Sweden Today:

Police train for terror threats / Löfven dismisses reports of military threats / Sweden’s cultural budget increases / Gothenburg Book Fair 2016  

  • Police train for terror threats
    (National) Training for the threat of terrorism will become part of the mandatory training for all officers working in external services. Beginning this autumn, training will affect approximately 10,000 police personnel with the hope that it will instill confidence and know-how, said Jonas Hysing, director of the National Tactical Council. Presently only 17 percent of respondents to a Novus survey believe the Security Police (Sapo) have the capacity to prevent terrorist crime in Sweden.

  • Löfven dismisses reports of military threats from Russia
    (National) Prime Minister Stefan Löfven denies reports of increased hostilities from Russia and dismisses the decision to place permanent troops in Gotland due to military threats. "There is no direct threat against Sweden,” Löfven told news agency TT. "But we have seen a changed security situation, not least because of what happened in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.” Permanent establishment of troops in Gotland was discussed last year with troops expected on the island in 2018. The early deployment of troops came as a surprise and a potential alert.

  • Sweden's cultural budget increases
    (Culture) Budget proposals were announced on Sept. 20 with several enhancements for Sweden’s cultural venues. The Royal Opera is slated for renovation and Riksutställningar to be closed. Television fees will be increased. In total the expanded cultural arts budget will see SEK 409 million. The government is also investing SEK 5 million annually toward reading promotion activities during school holidays, and literature and culture magazines will get 15 million more to encourage reading development in children.

  • Gothenburg Book Fair 2016
    (Culture) Scandinavia’s largest book fair and literary festival opens in Gothenburg on Sept. 22. Four days of book talks, author get togethers and lectures is an annual event with this year’s theme of "Freedom of Expression." It is especially appropriate as the Nordic nation celebrates its 250th anniversary of the Freedom of the Press Act. Sweden was the first nation in the world to recognize the right of the press in a democratic society.