Day: April 22, 2022

The Council of the EU has added the names of the head of Wagner Group and of another business person to the European Union’s list of sanctioned persons regarding the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia, it was announced on Thursday.

The Council adopted restrictive measures within the existing sanctions framework, regarding two more individuals for their role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and for benefitting from Russian decision-makers responsible for the illegal annexation of Crimea or the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine.

The first person added to the list is Serhiy Vitaliyovich Kurchenko, a Ukrainian national, who among other actions, took control of several large metallurgical, chemical and energy plants in the separatist-held areas with support from pro-Russia separatists. Moreover, Serhiy Kurchenko strengthened the independent power supplies of the Crimean peninsula. He also owns the largest oil depot on the Crimean Peninsula.

The second person is Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, a prominent Russian businessman with close ties to President Putin and the Russian Ministry of Defence. He is the founder and unofficial head of the Wagner Group, a Russia-based unincorporated military entity, responsible for the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries in Ukraine. Some of his companies have been benefitting from large public contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence following the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and occupation of eastern Ukraine by Russia-backed separatists.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus sailor Marilena Makri won the Silver medal in Under 21 Women’s European championship which took place in Hourtin, France.

Nineteen-year-old Marilena had 82 points. Shai Kakon from Israel won gold and Isabel Hernandez from Spain bronze.

Cyprus Sport Organisation congratulated Makri for her victory.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades will pay an official visit to Estonia from 27 to 29 April, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas. He will also have meetings with the President of the country Alan Karis and the Speaker of the Parliament Juri Ratas, the Director of the Press Office of the President Andreas Iosif says in a written statement issued Friday.

According to the announcement, the Memorandum aims to strengthen the Government’s efforts towards the implementation of reforms in the field of digital transformation.

“The goal of the Republic of Cyprus is to transfer Estonian know-how for the implementation of a number of digital transformation projects that are in the process of implementation. Estonia is considered one of the leading countries in the fields of e-government and digital transformation,” said Iosif.

The visit of President Anastasiades will focus on deepening the cooperation of the two countries in the fields of e-governance and digital transformation, areas that are of great importance for the Government, the announcement adds.

“Digital transformation is considered a prerequisite for a strong economy and society, able to meet the multiple challenges and needs of an ever-changing European and international environment,” Iosif said, adding that Cyprus has developed a coherent and holistic plan for digital transformation in all sectors of the economy and exceed 20% of the resources that will come from the EU Recovery and Sustainability Fund.

During his visit to Estonia, the President of the Republic will brief his interlocutors on the Cyprus issue, the positions of the Greek Cypriot side regarding a just and lasting solution, which will comply with the Security Council resolutions and will be in accordance with the principles and the values of the European Union.

President Anastasiades will also brief on the Turkish challenges in both the Cypriot EEZ and occupied Famagusta, while bilateral relations, the war in Ukraine, EU-Turkey relations, energy security, green transition and immigration will also be discussed.

The President of the Republic will be accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Kyriakos Kokkinos, the Deputy Minister under the President Kyriakos Kousios, the Government Spokesman Marios Pelekanos and officials.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cypriot government bonds purchased under the European Central Bank’s (ECB) Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEEP) and the Public Sector Purchase Programme (PSPP) amounted to €6.97 billion according to the latest figures published by the ECB.

According to data processed by CNA, the net total balance of Cypriot bonds held by the ECB under the two programmes, amounted to €6,973 million in end-March 2022 and correspond to 27% of Cyprus issued public debt. Bond purchases in the secondary markets by the ECB compress bond yields facilitating low borrowing costs for the Euro area member states. Of the Cypriot bonds purchased by the Eurosystem programmes, 90% of the purchases are carried out by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC).

Constantinos Herodotou, Governor of the CBC has recently highlighted the importance of the ECB’s purchases programme on easing the upward pressures on Cyprus’ sovereign bond yields immediately after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“At the PEPP announcement, amid severe market fragmentation, the Cyprus 10-year sovereign bond yield increased to 2.21%, while within a quarter of these Eurosystem bond purchases dropped by 1.25% reaching 0.96% in June, exemplifying the benefits of these purchase programmes,” he said addressing a conference held on the occasion of the visit of ECB President Christine Lagarde in Cyprus in end- March.

Under the PEPP net cumulative balance of Cypriot government bonds at-end July amounted to €2,633 million with net purchases from 22 February to 22 March amounting to €119 million with the weighted average maturity (WAM) of the bonds held by the ECB at 8.55 years.

According to the ECB data, the net cumulative balance of Cypriot bonds purchased under the PSPP in end-March amounted to €4,340 million with net purchases in March amounting to €65 million. The bond’s weighted average remained unchanged to 8.77 years.

PEPP net purchases end in March 2022, ECB retains optionality

Although the ECB said that net purchases under the PEPP ended in March, reinvestments of the principal payments from maturing securities purchased under the PEPP until at least the end of 2024, with the ECB stressing that “in the event of renewed market fragmentation related to the pandemic, PEPP reinvestments can be adjusted flexibly across time, asset classes and jurisdictions at any time.”

The ECB furthermore made clear that “net purchases under the PEPP could also be resumed, if necessary, to counter negative shocks related to the pandemic.”

With regards to the APP, the ECB said that monthly net purchases will amount to €40 billion in April, €30 billion in May and €20 billion in June, noting that “the incoming data since its last meeting reinforce its expectation that net asset purchases under the APP should be concluded in the third quarter.”

As far the size of the net purchases in Q3 2022 is concerned, the ECB said these will “be data-dependent and reflect the Governing Council’s evolving assessment of the outlook.”

