Latest news with #Yle
Euractiv
37 minutes ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
Finnish MP commits suicide in parliament
A member of the Finnish Parliament committed suicide on the parliament's premises in Helsinki early on Tuesday, according to local media. The MP in question is 30-year-old first-time lawmaker Eemeli Peltonen which the Finnish parliament confirmed later on Tuesday. Police have reported no criminal involvement in his death. 'The passing of Eemeli Peltonen deeply shocks me and all of us,' Tytti Tuppurainen, chairwoman of Peltonen's social democrati parliamentary group wrote in a statement. 'He was a much-loved member of our community and we will miss him deeply. A young life has ended far too early.' Peltonen, a social democrat, has been a member of the Finnish parliament since 2023. He was also elected to the city council of Järvenpää, a city of around 50,000, just north of Helsinki. He had gone on sick leave before the summer recess, citing kidney issues. Earlier on Tuesday, the parliament's security director, Aron Toivonen, told the Finnish boulevard paper Iltalehti: "A fatality has occurred this morning. Emergency medical services, rescue services and police authorities have been alerted to the scene via the emergency response centre." He also confirmed that the incident had taken place in the parliament building. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called the reports "truly sad news". "At the same time, we wish strength to his family, loved ones and colleagues. This touches all of us deeply," Orpo said according to public service media Yle. Orpo stated that his National Coalition Party will suspend political activities during its ongoing summer meet due to the incident. The Finnish parliament is currently in summer recess, with sessions planned to resume in early September. (vib) UPDATE: This article has been updated to include emerging information.
Al Bawaba
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Finland: Lawmaker commits suicide in Parliament House
Published August 19th, 2025 - 10:25 GMT ALBAWABA - Reports revealed that a Finnish lawmaker committed suicide in parliament, local media confirmed on Tuesday. Helsinki Police revealed to the media that a member of the parliament in Finland died in the Parliament Building on Aug. 19. Parliament Security Director Aaro Toivonen told Yle media outlet that the shocking incident took place at the Parliament Building and that he does not deny the information. The name of the lawmaker who killed himself was not revealed until this time, nor the reason behind the suicide. Kuolemantapaus Eduskuntatalossa Eduskuntatalossa on tiistaina 19.8. aamupäivällä sattunut kuolemantapaus. Eduskunta ei kommentoi tapausta medialle tämän enempää kuolemansyyntutkinnan ollessa kesken. — SuomenEduskunta (@SuomenEduskunta) August 19, 2025 Police patrols and emergency services were dispatched immediately to the scene. The official X account of the Finnish Parliament wrote, "Death at the Parliament House" adding, "A death occurred at the Parliament House on the morning of Tuesday, August 19. The Parliament will not comment further on the matter to the media while the cause of death investigation is ongoing." © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
MP 'takes their own life' in Finland's parliament building as cops descend on scene
A Finnish MP has reportedly taken their own life in the country's parliament building. Local media reported that a person died in the Parliament Building in Helsinki at around 11am on Tuesday. While officials only confirmed the death of a person, local media said that the MP has taken their own life. The identity of the MP is not currently known. Police investigating the incident reportedly do not suspect foul play, while paramedics are also at the scene. Finnish broadcaster Yle reported that at least one ambulance, a firetruck and two police vehicles were present at the Parliament Building. One person who works nearby told the outlet: 'Ambulances drove behind the Parliament Building with their whistles blaring. Then a full-size fire truck, a police car and, with a slight delay, an armored police Mercedes also drove there.' Security Director Aaro Toivonen neither confirmed nor denied the reports, instead telling local media: 'There is a mission underway, with rescue authorities, police and emergency services on site. I cannot say more than that at this stage. 'I can't say what the emergency response from the emergency center has been. Parliament is a bit of an exceptional site, so one could imagine that such things have been considered when the situation has been unclear.'
