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Sweden

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Sweden. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Stockholm

Head of State

King Carl XVI Gustaf

Head of Government

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson

Swedish police said that one person was taken into custody after the incident at Brinell high school in the town of Fagersta in central Sweden. Photo: dpa

Crime

Man armed with sword injures several at Swedish school

The incident comes a year after Sweden’s worst mass shooting, in which a gunman killed 10 before turning the ‌weapon on himself.

1 minute ago

China-EU relations

China’s trade grip tightens in Europe as clock ticks towards October deadline

32 minutes agovideocam

European Union

Belgium battles worst wildfire on record, EU allies come to aid

16 Aug 2026 - 6:09PM

SCMP Highlights

China retaliates on US sanctions; North Korea’s dog meat advisory: 7 highlights

From Chinese hotpot giant Haidilao’s burger brand to Filipino star Eala’s maiden WTA win, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

7 Aug 2026 - 12:15PM

Live dogs for sale behind Rajin market in North Korea. Photo: SCMP

Trending in China

Chinese baby adopted by Swedish couple makes emotional return decades later

When asked about her decision, Gao reflects, ‘I’ve made peace with my past and need to know where my roots are’.

4 Aug 2026 - 6:14PM

Crime

Sweden doubles prison terms for gang-related crimes

Sweden has struggled to contain gang violence, with criminal networks often recruiting teenagers to carry out contract killings.

1 Aug 2026 - 9:01PMvideocam

Hong Kong society

‘Fear and anger’ drive parents to seek review of city’s custody of baby Danny

Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin argue son should not be taken away from them because of their stance against vaccinations and prenatal check-ups.

31 Jul 2026 - 10:21PMvideocam

Parents Kwan Pui-sin and Tsang Wai-bong address the media outside the High Court in Admiralty. Photo: Karma Lo

Britain

Norwegian teen found guilty in UK murder plot tied to Iran-linked group

Prosecutors said Natland had been recruited by the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organised crime group used by ⁠the Iranian state.

29 Jul 2026 - 8:49PMvideocam

Nordic nations

European heatwaves drive summer tourists to cooler north

The concept of ‘coolcations’ – holidays in a cooler clime – has been gathering pace in recent years and appears to have exploded in 2026.

26 Jul 2026 - 12:54PM

France

Modelling scout with links to Epstein found dead in France

Daniel Siad, 69, was one of several men accused of helping the US financier traffic and abuse women.

23 Jul 2026 - 12:08PM

Daniel Siad had ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: US Department of Justice

European Union

France and Germany reach nuclear deal as Europe builds up defences

France is the only nuclear power in the 27-member EU, while Germany plans to build Europe’s strongest conventional military by 2039.

19 Jul 2026 - 6:32PM

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron after the 26th Franco-German Ministerial Council at Augustusburg Palace in Bruehl, Germany, on Friday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Get to Know

Meet Greta Thunberg’s younger sister Beata Andersson, who’s a singer

The rising Swedish artist, known as Beata MonaLisa on social media, has distanced herself from her older sibling’s fame by changing her surname.

15 Jul 2026 - 6:00PM

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong couple files complaint with UN over Swedish custody plans for daughter

Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin appeal to UN Human Rights Committee over Swedish authorities’ handling of four-year-old Lily in custody dispute.

14 Jul 2026 - 4:46PM

Science

Using AI could reduce exam scores by a fifth, a study on Chinese students finds

Researchers in Sweden and Hong Kong say students may experience a deceptive sense of fluency – AI makes tasks feel effortless.

14 Jul 2026 - 9:03AMvideocam

By comparing AI users with non-users, researchers from Sweden and Hong Kong found a clear gap: AI boosted short-term efficiency but harmed long-term learning. Photo: Shutterstock

Ukraine war

Ukraine allies meet in Paris to boost air defence, pressure Russia to end war

The 37-member Coalition of the Willing aims to develop ‘purely defensive’ anti-ballistic capabilities in Europe.

