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 » UK court orders ex-mafia boss extradited to Italy A British court on Friday ordered the extradition to Italy of a former Sicilian mafia boss who has lived under a pseudonym in a London suburb for 20 years. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Spain » Spain’s Podemos denies Latin American financing A founder of Spanish anti-establishment party Podemos on Friday rejected claims the party was financed by left-wing Latin American governments and said he had been the victim of a "witch hunt."READ »

Latest news from: The Local in France » Crowds flock for French ‘tide of the century’ France kicked off nearly a month of exceptionally large spring tides Saturday, as tourists flocked to coastal areas to witness spectacularly high water levels ahead of the so-called "tide of the century" March 21. READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Germany » German FM warns against Ukraine escalation Germany's foreign minister warned Sunday in comments to a newspaper that any attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol would be a clear violation of a week-old ceasefire accord. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Sweden » Is Sweden’s Missan world’s oldest cat? Twenty-nine-year-old Missan may be the world’s oldest cat, according to its Swedish owner who says that aside from suffering from some minor back and kidney problems, there is no reason why her furry friend wouldn’t make it to the grand age of 30.READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Norway » Muslims form 'ring of peace' at synagogue Norwegian Muslims organised a peace vigil in Oslo on Saturday in a show of solidarity with Jews a week after fatal shootings in Denmark targeted a synagogue and free speech seminar.READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Switzerland » Breakdowns cancel flights at Geneva airport The Geneva airport struggled to return to normal operations on Sunday, a day after equipment failures, two fires and snow forced the cancellation of 35 flights and the rerouting of 22 others.READ »		Latest news from: The Local in Austria » Austria helps bust counterfeit gang Austrian police have helped bust an international counterfeiting ring and arrested two men who had €50,000 worth of fake bills hidden in their car door, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BK) confirmed. READ »

Latest news from: The Local in Denmark » Oslo Muslims support Jews after CPH attacks A week after the twin shootings that rocked Denmark and amid concerns of growing anti-Semitism in the Nordic countries, Muslims in Norway formed a 'ring of peace' around a synagogue to show the "true face" of Islam. READ »

Latest chat from: Toytown Germany » 03:0187th Annual Academy Awards 2015 02:33Threatening landlord for deposit 01:38Changing electricity provider 01:24Cycling vs. driving to work 00:16Anyone up for playing squash?		Latest chat from: English Forum Switzerland » 03:03Goat Meat 02:47Colgate-Palmolive-Europe to Therwil-Basel 02:42Zurich schools 01:51Getting to Basel airport via public transport? 01:50New Car in Switzerland - Registration, Taxes, Insurance?