The recovery of the ship's anchor near the Baltic Sea pipe damage, concerns about welfare reforms and a new quantum computer: Finland in the world press

The article details the ongoing investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), where they are trying to determine if it is connected to the Chinese container ship Newnew Polar Bear, which is missing its front anchor.

Deep traction marks were also found along the damaged pipeline. Finnish researchers have attempted to contact the Newnew Polar Bear vessel, which closely matched the timeline of the pipeline's damage. The investigation is now focused on whether the damage to the pipeline was deliberate or intentional.

"The next questions are about whether it was intentional, negligent, bad seamanship, and from there we get to whether the incident could have a motive. It's too early to answer that at this point." Robin LardotThe NBI chief said.

Investigators suspect that the damage to the pipeline was caused by an external mechanical force, not an explosion. The participation of a state actor has not been ruled out. Finland, which recently joined NATO after changing its non-alignment policy due to Russia's actions in Ukraine, has received guarantees of a joint response if sabotage caused pipeline damage. Repairing the pipeline will probably take at least five months and a possible commissioning date in April 2024, and about 5% of Finland's energy needs come from gas.

The original story was published by The Guardian on 24 October 2023 and can be found here.

Finland's right-wing government wants to tear up its welfare state

This article includes an interview Annika Rönni-SällinenChairman of the Finnish Service Union United (PAM), about the effects of the new government plans on the welfare state, was published in Jacobin October 24th. The article gives an insight into the new challenges that Finland's well-known welfare states and labor unions faced after the election of a right-wing government. This new coalition challenges the country's strong workers' rights and social security systems, which have been the backbone of Finland's welfare state.

The article highlights that the recent reforms are similar to Margaret Thatcher's neoliberal agenda after 1979. These reforms include about 30-40 proposals concerning social security, job security, workers' rights, including the right to strike, and the salary negotiation model. PAM's president expressed concern about the government's approach, calling it unprecedented and bypassing the usual tripartite negotiations between the government, employers and trade unions, which Finland has historically relied on.

"Let's look at unemployment insurance, for example. Many of our service industry members work part-time because full-time jobs are not available. These workers are already unable to make ends meet and have to rely on the agreed unemployment allowance and housing allowance. The government is now cutting these benefits, which can be 300 or 400 euros per month. It's hard to imagine how these people could get by with hundreds of euros less. But how are they supposed to work more if there are no more full-time jobs?", Annika Rönni-Sällinen said.

The PAM president also noted that the government will simplify the process of dismissing workers by replacing the current requirement of "serious reasons" with the vague term "substantial reasons." In addition, the government's proposals aim to expand the use of fixed-term employment by removing the special justification obligation for fixed-term employment.

"In addition to this, there are many other ways in which they limit the right to strike, the participation of the social partners and the right to collective agreements. It is really serious, Sällinen added.

The original story was published by Jacobin on October 24, 2023 and can be found here.

Finland's defense budget for 2024 aims at supplementing weapons stockpiles and border security

Finland will increase defense spending to around 6.2 billion euros, which is almost 5% more than in 2023, the article discussed. Defense news October 14th. The article details the budget, which is intended to allocate funds to improve the country's 830-mile border with Russia and replenish military equipment and weapons delivered to Ukraine over the past two years.

The budget proposal was approved by the Ministry of Defense in September. Finland's increased defense spending is a direct response to NATO membership and the increased tension in the region after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The expected budget will increase Finland's defense spending to 2.3 percent of GDP, which exceeds NATO's 2 percent goal. to the member countries.

The 2024 budget includes a border reinforcement plan that will build 125 kilometers of "smart fences" equipped with advanced sensors and drones operated by the Border Patrol. The price of this smart fence, strategically placed on the border between Finland and Russia, ranges from 400 million to 500 million dollars.

Minister of Defense of Finland Antti Häkkänen described the budget increase as "fundamental to improving national security and defense capabilities."

"We cannot ignore how the war started by Russia has changed the security landscape in our Nordic countries and the wider neighborhood. The world around Finland is becoming an increasingly dangerous place. Despite Finland's economic challenges, we are now part of NATO and membership brings with it additional costs and responsibility, Häkkänen said.

The original story was published in Defense News on 10/14/2023 and can be found here.

Russia terminates the cross-border agreement with Finland

An article published in 2012 discussed Russia, which terminates the 2012 agreement with the Finnish government and promotes cross-border cooperation. Barents Observer October 22nd. This article follows the decision following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year and the former country's isolation.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to notify the Finnish government of the termination. During the last decade, millions of euros were invested in cultural cooperation, environmental improvement, social welfare, business development and infrastructure between Finland and Russia.

This cooperation was based on funding from the European Union's Interreg programs, the Barents cooperation and the Northern Dimension. However, this cooperation has stalled as Moscow has closed the door on such initiatives. Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin on October 20, signed a decree on the termination of cross-border cooperation.

The original story was published by The Barents Observer on 10/22/2023 and can be found here.

Finland presents its new 20-qubit quantum computer

Finland's VTT, preparing its second quantum computer containing 20 superconducting qubits in cooperation with IQM Quantum Computers, was discussed in the article. ComputerWeekly.com October 25th. The article highlights the achievement, which is part of a roadmap to develop a 50-qubit quantum computer by the end of 2024.

The program is outlined in the "Finnish quantum computer development activity" project launched by the government in November 2020, with a budget of more than 20.7 million euros. The first five-qubit quantum computer was completed in 2021 and the second 20-qubit quantum computer was completed in October 2023, which keeps Finland on track to reach its 50-qubit goal. Now the government is aiming for a 300-qubit machine and has increased the budget to 70 million euros for this ambitious project. Researchers expect to achieve quantum supremacy with a 300-qubit machine.

The 20-qubit quantum computer is located in Espoo, in the VTT part of Micronova, which is a national micro- and nanotechnology research infrastructure, and serves as a technology demonstrator in the development of 50-qubit systems.

"There are so many options" Pekka Pursula, research manager, microelectronics and quantum technologies from VTT, said. "This includes ions, atoms and photonic quantum computers. Each of these has its relative advantages. But I think the superconducting platform is currently the most mature in terms of scaling - including the number and quality of qubits, control and so on. That said, it's not clear which technology delivers the quantum advantage most effectively in the long run.

VTT and IQM have continuously learned and developed at every stage of the development of quantum computers. They learned how to connect a quantum machine to a supercomputer and use a hybrid configuration for specific tasks with a five-qubit machine. Furthermore, they mastered the transition from 2D to 3D quantum architecture.

The original story was published on ComputerWeekly.com on 10/25/2023 and can be found here.

HT

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