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181. SMS system returns as Cyprus enters three-week lockdown

Cyprus Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced the new restrictions agreed upon by the Cabinet on Friday, which include a clampdown on unnecessary movements, and social and professional gatherings....

182. Churchgoers, verger booked after jam-packed Epiphany service

Police have booked nine churchgoers and the verger of the church who openly defied government coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday during the Epiphany service held by the controversial Morphou Bishop Neophytos, who has since the outbreak of the pandemic caused headaches to authorities by outspokenly refusing to comply with government restrictions....

183. Teachers in Paphos dance Jerusalema

A group of teachers in Paphos took the Jerusalema Challenge this week, sending a message of hope and solidarity during the global pandemic...

184. 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....

185. 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....

186. 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...

187. New measures announced, 9pm curfew imposed islandwide

Health minister Constantinos Ioannou on Friday announced the Cabinet’s decisions on the new restrictions that will affect the Republic of Cyprus in December, with the starkest among them being an island-wide 9pm curfew....

188. Domestic violence figures maintain concerning climb

The police’s domestic violence unit received 180 complaints in September and October and made 29 arrests, justice minister Emily Yioliti said Wednesday. Meanwhile, the association for the prevention and handling of violence in the family (SPAVO) said it has marked an increase of 40% in calls received at the 1440 helpline....

189. 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....

190. Cypriots await new COVID measures

The President’s Cabinet will convene on Wednesday evening to discuss a new package of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in Cyprus, with announcements expected immediately after the session...

191. Bill introduces femicide in penal code

A new bill proposal calling for femicide to be recognized officially as a sex-based hate crime has been submitted to the House legal affairs committee, with proponents saying the term would be helpful for prosecutorial reasons while some critics say the law might be sexist...

192. Varosha getting revamp ahead of Erdogan visit

Preparations have begun within Varosha ahead of the upcoming visit of the Turkish President. Recent information points suggests that the Turkish government is moving ahead with significant interventions and revamp projects on the coastal front of the fenced-off city, which was re-opened by Turkish Cypriot authorities, with Turkey’s support, earlier this month....

193. Turkey at focus of Lavrov visit to Athens

The main conclusion drawn from Monday's visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was the mutual recognition that Greece can play a special role in Russia’s relations with the European Union, but also that Athens expects some support for its positions on maritime zones, while at the same time acknowledging the complicated relations between Moscow and Ankara....

194. 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....

195. Emergency restriction measures on Nicosia, Limassol districts

Emergency restriction measures are to be imposed on the Nicosia and Limassol districts on Tuesday in response to the climbing figure of new coronavirus cases being detected, mainly at workplaces and after family gatherings....

196. 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....

197. Education ministry launches disciplinary probe against artist-headmaster

The health ministry announced on Wednesday that it will be launching a disciplinary investigation against a public school headmaster, whose artwork, which he uploaded onto his personal Facebook profile, came to the attention of local social media users in recent days, drawing mixed reactions....

198. Athens and Ankara can settle differences via diplomacy, says Turkey’s presidential spokesman

Greece and Turkey can resolve their differences “within the framework of mutual respect,” Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has said, however stressing that Ankara will not compromise on its interests in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean....

199. Presidents of Cyprus, Greece discuss escalating Turkish provocations

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou held their first meeting in Athens on Tuesday, focusing the discussion on Turkey’s actions in the region and the close ties between the two countries....

200. 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. ...

201. Turkish court rules to let Hagia Sophia return as mosque

202. 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...

203. 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...

204. Greek PM says Greece ready for any challenge

Amid renewed tensions with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed on Wednesday that Greece “will face all challenges with consistency, stability, confidence and always with a commitment to international law, as it always does.”...

205. 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...

206. Cyprus condemns vandalism at mosque

Limassol police are investigating an incident of vandalism at Koprulu mosque, after gasoline bombs were thrown at the building and graffiti found spray-painted on the outer fence...

207. 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....

208. Second phase of relaxation of measures kicks off on Thursday

Cyprus will be making an important step toward resuming daily life as normal on Thursday, when the second phase of the gradual lifting of restriction measures is set to kick off....

209. The four phases of Cyprus' lockdown exit roadmap

The Health Minister on Thursday gave a detailed overview of the four phases of Cyprus’ lockdown exit roadmap, which will be subject to adjustments based on how well the island responds to the gradual easing of restrictions....

210. 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....