in an effort to keep the meat in its meatless meatballs - at least on the packaging, that is.
 The farmers' union daily  Maaseudun Tulevaisuus  reports that on Wednesday the environmental health board of Central Ostrobothnia rejected an appeal to change a decision banning Pouttu from selling prepared foods as "vegetable meatballs" and "vegetable hamburger patties"
 The company claims that objections to using the terms on packaging and in marketing are no more than its competitors' opposition to its new products. Pouttu says that consumers are savvy enough to understand that packages also carrying the words "vegan" or "other ingredients" do not contain meat.
 The board of health says that the law requires that information on food packaging must be accurate, clear, and easily understood. In its view "vegetable meatballs" don't make the grade.
 The online edition of the news weekly  Suomen Kuvalehti  tells us that the complaint was filed thanks to machinations by Pouttu's rival food manufacturer Atria. Pouttu CEO  Mikko Karell  now plans to challenge the board's ruling in an administrative court.
 Back in 2015, Finnish food giant Kesko  renamed a meatball product  containing only machine-recovered meat, essentially scraps, which are not defined as meat in Finnish law. The product was subsequently marketed on the company's website as "pyöryköitä" - or "balls" in English.

Thursday's papers: Shirking responsibility, disinformation, no to meatless meatballs


Summary: Fancy being a trainee at Yle News? Would you like to do a different kind of traineeship? Then read on…

Yle News is currently accepting applications from potential trainees. Occasionally we are able to take on interns and we particularly welcome applications from people on integration courses with experience in English-language journalism.
 You can apply for traineeships with us via the centralised Yle traineeship recruitment system.
 Interested? Your application should tell us a little about yourself, what you can already do and what you'd like to learn, why you'd like to spend your placement with us and what you want to do while you're with us.
 Students looking for a paid internship with us can apply by clicking  the link  and fill in your application in English by clicking on the button marked  Hae tähän paikkaan .
 The deadline is 22 December 2019.

Come train with us!


Summary: The EU has yet to decide whether to officially label nuclear energy green or not.

Kansainväliset organisaatiot ja sopimukset

Nearly half of all respondents to an Yle poll said they consider nuclear power to be a sustainable form of energy in efforts to curb climate change.
 Nuclear energy was considered viable by 48 percent and non-viable as a safe way to battle global warming by 35 percent; the rest, 17 percent, said they didn't know. The poll surveyed 1,000 people and has a 3.2 percentage point maximum margin of error.
 Nearly half of respondents to an Yle poll said they felt nuclear power is sustainable. Yle
 Aalto University professor of energy technology  Sanna Syri  said the figures reflect "practical" Finnish attitudes toward nuclear-produced electricity.
 "One factor that explains this is probably that the utilisation of Finnish nuclear power plants is among the best in the world," Syri said.
 In this case a high utilisation factor means that Finland's two nuclear plants, in Loviisa and Olkiluoto, have reliably produced electricity for several decades.
 Young and male respondents most optimistic
 Positive attitudes toward nuclear energy are higher among 15-24-year-olds, according to the poll conducted for Yle by Taloustutkimus. Nuclear power was considered sustainable by 52 percent of this demographic, while 29 percent opposed it.
 Yle approached students at the  Aalto University  metro station to ask about their opinions on nuclear power as a force against global warming. Many said they supported nuclear energy despite waste concerns, because the process does not directly produce CO2 emissions.
 "I think people are quite aware of the issue and of the fact that nuclear power is safe," said environmental engineering student  Iris Nihti , 22. "There are problems with it, of course, but the problems of fossil fuels are much bigger."
 Views on the sustainability of nuclear power according to age. Yle
 The poll also found that responses were highly gendered. Nuclear power was viable to 68 percent and non-viable to 22 percent of male respondents, while only 29 percent of women supported and 47 percent opposed it.
 Professor: Nuclear needed for carbon neutrality
 The topic of atomic energy is ever more relevant politically as the European Union tries to decide whether nuclear power can be officially considered ecological. Certification would indicate to investors and insurance companies that the technology is green and safe enough to fund.
 Sustainable policy lobbyist  Finnish Energy  said that financing for nuclear projects may be at risk if the EU does not certify nuclear power as an ecological effort. This in turn could lead to problems with attaining climate goals, the group said.
 While nuclear energy production does not cause direct CO2 emissions, the radioactive waste left over from atomic fission is a concern in many EU states.
 The European Commission said the EU's 2050 carbon neutrality target cannot be reached without nuclear energy, along with other sustainable energies. The Commission also said that electricity production would need to grow to 2.5 times its current output by 2050.
 Syri said that 30 years is a very short time for the ambitious goal to be reached.
 "Even if we estimate the rapid growth of renewable energy technologies by that time, the target is impossible without nuclear power," Syri said.
 Division in EU, Finland on board
 The main hiccup within the EU stems from the opposing energy views of its two most powerful nations, Germany and France.
 Germany has vowed to abandon all nuclear power production by the beginning of the 2020s, while France has said it would produce the lion's share of its electricity with atomic power plants.
 This means that France's government has pushed for nuclear power to be classified as sustainable, but Germany has demanded the opposite.
 As the current chair of the EU, Finland has rooted for a pro-nuclear policy and considers nuclear power a sustainable form of energy.
 A budget agreement compromise between EU member states, the European Parliament and the European Commission reached last Thursday does not rule out nuclear energy as a source of electricity, but getting it approved as a "green investment" continues to face stern opposition.
 Member state ambassadors will weigh in on the policy on Wednesday, after which the package will await approval from the European Parliament.
 Nuclear energy currently accounts for about 25 percent of the EU's total electricity needs. Most of the facilities are more than 30 years old, however, and they must be renovated by the 2050 target year.
 The Commission estimated that these overhauls will require some 400 billion euros in funding.

Yle poll: Finns favour nuclear power to fight climate change


Summary: The US withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement made a new deal more difficult, according to the Environment Minister.

UN climate talks in Madrid ended without a breakthrough on Sunday after extended wrangling, leaving Finland to rue the missed opportunity to finalise measures to complete the Paris agreement.
 "This conference was expected to send a strong message that next year every country is ready to do more: tighten the emissions targets, show ambition," said Finland’s Environment Minister  Krista Mikkonen  at the Madrid talks.
 "Therefore this is a real disappointment from the EU’s perspective."
 It was agreed in Madrid that discussions over new cuts in greenhouse gas emissions will continue at next year's conference in Glasgow, with each country now expected to present their targets in Scotland.
 Carbon market indecision
 Divisions over carbon markets and other issues were not resolved in Madrid, with next year's meeting in Glasgow the new scene for the showdown.
 Environmental groups have already characterised the failure of the Madrid talks as a 'catastrophe'.
 Mikkonen was scathing about the talks, saying that a mistrustful atmosphere reigned. The talks were moved to Madrid from Chile after unrest in Santiago.
 Host nation Chile did not inspire confidence, according to Mikkonen.
 "There has never before been such a gulf between the negotiations themselves and the climate debate outside of those discussions," said Mikkonen.
 USA obstacle to progress
 Finland’s and the EU’s main goal in the talks was to secure agreement on an international market in carbon. Those rules were not agreed in Madrid.
 Brazil, led by President  Jair Bolsonaro , has been a big brake on progress, according to Mikkonen.
 The US stance was also an influence on the talks after  Donald Trump  announced the country’s withdrawal from the Paris agreement. Many countries were asking why they should act if others, such as the USA, did not.
 "The situation was quite confused," said Mikkonen. "That the USA has announced its withdrawal caused some confusion among other big countries. Before China and the USA had moved together and wanted to cut emissions."

Finland ‘disappointed’ by Madrid climate talks failure


Summary: Suomen Luonto magazine has named close to impossible to repair electronic devices its most useless product of 2019.