The ECB reiterated that the “intends to continue reinvesting, in full, the principal payments from maturing securities purchased under the APP for an extended period of time past the date when it starts raising the key ECB interest rates and, in any case, for as long as necessary to maintain favourable liquidity conditions and an ample degree of monetary accommodation.”

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The booster / fourth shot, will begin being administered to persons over 60 years of age from Tuesday 26th April, the Health Ministry announced.

Those eligible will be able to receive the booster / 4th shot by arranging an appointment through the vaccination portal, or through the walk-in vaccination centers that operate in all provinces.

Specifically, the booster / 4th shot is administered to persons over 60. Also, people of all ages that live or work in nursing houses and close structures, or are health professionals are also eligible to receive the booster shot. Additionally, immunodeficient and immunosuppressed patients regardless of age can proceed to receive the booster shot as well.

For all the above categories, there is the provision that the period of five months has elapsed from the receipt of the booster / 3rd installment. Also, during the vaccination, everybody has to present ID or passport and a vaccination card.

The Ministry adds that immunodeficient and immunosuppressed patients can come to the walk-in vaccination centers by presenting a medical certificate from a specialist (identity card or passport, vaccination card) or may express interest in making an appointment for a vaccination appointment, by sending an email to ~4dose@moh.gov.cy

Immunosuppressed patients, according to the Health Ministry announcement, are those that are in active treatment for solid tumors and hematological malignancies, those with a history of solid organ transplantation receiving immunosuppressive therapy, those with a history of primary hematopoietic organ transplantation receiving immunosuppressive therapy and those with renal insufficiency undergoing dialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Also, people with inherited immune deficiency, people with HIV / AIDS and individuals on immunosuppressive therapy including biological agents, are also included in the immunosuppressed patients list, provided by the Ministry. Regarding cortisone, it refers to people who have received or are receiving a total dose of 10 mg prednisone / day (= 8 mg methylprednisolone) for one (1) month in the last six months.

The Walk-in centers hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thrusday and Friday from 8am to 3pm, Wednesday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 1pm.

The vaccination centers are: the Exhibition and Trade Center in Engomi in Nicosia, The Old Hospital in Larnaka, the Linopetra Health Center in Limassol, Paphos General Hospital, Ammochostos Health Center, the Vaccination Center in Kyperounta (former Coop), and the Hospital of Polis Chrisochous (only on Tuesdays 9:30am to 2pm).

In all walk-in centers there will be available daily Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Every Friday the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available. Novavax vaccine is available only through appointment.

The vaccination centers will be closed for Easter Holidays from Friday 22 April to Tuesday 26 April.

The Ministry also emphasizes that the vaccination center in Limassol will operate temporarily at the Health Center of Linopetra, instead Spyros Kyprianou, from Tuesday, April 26, 2022, due to sports activities held there.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

For the week between 15 and 21 April, Cyprus recorded 18 deaths due to COVID and 6,115 new cases. Hospitalizations are at 108 and positivity rate now stands at 2.27%. The authorities have decided to release the new data every Friday instead of daily as it was done since the pandemic broke out.

The deceased are 7 male and 11 female between the ages of 62 and 102 who passed away between April 14 and April 20.

Total deaths rose to 1,006 and of cases to 470.319.

According to the Ministry of Health 25 patients are in serious condition (10 are in an ICU and 15 in ACU and 8 are intubated). Figures show that 44,45% of the patients are unvaccinated.

Moreover 9 patients who are no longer infectious are intubated in an ICU.

A total of 269.310 tests were carried out of which 16.531 were PCR and

790 cases were detected (Positivity rate PR 4.78%). The number of rapid tests were 252.779 of which 5.325 came back positive (PR 2.11%).

In the framework of contact tracing a total of 1.807 PCR tests were carried out and 58 cases were diagnosed (PR 3.21%). On private initiative the PCR tests were 6.268 and 533 cases were detected (PR 8.5%). A total of 124.465 rapid tests were done and 3.100 cases were diagnosed (PR 2.49%).

In the framework of testing program of the Ministry the rapid tests were 128.314 and 2.225 came back positive. In testing units 86.780 rapid tests were done and 2.050 came back positive (PR 2.36%). In elementary schools 18.220 rapid tests were done and 53 cases were detected (PR 0.29%) while in high schools 13 cases were diagnosed from 6.779 rapid tests (PR 0.19%). In the framework of Test-to-Stay program, 1.565 tests were carried out and 15 cases were detected (PR 0.96%) while in special schools 1 case was found from 703 tests (PR 0.14%).

In nursing homes 81 cases were diagnosed from 7.349 rapid tests (PR 1.1%), in closed units 12 cases were detected from 6.806 tests (PR 0.18%) while in the army no case was detected in total of 112 tests.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

EU member states exported COVID-19 vaccines worth a total of 20.1 billion euros during 2021, according to data released by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical service. According to the same data, the value of the total number of COVID-19 vaccines imported by EU member states during the same year amounted to 7.8 billion euro.

Extra-EU imports of COVID-19 vaccines came mainly from Switzerland (65%) and the United States (29%), followed by China (3%), South Africa (2%) and the United Kingdom (1%).

Extra-EU exports went predominantly to Japan (21%), the United Kingdom (14%) and South Korea (6%), followed by Turkey (5%) and Australia (5%). A total of 24% of extra-EU exports went to other Asian countries, 7% went to African countries, 6% went to North American countries and 5% went to South American countries.

The largest exporters of COVID-19 vaccines among the member states (both to other member states as well as to non-member states) in 2021 were Belgium (61% of EU total exports), Germany (21%) and Spain (11%).

The main importers, both from other member states as well as from countries outside the EU, were Germany (30% of EU total imports) Spain (21%) and Belgium (14%).

Source: Cyprus News Agency