Newsweek in plain Finnish | Sunday 22.3.2026

Iran War. Digital Services for the Elderly. Happiness. Eid Celebration.

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Impact of the Iran War on Prices

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Gasoline and diesel prices are rising because oil shipments are not passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Markku Rantala / Yle

The Iran war has been going on for over 3 weeks now. The war has stopped oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz.

That is why many prices have started to rise in Finland as well.

Gasoline and diesel already cost over 2 euros per liter at many gas stations.

Interest rates have also started to rise, which is why the costs of many mortgages are rising.

Airfares have also started to become more expensive because flying consumes a lot of fuel.

Fertilizer prices have risen because the Persian Gulf region produces a large portion of the world’s fertilizer. Higher fertilizer prices will subsequently increase food prices.

Transportation prices go up when oil prices go up. That’s why the Iran war raises all prices.

Digital services for the elderly

![Krista Kiuru and Mia Laiho media challenged.](https://images.cdn.yle.fi/image/upload/c_crop,h_3456,w_6144,x_0,y_298/ar_1.77777777777 77777,c_fill,g_faces,h_431,w_767/dpr_1.0/q_auto:eco/f_auto/fl_lossy/v1773926397/39-161433669bbf7b790b74)

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The Chair of the Social Affairs and Health Committee, Krista Kiuru (SDP) and Vice-Chair Mia Laiho (Kok.), answered journalists’ questions in Parliament. Photo: Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva

The law on digital services for the elderly is delayed.

The reason is a new committee assessment.

The Parliament’s Social Affairs and Health Committee decided this week that the bill will be sent back to the Constitutional Affairs Committee.

At first, the Social Affairs and Health Committee did not want to send the law to another committee, but now the committee has changed its decision.

The bill on digital services for the elderly has already been evaluated many times.

Experts and some MPs are concerned, for example, about whether an elderly person can have a camera in their home that allows the caregiver to see the elderly person.

With the new law, the government wants to increase digital services and achieve savings.

Happiness

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Finns are the most satisfied with their lives. Photo: Henrietta Hassinen / Yle

Finland is once again the happiest country in the world.

This is the ninth time that Finland has ranked first in the world happiness report.

The ranking is based on how people themselves assess the quality of their own lives.

Finns gave their own lives an average rating of 7.8.

Experts say that happiness is influenced by factors such as health, freedom, and trust in other people.

Eid celebration

A happy crowd celebrating the end of Ramadan.

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Muslims in Lahti will celebrate the end of Ramadan on Friday, March 20, 2026. Photo: Juha-Petri Koponen / Yle

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan ended on Friday, and so did the fasting period.

The end of Ramadan is celebrated with Eid. Eid includes communal prayers, good food, and spending time with family and friends. Children are given gifts.

Many Muslims also celebrate Eid in Finland. There are approximately 140,000 Muslims living in Finland.

For example, in Lahti, not all Muslims could fit in the mosque. Therefore, the Eid prayer time was held in a large banquet hall.

In Helsinki, many Muslims gathered at the Itäkeskus shopping center.

The Eid celebration often lasts 3 days.