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1471. Cyprus to launch SMS campaign to stem migrant arrivals

Cyprus is launching a multilingual SMS campaign to head off more migrant arrivals by dispelling the mistaken belief the European Union member country is a gateway to the continent, the Cypriot interior minister said Sunday....

1472. Greece to make massive riot police equipment purchase

Greece is planning purchases worth millions of euros to equip the Hellenic Police’s (ELAS) riot force with shields, helmets, uniforms, bullet-proof vests and other supplies, including large quantities of tear gas, in anticipation of a fresh push on the northeastern border with Turkey by undocumented migrants and refugees trying to force their way into the European Union....

1473. Communion ritual unchanged in Orthodox Church despite virus

One by one, the children and adults line up for the centuries-old ritual of Holy Communion, trying to keep a proper social distance. The priest dips a spoon into the chalice of bread and wine, which the faithful believe is the body and blood of Christ, and puts it into the mouth of the first person in line....

1474. FinMin delves into details of 'new, more targeted measures'

Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides held a press conference on Thursday to delve into the details of the new bundle of economic support measures announced by President Nicos Anastasiades in a televised national address Wednesday night....

1475. President unveils new stimulus package

President Nicos Anastasiades announced on Wednesday a new set of measures to support tourism, businesses, and the self-employed workers that took a hit in the coronavirus pandemic...

1476. Wednesdsay sees zero new coronavirus cases

Total known coronavirus cases in the Republic of Cyprus remained at 939. So far, 17 have died of the virus, while 5...

1477. President to announce new support package on Wednesday

President Nicos Anastasiades will address the Cyprus nation on Wednesday to announce a new package of measures to support the economy and workers....

1478. Demonstration outside refugee camp sparks Government reaction

A demonstration staged outside the Pournara camp in Kokkinotrimithia on Sunday calling for an end to the arbitrary detention of hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers stirred reaction from the Government on Tuesday, with an Interior Ministry announcement claiming it won’t be allowing any further ghettoization of the island....

1479. Greek FM insists Evros fence will be completed

1480. Cyprus faces setback with new cases

Cyprus failed to remain on a zero streak after eight new confirmed coronavirus cases were announced on Sunday...

1481. Cyprus records zero new cases

No new infections of the coronavirus were announced in Cyprus on Saturday, the first time the island recorded zero confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak in early March...

1482. 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....

1483. All asylum seekers at Pournara locked in

Health ministry officials say going in and out of the migrant facility in rural Nicosia is temporarily forbidden due to a scabies infestation, with the government defending migration policies amid criticism over living conditions and restriction of freedom of movement at the camp...

1484. Second phase of relaxation of measures kicks off on Thursday

Cyprus will be making an important step toward resuming daily life as normal on Thursday, when the second phase of the gradual lifting of restriction measures is set to kick off....

1485. Divided Cyprus slammed over refugee pushback

Two dozen groups around the world have condemned authorities on both sides of divided Cyprus after 175 Syrian refugees were denied the right to seek asylum...

1486. 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....

1487. President lets man who broke curfew walk free

President Nicos Anastasiades has issued a reprieve for a man sentenced to 45 days in prison for violating curfew, following outrage by legal experts who said the punishment did not fit the crime...

1488. AG mulling over intervening after man gets prison for breaking curfew

Attorney-General Costas Clerides said Wednesday that the Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus, in consultation with President Nicos Anastasiades, is considering to intervene in a case where a court imposed a 45-day prison sentence on a 35-year-old man who had broken curfew in late March to visit his girlfriend....

1489. EU pushes to unlock borders as coronavirus ravages travel

1490. North and south touch base on coronavirus

A bicommunal technical committee on health was set to convene on Wednesday to discuss the situation pertaining to the coronavirus outbreak across Cyprus, while it was not clear whether meeting would include discussion on re-opening checkpoints...

1491. Beachgoers flocked to SBA beaches over weekend, 25 booked

British Bases police booked 25 people over the weekend for violating coronavirus decrees while visiting the Lady’s Mile and Curium beaches in Limassol....

1492. Man gets jail for breaking curfew to visit girlfriend

The Famagusta district court on Tuesday sentenced a 35-year-old man to 45 days in prison after he was caught on the streets after curfew, with the man claiming he was visiting his girlfriend....

1493. Cyprus police continue to issue citations

Cyprus Police reported 128 people in the last 24 hours for violating restrictive measures designed to stop the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak...

1494. Cyprus extends flight ban but has a plan

Cyprus on Monday extended a ban on commercial flights into and out of the country until May 28 as the government considers ways to restore the country’s tourism industry to meet an anticipated swell in demand from vacationers eager to escape coronavirus lockdowns...

1495. Schools in the north sit out rest of the year

Officials in the north say schools will remain closed through the end of the academic year, as debate in the south rages on over the government’s decision to gradually open public schools...

1496. Cyprus maintains positive streak as just two new cases emerge

Cyprus maintained its positive streak on Friday after just two new coronavirus cases emerged in the Republic after the testing of 1,957 samples for the virus, while no new cases were reported in the north...

1497. 20,000 coronavirus tests to target school staff and students

After news that schools will be reopening doors for students of all levels on May 21 sparked debate and concern among the Cyprus public, Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said Thursday that a round of 20,000 coronavirus tests will be launched, targeting school staff and students....

1498. UNFICYP ready to facilitate discussions for easing of restrictions at checkpoints

UNFICYP said Thursday it stands ready to “facilitate and support” disscussions between the two sides of the divided island once efforts begin for the easing of restrictions at crossing points....

1499. As coronavirus lockdown eases, Cypriots still in limbo

Deniz Birinci had just hours to stuff her and her baby daughter’s belongings into suitcases and bin bags on March 16 before the two sides on the divided island of Cyprus imposed lockdowns to halt the spread of the new coronavirus....

1500. Lockdown brings striking drop in air pollution, energy demand

Pollution levels in Cyprus have plummeted as a result of restriction measures enforced amid the coronavirus outbreak, which brought a significant drop in traffic and electricity consumption, highlighting the benefits of pressing forward with sustainable transport and energy production solutions....