Current affairs

From the beginning of 2017 Finnish missions which also serve as pickup points for passports may issue identity cards to Finnish citizens. Identity cards are valid travel documents in 28 European countries.

When Bengt Holmström’s phone woke him up early one morning, he thought it was a reminder to take his medicine. Instead, it was a call to tell him he’d won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.

Several years in Finland allow an American schoolteacher and blogger to observe what makes the Finnish education system so good – the answer is simpler than you think.

What does independence mean to you? This is a common question, which many Finns are asked on our Independence Day. And it is a question that we can all take a moment to consider. The uncertainty affecting the world in recent years has shown that peace and stability cannot be taken for granted by everyone. Each and every Finn has the privilege of celebrating and honouring our country's independence.

The Christmas greeting for Finland has been designed by Sari Airola from Helsinki and the domestic stamp by Sini Ezer from Espoo.

A woolly hat – “pipo” in Finnish – is an essential accessory during the cold Finnish winters, but it can also be trendy. We look at several success stories from the thriving local knitwear industry, including one designer who wears a hat in the summer, too.

Since taking the Un Certain Regard prize in Cannes, The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki continues to win the hearts of audiences, moving into position as a strong contender for an Oscar nomination.

The annual Christmas Bazaar at the Scandinavian Church is held on 25th and 26th November.

The Polar Night Counter shows how long kaamos, the season with no sunrise, lasts in northern Finland. It also shows how long is left before the winter solstice.

Polaris is the most environmentally friendly diesel-electric icebreaker in the world, a masterpiece of Finnish shipbuilding expertise.