Police say body of former Cyprus president Tassos Papadopoulos stolen from grave

Police: Body of Cyprus president stolen from grave

Israel: Navy seizes ship with hundreds of tons of weapons from Iran headed for Lebanon

Israel: Commandos seize huge Iranian arms shipment

Israel says its naval commandos seized ship with hundreds of tons of Hezbollah-bound weapons

Israel: commandos seize Hezbollah-bound arms ship

Israel says naval commandos seize ship loaded with 60 tons of weapons

Israel says commandos intercept arms shipment

Passenger uses emergency ramp to bolt Cyprus plane moments before take off

Passenger bolts from Cyprus plane using ramp

Cyprus supports India’s bid for permanent UNSC membership

NICOSIA - On the last day of her six-day state visit to London and Cyprus, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil met Cyprus President Demitris Christofias at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, and was told that Cyprus supports India’s bid for permanent membership in the UNSC.

President Patil asks Cyprus companies to invest in India

NICOSIA - President Pratibha Patil, presently visiting Cyprus as part of her weeklong tour, on Friday asked the business fraternity of Cyprus to invest in India, as it is an excellent destination for investment.

Denied marriage at home, mixed-faith couples from warring Lebanon and Israeli head for Cyprus

NICOSIA, Cyprus — The two couples had never met each other, and probably never would. They had come from opposite sides of a border between longtime enemies.

On road to membership, EU wants more political, human rights reform in Turkey

BRUSSELS — The European Union told Turkey on Wednesday to speed up reforms to boost its chances of joining the bloc and made a special appeal to protect the freedom of expression of Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk.

Romans had a taste for French wine

NICOSIA - The survey of a Roman shipwreck dating back to the 2nd century AD has revealed the presence of over 130 ceramic jars, likely to have been carrying wine or oil, which indicates that the Romans may have liked French wine.

Family of student from Cyprus killed by drunk driver sues NYC restaurant where drinks served

NEW YORK — The family of a graduate student from Cyprus who was killed by a drunken driver has filed a lawsuit accusing a New York City restaurant of serving the alcohol that fueled the crash.

On divided Cyprus, peace campaigners’ wedding sets example by crossing the ethnic line

NICOSIA, Cyprus — From opposite sides of their divided island, Georgia Chappa and Murat Kanatli made it their mission to break down the ethnic hatreds by bringing rivals together.

Wildfires reach Athens suburbs, forcing thousands to evacuate; water, electricity cut

ATHENS, Greece — A raging fire bore down on Athens’ northern suburbs Sunday, prompting panicked residents to battle the flames with tree limbs and buckets, and police to order 10,000 people to evacuate one town immediately.

Wildfires reach Athens suburbs; thousands evacuated; water, electricity cut

ATHENS, Greece — A raging fire bore down on Athens’ northern suburbs Sunday, prompting panicked residents to battle the flames with tree limbs and buckets, and police to order 10,000 people to evacuate one town immediately.

Remains of missing Greek Cypriot soldiers from iconic 1974 invasion photo identified

NICOSIA, Cyprus —The remains of five Greek Cypriot soldiers who appear in an iconic 1974 photo surrendering to invading Turkish troops were found in an abandoned well in the Turkish Cypriot north, officials said Monday.

Reports: Nikolaos Makarezos, senior figure in 1967-74 Greek dictatorship, dies at 90

ATHENS, Greece — Nikolaos Makarezos, one of the leaders of the military dictatorship that ruled Greece from 1967-1974, has died at age 90, according to media reports.

AP Interview: UN envoys says high hopes but no pressure for Cyprus deal

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Rival leaders in Cyprus have made “significant” progress in talks to reunite the island but pressure to reach a deal quickly could unravel what yearlong talks have achieved, a United Nations envoy said Wednesday.

Freelance diplomats smooth waters for would-be nations like Somaliland and Northern Cyprus

BRUSSELS — Northern Cyprus, Western Sahara and Somaliland may not have much in common, but they share the same predicament: all are unrecognized states striving to capture international attention.

Grand vision of Turkish icon turns into hard slog for EU candidate country

ISTANBUL, Turkey — Early in the last century, after an empire’s fall, the founder of Turkey set his new nation on a westward course. For Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Europe was worthy of a pedestal, a model of how to be modern.

Flydubai to start flights to Lucknow, Coimbatore, Chandigarh

NICOSIA - Flydubai, the recently established low-cost airline, on Wednesday announced its plans to start flights to Lucknow, Coimbatore and Chandigarh cities of India in July, offering low fares to serve expatriate Indians in the UAE and to people flying to the region for business or pleasure.

Well that may be 10,500 years old found in Cyprus, along with body of young woman

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Archaeologists have discovered a water well in Cyprus that was built as long as 10,500 years ago, and the skeleton of a young woman at the bottom of it, an official said Wednesday.

Turkey stages naval drills off Cyprus amid tensions over offshore oil, gas exploration

ABOARD THE TCG GEMLIK, — Turkish and Turkish Cypriot warships staged search and rescue drills off the island of Cyprus on Wednesday amid tensions over a disputed search for oil and gas.

Italy’s vote for EU Parliament a virtual referendum on scandal-plagued Berlusconi

ROME — Italians voted Saturday in European Parliament elections that have become a virtual barometer of Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s ability to weather a scandal over his attention to young women.

Italians vote for EU Parliament in election turned into referendum on scandal-plagued premier

ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has weathered corruption probes and public outrage at his tasteless quips — emerging each time with his popularity intact.

Cyprus official: US firm Noble Energy to start offshore search for oil and gas by year end

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cyprus has authorized U.S. firm Noble Energy to start searching for oil and gas deposits off the island’s southern coast by the end of the year, a top energy official said Friday, in a move that could stoke tensions with regional rival Turkey.

Prosecutors formally charge 5 defendants in Cyprus’ Helios airline crash trial

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cypriot prosecutors formally charged five defendants Thursday during a trial over the crash of an airliner in Greece nearly four years ago.

Gaza-bound ship abandons journey due to Israeli warnings

LACARNA - Peace activists abandoned an attempt reach Gaza with a ship loaded with aid for Gaza’s Palestinians early Tuesday and returned to Cyprus, a spokesman of Free Gaza, a US NGO, told Greek radio Thursday.