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The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

The Nordic Times

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finns-remain-the-happiest-people-in-the-world/

The Nordics

Finns remain the happiest people in the world

Published March 21, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Many Finns experience a strong sense of freedom in their lives.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Finland has once again been named the happiest country in the world, according to a new report. The top four places in the ranking are all held by Nordic countries.

Since 2012, the World Happiness Report has measured happiness globally, based on factors such as life expectancy, corruption, GDP per capita, social support and the freedom of individuals to make their own decisions. In addition, around 1,000 participants from 140 countries rate their quality of life on a scale of 0 to 10 by answering over 100 questions.

Finland was named the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. The report gives the country an average score of 7.736.

Denmark and Iceland ranked second and third with an average score of 7.521 and 7.515 respectively. Sweden follows in fourth place with a score of 7.345, while Norway is the lowest-ranked Nordic country at seventh place.

Strong sense of freedom

Finland's top ranking is explained by its strong economy, well-functioning social security, good family and friendship relations, high life expectancy and low corruption.

Finns generally have a high level of trust in both the authorities and each other. In addition, many feel a strong sense of freedom, especially when it comes to life choices.

– Finnish society is very flexible when it comes to life transitions. This is one of the keys to a happy life, says University of Helsinki researcher Jennifer De Paola, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

"The word happiness confuses people"

She also points out that it is more about contentment than pure happiness.

– The use of the word happiness confuses people. We often wonder how Finns can be the happiest when they are not even smiling.

Among the countries ranked lowest in the report are Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Yemen. Afghanistan is at the bottom of the list as the world's least happy country.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-dairy-giant-pauses-bovaer-after-reports-of-sick-cows/

Norway

Norwegian dairy giant pauses Bovaer after reports of sick cows

Published today 11:34 am – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Norwegian dairy organization Norsk Melkeråvare has temporarily halted the use of the feed additive Bovaer. The decision comes following reports from Denmark about cows falling ill after receiving the additive, and Norwegian incidents have also been reported.

Arla's methane-reducing feed supplement began being introduced last year and today has been tested in countries including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. However, consumers have protested strongly against Bovaer, as the effects on animals and the final product remain unknown – many have therefore boycotted Arla or products from cows given Bovaer.

Recently, several dairy farmers in Denmark have raised alarms about their cows becoming sick after starting with Bovaer. Among them, farmer Huibert van Dorp recently reported that his cows became acutely ill, with one dying suddenly. He argues that the supplement violates animal welfare laws as it causes suffering to the animals.

"More knowledge"

Now the Norwegian dairy organization Norsk Melkeråvare has temporarily halted the use of the feed additive. This is partly due to the Danish farmers' warnings, but Norwegian milk producers have also reported incidents.

"We have decided to pause until we have more knowledge", writes Norsk Melkeråvare according to All About Feed, which emphasizes that the decision is based on the precautionary principle.

In November, a major British study concluded in which Arla tested the supplement on 30 dairy farms, but the results have not yet been evaluated.

A new meeting regarding the matter will be held in January between the milk producer and the contracting parties, according to the Norwegian government.

In Sweden, Bovaer is used by a number of farms, but many have chosen to forgo the supplement. On Mejerikollen, consumers can find a guide to which companies use the so-called climate-smart supplement.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/finland-probes-anonymizing-social-insurance-rulings-after-staff-threats/

Finland

Finland probes anonymizing social insurance rulings after staff threats

Published today 10:37 am – By Editorial staff
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Finland's Social Insurance Institution is demanding that case handlers' names be allowed to be omitted from decisions. The background is serious threats against employees – including bomb threats and threats against their families.

The Social Insurance Institution (Kela) has approached the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health with a request for changed rules. The authority wants it to become possible to make decisions without the case handler's name appearing, something that is currently not permitted.

Security Director Sami Niinikorpi describes an alarming situation where employees are subjected to the worst imaginable threats.

