This week in Sweden
This week, Swedish politics was dominated by the Social Democrats filing a parliamentary complaint against Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and demanding transparency on government reform funding. Domestically, the government proposed legislation for maximum class sizes and introduced digital ballot cards for upcoming elections. Internationally, media extensively covered the worsening health of Norway's King Harald and devastating glacier-related floods in Nepal, with experts linking them to global warming.
About Sweden
Sweden is a highly innovative and socially progressive nation renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, from vast forests to archipelagos, and its commitment to sustainability. The country upholds among the world's strongest press freedom protections, with source confidentiality constitutionally guaranteed, fostering a robust and diverse media environment. This strong legal framework ensures a vibrant public discourse and shapes how news is produced and consumed across the nation.
Visiting Sweden
Media landscape
Sweden's media environment is characterized by exceptional press freedom, with constitutional protections for journalists and sources, leading to a diverse and competitive landscape. Both public service broadcasters and commercial outlets play significant roles in delivering news and information across various platforms.
To gain a comprehensive understanding, consult a variety of Swedish news sources, including both public service and commercial outlets, and consider English-language options for international perspectives.
Sources we track 2
Pete Hegseth could soon become the scapegoat for Trump’s failed war
Pete Hegseth is acting like a “mini-Trump,” removing officials he sees as disloyal while the United States struggles with what Dagens Nyheter commentator Ingmar Nevéus calls a failed war against Iran.…
Gillian Anderson Becomes New Investor in Rosengård
Gillian Anderson, known for her role in ‘The X-Files,’ has joined the ownership group linked to FC Rosengård. Anderson invested in Crux Football, which owns parts of the Swedish women’s club and Frenc…
Esther González Deletes Photos of Wife After Moving to Saudi Arabia
Esther González’s social media once showed her life with her wife, Estefanina Cruz, and their son. After the Spanish footballer signed for Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadisiyah, those family pictures disapp…
How to tell if you are a healthy weight but still at risk
A normal number on the scales does not necessarily mean a person faces no cardiovascular risk, according to Dagens Nyheter. The newspaper points to people who fall within the normal weight range but m…
Former Gang Leader Convicted of Ordering Tupac Murder
After nearly three decades, the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur has reached a courtroom verdict. A jury convicted former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis of ordering the 1996 killing, although he was n…
Former gang leader convicted of Tupac Shakur's murder
Former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been convicted of murdering rapper Tupac Shakur, several media outlets report. The case dates back to Shakur's killing in the 1990s. The brief account prov…
UKMTO: Tanker Reportedly Hit by Projectiles in Strait of Hormuz
A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was reportedly hit by three “unidentified projectiles,” according to the British maritime monitoring agency UKMTO. UKMTO said there were no reports of damage or enviro…
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll leaves post
Dan Driscoll is leaving as US Army secretary after 18 months in the job, the White House said, without giving a reason for his departure. His exit adds to a series of changes among senior US military …
Petter is at his strongest when performing new material
Petter's Mosebacke show began with the kind of hit parade designed to win over the crowd. It was polished and pleasant, according to Dagens Nyheter critic Mattias Dahlström, but it did not provide the…
What is fast food doing to the languages of the jungle?
Linguistic diversity is often under threat in the same places where biological diversity is also endangered. But that overlap does not necessarily mean that language loss and species loss have the sam…
Record Viking Silver Hoard Found in Danish Garden
A patio-building project in a Danish garden has uncovered the country’s largest known Viking-era silver hoard. The person who found the treasure described the discovery as “the biggest surprise of my …
Joakim Lundell wins Kristallen’s audience award for the seventh straight year
Joakim Lundell joked that he would try not to return next year after winning Kristallen’s audience award for Male TV Presenter of the Year for the seventh consecutive time. Lundell also won the jury p…
American companies keep surging despite tariffs and war
Major US companies are seeing both sales and stock values surge despite tariffs, war, and pessimistic forecasts for the country’s economy under President Donald Trump. Economist Maria Persson said the…
Political Alliances Shape Defence Deals
The 48 billion kronor frigate deal between Sweden and France is about more than ships and money, according to Svenska Dagbladet commentator Tomas Augustsson. It also demonstrates how political allianc…
Secret report leaked: US military raises alarm
