Nord News - The Nordic Daily

The updated theatre features two new stages and a new café. https://nord.news/2023/08/17/finnish-national-theatre-unveils-e61m-renovation/?feed_id=43224

Sweden's security services have been concerned about threats since a series of protests at which the Quran was burned. https://nord.news/2023/08/17/supo-sweden-security-warnings-not-affecting-terror-threat-level-in-finland/?feed_id=43217

Stats­minister Ulf Kristersson, justitie­minister Gunnar Strömmer, säkerhets­polis­chef Charlotte von Essen och riks­polis­chef Anders Thornberg håller en press­träff med anledning av det försäm­rade säkerhets­läget. I dag höjdes terrorhotnivån från en trea till en fyra på en femgradig skala - vilket innebär att man går från förhöjt hot till ett högt hot. Lyssna på pressträffen live här. https://nord.news/2023/08/17/statsministern-om-sakerhetslaget-jag-forstar-att-alla-kanner-oro/?feed_id=43196

As schoolchildren across the country settle back into classrooms after the long summer break, APN looks into the issue of inclusion in Finnish schools. https://nord.news/2023/08/17/apn-podcast-does-the-finnish-school-system-support-every-child/?feed_id=43189

U.S. women's national team coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The move comes less than two weeks after the Americans were knocked out of the Women's World Cup earlier than ever before. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the move had not been officially announced. An announcement was expected Thursday. The four-time champion struggled through the World Cup. A victory over Vietnam to kick off the group stage was followed by draws against Netherlands and Portugal - barely enough to get the team into the knockout stage. The Americans played well in the round of 16 against Sweden but ultimately fell on penalties after a scoreless tie. The U.S. scored just four goals over the course of the tournament. The United States had never finished worse than third at previous World Cups. The 46-year-old Andonovski was named coach of the United States in October 2019, taking over f...

The ombudsman said that customers cannot be switched to market-based spot priced contracts without their consent. https://nord.news/2023/08/17/consumer-ombudsman-bans-unilateral-electricity-spot-price-switching/?feed_id=43168

There had been a mistake in the original list, and after it was corrected both Helsinki and Tampere universities saw their position plummet. https://nord.news/2023/08/17/helsinki-drops-out-of-top-100-uni-list-after-error-connection/?feed_id=43133

Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 17 (ANI): Chennaiyin FC will be looking to continue their winning momentum in the ongoing Durand Cup 2023 when they take on Delhi FC in their final Group E clash at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Friday. Owen Coyle's men ensured their place in the quarterfinals of the tournament with a 3-0 victory against Tribhuwan Army with the goals coming from Farukh Choudhary, Rahim Ali and Rafael Crivellaro. The Marina Machans currently lead the group table with six points. However, defender Aakash Sangwan stated that they are as focused on winning their last group match ahead of the knockout stage as any. "We take so many positives from our last match as we registered back-to-back victories. On top of that, we kept a clean sheet as well and qualified for the quarter-finals after winning the first two matches already. However, it doesn't change our mentality for the forthcoming clash as we will be going for the win,...

Annually detected law infringements have more than halved since 2020. https://nord.news/2023/08/17/satellite-monitoring-helped-tackle-illegal-logging-forest-centre-says/?feed_id=43119

Gothenburg [Sweden], August 17 (ANI): Humans have a good attitude towards nature. But is this due to a taught approach as a child, or is it something we are born with? According to experts at the University of Gothenburg and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the answer is 'Both'. According to the study, our love of nature is particularly individual and should impact how we plan our cities. It is well known that nature has a positive effect on people. In cities in particular, studies have shown that trees and other greenery contribute to people's wellbeing. However, experts do not agree on the reasons behind this phenomenon, known as biophilia. Some believe that it is natural for humans to feel an automatic positive attachment because human development has occurred in nature. Others argue that there is no evidence for this and that influences during our childhood determine how we view nature. A wide range of factors involvedResearchers from...

