May 28, 2012
The following articles have been tagged with "Debate":
Society: 25 May 12
A doll billed as a "real retard" found its way into stores in Gothenburg in western Sweden on Thursday, prompting strong reactions about a campaign meant to draw attention to the treatment of people with disabilities.
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Analysis & Opinion: 23 May 12
Harald Kindermann, the German ambassador to Sweden, talks to The Local about the importance of the German language, nuclear power, and the legacy of the Stasi.
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National: 19 May 12
On Friday, Melodifestivalen winner Loreen visited a women’s shelter in Baku, proving that her visit in Azerbaijan is about more than just bringing home a European Song Contest win.
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Analysis & Opinion: 16 May 12
Sweden needs to change rules that strip foreign doctoral candidates of the same rights as other tax-paying migrant workers, argue a group of doctoral candidates from the Royal Institute for Technology (KTH).
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Politics: 13 May 12
With 6.6 percent of voters backing them, the far-right Sweden Democrats have grown to be Sweden’s fourth-largest party, according to the latest poll from research institute Sifo.
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Lifestyle: 9 May 12
The Local put together a list of nine unusual Swedish words that simply don’t exist in English. We even asked a bunch of Swedes to make sure - and filmed their responses…
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Politics: 7 May 12
Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt squared off against Social Democratic leader Stefan Löfven for the first time during a spirited party leader debate in which the two sparred over unemployment and other issues.
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Business & Money: 2 May 12
Sweden teamed up with Britain and other eastern European allies in a showdown Wednesday against other EU states led by Germany and France over rules to protect banks against any crisis.
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National: 29 Apr 12
A Swedish study has found that apathetic refugee children suffer from dramatic changes in hormone levels connected to chronic stress, concluding that the condition is thus genuine.
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Politics: 17 Apr 12
While the far-right Sweden Democrats initially distanced themselves from the deadly attacks by Anders Behring Breivik, currently on trial in Norway, the party hasn't undergone a major transformation, the AFP's Nina Larsson discovers.
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Politics: 16 Apr 12
The Swedish economy is set for a major slowdown in 2012, according the spring budget presented on Monday by finance minister Anders Borg, who warned for the "downside risks" amid the continued economic uncertainty.
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Politics: 3 Apr 12
Swedish courts are wrong in how they've interpreted beefed up sex crime laws, needlessly turning consenting, love-struck teens into potential criminals, according to an ex-justice minister.
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Society: 30 Mar 12
Sweden’s Princess Madeleine said in an interview on Thursday that it saddens her to be erroneously accused of living a life of luxury in New York at the expense of Swedish taxpayers.
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Science & Technology: 29 Mar 12
Swedish computer programmers have created a a new browser plug-in dubbed the "Henerator" which automatically changes the Swedish equivalents of "he" and "she" into the recently coined and gender-neutral pronoun "hen".
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National: 29 Mar 12
Sweden's minister of defence, Sten Tolgfors, announced on Thursday he was resigning his post, citing the ongoing revelations about Sweden's secret deal to build a weapons plant in Saudia Arabia as "the final straw".
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Society: 22 Mar 12
A Swedish woman serving as the curator of Sweden's official Twitter account has posted pictures of herself breastfeeding and whipped up an online storm just days after her takeover of the account.
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Business & Money: 22 Mar 12
Swedish prosecutors have launched a preliminary criminal investigation into suspicions that a Swedish military agency may have broken the law in connection with plans to help build a weapons plant in Saudi Arabia.
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Science & Technology: 22 Mar 12
A recent investigation into the Nobel Foundation following criticism of some of its choices for the Peace Prize will not be pursued any further, Swedish authorities said on Wednesday.
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Politics: 21 Mar 12
Sweden's parliament voted in favour of the controversial EU data retention directive following a spirited debate on Wednesday, as some internet providers touted new measures to protect their customers' privacy.
