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Thursday, January 17, 2013

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CYPRUS

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Man finds bomb and carries it to police station

European firms suspected in horse meat find

Baghdatis sets up Ferrer clash in Melbourne

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New property tax rates fixed State says 76.9pct of homeowners will not be affected by €120m tax grab

Two die as diverted helicopter crashes in London

By George Psyllides

By Michael Holden and Brenda Goh

T

HE CABINET yesterday approved new immovable property tax (IPT), which exempts property of up to €40,000 at 1980s values, but also scrapped the taxfree threshold.

This means that if a property was worth €50,000 at 1980 levels, the tax will be charged on the full €50,000 and not just the €10,000 difference.

The bill, which will be submitted to parliament today, is in line with a preliminary bailout agreement and could fetch the government some €120 million in 2013.

The government expects to collect at least €90 million, meeting its obligation to international lenders, it said.

Speaking after the cabinet meeting, government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said this was essentially a transitional tax since the state must update values in 2014 to be in line with current market prices.

According to the bill, properties worth up to €40,000 in 1980s values would not be taxed.

Stefanou said around 262,000 people and some 8,500 companies would not have to pay. “This means that 76.9 per cent of property owners will not pay property tax,” said Stefanou.

“The price of real estate throughout Cyprus has mushroomed since 1980, For statistical purposes, on average, real estate

values have increased seven or eight times over.

So when we talk about a house worth €40,000 in 1980, its current value will be around €300,000, maybe more depending on the exact location. But the government’s effort was to ensure that the largest percentage of average homeowners would be taxexempt,” he added.

According to the new rules, properties worth more than €40,000 and up to €120,000 will be taxed at a rate of 4.0 per thousand on the full amount, without subtracting the taxfree €40,000.

This means that around 61,800 owners, 18.45 per cent of people will pay between €257 and €480 per year, Stefanou said.

From then on: between €120,001 up to € 170,000, the tax rate will be 8.0 per thousand, an average of €1,127 and a maximum of €1,360 per year. Stefanou said this would affect 1.6 per cent of property owners.

At the next stage – properties worth between €170,001 and €300,000, the tax rate will be 12 per thousand, which will affect around 3.657 owners who will have to stump up on average €2,592 to a maximum of €3,600 per year.

For properties worth between €300,001 and €500,000, the tax rate will be 15 per thousand, affecting 998 owners who will pay on average €5,580 with a maximum set at €7.500 a year.

Some 315 owners whose

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Debris is pictured in front of a fire engine at the scene of a helicopter crash in central London yesterday (AFP)

A HELICOPTER crashed into a crane on top of one of Europe’s tallest residential blocks yesterday, killing two people as it burst into flames and spiralled down into rush-hour traffic close to the Houses of Parliament in central London.

Police said there was nothing to suggest a terrorism link to the crash on a foggy morning on the south bank of the River Thames, less than a mile from Britain’s parliament, its secret services headquarters and the site of a new US embassy.

In parliament, later in the day, Prime Minister David Cameron said helicopter flights over a city with an increasing number of huge skyscrapers needed to be carefully examined.

“There was a big bang and bits started showering down, then there was an explosion down the road,” said truck driver Ray Watts whose vehicle was hit by falling debris.

“We saw the fireball down there and the smoke. We didn’t know what way to run because there were bits coming down everywhere.”

Witnesses said the helicopter hit a crane on top of the as-yet unoccupied 185-metre (200-yard) high cylindrical block - The Tower, One St George Wharf - spun out of control, fell to the ground and burst into flames, setting nearby buildings alight.

Wreckage was strewn across roads close to Vauxhall train station, a major transport

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Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

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Home PICTURE OF THE DAY

Weather Paralimni

Nicosia 17

11

Troodos

18 18

Larnaca

18

18

Paphos

Limassol

TODAY: A mixture of sunshine and cloud, with isolated rain also forecast.

Temperatures will reach 17C inland, 18C along the coasts and 11C over higher ground OUTLOOK: Remaining unsettled going into the weekend YESTERDAY:

Max Temp Nicosia 17 Larnaca 18 Limassol 19 Paphos 19 Paralimni 17 Prodromos 12

-

Min 4 8 7 7 7 3

Humidity 60% 45% 60% 41% 55% 58%

SUNRISE: 06:54am

SUNSET: 5:00pm

Pollution Low/Low Medium/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

16 3 1 -1 20 -4 12 3 0 0 12 1

Cloudy Mist Fog Snow Clear Clear Clear Cloudy Cloudy Mist Clear Cloudy

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

9 0 -7 -12 2 -4 12 7 6 -4 20 0

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

EXCHANGE

€

1.3354

€

0.8316

For a full list of exchange rates, see page 10

CHEMISTS NICOSIA A. Hadjiioannou & E. Antoniou, 14C Naxou St, Lycavitos. Tel: 22755999, 22429210, 22429429 (H) M. Spiritou, 109D Tseriou Ave, Strovolos.

Tel: 22320553, 22496649 (H) Ch. Scoumpris, 26A+B Byzantiou St, Strovolos. Tel: 22661499, 22370357 (H) S. Stylianou-Kyriakou, Ayiou Pavlou 101, Tel: 22771122, 22590272 A. Demetriou, 5 Armenia St, Acropolis.

Tel: 22333670, 22425240 (H)

LIMASSOL A. Tsogarakis, 59B Gladstone

St. Tel: 25369444, 25366653 (H) E. P. Terides, 37 Omonia Ave. Tel: 25567526, 25714469 (H) M. Kodjamani 9 Spyrou Kyprianou Tel: 25336337, 25107742 (H)

A robot serves rice in a robot-themed restaurant in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province yesterday.

Twenty robots perform a variety of chores, from ushering in guests to waiting tables and cooking dishes (AFP)

QUICK CROSSWORD 2287 Across

Down

1 Characteristic (7) 7 Loud protest (6) 8 Circular panel (7) 10 Steel mast (5) 11 Uncivil (8) 13 Plead (3) 14 Relative (4) 15 Oh dear (4) 16 Limb (3) 18 Sweltering (8) 20 Lively dance (5) 22 Right (7) 23 Break free (6) 24 Alleged (7)

1 Nomenclature (11) 2 Tubby (5) 3 Hugging (8) 4 Novel by Nabokov (6) 5 At the apex (4) 6 Naive (7) 9 Undisciplined (11) 12 Flashy display (8) 14 Sea-legs (anag.) (7) 17 Shopkeeper (6) 19 Trunk (5) 21 Mountain (4)

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

LARNACA L. Papadopoulou, 143 Faneromenis St. Tel: 24654380, 24624699 (H) M. Lambi, corner Makarios & Gr Afxentiou Ave. Tel: 24626447, 24361185(H)

PAPHOS A. I. Loizidou, 47 Thermopilon St. Tel: 26934184, 26934343 (H)

PARALIMNI A. Mavroyiannou, 216 Gr. Dighenis St. Tel: 23828880, 23829202 (H)

ON THIS DAY JANUARY 17 1912

28 years ago, Thursday January 17, 1985

English explorer Robert Falcon Scott (Scott of the Antarctic) reaches the South Pole, one month behind Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.

