Good morning to you all. This Saturday morning, we will be visiting Sweden with news results from Google.
Sweden and Finland are easing strict alcohol sales laws while maintaining state monopolies. Sweden plans to allow “farm sales,” enabling alcohol producers to sell directly to visitors. Finland’s parliament has approved the sale of fermented drinks with up to 8% alcohol in supermarkets, raising the previous limit from 5.5%. These changes aim to support local entrepreneurs and expand access, though they exclude distilled drinks and may need European Commission approval. Both countries justify their long-standing monopolies on public health grounds, but face opposition concerned about increased alcohol consumption – Finland and Sweden move to relax strict alcohol laws (BBC News ~ World/Europe)
Sweden plans to ban bottom trawling in all marine protected areas (MPAs) and territorial waters, becoming the second EU country to do so after Greece. This fishing practice, criticized for damaging ecosystems and releasing carbon, will be prohibited under a new bill announced by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari. The European Commission had urged Member States to phase out bottom trawling in MPAs by 2030, but it remains common. Sweden, a major fishing power, aims to protect marine life and hopes other EU nations will adopt similar measures. However, the European Bottom Fisheries Alliance (EBFA) opposes the ban, advocating for sustainable and innovative fishing practices instead – Sweden to ban bottom fishing in territorial waters (Euractiv ~ News/Agrifood)
Sweden’s Defense Minister Pål Jonson expressed concern over Beijing’s aggressive actions against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, emphasizing that such maneuvers threaten global security and regional stability. During a diplomatic reception in Manila, Jonson condemned the dangerous maneuvers, which have included damaging Philippine vessels and endangering personnel. The tensions highlight the Philippines’ broader strategic shift towards territorial defense and its plans to acquire advanced fighter jets from countries like Sweden. Jonson underscored the need for investing in security and freedom, aligning Sweden’s defense policies with other nations like the US, Japan, and Australia, especially after joining NATO. He also called for adherence to international laws, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, to ensure peaceful resolutions and reduce tensions in the South China Sea – Swedish defense chief says actions against Philippines in South China Sea threaten global security (AP ~ World News)
Christian Eriksen scored a stunning late winner to secure Denmark a 2-1 victory over Sweden in a pre-Euro 2024 friendly at a packed Parken stadium, reinforcing his role as Denmark’s key creative player. Denmark took an early lead with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s goal from Eriksen’s corner, but Sweden quickly equalized through Alexander Isak. Eriksen, who had a heart attack on the same pitch during Euro 2020, dominated the game and scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute. Sweden’s coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, a recent inductee into the Danish football Hall of Fame, saw his team defend well but struggle offensively. Denmark’s coach Kasper Hjulmand praised Tomasson’s efforts and acknowledged areas for improvement in his own team’s defense. Denmark will play Norway next before heading to Germany for Euro 2024, where they will face Slovenia, England, and Serbia in Group C – Eriksen stunner gives Denmark friendly win over Sweden (Reuters/ESPN ~ Football/Report)
Award-winning Swedish rapper C.Gambino, whose real name is Karar Ramadan, was shot dead at the age of 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden. He was attacked by several men and shot twice while parked in a garage, with the incident occurring around 10:42 pm. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he died shortly after midnight. C.Gambino, who had over one million monthly listeners on Spotify and recently won a Grammi, Sweden’s equivalent of a Grammy, was the target of a premeditated attack according to local police. Authorities have launched a murder investigation and are working to trace his movements leading up to the shooting – C.Gambino: Award-winning Swedish rapper shot dead aged 26 (Sky News ~ World)
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