Finland Turns 108; Cold Rain Does Not Cool Protesters Running Hot
Independent Finland turned 108. The weather was cold and rainy, but thousands of demonstrators still pushed their cause. Read the report. View the highlights.
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Author: Tony Öhberg
‘Sisu: Road to Revenge’ Film Review: Tears, Joy and Another Brutal Bloodbath
Director Jalmari Helander’s Sisu sequel skillfully combines emotional depth with a fervor for intense violence. Just as the fans like it.
Read MoreFilm Review: ‘Backwood Madness’ Is a Groundbreaking Horror Fantasy Redefining Finnish Folklore
‘Backwood Madness’ is a mesmerizing horror fantasy that showcases the potential of dedicated filmmakers. Jussi Huhtala’s music creates an immersive experience, while the actors deliver some of the most intimate and horrifying scenes in Finnish cinema.
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Hellsinki Metal Festival Impresses With First-Rate Music Selection and Service
Hellsinki Metal Festival is a two-day catharsis featuring neck-snapping music far beyond what you hear on everyday radio. The Helsinki Ice Hall transforms into a giant moshpit, and people couldn’t be happier. Here’s our reportage.
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Pori Jazz 2024: Rain or Shine, I’m Gonna Get Mine; GALLERY
The 2024 Pori Jazz edition highlighted funky grooves and ’80s nostalgia while showcasing top contemporary jazz artists on the southwestern coast in mid-July.
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Today’s Heavy Metal: Embracing Evolution Beyond Double Kicks and Leather at Tuska 2025; GALLERY & REPORT
Tuska 2025 attracted 60,000 visitors to Suvilahti, Helsinki. The festival featured various metal genres amid mixed summer weather, including sunshine and rain showers, with Sunday facing potential storms. Here’s our report.
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This Is What Municipal and County Elections Looked Like in the Naked Truth
The municipal and county elections were historically held at the same time. This resulted in a significant amount of lost votes and branded election rally’s where a party’s unsure significance was ‘assured’ in private talks. Many attendants resorted to sneering, feeling bad or to drinking.
Read More‘Sinners’ Film Review: Two Very Bad Movies Stiched Together Give Viewer the Blues
Here’s our review with a score of 10%.
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Nikita Nystedt, 23, the Next ‘Robert Helenius’? Nystedt Knocks Down His Opponent Twice in the First Round
Nikita Nystedt knocked out his opponent without mercy at the GeeBee Boxing Night II on Friday in his second professional fight.
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Swedish Tribulation Establishes the Benchmark for Heavy Metal in 2025
What is it like to attend a heavy metal concert without having listened to the group before? If you’re lucky, the experience might resemble our report.
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Jussi Awards 2025: Film About Resilient Islanders Grabs Most Awards, But Splatter Film Receives Historic Recognition
Read our report, watch the video and enjoy the photos from our coverage of this year’s Jussi Awards, where history was made.
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Finnish President Stubb Welcomes Ukrainian President Zelensky in Secretive Helsinki Visit; PICS AND VIDEO
In the heart of Helsinki, a discreet yet pivotal meeting unfolded on March 19th, as President Alexander Stubb welcomed President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to the hallowed halls of the Presidential Palace.
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Mikko Antila: The Soulful Vibraphonist Captivating Audiences with Timeless Jazz
Vibraphonist Mikko Antila took the stage with bassist Joonas Tuuri and drummer Teppo Mäkynen at Hakasalmen huvila, enchanting an appreciative crowd with a blend of nostalgia and excitement.
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We Walked with the King: Two Days of Smiles with the Danish Royals
The visit of Danish royalty was a delightful mix of cheerful smiles and serious business, creating a captivating atmosphere that delighted observers, from the media to guests in festive attire.
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Candles for Ukraine: Helsinki Lights Up in a Powerful Show of Solidarity – VIDEO
Candle-lit vigil in Helsinki marks three years of Russia’s agression on Ukraine. The candles will be sent to Ukraine to support the frontline.
