SOCIETY / BUSINESS

Estonian Government changes event capacity restrictions and vaccination doses

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – The government on Thursday decided to change the spectator capacity restriction for public events starting next week, allowing indoor events to be organized for up to 1,000 participants, outdoor events can have 2,000 participants.

“Data from the Ministry of Culture shows that such major events are not scheduled to take place currently. The reason for this restriction is that is not reasonable to organize major events. Although we are in a downward trend, we are right on the edge,” Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reformierakond) announced at a press conference.

The government will also allow people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines to get booster doses after five months, because the efficacy of those two vaccines deteriorates faster in time.

Kallas added that the government also recommends family physicians issue sick leave permits for people home with someone infected with the coronavirus.

The prime minister said most Estonians are responsible and listen to recommendations. “Making things mandatory is complicated. Who monitors who lives with who? There are blended families. People have summer homes,” Kallas said.

The prime minister said all decisions are made with two goals in mind. “Number one: an open society. Number two: motivating people to get vaccinated. An order to stay in isolation would decrease motivation. Our vaccination rates are slowing down again,” Kallas said.

Minister of Health and Labor Tanel Kiik (Center) said people vaccinated with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can receive a booster dose after six months, only people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines can receive an additional dose five months after the initial vaccination process was completed.

He noted that infection indicators are in a downward trend and hospitalization numbers are also improving. “Estimates show that we will enter a downward trend for hospitalization in the coming weeks, which gives hospitals and the Estonian healthcare system an opportunity to avoid the decisions, which would have seen additional hospital beds created for coronavirus patients and the suspension of scheduled treatments,” Kiik said.

“We do not have anything to cheer for, the crisis is not over. There are waves stemming from the Delta variant across Europe,” the health minister said. “The Covid crisis is our main challenge, but we must also look to the future and protect public health. We have agreed to initiate a Public Health Act. We will define terms and principles, which will be referred to when organizing healthcare.”

Photo: Erik Peinar
Source: NordenBladet.ee

Finland’s best earning people are mobile game creators – take a look at the PROFIT MAKERS TOP 10

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – According to tax return data for the year 2020, in Finland the most money was made by mobile game creators. Earnings were highest in the case of mobile game company Supercell founder and previous creative director, 45-year-old Mikko Kodisoja – 93.5 million euros. The second highest was 43-year-old Ilkka Paananen from the same company, earning 86.7 million euros.

Behind the men’s income is the selling of the company and the popular mobile games Clash of Clans, Boom Beach and Clash Royale. Currently the majority shareholding belongs to the Chinese company Tencent Holdings.

The third highest earnings belong to the deceased Finnish billionaire Niklas Herlin’s son, heir of the elevator company Kone, 31-year-old Heikki Herlin, whose income was 28.3 million euros.

Jyväskylä’s father of a large family and psychologist Joni Kettunen, who sold to Garmin the physiological analysis service health firm Firstbeat Analytics, earned 27.9 million euros.

A proper profit from selling an IT company was made also by Juha Tommila who sold majority shareholding of the infosystems and financial services company Staria. Staria offers local and international infosystems, solutions for finances, personnel and payroll, and RPA. Vaaka Partners took up Staria’s majority shareholding in 2020.

Head of programming company Supermetrics, Mikael Thuneberg, earned, mainly from dividend income 24.7 million euros.

Founder of Scandinavian IT company Smartly, Kristo Ovaska, sold the company and earned 23.4 million euros. The company Smartly.io that helps advertisers automate their campaigns in Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, sold majority shareholding to Providence Equity Partners.

Finland’s youngest IT-millionaire Tuomo Riekki, also behind the firm Smartly.io, earned 23.3 million euros.

One of Supercell’s founders, John Derome, earned 17.1 million euros.

Head of software company Admicom, Jyväskylä based 73-year-old millionaire Matti Häll, earned 15.7 million euros. Admicom, listed with Nasdaq First North stock exchange in Helsinki, focusses on ERP-systems and also offers accounting services.

Profit makers TOP 10 was as follows:

Kodisoja Mikko 93 499 919Paananen Ilkka 86 707 807

Herlin Heikki 28 305 626

Kettunen Joni 27 904 330

Thuneberg Mikael 24 730 853

Ovaska Kristo 23 360 264

Riekki Tuomo 23 289 937

Derome John 17 082 848

Häll Matti 15 734 335

Tommila Juha 14 642 693

The list may not be exhaustive, since more than 2000 Finns have requested their names to be removed from public tax information materials that are communicated to the media.

