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91. More asylum seekers relocated to France

On July 12, 2023, another group of asylum seekers, totaling 51 individuals, was voluntarily relocated from the Republic of Cyprus to France. The relocation was carried out through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Interior, ...

92. Asylum seeker trends: Declining numbers and shifting origins

According to data obtained by "K" from the Asylum Service of the Ministry of Interior, the top five countries of origin for asylum seekers and the number of applications received in June 2023 are as follows:...

93. Migrant reception center in Kofinou inaugurated today

The inauguration of the first phase of construction works at the International Protection Applicant Reception Center in Kofinou, upgraded with the support of the European Asylum Agency (EUAA), took place today, conducted by the Minister of Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, along with Nina Gregory, the Executive Director of EUAA, and Beate Gminder, Deputy Director-General in the Directorate-General for Internal Affairs of the EU....

94. Asylum seeker returns to exceed 4,300

Returns of asylum seekers so far in 2023 have exceeded 4,370 and are significantly higher compared to last year when they were 2,353, the Minister of Internal Affairs Constantinos Ioannou has said....

95. Media and UNHCR collaborate to foster a welcoming environment for refugees

During a meeting held on World Refugee Day, the Cyprus Media Ethics Committee, the Union of Cyprus Journalists, and the UNHCR Country Office in Cyprus gathered at the Journalist House in Nicosia to discuss...

96. Ex ‘superminister’ defends proposal after boat disaster

A Cypriot former minister known for his tough stance on migration wants a yay or nay on his proposal where asylum applications could be filed abroad, a measure not supported by some capitals including Berlin, which may be having second thoughts in the aftermath of a boat disaster in Greece...

97. Visa fraud scandal widens after airport arrest

Cyprus Police made headway in an investigation into visa fraud over the weekend, following an airport arrest in connection with an illegal network where Syrians rejected for refugee status ended up paying middlemen for subsidiary protection...

98. Cablenet: The Fastest Growing Mobile Network

99. US hails Cyprus for its efforts in combating human trafficking

The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has been recognized for its serious and sustained efforts in combating human trafficking, according to the annual report released by the U.S. State Department. ...

100. Questions emerge after deadly migrant boat incident

Questions emerged about a fishing boat carrying hundreds of migrants that sank Wednesday off the coast of Greece, with new reports adding to confusion over the approach towards the trawler by Greek authorities...

101. Cyprus takes a stand for solidarity in EU immigration reform

Minister of Interior Konstantinos Ioannou announced on Friday that Cyprus views the establishment of a mandatory solidarity mechanism as a significant development for the country....

102. Minister highlights progress in migration management efforts

During a recent press conference on migration, Constantinos Ioannou, the Minister of Interior, discussed the current state of asylum applications and the return of irregular migrants to their countries of origin between March and May 2023. He emphasized the government's policies and measures to address these challenges....

103. Strong occupancy rates over long weekend translates into thriving leisure sector

Occupancy in leisure businesses throughout Cyprus ranged from 75% to 80% during the Pentecost long weekend, known in Cyprus as Kataklysmos (Inundation), according to the Federation of Recreation Centres (OSIKA)....

104. Christodoulides calls island’s division a European problem

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for 'political courage' in Cyprus peace talks during a visit to Berlin by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who said the island’s division was a 'European problem' and Brussels could lead the way to a solution...

105. Health Ministry reports 10 deaths and over 2000 cases of covid

Ten deaths were announced by the Ministry of Health between April 21 to May 4 due to COVID-19 as well as 2.404 new cases....

106. Romanians protest for Schengen accession

Hundreds of Romanians participated in the protest organized in Brussels by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party to stop treating Romanians as second-class European citizens....

107. Green Line border agents get ready for action

Over two hundred Green Line border agents will report on duty later this month on the Greek Cypriot side of the UN buffer zone, but the newly-hired sergeants will only focus on irregular migrants, leaving drug trafficking and other crimes off the agenda...

108. Decline in asylum approvals in Cyprus in 2022

According to data from Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU, EU countries granted protection status to 384,245 asylum seekers in 2022, up 40% from the previous year. However, in Cyprus, there was a significant decrease in protection status, with only 580 cases being granted (compared to 2,305 in 2021)....

109. 'The goal is 1,000 voluntary returns per month,' says Ioannou

The government of Cyprus has outlined a four-pillar plan to address immigration issues, according to Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou. The first pillar is to limit the flow of asylum seekers entering Cyprus, followed by managing asylum applications and reception areas more efficiently....

110. Delivery driver middleman scandal widens

A recent traffic accident has prompted police to widen a fraud investigation that began in Limassol and now has reached the capital, following revelations that foreign food delivery drivers in Cyprus were paying middlemen to secure driver permits through the state’s austere system...

111. Italy declares state of emergency

To deal with the recent influx of migrants arriving on the southern shores of Italy, the country's right-wing government has announced a six-month nationwide state of emergency....

112. Total of 126 asylum seekers in Cyprus sent to Germany

A total of 126 applicants for international protection, originating from Somalia, Afghanistan, Congo, Nigeria and Syria departed on Tuesday on the first chartered flight from Cyprus to Germany where they are being resettled....

113. City employee arrested in driver permit middleman scandal

More suspects including a civil servant have been arrested in the document fraud scandal where foreign food delivery drivers allegedly paid hundreds of euros to a middleman in order to secure a driver’s permit...

114. Is it the beginning of the end of the gender pay gap?

Imagine you are Anna, a dedicated and hardworking engineer with a passion for your work. You've spent years honing your skills and made a significant contribution to your company's success....

115. New migration scandal looms after network uncovered

A new scandal involving services for asylum seekers may have been inadvertently uncovered in Limassol, where arrest warrants have been issued amid strict rules for renewing driver permits and a black market designed to overcome restrictions...

116. Asylum applications up by 490% since 2016

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou told MPs on Thursday that the number of applications for international protection increased by 490% since 2016, pointing out the need to implement an EU action plan for the Eastern Mediterranean with a view to reducing migratory flows....

117. US report: Harsh conditions in Cyprus prisons

The US State Department's Human Rights in Cyprus 2022 report highlights significant human rights issues in Cyprus. The report states that there were credible reports of harsh conditions in prisons and detention centers, particularly for asylum seekers....

118. Many Cypriots are climate-aware and ready to fight

According to the European Investment Bank's (EIB) annual Climate Survey, 83% of Cypriots under 30 consider the environmental impact of their future job to be a significant factor in their career choice, while 25% consider it a top priority....

119. US report on Cyprus notes rise of antisemitism

A US report on Cyprus highlights significant human rights issues including reports of abuse and harsh conditions in detention centers for asylum seekers...

120. Cyprus scraps online visa appointments after scandal

Immigration authorities in the Republic of Cyprus scrapped an online appointment platform on Monday after allegations were made public about agents selling available slots to foreigners for profit and causing months of waiting for those who did not shell out the cash...