Sweden

20 March 2024; MEMO: Israel has been stripped of its “liberal democracy” status by a prominent global index which measures the democratic health of countries. The downgrade means that for the first time in 50 years Israel has been demoted to the level of less democratic countries.

STOCKHOLM, December 14. /TASS/: Finland has decided to once again close all crossing points along the border with Russia, Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen said.

"The border will be closed from tomorrow, Friday, December 15, 8:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. GMT), and [the closing procedure] will be completed on January 14. <...> We have been able to state that illegal immigration on Finland's eastern border has continued," Rantanen said during a parliamentary question-and-answer meeting, broadcast on the Finnish Cabinet’s website.

STOCKHOLM (AP) — On the brink of joining NATO, Sweden has signed a defense cooperation agreement with Washington that will allow the United States access to all of the military bases across the Scandinavian country, saying the deal would bolster regional security.

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said the deal, signed in Washington Tuesday, “will create better conditions for Sweden to be able to receive support from the United States in the event of a war or crisis.”

STOCKHOLM, November 20. /TASS/: Finnish authorities plan to close the entire border with Russia on Wednesday night, the Iltalehti newspaper reported, citing sources.

According to the newspaper, the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo may decide on Monday to close the remaining checkpoints on the border with Russia. These checkpoints are expected to be closed at 12:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday (10:00 p.m. GMT).

STOCKHOLM, November 18. /TASS/: The deputy commander of Finland’s North Karelia border guard, Samuli Murtonen, confirmed the use of gas at the Niirala border crossing, the Yle broadcaster reported.

"There was a group that did not obey the orders and warnings from a border guard," he was quoted as saying in the report. "In order to bring the situation under control, we had to use the mildest possible means, which in this case was a minor spraying of gas."

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Many cities around the world see clean and efficient public transport as a crucial way to lower their carbon emissions. For cities with waterways, a high-tech ferry in Sweden could soon set a new standard.

Speeding through Stockholm’s archipelago, electric boat maker Candela’s new P-12 vessel barely makes a sound as it glides over a meter (3 feet) above the water. Its developers hope the ferry, which was unveiled this week, will yield a new era of waterborne public transport.

STOCKHOLM, November 14. /TASS/: Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is mulling possibly closing some or even all checkpoints on the border with Russia due to the influx of illegal migrants from the Middle East, the Yle broadcaster reported.

"We may restrict border traffic, close some or even all crossing points or place the reception center for asylum seekers in one place," the prime minister said, commenting on reports of an increase in the number of people crossing the country’s eastern border without the required documents, Yle writes.

27 October 2023; MEMO: Sweden will deport Iraqi national Salwan Momika, who burned copies of the Quran in recent months.

Migration Office spokesperson Jesper Tengroth told broadcaster TV4 that Momika’s residence and working permits will expire on 16 April. His permits will not be renewed and he will be deported, he said.

STOCKHOLM, October 24. /TASS/: Sweden has fulfilled its commitments to Turkey and is now ready to join the North Atlantic Alliance, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

"Sweden has fulfilled its commitments. Sweden has amended its constitution, changed its laws, expanded counter-terrorism cooperation, and resumed arms exports to Turkey," he pointed out at a press conference in Stockholm. "I look forward to welcoming Sweden as a full NATO Ally in the very near future," Stoltenberg added.

STOCKHOLM, October 17. /TASS/: Sweden has received data on damage to the underwater telecommunication cable running between Estonia and Sweden, Civil Defense Minister Karl-Oskar Bolin said at a press conference.

"We cannot assess what caused the damage," he said. "But we can state that this damage occurred in a time and space close to the reported damage to the gas pipeline [between Finland and Estonia]," the minister pointed out.