Finland's leading nature magazine  Suomen Luonto  has awarded its annual "most useless" title this year to electronic devices that are so difficult to repair that they have in practice become disposable items.
 The annual title, conferred by the magazine's publisher the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, is intended to highlight unsustainable consumption trends.
 Smart phones received special mention for not being designed and manufactured for long-term use, for being difficult to repair, and for being overpriced.
 "The reasons for their unsuitability for repair can be found in both consumer buying and recycling habits, as well as manufacturers' policies," Suomen Luonto's Editor-in-chief Heikki Vasamies said in a press release on the award.
 The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation selects items and phenomena for the dubious honour of being named the most useless of the year from suggestions from readers of its Suomen Luonto magazine.
 Last year's award went to  fast fashion .

Nature mag names no-repair electronics most useless product of the year


Summary: A pilot scheme will weigh the effect of an extra preschool year on learning and gender equality.

The government is planning to run a pilot scheme which would extend preschool teaching to five-year-olds.
 The intention of the trial is to determine the impact of starting formal education one year earlier than the current six years. A number of municipalities across Finland will participate in the experiment, during which policymakers hope to discover the potential impact of longer pre-school education on learning outcomes and gender equality.
 However, Minister of Education  Li Andersson  has indicated that a two-year period of preschool education will not be introduced during the current government term.
 "I don't think that's likely. We are doing all the necessary research now because it would require big changes," Andersson explained.
 Story continues after photo.
 Education Minister Li Andersson. Kalle Mäkelä / Yle
 There is no exact timeline for the pilot at this stage.
 An Obligation Act was introduced five years ago, requiring that in the year preceding the start of schooling, each child must attend a compulsory year of pre-school education.
 Resistance to change
 Juha Parkkisenniemi , Director of Education for the city of Kuopio, told Yle that he has reservations about plans for two-year preschool education, and emphasised that change should be carefully prepared and evaluated.
 "For example, one should investigate whether the preschool curriculum is suitable for younger children," Parkkisenniemi said.
 The possible changes would also mean additional costs for municipalities, which are often already struggling with budgetary challenges.
 Story continues after photo.
 Juha Parkkisenniemi, Director of Education in the city of Kuopio. Sami Takkinen / Yle
 "If pre-school education were to expand, the money would have to accompany it. The state should support the municipalities 100 percent," Parkkisenniemi commented, adding that a change to the current system might require kindergartens to update premises and hire more workers.
 Earlier this year, the National Board of Education published a report that suggested comprehensive participation in preschool education by five-year-olds would strengthen learning and increase gender equity.
 Currently, many municipalities are also trialing a scheme where 5-year-olds receive 20 hours of preschool education per week.

Government considers extending pre-school education to 5-year-olds


Summary: Smoking on a daily basis has declined significantly among those aged 14–20 over the past decade.

A decade ago, 21 percent of boys aged 14-20 year and 17 percent of girls of that age said they smoked cigarettes every day.
 The latest survey from the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) indicates that now only seven percent of boys and six percent of girls light up on a daily basis.
 The study did find, however, a significant difference between young people on different educational paths, with higher smoking rates among pupils attending vocational schools than those in academic upper secondary schools.
 Adults keeping the habit
 THL also reports that a long-term downward trend in smoking among adults seen in 1996-2018 came to a halt last year.
 While 30 percent of Finnish men 20–64 years of age were daily smokers in 1996, last year that figure was 15 percent and for women it was 13 percent. Those figures are the same as in 2017. Around 10 percent of men and five percent of women 65 or older smoke on a daily basis.
 "The halt in the decline of smoking by adults is worrying," says  Otto Ruokolainen , a THL expert on tobacco consumption. "Support for people trying to stop smoking should be improved so that more people would try and succeed in quitting."

Daily smoking increasingly rare among young Finns


Summary: Investing can be challenging and the earlier you start the better, says private investor Merja Mähkä.

You can listen to our weekly All Points North podcast via this embedded player, Yle Areena, Spotify, iTunes or your normal pod player using the RSS feed.
 How can you squirrel away savings for a rainy day if you're not born wealthy? That's the conundrum we looked at in this week's All Points North podcast.
 The key is to start early and to be in it for the long run. That's the advice from private investor  Merja Mähkä . "The older you are the more you have to save, so you should start early," Mähkä told APN.
 The investment blogger acknowledged  investing isn't an easy ask  for people who may not have extra cash or who may find it difficult to save because they lack financial security.
 Giving up luxuries
 "Investing is scary for a lot of people if you haven't seen it or grown up with it, people don't see it as something they could do," she noted.
 "So to get into that mindset is quite a stretch if you're constantly worrying about how to get my children fed. The fewer luxuries you have in life, the harder it is to give things up," she added.
 People who want to save and invest need to first get started by auditing their lives to see what they can do without -- such as gambling or that weekly lottery draw.
 "It's important to look at the big things. Do you really need a car? Cars are expensive, gas is expensive and all of the insurance and so on. I've been saving for 20 years by not having a car."
 People would also do well to take a second look at how they live. Is that costly kitchen renovation really essential and is a large apartment absolutely necessary? "Those are the questions where you can find money to save."
 Tips for investing
 You should only borrow money to invest if you plan to invest in real estate. Borrowing to invest in the stock market is not advisable at the moment Mähkä said, because stock markets may be poised for a slump after trending upwards for the past 10 years or so. It's also not a smart move if you're new to the finer points of investing and investment markets.
 Passive funds like index funds -- a bundle of stocks or bonds that follow the performance of a financial market -- are a good place to start for first-time investors, according to Mähkä. "It started in the US, has gotten to Finland as well, it's taken some time and most Finnish banks offer low-cost index funds... for most people that's really a good way to go."
 Investors in Finland looking for good targets to park some extra cash don't need to feel obliged to invest in Finland either. "You can invest in international mutual funds and go with them ... at the same time Helsinki-listed companies, all their information is available in English as well."
 ASP savings accounts are a good way for young people to save for a first home purchase. And you don't have to be very young either, since they are available for people up to the age of 39 to begin saving toward home ownership.
 The instrument makes it easier for individuals to save towards the down payment for a housing loan -- at least 10 percent. The bank in question then pledges to lend the rest of the amount needed, which is in turn guaranteed by the government. These savings are typically tax free.
 Join the conversation
 If you have any questions or comments or would like to participate in the discussion, contact us via WhatsApp on +358 44 421 0909, on our Facebook or Twitter accounts, or at yle.news@yle.fi. You can also give us your feedback on our English language news services via our  survey .
 The All Points North podcast is a weekly look at what's going on in Finland. Subscribe via  iTunes  (and leave a review!), listen  on Spotify  and  Yle Areena  or find it on your favourite podcatching app or via our  RSS feed .
 This week's show was presented by  Denise Wall and produced by  Egan Richardson.  Our sound designer and audio engineer was  Laura Koso.

Is investing really only for the rich?


Summary: Ahead of a series of EU summits, Finland's PM Sanna Marin said a 2050 target for EU carbon neutrality is feasible.

