https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-brings-back-tough-measures
The Cypriot government on Wednesday announced additional measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, as Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said extending current measures through New Year’s Eve was necessary due to a worsening situation...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-warns-against-easing-pandemic-containing-measures
As millions of European citizens gear up for the festive season, the European Union's executive commission urged member countries to keep strong anti-Covid-19 restrictions in place to avoid a post-holiday surge of coronavirus cases and deaths but stopped short of advising against travel....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/holy-synod-to-support-vaccine-but-maintains-holy-communion-stance
The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus convened for an emergency meeting on Tuesday during which it was briefed by members of the government’s coronavirus expert task force on the coronavirus pandemic, with the Holy Synod concluding that it will support the vaccination of the public but refused to accept that the virus can be transmitted through the holy communion ritual....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/health-ministry-responds-to-questions-on-new-measures
The health ministry on Monday responded to five questions regarding the new restriction measures that are to affect the island until mid-December....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-makes-last-ditch-effort-to-beat-virus
The latest measures against the spread of the coronavirus went into effect on Monday, including a night curfew across all districts, as calls for all citizens to be tested multiplied just before Christmas holidays...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/bishop-apologises-over-reporter-incident
Bishop Nikiforos of Kykkos, who told a reporter to “shut up” on Wednesday as cameras were rolling, has issued an apology, saying he regretted his behaviour, with the incident revealing tensions remain high over the Ukrainian issue...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/‘no-going-back-on-varosha-decision
Over 200 Varosha property owners are seeking to return to the divided island’s most popular ghost town, with Turkish Cypriots appearing ready to address Greek Cypriot grievances with or without a solution to the Cyprus problem, adding there is “no going back” on the plan to open the abandoned city...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/al-jazeera-turns-attention-to-jho-low
Cypriot-naturalized citizen Jho Low, the Malaysian fugitive financier whose golden passports came under scrutiny last year, was back in the news this week after Al Jazeera published a video with actual voice recordings of 'the biggest fish' seeking a way out of the 1MDB colossal scandal...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/partial-lockdowns-on-limassol-paphos-migrant-camps
The health minister Constantinos Ioannou announced stricter measures late on Wednesday night, with restrictions to be even harsher in the Limassol and Paphos districts that have developed into the epicentres of the island’s recent pandemic flare-up....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-tightens-restrictions-imposes-11pm-curfew
In a national address on Wednesday night, the Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said the government was obliged to take tough decisions for stricter measures as the island was no exception to Europe’s second coronavirus wave, before the health minister stepped in to outline the new measures that come into effect on Thursday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/mitsotakis-to-erdogan-time-to-stand-together-in-deadly-quake
Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis offered his condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the deaths caused by the powerful earthquake that struck the eastern Aegean island of Samos and the city of Izmir on Friday.
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https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-tightens-restrictions-as-virus-flares
The health ministry tightened its grip on the island in a bid to slow down the recent extreme flare-up of the virus that has sent daily new cases into three-digit numbers....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/passport-revocation-inquiries-move-forward
Cypriot authorities have identified seven individuals or foreign investors who could potentially be stripped of their Cypriot citizenship, after an internal probe pointed to forged documents or misleading information during the golden passport application process...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/measures-imposed-on-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....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/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...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/public-jittery-over-‘battlefield-school-pranks
Police detained three teenagers on illegal fireworks possession in connection with back-to-school pranks, while viral videos emerged showing delinquent youths using firecrackers and smoke bombs outside high schools in different towns...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-unveils-measures-for-remainder-of-year
The Republic of Cyprus has unveiled its latest measures against the spread of the coronavirus for the remainder of the year, including mandatory masks for students and optional repeat tests for travelers...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/restrictions-on-limassol-gatherings-eased-slightly
Cyprus’ developing epidemiological situation was discussed on Tuesday in an emergency teleconference meeting between the Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou and the government’s coronavirus advisory team, with participants agreeing to relax certain restrictions in Limassol....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-back-to-square-one
Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces will be mandatory in the Republic of Cyprus, following a government decision in response to concerns over a recent spike of coronavirus cases...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/church-bells-toll-for-hagia-sophia
Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos has ordered church bells across the island to ring on Friday, marking what he described as a “criminal conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque"...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/young-woman-dies-in-hospital-after-brutal-crash
A young local woman died in hospital over the weekend, ten days after a brutal car crash caused by an illegal overtake, with reports saying her organs have been donated to patients in Cyprus and Greece...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/as-eu-mulls-sanctions-turkey-defiant
The European Union is seeking ways of imposing sanctions on Turkey in the event that its transgressions in the East Mediterranean are scaled up, and in the wake of its decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. ...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/harsh-words-for-turkey-from-archbishop
Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos has slammed Turkey over the country’s decision to allow Hagia Sophia to revert from museum back to mosque status, accusing Turks of having no respect for the civilized world...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/aegean-tension-fueling-berlin-concern
With Germany assuming the European Union presidency on Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concern over developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and Greek-Turkish relations in response to questions from MPs in the Bundestag....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/hagia-sophia-verdict-expected-within-15-days-says-report
A verdict on whether Hagia Sophia in Istanbul will be converted into a mosque is to be issued within 15 days, Turkey’s Daily Sabah reported Thursday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/student-s-letter-causes-media-storm
A student in Nicosia is taking social media by storm, after she wrote a letter criticizing school prayer and how religion is being taught in state schools in the Republic of Cyprus...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/hijab-and-kosher-end-up-in-report-on-cyprus
A State Department report has called out Cyprus on matters of religious freedom, following a number of stories in the media including the right to wear hijab in school, kosher laws, and access to religious sites...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/lockdown-defying-bishops-off-the-hook
Two local bishops who were facing charges in connection with violation of public health laws during the pandemic lockdown are off the hook, with state prosecution reportedly lacking clear and convincing evidence...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/holy-synod-says-yoga-no-good
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece rebuffed a call for dialogue between Orthodox churches regarding Holy Communion in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, while also denouncing yoga and warning cleric to stay away from the Lions...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/communion-ritual-unchanged-in-orthodox-church-despite-virus
One by one, the children and adults line up for the centuries-old ritual of Holy Communion, trying to keep a proper social distance. The priest dips a spoon into the chalice of bread and wine, which the faithful believe is the body and blood of Christ, and puts it into the mouth of the first person in line....