CYPRUS MAIL

Cyprus Mail www.cyprus-mail.com

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

€1

The Cyprus Mail wishes all its readers a Happyy Christmas. We will be back on Friday ay

BRITAIN

CYPRUS

Q Queen’s annual address to be a sscreened in 3D

What does Christmas mean to island’s teens?

7

3

Touched by all the generosity Island rallies behind the needy as more people plunged into poverty this year

By Poly Panteldies

T

HOUSANDS of needy families across Cyprus have received help for the holidays as the public rallied behind a growing mobilisation in all districts to help those less fortunate.

Local authorities, charities, schools, colleges, companies, volunteers, and the Church joined forces to ensure as few people as possible go without for Christmas, as unemployment continues to soar, and those who are working face a huge drop in their standard of living.

All districts report an overwhelming response to pleas for help, and the public has responded with time, money or donations of foodstuff and clothing.

In Limassol, over 240 families have received packages through the municipality’s community market scheme, which collects donated dried and canned food, household items and clothes.

The packages are bigger this time of year than they normally are, because of the large number of people and companies who have responded to calls for help, the head of Limassol municipality’s social welfare department, Evie Tsolaki, said.

“We have been able to offer bigger quantities of goods,” she said adding that a number of events throughout December have helped raise awareness among the people.

Groups have formed

spontaneously, as people have responded “very warmly” to requests for assistance, she said. There have been cyclists touring the city, and “a group of friends playing guitar and collecting food for the community market,” she said.

Companies, schools and universities, as well as individuals have all been pitching in, she added. On Boxing Day, the 240 families who are being helped will all gather for a festive meal, Tsolaki said.

The Limassol Bishopric’s Stavros Olympios, who runs the Church’s soup kitchen as well as the pancyprian volunteerism coordinative council, also reported an increased willingness to help at this time of year.

“It is touching how many people come and bring food to equip our volunteers’ centres,” he said, referring to a recent initiative to set up centres in each town where people can help the needy directly and with minimal fuss.

“Now, because of the holidays but also because of the [financial] situation, more people are helping on the level of councils, the Church, everywhere,” Olympios said.

“If they can’t afford to give money, they contribute in kind, also many are giving toys for children,” he said.

“We hope this is not seasonal but continues throughout the year so these centres can function

TURN TO PAGE 6

God’s gender divides German government A MINISTER in Angela Merkel’s government has sparked a pre-Christmas row among Germany’s ruling parties by suggesting God be referred to with the neutral article “das” instead of the masculine “der”.

Family Minister Kristina Schroeder made the comments when asked in an interview with German weekly Die Zeit how she explained to her young daughter the use of the masculine form for God. “The article is not important,” she responded, adding that it was fine to use “das” instead of the traditional “der” when referring to God.

NONSENSE

An elephant dressed in a Santa Claus costume performs for students ahead of the Christmas festival at a school in Ayutthaya province. The event was held as part of a campaign to promote Christmas in Thailand (AFP)

The remarks were immediately denounced by members of Schroeder’s own Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).

“This intellectualised nonsense leaves me speechless,” Christine Haderthauer, Bavarian social minister, told top-selling daily Bild.

Stefan Mueller, a CSU lawmaker, said he was “bewildered” by Schroeder’s “inappropriate” comments.

When pressed on the matter at a government news conference, Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert backed Schroeder.

“If you believe in God, the article is not important,” he said. “If you speak to God in a different way, the prayers are still heard.”

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

2

Home PICTURE OF THE DAY

Weather Paralimni

Nicosia 19

9

Troodos

1 19 19

LLarnaca

19 1

19

Paphos

L Limassol

TODAY: Mostly fine. Temperatures will reach 19C inland and along the coasts and 9C over higher ground OUTLOOK: Wednesday and Thursday expected to be sunny and clear, with patchy clouds and a slight dip in temperatures due by Friday YESTERDAY:

Max Temp Nicosia 18 Larnaca 20 Limassol 19 Paphos 20 Paralimni 20 Prodromos 9

-

Min 10 12 13 11 14 3

Humidity 67% 72% 67% 63% 72% 76%

SUNRISE: 06:53am

SUNSET: 4:41pm

Pollution Low/Low Low/Low Medium/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 -4 -5 9 18 2 12 7 3 7 1 9

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

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

13 7 -17 -8 9 -2 9 1 -1 -8 13 0

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

EXCHANGE

€

1.3247

€

0.8191

For a full list of exchange rates, see page 12

CHEMISTS NICOSIA E. Frangouli, 58A Athenon St, Strovolos. Tel: 22314660, 22492935 (H) Y. N. Gobrial, 28B C October 28 St, Makedonitissa. Tel: 22590447, 22819910 (H) M. Kitsa, 21C Kyriakou Matsi Ave., Tel: 22441780, 22420506 (H) G. Hatziapostolu, 75 Larnaca Ave., Tel: 22100029, 22779662 LIMASSOL

K. Lamaris, 187 Makarios III Ave, Tel: 25354978, 25735816 (H) Chr. Pallari 92 Pafou K. Polemithia Tel: 25394611, 25712886 (H)

People walk past a large advertisement showing people carrying shopping bags, at the Moremoll shopping centre in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi (AFP)

QUICK CROSSWORD 2271 Across

Down

1 Inference (11) 9 Luxor’s country (5) 10 Dresden china (7) 11 Atom (7) 13 Obsolete (5) 14 Fib (3) 15 Boundary (5) 16 Baked dish (3) 17 West Country river (5) 19 Complete failure (4-3) 21 Dozing (7) 23 Bedeck (5) 24 Revelry (11)

2 It is danced round (7) 3 Housey-housey (5) 4 E Anglian river (3) 5 Twirl (7) 6 Start (5) 7 Making laws (11) 8 Accidental (11) 12 Bestow (5) 15 Cross-country runner (7) 16 Part of speech (7) 18 Acer tree (5) 20 Loose (5) 22 Training room (3)

A. Leonidou, 2 Gladstone St., Tel: 25370440, 25381521 (H) LARNACA

S. K. Eleni, 15. 17 Kilkis St. Tel: 24651035, 24621522 (H) M. Economidou, 15 Raphael Santi, Tel: 24102524, 22511250 PAPHOS

S. Varnavidou, 62B N. Nicolaides Ave. Tel: 26943424, 26949727, (H) M. Eliadou, corner Anexartisias and Eptanisou. Tel: 26941100, 26944544 (H)

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

ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 25 1066

25 years ago Friday December 25, 1987

King Harold Godwinson of England defeats the Viking Army of King Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire.

A Lebanese told a Beirut newspaper that his 30-monthold daughter Sikini was kidnapped, smuggled to Cyprus and sold. Hussein Shehab, quoted by yesterday’s As-Safir newspaper, said an underworld gang specialising in seizing and selling Lebanese children was responsible for his daughter’s fate. He said a woman gang member had been detained by West Beirut’s Shiite Amal militia and had confessed to smuggling children out of the Christian port of Jounieh to Cyprus.

PARALIMNI

P. Yiallourou, 173 1st April St. Tel: 23825979, 23744771 (H) FOR DECEMBER 26 SEE PAGE 26

1950 United Nations forces take control of the South Korean capital Seoul, three months after it fell to North Korea, the US Army announces.

1977

Cyprus Mail

In South Africa, 15,000 people attend the funeral of murdered anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko.

Established 1945. Number 21,412 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

WHAT THE MAIL SAID

1957 After prolonged resistance by local leaders, nine AfricanAmerican students enter Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, under the protection of the National Guard.

1983 Thirty-eight prisoners escape from a high-security jail in Northern Ireland.

35 years ago Sunday December 25, 1977 President Kyprianou yesterday invited the international community to move decisively so that an end be put to what he called the tragic situation in Cyprus. He said that the struggle will continue, regardless of time or sacrifice for complete freedom.

45 years ago Monday December 25, 1967 The head of the Greek Church, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, yesterday gave an assurance that, in the event of Enosis, Greece would never use Cyprus as a base against Turkey. Speaking at Phaneromeni church in Nicosia, the primate of the Greek Church expressed confidence in ultimate union of Cyprus with Greece.

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

3

Home

Seeing past the allure of glossy gadgets Does the true meaning of the festive season holds any importance for kids

By Zoe Christodoulides AS THE weekend before Christmas brought on a mad rush to the shops while parents island-wide whipped out the children’s ‘wish lists,’ one has to wonder if the true meaning of the festive season holds any importance to kids today amidst their requests for the latest i-Pad mini and X-box 360.

“I think it falls into two groups,” points out Father John Tyrrell of St Paul’s Cathedral in Nicosia.

“There are those who have a church affiliation and those who don’t. For those who have lost touch with the religious meanings behind Christmas, it becomes just another secular holiday where presents and Santa become most important.”

Father Tyrrell remains convinced that it all comes down to the way children are raised. “What kids know usually depends on what has been predominantly passed on to them by parents and schooling.

If Christmas is associated with a time of worship then they will be inclined to remember the real reasons why we celebrate it.”

“Christmas has become highly commercialised, I doubt most kids today recongnise the true meaning behind the day,” reflects Rick Dugan, Pastor of the Nicosia International Church. “I wish that people would remember that it’s really about the birth of Christ- the flesh and son of God. This truly dwarfs any play station game that

‘Presents are good too’ kids might get.”

But this doesn’t mean that giving gifts has to have negative connotations. “Of course, it’s a happy occasion and I always give gifts to my kids. I’m not against that; after all it’s a time of giving and a symbol of what God has given to us.

There’s a symbolic meaning behind the tradition.

I’m 46-years-old now and things haven’t changed that much- as a kid I was always just really excited to get presents.”

While religious education is included in the school curriculum here in Cyprus, state schools place a focus on Greek Orthodox religion while private schools are more inclined to teach religious studies that en-

compass all religious beliefs. And despite concerns that children may be losing track of tradition, it turns out that the i-Pad generation give more importance to the meaning behind Christmas that we may give them credit for.

“I definitely look forward to Christmas as a holiday but I also remember religion because we go to Church with my dad on the morning of the 25th,” says 12-year-old Greek Cypriot Stavros. “I do think of Jesus too because Christouenna (Christmas) in Greek literally means the birth of Christ.”

Sixteen-year-old Stephanie also spends time at church during the buildup to the big day, explaining that it has always been a family tradition. “My family is very religious and we also even go to church for Epiphany. I also fast the week before Christmas and in my house we really place a big emphasis on the birth of Christ.”

Seeming to embrace the churchgoing experience because of family habits, Stephanie is also rather excited about the fact that Christmas always gives her the chance to get together with cousins and other family members she may not have seen for a while. “Sometimes we’ve gone through bad patches with family members and I think that this time of year somehow makes us bond.

We play games, we eat, and we sing carols. I do really like it.”

Others simply rejoice in the fact that they don’t have to go to school and

‘Christmas is a time when people should come together’ can spend more time with their friends while some don’t go to church but still feel that Christmas is a time of appreciation and sharing.

“I’m not really religious,” admits George, an 18-yearold American Cypriot.

“But I do think that Christmas is a time when people should come together. It’s a warm feeling of having people you love around you and a cheerful atmosphere in general.” One 16year-old boy named Paris is a slightly more cynical in his approach the holiday season. “It’s a time of year when we all celebrate mass consumerism in an orgy of spending and shopping.” And does he enjoy it? “Well, theoretically I shouldn’t but it’s a guilty pleasure. I do expect to get presents.”

Whether kids today are religious or not, there is still a basic general knowledge about the basis of Christmas and the story of the birth of Jesus, with almost all of the teenagers in question aware of the basics including how Mary found out she was preg-

Some confusion about what gifts the Wise Men brought nant, why her and Joseph had to sleep in a stable in Bethlehem, and the role of King Herod.

Overall ignorance however seems to prevail when the children are asked about what three gifts the wise men took along to baby Jesus. “Silver, silk and I’m just not sure of the other one,” replies Sta-

vros hesitantly. “I think it was some sort of perfume,” says his friend Vasilis. “I used to know the answer when I was young but I really have no idea right now,” admits a slightly embarrassed Tania. Perhaps when it comes to gifts, kids these days can’t really see past the allure of today’s glossy gadgets after all.

when you switch to Gan Direct All-in-One You Save €2,000 on Insurance, for a family with two children, two Cars and a four bedroom house with Family Medical cover based on the most popular plan in Cyprus.

And with Gan Direct’s EasySwitch Service, we will take care of all the paperwork for you.

Call 800 5 10 15 for more details on how you can save €2,000 per year.

Notes: • Motor Cover based on Fully Comprehensive Insurance cover for two 1.6 litre cars, not more than ten years old • Property Cover based on Building and Contents Insurance cover of €250,000 • Medical Cover based on the most popular plan in Cyprus, family (2 adults, 2 dependants) inpatient and outpatient cover of €2,000,000 per year The acceptance of your proposal is subject to terms and conditions and we reserve the right to decline

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

4

Home

Futsal first-division matches put on hold

More than 2,000 new entrants to the jobs market in Q3

Report says only two of five stadiums are safe enough

AN ADDITIONAL 2,500 people entered Cyprus’ labour force in the third quarter (Q3) of the year, the latest data from statistical services show.

The labour force amounted to 442,483 in Q3 versus 439,954 in Q2 this year the majority – 73.7 per cent – being aged between 15 and 64, CyStat said.

A total of 389,046 people were employed in Q3, a reduction of over 5,000 people from the equivalent period from last year (Q3 2011) when 395,958 people were employed.

Women account for less than half of the labour force, comprising 47.3 per cent of all those employed in Q3.

Some 70 per cent of the active labour force is aged between 20 and 64. Almost 38,000 people are employed part-time, accounting for 7.2 per cent of all men employed and 12.6 per cent of all women currently work-

By Peter Stevenson THE CYPRUS Football Association (CFA) has announced, after marathon talks, that it has put futsal’s first division on hold until further notice.

This comes after police sent the CFA a report informing them that of the five stadiums where futsal matches are played, only two are safe enough to host matches. The move by the CFA and the police has brought widespread derision amongst those in the futsal community in Cyprus.

The decision to put the championship on hiatus has brought with it the resignation of the head of the futsal committee, Giorgos Mihanikos. “I handed in my resignation because I had to take responsibility as the head of the committee for futsal after the unfortunate suspension of the championship,” he told Super Sport FM. “In my humble opinion the police reports were hasty, wrong and invalid,” he added.

“There is no severe reason for this painful measure which has been taken. The stadiums’ unsuitability has nothing to do with the buildings or the pitches or anything else,” he concluded.

The clubs are equally distressed by the decision made by the board of the CFA. “What gives them the right, halfway through the season, to decide that our stadiums are not suitable?” Ararat Futsal Club’s team manager Barrett Costantian asked.

“At the start of the season and according to the CFA regulations, our stadium was seen as fit to host matches, what exactly has changed?”

ing. Almost 327,000 or 84 per cent of those employed work for someone else.

On average, people working full-time put in 41.4 hours per week, with women working for 40.6 hours per week and men putting in 42.2 hours per week.

Those working part time put in on average 21.9 hours a week.

Unemployment in Q3 came to 12.1 per cent of the labour force, or 53,473, whereas in Q2 it came to 11.3 per cent or 49,792 people. The jobless rate is highest among those aged between 15 and 24 with 26.4 per cent, an increase from Q2 when 25.9 per cent of that age group were unemployed.

Almost a third or 32.2 per cent of the unemployed have been looking for a job for at least a year, and 44.7 per cent of all unemployed have been actively job searching for fewer than six months, CyStat said.

New chief appointed to pharma umbrella group The decision has brought resignation of the head of the futsal committee he added. Although futsal is not seen as a major sport in Cyprus, this year has seen an influx of fans something which is directly related to the island’s football rivalries.

Last season the first division of futsal had two big names from the world of football, Omonoia and AEL, but this year after the promotion of AEK Larnaca and Enosis Neon Paralimniou along with APOEL’s co-operation with already existing club City, that number has more than doubled. Popularity in the sport has risen but so have the number of incidents between rival fans, something the police have had to deal with.

According to police, after an increase in fans and incidents they were forced to visit all of the stadiums that host first-division matches and decide whether they were safe enough. Unfortunately for the sport, only

Eleftheria Stadium, home to Omonoia and Nicos Solomonides Stadium, home to AEL were deemed suitable.

Safety is the main issue for the police and the changes they have asked the teams to make to their stadiums is to prevent any contact whatsoever between fans and players.

On Wednesday, during a meeting at the CFA, the board of directors attempted to find a solution to the problem to allow the championship to continue. One suggestion was that matches could take place with no fans until the necessary safety measures were installed but the police did not accept the measures.

“According to legislation, the stadiums of all first division teams of any sport must have safety certificates otherwise it is illegal for matches to take place,” a police spokesman said.

“Five teams in Nicosia are hosted by two stadiums that have now suddenly been deemed unsuitable, so what will the CFA do? Will they continue the championship without us if we can’t fix our stadiums?” Costanian asked again.

“We built our stadium on our own, with no funding or help from the government and now the state is telling us we need to fix it,” he added. “At the start of the season our stadium was given the green light, so if the CFA or the Cyprus Sports Organisation want to give us the money to make it ‘suitable’ then we would be more than willing to fix it,” he concluded.

According to sources inside the CFA, attempts were made to find a compromise to the solution but so far some of the clubs have been unwilling to fully co-operate and make the necessary changes the police demanded.

OFFICE/WAREHOUSE FOR RENT 735m² of office space and 1200m² warehousing available for long term rent on Yianni Kranidioti Avenue very close to Carlsberg Brewery.

Easy access to Nicosia-Limassol highway (only 200 metres).

Loading bays for warehouses and parking space for more than 40 cars. Hidden fuel tank plus car mechanics station.

For more information please call 99218866

THE UMBRELLA organisation for multinational pharmaceuticals in Cyprus has announced the name of its new chief.

Daan Gijbels, of Dutch descent and area general manager for GlaxoSmithKline (Cyprus), is the new president of the Cyprus Association of Research & Development Pharmaceutical Companies (KEFEA).

Gijbels has held managing positions in London and the Netherlands, and was appointed GlaxoSmithKline’s area general manager for Cyprus, Malta and Gibraltar in 2011. “I look forward to co-operating with the rest of the KEFEA members, with the aim of pursuing shared priorities,” Gijbels said, adding that “these priorities include providing Cypriots with quality healthcare and access to new medicines, as well [continuing to] reinforce KEFEA’s role and image in Cyprus”.

The new KEFEA vice head is Joanna Kozakou, Operations Manager at the Sanofi company. Gijbels took over from Jacqueline Anastassiades, general manager of Merck Sharp & Dohme Cyprus (MSD), who was the association’s head for the past year.

KEFEA was founded in 2006 as the representative body of multinational pharmaceutical companies in Cyprus and is a member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).

Western Union employee mugged A 30-YEAR-OLD MAN was mugged as he was heading home on foot with a backpack containing deposits from Western Union where he was working, on Sunday night in central Nicosia. The 30-year-old Pakistani had closed shop at 9.30pm and started walking home with a backpack containing around €7,000. Between Florinis St. and Themistocles Dervis St. two strangers punched him in the face, seized his backpack and ran off.

TEMPLE COURT CHAMBERS – LONDON & CYPRUS 8A, 28TH October Avenue, 1st Floor – Office 101 2414 Engomi, Nicosia

TEMPLE COURT CHAMBERS OF LONDON IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF IT’S NICOSIA ANNEX. TEMPLE COURT CHAMBERS CYPRUS & LONDON SPECIALISE IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LITIGATION, COMPANY FORMATION AND CORPORATE LAW, FAMILY LAW & EMPLOYMENT LAW. TEMPLE COURT CHAMBERS CYPRUS & LONDON IS A DIRECT ACCESS BARRISTERS CHAMBERS. WE ACCEPT INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL JURISDICTIONS INCLUDING THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CYPRUS. FOR ALL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT US TO : 22 270 407 / 8 STELIOS KTENAS : 99 639 428 FAX : 22 270 108

BY EMAIL : andriatemplecourtchambers@gmail.com WEB PAGE : www.templecourt.co.uk

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

5

Home

‘No logic’ to comments

by Austrian economist Chairman of Eurogroup working group said Cyprus has missed the train and has been dragging its feet

By Elias Hazou THE GOVERNMENT has again been put on the defensive after a senior EU economist accused Cyprus of stalling the signing of a bailout deal.

