Latest news with #Swedish
Local Sweden
28 minutes ago
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Inside Sweden: What's missing from Jimmie Åkesson's apology for his party's past?
The Local's Deputy Editor Becky Waterton rounds up the biggest stories of the week in our Inside Sweden newsletter. Advertisement Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson apologised to the country's Jewish population this week after the party released the second half of its "white book", a document reporting the history of the party from 1989 to its entry into parliament in 2010. The document, written by Uppsala University historian Tony Gustafsson, confirmed among other things that the party emerged from Bevara Sverige Svenskt (Keep Sweden Swedish), a racist, right-wing extremist and nationalist campaign organisation, in the late 80s. The Sweden Democrats continued to use the Keep Sweden Swedish slogan on campaign materials in its early years. It also confirmed that the party published antisemitic material during the 1990s. Members of the youth organisation, it said, openly listed to antisemitic white power music, dreamt of racial war, detested homosexuality and praised the Ku Klux Klan and the Holocaust. During a speech at political festival Almedalen, Åkesson apologised for his party's antisemitic past. 'I apologise deeply and ask for forgiveness, personally and on the behalf of the Sweden Democrats, that there was a time that my party was home to people with antisemitic views.' 'Antisemitism does not belong in Sweden, does not belong in Swedish politics, and should always be fought,' he added. Advertisement He also said that he felt 'uncomfortable that there was actually a time when Jews in Sweden had completely rational reasons to view the Sweden Democrats of the time with concern and fear.' "I deeply regret, and apologise, that my party at the time could be perceived as threatening and frightening for Jews in Sweden,' he added. Åkesson's apology was welcomed in many corners, including by Aron Verständig, the chair of the country's Jewish Council. However, it left something to be desired – not only because of the fact that Åkesson was quick to use it as a political opportunity to absolve his party of blame and point fingers at the Swedish left instead. It's not exactly hard to find examples of the views mentioned in the Sweden Democrats' white book from members of the party in recent years. As recently as last year, one of the party's MPs was caught on tape belting out a racist chant at the party's EU election night event. The same year, a Sweden Democrat politician in Gothenburg was ejected from her position as a lay judge after claiming that 'the left, liberals and globalists [a common code word used by the far-right to refer to Jewish people]' were conspiring to replace Swedes with immigrants. Sure, both of those Sweden Democrats were kicked out of the party, but there are other, often more senior members of the party who have made similar statements with no consequences. Barely a year ago, Åkesson himself wrote an article using white nationalist language where he claimed that Swedes were being systematically replaced by immigrants. Advertisement If the Sweden Democrats, as he claimed in his speech at Almedalen, have successfully cleaned up their act, why then, did Sweden's extreme right fringe groups celebrate the party's election gains back in 2022 as a move forward for the racial ideology movement? Is Åkesson's apology real, or just a political tool to try to disarm the opposition next time they point out the fact that the Sweden Democrats still have problems with racism and Nazi sympathisers in their party? Where is the apology Sweden's Islamic Association has asked for, after Muslims in Sweden have been the target of Islamophobic abuse from the Sweden Democrats for years? Where is the apology for immigrants, particularly immigrants of colour, who among other things were depicted as stupid, violent or dangerous in videos spread by the Sweden Democrats' troll factory last year? Where is the apology for the LGBT+ community, after top Sweden Democrat Björn Söder's comments claiming that Pride had 'close and legitimate links to pedophilia'? Those examples aren't ancient history dug up from decades ago ‒ they all took place within the last few years. That period of change Åkesson claims the party went through in 1995 looks like it still has a long way to go. Advertisement In other news Sweden is set to roll out language and civics tests for citizenship next summer. But the universities tasked with developing the tests say that timeline doesn't give them nearly enough time. Looking for a change of career? Despite an ongoing period of low growth, Swedish employers are crying out for staff in multiple professions, according to new figures ‒ and not all of those jobs require years of training. GAMES: Have you tried The Local's games for Membership+ subscribers yet? We've got a new crossword and word search puzzle out now The vice-chancellors of four of Sweden's largest universities are warning that Europe could end up "a scientific backwater" unless it deepens its collaboration with China. No more than 15 naturalisation applications were approved during Sweden's recent citizenship freeze, statistics reveal. But the processing of cases is hopefully picking up pace. Are you on summer holidays yet, or will you be heading off soon? Whether it's going for a swim, climbing Kebnekaise, exploring the Gothenburg archipelago, enjoying a platter of prawns, or discovering a new city, we want to hear your best recommendations for making the most of the Swedish summer. The former US ambassador to Sweden, Erik Ramanathan, is back in Sweden for the Almedalen political week in Visby. He told The Local why he thinks Nato countries can still rely on US support despite US President Donald Trump's rhetoric, and why he'll be attending Stockholm Pride. Sweden's Liberals officially chose their new party leader this week ‒ Simona Mohamsson, who vowed to bring "tough love" to immigration and integration politics in her first speech as party leader. Will one of her first moves be to change the Liberals' stance on the far-right Sweden Democrats? We've also put together our monthly list of the new laws, events and other things changing in Sweden next month. Thanks for reading, Becky Waterton Deputy Editor, The Local Sweden Inside Sweden is our weekly newsletter for members which gives you news, analysis and, sometimes, takes you behind the scenes at The Local. It's published each Saturday and with Membership+ you can also receive it directly to your inbox.
