February 13, 2012
The following articles have been tagged with "Axe":
Politics: 9 Feb 12
Nordic, Baltic and British leaders have been gathering in Stockholm, ostensibly to discuss future challenges shared by the nations. But commentators think the meeting has a bigger purpose - as part of a British-led strategy to forge a new 'northern alliance' in Europe.
READ »
National: 9 Feb 12
A 71-year-old was attacked in central Stockholm at the end of January by a “well-dressed” man, threatening to kill him while splitting his skull in two with an axe.
READ »
National: 8 Feb 12
A 15-year-old girl, taken into custody by social services last week, was removed on Sunday from her foster home by four armed men, one of which was her father.
READ »
Analysis & Opinion: 8 Feb 12
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 »
Business & Money: 2 Feb 12
Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca is closing its research facilities in Södertälje, south of Stockholm, as part of a major restructuring, resulting in the loss of more than 1,000 Swedish jobs.
READ »
Lifestyle: 26 Jan 12
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 »
Analysis & Opinion: 23 Jan 12
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 »
National: 18 Jan 12
More than 80 people were charged on Tuesday for participating in a comprehensive smuggling operation that brought huge quantities of alcohol purchased in Germany into Sweden.
READ »
Business & Money: 15 Jan 12
In light of the current European debate on a financial transactions tax, former Swedish finance minister Bo Lundgren has spoken out about Sweden's "very negative" experience of implementing the tax in the 1980s.
READ »
Society: 11 Jan 12
The news about the Austrian sex school AISOS, which spread like wild-fire through the international media, was staged by a Swedish advertising agency.
READ »
Society: 10 Jan 12
A high-ranking civil servant in Sweden's defence ministry has been sacked after it was revealed he was involved in running several Thai massage parlours on the side.
READ »
Business & Money: 4 Jan 12
Despite a significant decrease in value added tax for restaurants in Sweden from the beginning of the new year, few businesses have lowered their prices accordingly.
READ »
Politics: 31 Dec 11
Tobacco users in Sweden will have to dig deeper into their wallets as another tax increase comes into force in the new year, while parental leave benefits as well as housing allowances are set to increase starting on January 1st.
READ »
Business & Money: 29 Dec 11
Figures showing financial improvements for Sweden's middle and upper classes, at the same time the country's poorest have seen their incomes decline have given finance minister something to fret about.
READ »
Business & Money: 28 Dec 11
A voluntary amnesty for Swedes with assets hidden in tax havens is paying dividends, according to Swedish tax authorities, who report that the amnesty had brought in close to a billion kronor in new tax revenue in 2010.
READ »
Analysis & Opinion: 19 Dec 11
Rampant holiday consumerism is hard to avoid, writes US-native and parent Rebecca Ahlfeldt, as she struggles to reconcile competing Swedish and American Christmas traditions in finding gifts for her children.
READ »
Business & Money: 13 Dec 11
The first share of the money promised to Saab by Chinese Youngman has arrived into the cash-strapped carmaker's accounts, according to company representatives.
READ »
Politics: 11 Dec 11
Swedish minister for the environment, Lena Ek, welcomed the deal to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, reached on Sunday following intense negotiations during the UN Climate Change Conference in South Africa.
READ »
Science & Technology: 5 Dec 11
Blockbuster sales of the Swedish-developed computer war game Battlefield 3 have helped solidify Sweden's reputation as a hotbed for game developers, The Local's Geoff Mortimore discovers.
READ »
National: 5 Dec 11
More evidence presented against the two Swedish journalists on trial in Ethiopia has been faked, according to their defense lawyer, who said that his two clients didn’t know the guerrilla soldiers charged alongside them.
READ »
Lifestyle: 1 Dec 11
As the Christmas season approaches in Stockholm, it is very likely that festive food is uppermost in your mind. Luckily, contributor Gwen Ramsey has put together a list of great options for filling your holiday hamper.
READ »
Science & Technology: 24 Nov 11
The number of obese people in Sweden has all but doubled in the last two decades, but is still comparatively low compared to other OECD countries, according to a recent study.