Objections are mounting against the building of a new £22 million Limassol sewerage plant in the Vounaros area.

In the latest protests villagers from Zakaki held a meeting and demanded that the plant should be built away from any inhabited area. Villagers have decided to fight with all means possible to stop the project in the area.

1938 The first jazz concert takes place at Carnegie Hall in New York, USA.

1966

Cyprus Mail Established 1945. Number 21,430 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

A B-52 bomber collides with a KC-135 Stratotanker over Spain, dropping three 70-kiloton nuclear bombs near the town of Palomares and another one into the sea in the Palomares incident.

1991 The first full day of Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War.

1995 A massive quake destroys whole areas of Japan’s industrial heartland, leaving many hundreds of people dead.

38 years ago, Friday January 17, 1975 Turkey will organise a huge airlift over the Mediterranean in the next few days to evacuate thousands of Turkish Cypriot refugees from the British Base of Episkopi. The Turkish Foreign Minister said the refugees would be shuttled to temporary shelters, under canvas in the southern part of Turkey.

58 years ago, Monday January 17, 1955 The Court of Appeal yesterday ruled that preparing a kebab for consumption off the premises does not come under the provisions of the recent municipal restrictive regulations. The court was judging the case of George Kyriakides against a conviction by the lower court on a charge of violating municipal regulation.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

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EAC ordered to suspend new price increase Decision has immediate effect, CERA says

By Stefanos Evripidou

A bomb squad officer outside the Paphos Gate police station

(Christos Theodorides)

Man carries bomb to police station A MAN triggered a security scare in Nicosia when he walked into a central police station carrying a bomb he found in his driveway, saying he wanted officers to examine it.

Police said Petros Konafis, 33, a former footballer and now agent, discovered a suspicious device on the rear window of his car and after drawing a blank on what it was doing there, decided to take it to the Paphos Gate for further scrutiny by experts.

Police discovered it was a makeshift bomb which had failed to go off, triggering the evacuation of the complex. It appears however that it was not until the arrival of the bomb squad

that everyone realised what they had been handling. “When they came we realised what the object was (and) we evacuated the building,” said Nicosia CID chief Erotocritos Erotocritou. Police said the object was a “makeshift high intensity explosive” attached to a detonator and a fuse. It was defused on site by explosives experts.

Reports said Konafis suspected the incident was linked to his professional dealings. Police spokesman Andreas Angelides urged the public not to pick up any suspicious objects and notify the force immediately if they happen to find one.

Milk price cap of €1.41 per litre in effect from Monday for 45 days

By George Psyllides THE commerce minister yesterday issued a decree putting a cap on the wholesale and retail price of milk that will come into effect on Monday.

The cap is €1.41 per litre for retail and €1.32 per litre for wholesale, including VAT, Commerce Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis said. The minister said the decree aimed at protecting consumers and local production, which would be affected by successive price hikes.

“With this intervention we fix prices at their current level and prevent knock-on hikes because of the four cent rise imposed by the cattle farmers and the assertion by the manufacturers that they would apply a nine cent rise, which we consider irrational,” the minister said.

The decree will be in effect for up to 45 days. Cypriot consumers pay for the most expensive milk in the European Union, with prices also rising faster than elsewhere in the

EU. Almost two years ago, the cabinet approved a bill giving the commerce minister the right to set a ceiling on the prices of bread, water and milk, but lawmakers have as yet done nothing.

Over 70 per cent of Cyprus’ cattle farmers are part of the cattle farmers’ association (POA) which has exclusive agreements with some of Cyprus’ major supermarkets.

A new EU regulation that Cyprus should have implemented by early October states that milk producer groups in small markets – including Cyprus – can only represent 45 per cent of total production.

It is understood that POA is under investigation by the commission for the protection of competition.

Some were not sure the price cap would prove of use to consumers. The Cyprus Consumers & Quality of Life Union, said on Tuesday the move would backfire as retailers, who might currently be selling milk for less would likely begin charging the ceiling price of €1.41. Currently a litre of semi-

skimmed milk goes from €1.16 to €1.32 at supermarkets, although bakeries and kiosks are far more expensive, selling for as much as €1.40 and in the odd case even €1,50.

The Union said it has been receiving complaints from people across the country reporting soaring milk prices at stores in recent days. It also questioned whether the ministry had the resources to adequately enforce the price ceiling, citing the shortage of manpower.

Yesterday it said the ministry had in fact only satisfied the demands of those pushing for an increase in the wholesale price. The ministry had met those involved in that end, at least two or three times but had not once contacted any consumer group to hear their opinion.

“Setting a wholesale price at €1.32 means consumers can no longer buy milk for between €1.10 and €1.32 as they can today”, the Union said. And, prices were already heading towards the €1.41 ceiling, it added.

THE CYPRUS Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) yesterday decided to cancel the price increase imposed on energy bills by the electricity authority (EAC) on January 1 based on a recalculation of the fuel cost formula.

CERA released an announcement saying it has instructed the EAC to suspend the fuel adjustment imposed after a rise in fuel costs last November was passed on to the consumer.

The decision will come as good news to consumers who feared yet another hike in electricity prices, which are already some of the highest in Europe.

Each month, the EAC adjusts its fuel cost formula - the major component of electricity bills. The electricity rate - kilowatt hour (kWh) - is the sum of the fuel cost plus the price of carbon credits.

Following the resumed operation of Units 4 and 5 at the Vassilikos electricity plant, the EAC bought greater quantities of diesel in November to power the combined cycle units, requiring more money and most likely more carbon credits.

The authority passed on the extra cost to the consumer by punching the numbers into the existing fuel cost formula, resulting in a price adjustment from 6.9719 cents/kWh to 7.9361 cents/kWh, roughly translating into a 4.0 to 4.5 per cent increase on the final electricity bill.

The upward adjustment

came into effect on January 1, 2013, though it had retroactive application, meaning all monthly and two-monthly bills issued in January for the last month or two months of 2012 would include the price hike.

The ongoing economic crisis, rising unemployment, falling temperatures, a VAT increase to 18 per cent imposed last Monday, and another energy price hike made this month a perfect candidate to be consumers’ winter of discontent.

Last week, CERA hinted it would re-examine the price hike, inviting the EAC for talks yesterday.

Following the meeting, CERA released an announcement yesterday saying it has instructed the EAC to suspend the fuel adjustment, reverting to the 6.9719 cents/kWh rate.

According to CERA, consumers who already received bills for November and/or December with the new price increase will have the difference subtracted from their next month’s bill.

“This decision has immediate effect and will be passed on to the EAC. It will also be published in the Official Gazette,” said CERA in no uncertain terms. According to sources, the EAC was not even notified before CERA announced its decision.

The regulatory authority said it took into account a number of factors when taking the decision, including the fact that Units 4 and 5 at Vassilikos are now back in operation.

