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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

Snow falls on the streets of central Paris on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

France

Europe paralysed by snow as brutal cold snap disrupts flights, rail services

Thousands stranded as chaos grounds flights, with black ice sparking fatal accidents, while death toll rises to six in season’s worst freeze.

7 Jan 2026 - 8:16PM

Retailing

Furniture retailer Ikea to close 7 stores in China amid property market slump

7 Jan 2026 - 6:32PM

US-Venezuela conflict

Trump doubles down on Greenland after US intervention in Venezuela

5 Jan 2026 - 2:57PM

Science

Nobel Prize jurist Thomas Mikael Oliveberg joins southern China medical school

Biophysicist leaves Stockholm University for full-time role at Guangxi Medical University’s First Affiliated Hospital.

4 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

Biophysicist Thomas Mikael Oliveberg (left) is welcomed to Guangxi Medical University by its vice-president Li Lang, at a signing ceremony on December 16. Photo: Handout

Switzerland

Explainer | Swiss bar inferno joins long list of world’s worst club fires

A look at some of the worst fires in bars, nightclubs and music venues in past decades, where celebrations turned to tragedy in seconds.

2 Jan 2026 - 2:38PM

Nordic nations

2 dead as Storm Johannes batters Nordic nations, thousands left without power

One person was killed after being hit by a falling tree near Sweden’s Kungsberget ski resort, police said.

28 Dec 2025 - 3:05PM

Britain

Greta Thunberg arrested in London at pro-Palestinian protest

The 22-year-old Swede held a sign supporting hunger strikers and their organisation known as Palestine Action.

24 Dec 2025 - 12:24PM

Greta Thunberg in a police van on Tuesday following her arrest in London at a demonstration. Photo: Prisoners for Palestine via AFP

Year in Review

10 most read Daily Pulse briefings of 2025

SCMP Plus looks back at the year’s 10 most popular Daily Pulse bulletins, covering China issues related to diplomacy, trade and economics.

22 Dec 2025 - 5:00PM

Singapore

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

22 Dec 2025 - 10:02AMvideocam

Australia

Why Southeast Asia’s move to protect children online may fuel state surveillance

Measures to rein in tech companies risk opening the door to tighter state oversight of online platforms, analysts say.

18 Dec 2025 - 5:29PMvideocam

Australia banned social media for children under 16 earlier this month. Photo: dpa

Malaysia

Trump’s tariffs on Southeast Asia put US Christmas gifts at risk

From Hot Wheels to headphones, new levies are squeezing the supply of Americans’ festive favourites.

15 Dec 2025 - 8:02AM

Passers-by look in Christmas-themed shop windows at Macy’s department store in New York earlier this month. Photo: Zuma Press Wire/dpa

US-Asean relations

Southeast Asia barely features in America’s new security strategy

The region appears just twice in the new 32-page US National Security Strategy, raising fears it is being relegated to a ‘bargaining chip’.

14 Dec 2025 - 12:00PM

TikTok

Are China’s social media apps the soft power play to win over the West?

After the US migration to RedNote, experts say transforming engagement into influence will require a ‘light touch’ from Beijing.

14 Dec 2025 - 6:20PMvideocam

Malaysia

As Southeast Asia’s middle classes lose their homes, the rich get sky garages

As wealthy buyers seek penthouses with living-room supercar parking, struggling families battle banks to keep a roof overhead.

4 hours agovideocam

Banking & finance

Hong Kong needs to attract global champions to broaden fundraising base: FSDC

Think tank urges the expansion of connect schemes to cover a wider range of asset classes and the promotion of digital asset trading.

12 Dec 2025 - 5:30PM

“Hong Kong has every opportunity to shape, innovate and lead,” according to the FSDC. Photo: Sam Tsang

China trade

Explainer | As China’s companies become industry leaders, where in the world are they going?

Across numerous sectors, China’s firms are setting up shop worldwide – and gaining ground on their well-entrenched competitors.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:21AMvideocam

China trade

Explainer | From railways to Labubus: how China Inc. went on a 50-year trip abroad

Chinese companies have steadily expanded their global reach over the past half-century, but it has been a winding, often turbulent journey.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:21AMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea unveils new missiles, angles for Russian jets amid Ukraine war deal

Analysts say the event served a dual purpose: grooming Kim’s potential successor and angling for Russian jets as payment for Ukraine war aid.