Just 48 hours after taking office, Finnish Prime Minister  Sanna Marin  spoke to reporters on arrival in Brussels on Thursday afternoon. She will represent European Council president Finland at a series of summit meetings over the next two days. Finnish media representatives were told there would only be time for one or two questions during the brief press conference.
 The first question concerned the new government's stance on the possible return of Finnish family members of Isis fighters from the al-Hol camp in northern Syria.
 The issue has been the focus of intense debate in Finland over the past week or so. Back in Helsinki, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto of the Greens briefed politicians from Marin's Social Democratic Party and main coalition partners the Centre on Thursday amid accusations of secrecy and confusion regarding repatriation plans. Opposition MPs grilled cabinet ministers about it during parliamentary question time that afternoon ahead of a confidence vote next Tuesday.
 When a reporter from business daily Kauppalehti began asking about al-Hol, she was cut off by the Finnish Council of State's long-time Head of Communications for EU Affairs,  Anne Sjöholm . She announced that Marin would only answer questions pertaining to the EU meetings.
 Carbon neutrality by 2050 "feasible"
 Marin did discuss the main topic of the summit, a political commitment for the EU to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. She said that the target was feasible and the overall climate agreement would require compromises from everyone.
 Nuclear power, which Marin opposes, has emerged as a divisive issue between member states. On Wednesday, France and seven Eastern European countries blocked a deal struck last week by the Finnish presidency over concerns that nuclear investments would be hindered if atomic power is not classed as “green and sustainable”.
 Marin also evaluated the waning six-month Finnish presidency, which began just weeks after a new Finnish government took office in June with her as transport minister and SDP colleague  Antti Rinne  as premier. On Tuesday Marin succeeded Rinne at the helm of virtually the same cabinet. The presidency term has been overshadowed at home by months of labour unrest which led to Rinne's resignation, and more broadly by the ongoing Brexit turmoil and a handover in power in the European Council.
 "We have done good work during a difficult turning point," she said. "I think that Finland has succeeded well as president during this difficult situation."
 Finland has come under criticism for its proposal for the EU's multi-annual budget, including for excessive agricultural subsidies in 2021-27.

Finnish media questions cut short at new PM's first appearance in Brussels


Summary: Helsingin Sanomat Friday looked at the Finnish nationals being held in the al-Hol camp in northern Syria.

Helsingin Sanomat writes that it has carried out a long-term  investigation into the background  of the Finnish family members of Isis fighters currently held at the al-Hol camp in northern Syria. The paper says it has used a large number of sources for its report. The information has not, however, been confirmed by Finnish officials.
 Helsingin Sanomat says that the 11 women come from various parts of Finland. Over half of them are ethnic Finns. Most of the children are under the age of six. Some of the women moved to Syria before Isis rose to power in the region, but all decided to stay until the end of the so-called "caliphate".
 These Finnish nationals are being held at the al-Hol refugee camp under conditions similar to those of a prisoner of war camp. They are guarded by soldiers of the Syrian Democratic Forces and are unable to leave the camp.
 Helsingin Sanomat reports it has identified 10 of the 11 women. The paper has not released their names.
 Most of the Finnish nationals in the camp are minors. The majority were born in Syria. By law they are entitled to Finnish nationality, as at least one parent was a Finnish citizen.
 The paper writes that it knows of 28 of these children, but there are probably 30. At least two of the women entered adulthood while in Syria.
 Helsingin Sanomat says that the Finnish nationals in Syria formed a close network, many being linked by family ties, marriage, or mutual friends.
 Still no decision
 The newsstand tabloid  Ilta-Sanomat  notes that government question time in parliament on Thursday did not provide any further clarity about whether the government intends to move ahead on repatriating the Finnish nationals held in the al-Hol camp.
 Responding to a question on the issue from an opposition Finns Party MP, Foreign Minister  Pekka Haavisto  was vague,  repeating an earlier statement that the government had discussed the matter in informal talks .
 Haavisto also sidestepped a question asking why he has shifted responsibility for the matter to members of the civil service.
 Centre party chair and finance minister,  Katri Kulmuni , who was standing in for Prime Minister  Sanna Marin , did not give a direct answer to the question of what the government's policy is.
 "The government has made no decision in this matter. The government will respond to the  opposition's interpellation  on Tuesday," was Kulmuni's only reply.
 In a Lännen Media item published by Turku's  Turun Sanomat , political analyst  Anita Simola  says that a decision is being delayed above all over the fear of how it will affect support for the parties in the coalition government.
 Reaction to a repatriation decision is, she writes, a very sensitive topic, and there are fears that supporters will shift their backing to the Finns Party which is already leading the polls.
 Simola goes on to write, "It is good to remember that this government has been in power for only a few days. If this new generation left-centre government is brought down by the 40 Finns in al-Hol, what then? The phrase 'government crisis' has already been thrown around. The need for a joint decision is extremely urgent."
 EU green deal
 European leaders reached an agreement in Brussels on climate change late Thursday night, striking a new "green deal" targeting carbon neutrality within the EU by 2050. Only one member state, Poland, declined to commit to the deal, but will reopen discussions on the agreement in June of next year.
 Commenting to a reporter for the daily of Finland's farmers' union,  Maaseudun Tuelevaisuus , Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin described the deal as a major achievement that has been one of the priorities of Finland's current EU presidency.
 According to Marin, the cost of measures to reach carbon neutrality are the reason some member countries were reluctant to sign up. She told the paper though that she believes that by next June all EU countries will get on board.
 "I hope we can all take part in the same journey," said the Finnish PM.
 Safety feature or money maker?
 Oulu's  Kaleva reports  on discontent over the placement of  automated speed cameras on Finnish roads and highways .
 The Heritage Association of National Traffic Police, a group that includes traffic safety efforts among it activities, says that there is no sense in the choice of sites for speed cameras.
 In a release on the subject, the association says that the only reason to use speed cameras is to improve road safety. Its view is that they are being misused by locating them mainly on sections of straight roads with good visibility where passing in traffic is not a problem.
 It points to practice in neighbouring Sweden where drivers are given advance notice of upcoming speed cameras and the speed limit in force, and where close to 100 percent of cameras are used on sections of roads with reduced speed limits or at intersections.
 The association says that in Finland the cameras are regarded as automatic fine issuing machines.
 "In Finland, speed cameras are in the main installed on highways in the middle of straight stretches where is it completely safe to pass other vehicles and where accidentally getting a speeding ticket is very possible," it wrote in a release.
 Along with the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland, this group of former traffic cops is pressing the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency to draw up a more traffic safety-oriented scheme for where the cameras should go.
 Missing PM and an apology
 Iltalehti reports  that there was a delay in Brussels Thursday evening when EU leaders gathered for their traditional summit "family portrait". One was missing - Finland's new prime minister, Sanna Marin.
 The delay led photographers to scurry around looking for the Finnish PM, and reportedly President of the European Council  Charles Michel  was just getting ready to call off the shoot when Marin rushed in along the red carpet and took a place front and centre.
 Iltalehti says it does not know why she kept everyone waiting.
 Marin issued an apology during the evening, not about the photo session, but to the Finnish media  for having their questions cut short  at her brief Q&A session upon arrival at the summit.
 Kuopio's  Savon Sanomat  reported that she used her Twitter account to apologise, adding that her press officer had been too abrupt, and to explain that she was in a rush to meet with the president of the European Council.

Friday's papers: Families in al-Hol, EU green deal, speed traps


Summary: Each year, a young woman is chosen to don a wreath carrying live candles in a ceremony at Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral.

This year's Lucia is  Sara Ray , a 24 year-old education student from Esse in Ostrobothnia.
 Saint Lucia Day has Catholic and Orthodox origins and is celebrated across Finland, especially in Swedish-speaking communities.
 Each year's Lucia is chosen by public vote as a charity fund-raising scheme, and then works for several weeks visiting hospitals, retirement homes, schools and other facilities.
 On Friday, Sara Ray will be crowned at 5pm in a ceremony in Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral by former Finnish President  Tarja Halonen .
 She will emerge from the church and descend to Senate Square. She and her entourage will then lead a procession through the city, as tens of thousands of people gather in the square for the spectacle.
 Many towns and cities chose their own local Lucia, and the day is celebrated in many child daycare centres and schools, especially in those where Swedish is the main language of instruction.

Lucia Day brightens Friday 13th gloom


Summary: The Centre Party chair’s social media post asked whether to evacuate children alone or mothers and children from the camp.

