Stockholm - The upcoming Davis Cup tie between Sweden and Israel will not be moved from the southern city Malmo to Stockholm, despite last ditch efforts.

Madeleine Sjostedt, Stockholm city commissioner for leisure, recreation and sport activities, said Tuesday she regretted that the match could not be moved saying "we can't give in to those who threaten with violence."

The Swedish Tennis Federation thanked the city of Stockholm for the offer.

Malmo city council's board for leisure, recreation and sport activities voted last Wednesday that the March 6-8 tie would be played without any paying spectators, citing security concerns.

Stockholm  - Last ditch efforts were underway Monday to transfer the upcoming Davis Cup tie between Sweden and Israel from the southern city Malmo to Stockholm.

Chances were regarded as slim that this could take place. Malmo city council's board for leisure, recreation and sport activities voted last Wednesday that the March 6-8 tie would be played without any paying spectators, citing security concerns.

Stockholm - Two Swedish cabinet members Monday visited company headquarters of Saab, the loss-making Swedish carmaker that US automotive giant General Motors wants to shed.

Saab on Friday filed for bankruptcy protection as part of attempts to reorganize its business, including creating a new independent entity from GM. GM wants to pull out of Saab latest January 2010.

Enterprise Minister Maud Olofsson told reporters in Trollhattan, south-western Sweden, that she had had "very good talks with the Saab management and several employees" and union leaders.

St

Stockholm  - Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo was Friday named the first winner of the Birgit Nilsson Prize, worth 1 million dollars.

The prize was created by the late Swedish soprano star Birgit Nilsson who also set up a foundation that will handle the award in future.

Nilsson selected the Spanish tenor herself, making her selection before her death at age 87 in December 2005. Her choice was announced Friday when a sealed envelope was opened.

A prize ceremony for Domingo was due end of this year, the foundation said.

The prize is to be awarded every second or third year "for outstanding achievements in the international field of opera and concert."

Stockholm  - The upcoming Davis Cup tie between Sweden and Israel will be played behind closed doors over security concerns, politicians in Swedish host city Malmo said Wednesday.

The city council's board for leisure, recreation and sport activities voted Wednesday that the March 6-8 tie would be played without any paying spectators.

Politicians from the Social Democrats and Left Party won the vote by 5-4, supporting a proposal from board chairman Bengt Forsberg of the Social Democrats.

The Davis Cup match 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.