Source: NordenBladet.fi

Finland: Identity Card Act will be amended – in future applicants will be fingerprinted

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — A provision on fingerprinting that supplements the relevant EU Regulation will be added to the Identity Card Act. In future, fingerprints will be taken from any person applying for an identity card, except for a person under the age of 12 or from a person in respect of whom fingerprinting is physically impossible, for example. The President of the Republic approved the amendment on 29 June. The Act will enter into force on 2 August 2021.

The Identity Card Act has been updated to be in line with the EU Regulation on identity cards. Because of the EU Regulation, the information content and appearance of identity cards will also be reformed. The aim of the Regulation is to improve the reliability and security of identity cards of EU citizens.

Fingerprints taken for a passport can in future be used to apply for an identity card
The fingerprint is a biometric identifier, and it is a permanent and immutable part of each individual. For such biometric identifiers, specific requirements for data security are needed to ensure the protection of privacy. For this reason, separate provisions on data security related to the chip of an identity card are laid down in the Identity Card Act.

As fingerprints and facial images are particularly sensitive data, they may be accessed by authorities issuing identity cards — police departments, Finnish missions, the police and the Border Guard — and by Customs when it acts as a criminal investigation authority or carries out the duties of a border control authority.

“In Finland, passport applicants must already have their fingerprints taken and stored in the passport register. Similarly, the Identity Card Act includes a provision on the storage of fingerprints in the identity card register. To make it easier to use the services, every applicant can in future use their fingerprints taken for the passport to apply for an identity card. Fingerprints taken for the identity card can also be used for passport applications in future,” says Marja-Leena Härkönen, Senior Specialist from the Ministry of the Interior.

The storage of fingerprints in the identity card register will not only protect the rights of the person giving the fingerprint but also the rights of other persons to their personal data and their appropriate use. The storage of fingerprints in the register and the comparison of fingerprint data with the register are aimed at preventing identity misuse.

Parliament passed the government bill for amending the Identity Card Act on 4 June 2021. On Tuesday 29 June 2021, the President of the Republic approved the bill passed by Parliament. The Act will enter into force on 2 August 2021, at the same time as the application of the EU Regulation begins.

 

Iceland: Creating Connection Between Communities

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – If your native language is not Icelandic, and you’re between 16 and 25 years old, living in Iceland, here is an opportunity for you:

On Wednesday, June 23, a development project will be launched in Reykjavík, which aims to increase community participation of people aged 16 to 25, whose native language is not Icelandic. The event is scheduled by Tengivirkið/Connecting Communities at Hitt húsið, Rafstöðvarvegur 7-9, between 3 and 5 pm.

Discussion groups will meet up, participants will get to know one other and chat. Assistance will be provided for those interested in applying for sports or extracurricular activities, requiring help with applying for admission to high school or university, or needing assistance with  their CV or job search.

The main goal is to have fun together and get to know the district and all of its benefits. There will be complimentary food and beverages, short presentations, a concert and finally a free raffle.

Isabel Alejandra Diaz will lead a short discussion. Isabel moved to Iceland from El Salvador when she was very young. Since then, she has served as the president of the student council of the University of Iceland – the first person of a foreign background to do so.

Sayed Khanogli will talk about his experiences in Iceland from 2019, when he arrived as a refugee from Afghanistan. Sayed is currently a student at Fjölbrautaskólinn við Ármúla secondary school, but plans to transfer to Borgarholtsskóli secondary school to focus on cinema. He is also the chairman of the Youth Movement of Amnesty International in Iceland.

Among the many raffle prizes will be the following:

A whale watching tour with Elding Adventure
Access to the adventure course in Adrenalin park
Family tickets to the Wonders of Iceland exhibition in Perlan
For more information, see the Facebook page of the event.

Greenland election: Melting ice and mining project on the agenda

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Greenland heads to the polls on Tuesday in snap elections which could have major consequences for international interests in the Arctic. The vast territory, which belongs to Denmark but is autonomous, lies between North America and Europe and has a population of just 56,000.

Greenland’s economy relies on fishing and Danish subsidies, but melting ice and a planned mine could change the course of the vote – and the territory’s future.

Here’s what you need to know.

