Newsweek in plain Finnish | Sunday 24.5.2026

Fire bomb. Digital clinics. Burial prices. New archdiatry.

Listen

You can read the news simultaneously below.

Riihimäki firebomb

Open image viewer

The police released a photo of the bomb found in Riihimäki on May 20. In the photo, it is on the cover of a well. Photo: Police

On Wednesday, Häme police received information about an explosive device in a field in Riihimäki.

A police patrol found a firebomb. The patrol left the area unguarded for a while. When the patrol returned, the firebomb had disappeared.

On Thursday, an incendiary bomb was found near the location where it was first discovered. The Defence Forces rendered it harmless. A hazard bulletin was also issued for the area regarding the incendiary bomb.

The police are investigating why the firebomb disappeared. The police patrol is suspected of dereliction of duty.

The fire bomb was a Russian incendiary bomb from World War II. It was deadly, but now it is no longer a danger.

Digital clinics

Open image viewer

Almost all welfare areas have a digital clinic. Photo: Juha-Petri Koponen / Yle

Digital clinics have not replaced regular doctor visits.

This is according to an experiment conducted in the Ostrobothnia welfare region. A digital clinic is a remote appointment with a doctor or nurse.

It was thought in advance that the digital clinic would reduce doctor visits by perhaps 40-50 percent. The experiment showed that the reduction was only 5 percent.

However, customers like digital clinics. Researchers believe that digital clinics will increasingly replace traditional appointments in the future.

Burial prices

Open image viewer

A priest at a blessing ceremony in the Lepola chapel in Lappeenranta. Photo: Kari Saastamoinen

The cost of burial varies greatly across Finland.

Yle found that the cheapest burial is in Närpiö. There, a cremation costs a local resident at least 68 euros. The most expensive price is for a coffin burial in Porvoo, at just over 2,200 euros.

The large difference in prices is due to the burial method and price increases. The government has reduced funding for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Therefore, the congregations have had to increase fees.

The prices take into account the minimum mandatory costs of burial. The actual costs are higher because the coffin, possible cremation, urn and memorial service are expensive.

New archetype

Open image viewer

The Finnish Medical Association says that the title is currently only known to be in use in Finland and the Vatican, where the archiater is the Pope’s personal physician. Photo: Tanja Heino / Yle

Docent, Doctor of Medicine and Surgery Päivi Hietanen is the new Chief Physician.

Archdiocese is the highest title awarded to a physician in Finland. The previous Archdiocese, Risto Pelkonen, held the honorary position of the oldest member of the medical profession for 30 years.

The role of the archdiatrist does not involve official duties, but he or she represents the entire medical community.

Hietanen is the first woman in the position.

This was Uutisviikko in plain Finnish. See you again, bye!