Monday, October 6, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Fuel prices in Sweden set to climb regardless of political outcome

Published 20 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
As the EU has also decided what the minimum tax level on petrol and diesel should be, Swedish politicians do not currently have the option of lowering taxes at will.
2 minute read

Swedes can expect gasoline and diesel prices to rise significantly from 2027, regardless of the political constellation in Sweden.

The reason is the EU’s new emissions trading system ETS 2, which forces fuel companies to pay for carbon dioxide emissions – a cost that directly affects consumers.

Regardless of the outcome of the 2026 election, Swedish motorists will face higher fuel prices. Behind the increase is the EU’s ETS 2 emissions trading system, which has already been adopted by the Swedish Parliament. The system, which comes into force in 2027, requires companies that sell fossil fuels to purchase emission allowances for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit. The cost is expected to be around SEK 2.50 (€0.23) extra per liter based on today’s prices for emission allowances.

Emissions allowances are already being traded on the pre-market, where the price in May was 74 euros per ton of carbon dioxide. According to John Hassler, professor of economics and former government climate advisor, this is a realistic forecast for the future:

– This is probably the best guess of what these emission allowances will cost in the future, he told state television SVT.

EU does not allow tax cuts

Sweden stands out in European comparisons as one of the countries where fuel prices are currently lowest, partly as a result of the government’s tax cuts on fuel.

However, the EU has the final say here too, and according to John Hassler, Sweden is already close to the lowest tax level allowed by Brussels for gasoline and diesel, which will make future price adjustments difficult when the new emissions trading system, ETS 2, is introduced.

– We cannot compensate for this by lowering taxes on gasoline and diesel, maybe by 0.5 SEK, but no more than that, he says.

Hundreds of millions to the treasury

At the same time, ETS 2 will generate significant revenue for the government estimated at €915 million annually as the EU distributes the revenue from emission allowances to member states. Hassler believes that the money should be used to mitigate the effects on Swedish households.

There is a good signal value in using this money for, for example, a climate bonus for Swedish households. One could also imagine this money going to people in rural areas or other places where it is difficult to find alternatives to cars.

Green Party spokesperson Amanda Lind has previously stated that the opposition is planning fuel price increases to reduce emissions. However, analysts believe that price increases will happen regardless of which party is in power in Sweden, as this has largely become an EU issue with limited national influence.

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme ETS 2 is an expansion of the previous emissions trading scheme to include the transport and construction sectors. The aim is said to be to push down the use of fossil fuels by making them more expensive. From 2027, fuel suppliers will have to buy allowances for their emissions, a cost that will be directly passed on to the end consumer.

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Bitcoin reaches new record – surpasses $125,000 in value

Alternative economic systems

Published yesterday 13:21
– By Editorial Staff
1 minute read

The world’s leading cryptocurrency continues its rise and hit a new all-time high on Sunday, driven by dollar weakness and strong inflows to bitcoin ETFs.

Bitcoin rose to $125,689 on Sunday, once again reaching new record levels. The previous record was set in mid-August when the cryptocurrency reached $124,480.

The rise comes after eight straight days of gains, supported by positive developments in US stock markets and increasing investments in bitcoin ETFs – exchange-traded funds that allow investors to gain exposure to bitcoin without having to buy and store the cryptocurrency themselves. Meanwhile, the US dollar has weakened against most major currencies, partly due to uncertainty surrounding a possible US government shutdown.

Joshua Lim, analyst at crypto broker Falcon X, sees a clear connection:

With many assets at record levels, it’s not surprising that bitcoin is benefiting from dollar weakness.

Since the beginning of the year, bitcoin has risen over 30 percent, benefiting from more crypto-friendly policies under President Donald Trump’s administration and increased institutional interest in digital assets.

Gold prices at record levels

Published 29 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Experts worry about the soaring price of gold.
1 minute read

During the summer and fall of this year, gold prices have risen by over 40 percent, leading to trading near $3,800 per ounce. The sharp increase has raised concerns among economists and investors.