READ »
Business & Money: 21 Nov 11
Sweden’s state-run alcohol monopoly Systembolaget has been accused of having had a hand in a police report filed by the IOGT-NTO temperance society against a group of wine clubs offering home delivery.
READ »
Business & Money: 15 Nov 11
Healthcare provider Carema, recently ditched by the City of Stockholm after a series of revelations of neglect, has denied reports that staff left a dementia patient to die alone in front of a television.
READ »
Business & Money: 14 Nov 11
Finance minister Anders Borg announced plans on Monday to close loopholes in the Swedish tax code following criticism that healthcare companies are using complicated schemes to avoid paying taxes in Sweden.
READ »
Politics: 9 Nov 11
Sweden's finance minister Anders Borg on Wednesday gave his assessment of the Italian government's role in the EU sovereign debt crisis, accusing outgoing PM Silvio Belusconi of not having taken the situation seriously.
READ »
Business & Money: 2 Nov 11
Swedish oil and gas firm Lundin Petroleum has reported a profit before tax of $166.6 million for the third quarter, up from $105.4 million in the corresponding period of 2010 and over analyst expectations.
READ »
National: 26 Oct 11
The Swedish military has been hit by a smuggling scandal stemming from the Air Force's just completed mission in Libya.
READ »
National: 24 Oct 11
Police and the tax authorities have launched closer surveillance of Thai massage parlours in Sweden, suspecting that the sharp increase in their number indicates sex trafficking and tax evasion.
READ »
Lifestyle: 14 Oct 11
Tired of Sweden's high alcohol taxes and the state run liquor monopoly? Come along with contributor Patrick Reilly as he details a recent journey to Germany in search of cheap beer.
READ »
Politics: 7 Oct 11
The leaders of the Social Democrats and the Left Party on Friday declined to participate in an upcoming debate to avoid having to stand next to Sweden Democrat party leader Jimmie Åkesson.
READ »
Society: 6 Oct 11
Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer, who was on Thursday named the 2011 Nobel Literature Prize laureate, has published a relatively small body of work, often addressing themes of death, history and nature.
READ »
Society: 6 Oct 11
The head of literature at Swedish publishing house Bonniers, which has published the bulk of Tomas Tranströmer's work, compared news of the newly-named Nobel laureate's win to becoming a parent.
READ »
Society: 6 Oct 11
A Swede who was fined 27,000 Swiss francs ($30,000) after being clocked driving his luxury Mercedes at 290 km/h in Switzerland last year has lost his appeal to have the fine reduced.
READ »
Lifestyle: 4 Oct 11
If you're a diplomat or have tax-free status at an international organization, a special scheme from Volvo means that you can buy a premium car at favourable prices - and gain many benefits besides.
READ »
Business & Money: 3 Oct 11
Volvo Car Corporation is terminating production at their plant in Uddevalla, in western Sweden, when they take over sole ownership of the company in 2013, the company announced on Monday.
READ »
National: 3 Oct 11
Ralph M. Steinman, one of the three researchers jointly awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for discoveries related to the immune system, died last week at the age of 68.
READ »
Science & Technology: 1 Oct 11
In a potentially huge blow to Swedish high tech companies, those selling mobile and tablet apps within the EU are set to face a double VAT hit.
READ »
National: 30 Sep 11
A leading Sweden nutrition expert on Friday argued that Sweden should follow neighbours Denmark and introduce a tax on fats in order to help in the fight against obesity.
READ »
Politics: 20 Sep 11
Swedish finance minister Anders Borg defended the government's autumn budget proposal against charges that it was overly optimistic in a spirited Riksdag debate on Tuesday.
READ »
Business & Money: 20 Sep 11
Sweden's government has outlined a raft of labour market initiatives in the budget presented on Tuesday, while its forecast for GDP growth has been slashed to 1.3 percent in 2012, warning that the reality could be worse.
READ »
Sport: 13 Sep 11
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out of Tuesday's Champions League clash between his old club Barcelona and AC Milan at the Camp Nou due to a long-standing groin problem.
