Former Philippines president Duterte fit for pre-trial hearings, ICC rules

Judges at the International Criminal Court have ruled that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, 80, is fit to attend pre-trial hearings and will hold a confirmation of charges hearing on February 23, the court said on Monday. His defence had said that Duterte, who is being held in The Hague over murders committed during his […]

Israel to reopen Gaza’s Rafah crossing after search for last hostage body ends

Israel will reopen Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt for the passage of people only after an operation to locate the body of the last remaining Israeli hostage in the enclave is completed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said late on Sunday. The border was supposed to have opened during the initial phase of U.S. President […]

OPAP Cyprus begins rebranding as Allwyn

OPAP Cyprus has officially began operating under the Allwyn brand, marking the start of a new phase in the company’s development and growth, according to an official announcement released on Monday. The rebranding represents a strategic shift in identity, placing the upgrade of the customer entertainment experience at the centre of the company’s priorities. The […]

Australia Day marked by ‘Invasion’ rallies, anti-immigration protests

Thousands marked Australia’s national day on Monday by attending “Invasion Day” rallies in support of Indigenous Australians and calling for unity, while separate anti-immigration protests also drew crowds. Australia Day commemorates the day Britain established the state of New South Wales as a penal colony, with the arrival in Sydney of ships bringing colonists and […]

Celestyal receives Gold Feefo Trusted Service Award for customer service

Celestyal has been awarded the Gold Feefo Trusted Service Award, recognising the cruise line’s consistently high levels of customer service, based entirely on verified guest feedback. The Gold award is Feefo’s highest standard of recognition for service excellence and is presented to brands that achieve a service rating between 4.5 and 5, based on genuine […]

Seven things you need to know about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

HBO Max dipped its toes into the massive IP that is Game of Thrones last week by premiering the first episode of its new spin-off series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. This is the third series in the George RR Martin universe of dragons, sex, and high political intrigue, along with House of the […]

National Bank of Greece Cyprus outlines strategy at banking and fintech forum

National Bank of Greece Cyprus took part in the 13th Banking Payments and Fintech Forum and Expo, contributing to discussions on the future direction of the banking sector and the challenges and opportunities expected to shape the industry from 2026 onwards. The conference focused on key banking trends, regulatory challenges, and paths to sustainable growth […]

FRANUÍ: IPH Group brings viral chocolate snack to Cyprus market

FRANUÍ, the viral chocolate snack that has taken social media and international markets by storm, is now available in Cyprus, offering a new premium experience in the frozen dessert category. FRANUÍ stands out for its unique combination: whole frozen blueberries, first covered in white chocolate and then coated in milk or dark chocolate. The result […]

Tens of millions of Americans hunkered down on Monday or ventured out to help neighbors under bitter cold, blizzards of snow and lashings of freezing rain from a huge winter storm that paralyzed the eastern United States. From New York and Massachusetts in the northeast to Texas and North Carolina in the south, roads were […]

EU countries give final approval to Russian gas ban

European Union countries on Monday gave their final approval to ban Russian gas imports by late 2027, making their vow to cut ties with their former top supplier legally binding, nearly four years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ministers from EU countries approved the law at a meeting in Brussels on Monday, although Slovakia […]

Covid-19 and flu hospitalisations rise in Limassol

Hospitalisations for Covid-19 and Influenza A increased in Limassol over the weekend, according to records from the district general hospital. Speaking to Philenews on Monday, Okypy spokesman Charalambos Charilaou said doctors are observing a rise in admissions, mainly in the Limassol district, “where the numbers have changed significantly in the last twenty-four hours.” The number […]

XM supports ‘Woman Scientist of the Year’ award

XM furthered recognition of women who stood out during the year for their work, innovation and social contribution in various fields, such as science, entrepreneurship, culture and sports, thanks to its support for the “Female Scientist/Academic of the Year” award for scientific excellence. In the “Scientist/Academic” category, Dr. Panni Trifylli, a molecular biologist and specialist […]

Cyprus targets US tourists at New York travel show

The Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism took part in the Travel and Adventure Show, held on January 24 and 25 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, as part of its broader strategy to strengthen the island’s presence in the competitive US tourism market. According to the information, the participation aimed to promote Cyprus […]

Book your winter getaways with Louis Hotels!