Thomas Wieser, chairman of the Economic and Financial Committee of the European Union and head of the Eurogroup Working Group, suggested the island was dragging its feet in the false hope that it would be included in a rescue package along with Greece. “Cyprus believed it could be incorporated in a single package with Greece and, despite our warnings, it was delaying,�

Wieser said in an interview with Greek paper Kathimerini over the weekend. “Now, it has missed the train,� the Austrian economist said, referring to Cyprus’ bid to have an aid package approved before the end of the year.

Nevertheless, Wieser went on to predict that Cyprus would sign a memorandum of understanding with international lenders by February 12 – before the general elections here. But in the same interview he sounded the alarm over the sustainability of the national debt: “The question

Who says money doesn’t grow on trees? This tree is on display at a Limassol bank branch decorated with photocopies of sterling pounds and euro notes as the island’s banks can’t afford to decorate their trees with the real thing (Submitted by Mark Crawley)

Man critical after shootout with cops

By Elias Hazou ONE man was yesterday left in critical condition, and two more were in custody, after a dramatic car chase and shootout with police One of the alleged perpetrators, a Greek Cypriot, was seriously wounded in an exchange of ďŹ re that took place in the community of Marki, outside Nicosia. He was rushed to Nicosia general hospital where he underwent surgery; his condition is described as critical.

The two other men, Greek Pontians, have been arrested and are being questioned.

They are set to appear before a court today for their remand hearing.

It all began when police patrols, investigating a burglary at an electronics store in Latsia in the morning, agged down a car with fake licence plates near the scene of the crime.

The three men aboard refused to stop, and sped away, with police patrols and motorcycles giving chase. They were joined by squads from the riot squad and the Crime Prevention Unit.

The perpetrators sped across Tseri Avenue and continued

onto the village of Marki, near Latsia. At one point a police car managed to cut off the suspects, with the two vehicles colliding. The perpetrators ďŹ red at the car with a shotgun and managed to escape. During the pursuit – which ended at the village of Marki – the men were seen tossing out of the car computers and other electronic devices.

The perpetrators were forced to pull over after police had managed to shoot out their tyres. A shootout ensued on the spot, during which one of the suspects was wounded in the abdomen. The injured Greek Cypriot was apprehended shortly after inside the car and was rushed to hospital for surgery.

Cornered, his two accomplices exited the vehicle and took to the ďŹ elds, with police ofďŹ cers giving chase on foot and eventually capturing them.

The two Greek Pontians had hurriedly disassembled the shotgun and thrown it away while eeing in the ďŹ elds.

Two ofďŹ cers sustained light arm injuries.

Police said the suspects’ haul is worth an estimated ₏50,000.

The three men were said to hail from Paphos and to have had run-ins with the law previously.

of sustainability could be solved in part through broad privatisations, but again the Cyprus government did not agree,� he said.

The island will not be eligible for a bailout in the event the national debt reaches 120 per cent of GDP, making it unsustainable according to IMF standards because the borrower is not expected to be able to meet interest payments. Wieser’s warning comes hot on the heels of reports last week about foreign quarters expressing concern over the sustainability the debt.

Drawing on Wieser’s remarks, main opposition DISY said they corroborated suspicions that it is the administration’s “inaction, indecision and fear of taking responsibility that have dealt the ďŹ nal blow to the Cypriot economy and a serious shrinking of our people’s standard of living. “Instead of realising the crime they have perpetrated against the citizens and the economy,â€? the statement added, “instead of apologising that Cyprus has missed the train, they have the nerve to accuse them [the EU], evidently confusing responsibility with blackmail.â€?

A similar reaction came from DIKO: the economy would not now be on the verge of bankruptcy had the government

implemented measures earlier, the party said. Dismissing the criticism, government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said Wieser’s comments were “arbitrary and groundless� and that they did not stand up to logical scrutiny.

Stefanou wondered how the government could be blamed for delaying when everyone – including the EU – was still awaiting the ďŹ ndings of a due diligence report that will determine the size of the bailout for the banks. “As long as this issue is open, the memorandum cannot be completed,â€? the spokesman added. “In order for Cyprus to agree to everything it needs to know the amount of the loan and any additional terms,â€? he said.

Last week German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung claimed the IMF supported a haircut of the government debt, on the grounds that Cyprus would be unable to pay the interest on the loan, even after the memorandum provisions were implemented.

A member of the European Central Bank later conďŹ rmed this point: “It is already foreseeable that after the ďŹ nal data, the ďŹ nancing need will be so high that the debt level will be very high and unsustainable,â€? Joerg Asmussen said.

‘Christofias halted efforts by Shiarly to avoid bailout’ POLITIS on Sunday ran a story claiming President Demetris ChristoďŹ as torpedoed last-ditch efforts undertaken by his ďŹ nance minister to avoid a bailout.

The paper said that on April 17, former Central Bank governor Athanasios Orphanides arranged for Finance Minister Vasos Shiarly to meet ECB ofďŹ cials in Frankfurt. At the meeting, Shiarly promised to push through measures slashing Cyprus’ deďŹ cit to 2.5 per cent by the end of the year; in exchange, the ECB said it would allow Cypriot government bonds to be used as collateral for the banks, even though the island’s sovereign rating had by then reached ‘junk’ status and Cyprus was shut out of the markets.

But according to Politis, Shiarly’s efforts at reforming the cost of living allowance were dashed by the Presidential Palace; a meeting scheduled between Shiarly and trade unions to discuss CoLA was cancelled, apparently at the behest of the President.

And at a news conference in early June, ChristoďŹ as effectively bypassed his ďŹ nance minister, saying there was ample time to bring the deďŹ cit down to 2.5 per cent and that no immediate measures were needed.

As a result, Shiarly did not meet the May 31 deadline agreed with the ECB to push through cost-saving measures. This in turn meant the government could not borrow to prop up the banks, which needed to recapitalise by June 30. When that deadline also passed, the government was forced to apply to the troika for a bailout.

cytavision

cablenet

facebook.com/NRGTV twitter.com/nrgmtv

youtube.com/mtvnrg

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

6

Home

Touched by all the generosity Volunteers say they hope momentum will continue (continued from front page) and we can help people,” Olympios said. The soup kitchen now offers lunch on a daily basis for 600 people, already an increase of 100 since the last time the Cyprus Mail checked in with them back in November.

In Nicosia, an estimated 2,500 people were helped as part of an initiative launched by Archbishop Chrysostomos II, who opened a food market in May. Parish priests inform the archbishopric of their flock’s needs, and the list is ever-growing.

And Nicosia municipality has cancelled New Year’s celebrations and – in conjunction with help from Athienitis supermarkets, has helped 320 primary school students and their families each get a €50 voucher for Christmas, Nicosia mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis said.

The Nicosia multifunctional centre has also been fundraising to help needy and vulnerable families, Yiorkadjis said. In Larnaca too, more and more people

are in need of help, with the recently set up community market now providing weekly food parcels for over 200 families, community councillor Elias Elia said. In November, it was 150 families that were the recipients, he said.

But for Christmas, the municipality plans to help an additional 150 to 200 people who applied for assistance, but the municipality was not currently able to help on a regular basis as of now.

“All of us - but especially the mayor, Andreas Lourdoudjiadis have been putting in tremendous efforts,” he said.

Though Elia also said that people were being more generous in the holiday season, he added the municipality was being careful to ensure that there was enough left for after the holidays.

“It would be a shame if we did not have anything to give to these families in the New Year, and the times that are coming ahead are hard,” he said. (see editorial page 11)

The Rotary Club of Nicosia-Salamis delivered packs to the Pancyprian Association of Single Parent Families

How you can help - The Larnaca community market’s Famagusta co-operative bank account: 0344004770-2 Call the bank at 24-203300, for any questions or assistance.

- Contributions to the Pancyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council can be made to following bank accounts: Bank of Cyprus 357005889524; Popular Bank 005-31-039544; Hellenic Bank 105-11-137244-01; Alpha Bank 202-105-024772-7 and the Co-operative Central Bank 1001050008387 - Limassol municipality asks that people call at 25 884 300 - Your local parish priest is the point of contact in Nicosia.

- Call the Cyprus Red Cross Society at 22666955 or email: admin@redcross.org.cy - Alkionides charity has a warehouse in Dali, where people can donate clothes, furniture and dried food to be handed out to people in need. Contact Alkionides on 22 361295 from 8am to 1pm, Monday to Friday - Anyone interested in donating to the Future Worlds Centre, please call 22-873820.

The recent ‘outpouring of love’ at Engomi municipality in Nicosia

Pulling together in hard times

By Bejay Browne IN PAPHOS, which has been hardest hit by the wave of unemployment, authorities, businesses and the general public have joined forces to ensure needy families won’t be left hungry, especially during the Christmas period.

A Paphos municipality social welfare committee programme to help began in April with 150 families receiving some sort of food support.

That number has now grown to more than 500.

President of the Paphos municipality social welfare committee Maria Zavrou said the response from individuals, businesses, supermarkets and associations wanting to help, was overwhelming. “At the beginning of the week we handed out special Christmas food parcels to about 550 needy families in Paphos,” she said.

According to the social welfare fund, the size of the family and the numbers of children denoted whether food parcels were double or even triple the size of the regular boxes, as there will be no further grocery boxes given again until January 7.

“The Christmas parcels included all the usual staple products such as cooking oil, pasta sugar, flour, long life milk, rice, pulses and coffee, as well as extra groceries such as fruit and chickens which were donated by the Paphos municipality,” said Zavrou. In addition, the families were given coupons for meat for Christmas dinner.

“We have stamped vouchers for €10 and €20 worth of meat as an extra,” she added A basic package contains food worth €35-€40 and around 65 families receive weekly help with the rest being given parcels either once or twice a month.

According to the social welfare fund around €30,000

The Pupils’ Choir from The International School of Paphos (ISOP), accompanied by the School’s management, brought the spirit of Christmas on Wednesday to citizens in need. The ISOP delegation visited Paphos General Hospital (Children’s Wing) and donated €950 for medical equipment. It then visited the “Nefeli Talioti” State Home for the Elderly, where the children entertained the elderly with songs and offered food, while on the same day, it handed €2,700 in food coupons and food items to the Municipality of Paphos, to help vulnerable groups worth of goods has been given away in the last month. Individuals, schools, businesses and associations wanting to help out, have also been making cash donations to the fund on an almost daily basis Zavrou said she had been touched by the generosity of the general public: “Only this morning a Norwegian man and his wife, both residents of Paphos, bought in a cash donation of €2,500, which will be put towards buying groceries for the families in need,” she said.

“We can only thank everyone for pulling together to help each other through these difficult times.”

The Paphos municipality has re assigned some municipal cash to the social welfare fund by cancelling a number of events, in order to offer assistance to families who have been worst hit by the

economic crisis. The mayor of Yeroskipou said that for the first time families in his municipality were now in need of food assistance.

Michael Pavlides told the Cyprus Mail: “We have now implemented an assistance programme called ‘food with love’- and this week we handed out money, food, clothing and toys to 70 needy families in Yeroskipou.”

Pavlides added that the municipality was aiming to continue the programme on a regular basis and offer support to the families which are facing huge financial difficulties.

“Many people have lost their jobs and this programme is something new for us in Yeroskipou. We are all doing what we can to help. “As well as businesses and supermarkets, many individuals have been so kind as well.” Peyia

Municipality collected donations of food as part of a programme which ran from last Wednesday. Donations included pasta, beans, rice, children’s food, sugar, biscuits, oil, flour, nuts, cereal, canned goods, milk and conserves.

The municipality is hoping to provide both food and financial assistance to these people even after the Christmas period.

Mayor of Polis Chrysochous, Angelos Georgiou said that close to 50 families there were in need of food assistance.

He said: ”In co-operation with a number of different organisations, we will be giving out coupons for food as well as money on December 27 and 28.”

“We will also be asking members of the public if they can donate groceries and bring them to the municipality.”

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

7

Britain

Christmas on hold as yet more floods loom Wettest place in UK since heavy rain began is Tyndrum in Perthshire CHRISTMAS preparations were put on hold for thousands of people up and down the UK as they braced themselves against the possibility of further flooding.

Hundreds of homes and businesses have been swamped with floodwaters, from the southern-most parts of Cornwall to the Highlands of Scotland as winter rains fell across a land that is saturated to bursting point.

Despite a brief respite from the downpours on Sunday, water levels continued to rise as rain washed down off hills to swell already torrential rivers.

And people were watching nervously as more rain that lashed the South and South West of England overnight gradually moved northwards.

Others will be swapping turkey and presents for mops, buckets and sandbags as they desperately try to clear up and protect their homes from further threats of floods.

Many will be unable to return home, instead spending the festive period with relatives or in temporary accommodation.

There is little let-up on the immediate horizon.

Up to 30mm of rain was expected to fall between midnight and noon yesterday, which is expected to further contribute to the possibility of flooding, the Environment Agency (EA) said.

The EA currently has 145 flood warnings in place, urging people to take immediate action, across the UK, the majority in the Midlands and the South West, and a further 268 flood alerts.

Scotland has also been badly affected, with floods and high winds battering the east coast over the

weekend.

Further outbreaks of rain are expected across the country from lunchtime.

The Met Office has warned that this may add to the risk of further flooding over still saturated ground in some parts, and the public has been advised that it could bring more disruption to travel.

Up to 100 properties were vacated as a result of the flooding in Stonehaven, with a rest centre set up at Mackie Academy to keep the victims safe and warm.

A woman was said to be “lucky” to be alive after she was swept from the roof of her 4x4 at the height of the floods in the West Country over the weekend.

CLING ON Vanessa Glover managed to cling to an overhanging branch as the River Taw burst its banks in Umberleigh, North Devon, on Saturday evening.

The Met Office said the wettest place in the UK since the heavy rain began last week was Tyndrum in Perthshire with 155mm.

Cardinham, near Bodmin in Cornwall, is the wettest place in England with 128.8mm of rain and the wettest place in Wales has been Mumbles Head in West Glamorgan with 107mm of rain.

Ballypatrick Forest in Antrim has been the wettest place in Northern Ireland, with 89mm of rain.

Some areas have exceeded their full-month December average since December 19 - such as Plymouth, which has seen 128.8mm of rain compared with a December average of 118.8mm.

Queen Elizabeth II, TV producer John McAndrew (centre) and director John Bennett watch the recording of her Christmas message to the Commonwealth, which is to be broadcast in 3D for the first time (AFP)

Queen goes 3D for Olympics tribute QUEEN Elizabeth will use her traditional Christmas Day message, filmed in 3D for the first time, to pay tribute to the world’s athletes for delivering a “splendid summer of sport” at the London Olympics.

In her personal address to the nation, the monarch will pay tribute to the competitors’ “skill, dedication, training and teamwork”, her office said yesterday.

The 86-year-old head of state provided an Olympic highlight when she made a surprise comic turn with James Bond actor Daniel Craig in a short film for the opening ceremony.

“In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to share something of the excitement and drama,” she will say, according to advance extracts.

Queen Elizabeth missed a church service at her country retreat on Sunday due to a cold, Buckingham Palace said. Her message was pre-recorded and will go out as expected.

It comes at the end of a landmark year for the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth marked 60 years on the throne with the Diamond Jubilee cel-

Thatcher to spend Christmas in hospital

By Joe Churcher BARONESS Thatcher is said to be “in good spirits” as she recovers from minor surgery but is expected to spend Christmas in hospital.

The 87-year-old former prime minister was operated on four days ago to remove a growth from her bladder after suffering pain earlier in the week.

“I understand she is in good spirits,” a spokesman said.

“Given her age, I don’t think she will be coming out for a few days.”

The veteran ex-premier’s public appearances have been very restricted over recent years due to continued ill health.

She was unable to join the Queen for a Diamond Jubilee lunch with former and serving prime ministers this summer and missed an 85th birthday party thrown for her at 10 Downing Street.

In October she was sufficiently well, however, to mark her 87th birthday with lunch at a restaurant in London’s exclusive St James’ district with her son Mark and his wife.

Her health was thrust into the global spotlight this year when Meryl Streep starred in a controversial Hollywood film, The Iron Lady, about her.

The film drew criticism from Prime Minister David Cameron and others for concentrating on the dementia she has suffered after a series of small strokes.

ebrations and her grandson Prince William and his wife Kate are expecting their first baby.

Prime Minister David Cameron issued his own Christmas message in which he talked of Britain’s “extraordinary year”.

“We cheered our queen to the rafters with the Jubilee, showed the world what we’re made of by staging the most spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games ever and - let’s not forget - punched way above our weight in the medals table,” he said.

The first Christmas broadcast was given by Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather George V in 1932. It has become a Christmas Day tradition for many families

to watch it together after lunch.

Behind the scenes footage of the broadcast, made on December 7, was also released yesterday.

The monarch wears 3D glasses as she watches part of the broadcast.

They are decorated on each side with the letter Q made from Swarovski crystals and were worn by the Queen during a visit to a movie training centre in Toronto in 2010.

The message was recorded in Buckingham Palace’s white drawing room and the Queen is dressed in a fine silk tulle gown by Angela Kelly an outfit she first wore during the summer thanksgiving service that marked the Diamond Jubilee.

On her shoulder is the Duchess of Cambridge’s pendant brooch that once belonged to Queen Mary’s grandmother, Princess Augusta.

The Christmas address is written by the Queen and usually has a strong religious framework, reflects current issues and draws on her own experiences over the past year.

The speech is one of the rare occasions when she does not turn to the Government for advice but is able to voice her own views.

The Queen has watched her 3D Christmas message and enjoyed the experience.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said the monarch thought the broadcast was “absolutely lovely”.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

8

World Egypt’s judges review ballot EGYPTIAN judges were investigating opposition accusations of voting irregularities yesterday before declaring the result of a referendum set to show that a contentious new constitution has been approved.

President Mohamed Mursi sees the basic law, drawn up mostly by Islamists, as a vital step in Egypt’s transition to democracy almost two years after the fall of militarybacked strongman Hosni Mubarak.

The opposition, a loose alliance of liberals, moderate Muslims and Christians, says the document is too Islamist, ignores the rights of minorities and represents a recipe for more trouble in the Arab world’s most populous nation.

Critics have also said the vote, conducted over two stages in a process that ended on Saturday, was marred by a litany of irregularities, and have demanded a full inquiry.

“The committee is currently compiling results from the first and second phase and votes from Egyptians abroad, and is investigating complaints,” Judge Mahmoud Abu Shousha, a member of the committee, told Reuters.

He said no time had been set for an announcement of the final outcome.

India clamps down on rape protests, PM calls for calm People are reacting to lack of action in one of world’s most unsafe countries

By Ross Colvin and Arup Roychoudhury INDIAN authorities throttled movement in the heart of the capital yesterday, shutting roads and railway stations in a bid to restore law and order after police fought pitched battles with protesters enraged by the gang rape of a young woman.

In an unusual televised address, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for calm following the weekend clashes in New Delhi and vowed to punish the rapists for their “monstrous” crime.

Singh’s government, often accused by critics of being out of touch with the aspirations of many Indians, has been caught off-guard by the depth of the popular outrage as protests have snowballed and spread to other cities.

India is seen as one of the

most unsafe places in the world to be a woman.

