In 2018, the state handed out €6.7 million as sponsorship to parliamentary parties, while the cost of parliamentary associates’ wages was €3,750,000, according to data made public by the Audit Office.

Hellenic Bank said the completion of its €150m share capital increase and the listing of new ordinary shares on the Cyprus Stock Exchange marks “an important milestone for the acquisition of ex-Cyprus Cooperative Bank business”.

Companies are now divesting businesses to gain competitive advantage, especially in the face of changing technology, customer tastes and shareholder pressure, according to EY Global Corporate Divestment Study 2019.

Media and entertainment companies must adopt a multigeneration strategy and challenge perceptions around the behaviors of older generations, or risk conceding huge growth potential. This is according to EY study, Ten opportunities and threats for media and entertainment companies | 2019, which shortlists the most pertinent risks and opportunities facing the industry in the next 12 months.

In a written statement, Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said that important conclusions can be drawn from the 6th Post-Programme Surveillance (PPS) assessment report which refers to the huge progress of the Cypriot economy. “As it is noted, despite some signs of fatigue in the international economic environment, Cyprus stands out in 2019 with a strong growth of 4%”.

THE BEST OF THE BEST… AGAIN

The number of millionaires living in Cyprus with assets of $30m and above is rapidly rising, according to a survey conducted by Knight Frank.

The University of Cyprus (UCY) has acquired a building permit for a photovoltaic park and is proceeding into a call for tenders for its construction.

Around 470,000 people had visited the three casinos in the Republic by the end of January 2019, gambling away €210m, the Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission, said recently.

The president has appointed Constantinos Herodotou governor of the central bank of Cyprus, it was announced recently.