Val d'Isere, France/Stockholm - Swedish ski star Anja Paerson Friday said she would continue to race at the ongoing alpine skiing world championships in France despite a second failed event.

Paerson, who appeared to suffer from pain in a knee, declined to offer details about her physical condition when interviewed by Swedish radio.

"I'll keep on racing," she said. "So far it is still possible to ski."

Stockholm- As Sweden moves to introduce same-sex marriage legislation, a majority of bishops in the Church of Sweden Friday said the church should no longer handle legal registrations of marriage.

With proposed changes in marriage legislation underway, nine of the 13 bishops said "it makes sense that the state also handles the legal matters (for registration) without involving religious or civil rites."

Stockholm - Swedish heavy-vehicle maker Volvo on Friday reported a pre-tax loss of 2.5 billion kronor (303 million dollars) for the fourth quarter of 2008, a quarter when truck orders plunged 82 per cent.

In the corresponding business period of 2007, the Volvo group, which does not include the Ford-owned car division, posted pre-tax income of 5.6 billion kronor.

Net sales declined 9 per cent to 76.9 billion kronor, while net income fell from 4.1 billion kronor to 1.3 billion kronor.

For full-year 2008 sales increased 6 per cent to 303 billion kronor while pre-tax income declined 35 per cent to 14 billion kronor.

Washington, Feb 6 : In a new research, it has been found that Sweden is indirectly causing serious environmental harm in India, as the European country is a major consumer of pharmaceutical substances from Indian factories that fail to adequately treat their wastewater.

The research was carried out by scientists from the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Stockholm - Swedish banking group SEB on Thursday said fourth-quarter 2008 operating profit declined 12 per cent year-on-year to 4 billion kronor (481 million dollars).

The bank, one of four major groups in Sweden, also said it was to make a 15-billion-kronor rights issue.

Operating income in the quarter increased 27 per cent year-on-year to 12.7 billion kronor, SEB said in its report, released a week earlier than scheduled.

The group, which also has operations in the neighbouring Baltic states and Germany, said its net credit losses were 1.7 billion kronor, mainly over provisions in the Baltic countries.

Stockholm - Israel's ambassador to Sweden was hit when a shoe and books were thrown at him as he was giving a lecture at Stockholm University, radio reports said Thursday.

Benny Dagan was talking about upcoming elections in his country Wednesday night when the objects were hurled at him from the audience of 50 people. Police at the event took two people into custody.

The motive was believed to be a protest against Israel's policy toward the Palestinians.