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President’s meeting with UN Secretary-General of pivotal importance, Spokesman says

The High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly represents the year’s foremost diplomatic moment, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said Sunday, adding that the meeting that the President of Cyprus will hold with the UNSG on September 24th, is a pivotal one.

Speaking to journalists in New York and referring to the meetings President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides will hold during his stay there for the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, the Spokesman said that ‘the UN High-Level Week is the most important diplomatic moment of the year. We are, of course, here with the Cyprus issue at the centre of our efforts and with a focus on the initiatives undertaken by the President of the Republic to resume substantive negotiations’.

This year, the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly is being held under the theme of restoring trust and defending and promoting multilateralism-issues and principles which, as the Spokesman noted, ‘the Republic of Cyprus has been defending, upholding and advancing, and has been seeking to safeguard, for the past 52 years.’

‘Today, September 20, marks the anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus becoming an official member of the United Nations in 1960, joining this great family, the UN family, which seeks to convey its messages through the defence and promotion of international law,’ the Spokesman said.

He added that ‘the meeting between the President of the Republic and the UN Secretary-General is a pivotal one, alongside the many bilateral meetings he will hold during the week with heads of state and government, institutional partners and leading global energy companies.’

The Spokesman said that the meeting with the UN Secretary-General is scheduled for September 24 and will be preceded by a meeting between the President and the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín.

‘We are coming into these meetings following a period of regular contacts and discussions and, as the President of the Republic has already made known, he is coming with ideas, proposals and suggestions regarding confidence-building measures, as well as the methodology and substance of the Cyprus issue,’ he pointed out.

Letymbiotis explained that the Government’s objective ‘remains unchanged.’

‘Our aim is to see how we can contribute, to the extent of our own capabilities, to making possible the convening of an expanded meeting, in line with the objective set by the UN Secretary-General. A successful expanded meeting that will serve as a substantive springboard towards the resumption of meaningful negotiations from the point at which they were interrupted,’ he said.

Beyond that, Letymbiotis continued, another major diplomatic moment will be the day on which the President of the Republic addresses the UN General Assembly.

‘Before the international community, we will convey our messages concerning our self-evident effort for Cyprus to become a normal, modern European state, without anachronistic guarantees and occupying troops, a Cyprus that will continue to demonstrate its great importance and value in the Eastern Mediterranean region,’ he said.

Asked whether the possibility of a trilateral meeting, either with the UN Secretary-General or with Holguín, had been discussed, the Spokesman said that ‘at least so far, there is no prospect of a joint meeting either with the UN Secretary-General or with his Personal Envoy”.

Of course, he went on to say, “such a possibility is something we view and approach positively. President Christodoulides himself has said that, if the Secretary-General’s schedule allows, certainly after High-Level Week, we are considering the possibility of extending our stay in New York precisely in order to make such a meeting possible. Ms Holguín is coming to New York next Tuesday, the day on which she will meet with President Christodoulides’.

Asked when Holguín would meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader, the Spokesman said that, according to the information available to him, ‘it will be next Wednesday, the day after her meeting with the President of the Republic’.

He added that, regarding the possibility of a trilateral meeting, ‘we will wait to hear from her directly. Of even greater significance will be the meeting with the UN Secretary-General, during which there will be a joint assessment and evaluation of the steps taken so far but, more importantly, of the steps that can be taken in the period ahead.’

Asked whether the document recording the convergences had been prepared, Letymbiotis said that ‘this is something on which we, too, are waiting to be briefed by Ms Holguín”.

” It is known that the United Nations has begun recording the convergences. We had expected to receive this update during the visit Ms Holguín was due to make to Cyprus, which had been scheduled for September but was postponed for personal reasons. This is something that will form part of the discussion next Tuesday between the President of the Republic and Ms Holguín’, he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.

Cyber vigilance efforts ramp up as GCash IPO expected to draw first-time investors

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is expected to play an important role in protecting first-time Filipino investors from cyber scams.

This comes amid the Philippine Stock Exchange-approved initial public offering of Mynt, the parent company of GCash, which will potentially bring millions of Filipinos into the Philippine capital market.

CICC Executive Director Atty. Renato ‘Aboy’ Paraiso said the growing use of digital financial platforms requires stronger government-industry cooperation to ensure that Filipinos entering the digital economy are also protected from cybercriminals.

‘Cybersecurity is not the responsibility of the government alone – it requires strong collaboration with industry leaders like GCash,’ Paraiso said in an earlier CICC-GCash partnership, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts to protect users of digital financial services.

The Mynt IPO could become a significant retail-investor event as millions of Filipinos familiar with GCash gain an opportunity to participate in the stock market through digital channels.

