Sweden in Focus

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Why do many foreigners find dating in Sweden so tough, and what's the approach to take? Hear matchmaker Lemarc Thomas give his views on how to crack the Swedish dating scene.  In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is briefly joined by panelists James Savage and Becky Waterton, before we listen to an interview with professional matchmaker Lemarc Thomas .&nbsp...

In this week's episode: semla season, better conditions for Ukrainian refugees, why Sweden is closing its NordStream blast probe, freezer malfunction spoils decades of samples at a Swedish university, an alleged Iranian plot to kill Jews in Sweden, anti-Semitism in Sweden, and new details on stop-and-search zones.  Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's  Becky Waterton and...

In this week's episode: tougher rules for Sweden citizenship, French President Emanuel Macron's state visit to Sweden, new work permit system takes effect, and why Sweden needs to do more to promote understanding of indigenous Sami. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local’s Emma Löfgren and Becky Waterton, and we also have an interview with Charlotta Svonni,&nb...

In this week's episode: Ice bathing, Turkey's parliament votes on Sweden's Nato bid, top Sweden Democrat calls for ban on Islamic symbols, Sweden's complicated relationship with wolves, and how a cyber attack hit Swedish authorities and retailers. Host  Paul O’Mahony  is joined this week by The Local’s  Emma Löfgren  and  James Savage,  and we also have an interview w...

In this week's episode: why the centre-right has hit a new low in polls, cocaine at the Riskdag, the effects of growing unemployment and falling inflation, why opposition parties failed to depose Sweden's environment minister in a confidence vote, and why public sector workers are fuming over workplace coffee cuts.  Here are links to some of the stories we discuss: Politics  Cocaine foun...

This week we discuss: the official end of Christmas, snow-fueled chaos on the E22 motorway, royal abdication speculation, and why politicians and military leaders are warning of the prospect of war in Sweden.  Richard Orange stands in as host this week and is joined by regular panelists: Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren.   Here are links to some of the stories we discuss: End of Chri...

This week we take a look at the stories likely to shape Sweden in 2024, from politics and Nato to minority rights, Eurovision, and the economy.  Host Paul O’Mahony is joined for the preview of 2024 by all our regular panelists: James Savage, Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren.   Here are links to some of the stories we discuss: Politics What will happen in Swedish polit...

This week we look back at the biggest news stories in Sweden in 2023, from quran burnings and a heightened terror threat to Nato wrangling, the King's jubilee, and new income requirements for work permit holders. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined for the review of the year by all our regular panelists: James Savage, Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren.   Here are links to some of...

In this week's episode: Christmas travel, birds attack giant straw goat, White Christmas dreams, rumours of a new political party, and what can immigrants do to increase their prospects of landing a job in Sweden?  Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's James Savage and Becky Waterton, and we also have an interview with Amanda Herzog, an American marketing expert who runs a com...

This week: banks cut rates, the state of Sweden’s democracy, new Pisa rankings, how child refugees have integrated, the ex-Syrian banker behind a successful hummus restaurant, government counts cost of migration, compulsory courses for newcomers, Lucia, Nobel banquet. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local's James Savage and Emma Löfgren. Here are links to some of the stories we discuss: Econom...

This week: Jimmie Åkesson talks about demolishing mosques, the latest on the Tesla strike, Sweden’s Advent celebrations, solutions journalism, and why some criminologists think it’s time for Sweden to ditch zero tolerance on drugs. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Emma Lögren and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the stories we discuss: Tesla strike Inside Sweden: How...

Host  Paul O’Mahony  is joined this week by The Local’s  Becky Waterton  and  Richard Orange , and we also have an interview with Northern Lights tour operator  Chad Blakley. ___ Sign up for  IoT Talks 2023 . Presented by Tele2 IoT ___ Here are links to some of the stories we discuss: Eurovision How to get tickets for Eurovision in Malmö How much can I charge if...

In this week's episode: practical Swedes, saying hej to strangers, dithering Liberals, Sweden awaits central bank decision, climate movement split over Greta Thunberg's Palestine support, how Swedish attitudes to Israel-Palestine have changed over the years.  Host  Paul O’Mahony  is joined this week by The Local’s  Emma Löfgren  and  Richard Orange , and we also have...

This week on Sweden in Focus: TV history show provokes debate, far-right leader gives speech in Arabic, Sweden's media subsidy system explained, surviving November, and how a wave of international arrests is affect Sweden's gang conflict. Host  Paul O’Mahony  is joined this week by The Local’s  James Savage  and  Becky Waterton , and we also have an interview with Expresse...

In this week's Sweden in Focus we discuss: industrial action hits Tesla and Klarna, fears that new salary requirements for work permit holders will undermine the Swedish labour market model, how an oil spill and new fishing quotas have put the Baltic Sea in focus , and an ill-tempered battle for control of Sweden’s Green Party. Host  Paul O’Mahony  is joined this week by The Local’s&nbsp...

This week: Halloween, Nato, cable damage in the Baltic Sea, popular TV shows, and we answer readers' questions on Sweden's new salary requirement for work permit holders.  Host  Paul O’Mahony  in Stockholm is joined from Malmö by The Local’s  Emma Löfgren  and  Becky Waterton. __ Sign up for  Stockholm Explorative Talks . Presented by Stockholm Academic Forum __...

__ Sign up for Stockholm Explorative Talks . Presented by Stockholm Academic Forum __ In this week's episode we look at the latest Covid recommendations, how the far-right Sweden Democrats are using their new-found power, why immigrants kickstart so many events in Sweden, and why a terrorist targeted and murdered two Swedish football fans in Brussels.  Host  Paul O’Mahony  in Stockh...

In this bonus episode of Sweden in Focus, we speak to the Social Democratic former education minister Anna Ekström about Nordic 'folk high schools', budget cuts to study associations, worsening segregation in Sweden's schools, why boys are underperforming, and whether Sweden needs more external grading. In Saturday’s episode,  the former government minister talked about ‘folkbildning’  a...

In this week's episode: Foxtrot leader reportedly arrested in Iran, Swedish reaction to Israel-Hamsas war, and lots of reaction to Sweden's new pay threshold for work permits.  Host  Paul O’Mahony  is joined by The Local’s  James Savage  and  Becky Waterton,  and this week’s guest, Sweden’s former education minister  Anna Ekström , who also has a background...

In this week's episode: weak krona means less Nobel prize money, Sweden’s government plans more surveillance, what the future holds for Scandinavian Airlines, how work permit holders will be affected by a new salary threshold, how organised crime networks in Sweden are opening healthcare centres.  Host  Paul O’Mahony  is joined by The Local’s  James Savage  and  Becky...

In this week's episode: Is Sweden underfunding schools and healthcare?; motorway mudslide; Turkey gives fresh impetus to Sweden's Nato bid; why northern Sweden needs foreign workers, and Prime Minister wants military help to crack down on gangs. This week host  Paul O’Mahony  is joined by The Local’s  James Savage  and  Richard Orange,  and we also hear from the Skell...

In this week's podcast we discuss: mushroom foraging tips, why Sweden's highest mountain is melting, how the new budget will affect you, and what are the underlying factors behind a vicious new wave of violence in Sweden's ongoing gang feuds?  Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local's Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange, as well as the Swedish crime reporter Katrin Krantz from the Expressen new...

In this week's episode: Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrates 50 years on the throne, several countries block Swedish pork after swine fever outbreak, unemployment on the rise, and Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenegard on why Swedish citizenship 'must be respected and protected'. This week host  Paul O’Mahony  is joined by The Local’s  Emma Löfgren  and  Becky Water...