READ »
National: 7 Sep 11
The distraught mother of a 22-year-old Swedish woman who died after being denied an ambulance because she was “still talking” has reported the incident to health authorities in a desperate search for answers.
READ »
Lifestyle: 6 Sep 11
Sweden’s wildlife can be hard to find at the best of times, but luckily, if it's an elk you want to see, a safari park near Stockholm promises to get you so close you might even get a smooch, Oliver Gee discovers.
READ »
Business & Money: 5 Sep 11
Sweden's Alliance government has promised pensioners reduced taxes in 2013 or 2014 - if the public finances allow, with reforms to help the poorest pensioners to come into force already next year.
READ »
National: 31 Aug 11
A 66-year-old Swedish man died in an accident at a paper factory in western Sweden after falling into a cistern filled with hot lye late Tuesday night.
READ »
Society: 31 Aug 11
While Swedish women are spending less time on household chores that they were a decade ago, they continue to take a greater share than their male partners, a new study shows.
READ »
Society: 26 Aug 11
Three Gothenburg police officers who parked illegally during a coffee break have managed to beat their fines after appealing their case all the way to the Swedish Supreme Court.
READ »
Lifestyle: 17 Aug 11
As fashionistas in the Swedish capital settle down after a frenetic Stockholm Fashion Week, The Local's Caroline Bursell takes a look back at some of the event's highlights.
READ »
Politics: 16 Aug 11
Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt announced on Tuesday his Moderate Party was delaying plans to implement several tax reductions, citing increasing concerns about the state of the global economy.
READ »
Business & Money: 12 Aug 11
The ongoing financial crisis in the US is causing growing concern in Pajala, in the North of Sweden, whose future is largely dependent on an iron mine due to be opened by an American company.
READ »
National: 11 Aug 11
Sweden's finance minister Anders Borg on Thursday warned that the government will need to revise down its strong economic growth expectations for 2012 due to the global financial market turbulence.
READ »
Business & Money: 10 Aug 11
Saab CEO and sole director, Victor Muller, will meet Wednesday with representatives of the four unions at its factory in Trollhättan in western Sweden, who are seeking answers as to how the company will ensure that wages are paid.
READ »
Politics: 8 Aug 11
Sweden's finance minister Anders Borg on Monday promised a "cautious" economic policy as he commented on turbulence in global stock markets. Trading in Stockholm meanwhile nosedived as US markets opened.
READ »
National: 8 Aug 11
Monday saw the start of the trial against the so-called "Old–timer gang" (Gubbligan), facing charges for a slew aggravated robberies in southern Sweden between 2007 and 2010.
READ »
Science & Technology: 30 Jul 11
A new archaeological examination of Ales stenar, a massive stone relic perched atop a cliff in southern Sweden, has sparked a heated crossfire between scientists about the origins of the famed stone ship.
READ »
Lifestyle: 19 Jul 11
The Brooklyn-esque island of Södermalm offers countless cozy café options for its young and trendy dwellers. Here’s The Local’s list of five hotspots to have a "fika" (coffee break), lounge, and bask in the buzz of this hip neighborhood.
READ »
Business & Money: 13 Jul 11
The future of cash-strapped Swedish automaker Saab remains uncertain after doubts emerged over the finances of potential investor Vladimir Antonov and the revelation that the company has substantial tax debts.
READ »
Education: 12 Jul 11
The Swedish government plans to boost sexual education in schools, announcing a 10 million kronor ($1.5 million) investment to expand the subject from biology classes into history, social studies and religion.
READ »
Business & Money: 8 Jul 11
Sweden's privately-owned pharmacies are suffering from financial troubles. The largest player on Sweden's pharmacy market, Apotek Hjärtat, has reported a loss of 358 million kronor ($56.4 million) after taxes, according to Swedish media reports.
READ »
Politics: 1 Jul 11
The Swedish government suffered another setback in the Riksdag on Friday, when the Sweden Democrats voted with the centre-left opposition parties to force through its proposal by a single vote.
