Finland: Last News

While being a senior member of the royal family is a job in itself, many members of the famous family boast impressive careers of their own. Prince William, 39, served in the Royal Air Force before going on to work as a pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance, while his wife Kate, 40, worked part-time at high-street retailer Jigsaw after graduating from university.

Lordi have joined forces with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to support the organisation’s ongoing campaign against animal testing.The Finnish heavy metal band – who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’ – posed for a new poster declaring that “animal testing is horrifying”, using their garish, horror-themed costumes and imagery to bolster the message. Pictured below the band is a rabbit that appears to have an unidentified device screwed into its scalp. Have a look at the poster below:A post shared by PETA UK (@petauk)In addition, Lordi have encouraged fans to show support for the European Citizens’ Initiative, launched by PETA in tandem with more than 100 animal protection groups, as well as brands like Dove and The Body Shop, to call on the European Union “to uphold and strengthen the animal testing ban for cosmetics”. In a press release issued by PETA, the org explained that “despite setting a global precedent, the ban is being undermined by new and unnecessary animal testing requirements for cosmetics ingredients that have been safely used for years”.It continued: “The ECI also calls for the transformation of EU chemicals regulations without the addition of new animal tests and for the establishment of a plan to end all animal experiments.”In a statement of their own, Lordi said: “The EU ban prohibiting cosmetics testing on animals is under threat because the Helsinki-based European Chemicals Agency is demanding that thousands of animals be subjected to cruel tests.

Manuel Betancourt There is something nakedly revealing about singing karaoke. The activity invites singers of all stripes to tap into their inner divas even, or especially, if you really can’t hit those notes or truly master that tricky wording. Given this, karaoke often lends itself to being a liberating and rather joyful pastime, the kind of drunken escapade from one’s life that allows you to let loose.

Mattea Roach’s winning streak on “Jeopardy!” has now reached six games.

A new variant of coronavirus initially detected in Finland last month appears to be spreading with reports of more cases found in two more countries. The 'XJ' variant has seen two strains of the virus combine.

HIM’s Ville Valo has announced that he’ll be hitting the road next year for a UK and European tour – buy tickets here.The upcoming dates – which he will headline under his VV moniker – mark the first serious run of touring for the Finnish singer-songwriter since the disbanding of HIM back in late 2017.Kicking off at Proxima in Warsaw, Poland on February 14, he will take in mainland European shows in Germany, Spain, Italy, Luxemburg, Switzerland, among others. He will then head to the UK on March 10 for shows in Bristol, Nottingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London.News of the tour comes after he released new single ‘Loveletting’ on Friday (April 8), his first new music since 2020’s ‘Gothica Fennica, Vol.1’ EP.Tickets for the tour are on sale now.

A Stand Up for Ukraine event taking place Saturday saw $4.6 billion in grants and $5.5 billion in loans pledged for humanitarian efforts being undertaken by Ukraine and other European countries, UN agencies and grassroots organizations to support all those impacted by the Russian invasion.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentREinvent International Sales has inked a raft of deals across its slate of high-concept series, including “Transport” (pictured) and “Enemy of the People,” rolling off of MipTV. The company has sold both “Transport,” which is penned by Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), and the Icelandic comedy series “Ordinary People” to AMC Networks Southern Europe for Spain and Portugal. “Transport” is an eight-part TV show following a young journalist investigating a chip found in baby food.

Marta Balaga The 7th MipDrama ended on Sunday with German series “House of Promises” named as the winner of the Buyers’ Coup de Coeur Award. While the showcase received mixed reactions from the participants, gathered onsite in Cannes – with only Italy’s “Bangla” opting for a more humorous approach – the event marked a win for Finland’s Elisa Viihde, presenting “Evilside,” “Summer of Sorrow” and “The Invicibles” (with Viaplay also attached.) It must be some kind of a record that three out of 10 series are from the same commissioning broadcaster,” said Sari Lempiäinen, executive producer at Elisa Viihde.

Starzplay Acquires HBO’s Max’s Ken Watanabe Crime Thriller Series ‘Tokyo Vice’

Manori Ravindran International EditorA Vice Studios documentary series on the 2014 disappearance of Malaysian flight MH370 has been sold to History Channel in the U.S. and a raft of broadcasters in Europe.Vice Distribution, the global distribution and licensing arm of Vice Media Group, pre-sold the three-part series, entitled “MH370: The Lost Flight,” into A+E Networks’ History, TV2 in Denmark and Viaplay across its European territories (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Poland and the pan-Baltics).