A confidential US military report warns of “significant risks” in the war with Iran and presents a challenge to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s line, according to the leaked document. The assessment …
Sirius wobbling after third straight defeat
Sirius’ bid for a first historic Swedish championship is beginning to look increasingly uncertain after the Uppsala club suffered its third straight defeat, a 1-0 home loss to Malmö FF. Diego Garcia h…
Leader: Sweden should board the European railway
A direct night train between Brussels and Malmö is due to begin in April 2028, and Dagens Nyheter argues that Sweden should use such plans to rethink its railway future. The editorial points to wider …
Do not miss the day’s news from August 31
Sweden’s biggest defense agreement in decades, the national team’s progress at the European volleyball championship and voters’ priorities were among the day’s leading stories highlighted by Dagens Ny…
Svantesson hits back at Busch: “I have the final say”
Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson is rejecting claims that Sweden’s Tidö cooperation is coming apart and responding directly to Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch. "Of course that is not true," Svan…
Sweden signs its largest defense agreement in decades
Sweden has signed its largest defense agreement in decades, purchasing four frigates in a deal intended to triple the country’s air-defense capacity. The agreement was signed aboard the French frigate…
Stopping Private Providers Would Worsen Public Welfare
Removing private providers from publicly funded welfare services would make those services worse, argues Nils-Ola Widme, a participant in a Norwegian government review of the issue. His warning is aim…
SD Sources Attack Tidö Parties’ Election Strategy: “They Just Want to Hug”
The Sweden Democrats want a fight. Their coalition partners would rather keep the peace, leaving the Tidö parties divided over how to approach Sweden’s 2026 election. A central SD source compared the …
Train service halted between Stockholm and Gothenburg
Rail traffic between Stockholm and Gothenburg has come to a standstill after a reported power failure at Årstaberg in Stockholm. Anders Edgren of SJ told the newspaper that all trains were waiting at …
Performance festival takes over Gothenburg: “If they want a chainsaw, you want to know what they have in mind”
A performance involving an electric chainsaw may be among the surprises awaiting Gothenburg residents at this year’s Live Action festival. The festival, which began in 2006, places performance art in …
An Era Ends as Messi Retires From Argentina National Team
Lionel Messi's Argentina career has ended with tears in front of the fans and a World Cup final defeat to Spain. The 39-year-old forward announced his retirement after more than 20 years with the nati…
Xi warns of greater uncertainty and unpredictability in international order
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin used their meeting at a regional summit in Bishkek to present China-Russia relations as increasingly close, even as Xi warned that the international order had become more…
Women feel less psychologically safe at work in Sweden
Women in Sweden consistently feel less psychologically safe at work than men, according to a review of nearly one million employee survey responses collected over seven years. The figures show that 13…
Åkesson prepares for an election defeat
The argument inside Sweden’s Tidö coalition points to more than friction between its parties. It also suggests that Jimmie Åkesson is already preparing for the possibility that the right will lose the…
Lionel Messi retires from Argentina’s national team
Lionel Messi has announced that he is leaving Argentina’s national team, ending his international career at 39. The football star made the announcement on Instagram. The report says Argentina’s World …
After wave of criticism, Metropolitan Museum exhibition canceled
A planned exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has been canceled after widespread criticism, leaving the theme of the next Met Gala uncertain. Anna Wintour, who is responsible for the gala, sa…
Big Words, Then a Character Assassination
Aftonbladet’s credibility, Peter Wennblad argues, collapsed faster than the democratic order the newspaper says it is defending. In a sharply critical column for Svenska Dagbladet, he compares the pap…
Viktor Karlsson: Consultants Are Despised, but They Are the Future
Swedish politicians continue to praise a new industrial economy, while many of the jobs shaping the country’s future remain treated as less real. Consultants and communicators are dismissed, and trade…
Reader accuses Benjamin Dousa of abusing his ministerial office
A Swedish teacher and local Centre Party politician has accused Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa of turning a school visit into Moderate Party campai…
Centre Party promises 90% electric share of new-car sales by 2030
Sweden’s Centre Party wants nine out of every 10 new cars sold in 2030 to be electric, a target it says would require a much faster transport transition than the governing Tidö parties have pursued. T…
“An Activism That Creates Problems”
A planned exhibition of works by Chinese calligrapher Qi Baishi at Stockholm’s Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities has been canceled after a dispute over another artwork scheduled for the museum’s reope…
Opposition to camera surveillance spreads across the United States
