Summary: The committee's report stated that the needs of military national defence do not justify conscription of the entire age group.

A cross-party Parliamentary committee has recommended that information days at schools on conscription and voluntary military service for women should be extended to include all students within the age category.
 "Information-based foundations for developing young people’s relationship with national defence should be created in the school system and the call-up system should be extended to the entire age class," the committee's report stated.
 The committee had been tasked with evaluating Finland's current conscription model and the fulfilment of national defence obligations, and to recommend amendments.
 "We wanted to see the invitation days as a strategic alternative, to bring together the entire age group and provide information, background and instructions to young people so that they have even more information and skills to fulfil their national defence obligations," the committee's chair  Ilkka Kanerva  (NCP) said.
 Arranging information days for the entire age group would mean about 500 events per year, at an estimated cost of around four million euros.
 The committee's report stated that the needs of military national defence do not justify the conscription of the entire age group, nor is it justified from the point of view of the national economy.
 Committee member  Hanna Holopainen  (Green) said that the committee's proposal is a step in the right direction, but that the goal for the future must be a fully equal system.
 "It is worth remembering that the current system will only work as long as it remains acceptable, especially among young people," Holopainen said.
 Minister of Defence  Antti Kaikkonen  (Cen) thanked the committee for its work and said that some of the proposed reforms can be set in motion during the current government's term of office.
 "I think it is important that we start moving on this matter so that the reform can take place within the next few years," Kaikkonen said.
 Committee recommends new non-combat service
 Finland's aim should be to increase the number of people starting their military service from the current level, with fewer people discontinuing their service.
 "Invitations to all is a step towards a more equal and parity-based model to ensure a sustainable future for the system," said committee member  Joonas Könttä  (Cen).
 The committee also called for consideration to be given to the creation of a new category of service, which could allow for non-combat tasks. This could enable people with diabetes to apply for service, Könttä cited as an example.
 The proportion of men who have completed military service has fallen from around 74 percent to around 65 percent over the last five years.
 Some 3,500 to 4,000 people discontinue their service every year, with mental health issues the number one reason for discontinuation.
 "Invitations for the whole age group provide an opportunity to review the well-being of both young men and women and to share information that has a positive effect on the will to defend the country," committee member  Päivi Räsänen  (CD) said.
 Civil service changes
 The committee further noted that the non-combat, civilian service element of national defence obligations should be seen more clearly as being based on the needs of the state, with the option to take civilian service needing to be more closely linked to the nation's overall security.
 "We are making every effort to promote this form of service because, for the first time, we are opening up this opportunity to women as well," committee chair Kanerva said.
 The Left Alliance party disagreed with the committee's report because the committee did not propose a reduction in civilian service.
 Based on the report's projected schedule, the proposed reforms would fully enter into force during the term of the next government, or in 2023 at the earliest. The final decision on the proposed amendments will be made by the government.

Cross-party committee recommends strengthening women's participation in national defence


Summary: Passengers over age 16 will have to show a pass to be served aboard trains as of Sunday.

Finland's national rail carrier VR has announced that passengers will be asked to show a Covid pass in order to be served in the restaurant carriages of trains.
 The new measure come into effect on Sunday, 28 November.
 The company said on Friday that the practice was being introduced on rail services in line with updated guidelines from authorities and because of the deteriorating coronavirus situation in Finland.
 This means that all train passengers over the age of 16 will be asked to show the pass at the checkout of the restaurant carriage.
 The company's statement added that people that do not have a Covid pass can still travel on VR services.
 The strong recommendation that all passengers wear face masks remains in place.

VR to require Covid pass in restaurant carriages


Summary: There are no direct flights between Finland and southern Africa, but passengers can arrive from the region via connecting routes.

Public health authority THL has recommended that people in Finland avoid traveling to southern Africa because of a  new coronavirus variant  that is believed to be highly contagious. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called it a variant "of concern" and named it Omicron.
 The European Commission plans to propose the suspension of air travel from southern Africa, according to media reports, but authorities in Finland have so far made no decision on passengers arriving from the region.
 The United Kingdom announced on Thursday that it is placing South Africa on a travel 'red list' after scientists described Omicron as the worst Covid-19 variant ever identified, the Guardian  reported .
 "Currently, there are no direct flights from South Africa to Finland, so this does not require acute action,"  Jarkko Saarimäki , Director General of the Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, told Yle.
 The new variant has not as yet been detected in Finland, but the first diagnosis in Europe was found in Belgium earlier on Friday, in a traveller who had been in Egypt and Turkey.
 National airline Finnair does not fly directly to or from any destinations in southern Africa, and the company said on Friday that there have been no updated guidelines or instructions from authorities on border restrictions.
 This means that passengers can still come to Finland from southern Africa via connecting flights.
 "The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency can only intervene in direct threats to health safety. The danger posed by connecting flights must be prepared for," Saarimäki said.
 Minister of Transport and Communications  Timo Harakka  (SDP) said it is now essential that EU member states cooperate with each other.
 "The most effective way to prevent the virus variant from spreading is to prevent direct flights from southern Africa to Europe," Harakka said.
 Lab tests will determine danger posed by new variant
 Initial research into Omicron suggests it may have twice as many mutations as the Delta variant. This could mean that current vaccines may not be as effective in protecting against the virus variant, and that it may be more highly contagious.
 However, the danger posed by the new variant is yet to be determined.
 Olli Vapalahti , a Professor of Virology at the University of Helsinki, told Yle that it is still too early to say how dangerous Omicron could be, adding that more detailed data will be collected in laboratory studies over the coming weeks.
 Traficom's Saarimäki said the agency will continue to monitor the situation and act accordingly.
 "If the need for restrictions arises, we will be ready to take immediate action together with the health authorities," he said.
 Arrivals from southern Africa to be tested at Helsinki Airport
 Helsinki Airport is tightening its health and safety precautions due to the omicron variant, according to  Timo Aronkytö , Deputy Mayor of Vantaa, where the airport is located.
 In a tweet on Saturday morning, Aronkytö said that everyone arriving from southern Africa will be directed to mandatory inspection, Covid testing and quarantine.
 "Planes arriving from Munich and Frankfurt will be checked," Aronkytö wrote.
 27.11: Updated with WHO statement and name, Aronkytö statement.

No ban on connecting flights from southern Africa despite Omicron Covid variant; arrivals must be tested and quarantined


Summary: The educational level of young people in Finland has deteriorated rapidly, warns the social affairs and health federation.

The educational level of young people in Finland has fallen from the top echelon to mid-table among industrialised countries, says the Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health (Soste).
 Contrary to popular belief, young adults are not necessarily more educated than retiring age groups. According to the federation, the level of education could be raised by increasing the number of university places and extending compulsory education.
 The confederation on Friday expressed concern about the relatively rapid decline in educational achievement and calls for major changes to reverse this trend. Since the peak years of the early 2000s, the level of education of young people in the country has dropped to about that same as that of the age groups leaving the labour market.
 According to the organisation, young Finns are now less educated than their counterparts in the OECD countries on average. OECD members include 38 economically developed democracies.
 Labour shortage linked to educational level
 According to Finnish education statistics, the share of those with only the basic compulsory education (which has traditionally ended around age 16) is at the same level among those aged 20–24 as among those aged 60–64. Meanwhile, the share of the highly educated people in the 55-64 age group has been higher than among the 25-34 age group for the past several years.
 According to the organisation, the current labour shortage is linked to stagnation in educational level growth. Its survey indicates that there is now a relatively higher proportion of skilled labour in many other countries compared to Finland. In some cases the share of the age group with a higher education is twice as high as here, it says.
 Compulsory education through university level?
 "People in Finland who were young at the beginning of the 21st century, who were once among the most educated in the world, seem to still be the most educated age group in the country," said  Aleksi Kalenius , a senior expert at Soste.
 Soste says that the education policy goal whereby half of young people would attain a university degree in 2030 is slipping out of reach.
 In order to even approach that goal, Soste argues that the decision-makers should reconsider whether this year's  extension of compulsory education  to the age of 18 is sufficient – or whether it should be further expanded to cover a tertiary, university-level degree.
 In addition, thousands of new places should be made available at universities, particularly in social and health services, the group urges.
 Soste is an umbrella organisation of some 200 Finnish NGOs in the social affairs and health fields, founded in 2012.

Soste: Young Finns' educational level has dropped below OECD average


Summary: Regional authorities have ordered Vantaa to immediately organise Covid tests for all passengers arriving at Helsinki Airport who have recently been in countries where Omicron has been found.

