Current affairs
3.6.2015
Candidature of Prof. Petteri Taalas as Secretary General of WMO
The government of Finland has designated Professor Petteri Taalas as candidate for the position of WMO's next Secretary-General for the term 2016–2019. He is motivated to work to provide better services for Members and their national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHS).
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5.5.2015
Finland increases contribution to OCHA
Finland has decided to increase its yearly core contribution to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) from EUR 3 million to EUR 3.5 million. The total amount of Finland’s core support between 2015 and 2018 will be EUR 14 million. With this, Finland will support OCHA’s work to enhance the coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian action in a context where crises are growing in scale and complexity.
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26.3.2015
Food from wood - Finnish food products made of wood attracted interest at the International Forest Day Gala at the UN
United Nations' Economic Commission for Europe and The Food and Agriculture Organization organized various forest related events at the UN in Geneva to celebrate the International Day of Forests on 20 March. Organized every year, the event aims at increasing awareness of the importance of forests to people and the society. "Forests for Food – Food for Forests" emphasized synergies between the forestry sector and food industry as well as the significance of forests as a source of nutrition.
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2.3.2015
Finland curbs childhood obesity by integrating health in all policies
Six years ago, almost 1 in 5 five-year-olds in the Finnish city of Seinäjoki was overweight or obese. Not all schools and day care centres were providing nutritious food and sufficient physical activity. Since then, the municipality’s health department has worked with the childcare, education, nutrition, recreation and urban planning departments to ensure all day care centres and schools provide the same quality of services.
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6.2.2015
The Public Service Info provides assistance for expatriate Finns
In some cases, it may be difficult to know which authorities to contact in Finland regarding a certain matter. The Public Service Info is a centralised advice service that provides assistance in finding the correct authority even for Finns residing or travelling abroad.
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21.1.2015
14.1.2015
Chairmanship of the Global Health Security Agenda to Finland in 2015
The Global Health Security Agenda has brought together more than 40 countries and key international organisations to collaborate. Its purpose is to improve international preparedness and the ability of health systems to function. The programme supports the implementation of the health regulations of the World Health Organisation and the veterinary standards of the World Organisation for Veterinary Health in the member states. The chairmanship of the programme passes to Finland in 2015.
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9.1.2015
5.1.2015
Ten years since the tsunami – crisis preparedness now better at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The tsunami that hit South-East Asia ten years ago is one of the greatest natural disasters in recorded history. The catastrophe exceeded the preparedness of the authorities in each of the affected countries and had a revolutionary impact on the Foreign Ministry’s operational capabilities.
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