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91. ‘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...

92. 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....

93. 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....

94. 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....

95. 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....

96. 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...

97. 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"...

98. 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...

99. 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...

100. 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....

101. Police to step up checks at food and drink spots

Police will be stepping up checks at targeted food and drink spots in the coming days to ensure that health and safety decrees are being adhered to, Police Chief Christos Andreou told the Cyprus News Agency on Monday....

102. Cyprus starting to feel normal again

People in the Republic Cyprus woke up to a new reality on Thursday, as the second phase of relaxed restrictions and ongoing health protocols kicked in following positive news in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic...

103. Cyprus announces 'timid first steps' in easing restrictions

In a televised national address on Wednesday night, President Nicos Anastasiades presented the detailed plan of the first two phases of Cyprus’ lockdown exit plan, with the first phase, which will see a timid resumption of the economy and a small loosening of restrictions on individual freedoms, set to begin on May 4....

104. Greek government unveils plan for easing restrictions

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday unveiled a long-awaited plan for the gradual lifting of restrictive measures imposed last month to curb the spread of the coronavirus. ...

105. President to announce Cyprus lockdown exit strategy

The eagerly-awaited government decisions on Cyprus’ lockdown exit strategy will be announced by President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, in a national address on Wednesday night....

106. Coronavirus death toll in Greece at 136

The death toll from the coronavirus in Greece rose to 136 on Monday after two patients being treated in hospitals in northern Greece passed away, reports said. ...

107. First easing of restriction measures probably on May 4, Health Minister says

If the situation continues down its current course, we can expect the first loosening of restriction measures to take place on May 4, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said Friday....

108. Over 200 UK Cypriots have died of coronavirus

Over 200 Cypriots in the UK have succumbed to coronavirus, the weekly Cypriot newspaper published in the UK, Parikiaki, reported....

109. Lockdown weighs heavily on Orthodox Christians during Easter

110. Morphou bishop defies church lockdown

Morphou Bishop Neophytos spoke out against decree orders on Palm Sunday, after accusing police officers of being “rude” and praised the Bulgarian government for keeping churches open...

111. Easter church services to take place behind closed doors

Church services to mark the Orthodox Easter will take place behind closed doors, Archbishop Chrysostomos assured President Nicos Anastasiades in a meeting held at the Presidential Palace on Thursday. ...

112. Archbishop tells believers to shelter in place

Archbishop Chrysostomos has called on believers to stay home during Orthodox Easter, saying “if we truly love God, then our mission should be to put an end to this pandemic...

113. Cyprus mulls pushing back Easter celebrations

The President of the Republic of Cyprus is expected to call on the Archbishop to push back on Easter celebrations, as media sources say the government is likely to heed the advice of experts to extend coronavirus measures until the end of April...

114. PHOTO GALLERY: Athens streets deserted during lockdown

Deserted squares, padlocked parks, empty avenues where lines of cars once idled bumper-to-bumper in traffic as motorbikes and scooters zoomed through the narrow gaps between. The Greek capital, Athens, like so many cities across the world, has seen its streets empty under a lockdown designed to stem the spread of the new coronavirus....

115. President: Unnecessary travel strictly prohibited, violators to be fined

Addressing the nation on Monday night for the second time since the coronavirus pandemic broke out in Cyprus in early March, President Nicos Anastasiades announced that all unnecessary travel will be banned as of 6pm on Tuesday until April 13....

116. Police file 15 more reports against crowd ban violations

Over the last two days police have filed 15 reports against violations of the crowd ban decree forbidding outdoor gatherings of over 75 people, in place since early March in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus....

117. Pressure mounts to increase measures

A crucial meeting at the Presidential Palace on Monday is expected to discuss whether tighter measures are needed in the fight of the coronavirus pandemic, following reports over the weekend that people were defying public health advice...

118. Police clamp down on violations of mass gatherings ban

Cyprus police have ramped up efforts to crack down on any violations of the ban on indoor public and private gatherings of over 75 people, enforced through a decree issued by the Health Minister in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak....

119. Death toll from Sri Lanka attacks rises sharply to 290

120. Repairing churches and mosques for 10 years