On Saturday, Finland's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health issued a recommendation regarding travellers who have been in countries where the B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant, dubbed Omicron, has been detected.
 The ministry said that the new variant "poses a significant threat to the risk to the health and wellbeing of the population" and the adequacy of vaccination protection, adding that it could lead to "a significant deterioration of the epidemic" situation.
 Health authorities said that all passengers who have been in countries where Omicron has been detected within the past 14 days should be required to undergo compulsory health exams and quarantined until they can be certified infection-free.
 As of Saturday, the variant had been detected in several southern African countries as well as at least Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium, via a traveller who had been in Egypt and Turkey. Germany, the Czech Republic and the UK also reported suspected cases on Saturday.
 In practice, the order must be implemented by Regional State Administrative (Avi) agencies around the country to formally take effect.
 Mandatory testing at Helsinki Airport
 At noon on Saturday, the Avi for Southern Finland ordered the city of Vantaa to immediately organise health checks and Covid tests for all passengers arriving at Helsinki Airport who have been in countries where Omicron has been found within the past two weeks. Other Avi agencies imposed similar orders for other border crossing points.
 The preliminary list includes South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Mozambique and Malawi. It will be updated as new information becomes available from the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Avi said. The order does not apply to children under 6 years of age.
 Earlier on Saturday, Vantaa authorities had already said that Helsinki Airport would begin  mandatory testing  and quarantines for all passengers arriving via connecting flights from southern Africa. There are no direct flights from the region to Finland.
 The move was announced on Twitter by  Timo Aronkytö , Deputy Mayor of Vantaa, where the airport is located. He said that passengers arriving from Frankfurt and Munich, Germany, will be checked.
 Foreign Ministry: Avoid southern Africa
 Late Friday Finnish time, the World Health Organisation (WHO) described B.1.1.529 a "variant of concern" and named it Omicron.
 Also late Friday, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs recommended avoiding all travel to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini.
 "A new variant of Covid-19, known as B.1.1.529, which has numerous mutations to the spike protein, has been detected in South Africa and Botswana. Due to the mutations, it is feared that the variant may spread effectively," the ministry said in a  statement .
 15.43: Updated with Avi order.
 17.43: Updated with UK cases.

Ministries: Test arrivals from countries where Omicron variant has been found, avoid travel to southern Africa


Summary: Asko Järvinen, head of infectious diseases at Finland's largest health care provider, says that while the new Omicron variant causes uncertainty, most people should be able to gather for the holidays as usual.

According to  Asko Järvinen , Head Physician and Head of Infectious Diseases at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), the new, more infectious Omicron variant of Covid-19 could become the dominant strain in Finland by Christmas "if things go really badly".
 "Omicron is causing a small amount of uncertainty, but at the moment it seems that Christmas may be completely normal," he said on Yle TV1's Ykkösaamu current affairs programme on Saturday morning.
 Fully vaccinated people should still be able to spend Christmas with each other more or less normally, he said.
 Unvaccinated people are another matter, as they are now becoming infected at higher levels than at any point during the entire epidemic – even before the likely arrival of the Omicron variant. On Friday a new daily record was set, with 1,406 new cases, roughly one-third of them in the HUS district.
 HUS, which includes Helsinki University Hospital and four other hospital areas, is Finland's largest health care provider.
 "A unique feature of this epidemic is that illness among a rather small share of the population is leading to large numbers of intensive care patients," Järvinen said of the current situation, when ICU facilities are nearing full capacity in many parts of the country.
 As of Friday there were 44 patients in ICUs, with officials warning of dramatic knock-on effects for other healthcare if that number exceeds 50-60.
 Alpha could peak around Christmas
 At the moment, it is important to focus on continuing to fight the Delta strain effectively, Järvinen emphasised. Infections caused by Delta are on the rise in Finland, with the peak forecast to occur around Christmas.
 Järvinen predicts that the entire winter season will continue with similar pandemic levels as now, and restrictions and use of the Covid pass needed until at least next spring.
 With nearly a third of the population still without full vaccination protection, there is plenty of room for the epidemic to progress. Decisions are expected soon on vaccinating children aged 5-11 and expanding third booster shots to those under 60.
 Järvinen declined to speculate in detail on the possible impact of Omicron, saying that too little is so far known about it.
 It is known that Omicron is more likely to spread faster than Delta, but not yet whether it causes more severe illness or whether it is more able to break through vaccine protection, he said.
 "Despite border checks, variants spread quickly"
 Based on previous variants, though, it is clear that Finland will not be able to prevent the new variant from entering if the variant is allowed to spread around the world, Järvinen said.
 "Despite all the border checks and other precautions, these variants have spread very quickly," he noted.
 When the Alpha variant from Britain arrived in Finland around last Christmas, it was the variant was quickly identified and tracing started immediately.
 "However, Alpha became mainstream in eight weeks, around the same time as the rest of the world. Control measures could not prevent its spread, although we probably avoided the peak levels of infection, Järvinen said.
 As of Saturday, Omicron had been detected in southern Africa as well as at least Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium, via a traveller who had been in Egypt and Turkey. Germany, the Czech Republic and the UK also reported suspected cases on Saturday.

HUS head physician: Fully vaccinated should be able to celebrate Christmas normally


Summary: This weekend launches the second Covid-era Christmas season in many Finnish towns, with holiday markets and Advent church services.

The opening of the second Covid-era Christmas season is being celebrated this weekend in Finland on a somewhat muted note amid concerns about  record-high  levels of coronavirus infections.
 On Sunday Finland's Lutheran and other Western Christian churches celebrate the beginning of Advent, marking the beginning of a new church year and the pre-Christmas season. It is usually one of the most widely-attended events of the year at the nation's Lutheran churches.
 It has been one of the most important church holidays since the Middle Ages. In Finland is closely associated with the "Hoosianna" hymn.
 The song was introduced in Stockholm, Sweden in 1795, spreading a few years later to Turku, Finland, which was still part of the Swedish realm.
 The Finnish version was published in the late 19th century. It was not however added to the official Finnish Evangelical Lutheran hymnal until 1986.
 Yle broadcast the First Sunday of Advent service from St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Siuntio, with singing led by soprano  Johanna Rusanen  and the Vox Petri choir. Viewers in Finland can see it on  Areena .
 Finland's other state-supported national church, the Orthodox Church, does not observe Advent, but instead a 40-day period of fasting beginning on the Feast Day of Philip the Apostle on November 14.
 Holiday markets open in many towns
 With church membership and attendance declining in Finland, more people are taking part in secular, commercial celebrations of the beginning of the holiday season this weekend.
 Article continues after photo.
 Due to renovation work at the Senate Square, the traditional Tuomaan Markkinat (St Thomas Market) carousel is running at the nearby Market Square this year. Mårten Lampén / Yle
 In Helsinki, the Christmas shopping season opened on Aleksanterinkatu on Saturday, while the traditional Tuomaan Markkinat (St Thomas Market) began at the nearby Market Square.
 The former capital Turku launched its Christmas season on Saturday, including a holiday parade and the opening of the Christmas Market at the Old Market Square. Less than a month from now, the area becomes the national focus of the Christmas Eve observations with the reading of the ancient Declaration of Christmas Peace.
 Article continues after photo.
 Tuomaan Markkinat (St Thomas Market) opened on Saturday on Helsinki's Market Square. In addition to the traditional Christmas sales by more than 100 artisans and small-scale producers, the event also features circus and music performances. Mårten Lampén / Yle
 Tampere's Christmas season formally opens on Sunday, with a procession. Part of the city's Christmas Market opened on Saturday.
 In the northern city of Oulu, the opening of the Christmas Street scheduled for Friday in was cancelled due to rising coronavirus infections.
 Other cities, including Espoo, Jyväskylä, Kuopio and Kokkola, launched their Christmas season last weekend.
 Article continues after photo.
 Veera and Rob Wilson and their daughters Taika and Lumi plan to leave for England in a couple of weeks for Christmas, if possible.  Mårten Lampén / Yle
 Among those attending the Helsinki festivities on Saturday were  Veera  and  Rob Wilson , who came with their daughters  Taika  and  Lumi  to watch the opening event for the first time.
 "We're going to England with the family. We really hope to get there by Christmas, because we haven't been able to visit for two years," said Veera Wilson from Helsinki.
 She said that the family cherishes British holiday traditions along with Finnish staples such as gingerbread cookies and Christmas ham.
 "We combine the traditions of two Christmases and celebrate a big family Christmas," she told Yle.
 Even though the family plans to be in the UK for Christmas, they have already put up holiday decorations at home.
 "Everyone has had a tough two years, so it's wonderful to start thinking about positive things and Christmas stuff," Wilson said.
 Article continues after photo.
 Mira Rantanen and Sofia Girenko came to watch the events at Senate Square with Mira's dog Luuttu.  Mårten Lampén / Yle
 Another Helsinki local,  Mira Rantanen , who was also participating in the event for the first time, described herself as "a Christmas person".
 "This atmosphere is great. I make a lot of Christmas food, decorate a lot and I wear an elf hat a lot of the time during the Christmas season," Rantanen said.
 She attended with  Sofia Girenko , also from Helsinki, who said: "I'm excited. It's really fun to celebrate Christmas with my friends – and even family."

Festive season begins with Advent hymns, Christmas markets


Summary: More travellers are expected to arrive at Helsinki Airport from southern Africa next week.

