Tourist arrivals to Cyprus increased significantly in 2025, highlighting a record-breaking year that stands in stark contrast to the sector’s declining fortunes in early 2026. Specifically, the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) on Monday reported that total traveller arrivals reached 7,102,208 in 2025, marking an increase of 13 per cent when compared with 2024. At the […]
Karachi handles roughly 60 percent of Pakistan’s cargo traffic, yet for decades, the port’s East Wharf operated under government management with chronic congestion and underinvestment. A 2022 concession agreement reshaped the ownership structure for the next half-century. Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, chairman of Inmā Emirates Holdings, secured the deal through a joint venture with […]
A request for a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides has been submitted by the three main education unions, Poed, Oelmek, and Oltek, as they seek direct consultation on the status of teachers on indefinite contracts. The request, made ahead of a joint union meeting scheduled for next Monday, comes after parliament passed an amendment prohibiting […]
Toyota Cyprus officially unveiled the new Toyota RAV4 on April 29, 2026, at a special event held at Pavilion, marking the arrival of the sixth generation of one of the world’s most recognisable and successful SUVs. The event was attended by representatives of the media, partners, corporate clients and customers who had placed early pre-orders […]
Three people have died and three are ill after a Netherlands-based cruise ship was hit by a suspected outbreak of hantavirus, a rodent-borne virus that can cause fatal respiratory illness, authorities and media reports said on Sunday. Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions said in a news release it was “managing a serious medical situation” on a polar […]
World number one Jannik Sinner became the first man to win five successive Masters 1000 titles after he produced a breathtaking display to crush Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-2 in just 57 minutes in the Madrid Open final on Sunday. The 24-year-old Italian underlined his authority on the men’s tour by becoming the first man to […]
With flowers in bloom, May, as the peak of spring, has always been the month that signals summer is just around the corner. With the weather gradually warming, so is our mood. And leaving winter behind, we are beginning to feel more inspired to embrace the outdoors, enjoy sunny afternoons with friends and spend pleasant […]
The heart of the Cypriot leisure marine industry is set to beat in the Famagusta district this year, as the iconic Ayia Napa Marina prepares to host the Boat & Sea Expo 2026 from May 8-10, 2026. This brand-new, dynamic exhibition is poised to fill the gap in major nautical events, drawing the industry’s elite […]
Hezbollah has paid a heavy price for going to war with Israel on March 2: Israel has occupied a chunk of southern Lebanon, displaced hundreds of thousands of its Shi’ite Muslim constituents and killed as many as several thousand of its fighters, according to previously unreported casualty estimates from within the group. The move has […]
By Dionysis Partsinevelos Cypriot startups are off to a good start in 2026. Funding data is still limited across sectors, but as of Q1 2026, there is one that stands out for now, and that is the PropTech sector. Two significant deals were announced within four weeks of each other, and both include Greek institutional […]
Cyprus recorded one of the highest rates of weekend work in the European Union in 2025, with 31.3 per cent of employees usually working during weekends, according to Eurostat. This places Cyprus second only to Greece, which recorded the highest share at 31.5 per cent, while Malta followed with 29.2 per cent. The figures highlight […]
Financial markets are finding it harder to look past the rising economic costs of the Iran war as the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz prolongs the world’s biggest-ever disruption to energy supplies. Two months into the conflict, the global economy faces a toxic mix of slowing growth and high inflation – stagflation. Even […]
Formula One leader Kimi Antonelli celebrated his third successive win for Mercedes on Sunday and ended a Miami Grand Prix jinx by becoming the first driver to win the race from the front row. McLaren’s reigning world champion Lando Norris, winner of the Saturday sprint, finished a close second to the 19-year-old Italian prodigy with […]
Our food, the environment and even in our bodies – microplastics can be found almost everywhere. Here in Cyprus, many beaches have already become colourful mosaics created by plastic debris in all shapes and sizes. The density of microplastics averages 337 particles per square metre on Cyprus beaches, a new study found, bringing into focus […]
On a hillside above Peyia, there is a villa which looks rather like any of the others, but if you enter inside take care not to trip over people doing yoga stretches and squirming puppies. The villa is both a yoga retreat and a temporary home for rescue puppies, each one passing through as they […]