— This is about the most serious possible threat that one person can make to another, he tells Finnish national broadcaster Yle.

The problems have grown since Kela was given responsibility for decisions on basic social security in 2017. The authority sent out approximately 14 million decisions and letters during 2024, of which 1.6 million concerned basic security. Each year, around 200 reports of threats and harassment from staff are received.

Jussi Syrjänen, special expert at the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, confirms that the ministry is now investigating two possible solutions: either names are removed entirely from decisions, or a system with identification numbers similar to that used by police is introduced.

He believes the case involves balancing two fundamental principles: transparency in government administration and employees' right to personal safety.

— Places where employees experience threats and dangerous situations may very well also have an interest in similar measures to those Kela is now seeking, says Syrjänen.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/new-maritime-route-between-sweden-and-finland-could-open-up/

The Nordics

New maritime route between Sweden and Finland could open up

Published yesterday 4:33 pm – By Editorial staff
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

A new sea route may become possible between Sweden and Finland. The passenger ferry would operate between Gävle and Rauma.

Currently, there are plans to extend European Route 16, or E16, which today stretches from Northern Ireland, via Scotland and Norway, and ends in Gävle, Sweden. The plan is for it to continue all the way to Kotka in Finland, something that Finnish President Alexander Stubb approved in October. For these plans to be finalized, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will inform all countries covered by the agreement about the changes.

However, the plans for E16 have sparked discussions about whether a new passenger ferry route could be established between the Swedish city of Gävle and the Finnish city of Rauma.

— This is a future project. We need to look ahead over five years, says Rauma's city director, Esko Poikela, to Finnish national broadcaster Yle.

Gävle has a population of approximately 70,000 and Rauma 39,000. Currently, no negotiations have been held regarding such a route. If it were to materialize, it would also largely depend on economic factors, such as whether exports would be profitable or not.

— How cooperation with Sweden works and in what way routes onward from Sweden can be secured will determine the matter, says Poikela.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/elon-musk-olof-palme-destroyed-sweden/

Sweden

Elon Musk: “Olof Palme destroyed Sweden”

Population replacement in the West

Updated yesterday at 2:55 pm, Published yesterday 12:18 pm – By Editorial staff
The idea of a multicultural Sweden was introduced partly through initiatives and debate articles by David Schwarz (far right in the image) and with support from the Bonnier family.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Elon Musk has once again entered the Swedish immigration debate. On X, he accuses former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme of having "destroyed Sweden" by introducing multiculturalism in 1975.

The tech billionaire is responding to an X post by journalist Christian Peterson, who claims that Palme, through a 1975 legislative change (Proposition 1975:26), laid the foundation for today's multicultural society, reports Fria Tider.

Peterson argues that the decision was made without a referendum or extensive investigation and links it to current problems such as mass immigration, gun violence, parallel societies, and demographic changes.

"Multiculturalism was added to the Swedish constitution in 1975 (Prop. 1975:26) under Olof Palme — no referendum, no long-term review. 50 years later: mass migration, record gun violence, parallel societies, major demographic shifts. A turning point that no one voted for".

In response, Elon Musk writes briefly and concisely: "He destroyed Sweden" and also attaches an AI-generated summary of the 1975 parliamentary decision.

1975 – a political crossroads

The controversial 1975 proposition established that immigrants and minorities should be able to choose whether to adapt to a Swedish cultural identity or maintain their original cultural heritage.

The new policy also meant that the state would provide financial support to immigrant organizations and cultural projects. Critics argue that this became a political choice with long-term effects.

Musk and Peterson today link the decision to current concerns about integration, social division, and crime.

Elon Musk has previously engaged in Swedish legal matters. During the fall, he criticized an appeals court ruling where a man was acquitted of deportation after a rape conviction, calling the decision "insane".

His latest statement has once again touched on a deep ideological conflict within Swedish politics – a societal issue that remains a hot political topic in Sweden.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com