The government decided on Sunday afternoon to impose entry restrictions for people arriving from southern Africa, Interior Minister  Krista Mikkonen  (Green) announced on Twitter.
 As of 3pm on Sunday, Finland will restrict entry into the country for travellers who have been in Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe during the 14 days prior to their arrival. There are no direct flights to Finland from Southern Africa.
 "A person may enter Finland from these countries only if they have an essential reason for doing so, such as compelling family matters or another compelling personal reason. However, Finnish citizens and permanent residents of Finland may always return to Finland," according to a government statement, which notes that the decision does not restrict internal border traffic from Schengen countries.
 The restrictions are to remain in effect until at least 19 December.
 Officials have been scrambling to react to Thursday's news of a new, apparently much more infectious variant of Covid-19, first identified in South Africa last week.
 It has been detected in the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium as well as Israel and Hong Kong, with suspected cases in the Czech Republic and Germany.
 On Saturday, regional administrative agencies ordered  mandatory health checks  at border crossing points for passengers who have been in certain southern African countries within the past two weeks. These countries include the seven mentioned above as well as Malawi.
 Omicron is the most mutated form of Covid-19 seen so far, with 32 mutations to the spike protein. It was named and declared a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organisation on Friday.
 Recent arrivals asymptomatic
 Only a few people have arrived at Helsinki Airport from South Africa in recent days, and they have been asymptomatic,  Timo Aronkytö , Deputy Mayor and Head of Health and Social Services in Vantaa, told the Finnish news agency STT on Sunday morning.
 Test results from those tested on Saturday will be available on Sunday, but according to Aronkytö, the assumption is that the results are negative.
 Due to the new omicron virus variant, mandatory testing began at Helsinki Airport on Saturday for passengers who have been in southern Africa recently. The city of Vantaa, where the airport is situated, is responsible for health checks.
 Aronkytö says that next week dozens of people are expected to arrive in Finland from South Africa, some of whom are continuing their journey from Helsinki to other places.
 On Friday afternoon, the Finnish Foreign Ministry recommended avoiding all travel to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho or Eswatini.
 Updated at 14:40 with government decision, other details.

Finland restricts entry from southern Africa due to new variant; few arrivals so far


Summary: According to Finnair, the incident did not affect passengers. The fate of Monday's return flight remained unclear.

The crew of a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Hong Kong were in isolation on Sunday after a pilot on the flight was diagnosed with a Covid-19 infection.
 The three pilots and nine cabin crew members may have to spend several weeks in a state-run quarantine centre. According to Finnair, the incident did not affect passengers.
 According to the airline, the crew had not yet been officially been placed under quarantine. Finnair said it was cooperating with local authorities and the Finnish Consulate in Hong Kong to determine when the crew will be allowed out of isolation.
 Some of the crew members are local, but the pilots are based in Helsinki.
 Their Finnair plane was scheduled to return to Finland on Monday, but that departure is in doubt as it was scheduled to be flown by the same crew.
 The Hong Kong administration does not generally allow quarantined individuals to leave during quarantine, even on otherwise empty aircraft.
 Flights still operating normally
 Flights from Finland to Hong Kong have been operating normally even though Hong Kong was among the first places outside southern Africa to detect the new, more infectious Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Two cases cropped up at a quarantine centre last week, according to the South China Morning Post.
 British Airways suspended flights to Hong Kong on Sunday after more of its crew members were forced to quarantine in a government centre, reports the BBC.
 On Sunday Omicron cases were found in several more countries including Denmark and Australia.
 Finnish authorities decided on Sunday to bar most travellers who have been in southern Africa within a two-week period, but have not so far restricted people coming from other countries where the new variant has popped up.

Finnair crew may face weeks of quarantine in Hong Kong after pilot's Covid diagnosis


Summary: Omicron, the most mutated form of coronavirus detected so far, fuels domestic headlines on Monday.

Breakthrough Covid infections among fully vaccinated individuals are more common right now than the seasonal flu in the capital region and Turku, according to  Helsingin Sanomat . These infections have been mild—characterised by head aches and runny noses, HS says.
 Finland on Sunday  imposed entry restrictions  for people arriving from southern Africa.
 With Omicron setting off alarms,  Iltalehti  meanwhile explores a rift between the government and expert health organisations.
 Citing government sources, IL claims public health institute THL and the National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (Krar) have not responded to the administration's request to speed up the rollout of third Covid vaccines doses to adults under the age of 60.
 The article criticises vaccine specialist  Hanna Nohynek . An anonymous government source suggests that as a believer in herd immunity, Nohynek has not wanted to speed up boosters, though top-up shots have been made available in other countries.
 In mid-October the government announced Finland would have 2.6 million surplus doses this year to cover third shots. This implies that the decision to not expand third doses has not hinged on a lack of vaccines, according to IL.
 The paper also notes that a month-old Pfizer-Biontech study of 10,000 people showed 109 individuals contracted Covid after two doses while the same was true for five individuals who had gotten three shots.
 Last week the head of the EU's public health agency said vaccine boosters should be considered for all adults, with priority for those over 40 years. That said, IL reports that the government wants its health organisations to abide by European guidelines, instead of questioning them.
 Krar is convening on Wednesday to consider offering third doses to people under 60.
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 Sea travel
 Hufvudstadsbladet  meanwhile reports that ferry company Tallink Silja will start demanding Covid passes from travellers embarking from Stockholm.
 Passes aren't, however, mandatory for passengers stepping on ships on the Finnish side of the gulf, according to HBL, as current Covid restrictions don't cover the ferry industry.
 The passenger shipping company said it used to transport some 10 million passengers annually before the pandemic.

Monday's papers: Finland's Omicron worries, sluggish boosters and Covid at sea


Summary: The estimated cost of the project is 24 million euros.

Work on a long-anticipated rail line that would link Finland's network with the Swedish border town of Haparanda will begin once funding is secured, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency said on Monday.
 The project will electrify the Laurila-Tornio-Haparanda section of the network, thereby opening up a cross-border rail connection between Finland and Sweden.
 Haparanda station  reopened for passenger trains  in March this year after a 29-year break, offering connections to long-distance trains in the south of Sweden.
 The transport agency's project manager,  Terhi Honkarinta , said that plans are expected to be completed during the coming winter with the aim of receiving final approval by next summer.
 "According to the current schedule, construction will start no earlier than the end of 2022. Most of the work will take place in 2023 and 2024," Honkarinta said in an agency press release.
 The project aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of rail transport for industry as well as enable rail passenger traffic between Finland and Sweden as part of the trans-European TEN-T network.
 In addition to electrifying the line, the project will also build safety equipment required for cross-border traffic, make changes to railway bridges as required by electrification, and modify passenger facilities at Tornio rail station.
 Total estimated cost is 24m euros
 The project is a cooperative venture between the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, Finland's National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) and the Swedish Transport Administration Trafikverket.
 The line would be an important route for ensuring Finland's security of supply, NESA's Preparations Manager  Outi Nietola  said, explaining that in the event of a serious disruption to sea transport between Finland and Sweden, a land route would help to keep essential goods coming into Finland.
 "In the government's decision on the security of supply objectives, the operating logistics services and networks have been identified as special priorities when it comes to securing the operational capacity of critical infrastructure," Nietola said.
 The overall estimated cost of the project is 24 million euros, of which the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency share is 10 million euros, NESA's share is 10 million euros and the Swedish state's contribution is 4 million euros.

Work set to begin on cross-border Finland to Sweden rail line


Summary: The data used for both consumer and business confidence indicators this month were collected before the emergence of the new coronavirus variant Omicron made headlines.

Business confidence levels in Finland continued to rise in November, according to the Confederation of Finnish Industries' (EK). The employer lobby found that confidence grew in the industrial, construction, retail and trade sectors.
 However, the confidence indicator for service sector firms weakened slightly compared to October, but remained above the long-term average, according to the confederation.
 "Yes, confidence within the Finnish business community is unusually high. Overall, the last time it was at a higher level was in April 2007, EK's director,  Sami Pakarinen , told news agency STT.
 However, the responses to EK's confidence survey were gathered before recent news about the emergence of the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, had a chance to cast a pall over economic confidence.
 Pakarinen said that the impact that the new variant has on confidence levels will be known after the results of the next confidence indicator are released after the Christmas holiday, adding that not much is known about Omicron at this point.
 The global post-Covid recovery has already begun to slow down in some parts of the world, Pakarinen said, adding that such a development had started in Central Europe, but had not reached Finland.
 "There's been a slight decline in consumer confidence, while confidence in the US has been declining for some time. The business cycle will mature at some point — it can't continuously accelerate," he said.
 Consumers' inflation worries
 According to Statistics Finland's consumer confidence indicator, confidence levels in the country decreased in November compared to the previous month. While consumers' perceptions of their current finances were positive, expectations about their financial future, and especially Finland, weakened.
 Inflation is already being felt by consumers, according to the number-crunching agency. In November consumers' assessments and expectations about their finances were well above long-term averages.
 The chief economist at Danske Bank,  Pasi Kuoppamäki , said in a statement that consumers and businesses had anticipated continued economic growth into the final quarter of the year.
 "However, the new Covid variant and the raising of coronavirus restrictions are causing concern, which will likely be reflected in an economic growth slowdown compared to earlier expectations for this winter," Kuoppamäki stated.
 Statistics Finland's consumer confidence indicator was 1.2 in November, down from 2.7 in October and 6.0 in September. In November 2020 the indicator stood at -4.8, and the long term average is -1.7, so current consumer confidence levels are more positive than usual.
 Results for the agency's indicator were also measured before news about the new Covid variant, as Statistics Finland collected its data from 1-18 November.

Business confidence rises EK says, but consumers more cautious in November


Summary: The health institute said it will take days to confirm whether or not the new variant has arrived in the country.

