The troika of international lenders 'held a gun to the head' of Cyprus and Portugal and showed little sympathy for social measures, an MEP looking into its work has said.

The first trestles of the jetty at the under-construction oil storage terminal of VTTV at Vasiliko have been installed.

The Foreign Minister and a delegation from FIABCI-Cyprus have discussed the efforts to upgrade FIABCI-Cyprus into a Multinational Department in the Mediterranean and the Middle East of FIABCI-International.

The Department of the Registrar will operate electronically by next March, says President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades.

The government has drafted a bill that establishes a national watchdog for the financial sector, however there is concern among some MPs that the legislation lacks real bite.

Cyprus, Greece and Malta will intensify their cooperation to promote common interests both within and outside the EU, says Communications and Works Minister Tasos Mitsopoulos.

Finance Minister Harris Georgiades has said that there is a need for the government and the parliament to work in close cooperation and coordination in order for the legislation governing the creation of a solidarity fund to be better regulated.

The Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA) and the Association of Large-Scale Development Projects have agreed to coordinate their efforts in a bid to attract foreign direct investments.

Cyprus moved up to take 10th spot in the Top of the Props chart published by the TheMoveChannel.com which records the most searched for overseas destinations to buy property.

State carrier Cyprus Airways will begin the process of negotiations with strategic investors early in February, says President of the Board of the airline.