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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

United Nations peacekeepers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) drive past firefighters clearing the road at the site of an overnight Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon in March. Photo: AFP

Nordic nations

Global tension and funding woes threaten peacekeeping missions, SIPRI warns

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said peacekeeping troop numbers have fallen to the lowest number in 25 years.

45 minutes agovideocam

China-EU relations

Chinese investment in Europe surges to 7-year high despite rising trade tensions

20 May 2026 - 5:04PMvideocam

India

India links up with UAE, Europe on Modi’s grand tour

18 May 2026 - 6:21PM

The Philippines

Western powers ramp up support for Philippines’ Luzon economic hub

Eight more countries will invest in the project as they accelerate regional trade diversification in sectors ranging from AI to energy.

15 May 2026 - 7:07PMvideocam

Containers at the Manila North Harbour Port in Manila, Philippines. Development of the Luzon Economic Corridor will involve eight more countries. Photo: AP

Hong Kong science and tech

Top Swedish universities eager to forge ties with city, Hong Kong minister says

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong says visit aimed at strengthening collaboration in innovation and technology.

13 May 2026 - 8:17PM

Ukraine war

Sweden to form new spy agency in Ukraine war reset

The foreign intelligence service would start operations in January 2027.

5 May 2026 - 5:43PM

Ukraine war

Putin and Zelensky announce rival ceasefires ahead of Russia’s Victory Day

Moscow threatens ‘massive’ strike on Kyiv if May 9 parade is disrupted, as Ukraine plans own truce starting Tuesday night.

5 May 2026 - 4:03PM

Security personnel armed with a machine gun patrol in central Moscow. Photo: Reuters

Israel-Gaza war

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla in international waters off Greece, detaining dozens

Organisers accuse Israel of ‘abduction’ after boats are seized nearly 1,000km from the Palestinian enclave.

1 May 2026 - 9:35AM

European Union

Sweden targets social media giants over ‘murder ads’ recruiting children

The government wants to stop criminal gangs use of social media to recruit people - including youngsters - to kill and commit other crimes.

29 Apr 2026 - 11:42PM

US-China relations

Are US agents around Trump armed with Chinese red dot sights?

Apparent Holosun optic on security agent’s pistol in photo from correspondents’ dinner prompts US commenters to question Chinese link.

29 Apr 2026 - 10:28PMvideocam

Security officials react as a shooter opens fire at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, in Washington on April 25. Online commenters showed interest in the female agent’s drawn Glock pistol and what appeared to be a Holosun sight. Photo: Reuters

United Nations

Landmark UN nuclear summit opens as world’s warhead count grows

UN chief urges world to ‘breathe life’ into a landmark non-proliferation treaty as nations gather in New York.

28 Apr 2026 - 12:35PM

An unarmed US Minuteman III missile inside a silo. The US and Russia hold nearly 90 per cent of nuclear weapons globally. Photo: 90th Missile Wing

China-India relations

Why China won’t like India’s latest defence deal with South Korea

After Lee Jae Myung’s recent visit to New Delhi touting expanded bilateral cooperation, Beijing is likely to be uneasy, analysts say.

25 Apr 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

Food and Drinks

The soy sauce artisans making the Chinese condiment with a dash of attitude

Two craft soy sauce makers in Sweden and Australia are turning away from ‘boring’ mass production methods to make the condiment in new ways.

23 Apr 2026 - 12:45PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Top Peru ministers quit in protest over stalled US F-16 jet deal

Peru’s interim president defers decision on the US$3.5 billion deal to his successor who will emerge from a run-off vote in June.

23 Apr 2026 - 1:53PM

A US Air Force F-16 fighter jet. Photo: AP

Israel-Gaza war

Sumud aid flotilla departs Spain for Gaza to break Israeli blockade

The Israeli military halted 40 boats assembled by the same organisation in October last year, arresting more than 450 activists including Greta Thunberg.

