Latest news with #Swedish-language
Local Sweden
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Inside Sweden: Why we're asking members to help The Local
The Local's editor Emma Löfgren rounds up the biggest stories of the week in our Inside Sweden newsletter. Advertisement Hej, You may have noticed a new message to members from our co-founder, publisher and CEO, James Savage, at the bottom of articles this week. He writes: I would like to thank you for supporting The Local as a member. It's been absolutely crucial of late. But here's the thing: right now, we are facing challenges of a kind we have never experienced in our 21-year history. Global tech giants are eating up a bigger and bigger share of advertising budgets, while making us less and less visible on their platforms. That makes operating as a small player in an already challenging sector even more difficult, especially when costs are rising. Our mission has always been to help people living in another country feel at home, to champion your rights, to keep you in the loop. For us to keep doing that, we need your support. If you are able to support us further, please consider making a donation. You can click here and follow the steps to leave a donation amount that suits you. This will help keep us going and allow us to continue doing the journalism that matters to you. Every word of what James wrote is true. We've had one of our most important news cycles in the past few weeks, being the first and almost only media outlet to cover Sweden's citizenship freeze. But journalism costs money, and right now it's hard to break even as a relatively small newsroom in this world of tech giants and far bigger media actors – or even break through the noise of the domestic Swedish-language media. The biggest change in Sweden since the last election has been the government's so-called "migration paradigm shift", which has had a life-changing impact on many foreigners living and working in this country. Advertisement With just over a year to go until the next election – and less than a year until stricter citizenship laws, and possibly stricter work permit conditions, come into force – making sure those affected are actually heard in the public debate is more crucial than ever. I'd like to think we can make an impact together. Thank you for being a member. If you want to help but are not able to make a donation, please tell a friend about us and ask them to become a member. Any help we get can make a huge difference. To us as a media company, as journalists, but also to raising the voices of those who still believe in a hopeful, constructive and international vision for Sweden and the rest of the world. In other news Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who chaired the agency managing adoptions to Sweden some 20 years ago, has said he's not ruling out an apology after an inquiry unveiled widespread abuses spanning several decades. With just over a year to go until Sweden's next election, a key poll suggests that the centre-left Social Democrats may take a decisive leap forward. Sweden's streets are filled with jubilant high school students. Why are they there, and what are they doing? 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. I really enjoyed my conversation with her. GAMES: Have you tried The Local's games for Membership+ subscribers yet? We've got a new crossword and word search puzzle out now A new agreement between Sweden and Estonia means that up to 600 criminals convicted in Sweden could serve time in prisons in Estonia, in what Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has described as a "historic" deal. Advertisement Foreign citizens are significantly over-represented in Swedish prisons. Here are some of the rules about how they should be treated. A government-commissioned inquiry this week proposed a series of suggestions that would make it cheaper to travel to Arlanda Airport. And finally, from summer activity tips to rail disruptions, here's everything you need to know about travelling in Sweden this summer. Have a good 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
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
How immigration is fuelling the growth of the Catholic Church in Sweden
This week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers features an interview with Magdalena Dahlborg, an editor for a Swedish-language Catholic magazine. Advertisement How did the Catholic Church in Sweden recover from the brink of extinction and what role does it play in Swedish public life today? The Local's deputy editor Becky Waterton raised these questions in a conversion she had recently with Magdalena Dahlborg about the history of the Catholic Church in Sweden. Dahlborg is the author of a book on Catholicism and an editor for the Swedish Catholic magazine Signum. In this episode she talks about the huge role immigrants have played in the growth of the church in recent decades, how important she thinks the church can be for helping immigrants to integrate in Sweden, and why she hopes the Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius isn't named as the new pope. Membership+ subscribers can listen to the interview in the latest episode of Sweden in Focus Extra, out April 30th. READ ALSO: 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.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
One of the victims of Sweden's deadliest mass shooting called his fiancée to say he loved her
OREBRO, Sweden (AP) — Wounded and bleeding, Salim Karim Iskef managed to video-call his fiancée to tell her he loved her one last time before he died this week in what was Sweden's deadliest mass shooting, The 28-year-old asked Kareen Alia to look after his mother and herself before the call ended. There was no answer when she called back, and she later found out he had died of his wounds, one of 10 people killed when a gunman opened fire on Tuesday at the adult education center in the city of Orebro, where Iskef was studying to become a nurse. The couple had recently bought a home and planned to get married this summer. "He had all of these dreams in his heart. Now, unfortunately, all of these dreams are gone. Their light has been put out,' Father Jacob Kasselia, priest of their local Orthodox Christian church, told Swedish broadcaster TV4. Authorities said the shooter, who has not yet been officially identified, was connected to the adult education center where he opened fire with at least one rifle-like weapon and may have attended school there previously. The shooter was later found dead with three guns, 10 empty magazines and a large amount of unused ammunition next to his body. It was not clear how he died, but officials said police did not return his gunfire. Officers found at least five people, all over age 18, with serious gunshot wounds. A sixth person was treated for minor injuries. Investigators have not uncovered a definitive motive behind the bloodshed. Police said there were no warnings beforehand, and they believe the perpetrator acted alone. Authorities said there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point. 