A new yellow warning was issued by the met office on Sunday afternoon, with isolated storms set to hit across the island from 7pm on Sunday to 8am on Monday. During this time, strong thunderstorms are expected, with rainfall likely to reach up to 55 millimeters per hour. Hail is also expected in some areas. […]
There are many different flowers in bloom now including roses, which flower all year round in some gardens, and mostly with a sweet perfume. In my garden my favourite is Rosa banksia, which has dear little yellow flowers, although there are some bushes of them that have white flowers, but alas both have no perfume. […]
More than 390,000 foreigners visited the north during January and February this year, mostly from Turkey, according to Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kibris on Sunday. It also reported a significant increase in visitors from Germany. According to the report, the number of German tourists visiting has risen by 74.9 per cent in a year. In the […]
In recent years, the world has witnesses record investment in environmentally friendly renewable energy, rapid advances in battery technology and ambitious net‑zero commitments, all supported by sharply falling costs. Yet, the events of recent months have served as a reminder that oil remains an important driving force of the global economy. Global oil production rose […]
Two women died after a boat carrying about 80 migrants trying to cross to Britain from France capsized near Calais, the local French administration said on Sunday. “We regret to say that we found two people, two women, who had died,” said Christophe Marx, an official for the Pas-de-Calais administration, adding that authorities had rescued […]
Nicosia general hospital and the Makarios children’s hospital are strictly adhering to all established health protocols, the state health services organisation (Okypy) said on Monday, responding to complaints raised by thte family of an autistic child. “The paediatric intensive care unit at Nicosia general hospital is staffed exclusively by paediatricians and specialised nursing staff with […]
Greek banking groups operating on the island can actively support the Cypriot economy, according to Bank of Greece governor Yannis Stournaras. Speaking to Phileleftheros, Stournaras stressed that Greek and Cypriot banks are entering a period of increased instability from a position of strength, alongside other European institutions. “I would like to underline that Greek and […]
Holiday bookings for the upcoming summer season have so far fallen by 25 per cent, director general of the Cyprus hoteliers association, Christos Angelides, said on Monday. “The level of reservations is increasing at a very slow pace for a sense of well-being to be created and for the cancellation scenario of the last two […]
Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou has travelled to the United States for a working visit, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations in innovation and technology. The deputy ministry confirmed the visit in a post on Monday, stating that the trip forms part of ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation between Cyprus and […]
Manchester City will try to keep pace with Premier League front-runner Arsenal on Monday night when they pay a visit to an Everton side still on the fringes of the European picture. City (21-5-7, 70 points) will begin the day six points back of Arsenal with two matches in hand after the Gunners dispatched Fulham […]
Brands lose money scaling campaigns that were never ready to scale. It happens more than most people admit. Performance looks acceptable at a low budget, the decision gets made to push more spend, and within two weeks, the cost per result has doubled, and nobody can explain why. The issue usually isn’t the budget. It’s […]
CryptoProcessing by Coinspaid, a regulated crypto payment gateway serving enterprise and institutional merchants globally, has achieved Level 3 certification under the Cryptocurrency Security Standard (CCSS) for its Institutional-Grade Key Management and Wallet Infrastructure, the highest designation granted by the CryptoCurrency Certification Consortium (C4). The independent audit was conducted by Hacken, a C4-approved cybersecurity and blockchain […]
The Cyprus Rotary Peace Forum, organised successfully in Limassol on April 30, 2026 by the Rotary Clubs of Cyprus, made the case for a reunified island, enjoying the fruits of peaceful coexistence. The event took place at the Panos Solomonides Foundation, drawing 230 participants, of whom 50 were Turkish Cypriots. It was held under the […]
President Donald Trump said the United States would start helping to free ships stranded in the Gulf by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran from Monday, as a tanker reported being hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump gave few details of the plan to aid ships and their crews that have been […]
On Monday, it will be cloudy with localised rain and isolated thunderstorms, primarily in the west of the island, with the weather expected to improve gradually in the afternoon. Temperatures will rise to up to 18 degrees Celsius inland, around 19 degrees along the coast and 8 degrees in the higher mountains. Strong winds are […]
