As is the case with the global and European economies, the course of the Cypriot economy continues to greatly depend on the pandemic but despite being characterised by uncertainty, the government forecasts of medium-term prospects are positive, MPs heard on Wednesday.

A Limassol branch of the French Cypriot School (Ecole Franco-Chypriote) is expected to be up and running in September next year, Education Prodromos Prodromou said on Wednesday.

Authorities in Cyprus have announced that the timeframe for people to receive their COVID booster shot has been reduced from six months to five months and two weeks following the completion of their initial vaccination scheme.

Famous for its lace, Lefkara village in the Larnaca district is included in the best tourism village programme announced by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Self tests will be available in Cyprus from December 20, the health ministry announced on Sunday.

Following a decision of the Council of Ministers, on February 18, 2021, regarding the Action Plan for the gradual resumption of flights and the re-opening of airports, the Epidemiological Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Health has made a re-evaluation of the epidemiological situation in various countries as regards COVID-19.

From December 15, unvaccinated people will be banned from social events such as weddings, christenings, hospitality, and sports venues, as the government tightens COVID-19 restrictions.

As part of the strategy to create faster, more flexible and efficient banking services, the Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC), Constantinos Herodotou, has taken a new initiative to find a solution to speed up the process of collecting, identifying and updating data for customers through digitization (client digital onboarding & reviewing), with the voluntary participation of banking institutions based in Cyprus.

The energy ministry announced on Monday it has launched its subsidy scheme for the replacement by vulnerable groups of old home appliances with energy efficient ones.

The cabinet on Monday approved cuts in VAT on household power bills as part of its policy to tackle the fallout from the rise in the price of electricity.