Sweden

The risk of grass fires is high or very high in almost half of Sweden: at this time of year dead grass is exposed, dries quickly and burns easily, the wind can spread it rapidly; about 30 houses are damaged in grass fires and one person dies each year

Over 2.000 reports of suspected crimes targeting socially important activities have been received in 2025, double than 2024: among them burglary and involuntary illegal trespassing or photography; figures are partly due to more sites being classified

Swedish freestyle skier Elis Lundholm became the first transgender athlete to participate in the Winter Olympics

One of the largest solar storms in 20 years took place yesterday, making the northern lights visible on Earth further south than usual; reports and spectacular photos have been posted from the Gothenburg archipelago and southern Skåne

According to Ticket – the largest private travel agency in the Nordics – the US is the only top-ten country where travel bookings are declining for 2026, -21% on 2025; figures could change ahead of this summer's planned World Cup in the country

The Administrative Court has stopped all planned licensed wolf hunting in 2026 in all five counties where hunting was supposed to begin on January 2; hunters associations oppose the decision and Minister for Rural Affairs doubts about its application

54 children under 15 have been suspected of bombings in Jan-Nov 2025, tripled compared to 2024; according to the Swedish Prosecution Authority, in 2024, the figure was 21, in 2023 17 and before only one child per year, a worrying development

An anchovy shortage is possible this Christmas due to bad conditions for fishing last year, as they are stored in barrels for months; to meet the expected demand many brands will sell anchovy-seasoned herring fillet and 2025 fishing season opened well

56% of Sweden's municipalities exceed the limit for air pollutants set by the EU's air quality directive, which is to be implemented in law next year, according to an analysis conducted on data from SMHI's modeling of air quality

Several youths in Vallentuna were poisoned by isopropanol after drinking alcohol bought from a "vodkabil" that they got in touch with via Snapchat; according to Poison Information Centre the substance, used to clean electronics, is dangerous if ingested

Up to 300 tons of wheat have leaked out in Åhus harbor after a grain silo burst, amid initial concern that someone might have been caught under the grain