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1621. 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...

1622. Coronavirus ICU builders turn down bonus

The contractors who built an Intensive Care Unit in less than a month at Nicosia General Hospital have returned their bonus check, offering the money as a donation to the state to buy ICU equipment...

1623. 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...

1624. Coronavirus picture remains positive as island braces for phase two

Cyprus maintained its streak of minimal new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, as just one new case was announced two days before the initiation of the second phase of the relaxation of measures that will see restrictions on movement lifted....

1625. Students, teachers to be educated on e-learning methods

The first classes to be offered to primary and middle school students once back at school will focus on distance learning as a method of education, Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said Tuesday....

1626. Cabinet scraps bill for government loan guarantees

The Cabinet on Tuesday withdrew a bill that would allow the government to provide guarantees for loans to be given to businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic....

1627. Health advisors propose Cyprus government moves forward with phase two

New coronavirus cases in the Republic maintained their low streak on Friday as just three new cases were confirmed, but experts speaking at the Health Ministry’s daily briefing said the coming days are crucial as students are set to return to school....

1628. Greece assumes chairmanship of Council of Europe

Greece on Friday took over the rotating six-month chairmanship of the Council of Europe (CoE) from Georgia, in a ceremony that was conducted online due to public health precautions....

1629. 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....

1630. Cyprus gets ready for hot weekend

A warm air mass is affecting areas over Cyprus, with temperature highs climbing in the upper 30’s around the capital on Friday and reaching 41 on Saturday...

1631. ‘Queen Elizabeth’ applies for state subsidy

Labour office employees have been swamped with applications for wage subsidies due to the coronavirus pandemic, including one case under the name of “Queen Elizabeth"...

1632. President seeks input ahead of big decision

A crucial event is taking place on Friday at the Presidential Palace, as the epidemiological taskforce is meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades to assess the situation on the ground and the next steps in easing lockdown restrictions...

1633. Turkey defends Larnaca-bound flight decision

Ankara says a Larnaca-bound plane never submitted a timely request to fly through Turkish airspace, accusing the Republic of Cyprus of using the pandemic to score points for political gain...

1634. Commission calls on Turkey to show solidarity without discrimination

The European Commission called on Turkey "to maintain a spirit of solidarity without discrimination", referring to Wednesday’s incident where Turkey denied a flight transporting medical equipment to Cyprus to enter its airspace....

1635. 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....

1636. COVID-19 outbreak both a curse and a blessing

The coronavirus pandemic in Cyprus has come as both a curse and a blessing, as it forced authorities to move with unprecedented speeds toward a digital transformation, Deputy Minister for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Kyriacos Kokkinos said Thursday....

1637. 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...

1638. Data shows Cyprus can move ahead with phase two of exit plan

Data collected so far on the island’s unfolding coronavirus pandemic indicate that the Cyprus government can move into the second phase of the gradual relaxation of restriction measures, member of the scientific group advising the government, Constantinos Tsioutis said Wednesday....

1639. EU pushes to unlock borders as coronavirus ravages travel

1640. 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...

1641. Companies in Cyprus ready for the new norm

CFOs in Cyprus appear more pessimistic in the second round of the survey conducted by PwC on the effects of COVID-19 on businesses and the wider economy...

1642. Teachers refuse to livestream their classrooms

Public school teachers in the classroom remain firm on their refusal to live stream lessons online, saying it would be unproductive and dangerous, while reports point to a fear over internet memes...

1643. 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...

1644. 'Picture remains positive' as just two new cases emerge

Just two new coronavirus cases were announced during the Health Ministry’s briefing on Tuesday, with total confirmed cases in the Republic reaching 903....

1645. 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....

1646. Athens to undergo radical facelift

After the ambitious vision of creating a large traffic-free zone in Athens more or less fizzled out at the end of the previous decade, the Athens Municipal Council breathed new life into the project on Monday after approving a proposal for an extended pedestrian network and a drastic reduction of cars in the city center....

1647. 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....

1648. President gives thanks to nurses and midwives

President Nicos Anastasiades expressed the government’s and his own “deep gratitude” toward nurses and midwives for their valuable contribution in protecting the public’s health....

1649. 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...

1650. 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...