What’s at stake
Disagreement over a controversial mining project in the south of Greenland has split the government and paved the way for this week’s election.

The company that owns the site at Kvanefjeld says the mine has “the potential to become the most significant western world producer of rare earths”, a group of 17 elements used to manufacture electronics and weapons.

The Siumut (Forward) Party supports the development, arguing that it would provide hundreds of jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually over several decades, which could lead to greater independence from Denmark.

But the opposition Inuit Ataqatigiit (Community of the People) party has rejected the proposal, amid concerns about the potential for radioactive pollution and toxic waste.

The future of the Kvanefjeld mine is significant for a number of countries – the site is owned by an Australian company, Greenland Minerals, which is in turn backed by a Chinese company.

Why is Greenland important?
Greenland has hit the headlines several times in recent years, with then-President Donald Trump suggesting in 2019 that the US could buy the territory.

Denmark quickly dismissed the idea as “absurd”, but international interest in the territory’s future has continued.

China already has mining deals with Greenland, while the US – which has a key Cold War-era air base at Thule – has offered millions in aid.

Denmark has itself acknowledged the territory’s importance: in 2019 it placed Greenland at the top of its national security agenda for the first time.

And in March this year, one think tank concluded that the UK, the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand – known collectively as the Five Eyes – should focus on Greenland to reduce their dependency on China for key mineral supplies.

Mining isn’t Greenland’s only issue, however.

The territory is on the front line of global warming, with scientists reporting record ice loss last year. This in turn has significant implications for low-lying coastal areas around the world.

But it is the retreating ice that has both increased mining opportunities and raised the possibility of new shipping lanes through the Arctic, which could reduce global shipping times.

This changing reality has also increased focus on long-running territorial disputes, with Denmark, Russia and Canada all seeking sovereignty over a vast underwater mountain range near the North Pole known as Lomonosov Ridge.

Russia, meanwhile, has been increasing its economic and military activities in the Arctic, where it has a long coastline, prompting concern from western governments.

Sweden: Crown Princess Victoria: Godmother of Europe

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Crown Princess Victoria is often referred to as the ‘Godmother of Europe.’ She received this rather unusual nickname because she has 18 (yes, eighteen) godchildren.

Crown Princess Victoria is one of Europe’s most popular royals. Every single year she is voted the most popular royal in her own country of Sweden. Many royals seem to like the Crown Princess, as well, as they have often asked her to be godmother to their children. Crown Princess Victoria almost has a godchild in every European country with a monarchy. In addition, she is the godmother to three future Kings and Queens.

Crown Princess Victoria has a very close relationship with Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. Victoria is the godmother of the Danish Couple’s firstborn, Prince Christian. Crown Princess Mary is godmother to Victoria’s and Daniel’s firstborn, Princess Estelle, while Frederik is godfather to Prince Oscar.

Princess Catharina-Amalia, daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, is also lucky to have Crown Princess Victoria as her godmother. In return, King Willem-Alexander is also one of Princess Estelle’s godfathers. Victoria is also listed as one of Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway’s godmothers. Crown Prince Haakon is conversely godfather to Princess Estelle, while Crown Princess Mette-Marit has Prince Oscar as a godchild.

Other royal godchildren of Crown Princess Victoria, who will not become King or Queen one day, are Princess Eléonore of Belgium, daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark, son of Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. In 2014, Princess Katharina of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was added to the long list. She is the daughter of the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the heirs of the Ducal Family of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Most of their parents chose Victoria as a godmother to their son or daughter because she is the Crown Princess and future Queen of Sweden, and royals often want other royals to become their children’s godparents. Of course, the bond between Her Royal Highness and the parents of her godchildren is often quite close.


Crown Princess Victoria is godmother of her niece, Princess Leonore (Photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström, Kungahuset.se)

The Crown Princess is also the godmother of various family members. She became Princess Leonore’s godmother in 2014 when her younger sister, Princess Madeleine and brother-in-law, Chris O’Neill, became parents for the first time. Her most recent godchild is Prince Alexander, son of her brother Prince Carl Philip and sister-in-law Princess Sofia. Thus, Victoria is both their aunt and godmother. In return, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine are respectively godparents to Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar. The children of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden created the tradition that the aunts and uncles of the children will also become the godparents according to the birth order.

