Cyprus reported two coronavirus deaths on Monday, the first day of relaxations for the unvaccinated, with new cases rising to 2,698, while hospitalisations and critical patients also on the up, at 164 and 40, respectively. New Covid-19 infections returned to the 2,000-3,000 range recorded throughout most of the last two months, after dipping to the
More
Cyprus applauded the European Commission’s approval of a €6.13 mln government incentive scheme to support airlines affected by the pandemic flying to the island. Brussels agreed that the financial rewards were in line with the EU’s State Aid Temporary Framework. The scheme is a re-introduction of an aid measure initially approved by the Commission on
More
Bank of Cyprus, the one-time bellwether stock that drove the economy, maintains a conservative yet steady course to recovery, reporting an after-tax profit of €31.9 mln for 2021, a turnaround from €175 mln 2020 losses. The profits announced in the preliminary results for last year correspond to 6.7c per share, with the bank’s management hoping
More
Cyprus and the European Union signed a landmark agreement Monday in which Brussels offers operational assistance to help Nicosia handle the EU’s highest influx of migrants per capita. EU Home Affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson (virtually) and Cypriot Interior Minister Nicos Nouris in Nicosia signed the MoU that facilitates Cyprus sending back failed asylum seekers while
More
Friction over the Cyprus Church recognising the new Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s independence has resurfaced with the balance of power shifting within the clergy. The move of a top Limassol Bishop Athanasios to break camp with his fellow clergy has overturned the tables ahead of a possible election for a new Archbishop. Cyprus’ Holy Synod of
More
Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides confirmed that European monetary bodies consider resorting to interest rate hikes to deal with high inflation. Addressing a conference on the future of Europe organised by the Glafcos Clerides Institute, the minister’s comments were interpreted as affirmation that Cyprus favours increasing interest rates to regulate inflation. The EU Central Bank contemplates
More
President, Nicos Anastasiades, travels on Monday to Dubai, heading a large delegation to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He will also visit the Cyprus kiosk at EXPO 2020, one of the largest exhibitions in the world. A business forum takes place on February 24, in the presence of Anastasiades,
More
After months of being locked out of hospitality, social events, and sports venues, unvaccinated Cypriot were allowed back in Monday, provided they carry a 24-hour negative coronavirus test. A series of government relaxations end a mini-lockdown on unvaccinated people, who have been excluded from social events since 15 December. Entry had been allowed only for
More
US congress members Nicole Malliotakis and Gus Bilirakis slammed the Biden administration for its handling of the EastMed gas pipeline and demanded an in-person briefing. A letter to Naz Durakoglu, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Legislative Affairs, replies to one they received regarding Washington no longer backing the East Mediterranean Gas Pipeline (EMGP). The two
More
Turkey “has much to gain” if it works with the European Union to stem migrant arrivals from its airports to Cyprus, a “shocked” EU official said after touring the Green Line. European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas is hopeful Turkish authorities will show the same degree of cooperation on curbing migrant arrivals to Cyprus as
More
