Cyprus - Page 2

In an effort to clamp down on human trafficking, Europol raided hundreds of vineyards and farms across Europe last month.

A protest in Cyprus against government measures forcing all citizens to present a Chinese coronavirus “vaccine pass” to enter nearly all public spaces on the island turned violent this weekend after some participants attacked a local TV station that supported the state-mandated badges.

Cyprus has accused the Turkish coastguard of firing warning shots at a Cypriot police vessel north of Tylliria as it was on patrol for illegal migrants.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – European nations are scrambling to ramp up vaccination drives, using a carrot-and-stick approach to persuade the reluctant to get their shots as the more transmissible delta variant drives a surge in infections.

(AFP) — Cyprus said a deadly forest fire that was the worst to hit the island in decades was close to being brought under control Sunday after water bombing by Greek and Israeli aircraft.

(AFP) — Cyprus said Friday it is in a “state of emergency” because of an inflow of Syrian migrants that has flooded its reception centres, appealing for help from the European Union. Cyprus has this week faced a “daily wave of

Cyprus has said that Turkish hackers attacked its parliament’s website last month. The Cypriot Digital Security Authority investigated the cyber attack, which took place on April 5th, and found that the source came from internet protocol (IP) addresses linked to a Turkish hacker group.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The interior ministers of the five Mediterranean countries on the front line of mass migration to Europe want their EU partners to share the burden more equitably.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told the European Parliament on Monday he has “serious concerns” about the Turkish government’s behavior on various issues, “ranging from the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish decision to buy the Russian air defense system S-400 or related to democratic rights in Turkey.”

Israel said Friday it joined Greece and Cyprus for naval exercises, confirming increased cooperation among countries that increasingly view Turkey as a rival in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Orthodox Church of Cyprus has denounced “El Diablo” (The Devil), its country’s entry into the 2021 Eurovision song contest, calling for the song to be withdrawn due to its Satanic references.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Many Europeans are desperate for a coronavirus vaccine. But not just any vaccine.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wants to improve relations between Turkey and the European Union, after years of making repeated threats towards the political bloc and Greece.

Turkish government communications director Fahrettin Altun has claimed the eastern Mediterranean Sea as part of his country’s “blue homeland”, as tensions remain high in the region.

NATO head Jens Stoltenberg has called on countries to resolve issues through dialogue as the European Union explores sanctions against Turkey over its activity in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias warned that continued Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean were threatening peace in the region.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Turkey sees itself as a part of Europe, but he called on the European Union to “keep your promises” on issues such as the country’s membership bid and refugees.

Former Google CEO and Clinton lackey Eric Schmidt has reportedly applied to become a citizen of the island of Cyprus, essentially buying a passport that would allow him to enter the European Union. The move as Schmidt is reportedly being courted for a prominent tech role in a Biden administration.

A group of around 80 Muslims, mostly comprised of migrants from Egypt and Syria, tore down the French flag at the country’s embassy in Cyprus this week.

Islamist Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the United Nations to establish “International Solidarity Day Against Islamophobia” during his speech at the General Assembly on Tuesday, claiming Muslims are the most vulnerable population to “racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and hate speech.”

France on Friday backed Cyprus’ calls for the European Union to consider imposing tougher sanctions on Turkey.

Mike Pompeo said part of how President Donald Trump and his administration have achieved many of the foreign policy successes the past few years has been by working outside various “multilateral institutions” that are often bogged down by bureaucracy and inaction.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his French counterpart and NATO ally Emmanuel Macron on Saturday “not to mess” with Turkey, as the two continue to spar amid rising tensions in the Mediterranean.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is preparing to outline Saturday the details of a program to boost Greece’s defence capabilities, amid heightened tensions with neighbouring Turkey over rights to resources in the eastern Mediterranean.

NICOSIA, CYPRUS (AP) — Cypriot authorities have expressed alarm over the arrival of four boats carrying Syrian and Lebanese migrants in waters off the east Mediterranean island nation’s coastline within a 48-hour span.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned Greece to enter talks over disputed eastern Mediterranean territorial claims or face the consequences.

Istanbul — Turkey’s big push into the Mediterranean featuring controversial gas drilling, tough rhetoric and warships is rooted in a grand vision of a “Blue Homeland” that takes over waters claimed by EU neighbours.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greece’s prime minister warmly thanked France Thursday for boosting its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, where Greek and Turkish warships are closely shadowing each other over a Turkish energy exploration bid in waters Athens claims as its own.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greece’s prime minister is to convene the government’s national security council after Turkey announced its research vessel would be conducting exploratory drilling in the eastern Mediterranean in an area between Cyprus and Greece.

Admiral Kosmas Christidis has claimed that the Greek armed forces are fully capable of taking on Turkey militarily, as tensions remain high between the two countries in the Mediterranean.

The government of Cyprus is launching an investigation into allegations of the sexual assault of underage girls at a migrant centre.  

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi said this week that his government desires peace and stability in neighboring Libya, but might be prepared to intervene with military force to protect Egypt’s western border and thwart the ambitions of Turkey and its militia allies.

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Greek counterpart Tuesday he hoped to open Israel’s skies as soon as August after a prolonged closure due to the coronavirus, and that Greece would be among the first destinations for Israeli tourists.

The Orthodox Church of Cyprus has rejected a government ordinance banning gatherings of over 75 people, saying it would continue to hold its divine liturgy as usual for all who desire to participate.

Reuters filed an exclusive report on Monday citing three “senior Western security officials” who blamed a recent wave of cyberattacks in Europe and the Middle East on “hackers acting in the interests of the Turkish government.”

Israel, Greece, and Cyprus signed a historic agreement Thursday for the Eastern Mediterranean project that will see Israeli gas delivered to Europe via an undersea pipeline, overturning Turkey’s efforts to thwart the deal.