On her mother’s side, Crown Princess Victoria is godmother to many Sommerlath children. Her first godchild was Vivien Sommerlath, now 24-years-old. She is the daughter of Victoria’s maternal uncle, Jörg Sommerlath. Vivien is also a godchild of Queen Silvia. Giulia Sommerlath, daughter of Victoria’s maternal uncle Thomas Sommerlath is also on the list. Crown Princess Victoria’s cousin, Patrick Sommerlath and his wife Camilla Lundén also asked Victoria to be their son Leopold’s godmother.

On her father’s side, Crown Princess Victoria is the godmother of Ian de Geer, son of Princess Désirées, daughter/ Victoria’s cousin, Tina and Hans de Geer. Also, Madeleine von Dincklage, the daughter of Victoria’s cousin, Sybilla von Dincklage, is one of Victoria’s godchildren. Then there is also Gustaf Magnusson (son of Victoria’s aunt Princess Christina), who asked Victoria to be the godmother of his and Vicky Andrén’s daughter, Désirée.


Crown Princess Victoria is the godmother of her nephew, Prince Alexander. Photo: Mattias Edwall, The Royal Court, Sweden

Furthermore, Crown Princess Victoria is godmother to several children of her good friends. She is a godparent of friends Caroline and Peder Dinkelspiel’s son, Willem; friends Andrea Brodin and Niclas Engsäll’s daughter, Diana; friends Caroline and Jesper Nilsson’s daughter, Chloé; and friends Karl-Johan and Leonie Persson’s son, Ian.

At the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, many of these godchildren were part of the bridal party. Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Christian, Vivian, Leopold and Giulia Sommerlath, Ian de Geer and Madeleine von Dincklage were pageboys, flower girls and bridesmaids at the wedding. The other godchildren were either too young to participate or not born yet.

After seeing this long list of children, it is no surprise that the Crown Princess of Sweden is also called Europe’s godmother. Victoria has many gifts to buy each year for her many goddaughters and godsons.

Featured image: Elisabeth Toll, The Royal Court of Sweden

Sweden: Sweden’s new royal Prince Julian Herbert Folke – What’s in a name?

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Princess Sofia of Sweden gave birth to her third child on Friday at 11.19 am at Danderyd Hospital. King Carl XVI Gustaf revealed the name of his two-day-old grandson this morning in a cabinet meeting with the Prime Minister.

The new royal’s names are Julian Herbert Folke, and he is the Duke of Halland. So, where did his names come from?

The name Julian was selected by Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia for the simple reason that they liked it. It does not have any family links. In 2020, the name Julian ranked 74th in Swedish names, so it is not an overly popular name in the Scandinavian country either.

The middle name Herbert honours Princess Sofia’s late grandfather, who went by Herbert. Information Manager at the Royal Court, Margareta Thorgen, told Svenskdam: “The name Herbert in Prince Julian’s name is after Princess Sofia’s grandfather, who was named Herbert in his middle name.”

The name Folke is after the King and Count Folke Bernadotte. Folke is one of the King’s middle names, and he was named after the Count, who was a World War II hero that saved many Jews and non-Jews from the Nazis. Learn more about Folke Bernadotte’s heroism here.

With the little royal’s middle names, Carl Philip and Sofia have paid tribute to beloved family members while also giving him an ‘unroyal’ first name – fitting as he does not have the Royal Highness style and will not have the pressure of representing the Royal Family as he becomes an adult.

Photo by HRH Prince Carl Philip/Kungahuset

Sweden: Swedish royals attend Prince Julian’s Te Deum at the Royal Chapel in Stockholm Palace

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Members of the Swedish Royal Family attended a Te Deum* at the Royal Chapel in Stockholm Palace on Sunday at noon to mark the birth of Prince Julian.

Due to the pandemic, those in attendance were limited to King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Prince Carl Philip, proud big brother Prince Alexander, Princess Sofia’s sister, Lina, and Sofia’s parents, Erik and Marie Hellqvist. Sofia’s parents were able to travel from Älvdalen to meet their new grandson and attend the ceremony.

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden just recently recovered from COVID-19 and were unable to attend the service. They had planned to attend before contracting the virus; the couple are now healthy but followed doctor recommendations to not participate on Sunday, according to Svenskdam.

The media was not allowed to attend the religious service due to the pandemic, and images were only released after the Te Deum had concluded.

Lead pastor Johan Dalman lead the service that began at noon; a small lunch followed, but the Royal Court has not released any information regarding the gathering.