The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) announced on Monday that two suspected cases of the coronavirus variant Omicron were being examined in Finland, adding that both of the cases involved individuals who had arrived in the country from abroad.
 Earlier on Monday, Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district's (HUS) diagnostics director,  Lasse Lehtonen , confirmed to Yle that it was very possible the first incidence of the new variant was found in a Covid test carried out in the district last week.
 "The sample still needs to be [genetically] sequenced," Lehtonen told Yle. "It will take a couple of weeks."
 Sequencing means examining the test sample's genetic makeup.
 Omicron is a newly-discovered variant of coronavirus, the virus which causes Covid-19. Researchers have said that it is still unclear exactly how contagious or how much danger the new variant poses, however.
 Currently, it is thought that Omicron is more easily transmitted than other variants but on the other hand, people who have been infected with it appear to only have mild Covid symptoms. Omicron was first discovered in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong.
 Still unclear
 Professor of virology,  Olli Vapalahti , told Yle on Monday it is quite possible that the sample from HUS actually was a question of Omicron, adding that the matter was still unclear.
 He explained that Covid screening carried out at the border used PCR tests, using a technique that makes the Omicron variant give a negative result, which was the case in question. However, Vapalahti added that the same outcome results from the presence of the Alpha variant.
 "There is no certainty yet. [The sample] will be sequenced to clarify things. It will take days, maybe a week," Vapalahti explained.
 He said it is broadly assumed that the new variant will eventually arrive to Finland, as other variants had.
 "At the very beginning of the epidemic, one-third of all cases came from a single case originating in southern Europe," he explained.

THL: Finland investigating 2 suspected cases of Covid variant Omicron


Summary: The university is seeking to save about 14 million euros annually.

The University of Tampere announced on Monday that 107 of its employees will be made redundant following the conclusion of co-determination negotiations with staff representatives.
 In a statement, the university said that the affected employees would be able to choose a severance package if they wish and that they will also be provided with adjustment support.
 Some 39 people had already chosen severance package options since the co-determination talks were announced in September, which had an effect on the overall number of people losing their jobs. Meanwhile, 27 people opted to accept a voluntary retirement package being offered.
 As a result of the negotiations, which the university said were caused by financial and operational factors, 81 people will be offered new support service positions at the university, which includes administrative-, library- and IT-related jobs.
 The university said it planned to partially outsource some of its financial, payroll, sales invoicing and travel management services to the accounting services firm Certia, starting from next year. This change affected 46 employees.
 Initially, up to  200 people faced redundancy  as the university sought to save 14 million euros annually, with negotiations affecting the roles of a total of 1,100 workers.
 The university added that some support service roles may change significantly as a result of the negotiations.

Tampere University announces over 100 redundancies


Summary: Finnish border guards were involved in two Frontex incidents repelling migrants near EU borders, Yle has found.

Finnish guards working with EU border agency Frontex were involved with pushback practices that involved illegally repelling migrants at the EU's external borders, according to an investigative unit from Yle's Swedish language department.
 Frontex is tasked with securing human rights at the EU border. Whistleblower and human rights groups, however, claim the agency has been complicit in operations to drive away thousands of migrants attempting to enter the bloc.
 Yle's investigation found two border incidents involving Finnish border guards.
 The first incident dates back to September 2016 at the Hungarian-Serbian border, when a dog — which was with a Finnish border guard that was part of a Hungarian patrol — bit a woman. The woman's injuries required her to be hospitalised and took eight days to heal, according to an internal Frontex report. The woman was not given the chance to apply for asylum in Hungary, but was sent to the Serbian side of the border.
 The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights watchdog, said Hungary has deported 72,000 people in the past five years. The group's name is a nod to the OSCE meeting staged in Helsinki in 1975.
 The second incident involving Finns took place in March of last year in the Aegean Sea, where a Finnish-staffed Frontex coast guard patrol stopped a migrant vessel before it reached the Greek coast. In line with Frontex protocol the Greek coast guard took over, asking the Finns to leave.
 Pietari Vuorensola , a chief inspector with the international unit of the Finnish Border Guard, confirmed the incident at sea.
 The EU agency has denied involvement in migrant pushbacks. Yle requested access to Frontex incident reports involving Finns since 2010. After three weeks the agency responded, saying three such reports existed but only one of them was not sealed.
 Drawing on a number of other sources, Yle has however uncovered the details of the two incidents described.
 While Interior Minister  Maria Ohisalo  (Green) said she has not heard of any incidents involving Finns, she noted that cases like this should be tried in court.
 Earlier this autumn, Ohisalo told Yle that Finnish border guards must abide by both Finnish and EU laws.

Yle: Finns complicit in migrant pushbacks


Summary: The government will meet on Tuesday to discuss new measures to tackle the worsening Covid-19 situation

Concerns about the new virus variant Omicron and Finland's deteriorating Covid-19 situation dominated domestic headlines once again on Tuesday, with several papers reporting that the government will meet to debate potential solutions on Tuesday.
 The topics of discussion will include an assessment of the current epidemiological situation in the country, vaccination progress and controlling border traffic in light of the new variant, according to daily  Karjalainen .
 Government sources have revealed that while no decisions have been made yet, officials are considering shutting down Finland's borders or reinforcing internal border controls within the Schengen area.
 The government could also make vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers.
 Currently, tourists arriving from southern African countries which have reported multiple cases of the Omicron variant are banned from entering Finland.
 The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is  investigating  two suspected cases of Omicron in the country.
 Finland lags behind in vaccination
 According to a  report  by Helsingin Sanomat, Finland has been distributing the third jab of the Covid-19 vaccine much slower than other countries in the EU.
 Around 37 percent of those aged 12 and above have received the third dose in Iceland, while the equivalent figure in Hungary is 25 percent and Malta 21 percent.
 The number stands at about 10 percent in Spain and Lithuania and 9 percent in France. In contrast, as of Monday, only 5 percent had received the third jab in Finland.
 Finland's current vaccination strategy focuses on ensuring that most of the population has received the second dose and preparing to vaccinate children under 12 years of age.
 Medical experts have recommended that Finland step up its vaccination pace to prevent waning immunity against the virus.
 The third jab is currently only available to people over 60 and those belonging to medical risk groups.
 Finnish scientists make breakthrough in breast cancer research
 Ilta-Sanomat  reports  that researchers from the University of Helsinki and Aalto University have successfully developed a gel-grown "mini-breast cancer" that will help improve breast cancer treatment.
 The new method makes it easier to study hormone receptors to determine the effectiveness of hormone therapies.
 The discovery has significant implications as 70 percent of breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive, that is, they involve cells that contain hormone receptors or molecules that bind to a specific hormone.
 Studying hormone receptors in laboratory conditions will make it easier for pharmaceutical companies to develop more effective drugs.
 Breast cancer is currently the most common type of cancer among the working age population in Finland, affecting 5,000 women every year.

Tuesday's Papers: Government discussions, slow vaccination rate and breast cancer breakthrough


Summary: Finnish authorities are currently investigating whether two cases of coronavirus detected in Finland last week are the Omicron variant, with confirmation expected in the coming days.

The spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Finland is "inevitable," according to  Mika Salminen , the Director of Health Security at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
 "The world is connected by various air, ship and land connections. It is very difficult to prevent the spread of virus variants. It has always been known that these will emerge and will gradually spread. We may be able to slow down their progress a bit and gain some time," Salminen told Yle's  Ykkösaamu  show on Tuesday morning.
 Finnish authorities are  currently investigating  whether two cases of coronavirus detected in Finland last week are the Omicron variant, with confirmation expected in the coming days once the samples are genetically sequenced.
 THL said on Monday that both of the cases involved individuals who had arrived in the country from abroad. The two patients in question have been placed in isolation and efforts have begun to trace their contacts.
 "We are not yet talking about a spread, but only about individual cases. It is possible that there are more cases, because we can't know when the variant was born and how long it has been spreading around the world," Salminen said.
 "No need for panic"
 However, Salminen added that he also wanted to reassure people living in Finland about the Omicron variant, saying the infectivity and severity of the new variant is not yet determined, even though several countries have already imposed travel restrictions.
 The emergence of different variants and mutations was expected, he said, and there is no reason to panic.
 "Emergency brakes have been heavily pressed around the world based on relatively little information. If there are variants that would avoid the efficacy of vaccines, then the vaccines will be changed. Just like with flu vaccines," Salminen said.
 He added that there is also a risk in applying the emergency brake, as countries may decide to hide information about new variants if it leads to their isolation.
 "It's not in anyone's interests. We should come up with a better way than isolating areas for a long period of time as a reflexive reaction," Salminen said.

THL chief: Omicron spread in Finland "inevitable," but no need to panic


Summary: The cities of Helsinki and Tampere have seen the highest increase in property prices this year.

