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Police investigating a previous raid in 2013. Photo: TT

Armed robbers attack Stockholm money truck

Police in the Swedish capital are investigating a raid on a van transporting cash in the city, with at least two robbers suspected to have made off with a bag of money. READ

A woman stuck in snow in Malmö during the winter. Photo: TT

Swedes among least likely to die from cold

Cold weather kills 20 times more people as hot weather, according to a new global study, but despite Sweden's harsh climate its inhabitants are less likely to die in chilly temperatures than Brits, Spaniards or Italians. READ

Swedish PM Stefan Löfven speaking to reporters on Friday. Photo: Wiktor Nummelin/TT

'It's good that Swedish defence is quick to react'

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has praised the Swedish Air Force after two Jas Gripen aircraft warned off a pair of Russian fighter jets that strayed close to Swedish airspace this week. READ

Raspberries are a popular snack in Sweden. Photo: TT

Frozen berry sales up despite deadly sickness

UPDATED: Sales of frozen berries are rising at one of Sweden's biggest supermarket chains, despite the fruits causing a deadly bug outbreak at an elderly care home, which has led to other EU nations reviewing their safety guidelines. READ

Interview

Sweden's foreign minister Margot Wallström. Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT

'Serious blow' to EU if UK leaves says minister

Two months after one of Sweden's biggest diplomatic disputes in decades, foreign minister Margot Wallström is ready to look to the future. In an exclusive interview with The Local, she discusses Sweden's strong stance on the Mediterranean migrant crisis and why she wants the UK to remain in the EU. READ

Sweden's migration officers face a huge workload. Photo: Maja Suslin/TT

Refugees to Sweden left in six-month limbo

UPDATED: Asylum seekers arriving in Sweden are now likely to face a wait of up to six-months before they can have their cases heard, as migration officers struggle to cope with the workload. READ

Sweden's Måns Zelmerlöw is through to the Eurovision 2015 final. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Sweden's Eurovision star Måns through to final

Sweden's Eurovision hope, Måns Zelmerlöw, sailed through with his track 'Heroes' in a semi-final that was mostly lined with rock goth-inspired ballads. But will he nail his gnome fist bump in time for Saturday's final? READ

Opinion

2.2 million Brits live in another EU country. 2.3 million people from elsewhere in the EU live in the UK. Photo: Charles Clegg.

Give us a vote: we’ve got most to lose if UK quits

Brits in the rest of the EU should all be given a vote in the country’s upcoming referendum - as should Europeans who live in the UK. We’re the ones with most to lose, argues The Local's managing editor James Savage. READ

The Local Recipes

Crispy baked asparagus. Photo: John Duxbury

How to make crispy Swedish asparagus

Asparagus season is upon us. Swedes love this green vegetable, so what better way to celebrate than with some crispy asparagus baked with traditional Swedish cheese. Food writer John Duxbury shares his recipe with The Local. READ

Nordic Noir

Jo Nesbø at a prize-giving in December. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB scanpix

Oslo battles Stockholm for Harry Hole movie

Oslo and Stockholm have entered into a bidding war to try and get the Jo Nesbø thriller The Snowman shot in their city, with both offering funding, free parking and other services. READ

Features

Interview

The problem is not confined to Sweden. Here Severine Ali Mehenni holds pictures of her daughter Sahra who left France to join jihadists. Photo: AP/TT

Why Swedish girls are leaving home for Isis

More girls and women than ever before are leaving Sweden to fight with terrorist groups like Isis. The Local speaks to terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp from the Swedish Defence University about what’s luring them to leave one of the safest countries in the world to wage jihad. READ

The Local List

Björnö island just outside Stockholm. Photo: Maddy Savage/The Local

Nine perfect hiking spots on Stockholm's doorstep

Sweden has one of the cleanest, greenest capitals in the world, boasting a total of 26 parks. But you don't have to go too far outside the city centre to find some even more magical beauty spots. Alec Forss shares his favourite hiking locations just a short bus or train ride away. READ

The Local List

Sweden's Eurovision star Måns Zelmerlöw. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Five top facts: Sweden's Eurovision entry

UPDATED: Just three years after winning Eurovision, Sweden is again tipped as one of the favourites to take home the crown on Saturday. Here, The Local brings you the five things you need to know about the 28-year-old Swedish heartthrob who has stirred up quite the social media buzz in Vienna. READ

Opinion

Sweden's neutrality is not its own choice, argues Bruce Acker. Photo: Magnus Hjalmarson Neideman/SvD/TT

'Sweden's smug wisdom of neutrality is a farce'

Sweden's ability to defend its borders remains a hot topic as fears of an aggressive Russia grow stronger. In this week's debate article, defence expert Bruce Acker argues that the Nordic country's neutrality plays right into the hands of its eastern neighbour, which is unlikely to launch a military attack on Sweden as long as it is not in its interest to do so. READ

Analysis - Sweden's school crisis

Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Low marks for Sweden's muddled teacher training

Serious failings in Sweden's teacher training system go a long way to explaining the country's steep drop in school rankings, according to a new OECD report. READ

More News

Police officers in Kalmar in 2013. Photo: TT

Swedish 'whore' murder plotter faces charges

A 20-year-old man alleged to have written notes about his plans to kill a "whore", an "unfriendly" person and an "immigrant child" has been charged with three counts of conspiring to murder in a gruesome case that is gripping the Swedish media. READ

The Local Video

Photo: Fernando Audibert

Can you get your tongue around Sweden's nurse?