A getaway is the ideal solution for escaping the fast pace of everyday life and enjoying moments of relaxation and rest in a welcoming environment. Whether it’s carefree moments by the sea or quality time with loved ones, Limassol and Paphos offer you unique experiences with your partner or family. Louis Hotels welcomes the winter […]

Zela Aviation marks 20 years as global aviation provider

Twenty years after its launch, Zela Aviation enters 2026 as a firmly established international aviation services provider, having built a steady presence across multiple markets under the ownership of Cypriot entrepreneur Andreas Christodoulides. Established in 2006, the company has grown in parallel with an industry that remains highly competitive and operationally complex. Over time, Zela […]

Bank of Cyprus secures international award for high-standard payment systems

The Bank of New York has awarded the Bank of Cyprus (BoC) with the ‘STP AWARD 2025’ for a fourth consecutive year, in recognition of the high-quality procedures the bank follows in the area of fund transfers via the SWIFT system, according to its announcement. In this context, the Bank of New York is one […]

Alleged ringleader, five others, remanded in organised crime case

The 48-year-old alleged ringleader of a crime syndicate which made headlines earlier this month after a mass brawl broke out in the centre of Larnaca appeared in court on Monday and was ordered to remain in custody for a further two days. He appeared in court after having undergone surgery after suffering “blows to his […]

Cyprus EU presidency plans ‘not affected’ despite Mercosur setback

The Cypriot government’s plans for its six-month term holding the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency remain unaffected by the European Parliament’s decision last week to refer the EU–Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said on Monday. Speaking ahead of the EU agriculture and fisheries (Agrifish) […]

Minister calls for end to ADHD stereotypes in the workplace

The importance of equal access, retention and career advancement for people with attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) in the workplace was emphasised by Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas at a conference held in Nicosia. The event, titled ‘Creating an Inclusive Workplace for People with Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity’, was organised […]

More Cyprus hotels to stay open this winter as season extends

Cyprus Hoteliers Association (Pasyxe) president Thanos Michaelides stated that 2025 was a good year for the industry, proving that the Cypriot hotel sector has reached a steady and satisfactory plateau. Speaking to Politis, Michaelides said that occupancy rates were broadly in line with 2024 and in some cases slightly higher. “Two consecutive years with similar […]

Cyprus targets UK film industry with London roadshow

The Cyprus Film Commission organised a three-day roadshow in London last week, targeting professionals from the United Kingdom’s audiovisual industry as part of efforts to promote Cyprus as a filming destination. The first two events were addressed to British industry professionals, while the third was aimed exclusively at Cypriots living and working in the UK […]

Pegula deposes holder Keys, Anisimova surges into quarters

Jessica Pegula put her close friendship with Madison Keys to one side to knock the defending champion out of the Australian Open on Tuesday, while Amanda Anisimova made it four U.S. players in the women’s quarters after beating China’s Wang Xinyu. Elena Rybakina is looking to build on a strong finish to 2025 after lifting […]

Seahawks to face Patriots in Super Bowl

A video surfaced last week of Mike Macdonald’s first team meeting after being named the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach in 2024. In it, he talked about playing in the NFC Championship Game at Lumen Field. It took only two seasons for that dream to become a reality. And after a 31-27 victory against the visiting […]

Columbia Confectionery donates €3K to Agios Stephanos Foundation

Columbia Confectionery, a member of Columbia Restaurants, has donated €3,000 to the Agios Stefanos Foundation in Limassol, following the strong public response to its Christmas collection “Nutcracker Christmas”, transforming the collection’s commercial success into a meaningful social contribution. The donation was presented by Constantinos Christodoulou, Brand Manager of Columbia Confectionery, in support of the Foundation’s […]