The Republic of Cyprus has stepped up its fight against document fraud and identity theft by launching new identification cards, which require citizens to submit fingerprints and other biometric data to the government.

Jet2, one of Britain’s largest tour operators resumed flights to Cyprus on Monday, reviving the island’s tourism hopes to save what is left of the summer.

Cyprus’ investment funds sector continued its upward growth trend in the second quarter with the number of entities rising 5.4% to 199 from 189 in the previous quarter as total assets neared €6 billion.

Under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, a total of 28 airlines compared to last year’s 70 have started flying to Cyprus or are set to do so this summer season.

Cyprus-based copper and gold miner Chesterfield Resources has raised £630,000 to move ahead with development of gold deposits that the company has located on its site in the Troodos mountains.

Cyprus COVID-ravaged economy plunged an estimated 11.9% of annual GDP in the second quarter of 2020 as it tried to contain the pandemic.

By August 11, a total of 1,278 coronavirus cases and 27 fatalities were in the Republic of Cyprus, with the case fatality rate standing at 2.1%, according to the Ministry of Health’s National Surveillance Report on coronavirus, published Thursday.

Wizz Air said on Thursday it was setting up a new base at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, and that it would launch seven new routes from there including to Larnaca.

Health Minister Konstantinos Ioannou said that Cyprus has received quantities of the medicine Remdesivir, strengthening its arsenal in the fight against the coronavirus.

Cyprus exports were down 23% in May, compared to the same month last year, while provisional figures for June showed a minor correction, with exports rising about 18% year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the statistical service Cystat.