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Analysis & Opinion: 20 Mar 12
Frustration with being shut out of the Swedish job market has prompted several Swedes with immigrant backgrounds to seek – and find – success in the melting pot that is New York City, contributor Rafaela Stålbalk discovers.
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Society: 20 Mar 12
Swedish girls believe that body hair makes them appear less female compared to when they have shaved, with youth centres receiving queries from girls about shaving as young as ten.
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Business & Money: 19 Mar 12
Global arms exports are on the rise and Swedish exports of military equipment are growing at a faster clip than the global average, new figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) show.
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Business & Money: 18 Mar 12
Ian and Lukas Lundin have rejected accusations that the Lundin Group consists of "opportunistic, dictator-hugging businessmen", arguing that allegations of human rights abuses are "unfounded, unfair and in some cases, absurd".
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National: 14 Mar 12
Compulsory sterilization for people undergoing gender reassignment surgery is in breach of the European Conventionon Human Rights and the rule should therefore no longer apply, an administrative court in Sweden has ruled.
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Science & Technology: 12 Mar 12
Three out of four Swedes say they don't know Twitter, a new survey has found, but many nevertheless believe the social media channel has a lot of influence in Swedish society.
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Politics: 11 Mar 12
When education minister and Liberal Party leader Jan Björklund spoke at the party's congress in Västerås, he brought up youth unemployment as well as the hotly debated Saudi arms factory deal.
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Society: 8 Mar 12
The Nobel Foundation on Thursday formally rejected recent claims that the Norwegian Nobel Committee has strayed from the wishes expressed in prize creator Alfred Nobel's last will and testament.
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Politics: 8 Mar 12
The Swedish export control council was informed of the secret plans to help the Saudis build an arms factory as early as May 2010, according to new secret documents.
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Analysis & Opinion: 7 Mar 12
The strategy of attacks and intimidation employed by critics of Lars Vilks is working, argues controversial Swedish artist, who has seen his lecturing activities dry up over organizers fears of riots and being labelled as "racist".
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National: 7 Mar 12
Tuesday’s revelation that the Swedish government has been involved in a project to aid the building of an arms factory in a dictatorship like Saudi Arabia has caused strong reactions both in Sweden and abroad.
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Business & Money: 7 Mar 12
Cheap Swedish alcohol and a plentiful supply of butter helped entice Norwegians to spend more than 13 billion kronor ($1.9 billion) during one-day shopping trips to Sweden last year, new statistics show.
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Analysis & Opinion: 2 Mar 12
While Malmö's Rosengård neighbourhood is often the subject of negative headlines, the multi-ethnic district is slowly becoming a model for positive change in Sweden's third largest city, contributor Patrick Reilly discovers.
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Lifestyle: 24 Feb 12
Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria gave birth to a daughter in the early hours of Thursday morning. The Local brings you all the latest news, reactions, and details surrounding Sweden's first royal birth in more than three decades.
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Business & Money: 24 Feb 12
The Swedish hospital that advertised for “hot” nurses has been forced to apologize after an discrimination complaint from a 64-year-old man who claims he wasn't considered because he is “too wrinkly” and has a limp.
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Politics: 24 Feb 12
New Social Democrat leader Stefan Löfven on Thursday presented the team he calls his new “shadow government”, featuring both new and old names.
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National: 22 Feb 12
Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt has served as an informant for the United States for decades, according to secret documents to be released by WikiLeaks as part of a smear campaign to halt Sweden's presumed extradition of Julian Assange to the United States.
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Politics: 18 Feb 12
The Christian Democrats have fallen into line with their Alliance coalition partners in favour of scrapping laws requiring compulsory sterilization for people undergoing gender reassignment surgery.
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Politics: 15 Feb 12
Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt called for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to step down when delivering the government's annual statement of foreign policy on Wednesday, which also prompted a heated debate about the recognition of a Palestinian state.
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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.
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Society: 9 Feb 12
Sweden’s Supreme Court was right to convict four men of hate crimes for distributing "offensive" homophobic flyers at a school, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.
