Tony Öhberg | Finland Today | News in English

‘Passengers’ Film Review: Platitudes in Space

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 22, 2016 7:14 pm | Films, Nation

In Passengers, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt share banalities in the cosmos.

Wednesday Was the Shortest Day of the Year

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 21, 2016 12:09 pm | Nation

The December solstice is actually a specific moment in time when the sun is exactly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn. This year in Finland, the exact time is at 12:44 in the afternoon.

Saara Aalto Arrived in Helsinki

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 20, 2016 10:29 pm | Culture, Entertainment, Music, Nation

Saara revealed her plans for the future. She will, for example, perform at the Helsinki Arena on April 15, 2017.

‘Assassin’s Creed’ Film Review: Bad, Bad, Bad

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 19, 2016 8:36 pm | Films, Nation

The fight and action scenes are below average and the plot is less than intriguing.

‘Collateral Beauty’ Film Review: One of the Best Feel-Good Films in Decades

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 19, 2016 8:30 pm | Films, Nation

It’s also one of Will Smith’s best performances, one that should be nominated for an Oscar.

Robert Helenius Knocks Down Gonzalo ‘Victory’ Basile in 48 Seconds at Helsinki Arena

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 18, 2016 3:39 am | Boxing, Nation

Helenius pounded his Argentinian opponent to the floor in record time: 48 seconds.

Robert Helenius Faces Gonzalo ‘Victory’ Basile in a Heavyweight Boxing Bout on Saturday

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 17, 2016 4:10 pm | Boxing, Nation

“Basile is impressive, and he can surely take punches,” Helenius said at the press conference. “But I will win.”

Thousands Observe the National Saint Lucia Procession in Helsinki – The Tradition, Explained

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 14, 2016 3:59 pm | Culture, Entertainment

Lucia celebrations arrived in Finland from Sweden. Here’s what you need to know about the tradition.

Saara ‘Sisu’ Aalto Sings For A Crowd of Ten Thousand in Helsinki Before X Factor UK Finals

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 12, 2016 8:54 pm | Culture, Entertainment, Music, Nation

President Sauli Niinistö coined a new nickname “Sisu” for the X Factor UK runner-up, Saara Aalto, who visited Helsinki before the UK finals.

The New Estonian PM Juri Ratas Doesn’t Bow to Russia and Aims to Increase Trade With Finland

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 11, 2016 12:43 pm | Nation, Politics

The relations between Finland and Estonia are going strong and, maybe, stronger than ever.

Alko Selects Estonian Vana Tallinn As the Official Liqueur For Finland’s Centenary

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 8, 2016 1:10 pm | Food & Drinks, Nation

The Estonian company Liviko won the competitive bidding against Finnish challengers.

Finland’s 99th Independence Day in Pictures

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 7, 2016 11:31 am | Nation

From raising the flag to the first waltz at the Presidential Palace.

Could A Flock of Reindeer Replace the Guggenheim Art Museum in Helsinki?

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 2, 2016 6:57 pm | Culture, Nation

The idea is based on a thought that a hundred reindeer would be more interesting than Guggenheim art museum.

Terrafame Beanies Have Been Sold Out After Prime Minister Sipilä Wore One

Posted by Tony Öhberg | December 1, 2016 3:44 pm | Nation

The beanie was gray and it was embroidered with an orange text that said “Terrafame.”

Did Prime Minister Juha Sipilä Try to Silence Yle? Sipilä-gate, Explained

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 30, 2016 8:33 pm | Nation, Politics

Last Friday, YLE published a critical article on Prime Minister Sipilä. Later, Sipilä was accused of trying to silence YLE.

Jukka Viikilä Grabs the Finlandia Prize for Literature – Junior Award Winner Niemi’s Story About Multicultural Finland

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 24, 2016 5:53 pm | Culture

The awards worth 30,000 euros were handed out at the Finnish National Theatre on Thursday afternoon.

The Finnish Government Apologizes To the Victims of Abuse in Child Welfare Foster Care In the Past Decades

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 21, 2016 1:25 pm | Human Interest, Nation

According to the survey carried out by the University of Jyväskylä, maltreatment and violence occurred in all forms of child welfare foster care.

Neo-Nazis Will March in Helsinki on the Independence Day – “We Are Going to Fight for Our Freedom”

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 18, 2016 6:45 pm | Politics

Neo-Nazis will arrange a mass march in Helsinki center on the Independence Day, December 6.

Every Fourth Finnish Child Has Suffered From Their Parents’ Alcohol Use

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 18, 2016 3:17 pm | Culture, Human Interest, Lifestyle, Nation

76 percent of the victims suffered from shame.

