Tourism arrivals fell 5.3% in the first eight months of 2013, compared to the same period last year, following the harsh bailout of Cyprus this March, said head of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation Alecos Oroundiotis yesterday.

The Natural Gas Public Company DEFA has stuck to its recent decision to end talks with preferred bidder Itera.

More than 85 exhibitors will gather next weekend in 6,500 square metres of space to showcase products and services to help cut the cost of power, a sensitive issue in times when people’s incomes are falling ans the cost of power increases.

Cyprus may need to only partly privatise state-owned enterprises to meet one of the conditions of its international bailout, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Sunday.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides yesterday said ties between Cyprus and Israel should not be limited to energy or security but should also embrace cultural diplomacy.

The Eurogroup has approved disbursement of €1.5 billion to Cyprus and warns that timely policy implementation is essential due to uncertain short-term economic outlook.

Cyprus could export 25 million tonnes of LNG per year by 2025, which could rise to 35 million tonnes per year if Vassilikos becomes an LNG hub for the region.

Russia and Cyprus have signed an agreement to restructure a €2.5 billion loan the island received in 2011, says Cyprus Finance Ministry.

A special fund is to be set up in a bid to compensate bank depositors who lost cash as part of the terms of the Cyprus bailout says President Nicos Anastasiades.

For the second year running,the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA) awarded the foreign investors, companies and persons who contributed to establishing Cyprus as an attractive destination for foreign investment and international quality business centre.