By Michele Kambas NICOSIA, Feb 28 (Reuters) – Cyprus’s President Demetris Christofias said on Thursday his first priority was a peace deal on the divided island but said the key to a settlement was Turkey, whose bid to join the EU is hampered by the conflict. In his confirmation speech to parliament, Christofias said he
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China, worried about an ageing population, is studying scrapping its controversial one-child policy but will not do away with family-planning policies altogether, a senior official said. With the world’s biggest population straining scarce land, water and energy resources, China has enforced rules to restrict family size since the 1970s. Rules vary but usually limit families
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British executive Robert Mills says his express delivery firm is enjoying explosive growth in Iran, despite tightening international sanctions on the Islamic Republic over its disputed nuclear plans. With a longstanding U.S. embargo barring two key rivals from entering the world’s fourth-largest crude producer, DHL Express claims a share of at least 60 percent of
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Shares of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) rose more than 4 percent on Thursday amid optimism on Wall Street that the maker of consumer favorites such as the iPod media player and iPhone can weather economic troubles. The shares rose $5.46 to $128.42 in early trade on Nasdaq, a bright contrast to slumping broader markets weighed down
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The 2002 agreement on maritime transport between China and the European Union will enter into force on March 1. It contains provisions on market access and provides for cooperation on maritime affairs and has become the key component of the existing strong relations in the maritime field between China and the EU. “The entry into
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Demetra Investments (DEM), Cyprus’ largest investment fund now diversifying into new investment opportunities staged a spectacular rebound in results, reporting CYP 14.33 mln in net profit for 2005, compared to a loss of CYP 10.5 mln in 2004 and losses of CYP 13.85 mln in 2003. Earnings per share were 7.17 cent from a loss
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Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been recorded at the highest rates ever, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report that presents findings from the largest survey to date on the scale of drug resistance in tuberculosis. The report, Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in the World, is based on information collected between 2002 and 2006 on
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Capital Intelligence, the international rating agency, has raised Saudi Arabia’s long-term foreign currency and local currency ratings to AA- from A+ and its short-term foreign- and local-currency ratings to A1+ from A1. The outlook for Saudi Arabia’s ratings is ‘stable’. The upgrade reflects the continued strengthening of the public and external finances along with improved
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Demetris Christofias will be sworn in as the sixth president of the Republic of Cyprus on Thursday having won Sunday’s run-off elections by a narrow margin. Christofias, 62, who is soon expected to step down as Secretary General of the communist AKEL party that entered the presidential race for the first time in the Republic’s
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With the participation of universities, technological education institutions and colleges from 18 countries, the 15th International Education Fair will take place between Thursday, February 28 and Sunday, March 2. Education and Culture Minister Akis Cleanthous said some of the issues on which the Fair will focus are innovations introduced in the education of Cyprus, Europe
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