Cyprus sends 88 Syrian refugees back to Lebanon

Cyprus did not allow 88 Syrian refugees on its territory, blocking their two boats in the sea, and after almost 24 hours, sent them back to their point of departure – Lebanon. The migrants were sent back by private ship, hired by the government of Cyprus, which set sail under police escort and with police officers, nurses and representatives of various Cyprian services on board. The operation was carried out under the agreement between Cyprus and Lebanon on the repatriation of illegal migrants, BNR’s correspondent in Cyprus Branislava Bobanats reports.

Because of the practice of pushing refugee boats out to sea and not granting right of asylum, Nicosia has been criticized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Council of Europe and human rights organizations. However, according to the government, the country does not have the capacity to accept any more migrants, over which a state of emergency was declared in May.

Janez Jansa: EU will not open any humanitarian or migration corridors for Afghanistan

Janez Jansa, Prime Minister of Slovenia, which took over the 6-month Presidency of the Council of the EU, stated that the EU will not open any humanitarian or migration corridors for Afghanistan. “We will not allow the strategic mistake from 2015 to be repeated," he stated. On Twitter he wrote that “We have to help only individuals who helped us during NATO op. and those countries guarding the EU's external border to fully protect it.”

In another Twitter post Janez Jansa wrote: “If women can organize and fight against the Taliban in some parts of Afghanistan, so should men. It is not the duty of the EU or Slovenia to help and pay everyone on the planet who is fleeing, instead of fighting for their homeland.”

Erdogan and Mitsotakis: The countries neighbouring on Afghanistan need support

Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan discussed developments in Afghanistan. According to the Greek Kathimerini, the talks focused on migratory pressure against the backdrop of the challenges the two countries face. The two leaders agreed on the need to support the countries neighbouring on Afghanistan, so that the Afghan refugees can remain as close as possible to their homes.

Romania braces for thousands of daily Covid-19 infections

Valeriu Georgica, chair of the National Coordinating Committee for COVID-19 Vaccination Activities of Romania, declared, as quoted by Romanian public service radio, that a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic is rising in Romania, and that very soon the Delta variant will become dominant.

According to Minister of Health Ioana Mihaila, how bad the wave will be depends on the percentage of vaccinated people. She stated that textile face masks will be banned at educational establishments and students will only use medical masks. 953 new coronavirus cases were registered in the country on Thursday out of 35,000 tests performed. 17 people died of Covid-19 in that day. According to the authorities the number of daily cases will reach 1,000 by the end of the month.

Unpaid leave for unvaccinated medical workers in Greece

Greece is tightening the measures against the unvaccinated, Health Minister Vasilis Kikilias announced. As of 1 September, vaccination will be mandatory for all healthcare workers in hospitals and at nursing homes. The unvaccinated will not be allowed to work until the end of the pandemic. Doctors in private practice and pharmacists will also have to be vaccinated. Those who are not vaccinated will have to go on unpaid leave.

The Union of Healthcare Workers in Greece lodged an action at the Supreme Court against mandatory vaccination. Specialists warn that if thousands of health workers have to stay home the hospital sector will be blocked.

Lazy record in Montenegro wins 300-euro prize

Lazy Olympics were held in Montenegro with the participation of 8 Montenegrins. The title of “laziest citizen of Montenegro” was won by Dubravka Aksić who set a new laziness record of lying down for 117 hours, and won the 300-euro prize, the Montenegrin Dnevnik writes.

According to the rules of this unique for Europe competition, the participants can sleep, eat and drink, read books and use their telephones, but are now allowed to get up. The previous record for lying down continuously is 52 hours.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova