Current affairs

The European Elections will be held in all Member States during the time period from 4 to 7 June 2009. In the election 736 members of the European Parliament will be elected from 27 Member States. In Finland election day is 7 June 2009. The number of members elected from Finland is 13.

Finnish concert music in Athens on April - The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra will give a performance in Megaron Mousikis on April 3 and 4, New Helsinki Quartet on April 5 and Karita Mattila with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on April 24.

Voionmaa Institute from Tampere is arranging together with AKTO Art Institute a photograph exhibition "Private Space" and a workshop in Athens between 12.5.-22.5.2009.

The Finnish leading soprano Karita Mattila, is giving a concert in Megaron Mousikis on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 20.30 hrs, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jiri Belohlavek.

At the Helsinki Zoo in Korkeasaari, you travel from tundra to rainforest and from foreign mountain peaks to wetlands. The 150 animal species and almost 1000 plant species truly show the diversity of nature. In 2009, the zoo celebrates its 120th anniversary.

Purge won the Runeberg Prize. It is the first book ever that has won both the Finlandia Prize and the Runeberg Prize. Finnish-Estonian writer Sofi Oksanen talks about her bestselling novel Purge.

The Sámi are the only indigenous people of the European Union and they celebrate their national day on 2nd February.There are about 9 000 Sámi in Finland. More than 60 per cent of them now live outside the Sámi Homeland. The total Sámi population is estimated to be over 75,000, with the majority living in Norway.

Laura Lepistö won the European Championships ladies´ title and Susanna Pöykiö took bronze. Congratulations! Finnish Figure Skating Association has the pleasure of staging the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2009. The event will be held January 20–25, 2009 in the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki.

In Tirana Mr. Bardhyl Minxhozi has started his duties as the first Honorary Consul of Finland. The aim of Mr. Minxhozi is to promote and support the good progress of the relations between Finland and Albania in cooperation with the Embassy.

Signmark, the first deaf rapper, is changing the world by rapping in sign language. He doesn't shy away from taking a stand on human rights and tolerance.