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Photo: Måns Fornander/imagebank.sweden.se

Sweden enjoys tourism boom

Tourism in Sweden is increasing rapidly with foreign tourists expected to spend a total of 115 billion kronor (13.3 billion) this year, according to an industry forecast. READ

Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallström. Photo: TT

Swedish hostages freed in Syria

Two Swedish men held hostage in Syria have been released with the help of Jordanian and Palestinian authorities, Sweden's foreign ministry said Saturday. READ

The 'orange envelope' containing annual pension statements. Photo: TT

Swedes risk double tax over pension change

Many Swedes risk paying double tax on their savings following changes to private pensions rules, experts warn. READ 2 comments

Photo: TT

Christian Democrats elect first female leader

Sweden’s Christian Democrats on Saturday unanimously elected Ebba Busch Thor as the party’s leader, replacing Göran Hägglund. At 28, she’s the youngest person to ever lead a Swedish party in parliament. READ 5 comments

Most migrants from Romania speak Romanian, not Romany. Photo: TT

Municipal interpreters spoke wrong language

The municipality of Helsingborg hired interpreters to communicate with migrants from Romania. Problem was, the interpreters spoke a language the Romanians didn’t know at all. READ 25 comments

Badou, left, connects with Anthony Dirrell during the fight in Chicago. Photo: AFP

Swede wins world boxing title

Sweden's Badou Jack claimed the World Boxing Council's super middleweight title as he outpointed previously unbeaten Anthony Dirrell in Chicago on Friday night. READ

The Swedish police heroes meet with NYPD heads. Photo: New York Police Department/TT

Swedish police officers praised by New Yorkers

A video has emerged of Swedish off-duty police officers breaking up a violent fight on the New York subway. READ 4 comments

Swedes are the eighth happiest people in the world. Photo: Susanne Walström/imagebank.sweden.se

Eighth happiest: why are the Swedes not pleased?

Sweden is the eighth happiest country in the world, according to the UN. But the result has not gone down well in the Nordic country. The Local caught up with an expert to find out why. READ 16 comments

Stefan Löfven gets a grilling from the powerful Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Swedish parliament. Photo. Henrik Montgomery/Scanpix

Löfven: Palestine move was done by the book

Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has denied that he bypassed parliament when the country recognized Palestine last year. READ

Swedes enjoying the sunshine in Stockholm. Photo: The Local

Early summer sweeps in across much of Sweden

Get the barbeque out and your swim suit ready – summer is here. In fact, western and parts of central Sweden have been able to enjoy the year's warmest season for the past seven days. READ 5 comments

Features

The Local List

Swedes eat crayfish in August. Only in August. Photo: Carolina Romare/imagebank.sweden.se

My Swedish habits that foreigners just don't get

Do the Swedes have certain habits you just can't work out? Here, The Local's Emma Löfgren, who has recently returned to Sweden from the UK, lists some of the Nordic traits that leave her foreign friends bemused. READ 43 comments

Opinion

The Swedish government is lobbying for a seat on the UN Security Council. Photo: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

'Security Council needs Sweden's soft power'

Sweden is needed on the United Nations Security Council, but it should not forget its soft power values as it lobbies for a seat, Aleksander Gabelic, chairman of the UN Association of Sweden writes in this week's debate article. READ 3 comments

Parenthood in a foreign country can feel lonely. Photo: Shutterstock

Swedish baby groups help immigrant parents

Sweden has just been rated the top place in the world for expats to raise families, as The Local reported last week. But there is a flip side and immigrant parents often report feeling isolated from their native neighbours, so some Swedes are helping to break the ice. READ

My Swedish Career

Laura Pertuy preparing leaflets for the French Film Festival. Photo: The Local

'Cultural events aren't as common as you expect'

Parisian Laura Pertuy, 27, helped relaunch Stockholm's French Film Festival this month and is hoping to forge closer links between the two European countries closest to her heart as she embarks on a new life in Sweden. READ

The Local Recipes

Cardamom ice cream. Photo: John Duxbury

How to make Swedish cardamom ice cream

As Sweden edges closer to summer, how about learning how to make a cool dessert with one of Swedes' favourite spices? This creamy cardamom ice cream (kardemummaglass in Swedish) is easy to make and easy to scoop. John Duxbury shares his favourite recipe with The Local. READ

More News

Saab chief executive Håkan Buskhe at a press conference on Friday. Photo: Sören Andersson/TT

Defence giant Saab sees surprise fall in profits

Swedish defence giant Saab announced a surprise drop in first-quarter operating profits on Friday, while the company took a 3.8 percent tumble on the Stockholm stock market. READ

