Middle Eastern countries

The Turkish Cypriot government has taken additional measures to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus on the island.

As part of those actions, the government has declared a curfew between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting March 31.

The curfew will be effective until April 5.

Oil and gas companies are cutting spending plans in response to the new coronavirus and a push by Saudi Arabia and Russia to ramp up output.

Hundreds of citizens have asked to be repatriated to the Republic of Cyprus, prompting the government to seek options to beat a universal ban on all flights that goes into effect on Saturday.

Greek Cypriot police sprayed tear gas on March 7 as several hundred people protested against the closure of crossings on the divided island's ceasefire line over coronavirus fears.

Four Greek Cypriot police officers were injured allegedly in divided Nicosia during scuffles with demonstrators in which police made use of personal tear gas spray to disperse the crowd.

The interior minister of the Republic of Cyprus says the island cannot host more economic migrants as another boatload of refugees arrived on Tuesday, clarifying that authorities would not send back those whose lives may be in danger.

Dozens of people pushed aside police barriers on Feb. 29 in Cyprus to protest the closing of a crossing point in the medieval core of the ethnically divided island nation's capital.

Protesters chanted and raised placards opposing the closure of the Nicosia crossing point, which the Greek Cypriot government said it ordered to help prevent the possible spread of the new coronavirus.

Turkey has condemned a decision by the European Union to impose sanctions on two senior members of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) over illegal drilling in waters off Cyprus, calling it an "example of [the bloc's] biased and unlawful attitude under the pretext of union solidarity."

The EU has extended sanctions against Turkey for its drilling operations in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus. This is stated in the Official Journal of the EU, which published the relevant regulations, reports TASS.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has suggested that Varosha, a southern suburb of Famagusta that has been fenced off and abandoned since Turkey invaded northern Cyprus, is being used as an election gimmick, adding that he supports UN-backed efforts to reopen the ghost town.

Greece's recent overtures toward two of the largest economies of the Gulf - highlighted by the recent visits of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi - are strategic and historically well placed. Despite the drop in oil prices, both countries are very asset rich.