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Photo: TT

Military puts focus on equality in design

The Swedish military is launching a major equipment design overhaul in the interests of equality. The aim is to ensure all military gear, from uniforms to weapons, is suitable for everyone serving, regardless of gender or body size. READ 13 comments

Photo: Shutterstock

More Swedes changing their names

The number of applications for a name change in Sweden keeps growing, according to the Swedish Patent and Registration Office. But before choosing a new moniker, the office reveals some things people should take into consideration. READ

Photo: Shutterstock

Court rules in drunken tree chopping case

Sweden’s Supreme Court has had the final say in a case where a man chopped down a friend’s neighbour’s trees under the influence. The judgment might make him think twice before reaching for a handsaw after a party again. READ

France is appalled by Zlatan's outburst while the Swedes mostly shrug their shoulders. Photo: AFP

Zlatan outburst greeted with shrug at home

Star Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic faces a French disciplinary commission next week as a result of a foul-mouthed outburst he made in March. But Swedes seem largely unconcerned by it all, seeing the Paris Saint-Germain star as a straight-talking underdog. READ

Rural Revolt 2015 demonstrated at Mynttorget in Stockholm on Friday. Photo: TT

Rural Swedes protest ‘fanatical urbanisation’

On Friday, rural residents drove tractors and other vehicles with banners into several Swedish cities to protest what they are calling the injustice they experience in the countryside. They say their concerns are largely ignored by politicians. READ 9 comments

Photo: TT

One in two Swedes want to ban begging: poll

Nearly every other Swede is in favour of a legal ban on begging, according to a new survey by the tabloid Aftonbladet. The opinion poll shows a dramatic increase in six months in the percentage who support such a ban. READ 48 comments

Only three out of ten immigrant women and nearly two out of ten immigrant men were in relationships with Swedes after five years. Photo: Miriam Preis/imagebank.sweden.se

Immigrants less likely to settle with Swedes

Single foreigners in Sweden are more likely to quit the country or end up with other foreigners than to settle down with a Swede, according to a report on immigrants in Sweden. READ 40 comments

Analysts believe Sweden's GDP will grow by around three percent in 2015. Photo: Christine Olsson/SCANPIX

Experts predict Sweden's economy set to grow

The Swedish economy is getting stronger, with the most optimistic analysts predicting that GDP growth will land at around three percent in 2015. But inflation has still not gained momentum and interest rates are set to remain at record low levels. READ

Saudi Arabia's ambassador is set to return to Sweden this week. Photo: Nora Lorek/TT

Saudi visas back on table as row with Sweden ends

The Swedish Foreign Ministry expects Saudi Arabia to start issuing visas to Swedish business travellers again as relations return to normal after a diplomatic spat, a spokesman said on Thursday. READ 3 comments

Many people from Romania come to Sweden in search of a better life. Photo: Hasse Holmberg/TT

Sweden eyes deal with Romania on welfare

Sweden is close to reaching a deal with Romania to help the struggling country solve some of its most pressing social issues. The focus will be on children's rights, the government's special co-ordinator Martin Valfridsson told the Local on Thursday. READ

Features

A Swedish class for immigrants in Stockholm. Photo: TT

Immigrants need time to learn Swedish: OECD

Sweden needs to do more to help its immigrants and refugees learn Swedish so they can become fully-integrated members of society who hold down jobs, the OECD has argued. READ

My Swedish Career

Tiffany Alnefelt (left) giving her debut tour: Photo: Private

'We give you the chance to drink through history'

History buff Tiffany Alnefelt, 30, met her Swedish husband while she was studying in Ireland. The pair now run an alternative tour for visitors to Stockholm, via some of the city's oldest pubs. Bobbie Carlson tagged along. READ

The Local investigates

Princess and Lloyd Justus from Nigeria are seeking asylum along with their baby daughter. Photo: The Local

'It was a long journey and some of my friends died'

A week after the Swedish Migration Board announced it was tripling the maximum number of residents allowed at asylum centres, The Local brings you a special report from inside Märsta, the country's busiest asylum application centre just outside Stockholm, where hundreds of refugees spend their first nights in Sweden each week. READ

Interview

Pia Sundhage, left, celebrating after Sweden beats Scotland in the World Cup qualifier. Photo: Adam Ihse/TT

Is Swedish super coach Pia Sundhage quitting?