But greater accessibility also creates another risk, according to the CICC chief. ‘Scammers could exploit first-time investors who are unfamiliar with stock-market transactions by impersonating GCash, Mynt, brokers, regulators or other legitimate institutions.’

The CICC’s role is not to conduct securities KYC or determine who may buy shares – functions handled by financial institutions and securities regulators – but to help detect, prevent and pursue cybercriminal activity targeting investors.

This distinction is reportedly important as KYC establishes the identity of legitimate investors, while cybersecurity measures help protect them from being deceived by impostors.

Paraiso said that potential scams could include fake GCash or Mynt IPO websites, fraudulent social-media pages, bogus ‘IPO agents,’ phishing messages, malicious QR codes and offers promising guaranteed allocations or exclusive access to shares.

He emphasized that the risk could be greater for Filipinos who are familiar with GCash as a digital wallet but are buying stocks for the first time.

The concern is reportedly not merely hypothetical. Mynt has previously warned the public about unauthorized and fraudulent offers involving its shares, highlighting the need for investors to distinguish official IPO channels from scams.

Paraiso has also urged public vigilance against digital fraud. The CICC operates its 24/7 Action Center 1326 for complaints and incident reports, while CICC data showed that consumer fraud accounted for 35% of complaints received by its Cybercrime Complaint Center in 2025, making it the most reported cybercrime category.

For the GCash IPO, this cyber-protection framework could become particularly relevant as stock investing reaches Filipinos who may be entering the capital market for the first time.

CICC-GCash cooperation could include monitoring fraudulent websites and social-media accounts, facilitating the reporting and takedown of impersonation schemes, and giving the public simple guidance on how to verify legitimate IPO channels.

Existing cooperation between the two organizations provides a foundation for such preventive measures, including information sharing, incident response and efforts to identify and block unauthorized actors involved in fraudulent digital activity.

The continuing evolution of phishing and ‘quishing’ scams – using fake QR codes and imitation websites – also underscores the need for vigilance.

For prospective IPO investors, the basic protection message is straightforward: use only officially identified channels, never disclose an OTP, MPIN or password, and be wary of anyone promising guaranteed shares, guaranteed returns or special IPO access.

The CICC’s role would therefore complement, rather than replace, the regulatory and KYC safeguards surrounding the IPO

South Cotabato campus attacker’s dad is safe gun handling advocate

The father of the student who left two schoolmates dead and wounded six others in a shooting at a school campus in Banga, South Cotabato, before taking his own life on Friday, September 18, is a government emergency and disaster response lecturer and an advocate for firearm safety.

The incident occurred inside the campus of the Banga National High School in the town center of Banga, one of the 10 towns in South Cotabato and located near the provincial capital, Koronadal City.

Local executives separately told reporters on Sunday that the father of the school campus attacker is a project development officer at the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd) 12, which oversees public elementary, secondary, and tertiary schools across the four provinces and four cities of Region 12, including South Cotabato.

According to education officials and local executives in Banga, the father also serves as one of DepEd 12’s focal persons for disaster risk reduction and management operations.

Several days before the incident, he had lectured via a radio station in Koronadal City about safety and protecting students from violence on school campuses, as well as the need for programs aimed at supporting their good mental health. According to his officemates, he also occasionally lectures on the safe handling of licensed firearms.

Banga Mayor Albert Palencia and South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. separately told reporters on Saturday, September 19, that the attacker’s phone contained a Messenger group chat in which he allegedly told classmates that he planned to harm schoolmates on campus. They said the student may have been experiencing family and personal problems, as well as difficulties with his academic performance, although these circumstances remain subject to investigation.

A female schoolmate died at the scene from injuries sustained in the shooting, while another male student died at a hospital where he was brought by emergency responders for treatment. Six other students who were injured in the incident are currently confined in different hospitals.

One of the injured students, who sustained a serious head injury, is receiving treatment from specialists at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City, about two hours away from Banga by road.

The office of Tamayo, now serving his third term, initially extended essential assistance to the six students in the hospitals through nurse Rolly Aquino, chief of the South Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Cop sacked for driving motorcycle with no license plate

A policeman was sacked from his post after he was caught driving a motorcycle without a license plate in Quezon City.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Olazo, Quezon City Police District director, said he relieved the police corporal from his post and ordered him to explain the traffic violation.

‘Being a police officer does not exempt him from following the law,’ Olazo said in a statement.

He did not reveal the policeman’s identity.

The violation was noticed after a netizen posted a picture of the officer driving a motorcycle without a visible license plate at the corner of P. Tuazon Boulevard and EDSA in Barangay Socorro.

The unnamed policeman was issued a traffic citation ticket and his motorcycle was impounded.

Olazo reminded police officers that they are always mandated to comply with traffic laws, rules and regulations.