'My whole life was with him' The school, Campus Risbergska, offers primary and secondary educational classes for adults age 20 and older, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, vocational training, and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. It is on the outskirts of Orebro, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Stockholm. Iskef was studying nursing there after serving as a healthcare worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. His family fled Syria between 2014 and 2015 because of its long-running civil war. 'We've lived together our entire lives," his sister Hanan Eskif told TV4. "We worked together, and we studied together, we went to church together. My whole life was with him, how am I supposed to live without him? ' Their family held a memorial service at their Orthodox Christian church, although they hadn't received Iskef's body by late Thursday. 'We keep looking out the window thinking maybe he'll return and knock on the door, and we'll have to open it. We don't sleep, we don't eat, don't drink. Nothing, we just sit and look out,' Eskif told the broadcaster. Guns in Sweden The government and Sweden Democrats on Friday planned to move forward with proposals to tighten gun laws, including restricting access to semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15, Swedish news agency TT reported. Authorities said the shooter had licenses for four weapons, three of which were found next to his body. Police have seized the fourth. Officials have only said at least one gun was a rifle-like weapon. Currently, in order to possess a firearm legally in Sweden, applicants must obtain a weapon license and demonstrate that it will be used for an acceptable purpose, such as hunting or target shooting, and not be misused. Applicants must also submit previously obtained hunting or target shooting certificates. Hunting certificates require people to pass a training course, while target shooters must be certified as active and experienced members of clubs. In a country of roughly 10.5 million people, there were just over 660,000 registered gun owners at the beginning of 2024, according to the Swedish news agency TT. Those registered owners had some 2 million guns, objects that are considered firearms and weapon parts that require a permit. TT reported that 1.6 million of those guns are registered for hunting, and another 176,000 for target-shooting. All weapons must be stored in secure cabinets approved by the police. Applications for fully automatic weapons or one-handed weapons are only granted for exceptional reasons, and such permits are generally time-limited. Permits are revoked if the weapon is modified to be substantially different from its original function. ___ Dazio reported from Berlin.
CBS News
07-02-2025
- CBS News
Sweden mass shooting victim called fiancée to tell her he loved her one last time
Orebro, Sweden — Wounded and bleeding, Salim Karim Iskef managed to video-call his fiancée to tell her he loved her one last time before he died this week in Sweden's deadliest mass shooting. The 28-year-old asked Kareen Alia to look after his mother and herself before the call ended. There was no answer when she called back, and she later found out he had died of his wounds, one of 10 people killed when a gunman opened fire Tuesday at the adult education center in the city of Orebro, where Iskef was studying to become a nurse. The couple had recently bought a home and planned to get married this summer. "He had all of these dreams in his heart. Now, unfortunately, all of these dreams are gone. Their light has been put out," Father Jacob Kasselia, priest of their local Orthodox Christian church, told Swedish broadcaster TV4. "How am I supposed to live without him?" Authorities said the shooter, who has not yet been officially identified, was connected to the adult education center where he opened fire with at least one rifle-like weapon and may have attended school there previously. The school, Campus Risbergska, offers primary and secondary educational classes for adults aged 20 and older, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, vocational training, and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. It is on the outskirts of Orebro, 125 miles west of Stockholm. Iskef was studying nursing there after serving as a healthcare worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. His family fled Syria between 2014 and 2015 because of its long-running civil war. "We've lived together our entire lives," his sister Hanan Eskif told TV4. "We worked together, and we studied together, we went to church together. My whole life was with him, how am I supposed to live without him?" Their family held a memorial service at their Orthodox Christian church, although they hadn't received Iskef's body by late Thursday. "We keep looking out the window thinking maybe he'll return and knock on the door, and we'll have to open it. We don't sleep, we don't eat, don't drink. Nothing, we just sit and look out," Eskif told the broadcaster. Little new info confirmed on shooter or his motive The shooter was later found dead with three guns, 10 empty magazines and a large amount of unused ammunition next to his body. It was not clear how he died, but officials said police did not return his gunfire, and the local police chief said the day after the attack that there was "a lot to indicate that" the gunman had shot himself. Officers found at least five survivors, all over age 18, with serious gunshot wounds. A sixth person was treated for minor injuries. Investigators have not uncovered a definitive motive behind the bloodshed. Police said there were no warnings beforehand, and they believe the perpetrator acted alone. Authorities