Local Germany
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
How securing rights through citizenship has become 'increasingly fragile'
The first Global State of Citizenship report, by the Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT) at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, analyses citizenship laws in 191 countries in 2024. Researchers found that "with the growing number of armed conflicts and incidence of terrorism worldwide, many countries have introduced provisions for withdrawing the citizenship of a person on the basis of national security grounds.' Over a third of countries, including many European ones, 'can now strip a person of their citizenship when their actions are seen as disloyal or threatening to state security,' the report says, and the trend has been expanding. The practice is linked to an 'increasing securitisation of citizenship' since the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 in the USA. Between 2000 and 2020, 18 European countries put in place measures to deprive persons of citizenship because of national security or to counter terrorism. Before 2001, these measures were 'virtually absent', the report says. Recently, the Swedish government commissioned an inquiry on the revocation of citizenship from individuals threatening national security . Germany's coalition parties discussed this option for 'supporters of terrorism, antisemites, and extremists'. Hungary also amended the constitution to allow the temporary suspension of citizenship because of national security. Middle East and North Africa are other regions where these policies have expanded, the report says. Advertisement Ways to strip citizenship The report identifies four ways in which citizens can be stripped of their status on security grounds. Nearly 80 per cent of countries have rules covering at least one of these situations. In 132 countries around the world, and two thirds of European states, citizenship can be removed for disloyalty or for acts that threaten national security, such treason, espionage, trying to overthrow a government or terrorism. Such rules exist in Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK. In 89 countries, however, this rule concerns only to people who naturalised, not those who acquired citizenship by birth. Another reason that can lead to the stripping of citizenship is having committee serious criminal offences, which typically involves having been sentenced to imprisonment for a certain period. These rules exist in 79 countries but only a few in Europe. In 70 countries, citizenship can be removed for serving in a foreign army and in 18 this measure concerns only people who acquired citizenship by naturalisation. In Europe, 40 per cent of countries – including France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Estonia, Turkey, Belarus and Bosnia Herzegovina – can remove citizenship under certain conditions for having served in another army. Latvia, one of the countries that can revoke citizenship for such reasons, changed the law in 2022 to allow its citizens to work with the Ukrainian military forces. Citizenship can also be removed for providing non-military services to another state, such as being elected in a public office, working for certain agencies or just in the civil service. Such rules exist in 75 countries around the world and some in Europe too, including France, Greece and Turkey. Advertisement People naturalised more at risk Luuk van der Baaren, co-author of the report, said at the presentation of the study that 'these developments indeed raise an important question as to what extent is citizenship still a secure legal status'. The data also shows that 'a large share of the citizenship stripping provisions are discriminatory in nature, as they only apply to specific groups, particularly citizens by naturalisation'. This is to prevent that a person remains stateless, but it means that 'citizens by birth have a secure legal status, while those who acquired citizenship later in life do not,' he added. Losing citizenship may not only affect the personal security and life opportunities, but also that of dependants, the report says, as in 40 per cent of countries citizenship deprivation can extend to children. Other ways of losing citizenship There are other ways, intentional or not, to lose citizenship, according to the report. The most common, is to have withdrawn because it was acquired in a fraudulent way. Such rules exist in 157 countries. 156 states have also rules on how to voluntarily renounce citizenship, usually with provisions to ensure that a person does not end up stateless. In 56 countries, people can lose their citizenship if they acquire another nationality, and in 55 this may occur by simply residing abroad. Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 'everyone has the right to a nationality', but four million people in the world are stateless 'because their citizenship remains denied or unrecognised,' the report continues. On the other hand, 35 countries do not allow people to renounce citizenship, or make this impossible in practice. Advertisement Unequal rights The report also looks at ways to acquire citizenship and finds 'highly unequal pathways'. The most common naturalisation requirement knowledge. Less common are economic self-sufficiency, civic or cultural integration, language or citizenship tests, and renunciation of other citizenships. On residency requirements, Americas and Western Europe have the more inclusive measures. Citizenship in European countries is also regulated via the European Convention on Nationality, under which the residence requirement cannot exceed 10 years. In 15 countries the wait is longer than 10 years: Equatorial Guinea (40 years), United Arab Emirates (30), Bahrain (25), Qatar (25), Bhutan (20), Brunei (20), Eritrea (20), Oman (20), Chad (15), Gambia (15), Nigeria (15), Rwanda (15), Sierra Leone (15), St. Kitts and Nevis (14), and India (11).