Both units are more efficient than the older power plants in Moni and Dhekelia, meaning

the EAC gets more power for its fuel, even though they are powered by the more expensive diesel than heavy fuel.

The operation of more efficient combined cycle units requires a review of the method used to make fuel adjustments to the benefit of the consumer, said CERA. The energy regulator also took into account the fact that international fuel prices fell in November 2012.

Energy sources yesterday questioned why the regulator waited until now to suspend the adjustment, since the EAC has been implementing its fuel cost formula on a monthly basis for the past 30 years.

The sources also argued that it was CERA’s job to change the formula if they were not happy with it, not the EAC which was obliged to carry out the normal adjustments.

They further highlighted that while Units 4 and 5 were more efficient, Units 1, 2 and 3 were still out of action as a result of last year’s Mari naval base blast.

Units 4 and 5 have a 220MW capacity each, though Unit 4 is not fully operational as of yet, and only operates at halfcapacity.

Units 1, 2 and 3, when operational, had a capacity of 130MW each.

Meanwhile, cabinet yesterday appointed Charalambos Tsouris as the new EAC chairman, replacing the outgoing Haris Thrasou who recently announced his resignation.

Tsouris was previously a board member of the telecommunications authority CyTA.

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

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Power struggle with the troika over hydrocarbons Lenders say the fund needs a solid legal basis and structure

By Stefanos Evripidou COMMERCE MINISTER Neoclis Sylikiotis’ yesterday called on legislators and state officials not to let the troika have a say over the country’s hydrocarbon resources, indicating that the power struggle between the government and troika over natural resources has yet to be resolved.

When the government announced reaching a preliminary agreement with the troika on an international bailout last November, President Demetris Christofias was at pains to stress the government’s hard-fought victory which ensured the troika would not have a hand in the management of Cyprus’ natural gas resources.

However, based on what came to light yesterday, it became clear that the matter was far from over.

Sylikiotis recently tabled a bill before parliament to set up a national hydrocarbon fund, in which he hopes to deposit over €200m in revenue from the signature bonuses expected after the completion of negotiations to award five new blocks in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone to international energy companies.

The minister argues that failure to set up the company in time would mean any money made from awarding licences would have to go directly into state coffers and end up being used to pay the country’s many debts, instead of being invested in infrastructure to develop Cyprus’ hydrocarbons industry.

According to the preliminary agreement with the troika, the government is

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Beaten and robbed A 67-YEAR OLD man was beaten and robbed in his grocery on Georgiou Fasoulioti Street in Limassol on Tuesday afternoon by two strangers.

According to police, at around 5.30pm on Tuesday, two people entered the grocery pretending to be customers and called the owner to be served.

When the 67-year-old approached them, one of the strangers pulled out a knife, placed it next to his throat, and pushed him to the ground. The assailants then beat the victim, with the second man taking €1,000 from the owner’s shirt pocket.

Police described the first offender as being of normal build, around 1.75m tall, with a dark complexion and short, black hair.

He was wearing a red jersey and dark pants. The second offender is described as being of normal build, around 1.60m in height, with short black hair. Their ages were not identified, said the press representative.

The victim was sent to hospital where he received first aid and was released.

obliged to “undertake a study on the financial aspects of the transition towards the exploitation, use and export of natural gas, as a first step in the formulation of a comprehensive development plan for the rearrangement of the Cypriot energy sector.”

It is also expected to “prepare and adopt legal steps enabling the establishment of a resource fund, which should receive and manage the public revenues of offshore gas exploitation”.

The international lenders say the fund needs to benefit from “a solid legal base and governance structure, drawing on internationallyrecognised best practices” if it is to ensure transparency, accountability and effectiveness.

Regarding the inflow and outflow of money, the fund’s management should give due respect to: the need to develop the hydrocarbon industry, including the necessary infrastructure; the importance of bringing Cyprus’ public debt on a steady downward path; and the need to invest for future generations.

As a first step, the government was obliged to submit its draft legal framework “for review” by the troika taking into account international best practices, as well as a detailed action plan within the second quarter of 2013.

Around 11 days ago, the finance ministry sent the commerce ministry’s legal proposal to set up a resource fund to the troika.

It appears the troika was not happy with the contents of the bill.

According to yesterday’s Alithia, the troika informed

CYPRUS TODAY

CMP donation

Commerce Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis (left) at the House yesterday. He is furious that the media was given a letter to the finance minister that he had not seen (Christos Theodorides) the finance ministry that the proposed legislation violated the terms of the memorandum of understanding with the government.

The paper reports that the troika was not convinced the bill ensured transparency in the management of the national hydrocarbon fund and failed to follow international practices. The international lenders allegedly asked the finance ministry to block the bill’s approval until consultations were completed.

Speaking to the state broadcaster, Sylikiotis yes-

terday confirmed that Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly had received an email from the troika, which he has yet to see.

He questioned how the newspaper got its hands on an email that he was not even informed about.

“The email went to the (finance) minister and then to his officials. Shouldn’t the relevant minister (himself) have been informed?

Who leaked it to the press?

I requested an investigation into the matter and the finance minister agreed.”

Sylikiotis further berated

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Shiarly for seemingly listening to what the troika had to say.

“Yes, not only did he give the wrong answer to the troika, but he should have insisted that there is no word in the memorandum which specifies we need their agreement before tabling a bill,” said an irate Sylikiotis.

“The state should have the power to exercise its sovereign right to develop the necessary infrastructure,” he said.

He urged parliament to vote on the hydrocarbons fund bill as soon as possible.

The minister questioned the wisdom of those within the finance ministry and parliament who were interpreting the terms of the memorandum in a way which gives the troika power over the country’s management of its natural resources.

THE Committee on Missing Persons yesterday expressed its “sincere gratitude to the government of Turkey for its commitment and continued support” following its donation of US $100,000. This eighth donation brings the total Turkish financial assistance to the CMP to US $637,000 over the past six years.

“This donation to the CMP Project on the Exhumation, Identification and Return of Remains of Missing Persons in Cyprus will contribute to the Committee’s goal of identifying and returning as many remains of missing individuals as possible in order to bring an end to the uncertainty which has affected so many families for so many years,” said a CMP announcement.

To date, human remains representing over 900 individuals have been exhumed while over 340 missing persons have been identified and returned to the families for burial. The CMP relies on donors to carry out its mandate.

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CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

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Property tax rates fixed

CB chief says banks will need €10 billion at most Demetriades said Cyprus would move ahead with privatising state-owned companies if necessary

By George Psyllides CENTRAL Bank Governor Panicos Demetriades yesterday said that Cypriot banks will need scue money, as he dismissed money laundering allegations as “greatly exaggerated.”

In an interview with the Associated Press, Demetriades said Cypriot banks would need at worst “less than €10 billion” in rescue money, but did not provide a specific figure.

Citing a reliable source, the Cyprus News Agency said the amount was close to €9.0 billion but negotiations were still ongoing.

