At least 10 people, including the gunman, were killed Tuesday at an adult education center in what Sweden’s prime minister called the country’s worst mass shooting. But a final death toll, a conclusive number of wounded and a motive hadn’t yet been determined hours later. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gave a news conference in the aftermath of the tragedy, which happened on the outskirts of Orebro. The city is about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Stockholm. The school, called Campus Risbergska, serves students over age 20, according to its website. Primary and upper secondary school courses are offered, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. “Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people,” Kristersson told reporters in Stockholm. “This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either. “But the time will come when we will know what happened, how it could occur, and what motives may have been behind it. Let us not speculate,” he said. Gun violence at schools is very rare in Sweden. But there have been several incidents in recent years in which people were wounded or killed with other weapons such as knives or axes. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called the shooting “an event that shakes our entire society to its core.” While Swedes read about such violence in other places, Strömmer said that the country previously felt it wouldn’t happen there. Other tragedies in Swedish schools weren't to the extent of Tuesday’s attack, he said, calling it “indescribably sad” for the community. The shooting also sent shock waves through Europe, with officials in Brussels expressing their outrage at the carnage. EU, Moldova agree on energy plan to cut Russian dependence “What happened today in Örebro is truly horrifying,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media. “Such violence and terror have no place in our societies — least of all in schools. In this dark hour, we stand with the people of Sweden.” The damage at the crime scene was so extensive that investigators were unable to be more definitive about the number of fatalities, said Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police. Police said that the death toll could rise. Eid Forest told reporters that the suspected gunman was among those killed. Police believe the perpetrator acted alone, and he wasn’t previously known to police, officials said. Authorities said that there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point, but police didn’t provide a motive. “Of course, we all want to understand why this happened, what occurred, and what motives the perpetrator may have had,” Kristersson said. “We will have to wait for those answers — in due time, the picture will become clearer.” Police raided the suspect’s home after Tuesday's shooting, but it wasn't immediately clear what they found. Eid Forest said there were no warning signs before the attack. Authorities were working to identify the deceased. Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf praised police and the rescue and medical personnel who responded to the shooting, and issued words of comfort to the families of the victims. “It is with sadness and dismay that my family and I have received the information about the terrible atrocity in Örebro,” the monarch said in a statement. “We send our condolences tonight to the families and friends of the deceased. Our thoughts at this time also go to the injured and their relatives, as well as to others affected.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed support to neighboring Sweden, calling Tuesday's shooting “a terrible situation.” Serbia's prime minister resigns as anti-corruption protests grow “I am so sad and all my thoughts are with the victims and their families and with the entire Swedish community and society,” she said after a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. “It’s a terrible situation. And of course, our neighboring countries have all of our support.” The shooting erupted after many students had gone home following a national exam. Police vehicles and ambulances, lights flashing, blanketed the parking lots and streets around the school as a helicopter buzzed overhead. Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus Tuesday afternoon after the exam. She also told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots. Students sheltered in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were evacuated following the shooting, which began at around 12:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT). Andreas Sundling, 28, was among those forced to barricade themselves inside the school. “We heard three bangs and loud screams,” he told Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom.

A 38-year-old man who sparked controversy and violent protests by burning a copy of the Quran has been shot dead in Sweden, according to local media. Reports indicate that Salwan Momika was killed in an apartment in Södertälje, Stockholm, on Wednesday night. The incident follows widespread unrest in 2023 when he set fire to Islam's holy book outside Stockholm Central Mosque. Malaysia to build mosque, school, hospital in Gaza: Anwar Stockholm police confirmed that a man in his 40s was fatally shot overnight, and five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. Officers responded to a shooting at an apartment in Hovsjö at around 23:11 local time (22:11 GMT) on Wednesday. The victim, found with gunshot wounds, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Thursday morning. Local reports suggest that Momika had been livestreaming on social media at the time of the shooting. Momika, originally from Iraq and residing in Sweden, faced charges of "agitation against an ethnic group" for multiple incidents in 2023. A court verdict on the case was scheduled for Thursday but was postponed after authorities confirmed his death. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that security services were investigating possible links to foreign entities, according to SVT. Brazil to establish deportee centre following disputed US flight Momika’s anti-Islam demonstrations sparked backlash across Muslim-majority nations, leading to protests outside the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and the expulsion of Sweden’s ambassador. Although Swedish authorities had permitted Momika's Quran-burning protest under free speech laws, the government later pledged to review legislation to restrict such demonstrations in certain circumstances. Source: Agencies

