Health Minister Michalis Hatjipantela has given his go-ahead for the promotion of natural childbirth in Cyprus through joint actions that will be developed with the midwives committee, it was announced on Monday.

Doctors’ unions and the state health services organisation Okypy on Monday morning signed an agreement about the afternoon operation of state hospitals, which is set to begin on September 1.

The government of the Republic of Cyprus launched a new urgent care program over the weekend where citizens could visit a clinic for minor problems in an effort to unclog the emergency room.

Deputy minister for shipping, Vassilis Demetriades attended the christening ceremony of Safe Bulkers’ new cargo ship M/V Climate Respect on Saturday during his visit to Japan together with officials from his ministry.

Real-estate sales in Cyprus rose 39% in the first half of this year over the same period last year as people turn to property as a safe investment in a time of economic uncertainty.

Cyprus’ TUS Airways has increased its flight frequency to Paris for August, going from two to three weekly flights out of Larnaca due to “strong passenger demand”.

The trade deficit was €2,967.6 million in January – May 2022 compared to €2,265.8 million in the corresponding period of 2021, according to provisional data, published by the Statistical Service on Monday.

Cyprus has satisfactorily implemented nine of 16 recommendations made by the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body GRECO and partly implemented six, GRECO said on Friday. One recommendation has still not been implemented.

Amathus, one of the best-preserved ancient kingdoms in the Eastern Mediterranean, is being reintroduced as a maritime archaeological park. Visitors can now don masks and flippers and explore its ancient port underwater while following informative boards that will direct them to important points within the sunken monument.

President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday hailed the approval of Cyprus’ social cohesion policy programme Thalia 2021-2017, calling it a landmark moment in the country’s efforts to restructure and evolve its economic and social models.