Sweden Today:

New authority to oversee violence against women / Espionage suspected at military exercise / Kent releases new album / Migrationsverket’s top boss steps down  

  • International troups in Sweden at a military exercise in August in Småland where foreign spies may have been in place. Photo courtesy of forsvarsmakten.se
  • New authority oversees violence against women
    (National) Sweden will embark on a new national strategy to stop violence against women. Creating a new authority, SEK 900 million will be set aside and will focus on honor crimes, helping women in the sex industry, and changing attitudes of men and boys toward violence against women. The new program will begin this autumn.

  • Joakim Berg of Swedish rock band Kent that recently released a “best of” and just kicked off their final tour after 26 years. From a live concert in 2012/Wikimedia Commons
  • Espionage suspected at Swedish military exercise
    (National) According to the country’s armed forces, foreign spies may have been in place in Småland during an international military exercise in August. Approximately 1000 personnel from 20 countries participated in the exercise, but from which country or countries espionage is suspected the armed forces will not disclose, other than to say that foreign vehicles were spotted. Alternatively, these spies may have been criminal gangs interested in military equipment, according to Jan Bohman, head of information at the Military Region South.

  • Mikael Ribbenvik is acting director general for the Swedish Migration Agency after its former director stepped down to take a position at the Swedish Red Cross.
  • Kent releases new album
    (Entertainment) Swedish rock band Kent has released a “best of” retrospective that contains four new songs and has received mixed reviews. Aftonbladet’s Markus Larsson gives the album two out five stars, while Catarina Nitz on Eskilstuna-Kuriren praises the collection. The collection of songs old and new spanning over 20 years will be the band’s last release.

  • Migrationsverket is investigating the theft of 200 visas from an unnamed Swedish embassy.
  • Migration agency boss steps down
    (National) Migrationsverket’s General Director Anders Danielsson has stepped down from his post as top boss to take a position as the head of the Swedish Red Cross. Announced on Sept. 16, Danielsson will start his new position on Dec. 1. Prior to his work at Migrationsverket, Danielsson was the former director general of Säpo (Security Police).