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Photo: Image Bank Sweden

Wet spring good news for mushroom fans

While Sweden’s exceptionally cool and rainy May has led to dampened spirits around the country, there is an upside. It’s going to be a great year for mushroom fans. There should be a bumper blueberry crop, too. READ

Poseidon's mission is to save migrants stranded on overcrowded boats like this one in the Mediterranean. Photo: AFP

Swedes head for first rescue in Mediterranean

The Swedish Coast Guard ship Poseidon will see its first rescue mission in the Mediterranean on Sunday. The ship is set to rescue around 300 migrants in distress off the coast of Libya. READ

Credit: Ken Thomas, kenthomas.us / Wikimedia Commons

Bees terrorise southern Swedish apartment block

More than ten thousand bees have been blocking access to an apartment block in central Malmö since Friday morning. READ

A man, unrelated to the story, begging in Stockholm. Credit: TT NYHETSBYRÅN

Man throws acid in Stockholm beggar's face

Police are investigating a serious assault case in Berzelii Park in central Stockholm on Friday afternoon, in which a passerby threw acid at two EU migrant beggars. READ

Credit: INGVAR KARMHED / SvD / TT

'Hole-in-the-wall' gang baffles Swedish police

According to police, 'ice-cool' raiders delayed the detection of their burglary of a Gothenburg Media Markt store by sawing through an exterior wall and covering the hole with a locker. READ

Östersund town hall. Credit: Lars Falkdalen Lindahl

Man stabbed to death in northern Sweden

A 25-year-old man has died after a knife fight in Östersund in northern Sweden, according to police reports READ

Credit: Hasse Holmberg / TT

Swedish man's pet gull sentenced to death

A man in Nora, central Sweden, who captured a herring gull as a chick and kept it in his bathroom for two years, has been told by Nora municipality that the bird must be killed. READ

Police are limiting access to the square after the incident. Photo: The Local

Two attempted murders at Stockholm square

Two women have been stabbed in the busy Medborgarplatsen shopping and dining area on the island of Södermalm in Stockholm. Police have arrested two suspects on suspicion of attempted murder. READ

A rainy day in Stockholm. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

Sweden braced for third wet holiday in five weeks

Forecasters have backtracked on earlier predictions of a heatwave on Sweden's National Day, with wet weather set to dampen celebrations across much of the country. READ

These are not the eggs mentioned in the story. Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT

Gatecrashers fry up Swedish home viewing

UPDATED: A Swedish real estate agent was left stunned when a group of people gatecrashed an apartment viewing in one of Stockholm's poshest areas and started frying an omelette in its luxury kitchen. READ

Features

The Local Travel

The Stockholm archipelago. Photo: Henrik Trygg/Image Bank Sweden

The Local's ultimate guide to travel in Sweden

Visiting one of the world's most beautiful countries? Want to make the most of living in Sweden? Here at The Local we're constantly updating our top travel tips, from luxury bars to bargain backpacker hostels and hearty hikes. READ

The Local Music

Swedish group Sharks. Photo: Fredrik Wannerstedt

The Local's top Swedish songs of the month:June

The Local's music guru, Paul Connolly, has a bumper selection of great Swedish songs to help you prepare for midsummer madness. READ

My Swedish Career

Dutch luxury travel consultant Jeroen Gulickx. Photo: Private

'Swedish hotels must become more unique'

A passionate globetrotter who's obsessed with improving hotel experiences across the world, Dutch luxury travel consultant Jeroen Gulickx moved to Stockholm in 2001 and says it's the perfect base from which to do business. READ

The Local List

Sandviken railway station. Photo: Tanzania/Wikipedia

Five reasons Sandviken could really suit Wyclef

Former Fugees star Wyclef Jean stirred up a right debate in Sweden on Thursday when he said he was planning a move to the small town of Sandviken, two hours north of the capital. But we're not ones to judge, so we've put together this list of five reasons why the rapper might be such a big fan of this rural town. READ

Interview

'I was ashamed of not being fully Swedish'

What’s it like growing up in Sweden when you don’t look like anybody else? Swedish-Eritrean singer and social activist Sa’ra Charismata tells The Local about immigration, peace, and why it’s okay to be scared of other cultures. READ

More News

This is not the rat in the story. Photo: Dluogs/Flickr

Rat attack fears after care home face bite scandal

A woman in her 80s ended up in hospital in Gothenburg after she was bitten by a rat in a care home that has admitted struggling to get rid of the vermin. READ

An SJ train. Photo: TT

Fast Scandi capitals train link speeds back on track

A new high speed rail link between Stockholm and Oslo is set to get moving this August, despite an announcement earlier this week that plans to test super fast trains between the capitals were being put on hold. READ

Ikea has pledged to invest 600 million euros in renewable energy and another 400 million euros in climate change aid. Photo: AP Photo/Frank Augstein