Celebrating Modern Fatherhood and Gender Equality, the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh, in collaboration with UNDP, UNFPA, and UN Women, has recently launched the 'Bangladeshi and Swedish Baba' photography exhibition at the DC Hill in Chattogram.  This exhibition celebrates the evolving roles of fathers as caregivers and highlights the transformative impact of active fatherhood in gender equality and more equitable societies. Following the success of previous exhibitions in Dhaka and Khulna, which drew over 3,500 and 1,500 visitors respectively, the Chattogram edition seeks to deepen the dialogue on modern fatherhood and shared caregiving roles. Curtain rises on Arka Fashion Week 2025 at Aloki The exhibition features 23 compelling photographs of Bangladeshi fathers actively engaged in parenting and caregiving. Inspired by the award-winning 'Swedish Dads' series by renowned Swedish photographer Johan Bävman, this initiative adapts his vision to the Bangladeshi context, encouraging audiences to rethink traditional gender roles and embrace gender equality. The Chattogram exhibition has been made possible through a collaborative effort involving local authorities. Visitors can explore the photographs and their stories until January 26, gaining a deeper understanding of the vital roles fathers play in shaping a more inclusive and just society. Bangladeshi women spend approximately 7.6 times more hours than men on unpaid household and care work, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and UN Women. This disproportionate burden restricts their participation in paid employment, curtailing economic opportunities and growth.  When fathers take on caregiving responsibilities, women are better positioned to enter and thrive in the workforce. This shift benefits women, enriches family life and strengthens the economy.  Involved fatherhood can play a transformative role in addressing these disparities.  This exhibition offers a platform to reflect on these themes, and as one engages with the photographs and the stories they tell, it can be encouraging to think about how each individual can contribute to a more equitable society; where caregiving is shared, opportunities are accessible to all, and the economy benefits from the full participation of its people. Curtain rises on 23rd Dhaka International Film Festival A total of 23 fathers out of 100 submissions were selected through a month-long competition held online. The jury board included Nicolas Weeks, Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh; Stefan Liler, UNDP Resident Representative; Masaki Watabe, Representative of the UNFPA; Gitanjali Singh, UN Women Representative; Sabina Yasmin, Senior Photographer, Prothom Alo and Saiful Huq Omi, Managing Director, Counter Foto. As the exhibition continues to travel across Bangladesh, it sparks conversations that challenge traditional norms and inspire action toward a more equitable future, according to the exhibition's organizers.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says Kylian Mbappé “is not affected” by the Swedish media reports this week that said the France captain was the subject of a rape investigation. Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. “I do not pay attention to speculations that come from outside the team. The player is not affected in the least,” Ancelotti said Friday. The reports in Swedish media came out after the striker visited Stockholm during the international break when he was not called up by France due to a minor injury. Pogba ready to give up money for Juventus again Without citing sources, Swedish media reported Mbappé was the subject of an investigation of an alleged rape at a hotel in Stockholm. Mbappé’s representatives have called the reports “false and irresponsible.” Swedish prosecutors issued a brief statement on Tuesday saying a rape had been reported to police, but didn’t name any suspect. Ancelotti defended his player’s right to travel on his time off. “The rest days are programmed for him and he can choose what he wants to do,” the Italian manager said. “I went to London for two days and didn’t ask anyone for permission.” Mbappé injured his left thigh in late September. But he missed only one game for Madrid, returning as a substitute in a shock 1-0 loss to Lille in the Champions League before starting in a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the Spanish league. He then sat out the international window. Messi's Argentina held 1-1 by Venezuela in South American World Cup qualifying Mbappé trained for Madrid this week before the Spanish league resumes. Madrid plays at Celta Vigo on Saturday. “(Mbappé) took advantage of the break to improve his fitness and get well after the injury,” Ancelotti said. “He is happy and ready to play and be important for the team. These 15 days have helped because he is now a different player than before the break.”

