January 31, 2022

Cyprus high court quashes UK woman’s ‘fake rape’ conviction

Published by
Reuters UK

NICOSIA (Reuters) – Cyprus’s highest court on Monday quashed the conviction of a British woman found guilty by a lower court of faking a claim that she was gang-raped on the island in 2019, lawyers said. The woman appealed in September against the January 2020 verdict of a district court which gave her a suspended four-month prison sentence. The case sparked concern from Britain and activists about her treatment by Cypriot authorities. “We are particularly happy because now, and also by court verdict, she has been acquitted,” lawyer Nicoletta Charalambidou told journalists. Michael Polak, dire… Continue reading “Cyprus high court quashes UK woman’s ‘fake rape’ conviction”

January 31, 2022

Covid shots for children 5-11 the next days in cooperation with paediatric society

The Health Ministry and the Paediatric Society Cyprus join forces once again to carry out vaccinations of children ages 5-11.

A Health Ministry announcement issued on Monday says that on February 5th Centre A at Spyros Kyprianou Sports Centre in Limassol will operate from 0800-1400 for children of the above ages both as a walk in spot and for appointments via the vaccination portal.

On February 5th the vaccination centre at Larnaka Port will accommodate children ages 5-11 from 08-1400 (both walk in centre and by appointment).

Source: Cyprus News Agency

January 31, 2022

Cyprus reports 2 deaths from COVID-19 and 3,396 new cases Monday, 204 patients are in hospital

Cyprus Health Ministry on Monday reported two deaths from COVID and 3,396 new cases. Moreover, the Ministry announced that 204 patients are getting treatment in hospitals of whom 65 are in serious condition. Figures show that 76.36% of the patients are unvaccinated. The positivity rate stands at 2.47%. Total deaths so far are 733 and total cases are 256,746.

In a press release, the Ministry said that 20 post-COVID patients who are no longer infectious are still intubated in serious condition in an ICU. Today a total of 137,680 tests were carried out (rapid and PCR).

The deceased are a male 86 years old who passed away today at the Reference Hospital and a female 77 years of age who died today at the ICU of Nicosia General Hospital.

Of the 733 deaths 458 are male (62.5%), and 275 female (37.5%) and the media age is 76.3 years.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

January 31, 2022

Industry prices in 2021 the highest of the past eight years, historic record in December

The Index of Industrial Output Prices has recorded a 7.5% rise in 2021 compared with 2020, the highest of the last eight years, while only in December 2021 the prices increased by 18.5% compared to the corresponding month of 2020, recording a historic high.

In December, according to Cyprus’ Statistical Service, the Index reached 118.3 units (basis 2015 = 100), recording a 0.6% increase compared to November 2021, which is the highest, at least since 2000 when data is available.

Between January and December 2021, the average of the Index rose to 108.5 units reaching the highest level since 2013 when the Index was again at 108.5 units.

In December 2021, compared to November 2021, the Index remained stable in the sector of electricity supply, while it recorded a rise in the sectors of water supply and materials recovery by 1.5%, manufacturing by 0

Source: Cyprus News Agency

January 31, 2022

Police hands out 36 fines, out of 2,152 checks for Covid-measures compliance

A total of 36 fines were given by the Police in the last 24 hours after 2,152 checks, for violation of COVID-19 measures.

In Nicosia, after 583 checks, 9 citizens were fined and 9 establishment owners, while in Limassol during 149 checks, 5 people were fined and 4 more establishment owners. In Famagusta there 4 citizens were fined, out of 420 checks. In Larnaca there were 2 fines given to citizens and 1 to a an establishment owner, after 468 checks, while 2 establishment owners were fined in Paphos after 249 checks. In Morphou area there were no fines given after 149 checks.

Most fines were given for not presenting a valid safepass, either by customers or owners/staff. One fine was for overcrowding, and another one for dancing in an establishment.

Another 5 fines were given in airport checks, due to absence of a 24-hour rapid test.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

January 31, 2022

British woman wins appeal against gang rape lie conviction

Cyprus` Supreme Court overturned a conviction against a British woman who was accused of lying about being gang-raped in 2019.

The Court on Monday examined an appeal submitted by her lawyers last September. The woman, now 21 years of age, had been handed a suspended four-month prison sentence in January 2020, after being found guilty of public mischief for reporting she was raped in the popular Ayia Napa resort on the southeast coast of the island, in 2019.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

January 31, 2022

New procedure in place for test to stay for children who are vaccinated or were infected

A new procedure will apply from Tuesday onward for test to stay for children who are fully vaccinated and 7 months have not elapsed or for children who got infected from covid and 90 days have not elapsed, the Health Ministry announced.

According to the announcement, close contacts who are fully vaccinated or were infected do not have to self-isolated, as the protocol says but on the 3rd and 5th day have to take a Rapid test. They are also advised to take a rapid test or a PCR the 7th day.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

January 31, 2022

Almost all schools from Tuesday will host rapid test units to avoid delays as part of ‘test to stay’ measure

Mobile units offering rapid tests will be as of Tuesday in almost all schools in all districts to help solve the problems that occurred as regards the “test to stay” measure introduced in schools last week.

Following a meeting between the Ministers of Health and Education, teachers’ unions and parents’ representatives, it was announced that from Tuesday, there will be about 290 mobile units for rapid tests in schools in all districts. Until now, the mobile units operated in only a few schools and there were delays as many pupils who were contacts of Covid-19 cases had to go to a school other than their own to take a rapid test in order to be able to go to class.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

January 31, 2022

Cyprus had the highest stock of NPLs in EU in 2020, Eurostat says

Cyprus remained the country with the highest stock of non-performing loans (assets) of general government in 2020, according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The share of non-performing loans over the country’s GDP stood at 28.3%, a far larger share compared with other EU Member States according to Eurostat.

The statistical office of the EU points out that this large percentage is explained by “a large transaction in 2018, whereby non-performing loans from a Cypriot public financial corporation (classified outside government) were transferred to a government unit”.

The three other EU Member States that recorded a share higher than 1% of GDP were Slovenia (2.2%), Portugal (1.5%) and Croatia (1.4%).

For Cyprus, Slovenia and Portugal, the majority of non-performing loans refer to loan

Source: Cyprus News Agency

January 31, 2022

CSE and SIX announce post-trade infrastructure facilitating trading of Cyprus EMTN bonds at the CSE

The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus, the Swiss Exchange, SIX and the Cyprus Stock Exchange announced the successful establishment of the post-trade infrastructure required to facilitate the dual- listing of the EMTN of the Republic of Cyprus at the Cyprus Stock Exchange.

The Cypriot Minister of Finance Constantinos Petrides welcomed the development noting that this “provides new sources of liquidity for the Republic of Cyprus’ funding vehicles and improving the effectiveness of public debt management by servicing the public good has always been a high priority for the Ministry of Finance.”

“In this regard, the Ministry of Finance welcomes the successful collaboration between SIX and the Cyprus Stock Exchange that will open an additional avenue for Cypriot investors to invest and trade in the Republic’s international bond issuances and furthe

Source: Cyprus News Agency