Sweden in Focus

In this week's episode we talk about Sweden’s return to day-to-day life as the summer holidays wind down. In politics we discuss divisions on the right on how to deal with Israel, and we dig into reactions to news that the Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson uses Chat GPT to test out new ideas.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelist Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Swedish traditions Eight phrases to get back in the groove like a Swede after the summer holidaysWeather MAP: The places in northern Sweden that set new heat records in JulyTourists seeking 'coolcations' in Norway and Sweden hit by heatwaves insteadPoliticsPolitics in Sweden: Swedish right divided over relations with IsraelChristian Democrat leader slammed for claiming Israel 'doing the world a favour'Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign 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+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

In this week's episode we talk about Sweden’s return to day-to-day life as the summer holidays wind down. In politics we discuss divisions on the right on how to deal with Israel, and we dig into reactions to news that the Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson uses Chat GPT to test out new ideas.For Membership+ subscribers, we look at what a new economic forecast is telling us about prospects for growth and employment, and finally we offer a taste of some of the most passive aggressive phrases you’re likely to hear in Sweden.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelist Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Swedish traditions Eight phrases to get back in the groove like a Swede after the summer holidaysWeather MAP: The places in northern Sweden that set new heat records in JulyTourists seeking 'coolcations' in Norway and Sweden hit by heatwaves insteadPoliticsPolitics in Sweden: Swedish right divided over relations with IsraelChristian Democrat leader slammed for claiming Israel 'doing the world a favour'EconomyIN DATA: Where in Sweden is unemployment rising the most?Should foreigners in southern Sweden look for jobs in Copenhagen?'It was completely online': How foreigners in Sweden got their jobs

In this week's episode, our Nordic editor Richard Orange speaks to Nigel Davies, a 63 year old British national who was seized by Swedish police and locked up on two separate occasions for days at a time this year, first in February and then in July.He was escorted onto a plane and deported last month after earlier missing a deadline to apply for post-Brexit residency.Richard spoke to him in July, a week after his deportation, when he was briefly back in Sweden to clear out his home.READ ALSO:'Worse than prison': Brexit Brit locked up in Swedish detention centre then deportedIN STATS: Why did Sweden reject Brits' applications for post-Brexit residency?Brits in Sweden still in limbo years after Brexit deadline

In this week's episode we bring in The Local's Denmark editor, Michael Barrett, to talk about why Denmark is liberating its work permit rules at the same time as Sweden is tightening up. And we assess Sweden’s big political experiment: a centre-right government backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats. Three years on, how has it been working?Host Richard Orange is joined this week by The Local's publisher James Savage and Denmark editor Michael Barrett.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Work Permits Denmark to ease work permit rules for 16 non-EU countriesSweden raises work permit salary threshold to almost 30,000 kronorPolitics Can Kristersson convince voters to give him another term?Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign 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+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

In this week's episode we bring in The Local's Denmark editor, Michael Barrett, to talk about why Denmark is liberating its work permit rules at the same time as Sweden is tightening up. And we assess Sweden’s big political experiment: a centre-right government backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats. Three years on, how has it been working?For Membership+ subscribers, we look at why a Swedish prosecutor dropped a hate crimes investigation into an artist who hung dolls dressed in striped concentration camp uniforms. And finally, we talk about how noise complaints from neighbours are threatening to close down the Trädgården nightclub in Stockholm. Are killjoy nimbies making the capital boring? Host Richard Orange is joined this week by The Local's publisher James Savage and our Denmark editor Michael Barrett. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Work Permits Denmark to ease work permit rules for 16 non-EU countriesSweden raises work permit salary threshold to almost 30,000 kronorPolitics Can Kristersson convince voters to give him another term?Hate crimes Swedish prosecutor drops hate crime case over 'hanging Jews' protestNightlifeThreat to Stockholm nightclub sparks killjoy row

This week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers features an interview with Hanna Geurtsen, the Migration Agency official responsible for overseeing a new list of jobs which could be exempted from a future salary threshold for work permits. She tells us how and why the list was put together, what it consists of, and what practical impact, if any, it is likely to have.Membership+ subscribers can listen to the interview in the latest episode of Sweden in Focus Extra.Read also: Swedish Migration Agency rates just two jobs as 'high risk' for work permitsREVEALED: The 152 jobs that could be excused minimum salary for a Swedish work permit

In this week's episode we talk about 'cloudburst-like rain' and what to do if your house is flooded, we talk about why Swedes tend to stay home in the summer, and we talk about what it's like to have a baby in Sweden. Floods How can you protect your Swedish home against downpours?Swedish summer 'On a sunny day, it can't be beat': The best things about spending summer in SwedenHaving babies How to use Swedish parental leave to spend four months with your baby back homeWhat you need to know about giving birth in SwedenGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign 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+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

In this week's episode we talk about 'cloudburst-like rain' and what to do if your house is flooded. We talk about why Swedes tend to stay home in the summer. And we talk about what it's like to have a baby in Sweden.For Membership+ subscribers, we reveal the jobs the Swedish Public Employment Service has suggested could be exempted from a future new salary threshold for work permits. And we talk about why there’s been a spike in drowning and whether better swimming lessons could be the solution.  Host Richard Orange is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:FloodsHow can you protect your Swedish home against downpours?Swedish summer'On a sunny day, it can't be beat': The best things about spending summer in SwedenHaving babiesHow to use Swedish parental leave to spend four months with your baby back homeWhat you need to know about giving birth in SwedenWork permit salary exemptionsREVEALED: The 152 jobs that could be excused minimum salary for a Swedish work permitDrowningNumber of drownings spikes as Swedes cool off in summer

It’s time again to learn some Swedish as our panelists try their hand at the tricky vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam. Host Paul O’Mahony in Stockholm is joined this week from Malmö by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.READ ALSO:SWEDISH TEST: Can you pass the vocab part of Sweden's version of the SAT? What you need to know about applying to university in Sweden The seven stages of learning Swedish every foreigner goes through