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 » Why migrant smugglers are using 'ghost ships' People traffickers have dramatically raised the stakes by using freighters to carry hundreds of migrants to Europe at a time, then jumping ship as the vessels steam towards shore. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Spain » Spain road deaths hit record low in 2014 The number of people who died on Spain's roads fell to a record-low 1,131 in 2014, official figures published on Friday show.READ »

Latest news from: The Local in France » Calais shuts night shelter as temperatures rise Authorities in Calais on Friday shut down a night shelter set up to shield migrants from the freezing weather as they camp out in the northern French port city in the hope of smuggling themselves onto a truck or a car into Britain. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Germany » Worries over rising costs at Stuttgart project As the controversial Stuttgart train station rebuild languishes far from finished in the face of ever-rising costs, the Green and Left joined forces on Friday to demand a new cost-benefit analysis.READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Sweden » Are mosque fires end of 'paradise' Sweden? Three torched mosques within a week led to demonstrations across the country on Friday in support of Muslims. The Local's Oliver Gee watched the Stockholm rally unfold and spoke to leading campaigners about what should happen next. 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 » Mother arrested over deaths of two tots A woman has been arrested after the bodies of her two toddlers were found in a house in Flaach, in the canton of Zurich, on New Year’s Day. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Austria » New Year Concert success belies Nazi past The Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Day concert was broadcast to over 90 countries around the world - but few know of its Nazi origins. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Denmark » Man jailed for selling deadly fireworks A northern Jutland man will be held in remand for four weeks on charges that he sold a powerful and illegal type of firework that cost three men their lives on New Year's Eve. READ »

Latest chat from: Toytown Germany » 01:30Moving to Berlin as a young family 01:23Putzfrau stole money while cleaning 01:21Advice on kindergarten, primary schools in Berlin 00:50Running a UK limited (Ltd.) company from Germany 23:40Purchase account with cash card		Latest chat from: English Forum Switzerland » 02:22Minimum wage to leave in Switzerland 02:09How to approach new neighbors about early morning noise? 02:00What are the best programs to learn German Quickly? 00:59Rheinfelden hospital 00:45Anyone used Liberty Pension fund?