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1801. US to include Cyprus in army programme

The American Embassy in Nicosia says the United States are looking forward to expanding their military education and training programmes to include Cyprus, with plans to introduce professional and technical courses in 2021...

1802. Security Council convenes on July 29 to extend UNFICYP mandate

The UN Security Council is scheduled to convene on July 29 to discuss the extension of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). ...

1803. CNN: Erdogan phoned Trump 'at least twice a week'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called his US counterpart Donald Trump as often as two times a day and was “put through directly” to the US president, American news broadcaster CNN said in a report published on Monday....

1804. Global coronavirus cases top 10 million; deaths surge past 500,000

The world surpassed two sobering coronavirus milestones Sunday -- 500,000 confirmed deaths, 10 million confirmed cases -- and hit another high mark for daily new infections as governments that attempted reopenings continued to backtrack and warn that worse news could be yet to come....

1805. PwC Cyprus: a steady supporter of entrepreneurship and innovation

1806. Cypriot FM to visit Israel in a hurry

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides will pay a last minute visit to Israel on Tuesday, days after President Nicos Anastasiades called off his trip citing coronavirus concerns and just before debate in the neighbouring country is expected to peak over annexation plans in West Bank...

1807. No progress among EU leaders on virus recovery deal

European Union leaders found that a quick deal on the bloc's future long-term budget and a multibillion-euro post-pandemic recovery plan remained beyond their reach Friday as the coronavirus ravages their economies....

1808. Cyprus president calls off Israel visit

Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has called off a visit to Israel next week, citing coronavirus concerns, just a day after the Greek Premier concluded his first foreign trip the neighbouring country...

1809. Greek PM holds telephone conversation with Palestinian counterpart

Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly Turkey’s increasing aggressiveness in the region, as well as the next steps in resolving the Middle East conflict were at the center of a telephone conversation on Thursday between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Palestinian counterpart Mohammad Shtayyeh....

1810. Mitsotakis makes Israel his first destination

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is traveling to Israel today on his first foreign visit since the coronavirus outbreak. The message is clear, and it is being sent out in several directions. After deepening their mutually beneficial relationship (which is not aimed at any third country) for a decade, Greece and Israel are pushing ties to a new level....

1811. Anastasiades asks EC President for greater support

In a phone conversation on Sunday evening, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for greater support in dealing with the multifaceted problems faced by the island....

1812. Anastasiades discusses Turkey, EU role with top EU officials

President Nicos Anastasiades found mutual understanding with European Council President Charles Michel and EU Foreign Affairs Chief Josep Borrell regarding the role the EU must play in view of Turkey’s activities in the eastern Mediterranean....

1813. Police prepping for intense checks over weekend

Police will be conducting targeted and intensive inspections over the weekend to check whether food and drink businesses are adhering to health and safety protocols, the force’s spokesperson Christos Andreou said Friday....

1814. Cyprus President and Greek Premier share call to coordinate

President Nicos Anastasiades and the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis shared a telephone conversation on Thursday to coordinate a series of separate contacts and deliberations the two leaders will hold with foreign leaders....

1815. Cyprus cries foul over Turkey’s pick at UNGA

Cyprus and Armenia have sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General explaining the reasons why the two countries object to the election by silence procedure of Volkan Bozkir of Turkey as President of the UN General Assembly at its 75 session...

1816. Hijab and kosher end up in report on Cyprus

A State Department report has called out Cyprus on matters of religious freedom, following a number of stories in the media including the right to wear hijab in school, kosher laws, and access to religious sites...

1817. Checkpoints partially resume operation after three months

The first group of Turkish Cypriots passed through the Ayios Dometios and Strovilia checkpoints on Tuesday, many carrying bedding, cookware, and other essential items as they won’t be able to return to the north for at least two weeks....

1818. Anastasides and Merkel discuss Turkish drilling plans, Covid-19 exit strategies

President Nicos Anastasiades and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed on Thursday Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but also touched on the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and EU issues....

1819. The growing complications of the reopening of checkpoints

The discussion for the reopening of checkpoints will be anything but an easy feat, as in addition to the role played by the epidemiological situation, the matter is inevitably being politicized in view of ‘elections’ set to take place in the north, but also in light of the UNSG’s report expected around the end of June....

1820. Some restrictions may be eased earlier than planned

The government and its health advisory committee discussed on Tuesday the possibility of relaxing certain restrictions sooner than anticipated, but final decisions are expected to emerge after the Cabinet’s meeting on Wednesday....

1821. Cyprus condemns vandalism at mosque

Limassol police are investigating an incident of vandalism at Koprulu mosque, after gasoline bombs were thrown at the building and graffiti found spray-painted on the outer fence...

1822. Cyprus delegation to visit Israel at earliest date possible

President Nicos Anastasiades and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on Monday that a visit to Israel by a delegation of high ranking Cypriot officials must take place as soon as possible to cover important issues relating to the cooperation of the two countries....

1823. Repair and Prepare: EU unveils €750 bln plan for coronavirus recovery

The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday a plan to borrow on the market and then disburse to EU countries 750 billion euros in grants and loans to help them recover from their coronavirus slump, giving an immediate boost to the euro....

1824. Negative coronavirus test certificate needed to go through crossings

With the partial opening of checkpoints on June 8, as agreed by the island’s two leaders on Thursday, Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou said that in addition to the enclaved, Greek Cypriots who resettled in their villages in the breakaway north will also be allowed to pass through crossing points....

1825. First steps taken for the reopening of checkpoints

Substantial steps were taken on Thursday by the leaders of the island’s divided communities toward the reopening of crossing points, with the two agreeing that as a first step, certain groups of people will be allowed to cross through checkpoints as of June 8....

1826. Despite progress, discrimination against LGBT community a reality

Recognizing that Cyprus has taken substantial steps toward institutionalizing equality and safeguarding the fundamental rights of the island’s LGBT community, Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou Lottides has highlighted that there is still work to be done in eradicating the reality of enduring acts of discrimination....

1827. Cabinet scraps bill for government loan guarantees

The Cabinet on Tuesday withdrew a bill that would allow the government to provide guarantees for loans to be given to businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic....

1828. Health advisors propose Cyprus government moves forward with phase two

New coronavirus cases in the Republic maintained their low streak on Friday as just three new cases were confirmed, but experts speaking at the Health Ministry’s daily briefing said the coming days are crucial as students are set to return to school....

1829. UNSG calls on two sides to cooperate on pandemic, opening of crossings

The leaders on both sides of the Cyprus divide received a letter from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who called for cooperation in dealing with the pandemic and in lifting restrictions at crossings....

1830. President seeks input ahead of big decision

A crucial event is taking place on Friday at the Presidential Palace, as the epidemiological taskforce is meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades to assess the situation on the ground and the next steps in easing lockdown restrictions...