TOPIC

/ location

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

Zeekr is betting on European demand for high-spec models in its foray into Italy. Photo: Getty Images

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

18 Feb 2026 - 9:38PM

My Take

My Take | Forget Canada, the real 51st American state appears to be gullible Australia

18 Feb 2026 - 9:00PM

Marco Rubio

Rubio says US not disputing report of Navalny’s fatal poisoning by frog toxin

Five European governments blamed Russia for killing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny while he was held in an Arctic penal colony.

16 Feb 2026 - 1:15PM

Alexei Navalny appearing on a screen via video link from the IK-6 penal colony in 2023. Photo: Reuters

Russia

Russia poisoned Alexei Navalny with dart frog toxin, European nations say

Epibatidine, a deadly chemical not found naturally in Russia, was detected in samples taken from the body of the late Putin critic.

15 Feb 2026 - 11:18AM

China-EU relations

EU seeks independence, survival amid China-US economic dominance

European leaders meet to address the bloc’s economic woes, reliance on China and US, and shielding key industries from protectionist policies.

12 Feb 2026 - 6:05PMvideocam

Greenland

Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar

Political theorist says rapid acceleration of the US president’s ‘offensive, almost imperial’ agenda has left Europe disoriented.

9 Feb 2026 - 1:10PMvideocam

Germany

Multinationals race into China’s US$143.9 billion instant retail market

Ikea, Continental and Aldi Nord enlist local partners to launch faster, more comprehensive delivery services than they offer abroad.

1 Feb 2026 - 11:00AM

China GDP

Tale of 2 megacities: how did Beijing, Shanghai GDPs surpass 5 trillion yuan?

China’s two largest cities are outpacing national growth rates, each generating gross domestic products equal to a small European country.

29 Jan 2026 - 12:25PMvideocam

Banking & finance

Trump says the US dollar can move like a yo-yo. Will Treasuries be left hanging?

With the US president levelling threats at enemies, allies and his own central bank, alternatives like gold and Chinese assets are gaining appeal.

28 Jan 2026 - 11:18AMvideocam

Tourism

Taste Sweden’s delicious ‘blue food’ fresh from the sea on boat tours

From oysters and mussels to superfood seaweed, Sweden’s west coast is a treasure trove of ‘blue food’ – sustainable aquatic produce.

27 Jan 2026 - 12:43PM

FILED - Blue, or aquatic, foods hold support diets that are healthy, sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient. Here, Per Karlsson prepares to serve up Swedish treats from the sea. Photo: Sabine Glaubitz/dpa-tmn - ATTENTION: editorial use only in connection with the aforementioned text

European Union

EU lawmakers divided over resuming work on US trade deal after Greenland crisis

The EU, which suspended the deal in protest against Trump’s demand to take over Greenland, has put off a decision until next week.

27 Jan 2026 - 2:46AM

World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

Watch Trump showcase his ‘Board of Peace’ in Davos

Donald Trump has extended invitations to dozens of nations and hinted at the board’s future role as conflict mediator - with him as chairman.

22 Jan 2026 - 6:38PMvideocam

Canada

Canada considers sending small contingent of troops to Greenland

Canada’s Carney reviews role in Nato exercises as European allies push back against Trump’s threats to take Greenland.

20 Jan 2026 - 11:49AM

Greenland

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

Eight European countries consider US$108 billion retaliation and ‘anti-coercion’ tools after Trump vows tariffs on Europe over Arctic island.

19 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

Danish soldiers after disembarking at the harbour in Nuuk, Greenland on Sunday. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via Reuters

Donald Trump

Trump’s Greenland ‘blackmail’ might force EU to stop pleasing him and hit back

Trump’s Greenland tariff threat sparks anger and tests US-EU ties as the bloc mulls how to respond to Washington’s sabre-rattling.

18 Jan 2026 - 10:03AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump hits 8 Nato allies with tariffs to force Greenland sale

The duties will start at 10 per cent in February and go up to 25 per cent in June if no deal is reached for the US to buy the island.

19 Jan 2026 - 3:35AM

127

Greenland

Europeans send military personnel to Greenland in message to Trump

Initial deployments are small, but Denmark is planning a ‘larger, more permanent’ Nato presence.

16 Jan 2026 - 3:03PM

A Royal Danish Air Force plane carrying personnel in military fatigues after landing at Nuuk airport in Greenland. Photo: Reuters

Science

Structural biologist Alexey Amunts launches new research lab in Shenzhen

‘Shenzhen adds another dimension; it is a place where ideas do not remain ideas for long,’ Amunts says of new position.

