https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/locals-up-in-arms-over-mosque-plans
Local residents in a village in Paphos are up in arms over hearsay that Syrian inhabitants in the community want to have a mosque in the small rural town, with the debate on migration getting more intense and political...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/comment/opinion/1-the-evros-example
The West, particularly Europe, is faced with a dilemma. It is challenged by tough players that casually utilize threats and blackmail....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/north-calls-on-greek-cypriots-to-cooperate-on-migration
Turkish Cypriots say the north is in favour of working together with the south on the challenge of irregular migration, calling on Greek Cypriots to address the issue jointly in a 'spirit of cooperation' at a time when Interior Minister Nicos Nouris has been ramping up his rhetoric on drastic measures...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cypriot-‘superminister-accused-of-obstructing-sea-rescues
Cypriot Interior Minister Nicos Nouris has slammed a report about him calling the shots to hinder sea rescues of refugees, accusing a journalist of pushing an 'extremely dangerous' open doors agenda while the local newspaper is hitting back with a little-known 'embarrassing' incident...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-airs-migration-grievances-at-divided-europe
Interior Minister Nicos Nouris wants strong EU awareness on external borders to be shown in Cyprus as well, in remarks he made near the buffer zone on Sunday, just two days after the European Commission president signaled there would be no funding for barbed wire and walls...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-won-t-sign-pact-if-eu-doesn-t-budge
A letter to the Home Affairs commissioner sent by the MED5 ministers warns Brussels that front line states won’t sign the new pact on migration and asylum unless their demand for a 'balanced' agreement is met...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/lebanese-line-up-in-endless-queues-to-renew-passports
The situation in Lebanon remains chaotic due to the economic crisis....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/nato-must-stand-together-in-afghanistan
The political and military leadership of the Afghan Army must shoulder a significant part of the blame for its swift collapse...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/women-and-children-allowed-off-refugee-boat
Close to a hundred Syrian refugees were spotted on board a vessel on Wednesday off Cyprus’ Cape Greco, with reports saying half of them were women and children while coast guard officials ordered the men to remain on the boat...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-rejects-eu-draft-on-turkey-which-seeks-to-deepen-trade-ties
Cyprus has rejected a draft prepared for a summit of EU leaders this week which seeks to deepen trade ties with Turkey, describing it as “totally unacceptable.” ...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/fence-wars-break-out-near-buffer-zone
Opposing camps have been making headlines recently over a controversial barbwire fence near the buffer zone, with one group cutting a piece of barbed wire and the other restoring it, with all caught on tape...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-begins-sealing-porous-frontier
The Republic of Cyprus says a barbwire fence currently being set up along a strip adjacent to the UN buffer zone should not be seen as a border between north and south but a way to hold back undocumented migrants...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/brussels-concerned-over-pournara-refugees
The Republic of Cyprus’ handling of asylum seekers at Pournara camp remains on Brussels’ radar, with a host of different challenges raising questions over how the European Union and some member states can get on the same page without resorting to legal battles...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/violent-brawl-breaks-out-at-pournara
A large-scale violent confrontation between groups of asylum seekers erupted at Pournara camp on Monday night, with police calling for backup and two dozen ending up in the Emergency Room...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-leaders-weigh-sanctions-over-turkey-s-med-drilling-work
Concerned that their credibility is at stake, European Union leaders are set Thursday to give the green light to the expansion of sanctions against Turkey over its exploration of gas reserves in Mediterranean waters claimed by EU members Greece and Cyprus....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/fresh-total-lockdown-out-of-the-question-for-cyprus-govt
Finance minister Constantinos Petrides on Monday strongly refuted the possibility of Cyprus entering a second lockdown, such as the one it was plummeted into in March as a result of the outbreak of coronavirus....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/echr-asks-cyprus-to-explain-boat-incidents
The European Court of Human Rights has asked the government of the Republic of Cyprus to answer questions concerning recent refoulement of undocumented travelers at sea, in response to a request of an interim measure from a local attorney handling another case...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-defends-blocking-migrant-boats
A police task force from the Republic of Cyprus is hoping to hash out a plan with Lebanese authorities to deter “economic migrants” from traveling to the island, as government and state officials rush to respond to criticism over a decision to send back undocumented migrants to the neighbouring country...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/period-for-filing-appeals-against-asylum-service-decisions-slashed
The Cyprus Parliament on Friday amended the constitution to allow for a slashing of the time in which appeals can be filed against decisions of the asylum service from 75 days to 15 days....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/nicosia-mayor-weighs-in-on-migrant-housing
Nicosia Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis has suggested asylum applicants be barred from residing downtown until their applications are adjudicated, while also calling on the government for a 'clearer housing policy'...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/greek-pm-proposes-fresh-talks-with-turkey-on-maritime-zones-or-world-court
Greece’s Prime Minister reiterated a call for bilateral talks with Turkey on the delimitation of maritime zones in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, adding that if these don’t work, they should refer the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/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....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/interior-minister-presents-bills-for-streamlining-asylum-procedures
The house legal committee discussed on Tuesday a bundle of four bills, submitted by interior minister Nicos Nouris, that seek to streamline procedures for the processing of applications filed by asylum seekers as well as appeal proceedings....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-blocks-another-boat-due-to-coronavirus
A video showing a Republic of Cyprus coast guard vessel pursuing a boat of undocumented migrants has emerged, with police saying they blocked the boat due to the coronavirus crisis...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-moves-to-deport-suspected-terrorists
The Republic of Cyprus says it is getting ready to deport 17 undocumented migrants suspected of having ties to foreign terrorists, but proceedings could be delayed due to ongoing pandemic and other legal issues...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/migrant-camp-declared-‘local-infected-area
Human rights advocates in the Republic of Cyprus are crying foul over the government's handling of asylum seekers at Pournara camp, after the health ministry declared the migrant centre a “local infected area” citing public health laws due to an infestation...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/migrant-camp-near-boiling-point
Police said three people were arrested at Pournara migrant centre during a protest on Wednesday, one day after a hunger strike, as camp residents demand better living conditions and the right to leave camp...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/report-draws-attention-to-migrant-centres
A report published this week by Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides takes stock of current conditions in migrant facilities in the Republic of Cyprus, pointing out medical challenges, problems associated with weather, and asylum issues...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/greece-eyes-gradual-easing-of-lockdown-measures
The Greek government is working on a plan to ease some of the restrictions that have been introduced to curb the spread of the coronavirus, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expected to make announcements next week....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/future-of-rescued-refugees-in-north-unknown
The fate of 175 Syrian refugees, trapped in the north of the island amid the coronavirus pandemic, remains unknown while a human rights group is calling on Greek Cypriot authorities to take them in...