The christening for Prince Julian will take place in a few months time. How the pandemic will impact the ceremony is not yet known.

___________________________
The “Te Deum” (/tiː ˈdiːəm/, Latin: [te ˈde.um]; from its incipit, Te Deum laudamus, Latin for ‘Thee, O God, we praise’) is a Latin Christian hymn traditionally ascribed to AD 387 authorship, but with antecedents that place it much earlier. It is central to the Ambrosian hymnal, which spread throughout the Latin Church with other parts of the Milanese Rite in the 6th to 8th centuries. It is sometimes known as the “Ambrosian Hymn”, although authorship by Saint Ambrose is unlikely. The term “Te Deum” can also refer to a short religious service (of blessing or thanks) based upon the hymn.

Authorship of the hymn is traditionally ascribed to Saint Ambrose (died 397) or Saint Augustine (died 430). In 19th-century scholarship, Saint Hilary of Poitiers (died 367) and Saint Nicetas of Remesiana (died 414) were proposed as possible authors. In the 20th century, the association with Nicetas has been deprecated, so that the hymn, while almost certainly dating to the 4th century, is considered as being of uncertain authorship. Authorship of Nicetas of Remesiana was suggested by the association of the name “Nicetas” with the hymn in manuscripts from the 10th century onward, and was particularly defended in the 1890s by Germain Morin. Hymnologists of the 20th century, especially Ernst Kähler (1958), have shown the association with “Nicetas” to be spurious. It has structural similarities with a eucharistic prayer and it has been proposed that it was originally composed as part of one.

The hymn was part of the Old Hymnal since it was introduced to the Benedictine order in the 6th century, and it was preserved in the Frankish Hymnal of the 8th century. It was, however, removed from the New Hymnal which became prevalent in the 10th century. It was restored in the 12th century in hymnals that attempted to restore the praiseful intent of the rule of St. Benedict.

In the traditional office, the “Te Deum” is sung at the end of Matins on all days when the Gloria is said at Mass; those days are all Sundays outside Advent, Septuagesima, Lent, and Passiontide; on all feasts (except the Triduum) and on all ferias during Eastertide.

Before the 1961 reforms of Pope John XXIII, neither the Gloria nor the Te Deum were said on the feast of the Holy Innocents, unless it fell on Sunday, as they were martyred before the death of Christ and therefore could not immediately attain the beatific vision.

In the Liturgy of the Hours of Pope Paul VI, the “Te Deum” is sung at the end of the Office of Readings on all Sundays except those of Lent, on all solemnities, on the octaves of Easter and Christmas, and on all feasts. A plenary indulgence is granted, under the usual conditions, to those who recite it in public on New Year’s Eve.

It is also used together with the standard canticles in Morning Prayer as prescribed in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, as an option in Morning Prayer or Matins for Lutherans, and is retained by many churches of the Reformed tradition.

The hymn is in regular use in the Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, Anglican Church and Methodist Church (mostly before the Homily) in the Office of Readings found in the Liturgy of the Hours, and in thanksgiving to God for a special blessing such as the election of a pope, the consecration of a bishop, the canonization of a saint, a religious profession, the publication of a treaty of peace, a royal coronation, etc. It is sung either after Mass or the Divine Office or as a separate religious ceremony. The hymn also remains in use in the Anglican Communion and some Lutheran Churches in similar settings.

Photos: Henrik Garlöv /The Royal Court of Sweden

Finland: Restaurants remain closed to customers until 18 April almost throughout Finland due to serious epidemic situation

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Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses must remain closed to customers until 18 April 2021 in regions where it is necessary to stop the escalation of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The now agreed closure of restaurants extends the closure that started on 9 March, ensuring a seamless continuation of the closure in regions where it is necessary due to the epidemic situation. Unlike during the closure agreed earlier, restaurants may open for business in Åland and South Ostrobothnia starting on 29 March. The same applies to Lapland with the exception of the municipality of Kittilä. In North Savo and in North Karelia, restaurants must be closed to customers starting on 29 March. However, restaurants can still sell food for takeaway or delivery. During the closure, restaurants and cafés are allowed to sell portions directly to the customer for takeaway or deliver them either themselves or using other service providers.