Finland's GDP saw a 4.2 percent growth during July–September compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from Statistics Finland.
 GDP volume increased by 0.8 percent over the previous quarter. Foreign trade was especially strong, with exports growing by 9.4 percent in July–September compared to the same period last year.
 Private consumption also drove economic growth, with a 1.3 percent increase from the previous quarter and a 3.1 percent increase over the past year.
 However, investments fell by 3.1 percent from the previous quarter and by 0.3 per cent in the last twelve months.
 According to recently revised data, Finland's GDP grew by 8.2 percent between April and June compared to the same quarter last year.
 Property prices rose 3.6%
 Statistics Finland also found that the prices of old dwellings in housing companies saw a 3.6 percent increase this October compared to the previous year.
 Old dwellings refer to properties that have been completed at least two years before the statistical reference year.
 October saw a 1.1 percent increase in property prices across Finland compared to September. Prices increased in all major cities and regions except for Eastern Finland and smaller municipalities in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
 Helsinki and Tampere recorded the highest jump in prices since last year. The cost of real estate increased by 6.9 percent in Helsinki and 4.9 percent in Tampere this October compared to the same time last year.
 Espoo, Kauniainen, Turku and Oulu also saw a price rise of more than four percent this year.
 Meanwhile, since 2015, property prices have risen by more than 28 percent in Helsinki and by nearly 19 percent in Tampere.
 The cost of homes went up the most in southern and northern Finland—an increase of 4.2 percent each since last year.
 In contrast, prices declined by 1.9 percent in Eastern Finland and 0.9 percent in satellite towns or smaller municipalities in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
 While property prices have remained nearly unchanged in northern and western Finland since 2015, they increased by almost one-sixth in southern Finland. In Eastern Finland, on the other hand, prices have fallen by one-fifth.
 Property sales increased
 Preliminary data from Statistics Finland indicate that property sales have picked up following a slump in the housing market caused by the Covid-19 shutdown in spring 2020.
 Property purchases across the country grew by nearly 45 percent in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.
 Sales in key cities, including Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Oulu and Turku, rose by 41 percent in the second quarter of 2021, while smaller towns and municipalities saw a 49 percent increase.
 The value of property sales during the first half of this year amounted to 10.5 billion euros, a 39 percent increase over the past year.
 Additionally, the total value of home sales saw a 60 percent growth in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the previous year.

Finnish economy sees strong growth during October as property prices rise


Summary: An official from the Justice Ministry said the situation is different from last spring, when the municipal elections were postponed, as many more people are now vaccinated.

The worsening coronavirus situation in Finland — further complicated by the  suspected arrival  of the Omicron variant — will not lead to the postponement of the county council election, scheduled for 23 January 2022.
 That's the view of  Arto Jääskeläinen , Director of Electoral Administration at the Ministry of Justice, who said that a repeat of the situation last spring — when the municipal elections were  moved from April to June  as Covid cases escalated — is not being considered.
 Jääskeläinen added that no proposals to postpone have been submitted to the ministry by any of Finland's political parties.
 "The Ministry of Justice's opinion is that there is no need to postpone the elections," he said, adding that the situation last spring, when the decision was made to postpone the municipal elections, was different from the current one.
 "Last February, when it was decided to postpone the municipal elections, vaccinations had just begun. Now more than 80 percent of people in Finland have been vaccinated. Vaccinations protect election officials and voters," Jääskeläinen said.
 Advance voting for the election is scheduled to begin on 12 January.
 County council elections
 The county council, or regional, elections are being held in Finland for the first time. Voters will be asked to choose candidates to join their local county council, which will decide on social, health, fire and rescue services in their area.
 The social and healthcare (or ' sote' ) reform will therefore establish 21 welfare areas across Finland and transfer responsibility for the provision of social, healthcare and emergency services to municipalities.
 Check out our really simple guide to the election  here . This  article  also explains the key topics in seven different languages, including English.
 The exception is Helsinki, where the city will continue to be responsible for its social, health and rescue services. Capital residents will therefore not be voting in the election.
 Story continues after the photo.
 Arto Jääskeläinen, Director of Electoral Administration at the Ministry of Justice. Jani Saikko / Yle
 A significant portion of municipal budgets and employees will be transferred to the welfare regions under the new reform. Pirkanmaa, which includes the city of Tampere, will become the largest welfare area in Finland, with a budget of about two billion euros and 18,000 employees.
 This also means that the City of Tampere's budgetary expenditure will be reduced by about 64 percent, as the municipality will no longer be responsible for the provision of social, healthcare and emergency services.
 The term of office of each county council will be four years and between 59 and 79 delegates will be elected onto each council, depending on the number of inhabitants in the welfare region.
 From 2025 onwards, the county council elections will be held at the same time as the municipal elections.

Ministry: No plans to postpone county council elections


Summary: More patients are currently being treated in Finnish hospitals for the virus than at any other time during the pandemic.

The first moments of a baby born to a mother with Covid are etched in the mind of  Eerika Puolitaival , a nurse in the pulmonary disease ward of Päijät-Häme Central Hospital in the city of Lahti.
 "A baby delivered by Caesarean section was immediately separated from its mother and brought to the newborn ward, the mother went to the Covid ward and the father was sick at home," she said of moments that have stuck in her mind during the pandemic.
 Puolitaival's unit became her hospital's Covid ward during the pandemic, sometimes even caring for entire families. The age distribution of patients, she told Yle, can vary from newborn baby to elderly grandparent — and the range of different patients can lead to a multitude of different challenges.
 Elderly people with memory problems do not always know where they are, and some of them write distressed letters to their caregivers, asking for help.
 Drug addicts, on the other hand, have had to be kept in isolation on the ward, often against their will, under the terms of Finland's Communicable Diseases Act.
 Puolitaival described how the unit is divided into 'dirty' and 'clean' sides. Patients can get to the 'clean' side when they are no longer considered to be contagious, or about 20 days after becoming infected.
 There are a total of 20 beds on the dirty side: ten isolation rooms and three air proofed rooms. There are currently 19 patients being treated on that side.
 No visitors are admitted to the dirty side, with the exception of people who have recovered from the virus.
 Puolitaival described how she and her colleagues always go from the clean side to the dirty side by following the same pattern of preparation: firstly hand disinfectant, then the FFP3 mask, protective head covering, plastic overalls, and hand disinfectant again. They also put rubber gloves on their hands, maybe even a few pairs, and no rings.
 After the patient has been treated, the protective clothing is removed in the isolated space between the two sides and discarded. Masks are only ever changed on the clean side. Still, despite all these careful preparations, there will still be exposures to the virus.
 During the course of one shift, Puolitaival may have to change equipment up to ten times, and takes about 10,000 steps.
 A large proportion of Covid-19 patients in Päijät-Häme are unvaccinated. Their risk of being hospitalised is 19 times higher than that of people who are double-vaccinated. The typical Covid patient in the hospital is a working-age, overweight man.
 A Covid infection often comes as a surprise to most patients, as was the case for 57-year-old  Jouni Marttinen . He thought the prolonged fever was common in the autumn flu.
 Marttinen told Yle he had been in good health, exercised a lot for his age, and had made jokes about the coronavirus vaccine. Then he fell ill and was rushed to hospital via ambulance in November.
 Marttinen's inflammation levels were high and oxygen saturation low, and he was transferred to the intensive care unit. Referring to the nurses' protective clothing, Marttinen calls the unit "astronaut treatment".
 He was given supplemental oxygen, which he still receives, and he described the most frightening aspect of a Covid infection as being the feeling of suffocation.
 "I tried to calm my mind by humming the childhood songs that my mother sang in the evenings at bedtime. That's how I eventually got some sleep. I also had an indescribable gratitude for being in such good care," he said.
 When Eerika Puolitaival arrives to begin her shift, she does not always know when she will finish work and get home to her children, although working overtime is voluntary. However, there are often one or even two nurses missing from the coronavirus ward per shift, with an average shortage of three nurses every day.
 Puolitaival said she tries to avoid overtime, but she often works double shifts: an evening shift on top of a morning shift or a night shift after an evening shift.
 Nurses receive emergency pay for working overtime, but supervisors at the hospital think it's a double-edged sword. Many nurses may find themselves working too much because the basic salary in the healthcare sector is low.
 Patients do not always realise when their oxygen levels are dropping, and may even feel fine so detach their oxygen tubes, according to Puolitaival. In this type of situation, the nurse must be one step ahead, she explained, as unvaccinated patients can crash very quickly.
 Emotions also tend to run high. Patients get irritated when nurses are working around them on what can seem like a constant basis.
 This was the case for Marttinen.
 "I couldn't sleep. It was foggy and confusing. I was angry with the nurses. It's annoying, even though they held my hand and tried to help," Marttinen recalled.
 A healthy person breathes about 12 times a minute, a person with a severe Covid infection breathes 30 to 40 times. This is because an inflammatory condition develops in the lungs. When breathing becomes wheezing it is a clear sign for nurses that the patient's condition is worsening.
 In severe Covid-19 infections, the transfer of oxygen to the body becomes more difficult and therefore extra oxygen is needed, even via a ventilator.
 Marttinen compared the feeling of a lack of oxygen to when, as a young man, he dived under the ice at his parents' summer cottage.
 "I couldn't see the light, and my sense of direction disappeared. I searched in the dark looking for the hole in the ice. A lack of oxygen is similar but lasts longer. There is a feeling that this will never be overcome," he described.
 The number of Covid patients in hospitals across Finland is currently higher than at any other stage during the pandemic. Most of the patients are in Helsinki University Hospital's area of responsibility, which also includes Päijät-Häme Central Hospital in Lahti.
 The cost of treating Covid patients is expensive for taxpayers. The cost of one drug, given to Covid patients as an infusion, costs one thousand euros per dose alone. Another costly medicine, heparin — which prevents blood clots — is also provided.
 Marttinen, for example, has received almost the entire range of medicines available to treat a Covid patient.
 According to figures provided by the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district (HUS), hospital treatment for one Covid patient costs an average of 16,000 euros.
 Marttinen spent five days in intensive care. From there he was transferred to an isolated section of the hospital's Covid ward and eventually, a few days later, he was transferred to the 'clean' side.
 He made the 30-metre journey from the dirty side to the clean side in a wheelchair, connected all the time to an oxygen supply. For a man who had considered himself to be in good health, the collapse of his fitness and the loss of muscle mass have been a shock. A drop in his oxygen levels as he described the transfer demonstrated that even talking is an effort.
 "Even a toilet trip in a wheelchair is as tough as the Cooper's test used to be when I was young. It's hard to put in words. There is this feeling of having given absolutely everything when in reality you have not really done anything," he said.
 While on the ward, Marttinen called some people he had met before his infection was diagnosed. He has been troubled by the fact that he may have unknowingly spread the virus.
 Marttinen added that he believes people's reasons for not getting vaccinated are not necessarily straightforward. There may be depression, loneliness or a feeling of social isolation behind people's reasons for not wanting to get jabbed.
 "No one intentionally infects another. I've never been a model student, but it's a shame and annoying that I didn't get vaccinated. I especially recommend young people to take what doctors say seriously," he said.
 On Päijät-Häme Central Hospital's Covid ward, the day has been very busy. A male patient has been brought to Marttinen's former isolation room. The elderly man in the neighbouring booth has been fighting for his life all day, while another is preparing to go home via a taxi covered by Finland's social insurance institution Kela.
 "The fact that I'm here now is bigger than winning the lottery. I am deeply grateful to all the healthcare staff who have helped me," Marttinen said.
 Despite the heavy toll of working at the heart of the pandemic, the nurses at Päijät-Häme Central Hospital still smile behind their masks. According to Puolitaival, the sincere gratitude expressed by patients helps to drive them on. Humour helps too.
 However, there are times when the best efforts of the workers on the ward are not enough, and the patient should be transferred — but there is nowhere for them to go.
 "I'm alone in the room with the patient. Without a computer, without a phone. I'm pressing the alarm for help. That's when the protective clothing starts to feel awkward and the sweat starts to flow."
 Sometimes a patient dies on the ward without anyone holding their hand. This can occur in particular if their loved ones are quarantined at home.
 "The worst thing is when you know that even if you do your best, it is not enough," Puolitaival said.