An artist's impression of the sitting room of Sweden's most expensive apartment. Image: Sivkraft

Need more space? Check out Sweden's priciest flat

Is money burning a hole in your pocket? Sweden's most expensive apartment in history could help you offload some cash. READ

Thieves crashed a loader through the walls of a Swedish electronics store. Photo: Maja Suslin/TT

Thieves crash loader into store in Stockholm raid

Swedish police are investigating after thieves carried out an advanced smash and grab heist on an electronics store in Stockholm on Friday morning. READ

The Local Recipes

Strawberry cream cake is a Swedish favourite. Photo: John Duxbury

How to make Swedish strawberry cream cake

As the first strawberries of the season went on sale in southern Sweden this week for a whopping 894 kronor ($103) a box, we bring you this timely recipe for traditional Swedish strawberry cream cake by food writer John Duxbury. READ 2 comments

Swedish landlines could be vulnerable to hacking, according to newspaper Dagens Nyheter. Photo: Lars Pehrson/SvD/SCANPIX

Sweden telecom network 'vulnerable to attack'

Outsourcing and serious security flaws by external suppliers could leave Sweden's telecommunications network open to attack – and make it easier for foreign powers to tap into them unnoticed, an IT security expert has said. READ

Pro-Isis demonstrators in Mosul, Iraq in 2014. Photo: TT

Rise in Swedes killed during Isis fighting

The number of Swedes estimated to have died fighting for Islamist extremist group Isis is now believed to be "up to 40" according to Sweden's Security Service Säpo. READ

The Local List

Here's what you need to know before buying a home in Sweden. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/SCANPIX

Five questions before buying a Sweden home

The Swedish financial watchdog scrapped plans for new mortgage rules on Thursday, meaning you can still buy a home in Sweden and never pay off the full loan. Here's The Local's guide to the five main things you need to know before taking your first step on to the property ladder in the Nordic country. READ

Mediterranean migrant crisis

A funeral service for 24 migrants drowned while trying to reach Italy this week. Photo: Renne Rossignaud/TT

Top Swedes join call for Mediterranean action

Former Swedish Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Carl Bildt is among a group of 56 high profile European politicians, academics and business people who have signed a statement calling for "immediate action" following the deaths of hundreds of migrants attempting to reach Europe by boat across the Mediterranean Sea. READ

Mediterranean migrant crisis

Police are looking at whether the refugees were transported using mini buses and rental cars. Photo: Shutterstock

Sweden holds biggest smuggling probe in years

Police in Sweden have confirmed to The Local that officers are investigating a major smuggling group believed to have helped hundreds of refugees get to Scandinavia from Italy. READ

A Swedish police uniform. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Swedish cops break up New York train fight

Four Swedish police officers have hit the headlines after they took a break from a holiday in New York to help stop a violent fight on the city's subway. READ

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From our other editions:

A screen grab from the video.

Racist outburst prompts civil courage debate

A video of a man hurling racist abuse at a Somali passenger on a tram in Vienna has caused outrage on social media and provoked a discussion about moral courage. READ

Ranking downgrades Swiss passport's 'power'

The passports of 18 countries are regarded as more “powerful” than the one offered by Switzerland, according to a new survey. READ

Defence minister Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: DPA

G36 rifle 'has no future' in German army

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the controversial G36 rifle 'has no future in the German Army,' signalling the end of a two decade relationship between the army and the dodgy weapon. READ

Food and Agriculture Minister Dan Jørgensen was behind the ban. Photo: Sonny Munk Carlsen/Scanpix

Denmark officially bans bestiality

As of Tuesday it is no longer legal to have sex with animals in Denmark, bringing the country's bestiality laws in line with its neighbours. READ

Barcelona school attack

Police officers stand guard outside Joan Fuster secondary school in Barcelona. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Student kills teacher with crossbow in Barcelona

UPDATED: Police have detained a 13-year-old after a teacher was shot dead with a crossbow and several others injured in a Barcelona secondary school. READ

Photo: Richard Pohle/AFP

British expats left in lurch by NHS clampdown

British people living in France and other European countries could be forced to take out private health insurance, due to the latest clampdown on expats using the UK's National Health Service. READ

The Local List

Top ten problems of growing up multilingual

Growing up speaking more than one language is not always a blessing. Photo: Shutterstock

EU's crazy homeopathy cure for Norway fish

Norwegian vets are up in arms about a “scientifically illiterate” European directive that mandates the use of homeopathic medicines as the first line of treatment for organic farmed fish. READ