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We capture the essence of nations by finding the stories that tell us who we are (and who those other people over there are), breaking down barriers and bringing us closer together. We are the largest English-language news network in Europe with more than 4.5 million readers every month, plus many more on our partner sites. Our entertaining blend of daily news, business and features has made the site essential reading for foreign professionals in Europe.

Latest news from: The Local in Italy » Ten dead and 'dozens missing' from ferry The death toll after a ferry caught fire in rough seas in the Adriatic rose to ten on Monday with dozens of passengers still unaccounted for. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Spain » Christmas fireball lights up Spanish skies A slow-moving meteoroid provided a dramatic spectacle as it streaked more than 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) across Spain during the new king's Christmas Eve speech. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in France » France's 75 percent tax rate: The damage report As France bids a discreet adieu to its divisive 75 percent "super-tax" on the rich, The Local looks at the impact of a reform some critics declared would turn l’Hexagone into "Cuba without the sun" and propel the country's high earners head to the exits. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Germany » 18 Germans were on blazing ferry UPDATE: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said only crew remain on board a ferry that caught fire in the Adriatic Sea. Rescuers battled stormy conditions, including hail, to rescue hundreds of passengers, though at least seven are known to have died in the incident. There were 18 Germans on board, it was reported on Monday. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Sweden » Imam says Islamophobia to blame for mosque fire UPDATED: Police suspect a mosque in southern Sweden was deliberately torched on Monday, with a local imam blaming rising Islamophobia in the region. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Norway » Hearty Norwegians hit the gym at Christmas Norwegians have a reputation for being fitness freaks - and many plan to keep up their good habits over Christmas, a new survey shows, with one in five planning to hit the gym. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Switzerland » Roche gets go ahead for Ebola detection test US authorities have given emergency authorization to Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche for an Ebola test that can take as little as three hours, the company said on Monday. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Austria » Austrian hiker's body found in Spain Rescuers in Spain on Monday found the body of an Austrian woman who went missing while hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains, police said. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Denmark » Denmark's ten must-see concerts in January From a metal extravaganza to heavy doses of hip-hop, here's the best of what the quiet month of January has to offer music fans. READ »

Latest chat from: Toytown Germany » 02:08Looking to meet new people in Stuttgart 01:54German VAT ID for a non-German company 01:54Advice on setting up as a freelancer 00:26Hartz IV - Berlin 23:57Berlin ranks 6th among top cities in the world		Latest chat from: English Forum Switzerland » 04:27Moving companies from NZ to CH? 04:09Caramel Coffee Iced Latte 04:08Good eye doctor in ZH? 01:43Dartford Crossing - toll payment changes from October 2014 01:42Taliban kill over 120 in Pakistan