https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Sweden in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed A soldier has died during the international military exercise Northern Wind in northern Sweden. https://www.thelocal.se/20190325/soldier-dies-during-military-exercise-in-northern-sweden Mon, 25 Mar 2019 08:34:03 +0100 soldier-dies-during-military-exercise-in-northern-sweden The Swedish Armed Forces will increase the number of military conscripts from next year, and for the first time will train 'cyber soldiers' to defend the country from possible cyber attacks. https://www.thelocal.se/20190116/sweden-to-train-cyber-soldiers-during-military-service Wed, 16 Jan 2019 09:44:07 +0100 sweden-to-train-cyber-soldiers-during-military-service A fighter jet crashed in southern Sweden on Tuesday morning, said the Armed Forces. https://www.thelocal.se/20180821/fighter-jet-crashes-in-southern-sweden-jas-gripen Tue, 21 Aug 2018 12:37:56 +0200 fighter-jet-crashes-in-southern-sweden-jas-gripen Swedes fought fire with fire on Wednesday when they decided to send in fighter jets to bomb an area hit by forest fires. https://www.thelocal.se/20180725/watch-swedish-fighter-jets-drop-bombs-on-forest-fire Wed, 25 Jul 2018 18:30:12 +0200 watch-swedish-fighter-jets-drop-bombs-on-forest-fire Five foreign citizens were arrested in western Sweden on Friday after they moored a sailboat in a restricted military area. https://www.thelocal.se/20180608/foreign-citizens-arrested-for-trespassing-in-swedish-military-area Fri, 08 Jun 2018 17:45:27 +0200 foreign-citizens-arrested-for-trespassing-in-swedish-military-area Sweden's defence budget should be doubled by 2035, the armed forces have said. https://www.thelocal.se/20180223/swedens-armed-forces-want-to-double-defence-budget-by-2035 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:51:01 +0100 swedens-armed-forces-want-to-double-defence-budget-by-2035 The number of people who signed up for the Swedish Armed Forces in 2017 fell below the required target. https://www.thelocal.se/20180112/swedens-armed-forces-had-a-shortage-of-new-troops-in-2017 Fri, 12 Jan 2018 09:44:25 +0100 swedens-armed-forces-had-a-shortage-of-new-troops-in-2017 The biggest Swedish military exercise in over 20 years has started in Gothenburg, with French and US air defence units as well as other overseas troops joining the Swedes in the Aurora 17 drill of more than 20,000 military personnel. https://www.thelocal.se/20170912/french-and-us-troops-head-to-gothenburg-as-swedens-biggest-military-drill-in-20-years-kicks-off Tue, 12 Sep 2017 12:55:52 +0200 french-and-us-troops-head-to-gothenburg-as-swedens-biggest-military-drill-in-20-years-kicks-off Thirty-four Swedish soldiers are heading to east Africa as part of international efforts to prevent attacks from Somali pirates. https://www.thelocal.se/20170817/swedish-soldiers-to-fend-off-pirates-near-somalia Thu, 17 Aug 2017 10:27:02 +0200 swedish-soldiers-to-fend-off-pirates-near-somalia Sweden's coalition government has agreed a new defence deal worth 2.7 billion kronor ($334 million) per year with two of the centre-right opposition parties. https://www.thelocal.se/20170816/swedens-government-and-opposition-parties-agree-new-defence-deal-worth-billions Wed, 16 Aug 2017 13:27:44 +0200 swedens-government-and-opposition-parties-agree-new-defence-deal-worth-billions Sweden's Armed Forces have marked Stockholm Pride with a Facebook post showing the colours of the rainbow flag on a pair of military boots. https://www.thelocal.se/20170803/swedens-armed-forces-show-support-for-pride-with-rainbow-laces Thu, 03 Aug 2017 12:45:54 +0200 swedens-armed-forces-show-support-for-pride-with-rainbow-laces A Swede stationed in Mali has been found after going missing following an attack on a luxury resort near Bamako the Armed Forces have confirmed. https://www.thelocal.se/20170619/armed-forces-swedish-soldier-missing-after-attack-in-mali Mon, 19 Jun 2017 13:11:31 +0200 armed-forces-swedish-soldier-missing-after-attack-in-mali Several Swedish soldiers were injured in a mortar attack in Mali on Wednesday, Sweden's Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) have confirmed. https://www.thelocal.se/20170504/swedish-soldiers-injured-in-mali-mortar-attack Thu, 04 May 2017 11:02:07 +0200 swedish-soldiers-injured-in-mali-mortar-attack The Swedish Armed Forces have launched a new handbook with the aim of teaching its employees to use a gender-equal perspective in military operations. https://www.thelocal.se/20160915/swedens-army-gets-new-gender-equality-handbook Thu, 15 Sep 2016 16:25:57 +0200 swedens-army-gets-new-gender-equality-handbook As Sweden decides whether to bring back compulsory military service, defence expert Johanne Hildebrandt tells The Local that Sweden would be much better off following Norway's "weak conscription" model. https://www.thelocal.se/20141028/sweden-should-follow-norways-conscription-model Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:24:00 +0100 sweden-should-follow-norways-conscription-model The Swedish armed forces will not be held responsible for Afghan interpreters who are no longer in the employ of its Isaf troops, it was reported on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.se/20140422/swedish-military-limits-charge-of-translator-safety Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:52:00 +0200 swedish-military-limits-charge-of-translator-safety Seven of ten soldiers in Sweden's all-volunteer military drop out before their contracts expire, a retention rate below the worst predictions calculated when Sweden scrapped mandatory conscription. https://www.thelocal.se/20140210/seven-of-ten-soldiers-quit-swedish-military-early Mon, 10 Feb 2014 09:14:00 +0100 seven-of-ten-soldiers-quit-swedish-military-early Fahim spent four years as a translator with the Swedish Armed Forces in northern Afghanistan. He claims insurgents still want to kill him, but his appeal for asylum in Sweden has so far been met with silence. https://www.thelocal.se/20140206/afghan-translator-pins-hope-on-swedish-asylum Thu, 06 Feb 2014 10:42:00 +0100 afghan-translator-pins-hope-on-swedish-asylum The opposition Social Democrats have said Sweden should ramp up its cooperation with Nato, by allowing the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) to train with its rapid response unit. https://www.thelocal.se/20130703/48850 Wed, 03 Jul 2013 17:32:00 +0200 48850 An ad campaign by the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) has split commentators in two camps over whether it denigrates normal citizens in its attempt to attract new recruits. https://www.thelocal.se/20130208/46072 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 08:56:00 +0100 46072