Anttoni James Numminen - Journalist

I'm a journalist and editor, specialising in politics, elections, and global development. I'm currently working as a full-time BBC Local Democracy Reporter in North Yorkshire. I mainly focus on current affairs, investigative journalism, political and aviation news, and I have written for various outlets from The Independent, Business Insider, BBC Media Action, to The Kathmandu Post and others. 


As an election expert specialising in Balkan democratic institutions, I have observed numerous elections for the OSCE/ODIHR, including in North Macedonia, Bosnia & Hercegovina, Moldova, and as a Media Analyst/Expert for Democracy Volunteers in The Netherlands. 



I'm a fellow of the John Schofield Trust 2025, and have been shortlisted for numerous awards including The George Makin Award for Best Newcomer to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the Billy Dowling-Reid Award for Outstanding Commitment, and many others.


You can contact me on Twitter @A_James_Esq and via email at anttoni.numminen@gmail.com




(This page is not regularly updated. For my full portfolio, please visit: muckrack.com/anttoni-j...)


Filters & Sorting
The Scarborough News •

Scarborough has lowest carbon dioxide emissions in North Yorkshire, says report

Average carbon dioxide emissions, which are measured in tons, are lower in Scarborough at 4.4t per capita than North Yorkshire’s 6.0t, and lower than the national average of 5.9t. Published in 2021, the government’s report provides the most up-to-date official figure for carbon dioxide emissions and is produced with a two-and-a-half-year lag. The data has been included in a wider report on Scarborough Council’s progress on its climate change strategy, which is due to be discussed at an upcomin
The Scarborough News •

Scarborough Council approves plans for affordable homes despite 'disgraceful and substandard' size

The application from Doncaster-based developer Keepmoat Homes Ltd sought to increase the number of properties classified as affordable, rather than changing the number of properties being built under the Government's affordable housing scheme, First Homes. Approval of the plans means that the sites in Eastfield and Scalby will have an additional 10 and seven properties which are considered First Homes. These are dwellings where the price is capped at £250,000 and the minimum level of discount i
The Scarborough News •

Plans for major Mellor Bus factory 'worth millions' approved in Scarborough to create new jobs

Councillors discussed the impact of the project on the surrounding area and environment, and there was a consensus that overall the development would be beneficial to Scarborough. Reporting to councillors on a document discussing the application, a council officer said: "The application is an opportunity for an established business within the borough, without prejudicing the character of the area, highway safety, or amenities." Mark Clissett, Mellor's Bus Division Managing Director, said: "Thi
The Scarborough News •

Domestic-abuse units in Scarborough are approved, despite objections 'they are in the wrong place'

Cllr Jane Mortimer responded by saying there had been a “similar facility in Scarborough centre some years ago, but it was unfit for the purpose”, adding there was little to no security at the old location. The council’s report also stated that the applicant’s experience of “managing a similar scheme in Redcar over the past 10 years has shown that nuisance and community safety concerns for residents living in close proximity to the scheme are extremely rare, even with the location being in the
The Scarborough News •

Scarborough Council calls for policy to deter ‘illegal’ hunting of foxes

The council’s Lives and Homes Overview and Scrutiny Committee endorsed the proposal to ask North Yorkshire Council for a policy, following a discussion which addressed the practice of trail hunting within Scarborough Council’s limits. Though the hunting of foxes with dogs was banned in the Hunting Act 2004, it does allow for trail hunting, which is intended to replicate traditional fox hunting. This usually happens by following a scent along a predetermined route with hounds or beagles. The it
The Scarborough News •

B&B at Robin Hood's Bay, near Whitby, applies for alcohol licence and to extend opening hours

North Ings Bed and Breakfast, on Station Road, has applied for a new premises licence to serve alcohol between noon and 10pm, seven days a week. If approved, the licence will allow the new North Ings Tapas and Tea Room to serve alcohol on and off the premises as well as extend its opening hours from 8am to 11pm, seven days a week. Currently, the establishment’s website asks visitors to bring their own alcoholic beverages if they wish: “We don't currently have an alcohol licence, so please visi
The Scarborough News •

Scarborough Council to decide on plans for large manufacturing and research building at Eastfield

There is a recommendation for the application to be approved subject to meeting conditions set by Yorkshire Water Tomorrow a council planning committee is set to decide on a planning application for a large manufacturing, research and development building with associated car parking and landscaping. If plans are approved it will be located close to the Scarborough Business Park which last year got the go-ahead for a major £6m industrial development. Neither Cayton Parish Council nor the Parks
Press and Journal •

Opinion | Aberdeen should follow Finnish model to solve homelessness with stability

As if the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns weren’t hard enough to deal with, we’ve been thrown right into a cost of living crisis, with rising rent, energy and food prices. I know how hard it is right now even just to stay afloat and, yet, I’m one of the lucky ones. During the pandemic, I managed to get a rent reduction and had a student loan I could rely on, but a lot of people have it much worse. This really hit home recently, when I reported on the efforts of brave activists to prevent the ev
The Gaudie •

Aberdeen Uni student elected to city council – find out how students did in the election

