With independent, daily reporting from around Europe, The Local is a window on life in other cultures.

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 » Migrants from 'drifting' ship arrive in Italy Some 700 illegal migrants rescued from a ship near the Greek island of Corfu arrived in Italy on Wednesday, after their boat was intercepted while "drifting" towards the coast. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Spain » Uber suspends amateur taxi service in Spain Popular web-based taxi company Uber has suspended its amateur driver service in Spain after it received confirmation of a court ruling to ban it in the country. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in France » Departing French troops hold Kabul farewell The last French troops in Afghanistan held a ceremony in Kabul on Wednesday to mark the end of their deployment after NATO combat operations closed down and as a new "train and support" mission takes over. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Germany » 'Greece has lost power to blackmail': German MP Europe no longer needs to rescue Greece as the country has lost its "systemic relevance" to the eurozone and its power of political "blackmail," a senior German lawmaker said Wednesday. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Sweden » Swedes join New Year's Day icy dip trend Swedes are known as dedicated followers of fashion and one trend increasing in popularity is to bring in the New Year with a bracing swim, a tradition popular in the Netherlands, Russia and Canada. 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 » Tram derails on ice in wintry Zurich Oerlikon A tram derailed and smashed into a shopping centre in Zurich on Tuesday morning amid snowy conditions in the city. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Austria » NSA spying in Vienna detailed at Chaos meet Austrian journalist Erich Möchel delivered a presentation in Hamburg at the annual meeting of the Chaos Computer Club on Monday December 29, detailing the various locations where the US NSA has been actively collecting and processing electronic intelligence in Vienna. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Denmark » Queen bids refugees welcome in New Year's address Queen Margrethe delivered a New Year’s Eve address that saw her gently wade in to the ongoing debate about Denmark’s response to a record number of refugees and asylum seekers.READ »

Latest chat from: Toytown Germany » 00:56Happy New Year to everyone on TT 00:50Are we avoiding the PEGIDA topic? 22:40Working and receiving pension 22:18Help with purchasing a house using LQA 21:15Metal detecting day out		Latest chat from: English Forum Switzerland » 03:00Moving companies from NZ to CH? 02:54Happy New Year ! 02:33Australia Day 00:52The best prediction for 2015 23:51Ripped Off by Centralgarage Bernet in Klosters