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TODAY IN SWEDEN

Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

Woman seriously injured in Stockholm amphibious bus accident, Northvolt's lenders call in external help as crisis deepens, and how will Sweden's new budget affect your personal finances? Here's the latest news.

Published: 20 September 2024 06:29 CEST
Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Friday
Police at the scene of a traffic accident in Stockholm, where a woman was hit by a bus. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

Woman seriously injured in Stockholm tour bus accident

A woman was seriously injured after she was hit by a tour bus in the Östermalm district of central Stockholm.

The accident on Karlavägen happened on Thursday afternoon and the woman was brought to hospital by ambulance.

The bus was an amphibious bus run by sightseeing company Ocean Bus, who told Swedish media the driver was in shock after the incident.

“We obviously hope that everything turns out well for the woman who got hit. That’s really all I can say for now,” its owner told Aftonbladet.

Police are investigating the incident. 

There had been no more updates by the time of publication, 6am on Friday.

Swedish vocabulary: injured – skadad

Fatal shooting in central Swedish town

A person was shot dead in central Hallstahammar, west of Västerås, on Thursday evening.

Police were called to the scene outside a pizza place at around 7.30pm. 

“It’s being investigated as murder. If anyone saw anything, they’re very welcome to call 114 14,” said police spokesperson Maria Hall.

She declined to say whether or not anyone had been arrested when asked by the TT news agency.

A witness told regional newspaper VLT that he was on his way to his car together with his family when he first heard one gunshot, and then several in quick succession.

Swedish vocabulary: to investigate – att utreda

Northvolt’s lenders call in external help as crisis deepens

The lenders of Northvolt have hired investment bank PTJ Partners to advise on various scenarios that could arise from the struggling battery producer’s deteriorating liquidity problems, according to news agency Bloomberg.

Northvolt’s financial situation is said to be close to breaking point and a total freeze on all expenses has been introduced, according to reports in the media, although Northvolt has previously said that staff will get paid as normal in September.

Last week, Northvolt warned that a series of cost-saving measures, including layoffs, was on the cards.

A rising star of the green transition, Northvolt’s factory in Skellefteå has long been attractive among international talent. If you work for Northvolt and would like to share your story with The Local, please email emma.lofgren@thelocal.com. You may be anonymous.

Swedish vocabulary: liquidity – likviditet

How will Sweden’s new budget affect your personal finances?

Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson yesterday unveiled 60 billion kronor of budget reforms, of which a total of 27 billion will go towards lowering taxes. If you’re wondering how the budget may affect you, you may find these articles by The Local useful:

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TODAY IN SWEDEN

Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday

Swedish finance minister to unveil 2025 budget bill, Sweden abstained in UN vote on Israel, and the royal coffers are getting more money next year. Here's the latest news.

Published: 19 September 2024 07:01 CEST
Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday

Swedish Finance Minister to unveil 2025 budget bill

Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson is set to deliver the government’s 2025 budget bill to parliament at 8am today.

The budget is the result of a collaboration between the right-wing coalition government and the far-right Sweden Democrats, and we already know a fair bit about what’s going to be in it. This article by The Local looks at how the budget will affect foreign residents in Sweden.

The 2025 budget is set to be far more expansionary than the restrained budget Svantesson presented last year: 60 billion kronor towards new reforms rather than 39 billion kronor for 2024. Almost half, 27 billion kronor, will go towards lower taxes for households.

The Local will cover the new budget in more detail as soon as we know more.

Swedish vocabulary: a budget bill – en budgetproposition

More kronor for royal coffers next year

Sweden’s royal court and palaces will get another 27 million kronor next year, with their budget rising to 190 million kronor, reports Swedish public radio broadcaster Sveriges Radio’s news programme, Ekot. The government also proposes an extra six million kronor for this year.

The main reason behind the increase is said to be a need to boost the security of the royal family and the royal palaces.

There’s also been an increased demand for royal presence for example in the Swedish parliament.

But the court isn’t getting as much money as it had asked for, because the palaces’ ticket sales increased last year.

Swedish vocabulary: royal – kunglig

Sweden abstained in UN vote on Israel

The UN General Assembly voted to adopt a resolution that demands that Israel “brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence” in occupied Palestinian territories, based on an International Court of Justice ruling that Israel’s presence in the territory is unlawful.

A total of 124 nations voted in favour of the resolution, which calls on Israel to “comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land, and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the occupied West Bank”, according to an update on the UN’s website. Fourteen voted against and 43 abstained.

Sweden was among the countries that abstained, which drew criticism from the opposition.

“It’s very weak, and another example of the government’s passivity in important international issues,” Morgan Johansson, the foreign policy spokesperson of the Social Democrats, told Swedish newswire TT in a written comment. The Left Party called the abstention “shameful”.

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told the Expressen tabloid that Sweden abstained together with a group of “like-minded” nations, because, she argued, the resolution went further than the court’s judgment. 

“It includes among other things demands for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory within 12 months – we’re of the opinion that that time limit creates problems for a negotiated two-state solution,” she said in a written comment.

Out of the Nordic countries, Denmark also abstained whereas Finland, Iceland and Norway voted in favour.

Swedish vocabulary: to abstain – att lägga ner sin röst

Unconfirmed reports: Hand grenades found at Öresund Bridge

The police bomb squad was called to the Öresund Bridge’s toll station in Malmö on Wednesday evening.

According to public broadcaster SVT, hand grenades had been found in a car driving from Denmark to Sweden.

“We are helping customs in an investigative matter, but I won’t elaborate on exactly what kind of matter,” said Fredrik Bratt of the southern policing region. He added that the public was not at risk and that the investigation was taking place near rather than on the bridge.

The bridge remained open the whole time and police concluded the probe at 9pm.

Swedish vocabulary: a bridge – en bro

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