Threat of domestic violence in home. LEHTIKUVA

The latest figures from authorities reveal a troubling rise in domestic violence cases reported last year, with a total of 12,300 victims. Among these, the number of adult victims increased by 3.2%, while the number of child victims saw a rise of over 10% compared to 2022.

Of the adult victims, 74% were women, while about half of the child victims were girls.

Superheroes have become one of the most significant pop culture phenomena of the 21st century. A new dissertation by Laura Antola, a researcher at the University of Turku, explores how American superhero comics were introduced and adapted for Finnish audiences from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Antola’s research delves into the Finnish versions of popular American superhero comics during the 1980s and 1990s.

Starting June 10, 2024, Finnish consumers will enjoy a broader selection of alcoholic beverages at local supermarkets, thanks to a recent amendment in the alcohol law approved by the Parliament on June 5, 2024. This change permits the sale of fermented alcoholic beverages with up to 8% alcohol by volume, up from the previous limit of 5.5%.

Under the new regulations, retailers with existing licenses to sell beverages up to 5.5% alcohol can now sell those up to 8% without needing additional permits from the regional state administrative agency.

Forest management activities in Washington State.

Business Finland is hosting an unprecedented visit by a large delegation from the North American forest and wood products industry, marking a significant milestone in international collaboration. Over 60 delegates from nine U.S. states and Nova Scotia, Canada, are touring Finland to gain insights into the country's advanced forestry practices and innovative wood-based technologies.

For five days, the delegates will visit various Finnish industrial plants, research institutions, and universities.

An Israeli military armoured vehicle rolls in an area bordering the Gaza Strip on June 9, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

The year 2023 marked a significant increase in global violence, with a record number of 59 state-based conflicts, the highest since 1946. This alarming trend was highlighted in the latest conflict trend analysis report by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).

While the number of conflicts surged, the number of countries experiencing these conflicts dropped from 39 to 34, indicating a concentration of violence in fewer nations.

The Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre has significantly bolstered the economic and employment landscape of the Helsinki metropolitan area, delivering a remarkable EUR 187 million in economic impact and creating 2,535 person-years of employment in 2023. This marks a substantial 46% increase compared to the previous year's EUR 128 million and 1,740 person-years, according to a study by market research firm Taloustutkimus.

Nurses at the children's and youth emergency department at the Turku University Hospital (Tyks) Lighthouse Hospital on February 15, 2024. LEHTIKUVA

An extensive study conducted by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has shown significant improvements in working times and occupational safety within the social welfare and healthcare sector, thanks to the implementation of the Working Time Traffic Light Model and updated shift ergonomics recommendations.

The study, which analyzed data from the “Sote-työajat” cohort spanning from 2008 to 2022 and included over 80,000 employees,

Li Andersson, the outgoing chairperson of the Left Alliance, smiled amid a jubilant crowd at the election-night event of the Left Alliance in Helsinki on Sunday, 9 June 2024. Andersson became Finland’s all-time top vote getter in the European elections, winning a whopping 247,000 votes and dragging two of her party comrades with her to Brussels. (Roni Rekomaa – Str / Lehtikuva)

THE NATIONAL COALITION and Left Alliance will be the largest Finnish parties in the new European Parliament.

The National Coalition won 24.8 per cent of the vote, an increase of 4.0 percentage points from the previous elections, to secure four seats in the European Parliament. The Left Alliance saw its vote share swell by a whopping 10.4 points to 17.3 per cent, securing three seats in the European Parliament.

Photo: ESO/M. Kornmesser

In a groundbreaking study from the University of Turku, new insights have emerged about the formation of quasars, challenging longstanding theories. Previously, it was believed that quasars, which are incredibly bright galaxies powered by supermassive black holes consuming cosmic gas and dust, formed primarily through galaxy collisions. However, this latest research shows that quasars can also form independently of such violent interactions.

University of Eastern Finland Joensuu campus. Photo: © University of Eastern Finland

The University of Eastern Finland’s Joensuu campus will host a major international conference on cultural mobility and multiethnicity from June 12-14, 2024. The "Moving Cultures, Moving Ethnicities" conference will gather around 130 speakers from over 20 countries, reflecting the university's strong research focus on borders, mobility, and cultural interactions.

Keynote speakers include Professor John McLeod from the University of Leeds, who will discuss the conflicting roles of "good" and unauthorized migrants in contemporary English literature.

Daly and Wallace, 6th anniversary of the assassination of Pavlos Fyssas by the neo-nazis of Golden Dawn, on 19th September 2019. Image CC

In H.G. Wells’s novel, "The Country of the Blind," a mountaineer named Nunez falls down a mountain in the Andes and finds himself in a hidden valley isolated from the rest of the world. This valley is inhabited by a community of people who are all blind. Nunez, confident in the saying "In the Country of the Blind, the one-eyed man is king," believes he will easily dominate and rule over the blind villagers. However, his attempts to assert his superiority and to make the villagers understand the concept of sight are met with confusion and disbelief. The villagers, stuck in their own ways of understanding the world, see Nunez's talk of sight as delusional.

MERA25 candidates in Athens.

As the European Elections approach on June 9, notable public figures Naomi Klein, Norman Finkelstein, and Roger Waters are urging voters in Germany, Greece, and Italy to support MERA25. They emphasize that the party stands as a crucial alternative to both far-right and establishment parties, offering a pathway to peace, freedom, and dignity for Europeans.

Naomi Klein highlights the failures of establishment parties, stating, “These elections are so critical because the far right is not the only problem.

The anniversary year of Olavinlinna will last throughout the entire next year. Photo: Topi Leikas, The National Museum of Finland.

Olavinlinna, the historic castle in Savonlinna, will celebrate its 550th anniversary in 2025 with a series of events and activities throughout the year. The National Museum of Finland, which oversees Olavinlinna, has announced plans for an extensive program and invites everyone to participate in the celebrations.

The National Museum of Finland is spearheading the anniversary preparations and encourages local residents, associations, event organizers, schools, businesses, tourism operators, and creatives to join in the festivities.

This summer, Helsinki's Alppipuisto park is set to become the city's vibrant hub of music and culture with the "Alppipuiston kesä" event series. Over three consecutive weekends in July, the park will host six diverse and free events, offering something for everyone from funk to baroque, and from psytrance to folk music. The series promises a blend of live performances, workshops, crafts, and delicious food, making it a perfect urban getaway.

Employees in Posti’s logistics centre in Vantaa, Southern Finland, in June 2021. Posti on Thursday announced it has completed discussions with employee representatives and decided to lay off up to 153 delivery and terminal workers. (Emmi Korhonen – Lehtikuva)

POSTI on Thursday announced it will lay off a maximum of 153 employees from its delivery and terminal divisions following the conclusion of consultative negotiations initiated with staff representatives in April.

The negotiations were initiated as part of a reform process that seeks to establish a more flexible and effective delivery network.