Instead of channelling the outrage, the government has found itself on the defensive over the use of force against the protesters and complaints that it has done little in its eight years in power to create a safer environment for women.

The protests have been the biggest in the capital since 2011 demonstrations against corruption that rocked the government.

“People are not reacting to just one rape case. They are reacting to the general malaise, the frustration with the leadership. There is a feeling that the leadership is completely disconnected,” said political analyst Neerja Chowdhury.

Police barricaded roads leading to India Gate, an imposing Arc de Triomphestyle war memorial in the centre of the city that has

become a hub of the protests by mostly college students. Many metro rail stations in fog-shrouded Delhi were also closed, crippling movement around the city of 16 million.

The 23-year-old victim of the December 16 attack, who was beaten, raped for almost an hour and thrown out of a moving bus in New Delhi, was still in a critical condition on respiratory support, doctors said.

In the weekend spasm of violent protests, police use batons, teargas and water cannon against demonstrators around the capital. Protests and candle-light vigils have also taken place in other Indian cities but they have been more peaceful.

“I appeal to all concerned citizens to maintain peace and calm. I assure you we will make all possible efforts to ensure security and safety of women in this country,” Singh said in his televised address to the nation.

Singh has been under fire for remaining largely silent since the rape. He issued a statement for the first time on Sunday, a week after the crime.

New Delhi has the highest number of sex crimes among India’s major cities, with a rape reported on average every 18 hours, according to police figures. A global poll

by Thomson Reuters Foundation in June found that India was the worst place in the world to be a woman because of high rates of infanticide, child marriage and slavery.

Since last week’s rape, the authorities have promised better police patrolling to ensure safety for women returning from work and entertainment districts, more buses at night, and fasttrack courts for swift verdicts on cases of rape and sexual assaults.

But protesters view those measures as inadequate and are looking for the government to take a firmer stand on sexual assaults countrywide, most of which go unreported.

A feral monkey sits on the head of a demonstrator during a protest in New Delhi

PUTIN VISITS INDIA, EYES ARMS SALES, TRADE AND POLITICAL TIES ARMS sales were on the agenda for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India yesterday to court a country that has traditionally been a top client.

Putin’s trip, his first to India since he started a new Kremlin six-year term in May, is a chance to reaffirm Russia’s interest in India, long a regional ally and now a partner in the BRICS group of emerging market nations.

In an article for publication in the Indian newspaper The Hindu on Monday, Putin stressed that “deepening friendship and cooperation with India is among the top priorities of our foreign policy”.

“India and Russia show an example of responsible leadership and collective actions in the international arena,” he wrote, a veiled swipe at the West and in particular the United States, whom Putin accuses of seeking to impose its will on the world.

Afghan policewoman kills coalition contractor in Kabul

By Mirwais Harooni and Hamid Shalizi AN AFGHAN woman wearing a police uniform yesterday shot dead a civilian contractor working for Western forces in the police chief’s compound in Kabul, NATO said.

The incident is likely to raise troubling questions about the direction of an unpopular war.

It appeared to be the first time that a woman member of Afghanistan’s security forces carried out such an attack.

Mohammad Zahir, head of the police criminal investigation department, described the incident as an “insider attack” in which Afghan forces turn their weapons on Western troops they are supposed to be working with.

After more than 10 years of war, militants are capable of striking Western targets in

the heart of the capital, and foreign forces worry that Afghan police and military forces they are supposed to work with can suddenly turn on them.

The policewoman approached her victim as he was walking in the heavily guarded police chief’s compound in a bustling area of Kabul. She then drew a pistol and shot him once, a senior police official said.

The police complex is close to the Interior Ministry where in February, two American officers were shot dead at close range at a time anger gripped the country over the burning of copies of the Muslim holy book at a NATO base.

“She is now under interrogation. She is crying and saying ‘what have I done’,” said the official, of the police officer who worked in a section of the Interior Ministry responsible for gender awareness issues.

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

9

World Japanese women enamoured of ‘Mr Right’ love game apps AFTER being saved from kidnapping, you discover you’re the daughter of the prime minister and your life is in imminent danger. You are introduced to a handful of handsome bodyguards, and must decide who you want to protect you 24 hours a day.

That’s the scenario for one of several role-playing “love games” currently popular in Japan, allowing women to safely spend time with their choice of Mr. Right without actually dealing with a live person - even as marriage rates in Japan fall.

“In the game, you’re the lone woman, and the attention of all the guys is on you,” said “han-kura,” a 37-yearold office worker who uses that alias on a blog dedicated to these games.

The role-playing games are based on characters typical of Japanese manga comics, with all the men slender and elegant. The player becomes the heroine and chooses an ideal mate from several “knight in shining armour” characters, developing a relationship through the choices they make in the storyline.

The games, which can be played on smart phones, are especially popular with working single women in their 30s who feel they don’t have the time or energy for a real relationship due to their demanding work schedule, said Kana Shimada, a novelist who writes about modern women and relationships.

“It may be virtual, but if it’s ‘a boy-

friend from a game,’ then you can enjoy it whenever you want,” said Shimada. “The games that make you feel the ups and downs of a real relationship have all the elements to get women hooked.”

The video game industry has always had a strong male following, but it seems to have found a way to finally capitalise on female users.

The growth of smart phones has had a hand in this popularity through their portability and privacy, said Nozomi Wada, an editor at AppBank, a website that reviews apps.

“The biggest reason for its popularity is that users like myself can play it secretly in the palm of our hands without other people noticing it,”

Lonely church celebrates Xmas in Pakistan Protection offered by local Army

Pakistani Christian men arrive at a church in South Waziristan

By Mehreen Zahra-Malik THIS Christmas, pastor Nazir Alam will stoke up a fire, lay a fresh cloth on the altar and welcome parishioners as they arrive at his church in Waziristan, a Pakistani tribal area known as an al-Qaeda haven.

“The lights are all up, and the choir boys are ready. The church is looking its best,” said 60-year-old Alam, a former missionary who has celebrated his last ten Christmases there. “There’s not much left to do but to pray and rejoice.”

Outsiders might see little cause for joy. Pakistan is the sixth most dangerous country in the world for minorities, says London-based watchdog Minority Rights Group International.

Christians, Shiite Muslims and Ahmadis are victims of a rising tide of deadly attacks.

But Alam’s church, and the homes of most of his 200 parishioners, are nestled inside a Pakistani army base in South Waziristan, a mountainous region that was a hotbed of militancy until a military offensive in 2009.

“When the US went into Kabul, things became bad for everyone. But we are safe here.

The army protects us,” says Shaan Masih, who helps clean the church and likes to play the drums and sing carols.

For two decades, the church was little more than a room and the tiny community worshipped there under light protection. In 2009, the army set up a base in South Waziristan as part of the offensive against the insurgency and invited the church inside.

“It was a longstanding demand of the community to be given a proper space,” Col. Atif Ali, a military officer, told Reuters during a rare trip to the region arranged by the military.

Many of the Christians work for the army in clerical or domestic positions. So far, they have been sheltered from the bombings, raids and drone strikes, violence that rocks the region on an almost daily basis.

Less than a 160km away lies North Waziristan on the border with Afghanistan and one of the last areas controlled by the Pakistani Taliban.

The small blue and white church building has been freshly painted and the main hall covered in new ceramic tiles. A small chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

“Now it is much easier and convenient for them to worship. The new building is close to their homes. They are very happy with us,” he said.

While Christians elsewhere in the country are lowering their profile, community members here mix freely with their Muslim neighbours.

Their children attend the same schools and neighbours go to each others’ weddings and funerals.

When five Christians from Waziristan were kidnapped by the Taliban on their way to the plains of Punjab in 2009, pressure from the army and the community helped free them.

“There are lots of Muslims in our neighbourhood,” said 30-year-old Saleem Masih, another church helper. “We take part in each other’s happiness and sorrow. Christmas is coming. You’ll see the Muslims will join us.”

said “han-kura.”

About 10 makers continuously roll out new versions with additional characters and storylines for their popular titles. The difference between a hit and a bust is how deeply the player can immerse into the game, said Wada.

“If it’s a fantasy theme, then it has to be downright illusionary,” added Wada. “You wouldn’t want your imagination to be shattered in the middle of the game.”

And how do the games differ?

Tsutani said that in the US version of A Prince’s Proposal, the men have facial features with more depth and realism - and the heroine is more assertive.

US gun lobby defends call for armed guards at all schools THE leader of the US gun lobby has defended his call for placing armed guards in all American schools despite withering criticism of the group’s response to the massacre of 20 first-graders in Newtown, Connecticut.

“If it’s crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy,” National Rifle Association Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre told NBC’s Meet the Press.

The NRA waited a week before issuing a statement on the December 14 killings of the children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary

School.

LaPierre’s speech on Friday in Washington drew protesters and stoked the fierce debate over US gun laws in a nation with a culture of gun ownership and a history of school shootings and other gun violence.

The proposal to place armed guards in every school, an idea the NRA has long supported, drew the most criticism.

The congressman from the district of Newtown, Chris Murphy, tweeted: “Walking out of another funeral and was handed the NRA transcript, the most revolting, tone deaf statement I’ve ever seen.”

WORLD TODAY Red alert over volcano CHILE has issued a red alert over a volcano on the border with Argentina that has become increasingly active.

The Copahue volcano, which sits in the Andes cordillera started spewing ash and gas on Saturday.

Officials issued a yellow and orange alert at first, but Chile’s emergency office ONEMI raised that yesterday in the Biobio region after it registered seismic activity on Saturday night and a cloud of ash billowed almost a mile high.

Dead passenger A 65-year-old man thought to be sleeping while sitting upright on a Berlin underground train as it cross-crossed the German capital was actually dead, police said on Sunday.

The man was found in the underground train line that runs all night at 5:45am when a rail worker tried wake the man. Medics were called in but could only pronounce the man dead.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

10

Business Peugeot manager rules out merger with GM’s Opel PSA Peugeot Citroen has ruled out a merger with General Motors’ Opel division as part of their alliance, Autogazette reported yesterday, citing a Peugeot manager.

“This has never been an issue during the discussions,” the magazine quoted Olivier Dardart, head of the French carmaker’s German operations as saying. “The point (of the alliance) is not to reduce personnel.”

Since its announcement in February, the planned alliance between Peugeot and GM has drawn investor scepticism as the French automaker’s finances worsen, prompting thousands of domestic job cuts under close supervision by Socialist President Francois Hollande’s government.

The two manufacturers on Thursday scrapped plans for a joint mid-size car programme, though signed agreements on three other vehicle projects and engine co-operation.

Tough trading puts firms at risk A SWATHE of British retailers are at risk of going under in the new year after tough Christmas trading conditions have left nearly 140 firms in a critical condition, a report warned yesterday.

Consumer cutbacks and the increasing popularity of online retailers have seen a sharp rise in the number of firms in financial distress, according to research by business recovery group Begbies Traynor.

The study found almost 140 firms were in a critical condition in the fourth quarter, meaning they are on the brink of collapse, while more than 13,700 were in “significant” distress - up 35 per cent during the three months to December 17.

With quarterly rent payment due on Christmas Day, there are fears that many will be pushed into insolvency.

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

0.8191 0.8109

US Dollar

1.3247 1.3115

Australian $

1.2823 1.2507

Canadian Dol.

1.3254 1.2926

Swiss Fr

1.2150 1.2006

Denmark Kr

7.5547 7.3681

Japan Yen

111.8421 110.5080

Norwegian Kr

7.4441 7.2603

Polish Zloty

4.1292

4.0272

Romanian Leu 4.5375 4.3595 Russian Ruble 41.1632 40.1468 Swedish Kr

8.7511 8.5351

UK house prices in 2013 ‘will fall 1%’

By Vicky Shaw

Perceived tax injustice has dented the popularity of Greece’s pro-bailout ruling coalition, led by Antonis Samaras

Greek drive against tax dodgers flagging Targets set by the EU and IMF are still far from being met

By Harry Papachristou GREECE’S drive to crack down on flagrant tax evaders such as doctors and lawyers is flagging and must be reinvigorated, a report by the European Union and International Monetary Fund said yesterday.

Athens has collected just half the tax debts and conducted less than half the audits it was supposed to under the targets set by its lenders, according to a survey by the country’s international lenders which was compiled in November.

“The mission expresses concern that authorities are falling idle and that the drive to fight tax evasion by the very wealthy and the free professions is at risk of weakening,” it said.

By the end of September authorities had conducted 440 checks on suspected wealthy tax evaders, compared with a full-year target of 1,300.

About €1.1 billion in overdue taxes

have been collected so far, less than the €2 billion targeted.

The lenders urged Greece to improve tax collection and focus on the cases most likely to produce results.

“Doctors and lawyers are a good place to start,” they said.

Tax evasion is endemic in Greece, making it more difficult for the government to shore up its finances under its €240 billion international bailout.

With revenues falling short and the austerity-hit country obliged to meet its fiscal targets when its economy is shrinking for a fifth year, Athens is hiking taxes on middle-class wage earners who can’t hide their income.

After a Christmas recess, parliament is expected to pass a new tax law which aims to raise about €2.5 billion over the next two years as part of a €13.5 billion austerity package.

A second piece of long-delayed legislation to crack down on tax evasion will follow later in the year, the gov-

ernment said.

Perceived tax injustice has dented the popularity of Greece’s pro-bailout ruling coalition. The radical leftist Syriza party, which opposes austerity and advocates a big and immediate debt writedown, has taken the lead in almost all the opinion polls published since a June election.

Improving Greece’s slow tax administration and justice is a key objective of the bailout. According to the report, individuals and companies have racked up €53 billion of tax debts to the government, a figure that corresponds to about a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product.

But just 15-20 per cent of that amount can be collected, the EU/ IMF said, given that a large number of these tax cases are old and the debtors have already defaulted. According to a list of tax sinners published last year, Greece’s biggest tax debtor was state-run railway company OSE.

Freezing Kyrgyzstan to sell its gas company to Gazprom

By Olga Dzyubenko KYRGYZSTAN will sell its state gas company to Russia’s Gazprom early next year, to ease a crippling energy crisis, its president said yesterday.

Gas supplies to Kyrgyzstan’s north via its leading supplier Kazakhstan have sputtered due to mounting unpaid bills.

Tens of thousands of residents of the capital Bishkek have suffered night temperatures at minus 20 Celsius.

Russia, which like the United States runs a military air base in Kyrgyzstan, is keen to strengthen its economic foothold in the mountainous country neighbouring China.

Simmering popular discontent and opposition criti-

cism of the fledgling cabinet of Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev pose a threat to the fragile peace in the impoverished nation of 5.5 million which has seen two presidents deposed in violent revolts since 2005.

“If in the first quarter of next year Gazprom becomes the owner of Kyrgyzgas, we will have no stoppages of gas supplies,” President Almazbek Atambayev told his annual news conference, referring to the Kyrgyz state-run gas company.

“As a citizen and president, I do not cling to Kyrgyzgas. I only need affordable, uninterrupted and inexpensive gas supplies to our towns.”

Kyrgyzstan also wants the Russian gas giant to invest no

less than $500 million in modernising its gas transportation network and prospect for natural gas, Atambayev said.

“Gazprom accepted all these conditions and said: ‘We want to buy the entire 100-per cent stake (in Kyrgyzgas)’,” he said.

Atambayev said the state and its social fund, which is in charge of pensions and other welfare, jointly held 87 per cent in Kyrgyzgas. “So I told them (Gazprom) that they would have to buy out the remainder from minority stake holders.”

In September, Moscow agreed to write off nearly $500 million in Kyrgyz debts in return for a package of military and energy deals with Bishkek.

In October, Atambayev

took part in a ground-breaking ceremony in northern Kyrgyzstan, where Russian state-controlled power producer RusHydro will build four power stations by 2016 .

In a clear reference to his nationalist opponents at home who fear Russia’s growing role, Atambayev said: “We should not behave like a dog in the manger. We only want our citizens to have gas, electricity and heating in their homes.”

Kazakhstan supplies 50,000 cubic metres of natural gas per hour to Kyrgyzstan at $224 per 1,000 cubic metres.

Next-door Uzbekistan supplies 8,700 cubic metres per hour to southern Kyrgyzstan, charging $290 per 1,000 cubic metres.

HOUSE prices across the UK will edge down one per cent during 2013 as the London market shows signs of cooling, property analysts have said.

Prices fell 0.1 per cent month-on-month in December, marking the sixth month in a row that this has happened, and average prices ended the year 0.3 per cent lower than a year ago, Hometrack said.

It predicts that a reluctance by struggling families to take on more debt will continue to act as a drag on the housing market next year and prices will be more volatile with continued low sales.

Hometrack’s monthly figures for December show prices were flat in London and East Anglia, fell 0.1 per cent in the Midlands, the South and Yorkshire and Humberside, dropped 0.2 per cent in the North West and Wales and by 0.3 per cent in the North East.

One in five postcodes in England and Wales recorded price increases over the past year but prices have fallen across two-thirds of the country.

London has had strong demand from wealthy overseas buyers and consistently outperforms other regions, seeing prices rise in seven out of 10 postcodes this year. Property prices are now 10 per cent higher than at the peak of the market in 2007.

But price growth in London, vital to keeping average prices up in the rest of the country, is predicted to slow over next year, with a 2 per cent annual increase pencilled in.

Richard Donnell, director of research at Hometrack, said: “Affordability constraints and a general unwillingness by households to take on debt will continue to act as a drag on the housing market in 2013, at least until such time as the economic outlook sees a clear improvement.

“Hometrack forecasts that average prices will remain under slow downward pressure, falling by 1 per cent in the 12 months to December 2013 against a backdrop of continued low turnover and greater price volatility.”

Around 912,000 sales should take place next year, well below the Council of Mortgage Lenders forecast that transactions will pick up to around 950,000, Hometrack said.

Donnell said central London price growth looks set to slow, following the introduction of a 7 per cent stamp duty rate placed on homes worth over £2 million in March.

“As has been the case over the last three years, the prospects for the London market will have an important bearing on overall house price growth in 2013,” he said.

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

11

Opinion

Welcome return to the spirit of Christmas... but at what cost?

ALTHOUGH there is probably a significant number of people in Cyprus who have been left untouched by the economic crisis, the vast majority have felt it in one way or another but this has not stopped an overwhelming mobilisation in all districts to help those less fortunate.

A few years ago before Demetris Grinchofias began to re-make families here into a 21st century image of The Waltons – a close-knit American TV family struggling through the Great Depression - Christmas was a time of indulgence and materialism with little thought for those less fortunate.

There wasn’t much need to. The number of those needing help was smaller and easier for charities and the Church to handle. Poverty was not in your face. Now it is, and the response to lessening it for others has been tremendous.

This Christmas thousands of needy families have been given the chance to have some kind of Christmas thanks to the hard work by municipalities, communities, volunteers, the Church, and ordinary members of the public, who even if they cannot afford to give money themselves, have gone out of their way to buy a few extra items at the supermarket to donate.

It’s funny how the less people have, the more they seem inclined to give.

A study in the US in 2010 found that those on the lower-income levels are more likely to give and be charitable than their higher paid counterparts. The reasoning was empathy.

Those who are feeling the pinch themselves can sympathise more easily with others in the same boat, and this is more pronounced during times like Christmas – traditionally a time of giving.

But the price paid for this re-found ‘Christmas spirit’ has been unacceptably high – poverty lines, soup kitchens, joblessness, hungry children – while the society of ‘social justice’ Christofias pledged to create is nowhere to be found while he’s sitting pretty wanting for nothing this Christmas.

We can only hope that by this time next year, our new government will have put us back on the road to recovery somewhat at least, and that Christmas 2013 will be a slightly better one for those families depending on charity this year just to get by.

In the meantime we wish all our readers, if not a prosperous Christmas, then at least one where we can be thankful for what we do have. Instead of counting presents under the tree, we might do better to count our blessings, even if the Grinch has stolen Christmas. Because no matter how badly off we are, or think we are, there is always someone out there who is worse off.