One of the primary factors behind the price increase is US President Donald Trump’s policy, which aims to reduce America’s national debt. As part of this strategy, Trump hopes to weaken the dollar, making gold more attractive as a safe haven asset.

A weaker dollar makes gold cheaper for investors in other currencies, further driving up demand. Currently, one US dollar costs approximately €0.85, which represents a notable depreciation in just a few months.

Several major banks have raised their forecasts for gold prices. Goldman Sachs predicts that prices could rise to over $4,000 per ounce within a year, provided that central banks continue buying gold and investors increase their gold positions.

Despite the positive development, there are also warnings. Experts point out that gold prices can become volatile and that a sudden interest rate hike or improved global economic stability could lead to a rapid price decline.

Investors are therefore advised to be cautious and not put all their assets in gold.

The rapid price increase in gold reflects a world in economic uncertainty, where pressure on US finances and its currency policy could have far-reaching consequences worldwide.

China plans fully AI-controlled economy by 2035

The modern China

Published 26 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
By 2035, AI is planned to have "completely reworked Chinese society" and implemented a new phase of economic and social production.
2 minute read

The Chinese government has presented an ambitious ten-year plan where artificial intelligence will permeate all sectors of society by 2035 and become the “main engine for economic growth”.

China’s State Council has published a comprehensive plan aimed at making the country the world’s first fully AI-driven economy within eleven years. According to the government document presented at the end of August, artificial intelligence will have transformed Chinese society by 2035 and become the foundation for what is described as “a new phase of development in intelligent economy and intelligent society”.

The plan, which spans ten years, encompasses six central societal sectors that will be permeated by AI technology by 2027. These include science and technology, citizen welfare, industrial development, consumer goods, governance, and international relations.

The goal: 90 percent usage by 2030

According to the timeline, AI technology should reach a 90 percent usage rate by 2030 and practically become a new type of infrastructure. At this point, the technology is expected to have developed into a “significant growth engine for China’s economy”.

The strategy resembles the country’s previous “internet plus” initiative, which successfully integrated the internet as a central component in the Chinese economy.

By 2035, AI should according to the plan have “completely reworked Chinese society” and implemented a new phase of economic and social production. This is an ambitious goal with significant consequences, not only for the People’s Republic but for the entire world.

International cooperation in focus

The State Council emphasizes that AI should be treated as an “international public good that benefits humanity”. The plan highlights the importance of developing open source AI, supporting developing countries in building their own technology sectors, and the UN’s role as a leader in AI regulation.

Although China’s AI industry is growing rapidly, as exemplified by the open AI platform DeepSeek’s successes earlier this year, Chinese models still lag several months behind their American counterparts in terms of average performance. This is largely due to restrictions and barriers that Western countries have imposed.

However, the gap is steadily narrowing. At the end of 2023, American AI models performed better than Chinese ones in 13 percent of general reasoning tests. By the same time in 2024, this figure had dropped to 8.1 percent. In certain AI applications, China is already a world leader and has invested heavily in offering its services at low prices and in many cases completely free as open source.

The State Council’s ten-year plan aims to further reduce the lead by strengthening key areas such as fundamental model performance, security measures, data access, and energy management.

Whether Beijing can deliver on its massive goals with the help of sometimes unreliable technology remains to be seen. However, if other nationally coordinated plans are any indication, the country may face a comprehensive transformation.

Chinese EVs outsell Tesla

Published 26 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
From unchallenged market leader to pressured giant – Tesla faces intensifying competition from China.
1 minute read

Chinese electric vehicle company BYD has increased its sales in Europe by over 200 percent. Meanwhile, Tesla’s electric vehicle sales in Europe decreased compared to last year.

For the eighth consecutive month, sales are declining for Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla in Europe, according to industry organization ACEA. In July, Tesla sold a total of 8,220 electric vehicles, which is 36 percent less than the same month last year.

Meanwhile, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, sold 9,130 electric vehicles in July, representing an increase of 201 percent compared to July last year.

Looking at this year’s figures, Tesla has lost 43 percent in the European market, while BYD has increased by 244 percent.

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