1 week ago Putin, Macron discuss Iran, Ukraine in first phone call in nearly three years

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a “substantial” phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Middle East crisis including Iran and the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, their first such exchange since September 2022. In Paris, Macron’s office said the call lasted two hours and that the French leader had called for […]

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Europe cannot remain an awkward spectator amid Middle East conflict’

Europe “cannot remain an awkward spectator” amid “dangerous events” ongoing in the Middle East, House president Annita Demetriou said on Thursday. In a video uploaded to her social media channels following the day’s summit of party leaders from the European People’s Party in Brussels, she said Europe “must play a decisive diplomatic role with the […]

Events

2 w. ago Sluggish UK business activity improves, PMI shows, but threats to outlook abound

British business activity expanded modestly in June as new orders grew for the first time this year but employers cut jobs more quickly and worried about the conflict in the Middle East, a survey showed on Monday. The S&P Global UK Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a gauge of the private sector economy, rose to […]

Events

2 w. ago Airlines weigh Middle East cancellations after US strikes in Iran

Airlines on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself. Cancellations in recent days to typically resilient aviation hubs such as Dubai, the world’s […]

Events

2 w. ago Trump says US ‘obliterates’ Iran nuclear sites, Tehran reserves ‘all options’ to defend itself

US President Donald Trump said he had “obliterated” Iran’s main nuclear sites in strikes overnight, joining an Israeli assault in a major new escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to defend itself. Trump, in a televised address to the US people, called the strikes a “spectacular military success” and warned Tehran […]

Politics

3 w. ago Kombos calls US Secretary of State Rubio amid Middle East conflict

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos on Friday held a telephone call with the United States’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as the US deepens its involvement in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. The foreign ministry described the call as “timely” and said the pair had discussed the “rapidly evolving developments in the region”. It […]

Events

3 w. ago Bank of England keeps rates steady, sees further loosening as jobs market weakens

The Bank of England held interest rates at 4.25 per cent as expected on Thursday but said it was focused on risks from a weaker labour market and higher energy prices as conflict in the Middle East escalates. Noting the elevated global uncertainty and persistent inflation, the Monetary Policy Committee voted 6-3 to keep rates […]

Economics

3 w. ago Cyprus’ petrol prices begin to rise amid Middle East conflict

Petrol prices in Cyprus have begun to rise as a result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, with petrol station owners’ association chairman Savvas Prokopiou on Thursday saying two importing companies had raised their wholesale prices the previous day. Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, he added that he expects Cyprus’ remaining fuel […]

Events

3 w. ago ‘Efforts continuing’ to repatriate Cypriots from Middle East

Efforts are continuing to repatriate Cypriots from the Middle East, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Wednesday, as the conflict between Iran and Israel continues. Speaking after the day’s cabinet meeting, he said his ministry is making a “coordinated effort” alongside Cyprus’ diplomatic missions in both Iran and Israel, and that on Tuesday, a total […]

Politics

3 w. ago UK inflation slows but oil price jump creates new problem for Bank of England

British inflation cooled in May as expected by the Bank of England, which is set to keep interest rates on hold this week while it assesses international energy markets rocked by escalating conflict in the Middle East. Consumer prices rose in annual terms by 3.4 per cent in May, the Office for National Statistics said […]

Economics

3 w. ago Investors turn cautious as Middle East conflict intensifies and G7 talks stall

Wall Street opened slightly lower while oil and gold rose as Tuesday marked the fifth day of fighting between Israel and Iran, with the risk of a widening conflict dampening risk appetite in a week also packed with key central bank decisions. US President Donald Trump urged everyone to evacuate Tehran, cut short his visit […]

Economics

3 w. ago ‘No wave of tourist cancellations’ in Cyprus amid Middle East conflict

There has been “no wave of cancellations” of tourist bookings in Cyprus in recent days while the conflict Israel and Iran has escalated, Cyprus chamber of commerce and industry (Keve) chairman Philokypros Rousounides said on Tuesday. Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, the former head of the Hoteliers Association said that while “geopolitical disturbances in our […]

Events

3 w. ago Hoteliers fear government tone in Mid East conflict could impact tourism

Hoteliers in the Paphos region have called on the government to “lower the tone” over the escalations between Israel and Iran, expressing their fear that it could affect the tourism industry. The hoteliers expressed their readiness to host the unexpected arrivals of the approximately 2,400 Israelis on 29 flights which were diverted to Larnaca and […]

Politics

3 w. ago Additional UK fighter jets likely in Cyprus amid escalating Middle East conflict

The United Kingdom has likely sent additional Royal Air Force aircraft to Cyprus amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East, though the British government is yet to confirm their exact location. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday confirmed the country would increase its presence in the Middle East, with the BBC reporting […]

Sport

3 w. ago Cyprus calls for EU foreign affairs council to convene over Middle East conflict

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos on Sunday called for the European Union’s foreign affairs council, a meeting of the foreign ministers of the bloc’s 27 member states, to convene over the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. According to the Cyprus News Agency, Kombos contacted the EU’s foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas to ask for the […]

Events

3 w. ago Energy ministry calls on oil traders to show ‘maximum responsibility’

The energy ministry on Sunday called on oil traders to demonstrate the “maximum responsibility” as the conflict in the Middle East sent oil prices soaring over the weekend. Meanwhile, the ministry’s consumer protection service said it is “monitoring wholesale and retail fuel prices on a daily basis”. The ministry said that in the event that […]

Politics

3 w. ago Cyprus flight cancellations continue over Middle East conflict

More flights to and from Cyprus in the Middle East were cancelled on Saturday as the conflict between Israel and Iran continued to escalate. Nine incoming flights from Tel Aviv and two from Haifa were cancelled at Larnaca airport, while another from Beirut to Larnaca was also cancelled. In the opposite direction, no fewer than […]

Events