said there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point. Sweden's gun laws The government and the right-wing Sweden Democrats party said Friday that they planned to move forward with proposals to tighten gun laws, including restricting access to semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15, Swedish news agency TT reported. Authorities said the shooter in Orebro had licenses for four weapons, three of which were found next to his body. Police have seized the fourth. Officials have only said at least one gun was a rifle-like weapon. Currently, Sweden's laws already involve strict licensing for all firearm ownership, with applications made directly to the national police force and prospective applicants required to demonstrate that a weapon it will be used for an acceptable purpose, such as hunting or target shooting, and not be misused. Applicants must also submit previously obtained hunting or target shooting certificates. Hunting certificates require people to pass a training course, while target shooters must be certified as active and experienced members of clubs. In a country of roughly 10.5 million people, there were just over 660,000 registered gun owners at the beginning of 2024, according to the Swedish news agency TT. Those registered owners had some 2 million guns, objects that are considered firearms and weapon parts that require a permit. TT reported that 1.6 million of those guns are registered for hunting, and another 176,000 for target-shooting. All weapons must be stored in secure cabinets approved by the police. Applications for fully automatic weapons or one-handed weapons are only granted for exceptional reasons, and such permits are generally time-limited. Firearm permits are revoked if the weapon is modified to be substantially different from its original function.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
One of the victims of Sweden's deadliest mass shooting called his fiancee to say he loved her
OREBRO, Sweden (AP) — Despite his gunshot wounds, sustained Tuesday in Sweden's deadliest mass shooting, Salim Karim Iskef managed to video-call his fiancee to tell her he loved her one last time. The 28-year-old asked Kareen Alia to look after his mother and herself before the call ended. There was no answer when she called back, and she later found out he'd died from his injuries. He was one of 10 people killed when a gunman opened fire at the adult education center in Orebro where Iskef was studying to become a nurse. The couple had recently bought a home and planned to marry this summer. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "He had all of these dreams in his heart. Now, unfortunately, all of these dreams are gone. Their light has been put out,' Father Jacob Kasselia, priest of their local Orthodox Christian church, told Swedish broadcaster TV4. Authorities said the shooter, who has not yet been officially identified, was connected to the adult education center where he opened fire with at least one rifle-like weapon and may have attended school there previously. The shooter was found dead with three guns, 10 empty magazines and a large amount of unused ammunition next to his body. It was not clear how he died, but officials said police did not return his gunfire. Officers found at least five people, all over age 18, with serious gunshot wounds. A sixth person was treated for minor injuries. Investigators have not uncovered a definitive motive behind the bloodshed. Police said there were no warnings beforehand, and they believe the perpetrator acted alone. Authorities said there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point. 'My whole life was with him' The school, Campus Risbergska, offers primary and secondary educational classes for adults age 20 and older, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, vocational training, and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. It is on the outskirts of Orebro, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Stockholm. Iskef was studying nursing there after serving as a healthcare worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. His family fled Syria between 2014 and 2015 because of its long-running civil war. 'We've lived together our entire lives," his sister Hanan Eskif told TV4. "We worked together, and we studied together, we went to church together. My whole life was with him, how am I supposed to live without him? ' Their family held a memorial service at their Orthodox Christian church, although they hadn't received Iskef's body by late Thursday. 'We keep looking out the window thinking maybe he'll return and knock on the door, and we'll have to open it. We don't sleep, we don't eat, don't drink. Nothing, we just sit and look out,' Eskif told the broadcaster. Guns in Sweden The government and Sweden Democrats on Friday planned to move forward with proposals to tighten gun laws, including restricting access to semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15, Swedish news agency TT reported. Authorities said the shooter had licenses for four weapons, three of which were found next to his body. Police have seized the fourth. Officials have only said at least one gun was a rifle-like weapon. Currently, in order to possess a firearm legally in Sweden, applicants must obtain a weapon license and demonstrate that it will be used for an acceptable purpose, such as hunting or target shooting, and not be misused. Applicants must also submit previously obtained hunting or target shooting certificates. Hunting certificates require people to pass a training course, while target shooters must be certified as active and experienced members of clubs. In a country of roughly 10.5 million people, there were just over 660,000 registered gun owners at the beginning of 2024, according to the Swedish news agency TT. Those registered owners had some 2 million guns, objects that are considered firearms and weapon parts that require a permit. TT reported that 1.6 million of those guns are registered for hunting, and another 176,000 for target-shooting. All weapons must be stored in secure cabinets approved by the police. Applications for fully automatic weapons or one-handed weapons are only granted for exceptional reasons, and such permits are generally time-limited. Permits are revoked if the weapon is modified to be substantially different from its original function. ___ Dazio reported from Berlin.