UAAP Player of the Week Nnoruka leads UP’s flawless start

The beloved ‘Maroon 5′ may have already moved on from the collegiate ranks but the University of the Philippines remains in good hands with Francis Nnoruka emerging as the team’s new leader this UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament.

The graduating Nigerian center proved his pedigree to lead the Fighting Maroons right away in the opening week, tallying back-to-back double-double performances as they coasted to a 2-0 record with victories against the UST Growling Tigers and the Ateneo Blue Eagles to gain provisional lead in the standings.

For his efforts that saw him average 15.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal, 1.0 block, Nnoruka was hailed as the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Player of the Week for the duration of September 13 to 19.

Nnoruka emphasized the need for them to step up and even raise the bar left by the ‘Maroon 5’ – comprised of Harold Alarcon, Janjan Felicilda, Reyland Torres, Terrence Fortea and Gerry Abadiano – higher this year, especially with Nnoruka now on his last playing year for the Fighting Maroons.

‘I believe the previous UP teams have a standard. So just pretty much continue where they left off and raise the standards higher,’ said the 6-foot-9 big man on his outlook this season after falling short of the crown last year.

He delivered 18 points and 12 rebounds against UST in the opener last Sept. 13 before dropping 12 points and 13 boards against Ateneo on Sept. 19 with both games held at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

His performances – which also included limiting Season 88 Rookie of the Year and Elite Team member Collins Akowe in their opening day matchup – propelled Nnoruka to the weekly citation over nominees teammate Noy Remogat, UST’s Amiel Acido, NU’s Kenshin Padrones, Adamson’s Mathew Montebon, La Salle’s Luis Pablo and Ateneo’s Kieffer Alas.

Despite the early lead in the standings, Nnoruka believes that the Fighting Maroons are still a long way to go from what they are aiming to be.

‘I’m excited we got the win but just got a lot to work on and you know a lot of stuff we need to improve so we’re gonna head back to the lab and get to work,’ he shared.

Nnoruka and UP return to action on Saturday, September 26 as they tussle with the NU Bulldogs at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

GSIS hikes emergency loan assistance for calamity victims

The allocation for emergency loan assistance for members and pensioners of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) displaced by flooding in Luzon and Mindanao has been increased to nearly P8 billion.

The state-run pension fund said the program covers 16 areas affected by the southwest monsoon and Typhoons Luis, Maymay and Neneng.

The expanded loan program applies to GSIS members and pensioners working or residing in areas declared under a state of calamity.

Deadline of application will be from Sept. 20 to Nov. 16, depending on affected areas.

Qualified borrowers with existing emergency loans may avail themselves of up to P40,000, with the outstanding balance of their existing loans to be deducted from the proceeds. Those with no existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to P20,000.

The loan is payable within 36 months and carries a corresponding interest rate of six percent.

Members and pensioners may apply through the GSIS Touch mobile app or check the state insure’s website for areas covered by the loan assistance program.

Landbank feted for clean energy financing

State-run Land Bank of the Philippines has earned international recognition for advancing the Philippines’ energy security and clean energy transition, receiving the Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Award for Outstanding Sustainable Project Financing.

The award recognized Landbank’s Sustainable Power and Energy Infrastructure Financing Portfolio, which supports large-scale renewable energy and power projects that expand clean energy capacity, strengthen grid reliability, and meet the country’s growing power requirements.

‘This recognition inspires us to further expand financing for projects that will shape a cleaner, more energy-secure future for the Philippines. Landbank will continue to mobilize capital for strategic investments that deliver reliable power to communities, strengthen the economy, and advance sustainable development for generations to come,’ Landbank president and CEO Lynette Ortiz said.

‘Economic growth requires infrastructure, and infrastructure requires capital. Landbank’s participation in major solar and pumped-storage hydropower projects in the Philippines demonstrates the important role that a public financial institution can play in meeting this challenge,’ International Council of Sustainability Standards for Value-Driven Financial Institutions chairman and Arshad Rab said.

Landbank’s Sustainable Power and Energy Infrastructure Financing Portfolio supports key energy infrastructure projects, including the 1,400-megawatt Ahunan Power and 600-megawatt Olympia Violago pumped-storage hydroelectric plants, and the 160-megawatt Labrador Green Energy solar project.

To date, LANDBANK has mobilized more than P300 billion in financing and supported over 2,000 megawatts of renewable and energy-supporting capacity, contributing to the country’s long-term energy security and sustainability goals.

APC victory in bye-elections affirms confidence in ruling party – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the winners of the legislative bye-elections held across five constituencies in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states, saying the results demonstrate confidence in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC won four of the five seats contested on Saturday, while the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) secured the remaining seat in Bauchi State.