Victoria's Secret vet Josephine Skriver has tied the knot.Over the weekend the supermodel said 'I do' to her longtime beau, singer Alexander DeLeon of The Cab, who goes by the stage name Bohnes.The 28-year-old cover girl and the 32-year-old crooner said their vows while at the Cabo Azul Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Mr and Mrs:Victoria's Secret vet Josephine Skriver has tied the knot. Over the weekend the supermodel said 'I do' to her longtime beau, singer Alexander DeLeon of The Cabm who goes by the stage name Bohnes He has her back: DeLeon and Skriver at the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show after-party in 2018 in New YorkOther models who attended were Sara Sampaio and Jasmine Tookes.Skriver wore a long white dress that clung to her curves as the groom looked cleaned up in a white blazer with dark slacks.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAlong with its premium scripted lineup, Newen Connect is launching a pair of timely investigative documentaries, “Ukraine” and “Wagner,” which are providing insight into the current war. Now filming, “Ukraine” is being co-directed by Ksenia Blochakova, the Russia correspondent of the news channel France 24, and Philippe Lagnier, a journalist working at Newen-owned production banner Capa.

She's no stranger to the camera, but tonight Jean Johansson will be on our screens with something a bit different to usual.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefBanijay has picked up multi-territory format rights to two Korean reality shows which it will begin pitching this week at the MipTV market in Cannes.From Korean broadcaster and producer MBC, Banijay has picked up format rights to competition show “Bloody Game” in France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands. From CJ ENM, it has acquired rights in the Nordics, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Australia to relationship format, “EXchange.”“Bloody Game” launched in Korea in November last year, helping draw subscribers to Wavve, a joint venture streaming platform, in which MBC is a partner. The show is nominated for a C21 Format Award, with the winner revealed during MipTV.

A hotel in Cheshire is set to open a 15-metre serenity swimming pool and Finnish sauna this Easter. The four-star Manor House Hotel in Alsager, nestled in the heart of the east Cheshire countryside, is expanding to offer a brand new luxury spa, with phase one ready for the Bank Holiday weekend.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentIn the run up to MipTV, Keshet International has unveiled a raft of new shows, spanning factual and foreign-language dramas, including “Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?” from the U.K., “Roomies” from Finland, “Storm Lara” from Belgium and “Family Dinner Date” from Israel. “Storm Lara” is a a real-time thriller produced by Belgium’s A Perfect View which has been commissioned by Flemish streamer Streamz and was part of this year’s Berlinale Series Market Selects. “Storm Lara” revolves around five people whose lives collide during a late-night radio show.Ordered by BBC One and produced by Flicker Productions, “Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?” is a one-off documentary about British Paralympian Ellie Simmonds who travels around the U.K.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBlue Note New York has announced the 11th Annual Sony Presents Blue Note Jazz Festival. The festival kicks off on June 1 with a free show in Washington Square Park headlined by Robert Glasper — who performed on the Oscars Sunday night — in association with Washington Square Park Conservancy.Taking place at major venues across New York City, including Blue Note New York, Sony Hall, The Town Hall, and SummerStage in Central Park, this year’s festival features performances from George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Chris Botti, Charles Lloyd, Macy Gray, Kenny G, Al Di Meola, Madeleine Peyroux, Dave Holland & Kenny Barron, Robert Cray, Kenny Garrett, José James, Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott), Bilal, DOMi & JD Beck, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Theo Croker and so many more legends, with a major headliner announcement on April 26.

 Briefly, five first takeaways from this year’s edition: Spain’s On Fire“Spain’s audiovisual sectors are on fire,” said Luis Cueto, at Spain’s Department of Commerce, at a Malaga round table on Thursday. Just one generation ago, Spanish cinema was regarded with suspicion in Spain’s august financial circles. No more.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorNetflix has snapped up another independent game studio: The streamer announced that is has acquired Boss Fight Entertainment, a Texas-based mobile game developer.Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Boss Fight was formed by former Zynga Dallas and Ensemble Studios employees in 2013.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentLess than two years after joining France Televisions, former Canal Plus executive Manuel Alduy has contributed to bolstering the French public broadcaster’s roster of international series with shows such as “Bardot,” a mini-series biopic of Brigitte Bardot, and “L’Insoumise” about Alice Guy, the first female filmmaker ever. Ahead of France Televisions’ press conference at Series Mania, Alduy said the broadcaster’s first-look initiative with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has yielded several prestige projects, including “Bardot.” The EBU represents 113 organizations across the 56 countries, including the BBC in the U.K., ARD in Germany, DR in Denmark, SVT in Sweden, Rai in Italy and the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.