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Thursday, December 20, 2012

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Talks on Block 9 must start over Negotiations at an end with French and Russian consortium as state chooses another gas bidder By Stefanos Evripidou

HE GOVERNMENT yesterday announced its decision to end talks with the FrenchRussian energy consortium over licencing rights for the preferred Block 9 in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), choosing instead to start negotiations with the previously overlooked Italian-Korean consortium. Speaking after a cabinet meeting, government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou announced the termination of negotiations with the consortium comprising French energy giant Total, Russian company Novatec and GPB Global Resources BV (a Gazprombank subsidiary) for an offshore gas exploration licence in Cyprus’ block 9, citing lack of progress in the talks. Instead, the state will begin negotiations with the Italian-South Korean joint venture ENI-KOGAS for block 9, while negotiations will also be launched with Total for block 10. Until now, no negotiations had begun with any interested party for block 10, despite bids being made in the second licencing round for the remaining 12 blocks in Cyprus’ EEZ. In late October, the government announced the decision to launch negotiations to award licences for blocks 2 and 3 with ENI-KOGAS, block 9 with Total-NovatekGPB, and block 11 with Total alone. The four offshore prospects are contiguous,

lying north and north-east of block 12, where US firm Noble Energy has a concession to drill and has reported significant gas finds. Block 9 is considered to be the ‘prime cut’ of the four prospects, having received eight bids in total. The government-appointed negotiating team met with the companies and consortia short-listed for blocks 2, 3, 9 and 11 in midNovember, asking them to return to the table in two weeks with improved proposals, regarding both the financial and technical aspects of their bids. By the end of November, negotiations began in earnest with Commerce Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis saying he expected contracts to be signed in early 2013, for which the government would earn a ‘signature bonus’ from the companies awarded licences that would go some way to filling nearempty state coffers. However, the government’s choice of companies and consortia raised a number of questions, particularly over block 9 – considered the ‘prime cut’ of the four prospects, having received eight bids in total. A number of press reports suggested the government had altered the order of ranking of the bids for block 9, eventually picking the Total-Novatec consortium despite its bid being graded fourth and fifth by the state’s own evaluation committee and French

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Vineyard vandal’s arrest solves wine mystery By Philip Pullella

A Mexican man wearing a pre-hispanic costume performs at a tourist area of Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo state, Mexico, yesterday, during preparations for the celebration of the end of the Maya Long Count Calendar – Baktun 13 – on Friday, and the beginning of a new era (AFP)

THE great mystery of what may go down in wine annals as the crime of the century – the destruction of the equivalent of 80,000 bottles of choice Brunello di Montalcino – may have been solved. Italian police have named a disgruntled former employee of the exclusive Soldera label at the Case Basse vineyard and estate in Tuscany as the suspected cantina culprit who dumped tens of thousands of litres of ﬁne wine down the drain. Police in the small Tuscan town, which lends its name to the wine, said 39-year old Andrea di Gisi broke into the Soldera family estate in the night between December 2 and 3. He is accused of opening the taps of ten huge barrels containing the produce of the last six years and literally letting the wine pour down the drain. The total amount lost, according to a Soldera family statement, was 62,600 litres, or the equivalent of some 80,000 bottles. Since a bottle of Soldera starts at about 110 euros and the bottles are numbered as if they were gold bars, the act of vandalism travelled around the world wine community like news of an untimely frost or an unknown pestilence. The damage done to the 56acre estate that uses Sangiovese Grosso vines to produce the famous wine, was estimated to be more than six million euros. Until di Gisi’s arrest, it was a vintage whodunnit worthy of the new genre of food mystery novels such as Murder Uncorked and The Merlot Murders.

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Home PICTURE OF THE DAY

Weather Paralimni

Nicosia 17

Troodos

18 18

Larnaca

Paphos

Limassol

TODAY: Overcast with rain, which will be heavy in places. Temperatures will reach 17C inland, 18C along the coasts and 6C over higher ground OUTLOOK: Remaining unsettled throughout the week YESTERDAY:

Max Temp Nicosia 19 Larnaca 20 Limassol 21 Paphos 20 Paralimni 19 Prodromos 7

Min 13 15 15 18 14 6

Humidity 72% 56% 49% 57% 61% 98%

SUNRISE: 06:51am

SUNSET: 4:38pm

Pollution Low/Low Low/Low Low/Low Low Low Low

Air quality in Cyprus is assessed with the aid of a network of nine advanced monitoring stations. Data is recorded hourly. Information provided by the Air Quality Section of the Department of Labour Inspection (DLI)

Worldwide Athens Budapest Bucharest Brussels Cairo Copenhagen Damascus Dublin Frankfurt Geneva Istanbul London

11 3 0 7 21 2 19 3 6 6 12 7

Cloudy Light Rain Mist Cloudy Clear Cloudy Cloudy Fog Cloudy Rain Cloudy Cloudy

Madrid Manchester Moscow Oslo Paris Prague Rome Sarajevo Sofia Stockholm Tel Aviv Vienna

6 5 -15 -2 8 4 12 0 3 -2 21 3

Mist Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Mist Cloudy Snow Light Rain Cloudy Cloudy Drizzle

EXCHANGE

€

1.3313

€

0.8187

For a full list of exchange rates, see page 12

CHEMISTS NICOSIA L. Tsangaris, Gr. Dighenis Ave. Tel: 22671531, 22439014 (H) E. Matsa, 105E Athalassa Ave. Tel. 22425078, 22428570 (H) Ch. Charalambous, Makarios III Ave & Doiranis. Tel: 22374939, 22877694 (H) Economidou Kefala M., 84C D Ithakis St, Engomi. Tel: 22352933, 22518687 (H) Ch. Filippou, 151A Larnakos Ave., Aglantzia, Tel: 22731020, 22484085 (H) LIMASSOL M. P. Kantonidou, Franklin Roosevelt St, Zakaki. Tel: 25390354, 25388448 (H) Y. Tooulia, 28 Nafpliou St. Tel:

25350829, 25715141 (H) Ch. Agamemnonos 131 Vas. Konstantinou Tel: 25870748, 25737455 (H) LARNACA C. Smirillis, 12 N. Mylona St. Tel: 24650777, 24821580 (H) M. Economidou, 15 Raphael Santi, Tel: 24102524, 22511250 PAPHOS N. Nicolaou, P.E.O. 14 N. Antoniades St. Tel: 26934224, 26953371 (H) PARALIMNI G. Kayias, 6A Sotiras St. Tel: 23827020, 23744353 (H)

Cyprus Mail Established 1945. Number 21,410 NICOSIA 24 Vass. Voulgaroctonou, P.O. Box 21144, 1502 Nicosia Tel: 22-818585, Fax: 22-676385 email: mail@cyprus-mail.com LIMASSOL 5A Nicolaou, Pentadromos Centre, Thessaloniki St, Tel: 25-761117, Fax: 25-761141 email: cyprusmail@cytanet.com.cy LARNACA Tel: 24-652243, Fax: 24-659982 PAPHOS 62 Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, Ofﬁce 2, 8046 Paphos, Tel: 26 911383 Fax : 26 221049 email: paphos@cyprus-mail.com

A Chinese man plays with his pet bird on a frozen lake in Beijing yesterday. China will allow transit passengers from 45 countries including the US, Canada and all members of the EU to spend up to 72 hours in Beijing without a visa from January 2013, city authorities said (AFP)

QUICK CROSSWORD 2267 Across

Down

1 Help (6) 4 Starry (6) 9 Central American country (9) 10 Helmsman (3) 11 Sleeveless garment (7) 13 Boundary (5) 14 Packed with people (11) 18 Inner pain (5) 19 Unbeliever (7) 21 Choose (3) 22 Ten-sided (9) 24 With it (6) 25 Method (6)

1 Month (6) 2 Ocean (3) 3 Rob (5) 5 Migratory bird (7) 6 Suggest (9) 7 Slackness (6) 8 Classic (11) 12 Short story (9) 15 Ebbed (7) 16 Solicit (6) 17 Ski-race (6) 20 Misty (5) 23 Mesh (3)

For cryptic crossword and answers to the previous quick crossword see page 21

ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 20 1917 The Soviet secret police, the Cheka, is established.

1973 Spanish Prime Minister Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco is assassinated in a bomb explosion while driving back from church. The Basque separatist movement, ETA, claims responsibility.

1989 The United States invades Panama in an attempt to overthrow military dictator Manuel Noriega.

1995 In a formal ceremony in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina NATO assumes responsibility for peacekeeping duties in Bosnia.

1995 In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II urges the Prince and Princess of Wales to get an early divorce.

1999 Portugal relinquishes sovereignty over Macau to China.

WHAT THE MAIL SAID 25 years ago, Sunday December 20, 1987 A second opinion poll by Kema, the Middle East Research Centre, shows the AKEL-backed independent presidential candidate George Vassiliou increasing his lead compared with an opinion poll taken last September.

35 years ago, Tuesday December 20, 1977 The kidnappers of Achilleas Kyprianou will be barred from coming to Greece, the Athens government said yesterday. A government spokesman made the comment on press reports which said that the kidnappers had chosen to travel to Greece. According to these reports the kidnappers released the president’s son after assurances given by the Greek Ambassador in Cyprus that they would be allowed to enter Greece.

45 years ago, Wednesday December 20, 1967 Air Vice-Marshall Haralambos Potamianos arrived in Athens by air from Rome tonight in his conciliatory mission to bring the King back from his exile. Speaking to reporters Potamianos said “I think there is ground for a compromise solution. I am doing everything possible objectively”. Air Marshal Potamianos arrived in Rome last night and had about ﬁve hours of talks with the king before returning to Athens today.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Home CYPRUS TODAY More power ELECTRICITY Authority (EAC) technicians have got another 75MW turbine connected to the grid, it said yesterday. The turbine at Vassilikos power station was connected on Tuesday on unit 4, which now provides 110MW in total, the EAC said. Another 75MW is due to be connected to the grid before the end of the year. The EAC expects to get an additional 220MW when unit 4 is fully restored, it said. Works should be completed by the end of the year to repair other units destroyed during a naval base blast in 2011. Remaining repair works are expected to be completed by next summer.

Paphos remand PAPHOS district court yesterday issued an eight-day remand for the 56-year-old woman who was arrested on Tuesday for the alleged attempted murder of her brother-in-law, 75. Police are treating the stabbing as an attempted murder, even though the suspect denies she meant to kill her brother-in-law. According to police the man was attacked with two kitchen knives. The victim, who sustained injuries to his abdomen and arms, was taken to Paphos general hospital where he underwent surgery.

Arson attack A FIRE early yesterday completely gutted a pub on Larnaca’s Makarios Avenue, which had only re-opened a week ago after refurbishment following an arson attack earlier in the year. Police believe the new ﬁre, which broke out around 5am was also an arson attack. Although the pub was destroyed, ﬁremen managed to prevent the blaze from spreading to neighbouring tourist apartments. The pub is owned by a 50-year-old man from Aradippou.

Large haul for drugs squad Officers confiscate 20kg of cannabis and loaded pistols after car chase By Stefanos Evripidou TWO MEN were arrested by the Drugs Squad (YKAN) in the Nicosia district yesterday in connection with the possession of drugs, pistols and bullets but not before police gave simultaneous car chases, ﬁring warning shots until the two suspects stopped their cars. According to state broadcaster CyBC, following searches of the cars and other properties belonging to the suspects, police found in total around 20kg of cannabis and 3kg of cocaine, along with two loaded pistols and bullets. Two Greek Cypriots

aged 27 and 34 were arrested, while another two are wanted on suspicion of being part of a drugs gang operating in Cyprus. Acting on a tip-off, the Drugs Squad set up surveillance of a car in Kornos in the Nicosia District yesterday. At around midday, the 27-year-old went to pick up the car. Police gave chase to the village of Alambra until the suspect ﬁnally stopped after warning shots were ﬁred. YKAN spokesman Sergios Sergides said a large quantity of drugs was found in the car, along with a loaded pistol and bullets of various sizes. Meanwhile, another YKAN team went to search

Part of the stash found by police following a car search the home of the 34-yearold suspect in Ayia Varvara. On seeing the police, he allegedly threw a sports bag from a window on to the ground and made off in his car. Police again gave chase, ﬁring warning shots until the 34-year-old eventually stopped on the old Nicosia-Limassol road before the village of Mosﬁloti. According to Sergides, a search of the car revealed a loaded pistol, 85 grams

of cocaine and 85 grams of cannabis. In the dropped sports bag, police found 2kg of cocaine and 200g of cannabis. A further search of the property of the 34-year-old resulted in the conﬁscation of a grinder with traces of cannabis and cocaine. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, ﬁve men were sentenced by the Larnaca district court yesterday after being convicted of importing 21.8kg of canna-

(Christos Theodorides) bis to Cyprus on June 21, 2012. According to Larnaca Press Agency, the five men are all Greek Pontians from Greece and Kazakhstan. Four were found in a car by YKAN containing two travel bags with 21.9kg of cannabis. Police found 1.8kg of cannabis in the flat of a fifth. The court yesterday dished out sentences ranging from four to eight years for the five.

More dams overflow in rainy Paphos region ONE BY one, Cyprus’ dams have started overflowing as heavy showers have been topping up the reserves from last year’s bonanza, the water development board said yesterday. The Pomos and Arminou dams in Paphos overflowed yesterday morning, just a day after the Argaka dam – also in Paphos – did, while the dams are holding on average over 76 per cent, the board’s Fedros Roussis said yesterday. They are the first reservoirs to

overﬂow this winter with Arminou, holding 4.3 million cubic metres, and Argaka and Pomos holding 860,000 cubic metres. The smaller reservoir in Kalopanayiotis, which holds 363,000 cubic metres in capacity was already full. Next in line should be Asprokremmos dam, the island’s second biggest reservoir, which can accommodate nearly 52.4 milion cubic metres and was – as of yesterday – 96 per cent full. Roussis said it

was a matter of days before the dam overflowed. Over 21.8 million cubic metres of water have flowed into the dams so far this December, still a way to go from that rainy 2001 December, which saw 53 million cubic metres inflow in a month, Roussis said. The country’s potable water needs have mostly been covered through reserves since August when the cabinet decided the more expensive desalination units should halt production, following

above-normal rain last year. There will be more rain and storms today and possibly snow on the mountains, the meteorological office said. The fire services may continue being busy then. Just yesterday, they responded to 62 calls – mostly from drivers whose cars got stuck in flooded streets and residents with flooded basements. Most of those calls hailed from Paphos and Limassol, fire services’ spokeswoman Lisa Kemidji said.

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Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Home CYPRUS TODAY Mother of two killed on roads A MOTHER of two was killed in a road accident yesterday while her 14-month-old daughter who was sitting in the back seat survived the crash with minor injuries. Maria Michael Kostea, 34, from Liopetri, was driving on Ayia Varvara Street in Ayia Napa yesterday heading towards the town centre, when at around 11.30am, in circumstances under investigation, she lost control of the car, veered into the opposite lane and smashed into the wall of a house. The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt was seriously injured in the collision while her 14-month old daughter who was sitting in a child seat in the back of the car sustained only minor injuries. Kostea was rushed to Famagusta general hospital where she died at 3pm. Her daughter was kept in hospital as a precautionary measure. The 34-year-old leaves behind a husband and her two daughters, aged 14 months and six years.

Eight years jail for Larnaca rape LARNACA criminal court yesterday sentenced a 33-yearold student to eight years’ imprisonment for raping another student, aged 26. The Nigerian man raped the woman from Cameroon in Larnaca on October 9 last year, after the two went to his apartment in Larnaca following dinner and drinks despite her request that he drive her back to Nicosia. At his apartment she resisted his efforts to kiss her. But he assaulted and raped her, punching her in the mouth as she was trying to break free, Larnaca Press reported. He then forced her to take a bath and drove her back to Nicosia, where she ﬁled a complaint with the police the same night. The court said that the 26-year-old had composed herself well during the trial and that her request for the man to use a condom did not in any way imply that she had consented to sexual contact.

The four men seen on CCTV cameras inside a jewellery shop. They are wanted for questioning by police

Four wanted in connection with jewellery heists POLICE ARE looking for four men, believed to be Iranian, in connection with a number of jewellery heists and burglaries. Police released photographs of the four men yesterday, who look between 35 and 45 years of age, saying they were wanted for questioning in connection

with a jewellery heist in Latsia on Tuesday. The authorities have identiﬁed one of the men as being an Iranian national who is living in Cyprus and already has an arrest warrant pending against him. The other three are also believed to be Iranian. According to the state broad-

caster yesterday, the four men are suspected of being involved in another jewellery robbery in Larnaca and a burglary in Nicosia. Anyone with information as to their whereabouts is requested to contact Nicosia CID, their nearest police station or the Citizens’ Hotline on 1460.

Former AKEL deputy buried FORMER AKEL deputy Kikis Yiangou, who died on Sunday aged 70, was buried in Larnaca yesterday. The funeral of the three-term former MP, which was paid for by the party, took place at the Apostolos Varnavas Church at Kamares. Yiangou was born in 1942 and joined the anticolonial struggle at a young age through the Famagusta student organisation PEOM, where he later served as district secretary. In 1955 he was arrested by the British for distributing pamphlets. In 1958 he joined AKEL. In addition to his 1991-2006 place in parliament, Yiangou was also secretary of the refugee committee of Famagusta, a municipal councillor in Larnaca and served on the board of the Sports Organisation of Nea Salamina of Famagusta. There was a moment’s silence in honour of Yiangou during the plenary session at the Parliament on Tuesday.

Disappointed conservationists BIRDLIFE Cyprus said yesterday that the Cypriot EU presidency had concluded its work on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform “by digging a grave for greening”. A statement said that BirdLife Europe, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) considered it to be not so much a progress report as a ‘regress report’, “as it was attempting to scale back reform ambitions and undermined the original idea of making this CAP greener, fairer and more simple. Conservationists say the new Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2014-2020 should ensure that public spending is used to promote public goods rather than to be given as a blank cheque. It should support a truly ecologically sustainable agriculture and rural development.

CY: thanks for the cash Airline says injection will help it get back on its feet By Poly Pantelides CYPRUS Airways (CY) yesterday thanked the parliament’s ﬁnance committee for releasing over €16 million earmarked for a share capital increase, which the ailing airline said would help them get back on their feet. “Cyprus Airways would like to publicly express their gratitude over the House ﬁnance committee decision…to release €16,330,000, part of the second tranche of the government’s part of the share capital increase,” CY said in an announcement. The tranche is part of some €31.3 million the airline had

requested – and has now received – to help make the airline viable. Last week the airline asked the state for an additional €73 million in order to better implement its new restructuring plan. Under the plan, 407 employees would be made redundant, leaving 623 staff who would have to agree to salary cuts to bring wages down to competitive levels, as well introducing working hours that would better suit the airline’s needs. The head of the House ﬁnance committee, Nicolas Papadopoulos, expressed concern over the new request and raised questions over whether they could se-

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cure the consent of their European partners. Parliament, however, has also previously expressed concerns over the €31 million it eventually agreed to release. During discussions over the summer, lawmakers said they were worried that redundancy plans were too costly because of the compensation due to those who lose their jobs and expressed worries over a previous incarnation of a restructuring plan that the state proposed. Cash injections in the form of assistance for losses incurred due to a Turkish airspace ban on Cypriot aircraft has been keeping the airline going. Last year it was given €20 million for losses incurred between 2004 and 2010 and this year it got €5.3 million, representing the extra fuel cost to avoid Turkish airspace.

The airline also beneﬁts from bilateral agreements between Cyprus and nonEU member states and is, for example, guaranteed major scheduled routes for most of the year to and from Russia and Cyprus. Despite a number of false starts in recent years, CY has been unable to keep up with competition from cheaper carriers and rising fuel costs. The current plan has been prepared by consultants with Air France-KLM, and was discussed in the House behind closed doors. The airline has said that it wants to start implementation in mid-January next year. CY yesterday said that “it will do whatever is humanly possible to prove worthy of their chosen duty, to keep Cyprus’ historic airline going, render it competitive so it can grow and become proﬁtable as soon as possible”.

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CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

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Talks on Block 9 to start over as state switches bidder for gas Sylikiotis says negotiations on the three blocks, 2, 3 and 11 were proceeding well (continued from front page) consultants Beicip Franlab. The government has denied any wrongdoing, noting that the final decision rests with cabinet. It also highlighted there is no single ranking system for the bidders but rather, a number of different categories with different listings depending on the specific criteria evaluated. Sylikiotis argued at the time that the final decision took into account additional parameters, not just financial. In early November, daily Alithia claimed that the decision to award block 9 to the French and Russians was a political decision designed to sugar-coat an alleged request made by Cyprus for a €1 billion loan from Russia, which would allegedly come from the banks involved in the block 9 project. On November 13, daily Phileleftheros published what it claimed were the full data on the respective scores awarded by Beicip and the Energy Service’s evaluation committee. The paper reported that Total-Novatec’s proposal for a signature bonus was 400 per cent lower than that of ENI-KOGAS. There were even reports suggesting that some of the companies not picked are considering legally challenging the competition process though the government has denied being given any such warning from any of the bidders. It also highlights that

the most important aspect of any deal is the share the state will get in the production sharing agreement. The government argues it has negotiated one of the best share percentages in the world. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Stefanou said negotiations for blocks 2, 3 and 11 have made progress, but that insufficient progress was made in negotiations for block 9, hence the decision to begin anew with ENIKOGAS. In addition, talks would begin with Total for block 10, meaning negotiations are now underway for five new blocks in Cyprus’ EEZ: with Total for blocks 10 and 11, and ENI-KOGAS for blocks 2, 3 and 9. Speaking to the Cyprus Mail last night, Sylikiotis said negotiations on the three blocks 2, 3 and 11 were proceeding well. All bidders have improved their bids, taking negotiations to an advanced stage, he said. “We expect negotiators to return to Cyprus for talks in the first ten days of January after which we can hopefully wrap up the process and reach agreement in that month,” said the minister. Regarding block 9, Sylikiotis pointed out that negotiations would not start from scratch since the same model is used for all, with mainly the financial criteria being the variable for each contract.

“It is very important we proceed with the exploitation of our hydrocarbon deposits,” he said. A government source yesterday defended the decision to begin negotiations with the Total-Novatec consortium on 9, despite it leading to a dead-end. The source said the two sides reached an amicable agreement to end negotiations after the consortium’s value of how much gas was in block 9 proved to be less than the government’s own estimates. “The first criteria in the evaluation process is the size of the company, its technical and financial capacity. And Total is the biggest company in the group. They come second in deep water drilling in the world and second in their involvement in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals,” said the source. “That’s why we want their strong presence in hydrocarbon explorations, because of their size and strength. They are more aggressive in their drilling timetables. That’s why we will start negotiations on block 10,” they added. It is believed block 10 has decent prospects for finding oil. The government also has one eye on attracting investors for the costly construction of an LNG terminal in Limassol. With big companies like Total and ENI involved, the idea is this will make it easier to raise the funds for the terminal.

Christofias marks end of Cyprus’ EU presidency TO MARK the end of the Cypriot EU presidency, President Demetris Christofias yesterday hosted a special lunch for the ambassadors of the other 26 member states. Ireland will assume European presidency on January 1. In his address, Christofias said: “We are proud and especially pleased with the positive contribution our country has made to Europe in the last six months”. He also referred to the island as an “honest broker” saying Cyprus’ goal during the presidency had been to try and build “a better Europe” for the bloc’s citizens. “We worked hard, methodically and intensively and our only incentive was to help renew trust in the EU and to defend its principles.” he added. Christofias also said there was an urgent need to turn to the founding principles of the European Union, especially the

principle of solidarity, “not so that it can merely serve, as some fear, the unbridled lending from the richer European north to the poorer European south, but to reassert that the word ‘Union’ in the ‘European Union’ is not devoid of substance.” The president also referred to the successes of the Cypriot EU Presidency, one of the greater achievements of which was the deal brokered for the single supervisory mechanism council for a banking union. In his closing statement, Christoﬁas paid tribute to Deputy President for European Affairs Andreas Mavroyiannis who he said “worked day and night” to make the Cypriot presidency such a big success. Christoﬁas also thanked the Polish and Danish ambassadors for their countries’ help, and wished the Irish presidency luck for the coming six months.

Commerce Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis hopes for progress in January

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

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‘Huge economic impact’ from Orphanides closure By Poly Pantelides ALLOWING Orphanides Supermarkets to collapse will impact the economy to the tune of €400 million and have huge consequences across the board, the head of the employers and industrialists federation OEV warned yesterday. “Bearing in mind that a very large number of people are employed by the supermarkets and the suppliers who will have very serious problems… indeed there will be very serious consequences on the Cyprus economy in its entirety,” OEV head Michalis Pilikos

Employers federation says economy will lose €400 million if chain allowed to fold said. He placed the loss to the economy in the area of some €400 million. The supermarket chain announced last week that it was going into receivership, but the future still looms uncertain as its two main creditors, the Popular Bank and the Bank of Cyprus, which are collectively owed at least €140 million rejected the appointment of an administrator to oversee a restructuring. Orphanides owes €85 mil-

lion to suppliers and €10 million to other creditors, and posted a loss of €17.7 million for the ﬁrst three quarters of the year. Some 2,000 drivers and packers work on the supply end while about 1,250 work for Orphanides. “A well-meaning effort must be made by all those involved so that Orphanides supermarkets continue operating because the consequences will really be huge,” Pilikos said.

But he conceded that the banks – primarily the Popular Bank – which are themselves struggling, needed to ensure that any restructuring plan guaranteed they would get their money back. The chain’s real estate is said to be worth about €340 million. Pilikos propounded the suppliers’ proposal of a joint buyout of the company to gradually recoup what they are owed, while

reports yesterday said that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry KEVE was in discussions with concerned parties. Hundreds of workers at Orphanides supermarkets protested this week asking for their jobs to be saved, as already 200 have been sent home on unpaid leaves after the chain shut down 11 stores that had run out of goods. According to CEO Christos Orphanides, the company has been having problems for more than a year which became evident when a minority of large contractors stopped supplying the chain.

Teachers walk out early to protest austerity By Poly Pantelides SECONDARY school students were sent home early yesterday as their teachers walked out of classrooms for the day’s last period, protesting the austerity measures that impact their sector. Teachers will be forced to work for an extra period (40 minutes) a week, a move that will likely see 413 contract teachers out of a job, education minister Giorgos Demosthenous said yesterday. The measures are among those agreed with Cyprus’ international lenders, the troika, or the EU and IMF, as part of the bailout deal. But the secondary school teachers’ union, OELMEK, accused the government of failing to negotiate correctly the terms of the agreement. “Bad negotiation will lead our colleagues, some of who have been working for ﬁve years even ten, to unemployment,” OELMEK head Demetris Taliadoros said. OELMEK – which is supported by the primary school teachers’ union POED – has said they were not ruling out stronger measures, but he did not specify what those

Postal boss likes to answer letters addressed to ‘North Pole’ By Poly Pantelides ALTHOUGH money is tight this year and doesn’t allow for any elaborate visits to schools and nurseries, the island’s postal chief will continue to answer children’s letters to Santa. The postal services intercept the letters addressed to Santa, as there is nowhere to send them on to, and whenever possible, the children’s letters are answered. “Over the last three or four years we – as the postal service department – have been collecting the letters whether or not they are stamped, open them… and after reading and compiling the requests, we answer each child separately if a sender’s address is written,” said postal service’s chief Andreas Gregoriou. Gregoriou added that the postal services was not violating any privacy laws as no letters could obviously be sent to Caesarea - the home of St Basil who sometimes brings gifts to good Greek Orthodox children on January 1. Nor could they be sent to the North Pole where the mythical Santa Claus is said to live, and therefore would remain unopened and unseen, and the postal services thought it would be better to try and bring a little cheer to the season by responding since the opportunity was there.