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.

The smartest ways to save the world Comment Bjorn Lomborg

I

F YOU had $75 billion to spend over the next four years and your goal was to advance human welfare, especially in the developing world, how could you get the most value for your money? That is the question that I posed to a panel of five top economists, including four Nobel laureates, in the Copenhagen Consensus 2012 project. The panel members were chosen for their expertise in prioritisation and their ability to use economic principles to compare policy choices.

Over the past year, more than 50 economists prepared research on nearly 40 investment proposals in areas ranging from armed conflicts and natural disasters to hunger, education, and global warming. The teams that drafted each paper identified the costs and benefits of the smartest ways to spend money within their area. In early May, many of them traveled to Denmark to convince the expert panel of the power of their investment proposals.

The panel’s findings reveal that, if spent smartly, $75 billion – just a 15% increase in current aid spending – could go a long way to solving many of the world’s challenges.

The single most important investment, according to the panel, would step up the fight against malnutrition. New research for the project by John Hoddinott of the International Food Policy Research Institute and Peter Orazem of Iowa State University focuses on an investment of $3 billion annually.

This would purchase a bundle of interventions, including micronutrient provision, complementary foods, treatment for worms and diarrheal diseases, and behavior-change programmes, all of which could reduce chronic undernutrition by 36% in developing countries.

In total, such an investment would help more than 100 million children to start their lives without stunted growth or malnourishment.

And comprehensive research now shows that such interventions would stay with them for life: their bodies and muscles would grow faster, their cognitive abilities would improve, and they would pay more attention in school (and stay there longer). Studies show that, decades down the line, these children would be more productive, make more money, have fewer kids, and begin a virtuous circle of dramatic development.

Such opportunities come sharply into focus when you ask some of the world’s best minds to find the biggest bang for the buck. Micronutrient provision is rarely cel-

Just $300 million would prevent 300,000 child deaths with the benefits 35 times higher than the costs ebrated, but it makes a world of difference.

Likewise, just $300 million would prevent 300,000 child deaths if it were used to strengthen the Global Fund’s Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria financing mechanism, which makes combination therapies cheaper for poor countries. Put in economic terms, the benefits are 35 times higher than the costs – even without taking into account that it safeguards our most effective malaria drug from future drug resist-

‘If spent smartly, $75 billion – just a 15% increase in current aid spending – could go a long way to solving many of the world’s challenges’

ance. Later this year, donors will decide whether to renew this facility. The panel’s findings should help to persuade them to do so. For a similar amount, 300 million children could be dewormed in schools. By not sharing their food with intestinal parasites, they, too, would become more alert, stay longer in school, and grow up to be more productive adults – another cause that needs much more public attention.

Expanding tuberculosis treatment and childhood immunisation coverage are two other health investments that the expert panel endorses. Likewise, a $100 million annual increase in spending to develop a vaccine against HIV/AIDS would generate substantial benefits in the future.

As people in the developing world live longer, they are increasingly experiencing chronic disease; indeed, half of all deaths this year will be from chronic diseases in Third World countries.

Here, the panel finds that spending just $122 million could achieve complete Hepatitis B vaccine coverage and avert about 150,000 annual deaths from the disease. Getting low-cost drugs for acute heart attacks to developing countries would cost just $200 million, and prevent 300,000 deaths.

The expert panel’s findings point to a compelling need to invest roughly $2 billion annually in research and development to increase agricultural output. Not only would this reduce hunger by increasing food production and lower-

ing food prices; it would also protect biodiversity, because higher crop productivity would mean less deforestation. That, in turn, would help in the fight against climate change, because forests store carbon. When it comes to climate change, the experts recommend spending a small amount – roughly $1 billion – to investigate the feasibility of cooling the planet through geo-engineering options. This would allow us to understand better the technology’s risks, costs, and benefits. Moreover, the research could potentially give us low-cost, effective insurance against global warming.

Another priority for investment is the establishment of effective early-warning systems for natural disasters in developing countries. For less than $1 billion a year, this would alleviate both direct and long-term economic damage, possibly securing some $35 billion in benefits.

The $75 billion budget chosen for the Copenhagen Consensus project is large enough to make a real difference, but small enough that we must choose – as in the real world – the projects that can achieve the most good.

The expert panel’s list shows us that there are many smart solutions waiting to be implemented.

Bjørn Lomborg, author of The Skeptical Environmentalist and Cool It, is head of the Copenhagen Consensus Centre, and adjunct professor at Copenhagen Business School © Project Syndicate 2012

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

12

Showbiz

Babs goes on ‘guilt trip’ with Seth

Streisand and Rogen are driving the road-trip genre into new territories with their new mother-son comedy

ROAD-trip movies have been dominated by teenagers on wild adventures or Hangover style bro-mances, but Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen are driving the genre into new territories with mother-son comedy The Guilt Trip to usher in the holiday season.

The Guilt Trip, which hits US theatres this week, follows struggling novice inventor Andy (Seth Rogen), who is guilted in to bringing his mother on a workrelated road-trip across the country.

Streisand, 70, who broke out as an actress in 1968’s comedy Funny Girl, returns to her comedic roots as Joyce, Andy’s overbearing mother, who becomes closer to her son over the duration of their tense and comedic adventures on the road.

The actress told reporters at a recent press conference that it was her son

Jason Gould who convinced her to do the project after reading the script with her, and Streisand found a deeper connection to the story.

‘YOU TRY AND COMPENSATE’ “Mothers develop guilt trips,” Streisand said. “(When my own son was young) I was working a lot and I felt guilty as a parent that I cannot pick (up) my son everyday from school, bake him cookies, that kind of thing. And so you try and compensate.”

“I thought it was interesting to investigate this - trying to be his friend versus a mother ... this movie, it hit on all those things that I thought I could explore.”

Rogen, 30, also related closely to the mother-son storyline, saying that while

he has a “good relationship” with his own mom, even she can drive him “crazy” sometimes. “That dynamic where your mother is trying and the more she tries, the more it bugs you, the more it bugs you, the more she tries....All that is very, at times, real to my relationship with my mother,” Rogen said.

Streisand, who is one of the few actresses to win a Tony, Emmy, Grammy and Oscar award over her six-decade career, last took a leading role in 1996’s The Mirror Has Two Faces, which she also directed and produced.

With the exception of a supporting role as Ben Stiller’s mother in 2004’s Meet The Fockers and 2010’s Little Fockers, Streisand has stayed out of the spotlight in recent years, and attributes that as one of the keys to her long-standing success.

Lohan furious at producers’ clip choice

Taylor and Harry enjoy hot-tubbing at ski resort

LINDSAY Lohan is reportedly furious with Scary Movie 5 producers.

A new preview clip for the movie released last Friday shows the troubled 26-yearold actress screaming in horror while watching a fake news clip of her probation being revoked but Lindsay claims the clip, which mirrors her real life troubles, wasn’t approved by Lindsay.

According to gossip website TMZ: “Producers assured Lindsay she’d have the final say on what jokes went in ... so she was livid when she saw the probation joke instead.

“Lindsay feels this final joke was meant as payback from producers - all because they blame her for holding up the shoot and trashing her trailer.

“She plans to speak to her team this week over the alleged breach of contract.”

The working script for the movie is said to make fun of Lindsay - who recently had her probation revoked after it was claimed she lied to police over a car accident in June and police and prosecutors are hoping she will be sent to prison - and her multiple brushes with the law.

It also calls for her to poke fun at her public persona in the opening scenes of the movie, during which she is lying in bed making a sex tape with Anger Management star Charlie Sheen.

Loved-up duo savour a pre-Xmas getaway TAYLOR Swift and Harry Styles have been enjoying the hot tub at their ski resort.

The One Direction heartthrob and the ‘Love Story’ singer are on a romantic vacation at the Canyon Ride ski resort in Park City, Utah and a fellow holidaymaker who spotted the pair, revealed they are making good use of the resort’s facilities.

She tweeted: “[Harry] was holding hands with tswift. I saw him first in hot tub outside my condo then on the streets in downtown but I was in a bus (sic).”

Taylor, 23, is said to be so smitten with the 18-year-old singer that she is considering buying a country retreat near his mother Anne’s home in Cheshire, North West England.

A source said: “Harry and Taylor are crazy about each other. They just got back to LA together, after sharing a week-long vacation in England.

“While they were in the UK, they had a chance to drive up to Harry’s mom’s place

‘Tis the season: Taylor and Harry (L, R, above) and (top right) Selena and Justin in Cheshire and Taylor fell in love with the gorgeous countryside.

“They spent a day in Holmes Chapel, with Harry’s mom Anne and his sister Gemma, before driving up to the Lake District. Taylor would love a really old, thick-walled cot-

tage with a fire place.”

Meanwhile, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have also been savouring a romantic ski trip at the same ski resort as Harry and Taylor.

The on/off couple reconciled for a break at the Canyon Ride resort and witnesses at the

airport said Selena and Justin couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

A source told RadarOnline: “They were very affectionate with each other. They were kissing on and off and they just sat together and talked and looked totally in love.”

The pair flew home separately as they are set to spend Christmas Day with their respective families.

Justin, 18, has reportedly been treating Selena, 20, like a princess since they reconciled and was lavishing attention on her at the recent Jingle Ball in Philadelphia.

An insider said: “Justin is crazy about Selena. It’s just so obvious with the way he looks at her. Justin had a lot of people wanting to take pictures with him and talk to him at the Jingle Ball ‘meet and greet’ after the show and he just made sure to include Selena in everything ...

It’s like he really made an effort to make her feel like his princess.”

Taylor is reportedly responsible for the reunion after encouraging Selena to forget about her “trust issues” with Justin.

Demi, Ashton can’t agree over settlement Rihanna donates $1.75m in gran’s memory DEMI Moore and Ashton Kutcher’s divorce has stalled over money.

The former couple called time on their marriage in November 2011, but Ashton only filed divorce papers last Friday and reports suggest they cannot agree on a settlement.

Kutcher has hired high-powered celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser, according to the initial filing.

A source told gossip website TMZ: “The sticking point in the divorce has been that Demi wanted the same type of settlement from Ashton that she got from [her former husband] Bruce Willis.”

While the details of Bruce and Demi’s settlement have never been made public, it is believed the 50-year-old actress’ share was extremely generous.

According to the documents filed in Los Angeles, Ashton, 34, has cited “irreconcilable

differences” as the reason behind their split and is not seeking spousal support.

The divorce papers suggest that their property rights will be worked out later.

“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton,” Moore had said in a statement at the time of their split.

“As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life,” the statement had said.

Ashton and Demi, who were married in September 2005, have no children together but he is reportedly still close with her three daughters Rumer, 24, Scout, 21, and Tallulah, 18.

He is currently dating Ted star Mila Kunis, who he first met when they co-starred on sitcom That ’70s show.

RIHANNA has donated $1.75 million to a Barbados hospital in memory of her late grandmother Dolly.

The “Diamond” singer was devastated when her beloved granny Clara ‘Dolly’ Braithwaite lost her cancer battle in June 2012 and visited the radiotherapy department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, which is to be renamed the Clara Braithwaite Centre for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, this past Saturday with her mother Monica Fenty and Dolly’s husband Lionel to make the generous donation.

She told E! News: “This was my way of giving back to Barbados, in a form of philanthropy, by assisting the QEH in its continued modernisation programme...I believe that this will have a huge impact on the people of Barbados. This was all done

to save lives or at least extend them.”

Rihanna is spending Christmas in her native Barbados with her family and was recently spotted supporting local businesses by picking up trinkets in a number of small shops on the Caribbean island.

The ‘Diamonds’ singer was mobbed by locals as she browsed boutiques in Bridgetown.

Her shopping spree comes just days after she admitted she was feeling the pressure to pick up gifts for her family.

She said: “I’ve not started, not a single thing yet. I’m so drenched in work for my new album Unapologetic ... The most difficult is my little brother because he’s getting to an age where toys aren’t fun anymore.

“What shall I get my bro? Any 16 year olds, tweet me.”

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

13

Environment UK’s Met Office sees 2013 likely to be one of warmest on record

By Nina Chestney GLOBAL temperatures are forecast to be 0.57 degrees above the longterm average next year, making 2013 one of the warmest years on record, Britain’s Met Office said.

“It is very likely that 2013 will be one of the warmest 10 years in the record which goes back to 1850, and it is likely to be warmer than 2012,” the Met Office said in its annual forecast for the coming year.

Next year was expected to be between 0.43 and 0.71 degrees Celsius warmer than the long-term global average of 14 degrees (1961-1990), with a best estimate of around 0.57, it said.

Its forecast is based on its own research as well as data from the University of East Anglia, the NASA Goddard Institute of Space Studies and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Rising temperatures could be

due to the natural variability of the climate and global warming from increasing greenhouse gas emissions, Dave Britton, Met Office forecaster, told Reuters.

A warmer global average temperature does not necessarily mean every region of the world will get hotter, as regional climate variability produces different effects in different parts of the world, he added.

Eleven of the 12 hottest years on record have occurred since 2001,

according to data from the World Meteorological Organisation.

Last year is ranked the warmest on record, having been 0.54 degrees above the long-term average, while 2012 is ranked the ninth warmest, with a rise of 0.45 degree Celsius.

Many scientists blame increasing temperatures on man-made greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels and say they can lead to rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

Global carbon dioxide emissions

hit a record high in 2011, led by China, the International Energy Agency said in May. This year has already seen several examples of extreme weather events, such as superstorm Sandy which hit the east coast of the United States in October. Parts of the United States also experienced their worst drought in more than half a century this summer.

Britain had been suffering a drought before a record wet spring and early summer.

West Antarctica is warming fast, may quicken sea level rise WEST Antarctica is warming almost twice as fast as previously believed, adding to worries of a thaw that would add to sea level rise from San Francisco to Shanghai, a new study shows.

Annual average temperatures at the Byrd research station in West Antarctica had risen 2.4 degrees Celsius since the 1950s, one of the fastest gains on the planet and three times the global average in a changing climate, it said.

The unexpectedly big increase adds to fears the ice sheet is vulnerable to thawing. West Antarctica holds enough ice to raise world sea levels by at least 3.3 metres if it ever all melted, a process that would take centuries.

“The western part of the ice sheet is experiencing nearly twice as much warming as previously thought,” Ohio State University said

in a statement of the study led by its geography professor David Bromwich.

The warming “raises further concerns about the future contribution of Antarctica to sea level rise,” it said. Higher summer temperatures raised risks of a surface melt of ice and snow even though most of Antarctica is in a yearround deep freeze.

Low-lying nations from Bangladesh to Tuvalu are especially vulnerable to sea level rise, as are coastal cities from London to Buenos Aires. Sea levels have risen by about 20cm in the past century.

The rise in temperatures in the remote region was comparable to that on the Antarctic Peninsula to the north, which snakes up towards South America, according to the US-based experts writing in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Japanese farmers harvest rice - less land will be needed for crops in the future, the report said

‘Peak farmland’ here Food crop area could shrink by 10%, double size of France

By Alister Doyle THE amount of land needed to grow crops worldwide is at a peak and an area more than twice the size of France can return to nature by 2060 due to rising yields and slower population growth, a group of experts has said.

The report, conflicting with UN studies that say more cropland will be needed in coming decades to avert hunger and price spikes as the world population rises beyond seven billion, said humanity had reached what it called “Peak Farmland”.

More crops for use as biofuels and a shift towards more meat consumption in emerging economies such as China or India - demanding more cropland to feed livestock would not offset a fall from the peak driven by improved yields, it calculated.

If correct, the land freed up from crop farming would be some 10 per cent of what is currently in use - equivalent to 2.5 times the total area of France, Europe’s biggest country bar Russia, or more than all the arable land now farmed in China.

“We believe that humanity

has reached Peak Farmland, and that a large net global restoration of land to nature is ready to begin,” said Jesse Ausubel, director of the Programme for the Human Environment at the Rockefeller University in New York.

“Happily, the cause is not exhaustion of arable land, as many had feared, but rather moderation of population and tastes and ingenuity of farmers,” he wrote in a speech about the study he led in the journal Population and Development Review.

The report projected that almost 150 million hectares (370 million acres) could be restored to natural conditions such as forest by 2060.

That is also equivalent to 1.5 times the area of Egypt or 10 times Iowa.

It said the global arable land and permanent crop areas rose from 1.37 billion hectares (3.38 billion acres) in 1961 to 1.53 billion (3.78 billion acres) in 2009. It projected a fall to 1.38 billion hectares (3.41 billion acres) in 2060.

A June 2012 report by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), however, said that a extra net 70 million hectares of land worldwide would have to be

cultivated in 2050 compared to now: “Land and water resources are now much more stressed than in the past and are becoming scarcer,” it said, referring to factors such as soil degradation and salinisation.

The news study admits to making many assumptions - rising crop yields, slowing population growth, a relatively slow rise in the use of crops to produce biofuels, moderate rises in meat consumption - that could all skew the outcome if wrong.

It also does not factor in major disruptions from climate change that UN studies say could disrupt farm output with rising temperatures, less predictable rains, more floods, droughts, desertification and heatwaves.

Still, it points out that both China and India have already spared vast tracts of land in recent decades.

The authors said that the idea of “Peak Farmland” was borrowed from the phrase “Peak Oil”, the possibility that world use of petroleum is at its maximum.

The study also projected that world corn yields would rise at a rate of 1.7 per cent a year until 2060, against a

1.8 per cent annual gain from 1983-2011. That would raise world corn yields by 2060 to roughly the current US average, it said.

It said that biofuels were a wild card in calculations. The study concluded that nonfood crop production - for instance not just sugar or corn used as fuel but also the likes of cotton and tobacco - was likely to exceed growth in food supply until 2060.

Growth of all crops would outstrip food supply by 0.4 per cent a year until 2060, up from 0.24 per cent a year from 1961-2010, it projected.

That indicated a continued, but not spectacular, rise for biofuels.

Changing diets were also a big uncertainty as the world population headed towards about 10 billion and grappled with simultaneous problems of obesity and malnourishment. But there were some encouraging signs, the report found.

Meat consumption in China was only rising moderately, far below rates of economic growth. “Fortunately for the sparing of cropland,” it said of world trends, “Meat consumption is rising only half as fast as affluence.”

Norway seeks to slow the world’s deforestation as climate ‘first aid’ NORWAY, which has led developed nations by investing billions of dollars to slow tropical deforestation, has announced plans to step up its efforts as part of “first aid” to slow climate change.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, whose country is rich thanks to offshore oil and gas, said new measures to slow global warming were needed now because a new UN-led climate deal is due to be agreed only in 2015 and enter into force from 2020.

“In the meantime we must give the climate first aid,” he said.

“The government will step up its efforts to slow deforestation and work to cut emissions that give the greatest climate effect in the shortest time,” he

said. Stoltenberg did not, however, announce fresh investments or targets.

Deforestation, often clearing land for farms, accounts for about 17 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from human sources. Forests, from the Congo to the Amazon, soak up carbon dioxide from the air as they grow and release it when they rot or burn.

Norway has been the most generous nation in giving aid to slow tropical deforestation with annual investments worth $500 million in recent years, funded from its own vast fossil fuel revenues.

It has $1 billion programmes in both Brazil and Indonesia and smaller projects in nations including Guyana and Tanzania.

Ice-dwelling seals to get US endangered species act listings TWO species of far-north seals, victims of disappearing sea ice and dwindling snowpack in their Arctic habitat, will be granted protections under the Endangered Species Act, federal officials have announced.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ordered “threatened” listings for populations of ringed seals and bearded seals in the waters off northern Alaska, in parts of Russia and other regions of the Arctic.

Both types of seals depend on sea ice and snow, which is becoming scarce in the Arctic region during the nonwinter months, NOAA officials said in a written statement.