READ »
Politics: 30 Jun 11
EU's budget proposal has been heavily criticised by Sweden, with one MP calling it "the most provocative budget in EU history".
READ »
Analysis & Opinion: 29 Jun 11
Historical documents related to the capture of seven Swedes by the Gestapo in Poland in 1942 puts Sweden's subsequent ball bearing deliveries to Nazi Germany in a new light, argue historians Susanne Berger and Ingela Magner.
READ »
Travel: 27 Jun 11
While Sweden is perhaps better known for its archipelagos and lakes, the country's rivers can also serve up summer fun to thrill seekers and nature lovers alike, The Local’s Karen Holst discovers.
READ »
National: 23 Jun 11
The future of disaster-riddled carmaker Saab doesn’t look bright, according to several analysts, who say that holding back salaries is a company’s very last way out.
READ »
Travel: 20 Jun 11
With Midsummer rapidly approaching, The Local's Clara Guibourg explores the wonders of the Stockholm archipelago and discovers a couple of gems off the beaten track.
READ »
Education: 17 Jun 11
The principal of a Stockholm-area free school who "used the school as her personal bank account" has been convicted for falsifying invoices to avoid paying taxes.
READ »
Analysis & Opinion: 17 Jun 11
One year after the royal wedding of Crown Princess Victoria, Sweden's royal family finds itself mired in crisis. The Local's Clara Guibourg examines why the wedding glow faded so fast and what it means for the monarchy's future.
READ »
Politics: 15 Jun 11
The leaders of Sweden’s two largest political parties clashed for the first time on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt warning that pressure from opposition parties on the right and left were pushing his minority government towards crisis.
READ »
National: 11 Jun 11
Tony Olsson, who is currently serving a life sentence for the 1999 killing of two policemen, has failed in his bid to have a time limit placed on his life sentence.
READ »
Business & Money: 8 Jun 11
Foreigners seeking Swedish work permits sometimes have to wait up to eight months as the Migration Board struggles to deal with a flood of applications following new rules governing labour migration.
READ »
Business & Money: 8 Jun 11
More than 20 billion kronor ($3.25 billion) in tax refunds are set to rain down on close to 3 million Swedes ahead of the Midsummer holiday, marking a new record due in large part to the popularity of filing tax forms electronically.
READ »
Education: 1 Jun 11
A school in western Sweden has been sued for almost a million kronor ($160,000) by four families who claim that not enough has been done to help bullied children.
READ »
Business & Money: 26 May 11
Sweden's state-run alcohol retail monopoly Systembolaget has demanded an extra tax on box wine equating a price hike of up to 25-30 percent in order to curb the thirst for bag-in-box wines.
READ »
Lifestyle: 24 May 11
Stuck in London, but looking for a taste of Sweden? Contributor Keith Moore suggests a cozy Brick Lane eatery serving up a host of very-Swedish treats that has much of the British capital dreaming of reindeer and lingonberries.
READ »
Business & Money: 18 May 11
Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of Swedish furnishings giant Ikea, has promised more transparency over the firm's business affairs, saying that it has nothing to hide after a slew of allegations in recent years.
READ »
Science & Technology: 6 May 11
Swedish researchers have determined that surgery rather than "watchful waiting" may be a better option for treating prostate cancer, especially in younger patients.
READ »
Business & Money: 2 May 11
The Swedish Tax Agency has warned that many of those seeking to file online tax returns could suffer problems as its website struggles to cope with the last minute rush.
READ »
Science & Technology: 2 May 11
US president Barack Obama was transformed into a bunch of carrots for more than an hour on Monday morning thanks to a mischievous Wikipedia user claiming the name of the Swedish king.
READ »
Politics: 23 Apr 11
The center-right Alliance in Sweden has lowered taxes by over 100 billion kronor since 2006 with the most generous tax breaks going to those in work.
READ »
Business & Money: 18 Apr 11
Roughly half of Swedish tax revenues are generated by residents in and around the capital city of Stockholm, according to a new study.
