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2791. Supreme Court orders Syrian man’s release

An asylum seeker, who was detained on national security grounds and his application had been rejected, was ordered to walk free after the Supreme Court ruled state authorities had no legal basis to keep him locked up...

2792. Berlin bridge-building effort undermined by Ankara

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday revealed that a secret trilateral meeting between Turkish, German and Greek officials, mediated by Berlin, took place ahead of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Monday in the wake of Turkey’s controversial decision to convert Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia into a mosque. ...

2793. 522 Cyprus army recruits planning to study at UK universities

A total of 522 incoming army recruits have informed the Education Ministry that they are either candidates for or have secured a spot at a UK university for the 2020-21 academic year, but who plan to defer their offer until the following year, when home fee status and loans for EU students will be scrapped, due to their 14-month military service requirement....

2794. Cyprus to boost number of random tests at airports

The health ministry will be boosting the number of random coronavirus checks conducted on passengers arriving at Cyprus airports from category A and B countries to 600....

2795. It's time for dynamic EU action against Turkey, Greek PM says

Turkey’s repeated violations of Greece and Cyprus’ sovereign rights in the Mediterranean and its “unnecessary and petty” decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia into a mosque “require a comprehensive European response,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday....

2796. Presidents of Cyprus, Greece discuss escalating Turkish provocations

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou held their first meeting in Athens on Tuesday, focusing the discussion on Turkey’s actions in the region and the close ties between the two countries....

2797. As EU mulls sanctions, Turkey defiant

The European Union is seeking ways of imposing sanctions on Turkey in the event that its transgressions in the East Mediterranean are scaled up, and in the wake of its decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. ...

2798. Cyprus readies launch of 5G bid

The Republic of Cyprus is moving forward with opening a public bid for the country’s 5G network, with permits expected to be approved before the year is out...

2799. Harsh words for Turkey from archbishop

Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos has slammed Turkey over the country’s decision to allow Hagia Sophia to revert from museum back to mosque status, accusing Turks of having no respect for the civilized world...

2800. Turkish court rules to let Hagia Sophia return as mosque

2801. Excellent relations with Russia, China will not be disrupted, Cyprus President says

The excellent relations Cyprus has with Russia and China will not be disrupted, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Thursday, commenting on a US decision to include Cyprus in its military education and training program....

2802. Divided Cyprus reacts to Hagia Sophia

Cyprus has weighed in on Turkey’s controversial decision to allow Muslim prayer inside Hagia Sophia, with different reactions across the divided island and amid reports of nuanced differences in President Erdogan's statements in two different languages...

2803. Number of people allowed to gather to increase on July 12

Cyprus’ positive epidemiological indicators allowed the Health Ministry to fast track raising the number of people allowed to gather in homes, public spaces, food and drink spots, and mass gatherings. The new rules will come into effect on July 12....

2804. Turkey reacts to US plan for military education, training for Cyprus

Turkey expressed its disagreement over a US government plan to make International Military Education and Training (IMET) available to Cyprus, saying it does not help resolve the island’s division....

2805. Army recruits with UK university offer asked to submit details to education ministry

This year’s incoming army recruits were contacted by the education ministry on Wednesday via text message, which asked those who secured a position at a UK university for the coming academic year to inform the ministry so that concrete figures can be gathered....

2806. Anastasiades fires back at Turkish FM's 'insolent' comments

Our task is to achieve the suspension of Turkey’s unbridled ambition to impose its own version of international law in order to serve its expansionist policies, President Nicos Anastasiades said Tuesday in response to what he described as “insolent” statements issued by the Turkish Foreign Minister on Monday....

2807. Turkey warns it will respond if EU takes fresh measures against it

Turkey will respond with its own steps if the European Union imposes further sanctions on Ankara, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday after meeting the EU’s top diplomat....

2808. Greece to resume direct flights with the UK from July 15

Greece will start accepting direct flights from the UK from July 15, the country’s government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Monday. ...

2809. North draws criticism over virus declaration

Turkish Cypriot authorities declared the coronavirus a “dangerous infections disease” over the weekend, prompting criticism over the basis and timing of the announcement...

2810. Anastasiades: Patriotic realism dictates solution through diplomacy, not weapons

Instead of a catastrophic scenario, we opt for diplomacy, the weapons of international law and Cyprus’ status as an EU member state. This is what is dictated by patriotic realism and rationalism, and not a rhetoric of empty slogans. The coming days are crucial as regards initiatives taken by the EU and the US in view of preventing a potential crisis through targeted measures towards Turkey....

2811. Cyprus pushes back date for British tourists

A new date for opening flights to incoming passengers from Britain has been tentatively set for August 1 in the Republic of Cyprus, with health officials warning that the decision is conditional on the United Kingdom keeping a firm grip on containing the virus...

2812. Hagia Sophia mosque conversion verdict expected within 15 days, says report

A verdict on whether Hagia Sophia in Istanbul will be converted into a mosque is to be issued within 15 days, Turkey’s Daily Sabah reported Thursday....

2813. Govt mulling over state guarantee scheme for Cyprus students in UK

Cyprus Ministers and MPs put their heads together on Wednesday to find ways of dealing with the UK’s decision to end home fee status for EU students from the 2021-22 academic year....

2814. Cyprus slams Turkey over fish wars

Republic of Cyprus Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis issued an indicting statement against Turkey this week, when he accused that country of illegal activities in Cypriot waters during a fisheries control teleconference...

2815. 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....

2816. Arrivals keep divided Cyprus on toes

Discussions on virus risks are taking place publicly between officials and health experts on both sides of the divided island, with the north scrambling to find the right formula before July 1 and the south moving to correct a number of issues...

2817. Cyprus bumps Bulgaria down to category B

Cypriot authorities dropped Bulgaria to category B, that includes countries of low-risk but relatively more concern in terms of coronavirus compared to those in the first category....

2818. Northwest Cyprus to be rebranded 'Paphos Riviera' amid fresh tourism designs

The Cyprus deputy tourism ministry is eyeing the western extremities of the Paphos region that is expected to be rebranded as the ‘Paphos Riviera’, announcing a new tender for the creation of a tourist development strategy and for the establishment of a tourist identity for the wider areas of Polis Chrysochous and Tylliria....

2819. North sending mixed signals over opening to Turkey on July 1

The Turkish Cypriot administration was giving off mixed signals over plans to restore connectivity with Turkey on July 1, with head of the administration Ersin Tatar stating Thursday it had decided to stick to the decision and double-check arrivals for the virus, contradicting statements made Wednesday by Kudret Ozersay, in charge of foreign affairs in the north, who said that the administration had failed to reach a final decision and was considering to re-evaluate the move....

2820. Cyprus tourism gearing up for ‘British invasion’

The tourism industry in the Republic of Cyprus is fighting tooth and nail to minimize losses this year, with the tourism minister hinting at British arrivals in mid-July and hoteliers asking for specific dates to get ready...