Finance Minister and Centre Party chair  Katri Kulmuni  has apologised and removed an informal Instagram poll in which she asked respondents whether Finland should repatriate only Finnish children or children and mothers currently living at the al-Hol refugee camp in Syria.
 The fledgling government lead by Prime Minister  Sanna Marin  currently faces  a confidence vote  over Foreign Minister  Pekka Haavisto ’s  alleged plans to bring the families back  to Finland.
 On Friday, Kulmuni took to Twitter to announce that she had removed the straw poll. She apologised for the survey in a second tweet.
 "I have indicated the Centre Party's position on the situation at al-Hol. My goal of having a social media discussion about a complex issue failed. I apologise for the poll," she wrote in the follow-up tweet.
 In the her first tweet, Kulmuni said that the survey had caused offence and did not work. At the same time, she stressed the importance of a national debate.
 "This week we have spoken about the difficult situation of Finns at al-Hol. Yesterday I spoke of the Centre Party’s position on this matter. It is a much-discussed national theme. It is also important to have a national debate and to receive feedback. The IG poll caused offence, it has been removed. It did not work out," she wrote.
 Kulmuni’s tweet is followed by a long chain of responses, the majority of which condemned the social media poll.
 Kulmuni’s Instagram post caught the attention of the human rights organisation Human Rights Watch, whose European media director  Andrew Stroehlein  described the tweet as "awful", adding that life and death decisions should not be put to a social media referendum.
 Kulmuni’s personal stance on the situation of Finnish citizens at the al-Hol camp is that the children should receive the government's assistance but the mothers should not.
 Edit: Updated at 1.20pm to indicate that the new government faces a confidence vote on the al-Hol repatriation issue.
 Edit: Updated at 3.45pm to add information about Kulmuni's subsequent tweet apologising for the social media poll.

Finance Minister pulls Instagram poll on repatriation of Finns at al-Hol refugee camp


Summary: President Niinistö has taken up the issue in more general terms in the past.

President  Sauli Niinistö  has tweeted a condemnation of personal attacks targeting public officials. In a tweet posted on Thursday, the president wrote, "This is a serious matter. It must not be that people who serve and protect others are harassed."
 Niinistö's remarks were in response to a tweet by the head of the Foreign Ministry’s Unit for Communications on Europe and Neighbouring Areas,  Ville Cantell , who referenced an Yle report about the harassment of public officials.
 Yle's A-studio TV reporters surveyed various ministry and state agency officials about harassment. They found that police, prosecutors and judges are especially prone to being targets of harassment. In addition, immigration officials as well as wildlife officials dealing with predators are high on the list.
 Among the belittling or threatening actions targeting many civil servants are hate messages, unfounded rumours and the spread of information that violates their privacy.
 Niinistö has taken up the issue in more general terms in the past. The  theme of this year's Independence Day Gala  was "Knowledge and Social Discussion". In that context, the president noted that we now have more information than ever available, but that development has also brought half-truths and lies into social debate.
 "And if we go in that direction, this will become a hard place to live for everyone. Perhaps what is most worrying is the insulting manner of discussion, of attacking individuals. It is quite a painful practice for the target," Niinistö said in late November.

President condemns harassment of public officials


Summary: Gusty winds and precipitation began pounding Finland from the southwest on Wednesday morning.

Heavy, wet snow knocked out electricity to thousands of customers in inland parts of southwest Finland on Wednesday afternoon.
 The Finnish Energy industry group (ET) said that more than 17,000 customers had lost power in the Häme region by around 3pm. The number was rising quickly.
 The storm moved in from the southwest on Wednesday morning, bringing gusty winds and precipitation. Due to mild temperatures, that fell as rain along the coast.
 The powerful low pressure system moved eastward across southern and central Finland during the day.
 The number of households without electricity was expected to grow by evening, when winds are set to strengthen.
 Yle meteorologist  Henri Nyman  predicted that as many as 20,000 customers could face blackouts.

Winter storm cuts off power to thousands of homes


Summary: Eight guards have been attacked in recent months, both inside and outside of prisons.

Finnish prison officials have faced an unusual spike in violent attacks recently, says the Prison Officers' Union.
 Within the past six months, eight prison guards have been the targets of violent attacks, both inside and outside of prisons, the Lännen Media (LM) newspaper consortium reported on Thursday.
 Prison Officers' Union chair  Antti Santamäki  said that the large number of incidents cannot be mere coincidence.
 "Usually prison workers only very rarely face direct violence in prisons, and even more rarely in their civilian lives," he said.
 Crime syndicate's revenge?
 The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) suspects that the United Brotherhood (UB) crime syndicate may be behind the assaults, and that they are a response to a major operation by authorities to shut the organisation down.
 Last spring LM reported that prisoners linked to organised gangs have tried to organise contract killings of at least three prison officers in Finland within the past couple of years. All three attempts were thwarted by authorities.
 According to LM, in August the Criminal Sanctions Agency (Rise) warned all of its staff of the threat of violence from gang-associated prisoners.
 That followed three violent incidents aimed at guards within a few months. In September it said that the UB  commissioned assaults  on Riihimäki prison guards last summer.
 Within the past week it reported that Rise will try to  separate gang members  from the general prison population.

NBI: United Brotherhood may be behind increased attacks on prison guards


Summary: Not only are all-electric vehicles cleaner, they can pay for themselves within 5-8 years, the think tank says.

The Finnish Climate Change Panel estimates that electric cars emit 60-70 percent lower lifetime emissions than standard cars with combustion engines, and are also less costly to operate over the long term.
 On Friday the state-supported think tank unveiled an  automotive calculator  (only in Finnish so far) that allows consumers to compare cradle-to-grave emissions and running costs of various types of vehicles.
 It indicates that although the manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs) produces higher emissions, they still generate far less greenhouse gases in the long run than conventional vehicles of the same size.
 1/3 of emissions over 15 years
 For example, driving a mid-sized car for 15 years at the Finnish average of 14,000 kilometres annually, an all-electric vehicle produces the cumulative equivalent of about 18,000 kg of CO2, including emissions from manufacturing.
 In comparison, a plug-in hybrid produces about 27,000 kg. Meanwhile a standard petrol car pumps out about 44,000 kg, more than three times as much as an EV.
 In other words, even including the manufacturing process, an electric car is cleaner overall than a comparable petrol-powered car within three years.
 Over 15 years of use, the average electric car's emissions are some 60 percent lower than that of a regular petrol car, if they are driven 14,000 km annually.
 When driven 30,000 km annually, EV emissions are two-thirds lower than that of a regular car and 44 percent lower than a plug-in hybrid. The electric cars included in the comparison have a range of 300 km on a single charge in summer conditions. That can drop sharply in very cold weather.
 Cheaper in the long run
 The panel's calculations indicate that although EVs are more expensive when new, they are actually cheaper over five to eight years for motorists who drive an average of 20,000 km annually, based on home charging.
 The panel came up with the calculator as the government aims to make Finland carbon-neutral by 2035. This would require current car emissions to be slashed in half by 2030. The think tank points out that this will require standard combustion engines to be widely replaced by less-polluting alternatives.
 Electric vehicles are still far less common in Finland than in neighbouring Norway and Sweden, and charging networks remain scanty beyond the main urban areas in the south.
 The Finnish Climate Change Panel is an independent think tank that advises the Finnish ministerial working group on energy and climate policy. Established in late 2011, its mandate includes assessing the coherence and effectiveness of Finland's climate policy. The 14-member panel is chaired by  Markku Ollikainen , Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics at the University of Helsinki.

Finnish climate panel: Electric cars cheaper in the long run


Summary: A bag full of amphetamines was inadvertently left in a Pori apartment block corridor in February this year.

