Latest news with #PaulO'Mahony


Local Sweden
5 days ago
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Can Sweden's migration minister survive scandal of son's extremist links?
This week: Minister under pressure over son's white supremacist links, and how bad is the crisis in Sweden's games industry? For Membership+ subscribers: latest on plans to exempt some professions from work permit salary requirements, and readers' Swedish summer tips. Advertisement In this week's episode we talk about revelations that the son of Johan Forssell, Sweden's migration minister, has been active in far-right extremist groups and how the scandal is affecting the government. We also discuss what's behind a recent spate of redundancies in Sweden's games sector, an industry that employs a disproportionately high number of foreign workers. For Membership+ subscribers, we look at how the Migration Agency is handling a request by the government to present a list of professions that could be exempted from work permit salary requirements. And finally, we dig into a list of recommendations from readers of The Local on how best to enjoy the summer holiday season in Sweden. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Advertisement Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Politics Working in Sweden Work permits Swedish citizenship You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertisement Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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+ 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. Advertisement


Local Sweden
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Fit in or stick out? How Sweden changes you
This week: 25 year of the bridge between Sweden and Denmark, and how moving to Sweden changes you. For Membership+ subscribers: Swiss risk losing right to permanent residency, and study shows which nationalities contribute most to the economy. Advertisement In this week's episode we talk about the bridge between Denmark and Sweden and how it means a lot more to one of our panelists than the sore feet she got after running across it. We also discuss what foreigners do to fit in in Sweden and why some people push back against assimilation. For Membership+ subscribers we examine how Sweden appears to have accidentally proposed blocking Swiss people from permanent residency. Last, but certainly not least, we dig into an eye-opening report breaking down immigrants' contribution to Swedish society by nationality. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Advertisement Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Sweden and Denmark Reader insights Immigration You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertisement Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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+ 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. Advertisement


Local Sweden
11-06-2025
- Business
- Local Sweden
'I love Sweden, I love the people, I love the traditions'
This week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers features an interview with Indian lawyer Aakritee Tiwari. Advertisement This week's episode features a chat host Paul O'Mahony had recently with Aakritee Tiwari, a corporate lawyer from India who has made a successful career for herself in Sweden. In the interview she speaks about how life in Stockholm compares to Dubai where she worked previously, and what it's been like raising twins in Sweden She also lets us know how she has gone about learning Swedish, how she juggles integrating in Sweden with preserving her Indian heritage, and how work life differs in Sweden and India. And we find out why her experience of Sweden has been overwhelmingly positive despite some bureaucratic hurdles along the way. Membership+ subscribers can listen to the interview in the latest episode of Sweden in Focus Extra, out June 11th. READ ALSO: Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers. Sign up to Membership+ 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+ 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 on a podcast platform. If you prefer to listen on the site, you can find all episodes at the bottom of our podcast page.


Local Sweden
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Sweden's new alcohol law: 'Freedom reform' or flop?
This week: How a new law puts a chink in Systembolaget's armour, and why Sweden could ban international adoptions. For Membership+ subscribers: what are the Social Democrats planning for next year's election? And how will Sweden's elderly care system cope as immigrant workers are forced to leave Sweden? Advertisement 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. For Membership+ subscribers we discuss how Sweden's biggest political party, the Social Democrats, is gearing up for next year's general election. Finally, with updates expected this month on new salary requirements for work permit holders, we look at how the current limit has already led to staffing shortages in Sweden's elderly care service as immigrant workers are forced to leave the country. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Advertisement Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Alcohol Family Politics Work permits You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertisement Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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+ 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. Advertisement


Local Sweden
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Red cottage nightmares, and is Sweden's support for Israel crumbling?
This week: Sweden calls for sanctions on Israeli ministers, and why are the Sweden Democrats promoting cookie-cutter 'Sweden houses'? For Membership+ subscribers: Will cash every make a comeback in Sweden? And what is the Migration Agency telling us about citizenship processing? Advertisement 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. For Membership+ subscribers we talk about what it's like trying to get by without a bank-card in a mostly cash-free country. Finally, we get our teeth into what the Migration Agency is saying about in-person meetings with citizenship applicants and changing how it prioritises which cases to process. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Advertisement Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Sweden and Israel Politics Money Swedish citizenship You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertisement Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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+ 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. Advertisement