BRINGING JOY

Teachers may have been upset yesterday but students were clearly happy to skip last period measures might be. The top salary for state primary and secondary school teachers comes to just under €65,000 a year, the second highest top salary in the EU. Newcomers earn €30,000 a year, the ﬁfth highest salary for teachers in the EU. But OELMEK has said that instead of targeting tax evaders and the wealthy, civil servants were being asked to bear the brunt of the auster-

ity measures. POED said that in addition to driving people to unemployment, increasing teaching time would “negatively impact the way schools are run, burdening even more educators’ daily schedule and teaching itself”. Demosthenous said yesterday that protesting was in vain. “We have made it clear and I told this to the teachers,

that nothing can change in how the terms have been laid out,” he said. Demosthenous said they would try to reduce the number of those affected and would support those made jobless, but did not say how, save to offer his assurances that the ministry was mulling over possibilities. Cyprus continues spending a comparatively large proportion of its gross domestic

Limited edition Cyprus coin watches proving popular THE ECONOMIC crisis in the jewellery businesses has inspired a great Christmas gift idea with the sale of a limited edition Swiss Watch with a CYP 0.50 coin embedded in the dial. The watches are limited to 500, and cost €249. They are exclusively supplied by Philippos Vafeas Jewellery & Watches Ltd in Limassol. Local jewellers say that business is deﬁnitely taking a bad turn with people now more interested in selling their gold rather than buying. Philippos Vafeas, owner of Philippos Vafeas Jewellery & Watches Ltd told Cyprus Mail that lack of business is where

the idea for the timepiece came from. “Sales are completely dead at the moment. We had to do something to spark interest.” he said. So far, around 100 of the 500 limited edition watches have been bought from his shop. This special Cypriot Coin watch comes with a black leather strap, although differently coloured straps and chain straps are available as well. Also enclosed in the luxurious solid-wood case of the watch is the history of the CYP 0.50 coin. This Swiss-made timepiece has mineral crystal glass covering the dial and Quartz movement.

(Christos Theodorides)

product (GDP) on education which demonstrates the government’s commitment, ruling AKEL deputy Andros Kafkalias said yesterday during parliament’s discussion of the 2013 budget. Following Denmark, which contributes 8.7 per cent of its GDP to education, Cyprus is the second highest spender with 8.0 per cent, according to eurostat’s latest available data.

“We try to bring joy to children aged between 8 and 10 who write to Santa Claus and so we think we create an even happier environment for these children’s families,” Gregoriou said. Sometimes the children want a toy or a favour for someone close to them, Gregoriou said. A cheekier child said once: “I was always good but my brother was naughty, so don’t get him a toy,” he added. He said sometimes children eschew gifts, asking instead that their parents be well such as the child who asked that his father who was sick in hospital got better. Gregoriou said the postal services used to visit schools and nurseries, dressed as Santa, carrying gifts, but money was tighter now. But at least, he said, he still gets to pretend he’s Santa, even if it’s only a behind the scenes role once a year.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Home Cabinet gives go-ahead to borrow from semi-state bodies THE CABINET yesterday gave its approval to the state borrowing a total of €250 million from three semi-governmental organisations so it can pay wages and pensions in the public sector for the month of December. According to government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou, cabinet approved the three loans to be granted by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CyTA)

and the Cyprus Ports Authority. The EAC and CyTA will loan the state €100m each from their employees’ pension funds, while the Ports Authority will lend €50m so the government can meet its ﬁnancing obligations for December, after the ﬁnance ministry warned of a selective default in parliament earlier this week. The Ports Authority had originally offered a €38 million loan with an option for a further €12m which the government

eventually took. The CyTA and EAC loans are short-term, three month loans at an interest rate of 5.5 per cent which the government said it would pay back once it gets the ﬁrst tranche of an international bailout, the details of which will be discussed by the Eurogroup on January 21, 2013. According to Accountant-general Rea Georgiou, following the loan agreements, the state will now be able to pay Decem-

ber salaries on December 24, Christmas Eve, and 13th salaries and pensions on the last day of the month. December pensions will be paid this Friday. Meanwhile, the ﬁnance ministry yesterday announced that Value Added Tax (VAT) would see an increase of 1.0 per cent, from 17 to 18 per cent as of January 14, 2013. The increase will not affect those goods and services where a lower rate of VAT is imposed of 5.0 per cent or 8.0 per cent.

Budget passed with 27 changes

Five BoC board members to quit in coming weeks

Fifty one in favour and two against in vote By Stefanos Evripidou PARLIAMENT LAST night voted through the 2013 budget incorporating the terms agreed between Cyprus and its international lenders after marathon speeches made over two days by MPs criticising government policy. With 51 votes in favour and two against, the plenum passed the austerity-geared annual budget that will see the state spend some €9.5 billion (without factoring in loans) and earn €7.6 billion. Despite voicing their reluctance, the main parties voted in favour, with only the Greens’ Giorgos Perdikis and EVROKO’s Nicos Koutsou voting against. A large number of amendments were proposed by the parties with 27 in total ﬁnally adopted. The government also tabled and had approved a further four amendments, including one adding €29m to the 2013 budget, which will go towards paying insurers of the Vassilikos power plant that was destroyed in last year’s Mari naval base blast. However, the budget for the Vassilikos insurers, like many other funds in the 2013 budget, was crossed by parliament in yesterday’s session,

meaning the House Finance Committee must give its ﬁnal approval before any of the money can be released. Two of the government’s amendments refer to a number of exemptions on the hiring freeze for the Education Ministry. The fourth government amendment includes the target of a 7.25 per cent ﬁscal adjustment in the new budget. All proposed amendments tabled by DISY and DIKO were approved, as was one tabled by DISY, DIKO and EDEK, as well as three by DISY, DIKO and the Greens, two by DISY and the Greens, and one by EDEK, the Greens, independent MP Zacharias Koulias and Koutsou. One DISY-DIKO amendment says that the wage reductions implemented in the state sector should be extended to cover any organisation or institution which gets a state grant covering at least 50 per cent of its budget. The amendment will impact upon the Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA), the new state hydrocarbons company (KRETYK), the Institute of Neurology and Genetics, the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, the Cyprus Energy Institute, the Cultural

THIS WEEK IN YOUR

Majority of deputies say ‘aye’ to 2013 budget despite misgivings Foundation, the Research Institute and the Cyprus Orchestra. The second amendment provides that stafﬁng of embassies at the Holy See, Rome, Thessaloniki and Brussels can take place without the prior approval of the House Finance Committee. Another amendment puts a stop to special zero-interest loans for the purposes of state ofﬁcials purchasing cars. DISY and DIKO also crossed funds on a number of budgets, including: €700,000 on transferring

ofﬁcials to and from abroad; €400,000 for hospitality purposes; €3m for cultural grants; €4m for research grants; and €2.3m in grants to foreign schools. A further €64m was crossed for the purchase of shares, including the €1m needed for the share capital of KRETYK, with the rest earmarked for Cyprus’ contribution to the European Support Mechanism. A €1.9m budget for the construction of buildings abroad was crossed, as well as €15m for the purchase of medical

SundayMail

WIN AN OVERNIGHT STAY FOR TWO AT ST RAPHAEL HOTEL ENTER OUR COMPETITION (living page 28)

(Christos Theodorides)

and other equipment, while €5m earmarked for grants to various semi-government organisations was also crossed. In addition, a further €110m was crossed for rent for the National Guard and €1.79m for development projects. Funds set aside for social and other beneﬁts for refugees and asylum seekers have also been crossed. The amendment tabled by EDEK, Koulias and Koutsou crossing €15m on medical purchases was also approved.

FIVE board members of the Bank of Cyprus (BoC) have expressed their intention to step down, the banks said yesterday. The ﬁve are: Vasilis Rologis, Costas Severis, Anna Diogenous, Giorgos Georgiades and Christos Mouskis. Mouskis submitted his resignation on Tuesday, which will be put before a board meeting next Thursday, the BoC said in an announcement. All ﬁve intend to leave in the coming months but before the next annual general meeting, as part of “their endeavour to contribute to the renewal and restructuring of the board and in response to a recommendation from the central bank of Cyprus,” the BoC said. The central bank has asked the BoC – the island’s biggest lender – to ensure that no board member serves for more than nine years, as part of efforts to improve its corporate affairs and comply with regulations stating that anyone staying on for more than nine years needs to justify it. All departing directors have served on the BoC board for longer than nine years, the BoC said. The announcement was issued after information about the forthcoming departures leaked to the press. As part of Cyprus’ memorandum of understanding agreement with its international lenders, authorities need to pass legislation to strengthen checks on the board members of commercial banks. This includes banning lending to independent board members and their connected parties and removing any board members with existing debts to the banks.

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Europe StraussKahn sex offence probe to continue

EUROPE TODAY ‘No apology for Algeria past’ PRESIDENT Francois Hollande refused yesterday to apologise for France’s colonial past in Algeria, saying instead that Paris wanted to move forward on an equal footing and boost trade with the oil-rich North African nation. The trauma of the 19541962 Algerian war, in which hundreds of thousands were killed before France’s departure, left deep scars in both countries which still hold back a partnership France believes could help revive the Mediterranean basin. Speaking on his first state visit since his election in May, Hollande said the two had agreed a friendship declaration and a five-year strategic pact covering economic, cultural, agricultural and defence ties. “I want to define with Algeria a strategic partnership on an equal-to-equal basis,” he told a news conference after meeting Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. “I am not here to repent or apologise, I am here to tell the truth.” While France wants to heal the wounds left by the war, 58-year-old Hollande, who spent eight months working at the French embassy in Algeria in 1978, has limited room for manoeuvre.

Ukraine cold snap toll rising A COLD snap in Ukraine has claimed another 24 lives to reach a death toll of 61 people this month after temperatures dropped to minus 23 Celsius, a senior Health Ministry ofﬁcial said yesterday. Forty-three people died in the streets, nine were found dead at home and nine died in hospitals, Georgy Kozynets said. Around half a metre of snow has fallen, and night temperatures could to drop to -28 C in northern, central and eastern Ukraine this week, forecasters say.

Police ofﬁcers detain gay rights activists holding a ‘kissin’ protest just outside the lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, yesterday. Russian legislators had

planned to debate a bill introducing sanctions for providing minors with information on homosexuality yesterday, but the debate was postponed until January (AFP)

Russian Duma moves to ban US adoptions By Alissa de Carbonnel and Sonia Elks RUSSIA’S parliament initially approved a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian orphans yesterday in reprisal for a U.S. law punishing alleged Russian human rights violators in a row that has strained bilateral relations. Despite criticism of the measure by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, proKremlin lawmakers overwhelmingly voted for the proposal and for another that would bar Russian non-profit groups which receive funds from the United States. Only 15 of 450 deputies in the lower house, the State Duma, opposed the proposals. The bill, expected to pass its ﬁnal reading on Friday, still needs President Vladimir

THE ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATE REGULATIONS 1995

In the District Court of Paphos Probate Jurisdiction Application No.: 303/2012

Kremlin keeps distance from bill that could harm US ties Putin’s signature to become law. The Kremlin, worried about long-term damage to relations with Washington, distanced itself from the measure yesterday, raising doubts about whether Putin will sign off on it. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, described the lawmakers’ initiative as “tough and emotional” and the Kremlin’s position as more “restrained”. Nationalist politicians have long viewed foreign adoptions of Russian children as an embarrassment that implies Russia cannot care for its own, but critics of the bill say children should not fall

victim of political manoeuvring. Police said they detained 30 protesters for holding an unauthorised demonstration outside the Duma. Some two dozen protesters stood in the freezing cold heckling deputies as they entered the building. One activist held up before-andafter pictures of a Russian child looking bruised, then happy with his new American parents. “It deprives children of the possibility to grow up in families of loving parents,” one protester, Natalya Tsymbalova, said shortly before she was detained. “To deprive children of this

THE ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATE REGULATIONS 1995

In the District Court of Paphos Probate Jurisdiction Application No.: 300/2012

In the District Court of Limassol Probate Jurisdiction Application No.: 535/2012

In the District Court of Paphos Probate Jurisdiction Application No.: 342/2012

In the matter of: ELIZABETH GEORGINA GARDNER, (British Passport No. 705027331), former form Paphos Deceased

In the matter of: MALCOLM MCPHERSON, (British Passport No. 205169540), former form Paphos Deceased

In the matter of: ALISON PAULINE SMITH, (British Passport No. 204034731), former form Limassol Deceased

In the matter of: KEITH HINDMARSH, (British Passport No. 761242495), former form Paphos Deceased

PUBLICATION Notice is hereby given, that, after the expiration of 8 days from the date of the present publication, an application will be lodged in the Principal Probate Registry in the District Court of Paphos as to grant to SOTERIS ARGYROU L.L.C, from Nicosia, the documents of administration of the estate with appended will of the deceased ELIZABETH GEORGINA GARDNER, former from Paphos.

PUBLICATION Notice is hereby given, that, after the expiration of 8 days from the date of the present publication, an application will be lodged in the Principal Probate Registry in the District Court of Paphos as to grant to SOTERIS ARGYROU, from Nicosia, the documents of administration of the estate of the deceased MALCOLM MCPHERSON, former from Paphos.

PUBLICATION Notice is hereby given, that, after the expiration of 8 days from the date of the present publication, an application will be lodged in the Principal Probate Registry in the District Court of Limassol as to grant to BRIAN TARTTELIN, from Limassol, the documents of administration of the estate with appended will of the deceased ALISON PAULINE SMITH, former from Limassol.

PUBLICATION Notice is hereby given, that, after the expiration of 8 days from the date of the present publication, an application will be lodged in the Principal Probate Registry in the District Court of Paphos as to grant to SOTERIS ARGYROU L.L.C., Lawyers from Nicosia, the documents of administration of the estate with appended will of the deceased KEITH HINDMARSH, former from Paphos.

(Sign.)………………………………………… SOTERIS ARGYROU L.L.C (Lawyers of the Applicant)

possibility is mean.” The proposals were added to a bill which would bar entry to Americans who violate the rights of Russians abroad and freeze their assets, mirroring the so-called US Magnitsky Act. Putin backed the original bill but had signalled he wants to limit the spat with President Barack Obama’s administration. The Kremlin says Obama will visit Russia early next year. Russia is the third most popular country for US foreign adoptions after China and Ethiopia, according to the US State Department. Last year, 962 orphans were adopted by Americans. It is a statistic bemoaned by Russian politicians. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Russians should not be adopted abroad - although he did not say whether he supported the bill.

A FRENCH court yesterday rejected a request by former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn to drop a sex offence inquiry in which he risks standing trial on pimping charges, his lawyers said. The ruling was given just over a week after StraussKahn settled a separate civil case in New York with a hotel maid who accused him of attempted rape in May 2011, ending his French presidential hopes and career at the International Monetary Fund. While the New York settlement brought his US legal woes to an end, the latest decision by the court in Douai in northern France means he remains under the legal spotlight at home. “Dominique StraussKahn’s defence team is certain that he will ultimately be cleared of these absurd accusations of pimping,” lawyer Henri Leclerc said in a statement, adding that he planned to appeal to France’s supreme court. Strauss-Kahn denies wrongdoing in all the charges against him. He is under ﬁre about sex parties with prostitutes in the so-called Carlton Affair, named after a hotel in northern France at the centre of the inquiry. His lawyers argue that consorting with prostitutes is not illegal and that investigators have no grounds for pursuing him on the basis that his behaviour could be construed as pimping, which is illegal.

Still under-ﬁre: Strauss-Kahn

Three-nation crew blasts off for ISS A SOYUZ spacecraft carrying a Russian, an American and a Canadian blasted off yesterday to the International Space Station (ISS), where the men are to spend half a year in orbit. The Russian-built Soyuz TMA-07M roared off on time, at 1212 GMT, from Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. “The crew are now safely in orbit. Congratulations,” said the television channel of US space agency NASA, which broadcast the launch. On the crew’s two-day trip to the ISS, Canadian Chris Hadfield is joined by US astronaut Tom Mashburn and Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko. They will join US astronaut Kevin Ford and Russians Oleg Novitsky and Yevgeny Tarelkin, who have been manning the $100-billion, 15-nation research complex since October. A brightly coloured toy clown from a popular Soviet-era TV show for children, serving as an indicator of weightlessness, started floating in the cabin when the spacecraft reached its preliminary orbit nine minutes into the flight. “We are feeling well,” the three-nation crew told Mission Control outside Moscow.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Britain

Nearly half of UK troops set for 2013 Afghan exit

BBC chief steps down in wake of Savile report â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Decision to drop Newsnight probe flawedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; By Robert Dex and Ellen Branagh ONE of the BBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top news executives resigned yesterday in the wake of a damning report into the BBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to drop a Newsnight investigation into Jimmy Savileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sexual abuse. Stephen Mitchell, the deputy director of news, said he was stepping down to bring his career â&#x20AC;&#x153;to a digniďŹ ed endâ&#x20AC;?, but said he disagreed with the reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s criticisms of him. His exit - as well as the replacement of Newsnightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s editor and deputy editor - came as a critical report was published which revealed rivalries and factional in-ďŹ ghting at the BBC. The report - prepared by former Sky News executive

Nick Pollard - said the decision to drop Newsnightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report into Savileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decades of abuse was â&#x20AC;&#x153;ďŹ&#x201A;awedâ&#x20AC;? and plunged the BBC into â&#x20AC;&#x153;chaos and confusionâ&#x20AC;?. It said the BBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s management system â&#x20AC;&#x153;proved completely incapable of dealingâ&#x20AC;? with the issues raised by the axing of the story and â&#x20AC;&#x153;the level of chaos and confusion was even greater than was apparent at the timeâ&#x20AC;?. The BBC had been accused of dropping the report in order to protect tribute programmes which had been prepared about the late TV host and DJ, but Pollard concluded this was not the case. The report stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The decision to drop the original investigation was ďŹ&#x201A;awed and the way it was taken was wrong, but I believe it was done in good faith. It was not done to protect the Savile

tribute programmes or for any improper reason.â&#x20AC;? The report was published at the same time as another review, by the BBC Trust, concluded that airing a Newsnight report that led to Lord McAlpine being wrongly named as a paedophile had resulted largely from a failure by members of the team to follow the BBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own editorial guidelines. Mitchell was criticised for removing the Savile investigation from a list of the BBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potentially difďŹ cult programmes - known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;managed risk programmes listâ&#x20AC;?. The Pollard Report said the executive â&#x20AC;&#x153;could offer no convincing reasonâ&#x20AC;? why he had done so, but if it had stayed on the list â&#x20AC;&#x153;some of the issues which have followed might well have been avoidedâ&#x20AC;?. BBC Trust chairman Lord

The BBC â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;had proved incapableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of managing the fall-out after axing Newsnightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probe into abuse by Savile (above) Patten said the BBC accepted the review in its â&#x20AC;&#x153;entiretyâ&#x20AC;? and evidence would be published, apart from some redactions for â&#x20AC;&#x153;legal reasonsâ&#x20AC;?. Pollard - whose inquiry has cost ÂŁ2 million - told a press conference that â&#x20AC;&#x153;leadership and organisation seemed to be in short supplyâ&#x20AC;? at the

BBC while it struggled to get to grips with the Savile scandal and its repercussions. But he said the BBC was â&#x20AC;&#x153;eminently governable and will remain soâ&#x20AC;?. Acting director-general Tim Davie said he accepted Mitchellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resignation with â&#x20AC;&#x153;great sadnessâ&#x20AC;?.

BRITAIN will withdraw nearly half its troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2013, the government said yesterday, as part of a security handover to Afghan forces more than a decade after the U.S.-led invasion. Nearly all of Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 9,000 soldiers are due to pull out when the NATO mission ďŹ nishes in late 2014, ending a long, costly and unpopular war that has cost the lives of 438 UK troops. Like the United States, Britain will leave behind an undisclosed number of soldiers after 2014 to help local forces face threats from the Taliban and its al Qaeda allies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because of the success of our forces and the Afghan National Security Forces ... weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to see troops come home in two relatively even steps - 2013 and 2014,â&#x20AC;? Prime Minister David Cameron told parliament. Britain, which has the second biggest foreign force in Afghanistan after the United States, says it has helped to stabilise the country and prevent militants from ďŹ nding a safe haven.

Conspiracy signs sought in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;plebsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; row POLICE investigating claims an ofďŹ cer fabricated evidence that led to a minister resigning, said yesterday they were looking for any signs of a conspiracy in an affair that could damage the forceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation. The ofďŹ cer posed as a member of the public and falsely claimed to have witnessed a row between cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell and police outside Prime Minister David Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Downing Street ofďŹ ce, according to a Channel 4 News report. Mitchell quit as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chief Whipâ&#x20AC;? in charge of maintaining discipline in Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parliamentary Conservative party in October, following weeks of negative headlines in which he failed to shake off the accusation that he called the ofďŹ cers â&#x20AC;&#x153;plebsâ&#x20AC;?. The class-ridden insult was highly damaging for Mitchell and the Conservatives because it played into opposition claims that the gov-

Mitchell had resigned as Tory party â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Chief Whipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ernment is elitist and out of touch with ordinary Britons squeezed at a time of economic austerity. Reports of the confrontation came just days after two unarmed female police ofďŹ cers were shot dead in northern England, fuelling the indignation of police representatives already angry

over government reductions in force budgets. The Police Federation, which represents ordinary ofďŹ cers, relentlessly exploited the â&#x20AC;&#x153;plebsâ&#x20AC;? row in its campaign against the cutbacks and changes in working conditions, but has denied conspiring to unseat the minister. Mitchell, who admitted and apologised for swearing at the ofďŹ cers after they refused to let him ride his bicycle through the main Downing Street gates, maintains he never uttered the pejorative word which he said was used to destroy his career. Yesterday, Mitchellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political fortunes were reviving with colleagues calling for his return to government as doubt was cast over the police account of the incident. Mitchell was warmly welcomed by other lawmakers as they gathered in parliament for Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly question and answer session.

Woman loses her fight to have Scientology wedding A MEMBER of the Church of Scientology in Britain has lost a High Court ďŹ ght to marry a fellow Scientologist in the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s London chapel. But the judge presiding over the case said the issue should be considered by the Supreme Court, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest court. Scientology volunteer Louisa Hodkin had challenged a refusal by the Registrar General of births, deaths and marriages in England and Wales to allow the chapel to be used for marriage ceremonies on the grounds that it was not â&#x20AC;&#x153;a place of meeting for religious worshipâ&#x20AC;?. The registrar cited a 1970 ruling that another Scientology chapel was not a meeting place for religious worship because its services included â&#x20AC;&#x153;instructions in the tenets of a philosophy concerned with manâ&#x20AC;? and were not concerned with religious worship. In a 2011 national census, 2,418 people in

England and Wales identiďŹ ed themselves as belonging to the controversial church, which lists Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its followers. Hodkin and her ďŹ ancĂŠ wanted to be married in a legally recognised Scientology ceremony at the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chapel on the ground ďŹ&#x201A;oor of its central London base, the Press Association reported. Hodkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother, David, was married in a religious ceremony at a Church of Scientology in Edinburgh in 2007, her lawyers said, arguing she was the victim of religious discrimination. Scientologists have previously unsuccessfully applied for certiďŹ cation at other premises in England they have claimed are for religious worship. Judge Duncan Ouseley said he felt constrained by the 1970 Court of Appeal ruling. He added, however, that the issue should be analysed by the Supreme Court.

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Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

World

UN seeks $1.5b to aid suffering Syrians

WORLD TODAY India bus rape furore grows GROWING outrage over the gang rape of a woman on a bus in New Delhi has led to crowds of protesters demanding a crackdown on crimes against women. The outpouring of anger is unusual in India where attacks against women are often ignored and rarely prosecuted. Opposition MPS called for the death penalty for the rapists. Demonstrations erupted outside New Delhi’s police headquarters demanding there be swift punishment for the rapists, and university students set up roadblocks across the city. Six men raped the 23year-old medical student, and beat her and a male friend with iron rods before throwing them off the bus last Sunday. The woman is in a critical condition in hospital and doctors said she has severe internal injuries. Delhi police chief Neeraj Kumar said four men have been arrested and they were searching for the other two.

Further polio worker killings THREE workers in a polio eradication campaign were shot in Pakistan yesterday, and two of them were killed, the latest in an unprecedented string of attacks over the past three days that has partially halted the U.N.backed campaign. The United Nations in Pakistan has pulled all staff involved in the campaign off the streets, spokesman Michael Coleman said. The government said immunisation was continuing in some areas without UN support although many workers refused to go out. Women health workers held protests in the southern city of Karachi and in the capital, Islamabad.

US jurist dead ROBERT Bork, an American symbol of conservative judicial activism who played pivotal roles in Washington dramas around the Supreme Court and Watergate and whose name became a verb, died yesterday at age 85. Bork died in a northern Virginia hospital where he had been treated for an infection, said Leonard Leo, executive vice-president of the conservative Federalist Society. Nominated to the US Supreme Court by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1987, Bork was rejected by the Democratic-led US Senate following debate over his conservative judicial philosophy. He became a potent symbol to conservatives.

Palestinian refugees from Damascus, are seen at the Beddawi refugee camp in Lebanon’s Tripoli

THE United Nations appealed yesterday for $1.5 billion to provide life-saving aid to millions of Syrians suffering in a “dramatically deteriorating” humanitarian situation. The twin appeals, for $519.6 million to help four million people within Syria and $1 billion to meet the needs of up to 1 million Syrian refugees in five countries until July 2013, comprise the “largest short-term humanitarian appeal ever”, the world body said. “The violence in Syria is raging across the country and there are nearly no more safe areas where people can flee and find safety,” Radhouane Nouicer, UN regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, told a news briefing in Geneva. Noting Syria’s capital Damascus was the scene of “daily shelling and bombing”, he added: “It is a realistic appeal that takes into consideration what we commit ourselves to achieve, it is not a comprehensive response plan, it is limited to what we can do in such a dif-

ﬁcult operating environment.” Inside Syria, UN agencies aim to help 4 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, including an estimated 2 million displaced from their homes by ﬁghting between President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and rebels trying to topple him. The plan provides for food, shelter and bedding, water and sanitation, emergency medical services, clothes, kitchen sets and baby supplies for beleaguered civilians in all 14 provinces. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) is reaching 1.5 million Syrians inside the country with food rations each month, but said it faces increasing constraints, including mounting insecurity and fuel shortages. “Food processing, milling, bakeries rely on fuel electricity to produce a bread product. “And of course we are dealing with a largely urbanised population here, so naturally any interruption of that infra-

structure is going to be cause for concern,” said David Kaatrud, WFP director of emergencies. More than 525,000 Syrian refugees have already been registered abroad and the latest estimate is that up to 1 million refugees in five countries, including Egypt for the first time, will need help in the first half of 2013, the UN refugee agency said. There are already more than 10,400 Syrian refugees registered in Egypt, but the government estimates that there are tens of thousands who have not sought assistance yet, it said. “The grim situation inside Syria has a direct impact on refugee outflows to the neighbouring countries,” Panos Moumtzis, UNHCR regional refugee coordinator, told the briefing. More than half of the Syrians affected by the 20-month conflict, both inside the country and in surrounding countries, are children under the age of 18, according to UNICEF.

