NordenBladet – Finland made positive decisions on 40 percent of all asylum applicants in 2017, up from 27 percent in 2016. According to preliminary figures from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), 40 percent of the processed applications for asylum last year were positive, compared with 27 percent in 2016.
Decisions by Finland’s administrative courts on the security situation in Baghdad and Mogadishu, for example, have had an impact on the application outcome.
“They have had an effect on how our decisions change,” says Esko Repo from Migri.
However there are other reasons for the increase, Repo adds. In 2016, Migri mostly processed quick and easy applications, many of which were rejected as the applicants had no grounds for protection. Only in 2017 did Migri move on to the more challenging applications, where the decisions more often turned out to be positive, he explains.
Finally, Migri’s own evaluation about the security situation in different countries has caused an uptick. “For instance, there are more areas in Afghanistan where the conditions have deteriorated”, Repo says. The number of applications that Migri dealt with in 2016 totalled 28,000, falling to 9,400 last year.
The number of new applications Migri received each year amounted to about 5,000, with the most coming from Iraqis. Applications from Russians increased from the previous year, Repo says.
NordenBladet – We must be prepared for the risk of a hard Brexit, Swedish Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson has said. The Social Democrat minister was quizzed on a number of issues in an interview with Swedish news agency TT released on Thursday, including talks following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.
“I really hope that these negotiations move forward fast, that would be very good and important,” she said. “But at the same time it is important to prepare for the possibility of ending up in a situation where there is a hard Brexit, if you do not agree and move forward. It’s important that everyone is prepared for that risk.”
Fellow non-euro country Sweden has long seen Britain as one of its closest partners in the union, and concerns have been raised that pressure for Sweden to join will increase when its ally leaves the EU.
NordenBladet – There has been speculation that the streaming firm will go public for some time but Spotify has largely chosen to keep quiet on the matter. On Wednesday both US website Axios and news agency Bloomberg reported that the Swedish company has finally made its move, citing “sources familiar with the matter”.
According to both reports, the tech firm filed documents in the US to go public at the end of December, and hopes to list its stock in the first quarter of 2018, but there is conflicting information over whether the documents were for a traditional IPO or a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
Direct listings are not common for major companies, but was last year reported to be Spotify’s preferred option as it does not need to raise any new money thanks to a subscriber base of over 60 million paying customers.
The last valuation of the company made public was $8.2 billion in June 2015.
Spotify did not comment on Wednesday’s reports.
The news comes in the same week it emerged that a music publisher is seeking at least $1.6 billion from the Swedish streaming giant in a copyright dispute.
NordenBladet – The Swedish Transport Agency has given the go-ahead to the first driverless buses on a public road in Sweden and Scandinavia. “This is an historic decision which promotes the development of new, innovative technologies which are important for the development of society. Extensive research and trials are necessary to develop automated road traffic in a sustainable and safe way,” Jonas Bjelfvenstam, the Transport Agency’s director-general, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Bus company Nobina is behind the venture, in cooperation with tech experts at Ericsson, SJ, KTH, Klövern, Urban ICT Arena and Stockholm City, funded by among others Vinnova via Drive Sweden.
The buses are set to run between Kista mall and Victoria Tower in northern Stockholm along a 1.5 kilometre pre-recorded path at a speed of 20 kilometres an hour, using GPS and sensors to ensure they do not divert from the path.
They have no steering wheel as such but can be operated manually. A driver will be on board to take control of the bus in case of emergency, as is required under current legislation in Sweden.
“The applicant has to show that the vehicle can be driven without impacting traffic safety. Our role is to ensure that that is the case,” said Bjelfvenstam.
The buses in Kista will be free to use and both have space for 12 passengers at a time. They are expected to start running in mid-January next year, Nobina told The Local on Wednesday.
The Transport Agency is currently processing another seven applications for self-driving trials, and more applications are expected in 2018.