Clashes erupted in an immigrant neighborhood in Sweden’s third largest city after an anti-Muslim protester set fire to the Quran, police said Monday. Police in Malmo said they were pelted with rocks and dozens of cars were set on fire, including in an underground garage, describing the events that started Sunday and lasted overnight as “a violent riot.” The clashes started after an anti-Islam activist Salwan Momika on Sunday burned a copy of the Quran and an angry mob tried to stop him while police, some of them helmeted, detained several people. At least three people have been detained, police said. Read: Israel's PM pitches fiber optic cable idea to link Asia and the Middle East to Europe Early Monday, an angry crowd of mainly young people also set fire to tires and debris and some were seen throwing electric scooters, bicycles and barriers in Malmo's Rosengard neighborhood, which has seen similar clashes in the past. There were several banners relating to the Quran burning. “I understand that a public gathering like this arouses strong emotions, but we cannot tolerate disturbances and violent expressions like those we saw on Sunday afternoon," senior police officer Petra Stenkula said. Read: Putin profits off US and European reliance on Russian nuclear fuel “It is extremely regrettable to once again see violence and vandalism at Rosengard,” she said. In the past months, Momika, a refugee from Iraq, has desecrated the Quran in a series of anti-Islam protests mostly in Stockholm that have caused anger in many Muslim countries. Swedish police have allowed his actions, citing freedom of speech. The Quran burnings have sparked angry protests in Muslim countries, attacks on Swedish diplomatic missions and threats from Islamic extremists. Muslim leaders in Sweden have called on the government to find ways to stop the Quran burnings. Read: Thousands of Muslims take to the streets to express outrage over Quran desecration in Sweden Sweden dropped its last blasphemy laws in the 1970s and the government has said it has no intention to reintroduce them. However, the government has announced an inquiry into legal possibilities for enabling police to reject permits for demonstrations over national security concerns.  

Bracelets, phones, and candy are just a few of the items that have lately been thrown at musicians on stage. Adele is the latest celebrity to speak out about the concerning trend, telling a Las Vegas crowd that she would "kill" anyone who threw something at her, reports BBC. Also read: Beyoncé breaks Grammys record, is now most-decorated artist In a widely circulated video, she tells the crowd that they have forgotten "show etiquette." "Dare you to throw something at me," she joked. Adele is well-known for throwing T-shirts into the audience during her Vegas residency, but her statements are in reaction to a series of events in which fans flung objects on stage, said the report. Also read: The Grammys ended in controversy, again. Here’s what to know Bebe Rexha was hurt and brought to the hospital last month after being hit by a phone while performing. And when a sex toy dropped on stage when Lil Nas X performed in Sweden on Saturday, he appeared amused, the report also said. In November, Harry Styles got hit in the eye with a sweet, and Pink appeared uneasy when a bag of human ashes was tossed on stage. Ava Max has previously been smacked on stage, and in June, a bracelet was thrown at country artist Kelsea Ballerini. Charlie Puth has also requested fans put an end to the practice, stating on Twitter that "the trend... must come to an end" and that it is "disrespectful and very dangerous." So why are fans doing it? Dr Lucy Bennett is a Cardiff University lecturer who studies the interaction between fans and their favourite performers. She believed that people's attitudes have shifted since the Covid-19 pandemic, "where we couldn't be physically present at concerts." And Dr Bennett believed some individuals are doing it since it is more difficult to be noticed by artists on social media. Also read: Jazmine Sullivan wins second Grammy "If you're in the same physical space as them, and you're throwing something, then you're going to get noticed," she said of the behaviour.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (July 02, 2023) summoned Jakob Etaat, Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) at the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka, to protest burning of a copy of the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm. Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of Islam’s holy book outside Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday, according to BBC. Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the “deplorable act” in a statement published on the ministry’s official Facebook page. Also read: Dhaka strongly condemns burning of Quran outside Mosque in Sweden “Bangladesh expressed grave concern over such heinous acts of insulting the sacred values and religious symbols of the Muslims in the name of ‘freedom of expression,’” the statement read. “Bangladesh yet again urged all concerned to put an end to such unwarranted provocations for the sake of harmony and peaceful coexistence,” the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added. Also read: Sweden arrest 5 suspected of terror, ties to Quran burning The Quran burning was condemned by many Muslim-majority countries. Meanwhile, the Swedish government said it strongly rejects the Islamophobic act committed by individuals in Sweden. This act in no way reflects the opinions of the Swedish government, according to the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also read: Bangladesh strongly condemns burning of Holy Quran in Denmark

