https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Rail passengers will soon be able to travel directly by train from Berlin to Oslo. Described as part of a boom in long-distance rail travel, the new ICE L service promises a greener, simpler way to reach Scandinavia. https://www.thelocal.com/20260511/deutsche-bahn-announces-direct-berlin-oslo-train-for-2028 Mon, 11 May 2026 15:47:29 +0200 deutsche-bahn-announces-direct-berlin-oslo-train-for-2028 After the success of the swimming spots in the River Seine last year, Paris authorities have confirmed that the open-water swimming areas will return in the summer of 2026. https://www.thelocal.com/20260511/seine-swimming-to-return-to-paris-this-summer Mon, 11 May 2026 09:46:37 +0200 seine-swimming-to-return-to-paris-this-summer In this week’s Inside Spain, we delve further into the problem of Brits being turned away when trying to renew their residency cards before expiry, what the UK Embassy has to say about it and how Spain isn't the only country struggling with this. https://www.thelocal.com/20260509/inside-spain-what-the-uk-embassy-says-about-brits-residency-card-renewal Sat, 09 May 2026 10:19:38 +0200 inside-spain-what-the-uk-embassy-says-about-brits-residency-card-renewal From political drinks parties to ferocious mountain dogs, via the latest from the presidential election campaign and some musing on the 'poor Europeans', here's a look at what we have been talking about in France this week. https://www.thelocal.com/20260509/inside-france-apero-chat-dangerous-dogs-and-how-poor-are-the-europeans Sat, 09 May 2026 10:14:04 +0200 inside-france-apero-chat-dangerous-dogs-and-how-poor-are-the-europeans The European Commission on Friday clarified rules on air passenger rights given possible fuel shortages and travel disruption amid conflict in the Middle East. https://www.thelocal.com/20260509/eu-commission-clarifies-flight-compensation-rights-amid-travel-disruption Sat, 09 May 2026 09:32:59 +0200 eu-commission-clarifies-flight-compensation-rights-amid-travel-disruption In the latest in his series of profiles on candidates for the 2027 French presidential election, John Lichfield looks at whether the Centre can unite and, united, can beat the far right. https://www.thelocal.com/20260506/opinion-remains-of-macrons-centrists-still-have-the-best-chance-of-beating-the-far-right Wed, 06 May 2026 09:43:56 +0200 opinion-remains-of-macrons-centrists-still-have-the-best-chance-of-beating-the-far-right The Talking France podcast is back with a look at the plague of mosquitoes targeting France, the latest on the presidential elections, where the French go to get good food, and the many different ways to say 'you're welcome' - plus a little diversion into French colonial adventures in the USA. https://www.thelocal.com/20260505/podcast-frances-new-anti-mosquito-measures-and-where-the-french-go-for-good-food Tue, 05 May 2026 13:44:14 +0200 podcast-frances-new-anti-mosquito-measures-and-where-the-french-go-for-good-food With fuel prices up significantly, and Europe seemingly on the brink of a jet-fuel shortage, this may prove to be the summer of international train travel. Here's where Deutsche Bahn is extending its reach beyond Germany. https://www.thelocal.com/20260508/where-deutsche-bahn-is-adding-international-connections-this-summer Fri, 08 May 2026 11:07:13 +0200 where-deutsche-bahn-is-adding-international-connections-this-summer European Union prosecutors have launched a probe into a possible misappropriation of EU funds, after a complaint alleged France's far-right National Rally had used European grants to benefit its leader Jordan Bardella, a source close to the case told AFP Thursday. https://www.thelocal.com/20260507/eu-prosecutors-probe-alleged-misuse-of-funds-linked-to-french-far-right-leader-bardella-sources-report Thu, 07 May 2026 16:28:31 +0200 eu-prosecutors-probe-alleged-misuse-of-funds-linked-to-french-far-right-leader-bardella-sources-report American president Donald Trump has threatened to pull thousands of American troops out of Germany, with other European military bases potentially following suit. This is not