In face of criticism, CyBC promises to modernise
The state-run broadcaster CyBC on Monday conceded it has financial and other problems, but promised to “modernise” so as to keep up with trends in news and infotainment.
The corporation’...
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Counting the cost of postponed surgeries
As non-urgent surgeries set to resume ‘clinical picture of patients has deteriorated’
With the coming relaxations on Covid-related restrictions, non-urgent surgeries will resume as of February 28 in public and private ...
After long battle, anti-corruption body bill is finally passed
After four years of back-and-forth, and following a lengthy debate on the House floor, parliament on Thursday passed a law establishing an anti-corruption authority.
The five-member authority, selected by the ...
Larnaca murder suspects to be released without charge
Police on Friday will release without charging two suspects in the case of the murder of 53-year-old Andreas Evangelou that took place in Larnaca last December.
According to the Cyprus ...
Gesy will collapse unless action taken says finance minister
Gesy contributions will need to go up by 20 to 30 per cent unless procedures change
Sparks flew in parliament on Thursday during a debate on the state of Gesy – the national ...
Fears over access to borrowers’ data in loan recovery plan
Opposition parties on Monday stayed unsatisfied with tweaks to a government bill regulating the access to borrowers’ data by companies buying loan portfolios and debt administrators.
Although the bill will ...
Insults fly over who’s to blame for VAT on homes debacle
The government and the opposition traded barbs on Monday over whose fault it is that Cyprus has come under the European Commission’s scrutiny over its VAT policy on primary ...
EAC to pay €183m for CO2 emissions this year
For this year the state-run power corporation estimates it will spend €183 million on purchasing greenhouse gas emissions allowances, while the cost of fuel purchases is projected at €485 million.
The numbers ...
House agrees on procedures for anti-corruption appointees
Following around four years of discussions, a bill creating an anti-corruption authority will finally go to the plenum this week, with an MP saying the outfit will establish Cyprus’ bona ...
New Limassol sports stadium will cost triple the initial cost
The new sports stadium in Limassol will cost taxpayers almost triple what it was initially priced at, MPs heard on Thursday.
At the House watchdog committee, Marios Petrides of the ...
New arrest in connection with December murder
Police on Thursday took one more person in custody in connection with the gangland-related murder of 53-year-old Andreas Evangelou last December.
The latest person to be arrested was a 25-year-old ...
Slap on the wrist for MP over inappropriate behaviour
Parliament on Thursday handed independent MP Andreas Themistocleous a verbal reprimand over his inappropriate behaviour last September toward an official with the Green Party.
The decision on Themistocleous’ penalty – essentially ...
House postpones vote on anti-corruption authority and lobbying bills
Parliament on Thursday postponed voting on two items of legislation – the first creating an anti-corruption authority, the second regulating lobbying – but will go ahead with the vote next week.
Nicos ...
Traffic violations drop by half since cams went live (Updated)
Traffic violations have dropped by half ever since the cameras went ‘live’ compared to the period during which they were used on a pilot basis, MPs heard on Thursday.
During ...
Fine for companies not filing annual returns on time could be cut
Parliament on Tuesday continued discussing a legislative proposal that would reduce the maximum fine imposed on companies for not submitting their annual financial reports on time, as MPs heard that ...
Fee hikes at Limassol port put off until end of the month
The companies running the commercial activities at Limassol port have agreed to suspend hiking their freight and handling fees until the end of the month while talks are ongoing with ...
MPs to draft law to restrict bank charges
MPs have taken the initiative and will be drafting legislation governing bank fees charged to account holders after the government said there was not much it could do about it.
...
MPs work on making VAT on houses EU compatible
Lawmakers on Monday discussed how to tweak a government bill on VAT on houses so as to make it compatible with EU law.
The matter relates to a bill tabled ...
Energy minister says state will press for best terms over delayed LNG contract
The government said Monday it will use any safeguards afforded to it in the contract governing the LNG import terminal, sounding an upbeat note that any differences with the contractor ...
LNG project: Problems from the outset
More than two years after the contract signed to build a liquefied natural gas import terminal at the port of Vasilikos, the project is stuck at 4 per cent at most, ...
Around one third of imported scrap tyres evade eco fee
About a third of imported scrap tyres pass through the port in Limassol without being subject to an environmental fee, while thousands of tyres end up in illegal landfills, MPs ...
House passes outright ban on plastic bags
Parliament on Thursday passed regulations banning outright the use of carrier plastic bags – such as those used in supermarkets and kiosks.
The regulations passed with 37 votes for, while the two ...
Amended infectious diseases bill ‘lacks checks and balances on the state’
Opposition lawmakers on Thursday expressed disappointment at the latest version of a bill governing the state’s handling of pandemics, saying it still failed to address concerns over curtailing human ...
Coronavirus: No deaths, 3,078 people test positive on Thursday (Updated)
Health authorities announced no fatalities from Covid-19 on Thursday, while testing detected 3,078 new positives.
The death toll since March 2020 remains at 736.
In hospitals, 222 people were being treated for Covid-19, of ...