Closure of restaurants essential due to the epidemiological situation
Restaurants must be closed to customers in the following regions and the following municipality:
1) Uusimaa
2) Southwest Finland
3) Satakunta
4) Kanta-Häme
5) Pirkanmaa
6) Päijät-Häme
7) Kymenlaakso
8) South Karelia
9) South Savo
10) North Savo
11) North Karelia
12) Central Finland
13) Ostrobothnia
14) North Ostrobothnia
15) Kittilä

The following regions do not fall under the closure requirement: Åland, South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. In the region of Lapland, restaurants may be open with the exception of the municipality of Kittilä.

Particular consideration to closure requirements in Lapland With the exception of Lapland, restaurant closures are imposed on a region-wide basis. In its reply to the Government, Parliament concluded that a sparsely populated region with long distances requires a more thorough consideration. Based on the opinion of Parliament and health authorities’ statement, restaurants must be closed in Kittilä. In all other municipalities in Lapland, restaurants may open for business beginning on 29 March.

Grounds for closure examined weekly
The Government will amend the decree and impose and lift closure restrictions in line with the development of the epidemiological situation in any given region. In regions where food and beverage service business are allowed to stay open to customers, establishments must observe provisions laid down in the Communicable Diseases Act and issued by virtue of the same Act. In such regions, restaurants must close at 23.00 and stop the serving of alcoholic beverages at 22.00.

Closure affects all food and beverage service businesses, with the exception of staff restaurants
The food and beverage service businesses to be closed down include cafés, restaurants, bars and nightclubs that are open to the public. The closure applies to outdoor terraces, too. However, the sale of takeaway meals is allowed during the closure.

The only restaurants exempt from the closure are restaurants not open to the public. Therefore, the closure does not affect canteens in residential homes for older people or staff restaurants that are not open to other customers, for example. The business models and operating principles of businesses providing food and beverage services to staff and students may vary considerably. If a restaurant is open to the public, it must be closed.

Support scheme for restaurants under preparation
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is preparing a support scheme for the reasonable compensation of businesses affected by the current closure measures. The proposal for the support scheme is currently under consideration by Parliament and will be implemented as part of business cost support. The extension to the closure of restaurants will be taken into account in the further preparation of the support scheme. Companies would apply for the compensation at the State Treasury. Applications for the compensation could be accepted from the beginning of May.

Deliberations on the act and decree
On 28 March 2021, Parliament approved and the President of the Republic confirmed an act, which will temporarily close restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses to customers. The act and the decree concerning the matter will enter into force at midnight between Sunday 28 March and Monday 29 March. On the same day, the Government issued a decree on the regions to be affected by the closure. In principle, food and beverage service business will remain closed to customers in the regions where the epidemic is in the acceleration or community transmission phase. The assessment of necessity and decisions are based on the expert evaluation of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

 

Norway: Princess Märtha Louise marks World Down Syndrome Day with powerful message

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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Princess Märtha Louise of Norway has marked World Down Syndrome Day with a message underlining how important every member of society is. In a heartfelt greeting, the Princess spoke of the vital role the awareness day can make by reminding us to celebrate that all people are unique.

In a video message, published by the Royal Court on March 21, Princess Martha Louise said: “Congratulations on World Day for Down Syndrome. Today we celebrate that each of us is completely unique. We celebrate that all people are equally valuable. We celebrate that we are all both happy and sad about each other. That is what it is to be human.”

Princess Märtha Louise continued: “It has been a special year for all of us. Many have felt even more lonely without the regular activities that mean so much – and with less human contact than usual. Now we all hope that we will soon move towards brighter times. So today, on World Day for Down Syndrome, there is good reason to celebrate anyway. We celebrate that everyone is equally unique. Congratulations everyone!”

Princess Martha Louise has made supporting people with physical and mental health difficulties a mainstay of her royal work. The Princess Märtha Louise Fund was established on 15 September 1972. The fund’s capital is used to support measures in Norway to help children with disabilities and the Princess also visits associations and initiatives that have received support from the fund. Her Majesty Queen Sonja is also involved in the fund’s work and sits on the board together with Princess Martha and a number of other prominent people.

In addition to her fund, the princess has agreed to be a patron for several organizations that work for the rights of those with disabilities. Among other organizations, the princess is the high protector of the Association for Muscle Disease, the National Association of the Hearing Impaired, the Norwegian Association of the Blind, the Norwegian Association of the Deaf as well as the Norwegian Rheumatism Association.

What is World Down Syndrome Day?
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) , 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

Featured image: Det kongelige hoff

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