Search

1531. Greece, UAE commit to mutual defense assistance

The mutual defense assistance clause, activated in the event that one of the two countries’ territorial integrity is threatened, is probably the most important part of the defense and foreign policy cooperation agreement signed by Greece and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week, according to sources with inside information....

1532. Turkey’s behavior ‘widening its separation’ from EU, Borrell says

Turkey’s rhetoric on Cyprus is aggravating tensions with the European Union and Ankara must understand that its behavior is “widening its separation” from the 27-nation bloc, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday....

1533. Obama offers piece of the puzzle in Greek debt crisis

Apart from providing key insights into a special (in many respects) presidency, Barack Obama’s memoir contains some very interesting references to the Greek debt crisis and the way in which the major European powers chose to deal with the situation....

1534. Cabinet approves national framework on smart cities strategy

The Cabinet approved the development of a national framework on the strategy and promotion of smart cities, after a proposal submitted by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy....

1535. KPMG says it will be net zero carbon by 2030

KPMG announced its intention to become a net-zero carbon organisation by 2030, as part of its continued focus on delivering growth in a sustainable way and providing climate solutions for member firms, clients and society...

1536. Cyprus 2021 defence budget up by €70 million

The six pillars of the defence ministry’s strategic aims in defence and security matters were presented before the parliamentary finance committee by defence minister Charalambos Petrides on Monday, in the context of his ministry’s budget for 2021....

1537. President's Cabinet to rethink COVID strategy

President Nicos Anastasiades has called for an emergency Cabinet meeting on Monday, after data over the weekend appeared to suggest that things were taking a turn for the worse despite hard work and added measures...

1538. US and Russia take liberties over Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus was in a diplomatic pickle this week, after US officials urged the island to follow through with banning Russian naval ships, prompting Moscow’s reaction...

1539. Cyprus digital transformation plan laid out

Cyprus' Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy is looking towards a two-speed plan, separating the aim for digital transformation into small high-speed and longer-orientated projects, in order to ensure effectiveness, Deputy Minister Kyriacos Kokkinos said on Thursday....

1540. Bill introduces femicide in penal code

A new bill proposal calling for femicide to be recognized officially as a sex-based hate crime has been submitted to the House legal affairs committee, with proponents saying the term would be helpful for prosecutorial reasons while some critics say the law might be sexist...

1541. Bar set low as Brussels, UN in low spirits for CyProb involvement

Foreign players ranging from Brussels and Berlin to New York have lowered their expectations and show a reduced eagerness to actively get involved in efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus Problem....

1542. Cyprus, Greece, Israel to bolster cooperation

The foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus and Israel hailed the tripartite partnership between the three countries, aimed at bolstering economic and energy cooperation, during a meeting in Athens on Tuesday, and agreed that it could be expanded to include other countries in the region....

1543. Ministry adjusts gender balance of culture committee

After intense public outcry over the imbalances of the education and culture ministry’s new advisory committee for cultural policy, which had included just one woman among 15 men, the ministry changed course, adding nine more women to the group on Thursday....

1544. Ministry slammed for imbalances in new culture committee

The ministry of education and culture was criticized for taking one step forward and two steps back on the cultural front, after it announced on Tuesday the composition of a 16-member advisory committee that would draw up policy proposals for culture and the arts in Cyprus....

1545. EY Attractiveness Survey Cyprus 2020

EY Attractiveness Survey Cyprus 2020: Investors are optimistic about the country’s attractiveness over the coming years, but state that there is room for improvement...

1546. Carrot-and-stick approach to Turkey failing, EU envoys say

The European Union's latest strategy to defuse tensions with Turkey is unravelling, two weeks after it was sealed, raising the risk of conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean, diplomats, officials and experts said....

1547. Germany slams Turkey for sending survey ship to eastMed

German foreign minister Heiko Maas criticized Turkey for sending a survey vessel back into controversial waters of the eastern Mediterranean, calling the unilateral move a blow to efforts to start negotiations in the conflict....

1548. Cyprus suspends golden passport programme

The Republic of Cyprus announced unexpectedly on Tuesday that the current Citizenship by Investment Programme would be abolished, following an emergency Cabinet meeting a day after Al Jazeera published a secret video alleging corruption in the island’s golden passport scheme...

1549. Turkey points finger at Greece

Ankara fired back at US and EU criticism over actions of its decision to send Oruc Reis survey vessel near the Greek island of Kastellorizo, while also accusing Athens of escalating tensions and refusing honest dialogue over maritime disputes...

1550. EU FMs call for reversal of Varosha opening

The 27 EU foreign ministers called on Monday for a reversal of the opening of Varosha, the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said, after chairing a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council earlier in Luxembourg....

1551. EY Cyprus Platinum Sponsor at first Cyprus Forum

1552. Green transition in transport, agriculture an uphill task

Achieving sustainable transport demands policies on a governmental and local level which will give priority to users, providing more accessible, fair and clean alternative solutions, chairman of the parliamentary committee on transport, Charalambos Pittokopitis, has said, noting that the transition could not be achieved overnight....

1553. Cyprus FM calls for collective action to safeguard women's rights

Cyprus' Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides called for concrete and collective actions that will bring transformative change in safeguarding women`s rights. ...

1554. Judge Ankara by its actions not its words

Michael Rubin, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, favors a less sympathetic approach on Turkey, arguing ad hoc partnerships can put pressure on Ankara to come around...

1555. What Berlin made clear to Nicosia

German officials coordinating with Nicosia, after the Republic of Cyprus told the foreign affairs council that it would use its veto power if sanctions against Belarus are not linked with those against Turkey, said that the prospect of sanctions against Turkey is a distant scenario....

1556. Winter season a window of opportunity for tourism

With the tourism sector’s performance this summer having refuted even the most optimistic forecasts that were made, the question for tour operators is what more can be done over the next period to reduce the big losses. As such, everyone's attention has shifted to the winter period that begins next November and ends in March 2021....

1557. The EU did not act in united fashion, Cyprus President tells Le Figaro

In an interview with the French daily Le Figaro published Thursday, President Nicos Anastasiades said that in responding Turkey’s actions in the eastern Mediterranean, the EU did not act in a decisive and united fashion, while refuting that Cyprus vetoed sanctions against Belarus....

1558. The four scenarios after the 'veto'

The decision on EU sanctions has been postponed for the meeting of the 27 leaders of member states, likely to take place on October 1 and 2 due to a case of coronavirus. At that meeting, it will become clear whether the case of Belarus will be linked with whether sanctions will be imposed on Turkey for its provocations in the Cyprus EEZ or not. Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides made it clear to the Council of Foreign Ministers that what was agreed in Berlin should be respected, in essence using his veto. Whether Nicosia will maintain this position until the end will be seen at the summit of the 27....

1559. Coronavirus measures bring sharp drop in EU asylum applications

First-time asylum applicants in the EU recorded a sharp drop of almost 70% during the second quarter of 2020, mainly as a result of coronavirus emergency measures imposed by member states from March, Eurostat figures showed Wednesday....

1560. Michel pulls plug on EU leaders summit

European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday postponed without prior notice this week's EU leaders summit, where the bloc’s credibility is said to on the line, saying he would isolate himself following a coronavirus scare...