Protesters descend on Eurovision, object to Israel’s participation
Protesters descend on Eurovision, object to Israel’s participation The Washington Post, May 9 Thousands of demonstrators waving Palestinian flags are expected to flood Sweden’s third largest city on Thursday to protest Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest here this week. The annual celebration of music and kitsch, watched by more than 150 million people, […]
Putin’s Next Target May Be the ‘NATO Lake’
Bloomberg, May 9 With the addition this year of Sweden and last spring of Finland to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Baltic Sea has been dubbed a “NATO lake” by some analysts. A glance at a map show that is largely (but not completely) true — the coastline has a couple of slivers of […]
The Eurovision Song Contest kicked off with pop and protests as the war in Gaza casts a shadow
The Hill, May 8 …Security is tight in the Swedish city, which expects an influx of some 100,000 Eurovision fans, along with tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters. Israel is a Eurovision participant, and demonstrations are planned on Thursday and Saturday against the Israel-Hamas war, which has left almost 35,000 Palestinians dead. Israel’s government warned […]
Sweden Tightens Security At Eurovision Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests
Time, May 7 Performers from across Europe and beyond will compete in the first semi-final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday, amid heightened security prompted by pro-Palestinian protesters objecting to Israel’s participation in the competition. The international songwriting competition kicked off over the weekend in Malmo, Sweden. The city already expected about 100,000 […]
Sweden’s Central Bank Cuts Key Rate as Europe Moves Ahead of the Fed
The Wall Street Journal, May 8 Sweden’s central bank lowered its key interest rate for the first time in more than eight years on Wednesday, underlining the readiness of European policy makers to move ahead of the Federal Reserve as inflation cools. The Riksbank cut its key rate to 3.75% from 4.0%, in line with […]
Riksbank Kicks Off Easing With First Rate Cut Since 2016
Bloomberg, May 8 The Riksbank cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time in eight years, acting before the neighboring euro zone in a bid to offer respite to Sweden’s recession-stricken economy. The central bank in Stockholm lowered its policy rate by a quarter point to 3.75% and said it could be reduced twice […]
Swedish Home Prices Swell With Buyers Expecting Rate Cuts
Bloomberg, May 8 Swedish home prices rose for a third month as buyers expect some relief from lower borrowing costs. Apartment prices rose by 1.5% in April from the prior month, while the average price of detached houses increased by 0.9%, according to data published Wednesday by Svensk Maklarstatistik, which is owned by the Association […]
Sweden’s top officer on the ‘mental transition’ of joining NATO and Russian concerns
Breaking Defense, May 7 Gen. Micael Byden was appointed Supreme Commander of Sweden’s military in 2015, a job whose requirements changed dramatically in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and after 200 years of military non-alignment, Stockholm moved to join NATO. Incorporating Sweden into NATO, Byden told Breaking Defense during a recent visit to Washington, was […]
Riksbank Suspense Mounts Over Possible Rate Cut: Decision Guide
Bloomberg, May 7 The Riksbank will either cut borrowing costs this week to aid the economy or else shirk from a move to avoid weakening the krona, in one of its most suspenseful decisions in years. A quarter-point reduction of the benchmark interest rate to 3.75%, as predicted by two thirds of the 20 economists […]
Microsoft signs deal with Swedish partner to remove 3.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
CNBC, May 6 Microsoft signed a deal to permanently remove 3.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide with Swedish energy company Stockholm Exergi, the companies announced on Monday. The contract with Microsoft is the world’s largest carbon removal deal to date, Stockholm Exergi said in a statement. Delivery of the carbon removal certificates to Microsoft […]