Finland's peak holiday home season saw little interest in the lake house market. https://nord.news/2023/08/17/summer-cottage-sales-collapse/?feed_id=43105

Photos published along with an Iltalehti profile story of newly announced presidential candidate Alexander Stubb raised some brows. https://nord.news/2023/08/17/thursdays-papers-stubbs-bench-photo-university-decline-and-driving-on-gravel/?feed_id=43098

NEW YORK, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar gained on Wednesday, as the latest minutes showed that most Federal Reserve officials still regarded high inflation as an ongoing threat, and they could require further interest rate increases. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, was up 0.22 percent to 103.4350 in late trading. The Fed on Wednesday released the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held on July 25-26. Fed policymakers said that despite signs of progress on inflation, it remained well above their 2 percent target. They said that they "would need to see more data ... to be confident that inflation pressures were abating" and on track to return to their target. Meanwhile, the monthly data published by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed on Wednesday that housing starts rose 3.9 percent in July on a monthly basis, following the 11.7 percent decline recorded in June, better than the market expectation. ...

Washington DC [US], August 16 (ANI): A significant long-term study published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reveals that good cardiorespiratory fitness when young is associated with a 40% decreased chance of acquiring 9 particular cancers later in life, at least in men. These include cancers of the head and neck, food pipe (oesophagus), stomach, pancreas, liver, bowel, kidney, and lung. Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to a person's ability to do aerobic exercise, such as running, cycling, and swimming for sustained periods, or even to climb stairs. It's known to be associated with lower risks of certain cancers, but few large, long term studies of multiple cancer sites have been reported. The researchers therefore drew on linked Swedish registry data up to the end of 2019, covering background information, medical diagnoses, and deaths for conscripts who started their military service between 1968 and 2005. At the start of their stint, when...

The governing coalition parties are negotiating amongst themselves the contents of an official government statement outlining its stance on racism, after a summer of scandals. https://nord.news/2023/08/16/governing-coalition-leaders-meet-to-discuss-equality-in-wake-of-racism-scandals/?feed_id=43014

The circumstance under which the equipment fell into Russian hands are still unclear. https://nord.news/2023/08/16/russia-shows-off-finnish-made-apc-in-war-loot-collection-from-ukraine/?feed_id=43007

SYDNEY, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- England went closer to their first Women's World Cup title as they moved into the final for the first time after beating host Australia 3-1 in the semifinal here on Wednesday. The home side eliminated France via a thrilling penalty shoot-out in last 8, booking their first semifinal appearance at the Women's World Cup, after they bowed out at the quarterfinal stage in three of their previous campaigns. England had reached the semifinal for the third consecutive edition but never made into the final before. The Lionesses overcame Colombia during the last match and were seeking the spot in a second successive major tournament final, after lifting the EURO crown in 2022. England had lost to Australia 2-0 in a friendly match back in April, their only defeat since Sarina Wiegman took the coaching spot. With Lauren James still suspended, England continued the 3-4-1-2 formation while Australia's trump card Sam Kerr marked her first start in thi...

Finland's GDP grew by 0.7 percent in Q2. https://nord.news/2023/08/16/finnish-gdp-ticks-upwards/?feed_id=42993

Sydney (AFP) - Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo did the damage late on in Sydney as England shattered Australian dreams Wednesday with a clinical 3-1 win to set up a Women's World Cup final against Spain. The Lionesses had stumbled at the same stage twice before but the European champions made no mistake this time to reach the final for the first time. They took the lead nine minutes before the break with Manchester United's Ella Toone unleashing a rocket just inside the box with the outside of her boot. A fit-again Sam Kerr, starting for the first time this tournament, hit back for the home side in the second half with a world-class goal that set the game on fire, picking up the ball and letting fly from 30 yards after a weaving run. It sparked ecstatic scenes from the 75,784-strong partisan crowd. But they were silenced eight minutes later when Hemp muscled her way into the box and stabbed into the corner before Russo put the icing on the cake with four minutes left. M...