Cyprus is currently engaged in discussions with its lenders and the company that undertook a due diligence on banks in a bid to adjust downwards the figure attached to the worst-case scenario.

Preliminary reports suggest banks will need anything between €7.3 billion and €10 billion.

ASSUMPTIONS Under the worst-case scenario, an assessment Cyprus hopes to avoid, the total bill for a bailout could rise to €17 billion.

A potential rescue bill of €17 billion, roughly equivalent to its entire economic output, has deepened concerns among EU partners about Cyprus’ debts, and some doubt it would be able to repay the aid without more concessions from lenders.

Demetriades told the Associated Press he “doesn’t share those gloomy scenarios” because they are based on worst-case assumptions of a deepening recession in Europe and beyond, that he said have little chance of happening.

“If the rest of the euro area is doing better, the chances of the adverse scenario materialising for Cyprus are less,” he said,

adding that the country could rebound from crisis because of good growth prospects in such sectors as tourism, shipping and as a result of the recent discovery of significant natural gas deposits off its shores.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) said it expected Cyprus’ debt to GDP to exceed 140 per cent but did not think there would be a Greece-style write-down.

RBS however, believes that privatisations would be part of the deal to bailout Cyprus.

“For one, Europe wants to avoid PSI (Private Sector Involvement) in other countries so political efforts will be made to ensure debt is deemed sustainable, most likely through flexibility on the banking numbers,” RBS said in a report.

“Meanwhile, a new reform minded Cypriot president after the February elections will likely agree to the troika’s privatisations demands.

“Avoiding a haircut is a ‘win-win’ for Cyprus and core Europe.”

RBS also suggested that the island’s natural gas reserves could turn Cyprus into a net international creditor in the long term.

“Debt dynamics from 140 per cent debt/GDP level can look scary but Cyprus is sitting on huge reserves of natural gas and potentially oil reserves too,” RBS said.

“How much are these worth? Initial gas reserves discovered are likely worth 300 per cent of GDP. This could rise to 2,950 per cent GDP.” Demetriades said Cyprus would move ahead with privatising state-owned companies if it was deemed necessary to make its debt viable, despite political resistance at home, because it was part of the terms the country agreed in a draft bailout deal.

He said it was more likely

The Central Bank chief dismissed allegations of money laundering as exaggerated to sell the telecommunications company CyTA than the electricity or ports authorities due to “national security considerations.”

The governor also dismissed money-laundering allegations – mainly stemming from Germany – as “greatly exaggerated” and “fuelled by political considerations in other countries.”

“Cyprus has done as much as other countries in the euro area to combat money laundering and we are very serious about enforcing the legislation,” he said.

BLACK LIST Meanwhile, the finance ministry said yesterday that Russia had, since the beginning of this month, removed Cyprus from a ‘black list’ of countries that Moscow discouraged investment in.

“Cyprus’ removal from the list further bolsters competitiveness in investments from Russia … and Cyprus’ reputation as a respectable international business centre,” the ministry said. Germany has come down hard on Cyprus in recent weeks over ‘dirty’ Russian money.

Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told lawmakers in Berlin that Russia must participate in a euro-area bailout package for Cyprus.

The island is in hock to Moscow for €2.5 billion.

Schaeuble reportedly said the troika would have difficulty reaching an agreement without privatisation of Cypriot assets.

The German minister also said officials were closely watching next month’s presidential elections.

(continued from front page) properties are valued between €500,001 and € 1.0 million will pay 18 per thousand, or on average €12,000 with a maximum of €18,000.

Those who have properties worth more than €1.0 million will be taxed at the rate of 20 per thousand.

Around 35 people with properties worth up to €3 million will be affected, Stefanou said with the tax per annum coming to €28,000 on average and a maximum of €60,000 a year.

The tax will be applied on the total value of the property in someone’s name.

Previous draft legislation, which was scrapped after an uproar by hoteliers and other large property owners, had taken the 1980s value and applied the consumer price index – around 3.5 per cent – before calculating the new tax.

It provided that the first €150,000 would be tax-free.

From then on: €150,001€500,000 coefficient of 6.0 per thousand, €500,001€1,000,000 coefficient of 8.0 per thousand, €1,000,001 and above coefficient of 10 per thousand.

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First yachts to dock at new marina in March Work at Limassol marina is now 90 per cent complete

By Despina Procopiou THE €350 million Limassol Marina is heading towards completion as 90 per cent of the work is finished, meaning the new facility will be fully operational in the first half of 2014.

The project’s PR officer, Sophia Paraskeva, said yesterday that Limassol Marina’s Nereids Residences, consisting of 94 luxury apartments and penthouses, are receiving their final touches, as the first residents are expected to arrive over the

next two weeks. Aside from the upcoming delivery of the apartments, the first yachts are planned to arrive in March and the commercial area will open its doors to the public in June, she said.

As far as the global crisis is concerned, Paraskeva said that businesses and sales were affected. “Fortunately, however, we have the support and financial backing of the most reputable companies on the island, as well as an extremely unique and enticing product at our fingertips,” she said.

“This marina is one of few

The new Limassol marina will have 650 berths for small vessels up to 115 metres in length integrated marinas in the heart of an international city like Limassol and certainly the only new master plan development offering private berths directly attached to villas. It is the first super yacht marina in

Cyprus, it is conveniently located at the crossroads of three continents and it seamlessly combines living and sailing in an unrivalled environment.”

When asked whether they were satisfied with how things were progressing in terms of sales, Paraskeva said that they still had to release all of the residential units for sale but the results to date had been very positive, she said.

Half the apartments and

penthouses at Nereids Residences have already been sold while contracts for apartments at Thetis Residences and for a number of Peninsula and Island Villas, including the two largest residences of the project, have also been signed.

Apart from buyers from Russia, the UK, and Middle East, some interest from China was observed but this was more concentrated on the lower end of the market.

Properties at the marina

start from €370,000. One villa within the complex was sold for €13 million.

Although the project has raised some environmental issues, Paraskeva said that while disturbing the sea bed to reclaim land and create the marina structure, they recovered fridges, car tyres, mattresses, and pieces of furniture, therefore actually helping clean the sea.

The marina will have 650 berths for small vessels up to 115 metres in length.

Orphanides chain still in limbo as suppliers fail to agree on new deal

By Poly Pantelides NOT enough suppliers of the indebted Orphanides Supermarkets chain have agreed with a proposal to take over management of some outlets aimed to secure the supermarkets’ ability to stay afloat, it emerged yesterday.

The suppliers, led by supplier Cypra Ltd and Giorgos Georgiou, have formed a new entity Orphanides New Era in order to directly manage some outlets and, they hope, the supermarkets’ ability to meet their obligations.

But in order for the deal to carry forward, a number of suppliers collectively owed €50 million need to agree. As of yesterday, the figure came to only €20 million, Georgiou said in an announcement.

So Georgiou was forced to push a deadline back until this coming Tuesday for any interested suppliers.

PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT Together, all suppliers – most of whom have stopped working with the chain – are owed €85 million, with the banks owed over €150 million in total.

