https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/biden-taps-close-advisor-as-energy-plots-thicken
US State Secretary Antony Blinken has appointed a businessman and former lobbyist as energy security envoy, signaling a new strategic focus in Washington in the aftermath of thorny geopolitics over Nord Stream 2 and unresolved issues relating to the eastern Mediterranean...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/congress-presses-state-department-on-turkey-s-drone-program
Twenty-eight members of the House of Representatives, led by Congressmen David Cicilline of Rhode Island and Gus Bilirakis of Florida, wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to '[express] concern over Turkey’s UAV program, which has destabilized multiple regions of the globe and threatens US interests, allies, and partners'...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/booster-shot-up-in-the-air-as-cyprus-vaccinates
Cyprus is very close to having 70% of eligible adults fully vaccinated, but debate on what’s next such as a booster shot is far from over as Israel gets unexpected data and WHO warns against an 'ill-advised' third dose...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/royal-rethinks-policy-on-vaccinated-passengers
Royal Caribbean is now requiring negative COVID-19 test results from all guests including those vaccinated prior to boarding in the United Sates, but the new rules do not appear to affect other cruises including the Jewel of the Seas sailing from Cyprus...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/north-soon-to-establish-varosha-czar
An international conference on Varosha is in the works according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accused European officials of turning their backs on Turkish Cypriots and further insisted that any steps on Cyprus’ ghost town will be 'in accordance with the law'...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/nicosia-and-ankara-worlds-apart-over-resolution
Nicosia has welcomed a Security Council resolution that renewed the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cyprus and also delved into other aspects of the Cyprus Problem, with Ankara crying foul and saying the UN violated its own rules...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-warns-ankara-over-varosha
The European Union has warned Turkey it will “consider actions” if there is no reversal on a plan by Ankara-backed Turkish Cypriots to partially reopen the abandoned town of Varosha...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-wants-strong-unsc-response-on-varosha
The UN Security Council is scheduled to tackle Varosha on Thursday, after the Republic of Cyprus requested closed consultations to take place following a Turkish Cypriot announcement to reopen part of the ghost town in the north, a move heavily criticized by Greek Cypriots in the south...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/asylum-seekers-stuck-in-cyprus-buffer-zone
Cypriot Interior Minister Nikos Nouris says the ordeal of three Cameroonians currently stuck in the buffer zone could end if EU fellow members agreed to take them in, with reports saying the bloc is still looking for consensus on migration policy but nothing has been agreed to date...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/turks-set-varosha-plan-in-motion
Greek Cypriots are preparing a response to Turkish Cypriot plans to reopen part of Varosha, a risky proposition made official following an announcement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday in the northern part of the island...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cabinet-mulls-over-safe-pass-across-the-board
Health experts in Cyprus are calling for Safe Pass requirements in indoor public spaces to apply across the board, including supermarkets and bakeries, with the Cabinet expected Friday to decide on new measures aimed at slowing down a recent spike but also boosting vaccinations...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-against-the-clock-to-stop-erdogan
Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has been going all out on a preemptive diplomatic strike aimed at garnering support in Brussels, Washington, and the international community to stop the Turkish President from revealing ‘surprises to the world’ during a scheduled visit to the island on July 20...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-chief-visits-cyprus-after-deadly-fire
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is on a visit to Cyprus to boost post-pandemic recovery efforts, but the EU chief also grabbed an opportunity to tell a local community affected by last weekend’s deadly fire that Europe was at their side...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-awaits-rrp-endorsement-during-ursula-visit
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen flies to Cyprus Wednesday on a two day visit to deliver notes on the government’s recovery and resilience plan submitted two months ago...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cavusoglu-visit-sets-threshold-in-cyprus-talks
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Ankara does not accept the mentality that Turkish Cypriots are a minority in Cyprus, accusing Greek Cypriots of denying equality between the two communities while also pulling favors from the European Union...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-joins-eu-s-digital-covid-certificate
The Republic of Cyprus on Thursday joined other EU countries already accepting an EU-wide Covid certificate for easier travel, amid coordination challenges amongst members and a rampant Delta variant around the world...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/nicosia-fares-well-in-intense-eu-council
Nicosia has welcomed a European Council statement that included conclusions on Turkey, after the EU27 leaders held long and protracted consultations that got testy at times especially during Russia talk...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-airports-to-accept-eudcc-on-july-1
The Cabinet that convened Wednesday, amended the Action Plan for the operation of airports to include the EU Digital COVID Certificate which will be issued by the EU Member States, as well as by the countries of the European Economic Area and by the Switzerland...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-maritime-dispute-pinned-down-over-coffee
A Greek Cypriot fishing boat was intercepted by a Turkish coast guard vessel this week off the northeastern tip of the island, with the captain speaking out upon returning south empty-handed...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/lute-back-at-it-again-in-cyprus
UN envoy Jane Holl Lute is back on the island to hold separate discussions on Tuesday with the two Cypriot leaders, just days before the seasoned diplomat’s boss is expected to run shoulders with President Nicos Anastasiades in Brussels...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/no-concessions-to-erdogan-says-bob-menendez
No concessions should be made to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 'without a significant behavior change,' US Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat and chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, tells Kathimerini...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/labor-exploitation-case-filed-in-nicosia-court
A man in rural Nicosia, who was arrested in early June on charges related to human trafficking and labor exploitation, was one of 229 suspects detained all over Europe during an operation coordinated by Europol...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/biden-and-putin-take-center-stage
US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin decided at a 'pragmatic' first summit on Wednesday to hold arms control and cyber-security talks and return their respective ambassadors, while agreeing to differ on other issues...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-us-summit-mentions-eastern-mediterranean
In a move to restore transatlantic ties, the US commander-in-chief and his two EU counterparts stressed the need for “sustainable de-escalation' of tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, with a final draft making reference to Turkey and international law after some words were left out...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/minister-urges-covid-survivors-to-get-jabbed
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou is calling on COVID survivors in the Republic of Cyprus to get vaccinated, saying vaccines offer protection...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-lifts-curfew-as-nightclubs-open
The government of the Republic of Cyprus lifted a night curfew on Thursday as further relaxations of pandemic measures kicked in, including the opening of nightclubs based on last-minute protocols...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/blinken-differences-with-turkey-are-no-secret
US President Joe Biden will raise the issue of Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean during his upcoming meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-ready-for-dialogue-on-global-tax
A decision by the Group of Seven to impose a global minimum tax rate does not seem to directly affect Cyprus, its Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides said on Monday...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/us-lowers-travel-risk-for-cyprus
The CDC in Atlanta has issued new travel advisories lowering the threat of COVID-19 in many destinations including Cyprus, prompting the State Department to change its advisory for the island from 'do not travel' to 'reconsider travel'...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-reopens-checkpoints-in-buffer-zone
Barricades in downtown Nicosia’s checkpoint were removed Friday as Cyprus’ two communities north and south agreed to ease movement restrictions imposed during the COVID pandemic...