Current affairs

Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen has received a Grammy award in the best solo classic album category. The prestigious award is for his recording with violinist Hilary Hahn and the Swedish Radio Symphony orchestra of performances of the Arnold Schönberg and Jean Sibelius Violin Concertos. Salonen was conductor on the recording released by the Deutsche Grammophon label.

The Signals exhibition, now on at the Flow gallery in London, features works of eight Finnish contemporary artists. The exhibition was launched on Thursday the 15th of January and the opening event drew a diversity of guests all interested in Finnish contemporary art. The works differ from wool paintings to ceramic sculptures.

Finland is one of the northernmost areas in the world with a permanent population. The cold, dark, snowy winter doesn't disrupt society or the economy: Finns will get to work or school in the morning no matter how cold it is or how much snow has fallen. In fact, Finns even know how to enjoy the winter. Read how to survive the Finnish winter and you might enjoy it too.

The Finnish Minister of Health & Social Services Dr Paula Risikko will serve as guest speaker at the King's College Institute of Gerontology's Annual David Hobman Memorial Lecture. The lecture is entitled

Jorma Puranen's exhibition of arctic landscapes, entitled Icy Prospects was launched at London's Purdy Hicks gallery on the 8th of January. The photographs were taken in 2005-2007 at the Arctic Ocean and in the northernmost areas of Finnish and Nordic Lapland. At the opening, in a bitterly cold London, the arctic theme seemed particularly appropriate.

Shot to stardom by means of the Internet, Le Corps Mince de Françoise, the party pop trio from Helsinki, is for the time being quite unknown in Finland. However, that doesn't stop the band from touring around Europe and working on their debut album in Berlin.

The Finn-Guild Scholarships are study grants available for members. They can be awarded for academic, professional, vocational study or training.

The Finnish Church in London organises a retreat for adults, who feel the need to take a small break from the pressure of busy everyday life. During the weekend the participants have the opportunity to relax and freshen up in the lovely Eden Hall, Kent.

Alexander Stubb, Doctor of Philosophy, Member of European Parliament, began his duties as the new Minister for Foreign Affairs in the second Matti Vanhanen government on 4 April. The President of the Republic appointed Mr Stubb as a Member of the Government and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband thanked his host, Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, on Wednesday for his invitation to visit Finland, and in a press conference held following the talks stated that this had been a meeting of two allies. “We have many shared interests with Finland”, Miliband said, starting the list by mentioning relations between the EU and Russia, which are also in the forefront of the present Finnish Government’s foreign and security policy.