Resistance to Flock Safety’s surveillance cameras is spreading across the United States, crossing the country’s usual partisan divide. The company has faced growing criticism for years, but opposition…
Magdalena Andersson: “It Will Be Difficult to Form a Government Without the Centre Party”
Magdalena Andersson is leaving Sweden's traditional political sides open as the 2026 election approaches. The Social Democratic leader says she wants to lead the country toward a broader form of coope…
Stalemate deepens in dispute between Sweden Democrats and Christian Democrats
A coffee meeting between Sweden’s Christian Democrat and Sweden Democrat leaders has failed to settle a dispute over what could happen after the election. Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson wants E…
Dangerous Air Stunt Seen as Patriotic Gesture in South Africa
Two passenger planes flew dangerously close to a packed rugby stadium in Cape Town over the weekend, prompting fierce debate among aviation professionals. Despite the safety concerns, many South Afric…
Roland Paulsen Makes Me Dumber Than I Am
People like to congratulate themselves on their intelligence. Roland Paulsen’s new book argues that the more surprising fact is how irrationally they often use it. In his review of “Avbegåvad,” Håkan …
In Aya Kanbar’s ‘The Calf,’ Desire Becomes a Form of Loneliness
Aya Kanbar’s third poetry collection turns desire into a theatrical language of isolation, according to Dagens Nyheter’s review of “The Calf.” The 22-year-old poet has tightened her formal approach wh…
Suspected accomplice in Fagersta murder case released
The 16-year-old boy suspected of aiding a murder and attempted murder in Fagersta has been released from detention, although prosecutors say the suspicions against him remain. Senior prosecutor Kajsa …
Latvian foreign minister calls for sanctions to choke Russian missile production
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže wants sanctions aimed at the companies she says help Russia manufacture ballistic missiles. “We know which companies they are, now swift sanctions are needed,” she…
Rescuers descend by rope to search for survivors in Nepal tunnel
A rescuer lowered by rope into a tunnel in Nepal called out to people believed to be trapped underground but received no answer, according to the prime minister’s office. More than 100 hydropower work…
Researchers: Build Better to Protect Our Brains
As artificial intelligence makes vast amounts of knowledge instantly available and takes over routine data processing, the spaces where people live and work may become more important to human performa…
Örebro Party Triples Support in County and Could Enter Sweden’s Parliament
Sweden could gain a new parliamentary party after the nationalist-populist Örebro Party climbed to 15.1% support in Örebro County, according to a Novus poll published by Nerikes Allehanda. The result …
The Centre Party’s strategy is a jackpot for Dadgostar
A proposed centrist government may offer Nooshi Dadgostar the most useful campaign help she could receive before Sweden’s election. Tomas Ramberg argues that the Centre Party’s idea gives the Left Par…
‘With frigates, we will secure the Baltic region’
Sweden’s decision to buy four French frigates reflects what its navy chief describes as a sharp change in the country’s maritime responsibilities after joining NATO. The navy must now help maintain op…
Tech World Pours Money Into the U.S. Election
Technology companies are directing money toward the U.S. election, while artificial intelligence is being tested against political propaganda. A morning briefing says AI can identify propaganda, but M…
Yes, chaos at children’s parties is perfectly fine
A picture of Aunt Fiffi appears in Kalena’s family chat whenever a children’s party needs organizing. The image shows Alfons Åberg’s determined party planner with an apron, a satisfied smile and a lon…
Iran Strikes Back After US Attack
The confrontation between the United States and Iran has escalated again, after Washington carried out its first attack on Iran in about a month and Tehran quickly announced strikes against American m…
New App Aims to Protect Children on Social Media
A new Swedish app is designed to give children and parents practical help with some of the most common risks of social media, including cyberbullying, appearance-based harassment and hacked accounts. …
Stefan Jonsson: Culture policy needs serious investment
Culture policy has all but disappeared from Sweden’s election campaign, pushed aside by defence, health-care queues, crime, schools and promises of more money in people’s wallets. Stefan Jonsson calls…
Has Google Gotten Worse?
More people are turning to artificial intelligence instead of Google when they search, prompting a Svenska Dagbladet Tech Brief episode to ask whether Google has become worse. The discussion begins wi…
Liberals do not usually make a late surge: “Extremely tough”
Sweden’s Liberals are counting on a late campaign surge, but election researcher Henrik Ekengren Oscarsson says their history offers little support for that hope. With only a few weeks left before the…
Åberg shares fourth place in Tour Championship
Ludvig Åberg endured a difficult final round at the PGA Tour’s season finale, making four bogeys and finishing one over par. Three birdies helped him secure a share of fourth place at 11 under overall…
Editorial: The Moderates Used to Be Serious About Fiscal Policy. What Happened?
