Cyprus suspends processing of Syrian asylum applications as boatloads of refugees continue arriving

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus said Saturday it’s suspending processing all asylum applications by Syrian nationals because large numbers of refugees from the war-torn country continue to reach the island nation by boat, primarily from Lebanon. In a written statement, the Cypriot...

Cyprus president asks EU Commission chief to get Lebanon to stop migrants from leaving its shores

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The president of Cyprus said on Tuesday that he has personally asked the head of the European Union’s executive arm to intercede with Lebanese authorities to stop boatloads of Syrian refugees from heading to the east Mediterranean island nation. President...

What is World Central Kitchen and how has it helped people in Gaza?

JERUSALEM (AP) — World Central Kitchen, the food charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, called a halt to its work in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers, mostly foreigners. The group, which said it will make decisions about longer-term plans...

Cyprus says ships are turning back from Gaza with around 240 tons of undelivered aid after strike

Cyprus' foreign minister says ships carrying hundreds of tons of aid are approaching Gaza

US and Cyprus will sign a deal to fight money laundering and evasion of Russian sanctions

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The United States and Cyprus said Tuesday they’re formalizing their collaboration in fighting money laundering, sanctions evasion and other financial crimes with an agreement offering Cypriot law enforcement authorities U.S. expertise. The FBI and Cypriot...

Cyprus minister says a proposal to set up safe zones in Syria for refugees to return is advancing

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A Cyprus government proposal to enable repatriations of Syrian refugees by designating specific areas within the country as safe zones is “gaining ground” among the island nation's fellow European Union member states, the Cypriot interior minister said Friday. ...

The first ship to use a new sea route delivers aid to Gaza, Israeli miliary says

WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip (AP) — A ship delivered 200 tons of humanitarian supplies, food and water to Gaza on Friday, the Israeli military said, inaugurating a sea route from Cyprus for aid to help ease the humanitarian crisis brought by Israel’s 5-month-old offensive in the enclave. ...

Israeli military says cargo of aid has been unloaded in Gaza from ship arriving from Cyprus

An aid ship is sailing to Gaza, where hundreds of thousands face starvation 5 months into war

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An aid ship loaded with some 200 tons of food set sail for Gaza on Tuesday in a pilot program for the opening of a sea corridor to the territory, where the 5-month Israel-Hamas war has driven hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the brink of starvation. ...