The unemployment rate in Cyprus increased slightly in December 2010 and reached 7.3%, compared to 7.2% in November, according to the data published on Tuesday by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. According to Eurostat, the euro area (EA16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0% in December 2010, unchanged compared with November. The EU27

Investors shifted their focus from Middle East turmoil to concentrate on improved economic data and corporate results on Tuesday, lifting global stocks. Inflation expectations boosted the euro, helping drive the dollar to a 12-week low against a group of other currencies. The price of oil, the most sensitive indicator of market unease about Egypt, eased,

AstraZeneca's nasal flu vaccine has been approved for use in Europe in children aged from two up to 18 years and is likely to be available for the 2012/13 influenza season, the drugmaker said on Tuesday. The approval from the European Commission for Fluenz had been expected following a green light from the European Medicines

The days of R&R on Thailand's famous Pattaya beach could be numbered. The eastern city, a magnet for foreign tourists seeking sun, sea, watersports and racy nightlife, is under siege by both man and the forces of nature. One of Asia's most popular beaches is being eaten away at a rate of nearly two metres

Asian automakers, led by outperformer Hyundai Motor , got off to a strong start for 2011 with robust January sales as they gear up for the sector's broad recovery. But growth in China and India is seen cooling off, while an uneven recovery in advanced markets such as the United States and Europe remain a

The British transfer record was smashed twice on Monday as Liverpool sold Fernando Torres to Chelsea but raided Newcastle United for an immediate replacement in the shape of burly England frontman Andy Carroll. The two strikers, together with Benfica defender David Luiz who also joined Chelsea on deadline day, took spending in the final hour

Google Inc launched a special service to allow people in Egypt to send Twitter messages by dialing a phone number and leaving a voicemail, as Internet access remains cut off in the country amid anti-government protests. "Like many people we've been glued to the news unfolding in Egypt and thinking of what we could do

– Minister of Communications and Works Erato Kozakou Marcoullis expressed certainty on Monday that ''shipping will recover from the current crisis,'' noting that ''it is by far the most efficient form of transportation and inevitably, when the demand for goods and raw materials recovers, shipping will flourish again.'' In a speech at the 2nd Annual

The European Commission has adopted an action plan to help reduce the number of young people leaving school early. The action plan intends to help member states to achieve the Europe 2020 headline target of reducing the EU average rate of early school leavers to under 10% from the current level of 14.4%, by the