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesda

14

Reportage My inspiring trip t heroes rescuing ch

Evgeny Lebedev on how a mission with Unicef into the heart of darkn militia led to heartbreak for those left behind but joy for one boy Central African Republic Army Forces (FACA) soldiers in a military camp in Birao

Childhood regained: a rescued 11-year-old at U

Role reversal: Jasmine Gardner finds herself in front of Will

W

E MAY have arrived in the Central African Republic by Air France rather than steamboat, but the feeling of entering the Heart of Darkness was uncanny. Nighttime descents to unfamiliar airports usually see me craning at the window to make out the streetlight-studded roads, docks, an illuminated landmark or two. But not the CAR’s capital of Bangui. All you get here is syrupy blackness. The plane door opens and you’re hit by a black tidal wave of heat and humidity.

‘What have I got myself into here?’ you wonder.

I’d been invited by Unicef to explore and publicise the charity’s work liberating and rehabilitating child soldiers.

Most people have never even heard of the CAR. It has, possibly, one of the least imaginative names on the planet. But its people live in a world of terrifying high drama - a constant fear of conflict and revolution. For its children, that means an ever present threat of being taken by militias and forced to fight.

In the rundown relic of an

airport terminal we were assaulted by a chaos of barging, shoving and shouting, all under the watchful gaze of portraits of the latest leader, President Bozize, shaking hands with Nelson Mandela.

Photoshopped? I wondered.

A smattering of dodgy looking westerners were in the throng. Probably there to get their hands on the diamonds which are a blessing in potential but a curse in practice for this part of Africa.

We spent that night in the marbled luxury of the Ledger Plaza hotel. Built with money from Colonel Gaddafi, this seemed an obscene oasis of five star luxury in the middle of the darkness. The CAR is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranked 179 out of 187 by the UN’s Human Development Index. We didn’t venture into the gloomy streets of Bangui that night.

It seemed too sombre: the day before, the city had been celebrating its liberation anniversary when a boat full of people on the river sank, killing many.

From the fluffy bathrobes of the Ledger, we headed the

next morning to a very different scene - the deep, rural bushland near the northern border with Chad. Our transport this time was a twin-prop plane piloted by a jolly Bulgarian a long way from home.

Despite many being only 13 or 14, they talked so maturely of their worries about their friends still being forced to fight We landed on a dirt track airstrip flanked with low vegetation on a rust-red soil. This was where Unicef has its transitional centre - a base where

it shelters the child soldiers it has rescued and helps them recover from their mental and physical scars.

Our welcome was a generous one: the kids played this wonderful party game with us. You hold hands in a circle and have to mirror the movements of your rival player as they dance around the group.

It was so moving even to my cold Russian heart to see the smiles on the faces of children playing who, until recently, had been carrying guns, shooting people, or, in the case of the girls, used as sex slaves.

Funny how travel has the power to throw you totally off balance. Yesterday, just five days after that dance in the village, I was giving a speech to the similarly charming and enthusiastic teenagers of Acton High School in London and reeling from the thought of how different their lives were.

We chatted to the former child soldiers after the game ended. Despite many being only 13 or 14, they talked so maturely of their worries about their friends still be-

ing forced to fight, their fears about their own futures, their hopes of making something positive of their lives. What better role model could they have than Ishmael Beah?

Here is a man, in his early thirties like me, who, from being a child soldier, was rescued by Unicef. He escaped the conflict of Sierra Leone and eventually made his way to New York, university and the American dream. He is now a published author and works as a UN ambassador on child soldiers.

He accompanied me on my visit and talked me through just what these kids had been through. Despite his awful stories about his time as a fighter, being injured, killing and maiming others, he is calm and peaceful. His experiences were clearly familiar to this new generation of child soldiers. But you could see the hope lighting up their faces as he told them they too could have a bright future away from the world of war and bloodshed.

The next day held far more danger in store. We travelled in a small convoy of UN ve-

hicles way out into the bush.

The road was so diabolical it took more than three hours to travel 50km. We were heading to a village which was taken over by the rebel CJPJ group in 2011 (the country’s rebel

A CJPJ general during negotia

ay, December 25, 2012

15 Television

17

Crossword

18 25-28

Sport

to meet the hild soldiers ers

Unicef goodwill ambassador Ishmael Beah

ness to free children held by a rebel who has regained his freedom Combatants from the Popular Army for the Restoration of the Republic and the Democracy (APRD) in a burnt out house

Unicef’s transition centre

group names are an alphabet soup straight out of Life of Brian - a jumble of comically inappropriate words generally including “justice” and “peace”) It was as remote as you

ations to release child soldiers

could imagine, this village. No water, no electricity, no telephones. Children who grow up there have no idea that an outside world exists. So our arrival was clearly pretty special: all the locals, from

the mayor to mothers and babies, came out to welcome us in their brightest outfits. But what will stay with me was the sight of a mean-looking rebel slouching his way through a packed children’s playground with a loaded RPG launcher on his soldier and a grenade swinging in his other hand.

You could tell how the pecking order worked. A group of military officers sat on chairs, flanked by a 10-strong praetorian guard, all armed with that ubiquitous killing machine, the Kalashnikov. In front of the top general was laid out a tablecloth with the welcoming words: “Bon Arrive”. Welcome to hell, I thought.

Armed men were everywhere. They posed carefully for our photographer in their sunglasses. Cool killers. The three Unicef negotiators set out into the village to find the youngsters we were there to rescue. Seeing these women work - Fosca Guilidori, Priscillia Hoveyda and MaryLouise Eagleton - completely changed my view of Unicef, that giant, perhaps faceless brand. With brave, calm as-

sertiveness they negotiate week in, week out with these militiamen. Clearly, the generals don’t want to let the children go. They are valuable cannon fodder – painstakingly brainwashed and then sent out in the advance parties for battle.

This leader, who I am not

preparing to leave, the general arrived in a pick-up truck filled with heavily armed soldiers. A crowd had started to swell around a man who was shouting furiously. It turned out his brother had been given one of the three, a 14-yearold girl, as his “wife”, and she was trying to escape while he

With brave, calm assertiveness they negotiate week in, week out with these militiamen allowed to name, had agreed to free a dozen. But he didn’t keep to the deal. All but three had been spirited out of the village. However, the Unicef team managed to get access to two girls and a boy. They looked terrified and wary old beyond their years – until Priscillia showed them images of their smiling friends back at the Unicef camp who had been rescued.

Sadly, though, the trio would not all make it. As we were

was away fighting. The man was appealing to the general not to let her leave.

The boss buckled under the pressure. A Unicef care worker was dragged out of the truck first. He was thrown against the side of the vehicle, punched and beaten.

Then, heartbreakingly, the two girls were pulled out too and taken away. It haunts me - the sight of those two sad girls disappearing to a fate I dread to think of.

It was disappointing to return with just one child. But we were cheered by what happened when we got back to the base. As soon as his fellow escapees saw him, they flocked around and bore him up on their shoulders as that welcome dance struck up again. He laughed so much as he was hugged, kissed and held by his fellow escapees.

His face began to look like a child’s again. But his rescue story does not end there. A few days after we had said our farewells, we learned there had been a terrible battle in the region. The CJPJ had been overrun by a rival group in a battle with many fatalities. We scrambled for news of our friends back at the camp, eventually learning that the centre had been evacuated just as the militia surged towards it.

The children are now sheltering with the Unicef team in Bangui. Nobody knows when they will be able to return but we can be sure that, thanks to Fosca, Priscillia, Mary-Louise and their colleagues, they can rebuild their childhoods elsewhere.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

16

What’s on

films

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

Times are subject to change, so check first with cinemas before you head out

NICOSIA Wreck-It Ralph (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) (in Greek) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 11.15am, 1.20pm and 3.25pm.

Tel: 7777-8383 Life of Pi (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.10pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 4) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 11.30am and 3.10pm.

Tel: 7777-8383 Arbitrage (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.50 and 10.20pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) at 7.50 and 10.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 bbit: An UnexThe Hobbit: pected Journey (12) ex (Screen 1) K-Cineplex at 7 and 10.15pm; ex (Screen 2) K-Cineplex at 5.05 and 8.15pm; ex, Mall of K-Cineplex, Cyprus (Screen 1) at 7 and m; K10.15pm; x, Mall of Cyprus Cineplex, (Screen 2) at 5.05 and 8.15pm, weekends also am. Tel: 7777at 11.30am.

8383

Seven Psychopaths (18) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 10.20pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 5) at 10.20pm.

Tel: 7777-8383 Hotel Transylvania (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) (in Greek, in 3D), weekends only at 3.20pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 1) (in Greek, in 3D), weekends only at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.20pm. Tel: 77778383 Lawless (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 7.50pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Rise of the Guardians (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) (in Greek, in 2D) at 5.05pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; KCineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) (in Greek, in 2D) at 5.05pm 5.05pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus 2D (Screen 5) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also an at 11.20am, 1.20pm and 7777-8 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383 The Twiligh Twilight Saga: Brea Breaking Dawn, Part 2 ((12) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) 5.35, 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also 3.20pm 3.20pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus at 7.45pm. Tel: 7777-8383

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

LIMASSOL Wreck-It Ralph (K) Rio 3 (in Greek) at 4.30 and 6.25pm. Tel: 25-871410; KCineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Life of Pi (K) Rio 1 at 5.30, 8 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.10pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Arbitrage (12) Rio 2 at 10.50pm; Rio 3 at 8.10pm. Tel: 25-871410; KCineplex (Screen 3) at 7.50 and 10.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Zarafa (K) Rio 2 (in Greek) at 3pm (weekends only), 4.30 and 6pm. Tel: 25-871410 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) Rio 2 at 7.45pm; Rio 3 at 10.10pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7 and 10.15pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 5.05 and 8.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Seven Psychopaths (18) Rio 4 at 8.10 and 10.10pm. Tel: 25-871410

Life of Pi (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.30, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.10pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Shadow Dancer (12) Rio 6 at 10.10pm. Tel: 25871410 Hotel Transylvania (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) (in Greek, in 3D), weekends only at 3.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Lawless (15) Rio 5 at 10.05pm. Tel: 25871410 Rise of the Guardians (K) Rio 4 (in English, in 2D) at 4.30 and 6.20pm; Rio 3 (in Greek, in 3D), weekends at 2.50pm only. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 1) (in Greek, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (12) Rio 5 at 5.30 and 7.45pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 7.45 and 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Taken 2 (12) Rio 6 at 5.40 and 7.45pm. Tel: 25-871410

LARNACA Wreck-It Ralph (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Arbitrage (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.50 and 10.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7 and 10.15pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 5.05 and 8.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Seven Psychopaths (18) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 10.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Hotel Transylvania (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) (in Greek, in 3D), weekends only at 3.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Lawless (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 7.50pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Rise of the Guardians (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) (in Greek, in 2D) at 5.05pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 5.35, 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383

PAPHOS Wreck-It Ralph (K) Rio 7 at 5.30pm. Tel: 26207000 Life of Pi (K) Rio 3 at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3pm; Rio 7 at 7.30pm; Rio 1 at 10.30pm. Tel: 26-207000 Arbitrage (12) Rio 6 at 8.30 and 10.30pm. Tel: 26-207000 Zarafa (K) Rio 5 (in Greek) at 5 and 6.30pm. Tel: 26-207000 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 9.45pm. Tel: 26-207000 Seven Psychopaths (18) Rio 4 at 7.30 and 9.45pm. Tel: 26-207000 Hotel Transylvania (K) Rio 1 (in Greek, in 3D), weekdays only at 5.30pm. Tel: 26-207000 Shadow Dancer Rio 5 at 8 and 10pm. Tel: 26207000 Rise of the Guardians (K) Rio 4 (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 11am

Hotel Transylvania

listings

Today Music Jingle Ball 2012 Revel in the spirit of holiday nightlife with Pink Noisy mixing live the biggest dance floor hits of 2012, alongside Alex Iatrou. Warm Up sets from Jenia and Sneakky mixing the finest yuletide favourites. December 25. Club Nuovo, 11 Stasinou Street, Engomi, Nicosia. 12.30am. €20/25.

Tickets available from: Octagono Kiosk, Dracumel Kiosk, Cafe PenintaPeninta, Eyes Shop, Armenias Kiosk.

Tel: 96-218587 Cabaret Dinner Show Soprano Katerina Mina and Maestro Yiannis Hadjiloizou in a Christmas Special with music from opera, jazz, musicals, and more December 25.

Academy 32, Constantinou Paleologou 32, Old Nicosia. 8.30pm. €32 including food, wine and dessert. www.academy32.com

Tomorrow Music Helena Paparizou & Playmen Playmen, exceptional producers of dance music, join forces with the ultimate Greek pop star Helena Paparizou. December 26. Zoo Club, 15 Stasinou Avenue, Nicosia. 11pm. €20. Tel: 99-084174

Antonis Remos Popular Greek singer performs live.

December 26 & 27. Blinkers Club, 5 Andrea Avraamidi, Engomi, Nicosia.

Tel: 22-351550

Coming Up Music Helena Paparizou & Playmen Playmen, exceptional producers of dance music, join forces with the Greek pop star Helena Paparizou. December 27.

Sesto Senso, 45 Promachon Eleftherias, Limassol. 11pm. €20. Tel: 99-050519 Thanos Mikroutsikos – Rita Antonopoulou Famous Greek composer Thanos Mikroutsikos meets Rita Antonopoulou and present a piano-voice programme with surprises. December 27. Enallax, 16-17 Athinas Avenue, Nicosia. 9pm. €20. Tel: 22-430121 December 28.

Rialto Theatre, Limassol. 8.30pm. €18/12. Tel: 77-777745. December 29.

ShowRoom Café, 21 Makariou Avenue, Larnaca. 10pm. €20. Tel: 24-102762

Theatre 65 Minutes Performance by Theatro Dentro within framework of the 4th X-Dream Festival.

December 27-30 and January 3-5. 9pm.

(Additional performance on January 5 at 10.30pm). ARTos Cultural and Research Foundation, 64 Ayion Omoloyiton Avenue, Nicosia. In Greek. Tel: 99-384606

All I Want For Christmas.....

A play staged by Antidote Theatre, written and performed by Catherine Beger. December 29. Larnaca Youth Foundation, near Ayios Lazaros Church. 5pm. In English. €7/5. Tel: 96-216435

Other Events

valcyprus.com New Years Eve Party Abba Dabba Do plus stand up comic and DJ Lukas. December 31.Pentaras Hall, Coral Bay Road, Paphos. 7.30pm. €30 including international buffet. Reservations essential - Tel: 99-832538. Tickets must be purchased in advance at Pentaras or by phone

Sonic Arts 6.0 Cyprus A celebration of the launch of the Sonic Arts 6.0 Cyprus’ album featuring compositions by Cypriot sonic artists. December 28. Pantheon Cultural Association – Tritos, 40 Evagorou, Nicosia. 9pm. Free. Email: info@pantheonculture.org

New Year Party at JJ’s New Year’s Eve party with Groovejet.

December 31. JJ’s Bar (above Sophie’s Restaurant), Peyia Village.

7.30pm. Food and unlimited local drinks included in the €30 ticket price. Tickets available from JJ’s. Tel: 96-636646

Everything is Music: From the Universe to Water innovative 2-day programme that leads to confidence and creative thinking of children aged 7-12. 27 – 28 December 2012, 8:00 – 13:00* *The children can be at ARTos from 7:30 and until 14:30 and engage in creative activities with the instructors Participation fee: €60. For more information and registration: 99 567 537(between 9:00-14:00) and 22 445 455. ARTos Cultural and Research Foundation, 64, Ay. Omoloyites Ave. Nicosia

Eat Drink and be Merry New Year’s Eve carvery with the finest international buffet (4 courses), after dinner countdown show and New Year’s Disco till late. December 31. Paliomonastiro Peyia.7pm. €30 per person. Tel: 96-818066

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.motionfesti-

Exhibition Da Vinci Machines – An exhibition of Genius Exhibition displaying more than 60 interactive machines from Da Vinci original drawings, 15 high quality reproduction artworks, giant art panels and rare copies of Leonardo codices.

Opens January 3, until February 28.

Evagoras Lanitis Centre, Vasilissis Street (Medieval Castle Area), Limassol. Tel: 25-342123. www. davincimachinescyprus.com

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 European Political Thought A series of seminars to be presented

by Dr Eleni Papamichael, followed by a discussion. Participants to more than six seminars will be awarded Diplomas of Attendance. Until January 23. M106 (Millennium building 1st floor) at the University of Nicosia 8.45pm. Every Wednesday. €50.

Monitoring individual lectures €10.

Tel: 22-841600/ 99-536311 and/or cceia@unic.ac.cy 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.

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

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

books, magazines and other printed matter about the Middle East.

Within the framework of the opening ceremony of a new contemporary art centre. Until February 15. Point Centre for Contemporary Art Megaron Hadjisavva, 2 Evagorou Street, Nicosia. Tel: 22-662053. 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 The Magic Flute The Children’s Stage of Satiriko Theatre presents play adapted and directed by Thanasis Theologis.

Until December 23. Vladimiros Kafkarides Cultural Centre, 11-15 Vladimiros Kafkarides Street, Aglantzia, Nicosia. Every Sunday at 10.30am. €10. In Greek. Tel: 22312940/22-421609

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

17

Television CYBC 1 05.30 08.00 09.30 10.00 10.35 12.05

Church Service Mia Zoi Tin Ehoume Candid Camera O Kafenes Ton Genaikon Christmas Programme With Diastasis FIlM: White Christmas Entertainers Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye try to boost the popularity of an old friend’s winter resort.

Musical. 1954.

14.00 14.45 15.30 16.00

I Klironomia Tou Aeimnistou Theiou Oi Galines Tou Nikola Entehnos FILM: A Holiday Engagement

CYBC 2 07.00 08.00 16.50

20.00 21.15 22.00 23.15 23.30 23.45 00.15

Giro Giro Oloi News Kaftes Piperies Paizoume Kypriaka News Patates Special Greek FILM: I Kori Mou I Sosialistria Candid Camera News Wintry Dreams and Christmas Melodies Repeats

NRG Zone Kids’ TV Candid Camera

10.30

17.15

FILM: High School Musical Two teenagers from completely different backgrounds discover a shared love of performing, and try to land roles in the school play. Musical, starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. 2006.

18.50 18.55 19.10

12.10 13.00 13.50

News In English News In Turkish Kipourema NRG Zone FILM: The Chronicles Of Narnia Prince Caspian

15.20

The Pevensie siblings return to Narnia, where they are enlisted to once again help ward off an evil king and restore the rightful heir to the land’s throne, Prince Caspian.

Fantasy adventure, starring Ben Barnes 2008.

23.30

00.15

FILM: Stealing Christmas A fugitive made welcome by a small community faces a crisis of conscience when he sets out to rob the local bank. Crime comedy, starring Tony Danza. 2003.

17.50

Triti Efiveia

18.30

FILM: The Polar Express Animation, with the voice of Tom Hanks.

2004.

20.15 21.20

News FILM: Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince Fantasy sequel, starring Daniel Radcliffe.

2009. See Pick Of The Day.

News In English & News In Turkish

MEGA 05.30 07.00 08.00

00.00 01.30

Church Service Emeis Ki Emeis (rpt) FILM: Hook A grown-up Peter Pan returns to Neverland to rescue his children from Captain Hook.

Steven Spielberg’s fantasy adventure, starring Robin Williams.

1991.

10.20 13.20

15.00 18.00 18.20

20.15 21.15 22.10 23.10 00.00 00.10 02.00 05.00

08.45 09.45 12.00 13.00 16.20

Eftyhismenoi Mazi (rpt) News Klemmena Oneira Zoi Laheio Music Programme News Music Programme Yia Sena (rpt) Proino Mou (rpt)

Concert Late Programmes

Oi Takkoi (rpt) Kids’ TV Tifla Pathi (rpt) Eleni FILM: The Sound Of Music A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower.