The successful APC candidates were Kallamu MaiJama’a of the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State; Husseini Datti of Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State; Okolosi Ator of Udu State Constituency in Delta State; and Yakubu Ali of Disina State Constituency in Bauchi State.

Adamu Yakubu of the APM won the Sakwa State Constituency seat in Bauchi State.

Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the victories recorded by APC candidates demonstrated the confidence Nigerians reposed in the party’s capacity to govern effectively and deliver shared prosperity.

‘I am encouraged by the support Nigerians at the grassroots continue to show for our party and for the difficult but necessary reforms our administration has implemented over the past three years.

‘I urge Nigerians to remain steadfast and not be swayed by political opportunism. The benefits of these reforms will become increasingly evident as we enter the next phase of our programme,’ he said.

The President urged the winners to justify the confidence their constituents had placed in them through diligent and effective representation.

He also encouraged the other candidates to accept the outcome in good faith and continue contributing to the democratic process.

Tinubu commended voters and security agencies for maintaining peace and order during the elections, while also applauding the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting the polls.

He urged INEC to build on the progress recorded in the bye-elections and address any shortcomings ahead of future polls.

The bye-elections comprised one federal constituency contest in Gombe and four State House of Assembly contests across Kano, Bauchi and Delta states. Reports indicated that voting was largely peaceful, although low turnout was reported in parts of Gombe and Kano, while some challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) were reported in Delta.

INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections in participating states are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

Cyprus is positioning itself as a trusted partner for space innovation, Dep. Minister tells CNA

Cyprus is positioning itself as a trusted partner for space innovation, Earth observation and space-enabled services, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Nicodemos Damianou has told CNA.

The Minister, who signed recently in Paris on the sidelines of the Space Summit a Joint Declaration with France on cooperation in space activities, said that it creates a framework for closer collaboration in Earth observation, space science and satellite telecommunications.

Our ability to understand climate change, respond to natural disasters, strengthen connectivity and industrial capabilities, safeguard critical infrastructure and support innovation, as well as our defense capabilities and overall technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy, increasingly depend on space, he went on to say.

Moreover, he noted that the discussions and declarations adopted last week’s International Space Summit in Paris reflect this shared European understanding.

Over the last few years, he said, Cyprus has moved decisively from being a user of space services to becoming an emerging contributor to Europe’s space ecosystem.

This was achieved, the Deputy Minister noted, through active participation in European Space Programs, associate membership with the European Space Agency, strategic investments in satellite ground infrastructure, gateway facilities, and secure connectivity, and innovation-focused initiatives such as a Space Business Incubation Centre.

“Cyprus is positioning itself as a trusted partner for space innovation, Earth observation and space-enabled services, in a strategically important neighborhood” he stressed.

The Deputy Minister said that international cooperation is central to our approach – and to the very purpose of this Summit and noted that in this context Cyprus and France signed on the sidelines of the Space Summit a Joint Declaration on cooperation in space activities. This, he said, creates a framework for closer collaboration in Earth observation, space science and satellite telecommunications.

It also provides, he continued, a framework for sharing expertise and experience, encouraging participation in joint research and industry initiatives, and strengthening our coordination within ESA and other European and international fora.

“The longstanding relationship between Cyprus and France continues to deepen across strategic sectors. Building on the Strategic Partnership established by Presidents Christodoulides and Macron, this signing reflects our shared political will to work together for a stronger, more resilient and more autonomous Europe” the Deputy Minister concluded.

Raps filed vs 3 Cavite cop chiefs

Administrative charges have been filed against three municipal police chiefs in Cavite in connection with a shooting incident in Maragondon, which resulted in the death of a policeman and an aide of a mayor.

Majors Ian Lexter Loyola, Melvin Isidro and Henry Salazar of the Maragondon, Ternate and Magallanes police, respectively, were charged with neglect and simple irregularity in the performance of duty along with a master sergeant, three staff sergeants and a patrolman.

Seven others including two executive master sergeants, a chief master sergeant, two staff sergeants and two corporals were charged with grave neglect of duty.

The charges were filed before the Cavite police Internal Affairs Service.

A criminal complaint was filed against Cpl. Rolando Periodico Jr. of the Trece Martires police, the alleged gunman in the killing of S/Sgt. Junmark Sisante of the Magallanes police and Arjay Mojica, aide of the mayor of Maragondon.

Records showed that Periodico allegedly shot dead Sisante and Mojica during an argument at a resort in Barangay San Miguel A on Aug. 12.

Periodico is also facing administrative charges.

National Police Commission-Calabarzon chief Owen de Luna ordered Cavite police director Col. Ariel Red and Trece Martires police chief Lt. Col. Bryan Merino as well as Loyola, Isidro and Salazar to submit a comprehensive report and the names of officers implicated in the incident.