2 Dec 2025 - 11:27AMvideocam

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) and his daughter Ju-ae (centre, left) watch a demonstration flight commemorating the 80th anniversary of the air force’s founding on Friday. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP

The Philippines

Why Russia is targeting the Philippines with Ukraine mercenary claims

As Moscow wages an information war far from the battlefields of Ukraine, an improbable front has opened up in Southeast Asia.

1 Dec 2025 - 4:02PM

India

India’s looming BrahMos missile deal with Indonesia challenges US-China binary

New Delhi is emerging as a serious alternative security partner for Southeast Asia, offering hi-tech arms without ‘hegemonic baggage’.

1 Dec 2025 - 3:51PM

Singapore

Singapore becomes Plan B for Chinese travellers giving Japan a wide berth

Beijing’s call to boycott Japan after Sanae Takaichi’s remarks is benefiting Southeast Asian countries, travel agents say.

30 Nov 2025 - 9:30AM

Tourists take photos with the Merlion statue in Singapore. Chinese visitors say the city state is an “easy and comfortable” travel destination. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia

From Singapore to Malaysia, tech firms double down on AI despite bubble fears

Bubble bursting? Not here. Meet the regional founders who see a potential global AI crash as a ‘healthy’ correction.

28 Nov 2025 - 5:30PM

An electronic chip board used for AI processing. Photo: Shutterstock

South Korea

Seoul sanctions Prince Group chairman Chen Zhi in Cambodia crime crackdown

Chen Zhi, the chairman of the Prince Group, is accused of overseeing scam compounds that detained dozens of South Koreans.

27 Nov 2025 - 5:10PMvideocam

Fashion

8 viral tote bags: Emily Ratajkowski’s Daunt Books tote and more

Trader Joe’s micro bags have brought totes into the conversation again – here are a few that have taken off and are gaining cult status.

26 Nov 2025 - 2:00PM

Asean

Widodo hails Southeast Asia’s rise as ‘global force’ in entrepreneurship

Former Indonesian leader says the next unicorn could emerge from Southeast Asia and urges the region to prepare for an ‘intelligent economy’.

21 Nov 2025 - 7:17PMvideocam

Joko Widodo, Indonesia’s former president, has urged Southeast Asian countries to prepare for an “intelligent economy”. Photo: dpa

Asean

Why Asean’s AI ambition may lead to widening economic and tech divide

While countries such as Singapore and Malaysia are ahead in the AI race, others like Cambodia and Laos risk being left behind, analysts say.

21 Nov 2025 - 5:31PM

An illustration of stock market trading using artificial intelligence. Asean is aiming to expand the use of AI across sectors. Photo: Shutterstock

United States

Outside In | Trump’s G20 boycott sums up a year of US attacks on multilateralism

Despite the duress, most countries clearly do not prefer Trumpian unilateralism. But while multilateralism is not dead, it is limping badly.

21 Nov 2025 - 9:15PMvideocam

Singapore

Singapore PM hopes China, Japan ‘find ways to resolve’ Taiwan Strait row

Lawrence Wong cites the example of Southeast Asia and Japan, who have ‘put history aside’ and are moving forward.

20 Nov 2025 - 12:59AMvideocam

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Sweden

Europe paralysed by snow as brutal cold snap disrupts flights, rail services

Thousands stranded as chaos grounds flights, with black ice sparking fatal accidents, while death toll rises to six in season’s worst freeze.

Furniture retailer Ikea to close 7 stores in China amid property market slump

Trump doubles down on Greenland after US intervention in Venezuela

Nobel Prize jurist Thomas Mikael Oliveberg joins southern China medical school

Biophysicist leaves Stockholm University for full-time role at Guangxi Medical University’s First Affiliated Hospital.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | Swiss bar inferno joins long list of world’s worst club fires

A look at some of the worst fires in bars, nightclubs and music venues in past decades, where celebrations turned to tragedy in seconds.