Iraqi leader Talabani’s stroke fuels fears of crisis Talabani: a mediator between Iraqi factions By Patrick Markey IRAQI President Jalal Talabani is to be transferred to Germany for treatment for a stroke that may end his moderating influence in a dispute edging Baghdad and the country’s autonomous Kurdistan region closer to a confrontation over oil. The portly 79-year-old former guerrilla, who has often mediated among Iraqi Shi’ites, Sunnis, and Kurds and between the Arab-led central government and the self-ruled Kurdish enclave, was admitted to hospital on Monday night. Talabani survived wars, exile and infighting in northern Iraq to become the country’s first Kurdish president a few years after the US-led 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Talabani was in a stable condition and would most likely be transferred to Germany within 24 hours, Najmaldin Karim, the governor of the city of Kirkuk who is also part of the president’s medical team, told Reuters yesterday. A team of doctors from Germany who had treated Talabani for past illnesses had recommended he be

The potential departure from politics of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (left) could not have come at a worse time for the OPEC oil producer (AFP) moved there after evaluating him in a Baghdad hospital, Karim said. It was unclear when or if the Kurdish statesman would be able to return to his post and

his potential exit from politics could not have come at a worse time for the OPEC oil producer. A year after the last American troops left, the Arab-led

central government and the Kurdish region are caught in a rift over oil and land that threatens to escalate into ﬁghting. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki

and Kurdistan have twice sent troops to face off along the internal border where both lay claim to ethnically mixed territories dotted with oilfields. Turkey is also embroiled in the dispute, angering Baghdad by talking of energy cooperation and oil pipelines that would give Kurdistan a route to export its own crude and effectively end its reliance on the central government’s funds. With oil majors such Exxon and Chevron now shifting their focus northward to sign deals with Kurdistan and away from Iraq’s southern oilfields, leaders on both sides are warning of the risks of the dispute sliding into an ethnic war. “If it erupts ... it will be a painful, shameful ethnic conflict,” Maliki said warning of the risks following last month’s military build-up around disputed towns. At the heart of the dispute is the oil wealth under the swathe of land know as the “Disputed Territories” along the vague internal border that includes the ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk, known to some as the “Jerusalem of the Kurds”. Baghdad has warned Exxon and other companies that deals struck with Kurdistan are illegal, a violation of what Iraqi officials see as a policy area that should be under central government control. The Kurds say the constitution’s federalism guarantees their right to develop their region’s oil resources. “The government will take all necessary measures to stop Exxon working, especially in the disputed areas. They should know this is a red line they can’t cross,” one Iraqi oil official said.

West Bank Palestinians strike as Israeli economic sanctions hit PALESTINIAN government employees in the West Bank began a two-day strike yesterday to protest against a delay in the payment of their wages caused by Israeli economic sanctions. Israel is withholding about $100 million in monthly customs revenues it collects on the Palestinians’ behalf as punishment for their successful

bid at the UN General Assembly last month to gain de-facto statehood recognition. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, was suffering a deep ﬁnancial crisis even before the move, and has had to delay payments to its 153,000 public sector workers

several times this year. Around 50,000 workers took part in yesterday’s stoppage. West Bank security forces and staff in the Gaza Strip did not participate. “This strike is against Israel’s piracy,” said Bassam Zakarneh, chief of the government employees’ union. “The situation is very grave and the

services to the people are much reduced by the strike,” he said. “(People) can’t even afford transportation to their workplaces.” The Palestinian Monetary Authority announced yesterday local banks would offer the government a $100-million loan ahead of hoped-for transfers of aid by Arab donors.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

World

Park voted first female president of S. Korea Has pledged North talks if it gives up nuke aspirations By Jane Chung and Jack Kim

Park Geun-hye will take ofﬁce for a mandatory single, ﬁveyear term in February and will face an immediate challenge from a hostile North Korea (AFP)

THE daughter of a former military ruler won South Korea’s presidential election yesterday and will become the country’s first female leader, saying she would work to heal a divided society. The 60-year-old conservative, Park Geun-hye, will return to the presidential palace in Seoul where she served as her father’s first lady in the 1970s, after her mother was assassinated by a North Korean-backed gunman. With more than 88 per cent of the votes counted, Park led with 51.6 per cent to 48 per cent for her left-wing challenger, human rights lawyer Moon Jae-in, giving her an unassailable lead that forced Moon to concede. Her raucous, jubilant supporters braved sub-zero temperatures to chant her name and wave South Korean flags outside her house. When she reached her party headquarters, Park was

greeted with shouts of “president”. An elated Park reached into the crowd to grasp hands of supporters wearing red scarves, her party’s colour. “This is a victory brought by the people’s hope for overcoming crisis and for economic recovery,” she told supporters at a rally in central Seoul.

FATHER’S LEGACY Park will take ofﬁce for a mandatory single, ﬁve-year term in February and will face an immediate challenge from a hostile North Korea and have to deal with an economy in which annual growth rates have fallen to about 2 per cent from an average of 5.5 per cent in its decades of hyper-charged growth. She is unmarried and has no children, saying that her life will be devoted to her country. The legacy of her father, Park Chung-hee, who ruled for 18 years and transformed the country from the ruins of

the 1950-53 Korean War into an industrial power-house, still divides Koreans. For many conservatives, he is South Korea’s greatest president and the election of his daughter would vindicate his rule. His opponents dub him a “dictator” who trampled on human rights and stiﬂed dissent. “I trust her. She will save our country,” said Park Hyesook, 67, who voted in an afﬂuent Seoul district, earlier in the day. “Her father ... rescued the country,” said the housewife and grandmother, who is no relation to the candidate. For younger people, the main concern is the economy and the creation of well-paid jobs in a country where income inequalities have grown in recent years. “Now a McDonald’s hamburger is over 5,000 Korean won ($4.66) so you can’t buy a McDonald’s burger with your hourly pay. Life is hard already for our two-member family but if there were kids, it would be much tougher,”

said Cho Hae-ran, 41, who is married and works at a trading company. Park has spent 15 years in politics as a leading legislator in the ruling Saenuri party, although her policies are sketchy. She has a “Happiness Promotion Committee” and her campaign was launched as a “National Happiness Campaign”, a slogan she has since changed to “A Prepared Woman President”. She has cited former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a tough proponent of free markets, as her role model as well as Angela Merkel, the conservative German chancellor who is Europe’s most powerful leader. Park has said she would negotiate with Kim Jong-un, the youthful leader of North Korea who recently celebrated a year in ofﬁce, but wants the South’s isolated and impoverished neighbour to give up its nuclear weapons programme as a precondition for aid, something Pyongyang has refused to do.

Obama wants proposals to curb gun violence by end of January PRESIDENT Barack Obama wants “concrete proposals” to curb gun violence by the end of next month in the aftermath of the Newtown school massacre. He has tasked vice president Joe Biden with co-ordinating the campaign and said he will push legislation “without delay”. The president urged Congress to hold votes on the bill. Obama said the issue was complex but noted that: “we have a deep obligation - all

of us - to try.” Biden, a long-time gun control advocate, will lead a team that will include members of Obama’s administration and outside groups. The move comes after last Friday’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. Twenty children and six adults were killed at the school by a gunman with a semi-automatic riﬂe. “The fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing,”

Obama said. “The fact that we can’t prevent every act of violence doesn’t mean we can’t steadily reduce the violence.” Obama, who pushed little on gun control during his ﬁrst term, also pressed Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004. He called for stricter background checks for people who seek to purchase weapons and limited high-capacity magazines.

Chavez inauguration could be delayed

A delay to swearing in Chavez (above) would outrage Venezuela’s opposition

A GOVERNMENT official in Venezuela for the first time has raised the possibility that Hugo Chavez’s January 10 inauguration could be delayed as the president struggles to recover from his latest cancer surgery. Few details have been given about the 58year-old leader’s condition after his fourth operation in 18 months. Officials say he is lucid, but that doctors treated unexpected bleeding and then a respiratory infection after last week’s procedure. Comments by Congress leader Diosdado Cabello, a close ally of the president, suggest government officials may postpone the inauguration to accommodate Chavez’s recovery. Any delay would outrage the opposition, which has insisted for months that Chavez officially hand over power while he convalesces in Cuba. The constitution says he should be sworn-in again on January 10, but there are conflicting interpretations over what would happen if he is not. “You can’t tie the will of the people to one date. If you didn’t do it that day, if it isn’t the tenth, doesn’t the will of eight million

people count?” Cabello was quoted as saying by local media yesterday. Cabello spoke after a Socialist Party news conference, insisting he was offering his personal opinion and not the “official position” of his party or the national assembly. He said the assembly could ask the Supreme Court, widely believed to be under the thumb of Chavez allies, for a ruling on any possible postponement. He said in one case a mayor was given a three-month extension to their inauguration date. Cabello is the third most powerful figure in the government after Chavez’s heir apparent, Vice President Nicolas Maduro. One constitutional law professor said Chavez’s inability to begin his third term on January 10 would not automatically trigger new elections, as has been widely reported in media. “The issue always ends up in a debate in parliament. It’s the whole assembly that will decide” through a majority vote if the president is no longer fit for office, said Jose Vicente Haro of the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in Caracas.

22 people dead after attempted escape from Mexican prison MEXICAN authorities yesterday said 22 people died in an attempted jail break in the northern state of Durango that sparked a bloody shootout between guards and inmates. Nine guards and 13 prisoners were killed in the incident that took place in the city of Gomez Palacio on Tuesday, said Fernando Rivas, a spokesman for Durango state police.

“The number of dead could increase although we hope not. A number of guards and prisoners are currently in a critical state,” he said, noting it was possible guards were complicit in allowing the weapons to enter the prison. Gomez Palacio forms part of a metropolitan area with the city of Torreon in neighboring Coahuila, one of the

Mexican states worst hit by violent drug gangs this year. Once seen as model for economic development, Torreon has become one of the country’s most dangerous cities. Mexico’s penal system has endured a number of high-proﬁle scandals in recent years, and the country’s new President Enrique Pena Nieto has pledged to reform it.

US Representative Ron Barber, who was wounded in a 2011 Arizona shooting that targeted his predecessor Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others, welcomed the effort and echoed other Democratic lawmakers’ calls to ban military-grade guns. “I really believe that we can put together a broad coalition to deal with particularly the assault weapons and the heavy ﬁrepower that these large capacity magazines contain,” Barber told MSNBC yesterday.

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Business Obama still wants deal by Christmas PRESIDENT Barack Obama yesterday urged Republicans to move beyond partisan objections to compromise with him on averting the year-end “fiscal cliff” and invoked the tragic Newtown elementary school massacre in a plea for flexibility. “Right now what the country needs is for us to compromise, get a deficit reduction deal in place,” the president told reporters at the White House. Obama and congressional Republicans are struggling to come up with a deal to avoid year-end tax hikes and spending cuts that many economists say could plunge the economy back into recession. The president made a fresh offer earlier this week that would raise taxes on those making $400,000 a year or more, but the House of Representatives could vote on a proposal by Speaker John Boehner that would extend current tax rates for all but those making $1 million or more. The White House said yesterday Boehner’s “Plan B” places too heavy a tax burden on the middle class and preserves too many advantages for the wealthiest Americans, and that the president would veto the measure if it reached his desk. Obama said he is still optimistic a deal is possible, but noted he was puzzled Republicans have not yet accepted his plan as a basis for negotiation. The president said he will continue to talk to Boehner and other congressional leaders to try to find a way to bridge differences, adding that he would like to get a deal done before Christmas. His aides said earlier in the day that he is willing to forego his scheduled Christmas holiday, due to start Friday, to continue fiscal cliff talks if necessary.

Second largest fine ever levied on a bank By Katharina Bart and Tom Miles SWISS bank UBS agreed to a $1.5 billion fine yesterday after admitting to fraud and bribery in a deepening scandal over the rigging of global benchmark interest rates. Dozens of UBS staff manipulated the Libor rate, which is used to price trillions of dollars worth of loans across three continents, in collusion with brokers and traders at other banks, according to an international investigation. US prosecutors also lodged criminal charges yesterday against two former UBS senior traders for the Libor manipulation, the first individuals to be charged in the wide-ranging investigation that involves more than a dozen big banks. The controversy is expected to ensnare other big lenders and spark civil lawsuits as well as other criminal proceedings against individuals involved. The UBS penalty, issued by US, UK and Swiss authorities, far exceeds the $450 million levied on Britain’s Barclays in June, also for rigging Libor, and is the second largest ever imposed on a bank. “We deeply regret this inappropriate and unethical behavior. No amount of profit is more important than the reputation of this firm,” said UBS Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti. The Libor benchmarks are used to set trillions of dollars

A photograph taken on October 30 shows employees walking past a logo of the Swiss banking giant UBS in Zurich worth of loans around the world, ranging from home loans to credit cards to complex derivatives. Tiny shifts in the rate, compiled from daily polls of bankers, could beneﬁt banks by millions of dollars. But every dollar beneﬁting one bank meant an equal loss by a bank, hedge fund or other investor on the other side of the trade - raising the threat of a raft of civil lawsuits. “The big unknown factor is the civil litigation that could follow on as a result of this,” said Paras Anand, European equities head at Fidelity

Worldwide Investment, one of UBS’ biggest investors. “The issue for shareholders is the challenge of pricing that risk in.” A UBS unit in Japan has pleaded guilty to one count of fraud relating to manipulation of benchmark rates, including the yen Libor. The probe highlighted the important role played by one UBS banker, identiﬁed as Trader A, who “embarked on a coordinated campaign” to inﬂuence the yen Libor rate. Britain’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) said UBS staff made “corrupt” pay-

ments to reward brokers for helping to manipulate rates - expanding the scandal to include bribery. In the United States, the Justice Department charged former UBS traders Tom Hayes and Roger Darin with conspiracy, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in US District Court in New York yesterday. Hayes was also charged with wire fraud and an antitrust violation. The two men were both believed to be in Europe, according to a US ofﬁcial. Last week, British police arrested three men, including

Hayes, in connection with the Libor probe, the ﬁrst such arrests. The two others were Terry Farr and James Gilmour, who both worked at interdealer broker RP Martin. Separately, an Italian court found UBS guilty of aggravated fraud in connection with the sale of derivatives to the city of Milan. Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Co and Depfa Bank were also found guilty. The UBS ﬁne comes a week after Britain’s HSBC agreed to pay a record $1.92 billion to settle a probe in the United States into laundering money for drug cartels.

New BoE governor to receive over $1,000 a day for housing

Rates These Bank of Cyprus rates for telegraphic transfer transactions (spot deals) apply to yesterday, but provide a good guide to today’s value against the euro. Buying Selling Pound St

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UBS fined $1.5 billion in mounting Libor scandal

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NEW Bank of England Governor Mark Carney will be paid a housing allowance of more than $1,000 a day when he starts the job next year, on top of a salary that is already among the highest for a major central banker. The BoE said yesterday that Carney, currently governor of the Bank of Canada, will receive a £250,000 ($406,000) a year housing allowance in addition to his £624,000 salary. The payments to the former Goldman Sachs investment banker will be well above what current BoE governor Mervyn King receives - a salary of £305,000 and a generous pension.

offered to him prior to his appointment,” the British central bank said in a statement. Even without the housing allowance and taking into account the lack of a pension, Carney’s remuneration is high compared to other major central bankers. US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gets roughly $200,000 a year. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi receives about 370,000 euros ($489,000) plus an ofﬁcial residence, and the Bank of Japan pays a similar amount. Carney earns around $500,000 a year at the Bank of Canada.

Carney is currently governor of the Bank of Canada

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Britain’s finance minister George Osborne went to great lengths to attract Carney to Britain, changing the application process and allowing Carney to serve a five-year term rather than the eight years that had originally been foreseen. While Carney’s salary was announced at the time of his appointment, the scale of his housing allowance had not previously been made public. “The (BoE’s) non-executive directors ... confirmed their agreement to and support for an annual accommodation allowance of 250,000 pounds for the next governor and his family which had been

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U.S. HOMEBUILDING permits touched their highest level in nearly 4-and-a-half years in November, pointing to strength in the housing market, even though groundbreaking activity dropped. The Commerce Department said yesterday building permits increased 3.6 per cent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 899,000 units, the highest since July 2008. That was well above economists’ expectations for an 875,000-unit pace.

In contrast, construction starts fell 3.0 per cent to an 861,000-unit pace, but that followed three straight months of solid gains and a three-month moving average showed a firming trend. “The trend is definitely up. Housing is going to make a small contribution to economic growth in 2012 and I would expect that home building will continue to improve through 2013,” said Gus Faucher, senior economist at PNC Financial Services in Pittsburgh. US financial markets were little moved

by the data as attention remained ﬁxed on budget talks in Washington. Stocks were little changed, while prices for US Treasury debt were trading higher. The dollar was broadly weak. The housing market, one of the few bright spots in the economy, has regained some footing after a historic collapse that ignited the worst recession since the Great Depression. The recovery is broad-based, with sales, home building and prices all showing gains.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Opinion

AKEL treads on well-worn ground during budget debate THE CYPRUS problem always slips into the House debate for the budget. There is no reason for it, but the politicians have always been much more comfortable talking about Turkish intransigence and their support of an ideal settlement than about the economy. It is much easier to take a tough, populist line on the national problem than on the economy, which is not often offered for rhetorical flourishes, much less so when discussing an austerity budget. AKEL chief Andros Kyprianou devoted a big part of his speech on Tuesday to the Cyprus problem, warning that no matter how much growth and affluence we achieved it would not be built on a solid basis, as long as the occupation continued and the danger of partition loomed. While the government was engaged in talks with the troika, he said, the pseudostate signed an ‘economic protocol’ with Turkey which would pave the way for the takeover of the north by Turkish business. The implication was that while the government was negotiating with the troika, which was invited here because of the problems caused by the banks, Turkey was taking more steps to “deepen its economic presence” in the north. Turkey has been deepening its economic presence in the north for the last six to eight years and was not waiting for the troika to arrive to do this. On the plus side, according to Kyprianou, President Christofias’ efforts and initiatives credited the Greek Cypriot side with the “sincere desire for a settlement” and won the positive stance of the international community. Kyrpianou is satisfied for the Greek Cypriots to win kudos from the international community, while Turkey “deepens its economic presence” in the north and “partition looms”. He even managed to justify some NATO-bashing, in the context of the Cyprus problem. Attacking the DISY chief’s intention to apply for NATO membership if elected, the AKEL boss said “the only thing this would achieve would be for the Cyprus problem to slip from the UN framework to the NATO framework.” Why would this be such a bad thing? For 40 years, the only thing guaranteed by the UN framework was failure to reach an agreement. With partition looming why is Kyprianou so keen on keeping the peace efforts within the framework that has an impeccable record of failure. Surely putting the problem in a NATO framework – assuming NATO would agree to take it – might provide a bigger chance of averting the partition that Kyprianou and AKEL dread. But if the problem was solved, what would the politicians talk about during the budget debate?

Want to send a letter? Send letters to the Cyprus Mail by email, fax or post. They should include a full postal address (email address is not sufﬁcient), daytime phone number and reference to any relevant article. Names and addresses may be withheld from publication if circumstances warrant. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Correspondence will be published at the discretion of the editor.

High stakes for Cuba in Chavez’s cancer battle Analysis Marc Frank

S VENEZUELAN President Hugo Chavez recovers in Havana from his fourth cancer operation, Cubans face renewed worries about their economic future if the country’s top ally dies or has to step down from office. Cuba has staked its economic well-being on the success - and generosity - of Chavez’s self-declared socialist revolution, much as it did with another former benefactor: the Soviet Union. Cubans vividly remember the great depression of the 1990s that followed the demise of the Soviet Union, and they worry about the communist-run island plunging into similar economic hardship if Chavez loses his struggle with cancer. In the 1990s, they suffered through severe shortages of food, consumer goods and oil. Prolonged electricity blackouts made daily life miserable in what the government called the “special period”. “I remember those days. No lights, no transportation, no food. Nothing of nothing. It drove you crazy and it can’t happen again,” said Havana handyman Domingo Garcia. Marlen Perez, an operator at the state telephone monopoly recalled: “I had to ride a bicycle to work and I’m too old for that now.” The gravity of Chavez’s condition became clear when, before returning to Cuba to be operated on last week, he named his vice president and foreign minister, Nicolas Maduro, as his preferred successor if he cannot continue in office. Between bouts of cancer, Chavez won a new, six-year term in October, but if he has to step down in the first four years of his new mandate, a new election must be held within 30 days. In politically polarised Venezuela, where Chavez’s opponents do not hide their disdain for Cuba, their victory at the polls would have huge consequences for the heavily indebted island which relies on lucrative barter contracts with Venezuela, such as exchanging thousands of medical personnel for oil. One economist warned that if a loss of Venezuela’s support were to destabilise the Cuban economy and cause a new round of serious shortages, there could be bouts of social unrest. “Take away the preferential terms for our oil and the billions of dollars for our services and there is no doubt we would be in very serious trouble,” he said, requesting anonymity due to a ban on speaking with journalists. “I doubt many people would put up with another crisis, even if it was only half as bad as the last. There would be serious unrest.” Chavez’s government offers economic help to allies around Latin America, but

Close friends: Cuba’s Fidel Castro (L) with Hugo Chavez Cuba is the biggest beneﬁciary, receiving 60 per cent of its energy needs on preferential terms. Ahead of Chavez’s reelection, opposition candidate Henrique Capriles made clear that the distribution of oil to Cuba and other countries at reduced prices or in barter deals would end if he won the presidency. Capriles, who won 45 per cent of the vote in the October election, would likely

with Venezuela would end because the opposition has said it would continue to pay for Cuban medical personnel,” Phil Peters, a Cuba analyst at the Virginia-based Lexington Institute, said. “Even a steep drop in revenues from Venezuela would not be as severe as the loss of the Soviet bloc support. Cuba is on a better international footing today,” he said. Soon after Chavez won his

‘Chavez proved to be a crucial ally for Cuba, which has faced a US embargo for half a century. Today, the worst horrors of the “special period” are just painful memories’ be the opposition candidate again if Chavez died or had to step down. While a change of government in Venezuela would clearly be bad for Cuba, Capriles would be unlikely to cut off all ties. “It is potentially a serious blow, but it is unlikely that the entire relationship

ﬁrst election in 1998, Fidel Castro anointed the young and vitriolic ﬁrebrand as his revolutionary successor in Latin America. The two men became close friends and as leader of oil-rich Venezuela, Chavez proved to be a crucial ally for Cuba, which has faced

a US embargo for half a century. Today, the worst horrors of the “special period” are just painful memories. President Raul Castro, who replaced his ailing brother in 2008, has strengthened relations with Venezuela even as he forged closer ties with other oil-producing nations such as Brazil, Angola, Algeria and Russia. Cuba and Venezuela have formed more than 30 joint ventures over the years, most of them based in Venezuela. They range from a fishing fleet, to port and rail repair, to hotels, agriculture, nickel and steel production and just about all of Cuba’s downstream oil industry. In 2011, Venezuela accounted for $8.3 billion of Cuba’s $20 billion in foreign trade. It pays Cuba an estimated $6 billion or more annually for the services of 40,000 doctors, nurses and other professionals, local economists say. That is around 60 per cent of the foreign exchange Cuba earned from services. Venezuelan banks provide soft credits for dozens of development projects across the island. “Venezuela’s support for Cuba reduces the risk of investing in and trading with the country,” a foreign banker said, asking his name not be used. “They lose that and things might dry up.” Most Cuban economists point out that the economy has become more diversified over the last 20 years with the development of tourism, pharmaceuticals and increased oil and nickel production. But they say it remains far too dependent on Venezuela for comfort. Many Cubans expect that if Chavez fades Maduro will win the election, thereby ensuring the continuity of Venezuela’s support - but the mere possibility of a major change is nerve-wracking. “If we return to a situation similar to the fall of the Soviet Union, it would be horrible,” said Garcia, the handyman. Raul Castro, since taking over for his brother, has initiated an overhaul of Cuba’s state-dominated economy and has loosened various regulations on daily life, allowing people to buy and sell property, own mobile phones and travel. Venezuela’s economic largesse has helped cushion the economic pain of moving away from a bankrupt paternalistic system to a less centralised and more market-oriented model. No matter what happens now, most experts agree that as the man Cubans pinned their hopes on falters, the pace of reform and Cuba’s opening to foreign investment will have to pick up. “The old model started to decay with the expanding role of Raul Castro and pragmatist reformers,” said Mauricio Font, director of the Bildner Centre for Western Hemisphere Studies in New York. “Other things being equal, a substantial loss of Venezuelan support would thus make clearer to Cubans the urgency of structural change.”

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Showbiz

Naomi Watts pulls off The Impossible to critical acclaim Film looks at family in aftermath of 2004 tsunami

By Piya Sinha-Roy

By Zorianna Kitt DAYS after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, actress Naomi Watts took part in a fundraising telethon spearheaded by George Clooney to help the region’s hundreds of thousands of people in 14 nations whose lives were shattered. Little did Watts know that eight years later she would be starring in The Impossible, out in US movie theatres tomorrow, about a real family’s experience in Thailand. The tsunami and earthquake killed more than 5,000 people, and resulted in 2,800 missing in that country alone. Yet when the actress was first approached to star in the film, directed by Spanish filmmaker Juan Antonio Bayona, she hesitated. “I thought, how do you make a movie about a tsunami without it becoming some sort of spectacular disaster movie?” Watts, 44, told Reuters. “That would be so wrong.” However once Watts read the script, she said she was moved by the story based on the real-life Spanish family of Maria Belon, her husband Enrique Alvarez - played by Ewan McGregor in the movie - and their three sons.