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‘Häjyt 2’ Movie Review: Not Too Much Talk, Just Enough Action – A Very Zen Blockbuster in Finnish Style
In Häjyt 2, suspense takes over the lack of dialogue and action in the Finnish-style blockbuster.
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Swedish Activists Vandalize Finland’s Parliament Building; Finnish Elokapina Shares the Responsibility
Swedish and Finnish activists with fire extinguishers and red paint defaced the Finnish Parliament Building on Wednesday.
Read More‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Film Review: 100% Score, But Did You Know That the Star of the First Part Was Married to a Finn?
Great film! But what do you know about Renny Harlin?
Read MoreVIDEO: Tuska Metal Festival Opens Its Gates
If you like heavy metal or want to try something new, Tuska is the only place to be in Helsinki this weekend.
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The Suspected School Shooter in Vantaa Planned His Attack, According to the Police; One Victim Killed, Two Girls Fight for Life
The events leading up to Tuesday’s school shooting in Viertola have begun to unfold. Here’s what we know so far.
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Labor Unions Extend Strikes to Three Weeks; A Deeper Look at the ‘Political War’ in the World’s Happiest Country
Finland ranks as the happiest country in the world for the seventh year in a row. At the same time, trade unions and the government have reached a stalemate and companies have no choice but to leave their workers without pay.
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Peela’s Album Release Gig Was a Groovy Sensory Feast
Peela consists of some of Helsinki’s finest up-and-coming jazz musicians. On Thursday evening, they took over the Koko Jazz Club and played to a full house.
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GALLERY: The Inauguration of President Alexander Stubb
Alexander Stubb was inaugurated as Finland’s 13th president, marking the beginning of a new era and bringing to an end the tenure of President Sauli Niinistö.
Read More‘Spaceman’ Starring Adam Sandler is a Story About a Cosmonaut Talking to a Giant Spider, and That is It
In ‘Spaceman,’ comedian Adam Sandler receives comfort from a large arachnid in outer space. There’s not much more to say.
Read More‘Dune: Part Two’ Film Review: This Movie Will Likely Blow Your Mind
‘Dune: Part Two’ scores 100% in Tony Öhberg’s review. “It was a thrilling, action-packed tale that rocked black Italian leather seats for nearly three hours while keeping viewers glued to a screen larger than a volleyball court. That said, while this movie should be enjoyed in the largest movie auditorium you can find, the strong storytelling would bring deep enjoyment even if it was streamed to your mobile device while sitting in the bathroom,” Öhberg writes.
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We Know This: Alexander Stubb is the Next Finnish President, Here’s What You May Not Know
We followed the presidential race of Alexander Stubb (NCP) up to the point where he was facing the runner-up, Pekka Haavisto (Greens), and then, during the final hours it became clear that Stubb may win.
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Alexander Stubb Leads Polls and Early Voting Results in Finnish Presidential Race; Likely Next President?
The next Finnish President will be elected tonight. According to the polls and early voting results, Alexander Stubb (NCP) will win.
Read MoreFILM REVIEW: Finnish ‘(Pri)sons’ is a Violent Humdinger
Here’s how I came to score 100%.
Read MoreVIDEO: 13,000 People in Senate Square Demand Talks With Government Instead of Dictatorial Approach
About 13,000 people, according to police estimates, took part in a protest called “Stop Now!” in the Senate Square on Thursday afternoon
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COLUMN: The Art of Strategic Voting and the Duel of Stubb and Haavisto
For many Finns, voting in this year’s presidential election became a game of chess instead of trusting their gut and following their instincts.
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Is Mika Aaltola the Next Finnish President?
I followed Mika Aaltola’s presidential campaign for months and was impressed by his qualities as a person and his extensive knowledge of foreign policy.
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We Visited the Matka Travel Fair
The program covers current tourism phenomena, destination tips and travel trends.
Read More‘Lift’ Film Review: Get Me Nato!
‘Lift,’ starring Kevin Hart, is a gripping gold-heist thriller set in the modern era.