Satakunta District Court in southwest Finland has sentenced a 43-year-old man to 10 years in prison for aggravated drug and firearms offences as well as possession of forged materials.
 The case turned on a bag containing nearly nine kilograms of amphetamines found in the corridor of a block of flats in the west-coast city of Pori in February this year.
 According to the court, there was no doubt about the convicted man’s guilt and no other logical explanation than that the bag had been in his possession and that he had left it in the corridor. The bag contained the man’s belongings and DNA.
 The court fined another man after finding him guilty of drug use offences and money laundering.
 A third defendant was suspected of aiding and abetting aggravated drug offences, but the charges were dismissed in that case.
 Police estimated the street value of the drugs left in the corridor of the building at more than 500,000 euros.
 DNA and fingerprints help nab suspects
 In May police asked the public for information about the abandoned bag. The prosecutor argued that the suspects’ identities were confirmed by items found in the bag as well as DNA samples and fingerprints.
 During a preliminary investigation police questioned four Pori men, two of whom were remanded into custody. Police said that a home search revealed a firearm previously reported stolen, among other items.
 Altogether three men were charged in connection with the case. Two were accused of aggravated narcotics offences, with the prosecutor calling for eight- and 10-year prison sentences for them.
 The prosecution said that the third man organised storage for the illegal substance in an apartment. He faced a prison sentence of over two years.
 According to the charge sheet, the second main suspect had brought the amphetamine to Pori from Merikarvia, about 50km north, and inadvertently left it in a bag in the apartment block corridor.
 The defendants all denied the charges against them. The suspect charged with aiding and abetting also denied knowledge of the drugs.

10-year jail sentence over forgotten €500k illicit drug stash


Summary: The number of Finnish high school graduates left without a spot for further studies has been growing for a decade.

Less than a third of graduates from Finnish upper secondary schools in spring 2018 were immediately accepted into university-level study programmes.
 Although 82 percent of fresh graduates applied for tertiary education, just 10 percent continued immediately at universities of applied sciences and 18 percent at other universities.
 Gender split
 The phenomenon shows a gender split, as the number of female high school graduates left without places to study has risen particularly sharply in recent years.
 Just 27 percent of women who completed the matriculation exam in the spring of 2018 went straight on to further studies, compared to 35 percent of their male classmates, Statistics Finland said on Thursday.
 A decade ago, the figure was basically the same for men and women, with about 46 percent of each carrying on right away to tertiary education.
 Many new matriculants are forced to take at least one gap year before scoring entry into an institution of higher learning. For instance, of those who passed the final exams in 2015, some 56 percent landed study berths within three years.
 Just 1% quit after basic education
 Last year 53 percent of pupils who finished the obligatory comprehensive schooling went on to academic high schools while 41 percent opted for vocational schools. Just one percent did not go on to any further studies. That number has dropped dramatically, as some 10 percent of the adult population has only a basic education.
 Since the 1970s, education has been compulsory in Finland through nine years of comprehensive schooling, usually completed at 15 or 16. The current government programme calls for that to be  extended through upper secondary school , usually three years at either a vocational school or academic high school.
 It aims to require schooling through age 18, while the teachers' union has suggested this could even be  extended to age 19 .

More high school grads forced to take gap years


Summary: Cholesterol levels in Finland have declined after rising about a decade ago.

The average Finn's cholesterol level has dipped since an upturn in 2007-12 linked to  low-carb diets . Still, about 55 percent of adults have total cholesterol levels that are higher than recommended, says the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
 The agency surveys Finns' cholesterol levels ever five years. On Friday it released the latest data, collected in 2017.
 90% consume too much saturated fat
 The average cholesterol level of both women and men aged 25-64 was 5.2 millimoles per litre. The THL recommends a level of no more than five millimoles per litre.
 THL notes that high cholesterol is one of the most crucial risk factors for heart and cardiovascular diseases. Meanwhile fat in one's diet has the biggest impact on one's cholesterol level, and a third of Finns consume more fat than recommended. When it comes to saturated fat, nine-tenths of the population exceed recommended levels.
 "On a population-wide level, saturated fats should not account for more than 10 percent of overall caloric intake. Besides people's individual food choices, this requires major production changes in agriculture and the food industry," says THL research manager  Liisa Valsta .
 THL calls for more medication
 Average cholesterol levels in Finland have declined since the 1970s, when they were at a record high. Levels went down until 2007, but then rose slightly for about five years. At that time there was much discussion of low-carbohydrate diets, the THL points out.
 The institute says that the lower average cholesterol level has been the main reason for a decline in coronary heart disease. Despite this improvement, it argues that cholesterol medication could still be increased, especially for individuals who have several risk factors for heart disease.
 "Far too many of them have high cholesterol. Both nutritional counselling and medical treatment should be stepped up," said Research Professor  Tiina Laatikainen  in a statement on Friday.

THL: More than half of Finns have elevated cholesterol levels


Ukrainians are now the largest national group arriving in Finland to work, according to figures from the Finnish Immigration Service.
 Two years ago Ukrainians overtook Estonians as the group most likely to arrive in Finland for work,  following an increase in salaries in Estonia .
 Last year more than 1,800 people moved to Finland from Ukraine for work, compared to just over 1,200 people from Estonia.
 The reason is relative pay differentials. According to  Statistics Estonia , the average wage in Estonia in the third quarter of 2019 was 1,397 euros per month, up 8.2 percent on the previous year.
 Salaries in Finland have grown more slowly, albeit from a higher base, but they remain attractive to those moving from Ukraine where average wages are around 350 euros per month.
 Minimum wages sometimes ignored
 That background can make Ukrainians  vulnerable to exploitation  when they arrive in Finland, especially in the construction sector where more than one in eight workers is a foreigner.
 Urmet Aru , an Estonian who works for the construction trade union in Finland, says that he has seen cases where Ukrainians have been paid 5-8 euros an hour.
 According to the legislation, they should be paid the minimum wages laid down in collective agreements between employers and trade unions.
 Posted workers also in the workforce
 The current minimum for inexperienced workers is 10.73 euros per hour, rising to 16.97 euros for the most experienced builders. Supplements for overtime and weekend working should be paid on top.
 In addition to those Ukrainians who move to Finland to work and arrange permanent residency, there are also posted workers in the country.
 These are officially employed by companies based outside Finland but ‘posted’ to the country to work for a specific period.
 Although it is difficult to estimate the precise numbers as the Immigration Service does not track these arrivals, Aru says that in the last four years more than 100,000 posted workers from various countries have worked in Finland.

Ukrainians now outnumber Estonians in work-based immigration stats


Summary: The International Ski Federation wants to ban traditional fluoride coating for environmental and health reasons.

Finnish manufacturers of coatings used to lubricate the bottoms of skis in competitive sports are searching for eco-friendly alternatives to the old industry standard, which is now perceived to be environmentally unsustainable.
 The European Chemicals Agency, based in Helsinki, has set maximum compound limits for fluorinated lubricants, set to come into effect next July. The International Ski Federation (FIS) announced a total ban on ski wax containing fluoride in late November.
 These developments have ski wax firms on their toes as they seek innovative alternatives to fluoride – a chemical that makes skis exceptionally slick on the track, but tends to break down extremely slowly.
 Racing skiers to renew equipment
 The FIS decision will not slow down fitness or hobbyist skiers, as less lubricated skis aren't a problem outside of competitive circumstances. But for many companies who produce ski wax and lubricants, the fluoride ban spells trouble.
 Every competitive skier on the international circuit will be forced to exchange all of their skis for ones that do not contain the prohibited substance starting in the 2020/2021 season.
 CEO  Leena Virkki  of Redox, a Finnish firm that makes a ski wax called Rex, said her company had steeled itself for the EU restrictions. Now many of the changes they implemented are for naught.
 "It's actually comical that next winter recreational ski events will allow faster waxes than the World Cup," Virkki said.
 Another ski wax CEO,  Esa Puukilainen  from Vauhti Speed, said the total ban is the only way to go.
 CEO Esa Puukilainen's company uses zinc stearate and silicon wax instead of fluorine. Pauliina Tolvanen / Yle
 "The competition rules have to be even-handed. We can measure whether there are fluoride compounds on the skis, but not what type," Puukilainen said.
 Countries such as Russia do not regulate the amount of fluoride in their skis, leading to some fears of an unfair competitive edge.
 The EU's black list actually includes only one specific fluoride compound, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFAS), which has been shown to be environmentally harmful. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said PFAS also accumulates in the kidneys and liver, causing lowered immune response and raised cholesterol levels.
 Equivalent compounds hard to find
 All the big wax producers already have non-fluoride varieties in their product lines. They will now compete to see who manages to create an alternative wax that is as fast as the fluoride version.
 Manufacturers said that while lubricants and grip waxes are replaceable, clean fluoride coating is much harder to replicate.
 Ski wax bottles from Vauhti on an assembly line. Pauliina Tolvanen / Yle
 "The so-called capillary friction of water that occurs on the bottom of skis remains low with fluoride compounds, [causing the ski to slide faster on snow]. It's a challenge to find a chemical that is as good at this," said CEO  Hanna Salmi  of the wax firm Startex.
 The Vauhti researchers have been looking for an alternative since 2015.
 Puukilainen said that the EU's restrictions spurred his company on in the search, as did a precedent from other Nordic countries.  Norway banned fluorine waxes in competitive skiing  in 2018.
 First next-gen waxes available
 The first new and improved, non-toxic waxes are already in production. Vauhti Speed introduced its series of waxes at the FIS Ruka Nordic championships in late November.
 The Vauhti coatings are protected by a patent, but Puukilainen revealed that the fluoride compounds have been swapped for zinc stearate and silicon wax.
 "Zinc soap is made from plant or animal fat, which breaks down easily in nature," he said.