Paulo Coelho and Others Join the Children’s Benefit Campaign Created By the President’s Spouse Jenni Haukio

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 17, 2016 4:06 pm | Culture, Human Interest, Nation

Jenni Haukio, the first lady of Finland, conceptualized a campaign for children in need.

Hundreds of Harry Potter Fans Dress Up to Celebrate the Release of the New Book in Helsinki

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 12, 2016 4:44 pm | Culture, Entertainment, Nation

A few hundred Harry Potter fans gather to the National Museum of Finland to celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two.

President Niinistö: The Relations Between Finland and the U.S. Are Closer Than Ever

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 9, 2016 7:16 pm | Nation, Politics

While Niinistö believes that the U.S. stays committed to NATO, he urged other EU countries to take more responsibility for themselves.

PM Juha Sipilä Supported Clinton But Believes That Trump Will Keep Good Relations With Finland

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 9, 2016 2:47 pm | Nation, Politics

Like Sipilä, Donald Trump has a background in the business world. According to Sipilä, this could affect Trump’s view on the importance of keeping good relations with other countries.

70 Fender-Benders In Uusimaa Region During the First Snowfall – Even The Plow Truck Drove Off Road

Posted by Tony Öhberg | November 3, 2016 5:16 pm | Nation

The first snowfall arrived in southern Finland and as usual, it didn’t come without problems.

Cruise Ferries and Karaoke, Estonia’s First Female President Kersti Kaljulaid Visits Finland

Posted by Tony Öhberg | October 21, 2016 6:46 pm | Nation, Politics

The newly inaugurated Estonian president visits Finland.

The Spectator Stand and Multi-purpose Building ‘Railo’ in Rovaniemi Grabs The Finlandia Prize for Architecture

Posted by Tony Öhberg | October 14, 2016 7:06 pm | Culture, Nation

Railo towers like a monumental landmark in the city of Rovaniemi.

President Niinistö Calls Merkel, Then Putin

Posted by Tony Öhberg | October 7, 2016 3:31 pm | Politics

President Niinistö and Chancellor Merkel had a serious discussion about Syria. With Putin, Niinistö also talked about Syria, particularly about the suffering in Aleppo and the killing of innocent civilians.

President Sauli Niinistö: The Buk Missile Test Was Supposed to Remain As a Secret

Posted by Tony Öhberg | September 30, 2016 7:33 pm | Nation, Politics

In 2015, Finland, by the request of the Netherlands, conducted a missile test to help the Dutch authorities to solve the downing of the Malaysian Airlines MH17 plane.

Finnish Teens Drink Less Than Their European Counterparts, Says A Study

Posted by Tony Öhberg | September 29, 2016 10:45 am | Nation

The Finnish youth drinks less than the European teens on average, says the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs.

15,000 Strong Blow the Whistle on Racism in Helsinki

Posted by Tony Öhberg | September 24, 2016 8:29 pm | Nation

15,000 people march against racism and neo-Nazis in Helsinki on Saturday afternoon.

‘Blair Witch’ Film Review: A Scaremonger With a Capital ‘S’

Posted by Tony Öhberg | September 16, 2016 8:03 am | Films, Nation

When the darkness falls, the trip into the Black Hill forest turns into one of the year’s biggest scaremongers.

Robert Helenius Knocks Down His German Opponent Airich In 40 Seconds

Posted by Tony Öhberg | September 11, 2016 5:36 pm | Boxing, Nation

The fight in Åland Islands lasted only 49 seconds.

‘Teit meistä kauniin’ Film Review: One Of the Best Finnish Films To Come Out This Year and Beyond

Posted by Tony Öhberg | September 7, 2016 7:23 pm | Films, Nation

While the story of the teenaged punk/rock group pushing off from a small town of Heinola in Päijänne region itself is intriguing, the subplot of the depression in the early ’90s is a real kicker.

We Visited the Allas Sea Pool, An Oasis That Opened to Public on Thursday

Posted by Tony Öhberg | September 2, 2016 7:16 pm | Culture, Entertainment

Floating in the big fresh water pool makes you feel like a movie star, without the need for a thick wallet.

Big-name Artists Cancel Their Gigs at Särkänniemi’s Closing Ceremony Because of the Dolphins

Posted by Tony Öhberg | September 1, 2016 4:29 pm | Nation

Three big-name Finnish artists that were supposed to perform at Särkänniemi’s celebration for the end of the season next Saturday in Tampere have canceled their shows.

From Tank to Tank: Särkänniemi’s Decision to Move Their Dolphins to Greece, Explained

Posted by Tony Öhberg | August 30, 2016 6:03 pm | Human Interest, Nation

After decades of performing circus tricks in the Särkänniemi Dolphinarium, Delfi, Veera, Eevertti and Leevi found themselves in another tank and climate destined to perform more tricks.