Madonna leads Billboard’s biggest tours

Days after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, actress Naomi Watts took part in a fundraising telethon to help the region’s hundreds of thousands of people. Little did Watts know that eight years later she would be starring in The Impossible Belon’s family were spending their Christmas holiday in Thailand when the tsunami hit. The ﬁlm follows their struggle to survive, injured and separated, in the aftermath and their perseverance in ﬁnding each other amidst the chaos. “I felt a huge amount of pressure because of the responsibility to Maria’s story,” said Watts. “And on her back, she carries the stories of everybody else because hers is connected to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. I felt a sense of responsibility.” The British-born, Australian actress delivered, despite

her fears. So far, her performance has earned Watts best actress nominations from the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild and the Broadcast Film Critics Association. The New York Observer wrote in its review that “Watts seems almost spiritually committed to her role” while The Hollywood Reporter said she “packs a huge charge of emotion as the battered, ever-weakening Maria whose tears of pain and fear never appear fake or idealised.” Watts credits the real Maria Belon for being “an open book” when it came to recalling her personal experience

during that harrowing time. The two met before shooting began, and Belon was on the ﬁlm set. Belon, a physician in Spain, also wrote detailed letters chronicling her experience, including taking refuge in a tree and the Thai villagers who discovered her weak and injured body. One of the more challenging aspects of the shoot was recreating the tsunami, a 10-minute sequence in the ﬁlm that Watts said took six weeks to shoot on location in Spain. Rather than creating the tidal wave digitally, actors were anchored in water tanks with the current pushing at them and “debris being

chucked at you.” Watts said that while the challenge of shooting the sequence was incomparable to the suffering of those who went through the ordeal in 2004, it was “physically the most demanding thing I’ve ever done.” There was much more dialogue scripted during that sequence but “you were struggling to breathe and we quickly learned that once you open your mouth, water is going in and nothing is coming out. “Though it was difﬁcult, I’m grateful we got that kind of level of fear and intensity,” she added.

Juvenile ‘made hoax Paris enjoying romantic break celebrity phone calls’ POLICE have arrested a juvenile they say is responsible for making prank calls that reported violence at the homes of Justin Bieber and Ashton Kutcher and led officers to respond in force to the stars’ homes. The Los Angeles Police Department refused to provide any details about the suspect, who was arrested on December 10 and is no longer in custody. Prosecutors are reviewing a possible case against the person, who is said to be responsible for multiple hoax calls intended to provoke large police responses. The practice has been dubbed ‘swatting’ because the calls are intended to get multiple officers, including specialised SWAT teams, sent to a home. “The swatting practice is extremely dangerous and places first responders and citizens in harm’s way,” police said. Police said the person reported that multiple people had been shot at Kutcher’s home on October 3 and reported shots fired at Bieber’s home a week later. The celebrities were not home at the time and officers determined that no one was injured. The fake distress calls were made through an electronic system. Police said multiple agencies including the FBI were involved in the investigation. Police would only say the juvenile lives in the Southern California area. The person is suspected of being involved in other ‘swatting’ incidents, but police did not say whether they involved celebrities. Similar hoax calls have been made involving the homes of Miley Cyrus and Simon Cowell.

Paris Hilton and River Viiperi are enjoying a romantic skiing break in Aspen, Colorado

PARIS Hilton and River Viiperi are enjoying a romantic skiing break. The hotel heiress and her Spanish boyfriend have jetted off to Aspen, Colorado for a week of fun in the snow, where they have been snuggling up by the fire in a chalet watching Christmas movies in between tackling extreme sports on the slopes. Paris tweeted: “Just had a relaxing deep tissue massage. Now in bed with @ RiverViiperi cuddling by the fire watching Home Alone. Love Christmas movies.” She added: “Going to bed, Getting up early to go skiing and snowmobiling. Can’t wait for another adventurous day in the snow. Sweet dreams everyone.” The camera-loving couple - who are spending their first Christmas together are keeping their fans updated by tweeting their every move and posing for a series of holiday snaps in the idyllic resort.

WHILE this year’s pop charts have been dominated by young singers, it is veteran music stars, led by Madonna, who are commanding big money in tour ticket sales, according to a new Billboard list released this week. Madonna, 54, topped Billboard’s list of highestgrossing live tours, earning an estimated $228.4 million in ticket sales from her soldout ninth worldwide tour in support of her 12th studio album ‘MDNA.’ The singer will wrap her tour in South America this weekend, after performing more than 80 shows across the world starting in Israel in May. Madonna came ahead of pop star Lady Gaga, who landed at No.6, with ticket sales of $124.9 million from her worldwide ‘Born This Way Ball’ tour. Gaga, 26, is currently midway through her tour, which kicked off in South Korea in April, and will wrap in Oklahoma in March 2013. Music publication Billboard compiled its list through estimated gross ticket sales figures from Billboard box scores, which tracks concert tours, ticket prices and sales. The top five highest-grossing tour acts of 2012 included Bruce Springsteen, 63, and the E Street band at No.2 with $199 million from 72 shows and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, 69, at No.3 with $186 million. Cirque Du Soleil’s homage to late singer Michael Jackson in ‘The Immortal World Tour’ ranked No.4 with $147.3 million over 183 shows, and British rock band Coldplay was fifth with $147.2 million over 67 shows. The only other young stars in the list of 25 top-grossing tours was Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, 18, at No.20 with $30 million from 29 shows as part of his ongoing ‘Believe’ tour, and countrypop darling Taylor Swift, 23, who raked in $26 million from 21 shows from her ‘Speak Now World Tour.’ Last year, Swift ranked No.5 on Billboard’s list with an estimated $97 million in ticket sales from her ‘Speak Now World Tour,’ while Bieber came in at No.15 with $44 million. Swift will embark on her third worldwide concert tour in support of her studio album ‘Red’ in March 2013.

Madonna’s ‘MDNA’ tour has pulled in $228.4 million

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Noticeboard 2013 motion graphics fest call for entries

Heart disease body is supported by BP

Demetriou Dance Academy Xmas event THE Demetriou Dance Academy invites the public to the Academy’s Christmas Reel at the Academy’s premises, this coming Saturday, December 22, from 11am– 1pm. The Academy specialises in teaching an array of dancing styles, including Classical Ballet, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. Working with major United Kingdom bodies like the British Ballet Organisation, the YMCA and the Trinity College, the Academy provides its students with UK recognised qualiﬁcations and facilitates entries to professional schools for Performing Arts such The Urdang Academy. Meanwhile, the Demetriou Dance Academy is now proud to announce that, according to NVQ standards, it is now licensed to offer Level 3 of the British Ballet Organisation's Teachers' Course in Classical Ballet, Level 2 of the YMCA Instructing Course for Hip Hop and the Trinity Musical Theatre Course up to Associate Level. Our Junior School accepts students from the age of three for Classical Ballet and aged seven for Musical Theatre and Hip Hop. The Demetriou Dance Academy aims always for excellence, and invites all would-be dancers to join!

EUREKA online contest a big hit on Facebook THE original Facebook game ‘collect your laundry’ by EUREKA COLOUR BLOCK recently ended with great success. The four-week contest did not require speciﬁc skills, only a talent in… collecting virtual laundry. The game not only offered entertaining moments to players but also gave out great prizes - speciﬁcally, two winners each week won a package of EUREKA products worth €40 each. And in the last week of the competition, two lucky individuals won iPads. EUREKA COLOUR BLOCK is an innovative product that prevents dye-transfer during washing. Adding a sheet of EUREKA COLOUR BLOCK while laundering coloured clothes ensures the garments' hues remain safely intact.

BP EASTERN Mediterranean recently donated a cheque worth €1,000 to the Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Heart Disease, in order to enhance its work. The cheque was delivered by the head of BP Eastern Mediterranean, Mr. Pambos Lambrou, to the Executive Director of the Association, Mrs. Stella Eleftheriadou, at the company headquarters in Nicosia. On the occasion of the Christmas holidays, BP Eastern Mediterranean chose to support the Association because of its significant work since the first day of its foundation, which offers children suffering from congenital heart disease, as well as their parents, assistance and support. “In these difficult times it is important to help associations that provide support

to groups within our society that are in need," said Lambrou. "It is important to stand by them and support them in whatever way we can. "The Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Heart Disease is doing great work that encourages both parents and children with congenital heart disease”. BP has been working in Cyprus since 1972. The company BP Eastern Mediterranean Ltd is a UK registered company and a wholly owned subsidiary of BP plc. BP Eastern Mediterranean Ltd currently employs about 40 people, all of whom are local. Its employees are mainly based at the company's head ofﬁce, situated in Nicosia. The remaining employees are based in company ofﬁces and facilities in Larnaca and at Larnaca and Paphos international airports.

FOLLOWING the great success of the 2012 International Motion Festival (IMF), the Arts department of the European University-Cyprus is now organising the festival's 2013 instalment. The IMF is the ﬁrst of its kind, both in Cyprus and the broader Mediterranean and Middle Eastern region, and it aims to bring together ﬁlmmakers, video artists, computer animators and graphic designers to familiarise the public with what has traditionally remained the "invisible art" of motion graphics. The open call for entries closes on December 31, 2012. There is no participation fee.

BP Eastern Mediterranean head, Lambrou, hands a cheque for €1,000 to the Association's Director, Eleftheriadou

Further information can be found at: http://www.motionfestivalcyprus.com

An original Christmas tree raises money for Halcyon GC School students' efforts aid charity via dairy company's donation AN original and creative Christmas tree has been put together out of dozens of empty bottles of fresh CHARALAMBIDIS CHRISTIS milk, through the efforts of the GC School, with a view to strengthening Cyprus' Halcyon charities. The spectacular tree, which currently adorns the courtyard of the dairy product company's key island distribution centre, was secured by the company for over €1,000, an amount which the students of the school will pass on to the Halcyon Association - speciﬁcally to support a child who needs vital overseas surgical treatment. The presentation and placement of this unique Christ-

The unique tree made entirely of empty milk bottles was created by pupils from the GC School mas tree took place recently as part of a special event at the CHARALAMBIDIS CHRISTIS' distribution centre, attended by the GC School choir and the popular singer, Chovik. The company staff wel-

comed the students and gave them gifts and breakfast packs containing chocolate milk, fresh fruit, yoghurt and traditional halloumi. Christis Dairies was founded in 1961, initially producing only fresh milk. Over the

years the Company implemented pioneering production methods through modern facilities so as to keep the lead in the production of cheese and dairy products in Cyprus. On December 12, 2011, 90

per cent of the company was bought by Messrs Alexis Charalambides and Menelaos Siakolas and their partners. The company was subsequently renamed to CHARALAMBIDIS CHRISTIS LTD.

STEP Cyprus organises successful cocktail event A SUCCESSFUL cocktail party was recently organised by STEP Cyprus - the island's Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners - having taken place at Nicosia's Hilton Hotel. STEP Cyprus Chairwoman Emily Yiolitis opened the event by greeting the members and associates of the organisation who attended the event. Demetra Kalogirou, Chairwoman of Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySec), was the special guest of the event.

In her address to participants she elaborated on the new Fiduciaries Bill that was set to pass into legislation on Wednesday, December 12. The Fiduciaries Bill provides for the regulation of trustees and corporate service providers in Cyprus under the supervision of CySec. The Cyprus branch of STEP was established in 2003 and local membership numbers now exceed 160 professionals from the island’s legal, accounting, banking and trust ﬁelds.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursd

Lifestyle

Mad about Les Misé Anne Hathaway has been tipped for best supporting actress for her playing of Fantine

Successful stage musicals don’t always ways work on celluloid but the eagerly awaited film of thee show is generating a powerful erful buzz. Matt Wolf is hooked ked

O you hear the people sing? Roar is more like it, given the clamour surrounding Les Misérables, the film version of the ongoing stage phenomenon that had its gala UK premiere last week in London and opens on Christmas Day in America, where Tom Hooper’s first film since The King’s Speech is circling copious Oscar nominations. A movie musical and Oscars? There was a time when that was the norm: six film musicals took the Best Pic-

Running at almost three hours there are plenty of star studded roles including Helena Bonham Carter

re e Oscar beture een n n tween An mer errican in American Oscar winner riss iin n 1951 Paris Russell Crowe d and Oliver! as Javert in 1968, since en only one when hi i (Chicago, in 2002) has gone the distance. So, ﬁnally, here is the movie Countless others have fallen of Les Mis in all its perverse by the wayside, and while majesty - “perverse” because Mamma Mia! made a fortune of a running time of nearly on screen as on stage, it is three hours, not to menthought of as a frothy chick tion certain conventions on ﬂick as opposed to a prestige which some onlookers were entry that scores with critics ready to call time. The fact and public alike. is, Hooper hasn’t just made

a ﬁlm with musical numbers folded within it: Les Mis is genuinely through-sung, so much so that the rare passages of dialogue bring one up short. In a conceptual gamble, Hooper had his cast sing live on set so as to offer up the musical numbers as extensions of character, not just an amalgam of heavily tweaked “turns” arrived at via post-production dubbing. The singing had to seem as natural as breathing, and with this cast it does. Buzz surrounding the ﬁlm has built following initial screenings in America late last month; social media worked itself up into a whirl of anticipation. “It hits all

‘It hits all the right notes and is, in this writer’s estimation, the newly minted front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar’ the right notes and is, in this writer’s estimation, the newly minted front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar,” wrote The Daily Beast’s Marlow Stern. Once London caught up with the movie last week, the encomia followed suit. “I hate musicals. I hate ﬁlms

Amanda Seyfried as Cosette and Eddie Redmayne as Marius in Les Misérables 1951 Oscar winner An American In Paris

that last longer than 90 mins,” announced Jemima Khan via Twitter. “But I LOVED Les Misérables. Epic. Well done.” I join the salute. From the initial sequence of a gaunt, ﬁerce-eyed Hugh Jackman, as Jean Valjean, ensnared in the hard labour that would break a less gallant spirit, Hooper and co avoid the pitfalls of preposterousness or camp that hover over such ventures. To its credit, Les Mis in an instant solves the all-important question of why all these people are singing all the time. The answer: because that is their preferred mode of speech, the music communicating truths that transcend ordinary discourse. And how wonderful to hear these actors have a go at this score. Much has been made of Anne Hathaway’s ravaged portrayal of the stricken prostitute Fantine, a role the actress’ own mother once played in a US production of

day, December 20, 2012

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James Corden

érables

DO YOU HEAR THE CELEBS SING? Ryan Gosling

graceful tenor that comes as the biggest surprise.

Eddie Redmayne

ZOOEY DESCHANEL The Elf and New Girl star plays a banjo and ukulele and has made a couple of passable duet albums with the hip crooner M Ward, going under the name She & Him.

JAMES CORDEN The host of this year’s Evening Standard Theatre Awards impressed with his rendition of a satirical song he had written for the occasion, demonstrating skills he has developed ﬁlming One Chance, in which he plays Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts.

REESE WITHERSPOON After winning an Oscar

Reese Witherspoon

playing June Carter Cash in Walk the Line (she described the singing lessons as “horrifying”), Witherspoon is now set to duet with Michael Bublé on his latest album. RYAN GOSLING This emblem of modern masculinity can also sing some. A former Mouseketeer, Gosling does so in oundtypically hip surroundings in Terrence nMalick’s (as yet ung) titled forthcoming) musical.

GEMMA ARTERTON Arterton hoped to o be a West End star as a child - her childhood CV included Tallulah in Bugsy Malone - and

the stage show. But whereas Fantine’s big number, I Dreamed a Dream (the Susan Boyle song), can lead to theatrical histrionics, Hathaway does the opposite, drawing us into the gasping, gulping plight of a single mum with nothing left to live for but her beloved daughter, Cosette, whom Jean Valjean will soon thereafter take in as his own. Her vocal prowess won’t surprise those New York playgoers who saw the actress, then still at university, win raves in 2002 in a concert performance of the musical Carnival, in which she played an orphaned 16-year-old. Hathaway has emerged as the frontrunner for the Supporting Actress Oscar but look for musicals neophyte Eddie Redmayne ﬂying the ﬂag for England in a Supporting Actor race likely to be dominated by such heavyweights as Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert De Niro and Tommy Lee Jones. Inheriting Michael Ball’s original stage role of the young rebel, Marius, Redmayne brings ardour to what could be a stock role, and his tenor lifts to falsetto with an ease not always achieved by Jackman, who has trouble with the top notes on Bring Him Home, Valjean’s signature number. On the other hand, you couldn’t ask for a better acted Valjean from a stage

musicals veteran who not only ages convincingly but seems to come genuinely by the sainthood the material bestows upon him. And how nice that the ﬁlm’s one entirely new song, Suddenly, an undoubted Oscar contender for the team of Herbert Kretzmer, Alain Boublil

and Claude-Michel Schönberg, emerges as the gentle, ruminative awakening of one man’s love and not just a pro forma power ballad. Will Les Mis kickstart the movie musical anew? That’s hard to say when the truth is that for every Chicago there is a Rock of Ages or Rent: hit shows that did a celluloid crash and burn. Still, the last of Cameron Mackintosh’s “big four” Eighties mega-musicals, Miss Saigon, has been mooted for the large screen, and Hollywood in any case likes to follow up one success with others of a comparable stripe. And if you can’t get into an early showing of Les Mis the ﬁlm, well, there’s always the stage show, which after 27 years and no end in sight looks likely to outlive us all.

Fierce eyed Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean

next year she appears ue opposite Kylie Minogue ne, a in Walking on Sunshine, usical Mamma Mia!-style musical 80s ﬁlm, set to various 1980s hits.

EDD EDDIE REDMA MAYNE An Anne Hathaway way m gain all may t the plaudits f her emacicifor a ion ated rendition o I Dreamed da of D Dream in Less Misérabless - but it’s e’s Redmayne’s

Gemma Arterton

Zooey Deschanel

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

What’s on

films

(K) All Audiences (12/15/18) No admittance to Under-12s/ 15s/ 18s (N/A) Not Available

NICOSIA The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.30pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 1) at 7 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 11.30am and 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Seven Psychopaths (18) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.35, 7.50 and 10.20pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 4) at 5.35, 7.50 and 10.20pm, weekends also at 11.15am, 1.20pm and 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Shadow Dancer (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 5.35 and 7.50pm, weekends also at 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Hotel Transylvania (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek, in 3D) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 3.30pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) (in Greek, in 3D) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Lawless (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 10.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Rise of the Guardians (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek, in 3D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 5)

(in English, in 2D) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 2) (in Greek, in 3D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 11.20am, 1.20pm and 3.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 5) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 11.20am, 1.20pm and 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Killing Them Softly (18) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 10.15pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 2) at 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.45 and 10.15pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) at 7.45 and 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Skyfall (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 7.40pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 2) at 7.40pm. Tel: 7777-8383 And the Train Goes to the Sky (in Greek, call for details of subtitles) Eirini Hall (Peace Room) at 7.30pm. Tel: 99-434923 The Crying Game Eirini Hall (Peace Room) at 9pm. Tel: 99-434923

CINEMA WEBSITES: K-Cineplex: http://kcineplex.com, Friends of the Cinema Society: http://www.ofk.org.cy

LIMASSOL The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) Rio 2 at 7.45pm, weekends also at 4.30pm; Rio 3 at 10.20pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Seven Psychopaths (18) Rio 1 at 7.45 and 10pm, weekends also at 3 and 5.15pm. Tel: 25-871410 Shadow Dancer (12) Rio 6 at 7.45pm, weekends also at 5.30pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 5.35 and 7.50pm, weekends also at 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Hotel Transylvania (K) Rio 3 (in Greek, in 3D), weekdays at 5.50pm, weekends at 3.30 and 5.30pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek, in 3D) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Lawless (15) Rio 4, weekdays at 10pm, weekends at 10.10pm. Tel: 25871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 10.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Killing Them Softly (18) Rio 2 at 10.45pm. Tel: 25871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Rise of the Guardians (K) Rio 4 (in English, in 2D), weekdays at 7.45pm, weekends at 3, 4.50, 6.35 and 8.20pm; Rio 2 (in Greek, in 3D), weekdays at 5.50pm, weekends at 2.50pm only. Tel: 25871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek, in 3D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 4) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383

7.50 and 10.20pm, weekends also at 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (12) Rio 5 at 7.45 and 10.05pm, weekends also at 5.30pm. Tel: 25871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.45 and 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Rise of the Guardians (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek, in 3D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Taken 2 (12) Rio 6 at 10.10pm. Tel: 25-871410 Skyfall (12) Rio 3 at 7.35pm. Tel: 25871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 7.40pm. Tel: 7777-8383

LARNACA The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Shadow Dancer (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 5.35 and 7.50pm, weekends also at 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Hotel Transylvania (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek, in 3D) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Killing Them Softly (18) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.45 and 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Skyfall (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 7.40pm. Tel: 7777-8383

PAPHOS

Lawless (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 10.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Seven Psychopaths (18) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.35,

Hotel Transylvania (K) Rio 1 (in Greek, 3D), weekdays only at 5.30pm; Rio 3 (in Greek, 2D), weekends only 4 and 5.45pm; Rio 6 (in Greek, 3D),

weekdays at 8.30 and 10.15pm, weekends at 11am, 2.40, 4.30, 6.20, 8.10 and 10pm. Tel: 26207000 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) Rio 1 at 7.30pm, weekends also at 11am and 4pm; Rio 6, weekdays only at 5.30pm; Rio 7 at 9.30pm. Tel: 26-207000 Seven Psychopaths (18) Rio 5 at 5.30, 7.45 and 10pm. Tel: 26-207000 Lawless (15) Rio 2 at 9.45pm. Tel: 26-207000 Rise of the Guardians (K) Rio 4 (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 11am and 3.30pm; Rio 7 (in Greek, in 3D), weekdays at 5.50 and 7.40pm, weekends at 11am, 3.30, 5.30 and 7.30pm. Tel: 26-207000 Killing Them Softly (18) Rio 1 at 10.30pm. Tel: 26-207000 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (12) Rio 3, weekdays at 7.30 and 9.45pm, weekends at 7.45 and 10pm. Tel: 26-207000 Taken 2 (12) Rio 2 at 7.30pm, weekends also at 5pm. Tel: 26-207000

listings Today Exhibition Group Exhibition Christmas bargains on paintings, sculpture, jewellery and much more. Opens December 20, until December 23. Gallery Technis Dromena, 53 Arch. Kyprianou, Nicosia. Open daily: 12pm-8pm. Tel: 22-496398

28th Pancyprian Christmas Carol Festival Christmas programme featuring choirs from the Nicosia district. December 20. Pallas Theatre, old Nicosia. 8pm. €5/free

Tomorrow Exhibition

Mag Dossier #01 A celebration of contemporary magazine publishing featuring magazines from across the world. Opens December 20, 8pm until January 26. Phytorio – Visual Artists Association Municipal Garden of Nicosia, 2 Nehrou. Tuesday-Friday: 10am-1pm and 4pm-7pm. Saturday: 10am-1pm. Tel: 22-681088

Loizos M. Loizou Solo painting exhibition. Opens December 21, 6.30pm until January 21. Vladimiros Kafkarides Cultural Centre, 11-15 Vladimiros Kafkarides Street, Aglantzia, Nicosia. 10am-1pm & 6pm-8.30pm. Tel: 22-312940/22421609

Music

Markus Schulz Smirnoff Midnight Circus presents German trance music DJ Markus Schulz. Special Guest: Jaz Von D. Warm Up: Andy Von Emmanouel. December 21. Royal Hall, 29 Xanthis Xenierou Street, Nicosia. 11pm. €10 (presale). Tel: 22-375984

Christmas with Tale Concert with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. December 20. Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. €12/7 free entrance for children and students under 18 years old. Tel: 22-313010 Jazz Night Live jazz music with the Charis Ioannou trio. Buy two Glenfiddich of the same age and get the third one free. December 20. Finbarr’s, 52B Makarios Ave, Nicosia. 9pm. 22-376625

Music

Alice in Dreamland The Cyprus Opera Organisation presents a musical inspired by the novel of Lewis Caroll, with music and scenario by the famous Bulgarian composer Lyubomir Denev. December 21. Vladimiros Kafkarides Cultural Centre, 11-15 Vladimiros Kafkarides Street, A glantzia, Nico-

sia. €10/5 kids 8 years and under. In Greek. Tel: 22-312940

Theatre Spring Awakening THOC presents work by Frank Wedekind, directed by Dimitris Lignadis. December 21 until January 26. THOC New Theatre Building, 9 Gregori Afxentiou, Nicosia. Every Wednesday through Sunday at 8.30pm. In Greek. Tel: 77-772717/22-864300

Ongoing Other Events First International Christmas Fair Includes a wide range of events and concerts for families and children. December 14-Janaury 1. Christmas Fair, Sea Road, Between McDonalds and Pascucci Café, Yermasoyia. All day event. Tel: 97-745594 7 films: Harun Farocki A selection of screenings by legendary German filmmaker, critic and teacher followed by discussion and talk with the artist. Within the framework of the opening ceremony of a new contemporary art centre. December 15, 4pm until February 15. Point Centre for Contemporary Art Megaron Hadjisavva, 2 Evagorou Street, Nicosia. Every Wednesday through Sunday from 11am-5pm. Tel: 22-662053. Email: info@pointcentreforcontemporaryart.com

Bidoun Library A mobile library consisting of books, magazines and other printed matter about the Middle East. Within the framework of the opening ceremony of a new contemporary art centre. December 15, 4pm until February 15. Point Centre for Contemporary Art Megaron Hadjisavva, 2 Evagorou Street, Nicosia. Tel: 22662053. Email: info@pointcentreforcontemporaryart.com

Theatre Death and the Maiden Satiriko Theatro presents play by Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman. Until December 21. Vladimiros Kafkarides Cultural Centre, 11-15 Vladimiros, Kafkarides Street, Aglantzia, Nicosia. Every Wednesday and Friday at 8.30pm. In Greek. Tel: 22-312940/22-421609 11:16 Anemona Theatre presents a mystery by C. G. Wilson. Until December 23. Anemona Theatre, 7 Archagelou Street, Latsia, Nicosia. Every Friday and Saturday at 8.30pm and Sunday at 8pm. In Greek. €10. Tel: 22-573031 Shakespeare in an Hour Pirasmos Productions presents the theatrical comedy. Until December 23. Pantheon Art Cinema, 29 Diagorou Street, Nicosia. Thursday through Sunday at 8.30pm. In Greek. Tel: 70-001910 Misery Stephen King’s psychological thriller staged by Satiriko Theatre. Every

Friday and Saturday. Until December 29. Vladimiros Kafkarides Cultural Centre, 11-15 Vladimiros Kafkarides Street, Aglantzia. Every Friday at 8.30pm and Saturday at 11pm. In Greek. Tel: 22-312940/22-421609. email: satiriko@cytanet.com.cy. www.satiriko.com Just Broken Up Act Theatre presents play by Vassilis Myrianthopoulos & Vangelis Hatzinikolaou. Cyprus Dialect Adaptation by Christiana Artemiou. Until January 6. Latsia Municipal Theatre, 57 Yiannos Kranidiotis Avenue, Nicosia. On specific days at 8.30pm and 6pm on Sundays. €20. Tel: 77-777181 The Elephant Man Theatro Ena presents a play by Bernard Pomerance, translated and directed by Andreas Christodoulides. Until January 27. Theatro Ena, 4 Athinas Avenue, Nicosia. Every Friday through Sunday at 8.30pm. In Greek. €15/12. Tel: 22-348203 Social Security THOC presents a play by Andrew Bergman. Until January 27. THOC New Theatre Building, 9 Gregori Afxentiou, Nicosia. Friday through Sunday. Friday & Sunday at 8.30pm, Saturday at 6pm and 8.30pm. Tel: 77-772717/22-864300

Exhibition Each Scarf Tells the Story of a Missing Person Exhibition of scarves embroidered by the relatives of missing persons

For a full guide to the week’s events and regular meetings, make sure you get a copy of the Sunday Mail

in Mexico. Until December 21. The Cyprus Community Media Centre (CCMC), in nest to the Ledra Palace Hotel, Nicosia Buffer zone Alexandros G. Michaelides Solo painting exhibition. Until December 21. Blob Creative Space, Arch. Makariou, City Plaza, Second Floor, Nicosia, Monday-Saturday: 2pm-7pm. Tel: 99-657277 Giorgos Kostonis Solo painting exhibition. Until December 22. Intercollege, 52 Famagusta Avenue, Larnaca Road. MondayFriday: 10am-7pm. Tel: 24-747500 Dialogues Group exhibition by the academic staff and associates of Aigaia School of Art and Design. Until December 22. Aigaia School of Art and Design, 81 Agion Omologiton Avenue, Nicosia. MondayFriday: 9am-1pm & 4pm-8pm. Saturday: 4pm-8pm. Tel: 22-445757 Angel of Christmas Solo painting exhibition by Andreas Karayian. Until December 22. Apocalypse Gallery, 30 Chytron Street, Nicosia. Monday- Friday: 10.30am1pm and 5pm-8pm. Saturday: 10.30am-1pm. Tel: 22-766655 Collector’s Room Solo drawing and sculpture exhibition by Japanese artist Chiaki Kamikawa. Until December 22. Chiaki Kamikawa Contemporary Art, Solonos 10, Paphos T. Tuesday- Friday: 10am-1pm and 4pm-6pm. Saturday: 10am-1pm. Tel: 99-311225. www.ckamikawa.com

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

19 To have your event included for FREE in our listings, send details to: Arts Editor, Cyprus Mail, PO Box 21144, Nicosia. Fax: 22-676385. Email: whatson@cyprus-mail.com Please send your information as early as possible. Include full details, a contact number and good quality photos

Coming Up Other Events Last shopping splurge After a slow start to December, a late surge of Christmas shoppers is expected over the next few days in the run-up to the big day. If you’re in Nicosia, this Sunday, head down to the Practoreio for some festive cheer and Christmas shopping. There you will find hand knitted scarves, jewellery, handmade leather bags, vintage clothes, handmade lamp shades and much more. While you sip on some mulled wine by the fireplace, films will be projected on a screen and music will set the tone for the day.

