THE 31st HELSINKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, also referred to as Rakkautta & Anarkiaa (Love & Anarchy), came to a close on Sunday, having drawn in record breaking numbers. This year’s film festival attracted more than 60,000 visitors and featured almost 500 screenings.
Statement by Neil Turner, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) Country Director, on the situation in severely flood-hit Afghan provinces:
“This year’s unseasonal flooding is catastrophic for impacted communities in Afghanistan. The scale of destruction is unparalleled. Flash floods have swept away entire sections of roads and other critical infrastructure - bridges, wheat mills, hospitals and schools. People have lost their businesses, and the entire families have seen their homes and acres of farmland destroyed.
Up to half a million families in Afghanistan are now facing the prospect of homelessness following increasing pressure from the authorities to return internally displaced people to their areas of origin. Decades of conflict, droughts, political instability and economic collapse have driven displaced Afghans into enclaves around bigger cities that over time have grown into slum-like settlements.
Statement by the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Yemen Country Director Erin Hutchinson in reaction to the announced extended two-month truce
“The announcement of the truce extension today shows a serious commitment from all parties to end the senseless suffering of millions of Yemenis.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is once again the world’s most neglected displacement crisis according to the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) annual analysis. For the first time, the top 10 list is comprised entirely of African countries.
The European Union is putting Palestinian lives at risk as it continues to delay disbursement of aid to vital sectors in the occupied Palestinian territory.
A large portion of EU funding committed to Palestine, valued at nearly €215 million, has been delayed since 2021 as the European Union continues to condition the release of the money on specific changes to Palestinian school textbooks.
The number of people forced to flee conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution has now crossed the staggering milestone of 100 million for the first time on record, propelled by the war in Ukraine and other deadly conflicts.
Notices concerning runaway slaves were a familiar sight in 18th and 19th century American newspapers
American newspapers in the 18th and 19th centuries contained tens of thousands of notices placed by slaveholders attempting to capture the people who had escaped from them. In her dissertation in the field of English studies, Susanna Mäkinen examined the language and structuring of these notices. The study showed that, while the basic features of the notices remained relatively unchanged, there were some differences between various areas and changes in time.

Sana'a airport which has been closed in front of commercial flights since 2016. Photo: Nasser Abdulkareem/NRC
Statement by Erin Hutchinson, the Norwegian Refugee Council's Country Director in Yemen, on the resumption today of commercial flights from Sana’a:
"The take-off of the first commercial flight from Sana'a airport in almost six years is a stepping stone towards a lasting peace for Yemen.
Every child should be living free from violence. With the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic, increasing migration, and conflicts, this reality has grown to an even greater dimension putting many families under immense pressure. Today, on the occasion of the International Day of Families, the World Future Council launches its new policy handbook for advancing institutional child protection using the One-Stop Centre model (OSC).
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Helsinki Fashion Week 2018
Helsinki fashion week is the first fashion event focusing on 100% sustainable production and brands. This year the event was held in an exciting old oil tank, transformed into exhibition centre, located in Laajasalo, Helsinki. While the shows were held inside the oil tank, and an eco village was set up outside.
Metal under a northern sky
Flight to Finland: A Noveramatry
Flight to Finland starts with a narrator’s doctoral defense session and his/her lectio when he/she addresses custos, the opponent, and audiences, and ends with concluding remarks of custos, and in between, the narrator moves back and forth to recount his/her narratives of living, studying, and working in Finland.
STARTUP ROLLERCOASTER TAKES ON CORPORATE PASSENGERS
A Nigerian mechanical designer student called Ty from Aalto University (name changed here) saved our family from a snow blizzard with his Uber ride. Ty is looking for a job and is pondering whether to stay in Finland or move to Norway. I asked how about the startup companies (building new business with strong tech focus and high growth potential), has he checked that out. He said he tried it and it was disappointing; all the hard work and no salary in the end.