Swedish Parliament Opens Amid Government Deadlock: King Carl XVI Gustaf formally opened the Riksdag’s 2026–27 parliamentary year in Stockholm as Magdalena Andersson ended her bid to form a government and Speaker Andreas Norlén prepares further talks, with coalition disagreements—especially over the Left Party—still blocking a deal. EU Budget Standoff: Germany and five other “frugal” states, including Sweden, threatened to withhold agreement on the EU’s 2028–2034 budget unless Brussels cuts spending by hundreds of billions and shifts money toward defence and innovation, squeezing farm and regional funding. Kaliningrad Nuclear Rhetoric: Russia warned the UK and NATO that any blockade or strike on Kaliningrad could trigger nuclear retaliation, while NATO condemned the “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric” and reiterated support for Ukraine. Sweden Targets Phone Scams: Sweden launched a campaign encouraging people—especially those over 60—to respond rudely to phone scammers, as police say fraudsters steal about 5.7 billion SEK annually. Ukraine Push on Frozen Russian Assets: Ukraine urged the EU to use immobilised Russian assets to cover a looming $78 billion shortfall, arguing it’s both practical and fair. Health Policy Angle: Sweden’s smoke-free progress (daily smoking 3.7%) is highlighted as a model for tobacco harm reduction, while EU fisheries ministers spar over funding rules and environmental safeguards.