Nurses on Finland's Covid wards battle frustration, loneliness and death


Summary: The discovery of the two men hiding under the axles of a trailer is unprecedented in Finland, a Border Guard official said.

Two Iraqi men were discovered hiding under the trailer of a truck in the port of Helsinki on 30 October, Finland's Border Guard announced in a press release on Tuesday.
 A patrol dog found the two men under the trailer while border guards were conducting a routine search of incoming traffic at the port. The truck had arrived in Finland by ship from Tallinn.
 The men were found to be in good condition, the Border Guard's Director of Investigations,  Juho Sillanpää , told Yle.
 "They were a little cold because they had been out at sea and it happened to be quite a rough day [at sea]," Sillanpää said.
 The press release described the men's hiding place as being potentially "life-threatening", especially if the truck had accelerated to full speed.
 The men did not have any documents entitling them to enter the EU, with the pair suspected of entering the Schengen area from Belarus.
 The case is being investigated as an arrangement of illegal immigration, as people living in Finland are suspected of taking part in organising the men's passage.
 "We are beginning to get a pretty clear picture of the men's route. They weren't in their hiding place in very challenging conditions for a very long time," Sillanpää said, adding that the case is unprecedented in Finland as there are no previously-known similar incidents.
 A preliminary investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Border patrol finds two stowaways under truck at Helsinki port


Summary: The defendants were charged with sexually abusing two children in 2007.

The Helsinki Court of Appeal has reduced the sentences of two men accused of sexually abusing children in 2007.
 The District Court of Western Uusimaa had previously charged the defendants, aged 61 and 51, with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, and sentenced them to an unconditional imprisonment term of one year and eight months.
 The charge has now been lessened to sexual abuse of a child, and the defendants' sentences have subsequently been reduced to conditional imprisonment of one year and four months and one year and two months, respectively.
 Conditional imprisonment means the defendants are entitled to a probationary period of at least one year (three years at the most) during which the imprisonment is postponed.
 The court can enforce imprisonment if the defendants commit a new offence during the probationary period.
 The case is part of a larger investigation involving a paedophile ring that targeted a total of six male victims aged five to 15 in Finland. The crimes took place between 2004 and 2014.
 The case has been primarily handled by courts in Southern Ostrobothnia as most of the victims and suspects are from the region.
 Not "aggravated" sexual abuse
 The men were accused of sexually exploiting two minors who were six at the time, while photographing the acts. The District Court held that the crimes constituted aggravated sexual abuse.
 Following a unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal has ruled that the acts committed by the defendants do not fall under the bracket of "aggravated" as defined by the law.
 While it found the defendants guilty on two charges of child sexual abuse, it held that the crimes were a one-off incident and the defendants stopped of their own accord.
 The Court of Appeal did not reverse the District's Court's ruling on damages.
 One of the perpetrators in this case was a key member of an extensive  international paedophile ring  that operated in nearly 20 countries.
 He has also received a sentence of seven years and 10 months in prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a child, aggravated rape and possession and distribution of child sexual abuse images, as well as other charges.

Court of Appeal reduces sentences in paedophile ring case


Summary: The Leopard 2A4 battle tank weighs more than 55 tonnes.

A video posted on social media of a Leopard 2A4 battle tank driving over Finnish conscripts has led to a variety of reactions on social media.
 The Jaeger Brigade conscripts were seen lined up on the ground between the 55-tonne war machine's giant treads — but untouched by the vehicle — as they took part in a drill in the Rovajärvi area of Lapland.
 The video was uploaded to Twitter by the brigade's commander, Colonel  Sami-Antti Takamaa , who said he was a bit surprised by the stir that the footage caused.
 "It's not such a strange thing after all, but of course the tank is pretty heavy duty, so that may be why it evoked emotions and in some cases even a little bit of horror," Takamaa said.
 Some of the people commenting on the video said that the exercise could be dangerous if the tank had a technical problem.
 But according to Takamaa, the drill is a completely safe exercise, as there is half a metre of clearance between the bottom of the tank and the ground and that it moves slowly.
 Takamaa said the point of the drill is more of an experiential, than practical, exercise.
 'More of a manhood test'
 "In terms of modern warfare, it hardly [has much relevance]. Perhaps it's more of a manhood test, an experience providing a memory of [the conscripts'] time in the military," he explained.
 He noted that female conscripts were also seen taking part in the drill, and referred to the wider goal of getting more women into military service.
 "I wanted to show that women can do the same things as men," he said.
 Takamaa said that one aspect of the exercise was to familiarise the conscripts with the tank up close, as they also were able to view the vehicle's interior — as well as its undercarriage.
 Story continues after tweet.
 The colonel said that the participants were very enthusiastic about the exercise, adding that the brigade plans to continue with the drill in the future.
 "Yes, it will continue. But the experience is one that the soldiers will remember for the rest of their lives — something that they will never experience again," he said.
 Takamaa also posted a video of himself taking part in the exercise.
 "Yes, a Finnish officer and commanders in general need to set an example," he added.
 Conscripts took part in another exercise with the tank, with drill participants waiting ahead of the approaching vehicle and then, at the instructor's command, rolled out of the way of its path.
 Takamaa said this exercise was also not dangerous, as the order to move out of the way is given in good time, adding that the conscripts are pulled away by the trainer if necessary.
 The drills were part of the Puukko 21 exercises, which was being observed by 48 military representatives from 24 countries. At times they were conducted in temperatures as cold as -25 degrees Celsius, with Takamaa saying the exercises sent a message that one can be proud of Finland's conscripts.
 Some 1,020 personnel and 205 vehicles took part in the drills, including members of the Jaeger Brigade, Air Force, Border Guard and the Centre for Military Medicine.

Video of tank driving over Finnish conscripts in drill raises eyebrows on social media


Summary: The government met to hammer out measures to deal with rising case numbers, the vaccine situation and the unknowns surrounding the latest coronavirus variant.

