The proportion of eligible foreign voters is increasing in Finland with every local election, but voter turnout lags far behind, says Hufvudstadsbladet, citing a study by the Migration Institute.
Most foreigners in Finland are entitled to vote, but few generally bother, and that's a growing democracy problem, according to HBL.
The last time out, in 2021, eight percent of the population had an immigrant background, compared to only three percent of the candidates and just 0.8 percent of those elected into local councils.
Many foreigners don't know they're eligible to vote, according to foreign background candidates talking to the daily.
"I have met at least 200 people who didn’t know they had the right to vote. They don't watch Yle, they don’t attend election debates. I try to explain to them, also on TikTok, that they have to vote if they want to bring about change," explained Georgiana Forsang, a Centre Party candidate in Vantaa.
The All Points North podcast heard why an increasing number of foreigners in Finland are engaging with Finnish politics. Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Nokia vs Amazon
Nokia has settled its patent dispute with Amazon, reports Helsingin Sanomat.
The network equipment manufacturer on Monday announced it had signed a patent agreement with Amazon to utilise its video technology.
The confidential agreement resolves all patent disputes between the parties across all jurisdictions.
In 2023, Nokia said it was suing Amazon over the unauthorised use of its video technology.
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Cottage toilets
As Finland approaches cottage season, problematic outhouses are making headlines in Maaseudun Tulevaisuus.
For 90 percent of cottages, the primary toilet is an outhouse, according to a survey by composting firm Biolan.
The agricultural daily claims one in four of Finland's outdoor toilets are breaking the law.
"It's surprising that one in four cottages still has an outhouse that has not been updated to modern standards. This means the outhouse lacks a proper toilet unit and only has a hole in the seat. Such an outhouse is not only very unpleasant to use but also illegal," Biolan's Hannamaija Fontell said in a press release.
The law mandates that waste and liquids from an outhouse should not seep into the ground. For this reason, traditional outhouses with just a seat hole and an open waste pit are not allowed. Likewise, barrels with perforated bottoms do not meet modern standards either.
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