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1711. Nicosia okay with EU27's third draft

European leaders in Brussels were able to break a deadlock on Belarus sanctions in the wee hours at the Special Council Meeting, after Nicosia accepted a third draft warning Turkey to remain positive to avoid sanctions...

1712. Michel’s first draft falls through

Little or no progress was made at the Special European Council by Thursday early evening, with reports saying Greece and Cyprus did not agree with a draft statement on EU relations with Turkey...

1713. Cyprus on the menu as EU27 break bread

European Council President Charles Michel has set aside an entire EU27 dinner to tackle the eastern Mediterranean and EU relations with Turkey, while President Erdogan has sent a letter outlying Ankara's position and a suggested way forward...

1714. Spanish foreign minister drops by Cyprus

Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya, who avoided commenting on Cyprus’ veto to sanctions against Belarus, is visiting Nicosia on Wednesday just one day ahead of a crucial Special European council in Brussels...

1715. Greek FM in Cyprus ahead of Brussels summit

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is visiting Nicosia on Wednesday for talks with his Cypriot counterpart ahead of a crucial Special European Council meeting later this week...

1716. Filipina abuse trial put off until next year

The criminal trial of a retired officer accused of aggravated assault against his Filipina domestic worker has been pushed back to next spring, with the suspect denying all charges while the plaintiff’s visa could be expiring soon...

1717. 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...

1718. Greece, US affirm commitment to boosting ties after high-level review

Greece and the US on Monday issued a joint statement following a high-level review of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue that took place in Thessaloniki amid a visit to the northern port by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias....

1719. Cops defend use of firearm in traffic stop

Questions have been raised in local media over the use of firearms by on-duty police officers, following an incident in Paphos when warning shots were fired during a traffic stop...

1720. Bad blood continues over golden passports

A prolonged and bitter dispute between the interior minister and auditor general, over probing Cyprus’ golden passports scheme, was renewed this week following a mini report with details on a number of applications through citizenship by investment...

1721. Fear grows over multiple chains of infection

A local health expert has expressed concern over the increase of COVID-19 cases in Cyprus, particularly Larnaca, saying he expected the coronavirus spike would spread to the rest of the island...

1722. 36 new coronavirus cases detected in Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus detected 36 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, a figure that the island hasn’t seen since before restriction measures were lifted....

1723. Measures imposed in Larnaca as virus flares

After the recent surge in coronavirus cases in the Larnaca district, where multiple chains of infection continue to grow daily, the health ministry on Wednesday re-imposed a number of localized restriction measures in a bid to tone down the spread....

1724. Student, nurse, football player test positive for virus

A Larnaca special school was on high alert on Wednesday after a student tested positive for coronavirus prior to being admitted for surgery, with 31 people, among them teachers and students, to remain in quarantine and the school to remain closed until Thursday....

1725. Officials nervous ahead of flu season

A recent climb in confirmed coronavirus cases, especially in Larnaca district, has prompted health officials to contemplate new tougher measures possibly across the island...

1726. Greek President stresses solidarity with Cyprus

President Katerina Sakellaropoulou on Monday underlined the unity and solidarity between Greece and Cyprus in the face of Turkish provocations during a two-day official visit to Nicosia....

1727. Law professor takes on manslaughter case

The Russian suspect accused of being behind the death of a Ukrainian man in Paphos has appointed a law professor for his defence, a Cypriot attorney with research interests in criminal procedures...

1728. Cop in child porn case back on the job

Police say they expect to launch a disciplinary probe after reports emerged that a special police officer was back on the job after serving six months in jail for using false pretences to obtain nude photos from a female high school student and then blackmailing her...

1729. Homeless Moria camp residents to be moved into boats, tents

Thousands of refugees and migrants left homeless by a fire at Greece’s biggest camp on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos, will be temporarily housed in a ferry boat, two navy ships and tents, Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis told a press conference on Wednesday, confirming that no deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of the blaze....

1730. Cyprus' coronavirus death toll rises

The Republic of Cyprus recorded a new coronavirus fatality involving a 76-year-old Nicosia general hospital patient with underlying health conditions, but whose death was ultimately attributed to his coronavirus infection....

1731. Charles Michel reiterates EU support for Greece, Cyprus in East Med row

European Council President Charles Michel on Monday reiterated European Union solidarity with Greece and Cyprus during a telephone conversation with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in which the increasingly tense situation in the Eastern Mediterranean was the key topic of discussion, according to sources....

1732. Cyprus to strip seven of citizenship granted through investment scheme

The Republic of Cyprus has begun the process of stripping seven people of Cypriot citizenship granted through the Cyprus Investment Program after a special committee found them in violation of current stricter criteria, President Nicos Anastasiades said in an interview with AFP on Friday. ...

1733. Government extends support schemes until end October

The Cabinet on Thursday decided to extend current government support programs aiming to cushion the blow of the coronavirus pandemic until the end of October, Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou said....

1734. Cabinet throws ball in attorney general’s court

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades is calling on the state’s attorney general to appoint yet another committee to probe golden passport applications to settle a dispute between the auditor general’s office and the interior ministry over the “Cyprus Papers”...

1735. Golden passports scheme to remain as is

The citizenship-by-investment program will not be terminated, nor will it be suspended for a short period as a way of managing the crisis developing crisis, the government decided during its Tuesday morning coffee at the Presidential Palace. What was strongly tabled was that a potential freezing or termination of the investment program at this point in time would send a message that the government is acting in light of the Al Jazeera publications, and that by extension, that it accepts them....

1736. KPMG Property Lending Barometer 2020

1737. Entrance fees to be scrapped at 12 Cyprus museums

Entrance fees will be scrapped at 12 museums across Cyprus in a bid to boost visitors....

1738. German FM calls for ‘direct discussions’ between Greece and Turkey

“The windows for dialogue between Greece and Turkey must now be opened further and not closed,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in an emailed statement before meeting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his counterpart, Nikos Dendias, in Athens on Tuesday....

1739. Face masks mandatory age 12 and up

Face masks in some locations are now mandatory for all persons aged 12 and above in the Republic of Cyprus, while the government has revised rules for elementary school students following protests...

1740. Health ministry announces 9 more cases bringing total to 39

The health ministry announced an additional nine new coronavirus cases on Monday, after 30 that were detected on Sunday at Cyprus airports were already announced earlier in the day....