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
H&M profit beats expectations as brand reboot starts to bear fruit
Swedish fashion retailer H&M reported slightly stronger second-quarter profit on Thursday, an encouraging sign as CEO Daniel Erver tries to attract more shoppers with trendier clothes. H&M shares were up 4% by 1000 GMT as investors focused on the profit rather than second-quarter sales, which fell slightly more than predicted. Erver has said his focus is on profitability rather than solely sales growth. The world's second-largest listed fashion retailer also said it expected sales in June, measured in local currencies, to rise 3%, an improvement after a 6% fall in the same period a year ago. "Our collections are more current, they are more on trend, more fashionable, and the customer reception has been strong throughout this quarter," Erver said in a press conference. Erver said gingham and check patterned dresses, blouses and skirts have been especially popular this season, with the trend continuing into the autumn. Accessories sales have picked up, with social media also driving a craze for mini-accessories on bags, sneakers, and cellphones, he said. In the U.S., where H&M has around 500 stores, Erver said consumer sentiment has dropped significantly due to the "turbulent" tariffs situation since President Donald Trump hiked duties on imports, and competitors have started raising prices as a result. H&M, which sources its products primarily from China and Bangladesh, is focused on keeping prices competitive, Erver said, as consumers are particularly price-sensitive given uncertainty around the economy in the U.S. and globally. H&M's sales were 56.7 billion Swedish crowns ($5.99 billion) in the March to May quarter, down from 59.6 billion a year ago. Analysts polled by LSEG had forecast revenue of 57.0 billion crowns. Zara owner Inditex earlier this month also reported disappointing sales, in a sign consumers are pulling back from spending on clothes as U.S. tariffs create risks for global economic growth. H&M's second-quarter operating profit was 5.91 billion crowns, beating analysts' forecast of 5.88 billion, and the operating profit margin was 10.4%, down from 11.9% a year ago but still better than analysts had feared. "The slightly better than expected margin delivery sends a positive signal to the market," said Alphavalue analyst Jie Zhang. "The brand upgrading strategy has started to pay off." H&M said its higher-priced brand COS had done especially well and shoppers are opting for more medium- and high-priced items across the board, helping to boost profitability. But Erver flagged more discounting in the June to August quarter as he said summer markdowns across the market were highly competitive. Even as it reduces store numbers globally, H&M is also searching for growth in new markets with a growing middle class, with plans to open its first stores in Brazil in the second half, as well as in El Salvador and Venezuela, and to launch in Paraguay next year.
