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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

India

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

Seizing on the UAE’s Opec exit and a new EU trade pact, India’s PM looks to lock-in long-term energy supply and economic dividends.

18 May 2026 - 6:21PM

The Philippines

Western powers ramp up support for Philippines’ Luzon economic hub

15 May 2026 - 7:07PMvideocam

Hong Kong science and tech

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

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

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (left) at a press conference with Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard in Stockholm in 2024. Photo: AFP

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

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

Various applications are displayed on a mobile phone, ahead of Sweden planning to fine social media firms unless they swiftly remove ‘murder ads’. Photo: Reuters

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

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

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

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

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

Handcrafted soy sauce from Sweden-based producer Ramona Lee, aka the Soy Sauce Lady. She and Australia-based Mike Fung of Cinwaan Soy Sauce are producing the ancient Chinese condiment in exciting new ways. Photo: Ramona Lee

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

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

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

Joel Kinnaman, who plays Robert in Imperfect Women, photographed with his wife, Kelly Gale. Photo: @joel.kinnaman.fan.silvia/X, Handout

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

People protest outside the US State Department on Monday to highlight the executions of MEK members in Karaj, Iran. Photo: AP

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

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

Multimedia artist Lap-see Lam draws inspiration from her multicultural background. Photo: Mattias Lindbäck

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

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

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

Smoke rises above aircraft parked at Dubai International Airport after a drone strike on March 16. The growing conflict in the Middle East is causing global airlines to raise fares amid a spike in jet fuel prices. Photo: AP

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

Liberian-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, arrives in Mumbai on Thursday after clearing the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: AP

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

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

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

France’s President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Ile Longue nuclear submarine base. Photo: AFP

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

Ukrainian troops attend a training session at an undisclosed location in the Zaporizhzhia region on Sunday. Photo: EPA/Press service of the 65th Separate Mechanised Brigade

Electric & new energy vehicles

Geely’s Zeekr shifts into Italy as China’s European EV push gathers speed

The carmaker is pressing ahead despite tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, betting on demand for high-spec models.

20 Feb 2026 - 12:43PM

Russia

Russia demands ‘concrete’ proof that it poisoned Navalny with dart frog toxin

Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands claim Russia had the ‘means, motive and opportunity’ to kill its opposition leader.

18 Feb 2026 - 9:38PM

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