You can find the latest news from Radio Sweden here. Click on a headline on the list to read news on the Radio Sweden website. If the news is not in your language, it is available in simple Swedish.

New advice to parents in Sweden — no smartphones before children's 13th birthday
2026-06-12 11:22 Children should not get a smartphone before they are 13 years old, according to a new recommendation from Sweden's Public Health Agency.According to the agency, 90 percent of all ten-year-olds in Sweden have a smartphone. Now, the agency's director-general Olivia Wigzell hopes that the new recommendation will lead to a shift in norms in Swedish society.
Social Democrats wants to buddy up with the Moderates on law and order
2026-06-12 03:00 The Social Democrats primarily want to cooperate with the Moderates on criminal policy in the event of a red-green election victory, according to the party's justice policy spokesperson Teresa Carvalho.“Our two parties have a particularly great responsibility both in the past and in the future,” says Carvalho, who believes that Social Democrats and Moderates are close to each other on criminal justice policy.Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer of the Moderates welcomes broad support, but believes that the Social Democrats should primarily negotiate its justice policy with the Greens and the Left Party.
Colorectal cancer screening behind a 45% rise in detected cases in Sweden
2026-06-11 16:10 Sweden's seen a 45% increase in detected colorectal cancer cases since 2019. The rise has been attributed to screenings for over-60s, now offered by all Swedish regions. "We also encourage everyone to go to the doctor if they have any kind of symptoms that could be related to a colorectal cancer," says Lovisa Stenström at the Swedish Cancer Society.
Sweden Democrats want a ban on hijabs and other headscarves in public places
2026-06-11 14:20 In the September elections, the Sweden Democrats say they'll be campaigning to introduce a ban on headscarves in Sweden, Swedish Radio News reports.The party has long pushed for a ban on wearing full coverage garments like the burqa and niqab in public places. But now the party is going further and wants to ban other veils such as the hijab.“We know that many girls and women are forced to wear these garments and that in many contexts it is a symbol of control and of women's subordination,” says Sara Gille, the party's spokesperson on gender equality and honour policy issues.
Government backs down on jailing 13-year-olds — fear lack of support in parliament
2026-06-11 11:49 Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer says the government is withdrawing its controversial proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 for serious crimes, which had been due to start on August 2, news agency TT reports.Strömmer told a news conference on Thursday that they believed the proposal, which would have meant the possibility of jail for 13-year-olds who commit crimes with a minimum sentence of four years, would not have sufficient support to pass a vote in parliament scheduled for Monday.Instead, the government, backed by the Sweden Democrats, will now propose lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14 instead.
Concern over Lyten's delayed battery factory restart in Skellefteå
2026-06-11 11:29 The restart of the battery factory in Skellefteå in northern Sweden is going slower than expected and there is dissatisfaction with the time it's taking, sources tell Swedish Radio News.Owner Lyten is working to start the first production line after the summer, but the union points to difficulties in finding the right skills.The fact that more people have not been hired is because Lyten's American management has not wanted to invest more money, several sources say.
Unemployment continues to decline in Sweden — slowly
2026-06-11 10:27 Unemployment continues to decline across Sweden, but it's happening in small steps according to statistics from the Public Employment Service.At the end of May, just over 339,000 people were unemployed, which is around 20,000 fewer than a year ago and the lowest number registered with the agency since the end of 2023.Over 150,000 people have been out of work for a year or more and are considered long-term unemployed.
Former Armed Forces man charged with attempted espionage on behalf of Russia
2026-06-10 16:29 A 34-year-old man has been charged with attempted espionage on behalf of Russia, Sweden's prosecution authority said on Wednesday.In a statement, the authority said that the man previously worked in the Armed Forces where he had access to highly classified information.Court proceedings against the man will get underway in Stockholm next week.
Parental leave mix-ups could soon be costly in Sweden
2026-06-10 13:55 Penalty fees will soon be charged if you give Sweden's Social Insurance Agency incorrect information about your parental leave or sickness benefits.The penalties that come into effect on July 1 will also apply to leave taken to care for a sick child, or "vab" in Swedish.Listen to hear just how much it might cost if you accidentally get paid out more money than you're entitled to.
Elk dodges morning rush hour traffic in Stockholm city
2026-06-10 13:52 An elk was seen running in Stockholm's inner city during rush hour this morning.The elk calf, which had crossed a bridge, was spotted by pedestrians and motorists in the Södermalm district. Two hours later the animal was shot dead.