On The Scene Exhibition Good versus Evil Blood-coloured costumes and devilish papier-mache masks are the subject of a rather intriguing photographic exhibition currently on display at the Cultural Centre ‘The Mills’ in Kaimakli. The exhibition which will remain open until next Friday is organised by the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and goes under the title of “The Dancing Devils of Venezuela”. The exhibition coincides with UNESCO’s decision this December to honour Venezuela’s Dancing Devils of Corpus Christi by granting them the status of Immaterial World Culture Heritage. The measure, largely symbolic, sets standards to safeguard the practice of living traditions and provides a series of guidelines to ensure a non-

Kids have o enjoy a chance to ytellsome storytellicoletta ing with Nicoletta nd Elena PavVerykiou and lidou. ill narrate a highly The two will theatrical adaptation of Anderson’s fairy tale, the Snow Queen. A tale that focuses on a story of friendship and loyalty, where courageous young Gerde sets out alone across a frigid landscape in search of her beloved friend, Kai, who has been captured by the mysterious and wicked Snow Queen.

A call to ‘motion’ Carlos Lascano: Coca Cola’s The Spirit of the Euro

Christmas Bazaar Handicrafts, jewellery, leather goods, books, vintage clothes, movie projections, music, food, storytelling with two actors and much more. December 23. To Practoreio 19 Nikitara Street, Agioi Omologites, Nicosia. 12pm-8pm. Free. Tel: 99-849598. intrusive conservation of the arts, rituals, and festive events. This unique tradition is several hundred years old, a colourful rite, full of spiritual and hidden magical meaning. Besides Hispanic roots, this practice has been tied to indigenous shamanism and ancient confraternities and secret societies of Africa. The central motif is religious, since these devils dance on the Roman Catholic holiday of Corpus Christi, Latin for ‘body of Christ’. The liturgical feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity, nine Thursdays after Holy Thursday before Easter. In this religious expression, which dates back to the 17th century, Devils surrender before the Blessed Sacrament, recreating the ancestral triumph of good over evil. Venezuela’s Dancing Devils Photographic exhibition. Until December 28. Cultural Centre ‘The Mills’, Kaimakli, Nicosia. RSVP tel: 22-445 332. E-mail: embaven_chipre@ hotmail.com

The Arts department of the European University of Cyprus is hosting the IMF for the second year in a row - and by IMF we mean the International Motion Festival, not to be confused with the global monetary cooperation. Following the great success of the 2012 IMF, the university is now accepting entries for its 2013 edition coming up in March. The festival is the first of its kind both in Cyprus and the broader Mediterranean and Middle East region and it aims to bring together filmmakers, video artists, computer animators, graphic designers and their audience and of course to familiarise the wider public with what has traditionally remained as the “invisible art”: motion graphics. There’s no clear definition of “motion graphics,” other than that it involves design and animation working together. No matter what your definition is, motion graphics have revolutionised all electronic visual media. Motion graphics used to be costly and time consuming, limiting their use to only high budget film and TV projects. With the reduced cost of producing motion graphics on a computer, the discipline has seen more widespread use and motion graphics have become increasingly accessible. In the first festival renowned names such as Carlos Lascano, Graham Eliot and many et other took part. The upcoming event is set cholto bring industry professionals, artists, scholars, students and the public together for a three-day festival (Friday to Sunday) in an atmosphere designed to inspire. The festival will include: screenings of selected motion work, keynote invited lectures

from scholars in the ﬁeld, workshops relating to motion graphics and broadcasting software and tools. Submit your work now. Emerging and established artists, students and professionals in motion graphics from Cyprus and around the world are called to send their work; the only requirement is that participants must be over the age of 17. The open call for motion work is based on the following categories: motion graphics/ broadcast design, experimental, video art and 2D/3D animation, short documentary, short film, 3D mapping projection, video preview and others. The deadline for submissions for the 2013 edition is December 31 and there’s no participation fee. Send in your ﬁnest minutes, your adventures recorded, your sweat and passion woven into something beautiful and maybe your work will be screened for the world to see. Open Call for Motion Work: Second International Motion Festival A call to artists to submit their works for the March 2013 IMF. Deadline for submission: December 31. For more information visit the festival’s webpage at: http://www.motionfestivalcyprus.com By Ledha Socratous

NIGHTLIFE Going above and beyond a live music experience Who loves Above & Beyond? If you’re a trance fan, you most certainly do – and that’s why you should come Celebrate Christmas in style with one of the world’s ﬁnest electronic dance music acts. It is no secret that Above & Beyond are local favourites, in 2010, the holy trinity of electronic music, comprising of Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness, and Paavo Siljamäki sold out Nicosia’s Pavilion for an event of eight hours of non-stop music. In 2011, they sold out an-

other show at the same venue and this Saturday Above & Beyond are island bound once more. A band ﬁrst and foremost, Above & Beyond are songwriters as much as they are DJs and are known for their melodic compositions and emotional lyrics. From winning Essential Mix of the Year (2004) or playing for one million people on the beach in Rio de Janeiro (New Year’s Eve 2007), Above & Beyond’s career has been a constant upward curve since the trio formed in 2000.

Their list of achievements also include having their track ‘Buzz’ chosen to soundtrack the launch of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo in the Mojave desert. They also hosted their own weekly radio show Trance Around the World(TATW) that attracted more than 30 million listeners per week, making it one of the most popular and longest-running music radio shows ever aired. After mixing tracks for music giants such as Madonna,

establishing Anjunabeats – their music label – and gaining the No. 8 spot on British monthly magazine Dj Mag, the boys are back in Cyprus to give another great show. Above & Beyond’s show takes the DJ set up into the realm of concert theatre with emotive visuals, live video messaging from the band, and a story-telling theme, creating a unique dance ﬂoor experience for Above & Beyond’s legions of Cyprus fans. This Saturday, Absolut Vodka will present an unforget-

table Christmas Party; the live concert experience will also feature performances by Jaytech, warm up by Aleka Metaxa plus Closing Set by Solo (CY). Above & Beyond DJ trio arriving in Cyprus for a special Christmas performance. December 22. Pavilion, Lakatameia. 9.30pm. €22. Tickets from Nicosia: Octagono Kiosk, Café Caprice and The Mall Kiosk. Limassol: Musical Paradise. Larnaca: Amalfi Café. Paphos: Calypso Music Store. Tel: 22-322222

For a full listing of the day’s events, see facing page

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Television CYBC 1 06.45 08.15

Proti Enimerosi Kali Sas Mera

CYBC 2 07.00 08.00

Local variety show, with entertainment options, cookery tips and more.

11.00 11.30 12.00

Kaftes Piperies (rpt) Istories Tou Horkou (rpt) Apo Mera Se Mera

15.30

Entehnos

Current affairs show. Local cultural show.

16.00

Mazi Sto CyBC Local talk-show.

18.00 18.15

News Kaftes Piperies

18.45

Paizoume Kypriaka

Live cookery show.

16.00 17.00 18.00 18.50 19.00 19.10 20.10 21.00

New season of local game show, asking questions having to do with Cypriot dialect.

19.20

20.00 21.15

News Patates 8

22.30 23.00

Local satirical show, using comedy sketches and embarrassing TV clips to skewer local politicians.

22.00

Tete A Tete

00.00 00.30 00.45

Moiraia Fengaria (rpt) News Entehnos (rpt) More repeats

07.00

Fireman Sam, Pippi Longstocking, etc. Shown till 12.30, then repeated till midafternoon.

07.50 08.40

Jamie’s Family Christmas Kati Psinetai (rpt) Biz/Emeis News In English News In Turkish UEFA Euro 50 Classic Matches (rpt) NRG Zone FILM: Come Rain Come Shine

23.45

09.30 10.25 11.15 12.10 13.00 13.20 14.00 14.50 15.45 16.40

Motor Sports Investigation Earth In an enlightening onehour special, animal expert Jeff Corwin gets up-close-and-personal with endangered animals all over the world to ﬁnd out how humans have altered animal habitats in the wilderness.

Tasos Tryfonos interviews Greek celebrities from the world of showbiz.

23.00

NRG Zone Kids’ TV

A working-class man is determined to keep his family aﬂoat - emotionally and ﬁnancially when they lose virtually everything. Drama, starring David Jason. 2010.

Moiraia Fengaria New local drama series inspired by Maro Kranidioti’s book ‘Otan i Moira Apofasizei’.

ANTENNA

Repeats

17.30

Deliyianneio Parthenagogeio (rpt) Englimata (rpt) Lyke, Lyke Eisai Edo (rpt) FTHIS Panselinos (rpt) Ekeino To Kalokairi (rpt) Niose Me (rpt) News Mera Mesimeri Konstantinou Kai Elenis (rpt) To Kafe Tis Haras (rpt) Oneiropagida (rpt) Vals Me 12 Theous (rpt) Ekeino To Kalokairi (rpt)

MEGA 06.15 06.40 07.00 08.00 10.00 12.45 14.00 15.00

Local investigative show.

16.00

Yia Sena

18.00 18.10

News Master Chef

03.20 04.40

Aiyia Fuxia (rpt) Niose Me News Vals Me 12 Theous Ekeino To Kalokairi Eilikrina News Sports News Ola Bahalo Fetos Synora Agapis I Agapi Irthe Apo Makria (rpt) News Deal (rpt)

06.10 07.00 08.20 10.00 11.10 12.00 14.20 15.20 18.00 18.05 18.30

Greek reality competition show where amatuer chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges.

19.20 20.20 21.15

19.30 20.20 21.15 22.20

Porta Kleidomeni FILM: The Take An armoured car driver is badly injured during a robbery, and resolves to track down the criminals responsible. Crime drama, starring John Leguizamo. 2007.

00.00 00.10 01.00 03.30 04.30 05.40

News I Apli Methodos Ton Trion Yia Sena (rpt) Enimerosi Tora (rpt) Proino Mou (rpt) I Dipsa (rpt)

7 Ouranoi kai Synnefa Alites News Aspra Balonia (rpt) Pame Paketo Talk-show that deals with human interest stories such as reuniting people, fulﬁlling dreams and connecting individuals who want to correct past mistakes in their lives.

Eftyhismenoi Mazi (rpt) News Klemmena Oneira Greek drama series.

22.10 23.10

The Del Monte Heirs (rpt) Protoselido Eleni Vasiliki (rpt) 7 Ouranoi kai Synnefa Alites (rpt) Mesimeri Kai Kati Aspra Balonia (rpt) Magazino News Ti Tha Fame Simera Mama The Del Monte Heirs Latin American telenovela.

Local talk-show.

With News at 18.00.

18.30 19.30 20.15 21.15 22.15 23.15 00.10 00.15 00.30 01.40 02.30

Emeis Ki Emeis (rpt) Diktiotheite Kai Exelihtheite Koinonia Ora Mega Nea Mera Proino Mou Enimerosi Tora Klemmena Oneira (rpt) Eheis Meson

SIGMA

00.00 00.05

News CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

PLUS TV 06.45 07.20 07.50 09.00 09.30 10.55

Cookery show, with helpful tips on eating well and nutrition.

11.50 12.30 13.00 15.30 17.15 17.50 19.40

Dekati Entoli (rpt) Epistroﬁ (rpt) Mila Mou (rpt) Otan Megaloso (rpt) Eleni (rpt)

Kids’ TV Star News Mesimeriani Meleti Kids’ TV Exelixeis Stin Showbiz Fotis Maria Live Mila Discussions about various issues based on a woman’s life (men, relationships, sex, kids etc.) with showbiz guests.

21.15 22.00

Exelixeis Stin Showbiz FILM: Love N’ Dancing A bored teacher gets some excitement in her life when a former professional swing dancer asks her to compete with him in the world championships. Romantic drama, starring Amy Smart. 2008. See Pick Of The Day.

An elite team of police forensic evidence investigation experts work their cases in Las Vegas.

01.00 02.00 03.00 04.40 05.30

Star News Fotis - Maria Live Best Of Mesimeriani Meleti Best Of Exelixeis Sti Showbiz Mila (rpt) Nistikoi Praktores (rpt)

23.30 00.30 01.10 03.00

LTV Sports News Kostakis Ki Yioi Star News Repeats

CAPITAL 06.45 08.30 09.20 10.00

17.30 18.15

Kids’ TV S’Agapo (rpt) Akti Oneiron Ston Asterismo Tis Imeras Kouzina Me Apopsi Epi Topou (rpt) Milagros Kids’ TV Top Models S’Agapo Sabrina, To Koritsi Tis Agapis Akti Oneiron Paciﬁc Blue

19.15 19.50 20.05 21.00

News Sports Time Rubi FILM: Turbulence

11.00 11.30 12.30 13.25 14.55 15.50 16.40

With News at 18.30.

A convicted killer breaks free of his restraints during a plane trip, and embarks on a murderous rampage. Thriller, starring Ray Liotta. 1997.

23.00

FILM: Hero and Terror A cop leaps into action when a serial killer he arrested escapes from prison and resumes his reign of terror. Thriller, starring Chuck Norris 1988.

00.50

FILM: Frailty A man tells the FBI his unbalanced brother is the serial killer spreading terror through the community. Thriller, directed by and starring Bill Paxton. 2002.

Tower Heist (Novacinema1, 20.05)

01:25 The Weakest Link 02:10 Casualty 03:00 One Foot In The Grave 03:30 Doctor Who Conﬁdential 03:40 EastEnders 04:10 Doctors 04:40 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 05:25 Single Father 06:15 The Weakest Link 07:00 Tellytales 07:10 Boogie Beebies 07:25 Show Me Show Me 07:50 Balamory 08:10 Tellytales 08:20 Boogie Beebies 08:35 Show Me Show Me 09:00 Balamory 09:20 Charlie And Lola 09:30 Buzz & Tell 09:35 My Family 10:05 One Foot In The Grave 10:35 The Weakest Link 11:20 EastEnders 11:50 Doctors 12:20 Casualty 13:10 Born And Bred 14:00 The Royle Family 14:30 My Family 15:00 The Weakest Link 15:45 EastEnders 16:15 Doctors 16:45 Casualty 17:35 Born And Bred 18:25 The Weakest Link 19:10 EastEnders 19:40 Doctors 20:10 Hustle 21:00 Keeping Up Appearances 21:30 The Royle Family 22:00 Waking The Dead 22:50 Blackadder The Third 23:20 Gavin & Stacey 23:50 Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps 24:20 Tribal Wives

07:00 How It’s Made ; 07:25 Wheeler Dealers 08:15 American Chopper 09:10 Dirty Jobs 10:05 Deadliest Catch 10:55 Ultimate Survival

11:50 How Do They Do It? 12:15 How It’s Made ; 12:40 Extreme Engineering 13:35 Rides 14:30 Wheeler Dealers 15:25 American Chopper 16:20 Mythbusters 17:15 Dirty Jobs 18:10 Deadliest Catch 19:05 Ultimate Survival 20:00 How It’s Made ; 20:30 How It’s Made ; 21:00 Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing Challenge 22:00 River Monsters 23:00 Hillbilly Handﬁshin’ 00:00 Surviving Disaster 01:00 Surviving The Cut 01:55 Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing Challenge 02:50 River Monsters 03:50 Hillbilly Handﬁshin’ 04:50 Surviving Disaster 05:45 How Do They Do It? 06:10 Overhaulin’

09:30 Olympic Games: Olympic Magazine 10:00 Equestrian: Horse Racing Time 10:15 Football: Next Gen Series 11:30 All Sports: Watts 13:00 Alpine Skiing: Exhibition Italy 14:30 Alpine Skiing: World Cup Sweden 15:00 Ski Jumping: World Cup Switzerland 16:00 Tennis: Australian Open, Melbourne 17:00 Alpine Skiing: World Cup Sweden 18:00 Biathlon: World Cup Slovenia 18:45 Alpine Skiing: Exhibition Italy 19:30 Alpine Skiing: World

Cup Sweden 20:45 Strongest Man: Giants Live In Iceland 21:45 Fight Sport: Fight Club 00:00 Poker: European Poker Tour 01:05 All Sports: Watts 02:00 Alpine Skiing: World Cup Sweden

05:40 Off The Map 06:25 Castle 07:10 Modern Family 07:35 New Girl 08:00 The Gates 08:50 Masterchef 09:40 Off The Map 10:25 Castle 11:10 Modern Family 11:35 New Girl 12:00 Scandal 12:50 Castle 13:40 The Gates 14:30 Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations 15:20 Off The Map 16:05 Castle 16:50 Modern Family 17:15 New Girl 17:40 The Gates 18:30 Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations 19:20 Off The Map 20:10 Castle 21:00 Scandal 21:50 Castle 22:40 Modern Family 23:05 New Girl 23:30 Scandal 00:20 Castle 02:00 Off The Map 02:45 Modern Family 03:10 New Girl 03:35 04:00 The Gates 04:50 Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

07:00 Pawn Stars 07:30 Storage

Wars 08:00 American Pickers 09:00 American Restoration 09:30 Storage Wars 10:00 Pawn Stars 10:30 Storage Wars 11:00 Ancient Aliens 12:00 Swamp People 13:00 Storage Wars 14:00 American Pickers 15:00 American Restoration 15:30 Storage Wars 16:00 Swamp People 17:00 Storage Wars 18:00 American Pickers 19:00 American Restoration 19:30 Storage Wars 20:00 Pawn Stars 20:30 Storage Wars 21:00 Ancient Aliens 22:00 Ice Road Truckers 23:00 Ax Men 00:00 Pawn Stars 00:30 Storage Wars 01:00 Ancient Aliens 02:00 Ice Road Truckers 03:00 Ax Men 04:00 American Pickers 05:00 American Restoration 05:30 Storage Wars 06:00 Ancient Aliens

07:30 Videofashion 08:00 Goya’s Ghosts 10:00 Easier With Practice 12:00 Operation: Daybreak 14:00 Botched 15:35 Action Zone 16:00 Private Benjamin 17:50 Country Strong 20:00 LTV Sports News 21:00 The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants 2 23:05 Reservation Road 00:50 Hustler TV 02:50 Alaska 04:40 Case 39 06:30 LTV Sports News

07:00 Chowder 07:25 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack

07:50 The Tom & Jerry Show 08:15 Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get A Clue! 08:40 Loonatics Unleashed 09:05 Superman: The Animated Series 09:55 The Looney Tunes Show 10:20 Tak & The Power Of Juju 10:45 Fanboy & Chum Chum 11:10 The X’s 11:35 Ni Hao, Kai-Lan 12:00 Dora The Explorer 12:25 Spongebob Squarepants 13:15 The Mighty B! 13:40 My Life As A Teenage Robot 14:05 Hey Arnold! 14:30 Icarly 15:20 Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get A Clue! 15:45 Justice League Unlimited 16:10 Legion Of Super Heroes 16:35 Young Justice 17:00 A’ Division Cyprus Soccer Championship 2012-13 19:00 Barclays Premier League Review 20:00 Planet Speed 20:30 La Liga World 21:00 Barclays Premier League World 21:30 La Liga Show 201213 22:00 Bmx Supercross World Cup 23:00 Copa Del Rey 2012-13 01:00 Liga Bbva 2012-13 03:00 Barclays Premier League 2012-13

07:15 According To Jim 08:00 2 Broke Girls 08:30 Pan Am 10:15 Gossip Girl 11:05 Ncis: Los Angeles 12:50 Underbelly 13:40 According To Jim 14:30 Pan Am 16:05 2 Broke Girls 16:30 Chuck 17:15 Supernatural 18:55 Underbelly 19:45 Two And A Half Men 20:30 Eastbound & Down 21:00

The Closer 22:00 Harry’s Law 22:45 Southland 23:30 Mildred Pierce 00:45 Friday The 13th (2009) 02:20 Jackie Chan’s First Strike 03:45 2 Broke Girls 04:10 Chuck 04:55 Supernatural 06:25 Underbelly

07:20 Runaway Train 09:15 Lesbian Vampire Killers 10:45 Ocean’s Eleven (1960) 13:00 Somewhere 14:45 I Love You, Man 16:45 You’re A Big Boy Now 18:30 Secret Garden, The 20:15 Fifth Patient, The 22:00 Cold Creek Manor 00:05 Daring! Tv 03:15 Nightmare On Elm Street, A (2010) 04:50 Diamonds (Part 1) 06:20 Diamonds (Part 2)

05:20 Sanctum 07:10 The Client 09:10 Source Code 10:45 Cine News 11:35 Larissa Empisteftiko 13:15 My Week With Marilyn 15:00 «Love Stories» First Daughter 16:50 Cine News 17:20 Xxx: O Apolytos Praktoras 19:30 Cine News 20:05 Tower Heist 22:00 $5 A Day 23:50 Chalet Girl 01:30 Cine News 02:05 Wisegal 03:35 Breaking Wind

05:00 Analyze That 08:25 Cine

News 09:25 The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader 11:20 The Tempest 13:15 Cine News 16:00 Ap’ Ta Kokala Vgalmena 17:35 Hollywood 1on1 18:10 The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn 20:05 Sweet Home Alabama 22:00 Kate And Leopold 03:35 Cine News 04:20 Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer

19:15 Below The Beltway 21:00 Air Force One 23:10 Magic City 00:10 C.S.I. 01:00 Adult Zone

19:00 Love And Other Drugs 23:10 Blue Valentine 01:05 The Conquest

07:00 Big Sleep, The 08:50 Rhapsody 10:45 All This, and Heaven Too 13:00 Little Women 14:55 Knights Of The Round Table 16:50 The Swan 18:35 Wheeler Dealers, The 20:20 Hearts Of The West 22:00 Skyjacked 23:40 Point Blank 01:10 Raintree County 03:50 Manhattan Melodrama 05:25 Pat And Mike

By Preston Wilder

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2 (LTV, 21.00) Once there was a pair of trousers (pants, if you must). The pants brought four teenage girls together - mostly because they magically fit all four girls, symbolising their inner kinship (or something). Now the pants are back and so are the girls - no easy feat, because the actresses playing them became quite successful between the first and second Sisterhoods: America Ferrara became Ugly Betty, while Blake Lively was Serena on Gossip Girl. The others are played by Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn, and they’re all now in college, “each of them finding exactly where they belong and who they’re supposed to be,” according to the trailer;

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2

alas, the Sisterhood is in trouble, the girls’ diverging lives threatening their old solidarity; somehow they must learn “how to become ourselves without losing each other”. All four actresses are very watchable, but let’s be honest: you’re only likely to enjoy this farrago of adolescent heartbreak and estrogen-heavy bonding if you’re a teenage girl. If you’re not, then you may well find it ... well, a bit pants. Made in 2008.

$5 a Day (Novacinema1, 22.00) Christopher Walken and Sharon Stone! Why would you not want to watch this film? Well, for one thing Walken and Stone are both slightly past their sell-by dates (though he, at least, is mellowing into a glori-

ously eccentric old coot) - and, for another, the film is a straight-to-DVD comedy that doesn’t even offer Stone much of a part. The main dynamic is between Walken and his estranged son (Alessandro Nivola) whom he inveigles into a cross-country road trip; he has cancer, claims Dad, and needs to go to New Mexico for treatment - but Dad is a con-man who’s already gotten Alessandro in trouble once (he did jail time for a previous scam), his only reliable trait being that he’s super-tight with cash and won’t spend more than $5 a day. Probably worth seeing just for Walken’s unearthly charm (it’s funny just hearing him say a word like “feng shui-ish”), which is probably all you get anyway. And Sharon Stone, of course. Made in 2008.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 2267 1

PREVIOUS DAY’S SOLUTIONS

8 9

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD

Across

Down

1 Pray do remove. Take off (6) 4 Nip, nip in the bud (6) 9 Coming from port shop, I made for the boat (9) 10 Jack left in front of the workroom (3) 11 Trip she devised for one of the beat generation (7) 13 In Manila, sergeant detected a strong beam (5) 14 Putting together a piece of music (11) 18 Make a note of the western ceremony (5) 19 Caress bird having a decorative design (7) 21 Secure a draw (3) 22 Dispersed pets later using a chemical (9) 24 Never-never purchasing? (6) 25 Refer to the short notice (6)

1 Inconsistent – like a boy’s well-worn trousers? (6) 2 Marsupial drooping somewhat (3) 3 Store of French drug (5) 5 Flighty partner? (7) 6 Make smaller optical instrument (9) 7 Old boy eaten by animal in Tasmania (6) 8 In which scarce goods c an be found (5,6) 12 Gain at all times made by racketeer (9) 15 Keep going although person’s in trouble (5,2) 16 After end of August, sorceress developed a twinge (6) 17 Buy shares in clothing (6) 20 Printed the fourth pattern (5) 23 Peg in haste elaborated (3)

Rating EASY

MEDIUM

Rating HARD

HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved, you solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. With the ‘X’ sudoku, the shaded X must also contain the numbers 1-9.