an issue in France, however, which has no US military presence on its soil - here's why. https://www.thelocal.com/20260507/explained-why-france-doesnt-have-any-us-military-bases Thu, 07 May 2026 15:48:52 +0200 explained-why-france-doesnt-have-any-us-military-bases An American citizen has applied for political asylum in Spain's Balearic Islands, claiming that he fears returning to the US due to his politics. https://www.thelocal.com/20260507/american-tourist-seeks-asylum-in-spain-due-to-genuine-fear-of-trump Thu, 07 May 2026 12:58:15 +0200 american-tourist-seeks-asylum-in-spain-due-to-genuine-fear-of-trump Another meeting of parliamentary group leaders to discuss the broken-down 'pairing' agreement ended without any solution in place. https://www.thelocal.com/20260507/no-end-in-sight-to-swedens-parliamentary-pairing-chaos-total-deadlock Thu, 07 May 2026 11:47:49 +0200 no-end-in-sight-to-swedens-parliamentary-pairing-chaos-total-deadlock Millennial favourite pop act, the Backstreet Boys, have chosen Düsseldorf to stage a 10-day residency this autumn. Here's a look at the boy band's strong connection to Germany – and what fans should know about visiting. https://www.thelocal.com/20260507/what-fans-should-know-about-the-backstreet-boys-concerts-in-dusseldorf Thu, 07 May 2026 10:10:06 +0200 what-fans-should-know-about-the-backstreet-boys-concerts-in-dusseldorf Swedish MPs on the committee in charge of processing immigration laws were set to meet at 10am to discuss the opposition's bid for a new vote on adding transitional provisions to the recently passed citizenship law. https://www.thelocal.com/20260507/swedish-mps-to-discuss-bid-for-revote-on-transitional-citizenship-rules Thu, 07 May 2026 09:06:15 +0200 swedish-mps-to-discuss-bid-for-revote-on-transitional-citizenship-rules The US has given the European Union an ultimatum - grant access to sensitive police data or else lose access to visa-free travel for EU citizens. https://www.thelocal.com/20260506/us-threatens-to-scrap-eu-visa-waivers-over-data-sharing-demands Wed, 06 May 2026 12:42:51 +0200 us-threatens-to-scrap-eu-visa-waivers-over-data-sharing-demands Two people have died and several are injured after a car ploughed onto a busy street in the eastern city of Leipzig on Monday. Here's what we know so far. https://www.thelocal.com/20260505/what-we-know-so-far-about-suspected-car-ramming-attack-in-leipzig Tue, 05 May 2026 10:14:58 +0200 what-we-know-so-far-about-suspected-car-ramming-attack-in-leipzig It may not have been hot per se, but Spain just logged its warmest April since records began in 1961 with an average temperature of 15.1C last month, national weather agency Aemet has said. https://www.thelocal.com/20260505/spain-logs-warmest-april-on-record Tue, 05 May 2026 15:10:51 +0200 spain-logs-warmest-april-on-record Vox leader Santiago Abascal stated on Monday that in the regions where his party governs, public funds earmarked for migration policies will be used to finance "return tickets" and repatriations of undocumented immigrants. https://www.thelocal.com/20260505/spains-far-right-plans-to-pay-migrants-return-tickets-with-public-money Tue, 05 May 2026 14:08:52 +0200 spains-far-right-plans-to-pay-migrants-return-tickets-with-public-money The opposition left bloc in Swedish politics has held a majority in the polls ever since the last election. But it still looks tough for them to form a government. Professor Nicholas Aylott explains the deadlock. https://www.thelocal.com/20260428/qa-can-swedens-left-and-centre-parties-overcome-their-deadlock Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:03:08 +0200 qa-can-swedens-left-and-centre-parties-overcome-their-deadlock At least three out of four opposition parties are demanding that parliament vote once again on the issue of transitional arrangements for the new stricter citizenship rules. The Local asked the parliamentary parties how likely this is to happen. https://www.thelocal.com/20260504/how-likely-is-a-revote-on-transitional-rules-for-swedish-citizenship Mon, 04 May 2026 15:49:46 +0200 how-likely-is-a-revote-on-transitional-rules-for-swedish-citizenship