Members of Prime Minister  Sanna Marin 's (SDP) government gathered at the House of Estates in Helsinki on Tuesday afternoon to discuss strategies to improve the country's worsening coronavirus situation, but Marin attended the meeting remotely due to cold symptoms.
 A statement from the Prime Minister's office said Marin would be tested for Covid.
 The meeting came days after it was announced that a new coronavirus variant, known as Omicron, was circulating around the world. Little is known about the variant or how much of a threat it poses, but it is thought to spread more easily than previous ones.
 The Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services,  Krista Kiuru  (SDP), said earlier on Tuesday that places of employment should start using Covid passes in order to operate more safely.
 Kiuru noted that the matter of requiring proof of vaccination or recovery from the illness has links to fundamental rights and the Constitution, saying that mandating the passes would require labour market groups to take part in the negotiations.
 Following the meeting, Kiuru said that the government negotiations were carried out in good spirits, and that solutions would be reached. She said the epidemic situation has been difficult for some time and that hospitals have felt the burden of increasing numbers of Covid patients needing care for several weeks. She also acknowledged that Finland's vaccination coverage has not grown as anticipated.
 Kiuru said that there are concerns that the Omicron variant might spread even faster than the current variant, Delta, adding that there is not much known about the new variant. She said the government needs to prepare for worst case scenarios, in light of missing information about Omicron.
 The minister said that the government is planning to raise restrictions on events taking place in regions deemed to be in the community transmission phase of the epidemic. However venues and event organisers will be able to circumvent such restrictions if Covid passes are put into use, she said.
 Worsened situation
 Finnish health care workers are faced with mounting numbers of new Covid-19 cases. As of Tuesday there were 317 people in Finland receiving hospital treatment for coronavirus infections, 51 of whom were in intensive care units — the highest such figures the country has seen since the beginning of the epidemic.
 Coronavirus-related fatalities have also risen steadily since a slowdown over the summer. In mid-August Finland had recorded a total of around 1,000 Covid-related fatalities since the start of the epidemic in spring 2020. As of Tuesday, 30 November 2021, the country's coronavirus death toll stood at 1,335.
 This week the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommended the resumption of distance working arrangements in areas considered to be in the epidemic's spreading phase. Such recommendations are already in force in the Helsinki area and the region of Southwest Finland.
 On Monday health authorities announced that two suspected cases of the Omicron variant were being examined in Finland, saying that the process would take days.
 'We have the will to act quickly'
 As she arrived at the House of Estates, family affairs and social services minister Kiuru said she expected results from the meeting to be announced later in the day, saying that the social and health care ministers' group had discussed new measures to address the situation.
 "I think the government has the will to act, and act quickly," she said, without specifying measures before the meeting.
 "The most important thing is that we — regionally and with the help of regional authorities — do everything we can to get the epidemic situation under control," she said, adding that border security needed to be tightened, in order to slow the spread of the new variant.
 Meanwhile, interior minister  Krista Mikkonen  (Green) said that the government planned to discuss how the country should prepare for the inevitable spread of Omicron.
 "It is clear that the new virus variant will come to Finland. The question is how we can slow its spread," Mikkonen said.
 Minister of Justice  Anna-Maja Henriksson  (SFP) said before the meeting that new restrictions may be on the way in order to deal with the situation.
 "If restrictions are implemented, you have to think about what they will achieve. The important thing now is [for people] to take the vaccine," she said, adding that the government relies on experts about things like the possibility of expediting the distribution of Covid booster jabs.

Finland works on Covid strategy amid rising cases and anticipated arrival of Omicron


Summary: Finland's government rolls out new restrictions aimed at tackling the worsening Covid situation, as final preparations are made to begin vaccinating children aged 5-11.

All of Finland's national and regional papers carry reports on Wednesday morning from the government's  meeting at the House of the Estates on Tuesday  where strategies aimed at tackling the worsening coronavirus situation in the country were discussed.
 Helsingin Sanomat  writes  that new restrictions and additional measures will be introduced to areas considered to be in the community spread phase of the epidemic, as well as a nationwide recommendation that people work remotely if it is possible to do so.
 "We are in a race against the Delta virus. It is spreading faster even as vaccine coverage is rising," HS reports Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services  Krista Kiuru  (SDP) as saying after the meeting, with the paper adding that the situation has been further exacerbated by the emergence of the new Omicron variant. It has not yet been confirmed in Finland, but some suspected cases are being tested.
 The exact nature of the new restrictions will depend on decisions made by regional authorities, known as Regional State Administrative Agencies or Avi's, but in Kiuru's opinion the next 2-3 weeks will be decisive in how Finland manages the epidemic.
 The minister also said that the government will provide further information about restrictions on Thursday, especially in relation to how authorities may increase security measures at Finland's border to prevent the Omicron variant entering the country.
 In a separate  article , HS reports that Finland is putting the final preparations to plans to roll out Covid vaccines to children aged between 5 and 11, and that the process may begin as early as Christmas week.
 Covid infections among the 5-11-year-old age group have been steadily increasing since mid-October, HS writes, up from about 4,000 cases per week then to about 7,000 weekly infections now.
 "We’ve noticed in the past that as the infection rate rises sharply among adults, it rises among children as well,”  Emmi Sarvikivi , a chief physician with public health authority THL, told HS.
 The National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (Krar) is expected to discuss the issue of vaccinations for children aged 5-11 on Wednesday, but it may still be a few days before a final decision is made by other authorities.
 All aboard the vaccination bus
 Tampere-based Aamulehti  reports  on an innovative solution introduced by the city's health authorities to further increase vaccination coverage: the vaccination bus.
 AL hopped aboard the bus when it pulled up near the city's Central Market Square on Tuesday evening, and soon found a lengthy queue of willing vaccinees had formed across the square.
 "When we first came to the Market Square, we did wonder if anyone would come here, but this has been a success," nurse  Jaana Ihalainen  told Aamulehti, adding that most people who showed up were there for their second dose.
 "And increasingly the first, which is a really good thing," she said.
 The vaccination bus parks at different locations around the city and stays for about 2-3 hours at a time, AL reports, and between 130 and 140 people receive a jab each time. Prior to the wider introduction of the Covid pass, that figure was around 60–80 vaccine doses per day.
 "We are trying to find ways to make it easy for people in Tampere to get vaccinated," Ihalainen said.
 Small dog, big career
 Tabloid Iltalehti  reports  that Finland's smallest police dog,  Jekku , retired on Tuesday at the sprightly old age of 10 and a half years.
 The Parson Russell Terrier's long and storied career with the Häme Police Department included helping to recover an estimated one million euros in cash as well as discovering more than 100 kilograms of drugs and almost 70 weapons during the course of over 2,000 searches.
 Jekku was also chosen as the police dog of the year 2018, IL writes, as well as a host of other honours.
 Jekku's work will be continued by his protégé,  Patrik , whose training and work can be followed via the Instagram account @poliisikoirapatrik_k9, the Häme Police Department revealed in a Facebook post.

Wednesday's papers: Curbing Covid, vaccination bus and Finland's smallest police dog retires


Summary: 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Helsinki Conference and the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, which led to an easing of Cold War tensions.

Finland will chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2025, Foreign Minister  Pekka Haavisto  (Green) confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday evening.
 The OSCE is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organisation, and Finland's role as 2025 chair is expected to be rubber-stamped at a meeting of all 57 member states at a meeting in Stockholm on Wednesday. Sweden is the organisation's current chair.
 "The forthcoming chairship of the OSCE is a concrete demonstration of Finland's work and commitment to promoting peace and stability in Europe," Haavisto said.
 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Helsinki CSCE (Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe) Conference — a precursor to the establishment of the OSCE — which culminated in the signing of the Helsinki Final Act by 35 nations and had a far-reaching effect on the Cold War and U.S.-Soviet relations.
 Haavisto said that Finland has been gathering support among other nations to take over the chair in 2025, and he laid the groundwork with Russia when he met Russian Foreign Minister  Sergei Lavrov  at a meeting of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council in the Norwegian city of Tromsø earlier this month.
 Finland's President  Sauli Niinistö  also welcomed the announcement.
 Story continues after the image.
 OSCE plays "significant role" in tense world
 Haavisto described the OSCE as an important forum for increasing dialogue, transparency and trust between the 57 member states.
 The importance of the OSCE is especially emphasised when international relations are tense, he added.
 "The working atmosphere within the OSCE has been quite difficult recently, so there is plenty of work to do here," Haavisto said.
 The interests of the member states — including Belarus, the United States, Mongolia, Ukraine, Britain, France and Russia — must be reconciled, Haavisto added.
 Finland last chaired the OSCE in 2008, a year that was marked by a war in Georgia.
 At the time, the OSCE was involved in drafting a ceasefire agreement to end hostilities between Russia and Georgia.
 The organisation's activities have focused in particular on conflict management in Eastern Europe as well as crisis management operations, post-conflict rebuilding and the strengthening of democracy, including through the monitoring of elections.
 Format of 2025 summit still open
 Haavisto said that it is too early to assess whether Finland's chairship and the 2025 summit will involve heads of state, as during the 1975 Presidency, or remain at the more usual foreign minister level.
 "A lot depends on the state of Europe and the state of the OSCE, but the goal during the presidency is to establish a high-level dialogue between the heads of state as well," Haavisto said.
 It also remains to be seen whether there will be any events during Finland's chairship in which non-OSCE countries, such as China, could also take part.
 "We think of the anniversary year in terms of hard work, not the year of polishing champagne glasses," Haavisto added.
 Reviving the 'spirit of Helsinki'
 The 1975 Helsinki Summit was held at Finlandia Hall at the end of July and the beginning of August, and was attended by Russian leader  Leonid Brezhnev and US President  Gerald Ford  as well as, in a historic first, by the leaders of both West and East Germany.
 The summit led to the easing of Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, most notably with the signing of the Helsinki Final Act and the eventual establishment in 1994 of the OSCE as a successor to the CSCE.
 Finland's President Niinistö has repeatedly said recently that he would like to revive the 'spirit of Helsinki', including  last week  during a working visit to Germany.
 "We must take responsibility for the future of our continent. Finland is ready to play its part," Niinistö said in Berlin.

