The European Commission has launched a new project to strengthen efforts already in place to preserve Cyprus’ cultural heritage across the island.

The Health Ministry has decided to grant temporary licences to doctors from third countries interested in providing treatments and performing operations on foreign patients in Cyprus that are not provided by Cypriot doctors on the island.

The government will set aside almost €299 million to compensate provident and pension funds that had money deposited in Laiki Bank, now in the process of being closed.

Cyprus fiscal deficit reached 2.17% of GDP during the first seven months of 2013, compared to 3.44% during the same period in 2012.

The first production test of natural gas will begin on Thursday at Aphrodite A-2 in Block 12 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Commerce Ministry has found a suitable area where the gas installations on Larnaca’s coast can be moved to, says Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos.

Industrial producer prices increased in July in the EU and the Eurozone, while a drop was recorded in Cyprus, according to data released by Eurostat on Tuesday.

Co-operative banks and the government have agreed on a formula for the sector to buy back its shares, which will go to the state after the sector is recapitalised using public funds.

Eurobank in Cyprus made a profit of €13.2 million after taxes during the first half of this year it announced on Wednesday.

Efforts to explore and exploit hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean has opened up new opportunities for further enhancing strategic relations between Egypt and Cyprus, said President Nicos Anastasiades yesterday.