Photo: Stockholm gets Scandinavia’s first driverless buses on public road (Nobina)
NordenBladet — The European Union has awarded EUR 20 million to a water resources management project implemented by Finland in Nepal. This is the first time the EU has granted support to a Finnish development cooperation project. The water resources management project based in Far-Western Nepal is expected to enhance the management of water resources, improve the health and access to sanitation of local people and ensure better livelihoods and food security in rural areas. The project’s total budget is EUR 60.2 million, of which Finland will contribute EUR 15 million in 2016–2022. The Nepalese government and end users will contribute a total of EUR 25.2 million. The EUR 20 million of support from the EU will be channelled through Finland.
The project is being implemented in ten districts in two regions. The aim is to improve access to the supply of water and electricity in rural communities and to ensure better food security and livelihood opportunities. Project activities include helping rural communities utilise every drop of water efficiently for various purposes.
In addition to the supply of drinking water, the project supports small-scale irrigation and hydropower systems. Irrigation will help diversify the range of crops grown in domestic gardens and extend the growing season, which will improve farmers’ food security, support a more balanced diet and provide farmers with extra income from the sale of produce. Moreover, project activities will also help communities prepare for catastrophes and climate change.
The first phase of the Rural Village Water Resources Management Project in Far-Western Nepal was launched in 2006 as a bilateral development cooperation project. The current third phase will run until 2022.
The second phase implemented in 2010–2016 was successful. Among other things, it gave 144,000 people in Nepal access to drinking water and improved sanitation for 358,000 people. Small-scale hydropower systems gave 41,000 people access to electricity for the first time ever, irrigation systems helped 28,000 farmers, and 164,000 people set up small gardens, which improved their food security and livelihood and diversified their diet.
The project has also received recognition for its good management. In 2016, it won the Finnish Project Management Association’s annual Project of the Year prize. In 2017, it came second in a project excellence competition organised by the International Project Management Association.
NordenBladet — Finland will assist areas suffering from conflicts and drought in Yemen, Northeast Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. “The focus in our aid decisions towards the end of the year is on crises where the need is currently particularly great and aid is needed urgently”, says Kai Mykkänen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development.
Millions of people in Yemen, which suffers from war, depend on international aid. Almost one million people have caught cholera after last spring, and the country now faces the worst famine for decades. Finland will direct a total of EUR 2.5 million to Yemen through the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR (EUR 1.5 million) and the World Food Programme WFP (EUR 1 million).
More aid will also be granted for the acute crises in Africa. Finland will support Northeast Nigeria with EUR 1.5 million through the UNHCR. In addition, EUR 750,000 will be directed to Ethiopia through the WFP and EUR 1 million to the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Congo, as many as 3.8 million people have had to flee from conflicts and currently the country has one of the fastest growing humanitarian crises in the world.
In addition, Finland will grant EUR 8 million of general aid for the WFP. The WFP can flexibly decide on allocating general aid, which often improves the cost-efficiency and speed of the aid.
With the new aid, the amount of humanitarian aid that Finland has granted in 2017 will total EUR 81.3 million. Approximately one third of this is general aid, one third directed to humanitarian action in the Middle East and slightly less than one third to Africa. In addition, Finland has supported humanitarian work in Afghanistan, Myanmar, North Korea and Ukraine.Among other things, in thematic issues, Finland has hosted a conference on aid to Syria and promoted the position of the disabled in humanitarian action and the development of flexible forms of funding during this year.The humanitarian situation in the world has deteriorated during 2017. According to the UN’s recent estimates, 136 million people are now in need of humanitarian aid and protection. In spite of the ever-growing need, more aid has been delivered this year than ever before, which has saved millions of lives in different parts of the world.
NordenBladet – For those people who are used to extra services in hotels meaning a white bathrobe and toiletries will be definitely shocked by the upcoming list. The hotels included in the list are referred to as the most luxurious accommodation in the world. Comfort doesn’t mean breakfast in bed or a blanket corner folded back at night before going to sleep. From personal fireworks to skiing with the olympic winners, it is just a small part of the insane options that can be enjoyed when you’d stay in one of those hotels next time.