Ikea pledges €1bn to become green by 2020

Swedish furniture giant Ikea has announced plans to invest 600 million euros ($677 million) in the next five years in a bid to become completely energy independent by 2020. READ

The Local List

Last year's low-key celebrations of Sweden's National Day. Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT

Why most Swedes don't care about National Day

You're forgiven if you've missed the fact that Saturday marks Sweden's National Day, one of the Nordic country's least celebrated holidays. Here are five reasons why most Swedes couldn't care less about June 6th. READ

The Local List

Midsummer celebrations in Tingaröd, southern Sweden. Photo: Carolina Romare/Image Bank Sweden

Ten Swedish dates every visitor must discover

Swedes aren't too fussed about their National Day on June 6th, but there are plenty more fun, mouthwatering and occasionally bizarre dates that are a must for your diary. READ

A Colombian soldier walking through the jungle. Photo: AP Photo/Christian Escobar Mora

Police think Swede was killed by guerilla group

UPDATED: Colombian prosecutors and police believe a Swedish student found dead in the South American jungle may have been killed by guerilla fighters, a Swedish radio station reported on Friday. READ

The Local Recipes

Traditional Swedish meatballs. Photo: John Duxbury

How to make your own Swedish meatballs

As we're getting ready to mark the National Day of Sweden on Saturday, June 6th, we bring you this timely recipe of one of the most iconic Swedish dishes. READ

Bill and Hillary Clinton speaking at an event for The Clinton Foundation in 2014. Photo: TT

Stir over Swedish cash for Clintons' charity

Questions are being asked about donations flowing from Sweden to the Clinton family's charity, just as the Swedish government was trying to persuade the US to limit sanctions against Iran, where the Nordic nation was attempting to boost business. READ

Zlatan's former home in Malmö. Photo: Residence

Zlatan's mega mansion sold to NHL hockey star

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's lawyer has confirmed to The Local that a contract has been drawn up to sell the Swedish star striker's home to NHL ice hockey player Carl Söderberg. READ

Two Swedish pensioners. Photo: Susanne Walström/Image Bank Sweden

World dying to know about Swedish death test

Two Swedish researchers made global headlines on Thursday after unveiling a 'death risk' calculator that claims to estimate how likely it is that Brits will die over the next five years. READ

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From our other editions:

The FPÖ's Mario Kunasek with supporters. Photo: FPÖ Steiermark/Facebook

Historic election gains for FPÖ in Styria

The Social Democrats (SPÖ) and conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) have been left licking their wounds after a historic drubbing in Styria's state elections on Sunday. The right-wing Freedom Party made significant gains, increasing its share of the vote by 16,3 percent. READ

Genuine Geneva police officers in action. Photo: Geneva cantonal police

Fake Geneva cops rip off tourists — and UN staff

Crooks posing as Geneva police are stealing money from victims in tourist areas and near the city’s international organizations in a well organized scam, according to a security warning issued to staff by the United Nations. READ

Adolf Hitler and the Wasserschloss Moritzburg. Photos: Wikimedia Commons

Restaurateur stumbles on Hitler's cognac stash

As the German army was in retreat at the end of 1944 and the country starved, Hitler stashed away his precious liquor, where it lay hidden for 76 years - until now. READ

Not how you want to go to the beach in June. Photo: Henning Bagger/Scanpix

Sorry Denmark, summer is cancelled (for now)

Sun-starved Danes will have to wait even longer for the much-desired summer warmth to finally arrive. READ

Fourth in line to the Spanish throne, Froilán (centre) pictures with his mother, Princess Elena (left) and his aunt Princess Cristina (right). Photo: Juan Carlos Hidalgo/AFP

Spain's little 'prince' shamed for racist rant

Spain's royal bad boy has hit the headlines again after shouting racist abuse at a teenage boy who criticised him for attempting to jump the queue at a Madrid theme park. READ

IN PICTURES

The "Pont des Arts" in Paris got a makeover on Monday. Photo: AFP

Paris begins removal of a million love locks

Paris, known worldwide as the city of romance, on Monday began the process of removing nearly one million "love-locks", padlocks chained to the city's bridges by love-struck couples. Many in the city say the "heart-breaking" move is long overdue. READ

Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Photo: Fillippo Monteforte

Yes, it's still a crime to insult Italy's president

The Italian Senate has moved to scrap a jail term of up to five years for insulting the president. But don't go making derogatory remarks just yet, as the bizarre fascist-era law has not been completely abolished. READ

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Photo: Guardian

'Snowden could come to Norway to collect prize'

The Norwegian academy which on Tuesday awarded Edward Snowden its “freedom of expression” prize is lobbying its government government to allow him to come to Norway to collect the prize, meaning he may be able to leave Russia for the first time since claiming asylum in 2013. READ

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