Banks expect stricter lending criteria for households, unchanged criteria for lending to businesses and an increase in the demand for loans in all categories for the second quarter of 2021, the Central Bank of Cyprus said on Tuesday in its Bank Lending Survey (BLS).

Cyprus has made further progress in its EU recovery and resilience plan after the cabinet on Monday approved the government’s agreement with the European Commission, the ministry of finance said on Tuesday.

The Finance Ministry on Tuesday issued a decree obliging companies in Cyprus operating in the service sector and retail trade to accept payments via cards as from September 20.

Cyprus will host in October 2022 the 9th Ministerial Summit for the Environment and Sustainable Development Education of the UN’s Economic and Financial Committee.

The Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak) decided on Tuesday to only allow vaccinated and Covid recovering students to attend lessons in-person in September.

Cyprus’ Ministry of Health has said that 72.3% of adults and more than 25% of the ages of 16-17 have completed their vaccination regime.

Cyprus follows the rest of the European Union in administering a booster dose for coronavirus to vulnerable and older adults who had completed their vaccination earlier in the year.

More green areas are set for Paphos as two linear parks and a €3.7 million park of colours are in the works.

The cabinet on Monday decided to extend employment support measures to businesses to help the tackle the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cyprus is all set to administer Covid-19 vaccine boosters from September even though European pharmaceutical and disease prevention authorities have yet to give the green light on this.