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 » 'Isis is like Nazism': Italian philosopher Italian philosopher and author Umberto Eco compared Isis (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) to Nazism on Thursday, saying they shared an "apocalyptic desire to take over the world." READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Spain » Woman fined for being kissed while driving A driver in Spain’s Galicia region has been slapped with an €80 ($95) fine after police spotted her boyfriend kissing her while she was at the wheel. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in France » Live: Suspects involved in hostage drama Police were said to be negotiating with the two Charlie Hebdo suspects on Friday morning after they reportedly took a hostage and are holed up in a printing firm to the north east of Paris. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Germany » New Snowden doc on Germany cyber war A documentary to be broadcast on Monday based on documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden shows that Germany is caught up in an inescapable digital arms race. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Sweden » Sweden Democrat rapped for Paris reaction Senior Sweden Democrat politician Björn Söder has been reported to police after he wrote "The religion of peace shows its face" on his Facebook page directly after the fatal Paris shootings. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Norway » Norway security service: No change in threat level Norway's terror threat level remains unchanged after the attacks in France that have so far left 13 people dead, the country's security service (PST) said on Thursday. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Switzerland » Swiss National Bank to post $37-billion profit The Swiss federal government and the country’s 26 cantons stand to benefit from a jackpot after the Swiss National Bank announced on Friday that it expects to report a net profit of 38 billion francs ($37.3 billion) for 2014. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Austria » Suspect confesses to killing mother A 22-year-old Austrian man who was extradited from the US in November on suspicion of having murdered his mother has finally confessed to the killing. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Denmark » Danish nurse quarantined over Ebola fears A Danish woman who was helping Ebola patients in Sierra Leone was exposed to the virus when her protective glove ripped. READ »

Latest chat from: Toytown Germany » 11:06I want to create a new product 11:05Meet new people in Heidelberg 10:57Advice on landline / telekom 10:53Cross-country skiing tours - Nordic ski trips 10:51Traditional German board (table) games		Latest chat from: English Forum Switzerland » 11:07Torrent laws 11:05Contraceptive Help! Gynecologist or Doctor? 11:05Amb. Suzi lays an egg! [Ambassador criticises ski lifts in CH] 11:00The Android beasts thread, 2014 edition 10:50Moving to Basel