https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/damning-state-dep-report-highlights-cyprus-human-rights-issues
A US State Department country report on human rights practices in 2020 proved damning for Cyprus which was found to have had significant human rights issues last year....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-scrambles-to-reduce-asylum-backlog
Interior Minister Nicos Nouris says the government is moving forward with rejections of asylum applications under new, faster procedures to clear a system backlog, with Europe seeking a comprehensive solution and a commissioner calling on Cypriot authorities to investigate illegal pushbacks...
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/asylum-seekers-at-pournara-breach-gate
A group of asylum seekers at Nicosia’s Pournara camp got a brief taste of freedom on Wednesday, after residents breached the front gate during a protest against long-term detention at the migration facility...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/pournara-residents-protest-harsh-camp-conditions
Asylum seekers living in the Pournara camp located at the outskirts of Nicosia staged a peaceful protest on Monday against the delays in the processing of their applications, as well as against the severe overcrowding and harsh conditions of life in the camp....
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/syrian-refugees-held-at-police-station
Newly-arrived presumptive refugees were on standby this week, after reports said they were taken to a police station in Famagusta district due to overcrowding conditions at a migrant reception centre in rural Nicosia...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-energy-designs-unaffected-by-turkey-s-provations-president-says
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said Tuesday that that the Republic, as a sovereign and independent state and despite Turkey’s provocations, threats and illegal activities, is determined to go ahead with the implementation of its energy policy....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-migrant-camp-way-over-capacity
The overcrowding situation with refugees and asylum seekers at Pournara camp was back in the news, following an unannounced visit by the state’s Ombudswoman who said she saw some improvements but also some problems still not being addressed such as the right to move freely out of the camp...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-greece-sign-agreement-for-new-migrant-center-on-lesvos
The European Commission on Thursday signed a memorandum outlining a detailed plan agreed by Greek authorities and EU agencies to establish a new, up-to-standard reception center on the island of Lesvos by early September 2021. This is a key step in resolving the situation following the fires that destroyed the Moria camp in September. It is the result of the work of European Taskforce that was created at that time....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-criticizes-hasty-uk-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine
The European Union criticised Britain's rapid approval of Pfizer and BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday, saying its own procedure was more thorough, after Britain became the first western country to endorse a Covid-19 shot....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-makes-last-ditch-effort-to-beat-virus
The latest measures against the spread of the coronavirus went into effect on Monday, including a night curfew across all districts, as calls for all citizens to be tested multiplied just before Christmas holidays...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/council-of-europe-report-critical-of-greece-s-migrant-pushbacks-detention-conditions
A Council of Europe report, released Thursday, calls on Greece to stop pushbacks of migrants and calls out the country on the conditions in several migrant detention centers....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-unveils-measures-for-remainder-of-year
The Republic of Cyprus has unveiled its latest measures against the spread of the coronavirus for the remainder of the year, including mandatory masks for students and optional repeat tests for travelers...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/greece-‘overreacted-to-turkish-research-mission-erdogan-spokesman-says
Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said Thursday that Greece had “overreacted” to plans by Turkey to proceed with an oil-and-gas research mission south of Greek islands in the Eastern Mediterranean....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/virus-infected-migrants-may-be-crossing-into-south
Asylum-seekers infected with coronavirus could be seeping through the porous Cyprus cease-fire line, the country’s health minister warned Sunday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/anastasiades-lauds-france-as-a-pillar-of-stability-in-eastmed-region
In a period of immense challenges and illegal actions, the presence of the French naval force in the broader geographical region tangibly proves the readiness and determination of France to act as a pillar of stability in the region, while it sends a clear message to those who aim at escalating tensions by acting in an unacceptable way, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said Monday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/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....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/unhcr-rep-to-provide-statement-on-sexual-harassment-claims-at-pournara
The UNHCR representative that raised the alarm regarding incidents of the sexual harassment of minors at the Pournara refugee camp in Kokkinotrimithia was expected to provide police with a statement on Wednesday, the outgoing police chief Kypros Michaelides said....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/nicosia-midtown-business-center-in-the-works
A new modern business centre on the most popular main street in Nicosia is said to be in the pipeline, following reports that the Bank of Cyprus has sold a parking lot in the midtown area...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/racism-xenophobia-rife-in-cyprus-refugees-say
A teleconference on Tuesday raised the multifaceted problems faced by refugees and asylum seekers on the island, such as racism and xenophobia, hardships during the coronavirus pandemic, and difficulties with integrating into Cyprus society....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-to-launch-sms-campaign-to-stem-migrant-arrivals
Cyprus is launching a multilingual SMS campaign to head off more migrant arrivals by dispelling the mistaken belief the European Union member country is a gateway to the continent, the Cypriot interior minister said Sunday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/mass-deportations-underway-in-cyprus
The Republic of Cyprus has begun expelling foreign nationals who have been turned down for asylum, citing concerns over security threats and changing demographics due to a migration crisis...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/demonstration-outside-refugee-camp-sparks-government-reaction
A demonstration staged outside the Pournara camp in Kokkinotrimithia on Sunday calling for an end to the arbitrary detention of hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers stirred reaction from the Government on Tuesday, with an Interior Ministry announcement claiming it won’t be allowing any further ghettoization of the island....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/conditions-at-migrant-camps-improving-but-arbitrary-detention-issues-remain
The UNHCR office in Cyprus said on Monday that it was pleased with the steps being taken to improve the living conditions of asylum seekers on the island, but expressed hope that additional measures will follow to tackle the multifaceted issues that emerged amid the coronavirus outbreak....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/coronavirus-death-toll-in-greece-at-136
The death toll from the coronavirus in Greece rose to 136 on Monday after two patients being treated in hospitals in northern Greece passed away, reports said.
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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/unhcr-steps-in-to-ensure-refugees-in-cyprus-receive-proper-protection
The UNHCR office in Cyprus has stressed that refugees must be included in the government’s planning and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, offering hands-on solutions to the myriad problems in the government’s handling of refugee and asylum procedures that have only been exacerbated by the current crisis....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/ngos-raise-alarm-over-inhumane-conditions-at-overcrowded-migrant-detention-camp
Two migrant and refugee support NGOs, Cyprus Refugee Council and Caritas Cyprus, have raised the alarm over the inhumane conditions that have developed in the Kokkinitrimithia camp, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic broke out on the island....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/migrant-camps-on-greek-islands-put-on-lockdown
No visitors, including members of organizations and agencies, will be allowed into the migrant reception and processing centers on the Greek islands for the next two weeks at least, the Migration Ministry said yesterday, announcing a series of measures to prevent a coronavirus outbreak in any of the facilities....