An independent expert evaluation of 2007-2013 funding found that Cohesion Policy investments had positive, tangible results ranging from job creation, a positive impact on regional disparities and an increase in GDP across Europe.

The number of foreign property buyers in Cyprus increased in the first three quarters of the year to 63% compared to the respective period of 2015 outstripping the national average, the department of lands and surveys said.

The UK market remains the main source of wedding tourism accounting for 50% of the 4,000 ceremonies that take place annually in Cyprus, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) saidrecently.

The value of retail purchases in Cyprus by Cypriots using plastic money rose in September an annual 11% to €197.1m, JCC Payments System Ltd said.

European Commissioner for Employment Marianne Thyssen presented recently, in Strasbourg, the main achievements of the Youth Guarantee and Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) since their launch in 2013.

Cyprus Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis has confirmed reports that French energy firm Total will set up camp at Limassol port and link up with a Cypriot company to begin offshore drilling.

A significant increase of 20.7% was recorded in September 2016, in the registration of new companies in Cyprus, compared to September last year.

The Melco-Hard Rock Resorts Cyprus consortium submitted the only final bid in the second leg of the government’s tender invitation for an integrated resort casino, the Commerce Ministry announced recently.

Consumer prices fell 0.5% in September 2016 compared with the respective month of 2015, mainly on cheaper energy prices and air fares, after falling 0.4% in August, the statistical service said.

The island's real estate market has continued on an upward trend in September 2016 on both an annual and monthly basis, data released by the Department of Lands & Surveys show.