The Lost Property Service charges fees to look for and return items people may have mislaid. https://nord.news/2023/08/16/lost-property-office-banned-from-operation-over-law-breaches/?feed_id=42979

Shorter rail journeys are set to cost commuters some 0.50 euros more per ticket on average. https://nord.news/2023/08/16/vr-to-raise-commuter-rail-ticket-prices/?feed_id=42937

The ethics board criticised a promo for a TV show by broadcaster MTV that referenced suicide. https://nord.news/2023/08/16/advertising-watchdog-finds-mtv-calvin-klein-ads-unethical/?feed_id=42930

Stubb was Prime Minister in 2014-15. https://nord.news/2023/08/16/stubb-announces-presidential-run/?feed_id=42923

Finnish workers' pay rises were lower than those agreed in similar countries. https://nord.news/2023/08/16/wednesdays-papers-poverty-pay-russia-spy-claims-and-the-neglected-superfood/?feed_id=42916

NEW YORK, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar edged up on Tuesday, as U.S. retail spending picked up in July better than expected. Retail sales grew 0.7 percent in July, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Tuesday. That was above both the 0.4 percent increase projected by Refinitiv economists and the 0.2 percent gain recorded in June. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, rose 0.02 percent to 103.2057 in late trading. "The fact that the labor market is still strong is a support for spending," said Richard Moody, chief economist at Regions Financial. Nonetheless, Moody expected consumer spending to slow after the summer months in categories such as travel, entertainment and recreation. "There's only so long strength in that is going to persist," he said. The U.S. dollar briefly surged earlier in trading after the data before it declined, and it later rebounded. Alex Kuptsikevich, FxPro's senior market analys...

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) - Spain will play for its first  Women's World Cup  championship after Olga Carmona's goal in the 89th minute lifted La Roja to a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the Tuesday semifinal. Spain, which overcame last year's near mutiny by its players against coach Jorge Vilda, will play the winner of tournament co-host Australia and England on Sunday in the final in Sydney. The controversy surrounding Spain dates to last September,  when 15 players signed a letter complaining about Vilda and the conditions  for the the national team. Three of those players are on this World Cup team, and Vilda a day before the game against Sweden praised the Spanish federation for its support. Courthouse News' podcast Sidebar tackles the stories you need to know from the legal world. Join our hosts as they take you in and out of courtrooms in the U.S. and beyond. Now, La Roja has a chance to become a first-time World Cup champion...

Dofinansowanie operacyjne na rzecz islandzkiej opery zostanie wstrzymane, zgodnie z informacją podaną do wiadomości przez instytucję. Cięcia są tak duże, że opera nie ma innego wyjścia, jak tylko zaprzestać działalności. „Opera islandzka została poinformowana o tym, że dofinansowanie operacyjne na rzecz instytucji zostanie wstrzymane, zanim zostanie ukształtowana przyszłość działalności opery w kraju, co nieuchronnie powoduje […] https://nord.news/2023/08/15/opera-islandzka-bedzie-zmuszona-do-zaprzestania-dzialalnosci/?feed_id=42853

Heka owns around 50,000 rental apartments in the Helsinki region. https://nord.news/2023/08/15/finlands-largest-rental-firm-announces-12-rent-increases/?feed_id=42825

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal here on Tuesday witnessed a dramatic last 10 minutes as Olga Carmona scored a late winner to help Spain beat world No. 3 Sweden 2-1. It is the first time for Spain to reach a FIFA Women's World Cup final. Carmona curled the ball home on the edge of the box in the 89th minute, just one minute after Swedish substitute Rebecka Blomqvist found the equalizer, following Salma Paralluelo's opener in the 81st minute. World No. 6 Spain, who qualified for its first Women's World Cup semifinal, controlled most of the first half with 52 percent of ball possession, but failed to create any clear goal-scoring opportunities. The two-time woman's ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, considered to be the best female player in the world, started for Spain for the first time after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury last July. Despite having only 31 percent of possession, Sweden almo...

The negotiations will affect all 430 employees of the media company, with provisional estimates putting the number of possible redundancies at 45. https://nord.news/2023/08/15/commercial-broadcaster-mtv-begins-restructuring-redundancy-talks/?feed_id=42797

Finland has suffered from a macaroni shortage this summer. https://nord.news/2023/08/15/macaroni-shortage-set-to-end-as-myllyn-paras-production-resumes/?feed_id=42783

Finnish artists Anna Puu and Paperi T added a local flair, delivering performances that resonated with the enthusiastic audience. Notably, the Silver Arena introduced an array of talents, including Finnish rapper Kube , Ege Zulu , Alma , and 070 Shake . The night culminated in a stunning set by Kaytranada , a producer-artist renowned for seamlessly blending genres. From the electrifying performance of London rapper Shygirl to the mind-bending art-pop of Jockstrap , the Black Tent was alive with energy. Meanwhile, the Resident Advisor Front Yard featured techno legends like Speedy J , Chaos In the CBD , and DJ Nene H , transforming the space into a dance haven. Art enthusiasts engaged with thought-provoking environmental art at the Tiilikello x Polestar art space. Dutch artist Thijs Biersteker 's installation titled "Gasp" served as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address air pollution and its impact on our environment. The installation ...