Cypra has secured a preliminary agreement with Orphanides supermarkets to continue to supply some outlets and manage them directly, continuing to employ the staff in those outlets under their standing terms of employment.

Orphanides would get a return on the supermarkets revenue, that Georgiou claims would enable the chain to pay interest rate to the banks.

The suppliers would be equal shareholders in Orphanides New Era, also receiving a return on revenue by exchanging their debt for shares.

“My motive is simple. I want to see us

care for once for the greater good,” said Georgiou who has been co-ordinating the suppliers.

“Even the most powerful of us are threatened by the catastrophic consequences from the …supermarket chain’s closure,” Georgiou said.

From the 23 supermarkets island-wide directly employing 1,100 people, only 16 branches would be part of Orphanides New Era. But Georgiou could not be reached yesterday to say how many people would lose their jobs, how many suppliers had signed on and how many were left undecided.

Georgiou previously said that there were 28 bigger suppliers owed over €500,000, and it is understood that hundreds of suppliers – big and small – worked with the supermarket chain.

The cost to the economy from a chain closure has been placed to €400 million on some estimates.

Some 250 people have already been sent home and 11 branches have closed because they had no products to sell.

And a former supplier, GR V North Fruit Ltd, which is in receivership, is trying to wind up the company.

North Fruit has questioned the legality of Orphanides New Era given that they have already launched liquidation procedures against the chain.

But Georgiou claims that the chain’s assets come to €140 million, which would all go to the banks in the event of closure.

Suppliers “have no choice but to participate in this venture” he said during a meeting last week to discuss plans.

Georgiou has appealed to all suppliers to get in touch and check out www.neaepohi.com (Greek only) for more information.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

7

Home Fish farm visit for Chinese delegation

Concern over rise in traffic at Tymbou

By Stefanos Evripidou THE INCREASED passenger traffic at Ercan airport in the occupied village of Tymbou in the north is a cause for concern, said spokesman of Hermes Airports Adamos Adamou yesterday.

Aspris called on the government to take measures to limit the problem and damage caused to the country’s legitimate international airports at Larnaca and Paphos by the increased passenger traffic at Ercan (Tymbou) airport in the occupied areas. “We find ourselves before a considerable dynamic which appears to be evolving in a dangerous manner and causing significant damage to the economic and general interests of the country,” he said.

Aspris argued that if statistics published by the breakaway regime were correct, then Tymbou had seen a steady increase in the last few years.

“We are monitoring carefully the development of the illegal airport at Tymbou and the recent efforts of the breakaway regime to upgrade,” said Aspris.

He said the airports’ operator was in constant contact with state services to coordinate actions and manage the situation. According to yesterday’s Phileleftheros, statistics released in the north revealed that Ercan handled 1,646 flights last November.

This more than doubles the number of flights for Paphos in the same period, 619, and comes close to the 2,200 flights handled by Larnaca that month.

The paper reported that 204,208 passengers passed through Ercan last November, compared to 102,110 through Paphos airport and 252,870 at Larnaca. Asked by the state broadcaster about Greek Cypriots travelling through the north, Aspris replied: “Unfortunately, it is true that a significant proportion of passengers choose to travel through Tymbou and that is sad.”

He highlighted that 33 per cent of revenue from Cyprus’ international airports end up in state coffers.

“The money spent by Greek Cypriots at the international airports of Larnaca and Paphos are used for investments and projects for the country and not as offensive tools against us,” he said.

The Chinese delegation check out operations at the Blue Island fish farm in Limassol yesterday

THE DEPUTY Minister of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China, Niu Dun, and his delegation yesterday visited the Blue Island fish farm in Limassol at the invitation of Cypriot Agriculture Minister Sophocles Aletraris.

During the meeting the two discussed the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two ministries in November 2007 to strengthen cooperation. Referring to bilateral relations between the two ministries, Aletraris said there was a possibility of further cooperation in the fields of agriculture and fisheries.

He mentioned citrus exports to China, and said that by the end of this month, the first cargo of Cypriot grapefruits would be shipped to the People’s Republic.

The two ministers also exchange views on veterinary services and decided to work towards greater cooperation in that area.

Boost for civil partnerships

By Poly Pantelides THE INTERIOR ministry is working on a civil partnership bill to regulate nonmarital relationships, which will secure couples rights and freedom to choose the nature of their personal relationships.

“The interior ministry is working on a bill that will accommodate civil partnership unions,” Interior Minister Eleni Mavrou said, responding to a question set by AKEL deputy Irene Charalambidou who wanted to know how far along the draft bill was.

Cyprus does not recognise any other form of cohabitation beyond marriage, but authorities started mulling the recognition of cohabitation rights in 2011 when a 93-year-old woman complained to the Ombudswoman after authorities refused to give her a widow’s pension because she had never married her partner of 67 years.

The couple had been living together since 1943 and had eight children together.

A civil partnership will protect partners and give them

THIS WEEK IN YOUR

Ministry working on draft law to protect non-married couples but long road to go the same benefits and rights as married couples enjoy.

Although members of parliament have on occasion discussed civil partnership, “in essence the issue… has not been discussed in parliament,” Charalambidou said.

But deputies have started discussing the matter in the human rights committee in the context of homophobia, without getting into any detail on civil partnership, but rather focusing on “social behaviours on issues dealing with homophobia”.

What is clear to her is that society at large, and this includes the MPs, are divided on the matter of civil partnership.

“The people’s representatives in the House are part and parcel of this society and have their own perceptions and I’ve observed that on this particular issue, opinions are divided even within parties,” Charalambidou said, although she

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added that her own party stood in favour of civil partnership. But a factor “that plays a substantial role in delaying a substantial discussion is that although we do not live in theocracy, anyone can understand the extent to which the Church intervenes in the island’s social and political life and so imposes its own viewpoints,” she said.

Case in point was the Church’s vehement response towards decriminalising homosexuality, which was thrown off the books in 1998.

The Church had fought hard against the move, but even in parliament deputies were conflicted. On that day, there were 44 MPs in the house and only six stayed behind to vote, former DISY MP Christos Pourgourides said during a 2011 discussion on gay rights.

“And imagine that was something we had to do!”

Pourgourides had said.

His point was the one that Charalambidou also alluded to, the fact that because civil partnership would enable same-sex couples to have a legally recognised relationship that in the eyes of the law would be as good as marriage, there is resistance.

The overwhelming majority of lesbian, gay and transgender (LGBT) people have reported being discriminated against. And Cyprus ranks close to the bottom of the list in LGBT rights, on IGLA-Europe Rainbow map that charts the legal human rights status of LGBT and intersex people.

But civil partnership is at any rate, a greater issue. “[It] regulates matters between heterosexual and homosexual couples,” Charalambidou said.

In the case of heterosexual couples, children born out of wedlock are “vulnerable because there is no legal regulation, resulting in

the partner having no legal rights, e.g. in a pension,” she said. And there are people who disagree with the notion of marriage or, for any other reason, do not want to marry, Charalambidou said.

