Sweden Today:

PM reveals parts of autumn budget / Self driving cars / Street children can't go home / Report on NATO membership stirs debate / Internet file-sharing crackdown. 

• PM reveals parts of autumn budget
  (National) Stefan Löfven revealed in a press conference on Sept. 6 the upcoming autumn budget which puts major focus on climate change and creation of jobs. The government has promised SEK 13 billion for environmental issues over the next four years. The bulk of the investment is planned for 2019 to 2020. The proposal still needs to be voted through parliament.

• Self-driving cars
  (Economy) Automotive safety company Autoliv and Volvo Cars have formed a joint company to better create one of the industry’s hottest concepts —self-driving cars. Competitors include Tesla, Apple and Google, but the new Swedish company is confident no one can beat them when it comes to safety. According to the press release, the first product is expected on the market in 2021.

• Street children can’t go home
  (World) Attempting to return North African children to their home country proves to be nearly impossible. Sweden and Morocco have had dialogue on how best to repatriate the kids — approximately 800 children and adolescents live on the street in Sweden. When authorities send them back to their home countries, often it is their own family who rejects them and the children are once again back in Europe. Foreign Minister Margot Wallström (S) is in Morocco and will discuss possible solutions.

• Report on NATO membership stirs debate
  (World) A government commissioned report has stirred debate regarding the consequences of a Swedish NATO membership citing that an arms race in the Baltic region could be a likely scenario. The risk, however, of a Swedish-Russia conflict seems unlikely as Sweden would be safer as a member of NATO.

• Internet file-sharing crackdown
  (Culture) File sharers in Sweden may soon find themselves with an SEK 2000 fine as television and film companies step up their claims on copyright infringement and illegal downloads. Jon Karlung, CEO of service provider Bahnhof, believes the initiative is a form of extortion. Margot Wallström has gotten involved with the debate citing issues of individual rights, copyright protection and consumer questions, saying this crime fighting must be taken on with a broader approach.