Finland named OSCE chair for 2025


Summary: The annual event has been cancelled for a second year in a row, once again due to the Covid situation.

The Finnish Defence Forces have cancelled a planned Independence Day parade in the city of Lahti on 6 December, citing the worsening coronavirus situation.
 Last year's parade, which was scheduled to take place in Pori, was also cancelled because of the pandemic.
 Parade organisers had planned to include all service branches of Finland's military, including the Finnish National Defence University and the Finnish Border Guard, as well as veterans' and national defence organisations.
 Lieutenant Colonel  Kai Naumanen , Head of the Defence Forces' Häme Regional Office, confirmed the cancellation to Yle following initial reports by Lahti regional newspaper Etelä-Suomen Sanomat.
 Naumanen explained that the decision was made in the best interests of the Defence Forces' own staff and parade participants, as well as those of the general public.
 He added that it is unlikely the parade will be held next year in Lahti, as the events are planned years in advance and changes of venue are difficult to make.

Defence Forces cancel Independence Day parade


Summary: THL's director of health security said earlier this week that emergence of the Omicron variant in Finland was "inevitable".

No evidence of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been found in two suspected cases of the highly-mutated variant, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said on Wednesday.
 The samples from both suspected cases —  detected in Finland last week  — were genetically sequenced, in order to determine their genetic makeup. One was found to be the Delta variant while the other will be sent for re-testing as the viral value within the sample was too low to provide an accurate determination.
 Meanwhile, news agency STT reported that three further suspected cases are now being investigated.
 "The results will be confirmed in the coming days. It is quite likely that more suspected cases will be identified," the THL said in a press release.
 THL Director of Health Security  Mika Salminen  said  earlier this week  that the spread of the Omicron variant in Finland was "inevitable", but added that there was no need for people to panic, as the infectivity and severity of the new variant has not yet been determined.
 So far Omicron cases have been confirmed in two other Nordic countries: Sweden and Denmark.

THL: No Omicron variant found in two suspected cases, three more under investigation


Summary: A direct link between the introduction of the Covid pass and the reduction in disruptive behaviour cannot be drawn until more data has been collected, notes the CEO of NoHo Partners.

Disruptive behaviour at restaurants and nightclubs has decreased significantly since the introduction of the Covid pass.
 "For one reason or another, all the disruptions that usually occur in restaurants are now minimal. These include, for example, people who have to be removed from the premises and pickpocketing," says  Aku Vikström , CEO of NoHo Partners.
 Securitas, which provides security services, has also noticed that there are now fewer incidents in bars and restaurants, says Business Director  Teemu Balk .
 A similar trend has also been observed in the restaurants owned by the Night People Group.
 "Security staff say that there has been very little disruptive behaviour compared to the past. The Covid pass may be a significant reason, since the number of customers has been quite good and alcohol consumption has remained at about the same level," says the company's CEO,  Antti Raunio .
 The Night People Group runs popular Helsinki nightclubs such as Apollo, Baarikärpänen, Kaivohuone and Maxine. NoHo, meanwhile, operates the Old Student House (aka Vanha), Pub Ikkuna and Henry's Pub.
 A direct conclusion between the Covid pass and the improved behaviour cannot be drawn until more data has been collected and analysed, says Vikström. However, the reduction in disruption and the introduction of the Covid pass have occurred at the same time.
 "Now that people have to present the QR code of the Covid pass at the door in addition to an identity card, there is a slightly tighter screening of the condition customers are in when they enter the premises," he says.
 Stricter rules since last weekend
 On Sunday, stricter restaurant restrictions came into force in regions deemed to be in the community spread phase of the pandemic. Bars and restaurants do not require a Covid pass may not serve alcohol after 5 pm.
 The Covid pass law entered into force on 16 October, based on the EU’s Digital Covid-19 certificate. Since then, it has been required for an increasing range of non-essential activities that are covered by restrictions.
 Residents of Finland can download the EU Digital Covid Certificate from the  My Kanta  site and save it on their phone as a PDF file or print it out on paper.
 Besides restaurants and nightclubs, the pass may be required at public events, gyms and other indoor sports and fitness venues, swimming baths and spas, dance venues and facilities used for group activities, amusement and theme parks, indoor areas at zoos, indoor playgrounds and indoor play areas, as well as in museums, exhibition spaces and other similar cultural venues, according to the health institute  THL .

Nightclubs: Less disruptive behaviour since adoption of Covid pass


Summary: The National Advisory Committee on Vaccines is expected to discuss offering the third dose of the vaccine to those under 60 on Wednesday.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) will continue to focus on providing the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to those in risk groups, instead of expanding eligibility to the rest of the population, according to  Mia Kontio , a top vaccine specialist at THL.
 Currently the third dose, also known as a booster shot, is only recommended for people above the age of 60 and those in medical risk groups, who make up roughly 2.5 million people in Finland.
 The THL and the National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (Krar) have been criticised for their decision to postpone the rollout of third doses for those who are not in risk groups.
 "THL is not putting it off, but it is not in a hurry to begin either. Right now it is vital to vaccinate those who are at high risk for infection. They haven't been comprehensively vaccinated yet, and expanding eligibility to include younger age groups could slow down vaccination for older age groups," Kontio stated in an interview on Yle TV's breakfast show Ylen aamu.
 According to Kontio, Finland currently has around 550,000 people who received the second dose of the vaccine six months ago and are subsequently eligible for the booster shot. About 40 percent of them have gotten the third jab.
 "For a majority of those who are 60 and above, six months will not have passed after the second dose until February. There aren't that many people who would have received the second shot over six months ago," Kontio added.
 Krar is expected to discuss whether the booster shot should be made available to people under 60 on Wednesday. Additionally, the group will consider whether to bring forward third dose eligibility criteria from six months to five months.
 The issue of rolling out vaccines for children aged 5–11 is reportedly also on the table. However, it could be a few days before a final decision is made by other authorities. If approved, vaccinations could begin before Christmas.
 "Unvaccinated people under the age of 40 currently account for the highest number of infections. The third vaccine will not have much of an effect if vaccination is primarily targeted at people over the age of 40," Kontio said.
 Is a new vaccine on the cards?
 In an interview with  Financial Times  on Tuesday, pharmaceutical company Moderna's CEO  Stéphane Bancel  predicted that existing Covid-19 vaccines will not provide sufficient protection against the new Omicron variant, compared to previous mutations of the virus.
 Moderna as well as Pfizer have begun enhancing their vaccines to increase their effectiveness against Omicron.
 "Preliminary data does not indicate that Omicron can get past the protection against severe illness offered by the vaccine any more than previous variants can," Kontio said.
 If pharmaceutical companies do develop a new vaccine against the Omicron mutation, it would take a few months to become commercially available, according to estimates.
 "Finland is prepared to acquire these [vaccines], if required," Kontio added.

Vaccine specialist defends THL's decision to limit booster jabs


Summary: Covid-19 and the seasonal flu have led to a large number of employee absences

Daycare centres in Vantaa have been struggling to cope with a shortage of staff for the past few weeks, with some even requesting that parents keep children at home rather than bringing them to daycare.
 "This is very rare, and it cannot be allowed to become a permanent solution,"  Mikko Mäkelä , Head of Early Childhood Education at the City of Vantaa, said. "We cannot, of course, oblige anyone to keep their child at home."
 According to Mäkelä, at least one institute—the Pakkala daycare centre—requested parents care for their children at home instead of bringing them to the daycare in mid-November.
 However, arrangements were made at the same location for those children whose parents were unable to provide supervision.
 A shortage of personnel has also led to the sudden discontinuation of a few individual daycare groups, according to Mäkelä, who said that the move is unprecedented.
 He believes that certain measures can be taken, such as transferring staff from one unit to another, to prevent this from happening again in the future.
 The City of Vantaa reportedly considered temporarily shutting two daycare centres in spring.
 "Internal arrangements enabled the daycares to continue running eventually, but they came very close to closing, and I had already granted permission for them to shut," Mäkelä stated.
 Some daycare providers have adapted to the staff shortage and an inability to find substitutes by asking parents to pick up their kids early. Mäkelä said that while this is relatively rare, it has become an increasingly common practice in the past few weeks.
 Covid, flu keeping staff at home
 According to Mäkelä, the main reason for the current staff shortage is a high absence rate due to employees falling ill with the seasonal flu or Covid-19.
 "Due to the pandemic, employees are taking a sick day even if they have minor symptoms. While this is, of course, the right thing to do, it has resulted in several absences and has made our staff situation complicated," he said.
 Officials in Vantaa hope that the situation will improve once the flu season ends and substitutes become more widely available.
 "There is no simple solution to this problem. We are working hard to find substitutes via the Seure workforce leasing company, but the biggest problem is the general shortage of staff in the sector," Mäkelä stated.

Daycare centres in Vantaa facing acute staff shortage