Residents in Cyprus experienced a near-Earth encounter early Friday when a suspected meteorite exploded overhead with a flash of light and a thunderous roar that caused the ground to shake.

Nicosia - The United Nations said Wednesday it holds "high expectations" of Cyprus peace talks which have entered a new intensified phase of negotiations aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island.

Nicosia - The UN said on Thursday it was concerned that the failed coup attempt in Turkey could dampen prospects for Cyprus' peace process aimed at reunifying the divided Mediterranean island.

Nicosia - Bailed-out Cyprus, seen as a safe destination in a region dogged by terror attacks, set a record for the number of tourist arrivals during the month of June, officials said Monday.

Larnaca - Hundreds of Turks crossed the "Green Line" dividing Cyprus on Thursday to pray at a mosque in the Greek-majority south, a rare pilgrimage made possible by a 2014 accord.

Nicosia - Four people were killed in a shootout outside a packed restaurant in the Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa that had the hallmarks of a gangland vendetta, police said on Friday.

Nicosia - Cyprus finally brought a massive wildfire under control on Thursday after a five-day battle that saw two firefighters killed and five foreign governments send aircraft to help, a minister said.

Nicosia - Aircraft from Britain and Greece have joined Cypriot firefighters in a battle to control some of the worst forest fires to have hit the island in years, officials said Monday.

Nicosia - Amnesty International has accused nearly half of the European Union's members of fuelling killings and torture among other abuses in Egypt through arms exports, in a report issued on Wednesday.

Nicosia - Amnesty International has accused nearly half of the European Union's members of fuelling killings and torture among other abuses in Egypt through arms exports, in a report issued on Wednesday.

Nicosia - Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday cancelled scheduled peace talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader over what he saw as an attempt to recognise the Turkish-held north of the divided island.

Nicosia - Cypriots disaffected by three years of economic downturn have protested at the polls, staying away in droves and electing two far-right lawmakers in an echo of the populist wave sweeping Europe.Final results released on Monday showed that 3.

Nicosia - A record low turnout in Cyprus elections Sunday resulted in the biggest shakeup in the island's parliamentary history following a three-year economic downturn and amid disillusion with the political establishment.

Nicosia - Legal proceedings to extradite a man accused of hijacking an EgyptAir plane and diverting it to the Mediterranean island officially got under way on Friday.

Larnaca - Four African refugees arrived in Cyprus from Italy on Tuesday as part of an EU relocation programme for asylum seekers to help ease Europe's migration crisis, officials said.

Nicosia - To mark one year since UN-backed Cyprus peace talks resumed, Cypriot leaders said on Sunday they remain as committed as ever to reunifying the Mediterranean island in 2016.

Nicosia - A man accused of hijacking an EgyptAir plane and diverting it to Cyprus is expected to fight his extradition from the Mediterranean island after claiming asylum, authorities said on Tuesday.

Nicosia - The ruling coalition in the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) collapsed Monday, paving the way for its resignation at a time when talks over the island's reunification have been making progress.

Nicosia - The Cypriot ex-wife of an Egyptian accused of hijacking a plane in a bid to see her has said their marriage was hell and he had shown no interest in her or their children since they separated.

Larnaca - The man accused of hijacking an Egyptian plane and diverting it to Cyprus has said he acted out of desperation to see his ex-wife and children, as he was remanded into custody Wednesday.