Ski firms prep for fluoride wax ban


Summary: President Sauli Niinistö expects the government to make a clear decision about Finns in the al-Hol camp in Syria.

President  Sauli Niinistö  says the government needs to make a decision to clear up confusion over Finland's stance on Finnish citizens currently at the al-Hol camp in Syria. The government has not yet decided whether to repatriate all the Finns in the camp, which houses people who had lived under ISIS rule.
 Finns in the camp have been a hot button issue since the fall of the Isis-controlled territory in Syria, with  media reports  on their fate heightening public debate.
 Speaking on Yle’s Radio 1 during a listener’s question hour programme, Niinistö said he hoped there would soon be clarity on the matter.
 "It looks like there have been very different opinions," said Niinistö, who emphasised that the decision should be made considering both humanitarian issues and security.
 Media uproar
 "The available information has been contradictory and than has definitely confused the public debate. And even I haven’t received clear information on what has happened in all this. It is extremely important that the government gathers its thoughts. On Monday I’m sure we’ll all know the government’s line."
 Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has been criticised for his actions in  the saga , as the ministry prepared plans for different scenarios including the repatriation of all Finnish citizens there.
 Those plans were later leaked, prompting a media uproar.
 Opposition parties have suggested that adults in the camp should not be brought to Finland, as has the Centre Party--which is in government and holds the Finance Minister portfolio.
 This week Centre leader  Katri Kulmuni  was forced to  delete an Instagram poll  asking her followers whether ‘just children’ or ‘children and mothers’ should be repatriated from al-Hol.
 Kaikkonen: 'At least the children' should be helped
 Defence Minister  Antti Kaikkonen , a member of Kulmuni's Centre Party, also weighed in on the issue on Saturday. Speaking on Yle TV1's Ykkösaamu programme, Kaikkonen said that 'at least the children' should be helped.
 "I personally, and I think many other Finns, find it difficult to understand why a person would leave for those kind of conditions, to join a terror group," said Kaikkonen.
 "And if they leave, is it Finland's responsibility to go fetch them spending taxpayers money?"
 The Uusimaa MP did state clearly that he would like to help the children in the camp.
 "According to my information more than half the children are aged under five," said Kaikkonen. "They are of course completely innocent. My heart says that at least we should be able to help them."

President Niinistö urges gov't to make decision on al-Hol Finns


Many schoolchildren are showing a decline in both physical endurance and limberness, according to a nationwide study tracking children's physical capabilities.
 Since 2016, educational authorities have maintained a national physical functional capacity monitoring and feedback system for 5th and 8th grade pupils known as "Move!"
 2019 test results from the programme indicate that our society's increasingly sedentary lifestyle is also being reflected in the physical fitness of our children.
 For example, this year's testing found that about a quarter of 8th grade boys cannot  fully straighten their backs when sitting on the floor with legs extended . All but six percent of girls in the same age group were unable to assume that position.
 According to  Arja Sääkslahti , a researcher at the University of Jyväskylä, the reason for that is partly biological and partly because girls tend to gravitate more towards sports that improve flexibility and muscle tone.
 "Even so, this is still worrying. In principle, there should really be no difference between the sexes for this benchmark," says Sääkslahti.
 Poor endurance leads to fatigue
 Arja Sääkslahti points out that the impact of lifestyle is even more evident in upper body flexibility. One-third of 5th grade boys have difficulty with their left arms in making a  test movement in which one arm is rotated upwards, the other downwards with the target of touching fingertips behind their backs . Among girls, 17 percent also find it difficult.
 According to Sääkslahti, poor flexibility in the left shoulder reflects the habit of holding arms in a static position, particularly while using smartphones. The lack of flexibility in the lower back is the result of sitting for extended periods.
 "We spend a long time not moving, with various electronic devices, in static positions, head hanging down. Annually it adds up to a lot of hours like that. It is inevitable that it shows up in poor flexibility," notes Sääkslahti.
 Another development that worries Sääkslahti is the decline in endurance among 5th graders.
 "If the numbers of children with low levels of endurance just grows and grows, it will mean that they will tire very quickly when engaged in their daily activities."
 Arja Sääkslahti adds that we all, children and adults, should be more careful about allowing electronic devices to get such a hold on us that we forget the importance of exercise.
 Positive development, as well
 This was the fourth year of Move! programme monitoring. The 8th graders included this year were also tested when in 5th grade. The good news is that as a group their overall physical functional capacity has shown positive development.
 "This says to me that the monitoring and feedback has led to more awareness. It's come to be understood that these things affect the children's wellbeing and ability to cope, and that these can be maintained and developed. It has made it possible for physical education to be more clearly goal-oriented," says Jyväskylä University researcher Arja Sääkslahti.
 Supervised exercise during the school day are proven to be of special benefit to children with poor physical functional capacity. For example, the city of Jyväskylä added varied supervised exercise to its regular school day, resulting in children gaining more endurance, as well as more back and hip flexibility.
 The Move! programme gathers data on endurance, strength, speed, flexibility, balance and basic motor skills. The intention is to motivate and support children to look after their physical wellbeing.
 Results are also used in developing teaching tools and in school healthcare services.
 Recommendations for physical activity for school age children, according to the Finnish National Agency for Education:
 -  All 7–18 year-old children should get a minimum of 1-2 hours of various kinds of age appropriate exercise every day.
 -  Sitting for more than two hours in a row should be avoided.
 -  Time spent in front of a screen should be limited to a maximum of two hours per day.

Researcher: Smartphones and sedentary lifestyles impacting schoolkids' health


Summary: Finnish citizens in Syria pose a security risk that is not removed by leaving them in a prison camp.

