Rome, Milan, Venice are still tourist magnets, but apart from these well-known destinations, there is still an abundance of smaller art cities in Italy waiting to be discovered. Have you ever heard of Perugia or Lucca, for example? If not,…
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Passport and Visa Nordic citizens do not need a visa to travel to St Lucia if you stay shorter than 30 days. Check that your passport is valid until the day after the return journey. The passport must not be…
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The journey begins in the Jordanian capital Amman, which rests on the ruins of ancient Philadelphia – during the Roman Empire an important trade and cultural center in the region. Amman is very rich in ancient remains from the period…
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Rome is not called the “Eternal City” for nothing. Modern buildings stand amicably next to Roman temples and ancient ruins. The city can look back on three millennia of history. The capital of Italy is located in the Lazio region…
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Endless coastal roads, perfect surfing beaches, the glittering world of Hollywood, gigantic amusement parks and breathtaking national parks – the state of California arouses very special expectations not only among American vacationers. More and more German tourists appreciate the diversity…
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FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT IN MADEIRA The nature of the islands is perfect for active travelers. Arrive on a holiday flight or change planes Finnair operates direct flights from Helsinki to Madeira throughout the year. Non-stop flights to Madeira are…
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Chiang Mai is known for its Thai culture and hiking holidays. Chiang Mai, you can taste, learn and experience a new side of Thailand. In northern Thailand’s most popular resort, Chiang Mai, the traveler is enchanted by temples, hikes in the mountains…
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Japan is a fascinating travel destination! In Japan, you can experience and see traditions and customs that are very different from Finnish customs. You can dive deep into Japanese culture, for example, by staying in a ryokan. What is a…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as GBR by Abbreviationfinder, Britain is a democracy with centuries-old roots. The first Parliament was formed as early as the 13th century and today’s parliamentary system was founded in the 1600s. There is strong protection for…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as UKR by Abbreviationfinder, Ukrainian nationalism has grown in recent years and it plays an increasingly important role in the everyday life of the population. Freedom of the press is guaranteed by law, but a propaganda…
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Democracy and rights In Switzerland, power is close to the people. Human rights are generally respected, but human rights organizations fear that some initiatives taken in recent years may worsen the situation of immigrants and minorities. Switzerland is a strongly…
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Democracy and rights In international comparisons, Sweden consistently ranks among the leading countries in terms of democratic institutions, the rule of law, political and civil rights, and freedom of the press and opinion. Fundamental freedoms and rights are guaranteed by…
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Democracy and rights Following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, Spain quickly developed into a functioning democracy, with free elections and peaceful shifts of power. Legal security is generally good and civil rights are usually respected. In recent…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as SLO by Abbreviationfinder, Slovenia is a stable democracy where fundamental freedoms and rights are well respected, not least compared to the other former Yugoslav republics. However, there are some problems with high-level corruption and journalists…
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Democracy and rights 2019 December Mediator in the journalist murder admits One of the five people charged with the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak in February 2018 agrees to a settlement and accepts a prison sentence of 15 years. Pizza…
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Democracy and rights In Serbia, abbreviated as SRB by Abbreviationfinder, political parties with different ideological grounds have been able to participate in relatively free elections since the 1990s. For a long time, the country seemed to be undergoing democratization. But…
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Democracy and rights Democratic deficiencies are great in Russia, despite the fact that democracy and the rule of law are guaranteed in the constitution. Freedom of the press and opinion is limited. In prisons there are political prisoners and the…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as ROM by Abbreviationfinder, Romania has functioning democratic machinery and the civil liberties and rights are generally respected but the system is clouded by corruption, discrimination against minorities and deficiencies in the media and the judiciary….
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Democracy and rights In 1974 Portugal went from dictatorship to democracy. The country today has a functioning democratic system, where several shifts of power have taken place in orderly form. Freedom of speech, assembly and press are guaranteed in the…
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Democracy and rights Democratization and increased freedom is the image spread by Poland after communism. But the controversy is now about the extent to which modern lifestyles and tolerant values should be allowed to change society. A tug of war…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as NOR by Abbreviationfinder, Norway is one of the most robust democracies in the world. Human rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and are well respected. Norway is a democracy with strong and independent institutions. Freedom…
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Democracy and rights Democracy has been significantly strengthened in Nigeria abbreviated as NG by Abbreviationfinder, since the military dictatorship fell and the country gained a people-elected leadership in 1999. However, the democratic shortcomings continue to be large and the government…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as NER by Abbreviationfinder, Niger’s constitution stipulates that free elections should be held and that freedom of press and expression should be respected. In recent years, however, the democratic situation in the country has deteriorated rapidly….
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Democracy and rights The democratic institutions are strong in the Netherlands, which has long been a stable welfare state. The country is one of the highest ranked in the world in terms of freedom of the press. In the rankings…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as NPL by Abbreviationfinder, Nepal has problems with widespread corruption within the political institutions and the state administration. Journalists work under difficult conditions. Legal security is low and the impunity after the civil war 1996-2006 is…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as NAM by Abbreviationfinder, Namibia has a functioning democratic system. Citizens are free to exercise their political rights, the media work in a tolerant climate and the level of corruption is low compared to Africa in…
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Democracy and rights The democratic deficiencies are great in Montenegro where one person, Milo Ðukanović, has dominated politics for over a quarter of a century and gathered more and more power around his person and his inner circle. Montenegro is…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as MDA by Abbreviationfinder, Moldova is one of the worst performing countries in Europe in terms of human rights. Political institutions are adversely affected by special interests and society is permeated by corruption. The judiciary is…
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Democracy and rights Malta’s constitution guarantees the individual’s freedoms and rights and that the courts are independent of the legislative and the executive. Freedom of the press is also constitutional and it is also respected in practice. Abbreviated as MLT…
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Democracy and rights Abbreviated as UEM by Abbreviationfinder, Northern Macedonia is struggling with great internal contradictions, which has contributed to undemocratic tendencies. Politics is characterized by fierce rhetoric, boycotts and pure violence. The administration is politicized, corruption is widespread and…
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