Musical, starring Julie Andrews. 1965. With News at 18.00.

19.00 20.20 21.15

23.00

14.20 17.20 18.05

19.30

Eleni (rpt)

06.45 10.50 11.20

Entertainment magazine.

17.25

O Falfatas FILM: Get Smart A newly promoted field agent, partnered with veteran Agent 99, blends inexperience, enthusiasm and ineptitude as he battles against KAOS. Comedy, starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway.

2008.

22.45

FILM: You’ve Got Mail Two rivals in the bookshop business meet and fall in love online, unaware they already know and dislike each other in the real world.

Romantic comedy, with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. 1998.

00.40

14.15 15.15

19.15 19.50 20.05 21.00

News Sports Time Rubi FILM: All I Want For Christmas Two youngsters call on Santa Claus to help reunite their divorced parents before their mother marries her new boyfriend. Drama, with Leslie Nielsen.

1991.

22.55

FILM: Blast A former Navy SEAL and an FBI agent must foil a group of terrorist hijackers aboard an oil rig. Action comedy, starring Eddie Griffin and Vinnie Jones.

2004.

00.40

FILM: Derailed A secret agent must stop terrorists from stealing a deadly virus from a high-speed train that his family are on board. Adventure, with Jean-Claude Van Damme. 2002.

Prime Live Music programme.

02.00 02.50 03.50

Kids’ TV Kouzina Me Apopsi Greek FILM: Adiki Katara Kid’s TV Greek FILM: Se Iketevo Agapi Mou FILM: A Different Kind Of Christmas A lawyer’s dreams of an illustrious career are wrecked by her elderly father’s delusion that he’s Santa Claus.

Family drama, starring Shelley Long. 1996.

With News at 18.30.

FILM: 3 Holiday Tails

Greek comedy.

21.00

CAPITAL

Repeats Classic Cartoons Star News O Theios Mou O Ninja No 1 Kids’ TV Fotis - Maria Live

A retired couple try to reunite their neighbour with her lost love - aided by their dog and her three puppies. Romantic comedy sequel, with Julie Gonzalo. 2011.

FILM: Gift Of The Magi A couple in financial difficulties both give away their most prized possessions to buy Christmas presents for each other. Drama, starring Marla Sokoloff.

2010.

02.30

06.00 06.45 12.30 13.00

FILM: A Holiday For Love A businessman returns to his home town at Christmas to organise redundancies at a factory, but falls for a member of the workforce. Drama, with Tim Matheson. 1996.

00.45

PLUS TV

Mr Bean News FILM: Home Alone 3 Crooks get more than they bargained for when trying to retrieve a microchip that’s fallen into the hands of a resourceful eightyear-old. Comedy sequel, starring Alex D Linz. 1997.

Yia Sena News Master Chef New season of Greek reality series. Amateur cooks compete to win the coveted MasterChef title.

19.20

SIGMA

Proino Mou FILM: Call Me Claus A cynical female TV producer meets Father Christmas and learns he intends to melt her icy heart and make her his replacement.

Family drama, with Whoopi Goldberg.

2001.

With News at 18.00.

Kati Psinetai (rpt) Greek game show, revolving around amateur chefs, who each stage a dinner party to find who will be crowned the winning host.

Ekeines Kai Ego Me To Dexi (rpt) FILM: Santa Baby 2 Santa Claus asks his daughter to take over running the family business, but she is happily leading her own life. Fantasy comedy sequel, starring Jenny McCarthy. 2009.

Gardening show.

20.00 21.00

FILM: A Christmas Carol Miserly Ebenezer Scrooge hates the Christmas season, but is warned to change his attitude by a series of ghosts. Dickens’ classic tale, with Patrick Stewart. 1999.

Unsuspecting people react to bizarre events.

A single woman hires an actor to pose as her fiance when she visits her demanding mother for Thanksgiving.

Comedy, with Bonnie Somerville. 2011.

17.30 18.00 18.15 19.00

ANTENNA

LTV Sports News Star News Repeats

The Tourist (LTV, 21.00)

01:10 The Weakest Link 01:55 EastEnders 02:20 Doctors 02:50 Last Of The Summer Wine 03:20 The Nativity 05:15 My Family: Xmas 2004 06:15 The Weakest Link 07:00 Spot’s Magical Christmas 07:30 Show Me Show Me 07:55 Teletubbies 08:20 Balam-

ory Xmas: The Snowflake Fairy 08:40 Tweenies 09:00 The Tale of Jack Frost 09:30 The Weakest Link: All Singing All Dancing Special 10:20 After You’ve Gone: Xmas Special 2008 11:00 EastEnders 11:30 Doctors 12:00 Rock & Chips: Special: Xmas 2010 13:00 My Family: Xmas Special 2005 14:00 The Nativity 15:55 EastEnders 16:25 Doctors 16:55 After You’ve Gone: Xmas Special 2008 17:35 Going For Gold - The ‘48 Games 19:05 EastEnders 19:30 Doctors 20:00 Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol 21:00 My Family: The Heart of Christmas 21:30 Little Britain Christmas Special 2006 22:00 Swingin’ Christmas 23:30 The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Concert

07:00 How It’s Made ; 07:25 Wheeler Dealers 08:15 American Chopper 09:10 Dirty Jobs 10:05 Deadliest Catch 10:55 Superhuman Showdown 11:50 Dynamo:

15:25 Magician Impossible Overhaulin’ 16:20 Mythbusters 17:15 Dirty Jobs 18:10 Deadliest Catch 19:05 Ultimate Survival 20:00 How It’s Made ; 21:00 Mythbusters 22:00 Mighty Planes 23:00 Dangerous Flights 00:00 Lou Ferrante’s Mob Rules 01:00 The Kennedy Detail 02:50 Mighty Planes 03:50 Dangerous Flights 04:50 Mythbusters 05:45 How Do They Do It? 06:10 Overhaulin’

09:30 Tennis: French Open Paris – 10:30 Biathlon: World Cup Austria 12:30 All Sports: Watts 14:00 Football: Uefa Champions League Classics 16:00 Biathlon: World Cup Slovenia 18:00 All Sports: Watts 19:00 Football: Euro Legends 21:00 All Sports: Watts 22:00 Football: European Championship Ukraine 00:00

09:40 Desperate Housewives 10:25 Castle 11:10 Modern Family 11:35 New Girl 12:00 Raising Hope 12:25 Melissa & Joey 12:50 Glee 13:40 Body Of Proof 14:30

Jamie’s Best Ever Christmas 15:20 Desperate Housewives 16:05 Castle 16:50 Modern Family 17:15 Raising Hope 17:40 Modern Family 18:05 Last Man Standing 18:30 New Girl 18:55 Happy Endings 19:20 Raising Hope 19:45 Modern Family 20:10 Glee 21:00 Raising Hope 21:25 Melissa & Joey 21:50 Glee 22:40 Modern Family 23:05 New Girl 23:30 Raising Hope 23:55 Melissa & Joey 00:20 Glee 01:10 Castle 02:00 Desperate Housewives 02:45 Modern Family 03:10 New Girl 04:00 Body Of Proof 04:50 Jamie’s Best Ever

Christmas

Wars 02:30 Storage Wars 03:00 American Pickers 05:00 American Restoration 05:30 Storage Wars 06:00 Ancient Aliens

Best Premier League Games 07:30 Imagine That 09:30 Leg-

end Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’hoole 11:15 Jack Frost 13:00 Elf 14:40 Fred Claus 16:35 Miss Congeniality 18:30 12 Men Of Christmas 20:00 LTV Sports News 21:00 The Tourist 23:00 Henry’s Crime 01:00 Remember Me 03:00 48 Hrs 04:45 Guitar 06:30 LTV Sports News

Motorsports: Gta Road To Dubai 00:15 Football: Uefa Champions League Classics 01:15 Football:

African Cup Of Nations Equatorial Guinea

05:40 Off The Map 06:25 Castle 07:10 Modern Family 07:35 New Girl 08:00 Body Of Proof 08:50

Jamie’s Best Ever Christmas

07:00 Storage Wars 16:00 American Pickers 17:00 American Restoration 17:30 Pawn Stars 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 Storage Wars 22:30 Storage Wars 23:00 American Pickers 00:00 Pawn Stars 00:30 Storage Wars 01:00 Ancient Aliens 02:00 Storage

12:00 Dora The Explorer 12:30 Spongebob Squarepants 13:00 Wonder Pets 13:30 The Mighty B! 14:00 Hey Arnold! 14:30 Icarly 15:30 Justice League Unlimited 16:00 Legion Of Super Heroes 16:30 Young Justice 17:00 NBA Action 17:30 Barclays Premier League World 18:00 Barclays Premier League Review 19:00 Winter X-Games 13 20:00 Silk Way Rally 2012 21:00 La Liga Review 2012-13 22:00 Barclays Premier League 2012-13 00:00

07:00 Chowder 07:25 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 07:50 The Tom & Jerry Show 08:15 Shaggy & ScoobyDoo Get A Clue! 08:40 Loonatics Unleashed 09:05 Superman: The Animated Series 09:30 The Looney Tunes Show 10:00 Tak & The Power Of Juju 10:30 Fanboy & Chum Chum 11:00 The X’s 11:30 Ni Hao, Kai-Lan

00:30 Planet Speed 01:00 2011

Figure Skating Championships 03:00 Barclays Premier League 2012-13 05:00 Barclays Premier League 2012-13

07:15 Chuck 08:00 2 Broke Girls 08:30 Bones 10:00 According To Jim 10:45 2 Broke Girls 11:20 Pan Am 13:00 Underbelly 13:50 Chuck 14:35 Bones 16:05 Eastbound & Down 16:35 Two And A Half Men 17:25 The Closer 18:10 Harry’s Law 18:55 Underbelly 19:45 According To Jim 20:30 The Big Bang Theory 21:00 The Mentalist 21:45 C.S.I. New York 22:30 Southland 03:00 Hung 03:35 Eastbound & Down 04:10 Two And A Half Men 04:55 The Closer 05:40 Harry’s Law 06:25

Underbelly

08:00 Step Up 3 10:00 Mystery, Alaska 12:00 Letters To Juliet 14:00 Lethal Weapon 16:00 Double Jeopardy 18:00 Happy Feet Two 20:00 Wedding Singer, The 22:00 Fast Freddie, The Widow & Me 23:30 Education, An 01:15 Due Date 03:00 Christmas With The Kranks 05:00 Fair Game

05:30 Cine News 05:50 Analyze This 07:35 Super 8 09:30 Anger Management 11:20 Sea Of Love 15:10 Air Force One 17:20 Below The Beltway 19:05 The Company Men 21:00 Captain America: The First Avenger 23:10 How I Met Your Mother 00:30 Apollo 18 02:00 Adult Zone 03:55 The

Eagle 05:30 Dirty Girl 07:00 No Reservations 08:45 The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader 10:40 Films And Stars 11:15 The Romantics 12:55 Largo Winch 2: The Burma Conspiracy 15:00 «Love Stories» Sleepless In Seattle 16:50 Cine News 17:10 Source Code 18:50 Hollywood 1on1 19:25 Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure 21:00 C.S.I. Xii 22:00 Adventures Of Tintin, The: The Secret Of The Unicorn 23:55 Hemingway & Gellhorn 02:30 Cine News 03:00 Fast Five

06:25 The Talented Mr. Ripley 08:45 Cine News 09:45 Sweet Home Alabama 11:35 Mrs. Doubtfire 13:45 Morning Glory 15:40 Christmas Magic 17:15 Stars In Style 20:05 Penelope 01:45 London Boulevard 03:30 Cine News

06:45 8 Mile 08:35 Don Juan De Marco 10:15 Cine News 10:30 Marley & Me: The Puppy Years 12:00 Sleepless In Seattle 13:45 First Daughter 15:35 Glee: The Concert Movie 17:05 The Smurfs 18:55 Patch Adams 21:00 Something Borrowed 23:00 Water For Elephants

07:00 Boom Town 08:55 Tribute to a Bad Man 10:30 Julie 12:05 Trouble With Girls, The 13:45 Outriders, The 15:15 Honky Tonk 17:00 Oklahoma Kid, The 18:20 Little Women 20:20 Wizard Of Oz, The 22:00 Ben-Hur 01:30 Reckless 03:15 Northwest Passage 05:25 Flamingo Road

By Preston Wilder who believes in “Sven-think”, a pair of krill named Will and Bill who seek adventure in the midst of awful puns (“goodbye, krill world!”) and gay-marriage jokes, a climate-change Message and a scene where the entire tribe dance to Queen and David Bowie’s ‘Under Pressure’. Finally, some dancing penguins! Made in 2011.

Happy Feet Two (LTV3, 18.00) Merry Christmas! Here’s some dancing penguins for your children - though any parent who recalls how the first Happy Feet turned into an apocalyptic thriller will know that this franchise (made by George Miller, the Aussie maverick behind Mad Max) is a lot more demented than the average Disney. The sequel is equally insane, reaching a high-point when Bryan the elephant seal reneges on his promise to Mumble the penguin - and Mumble’s young son Erik is so indignant that he actually launches into opera in his childish falsetto (“Where is the hon-ooooour / When a solemn promise / Is just a pretty lie?”). That’s the most bizarre bit - but you also get a flying penguin named Sven

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Antenna, 21.20)

Happy Feet Two

How did we survive all those Christmases without Harry Potter? The boy wizard is all over the schedules, as you might expect (Chamber of Secrets screened on Plus TV yesterday) - and it doesn’t even matter which one they show, though of course Potter-heads have

their favourites. This one might be called the ‘HalfBaked Prince’, being mostly build-up in anticipation of the big showdown - and it’s 153 minutes of atmosphere, jokes and character banter, which is fine by me (I’ve always liked the juvenile wizards’ heartaches and hormonal crushes more than the actual plot).

Ron fancies Hermione, who secretly fancies him back; Harry fancies Ron’s sister Ginny (she has “nice skin”); meanwhile, in a slightly different register, Voldemort fancies Draco Malfoy while Dumbledore fancies Harry, entrusting his ward with a perilous mission. “You must be wondering why I’ve brought you here,” says the old wizard. “Actually sir,” replies Harry, “after all these years I just sort of go with it”. Clever boy. Made in 2009.

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

18

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 2271 1

2

3

4

5

PREVIOUS DAY’S SOLUTIONS

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

14

13

15

17

18

21

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.

16

19

20

22

MEDIUM

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD

23

2 Above all the leader for the most part has to depart hastily (7) 3 Inert sort of chemical! (5) 4 Numismatist’s theory? (3) 5 Willing beneficiary? (7) 6 It will go up on the tenth (5) 7 Incoming traffic (6,5) 8 At home rely on ten others who are uncontrolled (11) 12 Natural fluency of Rome (5) 15 Largely different place for works of arts (7) 16 Flier getting the axe? (7) 18 Herb’s name! (5) 20 Greek style of cord I replaced (5) 22 Number catch up (3)

Rating EASY

1 Sparkle in castle lit explosively (11) 9 Nothing in fog that is damp (5) 10 Margaret had a weighty unit of explosive power (7) 11 Unusual away defeat (7) 13 The engineers at that place (5) 14 Attempt by Terry oddly (3) 15 Bachelor in strong wind on the roof (5) 16 Some were rescued by the signal (3) 17 Insurgent involved in more bellicosity (5) 19 Only one tree in a brightly-coloured forest? (7) 21 Slope not going up? (7) 23 Epitaph on city (5) 24 One of 52 in the pack (7-4)

Rating HARD

Down

Rating HARD

Across

Rating MEDIUM

24

Answers to crossword 2270

HOROSCOPE

CRYPTIC: Across – 1 Laboratory; 7 Pacific; 8 Opium; 10 Hoyden; 12 Dancer; 13 Telex; 14 Cowl; 16 Arno; 17 Agnes; 19 Enough; 20 Rustle; 23 Kappa; 24 Tempest; 25 Kept posted. Down – 1 Lucky; 2 Buffet; 3 Rock; 4 Thorax; 5 Railcar; 6 Up the creek; 9 Marionette; 11 Neigh; 12 Defer; 15 Whoopee; 17 Aghast; 18 Submit; 21 Tread; 22 Otto.

QUICK: Across – 1 Disastrous; 7 Hexagon; 8 Squad; 10 Caesar; 12 Tumult; 13 Lithe; 14 Puma; 16 Flex; 17 Slurp; 19 Insole; 20 Mid-off; 23 Third; 24 Replace; 25 Dependency. Down – 1 Dixie; 2 Signal; 3 Song; 4 Risqué; 5 Unusual; 6 Checkpoint; 9 Detoxified; 11 Rifle; 12 Therm; 15 Missive; 17 Sledge; 18 Pigpen; 21 Ovary; 22 Prod.

ARIES March 21 - April 20

LEO July 23 - August 22

SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21

A fun and upbeat time for celebrations of all kinds! Enjoy a festive get-together with family and friends, and expect the unexpected too. Career issues may be very much on your mind. You may be working out a way to achieve one particular goal as soon as possible. Despite this more serious note, you seem to be settling in for a really good day.

With both Venus and Mercury in Sagittarius, it’s a great day for fun and leisure. The demands of a family get-together could fall on your shoulders. You may have a lot of preparation to do, but try to share the work. The cosmos reveals that your most wanted present could well be under the tree. If you’ve been under strain at work, it’s essential you chill out.

You’ll enjoy this Christmas Day in all ways, as the chances are you’ll be surrounded by friends and family who may also be loving the party atmosphere. Though financial issues may be on your mind, let them rest today and sort it out tomorrow. An unexpected visitor makes for a pleasant surprise. There is also a chance of a romantic liaison.

TAURUS April 21 - May 21

VIRGO August 23 - September 23

CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20

Lots of present sharing and exchanging of gifts today! The stars reveal you may find your most wanted gadgets and other presents under the Christmas tree and be thrilled. At the same time, you may be wondering how you can expand your horizons and take on some exciting challenges.

The future seems to be calling - and you’ll soon be busy.

Get ready for a day of family fun, which includes your extended family and anyone else who decides to come along. It looks like you’ll have a warm and enjoyable festive day. Thoughts may be on projects that you’re keen to explore, and romance is also possibility at this time. Whatever happens, it’s a wonderful opportunity to wind down.

You seem to be in a very charitable mood and enjoying the chance to give and share on this festive day. You may have a lot on, but the stars are encouraging you to take a break.

Family get-togethers may be boisterous yet fun. However, it helps to expect the unexpected, which could make the day very memorable for some time to come.

GEMINI May 22 - June 21

LIBRA September 24 - October 23

AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19

A wonderful festive day for you, especially as you seem to be the life and soul of the party. Gatherings with friends and family seem very much on the agenda, and your wit and charm should keep everyone amused. But do try to avoid rattling those family skeletons. A perverse desire to say the wrong thing may overcome you. Can you resist?

You may have a very busy day at home, as it seems everyone could be converging on your place. There’s a lot to do, and you may even feel pressured - but once it’s organized you can sit back and relax. Friends and family from far away may be visiting or getting in touch. It’s time to catch up on news. There may be a lot to talk about Libra.

Despite being in a phase when you need to rest and recharge your batteries, you’ll be keen to spend time with family and friends. There’s lots of fun to be had, plenty of chances to party, and many opportunities for get-togethers. It seems you’ll have a ball, and a budding romantic relationship may become closer and even more sweet.

CANCER June 22 - July 22

SCORPIO October 24 - November 22

PISCES February 20 - March 20

You seem to be in a mellow mood and ready to relax, but despite this, could have your work cut out for you on this festive day. You’ll need to stand your ground and delegate some of the jobs. Don’t do all the work while others sit around - you need a break too. Health wise, you seem active and energetic, but may have a tendency to indulge.

