Stockholm - Swedish heavy-vehicle maker Scania on Tuesday reported that pre-tax income for the fourth-quarter 2008 was halved, and said it planned to cut some
2,000 employees from its workforce.

Pre-tax income was 1.7 billion kronor (203 million dollars), compared to 3.6 billion kronor in the corresponding business period 2007.

Year-on-year sales in the quarter declined from 24.5 billion kronor to 22.6 billion kronor.

For full-year 2008, the group posted a 5-per-cent increase of net sales to 89.97 billion kronor, while pre-tax income for the full-year was almost flat on 11.9 billion kronor.

Stockholm  - Brazil has been presented a tender for 36 Swedish Gripen jet fighters, Swedish defence group Saab said Monday.

The offer comprises the next generation (NG) of the Saab Gripen, a multi-role fighter, and includes an "industrial cooperation package" with Brazilian participation in developing and producing the plane, the company said.

Last year the Brazilian Air Force listed the Swedish-made jet fighter as a candidate to consider when it modernizes its fleet.

Stockholm - Swedish engineering group  said Monday it planned to cut some 10 per cent of its global wor

Stockholm - Former world heavyweight boxing champion Ingemar Johans

Stockholm  - The Swedish government Thursday moved to help Volvo Cars, the troubled Swedish subsidiary of US carmaker Ford.

The government said it has given the Swedish National Debt Office the task of negotiating the terms for a 5-billion-kronor (525 million dollars) credit guarantee to Volvo Cars and Ford.

Stockholm - A Swedish health agency Thursday said it was to study the possible link between exotic travel destinations and diseases covered by mandatory reporting rules, including diarrheal illnesses.

"With more knowledge we can work preventively to reduce the number of Swedish nationals infected by serious infectious diseases abroad," said Annika Linde, state epidemiologist with the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (SMI).

The agency said it aimed to conduct the survey in conjunction with the travel industry.