Cyprus household financial assets reached €65.1 billion at the end of December 2025, while household debt stood at €19.8 billion, corresponding to 54 per cent of gross domestic product, according to the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC). The data also showed that non-financial corporate assets amounted to €78.4 billion, with sector debt reaching €39.2 billion, […]
Major fund managers are heralding a sustained rally in mining and metals as money floods into the sector at the fastest pace in years, driven by robust AI infrastructure, rising defence spending and a shift away from expensive tech stocks. Assets under management in mining exchange-traded funds more than doubled to $87.4 billion by March […]
Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo struck late to seal a dramatic 3-2 Premier League victory over rivals Liverpool on Sunday as the home side secured their return to the Champions League next season after a two-year absence. Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo had hauled Liverpool level in the second half after costly United errors, but Mainoo […]
By Alex Lawler, Olesya Astakhova and Ahmad Ghaddar OPEC+ agreed on Sunday a modest oil output hike for June, an increase that will remain largely on paper as long as the Iran war continues to disrupt Gulf oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Seven OPEC+ countries will raise oil output targets by 188,000 barrels […]
Since assuming office three years ago, the government has demonstrated in practice its determination to move forward with substantive reforms focusing on the child, the mother and the family, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday. At an event celebrating mothers of large families, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Deputy Social Welfare Minister […]
An Israeli court has extended by two days the detention of two activists arrested aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Greece, their lawyer said on Sunday. Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were detained by Israeli authorities late on Wednesday and brought to […]
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, marked around the world on May 3, the government reaffirms its absolute respect for the institutional role of journalists, the independence of the media and the right of citizens to be informed freely, pluralistically and reliably, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Sunday. “In an era of […]
One lane of the Ayia Napa to Larnaca was closed by police at around 1pm on Sunday, according to a police announcement. The closure follows a traffic accident on the highway near Livadia. Police called on drivers in the area to be careful.
Global passenger demand increased by 2.1 per cent year-on-year in March, despite significant disruptions in key regions, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The figures showed that total capacity declined by 1.7 per cent compared with March 2025, while the global load factor reached 83.6 per cent, representing an increase of 3.1 percentage […]
Cyprus will further strengthen its relations with the Gulf countries, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Sunday, adding that he will soon undertake another tour of the region. Speaking to Phileleftheros, he said that the island is “close to all the countries where we have relations”. He recalled the presence of leaders from the countries […]
Multiple dead sheep were seen discarded in an open skip, reportedly following recent culling measures linked to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the industrial zone of Athienou raising concerns. The carcasses were left exposed in a waste container for an extended period, raising fears about public health, environmental contamination, and proper compliance with animal disposal regulations […]
A parliamentary candidate has been removed from the ballot of the Hunters’ movement following his alleged involvement in an assault on an assistant referee during a football match, with the case expected to proceed to court on Wednesday. The 38-year-old, identified as Kostas Nikolaou, was arrested and remanded in custody for three days by the […]
Founder Institute and Plug and Play Centre enter the market Cyprus is entering a new phase in its startup evolution. Two global platforms are now establishing a presence on the island. Each targets a different stage of company building. Together, they signal a structural shift in how the local ecosystem operates. In April, Plug and […]
Police arrested three people overnight on suspicion of offences including theft, conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour and interference in judicial proceedings, authorities said on Monday. The police said the operations are aimed at preventing serious crime, maintaining public order and enhancing the public’s sense of safety. During the checks, officers stopped and inspected 201 drivers […]
The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) on Monday issued a statement welcoming the election of secretary general Philokypros Roussounides as vice president of Eurochambres‘ skills and employment committee. Representing over 20 million businesses, Eurochambres serves as the primary voice for European chambers of commerce and SMEs by connecting local entrepreneurs with EU policymakers […]