“That is their right.”

At their end, the Cyprusbased Accept-LGBT said the fact that the interior ministry was mulling a civil partnership bill was a positive step for all couples regardless of sexual orientation that will regulate issues that partners need to deal with, including the guarantee of a pension, shared health insurance, or simply sorting out taxes.

In the EU-27 block a total 16 countries have already secured same-sex couples’ rights, Accept said.

A further eight European countries offer gay couples the right to marry, with France and the UK moving towards legalising marriage for same-sex couples this year.

For Cyprus, the civil partnership is “a first step towards recognising and safeguarding same-sex couples in Cyprus law and society in general,” said Accept’s Yoryis Regginos.

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

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Britain

European firms are suspected in horse meat find SUPPLIERS in continental Europe are suspected of being the source of horse meat found in beef products, a processing firm has claimed.

Scientific tests found traces of horse DNA in burgers on sale in some of the UK and Ireland’s leading supermarkets.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) found low levels of horse in beef products sold in Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and Dunnes Stores.

Burger products which tested positive for horse DNA were produced by Liffey Meats and Silvercrest Foods in Ireland and one UK plant, Dalepak Hambleton.

Silvercrest, a subsidiary of ABP Foods, said it was pulling products from sale and replacing them with new lines.

“Following tests carried out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, we have been alerted to frozen beefburgers which contain porcine and equine DNA,” said a spokesman.

“Although the products pose no risk to public health, Silvercrest has taken immediate action to isolate, withdraw and replace all suspect product.

“Silvercrest has never purchased or traded in equine product and has launched a full-scale investigation into

two continental European third party suppliers who are the suspected source of the product in question.”

According to the research by the FSAI, one sample Tesco Everyday Value Beef Burgers - showed about 29 per cent horse meat relative to beef content.

Professor Alan Reilly, chief executive of the FSAI, said there was no health risk but also no reasonable explanation for horse meat to be found.

“Whilst there is a plausible explanation for the presence of pig DNA in these products due to the fact that meat from different animals is processed in the same meat plants, there is no clear explanation at this time for the presence of horse DNA in products emanating from meat plants that do not use horse meat in their production process,” Prof Reilly said.

“In Ireland, it is not in our culture to eat horse meat and therefore we do not expect to find it in a burger.”

The retailers have told food safety chiefs they are removing all implicated products from their shelves.

Prof Reilly said traces of other meats would be unacceptable for people who may not eat certain food on religious grounds.

Beef burgers on sale in leading British and Irish supermarkets were found to contain traces of horse DNA

Helicopter crash kills two in central London Crane on tower was shrouded in low cloud (continued from front page) hub near the south bank of the River Thames, which was packed with thousands of commuters at the time of the incident shortly after 0800 GMT. A Reuters reporter at the scene said tangled bits of crane could be seen hanging off the side of the tower, the top of which was still shrouded by low cloud an hour after the crash.

“It is something of a miracle that this was not many, many times worse given the time of day that this happened,” police Commander Neil Basu told reporters. The fire service said it had rescued one man from a burning car.

Basu said the helicopter was believed to be on a commercial flight from Redhill, south of the capital, to Elstree, home to famous British film studios north of London, but had been diverted to a heliport near the crash site.

He said there were 13 casualties. The pilot was one of those killed and it was not thought anyone else was on board.

One other person was found dead near the wreckage.

The helicopter involved was an Italian-made twin-engined AgustaWestland 109, the company’s best selling VIP corporate helicopter, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Edmir Pishtar, who was in a van outside the site, said he spoke to the operator who was about to get into the crane cab.

“He was literally shaking because he was getting ready to

PM Cameron sets out Conservative battlelines on Europe for next election DAVID Cameron yesterday set out Conservative battlelines on Europe for the next election, saying voters will have a choice between taking powers back for Britain with the Tories or handing power over to Brussels with Labour.

In stormy clashes at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, Labour leader Ed Miliband accused Cameron of “losing control” of his own party over the EU, after the PM failed to give a direct answer to his question of whether he believes Britain will be a member in five years’ time.

Miliband warned the PM that he will not be able to shut down internal party and coalition differences with a long-awaited speech on Europe in the Netherlands on Friday, at which he is expected to offer a referendum after the 2015 general election on a renegotiated settlement for UK membership.

“The problem is this: he thinks his problems on Europe will end on Friday,” the Labour leader told MPs. “They are just beginning.”

After facing the Commons, the PM was due to meet Conservative Cabinet ministers and some Tory backbenchers to discuss the content of tomorrow’s speech. He declined to answer Miliband’s question in the Com-

mons - whether he will give Tory ministers the green light to campaign for withdrawal in any referendum.

Meanwhile, a group of Conservative backbenchers released a blueprint for renegotiated membership, which they said could deliver “a new and sustainable position for the UK within the EU”.

The Fresh Start Project’s Manifesto for Change set out demands for five significant revisions to EU treaties, to repatriate powers on social and employment law, deliver an “emergency brake” on financial services issues, allow the UK to opt out of policing and crime measures, provide legal safeguards for the single market and abolish the European Parliament’s second home in Strasbourg.

The proposals were warmly received by Foreign Secretary William Hague, who said in a foreword to the document: “Many of the proposals are already government policy, some could well become future government or Conservative Party policy and some may require further thought.”

Fresh Start supporter and former minister Tim Loughton said Cameron should focus his energies on a “robust and achievable negotiation of our terms of membership” of the EU.

Neither the tower’s developer nor police would speculate on the cause of the crash climb into the crane and he was late,” Pishtar said.

Roads around the area including a route over the Thames were closed off, and bus and rail services were affected.

The Department of Transport’s crash investigation unit said it had launched an inquiry and it could be several months before it produced a definitive report.

Neither the tower’s developer, Berkeley Group, nor police would speculate on the cause of the crash.

Helicopters should normally fly 500 feet (150 metres) above tall structures. Despite its proximity to landmarks such as the headquarters of Britain’s MI6 international intelligence agency, police quickly ruled out an attack by militants.

“There’s nothing to suggest any terrorism link,” said a spokesman for London’s

Counter Terrorism Command.

A local lawmaker said authorities should re-examine where and how helicopters were allowed to fly over the capital, where a number of skyscrapers - including the Shard, the highest building in western Europe - have been built in recent years.

Helicopters in London are generally supposed to fly along the River Thames and the nearby London City Airport said its flights had been disrupted due to low visibility.

“I’m sure they (helicopter flights) will be looked at as part of the investigations that will take place,” Cameron said.

Builder Brookfield Multiplex said the tower’s 52 floors house 212 luxury flats which media reports have suggested could sell for as much as 50 million pounds ($80 million).

(AFP)

A damaged crane that was hit by a helicopter is pictured following the crash in central London yesterday

HELICOPTER CRASH PILOT PETE BARNES HAD BEEN A VETERAN OF SEVERAL MAJOR FILMS THE pilot of the helicopter which crashed in central London had thousands of hours of flying experience including for films such as Die Another Day and Saving Private Ryan.