Bird flu is affecting the fur farming industry in Finland. https://nord.news/2023/08/15/avian-flu-mutation-found-on-five-mink-farms/?feed_id=42762

Just nu håller försvarsminister Pål Jonson (M) pressträff om ett nytt stödpaket till Ukraina som bland annat innefattar ammunition, transportfordon och minröjningsutrustning. Medverkar på pressträffen gör också generallöjtnant Michael Claesson, chef för Försvarsmaktens försvarsstab. Hör Ekots politikreporter Ci Holmgren och Ukrainakorrespondent Lubna El-Shanti om stödpaketets betydelse efter pressträffen. https://nord.news/2023/08/15/just-nu-nytt-stodpaket-till-ukraina-presenteras-vart-34-miljarder/?feed_id=42748

No other Finnish universities made it into the top 100. https://nord.news/2023/08/15/helsinki-university-continues-slide-in-world-ranking-index/?feed_id=42741

Soccer fans witnessed an epic showdown as Australia claimed an exciting victory against France on Saturday in the FIFA Women's World Cup. John Ryan recaps some of the highlights from the match. THREE DAYS AGO, Olympic City 2032 saw a grand clash between Australia and France. Beautiful Ekka weather was served up for locals and international fans. There have been several noteworthy things regarding this tournament: the skills of the players, the fairness of the play and the closeness of the outcomes; the ability of Australia to host this huge tournament with barely a ripple of concern. The crowds have been wonderful, the stadiums have been more than adequate and the games have been of high quality; and traditional "football" fans have not gone nuts about the fact that it has been referred to as "soccer". My guess is that big players such as the USA refer to it as soccer and nobody can be bothered correcting them. Secondly, traditional fans are more th...

Finland's total tax take is estimated at 65 billion euros. https://nord.news/2023/08/15/90-million-euros-in-unpaid-taxes-after-august-deadlines/?feed_id=42727

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Following is the starting list of Spain against Sweden in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup semifinals here on Tuesday: Goalkeeper: 23-Cata Coll Defenders: 2-Ona Batlle, 4-Irene Paredes, 14-Laia Codina, 19-Olga Carmona (Captain) Midfielders: 3-Teresa Abelleira, 6-Aitana Bonmati, 11-Alexia Putellas Forwards: 8-Mariona Caldentey, 10-Jennifer Hermoso, 17-Alba Redondo https://nord.news/2023/08/15/spains-starters-against-sweden-in-2023-fifa-womens-world-cup-semis/?feed_id=42720

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Following is the starting list of Sweden against Spain in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup semifinals here on Tuesday: Goalkeeper: 1-Zecira Musovic Defenders: 2-Jonna Andersson, 6-Magdalena Eriksson, 13-Amanda Ilestedt, 14-Nathalie Bjorn Midfielders: 9-Kosovare Asllani (Captain), 16-Filippa Angeldal, 18-Fridolina Rolfo, 19-Johanna Kaneryd, 23-Elin Rubensson Forwards: 11-Stina Blackstenius https://nord.news/2023/08/15/swedens-starters-against-spain-in-2023-fifa-womens-world-cup-semis/?feed_id=42713

Kl. 09.32-12.30 i P4 10.00 Fotboll, semifinal VM damer Sverige–Spanien (Andreas Matz, Andreas Lundin, Emanuel Nashed och Johan Elmander) Programledare: Linn Nenzén https://nord.news/2023/08/15/just-nu-sveriges-vm-semifinal-ar-i-gang/?feed_id=42706

Finland's presidential election will take place in early 2024. https://nord.news/2023/08/15/tuesdays-papers-presidential-dark-horse-economic-woe-and-tenant-destruction/?feed_id=42699