You’ll enjoy the gifts you receive, and you’ll be fully partaking in the spirit of giving on this festive day. With a chance to relax, you may find yourself absorbed in a book or a movie that has the power to change your life in some way.

It looks like absorbing stuff. If you’re with family or friends, a conversation can bring healing and release.

There will be a lot of fun activities going on at your place, with the Moon and Jupiter highlighting plenty of festive delights. It’s a friends and family kind of day, when everyone will be keen to chip in and help out. It’s a great opportunity for all generations to gather together and enjoy being in one place. Looks like this could be a Christmas to remember!

19

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

ADVERTISER

Advertiser Only

helps you find what you’re looking for

€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 *****************************

MISCELLANEOUS BDL SHIPPING Worldwide animal transportation, Home removals including small loads Vehicle import & export, General collection and delivery (including IKEA), Rubbish removal plus general transportation & shipment. Competitive rates. Phone: 99239311 Web: www.bdlcyprus.com ***************************** 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 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 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 contact on 99520511 monfrid 10-2pm. *****************************

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

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

LESSONS

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

***************************** 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. *****************************

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

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. *****************************

SERVICES PROFESSIONAL

UPHOL-

Limassol - tel: 25 761117 fax: 25 761141

STERY CLEANING, also carpets, rugs and mattresses.

Special offers now available.

For a quote call Rickys Cleaning Services on 99131044 (all areas) rickyscleaningservices@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 FAR INFRARED SAUNAROOM I sell my Sauna room for €1200. Imported new but not used. Costed €1800. Call 99 643397 ***************************** 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 *****************************

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049

TO LET BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND BUSINESS FOR RENT on Apostolou Pavlou avenue, Paphos, 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 721SQ.M. PLOT AT A PRIVILEGED LOCATION IN STROVOLOS AREA. THE PLOT IS ON A PARALLEL OF IOSIF HADJIOSIF AVE. & LAODIKIAS, BETWEEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS OF K. THEODOROU AND STAVROU AVE. AND IS CLOSE TO A BUS STOP. TEL: 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

Larnaca - tel: 24 652243 fax: 24 659982

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg -Employment Miscellaneous 19 Pets 19 Lessons 19 Health & Fitness 19 Personal 19 Services 19 For Sale Miscellaneous 19 For Sale Land/ Property Business 19 For Sale Motor vehicles 20 Wanted -To Let Nicosia 20 To Let Limassol 21 To Let Larnaca 21 To Let Paphos 21 To Let Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni -For Sale Nicosia 23 For Sale Limassol -For Sale Larnaca -For Sale Paphos 23 For Sale Ayia Napa -For Sale Famagusta Protaras 23 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: FLAT OR HOUSE TO RENT, 2-3 bedrooms, veranda/terrace or garden, prefer furnished, SW of Nicosia (in approx area Lakatamia to Kapedes and Kalo Chorio) alan.tye@birdlifecyprus.org.cy, 22455072, 99089083.

22 = Nicosia 23 = Paralimni/Protaras 24 = Larnaca 25 = Limassol 26 = Paphos

20

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser FOR SALE MOTOR VECHICLES

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES ***************************** 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 *****************************

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. *****************************

TO LET NICOSIA 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 ***************************** 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 Central 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, re-

TO LET NICOSIA cently 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).

3. 2 bedr fully renovated semi detached house 120 sq. m, a/c for hot and cold, small yard, FULLY FURNSIHED or not, double glazed windows with aluminum shutters, in a quiet area off Nikis behind Burger King - ACROPOLIS €600 (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

SELEC Fencing & Decking Specialist

English-Painter & Decorator

For all your Garden and Security Fencing

Fully Qualified 30 years’ Experience

♦ Quality approved workmanship ♦ 15 years experience + guaranteed work ♦ English workers ♦ also garden gates ♦ sheds ♦ chain link fencing ♦ free estimates ♦ all types of fencing & decking

Tel. SELEC fencing 99176557

ALL AREAS • External & Internal painting • Damp Damage Repairs • Spritze Repairs • Free Estimates + very clean work • All areas. All types of woodwork stained and preserved • All work guaranteed

Tel. Tony on 99176557

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

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 spacious luxury detached house with central heating, full a/c, 3wc, big sitting and dining area, big separate kitchen with electrical appliances and family room, big bedrooms, blinds, bbq area, garden, 2 parking(one covered), in a very quiet area near Apoel training field – ARCHANGELOS - €1200 – H4AR0016-R (photos in 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 €1100 (H4ST10007-R), (photos in the website).

7. 3 bedr detached ground floor house with separate maid’s room, with very big garden 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 - €1000 - 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. 4 bedr luxury detached house, 350sq.m,central heating, full ac, big garden with fruit trees, grass and swimming pool 6 X 12,2 covered parking, electrical appliances in the kitchen, 4 years old in a very quiet area 25 min from the centre – DEYTERA €2000 – H4DEF0001-R (photos in website).

13. 3 bedr ground floor house with big separate 80sq,m 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 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 - Makedoni-

12 months car insurance for the price of 10 Benefit from this fantastic discount through The Daily Mail & Mail on Sunday

Offering readers great value Motor insurance in Cyprus

PLUS

UK & Cyprus PLATED CARS GUARANTEED FOR LIFE PROTECTED BONUS* (*subject to no changes on the policy)

2 more exclusive offers to Daily Mail & Mail on Sunday readers:

12 months home insurance for the price of 10 15% discount on Travel Insurance Fast, friendly response. Get your quote TODAY!

Simply call one of our telephone numbers listed below and speak to one of our English speaking team:

Cyprus (00-357) 268 19175

or e-mail us via: www.abbeygateinsure.com/cyprus

The way insurance should be.

Abbeygate is the trading title of Wyedean Insurance Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated in the UK by the FSA. This company is wholly independent of the Daily Mail & Mail on Sunday, divisions of Associated Newspapers Ltd. Associated Newspapers Ltd are not a party to, or involved in, any insurance arrangements.

Abbeygate CYPRUS 1

21

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

tissa - €1100 – H3MAK0004-R (photos in website).

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

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 – Dasoupolis - € 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. 2 bedr luxury apartment with 3 a/c for hot and cold, big covered veranda, covered parking and storage room, NICELY FURNISHED, near Acropoli park behind Tseriotis showroom – ACROPOLIS €450 – A2ACS0033-R (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 €650 (A3ST10030-R), (photos in the website).

12. 2 bedr luxury apartment with central heating independent, full a/c, electrical appliances in the kitchen, blinds, big covered veranda, in a small 2 storey building in a quiet area behind Tymvos – MAKEDONITISSA - € 500 – A2MAK0008-R (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 €500 (A2DAS0006-R), (photos in the website).

16. 2 bedr luxury apartment with a/c for hot and cold, NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, covered parking, off Stavrou Avenue behind Coffee Beanery.

PRICE INCLUDES COMMON EXPENSES – STROVOLOS € 550 – A2ST10051-R (photos in website).

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

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

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- €600 – A3ENG0026-R (photos in website).

4. A1DAS0010-R, 1 bedr luxury spacious apartment with big sitting and dining room, big bathroom, big bedroom with shutters, covered veranda, storage heaters, 2a/c, cooker

Card designed by Martin Sebok, Year 3 (Age 7)

THE MANAGEMENT, STAFF & PUPILS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PAPHOS WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Let us welcome the New Year with health, hope & love.

This year, instead of sending Christmas cards, the school has made a donation of 950 to the children’s ward of the General Hospital.

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

LIMASSOL ***************************** 4 BEDROOM HOUSE IN

TO LET LIMASSOL 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

TO LET PAPHOS PAPHOS PAPHOS / PEYIA VILLA, villa for rent in Peyia, 4 bedroom, 4 bathrooms, large sitting-dining area, fully airconditioned and heated, unfurnished, panoramic views, large parking, low rent contact: 99490953, 26815534 ***************************** 3 BDRM VILLA with pool for rent furnished or unfurnished, garden, garage (covered) near Tsada golf course, Tel: 99603330. *****************************

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

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

APHRODITE HILLS - Villa share at this amazing resort? Now available for discerning people, luxury double rooms, each with own en suite and heating unit and plus of large lounge/dining/ kitchen area, external patios, gardens and swimming pool.

Fully furnished and equipped €800pm plus share of running expenses, min period 6 months or yearly contract renewal. To enquire (or view from January 2013) ring 99178141. A chance not to be missed! ***************************** 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

22

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

with shaded barbeque area offering views of the sea, storage & sunbathing deck.

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 quality 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

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-

23

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

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

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

FOR SALE PAPHOS

with en suite shower, separate family bathroom. Outside shaded pergolas. Ref 855 Price 600 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 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 modern 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

ping areas. Large open plan living area and dining area..

Fully fitted dining/kitchen with appliances . Guest WC. Utilty room. 3 double bedrooms one with en-suite. Family bathroom. Balcony & and parking. €500.00 a month.

Suit non-drivers!

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 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

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 shop-

***************************** 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. *****************************

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

PAPHOS ***************************** BARGAIN OFFER Chlorakas, 2 bedroom apartment, large veranda, very quiet location, communal pool, sea view, €75.000 o.n.o please call: 99699019 /26910140 ***************************** 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

***************************** 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. *****************************

FAMAGUSTA ***************************** 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

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

HOSPITALS ........ 1400

GOOD HOME COOKING- RUN BY FAMILY-ESTABLISHED 1988

• SUNDAY ROAST LUNCH & DINNER FOR ONLY

***************************** 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.

POLICE DIVISION HQ

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

• OPEN ALL WINTER 7 DAYS A WEEK !

***************************** 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.

U SEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

THE DEVONSHIRE RESTAURANT

• BE ASTOUNDED BY OUR LOW WINTER PRICES !

***************************** 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.

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

24

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

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

25

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Sport Surging Seahawks stun 49ers THE Seattle Seahawks ensured the NFC West title race will go down to the final week with a playoff-clinching 42-13 home rout of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The Seahawks dominated the 49ers from the start in rainy Seattle to remain unbeaten at home and move within half a game of division leaders San Francisco.

The 49ers entered the game with a chance to clinch the division, but found themselves on the wrong end of a beating by surging Seattle (10-5), who have won four straight games including the last three by a combined 120 points.

San Francisco (10-4-1) can still claim the crown with a home win over Arizona while Seattle need to beat St Louis and hope for a 49ers loss to leapfrog their rivals.

“When we wake up tomorrow we’re still a half-game up on the division,” shellshocked 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters.

“I know what to expect in terms of how our team will handle (the loss).”

Marshawn Lynch triggered the rout with two touchdowns in the first quarter before Richard Sherman returned a blocked field goal attempt 90 yards to give Seattle a 21-0 lead at the start of the second.

Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson had touchdown passes in all four quarters, finishing the game with four, to outplay San Francisco’s signal caller Colin Kaepernick.

Wilson is one touchdown pass short of tying Peyton Manning’s NFL rookie record of 26.

“My goal is just to continue to grow. I’m on that constant quest for knowledge and our team is too,” Wilson said, adding: “we have to keep moving forward”.

Kaepernick often appeared flustered because of the deafening crowd noise and struggled to break down a stout Seahawks defence which is dealing with injuries to their defensive backs but was still too strong for the 49ers.

“We have amazing depth,” Sherman said.

“We have great players that are going to be starters in this league. They stepped up and were big for us tonight.”

Seattle may have to rely on their depth more than ever as Sherman is currently appealing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy.

It was not only San Francisco’s pride that took a beating on Sunday. Tight end Vernon Davis (concussion) and receiver Mario Manningham (knee) were both knocked out of the game.

Seattle’s Lynch finished with 111 yards on the ground as the Seahawks gave the 49ers a taste of their own medicine with a bruising ground game. Wilson threw a sixyard scoring pass to Anthony McCoy in the second quarter, and touchdowns of four and six yards to Doug Baldwin in the third and fourth to put Seattle out of sight.

The stunned 49ers could only manage two field goals in the first half and a touchdown reception Delanie Walker in the final minutes with the game out of reach.

IN BRIEF Anthony stars in Knicks win

The 49ers entered the game with a chance to clinch the division but finished on the wrong end of a beating

CARMELO Anthony took over in the last two minutes to carry the New York Knicks to a 94-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

Anthony, who was ejected during Friday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, finished with 33 points, scoring 19 in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks came from behind to secure the home win.

“We didn’t want to look back at this game later in the season and say this was a game we shouldn’t have lost,” Anthony told reporters. “We picked it up defensively in the second half and we won the game.”

New York trailed for virtually the entire game before Anthony went on an 8-0 run in the final two minutes to put the Knicks up by four.

Anthony scored the Knicks’ last 12 points to seal the win.

Tendulkar reflects Flood focus on ODI glory days on Leicester Little Master brings his 50-over career to an end after racking up 463 ODI caps

‘Blessed chapter’: Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI career highlight was the World Cup victory on home soil in 2011

INDIA maestro Sachin Tendulkar reflected on a “blessed” chapter in his storied and stellar career after confirming his retirement from oneday internationals.

The 39-year-old, regarded as the world’s greatest living batsman, said he hoped the move would allow India to build toward the defence of their World Cup crown in 2015.

The ‘Little Master’ brings an end to his 50-over career after 463 one-day international (ODI) caps which gleaned 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83, his highest score an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in 2010.

He made 49 one-day centuries and 96 fifties, while the highlight of his ODI career was the World Cup victory on home soil in 2011. Tendulkar also took 154 one-day wickets, his best return five for 32 against Australia in 1998.

“I have decided to retire from the one-day format of the game,” Tendulkar said on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) official website. “I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cupwinning Indian team.

“The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in earnest. I would like to wish the team all the very

best for the future.

“I am eternally grateful to all my well-wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years.”

Tendulkar struggled during the recent Test series against England, passing 50 in only one innings and averaging just 18.66, and a decision over his future had been mooted.

SPECULATION He spoke to BCCI president Narainswamy Srinivasan before making the announcement, and his statement also indicated his desire to continue in Tests, despite speculation that he could retire from all forms of the international game.

Tendulkar, who made his ODI debut back in 1989, took the decision before the upcoming matches against Pakistan and next month’s fivematch one-day series at home to England.

His last one-day appearance came back in March against Pakistan, the team against whom he made his debut almost exactly 23 years ago.

A two-ball duck in that December 1989 encounter was followed by an identical failure in his second ODI against New Zealand in March 1990, although Tendulkar would soon come good.

India spinner Harbhajan Singh was quick to pay tribute to one the world’s best cricketers.

He said on Twitter: “Sachin Tendulkar a great batsman. great human being.a great friend.great man to look up 2.proud indian.Real son of india.I salute u and love u.

“Masters.423 matches, 23 yrs, 18426 runs !!!! These numbers no body else will be able to come close to.salute salute salute to sachin.”

Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez admitted he was sorry that Tendulkar had called time on his ODI career just days before the sub-continental powers meet.

“To be honest we will miss him and feel really sad that he will not play any more international ODIs for India,” Hafeez said.

“I admire the man for his sheer domineering character.

He rattled all kinds of bowlers around the world.”

England batsman Kevin Pietersen tweeted: “Statistics NEVER lie! They tell a very true story.. Well done Sachin!

What an incredible ODI career.. #thebest”, while South Africa’s Hashim Amla summed up the feelings of many as he wrote on Twitter: “Conclusion of a sterling ODI career from a wonderful batsman. Congrats Sachin Tendulkar”.

LEICESTER fly-half Toby Flood is “not fussed” about an England recall.

Flood missed out on the historic victory over New Zealand this month because of a toe injury and, with Owen Farrell having starred against the All Blacks, he may have to wait before he has the chance to prove himself again at international level.

But having kicked 11 points as Leicester beat London Irish 31-9 this weekend, Flood told the Daily Telegraph: “I’m not fussed about the international side of things right now. We’ve got a really tough Christmas to consider and for me it’s just a case of bedding back down into the side.”

Times to sue Armstrong The Sunday Times is suing disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong for around one million pounds ($1.62 million) over his libel action against the British newspaper in 2004.

Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles from 19992005 in October, received 300,000 pounds from the Sunday Times as payment towards his legal fees after the paper raised questions about the American’s success following his recovery from testicular cancer.

26

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

Sport

Marseille cling on with PSG

By Julien Pretot ANDRE Ayew struck just before the break to give Olympique Marseille a 1-0 home win against St Etienne on Sunday and keep them level on points with leaders Paris St Germain.

As Ligue 1 goes into a three-week break, OM are third with 38 points, behind the pacesetters PSG and second-placed Olympique Lyon on goal difference.

St Etienne, who last beat OM at the Velodrome in 1979, are 10th with 27 points from 19 matches.

The game got off to a rather dull start with neither team creating chances and Marseille looking cautious having lost their last two home games.

Marseille, however, went ahead on the stroke of halftime when Ghana striker Ayew, who will play in the African Nations Cup with the Black Stars from January 19 to February 10, headed home from a Rod Fanni cross.

Ayew struck just before the break to give OM a 1-0 home win against St Etienne

Josuha Guilavogui was set up by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but Steve Mandanda dived into the midfielder’s feet to deny St Etienne an early opportunity to equalise two minutes into the second half.

Fanni cleared Aubameyang’s strike off the goal line 15 minutes from time to keep his team ahead.

Andre Ayew then came close to doubling the tally in the 85th minute after being set up by his younger brother Jordan, only for his low shot to be blocked by Stephane Ruffier.

Earlier, Valenciennes had moved up to sixth place on 29 points after goals by Gregory Pujol and Jose Saez gave the Northerners a 2-1 win against visiting Evian Thonon Gaillard.

Toulouse, who had bagged only four points from their last eight games, beat Sochaux 2-0 courtesy of goals by Adrien Regattin and Emmanuel Riviere.

On Saturday, PSG claimed a 3-0 win at Stade Brest and Lyon beat Nice 3-0 at home.

Ajax’s De Boer reveals Spartak approach AJAX boss Frank de Boer er has remper offer vealed he rejected a bumper o remain from Spartak Moscow to s. with the Amsterdammers. pproached De Boer (inset) was approached lub followrecently by the Russian club mery, but ing the sacking of Unai Emery, turned them down. ted Instead, Spartak appointed ry director of football Valery Karpin on a caretaker ba-sis until the end of the season.

De Boer told De Telegraaf newspaper: “My work with Ajax is not finished.

“There is still a lot of growth in this team and at Ajax I have fun every day.

“Also my family played a e part in my decision. I have

three beautifu beautiful daughters and a beautiful wife.

“She owns h her own shop where she has a lot of fu fun. Was I supposed to tell them ‘we are going to Russia?’

“No. Money is not the most importhi tant thing.

“Si million euros net per “Six yea from Spartak was a lot year of money, but that’s me.

“I am busy with something at Ajax and I am not done yet.

“Happiness should always come first.”

De Boer, 42, has led Ajax to back-to-back Eredivisie titles since taking over from predecessor Martin Jol in 2010.

His current contract expir pires in 2014.

