Speaking to state radio recently Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said that there are discussions over whether natural gas can be used to produce electricity on the island.

Favourable prospects in the tourism sector worldwide, growing competition, and an increasing uncertainty in the region will be discussed at the Cyprus Hotel Association annual conference in Nicosia on February 14, 2017.

Transport Minister Marios Demetriades met recently with the new container operator at Limassol port, a week after the latter took over and following several days of teething problems.

Greece, Cyprus and Malta discussed maritime issues in Athens recently and have decided to meet again on March 29, 2017 to sign a declaration of intent.

According to the Cyprus Statistical Service, the unemployed persons registered at the District Labour Offices on the last day of January 2017 reached 42,839 persons.

The Central Bank of Cyprus said recently the Cypriot banks should set up a common non-performing exposures (NPEs) management unit, as bad loans in the Cypriot banking system hovers around €24 billion.

Marios Skandalis, Director of the Group Compliance Division of the Bank of Cyprus Group, has been awarded the '2016 Banker of the Year-Cyprus' award by the internationally-acclaimed magazine Acquisition International of the Al Global Media Group.

cdbbank (Cyprus Development Bank) has been awarded as Best Corporate Bank Cyprus 2016 by the world renowned financial and business magazine Capital Finance International (CFI.co).

Flat and house prices rose in July to September 2016 an annual 0.6% and 0.9% respectively, the Cypriot division of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said.

The consumer price index rose an annual 0.5% in January 2017, mainly on higher energy prices ending prolonged deflation period which started in June 2013, the statistical service said.