Sinar Daily
2 hours ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
H&M sales fall in second quarter on stronger currency
H&M said its net profit fell to 3.96 billion kronor ($419 million) for the period of March to May of 2025, down from 5.06 billion a year earlier. 28 Jun 2025 04:00pm SWEDISH fashion giant H&M on Thursday reported a drop in sales and profit in the second quarter, as currency effects weighed on the company's earnings. H&M said its net profit fell to 3.96 billion kronor ($419 million) for the period of March to May of 2025, down from 5.06 billion a year earlier. "The quarter's result was negatively affected by higher purchasing prices as a result of a more expensive US dollar and higher freight costs, but also by the fact that we have continued to invest in the customer offering," H&M chief executive Daniel Erver said in a statement. Erver noted that "negative external factors that increased the costs of purchasing for the first half of the year are turning positive for the second half of the year". Net sales for the company fell nearly five percent to 56.7 billion kronor, compared to the second quarter of 2024. But the company noted that net sales rose by one percent in local currencies "with four percent fewer stores at the end of the quarter compared with the same point in time the previous year." In its quarterly earnings report it said net sales were hit by "a currency translation effect of around six percentage points due to the strengthened Swedish krona." H&M also said its sales result in the second quarter should "be seen in light of the fact that the second quarter of 2024 was a strong quarter". - AFP More Like This
Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Who did the Chicago Blackhawks select in the 2025 NHL draft? Here are the latest picks.
The Chicago Blackhawks made three first-round selections Friday in the 2025 NHL draft. The Hawks drafted the top-ranked international player with the No. 3 pick in the NHL draft — Swedish forward Anton Frondell. They also selected Czech winger Vaclav Nestrasil with the No. 25 pick. Shortly after choosing Nestrasil, the Hawks traded with the Carolina Hurricanes to acquire another first-round pick at No. 29. They gave up two second-round picks, Nos. 34 and 62, plus a fifth-round pick in the 2027 draft. They used the No. 29 pick on Mason West. All told, the Hawks have had 11 first-round draft picks over the last four years. Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said that it hasn't happened by chance — it's intentional. 'The more you pick early … you're more likely to succeed,' Davidson said. 'And so we've taken that philosophy and tried to hit it with volume. 'But I also believe that some of these players are getting to the NHL, some of them are on their path. But from our assessment, an objective assessment, we feel their development so far, we are ahead of the odds in some way — I think we are beating the odds and getting a few more players out of drafts than you know, the odds may dictate.' Blackhawks' 2025 draft picks It all started with a pair of pink figure skates. 'It was the first time I stepped on the ice,' Swedish forward Anton Frondell, 18, said on Friday's ESPN broadcast of the NHL draft. 'Dad just found some pink figure skating skates. I actually skated with them for a year until he (found) out, (and said) 'Oh, Anton, he loves the sport. He wants this.' 'Then he bought me my real first skates. He really wanted me to be a tennis player when I was younger. But I didn't fall for the sport.' NHL Central Scouting regards Frondell as a skilled player with strong legs and a quick stick. '(He) has a nifty wrist shot and his release is solid and accurate. His hockey IQ shines with intelligent moves, with or without the puck. Likes to set up teammates using small moves and tricky passes.' Frondell said he'd like to play in the NHL next season, but it's more likely he'll return to Sweden to play in the men's league. However, Davidson said he'll be able to play in the Hawks' training camp. Davidson said of Frondell, 'He's a really smart hockey player. He uses his body very effectively, especially in battles along the wall. He just has a really projectable game to the NHL.' 'Barkov's probably a few inches taller. … I would say he's probably between a Barkov and an Anton Lundell … he's a big, detail-oriented center with a brain.'—Blackhawks scouting director Mike Doneghey on Anton Frondell and comparisons to Aleksander Barkov — Phil Thompson (@ 2025-06-28T04:16:41.753ZWinger Vaclav Nestrasil is a 6-foot-5, 187-pound native of Praha, Czechia, who produced 19 goals and 23 assists in 61 games for UHSL Muskegon en route to this year's Clark Cup championship. NHL Central Scouting calls the 18-year-old 'a very skilled power forward. Has a nose for the net and when he uses his size, he's tough to handle. (He) possesses a hard shot and quick release, making him a scoring threat every time he enters the offensive zone.' 'You like the physical attributes where (he's a) big, athletic guy that can really move. I think he's got some talent, and some really good hockey sense. And again, a raw package,' Davidson said of Nestrasil. Mason West is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound rising senior at Edina (Minn.) High School. A Division I college football recruit, he has committed to play college hockey at Michigan State — but not until he finishes his final season as a high school quarterback. 'He's behind the curve; he's not quite dedicated himself 100% to hockey,' Davidson said of West, who will turn 18 in August and is one of the youngest players eligible for the 2025 NHL draft. 'But at that size, that athleticism, that skating ability, that talent, the sky is the limit. … I just really wanted to get back into the first round and take what I thought was a Grand Slam hack. I was swinging for the fences and figured, why not?'