Lodge, Sea (Georgia) – butler
You don’t need to fear the hustle of packing your things. Hotel Lodge on the Sea island offers you an opportunity to order a butler who is staying with you 24/7 and who will do all the necessary things from you. Packing your suitcase before leaving, serving milk and pastries in the evenings, preparing your bath with rose petals. Butlers will take care of anything you’d need. The service is available for everyone who is staying in the hotel and the price is included in the room’s price.
Hard Rock hotels – guitar rental
A service named “Sound of Your Stay” is available in 23 hotels and 11 casinos of the Hard Rock Hotels chain and it includes a guitar, audio amplifier and earphones rental, so you could rock in your hotel room without disturbing others.
Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans (Louisiana): personal health therapist
Do you need help to recover from a hangover? During the week of Madri Gras (Shrove Tuesday) the local Ritz-Carlton hotel offers you a chance to recover your health under the professional medical supervision. The service includes serving cocktails and smoothies which ease your hangover so you’d feel as comfortable as possible.
Il Savliatino, Florence (Italy) – champagne bath
In this hotel the guests can order a champagne bath for themselves. Your bath will be filled to the brim with Prosecco, Spumante or the original French champagne. In addition, the bubbly drink will be offered in glasses for zipping. The service fee starts from 9000 dollars and depends largely on the drink you’ll pour to the bath. For those preferring something more sweet, there is a chocolate bath with fruits (that can be dipped into the chocolate) which costs 2700 dollars.
NordenBladet – One of my favourite fairs every year is Matka Nordic Travel Fair in Finland, Helsinki. This year MATKA tourism fair takes place for already the 32nd time! Regarding the numbers of visitors this fair is among the most popular in Helsinki Pasila fair hub.
MATKA 2018 fair is hosting travel organizations from Finland as well as foreign countries. The so called „Workshop Day” takes place one day before the fair begins, on Wednesday, 17 January. Finland is selling its opportunities in the framework of the „Meet Finland” program. It is possible to meet the key persons in Finland’s tourism sphere there. During the same day the MATKA fair special program Global Workshop takes place. This is directed to foreign enterprises that intend to offer their services. NordenBladet and its branches (OHMYGOSSIP sites and Bloglist24) most certainly has their delegates visiting the fair also this year!
OHMYGOSSIP sites joined the Scandinavian media group NordenBladet less than a year ago. NordenBladet was also joined by the very popular international blog network BlogList24. Today I must actually pinch myself to believe this big story of success, but as an official representative from NordenBladet I can assure you that we have grown into one of Scandinavia’s best known and largest media groups! (see also TOP10 of Scandinavia’s media groups – Bonnier, Sanoma, MTG, Schibsted, Egmont, Aller, YLE, Otava, Alma, NordenBladet). This of course it due to loyal readers and our fine industrious and splendid international workteam! Thank you, dear readers, co-authors, partners and supporters! It is you that forms NordenBladet – with you we are running one of Scandinavia’s largest media portals!
To this year’stourism fair I am taking also my daughter Estella Elisheva who is one of Scandinavia’s best known young (child)violinists, the founder and editor-in-chief of OHMYGOSSIPteen and Luxury travel influencer on Instagram – all this at the young age of 11 years! My motto is that everything is possible and with good acquaintances and the good use of opportunities every one of us can be successful – this is also what i teach to my children. I think the earlier one introduces their children to „the real life”, the sooner they compile their skills and experience in life. I try to show my children that in this life one needs to work on finding acquantances, cooperation points and settling bargains – planning, communication, trading, agreements, negotiations and concluding contracts is a fine process on your way to attaining your goal!
Today I have designed us the business cards. What do you think of these? Are they suitable, should anything be modified? Hereinafter 4x the design of our various business cards:
Tomorrow I start looking for a quality hotel in Helsinki city centre. We spend four nights in Helsinki and the plan is to find a prestigious luxury hotel with a pool and a SPA to relax in the evening, and also it should be located nearby Kamppi so that I could visit the Helsinki Synagogue with my daughter, and also Finland’s Jewish School, the Israeli Embassy and after the fair also some fine downtown restaurants and exhibitions!
