Society
An elevator in a nine-story Heka rental building in Kontula has been out of service for over a month, leaving residents—particularly those with mobility impairments—trapped in their homes. The malfunction, first reported to Heka on June 6, has caused significant hardship, with some unable to leave their
Health
The Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland (Varha) has confirmed that electronic appointment letters from Turku University Hospital (Tyks) were mistakenly sent to incorrect recipients on Wednesday, 8 July. The incident has prompted an investigation into the cause of the disruption, with sending of new electronic letters suspended until the
Climate
Mosquito activity has been unusually low this summer in southern, central, and eastern Finland, but recent heavy rains may soon change that. According to experts, the dry spring and low-snow winter contributed to the scarcity, though other factors—such as predators, diseases, and environmental conditions—also play a role.
Health
From the beginning of July, Kela has discontinued the reimbursement of certain high-cost medications, including cancer treatments, when administered in public healthcare. The change shifts an estimated €100 million in medication costs to wellbeing services counties, which are already facing financial strain. Ilta-Sanomat reports that the policy may
Health
The balconies of the New Children’s Hospital in Meilahti have been found to have structural defects, leading to their closure last year and ongoing repairs expected to conclude in September. According to Helsingin Uutiset, the issues stem from misaligned glass panels that were intended to slide but instead created
Health
The Ahvenisto outdoor swimming pool in Hämeenlinna has been temporarily closed after routine water testing revealed the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The City of Hämeenlinna confirmed the closure in a press release, stating that a small amount of the bacteria was detected in a sample taken on Tuesday, 7
Society
A black rat (Rattus rattus), a species long considered extinct in Finland, has been discovered in Jyväskylä. The rat was found dead in an electric trap on the premises of a company importing goods from the Middle East, Helsingin Sanomat reports. A DNA test conducted at the University of Oulu
Health
Finnish berry producers Frozen Berry Ltd. and Pakkasmarja have issued precautionary recalls for batches of fresh strawberries, raspberries, and arctic brambles due to potential flavor and odor defects. The recalls affect products delivered on Saturday, 4 July, and sold exclusively in Prisma stores under the HOK-Elanto chain. Consumers who
Health
Panu Pokkinen, the Director of Yle News and Sports Unit and Editor-in-Chief, has died at the age of 49 following two cardiac arrests. Yle reports that Pokkinen passed away on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, in a Helsinki hospital (corrected year from earlier reporting). The Finnish flag was lowered
Society
A fire has broken out at a care home in Humppila, Kanta-Häme, prompting a major response from emergency services. The Kanta-Häme Rescue Department received an alarm for a building fire at 9:19 AM on Wednesday morning, with extinguishing operations currently underway at the site on Kisakuja (Helsingin
Health
A fire has broken out at a care home in Humppila, prompting a significant response from emergency services. The Kanta-Häme Rescue Department received an alarm at 9:19 AM on Wednesday morning, with fifteen units dispatched to the scene at Kisakuja (Ilta-Sanomat). The rescue department is currently working
Health
The Licensing and Supervisory Authority (Valvira) has suspended the healthcare service operations of Nordicshape Helsinki Oy, a beauty clinic in Helsinki, following an unannounced inspection that uncovered multiple serious deficiencies posing risks to patient safety. The suspension took effect immediately after the inspection, conducted on 29 June. Additionally, MTV Uutiset