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Lifestyle: 2 Feb 12
Sweden is about to be tossed into the frenzy that is ”Melodifestivalen”, the musical contest where the next artist to represent Sweden in Eurovision Song Contest 2012 will be selected.
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Lifestyle: 2 Feb 12
Sweden’s only 'Swenglish' comedian, Ben Kersley, talks to The Local about his latest comedic venture, The Tuesday Chinwag, starring ‘three bespectacled English guys’ and music by Swedish Idol’s Nicholas Perry.
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Lifestyle: 1 Feb 12
Is there any truth in the image of Sweden portrayed in the Millennium books and films? Stockholm University ethnologist Jonas Engman argues that the stories have tapped into Swedish fears that their society’s success is not all they had been brought up to believe.
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National: 23 Jan 12
Recently departed Social Democrat head Håkan Juholt said his inability to quickly put together a solid staff was one of his three biggest regrets from his ten-month tenure as head of the party.
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Politics: 19 Jan 12
Heading into a meeting of top party colleagues on Thursday, beleaguered Social Democrat head Håkan Juholt said he was confident he had the support of his party, despite recent turbulence.
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Politics: 17 Jan 12
Sexual harassment allegations against a top Social Democrat have prompted the party’s feminist faction to object to his appointment as chair of party's Riksdag group, delivering yet another blow to Social Democrat head Håkan Juholt.
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Politics: 17 Jan 12
Social Democrat leader Håkan Juholt once again landed himself in hot water after saying that the government had “pushed through” defence policies with the help of the Sweden Democrats.
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Politics: 16 Jan 12
The government plans to launch an inquiry to study Swedish citizenship in hopes of finding ways to boost its value and use it as a tool for integration.
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Science & Technology: 15 Jan 12
Sweden's forced sterilization for sex change candidates continues to spark debate, as Human Rights Watch has written a letter to prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, urging him to reconsider the law.
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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.
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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.
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National: 5 Jan 12
The Öresund bridge has long been known to be an important route for weapons smugglers to get their wares into Sweden. Despite this, only seven illegal weapons were seized there over the course of 2011.
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Science & Technology: 27 Dec 11
The lack of sun in a Swedish winter may be deadly, as well as depressing. Elderly men with low levels of vitamin D have a "substantial excess risk of death", according to a new Swedish study.
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Business & Money: 22 Dec 11
Letting Swedes hold on to their account numbers when switching banks is one way to put pressure on banks thought to be gouging customers with high mortgage rates, financial markets minister Peter Norman said Thursday.
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Politics: 19 Dec 11
The Swedish government has launched a new website to combat the proliferation of inaccurate and often racist myths about minorities and immigrants in Sweden.
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Science & Technology: 17 Dec 11
There are still questions surrounding some important points in the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management's application for final disposition, concluded an international expert group.
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Society: 16 Dec 11
Abba founder Benny Andersson wants Arlanda airport to take down a giant picture of him welcoming visitors to Stockholm, following a decision to revamp a local landmark leaving him unwilling to be associated with the city.
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Society: 13 Dec 11
Despite protests by citizens and celebrities, including former Abba star Benny Andersson, Stockholm’s city council voted on Monday night to move forward with a massive renovation of the city’s Slussen area.
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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.
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Society: 8 Dec 11
Roy 'Chubby' Brown, dubbed “the most sexist, racist comedian in the UK” is coming to Sweden, leaving many - including Brown - wondering how somewhat more politically correct Swedes will react, The Local's Geoff Mortimore discovers.
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Politics: 8 Dec 11
The Riksdag voted to increase control of the Royal Court’s finances on Wednesday, against the wishes of the government parties.
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Business & Money: 6 Dec 11
Swedish clothing retailer H&M has defended its use of computer-generated bodies adorned with the heads of real models in order to sell swimwear and lingerie.
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Society: 3 Dec 11
The felling of Stockholm's beloved "TV oak" has stirred up strong feelings. So strong, in some cases, that several of the employees who made the final call on the oak's future have received severe threats.