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam has exchanged views on different bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interests and concerns with the cross-party Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Swedish Parliament Riksdag in Stockholm.  The two sides, on June 16, also exchanged views on Swedish development cooperation support to Bangladesh, bilateral trade and investment cooperation, and Bangladesh’s National Action Plan on the labour sector. Also Read: Sweden keen to collaborate in IT development, green transition They also discussed possible cooperation between the two countries in IT and fintech sectors and green transition, Bangladesh-EU 50 years of partnership, Rohingya crisis, climate change, war in Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The State Minister briefed the Swedish Parliamentary Committee on the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, particularly over the last 14 years, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ‘Vision 2041’.  Also Read: Dhaka seeks ASEAN’s active role for repatriation of Rohingyas Committee Chairman Aron Emilsson (Sweden Democrats), Deputy Chairman Morgan Johansson (Swedish Social Democratic Party), and members Margareta Cederfelt (Moderate Party), Jacob Risberg (Green Party) and Magnus Berntsson (Christian Democrats) from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riksdag joined the views exchange meeting while the State Minister was accompanied by Bangladesh Ambassador to Sweden, Mehdi Hasan, and Director General (West Europe & EU) of MOFA Kazi Russel Pervez. Also Read: WTO chief meets PM Hasina, wants Dhaka to reduce subsidies on fisheries  

Think soaring costs were caused by the Ukraine war or supply chain snarls? You must be unaware of the "Beyoncé effect". The official start of the singer's worldwide tour in Sweden last month caused such a rush for hotel rooms and restaurant meals that it has reflected in the country's economic data, reports BBC. In May, Sweden reported higher-than-expected inflation of 9.7%. The surprise was due to rising hotel and restaurant costs, the report said. According to Michael Grahn, economist at Danske Bank, Beyoncé may have contributed to the increase in hotel costs. He believed she was also a driving force behind the unusually massive increase in recreation and cultural expenses. Also read: BTS on 1st Grammy nod: 'It’s hard to express in words' "I wouldn't ... blame Beyoncé for [the] high inflation, but her performance and global demand to see her perform in Sweden apparently added a little to it," he wrote in an email to the BBC. There is little doubt that the singer's first solo tour in seven years is a significant business event. According to one estimate, the tour may earn over £2 billion by the time it concludes in September. Airbnb reported that searches for accommodation in locations on the tour increased after the announcement. Many shows sold out in days, and resale prices skyrocketed, the BBC report also said. Also read: Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk break up after 28 years In the United Kingdom, 60,000 people arrived in Cardiff, including fans from Lebanon, the United States, and Australia. Demand for hotel rooms related to her London show was so high that several homeless families being accommodated in a hotel by the local authorities were reportedly kicked out to make space for the fans, it said. The Stockholm concerts, where Beyoncé performed before an audience of 46,000 over two nights, apparently drew fans from all over the world, particularly the United States, where a strong dollar against the krona made tickets in the Nordic country appear to be a relative bargain. Visit Stockholm termed the surge in travel to the city the "Beyoncé effect" in an email to the Washington Post last month. Sweden's inflation rate peaked in December at 12.3%. Official numbers showed that the rate was 9.7% last month, down from 10.5% in April. The financial markets had predicted around 9.4%. Also read: Beyoncé ties Alison Krauss’ record of 27 wins at Grammys Grahn told the BBC that it is "very rare" for one celebrity to have such an effect, adding that large football tournaments may have a similar effect. He stated on social media that the anticipated trends will return to normal in June.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday the "time is now" for Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden joining NATO but said the Biden administration also believed that Turkey should be provided with upgraded F-16 fighters "as soon as possible." Blinken maintained that the administration had not linked the two issues but acknowledged that some U.S. lawmakers had. President Joe Biden implicitly linked the two issues in a phone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday. "I spoke to Erdogan and he still wants to work on something on the F-16s. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden. So let's get that done," Biden said. Also Read: Finland could join NATO ahead of Sweden: Defense minister Still, Blinken insisted the two issues were distinct. However, he stressed that the completion of both would dramatically strengthen European security. "Both of these are vital, in our judgement, to European security," Blinken told reporters at a joint news conference in the northern Swedish city of Lulea with Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. "We believe that both should go forward as quickly as possible; that is to say Sweden's accession and moving forward on the F-16 package more broadly." "We believe the time is now," Blinken said. He declined to predict when Turkey and Hungary, the only other NATO member not yet to have ratified Sweden's membership, would grant their approval. But, he said, "we have no doubt that it can be, it should be, and we expect it to be" completed by the time alliance leaders meet in Vilnius, Lithuania in July at an annual summit. Also Read: Erdogan might approve Finland’s NATO bid, ‘shock’ Sweden Fresh from a strong re-election victory over the weekend, Erdogan may be willing to ease his objections to Sweden's membership. Erdogan accuses Sweden of being too soft on groups Ankara considers to be terrorists, and a series of Quran-burning protests in Stockholm angered his religious support base — making his tough stance even more popular. Kristersson said the two sides had been in contact since Sunday's vote and voiced no hesitancy in speaking about the benefits Sweden would bring to NATO "when we join the alliance." Blinken is in Sweden attending a meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council and will travel to Oslo, Norway on Wednesday for a gathering of NATO foreign ministers, before going on to newly admitted alliance member Finland on Friday. Also Read: Erdogan says no support for Sweden's NATO bid Speaking in Oslo ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the goal was to have Sweden inside the grouping before the leaders' summit in July. "There are no guarantees, but it's absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by the Vilnius summit," Stoltenberg said.