Newsweek in plain Finnish | Sunday 22.2.2026

Peace Council. Rydman becomes Minister of Social Affairs and Health. Elderly deaths. Housing construction. Al-Hol camp. Olympics.

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Trump’s Peace Council

President Donald Trump smiles broadly at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, 2026, after signing on behalf of the so-called Peace Council.

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Donald Trump presented the signature to the Peace Council in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: Harun Ozalp / AOP

The US President’s Peace Council met for the first time this week. Donald Trump has established a council that was supposed to only concern the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Trump said at the meeting that the US would provide $10 billion for the reconstruction of Gaza.

At least 27 countries have accepted an invitation to Trump’s council. From Europe, only Bulgaria, Hungary, Albania and Kosovo are included.

Trump is the council’s chairman for life.

He has suggested that the Council could replace the United Nations, or UN, in other world conflicts.

Wille Rydman appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Health.

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Wille Rydman has been appointed as the new Minister of Social Affairs and Health. Photo: Petteri Bülow / Yle

Finns Party MP Wille Rydman is the new Minister of Social Affairs and Health.

Rydman replaced Kaisa Juuso, who wanted to leave the ministerial job.

Wille Rydman says that savings in the social and health sectors will be maintained.

Deaths of the elderly in nursing homes

An elderly man’s hand is gripping the armrest. A rollator is next to it.

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Police are investigating five deaths of elderly people in nursing homes. Photo: Mikko Koski / Yle

5 people have died in nursing homes this winter.

Nurses say the deaths were not a surprise.

More than 50 elderly care workers told Yle about their experiences. The workers said that dangerous situations have increased. Most of them still go unreported.

The Super union receives reports of dangerous situations almost every day. Nurses say the reason is the reduction in nurse quotas.

The law determines how many caregivers there must be in a nursing home.

Too many apartments are being built in Finland now

A new shopping center is under construction in Kivistö, Vantaa.

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There is no housing shortage in sight. Many new apartments have been empty for a long time. Photo: Ronnie Holmberg / Yle

A record low number of apartments are being built this year. Experts tell Yle that too many apartments are still being built.

There is already more housing than is needed in large cities. Even though the population is growing, the economic situation is poor and people live closer together than before.

Many new buildings have many empty apartments.

Al-Hol camp is closed

![People in a refugee camp.](https://images.cdn.yle.fi/image/upload/c_crop,h_1684,w_2994,x_0,y_119/ar_1.7777777777 777777,c_fill,g_faces,h_431,w_767/dpr_1.0/q_auto:eco/f_auto/fl_lossy/v1763380413/39-1554961691b042364f34)

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Finland has previously repatriated 36 Finns from the Al-Hol camp. Photo: Ahmed Mardnli / EPA

The Al-Hol camp in Syria has been closed.

At the beginning of the year, there were still about 10 Finns in the camp, most of whom were children.

Jussi Tanner, Head of Consular Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, says he cannot provide an accurate account of the situation of Finns.

The camp has housed the wives and children of fighters from the terrorist organization ISIS.

Closing day of the Winter Olympics

Finnish skiers and combined athletes’ hotel in Val di Fiemme, Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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The Finns’ medal goal at the Winter Olympics was achieved. Photo: Jelena Leppänen / Yle

Today, Sunday, was the closing day of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Finland won a total of 6 medals at the Olympics. This was also the goal of the Finnish Olympic Committee.

This was Uutisviikko in plain Finnish. See you again next week!