Smörgåsbord

The second Football World Cup for homeless people takes place in Gothenburg this year, as reported by DN on Sunday. The idea originated in Switzerland and the first "Homeless World Cup" was held in Graz last year. There's an increase in players this year, with 300 players from 28 different countries taking part. The tournament is intended to highlight the plight of the homeless but is also "therapeutic" for those who take part. "Football can have a magical effect on people", said Bernhard Wolf, captain and member of the organising body behind the games. Different rules apply because it's "street football", and they play on smaller pitches. The beautiful game is meant to inspire homeless people to actively try to get out of the situation they are in. 31 players from 141 who took part last year have a job today.

• Olde Sweden on a plate (29 Jun 07)
• Smörgåsbord (23 Jul 04)

Sweden's most exclusive and oldest literary work is available on the net, according to DN on Monday. The Silver Bible, also known as "Codex Argentus", has been published electronically for the first time. It's the oldest material in print solely written in Gothic and originates from Ravenna in Italy, dating back as far as the 6th Century.

It's a decade since the Swedish spy Stig Bergling surrendered after seven years on the run. But an interview in Tuesday's DN finally uncovered the motives of the man who sold the Swedish Defence Code to Russia during the Cold War. After escaping from prison in 1987 he stayed underground for seven years with his partner Elizabeth. The couple eventually surrendered to the Swedish authorities and today Bergling is a senior citizen living alone in a retirement home outside Stockholm. He told DN that he has no regrets about being a spy, and said he only "updated" the Russians, claiming they had lots of information already. "I was angry that Swedish Military Academies recruited NATO officers. There was only one enemy in the cold war, and that was the pact of Warsaw in my view", said Bergling. He also said he sold the documents not because he had Communist beliefs but because he needed the money.

The number of people who fail to buy tickets before travelling on Stockholm's underground is at a record high. According to Saturday's Svenska Dagbladet more people than ever are caught travelling without a valid ticket and end up having to pay fines. Rising prices are said to be at the root of the problem. Last March the price went up from 110 crowns to 145 crowns for day tickets and from 500 to 600 crowns for monthly tickets - and up to 4000 people had to pay fines last April. To counter the problem, Connex are planning to put controls in place on exits, rather than checking tickets when passengers get on the train. "Everyone should prioritise train expenses," said Sarmed Abdlla, Group Manager at Connex. "It's a question of morals."

While the congregation of Knutby nervously awaits the trial verdict, they've busied themselves by giving the place a make-over. Three of the buildings in the scandal, including the pastor's house, have been painted in Sweden's traditional red colour, instead of the distinctive blue-grey. "It had become like a monument," said one of the residents with a gesture towards the Pastor's place. "People have been driving by just to have a look and there has been constant media attention." The congregation was hoping the buildings wouldn't be as noticeable anymore - but Aftonbladet's full page pictures may have scuppered that idea.

It seems that Knutby is destined to be the source of odd stories. While it's been raining cats and dogs in the rest of the country, Tuesday's Aftonbladet reported that it's been raining fish near Knutby. Eija Winlund and her son were out picking blueberries in the forest outside the beleaguered village when all of a sudden a carp fell from the sky. "We heard a big sort of bang and got really scared, so scared that we ran to the car to hide and left our picnic basket behind", said Eija. It appeared a seagull had been catching fish in the lake nearby and had dropped it in mid-flight.