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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

Rare earths, a class of 17 chemical elements, have become increasingly important in manufacturing sophisticated products, including flat-screen monitors, electric car batteries, wind turbines, missiles and aerospace alloys. Photo: TNS

US-China trade war

China grants export permits to rare earth giant for US, Europe shipments

The announcement came as trade talks wrapped up in London, with critical minerals high on agenda.

11 Jun 2025 - 7:30PM

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Leapmotor jumps into Hong Kong market

11 Jun 2025 - 6:33PM

SCMP Highlights

‘Gunpowder’ price wars, Japan’s US$7,000 single-seat car: 7 EV reads

11 Jun 2025 - 12:34PM

Israel-Gaza war

Convoy sets off for Gaza from North Africa to protest Israel’s blockade

Tunisian-led aid convoy seeks ‘the immediate lifting of the unjust siege’ on Gaza.

10 Jun 2025 - 10:47AM

People cheer as a convoy of buses made up of activists, lawyers and medical professionals from North Africa depart from Tunisia to Gaza. Photo: AP

Mainland China

Democracies sometimes use foreign meddling as an ‘alibi’: think tank

Report warns against overemphasising external threats, urges focus on internal failures and citizen trust.

9 Jun 2025 - 2:37PM

Israel-Gaza war

Greta Thunberg arrives at Israeli port after Gaza-bound aid boat was detained

Accompanied by Israeli navy, boat arrived in port of Ashdod. Thunberg and 11 others expected to be held at detention facility then deported.

10 Jun 2025 - 4:18AM

Electric & new energy vehicles

After CATL’s spark, China’s EV players bank on Hong Kong IPOs for growth funds

China’s top smart mobility firms like Chery Auto, Seres Group and Hesai eye Hong Kong market to fund global expansion plans.

6 Jun 2025 - 7:36AMvideocam

Exchange Square in Central, Hong Kong. Photo: Shutterstock

Asean

Opinion | Asean-GCC-China summit signals a redrawing of trade away from the US

The partnership offers a chance to reduce US reliance through new supply chains, trade agreements and regional production in critical sectors.

3 Jun 2025 - 6:46PMvideocam

High Jewellery

Cartier unveils En Équilibre high jewellery collection in Stockholm

The range is guided by the principle of ‘not too much of anything’, blending minimalist designs with rare stones; this shines through in pieces such as the Tsagaan necklace, depicting a snow leopard.

28 May 2025 - 10:29AM

Disease

Heart disease is Southeast Asia’s biggest killer. And it’s only getting worse

A new study has found a huge surge in cardiovascular disease across the region in recent years. Researchers say immediate action is needed.

28 May 2025 - 8:53AM

Southeast Asia’s ageing population contributed to the big jump in case numbers, researchers said. Photo: Shutterstock

China manufacturing

Sweden’s Scania readies €2 billion China factory, eyeing Asian growth

Setting up in the Chinese market gives truck maker access to the next generation of transport technology in China, CEO says.

27 May 2025 - 11:36AM

A worker drives a new truck off a manufacturing line at Scania’s plant in Sao Bernardo do Campo in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 19, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Celebrity style

Pillion star Alexander Skarsgård’s next-level method dressing at Cannes

Stylist Harry Lambert has worked with Harry Styles, Emma Corrin and Josh O’Connor – recently, he styled Murderbot star Skarsgård, who appears alongside Harry Melling in A24 film Pillion, for Cannes.

23 May 2025 - 6:00AM

Israel

Outrage at Israeli ‘warning shots’ as foreign diplomats tour West Bank

Israel says diplomats deviated from approved route and entered a restricted zone, fired warning shots.

22 May 2025 - 4:14PM

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong to replace 13,000 traffic signals by 2027 to help visually impaired

New models will feature five functions, including voice messages in three languages, Transport Department says.

21 May 2025 - 7:27AM

Hong Kong will replace 13,000 traffic signals by the end of 2027. Photo: Elson Li

European Union

Suicide was Sweden school shooter’s motive: police

Police say there was no sign that Rickard Andersson, who had mental health problems and financial troubles and killed 10 people, had ideological or political motives.

