Jose Mourinho said yesterday that Real Madrid would give Apoel Nicosia the respect they deserve by fielding a strong team in tonight's Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Bernabeu, despite holding a healthy 3-0 advantage from the first match.

Gambling charges against 40 elderly women, including a 98-year-old, who held weekly poker-and-bridge parties in Cyprus, were dropped yesterday by the country's Attorney General.

Bayer Leverkusen 1 Barcelona 3

From Europe to the Far East, British universities are enticing students overseas to their outreach campuses

Winter breaks in the sun are continuing to grow in popularity with sun-starved Brits. With the adage it’s never too early to start planning a holiday, while the majority of British travellers look to enjoy their main holiday in the summer; many are looking to bag a cheeky early bargain somewhere hot.

Asil Nadir squandered millions of pounds of stolen money on luxury London homes, country estates, racehorses and antiques, the Old Bailey heard yesterday.

Tycoon Asil Nadir used millions of pounds he stole from his Polly Peck empire to bolster its share price, the Old Bailey heard today.

Biggest trial of its kind begins for the Cypriot businessman behind the Polly Peck empire

Business tycoon Asil Nadir stole just under £150 million from his business empire for himself, his family and friends, the Old Bailey heard today.

Rauf Denktash was the first president of the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). His consistent purpose was to destroy for ever the concept of a single Cypriot nation state, common to both Greeks and Turks.

Top seed Andy Murray showed no mercy to doubles partner Marcos Baghdatis today as he cruised to a 6-2 6-2 victory in the quarter-finals of the ATP Brisbane International.

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is hoping left-back Enda Stevens can quickly adjust to the demands of the Barclays Premier League after completing his move from Shamrock Rovers.

Cyprus may need foreign financial aid unless drastic action is taken to deal with the impact of an explosion which decimated its largest power station, central bank governor Athanasios Orphanides has warned.

A huge explosion ripped through a naval base in Cyprus early yesterday as a fire ignited a seized Iranian weapons cache, killing at least 12 people including the head of the navy.