Stockholm - The Swedish government Friday named Sverker Goranson as new supreme commander of the Swedish Armed Forces.

Goransson, a lieutenant general, was to assume his post March 25. He succeeds Hakan Syren, who is to head the European Union Military Committee (EUMC), replacing French General Henri Bentegeat later this year.

The EU military committee advises the bloc's foreign and security chief Javier Solana.

Stockholm - Women in developing countries risk severe setbacks, and efforts to promote gender equality are at risk as the global financial crisis spreads, a Swedish government agency said Friday.

Employment opportunities in export-driven industries and agriculture were falling as "demand and purchasing power drops in the West and later in developing countries," said Anders Nordstrom, head of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

Malmo/Stockholm - Swedish police on Friday stepped up their presence around the arena due to host the Davis Cup tie between Sweden and Israel as the first group of demonstrators assembled.

The tie in the southern city of Malmo is been played behind closed doors.

It has been classified as a high-risk event over potential protests by groups wanting to protest against the recent Israeli offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Stockholm - A week after the announcement of Swedish Crown Princess Victoria's engagement and pending wedding, debate continued Thursday on who should foot the bill for the 2010 event.

In addition to traditional media like newspapers and letters to the editors, talkshows and radio, the social networking site Facebook has attracted people eager to debate the issue.

Stockholm tabloid Expressen reported Thursday that some 30,000 people have signed on to Facebook groups to protest that the taxpayers should pay more to the royal court.

Stockholm  - While tennis players from Israel and Sweden prepare for their upcoming three-day Davis Cup tie, organizers of a protest against the event said they hoped to gather more than 8,000 participants.

The umbrella group, Stop the Match, said Wednesday it was committed to a peaceful protest on Saturday - before the doubles match - near the arena in the southern Swedish city Malmo.

Stockholm - Sweden's Prince Carl Philip has broken up with his long-term girlfriend, reports said Wednesday, a week after his sister, Crown Princess Victoria, announced her engagement.

"We have decided to take a break. It is a joint decision," Philip's girlfriend Emma Pernald was quoted as saying in Stockholm tabloid Expressen.

The 29-year-old prince, has been dating Pernald since 1999. They met through mutual acquaintances, and still have deep affection for each other, according to sources cited by the newspaper.

The prince, known for his interest in design, photography and motor sports, is studying forestry and agriculture at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp, southern Sweden.