'My Jar Jar Binks is better than yours'

From flying embryos to heroin-dealing grannies, here's a quick look at a some eyebrow-raising tidbits circulating among the big headlines in Sweden this week. Brace yourself for the first installment of Sweden's News In Brief.

Pensioner sold heroin through her window
A retired woman in Malmö has been prosecuted by police for drug offences after she was spotted selling heroin through her kitchen window, Metro newspaper reported on Wednesday.

After witnessing what they deemed to be a suspicious transaction at the woman’s house in November, police discovered 8.44 grammes of heroin in her dressing robe pockets.

The woman claimed, however, that the heroin was for "personal use".


Flying embryo can’t be found
A bizarre incident involving a missing embryo has been reported to the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), news agency TT reported on Tuesday.

During a fertility treatment at an IVF clinic in Stockholm last year, an embryologist knocked over some documents, which nudged the bowl where an embryo was being kept before the operation.

The embryo flew out of the bowl, landed on the floor, and could not be found despite two staff members’ best efforts.

While the incident has been reported to health authorities, the embryo has yet to be found.


Did you know…Descartes died in Stockholm?
362 years ago this week, René Descartes, French philosopher extraordinaire, died in Stockholm, where he had been tutoring Queen Christina.

While the exact cause of death was never determined, it is commonly believed that the Swedish winter was too harsh for the French thinker, and that he contracted pneumonia before dying on February 12th, 1650.


‘My Swedish Jar Jar Binks is better than the original’
Star Wars, The Phantom Menace 3D, was released on last Friday - dubbed into Swedish – a move which enraged diehard fans who threatened to boycott the film.

Kim Sulocki, star of Sweden’s new version of The Office (“Kontoret”), voiced Jar Jar Binks and bragged to The Local about his interpretation of the beloved (or reviled) character.

“I think the Swedish version works better than the original, Jar Jar by me is better, but also because the American and English actors are very aware they’re in Star Wars so they’re playing it very aloof, very high strung," he told The Local.

“If you’re not interested in seeing it – don’t."


Stockholm 4th most expensive city in Europe
Stockholm has been ranked as the fourth most expensive European city, according to ECA International, a consulting firm specializing in international living prices.

The city has shot up from 10th place last year.

Worldwide, Stockholm was ranked as the 10th most expensive city, up from 19th last year.

Tokyo, London, Moscow and Geneva were other cities on top of both lists, which is based on prices of a three-room living arrangement.


Swedish director takes home BAFTA
Swedish director Tomas Alfredson’s “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” took home the Best Film award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards on Sunday.

The film was Alfredson’s first in English, which he claimed was more of a challenge than expected.

“It couldn’t have been more complicated, but it came out well,” he said in a press conference after the show.

“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” is based on the 1974 John le Carré novel and stars Gary Oldman.

Nyamko Sabuni to leave politics in 2014
Nyamko Sabuni of the Liberal Party (Folkpartiet) announced on Thursday she will leave politics following the 2014 elections, regardless of the result.

Sweden's current minister for gender equality within the education ministry, Sabuni served as integration minister from 2006 to 2010.

“It's time to do something else,” she told the Chefstidningen newspaper.


Be sure to tune in again next week for another look at Sweden's News in Brief.