READ »
Business & Money: 15 Apr 11
Swedish free newspaper publisher Metro International announced on Friday that its first quarter losses shrank substantially compared to the same quarter last year.
READ »
Politics: 13 Apr 11
Sweden's finance minister Anders Borg emphasised falling unemployment figures in the budget debate in the Riksdag on Wednesday, while the Social Democrats argued that Sweden was suffering from "mass unemployment".
READ »
Politics: 12 Apr 11
Sweden's Alliance coalition government announced Tuesday that it is ready to push ahead with further tax cuts provided public finances continue to expand.
READ »
Politics: 11 Apr 11
Newly installed Social Democratic party leader Håkan Juholt thinks Sweden's monarchy should be abolished and that the country's wealth tax should be reinstated.
READ »
Society: 9 Apr 11
A grocery store near Gothenburg in western Sweden has started selling non-prescription drugs via a vending machine.
READ »
Society: 7 Apr 11
A doctor's sub-par Swedish languages skills likely played a role in the death of a 66-year-old man in western Sweden, the country's health board has ruled.
READ »
Analysis & Opinion: 4 Apr 11
Losing your job may be traumatic, but there are worse places to find yourself out of a job than Sweden, The Local's Geoff Mortimore explains.
READ »
Society: 1 Apr 11
Shampoo for shaggy hardrocker festival-goers, dog poop fireworks to save the environment, as well as The Local's own anti-feminist Viking village, were among the April Fools' Day hoaxes in the Swedish media on Friday.
READ »
Politics: 26 Mar 11
Håkan Juholt, the new leader of Sweden's Social Democrat party, attacked the government's record on youth unemployment, child poverty and 'growing divides' in society, in his inaugural speech on Saturday.
READ »
Society: 23 Mar 11
A painting by Anders Zorn, one of Sweden's most prized painters, has fallen foul of Facebook's zero tolerance policy for its depiction of a naked woman in a loft.
READ »
Business & Money: 22 Mar 11
Swedish fund EQT Monday announced the sale of Kabel BW, a German cable operator, to US-based Liberty Global for 3.16 billion euros ($4.49 billion).
READ »
Society: 19 Mar 11
Elin Nordegren, the Swedish ex-wife of Tiger Woods, has purchased a Florida beachfront mansion larger than the golf superstar's nearby island estate home, the Palm Beach Post reported Friday.
READ »
Business & Money: 18 Mar 11
It’s easy to spend more than necessary on insurance - particularly if all the blurb is in Swedish. But now there’s a way to get Swedish insurance tailored for expatriates in a language that you understand - while saving money at the same time.
READ »
Travel: 17 Mar 11
In honour of St. Patrick’s Day, The Local’s Karen Holst taps into Malmö's pub scene for some tips on some favourite watering holes in Sweden's third largest city.
READ »
Business & Money: 10 Mar 11
Ten Swedes have made it onto the Forbes billionaires list for 2011, with H&M owner Stefan Persson placing highest among the Swedes considered to be the world's wealthiest.
READ »
Politics: 8 Mar 11
The EU's GDP could increase by almost 30 percent if more women in Europe worked, according to Sweden EU Minister Birgitta Ohlsson, who warned that "a Jurassic Park filled with old men" may be the alternative.
READ »
Politics: 7 Mar 11
The European Union must attract labour from other parts of the world if it is to function in future, according to Sweden's prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. And Turkey should join the club as soon as it is ready.
READ »
Business & Money: 2 Mar 11
Sweden's Left Party has set its sights on stopping the privatisation of Sweden’s largely publicly-funded healthcare system.
READ »
Analysis & Opinion: 28 Feb 11
As the 25th anniversary of Olof Palme’s murder is remembered The Local’s Karen Holst explores the political legacy left by the man who delivered Sweden from obscurity and into the globalising world.
READ »

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 »
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 »
"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 »
|
|

fin
adjective
Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
Play Poker online at Pokerlistings.com
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
Latest news about gambling laws and online gambling sites in Sweden
News provided by GamingZion: Your global online gambling directory
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
518 jobs available
248 new jobs this week
57 new jobs today