Pete Barnes (inset), who died when the helicopter he was flying hit a crane on a high building and crashed onto a street in Vauxhall, had amassed around 9,000 hours of flying time, including 3,500 hours on the type of craft he was piloting today.

In a wide-ranging UK career spanning 18 years, he had done everything from fly air ambulances to working as a pilot on adverts, TV programmes and films including the James Bond film Die Another Day, Saving Private Ryan and Tomb Raider II. In 2004 he helped rescue a motorist from a flooded ford in County Durham, while working for the Great North Air Ambulance.

He also flew the Newcastle Traffic & Travel helicopter as the Voice of Metro FM and

worked as a helicopter instructor.

Barnes originally worked as a ski instructor and guide in Europe after completing his business studies degree, before going into advertising.

But he later moved to the United States to train as a helicopter pilot, earning a US Commercial and Instructors Licence flying helicopters around Florida and the East Coast.

He moved back to the United Kingdom and at the time of his death was working as a freelance pilot for RotorMotion, a company which counts among its clients the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister David Cameron, former PM Tony Blair and the Dalai Lama.

On its website RotorMotion describes Barnes, who had worked for them since 1997, as one of the country’s most experienced Agusta pilots and instructor, with clients often requesting him for “both his piloting skills and his relaxed, charming manner”.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

9

Europe EUROPE TODAY Alyokhina appeal rejected JAILED Pussy Riot punk band member Maria Alyokhina lost an appeal to a Russian court on Wednesday to be freed from prison and defer her sentence to care for her five-year-old son.

Alyokhina, 24, is serving a two-year sentence for a protest against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s main cathedral.

She had asked the court to free her from the jail in the Ural Mountains to serve her sentence when her son was older.

“The court has ruled against granting the request,” staterun RIA news agency quoted the judge as saying. It said the court found that Alyokhina’s family situation had been properly taken into account during her trial, which ended in August.

Alyokhina and two band mates were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for their “punk prayer”, which was criticised by Putin and cast by the Russian Orthodox Church as part of a concerted attack on the country’s main faith.

‘Illusory to discuss Kosovo UN seat’ SERBIA’S prime minister appeared to row back yesterday from talk of a deal allowing Kosovo to join the United Nations, saying it was “illusory” to even discuss the issue without a comprehensive settlement on its former province.

Remarks by Ivica Dacic on Tuesday, in which he held out the prospect of UN membership for Kosovo, raised eyebrows in Serbia and angered nationalists for whom the majority Albanian state is the cradle of the Serbian nation and its Orthodox faith.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, almost a decade after NATO bombs wrested control of the territory from Serbia, but Belgrade has retained de facto control of a Serb-populated pocket of the north.

The EU is now mediating talks between the two aimed at normalising relations and loosening Serbia’s grip on the north.

The bloc wants progress before it moves ahead with Serbia’s bid to join.

The Stromboli volcano north of Sicily spews smoke and lava under heavy rain yesterday after one of Europe’s most active volanoes churned into activity. Stromboli, which

Prominent Russian crime boss shot dead in Moscow ONE of Russia’s most prominent reputed crime bosses was shot dead on a street in central Moscow yesterday, law enforcement officials said, less than three years after he survived an assassination attempt.

An unidentified gunman shot Aslan Usoyan, 75, known in the underworld of the ex-Soviet Union as “Grandpa Hassan”, and he died shortly afterward in hospital,

Berlusconi return a risk to markets Markets betting on centre-left victory in Italy A SHARP rally in Italian government bonds and shares could be in jeopardy as scandal-plagued former premier Silvio Berlusconi gains ground in polls, putting investors’ bets on a centre-left election victory at risk.

A reform-friendly coalition of centre-left parties is still expected to win most seats at the February 24-25 election, but recent polls showed a right-wing bloc led by Berlusconi was closing the gap.

With a debt mountain of around 2 trillion euros ($2.7 trillion) and the economy barely growing, analysts say Italy needs structural reforms and that the election could determine the pace at which they are implemented.

They worry if Berlusconi’s alliance wins, Italian debt may spiral out of control, throwing the country back into the deep end of Europe’s debt crisis, just as it was when he resigned in November 2011.

Benchmark Italian bond yields have nearly halved and shares have gained 17 per cent since Berlusconi was replaced by technocrat Mario Monti, helped by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s pledge to buy the bonds of indebted eurozone states that request help.

While Monti’s reform agenda and austerity policies improved the confidence of investors and eurozone governments in Italy’s public fi-

Scandal-plagued Berlusconi is gaining ground in polls nances, a return to power for Berlusconi could change that.

Martin Harvey, fund manager at Threadneedle Investments, said if Berlusconi were to win he might sell some of his Italian bonds, which currently account for 16 per cent of his funds, more than the funds’ benchmark index.

“It looks like the alliance involving Berlusconi will not have enough votes to gain power,” he said. “If nearer the time it appears that there may be a less favourable outcome for the markets, we would have to consider reducing our position.”

After pocketing returns of 20 per cent on Italian bonds last year, a level surpassed only by bailed-out Greece, Portugal and Ireland, yieldhungry investors remain posi-

attracts up to 6,000 tourists every year, had recently been placed under heightened surveillance after scientists registered higher seismic readings (AFP)

tioned for what many of them consider the most favourable outcome - a win by a coalition of centre-left parties led

by Pier Luigi Bersani.

“You can’t get the yields you need (in other markets), and there’s certainly an elevated level of pressure to be invested in Italy,” said David Schnautz, interest rate strategist at Commerzbank in New York.

“We don’t expect markets to be overly worried unless we get Berlusconi back.”

Bersani won investors’ confidence by pledging to stick to the austerity programme prescribed by Monti.

Italy’s borrowing costs hover near lows not seen since 2010, and Milan’s main share index, the FTSE MIB, trades at a 17-month high, showing investors remain confident that the elections will not blow the country off the path of reform.

Joost van Lendeers, investment specialist for allocation and strategy at BNP Paribas Investment Partners, estimated the FTSE MIB could fall 5-10 per cent if Berlusconi’s bloc overtook the centre-left in polls.

He said stock would fall even more sharply if a Berlusconiled government failed to make further progress on economic reforms, causing borrowing costs to rise and eventually pushing the country closer to requesting international help.

the federal Investigative Committee said.

A woman suffered two gunshot wounds.

Usoyan was shot outside a restaurant by a sniper, the Interfax news agency reported, citing an unidentified official. News site lifenews.ru, which has ties to law enforcement agencies, said the sniper fired from a rooftop.

The Investigative Commitee said they were looking into potential motives for

the killing, including links to his criminal activities, but declined to give details.

Usoyan was first convicted at age 19 and served multiple jail terms in the Soviet era, including for refusing to obey police, theft and “speculation” - illegal trade that was under close scrutiny in the communist Soviet Union. He earned the underworld title of “vor v zakone” - or thief in law - meaning a criminal godfather.

