https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Spring, summer, autumn or winter – the changing seasons and geography of a country that covers as many latitudes as Sweden means that the time of the year you visit can have a huge impact on your experience. https://www.thelocal.com/20240926/the-best-places-to-visit-in-sweden-each-season Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:51:09 +0200 the-best-places-to-visit-in-sweden-each-season Proof of knowledge of basic Swedish civics, history, geography, and culture will now be required to obtain Swedish citizenship. An official study booklet for the new test is now out. How well do you know the material? https://www.thelocal.com/20260512/quiz-can-you-pass-the-locals-mock-swedish-citizenship-test Tue, 12 May 2026 09:31:50 +0200 quiz-can-you-pass-the-locals-mock-swedish-citizenship-test In the final part of his mini series on the forthcoming French presidential elections, John Lichfield looks at the chances of the Far Right. Despite their runaway lead in polling for Round One, they could yet lose in the second round of the election in 2027. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/opinion-the-french-far-right-have-a-runaway-poll-lead-but-may-yet-lose-the-2027-election Wed, 13 May 2026 10:06:28 +0200 opinion-the-french-far-right-have-a-runaway-poll-lead-but-may-yet-lose-the-2027-election The Talking France podcast is back with a look at the possible disappearance of rent controls in France, the latest on swimming in the Seine, the €16 million French château scam and the many different ways to say 'sorry' in French. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/podcast-the-e16m-french-chateau-scam-and-why-2027-could-be-a-scary-year-in-france Wed, 13 May 2026 08:31:05 +0200 podcast-the-e16m-french-chateau-scam-and-why-2027-could-be-a-scary-year-in-france Workers in Sweden enjoy relatively generous rights, especially when it comes to holiday. In fact, you actually get paid a bonus for not being at work. https://www.thelocal.com/20200122/why-do-you-get-paid-more-when-you-take-time-off-in-sweden Wed, 22 Jan 2020 12:20:44 +0100 why-do-you-get-paid-more-when-you-take-time-off-in-sweden German has more than one special word for the practice of taking a day off to make the most out of public holidays that fall close to a weekend. But which word should you use? That depends a bit on where you are. https://www.thelocal.com/20230406/bruckentag-fenstertag-or-zwickeltag-all-the-german-words-for-getting-longer-holiday-weekends Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:32:04 +0200 bruckentag-fenstertag-or-zwickeltag-all-the-german-words-for-getting-longer-holiday-weekends Whether you're considering a move or wondering what the job options are like, we look at how friendly Austria and Germany's job markets are to English speakers. https://www.thelocal.com/20260514/austria-vs-germany-where-is-it-easier-to-find-an-english-speaking-job Thu, 14 May 2026 16:19:48 +0200 austria-vs-germany-where-is-it-easier-to-find-an-english-speaking-job Voters in Spain's most populous region are set to head to the polls this weekend. But who's running, what do the polls say, and what could the results of Andalusia's regional election mean for national politics? https://www.thelocal.com/20260326/qa-who-will-win-andalusias-elections-and-why-does-it-matter-for-spain Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:20:48 +0100 qa-who-will-win-andalusias-elections-and-why-does-it-matter-for-spain Many in Spain have pointed to the growing migrant population as a solution to the country's ageing population. But a new study by an influential think tank has cast doubt over this widely held belief. https://www.thelocal.com/20260514/not-a-permanent-solution-why-immigration-may-not-rejuvenate-spain Thu, 14 May 2026 11:07:03 +0200 not-a-permanent-solution-why-immigration-may-not-rejuvenate-spain The budget airline easyJet has announced another new route from south-west France - this time connecting to Italy with an eye to weekend breaks. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/easyjet-to-launch-new-route-between-italy-and-south-west-france Wed, 13 May 2026 16:32:03 +0200 easyjet-to-launch-new-route-between-italy-and-south-west-france Eurostar has cancelled dozens of trains over the French holiday weekend of Ascension, citing 'operational constraints'. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/eurostar-cancels-dozens-of-trains-over-frances-ascension-holiday-weekend Wed, 13 May 2026 15:18:02 +0200 eurostar-cancels-dozens-of-trains-over-frances-ascension-holiday-weekend The package, announced in a press conference on May 13th, includes reduced tax on petrol and diesel as well as state support for cheaper public transit. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/swedens-government-announces-17-5-billion-kronor-energy-crisis-package Wed, 13 May 2026 13:29:24 +0200 swedens-government-announces-17-5-billion-kronor-energy-crisis-package Hundreds of passengers - mostly British and Irish - on a cruise ship have been quarantined in the French port of Bordeaux after a death on board. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/1700-cruise-ship-passengers-quarantined-in-france Wed, 13 May 2026 13:20:30 +0200 1700-cruise-ship-passengers-quarantined-in-france The EU plans to force railway companies operating across the bloc to sell rivals’ tickets on their websites and share data with booking platforms, under new rules that are intended to boost train travel. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/one-trip-one-ticket-new-eu-rules-aim-to-ease-train-travel Wed, 13 May 2026 12:59:22 +0200 one-trip-one-ticket-new-eu-rules-aim-to-ease-train-travel French pilots involved in a pay dispute have filed a last-minute strike notice running from Wednesday to Monday, with the possibility of renewal into the following week. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/french-pilots-call-last-minute-strike-in-pay-dispute Wed, 13 May 2026 08:52:36 +0200 french-pilots-call-last-minute-strike-in-pay-dispute A Swedish court sentenced a 21-year-old to life in prison for a triple murder at a hair salon that drew attention to the country's criminal networks. https://www.thelocal.com/20260513/sweden-jails-man-for-life-for-triple-hair-salon-murder Wed, 13 May 2026 08:46:00 +0200 sweden-jails-man-for-life-for-triple-hair-salon-murder Sweden's opposition has been in the lead in every single poll since the 2022 election. But it still looks hard for Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson to form a workable coalition. Try out The Local's election widget to see if you can make a government – either for her or for Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson. https://www.thelocal.com/20260512/make-your-own-swedish-government-with-the-locals-election-widget Tue, 12 May 2026 12:02:51 +0200 make-your-own-swedish-government-with-the-locals-election-widget Swedish police said a "central actor" in Sweden's most notorious criminal network, Foxtrot, had been arrested in Tunisia. https://www.thelocal.com/20260512/sweden-gang-crime-foxtrot-leaders-right-hand-man-arrested-in-tunisia Tue, 12 May 2026 16:44:39 +0200 sweden-gang-crime-foxtrot-leaders-right-hand-man-arrested-in-tunisia Sweden's opposition parties are united on introducing transitional rules for citizenship if they win next September's election. https://www.thelocal.com/20260512/swedish-opposition-promises-citizenship-transition-rules-if-it-wins-election Tue, 12 May 2026 14:35:35 +0200 swedish-opposition-promises-citizenship-transition-rules-if-it-wins-election World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists in Madrid on Tuesday that their "work is not over" to contain the hantavirus after new positive cases followed the evacuation of the cruise ship in Spain's Canary Islands. https://www.thelocal.com/20260512/who-chief-says-work-not-over-after-hantavirus-evacuation-in-spain Tue, 12 May 2026 12:57:55 +0200 who-chief-says-work-not-over-after-hantavirus-evacuation-in-spain