16 May 2025 - 6:51PMvideocam

A police van is pictured after a fatal shooting attack in Orebro, Sweden, in February. Photo: Reuters

US-China trade war

US lawmakers mull State Department shake-up as trade partners seek new alliances

Witnesses warn subcommittee hearing that previously ‘impossible’ economic partnerships are moving ahead after tariff confusion.

15 May 2025 - 12:18PMvideocam

The Philippines

Philippines confirms US funding for railway project amid foreign aid freeze

Move indicates Washington’s intent to deepen economic cooperation and is ‘good signalling’ for bilateral ties, analysts say.

12 May 2025 - 3:22PMvideocam

China's military weapons

Kashmir conflict reveals power of Pakistan’s Chinese weapons, but doubts remain

Analysts say a war between India and Pakistan could be rare test of Russian and Chinese arms, with ‘larger ramifications’ for Indo-Pacific.

11 May 2025 - 8:03PMvideocam

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The Pakistan Air Force has 20 Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets in service. Photo: AFP

Fame and celebrity

Who is Alexander Skarsgård’s Swedish actress GF and baby mama, Tuva Novotny?

Thanks to shows like Succession and Big Little Lies, Alexander Skarsgård has become as much of a household name as his famous father Stellan – but what do we know about his girlfriend, Tuva Novotny?

11 May 2025 - 4:00AM

China-India relations

Why India’s strikes on Pakistan challenge China’s peacemaker role

Analysts say Beijing isn’t likely to take the lead on negotiations between the neighbours given its ‘very good relations’ with Islamabad.

8 May 2025 - 9:52AMvideocam

Crime

Sweden frees teen, arrests 3 men in triple murder shooting probe

The teen is no longer a suspect in Tuesday’s shooting that killed 3 youths aged 15 to 20 about 70km (45 miles) north of capital Stockholm.

2 May 2025 - 9:40PM

Police at the scene on Wednesday, a day after after a shooting at Vaksala Square in central Uppsala, Sweden. Photo: EPA-EFE

Middle East

Iran hangs man as ‘high ranking’ Israeli spy after trial

Mohsen Langarneshin was implicated in the killing of Guards colonel Sayyad Khodaei, who was gunned down in May 2022.

1 May 2025 - 12:19AMvideocam

Iranians celebrate a missile and drone attack on Israel, on April 15, 2024, at Palestine square in central Tehran. Photo: TNS

Nordic nations

Sweden arrests teen after deadly gun attack kills 3

Swedish media reported that at least one of the dead had connections to organised gang crime.

30 Apr 2025 - 5:46PMvideocam

Greater Bay Area

Hong Kong supporting European business collaboration surge in Qianhai

Escalating US-China trade war has resulted in European business chambers seeking out opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

24 Apr 2025 - 12:10AM

Fashion

A ban on binning textiles means Sweden’s recycling centres are overflowing

Mountains of clothes piling up in Swedish recycling centres are sparking calls for fashion firms to take responsibility for textile waste.

16 Apr 2025 - 3:15PM

A worker sorts clothing at Artikel2’s sorting centre in Stockholm. Mountains of clothes piling up in Swedish recycling centres has sparked calls for firms to take responsibility for textile waste. Photo: AFP

European Union

Foot-and-mouth fear in Central Europe leads to animal culls

Animals in Hungary and Slovakia have tested positive for the virus, the first outbreak in either country in more than half a century.

12 Apr 2025 - 6:48PM

Free-range cows at a farm near Pecsely village, Hungary, about 100 kilometres from the Austrian and Slovak borders, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

Man detained in Sweden on suspicion of spying on Uygurs for China

Beijing has denied accusations from rights organisations about abuses against the ethnic minority group in Xinjiang.

10 Apr 2025 - 3:10AMvideocam

Mergers & Acquisitions

Hutchison says it is evaluating spin-off of global telecoms business

‘From time to time, the [group] receives proposals and explores and evaluates opportunities that may be available,’ Hutchison said in a statement.

31 Mar 2025 - 10:40PM

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