NordenBladet — On Monday, 18 December, the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union issued a letter to Frans Timmermans, the Vice-President of the European Commission.
The letter t, which was signed by Priit Pikamäe, the President of the Network, expressed grave concern over the events concerning the Polish justice system. The Network of Presidentsis of the opinion that the intended legislative changes could seriously undermine the independence of the Polish judiciary and the Supreme Court, as well as the legal certainty within Europe.
The Network of Presidents stated that the intention of one of the changes, which was to lower the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges, will have a significant impact on the current composition of the Supreme Court. Namely, as a result of this decision, over one third of the current Supreme Court judges, including the First President of the Supreme Court of Poland, will have to leave office. The Network of Presidents expressed its deep concern that the premature termination of office of Supreme Court judges would impede the autonomy and the independence of the Supreme Court, and emphasised that the pre-term removal of judges is not in line with the case law of the European Court of Justice. According to the Network of Presidents, the legislative changes that will give the Polish Parliament control over the appointment of judges will in the long run politicise the judiciary. The appointment of judges needs to be independent from politics.
The Network of Presidents stressed that the judicial cooperation of the Member States of the European Union is based on mutual trust, and that legal certainty and trust are the preconditions for the mutual recognition and enforcement of court decisions in the Member States.
NordenBladet – On December 7, I wrote on my Facebook page that I am looking for an investor and co-partner of the Elisheva & Shoshana (E&S) brand, which I created a long time ago. I crated the Elisheva & Shoshana brand and blog for many years ago in order to do something together with my daughters Estella Elisheva (11) and Ivanka Shoshana (9).
Last years I have been very active in the Scandinavian media, I am the editor-in-cheief at the NordenBladet sites – which are active in 17 countries and being translated to five languages. NordenBladet is among Scandinavia’s top 10 media groups (read more about it HERE). I also run OHMYGOSSIP pages; I am manager for my violinist daughter Estella Elisheva (Instagram: @Estella.Elisheva, Twitter: @EstellaElisheva), and, in addition, I manage 8 large-scale social media star accounts in the world… A lot of work and one can not do everything; sometimes some tasks need to be further delegated. In order for the business to work well, it is inappropriate to do everything 100% by yourself, to check and decide, and to sustain to yourself all the company’s ventures and shares. Delegating some work to others, collaborating with partners will take your business further!
I have been thinking for a long time that E&S would need a new wind to the wings. I need an investor with a strong hand in the business world. E&S is a successful small brand, which has been advertised for many years, but today, due to my tight timeline, I have been marginally active with it. I would love to find a soulmate and a partner with whom I have the same vision and who would like to spend the same amount of energy, time, money and ideas to this project. I’m looking for someone who would take executive control, while I’m dealing with creative leadership. So, I’m not looking just for an investor but rather for the best friend who believes and loves the ideas of E&S as well. I would love to find a person who is business minded, who has a strong business sense, who, as partner, finds me sympathetic as well and who is economically well and could invest both money and time in the company. And what’s the main thing – who likes the product, would be willing to create something new and healthy. No cooperation is possible without real faith in the product!
Because people around me have many strong allergies and great sensitivity to different substances and things, I know the importance of a lucrative and ecological approach. The world is full of chemistry and chemicals, which should not be present in products at all! I would like to change it! I know that I would not be the first one, and it actually pleases me, but every person has his own vision and his own preferences – the market segment that I have in mind is waiting for the performer. I also know that a partner who meets all the points is likely to be rarity, but she certainly exists, and if our paths cross, this cooperation can be very successful! I would like to issue a very high quality and exclusive pharmacy cosmetic range under the trademark E&S and guarantee the cleanliness, proper impact and the 100 % quality of the product to the buyer. I would like to produce a small volume first, but with very high quality!
The short article in Facebook was briefly reflected in the website of Eestinen.fi and the online website Buduaar.ee will interview me next week about E&S brand and will write also more about my investor search! Stay tuned! If you would love to collaborate with Elisheva & Shoshana brand, please contact me at info@nordenbladet.com.