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
This Major City Just Went a Full Year Without a Single Traffic Death
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Finland's capital, Helsinki, has not had a recorded traffic death in the past 12 months, according to city and police authorities. Why It Matters Helsinki's newest stat is a rare feat for a major city. The municipality has about 690,000 residents, with roughly 1.3 million in the capital region. By comparison, Washington, D.C., which has a population of just over 700,000, has recorded 12 traffic deaths so far this year and 52 last year. The drop in traffic fatalities has come as the city has implemented various speed limits and bolstered public transit. What To Know The last recorded traffic death in Helsinki was in early July 2024. The city has recently undergone some safety and infrastructure changes, with more than half of the city's streets having speed limits of 30 kilometers per hour, which is just under 20 miles per hour, Roni Utriainen, a traffic engineer with the city's Urban Environment Division, told Finland's national public broadcaster, Yle, in July. Traffic deaths are on the decline throughout the European Union (EU), a 3 percent decrease in 2024 than 2023. The EU has set a goal of zero road fatalities throughout the region by 2050, in an initiative called "Vision Zero." A tram is reflected in shop window in the center of Helsinki, Finland, Saturday, March 15, 2025. A tram is reflected in shop window in the center of Helsinki, Finland, Saturday, March 15, 2025. AP Photo/Sergei Grits Finland has been working to improve traffic safety and prevent fatalities over the past several years, which has also lowered the total number of accidents resulting in injuries. In addition to the lower speed limits, the city has spearheaded several initiatives, including investing and developing new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, which includes a web of cycling paths that connect throughout the city, boosting public transit with a new tram line and self-driving buses, and increased security cooperation. The city also has a rigorous ticketing system and traffic law enforcement. The country was awarded the 2024 Road Safety Performance Index prize by the European Transport Safety Council for its work to reduce road deaths and injuries. What People Are Saying Roni Utriainen, a traffic engineer with the city's Urban Environment Division, told Yle in July: "A lot of factors contributed to this, but speed limits are one of the most important... "Public transport in Helsinki is excellent, which reduces car use, and with it, the number of serious accidents." Adam Tranter, Founder & CEO of Fusion Media, said in an X post on Thursday: "Not a single person died on Helsinki's roads in the last year. An impressive achievement which shows cities across the world that road traffic deaths are not inevitable." What Happens Next Several European countries are working to meet their goals for reducing traffic deaths.
Russia Today
11-08-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
EU state to slash benefits for Ukrainians
Ukrainians in Finland could receive fewer benefits under a new budget put forward by Finance Minister Riikka Purra, Yle has reported. A number of European countries that initially welcomed Ukrainian refugees have been decreasing payments to people from the country in recent months. Last week, Purra proposed ending 'integration compensation' payments made to municipalities and welfare areas for asylum seekers and refugees. The plan aims to save €317 million ($344 million) over two years, and will be discussed in the government's autumn budget negotiations before going to parliament. The compensation scheme reimburses local governments for the costs of integrating migrants. Services covered include Finnish language training, employment support, and courses introducing newcomers to Finnish society and customs. Under the proposal, municipalities would remain legally responsible for integration but would have to find alternative funding. Sonja Hamalainen, director of immigration at the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, told Yle that around two-thirds of this year's integration spending, and an estimated three-quarters next year, will go to services for Ukrainians, 46,000 of whom currently live in Finland under temporary protection. Other West European countries have also been reducing support for Ukrainian refugees. UNHCR figures show more than six million Ukrainians have moved to Europe since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, with 4.3 million granted temporary protection in the EU as of May 2025. Last week, Germany moved to cut benefits for Ukrainians, including replacing a 'citizen's allowance' with lower asylum support for new arrivals and proposing the cancellation of unemployment benefits. In Poland, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has claimed that 'hundreds of thousands, or maybe even over a million' young Ukrainians are 'driving the best cars around Europe and spending weekends in five-star hotels' while receiving aid. In the UK, the BBC reported last Thursday that authorities have increasingly been denying long-term protection and work visas to Ukrainians, arguing that western regions of Ukraine are now safe.