Finnish women should not be repatriated from the camp, because they are a security risk. That’s the reasoning of those opposed to bringing back Finnish citizens in the al-Hol camp in northern Syria, which holds refugees from the war in Syria who lived under Isis rule.
 There are thought to be roughly 30 Finnish children and around ten Finnish women at the camp, with  media stories  about the Finns prompting an intense political debate in Finland.
 On Saturday Yle reached six of the women by text message, and found that five wanted to return to Finland and one was keen to stay in the hope that a new caliphate was born.
 The government has not yet made a decision on the issue, with Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto facing  criticism from opposition parties and in the media after documents outlining possible plans to evacuate Finns were leaked .
 On Saturday President  Sauli Niinistö  told listeners on a call-in show on Yle’s Radio 1 that he  hoped for a political decision on the issue early next week .
 Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen had a similar line on the matter during his Ykkösaamu interview on TV1, saying that the most important thing was to assist the children held in the camp. The leader of Kaikkonen's Centre Party, Finance Minister  Katri Kulmuni,  was last week  forced to delete  an Instagram poll on the issue after criticism from human rights groups.
 At present the opposition parties and the Centre Party, which is in government, oppose an operation to repatriate adults. But what is at stake?
 What kind of risk is posed by these individuals? We list five of the main points in the discussion about bringing them to Finland.
 1. For now we don’t know what the Finns in the camp may be accused of
 The opposition Finns Party says the women in the camp are operating as if they are ‘terrorists’.
 It is clear that all of the 11,000 non-Syrians at al-Hol are not a completely innocent group. The vast majority of them are believed to be family members of Isis fighters.
 The wives of Isis fighters have had an active role in the organisation. They have served as recruiters and as producers of propaganda. Their children have also been given roles in perpetrating violence at very young ages, with some even participating in executions.
 “That these people are women does not make the question any less relevant to Finnish security,” says Juha Saarinen, who researches jihadism.
 The exact role played by Finnish women in the camp remains unclear. No criminal investigations have begun, so we do not know what these individuals may have done.
 In practice, Finnish authorities can only understand what they have done when they get a chance to interview them.
 2. The risk is real
 Finland’s Security Intelligence Police (Supo) regards the Finns at al-Hol as a clear security risk.
 According to Supo people who return from al-Hol are likely to continue terror-related activities, and network among themselves and with jihadists who may already be in Finland.
 "The terror threat to Finland will probably increase if people who were with Isis return from conflict zones," says Supo’s communications chief  Minna Passi .
 Supo did not go into details about how they came to that assessment.
 The concern is not just that they might engage in terrorist activities, according to Saarinen, but also that they might inspire others to commit acts of terror.
 "They may have paramilitary training and contact with armed groups," says Saarinen. "They can spread that knowhow, and because they have already fought in the ranks of jihadists, their credibility and charisma is elevated as a result of those experiences."
 3. The risk would be limited, and it isn’t new
 Thousands of fighters have already returned to Europe from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq. That group includes people who have committed acts of terror after they returned.
 For example the group behind the terror attacks in Brussels in 2016 included several returnees.
 Up to now foreign fighters have not been found to be more likely to perpetrate attacks, according to terrorism researcher  Leena Malkki  of the University of Helsinki.
 "It’s more those who would have liked to go (to fight) but didn’t manage to get there," says Malkki.
 At present Supo’s list of people under surveillance as part of anti-terror efforts includes 390 names.
 If the women at al-Hol are added to the list, it would rise to 400. The returnees are not, therefore, an unknown quantity, says Malkki.
 "We are talking about ten people and we know who they are. They should not be a new challenge from a terror prevention perspective."
 A bigger worry is people who may be at risk of radicalisation in prison, according to Malkki.
 For example  Mehdi Nemmouche , the French-Algerian behind the 2014 attack on the Jewish Museum in Brussels, had travelled to Syria and joined a radical Islamist group there. According to the police, however, his radicalisation happened in french prisons.
 More than 20 people have returned to Finland from the conflict zone in Syria and Iraq. They are not yet known to be suspected of any crimes.
 "There are those kinds of returnees that have settled in here and live a pretty normal life," says the Interior Ministry’s Head of Development  Tarja Mankkinen .
 Many of those who left for Syria in the early stages of the war were disappointed by their experiences and returned.
 At al-Hol, however, there are people who wanted to remain in the conflict zone for longer periods. That could mean that at least some of them are more radicalised than those who returned earlier.
 4. The risk doesn’t disappear if they’re left in Syria
 Even if the Finnish government decided that adults would not receive assistance in returning to Finland, the risk they might pose would not disappear.
 "Just as bringing them to Finland entails risk, leaving them there does too," says Saarinen.
 The Finnish women at al-Hol have Finnish citizenship and therefore the right to return if they can get to the country. Even if Finland did not repatriate them now, they could come back anyway, perhaps years from now.
 "Is it more sensible to bring people to Finland in a controlled and managed way and put them straight into some kind of process, or to wait until they return after a shorter or longer period on their own or in small groups," ponders Tarja Mankkinen.
 A political repatriation decision is difficult however, according to Malkki. Those who decide to bring the women to Finland will bear responsibility for that decision.
 "If nothing is done, the risks will become clear only later," says Malkki. "When the time periods are longer, political responsibility is not clear in the same way."
 5. Is the goal security in general or just security for people living in Finland?
 If the people in the camp are not assisted to return, it is of course possible that they will never come back to Finland.
 That could reduce their threat to Finnish citizens. But it could increase the threat of terrorism elsewhere in the world. The people at al-Hol could join Isis, or they could form an entirely new terrorist group.
 "There is in Finland an old-fashioned viewpoint that Finland is threatened by things that are in Finland. But this phenomenon is not geographically restricted. Mobile terrorists have formed an international threat," says Malkki.
 She also stresses that terror activity can also be directed at Finland even though the terrorists are located elsewhere. Supo’s watch list already includes people who are not located in Finland.
 Isis-style groups are an international phenomenon, and therefore international co-operation is required to combat them, says Malkki.
 "If Finland wants to meet its international responsibilities,it would probably be most simple to repatriate its own citizens from the camp. The only chance to do that is now, while they are still there."

Is Finland looking to repatriate ‘terrorists’? 5 relevant questions about the security issues around Finns held at al-Hol


Summary: On Friday parliament approved a bill to remove limits on the rights to daycare.

Finland’s restrictions on the right for children to attend early years education have been removed following a vote in parliament on Friday.
 In 2016 the last government had limited the right to daycare and early years education for children whose parents were not in full-time work.
 The children of parents who were unemployed or on maternity leave to look after other children were restricted to 20 hours a week at public sector daycare centres.
 Some municipalities maintained full-time provision for those children regardless, but paid the cost out of their own budgets.
 Friday’s decision restores central government funding for that service, and requires municipalities who enforced the restrictions to allow all children a full-time spot in public-sector daycare if they want it.
 Some 249 municipalities had enforced the restrictions at some point.

Government overturns daycare limits


Summary: Finland’s state-owned railway firm says it is responding to passenger demand.

The state railway firm VR is adding services to routes that have often been sold out recently, with more capacity added on the Oulu to Helsinki route.
 The changes, which came into force on Sunday, will improve services between Helsinki, Tampere, Vaasa and Oulu.
 There will also be additional commuter trains in the Pirkanmaa and Kymenlaakso regions, with considerable increases in frequency of trains between Nokia and Tampere.
 On the flipside, westward services from Kuopio will be less frequent.
 Compared to a decade ago, passenger numbers in Finland have remained pretty much constant. Last year there were a total of 13 million journeys, which compares to 13.3 million in 2008, but there has been growth in travel between urban centres.
 "The big shift has been in where passengers are going," said  Juho Hannukainen , VR’s planning director. "Nowadays people are travelling more between the bigger cities. The busier sections of the network are more congested and the quieter sections are unfortunately a little quieter than before."
 VR says it is planning to use existing rolling stock more efficiently, and add coaches to some trains to expand capacity between Helsinki and Tampere, and cities to the north.

VR adds rail services between cities


Summary: The US withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement made a new deal more difficult, according to the Environment Minister.

