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'A lot of Gretas' - Sweden to issue Thunberg stamps

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is to feature on a set of stamps issued by Sweden's postal service.

Passengers on an underground train wear masks in Stockholm

Sweden passes pandemic law in bid to curb virus spread

Sweden's parliament has passed a pandemic law giving the government new powers to curb the spread of Covid-19 in a country that has controversially relied on mostly non-coercive measures to fight the virus.

Coronavirus • 08 Jan 21

A police forensic team outside the apartment building in Haninge, Stockholm

Swedish mother accused of imprisoning son for decades

A 70-year-old woman has been arrested in Sweden's capital on suspicion of holding her son captive at home for up to three decades, police and a prosecutor said.

World • 01 Dec 20

Volvo said net order intake in the third quarter amounted to 57,530 trucks, up 61% from a year earlier

Truckmaker Volvo breezes past Q3 earnings forecasts

Swedish trunk-maker AB Volvo has reported third-quarter core earnings well above markets forecasts and a big jump in order intake as a recovery from a deep Covid-19-induced slump earlier in the year continued to gain pace.

Business • 16 Oct 20

H&M is the world's second-biggest fashion retailer

H&M profit beats expectations for June to August

Sweden's H&M, the world's second-biggest fashion retailer, beat quarterly profit forecasts as it recovered more quickly than expected from a coronavirus-induced slump, in a positive sign for the industry.

Business • 15 Sep 20

Amazon has not released a date for the launch of the website

Amazon starts preparations to launch in Sweden

Amazon has started preparations to launch in Sweden, marking its first step to establish a local presence in a Nordic country.

Business • 04 Aug 20

AB Volvo said its bookings fell 5% year-on-year in June, compared with a 90% plunge in April

AB Volvo posts forecast-beating profit despite pandemic

Swedish truck maker AB Volvo eked out a better-than-expected core profit in the second quarter as it weathered the coronavirus pandemic.

Business • 17 Jul 20

An apartment building is placed under quarantine in Guetersloh following a Covid-19 outbreak at a nearby abattoir

Germany orders second local lockdown over outbreak

Germany has placed a second district under lockdown over a coronavirus outbreak at an abattoir, just hours after similar restrictions were imposed for a neighbouring area.

Coronavirus • 23 Jun 20

Sweden's Covid deaths far surpassed the tolls in neighbouring Nordic countries

Coronavirus death toll in Sweden exceeds 5,000

Sweden's death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has now passed the 5,000 mark.

Coronavirus • 17 Jun 20

Olof Palme was murdered as he walked home from the cinema with his wife

Prosecutors close inquiry into Swedish PM's 1986 murder

Swedish prosecutors said they had closed their investigation into the 1986 murder of prime minister Olof Palme as their main suspect, a Swede known for his opposition to Mr Palme's left wing policies, was now dead.

Europe • 10 Jun 20

People enjoy the sunny weather in Tantolunden park in Stockholm

Sweden admits virus response could have been better

Sweden's chief epidemiologist has said the country should have done more to combat Covid-19 but backed the broad strategy, which avoided the strict lockdowns seen in many other countries.

Coronavirus • 03 Jun 20

About 1,500 of H&M's around 5,000 stores remain temporarily closed, down from around 4,000 at the height of the closures

H&M sees laid-off HQ staff returning to work in July

Sweden's H&M expects the 2,500 temporarily laid off staff at its headquarters in Stockholm to return to work in July, the world's second-largest fashion retailer said today.

Business • 27 May 20

What can we learn from Sweden's Covid-19 ICU figures?

Following the Swedish model on Covid-19 could have spelled disaster for Ireland, writes George Lee.

Coronavirus • 12 May 20

Authorities in Lund took the opportunity to spread one tonne of chicken droppings in the city's main park to deter gatherings

Swedish city using chicken manure to deter gatherings

A city in Sweden is deploying a new weapon in its efforts to curb the coronavirus outbreak - chicken manure.

Coronavirus • 30 Apr 20

Sweden has taken a differing approach to many other European countries in tackling Covid-19

Swedish King urges caution with no lockdown in sight

Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf has urged Swedes to refrain from Easter travels to loved ones in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19, as the death toll rises in one of Europe's few countries not in lockdown.

Coronavirus • 06 Apr 20

Swedish government resists calls for lockdown with schools, bars and restaurants remaining open

Sweden takes softer line as Europe locks down

While most of Europe is firmly locked down in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, Sweden is taking a softer line, keeping primary schools, restaurants and bars open and even encouraging people to go outside for a nip of air.

Coronavirus • 24 Mar 20

Around 20,000 guests spend a night in the hotel every year.

Swedish ice hotel offers tourists sub-zero temperatures

Temperatures drop to -5C within Sweden's famous ice hotel, located high above the Arctic Circle, but around 20,000 guests spend a night in the hotel every year.

Europe • 21 Feb 20

Sweden's Riksbank points to no interest rate changes in the coming years

Swedish central bank expects rates to remain at zero

Sweden's central bank stuck with its wait-and-see approach to policy, leaving its benchmark repo rate at zero today and pointing to no changes in the coming years.

Business • 12 Feb 20

The Kollect executive team (l-r) John Hegarty, Robbie Skuse, John O'Connor and Jamie Walsh

Kollect on Demand lists on Sweden's Nasdaq First North

Waterford-based waste management firm Kollect on Demand has listed on the Nasdaq First North exchange in Stockholm.

Business • 20 Dec 19

Sweden's Riksbank has decided to raise its repo rate from 0.25% to 0%

Swedish central bank ends five years of negative rates

Sweden's central bank today increased its benchmark repo rate by a quarter point to 0% as expected, defying a slowdown in the economy and global uncertainty to draw a line under five years with negative interest rates.

Business • 19 Dec 19

Sweden's Riksbank cut rates below zero in 2015 to head off the threat of Japanese-style deflation in the wake of the euro zone crisis

Sweden set to end negative interest rates

Sweden's central bank is expected to become the first in the world to claw its way out of negative interest rates on Thursday.

Business • 16 Dec 19

Vasa was salvaged in 1961 and is currently on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, one of Sweden's most popular tourist spots

Historic Swedish warship linked to famed 'Vasa' found

Swedish maritime archeologists have discovered two wrecks believed to be 17th century warships, and at least one is likely the sister ship of the iconic Swedish vessel "Vasa", which sank on its maiden voyage, the Swedish Museum of Wrecks has said.

News Lens • 08 Nov 19

Domino's Pizza set to exit four international markets

Domino's Pizza to exit four international markets

Domino's Pizza Group said today it would quit its loss-making international operations, sending shares higher in early trade.

Business • 17 Oct 19

H&M said sales before currency fluctuations were up 8% in the three months from June to August from a year earlier.

H&M's sales grow at fastest pace in three years in Q3

Sweden's H&M, the world's second-biggest fashion retailer, today reported its steepest sales growth in three years in local-currency terms and said its summer collections had been well received.

Business • 16 Sep 19

A$AP Rocky was arrested following a street brawl on 3 July

Swedish court convicts A$AP Rocky of assault

A Swedish court has convicted US rapper A$AP Rocky of assault and handed down a suspended sentence following a high-profile trial.

Europe • 14 Aug 19