Sweden can back eurozone pact: Riksdag

The Riksdag's EU affairs committee on Friday gave the go ahead to the Swedish government to support the eurozone budget pact at next week's EU summit, provided certain conditions are met. READ (4 COMMENTS) »

• 26/01 Social Democrats drop eurozone pact opposition »
• 18/01 Social Democrats affirm eurozone pact opposition »
• 20/12 Sweden to support eurozone stability fund »

Woman runs herself over with own car

A woman in suburban Stockholm was dragged for nearly 10 metres under her own car after she managed run herself over on Friday morning in what police believe was a failed attempt to deal with some apparent engine trouble. READ (17 COMMENTS) »

Löfven takes over: 'our values are timeless'

Stefan Löfven was formally installed as the new leader of Sweden's struggling Social Democrat party on Friday, following the resignation of Håkan Juholt last weekend. READ (6 COMMENTS) »

• 27/01 'High hopes' for Löfven as Social Democrat head »
• 26/01 Stefan Löfven: 'the only name all could agree on' »
• 26/01 Löfven 'proud and happy' to take party's top job »

Woman fined for crotch grab assault

A scorned Swedish woman who got back at her ex-husband by hijacking his Facebook account to indicate he was gay and then later attacked him by grabbing his testicles and biting him has been convicted for the assault. READ (6 COMMENTS) »

Northern lights over Sweden: a sampler

In case you missed the spectacular northern lights display that had the skies above Sweden glowing earlier this week, The Local has collected a few video clips that aptly capture the awe-inspiring aurora borealis. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

'High hopes' for Löfven as Social Democrat head

Sweden's leader pages painted newly named Social Democrat head Stefan Löfven as a down-to-earth, politically inexperienced man from northern Sweden who has a good chance of strengthening the struggling party. READ »

• 26/01 Stefan Löfven: 'the only name all could agree on' »
• 26/01 Löfven 'proud and happy' to take party's top job »
• 26/01 Union boss tipped as new Social Democrat head »

Artist avoids jail for 'negro slave taunt'

Malmö street artist Dan Park was handed a fine and a suspended sentence after being convicted on Thursday of defamation and racial agitation in connection with posters he made after students staged a "slave auction" at Lund University. READ (10 COMMENTS) »

• 28/10 Prosecutor: slave auction was 'costume party' »
• 08/09 Lund 'slave auction' prompts police probe »
• 21/04 Racism whistleblower faces 'negro slave' taunt  »

Principal stopped kids from getting marks that were 'too low'

The principal of a school in western Sweden is under investigation for unilaterally scrapping the marks given to a class of eighth graders because they were too low in comparison to other schools in the area. READ (5 COMMENTS) »

Group slams English name for Swedish region

A Swedish language preservation network has blasted plans by the "Twin Cities of Sweden" to market their common metropolitan area using the name of a small town in central Texas in the United States. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Man withdraws mouse from cash machine

A bank customer in northern Sweden got more than he bargained for when he made a withdrawal from a cash machine and pulled out his money, followed by a mouse. READ (6 COMMENTS) »

Stefan Löfven: 'the only name all could agree on'

With union leader Stefan Löfven set to take over as head of the Social Democrats, The Local takes a look at how a welder from northern Sweden found his way to the top ranks of Swedish politics. READ (1 COMMENT) »

• 26/01 Union boss tipped as new Social Democrat head »

Meeting your neighours, the Swedish way

While Swedes may have a reputation of being somewhat shy and reserved, that doesn't mean it's impossible to become friends with your Swedish neighbours, writes US-native and parent Rebecca Ahlfeldt. READ (41 COMMENTS) »

Social Democrats still 'deeply divided': expert

The turbulence within the Social Democrats, which climaxed at the weekend with the resignation of party head Håkan Juholt, is just the latest symptom of a party suffering from deep internal division, according to political scientist Nicholas Aylott. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

• 23/01 'We will have an answer on Monday': Jämtin »
• 23/01 'God only knows' what could have been: Juholt »
• 22/01 Social Democrats plumb new poll depths »
• 21/01 Juholt resigns as Social Democrat leader »

Al Pitcher: using English to make Swedes laugh

Sweden’s best male stand-up comedian is a Kiwi from London, and the last two and a half years of Al Pitcher's exile in Sweden have been the best in his career, contributor Jacob Sundberg discovers. READ (1 COMMENT) »

What's On in Sweden

Check out The Local's guide to the main attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö - in association with DoToday. READ (21 COMMENTS) »

Indonesian-born twins reunite in Sweden after 30 years

A mysterious Facebook message and a curious cab driver helped twin sisters separated just after birth in Indonesia find each other almost 30 years later in Sweden, living just 60 kilometres apart, The Local's Oliver Gee discovers. READ (10 COMMENTS) »