This week we’re going to test our panelists’ Swedish language knowledge by throwing a few questions at them from the vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test that students can take as an entrance exam for Swedish universities.

The questions in this episode are taken from a test that university applicants took in autumn 2015. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by Becky Waterton and James Savage.

READ ALSO:

• SWEDISH TEST: Can you pass the vocab part of Sweden's version of the SAT? 
• What you need to know about applying to university in Sweden 
• The seven stages of learning Swedish every foreigner goes through 

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This week we talk about Donald Trump's return to the White House and how it’s going to impact Sweden, especially in the areas of trade and security. And could the Tesla strike become a flashpoint with Elon Musk now a part of the US administration? 

One Swede who was in the United States recently is the deputy prime minster Ebba Busch. We discuss her recent visit to Las Vegas where she gave a rousing speech about Swedish innovation that sparked animated debate back home.

We’ll also examine why the Prime Minister is coming under increasing pressure to sack his national security adviser, who also happens to be his close childhood friend. 

For Membership+ subscribers we dig into comments we’ve received from readers about proposals to extend the waiting time for citizenship and we bring you the latest on the government’s plans to increase the salary requirement for work permit holders after the employment minister said he’d be open to backtracking.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage. 

Sweden & the United States

• What does Donald Trump's return to the White House mean for Sweden?

Innovation

• From 2023: Sweden ranked second most innovative country in the world

Politics

• Sweden's national security adviser's slip-ups examined by prosecutors

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Sweden's government promised a paradigm shift on immigration and this was a week in which they moved ahead with some cornerstone policies. 

As we spoke about in last week's podcast, enhanced security checks are expected to slow down decisions on citizenship by a migration authority already struggling to manage a backlog of more that 80,000 applications. 

The head of a government inquiry this week recommended a grace period for existing applicants as Sweden moves to extend residency requirements from five to eight years for citizenship. In this week's episode politicians remind us that they're not obliged to follow the inquiry's recommendations. 

For Membership+ subscribers we discuss why dual citizenship on the agenda this week after a parliamentary committee recommended changing the constitution to enable the revocation of Swedish citizenship for serious crimes including espionage, terrorism and treason. But a disagreement between the government and the Social Democrats on which crimes should be covered suggests this is an issue we'll be hearing much more about in the run-up to the 2026 election. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and James Savage. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

New Swedish citizenship rules

• Swedish government inquiry proposes increasing citizenship wait to eight years
• KEY POINTS: Sweden's plans for tougher citizenship rules
• Readers' questions answered on Sweden's citizenship reforms
• How do foreigners feel about extending Sweden's citizenship wait to eight years?
• Swedish migration minister won't rule out making new citizenship rules retroactive

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Migration minister on citizenship security checks, January's 'ox weeks', citizenship and immigration rule changes, Northvolt's battle for survival. For membership+ subscribers: why Sweden has a wolf hunt, and what readers say about receiving wrong information from the Migration Agency. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

Swedish citizenship

• Labour migrants 'should not be worried at all' about citizenship checks, says minister

Language & Tradition

• Tjugonde Knut: Why Swedish Christmas lasts until January 13th
• Swedish word of the day: oxveckorna

Sweden in 2025

• Seven things to look forward to in Sweden in 2025

Northvolt

• Northvolt shareholders give company green light to continue operations

Environment

• Sweden to launch wolf cull amid conservation concerns

Migration Agency

• How often does Sweden's Migration Agency give out false information?
• How does the Swedish Migration Agency check that its information is accurate?

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This week we’re going to turn our attention to the year ahead with some soothsaying on what to expect in politics and the economy in 2025 and we’ll also hear some of The Local’s readers' predictions for the year ahead.  

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and James Savage. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

Immigration

• How new Swedish migration rules could affect foreign residents in 2025

Politics

• Politics in Sweden: Energy minister shrugs off heavy criticism of nuclear financing plans
• What's in the Social Democrats' plan to eradicate Sweden's 'vulnerable areas'?

Economy

• What's the outlook for the Swedish labour market in 2025?

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In this week's episode of Sweden in Focus we look back at the Swedish year in news. 

As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the stories that shaped Sweden over the past year. Join us for an end-of-year quiz where we dive into the headlines and events that shaped the news agenda. 

What do you remember about the extreme weather events that kickstarted 2024? Do you recall who won Olympic gold medals for Sweden? And can you believe that it was only this year that Sweden finally joined Nato? 

Host Paul O’Mahony in Stockholm is joined this week from Malmö by The Local's Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren.

Good luck! And here you can read more about each of the questions: 

• January 
• February 
• March 
• April 
• May 
• June 
• July 
• August  
• September 
• October 
• November 
• December 

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In this week's episode: the best things about Christmas in Sweden, interview with the Greens' migration spokesperson on citizenship slowdown plans. 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and James Savage. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

Christmas

• FACT CHECK: Did a Swedish company really tell staff not to say Merry Christmas?
• What you need to know about travelling in Sweden for Christmas 2024
• Sweden's beloved TV series that changes every year

Citizenship

• Sweden Democrat leader: 'People who are born here should be able to lose their citizenship'
• Lawyers and migration experts slam Swedish government's citizenship slowdown bid
• What's the current status of Sweden's planned migration laws?

Work permits

• How new Swedish migration rules could affect foreign residents in 2025
• 'A hodgepodge of bad measures': Swedish employers' group slams work permit changes

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Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

Syria

• Sweden puts Syrian asylum decisions on hold
• Where did the most new Swedish citizens come from in 2024?

Literature

• Ten Swedish books to read this year
• EXTERNAL LINK: New reading lists for Swedish preschools and schools (PDF)

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In this week's episode: Sweden’s Lucia tradition, who was Princess Birgitta, what we know about the government’s plan to stall citizenship grants.

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Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Richard Orange. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

Lucia

• What you need to know about celebrating Lucia in Sweden

Royal

• IN PICS: Who was Princess Birgitta, King Carl XVI's outspoken elder sister?

Swedish citizenship

• Swedish government strikes deal to slow down Sweden citizenship awards
• OPINION: Foreigners in Sweden deserve fair and transparent citizenship rules
• Swedish citizenship slowdown 'very sketchy', says top Social Democrat

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In this week's episode: Swedish Advent traditions, ‘snitch law’ exemptions and a tricky Swedish language quiz. 

Special offer for members

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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:

Politics

• Former parliamentary speaker Birgitta Dahl dies

Advent

• Swedish word of the day: advent
• Why do the Nordic countries light candles on each Sunday of Advent?

Migration

• Sweden's government agrees to exempt schools, healthcare and social work from 'snitch law'

Language

• The seven stages of learning Swedish every foreigner goes through

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In this week's episode: why Sweden's deputy PM wants to restrict immigrants’ voting rights, how to get your body and mind ready for the winter, why a Swedish ad featuring the English c-word went viral last week.

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:

Immigration 

• Sweden's deputy PM proposes cutting non-citizens' voting rights
• Sweden Democrats call for ban on new citizenships until tougher rules are in place

Winter

• How to prepare for a snowstorm in Sweden 
• How a year on my allotment taught me to appreciate the Swedish seasons 

Language

• Stockholm Metro ad blasted over 'shocking' use of English c-word 

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