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Society: 29 Nov 11
Pirate Party founder Rick Falkvinge has been named among the "Top 100 Global Thinkers" alongside a number of Arab revolutionaries and the likes of Barack Obama, Ai WeiWei, and Mark Zuckerberg.
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National: 28 Nov 11
A local Sweden Democrat has courted controversy by claiming that the word “negro” is not a racist term, explaining that there is "the red race, the yellow race, and then there's me, who is of the white race".
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National: 28 Nov 11
After years of debate on the issue, a new proposed law on animal welfare suggests the outlawing of sexual encounters with animals in Sweden, a practice previously decriminalized in 1944.
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Analysis & Opinion: 28 Nov 11
Swedish society is failing its "immigrants", many of whom, such as football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, are forced to look elsewhere to build successful careers, social commentator and author Tove Lifvendahl argues.
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Society: 25 Nov 11
An old oak tree standing in a boulevard outside the Sveriges Television (SVT) building in Stockholm was cut down on Thursday morning, following weeks of protests over the fate of what quickly became Sweden’s most famous piece of vegetation
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National: 25 Nov 11
Sweden's top 100 most powerful people for 2011 are mainly politicians, men -- and Swedish -- according to Fokus Magazine's annual rankings.
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Politics: 19 Nov 11
The Nature Democrats, a new political party with just one issue - the elimination of wolves from Sweden - is hoping to get a foot into the Riksdag, thereby getting influence over Swedish predator policy.
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Analysis & Opinion: 14 Nov 11
Contributor Ruben Brunsveld reflects on what reactions to a recent article about a Muslim man being thrown from a train in Sweden may say about shifting definitions of xenophobic behaviour.
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Society: 11 Nov 11
Cuba is mulling Sweden's model for fighting prostitution whereby buyers of sex are penalized rather than the sex workers, a Cuban sexologist said Thursday.
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Society: 9 Nov 11
Sweden's beloved Pippi Longstocking children's books have found themselves at the heart of a racism row after a German theologian demanded additions to prompt parents to skip over or explain certain passages.
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Sport: 8 Nov 11
AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic brought home a record sixth, and fifth consecutive, Golden Ball at Sweden's football gala on Monday evening, underlining his status as Sweden's leading player.
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Analysis & Opinion: 7 Nov 11
Sweden can't afford to keep discriminating against those living in the suburbs and thereby missing out on the payback of years of investment in education and skills, journalist Carlos Rojas argues.
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National: 4 Nov 11
In a case that has caused huge reactions across Sweden, the woman who reported her sister and sister's husband to social services for allegedly sexually abusing their daughters has told her version of events.
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National: 3 Nov 11
A local politician in northern Sweden, openly opposed to excessive wolf hunting, was hospitalized on Tuesday night after being knocked out by a rock thrown through his bedroom window.
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Analysis & Opinion: 1 Nov 11
The dropping of a hate speech case against students who staged a "slave auction" at Lund University clears the way for racists and contravenes Swedish human rights commitments, representatives from anti-racism groups argue.
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Society: 30 Oct 11
Sweden's National Association for Sexuality Education is hoping a new handbook will help worried parents talk about sex with their pre-teen children.
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Analysis & Opinion: 17 Oct 11
Just as Sweden helped win the release of two American journalists captured in North Korea in 2009, the US can hopefully find a way to return the favour in Ethiopia before Sweden considers supporting US anti-terror efforts in the region, argues historian Susanne Berger.
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Analysis & Opinion: 13 Oct 11
The Social Democrats’ malaise goes far deeper than the expenses scandal engulfing Håkan Juholt, political scientist Nicholas Aylott writes, arguing that the party needs to decide its ideological path and to pick its leader accordingly.
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Politics: 11 Oct 11
Embattled Social Democrat leader Håkan Juholt remained defiant on Tuesday amid calls for him to step down, and conflicting reports over when he was made aware that he had spent years pocketing reimbursements he wasn't entitled to.
