Sweden in Focus

In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Richard Orange, Emma Löfgren and James Savage. 

This week we have a brief chat about the Northern Lights, which were visible all over Sweden last weekend.

• SWEDEN IN PICTURES: Your best Northern Lights snaps

We then talk about Turkey resuming Nato talks with Sweden and whether Hungary might put a spanner in the works.

• Finland to join Nato without Sweden if Turkey gives go ahead
• Hungary’s president Orbán says MPs ‘unenthusiastic’ about Sweden Nato bid

We discuss the fallout from the tragic story of the Stockholm chief of police, who was found dead in his home last week.

• Police chief Mats Löfving found dead

We look into why Sweden is still importing gas from Russia more than a year after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

In the latest of our series of interviews with ambassadors, we get the lowdown on Australian-Swedish relations from Australia’s Ambassador Bernard Philip. 

Etiquette expert Sofia Larsson explains how she answers readers who complain that there’s too much English spoken in Sweden, and our panelists discuss how important they think it is to learn Swedish. 

• Sweden in Focus episode (April 9th 2022) featuring a Swedish teacher’s tips

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In the second part of the interview, host Paul O’Mahony asks Ukraine's ambassador to Sweden, Andrii Plakhotniuk, about how the war has changed the focus of his job as ambassador, what Sweden is doing to facilitate Ukraine’s EU accession talks, how the invasion has affected Ukraine’s Swedish-speaking village Gammalsvenskby, and how Swedish humanitarian aid can help rebuild Ukraine.

 DON'T MISS:

• The Ambassadors: Swedish-Ukrainian relations 'getting stronger every day'
• How has war changed life for Ukraine’s Swedish-speaking village?
• EXPLAINED: These are the weapons Sweden is sending to Ukraine

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In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Becky Waterton and Loukas Christodoulou. 

This week we talk about why children get a week off school at this time of the year.

• Swedish word of the day: sportlov

We look at why Turkey has softened its stance on Sweden’s Nato application.

• ‘A welcome message’: Turkey open for new Nato talks with Sweden

After a government press conference last week, we examine what progress Sweden is making on work permit reform.

• NEW: Sweden to hike work permit salary threshold in two stages
• EXPLAINED: How has Sweden adjusted its plans for work permit reform?
• EXPLAINED: Sweden’s planned changes to residence permit applications

With defence high on the national agenda we’ll ask Loukas to tell us about the volunteers who bolster Sweden’s armed forces.

• EXPLAINED: What is Sweden’s Home Guard and who can join?

Finally, to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have an interview with the Ukrainian ambassador about how the past twelve months have reshaped Swedish-Ukrainian relations. 

• EXPLAINED: What problems are Ukrainian refugees facing in Sweden?
• Could Sweden’s ‘unique’ Gripen fighters help Ukraine?

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In this special bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, we hear more from our guest Peter Gerlach, an economist with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, LO. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is also joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren.

In this episode we continue our chat about the state of Sweden's economy after an EU Commission reporter put the country at the bottom of the class. 

We discuss Sweden's upcoming round of wage negotiations, predictions that Sweden is facing a mild recession and what that will entail, how to tackle high energy prices and rising interest rates, Sweden’s low taxes on capital, whether the government should pause the mortgage payment requirement, what the government can do to stimulate the economy, and how international workers fit into the Swedish model.

DON'T MISS:

• 'Sweden's economy can't take much more'
• ANALYSIS: For good or ill, Sweden’s Riksbank seems set on beating inflation
• ‘I’m holding out for some relief’: High interest rates hit foreigners in Sweden

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SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus

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In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren. Our guest this week is Peter Gerlach, an economist with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO).

We kick off with a chat about the Migration Agency and why the government has decided it wants to replace Mikael Ribbenvik, who has headed the agency for the last seven years. 

• Head of Sweden's criticised Migration Agency forced out after seven years

Then we delve into a story that has had observers scratching their heads for the past couple of weeks. What exactly is going on in Botkyrka? Emma wrote a bit about it in her latest Politics in Sweden column. 

• Brexit deportations, gloomy economy, and what's going on in Botkyrka?

We also look closer at a couple of stories that seem frivolous at first glance but in fact deal with serious societal problems.

• Swedish city launches 'love week' to battle plummeting birth rate
• Dildos and penis pumps: Swedish home helps elderly spice up their sex lives

In the latest in our series of interviews with ambassadors, we chat to Germany's Joachim Bertele about the deep historical ties that underpin Sweden's strong relationship with the largest economy in Europe.

Finally we get analysis from Peter Gerlach on the state of the Swedish economy following an EU forecast that puts Sweden at the bottom of the class. 

• Swedish economy to see worst downturn in EU: 2023 forecast
• 'I'm holding out for some relief': High interest rates hit foreigners in Sweden

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In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren. The episode also features interviews with Britain's ambassador to Sweden Judith Gough and Becky Waterton meets Sweden's migration minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.

First, we talk about why Sweden is warning of an increased terror threat. 