2 dead as Storm Johannes batters Nordic nations, thousands left without power

One person was killed after being hit by a falling tree near Sweden’s Kungsberget ski resort, police said.

Greta Thunberg arrested in London at pro-Palestinian protest

The 22-year-old Swede held a sign supporting hunger strikers and their organisation known as Palestine Action.

10 most read Daily Pulse briefings of 2025

SCMP Plus looks back at the year’s 10 most popular Daily Pulse bulletins, covering China issues related to diplomacy, trade and economics.

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

Why Southeast Asia’s move to protect children online may fuel state surveillance

Measures to rein in tech companies risk opening the door to tighter state oversight of online platforms, analysts say.

Trump’s tariffs on Southeast Asia put US Christmas gifts at risk

From Hot Wheels to headphones, new levies are squeezing the supply of Americans’ festive favourites.

Southeast Asia barely features in America’s new security strategy

The region appears just twice in the new 32-page US National Security Strategy, raising fears it is being relegated to a ‘bargaining chip’.

Are China’s social media apps the soft power play to win over the West?

After the US migration to RedNote, experts say transforming engagement into influence will require a ‘light touch’ from Beijing.

As Southeast Asia’s middle classes lose their homes, the rich get sky garages

As wealthy buyers seek penthouses with living-room supercar parking, struggling families battle banks to keep a roof overhead.

Hong Kong needs to attract global champions to broaden fundraising base: FSDC

Think tank urges the expansion of connect schemes to cover a wider range of asset classes and the promotion of digital asset trading.

Explainer | As China’s companies become industry leaders, where in the world are they going?

Across numerous sectors, China’s firms are setting up shop worldwide – and gaining ground on their well-entrenched competitors.

Explainer | From railways to Labubus: how China Inc. went on a 50-year trip abroad

Chinese companies have steadily expanded their global reach over the past half-century, but it has been a winding, often turbulent journey.

North Korea unveils new missiles, angles for Russian jets amid Ukraine war deal

Analysts say the event served a dual purpose: grooming Kim’s potential successor and angling for Russian jets as payment for Ukraine war aid.

Why Russia is targeting the Philippines with Ukraine mercenary claims

As Moscow wages an information war far from the battlefields of Ukraine, an improbable front has opened up in Southeast Asia.

India’s looming BrahMos missile deal with Indonesia challenges US-China binary

New Delhi is emerging as a serious alternative security partner for Southeast Asia, offering hi-tech arms without ‘hegemonic baggage’.

Singapore becomes Plan B for Chinese travellers giving Japan a wide berth

Beijing’s call to boycott Japan after Sanae Takaichi’s remarks is benefiting Southeast Asian countries, travel agents say.

From Singapore to Malaysia, tech firms double down on AI despite bubble fears

Bubble bursting? Not here. Meet the regional founders who see a potential global AI crash as a ‘healthy’ correction.

Seoul sanctions Prince Group chairman Chen Zhi in Cambodia crime crackdown

Chen Zhi, the chairman of the Prince Group, is accused of overseeing scam compounds that detained dozens of South Koreans.

8 viral tote bags: Emily Ratajkowski’s Daunt Books tote and more

Trader Joe’s micro bags have brought totes into the conversation again – here are a few that have taken off and are gaining cult status.

Widodo hails Southeast Asia’s rise as ‘global force’ in entrepreneurship

Former Indonesian leader says the next unicorn could emerge from Southeast Asia and urges the region to prepare for an ‘intelligent economy’.

Why Asean’s AI ambition may lead to widening economic and tech divide

While countries such as Singapore and Malaysia are ahead in the AI race, others like Cambodia and Laos risk being left behind, analysts say.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Outside In | Trump’s G20 boycott sums up a year of US attacks on multilateralism

Despite the duress, most countries clearly do not prefer Trumpian unilateralism. But while multilateralism is not dead, it is limping badly.

Singapore PM hopes China, Japan ‘find ways to resolve’ Taiwan Strait row

Lawrence Wong cites the example of Southeast Asia and Japan, who have ‘put history aside’ and are moving forward.

Explainer | Swiss bar inferno joins long list of world’s worst club fires

Outside In | Trump’s G20 boycott sums up a year of US attacks on multilateralism