Read More‘Night Swim’ Film Review: Viewer is Pulled Into the Abyss of a Backyard Pool Where Evil Lurks
Here’s our review of this entertaining horror movie.
Read More‘The Holdovers’ Film Review: An Instant Holiday Classic Suitable for Year-Round Watching
Here’s how we came to score 100%.
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GALLERY: Lux Helsinki Lights Up Helsinki in Biting Frost in One of Its Most Creative Editions Yet
Lux Helsinki began on Wednesday evening, illuminating the Finnish capital in freezing weather that felt close to -30 degrees Celsius. View our gallery.
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Finland Closes Land Border with Russia – Again
The border will be closed on Friday, December 15, at 20:00.
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WATCH: Man in Wheelchair Stands Up to Attack; Protesters Against Neo-Nazis Clash With National-Minded Marchers on Independence Day
Protesters against neo-Nazis did their best to stop a nationalistic torchlight procession.
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Protest Disrupts Ecumenical Jubilee Service of Heads of State on Finland’s 106th Independence Day; View the Gallery
Finland celebrates its 106th Independence Day. Here is what has happened so far.
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After Plunging Into Icy Waters, Swedish and Finnish Prime Ministers Talk About Defending the EU’s Borders
The premiers’ agenda included bilateral relations between the two countries, the security situation and other current international and EU issues. Recent events on Finland’s eastern border were also discussed.
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Jazz Icon Ron Carter Has Played on More Than 2,220 Albums; Here’s How He Sounded in Helsinki
Ron Carter, 86, came to Helsinki with his quartet to breathe new life into jazz classics.
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Read PM Petteri Orpo’s Announcement on Border Security in Full
On Thursday, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) made an announcement on border security to Parliament. We publish Prime Minister Orpo’s remarks in full.
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99 Problems, But an Ovulation Pill Ain’t One; New Autobiography Reveals the Highs and Lows of Finnish Heavyweight Boxer Robert Helenius
Reporter and photojournalist Tony Öhberg sat down with Finnish heavyweight boxer Robert Helenius to talk about his new autobiography and his plans for the future amid the turmoil of life in and out of the ring.
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GALLERY: A Thin Layer of Snow is the Light of the Morning in Helsinki
A thin layer of snow covered the center of Helsinki in the early hours of Saturday morning. We caught the beauty of the first light in whiteness.
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Finland Closes Parts of Southeastern Border
“It’s not worth the effort to come to Finland. The borders are closed,” Mari Rantanen (Finns), the minister of the interior, said while referring to Finland’s southeastern border with Russia.
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GALLERY: Former Finnish President, ‘Eternal Refugee’ and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Martti Ahtisaari Laid to Rest
Finland Today observed the funeral of the late President Martti Ahtisaari throughout the day. Here’s our report.
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The Blast of the Balticconnector Between Estonia and Finland; Everything We Know So Far; Russians? TNT. Sabotage! Traces on the Seabed . . .
The events of the past few days have been intense as it was discovered that an explosion caused a pressure loss in the gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland. Here’s what we know so far.
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Swedish Royals Revived the Small Town of Loviisa for a Day
What happens when Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden visit a small town in southern Finland, which was named after a Swedish Queen in the 18th century? This time, the Princess came to inaugurate a piece of land near the end of September. Well … the elderly rubbed their eyes in amazement, while children and some adults wore crowns made of cardboard. Finland Today followed the visit, and here’s the report.
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Game Devs at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki Showed Us How to Drink For Free, But Not Everyone Had Access to Lunch
Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki, held between Sep. 12-13, helped the gaming industry to connect, but some had trouble getting lunch after paying hundreds for tickets. Free drinks flowed almost effortlessly, though.
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Are There Racists in the Finnish Government?
Some of the current members of the Finnish government have made continuous headlines in relation to racism both nationally and internationally. We attended a mass protest against discrimination with 20,000 people and wrapped up the details of what’s been said and done.
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