16 Jan 2026 - 9:23AMvideocam

South Korea

South Koreans see joy in parenthood but fear economic strain

While 74 per cent see joy in children, 92 per cent say economic burdens impact family planning – a factor in South Korea’s record-low birth rate.

12 Jan 2026 - 6:18PMvideocam

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

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

Retailing

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

The firm plans to open more than 10 small-format outlets in key cities over a two-year period.

7 Jan 2026 - 6:32PM

Ikea’s new strategy underscored the retailer’s sharpened focus on the furniture-replacement segment of the market, as new-home furnishing demand had declined. Photo: Shutterstock

US-Venezuela conflict

Trump doubles down on Greenland after US intervention in Venezuela

US president’s comments on Greenland and a ‘SOON’ social media post by the wife of a top aide spur anxieties in the Arctic.

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

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

The Mountain B pub in Thailand after it was ravaged by fire in 2022. Photo: AP

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

People walk in heavy snow as departures are cancelled at the train station in Are, Sweden on Saturday. Photo: TT News Agency via AP

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

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

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Sweden

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.

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

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | Forget Canada, the real 51st American state appears to be gullible Australia

Rubio says US not disputing report of Navalny’s fatal poisoning by frog toxin

Five European governments blamed Russia for killing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny while he was held in an Arctic penal colony.

Russia poisoned Alexei Navalny with dart frog toxin, European nations say

Epibatidine, a deadly chemical not found naturally in Russia, was detected in samples taken from the body of the late Putin critic.

EU seeks independence, survival amid China-US economic dominance

European leaders meet to address the bloc’s economic woes, reliance on China and US, and shielding key industries from protectionist policies.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar

Political theorist says rapid acceleration of the US president’s ‘offensive, almost imperial’ agenda has left Europe disoriented.

Multinationals race into China’s US$143.9 billion instant retail market

Ikea, Continental and Aldi Nord enlist local partners to launch faster, more comprehensive delivery services than they offer abroad.

Tale of 2 megacities: how did Beijing, Shanghai GDPs surpass 5 trillion yuan?

China’s two largest cities are outpacing national growth rates, each generating gross domestic products equal to a small European country.

Trump says the US dollar can move like a yo-yo. Will Treasuries be left hanging?

With the US president levelling threats at enemies, allies and his own central bank, alternatives like gold and Chinese assets are gaining appeal.

Taste Sweden’s delicious ‘blue food’ fresh from the sea on boat tours

From oysters and mussels to superfood seaweed, Sweden’s west coast is a treasure trove of ‘blue food’ – sustainable aquatic produce.

EU lawmakers divided over resuming work on US trade deal after Greenland crisis

The EU, which suspended the deal in protest against Trump’s demand to take over Greenland, has put off a decision until next week.

Watch Trump showcase his ‘Board of Peace’ in Davos

Donald Trump has extended invitations to dozens of nations and hinted at the board’s future role as conflict mediator - with him as chairman.

Canada considers sending small contingent of troops to Greenland

Canada’s Carney reviews role in Nato exercises as European allies push back against Trump’s threats to take Greenland.

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

Eight European countries consider US$108 billion retaliation and ‘anti-coercion’ tools after Trump vows tariffs on Europe over Arctic island.

Trump’s Greenland ‘blackmail’ might force EU to stop pleasing him and hit back

Trump’s Greenland tariff threat sparks anger and tests US-EU ties as the bloc mulls how to respond to Washington’s sabre-rattling.

Trump hits 8 Nato allies with tariffs to force Greenland sale

The duties will start at 10 per cent in February and go up to 25 per cent in June if no deal is reached for the US to buy the island.

Europeans send military personnel to Greenland in message to Trump

Initial deployments are small, but Denmark is planning a ‘larger, more permanent’ Nato presence.

Structural biologist Alexey Amunts launches new research lab in Shenzhen

‘Shenzhen adds another dimension; it is a place where ideas do not remain ideas for long,’ Amunts says of new position.

South Koreans see joy in parenthood but fear economic strain

While 74 per cent see joy in children, 92 per cent say economic burdens impact family planning – a factor in South Korea’s record-low birth rate.

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

The firm plans to open more than 10 small-format outlets in key cities over a two-year period.

Trump doubles down on Greenland after US intervention in Venezuela

US president’s comments on Greenland and a ‘SOON’ social media post by the wife of a top aide spur anxieties in the Arctic.

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.

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.

My Take | Forget Canada, the real 51st American state appears to be gullible Australia

Open Questions | Trump’s ‘imperial’ agenda and the end of the old world order: Luuk van Middelaar