CHEMISTS

DOCTORS ON DUTY

WEDNESDAY 26/12/2012

NICOSIA Pathologist: Costas Schizas, Tel: 22311077, 99606611 Gynaecologist: Marios Eleftheriou, Tel: 22469000, 99433384 Paediatric Surgeon: Eliana Eliadou, Tel: 99384324 Dentist: Stavros Stylianides, Tel: 22346176, 99626586

NICOSIA A. Hadjichristodoulou, 56D Kennedy Ave. Tel: 22496994, 22358479 (H) M. E. Koula, 53C Kallipoleos Ave. Tel: 22377056, 22813435 (H) Ch. Tsangarides, 92 A. B Makedonitissis, Strovolos Tel: 22871954, 22319608 (H) A. Patatas, 33B Makarios III Ave. Tel: 22754644, 22311598 (H) Ch.. Christodoulidis, 4 Andrea Awraamidi Tel: 22879747, 22324357 LIMASSOL P. Panayiotou, Castle Apartments No. 3 Germasoyia Tel: 25322237, 25811860 (H) P. Antoniades 30 Ayias Zonis Tel: 25358034, 25356371 (H)

M. Filippidou-Fourla, 7A Nikou Pattihi. Tel: 25334403, 25770275 LARNACA L. Papadopoulou, 143 Faneromenis St. Tel: 24654380, 24624699 (H) M. Lambi, corner Makarios & Gr Afxentiou Ave. Tel: 24626447, 24361185(H) PAPHOS N. Christofi, 85 Poseidonos Ave, Kato Paphos. Tel: 26964526, 26222938 (H) S. Yianniou, 3 Neapolis St. Tel: 26937857, 26220858 (H) PARALIMNI R. Kefala, 111 1st April St. Tel: 23730116, 23821516 (H)

LIMASSOL Pathologist: Savvas Ioannou, Tel.: 25372003, 99070777 Surgeon: Akis Pezikis, Tel.: 25733473, 99649943 Neuro-Surgeon: Christos Kyriakides, Tel: 99696706 Paediatric: Christalla Ioannou, Tel: 25253511, 99149635 Paediatric Surgeon: Koualis Yiannakis, Tel.: 25731673, 25732256 Ophthalmologist: Andreas Elia, Tel: 25725134, 25353424, 99675811 Doctor: Lampros Theodosiou, Tel: 25581712, 99624372

Mourinho’s decision to drop Casillas (left) in favour of Adan for the Malaga game sent out shockwaves

Real in need of rapid turnaround Malaga loss ramps up Champs League tension DEFEAT at Malaga on Saturday has surely dashed any lingering hopes Real Madrid had of defending their La Liga title and they urgently need to find their form before Manchester United’s Champions League visit on February 12.

Jose Mourinho’s decision to drop goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas for the 3-2 reverse was still sending out shockwaves on Sunday and the defeat had left an “insurmountable” gap to make up on unbeaten leaders Barcelona, according to the Portuguese coach.

Real are 16 points behind Barca after 17 matches and seven adrift of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

When they return from the Christmas break they need to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit at home to Celta Vigo in the last 16 of the King’s Cup and elimination would leave the Champions League as the only competition they can realistically hope to win this term.

Mourinho justified benching Casillas by suggesting inexperienced number two Antonio Adan was in better form than the 31-year-old Spain international, a fixture between the posts for more than a decade and hugely

popular with the fans.

The sight of Spain’s World Cup and European Championship hero watching nervously from the sidelines as Malaga beat Real at home for the first time in almost 30 years will have done little to alter the perception that all is not well off, as well as on, the pitch.

Mourinho dismissed a question about whether he feared for his job after the Malaga reverse which followed last weekend’s 2-2 draw at home to Espanyol.

“If I sense that the players have lost their desire I am too honest to continue in a losing battle,” he said.

“But the players have desire, they showed they still have desire. They played well enough to win against Espanyol, they played well enough to win today. They didn’t have any luck and things turned out badly.”

Appearing at a charity event on Sunday, Casillas attempted to calm the waters and said the team was more important than any individual player.

“The coach decides who plays,” he told broadcaster La Sexta.

“Mourinho didn’t say anything to me, he did not explain anything to me. He

doesn’t give me explanations when I play, so when I don’t play he doesn’t do so either.

“You have to respect the coach’s decision and I have to train a lot more to try to win back confidence.”

Sergio Ramos, another of Real’s club captains, expressed surprise at the omission of his Spain team mate but urged unity among players and staff.

“It’s not normal or usual to see him on the bench, but we have nothing to say about it, it’s a decision for the coach,” he told reporters after the Malaga game.

“Iker is the captain of the team, a leader in the dressing room and a key component for us,” he added.

“Enough seeking controversy where there is none. We all want the same thing.”

Despite the calls for unity from the two club heavyweights, there remains a sense that Real and Mourinho are teetering on the edge and many coaches have been sacked for a lot less by the club’s impatient presidents.

However, a morale-boosting Cup comeback against Celta and a decent run in La Liga would help set the team up for the United tie and a run at the 10th European title that has eluded them since 2002.

Reds boss Rodgers eager to extend Gerrard contract LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers has expressed his desire to extend Steven Gerrard’s contract as soon as possible to ward off potential suitors for the inspirational Reds captain.

The 32-year-old, who has 18 months left on his current deal, capped a dynamic performance with a clinical goal in Liverpool’s 4-0 home win over Fulham at the weekend.

Rodgers, who took over from Kenny Dalglish at the start of the season, asserted Gerrard remained a pivotal part of his plans at Anfield.

“I don’t think there’s any question (we want to extend his contract),” Rodgers told Liverpool’s official website (http://www.liverpoolfc.com).

“It’s vital. Steven has a real hunger to succeed. He’s 32 years of age but he’s still got so much left.”

Liverpool’s talismanic England midfielder had been linked with a move to Chelsea after the team’s famous victory over AC Milan in the 2004-05 Champions League final in Istanbul.

Jose Mourinho, then Chelsea manager and now in charge of Real Madrid, remains an admirer, while even Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson speaks highly of Gerrard.

“This is a guy who has led his life focused purely on being a footballer. And that allows you to go on playing well into your 30s,” said Rodgers, who has begun to get Liverpool playing more consistently in recent weeks.

CYPRUS MAIL Tuesday, December 25, 2012

27

Sport

Benitez refuses to rule out Blues title chances Chelsea rank third after Villa demolition

By Kate Bamber RAFAEL Benitez is refusing to dismiss Chelsea’s hopes of winning the Barclays Premier League title despite the sizeable gap between themselves and leaders Manchester United.

Chelsea moved into third place following Sunday’s 8-0 demolition of Aston Villa and have now won five of their last six games in all competitions ahead of their Boxing Day trip to Norwich.

The Blues ran riot at Stamford Bridge with seven different players getting on the scoresheet - a Premier League first - and it would have been more but for a missed Lucas Piazon penalty.

The win came on the back of a convincing 5-1 win over rivals Leeds in the Capital One Cup and went some way to quietening the boos directed towards Benitez, with the furore over his appointment starting to die down.

Chelsea are still some way behind United in the title race, trailing by 11 points, but Benitez is not ruling anything out.

Asked if he will tell his players they can still win the league, Benitez said: “We will see after two or three more games.

“You could see the team had confidence in themselves, they believed, and that was there to the end.

“They had good movements, created chances.

Now we have to sustain this run and it will be easier for me to say we can compete.”

The Spaniard, who has

Lampard (right) became the Blues’ all-time top scorer on Sunday, thanks to his second-half strike against Villa been an unpopular figure at Stamford Bridge since he was brought in as interim manager on November 21, seems to have revitalised Blues frontman Fernando Torres - who he also managed at Liverpool - with the striker scoring seven times in his last six games.

“The players were really focused from day one,” Benitez said.

“They knew they had a new manager and they had

to perform.

“The players, from day one, were trying to learn, to improve and they were keen to learn.”

Another player who looks to be developing under the leadership of the Spaniard is David Luiz, who has been switched from defence into central midfield - a decision which saw the Brazilian produce a nonchalant but vibrant display against Villa.

Capped off with a spectacular goal from a technically difficult free-kick, the re-deployment of Luiz looks to be a triumph for Benitez in reshaping Chelsea’s attack in a position where they have sometimes struggled to fully impose themselves.

Benitez confirmed the 25year-old could find himself playing further up the pitch on a more regular basis following Sunday’s performance.

He said: “We will analyse it carefully. Maybe, if he can relax, he can play more games in this position because it’s easier for him to rest here.”

Frank Lampard, who made his 500th Premier League start against Villa and became the Blues’ all-time top scorer thanks to his secondhalf strike, hailed Luiz’s talent and thinks he can be a success in both defence and midfield.

Lampard told ChelseaFC. com: “He has the ability to play either position and he has been a fantastic defender at this club.

“People say that central midfield is also a role for him and I think they are right.

“You still have to have discipline and be in the right position and you can’t take liberties, and against Villa he showed that he has the discipline and the ability to do that role.”

However, there is still some bad news for Chelsea, as the return date for injured club captain John Terry is still to be confirmed as he recovers from a knee injury.

Terry was originally aiming to be fit to for the Club World Cup earlier this month but setbacks have seen him remain on the sidelines.

Benitez said: “Two days ago it was one little step backwards, but now one step forwards. We cannot say when he’ll be available.

“The doctors say it’s difficult with an inflammation.

The next two or three days, he won’t be available, that is clear. He just did the warmup with the team the other day. I don’t know how long (he will be out).”

Anorthosis maintain four-point lead over second-placed APOEL

By Nemanja Bjedov ANORTHOSIS Ammochostos maintained their four-point advantage over APOEL at the top of the Cypriot football league with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Enosis Neon Paralimni.

The hosts took the lead with a third-minute long-range header from Andreas Constantinou, before second-half goals from Ricardo Laborde and Juliano Spadacio put the match to bed.

“We have conceded very early and that is why we were anxious to impose our style of play and get back to level terms,” assessed Anorthosis coach Ronny Levy.

“Even the chances we created in the first half were not a product of organised play.

“In the second half we managed to score early and that helped us get back on the track.

“We controlled the match from that point on and created numerous opportunities. However, we managed to convert only one, a few minutes before the final whistle,” he said.

“Enosis having to play with 10 men certainly helped us, but I have faith in my players and I’m sure we would have got the desired result regardless,” added Levy, whose outfit had a player advantage as of the 29th minute, when Enosis’ goals scorer was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Anorthosis celebrated a hard-fought 2-1 win over Enosis

Cyprus Standings

Martinez defends Williams over RVP incident

Williams (2L) clashes with Robin Van Persie (right) during Sunday’s game

WIGAN manager Roberto Martinez says Ashley Williams is “not a nasty footballer” after the Swansea defender came in for criticism after striking Robin van Persie with a ball hit from close range.

The Manchester United forward was lying on the ground following a foul when Williams kicked the ball into the back of his head during Sunday’s Barclays Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Van Persie was “lucky to be alive” after the incident in the 74th minute of the 1-1 draw.

Martinez, who managed Swansea before joining the Latics in 2009, admitted he could understand Ferguson’s reaction but does not believe Williams, a player he signed and knows well, acted out of malicious intent.

“You see the incident and it is a very, very dangerous situation,” Martinez said. “If you see one of your players with a bang on the back of the head it is really dangerous and it can have bad consequences. You can understand that.

“I signed Ashley Williams for Swansea and I know his character inside out. I can guarantee you without even looking at the incident that he is not a nasty footballer ... and I don’t for one second doubt that he did not do that on purpose.

“It is an action of the game ... it is an emotional game and it is very unfortunate that it hits Van Persie in a part of the body where he could have been hurt heavily, and you don’t want to see that.”

Ferguson, who has called for Williams to be banned by the Football Association, looked set to escape punishment himself for comments he made about referee Michael Oliver.

The Scot boss was angry Oliver allowed Swansea’s equaliser to stand after Chico fouled Van Persie during the build-up.

Ferguson said: “It really should have been a foul for us when the defender fouled Van Persie, but the referee has had one of those games. I know he is a young referee but, dear me, what a performance that was.”

Anorthosis top the league standings ahead of a 10-day winter break with 41 points, while APOEL are in second place with 37. AEK Larnaca are third with 34 points, while AEL and Omonia are fourth and fifth with 30 and 28 points respectively.

“It was an important match for us as it was the last of this calendar year, and I am very pleased we managed to win it,” said Ivan Jovanovic, whose APOEL defeated Doxa Katokopia 3-0 away from home.

“I believe we deserved to win, but we really needed a special display to take all three points, and I congratulate Doxa’s players and their management for what they have done with this club.

“They play good football, they are patient and know what they want at all times,” he concluded.

Elsewhere in Round 15, AEK topped Apollon 2-1 at the Tsirion Stadium in Limassol, with Spanish defender David Catala scoring the winner four minutes from time, while Omonia recorded their fifth consecutive league victory after beating Ethnikos Achnas 2-1 in the Cypriot capital.

Defending champions AEL left it until late to secure a 3-2 victory over Alki in Larnaca, with Vouho scoring the winner two minutes from time. Nea Salamina and AEP Paphos played out a 1-1 draw, while Olympiakos Nicosia beat Ayia Napa 3-2.

Team 1. Anorthosis 2. APOEL 3. AEK 4. AEL 5. Omonoia 6. Apollon 7. Doxa 8. Olimpiakos 9. Paralimni 10. Nea Salamina 11. Alki 12. Ayia Napa 13. Achna 14. Paphos

P

W

D

L

F

15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15

13 12 11 8 8 8 5 5 3 2 2 2 0 3

2 1 1 6 4 3 2 4 5 4 3 1 7 3

0 2 3 1 3 4 8 6 7 9 10 12 8 9

34 34 24 27 24 22 12 19 12 10 10 7 8 13

A Pts 8 7 10 14 11 12 20 23 21 21 25 32 22 29

41 37 34 30 28 27 17 16 14 10 9 7 7 3

Tuesday, December 25, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

28 Tendulkar reflects on glorious ODI chapter 25

Sport

Benitez refuses to rule out Chelsea’s title chances 27

Arthur backs Bird to shine against Sri Lanka

Uncapped Bird will replace Starc (pictured) who is being rested despite starring in the first Test in Hobart

AUSTRALIA coach Mickey Arthur has backed uncapped paceman Jackson Bird to justify his selection ahead of Mitchell Starc and shine in the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka.

Bird was yesterday named in the line-up and entrusted with the new ball after being given the nod over Starc, who has been controversially rested despite starring in the first Test in Hobart.

Starc bowled his country to victory with figures of five for 63 in the second innings at Blundstone Arena as Sri Lanka’s efforts to gain a draw fell just short.

Bird will team up with left-armer Mitchell Johnson at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as the hosts look to claim an unassailable lead in the three-match series.

“We’ve got a lot of faith in Jackson,” Arthur said of the 26-year-old, who has taken 80 Sheffield Shield wickets for Tasmania in 14 matches at an average of 17.5.

“At the start of the summer we had a list of bowlers that we wanted to keep fresh and ready to go and Jackson was one of them.

“He was one of them for the simple

reason that he brings everything that we want ... pace, he brings swing and consistency.

“He’s done it all. We’ve got no issues about throwing the new ball to him.”

Bird flanked Arthur at yesterday’s press conference and declared he was excited to make his debut in front of a big crowd in Melbourne.

“I feel like I’m ready for Test cricket,” Bird said.

STARC ‘DISAPPOINTED’ “It’s (taking the new ball) nothing different to what I’ve done in first-class cricket ... I suppose there’s going to be a few more people there on Boxing Day, but that’s something I’m going to have to deal with. I’m just looking forward to it really.”

Arthur said that although Starc was not pleased to miss out on the Boxing Day Test, keeping him fit was vitally important going forward. “(Mitchell is) clearly very disappointed and I wouldn’t expect anything other than that ... Mitch is our one quick

bowler that plays in all three forms of the game. We’ve got to be very mindful of the fact that we’ve got such a lot of cricket coming up,” said Arthur.

Australia captain Michael Clarke was also included in the 12-man squad after passing a fitness test yesterday on a hamstring injury.

“He’s clearly improving,” Arthur said.

“He went far better today than he did yesterday. If I was a betting man I’d bet on Michael Clarke leading the team out on Boxing Day.” Sri Lanka will look to turn in an improved batting display at the MCG after being bundled out for 255 in pursuit of a victory target of 393 in Hobart.

One player who is hoping to do better is Angelo Mathews. Mathews made 74 in the first innings in the opening Test but contributed just 19 in a disappointing second knock.

The 25-year has been an impressive performer for Sri Lanka since making his Test debut in 2009 but has spoken about making more centuries - he has just one to his name despite reaching 50 11 times.

United face testing fixtures Rotation key as Red Devils tackle festive encounters

By Stephen Eisenhammer

M

anchester United manager Alex Ferguson has presided over enough festive fixtures to know rotation is the key as he prepares for a busy period starting with the visit of Newcastle United in the Premier League tomorrow.

A disappointing 1-1 draw at Swansea City on Sunday saw United’s lead at the top cut to four points over Manchester City, and maximum points at home to Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion and away to Wigan Athletic are on Ferguson’s holiday menu.

He can take heart from the fact that Newcastle, who languish in 14th place, have not won at Old Trafford since a 2-0 victory in the old first division way back in 1972.

Ferguson has been cheered by the return of key defenders from injury, including Serbia international Nemanja Vidic, who made his first start since September at Swansea, and Jonny Evans, who also started the match in Wales.

“We now have three games in the next nine days,” said Vidic. “Obviously we have a few players who are coming back from injury and they will be important for that period.”

Ferguson was true to his word about utilising his squad over the seasonal holidays by fielding his 26th different back-five combination this year at the Liberty Stadium.

United’s problems in de-

A disappointing 1-1 draw against the Swans on Sunday saw United’s League lead cut to four points over City fence are reflected in the 25 goals they have conceded so far - the highest by a team topping the Premier League at Christmas since Norwich City, who had let in 34 goals by the same stage of the 1992-93 season.

That has not deterred Ferguson from making changes.

Asked in the build-up to the Swansea match if he would rotate his squad, the Scot told MUTV: “Absolutely. No doubt.

It won’t be the same team in any of these games. There will be changes each game.”

All of England’s top flight clubs play on December 26 in the traditional Boxing Day

programme except Arsenal and West Ham United, whose match at the Emirates Stadium has been postponed due to a planned London Underground strike.

Manchester United will be mindful that being top at this time of year has been a mixed blessing. In the 20 completed seasons since the formation of the Premier League in 1992, the leaders on December 25 have only won the championship nine times.

Norwich City, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Arsenal (twice), Newcastle United (twice), Liverpool (twice) and Manchester United (twice) have

all failed to lift the trophy after celebrating Christmas Day at the top of the tree.

Manchester City’s title chase continues tomorrow at Sunderland where they have only won twice in their last five visits. They went down 1-0 at the Stadium of Light last season after Ji Dong-won struck in injury time.

But City have acquired the knack of scoring late winners and Gareth Barry’s strike against Reading on Saturday ensured they entered the Christmas period breathing down United’s neck. They visit Norwich and host Stoke City after the Sunderland game.

Third-placed Chelsea are next up at Carrow Road and will be in high spirits after putting eight past Aston Villa, who had never conceded that many goals in a topflight match.

The Blues have finally found their shooting boots under new manager Rafa Benitez, who has even found a way to get fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres scoring again.

The London side trail Manchester City by seven points, but have a game in hand over the top two.

Captain Frank Lampard, who became Chelsea’s highest scorer in the top flight

with 130 goals after scoring in the 8-0 win over Villa, said the team were finding their rhythm.

“I think we showed a great appetite. The early goal helped. We are enjoying playing again,” he said.

At the other end of the table, the battle to avoid the drop is heating up, with Queens Park Rangers hosting seventhplaced West Brom and bottom side Reading welcoming mid-table Swansea tomorrow, with the two sides desperate for home wins.

They both missed out on earning a point last Saturday and their respective managers vented their frustrations as the pressure of trying to avoid relegation mounts.

QPR and Reading are five and six points away from the safety zone respectively.

Fifth-placed Everton, who have lost only twice in the league this season, continue their fight for a top four finish at home to Wigan, who are 18th and in the final relegation position.

Sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, level on 30 points with Arsenal, Everton and West Brom in the battle for a Champions League place, travel to Paul Lambert’s Villa, who will be desperate to restore some pride after the debacle at Chelsea.

Liverpool visit Stoke City looking to build on Saturday’s 4-0 home win over Fulham as they also chase European football.

Southampton could slip into the bottom three if they fail to get a positive result at struggling Fulham, who will themselves be looking to make amends for their poor display at Anfield.