Government Convenes for Final Budget Talks; Kela Services Restored
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Finland's government is holding its final budget session, addressing crucial economic policies, potential tax relief measures, and internal coalition disagreements. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has affirmed that the 'protection part' of social benefits will not be reinstated, while Minister of Finance Riikka Purra acknowledged new economic challenges. Discussions also included a proposed social media ban for individuals under 15 years old.
In other domestic news, Kela, the national social insurance institution, announced that a significant IT system disruption affecting its electronic and customer services has been resolved, with all operations now functioning normally. Additionally, major reforms to taxi legislation are set to take effect in September, introducing mandatory meters and taxi plates to improve industry trust.
Locally, traffic changes are planned for Tampere with the removal of a large roundabout and the zipper merging principle on Hatanpään valtatie. Meanwhile, IKEA has announced price reductions on hundreds of products across its Finnish stores, aiming to enhance affordability for consumers. On a positive note, a good lingonberry harvest is expected this year, with blueberries also reported as plentiful.