Sweden in Focus end of year quiz 2024

This week we talk about a new alcohol law that came into force this month and what it means for consumers.And why has a government inquiry proposed banning international adoptions and apologising to adoptees.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:AlcoholWhat Sweden's new alcohol law means for buyers and producersFamilySwedish inquiry calls for official state apology to international adopteesGet 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.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Juni 14min

In this week's episode we ask why Swedish politicians are becoming more critical of Israel over the war in Gaza.We also discuss the government's plans to develop new kinds of pre-approved houses to make it easier for people to buy their own homes.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Sweden and Israel Sweden to summon Israeli ambassador to protest Israel blocking aid to GazaSweden calls for EU sanctions targeting 'individual Israeli ministers'How Israel's invasion of Gaza became Swedish party politics againPoliticsWhy the 'Sverigehus' is a warning for the Sweden Democrats' future Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Maj 18min

This week we have the latest on the citizenship freeze amid signs of a thaw and we ask: Why has there been so little interest in this story from the Swedish media?We also look at a hotly debated new law criminalising the purchase of sex online.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Swedish citizenshipSweden's Migration Agency to handle oldest citizenship cases first after criticismHow will Sweden's new personal ID checks for citizenship work?Swedish MP says citizenship freeze is 'what the government wanted'Citizenship freeze 'makes a mockery of all those who call Sweden their home'Inside Sweden: If you want citizenship to mean something, this is not how to do itPoliticsHow Sweden's new 'OnlyFans law' bans procuring custom-made online porn 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Maj 22min

In this week's episode we talk about why Stockholm is at loggerheads with the US Embassy over anti-diversity demands and we examine a scathing new report on how Sweden’s immigration policies are harming foreign researchers.For Membership+ subscribers we look at the ongoing saga of Sweden’s failed attempt to appoint a national security advisor after the latest pick for the job stepped down within hours over leaked photos from the Grindr app.We also have more from last week’s interview with the migration minister, Johan Forssell, and we look into why the Migration Agency rejected an unusually high number of citizenships applications in April.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:EnvironmentHow to prepare for a water shortage in Sweden this summerSweden and the USStockholm v Trump: 'If US embassy wanted a building permit, they would have a problem''Completely bizarre': Stockholm hits back at US embassy's anti-DEI contractStudying in SwedenSweden's university union slams 'exploitative' migration policyFive things Sweden should do to attract foreign researchersGet 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Maj 18min

In this week's episode we talk about Sweden’s chances of winning the Eurovision Song Contest for a record-breaking eighth time with KAJ's song Bara Bada Bastu.On a related note, we immerse ourselves in sauna culture and the Swedish language as it’s spoken in Finland.We discuss new comments from Sweden’s migration minister, Johan Forssell, on the three-month deadline for job seekers on work permits and how he’s taking inspiration from Finland when it comes to attracting highly skilled workers to Sweden.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:EurovisionWhy Sweden's bizarre sauna hit could actually win EurovisionWhat do the lyrics of Sweden's Eurovision entry Bara Bada Bastu actually mean?LanguageKiva! Seven unique Finland Swedish words the world needs to knowSwedish traditions'Bara bada bastu': The ultimate guide to Swedish sauna etiquetteImmigrationSwedish Migration Minister: 'No formal decision' made on future work permit salary threshold'Enormous potential': How Sweden's migration minister wants to attract international talentOPINION: Want to make Sweden more attractive, Johan Forssell? Listen to those already hereOPINION: Sweden needs to reconsider 'three-month deadline' for laid-off non-EU workersGet 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+ Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Maj 27min

In 2013 Jamil Walli, a journalist, filmmaker and painter, moved to Sweden from Damascus as an exchange student. Two years later, tens of thousands of his compatriots fled Syria to seek shelter in the country he has since come to call home. As a journalist, he documented the stories of those fleeing persecution as part of a project for The Local where he interviewed asylum seekers in Arabic about their new lives in Sweden and how they were adapting.This makes him very well placed to talk about his experience of what became known as the refugee crisis of 2015 when an unprecedented 163,000 asylum seekers made their way to Sweden.After gaining citizenship in 2019 he went on to pursue studies in filmmaking, graduating in 2022 with a film that tackles xenophobia and what it means to be Swedish. In this week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra, Walli explains what brought him to Sweden, his own relationship to the country, and how attitudes to immigration and immigrants have changed in the past decade. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Maj 32min

In this week’s episode we talk about the surprise resignation of the Liberal Party leader Johan Pehrson.Ten years on from the arrival of record numbers of refugees we also look at how Sweden reacted to the 2015 crisis how how its approach to asylum immigration has changed since then.Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:PoliticsSwedish education minister and Liberal leader Johan Pehrson resignsImmigration2015 ARCHIVE: Refugee centres packed as cold winter calls2015 ARCHIVE: Sweden split over move to tighten asylum rulesGet 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.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Maj 24min

In this week's episode we talk about the possibility of there being a Swedish pope and the state of Catholicism in Sweden today. We also dive into the history of Sweden’s Valborg celebrations and why bonfires will be lit across Sweden on the last day of the month.For Membership+ subscribers we jump forward a day to the first of May and what to expect on the public holiday that is Labour Day.We discuss what to make of a recent burst of activity from the Social Democrats, the party most closely associated with May Day in Sweden.Finally, with the deadline for filing taxes coming up next week, we give some last minute tips before checking out what readers of The Local are telling us are the most annoying things about Swedish bureaucracy.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Swedish traditionsWhat exactly is Swedish Valborg, and where are the best places to celebrate it?ReligionCould a Swedish cardinal become the next pope?'It would be fun to have a Swedish pope but I think it's pretty unlikely'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.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Apr 17min