Cyprus is on course to smash an EU directive to bring down plastic bag use per person from 140 per year to just 20 earlier than expected.  The Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) is impressed with the response of Cypriots towards compulsory charge on plastic bags at supermarkets and shops introduced on July 1.

Japan opening an embassy in Nicosia marks an historic milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries, President Nicos Anastasiades said. In an address at the opening of the Embassy on Monday, President Anastasiades said the relationship between the two countries is based on genuine friendship, shared values and interests and a joint resolve to

Cyprus on Tuesday sent 60 firefighters and two trucks to help Greece tackle a killer blaze outside Athens. The firefighters departed from Larnaca airport on a Greek airforce transport plane which also carried the trucks as well. Justice Minister Ioanas Nicolaou had contacted his Greek counterpart to tell him that Cyprus will send reinforcements to

Around 85% less plastic carrier bags have been distributed at supermarket tills, an impressive slump in demand in a matter of weeks since the compulsory charge was introduced on July 1. The government introduced a 5-euro cent charge on each plastic bag made available at stores and supermarkets. To the surprise of many environmentalists, Cypriots

A United Nations envoy on Monday began contact with Cypriot leaders on the island to gauge whether the time is ripe to revive Cyprus reunification talks a year after they collapsed. UN official Jane Holl Lute has been tasked with conducting sensitive consultations with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to see if a

Cyprus potatoes are the island’s leading agricultural export with figures on the rise after a decade in the doldrums. However, producers fear that the future of the sector is looking blurry as chronic problems such as drought are compounded by EU regulations which is putting a further strain on them. Growers demand exemptions from some

Ryanair said on Monday said it profits were hit by lower fares due to high competition, unusually hot weather in Europe, the World Cup and uncertainty caused by pilot strikes. Lower summer fares combined with higher staff and fuel costs caused profit to fall by 20% compared with last year in the three months to

Nicosia is doing everything necessary to ensure that US energy giant, ExxonMobil’s planned search for oil and gas off Cyprus runs smoothly despite Turkish threats, said Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis on Sunday.  He said developments in UN-backed Cyprus talks should not affect the government’s energy programme in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). ExxonMobil, with Qatar