Advance favourites Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen’s “Liekinheitin” (“Flamethrower”) won the qualifier as demonstrators outside protested Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Foreign Ministry said its emergency helpline was overloaded as it issued a flurry of warnings about travel in the Middle East. Meanwhile Finnair suspended flights until at least Friday.
The Finnish president said that the US is now operating largely outside traditional international law. A professor of Mideast studies adds that Washington’s ultimate goals are unclear.
Several labour groups approved a compromise deal on Friday, but the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL) was not included. It is still planning more strike action next week.
An Yle investigation last year revealed that third-party agents have exploited Finland’s image as the “happiest country in the world” to sell an inaccurate or downright misleading image of life in the country.