https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/lidl-starts-selling-vegetables-grown-with-classical-music-in-sweden/

Sweden

Lidl starts selling vegetables grown with classical music in Sweden

Published 23 August 2024

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Lidl Sverige

Music is said to affect root length and crop size, among other things.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

In Sweden, Lidl has decided to install sound systems that play classical music for its crop, with the idea that music is beneficial to plant growth.

In the spring, Lidl commissioned the government research institute RISE to analyze the effect of music on plants, and the studies showed that music can have a positive effect on plants. For example, one study showed that 100% of alfalfa seeds exposed to music developed sprouts when either classical music, waltzes or natural sounds were played. The same study found that several types of music also had a positive effect on lettuce.

– Although plants don’t have ears, they can sense vibrations from sound waves, and a number of scientific studies have shown that music promotes plant growth, influencing both root length and crop size, for example. Our report shows that different genres of music benefit the growth of different plants”, says Tora Råberg, researcher at RISE, in a press release.

Another study showed that pea plants grew 38% taller when classical music was played, compared to plants that were not allowed to grow to music.

Five Lidl growers have now played classical music from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, fresh herbs and apples.

These products will be sold in all Lidl stores across the country from week 35. To identify the products, which will be sold under the private label Matriket, they will be marked with a blue note.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-government-proposes-wiretapping-children-without-criminal-suspicion/

Sweden

Swedish government proposes wiretapping children without criminal suspicion

Mass surveillance

Published today 8:23

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Linnea Engberg/Government Offices of Sweden

The government's own investigator proposed that only the Swedish Security Service (Säpo) should be allowed to eavesdrop on children without criminal suspicion - but this is not enough, according to the government.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Gang crime continues to plague Sweden, with recurring bombings, shootings and contract killings spreading fear in society, without those in power managing to get a grip on crime.

Criminal gangs often use minors to carry out serious crimes. For this reason, the Tidö parties (the center-right coalition government) want to give police the authority to wiretap children under the age of 15 – even in cases where there is no specific suspicion of a crime.

During a press conference the government stated that the social trend is bleak, that “serious crime is penetrating lower and lower down the age scale” and that children are increasingly “playing central roles in the commission of serious crimes“.

Currently, police are not allowed to use “secret coercive measures” against children under the age of 15 – which allegedly hinders police work when investigating murders and bombings.

At a press conference on Wednesday, representatives of the Tidö parties confirmed that they want to change the legislation so that children can also be wiretapped – partly when they are being investigated for crimes – but also for “preventive purposes” – i.e. without any actual suspicion of crime.

– These are far-reaching proposals. But it is justified by the development of society, said Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M), and continued:

– It is about preventing crime, but also about reaching those who are behind and controlling via children’s cell phones.

Dismisses own investigator’s limitations

The government’s own legal investigator had recommended that only the Swedish Security Service (Säpo) be allowed to use wiretapping without suspicion of a crime. However, the government disagrees, arguing that it is “absolutely necessary” for regular police to also be allowed to wiretap children if they can be linked to serious organized crime.

The government maintains that fighting gang crime is more important than protecting the integrity of minors. Strömmer stated that “there are very significant risks in allowing the current reality to continue as it is”.

The change in the law is proposed to come into force this fall for at least five years, after which it will be evaluated.

Although most people seem to agree that organized crime needs to be fought, many are also opposed to the fact that the moderate-led government repeatedly chooses to focus so much on increased wiretapping and surveillance. Critics also point out that there is a real risk that the surveillance apparatus will be abused in the future or used very arbitrarily and without legal certainty.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/triple-murder-in-uppsala-makes-global-headlines-sweden-cast-as-cautionary-tale/

Sweden

Triple murder in Uppsala makes global headlines – Sweden cast as cautionary tale

organized crime

Published yesterday 10:57

– By Editorial Staff

Montage. Photo: facsimile/BBC, Al Jazeera

The recurring Swedish gang shootings have become a popular subject for foreign media.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The gang-related shootings in Sweden never seem to end and on Tuesday three people were murdered outside a hairdressing salon near Vaksala torg, Uppsala.

The triple murder quickly became world news and Sweden is once again being portrayed as a horror story in the international media.

The victims are between 15 and 20 years old – and at least one of them can be clearly linked by the police to organized crime in Sweden. A minor suspect has also been arrested for the crime.

The media around the world have long been fascinated by the spread of gang violence across Sweden, which was previously regarded by the outside world as relatively calm, idyllic and spared from this kind of event. And the shooting in Uppsala is no exception.

“Swedish bloodbath” is what the British tabloid, for example, is calling it, claiming that there is “Fear in Sweden after shooting“.

“The Nordic country has suffered from a wave of gang-related violence for more than a decade that has included an epidemic of gun violence”, the Qatari Al-Jazeera states.

