European Union states agreed to raise the excise tax on cigarettes by nearly 30 percent to try to reduce smoking and improve public health, a move that could hurt tobacco manufacturers. The agreement is part of the EU's drive to combat smoking, which British statistics show kills more than one million men and 200,000 women
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Britain has offered to hand over almost half of its sovereign territory in Cyprus to facilitate a peace deal between the island's estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriots, the United Nations said. The offer is similar to one made by the former colonial power in 2003 and would be conditional on a peace deal between the
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The European Union will hold a special summit on November 19 to choose a president and foreign policy chief, the Swedish presidency said on Wednesday. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who is leading the appointment process, said in a statement he had decided on next Thursday as the date when the EU's 27 heads of
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One of the most architecturally stunning features of the 2012 London Olympic buildings — the sweeping, wave-shaped roof to the aquatics centre — has been lowered into place. Designed by Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, the centre will mark the gateway to the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. Originally estimated to cost 73 million pounds,
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Japan's Nikkei stock average was flat on Wednesday as the yen climbed, offsetting a surprisingly large jump in domestic machinery orders for September and a forecast for a rise in the fourth quarter. Tech shares such as Advantest Corp slipped after rising the previous day, while nonferrous metals makers such as Dowa Holdings came under
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World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Wednesday he saw some "downside risks" to world growth in 2010. Speaking to reporters at the Singapore Foreign Correspondents Association, Zoellick also said that asset bubbles in east Asian economies could undermine confidence. He said earlier on Wednesday that governments should not remove stimulus measures next year.
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Asian stocks rose for a fourth day in a row on Wednesday as Chinese factory output jumped to a 19-month high in October, while the ailing U.S. dollar hovered near a 15-month low. European stock markets were expected to open higher, according to financial bookmakers, and U.S. stock futures edged up, though further gains were
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Sterling fell on Tuesday after a ratings agency said highly-indebted Britain was the major economy most at risk of losing its triple-A rating. The pound retreated from a three-month high against the dollar hit on Monday, after Fitch told Reuters Britain would have a tougher time than the United States in sustaining its fiscal deficit
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The industrial turnover index in Cyprus reached 98.8 (base 2005=100) in August, recording a decrease of 10.3% compared with August 2008. The turnover index for manufacturing in August 2009 reached 88.9, recording a decrease of 8.4% compared with August 2008. For the period January-August 2009, the turnover index recorded a decrease of 10.5% compared with
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Motor vehicle registrations in Cyprus fell by 37% over the same of of the previous year in October, to 3496, from 5,546 in October 2008. For the period January-October, total registrations of motor vehicles decreased by 26.8% to 43,520, from 59,423 in January – October 2008. Registrations of private saloon cars decreased to 31,337 from
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