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

This is a fantastic site and if you skim down through the stories here, you will have an amazing insight into what is happening in Europe right now.

The Local also does news pieces on different countries like Spain and its home country Sweden. Those will follow this article.

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 » Italy to offer star rating to well-behaved companies Italy's anti-corruption chief Raffaele Cantone on Thursday announced plans to offer companies a star rating for staying clean, the latest effort to fight endemic bribery in business contracts. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Spain » Google News quits Spain in paid content row Updated: Spain's government on Thursday defied Google's vow to shut down its Spanish online news service in protest at being made to pay for content, a move that seriously threatens smaller media outlets, one industry insider told The Local. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in France » Riviera murder: British pensioner gets 30 years British pensioner Robert Dolby, described as a sex-obsessed narcissist with a Jekyll and Hyde personality, is sentenced to 30 years in jail for the murder of a widow at his home on the Riviera, and the rape of his young housemate. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Germany » Kaiser Wilhelm II faces pan-European war On December 8th 1912, Kaiser Wilhelm II summoned his senior officers to his palace in Potsdam to discuss how to deal with a war on two fronts against France, Britain and Russia. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Sweden » Swedish film nominated for Golden Globe Swedish hit film "Turist", known as "Force Majeure" abroad, has been nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Foreign Film category. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Norway » Mexican fined for protest at Nobel ceremony A man who disrupted the Nobel prize ceremony in Oslo by waving a Mexican flag streaked with red in front of the peace prize laureates has been fined, Norwegian police said Thursday. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Switzerland » Single-person Swiss households on the rise Singletons are becoming more commonplace in Switzerland, according to new figures showing that households with just one person are growing faster than any other kind. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Austria » Gambler wins big in court Jackpot! An Austrian gambling addict gets €440,000 back after a court victory on Thursday. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Denmark » Isis 'supporters' arrested for shooting Dane A Saudi government official has said that thee citizens have been arrested for the "vile attack" on a Danish man in Riyadh last month. READ »

Latest chat from: Toytown Germany » 00:06How to help somebody suffering domestic abuse 23:53TT noisy Christmas Party 2014 - Munich 23:29Car rental insurance for UK vacation 22:23New in Frankfurt (or new to this forum) 22:18Rhine- Main slowpitch softball league		Latest chat from: English Forum Switzerland » 02:02Christmas market in or near Zurich / Baden 01:33Inexpensive TV and Computer- Desk or Laptop 00:57Power converter/transformer needed 00:29Billag - Moving out 00:25Ticino pre-school that accepts special needs