The AP news agency also notes that Sweden has struggled with gang violence, recurring shootings and bombings for many years without much success, and similar descriptions appear in most other media that have covered the events.

“Score-settling between rival gangs”

The US left-liberal CNN in turn alerts its readers to the fact that in 2023 Sweden had the highest number of shootings per capita in the EU – and German and French media note that gangs often use children to commit the murders, as they are underage.

“But the Nordic country has struggled for years to rein in shootings and bombings linked to score-settling between rival gangs. Perpetrators are often young teens who are hired as contract killers because they are under 15, the age of criminal responsibility in Sweden”, writes Le Monde.

The moderate-led government claims it is doing what it can to stop the killings and has promised to crack down on organized crime. Last year also saw a drop in the number of murders compared to the previous year – but critics note that there is still much to be done.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedens-increased-repatriation-grant-deemed-insufficient-by-somalis/

Sweden

Sweden’s increased repatriation grant deemed insufficient by Somalis

Population replacement in the West

Published yesterday 7:19

– By Editorial Staff

Montage. Photo: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden, dreamextreme/iStock

In order for the grants to attract Somalis to leave the country, they must be able to "lay the foundations for a long-term livelihood", it is argued.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

SEK 600,000 (€55,000) in repatriation aid for voluntarily leaving the country is far too low an amount for many of the country’s Somalis. That is the assessment made by the chairman of the Somaliland National Association after speaking with its members about the matter.

Already last autumn, the Moderate-led government declared its intention to significantly increase the financial support for migrants who voluntarily return to their home countries – from SEK 10,000 (€900) to 350,000 (€32,000).

Further details have now been presented, including that a couple can receive up to half a million SEK to leave Sweden, and that families can be granted even higher tax-funded sums than that – up to SEK 600,000 (€55,000).

– Voluntary repatriation creates opportunities for individuals to make a new start in life and can lead to economic and labor force growth in another country, argues Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) in a press release.

“Long-term livelihood”

To prevent abuse, the idea is that those who accept the aid but then remain hidden in Sweden or later return could be required to repay the money.

Despite the significant increase in the aid amount, it is still expected to have limited impact. The Somaliland National Association has asked its members about the issue and concluded that the willingness to voluntarily leave Sweden remains very low – and that this is due to purely economic reasons.

– I don’t think 600,000 for an entire family is enough of an incentive. Most of those we interviewed mentioned significantly higher amounts in order to be able to lay the foundations for a long-term livelihood, says chairman Mustafa Ismail.

Want to see focus on education

The Somali interest group also does not think it is a good idea to pay out the money as a lump sum as long as the migrants who leave the country are not also given help to start their own businesses in their home countries.

– Instead of giving money to individuals, we should look at investing in entrepreneurship, Ismail continues, calling on the Swedish government to focus on developing training programs in professions and industries that are considered necessary in Somaliland.

Ismail also emphasizes that comprehensive voluntary repatriation can only take place if the process is carefully coordinated with the country that will receive the migrants.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Somaliland is a self-proclaimed republic in north-western Somalia with its own government, currency and security force that has operated as a de facto independent state since 1991, but lacks international recognition.

The majority of the population of Somaliland belongs to the Isaaq, Gadabuursi and Dhulbahante Somali clans and the different clans are often in complex and protracted conflicts with each other or other clans in Somalia.

The conflicts are usually about power, natural resources and influence, and about different clans claiming historical rights to specific areas that are currently controlled by other family networks - in principle, however, all are ethnic Somalis and share the same language, religion, culture and historical origins.

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-researchers-to-breed-cows-that-burp-less/

Sweden

Swedish researchers to breed cows that burp less

The exaggerated climate crisis

Published 29 April 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Tommie Hansen/CC BY 2.0

The aim is to reduce methane emissions from cows by 25% in as many years.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

In a new project, researchers want to find a way to breed cows that emit less methane gas. The ultimate goal is to reduce total emissions by 25% in 25 years.

In the ongoing project, carried out by geneticists and researchers at Växa Sverige with support from SLU, the plan is to measure emissions from 100,000 cows and sheep in Sweden. The project, called the Global Metagenetics Initiative, is led internationally by Wageningen University.

It will also involve DNA testing of different cows to find out which type of cow burps the least.

– This knowledge will allow us to carry out a so-called genomic breeding evaluation. This means that we select and breed the cows that have many predispositions for low methane gas emissions, says Tomas Klingström at SLU, to the tax-funded SVT.

According to researchers, there can be a big difference in belching between different ruminants, with some cows emitting 30 percent less methane gas than others.

– The goal is to reduce methane emissions from cows by 25% in 25 years.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Polaris of Enlightenment

Polaris of Enlightenment

News

The Nordics

Opinion

Social Media