February 13, 2012

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SKIING IN SWEDEN

Five reasons I can't stand skiing: an Aussie's pain

Having just returned from a ‘horror ski trip’, The Local’s resident Aussie and first-time skier Oliver Gee wonders why Swedes find such pleasure in hurling themselves down snowy hills. READ (24 COMMENTS) »

'Swedish needs a gender-neutral pronoun'

The Swedish language is in need of a new pronoun free of preconceived notions about gender, argue a Swedish linguist and representatives from a publishing house set to release a children's book featuring the word “hen” rather than “han” (he) or hon (she). READ (49 COMMENTS) »

Sweden 'an important partner': US ambassador

Recently installed US ambassador to Sweden Mark Brzezinski speaks to The Local's David Landes about US-Swedish relations and taking Swedish lessons from his two-and-half year old daughter. READ (15 COMMENTS) »

ASSANGE EXTRADITION FIGHT

Assange win would have 'profound' effects

Julian Assange appears before the UK Supreme Court on Wednesday to fight extradition to Sweden to face sex crimes accusations. If the WikiLeaks founder's appeal succeeds, the effects would be “profound”, according to one expert. READ (36 COMMENTS) »

NEW SOCIAL DEMOCRAT LEADER

'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 (2 COMMENTS) »

NEW SOCIAL DEMOCRAT LEADER

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) »

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 (66 COMMENTS) »

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS IN TURMOIL

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 (3 COMMENTS) »

HAVE YOUR SAY

Does citizenship really matter?

As Sweden looks for ways to make Swedish citizenship “more meaningful”, it begs the question as to what citizenship means in the first place. READ (62 COMMENTS) »

'Tradition, culture, and religion are not a Swedish Bermuda triangle'

Following the unofficial closure of the Christmas holiday season in Sweden, contributor Ruben Brunsveld reflects on the transformation of religious traditions into cultural ones. READ (12 COMMENTS) »

MALMÖ GUN VIOLENCE

Malmö takes a stand against growing violence

The grieving father of a murdered 15-year-old, attempting to climb down into his dead son's grave, was a sombre reminder of the consequences of the escalating violence in southern Sweden, reports contributor Patrick Reilly. READ (25 COMMENTS) »

'In a networked world, Sweden may be more powerful than the US'

While Sweden's military power may be dwarfed by that of the United States, in a networked world, Sweden may nevertheless find itself better equipped than the US to exert influence on the global stage, argues contributor Stefan Geens. READ (30 COMMENTS) »

Tuition fees change Sweden's student population

With tuition fees for non-EEA students in effect, the makeup of Sweden’s non-European student population is shifting and the pressure is on for universities to deliver services worth selling, argues contributor Sven Hultberg Carlsson. READ (51 COMMENTS) »

• 02/01 Raoul Wallenberg – Sweden's Not-So-Favourite Son (21 comments) »
• 30/12 What's going to happen in Sweden in 2012? (22 comments) »
• 29/12 Sweden's five biggest news stories of 2011 (8 comments) »
• 27/12 Swedes' disdain for the euro hits new heights (8 comments) »
• 22/12 'Lundin may have led Bildt to the heart of darkness' (20 comments) »
• 21/12 Should the Nazi flag have a place in Sweden's Christmas traditions? (78 comments) »
• 19/12 'It often feels like Christmas in Sweden is only about presents' (45 comments) »
• 13/12 Why Sweden should stay out of the EU budget pact (27 comments) »
• 08/12 Bring on the snow: are you ready for winter? (10 comments) »
• 07/12 Poetry and performance infuse Tranströmer's Nobel lecture (2 comments) »

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »

Click here to get more from Follow Sweden

12 February 21:30

The consciousness of one »

"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »

• 11/2 09:27 Fika Quiz (The Swedish Teacher)
• 10/2 10:47 Reefer Madness (110% LAGOM)
• 07/2 12:55 Queen of Diamonds (The Diplomatic Dispatch)

GALLERY » The weekend's 'finest' February 10-12

EDUCATION » Sweden to cut dropout rate by shortening school

SOCIETY » 'Vodka-mobile' selling booze to Swedish kids

NATIONAL » Agency to probe doc who broke baby’s neck

POLITICS » Brits in Sweden to forge northern alliance: paper

GALLERY » Midweek revellers: February 8

NATIONAL » Twins ‘overwhelmed’ by new Indonesian findings

NATIONAL » ‘Hugging’ thieves baffle Stockholm police

BUSINESS & MONEY » Few Swedes ready to work until they're 75: poll

SOCIETY » Man performed surgery on his own dog

NATIONAL » Girl to friend: 'I think I've got a knife in my throat'

NATIONAL » Malmö mayor in non-violence plea to residents

GALLERY » The weekend's 'finest' February 3-5

POLITICS » Swedes should work until they’re 75: Reinfeldt

EDUCATION » School rapped over bullying victim's suicide

NATIONAL » One dead, 70 homeless after Gothenburg blaze

SCIENCE & TECH » Air pollution worse than smoking mother: study

SOCIETY » 89-year-old convicted for shopping cart assault

NATIONAL » Swedes out in force to protest anti-piracy law

POLITICS » Löfven won’t block profits in care sector

SOCIETY » Retrial ordered after judge falls asleep

EDUCATION » Swedish schools aim to ditch books by 2013

FACEBOOK » The Local on Facebook

TWITTER » The Local on Twitter

GALLERY » Midweek revellers: February 1

NATIONAL » Pigeons 'beheaded and eaten' in Swede's kitchen

SOCIETY » Convicted killer wants to 'take a vacation'

GALLERY » The weekend's 'finest' January 27-29

Swedish word of the day

fin

adjective

Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.

Click here to get more from Follow Sweden

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• 13/02 Norway beer makers can't show beer »
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More news from Norway at thelocal.no

New book about Sweden – get to know the country

Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.

Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop

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