14 Jul 2026 - 3:40AMvideocam

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upon arrival for a summit of the Coalition of the Willing at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris on Monday. Photo: AFP

Nato

1 revolver, 6 bullets: Turkish president’s ‘unusual’ gift to Nato leaders

Bring it home? Leave it in Turkey? Their delegations puzzled over what to do with the gun and live ammunition from Erdogan.

10 Jul 2026 - 9:46AM

Crime

Norway police says 28 arrested in international child porn operation

The men, aged 22 to 54, had been arrested in Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.

8 Jul 2026 - 7:15PM

European Union

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi calls on Sweden to help rebuild mutual trust

China’s top diplomat is visiting the Nordic countries amid a growing debate in the EU about how to respond to Beijing’s trade practices.

5 Jul 2026 - 4:38PMvideocam

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson welcomes Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Stockholm on July 4. Photo: Xinhua

China travel

China’s economic clout boosts ‘passport power’, index finds

Chinese travellers are gaining easier access to destinations worldwide, even as they still require visas for more countries than they can enter freely.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:00PM

European Union

Putin superyacht ‘Graceful’ spotted on radar off Denmark

Danish media said the boat, not seen on radar since 2022, was accompanied by two Russian warships, the Danish navy and the German coastguard.

30 Jun 2026 - 8:43PMvideocam

E-commerce

China’s cooling, e-commerce giants see sales surge as Europe heat sizzles

Alibaba notes surge in retail and business-to-business orders, Midea reports sharp revenue rise, and Gree sales get bump in major European markets.

29 Jun 2026 - 10:09PMvideocam

On AliExpress, Alibaba’s international retail site, this month’s debut of air conditioners in Germany saw local warehouse inventory for a Midea model completely wiped out by Thursday. Photo: Shutterstock

Artificial intelligence

China keeps an eye on AI smart glasses as privacy concerns come into focus

Voluntary code aims to address privacy fears surrounding AI smart glasses as shipments surge and hidden recordings spark public outrage.

26 Jun 2026 - 6:35PM

China has introduced a voluntary industry code of conduct for AI smart glasses following growing privacy concerns over covert recording. Photo: Xinhua

European Union

Swedish minister brings baby to EU meeting, a first for the bloc

She did so to highlight the benefits of parental leave policies that do not force women to choose between work and family.

25 Jun 2026 - 9:03PM

Science

China ‘on track to surpass United States’ in goals for human, planet health: UN

Report showing global progress on 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals shows gap between Chinese and US closed significantly since 2015.

25 Jun 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Hong Kong children

Hong Kong parents may lose battle over daughter Lily amid fight for baby Danny

Ahead of court hearing over son, Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin say Swedish authorities have yet to arrange daughter’s return to Hong Kong.

25 Jun 2026 - 11:11PM

Hong Kong couple Tsang Wai-bong (right) and Kwan Pui-sin have been at the centre of a controversial cross-border child welfare case involving their three children. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong parents in welfare custody case say 2-month-old baby sick in hospital

Baby Danny was at one point recommended for meningitis testing.

22 Jun 2026 - 11:02PM

Kwan Pui-sin (left) and Tsang Wai-bong at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. The parents accuse authorities of neglecting the baby’s need for breast milk. Photo: Jelly Tse

Crime

Swede who ‘ruthlessly’ prostituted wife to over 100 men jailed for 4½ years

The prosecutor said the woman had ‘a serious fear’ of her husband, who had warned her ‘the monster would be released’ if she angered him.

16 Jun 2026 - 6:49PM

Hong Kong society

Court rejects Hong Kong couple’s challenge to daughter’s guardianship in Sweden

Swedish court dismisses challenge by parents of four-year-old Lily after welfare authorities seek to transfer her legal guardianship to foster family.

16 Jun 2026 - 8:30AM

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