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1801. Cyprus ends lockdown with safe pass

A third lockdown in the Republic of Cyprus ended on Sunday as new measures went into effect Monday including a controversial safety pass, with the government betting on a slight improvement as it pushes for gradual return to normality...

1802. Tatar on defense over PassportGate

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar says he would give up his Republic of Cyprus documents if there was a way, following new political controversy over citizenship on the divided island, with the newly-elected chief clarifying there were many reasons why his constituents in the north use passports issued in the south...

1803. Cabinet favors return to pre-lockdown rules

Government and health advisors in the Republic of Cyprus are looking into the possibility of returning to pre-lockdown measures against COVID-19, but surprises are not ruled out during a week of many unknowns...

1804. Minister upset over video at vaccination facility

An increase in vaccine appointments was a welcome change of pace in the Republic of Cyprus this week, but the health minister had to call on citizens not to show up too early after reports of crowds in Limassol forming long lines out of fear that supplies wouldn’t last...

1805. Cypriot leaders exchange jabs after Geneva

Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades says his administration will embark on a global campaign to elicit reactions to positions put forth by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, with the two leaders on the divided island not shying away from taking serious jabs at each other...

1806. Plans get blurry as Cyprus sees more deaths

Daily deaths due to COVID-19 hit a new record in the Republic of Cyprus, with seven hospitalized patients losing the battle on Easter Monday and health officials avoiding comment on what measures will replace the lockdown next week...

1807. EU makes move on vaccinated tourists

The European Union’s executive recommended on Monday that foreign citizens fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and those coming from countries with a good epidemiological situation be allowed to travel into the bloc without additional restrictions...

1808. Cyprus under siege as it celebrates Easter

Towns across the Republic of Cyprus were overrun with anarchists on Holy Saturday, when street fires and loud explosions dominated urban areas late into the night amid pandemic lockdown and midnight mass...

1809. Syllouris declines questions in passport probe

A former Cypriot parliamentary speaker secretly filmed in an expose on a now discredited cash-for-passports scheme declined to answer questions on Wednesday into his role in a scandal which rocked the island nation...

1810. KPMG supports 'Adopt a Family for Easter'

Our Corporate Social Responsibility programme forms an integral part of our corporate philosophy around the world. As every year, we aim to implement specific actions with a substantial impact on our society, such as the support for socially vulnerable groups...

1811. Stars in Al Jazeera video face committee

1812. Lockdown begins amid legal challenges

The Republic of Cyprus entered a two-week lockdown on Monday, the start of the Holy Week for the Greek Orthodox community, with critics crying foul over some measures including proof of vaccination...

1813. Cyprus decides lockdown in Golgotha meeting

After a tough debate amongst ministers over how the government ought to respond to a deteriorating pandemic situation, a proposal for a short and partial lockdown was approved at the last minute after the Cypriot health minister ascended his Calvary to secure a lockdown ahead of Orthodox Holy Week...

1814. Director wants passport probe clear his name

A civil servant, whose name was dropped by the former House speaker during a secret video recording by Al Jazeera, says he did not get involved with golden passports during his tenure as director of the interior ministry, vowing to take legal action if an investigative committee failed to clear his name...

1815. US slaps ‘do not travel’ label on Cyprus

Health authorities in the United States have issued a “Do Not Travel” warning for Cyprus earlier this week, warning US citizens against visiting the island due to high level of COVID-19...

1816. Local gov reform heads for summer freeze

Interior Minister Nikos Nouris has been asked by EU officials to give the rundown of the administration’s latest efforts in local government reform, just days after a proposal for a referendum was defeated by opposition parties that cried foul over the move...

1817. Interim report on golden passports delivered

An interim report on the golden passport scandal in the Republic of Cyprus says just over half of citizenships granted by the executive branch were not approved lawfully...

1818. Doc wants govt to come clean about AstraZeneca

A local well-known health expert has called on officials in the Republic of Cyprus to take a clear position on the AstraZeneca vaccine and stop hiding behind an EMA statement...

1819. Gloves are off again over golden passports

Cyprus’ auditor general told a House committee this week that the Cabinet used old rules to approve over two hundred golden passports after the cutoff date for an investigation ordered by the attorney general, who pushed back on the criticism saying there was 'no bottom to the abyss'...

1820. Cyprus stands behind AstraZeneca vaccine

Authorities in the Republic of Cyprus have resumed the vaccination program using the AstraZeneca vaccine, after EMA said benefits outweigh the risks, with the health minister criticizing fellow member states for creating confusion by not sticking to plan...

1821. Economic activity could resume by spring end, Anastasiades says

President Nicos Anastasiades said Wednesday that he was hopeful that economic activity could resume by the end of spring, given that no unpredicted developments arise on the part of pharmaceutical companies....

1822. Cyprus vax website down as EMA deliberates

Officials in the Republic of Cyprus are looking into allegations and rumors that citizens were attempting to cheat the system to book a vaccine appointment, with the registration website down on Wednesday and EMA expecting to update states on AstraZeneca...

1823. Cyprus updates risk-based travel list

The Health Ministry’s epidemiological unit issued an updated risk-based classification of countries on Monday, with changes to come into effect on April 8....

1824. Islandwide rollout of 'pay as you throw' programme in 2022

The ‘pay as you throw’ programme is expected to be rolled out across Cyprus next year, President Nicos Anastasiades said Wednesday....

1825. Damning State Dep. report highlights Cyprus human rights issues

A US State Department country report on human rights practices in 2020 proved damning for Cyprus which was found to have had significant human rights issues last year....

1826. How can digital government connect citizens without leaving the disconnected behind?

Governments should focus on inclusive digitalisation by improving digital literacy and promoting virtual interaction, and this could be achieved by providing digital resources like laptops and tablets in order to get people online and run programs to improve the digital skills...

1827. Cyprus to ease travel rules from April 1

The Health Ministry’s epidemiological unit issued on Monday a modified risk-based classification of countries, with changes to come into effect on April 1....

1828. Cyprus urges public to use Covid tracer app

The Republic of Cyprus’ health ministry is calling on the public to use the CoVTracer-EN, the country’s national application for mobile phones, in a bid to avoid congestion and contribute to the containment of daily coronavirus infections...

1829. Cyprus updates risk-based travel list

The Health Ministry’s epidemiological surveillance unit has re-evaluated the coronavirus risk-based classification of countries after the Cabinet agreed on an action plan last month for the resumption of flights and the reopening of Cyprus airports....

1830. Hotels cry foul over ban on local stays

The Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises is calling on the government to terminate a ban on hotel stays by locals, saying overnight lodging for island residents should be allowed after restaurants also opened this week...