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Politics: 11 Oct 11
A secretive network of Swedish MPs has been formed to push for a legalisation of assisted suicide with the group's founder comparing the issue to the abortion debate in the 1970s.
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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.
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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.
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Analysis & Opinion: 29 Sep 11
A year has passed since the Sweden Democrats became Sweden’s newest parliamentary party and The Local’s Peter Vinthagen Simpson has a look at what has been achieved, what has not and what has changed.
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Business & Money: 29 Sep 11
Some 97 percent of Swedes did not find the picture on chocolate giant Fazer's “Kinapuffar” product offensive despite claims of racism, according to a recent survey carried out by market research company Sifo.
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Science & Technology: 29 Sep 11
A recent study from the World Health Organization showed that Stockholm air contains higher levels of the harmful PM10 particles than in Los Angeles, and the city council argues that studded tyres used in the long winter are to blame.
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Politics: 26 Sep 11
The resignation of William Petzäll from the Sweden Democrats is a setback which the party can manage, but they have to ensure that it remains a unique event, according to political scientist Andreas Johansson Heinö.
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Analysis & Opinion: 26 Sep 11
The problems of a multicultural Swedish society won’t solve themselves if our politicians, in fear of being called a "racist", don't break their silence on the issues, argues equal rights activist Bahareh Andersson.
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Science & Technology: 24 Sep 11
Sweden's Supreme Administrative Court is opening for doctors to recommend homeopathic cures for patients, sparking criticism from the Swedish Medical Association.
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Society: 21 Sep 11
Mats Broberg of Värmland county in central Sweden recently snagged the ultimate hunting trophy after he felled a massive 280 kilogramme, 15 point white elk.
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Science & Technology: 21 Sep 11
Recognising that vain cyclists need a reason other than the risk of serious injury to wear a helmet, a Swedish firm has developed a discreet novel collar that works much like an air-bag.
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National: 21 Sep 11
Controversial Swedish artist Lars Vilks was the target of a foiled attack at the Röda Sten art gallery in Gothenburg on September 11th, according to a media report.
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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.
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Analysis & Opinion: 20 Sep 11
As Swedish news outlets reassess their policies regarding online comments amid an ongoing debate about "internet hate", The Local's Peter Vinthagen Simpson argues that free speech is too important to be left to fend for itself in an online Wild West.
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Politics: 19 Sep 11
Former minister and Liberal Party leader Per Ahlmark has slammed current Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt in a new book arguing that he has a "passive" attitude towards genocide, is ignorant about Israel and holds "reactionary views".
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Education: 19 Sep 11
Reports of young Swedish teens being subjected to humiliating, sometimes sex-themed games, have once again put the subject of high school hazing back into the spotlight in Sweden, The Local's Joel Linde explains.
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Politics: 19 Sep 11
Sweden's Pirate Party has lauded the electoral success of its German sister party in the Berlin state parliament, calling it as a "major step forward" and a boost for the movement across the world.
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Analysis & Opinion: 16 Sep 11
As Sweden's politicians return to business at the Riksdag after a period of party-leadership reshuffling, The Local's Rebecca Martin examines concerns that youth has begun to trump experience in Swedish politics.
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Sanna is one of 2 million people in Sweden under the age of 18. Sweden is seen as a good place to grow up. The law makes sure children are well-protected and defends their rights and any organizations work with children's well-being. Read more »
August Strindberg's plays shocked society, dazzled audiences and revolutionized drama. A century after his death, Strindberg, with his powerful, timeless themes, is celebrated around the world. Read more »
Prime Minister Reinfeldt chats with The Local »
"If you missed it yesterday, here’s The Local’s editor David Landes snagging Prime Minister Reinfeldt for a chat before Princess Estelle’s baptism. Always nice to know the PM has time for TL!" READ »
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lång
adjective
Lång means long, tall and can be used for height, distance or time.
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