Current affairs

Three of the young hopefuls in Finnish

Football isn’t the only sport to hold a world cup in 2010. At the other end of the earth from South Africa, in the Finnish capital, more international sports drama plays out as the Finns defend their title at the World Floorball Championship.

Young Finns were again among the best performers in the assessment of reading, mathematical and scientific literacy in PISA 2009.

Finland is part of a globalising world. We are a Member State of the European Union and are actively involved in numerous international organisations, such as the United Nations. Our economy has also undergone a rapid process of internationalisation. Globalisation has brought economic opportunities, but also an increasing set of challenges.

This one is not for kids: Jalmari Helander's Rare Exports turns the concept of the Christmas film – and of Christmas itself – on its head.

Season's greetings! What makes Christmas in Finland so unique? It's a mix of time-honoured tradition and modernity – check out thisisFINLAND's Christmas special to see what we mean. It might also have something to do with the fact that the world-famous Santa Claus lives in Finnish Lapland, and thisisFINLAND has answers to all your Santa questions.

Heini Lehto and Noora Kunttu, designers and owners of Kehrä Interior, form the driving force behind Guardian of the Baltic Sea, a jewellery project created to aid the ailing ocean.

A high-level meeting in Finland decided on several measures to reinforce international environmental governance. The meeting’s participants were unanimous in setting the objective of formulating an environmental strategy to permeate the entire United Nations system.

The Finnish National Ballet’s first designated étoile (star) dancer, Minna Tervamäki, is actively seeking new challenges at other venues.

According to Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, Finland has good and solid relations with Russia. In his speech given in the event celebrating the 90 years of Finnish-Russian diplomatic relations the Minister said we are on our way towards deeper bilateral networking. Stubb remarked that Finnish-Russian relations need not be