Sweden’s strong public finances did not happen by accident, according to Dagens Nyheter’s editorial. The paper credits two major governing parties with setting fiscal boundaries for themselves, for ea…
About 15 people missing after flash flood hits Grand Canyon
About 15 people are believed to be missing after a powerful flash flood struck the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The flood damaged the national park’s only water pipeline, which supplies tourists and resid…
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it attacked US targets in Jordan
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it attacked US military targets in Jordan with ballistic missiles, Iranian state media reported. The Guard claimed the strikes targeted air bases as well as technical i…
A “Life-Changing” Journey Through an Östermalm Apartment
Stressed contemporary residents are gathering in basements and attic spaces to breathe together and settle into resting positions. Svenska Dagbladet’s guide to seven forms of relaxation training inclu…
Reports: United States Carries Out New Attacks on Iran
The United States reportedly carried out new attacks against Iran on Sunday, marking the first such strikes in more than a month. The attacks allegedly targeted Iranian launch sites on Larak Island in…
USA Reportedly Attacks Iran Again
A vessel was hit in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the Associated Press, as unconfirmed reports said the United States had attacked targets around the strategic waterway. The incident re…
Report: US attacks Iran again
US forces reportedly attacked two Iranian launch platforms on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, who cited a US source. The Iranian positions were alleged…
100,000 Russians flee amid rumors of Putin mobilization
More than 113,000 Russians have crossed into Georgia since reports began circulating that Moscow could announce a new mobilization, according to Politico. Data cited by Radio Free Europe also indicate…
Is the king of true crime himself an abuser?
One of the world’s biggest true-crime authors is facing allegations of repeated abuse, and two publishers are pulling his books. Bonnier Books UK and Sweden’s Lind & Co announced the withdrawals after…
Kristersson: I have never understood preschool fees
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson says parents should no longer have to pay fees for preschool and after-school care, a promise his Moderate Party introduced less than a week before his televised…
Swedish voters tired of integration debate lacking solutions, poll finds
A significant majority of Swedish voters are expressing fatigue with the current political discourse on integration, believing that politicians focus excessively on problems rather than offering viabl…
King Haakon honors his father, Harald: 'Thank you for being such a good dad'
Norway is in a state of national mourning after the death of King Harald. His son, King Haakon, addressed the nation for the first time on Saturday, sharing heartfelt memories of his father. "Dear fat…
Before-and-after images reveal devastation in Nepal and Tibet
Satellite imagery starkly illustrates the catastrophic impact of a recent flood that ravaged parts of Nepal and Tibet. New images captured by the U.S. space technology company Planet Labs offer a dram…
King Haakon's first speech: 'He cried with us'
In his inaugural address as Norway's monarch, King Haakon articulated a vision for a nation founded on the principle of equal worth for all its citizens. "Queen Mette-Marit and I wish to be present an…
Super El Niño Arrives, Threatening Global Weather Chaos and Higher Temperatures
Climate researchers have been sounding the alarm for months about a "super-duper El Niño," and now it has arrived. This phenomenon is poised to make the world significantly hotter over the next year, …
Ship recaptured from pirates after naval battle
A cargo ship, the MV Latuf, has been safely recaptured and resumed its journey after a prolonged battle with pirates in Somali waters. The successful operation, a joint effort between Turkey's navy an…
Lisa Magnusson: Doesn't Trump understand people are laughing at him?
Donald Trump's efforts to rename geographical features and public buildings after himself are not enhancing America's image but are instead seen as undermining its history and institutions, according …
Norwegian Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra to Step into Larger Role After King Harald's Death
With the passing of King Harald, Norway's royal family is poised for a significant shift, with 22-year-old Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra expected to step into a more prominent public role. Royal exp…
Swedish Triple in Discus: Ståhl Achieves Massive Throw
Daniel Ståhl dominated the men's discus event at the Finnkampen, securing his 13th consecutive victory with an impressive throw of 69.06 meters. This dominant performance led a Swedish clean sweep in …
Teen Held for School Attack Also Investigated for Own Murder Plot
A 16-year-old already in custody for alleged involvement in the fatal school attack in Fagersta is now facing a new investigation for preparing to commit murder. Police have confirmed to Ekot that the…
Climate activism surges during election years in Sweden
Climate activism in Sweden experiences significant surges, particularly during election years, as evidenced by a recent demonstration that drew over 50,000 participants. This pattern suggests a strate…
Netanyahu's power threatened by new right-wing parties
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is actively campaigning against the rise of new right-wing parties that threaten his government's standing ahead of elections in two months. He is directly appealing …
From Netanyahu's top general to his main challenger