Swedish football coach Pia Sundhage's contract leading the women's national team runs out next year. And she has not yet made up her mind as to whether or not she wants to stay on. “If they asked me today, I would say no,” she told The Local on Friday. READ

The Local Recipes

Chocolate Truffles. Photo: John Duxbury

How to Make Chocolate Truffles for Easter

If you are looking for a fun alternative to Easter eggs, why not try Swedish chocolate truffles. They are delicious, easy to make and kids can help you make these delightful sweets. Food writer John Duxbury shares his recipe with The Local. READ

More News

These are not the people in the story. File photo: TT

Swedish police alert in April Fools' gone wrong

A father in southern Sweden was the victim of a cruel April Fools’ prank on Wednesday when his partner texted him to say that their nine-year-old daughter had gone missing. READ

Lay judges have been accused of racist comments. Photo: Jessica Gow/SCANPIX

Lay judges step down over 'racist comments'

Several lay judges appointed by Sweden's third biggest political party, the Sweden Democrats, could face internal investigation and some have been forced to step down after claims they made racist comments online. READ

Spotify could face competition from more than just rap mogul Jay Z. Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Music streaming battle heats up for Spotify

This week's all-star launch of US rapper Jay Z's streaming music service may not have caused its Swedish rivals at Spotify to lose sleep – but analysts predict tough days ahead as tech giant Apple prepares to enter the fray. READ 14 comments

Swedes enjoyed a scorching Easter last year. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Sweden Easter forecast: sunshine and showers

You could spend your Easter holiday basking in glorious sunshine – or curled up inside hiding from the snow – depending on where in Sweden you live, according to weather forecasts. READ

What's on in Sweden

Stockholm's Debaser Medis venue will be spinning some Backstreet Boys this weekend. Photo: TT

What's on in Sweden: April 2nd - 8th

You could sit at home on your sofa and eat chocolate all week since it is Easter. And if you did, we wouldn't judge you. But why not check out some of the more unusal art, sport and music events taking place across the country? READ

Popcorn remains legal in Sweden but a site with a similar name isn't. Photo: TT

Crackdown on illegal streaming in Sweden

Users of illegal movie and television series streaming sites in Sweden including Popcorn Time are set to be tracked by a Danish lawfirm representing "major Hollywood companies" and could face fines of around 2000 SEK ($231). READ 9 comments

A strike threatening to hit Swedish holidayers has been called off. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/SCANPIX

Swedes' Easter holiday saved as strike called off

Tens of thousands of Swedes hoping to spend their Easter weekend in Helsinki can rest easily again, as a sympathy strike threatening to hit all passenger traffic between Sweden and Finland was called off late on Wednesday afternoon. READ

Analysis

Swedish PM Stefan Löfven on a visit to the US. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Rocky six months for new Swedish PM Löfven

The Swedish centre-left coalition government's first six months in power since last year's general election have not been the whopping success that Prime Minister Stefan Löfven had been hoping for. READ 14 comments

April Fools' Day

Could Swedish supermarket shelves look like this? Photo: TT

Sweden's silliest April Fools' Day tricks

Alcohol is set to be sold in a Swedish supermarket, buses are introducing 'selfie zones' and Malmö football club's new grass contains cannabis, if you believe the country's newspapers. Here's The Local's round-up of this year's April Fool gags. READ

Negotiations between Swedish pilots' unions and SAS are ongoing. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Swedish pilots fail to reach deal with SAS

A deal between Swedish pilots and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is being automatically extended a week at a time after the agreement ended at midnight on Tuesday. READ

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From our other editions:

April Fool's Day

In Austria we had you fooled that the government had proposed a hike in sales tax for garden gnomes. Photo: Shutterstock

April Fool! The Local's day in gags

No, you weren’t going crazy when you scrolled through The Local this morning. Today, our network temporarily lost its marbles for April Fools' Day. So, as the clock strikes 12pm, it’s time for The Local to fess up and reveal which of our stories were red herrings. READ

April Fools' Day

Were you fooled into believing that Switzerland was bringing back the bicycle infantry in the Swiss Army? Photo: Rasbak/Wikimedia Commons

April Fool: The Local's collection of gags

No, you weren’t going crazy when you scrolled through The Local this morning. Today, our network temporarily lost its marbles for April Fools' Day. Now it’s time for The Local to fess up and reveal which of our stories were red herrings. READ

Hurricane Niklas

This train in Lower Saxony had to stop after striking a fallen tree. Photo: DPA

Storm Niklas kills at least three, stops trains

Hurricane “Niklas” has reportedly claimed three victims, while trains have been cancelled across Germany as the storm rages. READ

April Fools' Day

In Denmark we had you fooled that the country was introducing English as an official language. Photo: Claus Fisker/Scanpix

April Fool! The Local's day in gags

April Fools' Day

In Spain we had you fooled that Benidorm had banned full English breakfasts.

April Fool! The Local's day in gags

France is home to 300,000 foreign students. Photo: Simone Ramella/Flickr

Studying in France: what you need to know

France is one of the most popular study destinations in the world, with nearly 300,000 foreign students. Relatively low tuition fees and the chance to live in France are certainly appealing, but France’s confusing higher education system can be frustrating to navigate. READ

Hot chocolate photo: Shutterstock

Gran poisons family with expired hot chocolate

All she wanted was to serve her loved ones a tasty drink. But a grandmother from Vicenza is in a spot of bother after three children and an adult fell ill after she gave them hot chocolate that was 25 years out of date. READ

April Fools' Day