🇺🇦 EU funds to help Ukrainians access Swedish job market

Ukrainians living in Sweden will receive more help to learn the language and gain access to the job market. This is the aim of the government, which is proposing a redistribution of SEK 329 million from the EU.

"I am very pleased to be able to announce this. More Ukrainians need to have the chance to support themselves but also to contribute to Sweden when seeking protection here," says Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson (L).

The funds are coming from the European Social Fund Plus, and the government's proposal will now be submitted to the EU Commission for approval.

The resources are allocated by the ESF Council and can be applied for by several different types of actors, including municipalities, regions, and authorities, as well as organizations within civil society.

Language initiatives

In addition to work-related initiatives such as job matching and assessment of skills, the resources - which will be available from this autumn - can also be used for language education.

This means, among other things, that the study associations that provide instruction in what is called 'Swedish from day one' and 'Everyday Swedish' - programs developed for Ukrainians - get the opportunity to apply for more funding.

"There is a range of actors who can apply, even for existing projects," says Johan Pehrson.

The number of people who can benefit from the initiatives depends, according to the government, on several factors, such as the needs of the target group and the interest of the actors. However, they have set a "target" of 5,760 participants.

According to figures from earlier this year, around 30,000 adult Ukrainians have been granted permits to stay in Sweden.

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by Klas Widestrand/TT | edited by Riedia

🇪🇺 Sweden's new EU ambassador

Mikaela Kumlin Granit has been appointed as the new head of Sweden's EU representation in Brussels. She succeeds Lars Danielsson, who has held the position for six years and is retiring this summer.

The role of the EU ambassador can be seen as the extended arm of the government office in Brussels.

New role

Currently, Mikaela Kumlin Granit is the ambassador in London. She has previously served as ambassador in Vienna, and her resume includes the role of chairman of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors.

Mikaela Kumlin Granit will take office in August.

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by Olle Bengtsson/TT | edited by Riedia

🥚 The egg crisis may soon be over

The prolonged salmonella problems at the country's largest egg producer CA Cedergren have contributed to the egg shortage in trade. But now the crisis may soon be over, reports Ekot in Sveriges Radio .

"What we see ahead and what is our hope is that the egg producer's packing plant will be cleared of salmonella within a couple of weeks," says Marie Lönneskog Hogstadius, CEO of the industry organization Swedish Egg, to the radio.

The problems at Cedergren have been going on for several months and in mid-April, all deliveries were stopped after salmonella spread at the facility. According to Ekot, a total of over 320,000 chickens have been culled as a protective measure.

Apart from the outbreaks at Cedergren, there has been no general increase in salmonella in Sweden.

Due to the unusual event, the National Veterinary Institute has been tasked with reviewing the need for stricter controls with more frequent sampling.

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by TT | edited by Riedia

🐳 A dead killer whale has been found stuck in a pier in Hunnebostrand on the West Coast of Sweden, an unusual sight according to police. The four-meter-long animal was discovered by a member of the public who alerted SOS Alarm early on Thursday morning. It is unclear what will happen to the whale, but the Swedish Museum of Natural History will be contacted for advice.

🚨 A fatal shooting in Stockholm's Rågsved has been linked to criminal networks, with five men arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police received reports of shots being fired and found three men in their twenties injured. One man has since died and the other two are being treated for gunshot wounds. Train traffic was disrupted for over an hour, and a technical examination will be carried out. It is yet to be determined whether this incident can be linked to any previous acts of violence in Rågsved.

🌾 The area of organic farmland in Sweden has decreased for the third consecutive year, with a reduction of 9,500 hectares in 2022, according to the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The number of companies involved in organic farming has also decreased by over 4%. Economic reasons have been identified as a factor contributing to fewer farmers choosing to convert to organic farming.

🚢 No survivors have been found after a Chinese fishing vessel with 39 people on board sank in the Indian Ocean. China is calling on Australia to send more search planes and ships to the location to coordinate the search effort with other countries. The incident occurred south of the Maldives in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

🚨 Israel has deployed over 2,000 police officers to central Jerusalem ahead of a far-right nationalist demonstration that many see as provocative and potentially violent. The police have allowed the march through the symbolic Damascus Gate despite concerns about anti-Arab slogans. Palestinian extremist groups have said they will confront the parade, while the authorities have stated that they are ready to prevent any violent incidents.

🇨🇴 Four children have been found alive in the Amazon after surviving a plane crash in which their mother and another adult died. The children have been located in Caqueta in southern Colombia more than two weeks after the crash, having crawled out of the plane and ventured into the rainforest in search of help. A team of over 100 soldiers and search dogs have been deployed to the area, and the search intensified after a small shelter made of twigs and branches was discovered.

🤖 Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, testified in US Congress about the need for regulation of AI and the risks of the ChatGPT text-generating robot, which has gained attention for its conversational abilities. Altman emphasized the importance of regulatory measures in reducing the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI models as technology advances.

🚫 Montana is the first state in the US to ban Tiktok through legislation, which will come into effect on January 1st. Republican Governor Greg Gianforte signed the law, citing concerns that the Chinese Communist Party could use the platform to spy on Americans and violate their privacy. Users will not be punished, but the app will be prohibited from being used and downloaded, and Google and Apple could face fines if TikTok is available in their digital stores in Montana.

🎮 The latest installment of the popular action-adventure game series, "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom," has sold 10 million copies worldwide in just three days. This makes it the fastest-selling Zelda game ever, and the strongest opening for a Nintendo game in Europe. Critics have also given the game high ratings, with a score of 96 out of 100 on Metacritic and praise from influential gaming sites and newspapers.

🕺 Heptown is hosting a lindyhop course for beginners this weekend in Malmö ! The event is a great opportunity to try out a new hobby! Find more information here and register for the event.

🎤 Get ready to groove the night away with the modern face of Bachata, Pinto Picasso! This concert in Stockholm will feature Azael and Sindi, showcasing their mesmerizing dance moves on stage, followed by social dancing on two floors. You can buy tickets here.

🏕️ The freedom to roam

Summer is approaching! This means that it's time to plan the summer holidays! Both home and abroad.

Sweden has an unusual law that makes exploring nature easy! There is a unique concept known as "Allemansrätten" , which translates to "the right of public access," often referred to as the "freedom to roam." This legal right allows everyone to roam freely in nature, including private lands, as long as they respect the environment and the property owners' privacy.

This means that during a Swedish vacation, you can explore and enjoy the stunning landscapes, forests, and lakes without the usual restrictions you might encounter in other countries. Whether it's hiking, camping, fishing, or simply strolling through the countryside. In addition to granting access to nature, Allemansrätt allows you to forage and pick wild berries, mushrooms, and flowers on both public and private land.

Allemansrätten ensures that nature is open and accessible to all, making Swedish vacations a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of the great outdoors.

by Julia Powanda/Riedia