Gadi Eisenkot, a 66-year-old former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, has transformed from a top general under Benjamin Netanyahu to his most significant political rival. Eisenkot, who lost…
Iran Admits US Sanctions and Blockade Severely Impact Trade
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has openly admitted that U.S. sanctions and the blockade of the country's ports are severely impacting its trade. In a state television interview, Pezeshkian stated …
Fall's must-read children's and young adult books
The literary world is gearing up for an exciting autumn season with a diverse range of children's and young adult books set to be released. Dagens Nyheter's Alexandra Sundqvist has curated a list of 1…
French Frigate Docks in Stockholm Ahead of Multi-Billion Crown Deal
A French frigate, specifically an FDI (Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention) or Defense and Intervention Frigate, is currently docked at Skeppsbron in Stockholm. This vessel is identical to the type S…
Swedish banks to launch digital currency, sparking debate
Swedish and European banks are preparing to launch a joint digital currency, aiming to revolutionize transaction speeds. The initiative, named Qivalis, involves 37 banks and plans to introduce a stabl…
Swedish House Mafia's free concert brings Beethoven to the masses
What began as a disappointment for thousands of fans turned into an unexpected cultural moment in Gothenburg. Swedish House Mafia, forced to cancel their Friday stadium concert at Ullevi due to severe…
Åkesson questions Busch's reliability in summer speech
Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson used his summer speech in Sölvesborg to directly challenge the political reliability of Christian Democrats leader Ebba Busch. Åkesson expressed concern over Bus…
Åkesson Questions KD's Loyalty, Asks if They Can Be Trusted
Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson used his summer speech to directly challenge his own coalition partners, the Christian Democrats. He questioned whether the party, led by Ebba Busch, could be tr…
Swedish football team Sirius faces 'gold fever' as lead shrinks
The Swedish football club Sirius, based in Upsala, finds itself in an unexpected period of uncertainty despite being on the cusp of winning the Allsvenskan league title. Having maintained an undefeate…
Swedish democracy is not threatened, scholars argue
Frequent alarms about threats to Swedish democracy are a result of an "unfortunate broadening" of the concept of democracy itself, according to political science professors Mikael Persson and Andrej K…
Sweden's Liberal Party faces financial blow if it loses parliamentary seats
Sweden's Liberal Party (L) faces more than just a loss of political power if it fails to win seats in the upcoming parliamentary elections. A significant consequence would be the drastic reduction of …
Swedish voters set 3% threshold for tactical support of struggling Liberal Party
The Liberal Party in Sweden faces a historically weak position as the general election approaches, with support hovering around 2 percent for the entire year. Political scientists note that no party p…
Swedish Politics 1994: How Social Democrats Ousted the Conservatives
A podcast delves into a pivotal moment in Swedish political history: the 1994 general election. The episode focuses on how the Social Democrats successfully ousted the conservative government by adopt…
Swedish author P.C. Jersild reflects on 66-year career and new novel
Veteran Swedish author and medical doctor P.C. Jersild, now 91, is marking an extraordinary 66-year literary career with the release of his latest novel, "Livet som gåva" (Life as a Gift). This new wo…
Swedish House Mafia Free Concert in Gothenburg Amidst Police Reinforcements
Gothenburg is preparing for an impromptu free concert by Swedish House Mafia this afternoon, following the last-minute cancellation of their scheduled performance at Ullevi stadium due to severe thund…
Sweden Reintroduces Home Energy Efficiency Grants Up to 60,000 Kronor
Swedish homeowners can once again access government support for energy efficiency improvements, with a grant program offering up to 60,000 kronor available starting September 1. This initiative, known…
Swedish Runner Alice Magnell Millán Makes Remarkable Comeback After Meningitis
At just 21 years old, Swedish runner Alice Magnell Millán is demonstrating an extraordinary return to form, becoming a vital asset for the Swedish team in the Finnkampen. Her journey back to elite com…
At least 27 killed in Russian attacks on Ukrainian city of Bucha
Russian attacks on the Ukrainian city of Bucha overnight killed at least 27 people and injured 42, according to Kyiv's governor, Timur Tkatjenko. He stated on Telegram that the death toll may not be f…
King Haakon's first call: A 'good and close' conversation
Norway's new monarch, King Haakon VIII, made his first official act by calling Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre just 25 minutes after his father, King Harald, passed away. The conversation, described b…
Lexus ES Goes Electric: A New Era for the Popular Taxi Sedan
The Lexus ES, long a staple for taxi services in Sweden, has entered a new phase with the introduction of an all-electric version. This move signifies a major technological advancement for Lexus, aimi…
US Secures 100-Year Control Over Venezuelan Oil Reserves
The United States has finalized a landmark agreement granting it majority control over a substantial portion of Venezuela's oil reserves for the next century. The deal encompasses at least 65 billion …
Teenager faces trial in Denmark for contract killing, could be youngest convicted
A 16-year-old Swedish boy stands accused of attempted murder in Denmark, a case that could see him become the youngest individual convicted of contract killing, or "crime as a service," in the country…