Student candidates were put forward by Alba, Aberdeen Labour, the Scottish Conservatives, and the Scottish Greens On Friday 6 May, the votes cast in the Aberdeen City and Shire local elections were counted at centre in Dyce. The results led to Aberdeen City Council’s 45 seats being taken up by 20 SNP, 11 Labour, 8 Conservative, 4 Liberal Democrat, and 2 independent councillors. UoA student Desmon Bouse, who stood for the Scottish Liberal Democrats in the George St and Harbour ward, gained 391
The Gaudie •

Operation Mincemeat review – intriguing true story of espionage in war

From an unclaimed body to the Allied invasion of Sicily It’s 1943 and though the Americans have joined the war, Allied success is far from certain. Victory rests heavily on a successful invasion of mainland Europe and though D-Day is less than a year away, German forces continue to reinforce southern Europe, including Sicily. Deception is needed in order to “play a humiliating trick on Hitler”, one which requires all the cunning of British Intelligence. In an intriguing and well-told story, w
The Gaudie •

‘Like choosing between the Black Death and Covid’ – French cast their votes in Aberdeen

As the eyes of the world turn to the French elections, The Gaudie speaks to voters in Aberdeen Clément, Agathe, and Laures (left to right). Courtesy of Anttoni James Numminen In the first round of the French elections, cast their ballots abroad. But with 1,4 million registered voters abroad and an uncertain turnout expected in the second round, their votes could be decisive in an election that has been closely fought so far. If it had been down to internationally cast votes alone, it would be
The Gaudie •

Alex Salmond’s Alba event prevented from taking place in Uni lecture theatre

Sports club apologises for booking lecture theatre as ex-first minister decries ‘sinister attack on freedom of speech’ Outside The MacRobert building. Photos courtesy of Anttoni James Numminen. Alex Salmond’s Alba Party stalled unexpectedly on Friday 22 April when he was forced to hold his event outdoors next to a University of Aberdeen car park. Attracting around 50 people, including 10 students, some of whom were demonstrators, the detoured event saw the former Scottish first minister make
The Gaudie •

Macron vs Le Pen: all you need to know about the presidential debate

Both candidates tried to win over undecided voters before Sunday’s election On Wednesday 20 April, the two remaining candidates in the French presidential election went head-to-head in a debate over the future of France. With the second round of the election only a few days away - Sunday 24 April – both the incumbent, President Emmanuel Macron, and his challenger, Marine Le Pen, were intent on convincing their supporters and swaying the remaining undecided voters. The debate itself, which las
The Independent •

Opinion: We should give everyone turning 18 a £500 culture bonus

Arts and cultural education have resulted in some of the greatest and most successful UK exports – from the BBC’s television programmes, to musicians and designers. But it seems this Conservative government is intent on scrapping what little remains of arts education and British soft power. “I want you to have a job at the end… because I’m interested in outputs”, is what education secretary Nadhim Zahawi recently told me when I asked him about the role of higher education in today’s society. T
The Gaudie •

Report: at the Scottish Conservative Conference

Boris Johnson and Douglas Ross come to Aberdeen for party's annual gathering The two-day Tory party conference took place Friday and Saturday at Aberdeen's P&J venue, with an estimated attendance of fewer than 500 people. On Friday, prime minister Boris Johnson addressed the conference, speaking of the need to limit the use of Russian gas and instead rely more heavily on North Sea oil production. But this has been seen by some as the government reneging on promises made to move energy product
The Gaudie •

Gaudie at the Scottish Labour Conference - day two

Keir Starmer gives his keynote address to party members gathered in Glasgow Keir Starmer speaks at the conference. Photograph by Anttoni James Numminen. Glasgow - Speaking at the Scottish Labour Party’s first in-person conference in three years, UK Labour leader Keir Starmer criticised the Tories and the SNP, saying of the latter: “the party of North Sea nationalism is now selling Scotland’s offshore wind to every foreign energy interest imaginable.” The conference which started on Friday is
The Gaudie •

“No to war!” Aberdeen shows solidarity with Ukraine

Students and citizens step in to help those affected by Russia’s invasion “My name is Maria, my mother and I are from Kyiv, my sister is in Kyiv right now with her children, as is my aunt, and my cousin. They are stranded and they can’t escape the violence of the Russian bombs. They are coming from land, sea, and air, and they need to be stopped.” This was the message of Maria Vladimirovna, a young Ukrainian woman who spoke at a demonstration in support of Ukraine, held at Castlegate on Saturd
Press and Journal •

Opinion | Aberdeen needs more passion for local politics - from both candidates and voters

I remember following a British general election from Nepal as a 10-year-old and quizzing family friends on their thoughts about different parties. Though my political views have evolved since then, I still find myself asking the same question: what do these parties really stand for? With local government elections around the corner, providing a chance to challenge and change our elected representatives, I can’t help but feel somewhat unexcited and ambivalent. Admittedly, it is hard not to bec
The Jakarta Post •

The Netherlands’ apology is not enough

Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte has finally offered an apology for the “extreme violence” of mass detentions, torture and executions carried out by Dutch colonical forces during the 1945-1949 conflict in Indonesia, but it could well be argued that such apologies alone are not enough. State apologies for prior transgressions and wrongdoings are by no means a new phenomenon. In 2002, the Belgian government apologized for its role in the murder of Congolese president Patrice Lumumba, but man
Load More Articles