UN climate talks in Madrid ended without a breakthrough on Sunday after extended wrangling, leaving Finland to rue the missed opportunity to finalise measures to complete the Paris agreement.
 "This conference was expected to send a strong message that next year every country is ready to do more: tighten the emissions targets, show ambition," said Finland’s Environment Minister  Krista Mikkonen  at the Madrid talks.
 "Therefore this is a real disappointment from the EU’s perspective."
 It was agreed in Madrid that discussions over new cuts in greenhouse gas emissions will continue at next year's conference in Glasgow, with each country now expected to present their targets in Scotland.
 Carbon market indecision
 Divisions over carbon markets and other issues were not resolved in Madrid, with next year's meeting in Glasgow the new scene for the showdown.
 Environmental groups have already characterised the failure of the Madrid talks as a 'catastrophe'.
 Mikkonen was scathing about the talks, saying that a mistrustful atmosphere reigned. The talks were moved to Madrid from Chile after unrest in Santiago.
 Host nation Chile did not inspire confidence, according to Mikkonen.
 "There has never before been such a gulf between the negotiations themselves and the climate debate outside of those discussions," said Mikkonen.
 USA obstacle to progress
 Finland’s and the EU’s main goal in the talks was to secure agreement on an international market in carbon. Those rules were not agreed in Madrid.
 Brazil, led by President  Jair Bolsonaro , has been a big brake on progress, according to Mikkonen.
 The US stance was also an influence on the talks after  Donald Trump  announced the country’s withdrawal from the Paris agreement. Many countries were asking why they should act if others, such as the USA, did not.
 "The situation was quite confused," said Mikkonen. "That the USA has announced its withdrawal caused some confusion among other big countries. Before China and the USA had moved together and wanted to cut emissions."

Finland 'disappointed' by Madrid climate talks failure


Summary: Niinistö said Finland must help refugee children but not their mothers, Sanna Marin keeps cool under criticism and PE field trips are being scrapped.

Political parties in Finland have been in a tug-of-war over the principles related to repatriating Finnish citizens from the al-Hol refugee camp in northern Syria for weeks. On Monday President  Sauli Niinistö  drew his line in the sand  in the form of a personal blog post .
 Niinistö began his missive by saying that he would not be backing any particular party line, repeating twice that the government knows his stance, but that he will not be influencing the work of Parliament. He then proceeded to outline his own opinion on dealing with the humanitarian catastrophe.
 "Finland should help children. While dissenting views on Finland's legal obligation have apparently been expressed, the moral duty is clear. This same duty does not extend to the children's mothers, although as citizens they retain the right to consular services," the President wrote online on Monday.
 Niinistö said that problems arise when providing aid to the children is hindered by their mothers' insistence on staying and traveling with them. The Kurdish Regional Government, which controls the camp, says that children cannot be repatriated without their mothers.
 The al-Hol camp has a capacity of 10,000 people, but with the apparent downfall of terrorist organisation Isis the encampment's displaced population has swelled to some 70,000 individuals. About 40 of them are Finnish citizens, mostly children; the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) considers repatriated Finns from al-Hol to be security risks despite having the capacity to monitor the small number of adult women, should they re-enter the country.
 Helsingin Sanomat wrote  that the coalition government has spent the weekend talking over the next steps, and would mull the issue further on Monday, bringing its policy to the table on Tuesday when it responds to the opposition parties' interpellation.
 Estonian interior minister lashes out against Marin
 In diplomatic news, tabloid  Ilta-Sanomat reported Monday  on Estonian Interior Minister  Mart Helme 's abusive attack on Finland's fresh Social Democratic Prime Minister  Sanna Marin . Helme went on Estonian radio to lash out at Marin's past job history, and even drew confusing historical parallels to the Finnish Civil War.
 According to IS, "now we see that a little check-out girlie has become Prime Minister and some other uneducated street activist becomes an MP," Helme said on the TRE radio channel. "This is symbolic revenge for the 'reds' over the 'whites'. The reds are now in power and they want to make Finland some kind of Euro-province."
 According to Estonian public broadcaster ERR, Helme used the word  müüjatüdruk,  a word that literally means "sales girl".
 When asked for a response, the Prime Minister's Office communications manager  Päivi Anttikoski  said that the PM had "no reason" to comment. However,  regional daily Aamulehti wrote  that late on Sunday Marin posted an innocuous tweet that touched on the minister's comments without explicitly referencing Helme.
 "I'm extremely proud of Finland. Here the child of a poor family can educate themselves highly and reach many goals in life. A cashier can become Prime Minister, for instance. Finland would not survive without its workers. I highly value the work of every employee, professional and entrepreneur!"
 IS  wrote again on Monday  that Estonian Prime Minister  Jüri Ratas  was quick to call for "respectful" cooperation with "friend and ally" Finland.
 "Cooperation between our countries has nothing to do with the composition of a government coalition or the parties that lead it," Ratas was quoted as saying in IS.
 Interior Minister Helme himself  later backpedaled  by saying the views he expressed were not the Estonian government's official stand, but his own personal one and that of his anti-immigrant right-wing party EKRE.
 "In no way do I question the positive cooperation and friendship between Finland and Estonia. We are sister nations and will remain so. Differences of opinion between politicians do not affect our warm affection for the Finns," Helme said.
 Schools drop PE field trips
 Outside of party politics,  Turun Sanomat  wrote about a new Ministry of Education mandate that calls for the scrapping of physical education programmes that require the parents of students to chip in financially.
 Deputy-Ombudsman  Pasi Pölönen  laid down the law in October, saying that Finnish primary education should be entirely free for all students, and so schools should not organise PE trips that require a student's family to cover part of the cost.
 TS reports that primary school staff have been forced to scramble in light of the new demand, overhauling their PE curricula. Vice principal  Tuulia Suominen  from the Maijamäki school in Naantali said that fewer activities would now be available due to education budget limitations.
 "So far our elective field trips have taken students out to try sports such as rock-climbing, karting, downhill skiing and laser tag. The city pays for the transportation, but students have partly covered other expenditures. The school can afford a few euros per child, and not much more," Suominen said in TS.
 Director  Matti Lahtinen  from the Finnish National Agency for Education said the Deputy-Ombudsman's policy is clear, but that many schools will face big changes.
 "The worry is this will decrease the amount of teaching outside of school proper. I hope municipalities understand that money for that is needed too, so that students do not get treated unequally due to their place of residence."
 12.57: Updated with ERR translation of Helme comment.
 14.17: Clarified meaning of Estonian word  (müüjatüdruk).

Monday's papers: President Niinistö on al-Hol, Estonian minister slams PM Marin, school trips cancelled


Summary: Around Christmastime, many callers face loneliness and interpersonal problems.

Due to rising demand, the Finnish mental health federation Mieli will expand its SOS Crisis Centre helpline to operate around the clock.
 Mieli Mental Health Finland said on Monday that its hotline will be available 24 hours a day during the Christmas holidays and on weekdays from the start of next year, and throughout the week later in the spring. The expansion has been made possible by a boost in funding.
 This year has been a record-busy one for the NGO's crisis helpline, with many callers unable to get through this autumn.
 "Unfortunately we have only been able to answer every fourth call," says  Susanna Winter , a social psychologist in charge of the Mieli hotline.
 As of the end of November, the helpline had received more than 189,000 calls this year, compared to 162,550 during all of last year.
 The helpline will also be available 24/7 around Christmastime, as in previous years. Calls during the holidays tend to be dominated by loneliness and various interpersonal and family problems.
 According to Mieli, other common reasons for calling involve difficulties in adapting to a new culture, suicidal thoughts, sudden losses, accidents and violence.
 Multilingual support
 The SOS Crisis Centre's site specifies that it offers "short-term crisis counselling and guidance for anyone living in Finland including immigrants, asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking and undocumented immigrants".
 Besides Finnish, the helpline is available in  Swedish, English  and  Arabic  (+358-9-2525 0113), and in other languages through an interpreter if necessary. Counselling is free of charge and may be handled anonymously.
 "One's own experience of being in need of help is enough. You can contact the crisis helpline when you need supportive discussion about a difficult situation in your own life or that of someone close to you. A crisis may stem from a sudden event or longer-term sorrow, worry or fear in one's life," Winter says.
 A relatively recent mental health issue is climate anxiety, the subject of a recent Mieli report by  Panu Pihkala , an environmental theologian at the University of Helsinki.
 Mieli, a federation of more than 50 local mental health associations, gets funding from the state gaming company  Veikkaus  as well as government ministries, local authorities, faith groups and private donors.

Due to heavy demand, mental health helpline to be available 24/7