Celebrations erupted across Milan on Sunday after Inter clinched the Serie A title with a 2-0 victory over Parma, sending thousands of supporters into the streets. The Piazza del Duomo was filled with fans clad in blue and black moments after the final whistle at the nearby San Siro, with flares and fireworks lighting up […]
A production in Cypriot Greek and Cypriot Turkish brings a unique adaptation of Federico García Lorca’s Bodas de Sangre to the stage. Translated to Blood Wedding, or Matomena Stefana, as the upcoming production is called, the performance gives the Spanish tragedy a Cyprus focus, relocating the plot to a mixed village in Cyprus in the […]
President Nikos Christodoulides has arrived in the Armenian capital Yerevan to attend the first-ever EU-Armenia summit on Monday. “United by shared values and a commitment to international law and the rules-based international order, this milestone will mark an important investment in peace, security, connectivity and prosperity in the South Caucasus,” said European Council President Antonio Costa, […]
The European Union ministers of agriculture and fisheries will meet in Nicosia for informal talks focused on strengthening the EU’s agri-food sector on Monday and Tuesday. The meeting, held under Cyprus’ EU Council presidency, will bring together EU commissioner for agriculture and food, Chrisophe Hansen, as well as the chair of the EU parliament’s committee […]
A sharp rise in DDoS attacks is placing Cyprus’ banking, payments and iGaming sectors at heightened risk, according to new data from cybersecurity firm Qrator Labs. The company’s first quarter report for 2026 highlighted that these industries, which form the backbone of the island’s digital economy, are among the most frequently targeted globally. According to […]
Exports of pharmaceutical products from the European Union to non-EU nations supported a record 926,000 jobs across the bloc during 2023, according to a report from Eurostat. This figure represents a significant milestone for the industry as it accounts for 4.3 per mille of total employment within the union. Both the absolute number of workers […]
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has stopped about 20 per cent of global LNG supply from reaching markets and has sent gas prices about 50 per cent up from pre-war levels. But it has also presented the East Med with an unexpected opportunity: to create an LNG hub to export surplus regional gas […]
By Lori Ewing Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has been taken to hospital after feeling unwell ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match between United and Liverpool, media reported. The 84-year-old had been at Old Trafford for the match between the two rivals. Sky Sports reported that Ferguson was conscious and had precautionary checks before […]
Cyprus has seen its share of arrivals. The latest comes in the form of a “humanitarian defence agreement” with France. The term itself deserves pause. Words such as “humanitarian defence” may be politically convenient, but humanitarianism, properly understood, is grounded in relief and neutrality; it does not typically require military positioning. To invoke it in […]
Eat your hearts out, Pablo Escobar, Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzman and Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes. The richest cartel by far is still the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), and its leaders also get to die in bed. But one of its oldest members, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has just quit. No notice, […]
As part of an ongoing investigation. Nicosia CID arrested a Special Police Officer on Saturday, the police announced on Sunday. He was immediately suspended, following instructions of the chief of police. According to reports, the officer was suspended after his wife reported him for threatening to kill her.
For its celebratory 25th anniversary, the International Pharos Chamber Music Festival presents an exceptional breadth of chamber music. From May 29 until June 4, the festival will offer six chamber concerts at the Royal Manor House in Kouklia, performed by 20 of today’s leading international virtuosos. Events will culminate with a spectacular orchestral concert on […]
Two people were arrested on Sunday by the drugs squad Ykan after a search of their home uncovered various suspect items. The search of the couple’s- a 33-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman – home uncovered 136g cannabis, 12g cocaine, 2g amphetamines, 20 ecstasy tablets, a precision scale and an amount of cash. The two […]
By Steven Scheer Israel gave final approval for a plan to purchase two new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA advanced fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, the defence ministry said on Sunday. The deal, approved by Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement, is a first […]
President Nikos Christodoulides leaves on Sunday for Yerevan, Armenia, where he will participate in a European Political Community (EPC) summit the following day. During the work of the summit, Christodoulides will take part, in a coordinating role, in a discussion of the Plenary Session of the EPC, on the subject of European security and with […]