Whenever Swedish learners are asked what they struggle with, pronouncing the word for "nurse" always gets a terrified mention. Watch what happened when The Local asked some unsuspecting tourists to get their tongues around "sjuksköterska". READ

A Jas Gripen plane snapped in 2013. Photo: TT

Russian bombers caught close to Swedish island

Two Swedish Jas Gripen aircraft warned off a pair of Russian fighter jets that were flying close to the southern Swedish island of Öland on Thursday. READ

Sofie Ruther wearing her prom dress. Photo: Private

Teen scores prom date with Swedish hockey star

UPDATED: One of Sweden's most famous ice hockey stars, Mathias Tjärnqvist, is set to play Prince Charming to an 18-year-old schoolgirl with Down's Syndrome after agreeing to go to prom with the pupil, who had been struggling to find a date. READ

Singles could be allowed to undergo IVF treatment in Sweden. Photo: Nora Lorek/TT

IVF bid for Swedish singles moves forward

Plans to allow single women in Sweden to have fertility treatment funded by taxpayers are expected to come into force next year. The new rules would allow the same reproductive rights to singles as women in a relationship. READ

A swimming spot in Stockholm. Photo: Viktor Gårdsäter/Image Bank Sweden

Swedish beaches ranked among poorest in EU

Swimming spots on the Swedish coast are among the dirtiest in Europe, with only Estonia and Finland recording a poorer water quality, according to a new EU report. READ

Spotify has launched an updated platform. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

Swedish Spotify's new video streaming plan

Sweden's Spotify, the world's leader in music streaming, has confirmed an expansion into video and original content, reaching beyond music as the company faces challenges to its dominance and strives to turn a profit. READ

A potential strike deadline has been extended to 8am. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

SAS strike averted after Swedish pilots sign deal

UPDATED: A planned strike by Swedish pilots has been called off after dramatic overnight negotiations between unions and Scandinavian Airlines. More than 100 flights had already been cancelled on Thursday in anticipation of a potential walkout. READ

What's on in Sweden

US talkshow host Bill Maher. Photo: Janet Van Ham/Ap

What’s on in Sweden: May 21th – May 28th

US talkshow host Bill Maher is heading to Sweden for his first Europe tour, a star photographer will chat to visitors at one of Stockholm's trendiest museums and there's a half-marathon kicking off in Gothenburg - as usual, Sweden has something to offer everyone. READ

Karl Ove Knausgård in 2012. Photo: Berit Roald / Scanpix

Knausgård savages the 'Cyclops' Swedes

Norwegian literary star Karl Ove Knausgård has launched an extraordinary attack on the Swedes, damning them as a race of narrow-minded “Cyclops” who cannot tolerate ambiguity, have no understanding of literature, and are “full of hate and fear”. READ

Read older articles »

From our other editions:

Le Loft. Photo: Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom

Top ten places for gourmet dining in Vienna

There are times when a Leberkässemmel from your favourite sausage stand just doesn't cut it. Perhaps you have an important date lined up - but where's the best place to splash out on for an evening of fine dining? Barbara Cação recommends ten high end restaurants in Vienna for an evening to remember. READ

Photo: SBB

Railways rely on sheep to 'mow' grass by tracks

Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has contracted out with 80 four-footed individuals to cut the grass in areas alongside rail tracks. READ

GDL members in Munich station on May 7th 2015. Photo: DPA

Train drivers to strike from Wednesday: union

Train drivers' union GDL said on Monday that members would strike on goods trains from Tuesday and passenger services from Wednesday in a long-running battle with rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB). READ

Waging jihad while collecting unemployment. Photo: Stringer/Scanpix

Danish jihadists cashed in on welfare benefits

Thirty-two Danes have collected nearly 400,000 kroner worth of unemployment benefits while fighting in Syria, it was revealed on Monday. READ

Television sensation Sister Lucia appearing at a campaign meeting in Barcelona on May 20th. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Nuns defy Vatican to follow political calling

A couple of Catalan nuns are defying the Vatican and even the Spanish government by throwing their wimples into Spain's political arena. READ

French language

A copy of the 2015 Larousse dictionary. Photo: AFP

More English words sneak into French

France's two main dictionaries have revealed some of the new words that are set to grace their 2016 editions - and plenty of them come from English. READ

Augusto Rollandin, the president of Val d'Aosta, says the region doesn't have the facilities to house migrants in decent conditions. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP

Italy starts to show the strains of migrant influx

With its refugee reception facilities bursting at the seams, Italy is starting to show the strains created by thousands of people washing up every week on its southern shores. READ

Video