Greeks were banned from smoking at work and inside bars and restaurants on Wednesday, but many question how the measure will work in Europe's heaviest smoking nation. Terraces in central Athens filled up with smoking clients as tobacco is still allowed outside, and there was confusion over how the law will be applied indoors. More

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce are calling for proposals for the preparation of two studies for the economic interdependence between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities. The studies will be financed in full by the United Nations Development Programme’s Action for Cooperation and

Cyprus and Athens Stock Exchanges have expanded their cooperation framework by signing additional agreements. A joint announcement says that the two stock exchanges decided to sign the additional agreements “recognizing the mutual benefits of their cooperation so far through the Common Platform as well as the significant challenges which they have to face for their

Andrew Lloyd Webber's renowned musical ''Cats'', based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, will be on stage in Cyprus as part of the 2009 Larnaca Festival. ''Cats'' first opened in the West End in 1981 and then on Broadway in 1982, has been performed around the world in numerous productions and

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Recommendation calling on all member states to bring in laws to protect their citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke by 2012. EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said: ''It is my firm belief that each and every European merits full protection from tobacco smoke. There is

U.S. private employers cut almost half a million jobs in June and mortgage applications fell to a seven-month low last week, dampening hopes the economy was emerging from its worst slump since the Great Depression. The news supported other evidence from Europe and Asia that a broad recovery would be slow in coming, as euro

U.S. mortgage applications plunged to a seven-month low last week as demand for home refinancing loans tumbled 30 percent, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday. The drop does not bode well for the hard-hit U.S. housing market, which has been showing some signs of stabilization, with sales rising and home price declines moderating

Oil rose above $71 a barrel on Wednesday following a large drop in crude inventories in the United States, the world's top energy consumer, and output disruptions from militant attacks in Nigeria. U.S. crude futures were trading up $1.33 to $71.22 a barrel by 1240 GMT. London Brent crude <LCOc1 rose $1.48 to $70.78. Weekly