Rating HARD

Rating MEDIUM

Answers to crossword 2266

HOROSCOPE

CRYPTIC: Across – 1 Stairwell; 8 & 9 Made no mistake; 10 Adit; 13 Print; 15 Outcry; 16 Gandhi; 17 Chalet; 19 Writhe; 20 Dowry; 21 Nest; 24 Alignment; 25 & 26 Reinstatement. Down – 2 Tool; 3 Isis; 4 Watery; 5 Liking; 6 Candidate; 7 Pertained; 11 Jobcentre; 12 Steamship; 13 Pried; 14 Tarry; 18 Toilet; 19 Wright; 22 Imam; 23 Anon.

QUICK: Across – 1 At the helm; 8 Slut; 9 Spiritual; 10 Star; 13 Beset; 15 Potter; 16 Reveal; 17 Ravage; 19 Severn; 20 Essex; 21 Midi; 24 Persevere; 25 Norm; 26 Amendment. Down – 2 Tape; 3 Hard; 4 Hatter; 5 Leader; 6 Fluttered; 7 Startling; 11 Apartment; 12 Stevedore; 13 Beige; 14 Telex; 18 Esteem; 19 Season; 22 Ovum; 23 Iron.

ARIES March 21 - April 20

LEO July 23 - August 22

SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21

Right now, and for some time to come, you’re likely to have a taste for adventure that may encourage you to take on new challenges. You’ve also got the instinct to take a risk and kick-start projects that are dear to your heart. Assess the way you come across. It may help to consider changing your image or becoming conscious of the responses which will work best.

Random events can be a driver of delightful possibilities. The taste for adventure may ﬁnd expression through aspirations to travel. An encounter may open up a way to experiment with new tastes and ideas. Although you want fun, you may need to forego some homely pleasures. There could be practical problems that need your urgent attention.

You seem to be an attractive option. Venus in your sign may encourage you to think about your appearance, and perhaps to consider a makeover. With plenty of social events coming up, you may be spurred on to achieve a glamorous look. Romance may happen out of the blue very soon. If you blink you may miss the opportunity - so stay alert!

TAURUS April 21 - May 21

VIRGO August 23 - September 23

CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20

A current interest in friends, your social life and community projects may be quite idealistic, and at times self-sacriﬁcing. At this time of year you may be deeply involved in helping out at events - perhaps fund-raising or other activities. Finances can even step up, even with the demands to splash out. With an open mind, money opportunities can gravitate towards you.

Issues concerning joint ﬁnancial affairs may disrupt your day. The sooner you sort them out the better. Creativity seems to be peaking, with a desire to explore ways to celebrate your true essence. If you take up art or craft at this time, you may consider turning your efforts into a venture. Creative communication with friends can draw you close.

Yesterday’s bright idea can turn into a solid ﬁnancial or business agreement today. It’s a good time to commit to a deal or work on a practical agenda for success. However, personal ﬁnances could be a little rocky. You may be tempted to splash out on the spur of the moment, especially with the holiday season so close. If you feel a twinge of guilt - hold back.

GEMINI May 22 - June 21

LIBRA September 24 - October 23

AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19

Your romantic and social life may take an interesting turn. A friend may have a fun challenge for you - are you game for a laugh? New acquaintances can come to you with some interesting stories and ideas that may set you thinking. An event today may bring an opportunity out of the blue. Enjoy yourself, but don’t overdo a good thing if you can help it.

If you’re in the mood for something different, someone you know or a new person you meet, could help provide it. It may help to be spontaneous and be ready to set off at a moment’s notice. The people to whom you feel especially close may be full of surprises, which can leave you wondering what they’ll do next - but at least you won’t be bored!

A piece of news may disrupt your day and could set you thinking. Although the issue may seem irritating at ﬁrst, you’ll realise there is potential for a unique opportunity to be realised. Your social life continues to buzz, and you seem to especially enjoy attending festive parties and other events. An unexpected meeting may lead to an interesting chat.

CANCER June 22 - July 22

SCORPIO October 24 - November 22

PISCES February 20 - March 20

You seem to have great intuition and can trust your inner guide when making decisions today. Current emotional power struggles may continue, and talks may not get any easier unless someone is willing to compromise. If a friend offers some time out, consider taking it, and giving yourself a chance to relax while catching up on any news.

As the Moon passes through Aries today, it may encourage your work team into enthusiastic or independent action. It could also bring you into contact with outgoing, alternative practitioners. You may ﬁnd it easy to give into temptation, as any trace of discipline may quickly vanish. Meanwhile, your creative imagination encourages artistic expression.

Stick to an action plan when it comes to making new career moves. If you have a goal in mind, break it down into baby steps and take one at a time. Socially, you seem to be on a roll, but watch out for competition on the dating scene, and perhaps a little jealousy too. Money may be ﬂowing through your ﬁngers like water today - try not to be too rash.

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser

ADVERTISER helps you find what you’re looking for

Only

€14 (plus VAT)

a week for classifieds (up to 40 words)

Send your classified by fax or email and pay by credit card, cheque or cash. It couldn’t be simpler! Nicosia - email: classified@cyprus-mail.com Limassol - email: limassol@cyprus-mail.com Paphos - email: paphos@cyprus-mail.com

JOB WANTED ***************************** MY NAME IS NALIN DARSHANA. I am from Sri Lanka. I am looking for a job, living in or out. I can do any kind of job. I have release paper and Cyprus full licence. I can speak English well. Call 96261313 ***************************** MY NAME IS NEELA SUDARSHANE. I am from Sri Lanka. I am looking for a job, living in or out. I have two years experience. I have release paper. Call 96871375, 96261313 *****************************

in Nicosia. Individual assessment and supervision of exercises. “Clinical pilates” is a modiﬁed form of therapeutic exercise used by physiotherapists to assist in the rehabilitation and prevention of musculoskeletal injury especially lower back pain, sacro-iliac pain and neck pain. More info on 22446988. *****************************

Nicosia - tel: 22 818583 fax: 22 676385 she is not suitable for hunting. She will make a perfect pet as she loves cuddles , hugs and kisses. Very playful gentle girl ,friendly with other dogs and loves kids! At the Nicosia Dog Shelter, many more dogs and puppies like this one are looking for forever homes ! To provide a temporary foster home or to adopt contact on 99520511 mon-frid 10-2pm. *****************************

PERSONAL ***************************** AUSTRIAN INGENEUR, 50 years, searching for a nice women. Mobile: 004917365562 or 00491726293462 *****************************

MISCELLANEOUS ***************************** I AM RAJWINDER KAUR from India currently residen and working in Cyprus. I have changed my name from Rajwinder Kaur to Rajwinder Kaur Sandhu all concerned may note. ***************************** ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS CYPRUS

Is drink costing you more than just money? AA could be the answer. Meeting at the following locations/days. Call to speak to an AA member. Ayia Napa Monday 97798043 Larnaca Tuesday (Polish spk) 96616589 Thursday 24645523 / 99259264 Limassol Tuesday / Wednesday / Friday / Saturday 25368265 / 99559322 Nicosia Wednesday/Sunday 99013596 Paphos Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday 99916331 / 99399240

PETS *****************************

TAG 87, a very handsome young male wirehaired pointer cross around 1,5 years old. Friendly, attentive and athletic. At the Nicosia Dog Shelter, many more dogs and puppies like this one are looking for forever homes ! To provide a temporary foster home or to adopt contact on 99520511 mon-frid 10-2pm. *****************************

Details of meetings are available on www.aa-europe. net *****************************

HEALTH & FITNESS ACUPUNCTURE, cupping, skin honing, massage. For the alleviation of aches, pains, stress and rehabilitation from illness or injury. Qualiﬁed Chinese practitioner. Pafos [Konia] 9922 1851.CLINICAL PILATES. Personalised Clinical Pilates by Physiotherapists

OZZY is an adorable male which came into the shelter almost a year ago! The person who found him wanted to help increase his re-homing chances so he sponsored his neutering...! But Ozzy has since been sitting in the shelter wishing for a new family... !But he has a great character and is only around 2 years old! At the Nicosia Dog Shelter, many more dogs and puppies like this one are looking for forever homes ! To provide a temporary foster home or to adopt contact on 99520511 mon-frid 10-2pm. *****************************

LESSONS ***************************** TIME FOR A CAREER CHANGE? Learn how to teach English! The London Teacher Training College is offering TEFL Certiﬁcate courses in Cyprus. For more information call now on 99839307. *****************************

SERVICES

LOUISE, she is around 1 year old Segugio Italiano cross and

PROFESSIONAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING, also carpets, rugs and mattresses. Special offers now available. For a quote call Rickys Cleaning Services on 99131044 (all areas) rickyscleaningservic-

Limassol - tel: 25 761117 fax: 25 761141

es@gmail.com ***************************** DO YOU NEED A WEB-SITE BUT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST? Web design & hosting at exceptionally low prices, experienced designer & programmer , your dream web-site is only a phone call away. Don’t delay!!! Call Andros for a free quote or consultation on 99335078, info@akalou.com, - islandwide ***************************** CHIMNEY SWEEP, when did you last have your chimney swept or log burner cleaned? Build-up of soot can cause respiratory problems and fires. All areas, call Dave, a professional sweep, now on 99819137. Also available for weddings. www.paphosluckychimneysweep.com ***************************** DO YOU WANT A SHINY LOOKING FLOOR? Full repair & restoration of chipped, scratched, dull and stained, Marble, Terrazzo, Stone & Ceramic tiled floors and surfaces. Professional cleaning, repair & sealing of internal/external ceramic tiles & grout lines. For a free professional consultation & demonstration contact Mark at Premier on 70006766 or 96333961 All areas ***************************** K.D.FLYSCREENS LTD We manufacture top quality sliding screens, opening doors and roller systems. We also do repairs. For a FREE QUOTE please contact Phone: 99119582 Website: www.kdflyscreens.com ***************************** WE UNDERTAKE REFURBISHING of houses or holiday homes, construction of pergolas, undertaking of plumbing, house painting, garden work. For information call JIMMYS: 96587137, MELIS: 96547879

FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049 phos, prime location, large area, can be used for ofﬁce or any business, no goodwill, excellent price: €750 o.n.o. Tel: 99654122

FOR SALE BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND FOR SALE LAND in Strovolos between Leoforos Iosif X” Iosif & Leoforos Stavrou area. 721 sqm. Call 99321785 22421785 ***************************** TIMI, PLOTS, a few selected available, seaview, near the 2 golf courses, Venus rock and airport. 60% Building factor, eu 99,000. Half registration fees till the 31.12.12. Tel. 99 621914 ***************************** LARNACA, Alethriko, plots for sale, 525 sqm, 90% building factor, near highway Limassol-Larnaca, 5 min from airport, quiet residential area, eu 109,000. Half registration fees till the 31.12.12. Tel. 99 621914 ***************************** PRIME LAND IS AVAILABLE FOR LONG LEASE IN LIMASSOL. 40, 000 sq.m., zoning Ka7 (80% -45% - 3 stories). Regular amphitheatrical shape overlooking Ladies Mile. Close to New Limassol Hospital with direct access to Limassol – Paphos Highway. Water supply, electricity and telephones are readily available. Suitable for immediate development. Ideal for various health facilities and resorts, holiday centres, commercial and shopping centres, entertainment enterprises etc. Information: Tel. 22 674338, 99621554 FOR SALE LAND in Anthoupoli (half plot) 288 sq.metres. for information 99621554.

WANTED TO RENT

CLOTHES STOCKS AND SHOP FITTINGS FOR SALE. Excellent women’s brands for sale including Italian, Spanish and French clothes and shoes. Also women’s dummies and modern wall ﬁttings (clothes rails.) Selling at very low prices for clearance. Tel: 99-168943

FLAT OR HOUSE TO RENT, 2-3 bedrooms, veranda/terrace or garden, prefer furnished, SW of Nicosia (in approx area Lakadamia to Kapedes and Kalo Chorio) alan.tye@birdlifecyprus.org.cy, 22455072, 99089083.

TO LET BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES

BUSINESS FOR RENT on Apostolou Pavlou avenue, Pa-

RED BMW MINI 1 2005 1600cc full factory specs 22500 miles

Larnaca - tel: 24 652243 fax: 24 659982

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg -Employment Miscellaneous 22 Pets 22 Lessons 22 Health & Fitness 22 Personal 22 Services 22 For Sale Miscellaneous 22 For Sale Land/ Property Business 22 For Sale Motor vehicles 23 Wanted -To Let Nicosia 23 To Let Limassol 24 To Let Larnaca 24 To Let Paphos 24 To Let Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni -For Sale Nicosia 26 For Sale Limassol -For Sale Larnaca -For Sale Paphos 26 For Sale Ayia Napa -For Sale Famagusta Protaras 26 For Sale Athens -Property& Home Services display ads --

abbreviations bdrm c/h a/c s/pool f/f apt pm pw sw nw st rd p/s c/l swb r/cass e/w

bedroom central heating air conditioning swimming pool fully furnished apartment per month per week south west north west street road power steering central locking short wheel base radio cassette electric windows

Please note tel nos. that begin with: 22 = Nicosia 23 = Paralimni/Protaras 24 = Larnaca 25 = Limassol 26 = Paphos

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Advertiser FOR SALE MOTOR VECHICLES

TO LET NICOSIA

New tyres full service history 2 year MOT Drivers & Maint manual 6500euros Pafos 99096902. ***************************** FORD FOCUS GHIA (2006) diesel, 1600cc, 98000km, blue, automatic - tiptronic. dual zone climate control, power steering, electric windows, 6 airbags, central locking, cruise control, computer board, alloy wheels, and many extras. €7500 ono. Contact: 99022779 - Nicosia

cony in leafy side-street, Ayioi Omoloyites, near Hilton, walking distance to central Nicosia. Fully furnished including 2 double beds, ﬁtted wardrobes, TV, fridge, oven, dining table & chairs. Recently refurbished with new kitchen. Private landlord. €550 pcm. Tel: 96673335 ***************************** TO LET 3 bedroom house situated on a dead end street next to a small quiet park near Falcon School. Has an En-suite master room, large study room, central heating, a/c and ﬁre place in the living room. For enquiries tel 99660758

*****************************

PROPERTY TO LET NICOSIA ***************************** LUXURY ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT on third ﬂoor with view of the Presidential Palace, spacious living room and fully equipped kitchen, a/c, storage heaters and covered private parking. €450 ( common expenses inclusive). Call 99300020. ***************************** FLATS TO LET - Nicosia: A wide selection of furnished & unfurnished in all areas of Nicosia. NIKARIA ESTATE LTD Theo Loizides 22761616 / 99660050 nikaria@cablenet.com.cy ***************************** FOR RENT spacious modern 5 Bedr house, next to Metro Supermarket, Strovolos, Nicosia. Furnished, 3 Restrooms, air-conditioning throughout, central heating, extra ofﬁce room, amble storage spaces, covered garage, verandas with pergola, garden, barbecue area, quiet street in a qul de sac. Call 99606856. ***************************** 2-BEDROOM FLAT with bal-

***************************** LUXURIOUS APARTMENT FOR RENT A luxurious one floor apartment situated in central Nicosia in an area of exceptional Beauty at 3 Museum Street, is available to let. It has been recently renovated and consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms, big dining and sitting rooms, kitchen and a huge veranda. Approximate covered area 250 sqm. Monthly rent €1400.00 o.n.o. Tel: 99622370. www. parcon.com.cy ***************************** MODERN 2 BDRM, first floor flat in attractive building in Anthoupolis, very quiet area between the Grammar School and the European University, also very convenient for Pascal and Highgate Schools and the University of Nicosia. Large front veranda, all appliances, modern fittings, light and bright. Furnished or unfurnished €550p.m. Call 99900177. ***************************** 2 ROOMS €125 each, near McDonald’s Engomi only Philippine girls. Call 99663927. ***************************** FOR RENT 3 B/R apartment fully furnished close to Cen-

TO LET NICOSIA tral Bank. 3 W.C., fully airconditioned extra storeroom, owned covered parking. Excellent condition. Information: Tel. 99621554 ***************************** 3 BEDROOMS flat on second floor in a block of six flats, in a nice position at Strovolos area, fully a/c, c/h, covered parking place for one car, recently painted. Rent €650pm. (furnished if required). Tel: 97773358. ***************************** LUXURY HOUSES:

1. 5 bedrs detached house, 550sq.m, built in 2 big plots of land, big garden with grass, big swimming pool with extra fence for children and big covered patio with bbq area, big reception areas with marble floor, fire place and bar, big kitchen with all electrical appliances and sitting room with fire place, maid’s room, floor heating, full a/c, blinds on the windows, master bedroom with en suite bathroom and shower, big bathroom for the other 3 bedrooms and extra shower in the 5th bedroom - Strovolos €2500 (H5ST10001-R), (photos in the website). 2. H3AR0004-R, 3 bedr luxury detached house with central heating, full a/c, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, parquet floor throughout the house, big sitting and dining area, big kitchen with family room opening onto the swimming pool which has big covered area with wooden deck, bbq area, covered parking, in a very quiet area behind Apoel football training ground - Archagelos - €1700 (photos in website).

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a quiet area off Nikis behind Burger King - ACROPOLIS €650 (H2ACS0001-R), (photos in the website). 4. 3 bedr luxury semi-detached house with character, 200sq.m, central heating, full ac, sitting and dining room with ﬁre place, big kitchen with cooker and oven, dishwasher and refrigerator, nice mature garden with ﬂowers, trees and small garden with grass, covered parking, 3wc, 2 bathrooms in a quiet neighborhood. Available middle of January. Agios Andreas €1200 - H3AAD0001-R (photos in website). 5. 4 bedr new luxury detached house, separate maid’s room, central heating, full Ac, 260sq.m, big kitchen with all the electrical appliances, blinds on all the windows, 4wc, 2 showers, 1 bathroom, 2 covered parking, big garden with grass in a quiet neighbourhood in a dead end near French Ambassador house - Strovolos €1400 (H4ST10045-R), (photos in the website). 6. 3 bedr+big attic room with shower and wc luxury new house, 210sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 4wc, blinds on all windows, cooker and oven in the kitchen, small garden, covered parking near Alpha Mega supermarket - STROVOLOS €1200 (H4ST10007-R), (photos in the website).

with grass(200sq.m) and covered patio with bbq and bar, central heating, full a/c, 180sq.m, FULLY FURNISHED or NOT, 2 covered parking, storage room, in a very quiet neighborhood opposite Acropolis park - Acropolis €1200 - H3ACS0004-R (photos in website). 8. H4LAK0002-R, 3 bedr + office space luxury detached house, built on a big plot, 350sq. m, big swimming pool with cover, garden with grass, big sitting and dining room, separate family room, central heating, a/c, curtains on all the windows, cooker, dishwasher and dryer, parquet floor throughout the house,3wc, 2 bathrooms, 2 covered parking in a quiet area on the borders of Strovolos with Lakatamia Lakatamia- €1600 (photos in website). 9. 3 bedr upstairs and 2 separate bedroom in the basement luxury detached house(all the bedrooms with en suite bathrooms/shower), also separate kitchen and sitting room in the basement which has also separate entrance from the house, central heating, full a/c, solid parquet floor all the house, big sitting and dining room with fire place, big fully equipped kitchen with breakfast area and family room, big overfloor, swimming pool with covered patio area with fully equipped bar(bbq, fridge, freezer, cooker), mature garden around the house, 2 parking places, alarm system near the Cyprus Conference

Centre- PLATY AGLANTZIAS €3500 (H5PAG0002-R), (photos in the website). 10. 4 bedr semi detached house with central heating, 4 a/c, 3 wc, 2 bathrooms, 180sq.m, electrical appliances, small yard, bbq area, off Kostantinoupoleos street near French ambassador residence.- STROVOLOS €700 (H4ST10043-R), (photos in the website). 11. 4 bedr luxury semi detached house with good size garden with grass, big covered patio with bbq area, central heating, a/c units, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, 2 covered parking, FULLY FURNISHED AND EQUIPPED, in a quiet area in a dead end close to all amenities and schools. ANTHOUPOLIS €1300 (H4ANT0002-R), (photos in the website). 12. H4AGZ0010-R, 3 bedr RENOVATED GROUND FLOOR HOUSE with big separate 1 bedroom flat with multi room, big sitting and dining room , separate tv room, big kitchen with family room and fitted cooker and oven, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, very big 5 X 6 bedrooms with solid parquet floor, central heating with petrol independent, a/c units, double glazed windows with shutters, big verandas around the house, in a very quiet neighbourhood 200metres from FRENCH school and near Athalassas park - Aglantzia €1300 (photos in website).

7. 3 bedr detached ground ﬂoor house with separate maid’s room, with very big garden

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Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

room with shower and wc for multi use, central heating independent, full a/c, 2wc, 2 shower,1 bathroom, fully furnished, small garden, bbq area, parking, on a small building in a very quiet area near Agios Vasilios church. Strovolos - €900 - H4ST10028-R (photos in website). 14. 3 bedr + big attic room with shower and wc luxury new house,210sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 4wc, blinds on all windows, cooker and oven in the kitchen, small garden, covered parking near Alpha Mega supermarket - Strovolos - €1200 – H4ST10007-R (photos in website). 15. 3 bedr detached house with extra room for office, 250sq.m, central heating independent, 4a/c, big renovated kitchen with cooker and oven, big sitting and dining room with parquet floor and fire place, 1bathroom, 2 shower, 3wc, 2 covered parking, double glazed windows and shutters in bedrooms, big verandas surrounded by trees and bushes off 28th October street in the central part of Makedonitissa - Makedonitissa €1100 – H3MAK0004-R (photos in website).

***************************** LUXURY FLATS:

sitting and dining room, big bathroom, big bedroom with shutters, covered veranda, storage heaters, 2a/c, cooker and oven in the kitchen, covered parking in a quiet area in a small modern building near Acropolis Park. Dasoupolis €400 (photos in website). 5. 2 bedr new luxury modern furnished apartment , central heating ind, 2 a/c, big covered veranda and covered parking in a quiet area behind the Municipal building – Agios Dometios - € 660 - A2ADO0004-R (photos in website). 6. 2 bedr luxury spacious apartment on a small modern building with central heating independent(with petrol), full a/c, solid parquet floor, big bedrooms, big sitting room with open plan kitchen, big covered veranda, FULLY MODERN FURNISHED, covered parking off Makarios avenue in a quiet area near the centre – Nicosia Centre- € 800 – A2NIC0030-R (photos in website). 7. 4 bedr luxury floor apartment,250sq.m, office, maid’s room, central heating ind, full hidden wall unit a/c,2 showers, 1 bathroom, 3wc, parquet floor, big kitchen with cooker and oven, bbq on the veranda in the kitchen, big sitting area, roller blinds on all the windows, alarm system, big veranda on a small building off Athalasas avenue near Alpha Mega supermarket and Areteion hospital – Dasoupo-

lis - € 1100 - A4DAS0002-R (photos in website). 8. A1ACS0007- R, 1 bedr luxury spacious apartment with 2 a/c for hot and cold, electrical appliances in the kitchen, big bedroom, covered veranda, blinds, covered parking, in a quiet area near Acropolis park. NICELY FURNISHED. Acropolis €450 (photos in website). 9. 3 bedr new luxury finished PENTHOUSE apartment 150sq.m internal areas+120sq. verandas, solid parquet floor all the flat, big bedrooms, big sitting and dining room, big semi separate kitchen with electrical appliances, home cine ma with big screen, LCD tv, covered parking in a quiet neighborhood near CYTA, Laiki + Hellenic bank headquarters and French school. CAN BE RENTED ALSO expensive MODERN furnished – Dasoupolis - € 1200 - A3DAS0019-R (photos in website). 10. A2AOM0009-R 2 bedr luxury finished apartment in a small building with 4 flats only, central heating with petrol independent, full a/c, 2 bedrooms with en-suite bathroom/shower, separate guest wc, NICE MODERN EXPENSIVE FURNITURE, big covered veranda, covered parking, storage room, in a very quiet neighbourhood very close to Junior school and the park - Agioi Omologites - € 800 (photos in website). 11. 3 bedr luxury spacious ground floor apartment with separate entrance, big verandas and garden, big sitting and dining room, central heating independent, full a/c, 2wc, very big master bedroom, electrical appliances in the kitchen, aluminum shutters on windows, parquet laminate floor all the flat, covered parking, storage room, in a very quiet neighbourhood in a dead end street, off Athalasas Avenue behind Stephanis near English School €700 (A3ST10030-R), (photos in the website). 12. A2LYK0006-R, 2 bedr pent-

house apartment with big veranda 60sq.m, storage heaters, full a/c, 2 bathrooms (one en suite), big sitting room, big separate kitchen with cooker and oven, blinds, covered parking near Agios Antonios market CLOSE TO THE UNIVERSITY. Lykavitos €510 (photos in website). 13. 3 bedr luxury apartment with central heating independent, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, parquet floor, big sitting and dining area, big covered veranda, covered parking, storage room, blinds, shutters in the bedrooms, big kitchen with all expensive electrical appliances, off Makarios avenue near the centre – Nicosia Centre- € 800 – A3NIC0025-R (photos in website). 14. 4 bedr new spacious luxury finished floor apartment with floor heating independent, full a/c, 3wc, electrical appliances in the kitchen, blinds on all windows, very big 50sq.m covered veranda, fire place, covered parking and big overfloor heated covered swimming pool on the ground floor, on a small 3 storey building in a quiet neighborhood near a playground and near Ippokration private hospital Engomi - €2000 - A4ENG0003-R (photos in website). 15. 2 bedrs new luxury apartment, sitting room open plan with kitchen which includes cooker, oven, refrigerator and washing machine, 2 wc, central heating, full AC, blinds on the windows, very big covered verandas, covered parking and storage room in a dead end off Athalassas avenue near Laiki popular bank and Hellenic bank headquarters. - DASOUPOLI €550 (A2DAS0006-R), (photos in the website).

