THE government yesterday decided to speed up proceedings for the creation of a land-based Liquid Natural Gas facility, while at the same time opening tenders for an offshore unit for a period of five years.

Government Spokesman Vasilis Palmas announced the unanimous Cabinet decision yesterday.

BANK of Cyprus pledged yesterday that access to fast-growing markets in Europe would further boost profits on the heels of an impressive financial year.

At the bank’s Annual General Assembly (AGM) in Nicosia, chairman of the board Eleftherios Ioannou said BoC posted income of 918 million euros in 2006, with its market capitalisation rising to 7 billion euros.

CYPRIOTS are slightly more positive about adopting the euro than they were six months ago, but a majority is still opposed, the latest EU survey says.

This time last year, 59 per cent of Cypriots were against eurozone entry.

ONE hundred and fifty bottles of blood are required every day to satisfy the island’s blood needs, doctors said yesterday.

“Our blood needs are continually on the increase yet we must ensure that our blood banks’ supply never gets so low that we have to import blood from abroad,” Cyprus Blood Donation and Awareness Co-ordination Committee (SEAD) president Dr Nicos Pavlides said.

CYPRUS has been ranked 51 out of 121 countries most at peace, higher than the US, Turkey and Israel and only slightly below the UK, according to an index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The most peaceful country in the world, according to the EIU’s first-ever Global Peace Index, is Norway, followed by New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland, Japan and Finland.

SIGMA television station has given the Attorney-general a list of Greek Cypriots who submitted applications to the property commission in the north.
Although the station and its affiliated newspaper Simerini did not name the 20 Greek Cypriots, they published their initials, the location of their property and how much the individuals were claiming in compensation.

MANY AIRLINE passengers are not aware of their rights when it comes to issues including flight cancellations, delays, denial of boarding, and lost and damaged luggage.

A seminar was held in Limassol last night where all members of the travel and tourism industry and consumers were invited.

A WOMAN suffering from heart problems has won her right to disability pensions after being initially refused by the State Social Security Department.

The Supreme Court, which was highly critical of the State Medical Council, ruled in favour of Katia Papadopoulou, who had her request denied twice by the social security office in 2004 and 2005.

A MAN has been arrested and detained in police custody on suspicion of selling stolen goods to an antique shop in Nicosia.

Christos Giorgiou, 28 from Nicosia, was yesterday remanded in police custody for five days by a Nicosia District Court after being named by the owner of the antiques shop.

A COMPANY of National Guardsmen will be part of the French Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, at the invitation of new French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Eric Sanson, spokesman for the French Embassy in Nicosia, yesterday told the Mail that, “this is the first time the President has invited all EU Member States to participate in the parade.”