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Polaris of Enlightenment

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-railways-fail-to-cope-with-growing-population/

Sweden

Swedish railways fail to cope with growing population

Published 8 March 2024
– By Editorial Staff
In the 1960s, 4% of GDP was spent on infrastructure, compared to 0.7% today.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The number of rail kilometres per inhabitant in Sweden will decrease by 14% between 2005 and 2021, while the number of inhabitants will increase by one million during the same period.

COWI compared the number of rail kilometres per million inhabitants in European countries during the same period. It concluded that Sweden is one of the countries with the most negative development of rail density. Railways were also examined at regional level, where it was found that they decreased by 17 per cent in Skåne, 19 per cent in West Sweden and 24 per cent in Stockholm. The Stockholm region ranks 130th out of 134 regions compared. Only the counties of Västernorrland and Jämtland were the regions where the number of kilometres of railway per million inhabitants increased.

− This clearly shows that investment in infrastructure in Sweden has been insufficient over the period. We also know that maintenance of the existing infrastructure has been inadequate. This is a worrying development because we know that investment in the railways plays an important role in our growth and in achieving climate and sustainability goals, Anders Wiktorson, CEO of COWI in Sweden, tells trade magazine Järnvägsnyheter (Railway news).

Wiktorson believes it is necessary to set a GDP target for infrastructure investment. Between 2013 and 2022, Sweden will spend about 0.7 per cent of GDP on infrastructure, which is lower than before. By comparison, in the 1960s, for example, the maximum amount spent on infrastructure was four per cent of GDP.

− The government should consider setting a clear target for infrastructure investment as a percentage of GDP, just as it does for R&D and defence, says Wiktorson.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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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 today 7:19
– By Editorial Staff
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 yesterday 11:56
– By Editorial Staff
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

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-grandmother-jailed-for-selling-home-baked-goods-on-facebook/

Sweden

Swedish grandmother jailed for selling home-baked goods on Facebook

Deteriorating safety

Published yesterday 8:24
– By Editorial Staff
The buns in the photo have no connection to the serious crime in question.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

A bun-baking grandmother in Norrbotten has been sentenced to prison by the Court of Appeal for selling homemade buns without a permit. While the court takes her unauthorized baked goods seriously, many are questioning whether Swedish courts have time to knead such trivial matters.

A 65-year-old woman in Norrbotten has been sentenced to six weeks in prison for selling buns, bread, and sandwich cakes via Facebook without a registered food business, according to a ruling from the Court of Appeal for Northern Norrland, reports Bonnier-owned Expressen.

The municipality had prohibited the sales and issued fines totaling SEK 130,000 (€12,000), which the woman, living on a pensioner’s income, could not pay. The fine was therefore converted into a prison sentence – a penalty her lawyer calls “unreasonable”.

For several years, the woman has been running the business and engaging many customers on social media by posting pictures of her baked goods and her grandchildren.

Translation of above tweet: “Yes, it’s okay to use heavy-handed tactics when the other side isn’t violent. It sends a good signal to citizens that no one should think that crimes that threaten the system will go unpunished“.

Appealed to the Supreme Court

Attorney Frida Larsson stresses that the woman considered baking a hobby, often giving away buns to her grandchildren and charging only a minimal amount to cover ingredient costs.

Nonetheless, the Court of Appeal chose to swiftly impose a prison sentence, despite her health issues and financial hardship.

– She is deeply distressed and does not understand how she will endure a prison term given her deteriorating health and age. This has taken a heavy toll on her, Larsson says.

The ruling has sparked public outrage and is being appealed to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the question remains: Is prison truly the right recipe for justice in this case?

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedens-liberal-party-leader-resigns/

Sweden

Sweden’s Liberal Party leader resigns

Published 28 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Riksdag’s smallest party, the Liberals, will appoint a new party leader at an extraordinary national meeting on June 24. This comes after Johan Pehrson announced his resignation.

Pehrson himself says he wants to step back but will continue to be involved in politics in some form in the future.

– I’m not very old, but I am newly married, and I have led the party through two election campaigns, he announced during today’s press conference.

Pehrson was first elected to the Riksdag for the Liberal People’s Party at the age of 30 in 1998. Between 2022 and 2024, he served as Sweden’s Minister for Employment and Integration and is currently the Minister for Education in the Kristersson government.

The Liberals are the smallest party in the Riksdag, with 4.6 percent of the vote in the 2022 election, and are currently polling below the 4 percent threshold according to opinion polls.

 

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com
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