2 BDRM ﬂat in the centre of Nicosia. Rent €450. For information call 99453663, 99663927.

For many more properties with photos visit our website at www.landtouristestates.com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22-422225/96422225/96422226, www.landtouristestates.com

1. 3 bedr luxury finished spacious floor apartment with very big sitting and dining areas with family room with fire place, solid parquet floor all throught, central heating independent, full a/c, all the bedrooms with en suite shower/bathroom, 4wc, big kitchen with all the electrical appliances, blinds on all windows, big covered veranda, covered parking, big storage room, on a small 3 storey building in a quiet neighborhood – Agios Andreas- € 1300 – A3AAD0005-R (photos in website). 2. AINIC0006- R, 1 bedr., fully furnished and equipped apartment, 50sq.m, 2AC for hot and cold, covered verandah, covered parking, nice view, off Makarios avenue between Hilton and DEBENHAMS shop. Nicosia centre, € 450 (photos in website). 3. 3 bedr new luxury big apartment 150sq.m+big 25sq.m veranda with very nice view, big sitting and dining areas, big separate kitchen with all the electrical appliances, big bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, storage heaters, full a/c, shutters and blinds on the windows, covered parking in a quiet neighborhood off Prodromou close Ministry od Defence – Engomi- € 700 – A3ENG0026-R (photos in website). 4. A1DAS0010-R, 1 bedr luxury spacious apartment with big

For many more properties with photos visit our website at www.landtouristestates. com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22-422225 / 96-422225 / 96422226 www.landtouristestates.com *****************************

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LIMASSOL ***************************** 4 BEDROOM HOUSE IN EPISKOPI Split level 4-yearold house detached with central heating, a/c all over the house, lounge dinning room, separate kitchen, utility room, en-suite master bedroom, parking, three wcs. Price 800 euros (negotiable) 25337400 ***************************** 3 BEDROOM HOUSE IN YPSONAS 3-year-old two storey detached house situated in a private area of Ypsonas with separate kitchen, lounge dinning room, garden, parking en-suite master bedroom a/c all over house. 25 337400 Price 700 euros ***************************** GROUND FLOOR HOUSE, furnished renovated this year. Laminated parke ﬂoor, and big wardrobes in the 3 bedrooms. Rent €590.00 Tel 99497576 99886775 *****************************

LARNACA ***************************** 2 BEDROOM NICOLADES SEA VIEW CITY BLOCK, a/c’s in all rooms, private parking, sea view, walking distance to everything, can be used for ofﬁce or residential. €750, minimum 12 months contract. 99320077 Larnaca ***************************** FOR RENT spacious 3 bedroom apartment with balcony situated in centre of town, semi furnished. Please call 99311152 ***************************** FOR RENT 2 bed, 2 bath, new built apartment, in a quiet scenic location In Alethriko, Larnaca 5 min. to Larnaka, 5 min. to the beach Fully furnished, A/C, communal pool, under covered parking, Long term rent, €350.00 per month For more info pls call 99639378 ***************************** FULLY FURNISHED one bedroom ﬂat near Larco hotel Larnaca. Price €370. Tel: 99202543 *****************************

PAPHOS ***************************** MR RENT PAPHOS, THE LEADING PROPERTY RENTAL AGENCY IN PAPHOS OFFICE: 26271858 (00357) IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY TO RENT WE ARE THE RENTAL AGENCY TO CONTACT OFFERING FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & RENT COLLECTION SERVICE

1. UNIVERSAL AREA €450 spacious 3 bedroom ﬁrst ﬂoor apartment, master with ensuite. Situated on small complex with no pool. Fully furnished with modern furniture, fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher. Balcony leads to a large private roof terrace with shaded barbeque area offering views of the sea, storage & sunbathing deck.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

2. SEA CAVES €500 we are delighted to offer this detached 2 bedroom villa situated on a corner plot in a quiet residential area offering sea views. Gated drive for off street parking. Fully enclosed good sized low maintenance garden with private pool offering privacy and shaded areas. Available unfurnished or part furnished. Pets allowed at owners discretion. Website reference number: RTL_482 3. KISSONERGA €550 modern detached 3 bedroom villa situated in a quiet residential area. Master bedroom with ensuite, separate kitchen, downstairs guest wc. Enclosed garden offering private pool & off street parking. Available unfurnished though can include kitchen appliances. Pets allowed at owners discretion. Website reference number: RTL_501 4. PEYIA €700 price includes pool cleaning. If you are looking for a villa with breathtaking views & privacy than this property is for you. This modern detached 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom villa is furnished with modern furniture, including satellite TV. One bedroom & bathroom on ground ﬂoor. A spacious enclosed garden with private pool offering stunning views. Off street parking. Website reference number: RTL_401 5. CHLORAKA €750 modern detached 4 bedroom 3 bathroom villa with ground ﬂoor bedroom & bathroom. Beautifully furnished with good qual-

ity modern furniture includes sky satellite, fly screens & feature fireplace with modern gas fire. Private pool offering views of the sea. Off street parking. Situated within walking distance of bus routes & shops. Website reference number: RTL_611 6. KATO PAPHOS €800 large 4 bedroom detached villa situated in the sought after residential area of Limnaria. Walking distance to the beach and the many amenities of Kato Paphos. Spacious living accommodation offering an enclosed garden with c/pool. Fully furnished with modern furniture & solar panels. Website reference number: RTL_442 7. ANAVARGOS €895 we are delighted to offer this unique 5 bedroom 3 bathroom rustic country home offering spacious living accommodation with large gardens, private pool & stone built bbq & entertainment area. Fully furnished with log burner for those winter months. A real character home worth viewing. Pets allowed. Website reference number: RTL_635 offers considered. 8. TALA €900 a charming detached 4 bedroom villa with character, situated on a corner plot in a quiet residential area with breathtaking sea views. Spacious living rooms with central heating & real fireplace. Separate kitchen & dining room. Good sized garden offering private pool and stone built barbeque area.

Undercover parking. Available fully furnished. Website reference number: RTL_638 TEL: 97790883 OFFICE: 26271858 VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MANY MORE PROPERTIES www.mrrentpaphos.net Email: info@ mrrent-paphos.net ***************************** 1. UNIVERSAL – superb 2 bed furnished apartment for rent. Lovely quiet complex with pool, private parking, entry phone system & storage room. €350 per month.

2. UNIVERSAL – one bed furnished apartment on 2nd ﬂoor, small quiet well maintained complex with sea views. €300 per month. 3. UNIVERSAL – 2 two bed, 2 bath apartments on superb quiet complex, with 3 pools, gym, sauna, jaccuzi & bowling green. 1 apt furnished, 1 unfurnished from €400 per month. 4. TALA – 2 two bed, 2 bath villa style apts on stunning quiet complex with 4 pools, with off road and underground parking. 1 apt furnished 1 U/F from €360 per month. PLEASE CALL 96203009 ***************************** FOR RENT A selection of 1 to 5 bedroom houses & apartments F/F & U/F Universal, Peyia, Tomb of the Kings, Tsada, Timi, Chlorakas & Kato Paphos Landlord & Owners please call 99329357 Or please view

TO LET PAPHOS at are website www.cyprussands.com Fully Registered Company in Cyprus ***************************** 1. MANDRIA, 2 bedroom apartment, fully furnished with modern furniture, separate kitchen, communal swimming pool, air conditioning throught, 2 balconies euro 375 p/m o.N.O

2. SEA CAVES, 3 bedroom bungalow, specially ﬁtted for people with disabilities , stunning sea views, free wi-ﬁ, fully fur-

TO LET PAPHOS

nished with modern furniture, swimming pool, all bedrooms with en-sute, utility room, air conditioning throughout, shutters, very green and secluded area euro 1100 p/m o.N.O 3. EMBA, 2 bedroom apartment, 2 bathroom, modern furnished, air conditioned throughout, communal swimming pool, covered parking, close to all amenities, euro 330 p/m 4. CHLORAKA, 3 bedroom fur-

nished villa with pool, amazing views, master en-suite, in culde-sac, fully airconditioned with ﬁreplace, euro 700 p/m PLEASE CALL : 99 387842 ***************************** CHLORAKAS, 2 bedroom apartment, fully furnished, large veranda, very quiet location, communal pool, Euro 280 – o.n.o Please call: 99699019 /26910140 ***************************** A DELIGHTFUL AND SPA-

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS CIOUS 1 bedroom apartment, F/F, top ﬂoor, new, located at a peaceful location just 500 from St. George hotel in Chloraka. A+ quality apt. Within walking distance to amenities, part of a beautiful building with swimming pool, list and other amenities. Only €250p/m Other apts also available near Carrefour in the Centre of Paphos. Call 99403261, 26934650 ***************************** FLOWRON PROPERTY SERVICES LTD: PROVIDING AN EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS: PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR RENT LONG TERM RENTAL, PROPERTIES WANTED: FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WITH KEY HOLDING AND RENT COLLECTIONS OFFERED

ANAVARGOS: 1 to 3 Bedroom apartments available near to the general hospital, furnished or unfurnished. All properties, have white goods and are modern. The building has a lift and off street parking. Prices from 300-400 Euros per month. Ref 7777 Price 300-400 ANARITA: 3 bed nicely furnished villa in the centre of Anarita village with private pool, off street parking. Property has a modern kitchen with granite work tops, sitting and dining area, guest wc. Upstairs 3 bedrooms Master with en suite shower, separate family bathroom. Outside shaded pergolas. Ref 855 Price 600

TO LET PAPHOS

SECRET VALLEY: 3 bed villa fully furnished 3 bedroom villa with private pool. Nice furniture, master bedroom with on suite shower, family bathroom, 2 bedrooms with twin beds. Dining area, kitchen, guest WC, off street parking, private pool. Modern Villa. Ref: 1035 Price 700 SERCRET VALLEY: 4 bed beautiful furnished bungalow to the highest of standards, with large bedrooms - en suites, Modern large kitchen fully equipped, sitting and dining area with ﬁre place. Outside heated pool, off street parking, landscaped gardens and great views. Ref: 1151 Price 1800

ern with fire place, downstairs bedroom with en suite, kitchen and separate utility room, 3 additional bedroom upstairs with master en suite, family bathroom. Outside private pool, fully fenced and private, nice views, pets welcome, suit family with children going to local international school. Ref: 783 Price: 750 TALA: A family home offered part furnished in a quiet residential area, property has off street parking, private pool, central heating and AC, modern kitchen, sitting/dining area, guest wc, upstairs 3 bedrooms with master en suite, family bathroom, sea views. Ref: 988 Price: 750 OFFICE: 120 MAKARIOS AVENUE, PAPHOS. OFFICE: 26600450 MOBILE: 97614070 many properties available on WEB: www. flowron.com Email info@ flowron.com

TIMI: 3 bed nicely furnished villa with large sitting and dining areas, ﬁre place, full AC. Upstairs large family bathroom, 3 bedrooms, master bedroom having en suite shower and walk in wardrobes. Off street parking, private pool Ref: 722 Price: 600 PEGEIA: 4 bed villa with stunning situated in a lovely quiet location in Pegeia offered unfurnished. The property has 2 down stairs bedrooms, a large sitting room with ﬁre place, central heating, kitchen with Stylish design, dining area. Upstairs 2 bedrooms, large outside veranda. Outside stunning views Private pool. Ref: 765 Price: 900 MESGOI: large unfurnished villa situated in a residential area. Property is very mod-

FOR SALE Semi-detached house in Archangelos area split level on a hill, no houses in front, 3 big bedrooms, 2 big bathrooms and TV room big lounge & dining area, fireplace, fitted kitchen, 40 sq.m. store room, C/H, A/C, solar. For information call: 99496541

***************************** PEYIA – 3 bedroom villa with modern quality furniture and ﬁnishes. Central heating, sky, alarm, inﬁnity pool and stunnning sea and mountain views €700 per month, call: 99389426

BRAND NEW APT, opposite Poseidonio Gym, near Carrefour, F/F, a/c, great quality, 1 bdrm, from €340p.m.Tel 99403261 ***************************** RENTAL POINT - PAPHOS PROPERTIES AVAILABLE TO RENT IN THE PAPHOS DISTRICT. JUST A SMALL SAMPLE OF AVAILABLE PROPERTIES. ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RENTAL. CALL 97648440 FOR MORE INFORMATION. LANDLORDS CALL IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT.!!!

1. MESA CHORIO – 2 bed 2 bath fully furnished ground ﬂoor apartment set on an elevated position in this prestigious development. Open plan living area. Good sized kitchen. 2 double, bedrooms, master with en-suite shower room. Family bathroom. Large patio areas with enclosed gardens and lovely sea views. Covered parking and security gates.. Comm swimming pool and landscaped gardens. €425.00 a month. 2 bed apartment same complex €400.00 a month. 2 MESOGI 3 bed 3 bath furnished apartment in handy location close to the shopping areas. Large open plan living area and dining area.. Fully ﬁtted dining/kitchen with appliances . Guest WC. Utilty

TO LET PAPHOS room. 3 double bedrooms one with en-suite. Family bathroom. Balcony & and parking. €500.00 a month. Suit nondrivers! 3. TOMB OF THE KINGS – 3 bed fully furnished apartment in established block. Own entrance via stairway. Open plan living area. Dining kitchen. 3 bedrooms and family bathroom. A/C, sat TV. Internet available. Large balcony area. Parking. €350.00 per month 4. TALA - 3 bed 3 bath quality furnished villa. Set in enclosed gardens the villa consists of open plan living area with dining space. Fully fitted kitchen with all appliances, door to rear garden. Storage room. Ground floor bedroom with adjacent shower. Stairs to two double bedrooms both en-suite, one with Jacuzzi tub. Small seating area with adjacent balcony. Pool and off street parking. Landscaped gardens €750.00 per month or close offers only 5. SEA CAVES – 2 bed, 2 bath fully furnished large townhouse set in quiet location. Open plan living area. Fully fitted kitchen. 2 double bedrooms and family bathroom. Garden area and parking. Realistically priced. Suit retired people or those wanting a quiet area. €400.00 per month 6. UNIVERSAL AREA. 2 bed fully furnished apartment. Living area, fitted kitchen. 2 double bedrooms and family bathroom. A/C, Enclosed garden area. Comm pool and parking. Euros 375.00 a month or offers. 1 & 2 bed apartments available on Universal starting at €250 per month. 7. LOWER PEYIA - 3 bed, 2.5 bath part furnished villa situated in quiet cul du sac. Open plan living and dining area with doors out to pool and garden. Very large breakfast fitted kitchen. Doors out to garden and pool. Separate guest WC. Stairs to 3 double bedrooms. Master bedroom very large with en-suite shower. Family bathroom. Private pool, gardens, shutters. €550.00 per month or close offers only. 8. STROUMBI– 3 bed 2.5 bath large unfurnished villa in quiet village area. Spacious open plan living area with feature fireplace and dining space Good sized fitted kitchen and breakfast area. Guest WC with storage area.3 double bedrooms. Master with en-suite bathroom. Family bathroom. Enclosed gardens, pool and off street parking. Realistically priced €550.00 per month. OVNO FOR FULL LISTINGS OF

TO LET PAPHOS

FOR SALE PAPHOS

A PA R T M E N T S / T O W N HOUSES AND VILLA PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS. ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR LONG TERM RENTAL LANDLORDS/OWNERS PLEASE CALL. PLEASE CALL 97648440 or email:- inforentals@aol.com

KATO PAPHOS UNIVERSAL, large 2 bedroom apartment, ground ﬂoor, 1 bathroom, kitchen, large veranda, private parking, A/C, satellite TV. Near bus route, shops, banks, quiet apartment. Full furniture. Communal pool. 92 sq.m covered area. Full TITLE DEEDS. REDUCED €92,000

***************************** REFURBISHED stone-built village house located in Kili Paphos. Consists of 3 large rooms 1 small. Traditional wood burnt ﬁreplace, fully tiled secluded yard and garage. Tel: 99210610.

***************************** PAPHOS 1 bedroom apartment, fantastic central location, lounge/kitchen, bathroom, veranda, covered parking, communal pool, Furnished. Near all amenities. TITLE DEEDS NOW REDUCED €45,000.

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***************************** 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT, TOMBS OF KINGS AREA, close to the sea, large private roof terrace with electric and water, covered parking, veranda, furnished, swimming pool. Full TITLE DEEDS, was €95,000 reduced to €65,000.

PROPERTY FOR SALE NICOSIA ***************************** NICOSIA, FLAT FOR SALE: 2 bedroom ﬂat with title deeds, 110 sqm, fully renovated, best central area, 800m from the european university,excellent view, eu 99,000. Tel 99 621914 ***************************** HOUSE FOR QUICK SALE on whole plot in Makedonitissa Tymvos area. 4 bedrooms 340m2, quality construction 1999 built, near schools. In need of minor modernization. Space for pool. Private sale €595,000, no agents. 99582335 *****************************

PAPHOS ***************************** PAPHOS, FLATS FOR SALE OR RENT: kissonerga, 3 bedroom ﬂat with title deeds, in a block of 4 ﬂats only, fully renovated, 2 baths, 146 sqm closed area, ch, ac, covered parking, excellent view of sea and mountains, half registration fees till 31.12.12.Reduced to eu 135,000,or rent eu 450 pm. Tel 99 621914 *****************************

EURO 6.95 !!! VERY LOW PRICES ! • OPEN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH & NEW YEAR’S EVE CALL PETER NOW FOR ANY ENQUIRIES: 96870774 – PAPHOS

AYIA NAPA, studio for sale, 38 sqm, furnished and fully renovated, with title deed, in licensed complex, 500m from nissi beach, eu 49,000, tel. 99 621914

Nicosia ........................22 802 020 Limassol ......................25 805 050 Larnaca .......................24 804 040 Paphos ........................26 806 060 Famagusta ..................23 803 030

Nicosia General .............22-801400 Nicosia Makarios ...........22-405000 Limassol Old ................25-305333 Limassol New ................25-801100 Larnaca Old...................24-630312 Larnaca New .................24-630300 Paphos ..........................26-821800 Famagusta ....................23-821211

Rescue Co-ordination Centre ............................. 1441 (Immediate Response Service for Aeronautical or Maritime Accident & Incidents)

• BOOKINGS FOR PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE AT

FAMAGUSTA

HOSPITALS ........ 1400

GOOD HOME COOKING- RUN BY FAMILY-ESTABLISHED 1988

• SUNDAY ROAST LUNCH & DINNER FOR ONLY

***************************** FOR SALE special offer, €79, 000 ﬁrst ﬂoor apartment in Protaras, fully furnished with 2 bedrooms and a swimming pool. Walking distance to the beach of Ayia Triada and all amenities. Tel: 97 608941.

POLICE DIVISION HQ

Drug Law Enforcement Unit ......................................... 1498 (Confidential Information)

• OPEN ALL WINTER 7 DAYS A WEEK !

***************************** UNIVERSAL AREA, 3 bedroom detached villa, covered area 122 sqm, master bedroom ensuite, air conditioned throughout, all white goods, solar panels, garden irrigation, plot size 273 sqm, communal pool, euro 165.000 o.v.n.o. – title deeds available Call : 99682644- no agents

U SEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

THE DEVONSHIRE RESTAURANT

• BE ASTOUNDED BY OUR LOW WINTER PRICES !

***************************** Chlorakas, 2 bedroom townhouse. Exceptional sea views. New kitchen, bedrooms and bathroom. Private parking, On mains sewage system. Communal pool. A/C, quality ﬁxtures. Fully furnished. Security barrier. FULL TITLE DEEDS Now €92,000 Call 99716390.

Game Fund Service: (Wildlife and hunting) Central offices (Nicosia): 22867786, 22-867897 Nicosia: 22-664606, 99-445697 Limassol: 25-343800, 99-445728, Larnaca/Famagusta: 24-805128, 99-634325 Paphos: 26-306211, 99-445679

Narcotics Helpline ......... 1410 (Outside hours.............. 22304160) AIDS Advisory Bureau ................................ 22-302826 Domestic Violence Centre .......................................... 1440 (Emergency Centre for Victims) Drug Info & Poison Control ............... 1401 Cyprus Samaritans ... 77777267 Police Duty Officer ......... 1499 (Confidential Information)

Forest Fires ..................... 1407 Airports Larnaca ..........................77778833 Paphos ...........................77778833

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Advertiser FOR PAPHIAKOS ANIMAL WELFARE SOS HELPLINE, 24 HOUR MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE - CALL 99655581 CONTACT DETAILS FOR PAPHIAKOS. Paphiakos & C.C.P. Animal Welfare Education/Information Centre, No. 12 Dedalos Building, 8049 Kato Paphos PO Box 61272 8132 Kato Paphos Web. www.cyprusanimalwelfare.com www.facebook/paphiakos Email info@cyprusanimalwelfare.com Larnaca Emergency Service - The contact point for animal emergencies in Larnaca is Maria at the Paphiakos Animal Welfare Charity Shop, telephone 24623494 or 99325897 STOP, SHOP AND GIVE TO THE ANIMALS! ALL DONATIONS ARE WELCOME AT OUR CHARITY SHOPS! PAPHIAKOS & C.C.P. ANIMAL WELFARE Registered Charity No 1529 Contact our shops and we can take your clutter The Charity Shops are located at: Shop No.1 Agapinoros Street, Kato Paphos Tel 26910325 Shop No.2 Ap Pavlou Avenue, Kato Paphos Tel 26942894 Shop No.3 Gr. Afxentiou Avensia Court 3 Larnaca 24623494 Shop No.4 9 Ayiou Ioanni Street 3061 Limassol 25561695 Peyia Information Centre & Shop & T Rooms 26622828 Polis Information Centre & Shop & T Rooms 99223572 Book Exchange Shop Trimithousa 99771763 Our shops are always happy to receive your unwanted goods! NOW YOU CAN HELP BY COLLECTING YOUR ALUMINIUM CANS AND HANDING THEM IN AT ANY PAPHIAKOS CHARITY SHOP OR THE CLINIC. SAVE AN ANIMAL AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!! PAPHIAKOS CAR BOOT SALE EVERY SATURDAY at the Ambassador Restaurant and outside in the grounds at Paphiakos. Free parking. Sellers from 7am, buyers from 8am. For information & bookings please call MIKE on 96702600. FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR PAPHIAKOS CHARITY NO. 1529 WORLD ANIMAL DAY. On Thursday October 4th Paphiakos will be micro chipping pets for only €20 including all the paperwork. For further information telephone 26953496. To celebrate World Animal Day on Thursday October 4th Paphiakos will be offering free spaying/neutering for all feral and unwanted animals as they do throughout the year. Contact 26953496 for further details. PAPHIAKOS SHELTER OPEN DAY The Open Day will be held on Sunday October 7th between 10am and 3pm. It will be a Family Fun Day out with a lot of different activities. There is car parking, toilets and refreshments on site so enjoy and join in the celebration of animals and what they bring to our lives. Entrance is €2 CHARITY HAIR CUT. On Thursday 4th October 09.30-17.30 without an appointment Andri at Atlantic Bay Hotel (2nd Floor) will be charging €5 for a haircut with all proceeds going to Paphiakos. Telephone Suzanne on 99151996 or Andri on 99604783. PAPHIAKOS CHRISTMAS BAZAAR. Saturday November 24th 9am – 3pm at the Crazy Spoon Restaurant. For further details contact 99151996. Stalls, Santa’s Grotto, Donkey Rides, Pirate Pat and many more.

SATURDAY SERVICES NICOSIA St Paul’s Church Hall, Byron Ave LIMASSOL ‘Meeting Point’, 193A Christodoulou H’pavlou, opp Molos Park on beach rd BIBLE STUDY FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN 10.00 am Nicosia • 10.30 am Limassol FAMILY WORSHIP SERVICE 11.30 am Nicosia • 11.45 am Limassol Pastor: Branislav Mirilov 96702349 Info: Nsia 96207014 • Lsol 99322614 www.adventist.org | www.hopetv.org

AYIA NAPA and DHERYNIA (Anglican Church in S.E Cyprus) Sunday Worship 9.30am Morning Prayer every Sunday morning at St Constantinos & Eleni Chapel, Dherynia (near Hospital in Dherynia) 11am at Scandinavian Church, off Nissi Avenue (opp Tassia Maris Hotel), Ayia Napa nd 6pm at St Constantinos & Eleni (2 week) Chaplain : Revd Simon Holloway M.A. Tel: 97 839349 www.angsecyp.org Visitors especially welcome

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Sport McIlroy named European golfer of 2012 WORLD number one Rory McIlroy was this week named the European Tour golfer of the year. McIlroy succeeds Luke Donald as winner of the coveted award, having also replicated the Englishman’s previously unprecedented achievement of winning both the Race to Dubai and US PGA Tour money list in the same season. The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland captured his second major title in August, winning the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island by a record eight shots, matching the winning margin of his maiden major triumph in the 2011 US Open.

McIlroy also won three times in America before playing a vital role in Europe’s stunning Ryder Cup victory at Medinah, while he ended the year in style with five closing birdies to win the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. “Everyone who knows me knows how special the 2012 season was,” McIlroy said. “A couple of wins, including a major, and consistent performances in big events all helped me win The Race to Dubai for the first time. “To win that was a massive highlight of an amazing season and I hope it will be the first of many. Now, to have been named as The European Tour

Golfer of the Year puts the icing on the cake. “It is a very special honour indeed and you only need to look down the list of players who have preceded me as the winner of this award to see precisely why; quite simply, it is a Who’s Who of golf and I’m delighted to now be a part of that in the history books. “We play golf because we relish the opportunity to win major championships and world-class tournaments around the globe. But when we do that, to be recognised for these achievements is a great thrill and I thank all the members of the panel who voted for me.”

The world No.1 won his second major at the US PGA

IN BRIEF Volleyball funding bounced out Injured Bowe

UK Sport pulls the plug on several sports for Rio 2016 Olympics may miss

Six Nations

By Martyn Herman TRY telling Britain’s volleyball, basketball and handball players that London 2012 was a watershed moment in their bid for recognition on the world stage and you will get a curt response following funding cuts announced by UK Sport this week. Britain fielded a men’s Olympic basketball team for the first time since the previous London Games in 1948 while its male and female indoor volleyball and handballers were Olympic debutants, performing admirably if without much success. It might be a long wait before they get another chance, however, after UK Sport, which finances elite sport in Britain, pulled the plug on their funding despite an 11 per cent overall rise in investment for the 2016 Rio Games compared to London. Staying loyal to its “no compromise” policy, UK Sport revealed a four-year funding programme for 42 sports it says will help the British team surpass the 65 Olympic and 120 Paralympic medals they harvested in London. In essence, money will be poured into the sports that Britain already excels at, cycling and rowing being the biggest beneficiaries with in excess of 30 million pounds each, while others with little realistic chance of medals in Brazil will be left to their own devices. Sports such as swimming, which failed to deliver in London with only three medals and no golds, have effectively been put on report. Swimming had four million pounds chopped from its Olympic programme and has a year to prove it is worthy of the 21 million pounds it has been allocated. British Boxing, whose athletes won three golds in London, was also warned to sort out its organisational issues if it is to receive its increased 13 million pounds windfall.

Britain’s male and female indoor volleyball players were Olympic debutants, performing admirably if without much success. It might be a long wait before they get another chance, however, after UK Sport pulled the plug on their funding The real losers, though, were the team sports in which Britain has little international heritage but, with great fanfare, were awarded host-nation places at the London Olympics. “I’m still trying to absorb it really,” British Volleyball president Richard Callicott told Reuters. “What I can say is that I’m shocked and stunned. “To all intents and purposes this decision shows that despite how well we have done, UK Sport cannot see the signiﬁcant progress we have made from a standing start. “I dispute their argument that we don’t have the talent to win medals, what we don’t have is the programme and how are we supposed to put that in place without any funding,” added Callicott, who said he would appeal against the decision. Britain’s female indoor

team enjoyed a victory against Algeria at the Olympics while the men “closed a huge gap”, according to Callicott, despite being beaten in all their matches at Earls Court which attracted the third-largest crowds of any sport at London 2012.

