In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and James Savage.

On this week’s episode we explore a game-changing rare earth metal find in northern Sweden. 

We discuss Sweden’s priorities for the EU Council presidency with Louise Bengtsson, senior researcher at the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies.

• INTERVIEW: What’s on the agenda for Sweden’s EU presidency?

As rail operator SJ prepares to launch a sleeper train from Stockholm to Berlin, we talk about the costs and benefits. 

• Richard’s route: On-board Sweden’s new sleeper service from Hamburg to Malmö

In the latest in our series of interviews with ambassadors, we interview Nur Ashikin Mohd Taib, who leaves Sweden this week after serving for four years as Malaysia’s top diplomat in Stockholm.

We also discuss how an activist group’s hanging of an effigy of Turkey’s President Erdogan has further complicated Turkish-Swedish relations. Also:

• Sweden’s new Centre Party leader to renounce Turkish citizenship
• OPINION: Sweden’s emerging debate on dual citizenship is terrifying

And we chat about a prime ministerial aide who has received a heft fine for illegally fishing endangered eels. 

Also, we briefly discuss two stories that broke right as we were recording. 

• EXPLAINED: These are the weapons that Sweden is sending to Ukraine
• Spy scandal: Two brothers jailed for passing secrets to Russia

You can follow Sweden in Focus and listen to the episode on our podcast page. Or you can find it here:

• Sweden in Focus on Apple Podcasts
• Sweden in Focus on Spotify 
• Sweden in Focus on Google Podcasts

Alternatively, you can search for Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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