TheLocalSE

Will Sweden's central bank cut interest rates next week? Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank, lowered the country's key interest rate to 2 percent back on June 18th. The next interest rate announcement is scheduled for Tuesday August 19th. How likely is it that the bank will choose to cut the rate? https://www.thelocal.se/20250815/will-swedens-central-bank-cut-interest-rates-next-week

'Every drop counts': Stockholmers told to urgently restrict water use Everyone living in the greater Stockholm area must reduce their tap water use as a matter of urgency, authorities say. https://www.thelocal.se/20250815/every-drop-counts-stockholmers-told-to-urgently-restrict-water-use

Sweden's Deputy PM admits to fake AI quote in landmark speech Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister, Ebba Busch, has admitted to using a fake AI quote wrongly attributed to a left-wing journalist in her speech at the Almedalen political festival. https://www.thelocal.se/20250815/swedens-deputy-pm-admits-to-fake-ai-quote-in-landmark-speech

Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Friday Sweden's Deputy PM used fake AI quote in speech, summer inflation could delay rate cut, and other news from Sweden on Friday. https://www.thelocal.se/20250815/today-in-sweden-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-friday-191

'Neglected or ignored': Brits in Europe urged to back campaign for overseas MPs British nationals living abroad were urged to send their MPs postcards this summer as part of a campaign for dedicated MPs representing voters overseas. https://www.thelocal.se/20250814/neglected-or-ignored-brits-in-europe-urged-to-back-campaign-for-overseas-mps

Why are bad things linked to Swedish names like Maja and Pelle? A handful of Swedish first names appear occasionally at the tail end of Swedish words denoting everything from cry babies to sleazebags. Maja takes a lot of the heat, but Pelle is not far behind. https://www.thelocal.se/20250814/swedish-name-shame-what-did-maja-do-to-deserve-this

How to do your recycling in Sweden without offending the locals Recycling your used items correctly is essential to avoid making a major faux pas in Sweden, and of course to benefit the planet. But it's not always simple for the uninitiated to understand how to get rid of things sustainably. https://www.thelocal.se/20210805/how-to-recycle-in-sweden-without-offending-the-locals

RANKED: Sweden's most stressful and disappointing tourist attractions Very often the worst moments of a holiday are the ones where you go to see the sights, only to be met by crowds, overpriced tickets and restaurants, and general stress. Here are Sweden's most stressful and disappointing attractions, as ranked by two leading review websites. https://www.thelocal.se/20250814/ranked-swedens-most-stressful-and-disappointing-tourist-attractions

Centre Party calls for Sweden to bring in a tourist tax Centre Party business spokesperson Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist has called for municipalities in Sweden to be allowed to impose an additional tourist tax to compensate for the burden of tourism on infrastructure and municipal finances. https://www.thelocal.se/20250814/centre-party-calls-for-sweden-to-bring-in-a-tourist-tax

Norway and Sweden heatwave 'made 2 degrees hotter' by climate change Human-caused climate change made a recent Nordic heatwave about 2 degrees Celsius hotter, putting a strain on healthcare, ecosystems and indigenous Sami reindeer herders in a region ill-equipped for such events, researchers said on Thursday. https://www.thelocal.se/20250814/norway-and-sweden-heatwave-made-2-degrees-hotter-by-climate-change

Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday Centre Party calls for tourist tax, climate change 'made heatwave 2C hotter', and other news from Sweden on Thursday. https://www.thelocal.se/20250814/today-in-sweden-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-thursday-208

Fjortisar to surgubbar: 21 compound words for Swedish stereotypes Swedes have a rich and tradition of coining creative compound words to label and ridicule one another -- perhaps reflecting a society where people want to fit in. From the cardigan-wearing kulturtant, lycramannen on his titanium gravel bike, and the lattepappa on paternity leave, here are some of the funniest. https://www.thelocal.se/20250813/from-kulturtant-to-lattepappa-the-best-compound-words-for-swedish-stereotypes

Sweden's government to more than halve dental costs for pensioners Sweden's government will next year bring in a new subsidy for dental care which will more than halve the average annual cost for people over the pension age of 67 years old. https://www.thelocal.se/20250813/swedens-government-to-more-than-halve-dental-costs-for-pensioners

Swedish word of the day: utvilad Here’s a word you can use if you slept well or feel rejuvenated after some time off. https://www.thelocal.se/20250813/swedish-word-of-the-day-utvilad

Swedish Migration Agency aims to clear 'most' 4-year-old cases by end of 2025 The Swedish Migration Agency is hoping to clear its backlog of four-year-old citizenship cases by the end of this year after bringing in a new system where cases are handled strictly in order of the date of application. https://www.thelocal.se/20250813/swedish-migration-agency-aims-to-clear-most-4-year-old-cases-by-end-of-2025

'Every time I meet my friends they're talking about leaving Sweden' This week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers features an interview with Samaneh Khaef, a migration expert at Stockholm University. https://www.thelocal.se/20250806/every-time-i-meet-my-friends-theyre-talking-about-leaving-sweden

Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesday Foreign minister 'following government's line' on Israel, Significant risk of forest fires in southern Sweden, and other news on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.se/20250813/today-in-sweden-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-wednesday-209

Traffic over Öresund Bridge sets new record in first half of 2025 Traffic over the Öresund Bridge reached record levels in the first half of 2025, as residents of Sweden sought better pay on the Danish side, and Danes crossed to Sweden on shopping and leisure trips to take advantage of cheaper prices. https://www.thelocal.se/20250812/traffic-over-oresund-bridge-sets-new-record-in-first-half-of-2025

Politics in Sweden: Will Sweden’s government act to stop ‘teen deportations’? Two high-profile politicians from the prime minster’s Moderate Party want action taken to end a spate of ‘teen deportations’. Also, Ebba Busch in hot water over Israel remarks. https://www.thelocal.se/20250812/politics-in-sweden-will-swedens-government-act-to-stop-teen-deportations

Reader photo of the week: A summer sunset on the Swedish coast Every week, The Local invites readers to submit their pictures to our photo competition, to bring our audience together from all parts of Sweden. This week's winner is Narangerel Davaasuren, from Mongolia, who snapped this picture of a sunset in Oskarshamn, Småland. https://www.thelocal.se/20250812/reader-photo-of-the-week-a-summer-sunset-on-the-swedish-coast