REACTED ANGRILY British Basketball’s performance chairman Roger Moreland also reacted angrily to its funding being pulled despite the men’s team heading for its third consecutive European Championship Finals in 2013. “We knew the criteria that UK Sport were applying for Rio, but having been funded to the tune of 8.5m in the lead-up to the London Olympics because of the sport’s medal potential for the future, this is a devastating decision and is a waste of that investment,” he said

in a statement. Despite accusations of undermining the well-worn London 2012 mantra of “inspiring a generation”, UK Sport was ﬁrmly backing its policy. “Our job here at UK Sport is to take those with medal potential to the podium,” chair Baroness Sue Campbell told reporters. “It’s not about abandoning them it’s about saying they are not ready for that investment yet.” Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said the record investment for Britain’s elite sportsmen and women in the four-year cycle to Rio was about keeping the momentum going. He defended UK Sport’s decision not to fund certain sports, saying priority had to be given to real medal contenders, even the seven million pounds earmarked for modern pentathlon, a

vastly expensive sport out of the reach of most Britons. “People understand that when you host an Olympics you have to put teams out in every sport to drive ticket sales,” he told Reuters. “I think when they look at the funding for Rio they know its done on a performance basis and not a lot of point funding teams that will not qualify for the Olympics. “Would you fund basketball teams that are expensive and have no chance of a medal in Rio and take funding away from a cyclist or rower who has a good chance of a medal?” Robertson said he was conﬁdent the 347 million pounds invested in 42 Olympic and Paralympic sports leading up to Rio in 2016 would pay dividends. “I think its realistic,” he said of the target of at least 66 Olympic medals.

IRELAND winger Tommy Bowe is a doubt for the Six Nations championships next year, and possibly the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, after suffering a significant knee injury playing for Ulster. The 28-year-old, who can also play in the centre, suffered the injury at the end of the Irish province’s 10-9 loss at home to Northampton in the Heineken Cup on Saturday, their first defeat of the season. “He has sustained significant lateral ligament damage to his right knee,” a statement on the Ulster website said. Ireland begin their Six Nations campaign in Cardiff against Wales on February 2, with the first Lions tour match against the Barbarians in Hong Kong on June 1. Bowe was an impressive performer on the last Lions tour in South Africa in 2009, starting all three Tests.

Chilton to race for Marussia MAX Chilton will be the fourth British driver on the Formula One starting grid next season after back-markers Marussia said the 21-yearold would make his race debut with them. Chilton, this year’s reserve driver, will partner Germany’s Timo Glock at the Russian-licensed team who have yet to score a point. “It’s hard to put into words how I’m feeling today, with the announcement that I will be racing for the Marussia F1 Team in 2013,” said Chilton in a statement.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Sport Champions Miami tame T-Wolves

Sri Lanka look to Herath’s spin to save series

By Simon Evans

Left-hander following in Murali’s footsteps By Nick Mulvenney SRI Lanka will be hoping for help from wickets more suitable for spin bowling in the second two Tests against Australia after losing the opener by 137 runs on a Hobart track described as a “minefield” by coach Graham Ford. Spin has always been a key weapon in Sri Lanka’s bowling armoury since they achieved Test status in 1981, not least when wrist-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was taking his 800 Test wickets from 1992 to 2010. Since Muralitharan’s retirement, Rangana Herath has emerged as the team’s main spin threat and the 34-year-old left arm orthodox bowler has had a stellar year. Even in defeat in Hobart, Herath took a five-wicket haul, which gave him 60 wickets for the year and ensured he would win his personal battle with England’s Graeme Swann for the title of the most prolific wickettaker of 2012. “In Melbourne and Sydney, from what I’ve heard, it looks like it’s some help for the spinners so that’s a good start,” he said after taking 5-95 in Australia’s second in-

nings. “Taking five wickets from here, that’s a good achievement. This is my first game playing in a Test match in Australia so I’m really happy with the way I bowled.” Coach Ford also thought conditions in the last two Tests would suit the tourists better. “History suggests that the MCG and Sydney would help us a little bit more,” he said. “Although this is a new surface here, spinners haven’t done so well whereas at the other venues, spinners have had match-winning performances. “We’d like to think we are better equipped at those two grounds.” Ford was forced to concede that his pace bowling unit lacked the fire-power to “blow batsmen away” after the Australians had plundered runs off them before declaring at 450-5 in their first innings. The South African was encouraged, however, by the improved performance by all his bowlers in the second Australian innings, where the hosts were bowled out for 278. He was also confident that the big names in his batting line-up - Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne

Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara - were starting to find their feet. One man they will have to shut down if they are to fight their way back into the series is middle order batsman Mike Hussey, who in the first innings scored his third century in his last four matches and a fifth in six Tests against Sri Lanka. The 37-year-old now boasts 908 career runs at an impressive average of 129.71 against the Sri Lankans. “He is an outstanding player,” Ford said. “Over the years I guess he’s been able to neutralise our main strength - spin bowling - and we haven’t been able to get into him with seam bowling, so that’s possibly the reason why he’s done well, but he is a good player and has a good record, full stop.” Despite the defeat, which came in the final hour of the fifth day on Tuesday after six wickets fell in the last session, Ford was encouraged by the character the Sri Lankans showed to hold off the Australians for so long. “During the five days there were areas we need to improve on, but if you just look at today, I’m unbelievably proud of the effort the boys put in,” he said.

King of Spin: Rangana Herath has won his personal battle with England’s Graeme Swann for the title of the most proliﬁc wicket-taker of 2012 with 60 wickets

Tired Vonn ‘losing self belief’ By Manuele Lang

The second most successful female skier of all time says she has suffered bouts of depression

FOUR-TIME overall World Cup winner Lindsey Vonn, dejected after crashing out of a downhill race for the first time in five years, said this week she was tired and had lost some self belief. In an interview with Reuters held after a World Cup supergiant slalom was cancelled in the resort of Val D’Isere, the skier also elaborated on her disclosure to American magazine People this week that she had suffered bouts of depression. The American ended up in the safety netting in the downhill, a discipline in which she is world and Olympic champion, on Friday for the first time since 2007. “Things are a little bit tough,” said Vonn. “I started the season well ... now I’m definitely feeling like the energy isn’t there. “It’s becoming more and more difficult to ski the way I want to. With this crash and my near-crash in the training run, I’m losing self confidence,” added the second

most successful female skier of all-time. Vonn began the season by controversially stating her desire to race against the men in Lake Louise, Alberta, and then spent a period in hospital with stomach problems. The 28-year-old is now facing mounting opposition from Slovenia’s Tina Maze and feeling the strain of competing in all five alpine skiing specialities. “My energy is not currently where it used to be,” said Vonn. “Since being sick I have definitely struggled a lot and people are thinking my skiing it’s not where it should be. “I’ll think hard about what my goals are. I think at this point that fighting in the technical events isn’t really a realistic goal,” she added referring to the slaloms and giant slaloms. “I need to accept that and find a solution.” Vonn, who has won several races this season, is undecided about which world championship events she will compete in at Schladming, Austria in February.

“I don’t think I won’t race at the world championships, they are still two months away, but it’s realistic that I won’t be racing in a few technical races coming up,” she said. On her recent magazine interview, Vonn said she needed to disclose her struggle with depression “to close the chapter and move on”. “Of course I’m afraid that people will judge me, I haven’t said anything about it until now,” she explained. “It’s a personal matter and you don’t talk about that stuff in the media but I feel like it was important for me to say my piece. “Depression is one of the biggest problems that we have right now in the world as far as medical issues go. Antidepressants are the number two prescriptions. “It’s deﬁnitely not a small problem. There has always been a stigma to it and hopefully I can help change that.” Vonn told the magazine her worst period of depression was in 2008 when she could hardly leave her bed and felt “like a zombie”.

THE Miami Heat overcame a 28-point rebounding differential to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-92 with Dwyane Wade top scoring with 24 points. The Timberwolves slaughtered Miami 52-24 on the boards, with Kevin Love winning 18 of the rebounds and Montenegrin Nikola Pekovic 12. But the Heat shrugged off the disadvantage as they dominated the turnover count, and were never threatened after pulling away in the second half. “I don’t know how many times I’ve seen that, when you get doubled up on the rebounding and you still win,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. “We’ll take it.” LeBron James put up 22 points with 11 assists and seven rebounds in his 42 minutes on court to notch his 27th consecutive regular season game with at least 20 points. The visitors led 27-21 at the end of the first quarter, having dominated the rebounds 18-3 in the opening 12 minutes. Miami recovered to lead 52-49 at the half, with Mario Chalmers scoring a three-pointer with the final play. The Heat took control after the break, with James scoring 14 points, and overhauled the largest rebounding deficit in their history. “They were absolutely annihilating us on the glass,” said Spoelstra. “In the second half it felt we did a better job but they still had opportunities with second chance points. The only thing we could do at that point was put bodies on them and tip the ball away to somebody else,” he said. The Heat forced 20 turnovers for a second consecutive game, yielding 25 points, and made 14 blocked shots and 12 steals. “You have to make up for the rebounding somewhere else,” said Miami forward Shane Battier. “It’s not a way we would want to rest ourselves every night but if you play hard in other areas of the game, force turnovers and are efficient on the offensive end, you can mitigate that a little bit,” he said. Chris Bosh said the defending champion Heat had shown their quality in overcoming their rebounding weakness, a problem throughout the season. “We’re a good team. Good teams always find a way to win. We have to find a way to rebound collectively as a unit. Once we start doing that we give ourselves a better chance to win,” he said. “When we get to that point we can really start to squeeze the life out of teams slowly but surely.”

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Sport Bin Hammam resigns as FIFA ban him for life

This July 2011 photo shows (L-R) Napoli goalkeeper Matteo Gianello, captain Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava posing during an ofﬁcial team photo. Napoli have been docked two points and ﬁned 70,000 euros in connection with a long-running probe into illegal betting

Napoli to appeal deduction By James Cann NAPOLI are preparing an appeal for “true justice” after being handed a twopoint deduction for their alleged involvement in matchfixing by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The Azzurri have slumped to fifth place in the Serie A table, 10 points shy of league leaders and reigning champions Juventus, after the FIGC ruled the club “objectively responsible” for the actions of their former goalkeeper Matteo Gianello, who confessed to attempting to fix a match between Napoli and Sampdoria in 2010. The two players he allegedly approached, Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava, have been suspended for six months for failing to report Gianello’s actions while the keeper has been

Club deducted two points in fixing scandal banned from the game for 39 months. Napoli, who were also fined 70,000 euros, made a statement on the club’s official website denying any wrongdoing and objecting to the timing of the punishment, without confirming having lodged an appeal with the FIGC’s justice court. It read: “The president Aurelio de Laurentiis, the head coach Walter Mazzarri and the whole team are calm, being confident that no violation could be attributed to Napoli. “While not entering into the obsolete and outdated principle of objective responsibility, and reserving any comments on legal action for the appropriate forums, Napoli does not agree

with the decisions of the National Disciplinary Committee, considering that they should not be able to irretrievably alter championships that are already in progress. “Any decision must be made before the start of a tournament or at the end of it. There has been enough time to evaluate and make a decision since the 2009-10 season. “We are conﬁdent that true justice can be applied to the separate decisions, based on law and equity, not on Justicialism (a theory of government involving government intervention).” Napoli had originally been warned by FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi that a one-point deduction was

the likely outcome of their implication in the ‘Calcioscommesse’ scandal, with club captain Cannavaro and fellow defender Grava facing possible nine-month bans. But the official statement revealed the significant amendments to Palazzi’s recommendations, most noticeably extending Gianello’s predicted 16-month ban by almost two years. Napoli - and the players - can first appeal for a reduced ban through the FIGC before approaching the TNAS tribunal court in Rome should they be unsuccessful. Quoted in various Italian newspapers, club lawyer Mattia Grassani told Radio 24: “There is no liability from the club.

“Gianello did not play a single a minute during the 2009-2010 season, yet the club has been sentenced for failing to supervise or control their players. “I think this is an unjust sentence and completely inadequate. “The Neapolitan club have suffered financial losses and also damages to their image and on the field of play - these are all reasons for compensation once the justice system has finished its investigation.” The separate punishments come as a serious blow to Napoli’s ambitions of catching Juventus. The FIGC’s wide-ranging investigation into matchfixing saw Juventus head coach Antonio Conte suspended from the game for four months for failing to report his knowledge of match-fixing during his time in charge of Siena.

Bayern advance in German Cup, Schalke crash out By Karolos Grohmann

The Bundesliga leaders are having a great season so far

BAYERN Munich’s Franck Ribery was sent off for slapping an opponent just after halftime but that did not stop his side moving into the German Cup quarter-ﬁnals with a 2-0 win at Augsburg on Tuesday night. Fellow Champions League competitors Schalke slumped out of the competition in a 2-1 defeat by visiting Mainz, while Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf were stunned 2-0 by third-tier Kickers Offenbach. Bayern, who also lead the Bundesliga at the start of the winter break, grabbed the lead against the run of play with striker Mario Gomez tapping in from close range. But things took a turn for the worse at the start of the second half when winger Ribery slapped South Korea’s Koo Ja-cheol and received a straight red card. In an entertaining second half both sides missed several good chances, with Mario Mandzukic, who has failed to score since the return of Gomez in November, twice coming close for Bayern. Xherdan Shaqiri, who had earlier hit the crossbar, settled the visitors’ nerves ﬁve

minutes from time, slotting in after good play from Mandzukic and Thomas Mueller to ensure Bayern finished the year on a high. “Overall I am satisfied with our season so far because we have been playing very well over long periods,” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes told reporters. “It cannot really get much better than that.” “As for the red card, it was provoked but as a Bayern player you must know how to handle such situations,” he said. With new Schalke coach Jens Keller, who replaced Huub Stevens on Sunday, making his debut, the hosts showed few signs of recovery in the cup after losing four and winning none of their last six league games. Schalke, who topped their Champions League Group to book a spot in the next round of Europe’s premier competition, allowed the visitors to take a 30th-minute lead when Marco Caligiuri drilled in from 16 metres. After a string of missed chances, Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar drew them level but their joy was short-lived as Nicolai Mueller controlled a Jan Kirchhoff cross to fire in the winner seven minutes from time.

MOHAMED Bin Hammam, the former FIFA presidential candidate embroiled in corruption allegations, has resigned from all his positions in football and been given a life ban, FIFA said this week. The 63-year-old former Asian football chief was ﬁrst banned by FIFA in July 2011 for alleged bribery during his failed bid to oust Sepp Blatter in the presidential race to head world football’s governing body. That punishment was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July, but FIFA handed out another life ban this week and said he would never be active in organised football again. This suspension was not in connection with bribery allegations during the election campaign but for “conﬂicts of interest” while he was president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). “In view of the fact that under the new FIFA Code of Ethics, the FIFA Ethics Committee remains competent to render a decision even if a person resigns, the Adjudicatory Chamber decided to ban Mohamed Bin Hammam from all football-related activity for life,” a FIFA statement said.

FINAL REPORT “This life ban is based on the final report of Michael J. Garcia, Chairman of the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee. “That report showed repeated violations of Article 19 (Conflict of Interest) of the FIFA Code of Ethics, edition 2012, of Mohamed Bin Hammam during his terms as AFC President and as member of the FIFA Executive Committee in the years 2008 to 2011, which justified a life-long ban from all football related activity.” This latest suspension could bring an end to one of the most unsavoury scandals to have hit the sport. Bin Hammam was originally accused of trying to buy the presidential votes of Caribbean officials by handing them $40,000 each in brown envelopes at a meeting in Port of Spain one month before he was due to challenge Blatter in last year’s FIFA presidential election. He withdrew his candidacy and was subsequently banned pending investigations. Blatter was re-elected unopposed for a fourth term as FIFA president. Bin Hammam was then banned for life after being found guilty of breaking seven articles of FIFA’s ethics code, including one on bribery.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, December 20, 2012

Sport

Hillsborough verdicts quashed after more than two decades

Five players sign new Arsenal deals

Police to probe ‘truly shocking’ new evidence

By Tom Pilcher

By Peter Griffiths THE deaths of 96 football fans in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster will be reinvestigated after Britain’s High Court quashed the original inquest verdicts yesterday due to a “profound and almost palpable” sense of injustice. The government also set up a new police investigation into Britain’s worst sporting disaster, in a victory for victims’ families who never accepted the official version of events and have campaigned for more than 20 years for “Justice for the 96”. Home Secretary Theresa May said an independent panel’s report into Hillsborough had uncovered “truly shocking” evidence that must be investigated. The Liverpool supporters died after a crush in an enclosed, overcrowded terrace at the stadium in the northern city of Sheffield on April 15, 1989 during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. An independent inquiry set up by the last government concluded in September that police tried to deflect the blame on to fans to cover up their own incompetence. It suggested 41 lives could have been saved if the emergency response had been quicker. The original inquests found the deaths were “accidental”. However, the

Margaret Aspinall, who lost her son James, covers her face as she talks to the media with Trevor Hicks of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (L) and Jenni Hicks (R), outside the High Court in central London yesterday government’s chief legal advisor, Attorney General Dominic Grieve, applied to the court to quash those verdicts after the Hillsborough panel published its damning report. Overturning the verdicts, Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, the country’s most senior legal authority, said there had been a “profound and palpable belief that justice has not been done and that it cannot be done without and until the full truth is revealed”. “We must record our admiration and respect for their determined search for the truth about the circumstances of the disaster

... which - despite disappointments and setbacks - has continued for nearly a quarter of a century,” he said, according to the Press Association. Grieve welcomed the ruling and said the original inquests had been “fundamentally unsound”. “I hope and trust that new inquests will provide a better understanding of how each of their loved ones died, and bring closer the justice for which they have fought so hard,” he said. The independent panel, set up in 2010 by the last Labour government to examine all the public paperwork relating to the trag-

edy. It found that senior police edited their ofﬁcers’ statements from the day to try to limit the damage to their reputation. Prime Minister David Cameron said in September that evidence suggesting police tried to defect the blame for the disaster onto Liverpool fans to cover up their own ﬂawed response amounted to a “double injustice”. The tragedy shocked the world and led to a new era of modern stadiums across Britain. Banks of terracing and metal fences around pitches disappeared, replaced by seating and better security.

The new police investigation will be led by Jon Stoddart, a former chief constable of Durham police, northeast England. “The ﬁndings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel were truly shocking, but while the families have now been given the truth, they have not yet received justice,” May said. Campaigner Trevor Hicks, who lost two teenage daughters at Hillsborough, told the BBC the developments were a “huge step for the families”. “Justice is on its way - I think a lot of us are going to have a much happier Christmas,” he said.

Balotelli accepts Man City fine

Mario Balotelli will not take his case to a Premier League tribunal after withdrawing his appeal

MANCHESTER City striker Mario Balotelli has accepted a two-week fine and dropped his appeal against the club, the Barclays Premier League champions have confirmed. The Italy international’s lawyers were yesterday due to present their case to a Premier League tribunal, who were due to hear his appeal against a club fine. Press Association Sport understands City imposed a fine of two weeks’ wages - a figure reported to be around £340,000 - on Balotelli last season for on-field indiscipline, causing his unrest. But a brief statement from City yesterday read: “After amicable talks between the parties, as a sign of respect for Roberto Mancini, the supporters and the club, Mario Balotelli has chosen to accept a two week fine levied upon him by the club

and withdraw his disciplinary appeal, which was due to be heard by a Premier League panel today. “Mario remains available for selection for all forthcoming fixtures.” Balotelli had exercised his right to take his fight to a league panel after failing to overturn the sanction through City’s internal appeals process. The hearing was due to take place at an undisclosed location in London, with details of who would be present also sketchy. Balotelli, 22, missed 11 competitive matches through suspension last season as a result of three red cards - one from the previous campaign - and one retrospective punishment. That was also in a season in which he courted controversy for numerous off-field

matters. News of the ﬁne emerged this week and has fuelled further speculation that the player could leave the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window. Balotelli’s form this season has generally been under scrutiny having scored just one goal in the Premier League. He was omitted from the squad by manager Roberto Mancini, for the second time in just over a month, for Saturday’s victory at Newcastle. Mancini also voiced fears the player’s talent could go to waste after an ineffectual performance in the derby loss to Manchester United. Balotelli, signed for £24million from Inter Milan in 2010, has been linked with a return to the San Siro with AC Milan but his agent has consistently denied he wishes to move.

ENGLAND’S Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are among five young internationals to have pledged their long-term futures to Arsenal, the Premier League club said yesterday. Midfielders Wilshere, 20, and 19-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain, plus Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey (21) and England defenders Kieran Gibbs (23) and Carl Jenkinson (20) have all committed themselves to Arsenal. “Jack is certainly the best known, the leader of this group - but the other four players are exceptional footballers, and we’re very happy that we could conclude their new deals at the same time,” manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s website (www. arsenal.com). “We are delighted that these five young players have all signed new long-term contracts,” added the Frenchman. No details on the lengths of the contracts were given though Wenger was keen to impress that the nurturing of home-grown talent was one of the club’s main objectives. “I’m a strong believer in stability and I believe when you have a core of British players, it’s always easier to keep them together and that’s what we’ll try to achieve going forward.” Arsenal have not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup and a host of big names have left the London club since, including Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas who moved to Barcelona and talismanic striker Robin van Persie who joined Manchester United. Wenger, criticised this season with his side fifth in the Premier League 15 points behind leaders United and knocked out of the League Cup by fourth tier Bradford City, has often put his faith in young players since his tenure began in 1996. “The plan is to build a team around a strong basis of young players, in order to get them to develop their talent at the club,” said the 63-year-old. Of the five players, Ramsey is the most-capped international with 25 appearances including several as Wales captain. Wilshere has won six caps, though he missed 17 months through injury before returning to the team in October while Oxlade-Chamberlain has won nine England caps since his debut in May. Defenders Gibbs (two caps) and Jenkinson (one) are the least experienced but Wenger said they were all of equal worth to Arsenal and the club’s future.

Capital One Cup Leeds Chelsea

1 5

Thursday, December 20, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

32 McIlroy named European golfer of the year 28

Sport

Hillsborough verdicts quashed after more than two decades 31

Vilanova illness rocks Barca Catalan giants to stand by manager after relapse By Elena Gyldenkerne

ARCELONA will stand by and wait for the return of coach Tito Vilanova after being rocked by yesterday’s news that he needed surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy over the following six weeks. The 44-year-old stepped up from assistant to replace club hero Pep Guardiola at the end of last season, after having had surgery on a tumour in his saliva glands in November last year, and had made a record-breaking start to his tenure. “While monitoring his parotid gland a change has been detected in his condition that requires surgery which will be carried out on Thursday,” Barca said in a statement. “His time in hospital will be about three to four days. During the period after his operation, depending on how he recovers, an attempt will be made to balance his treatment with his working life.” At a later news conference, Barca president Sandro

In shock: (left to right) Barcelona captain Carles Puyol, Xavi and Andres Iniesta look on glumly during a press conference last night giving details of manager Tito Vilanova’s scheduled surgery today Rosell and sports director Andoni Zubizarreta put an end to speculation that a replacement would be brought in from outside on an interim basis. “Tito is the coach, and continues to be so,” Zubizarreta said, dismissing rumours they may have tried to contact the out-of-work Guardiola. “Assistant Jordi Roura will take charge against Valladolid. Tito I am sure will

be watching us on television and wanting us to win.” Barca visit Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday before a two-week mid-season break. Rosell added: “Tito has an incredible mental strength. He was worried for his family. This was his main concern. We have to leave them alone. “Tito is the leader of the group, he won’t be here for a few weeks, but we will continue working just the

same.” The news of Vilanova’s illness had been ﬁltering out during the day after the club suddenly cancelled some scheduled events. Messages of support came in from around the football and sporting world. “Real Madrid wish to express their love and support to Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, to whom we wish a prompt recovery,” Barca’s arch-rivals said in a state-

ment. “Real extend this support to the club and his family.” Former tennis world number one Rafa Nadal said: “All my strength and support for Tito Vilanova! We are all with you to overcome this next hurdle.” Vilanova was out of action for around three weeks after surgery last year but returned to the dugout to help Guardiola for the last six months of the 2011-12 cam-

paign. The quietly-spoken Catalan, at his presentation in June, said the experience had left him with a different perspective on life. “I had an important operation a few months ago,” he said. “I spoke with the medics and my family about the job, but they all said I was perfectly okay and there was no problem. “Having overcome this operation it gives me a different view on life. Perhaps, after what has happened, training Barca will be like child’s play.” Vilanova has guided the team to the top of La Liga with 15 wins in 16 games, nine points clear of secondplaced Atletico Madrid, and into the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners. He is the second member of the Barcelona squad to be afflicted with such an illness, after France defender Eric Abidal had to undergo surgery to remove a tumour from his liver in March 2011. The 33-year-old returned to the field of play later that year but also suffered a relapse and underwent a liver transplant in April, from which he has yet to return to action. Abidal was given the allclear to return to full training on Wednesday and joined up with the rest of the squad for the first time after nine months out - in a session which Vilanova did not take. “Abidal was emotional,” Zubizarreta said when asked about the return of the Frenchman. “There was an exchange of glances between him and Tito in the dressing room that was very special.”

Teams set to learn European fate By Duncan Bech

From heroes to zeros: Chelsea dropped into the Europa League after becoming the ﬁrst Champions League holders to be eliminated at the group stage

BARCELONA midfielder Alex Song would welcome a return to Arsenal when the Champions League round of 16 draw is made in Switzerland this lunchtime. The Spanish giants are one of six teams Arsene Wenger’s group runners-up could face, alongside Paris St Germain, Malaga, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Bayern Munich. Song swapped the Emirates Stadium for the Camp Nou when he joined the Arsenal exodus during the summer and expects only one outcome if they meet for a place in the quarter-finals. “Of course I would like to play against Arsenal. For me to go back there, where I had seven magnificent years, would be something very special,” the 25-yearold said. “Arsenal’s a big club, but Barcelona’s a level above because of the talent of the players there.

“That’s no disrespect to Arsenal because they have talented players, but I think the Barcelona players are above them. I saw a lot of people come and a lot of people go at Arsenal.” Having ﬁnished second in Group B, the possibilities facing Arsenal are alarming and Wenger will also be anxious to evade last year’s beaten ﬁnalists Bayern Munich and Serie A leaders Juventus. Manchester United are the second Barclays Premier League side to make it through to the knockout stages after defending champions Chelsea and Manchester City failed to progress. Real Madrid may be trailing Primera Division leaders Barcelona by 13 points but they are still the team Sir Alex Ferguson will want to avoid most, knowing only Champions League glory can redeem Jose Mourinho. Porto, AC Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk, Valencia and Celtic are the other possi-

bilities, with the latter setting up a fascinating Battle of Britain contest. Celtic deﬁed all expectations to qualify as group runners-up behind Barcelona, in the process securing more points than any other Scottish team in the Champions League pool stages with 10. Other than United, they could meet Malaga, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke or PSG. Barcelona are favourites to claim their fourth Champions League title since 2006, followed by Real and Bayern, and Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez expects one of the heavyweights to be crowned winners. “Barcelona, Real Madrid, the English teams, Bayern Munich and Juventus are strong teams,” said Benitez, winner of the competition with Liverpool in 2005. “Obviously they’re the big names and they’ll be there again, it won’t change too

much. “You can find a surprise in some seasons but because those teams are so strong, I don’t see there being any surprises this year.” Chelsea are second favourites behind Atletico Madrid to win the Europa League, their reward for finishing third in their Champions League group. They are joined in the round of 32 by Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle, although none of the Premier League rivals are able to face each other at this stage. Atletico are a possibility for Chelsea and Liverpool, while big names such as Inter Milan, Napoli, Benfica and Ajax remain in the competition.