12 Apr 2026 - 6:40PM

Global Sumud Flotilla Steering Committee members attend a press conference as the humanitarian flotilla prepares to depart for Gaza, from Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Fame and celebrity

Meet Joel Kinnaman, who plays ‘monster’ Robert in Imperfect Women

The Swedish-American actor also stars in For All Mankind and Detective Hole – and is known for blockbusters like The Killing and 2014’s RoboCop.

9 Apr 2026 - 6:00AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Rights groups raise alarm after Iran executes 2 more opposition group members

The hangings are the latest targeting members of the banned People’s Mojahedin of Iran after four others were executed earlier in the week.

4 Apr 2026 - 2:31PMvideocam

Japan

Why Japan’s advanced fighter project may get Canadian tailwinds

With Ottawa’s interest in the stealth fighter, Tokyo hopes the multinational project for its air force’s modernisation can regain momentum.

2 Apr 2026 - 8:04AM

A concept design of the Global Combat Air Programme sixth-generation fighter jet displayed at the 2024 Farnborough International Air Show. Photo: AFP

Crime

Sweden charges ‘monster’ man for selling wife to over 120 men

The man, 62, had for years benefited financially from pressuring his wife ‘to perform and submit to sexual acts’.

30 Mar 2026 - 8:47PMvideocam

Art

Fried bananas and family lore: a Swedish-Chinese art story

Lam turns Swedish-Chinese restaurant culture and digital defects into haunting works about migration, memory and generational loss.

27 Mar 2026 - 12:15PM

SCMP Highlights

Hong Kong Michelin star list; monthly zodiac forecast: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From a study linking poor-quality sleep and dementia to this lunar month’s predictions, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

26 Mar 2026 - 4:43PM

Chocolate dessert by Leo Faler at Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic. The restaurant has been promoted from one Michelin star to two. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Food and Drinks

Trailblazing Chinese restaurant is showing Swedes what the culture is all about

From baijiu to Sichuan cuisine, Surfers in Stockholm has it all. Now, this Chinese culture hub is gearing up to celebrate 20 years.

22 Mar 2026 - 12:45PM

Surfers chef Cao Dayu prepares a dish at the Chinese restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden. The restaurant has come a long way from its humble roots on a Swedish island to become one of the capital’s most popular Chinese restaurants. Photo: Emil Lif

China travel

Middle East oil shock sparks global airfare rises, with 9% increases feared

Surging jet fuel prices are pushing airlines – including several Chinese carriers – to raise fares, with a warning of 9 per cent price rises.

21 Mar 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Military escort for tankers in Strait of Hormuz not long-term fix: IMO head

The UN organisation head said an international naval operation, as suggested by Trump, would not be sustainable.

17 Mar 2026 - 5:17PMvideocam

Trending in China

Swede owns vehicle test centre in China’s Inner Mongolia; likely only foreigner there

Enterprising 44-year-old sees business boom after local authorities build huge artificial lake so he can ‘ice test’ vehicles when it freezes over.

10 Mar 2026 - 6:00PM

A Swedish man has lived in the cold city of Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia, for two decades, running a leading ice surface vehicle testing facility. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

China-EU relations

EU strips AI, chips and quantum from industrial plan aimed at countering China

Leaked draft shows biotechnology and robotics are other cutting-edge sectors to be cut from Industrial Accelerator Act ahead of unveiling.

4 Mar 2026 - 1:16AMvideocam

While China is directly referred to only twice in 93 pages of legislation and annexes, the act is seen as a crucial prong of Brussels’ efforts to de-risk from the Asian giant. Photo: Shutterstock

France

France to boost atomic arsenal, could deploy nuclear-armed jets to allies

France’s Macron says eight European countries have agreed to a ‘forward’ deterrence plan to bolster continental security.

3 Mar 2026 - 4:41PM

Ukraine war

4 years into Ukraine conflict, Zelensky says Putin ‘did not win this war’

The president said Kyiv wanted ‘lasting peace’ and any truce agreement ‘must not simply be signed, it must be accepted by Ukrainians’.

24 Feb 2026 - 8:41PM

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