Stockholm

Teenagers suffer under limitations imposed by cultural traditions

Teenagers suffer under limitations imposed by cultural traditionsStockholm - Many teenagers in Stockholm experience restrictions in their lives due to cultural traditions that violate Swedish law, Swedish researchers said in a new survey.

Almost one in four girls or 23 per cent, said they were expected to be virgins until marriage and were not allowed to have a boyfriend, the University of Stockholm study said.

Man sentenced to jail for riots in Sweden during Davis Cup tie

Man sentenced to jail for riots in Sweden during Davis Cup tieStockholm  - An 18-year-old man was Wednesday sentenced to a 15-month prison term for rioting and drug offences in connection with Sweden's Davis Cup tie against Israel in March.

Some two dozen people face charges for taking part in riots that erupted the southern Swedish city Malmo after a mass protest was staged against the Israeli bombing campaign against the Gaza Strip in January.

The Davis Cup tie in Malmo was held without spectators since city officials said they could not guarantee the safety of the players or officials.

EU health agency tracks swine flu outbreak

EU health agency tracks swine flu outbreakStockholm - Thirteen people in four European countries were Wednesday confirmed to have been infected with swine flu while 128 cases were confirmed worldwide, a European health agency reported.

The confirmed European cases were in Britain, Germany, Spain and Austria, Denis Coulombier of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said.

"All were exposed outside the EU in Mexico," Coloumbier, head of the ECDC preparedness and response unit, said at a briefing.

Energy group Vattenfall first-quarter operating profits increase

VattenfallStockholm - Swedish state-owned energy group Vattenfall on Wednesday reported a strong first-quarter 2009 with a rise in sales and operating profits. Operating profit before tax and interest was 12.8 billion kronor (1.55 billion dollars), up 12.6 per cent year-on-year.

First-quarter turnover increased by 15 per cent to 52 billion kronor, Vattenfall said, while net profit was up 12.6 per cent to 8 billion kronor.

"It is a strong result, a great result," chief executive Lars G Josefsson told analysts later.

SAS airline operator remains in the red after weak quarter

SAS airline operator remains in the red after weak quarter Stockholm - The SAS Group, operator of the joint carrier Scandinavian Airlines, on Tuesday reported a higher pre-tax loss and lower turnover for first-quarter 2009. The pre-tax loss was 1.02 billion kronor (125 million dollars), compared to a year-on-year pre-tax loss of
875 million kronor.

Turnover fell some 8 per cent to 11.3 billion kronor, while the net loss was 748 million kronor. A year ago, the net loss was 1.1 billion kronor.

Sri Lanka turns Swedish foreign minister away

Sri Lanka turns Swedish foreign minister away Stockholm- Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt on Tuesday said he has had to cancelled the trip he had planned to Sri Lanka along with his British and French counterparts after the government in Colombo said it would not receive him. Writing on his blog, Bildt said Sri Lanka had "not given any reason" for not accepting him. "No one seems to understand the reason for this very strange action. Everyone just shakes their heads."

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