• Three things we know about the terror threat in Sweden

Then we look at a great Swedish word that describes life in Sweden at this time of the year.

• Swedish word of the day: oxveckorna

We chat with the UK's ambassador to Sweden, Judith Gough, about the countries' strong ties as well as discussing statistics showing how Sweden has ordered many British people to leave Sweden post-Brexit. Make sure to check the site in the coming days for a longer writeup. 

Finally we'll listen to Becky's interview with the migration minster, Maria Malmer Stenergard, before turning to our panelists for analysis. 

• Sweden 'will consider' travel visas for work permit holders: migration minister
• What's the latest on Sweden's planned salary threshold for work permits?
• Swedish Migration Minister: Brexit deportations 'complete news to me'

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In this special bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, we hear more from special guest Diamant Salihu, a crime reporter for public broadcaster SVT and the author of the award-winning book Tills Alla Dör, or Until Everyone's Dead.

Host Paul O’Mahony is also joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton.

In this episode we continue our chat about Sweden's gang crime problem. 

We discuss the central role of social media and gangster rap, how gangs are recruiting young children, why a younger generation suddenly finds itself in charge, why there are so many drugs and guns in circulation, and if there's anything Sweden can do to get the situation under control?

• How can Sweden put a stop to fatal gang shootings? Part 1
• INTERVIEW: 'Everybody in Sweden who buys cocaine should know the money is used to buy bullets

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton, as well as special guest Diamant Salihu, a crime reporter for public broadcaster SVT and the author of the award winning Tills Alla Dör, or Until Everyone's Dead.

But first we look at what's coming up in February. Visit the link below to get all the key info you need on: accessing Sweden's new energy subsidy, registering a pre-paid SIM card, the likelihood of new interest rate hikes, and dates for sportlov - the mid-term school holiday. 

• What changes in Sweden in February 2023
• How to register for Sweden's energy price subsidy
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Next, we chat to Eurovision expert Ben Robertson about what makes Melodifestivalen so compelling and who's likely to win this year's national song contest.

• How do you watch the Swedish extravaganza that is Melodifestivalen?

This week Annie Lööf formally handed over the reins of the Centre Party to Muharrem Demirok. What does he need to do to attract voters to the only centre-right party that refused to collaborate with the far-right Sweden Democrats? 

• Who is the new leader of Sweden's Centre Party and why is it important?

We also chat about why the prime minster's closest aide resigned over an eel-fishing scandal. 

• Swedish PM's top aide resigns over illegal eel fishing

In the latest of our interviews with ambassadors, we catch up with Mehdi Hasan, Bangladesh's ambassador to Sweden, to find out about relations between the countries, how many Bangladeshis there are in Sweden, and his personal reflections on his time in Sweden. We'll have an article featuring more from the interview in the coming days. 

Finally, we ask Diamant Salihu to explain the roots of Sweden's deadly gang conflicts and why they have spread around the country. We had a really good chat with Diamant and will release a bonus episode during the week featuring more of his insights. 

• INTERVIEW: 'Everybody in Sweden who buys cocaine should know the money is used to buy bullets'

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In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton, as well as special guest Andreas Cervenka, author of the award winning Girig-Sverige, or Greedy Sweden.

We discuss how rising interest rates are putting pressure on homeowners, how billionaires are profiting from Sweden’s most disadvantaged areas, how an ex-politician became a billionaire from buying up local council properties, why Andreas believes the Swedish central bank’s monetary policy has been one of the main drivers of inequality, and we ask just how prepared Sweden is for the prospect of a major financial crisis. 

And if you'd like to read more you can check out these articles. 

• Ten terrifying stats about Sweden from the hit book Girig-Sverige
• INTERVIEW: 'It's like before the Swedish financial crisis only the numbers are bigger'

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In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton, as well as special guest Andreas Cervenka, author of the award winning Girig-Sverige, or Greedy Sweden.

On this week's episode we dissect Sweden's stalled Nato application and who's behind the Koran-burning stunt that prompted Turkey to postpone the ratification process indefinitely. 

• How did a far-right extremist derail Sweden's Nato application?
• Previous podcast: Why Sweden experienced its worst riots in decades

We discuss the Swedish housing market in a Scandinavian perspective and how it has led to the emergence of a property-related A Team and B Team in Sweden. 

• IN CHARTS: How bad is the situation in Scandinavian housing markets?

We talk about this week's layoffs at Spotify and what you can do if you lose your job in Sweden.

• Spotify cuts 6 percent of workforce
• Everything you need to know if you lose your job in Sweden
• What happens to your Swedish work permit if you lose your job?

In the latest of our interviews with ambassadors, we get insights from New Zealand's Andrew Jenks on everything from the internationalization of Sweden to its position as a 'moral superpower'.

Finally we enlist the help of our guest Andreas Cervenka to find out how Sweden became a billionaires' paradise over the course of just a couple of decades.

• Ten terrifying stats about Sweden from the hit book Girig-Sverige

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.