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511. Pressure mounting on T/C leadership to reopen checkpoints

Several Turkish Cypriot groups are stepping up pressure toward the leadership in the north to reopen checkpoints as soon as possible, given that the coronavirus pandemic appears to be fully recovering on both sides of the divide....

512. Medical supplies arrive after eventful flight

Another huge load of medical supplies from China was delivered to the Republic of Cyprus on Wednesday, after an “adventurous” flight on a Russian aircraft that did not have enough fuel to make it in one go...

513. Cabinet in tight spot talks measures

The President’s Cabinet is discussing the ease of measures ahead of a meeting later this week with health experts, amid reports there could be second thoughts among scientists...

514. Measures being prepared for reopening of airports in June

The expert team of scientists advising the Health Ministry are coming up with measures that would allow airports to resume operation by June, Head of the Pancyprian Medical Association’s Special Committee on dealing with the coronavirus, Maria Koliou, said Tuesday....

515. Some 2.5 thousand to be repatriated in first weeks of May

Around 2.5 thousand Cypriot nationals and legal residents of the island are expected to be repatriated between May 1 and 15 from several foreign countries where they were left stranded after the international outbreak of coronavirus....

516. Cyprus to prepare three-stage coronavirus exit strategy

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the island’s lockdown exit strategy, which foresees the resumption of the operation of vital sectors of the economy in early May....

517. EU unveils virus exit roadmap, hoping to avoid more chaos

The European Union moved Wednesday to head off a chaotic and potentially disastrous easing of restrictions that are limiting the spread of the coronavirus, warning its 27 nations to move very cautiously as they return to normal life and base their actions on scientific advice....

518. EU procures medical equipment worth €2.5m for Turkish Cypriot community

The EU has stepped up to assist the Turkish Cypriot community in its battle against coronavirus, procuring €2.5m worth of medical equipment and mobilizing 25 medical specialists who will be sent to the north for three months....

519. EU slams Trump’s Europe travel ban

The European Union has slammed the new anti-virus travel ban announced by US President Donald Trump, lashing out at an “unilateral” decision taken “without consultation.”...

520. Checkpoint closures to be extended until Monday

The closure of four crossing points last Saturday, in what the Government said would be a one-week temporary precaution against coronavirus outbreak, will be extended until Monday, the National Council agreed on Thursday....

521. French frigate 'Auvergne' joins Cypriot- French search and rescue drill

Cyprus and France held a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise on Tuesday off the coast of Cyprus, with the participation of SAR Units and personnel of the Republic of Cyprus and France. The French frigate 'Auvergne' also took part in the drill....

522. Nicosia stabbing sparks migration debate

Debate over crime and migration in the Republic of Cyprus was renewed this week following a video showing the moment a young man was killed in downtown Nicosia as well as statements by officials regarding foreigners on the island...

523. Minister says ‘no panic’ over coronavirus

Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou says the Cypriot government is taking all precautions against the coronavirus threat, adding that the administration is on alert but there is no panic...

524. Officials deny weak spots in virus front lines

State health officials have denounced questions in the media over the handling of the coronavirus risk at airports, saying the image of the Republic of Cyprus was at stake...

525. Health Minister travels to Brussels for extraordinary EU coronavirus meeting

Amid growing concerns over coronavirus, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou will be rushing to Brussels on Wednesday after the European Union called for an emergency meeting of EU Health Ministers on Thursday....

526. Israeli FM director-general in Athens for talks

Israel’s Foreign Ministry director-general Yuval Rotem will visit Athens Wednesday for talks with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and other officials, the Israeli embassy announced....

527. Syria displacement is worst since conflict began, UN says

More people have fled fighting in Syria over the past 10 weeks than at any other time in the 9-year-old conflict and the city of Idlib, where many are sheltering, could become a graveyard if hostilities continue, two U.N. agencies said on Tuesday....

528. Greece, Cyprus talk defence cooperation

Cooperation on defence and security is main discussion topic between Defence Minister Savvas Angelides and his Greek counterpart, Nicos Panayiotopoulos, in the framework of the 6th Greece-Cyprus Intergovernmental Defence Council taking place in Athens....

529. Cyprus and Italy to continue cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean

Cyprus Defence Minister Savvas Angelides and his Italian counterpart Lorenzo Buerine, agreed to continue the mutual information, coordination and cooperation, regarding the issue of energy security in the EEZ of Cyprus and more generally in the Εastern Mediterranean...

530. Mogherini says EU stands with Cyprus

High Representative Federica Mogherini expressed the EU’s full solidarity with Cyprus in her closing statement in the European Parliament plenary discussing Turkey's drilling activities around the island...

531. Six countries attend “Nemesis 2019” multinational exercise in Cyprus’ EEZ

Six countries participated on Wednesday in “Nemesis 2019”, a multinational Search & Rescue exercise, which was held in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus, under the general coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center....

532. Nicosia awaits EU council decisions on Turkey

The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades expressed on Tuesday his satisfaction over the decision of EU Foreign Ministers with regard to Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, and said he expected the European Council to endorse sanctions in its upcoming meeting...

533. Driver in animal abuse viral video charged

A male driver who was caught on video driving with a dog tied to the car has been charged with animal abuse, while police call on members of the public to report such cases without delay...

534. Kyriakides a step closer to EU health chief

Commissioner-designate for Health Stella Kyriakides got on Wednesday the green light from ENVI EP Committee to move on to the next step in the procedure for her appointment...

535. Brexit no-deal preparedness: Final Commission call to all EU citizens and businesses

With 8 weeks to go until the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union on 31 October 2019, the Commission has today – in its 6th Brexit preparedness Communication – reiterated its call on all stakeholders in the EU27 to prepare for a ‘no-deal' scenario. In light of the continued uncertainty in the United Kingdom regarding the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement – as agreed with the UK government in November 2018 – and the overall domestic political situation, a ‘no-deal' scenario on 1 November 2019, remains a possible, although undesirable, outcome...

536. Finance minister pleased with Waters’ visit

Finance Minister Harris Georgiades says a visit by a US delegation affirms that Cyprus is on the right track in combating money laundering, following a statement by California Congresswoman Maxine Waters who said “Cyprus is up to the challenge....

537. Larnaca completes another joint rescue drill

A joint Search And Rescue exercise took place on Monday near the coast of Cyprus, with SAR Units and Personnel of the Republic of Cyprus and France taking part in CYFRA-04/19...

538. Nicosia to reject Turkish natural gas proposal

A proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for a committee that would jointly administer natural gas affairs is expected to be rejected by the government and party leaders when they meet on Tuesday...

539. The new government, image and symbolism

The first indications from the new government are sending out all the right signals. Tuesday’s handover ceremonies at the ministries confirmed a return to normalcy, after a decade-long crisis that painfully divided the country. Both sides should be given credit for the civilized political discourse that prevailed during the change of guard. It is hoped that this spirit will continue during the debates that are expected to take place in Parliament, not only in the sense of a more sophisticated rhetoric, but also, hopefully, in the approval of some government bills by the new main opposition....

540. EastMed Act to boost ties with 'real allies' says Menendez