Latest news with #EmmaLöfgren
Local Sweden
2 days ago
- Business
- Local Sweden
'The biggest shock in Sweden was how little people talk to each other'
This week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers features an interview with Francisca Leonardo, founder of the tour company Xperience Stockholm. Advertisement In this week's episode we hear from Canadian entrepreneur Francisca Leonardo as she explains how she first came to Stockholm as a tourist and immediately felt it was a place she could see herself living in. In her recent conversation with The Local's editor Emma Löfgren she talks us through how she went from being a master's student in biotechnology to setting up a flourishing tour company showing visitors sides of Stockholm they might otherwise miss. And what was it like working through culture shock as first impressions gave way to a more nuanced understanding of how Sweden works? Membership+ subscribers can listen to the interview in the latest episode of Sweden in Focus Extra, out June 4th. Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers. Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription on a podcast platform. If you prefer to listen on the site, you can find all episodes at the bottom of our podcast page.
Local Sweden
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Why Sweden is making it illegal to order OnlyFans sex
This week: A thaw in the citizenship freeze, new law bans ordering sex acts online. For Membership+ subscribers: Interview with doctor facing expulsion over alleged Migration Agency mix-up, and how to celebrate Ascension Day in Sweden. Advertisement This week we have the latest on the recent citizenship freeze and we ask: Why has there been so little interest in this story from the Swedish media? We also look at a hotly debated new law criminalising the purchase of sex online. For Membership+ subscribers we have more on immigration as we hear from a doctor who has been ordered to leave Sweden at the same time as the country is struggling with a shortage of medical professionals. And finally we examine an unusual tradition associated with the upcoming Ascension Day holiday. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Advertisement Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Swedish citizenship Politics Immigration Swedish traditions You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertisement Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Advertisement
Local Sweden
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Inside Sweden: Why so much is at stake in this weekend's party leader debate
The Local's editor Emma Löfgren rounds up the biggest stories of the week in our Inside Sweden newsletter. Advertisement Hej, Sweden's Agenda news programme regularly organises party leader debates where the leaders of the eight parties go head to head on key issues. The next one is set to take place on Sunday. It's in Swedish, but if you understand Swedish you can watch it on SVT2 at 8pm or via SVT Play. It's an important one, at least for the party leaders themselves, as we've got just over a year to go until the next election – and several of the parties are hovering below or just above the four-percent parliamentary threshold. The latest opinion poll from this week by public radio broadcaster Sveriges radio and pollsters Indikator put the Liberals and Christian Democrats (both members of the right-wing government) at 2.8 and 3.0 percent, respectively. The Centre Party (whose allegiance is sort of centre-left at the moment, but if their relationship with the Social Democrats – the leading party of the centre-left opposition – were a Facebook status, it would read "it's complicated") got 4.1 percent in the same poll, which puts it above the threshold but is hardly reassuring, especially at such a tumultuous time for the party. The topics to be discussed are the economy, crime, the climate and a new world order (with the latter presumably focusing on Donald Trump). Anna-Karin Hatt, who is expected to officially take over as Centre Party leader from Muharrem Demirok today, will be thrown straight into the deep end – which may work in her favour, as she'll have at least a decent excuse for not yet having an answer to those questions the Centre Party doesn't really want to answer about who it is going to side with after the next election. Advertisement Liberal leader Johan Pehrson, who will formally step down next month, will this time around be replaced by the party's second deputy chair, Fredrik Malm. I try not to write too much about "the political game" as I believe focusing on the issues that affect our readers is a better use of my time, but in this case it will be interesting to see who makes the biggest impression in the debate. In other news New puzzles are out! This week our crossword will be looking at the week just been, plus a helpful dose of general knowledge, and our word search will be on something many high school students are thinking about this time of the year. Sweden has a "relatively weak brand" in India, and to the extent that it is known at all, the country is not associated with having a stable economy or being a good place to study, visit, invest or do business, a new report has found. Two senior Swedish ministers have been out in the press this week trying to boost the country's reputation among international talent. Advertisement Trade minister Benjamin Dousa called for Sweden to strengthen its image as an "open and freedom-loving country" which welcomes foreigners who want to start businesses or develop their careers, throwing out a welcome mat to victims of Hungary's Pride ban. And Migration Minister Johan Forsell told the Expressen tabloid that the government is planning to step up its efforts to make the country more attractive to highly skilled labour migrants if it wins the next election. Swedish-Finnish humour trio KAJ's Bara Bada Bastu has emerged as an unexpected favourite to win the 2025 Eurovision Song Local has done a line-by-line translation of the lyrics, so that you know what you're singing about when it's stuck in your head (which will inevitably happen). Speaking of bastu, Richard spoke to an expert to find out more about proper sauna etiquette in Sweden (should you or shouldn't you be naked?). Thanks for reading and have a great weekend, Emma Löfgren Editor, The Local Sweden Inside Sweden is our weekly newsletter for members which gives you news, analysis and, sometimes, takes you behind the scenes at The Local. It's published each Saturday and with Membership+ you can also receive it directly to your inbox.
Local Sweden
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
All about Eves: Why Sweden celebrates holidays a day early
This week: Easter in Sweden, and how will residents be affected by the new budget? For Membership+ subscribers: How can the Centre Party's proposed new leader get out the vote? And Gothenburg seeks to attract American researchers. Advertisement In this week's episode we talk about why Sweden celebrates on the eve of holidays rather than the day itself, and we look at what you need to know about Sweden's new spring budget. For Membership+ subscribers we give you background on the proposed new leader of the Centre Party and what her nomination means for Sweden's complicated political arithmetic. And finally we'll examine efforts underway by a couple of Swedish municipalities to attract American academics who might be eager to leave the United States amid funding cuts and worries about academic freedom. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Becky Waterton. Advertisement Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Easter Money Politics Americans in Sweden You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertisement Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Advertisement
Local Sweden
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Why Sweden celebrates spring with bonfires and songs
This week: The history of Valborg, and how likely is a Swedish pope? For Membership+ subscribers: Sweden's Labour Day traditions, Social Democrats set out their stall, and how to navigate Swedish taxes and bureaucracy. Advertisement In this week's episode we talk about the possibility of there being a Swedish pope and the state of Catholicism in Sweden today. We also dive into the history of Sweden's Valborg celebrations and why bonfires will be lit across Sweden on the last day of the month. For Membership+ subscribers we jump forward a day to the first of May and what to expect on the public holiday that is Labour Day. We discuss what to make of a recent burst of activity from the Social Democrats, the party most closely associated with May Day in Sweden. Finally, with the deadline for filing taxes coming up next week, we give some last minute tips before checking out what readers of The Local are telling us are the most annoying things about Swedish bureaucracy. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Advertisement Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Swedish traditions Religion Politics Taxes You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertisement Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Advertisement