Thursday, January 17, 2012 CYPRUS MAIL

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World

ICC launches Mali war crimes probe

By Sara Webb THE International Criminal Court has launched an investigation into suspected war crimes in Mali, its chief prosecutor said yesterday, as French forces launched a ground assault against Islamist rebels.

Islamists, some allied with al Qaeda, seized control of vast parts of northern Mali last year, raising concerns about human rights abuses and fears that the West African country could become a base for militant attacks in the region and beyond.

“Since the beginning of the armed conflict in January 2012, the people of northern Mali have been living in profound turmoil,” ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

“At each stage during the conflict, different armed groups have caused

havoc and human suffering through a range of alleged acts of extreme violence. I have determined that some of these deeds of brutality and destruction may constitute war crimes.”

Bensouda said she would investigate crimes including murder, mutilation, torture and rape, as well as executions conducted without a judgment from an established court.

PROTECTED OBJECTS Human rights groups have long demanded an ICC investigation.

“The ICC’s decision to open an investigation in Mali sends an important message to all forces including separatist rebels, Islamist fighters, government soldiers, and foreign troops that serious human rights abuses will not go unpunished,” said Corinne Dufka of Human Rights

Watch.

She said the ICC team would need strong backing from its member countries, given the difficult environment. ICC judges have in the past said the difficulties of operating in remote, dangerous regions have limited the scope of investigations.

Bensouda said the investigation would also cover “intentionally directing attacks against protected objects”, a reference to the destruction by Islamists of traditional Sufi shrines in the ancient caravan town of Timbuktu - acts reminiscent of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The investigation will focus on crimes committed since January 2012 in the three northern regions of Mali, Bensouda said.

“There is still turmoil in North Mali and populations there continue to be at risk of yet more violence and suffering,” she said.

ECOWAS army officers prepare a document during a meeting of chiefs of staff yesterday at the Mali peacekeeping training centre in Bamako (AFP)

‘French hostage sentenced to death’

Dozens held after Islamists attack gas field in Algeria

SOMALI militants linked to al Qaeda said yesterday they had sentenced a French agent to death after a failed attempt by French armed forces to rescue him at the weekend.

It was unclear whether the rebels were saying they had already killed Denis Allex, held hostage in Somalia since 2009. France said it had heard nothing since the military raid to alter its belief that he was killed during the rescue operation.

Al Shabaab said in a statement their decision to kill Allex was unanimous and followed three years of what it called “exhaustive attempts at negotiations” over his release.

The militants put up fierce resistance when French commandos flew into southern Somalia by helicopter under cover of darkness early on Saturday to try to free Allex.

Two of the commandos died in the raid.

“With the rescue attempt ...

France has voluntarily signed Allex’s death warrant,” al Shabaab said in an emailed statement that was also posted on the group’s official Twitter handle.

“It is the government of France ... which must bear full responsibility for the death of Allex,” it said.

Yesterday, Edouard Guillard, chief of staff for the French armed forces, told Europe 1 Radio there had been nothing since the raid to suggest Allex was alive and the rebels were engaged in “media manipulation.”

“We think he is likely dead,” Guillard said.

French President Francois Hollande, in a speech to the press later yesterday, said he took responsibility for the failed rescue operation of Allex, calling it “heavy with consequences”.

“It involved the death, the assassination, of the hostage and two soldiers were taken,” Hollande said. “I fully stand by this operation. Because it’s also a message we’re sending.

France cannot accept that its nationals be taken.”

Raid in retaliation for France Mali intervention

By Lamine Chikhi ISLAMIST militants attacked a gas field in Algeria yesterday, claiming to have kidnapped up to 41 foreigners, including seven Americans, in a dawn raid in retaliation for France’s intervention in Mali, according to regional media reports.

The raiders were also reported to have killed three people, including a Briton and a French national.

An al Qaeda affiliated group said the raid had been carried out because of Algeria’s decision to allow France to use its air space for attacks against Islamists in Mali, where French forces have been in action against al Qaeda-linked militants since last week.

The attack in southern Algeria also raised fears that the French action in Mali could prompt further Islamist revenge attacks on Western targets in Africa, where al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) operates across borders in the Sahara desert, and in Europe.

An undated handout picture released by the BP petroleum company yesterday, shows their operation at the In Amenas field in the Sahara desert (AFP) AQIM said it had carried out yesterday’s raid on the In Amenas gas facility in OPEC member Algeria, Mauritania’s ANI news agency reported.

The Algerian interior ministry said: “A terrorist group, heavily armed and using three vehicles, launched an

attack this Wednesday at 5am against a Sonatrach base in Tigantourine, near In Amenas, about 100 km (60 miles) from the Algerian and Libyan border.”

“The Algerian authorities will not respond to the demands of the terrorists and will not negotiate,” Interior

Minister Daho Ould Kablia was quoted as saying by official news agency APS. The gas field is operated by a joint venture including BP, Norwegian oil firm Statoil and Algerian state company Sonatrach.

BP said armed men were still occupying facilities at

the gas field, which produces 9 billion cubic metres of gas a year(160,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day), more than a tenth of the country’s overall gas output, and 60,000 barrels a day of condensate.

“The site was attacked and occupied by a group of unidentified armed people at about 0500 UK time.

Contact with the site is extremely difficult, but we understand that armed individuals are still occupying the In Amenas operations site,” it said.

A spokesman for BP said it usually had fewer than 20 people working at the site but would not be drawn on whether there were any talks with the hostage takers. He said: “Obviously we are doing everything we can to make sure our people are okay.”

APS said a Briton and an Algerian security guard had been killed and seven people were injured. A French national was also killed in the attack, a local source said.

Also among those reported kidnapped by various sources were five Japanese nationals working for the Japanese engineering firm JGC Corp, a French national, an Austrian, an Irishman, and a number of Britons.

The US State Department said it believed some US citizens were also among the hostages, while Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said 13 employees of Statoil, a minority shareholder in the gas venture, were being held.

Kenyans burn coffins to protest MPs’ move to triple their bonuses HUNDREDS of demonstrators torched 221 coffins outside Kenya’s parliament yesterday in protest at legislators who voted last week to triple their end-ofterm bonuses and award themselves state funerals.

President Mwai Kibaki, aware of popular resentment over lawmakers’ perks and with an eye on a March 4 general election, subsequently refused to sign the benefit increase into law.

But Kenyans went ahead with the protest march anyway to highlight their anger over a political class in East Africa’s

largest economy widely regarded as greedy and corrupt. They staged a macabre procession through central Nairobi, wailing and singing as they hoisted coffins made of plywood and tarred in black paint, representing Kenyan lawmakers.

Dressed in black T-shirts, protesters waved placards with slogans including “bury the vulture with your vote” and “vacancy for honest leaders”.

“In this symbolic burial, we are laying to rest some 221 caskets, we torch these caskets to signify the end of one era and the birth of another,” said Boniface

Mwangi, head of the Kenya ni Kwetu (Kenya is Ours) group, which organised the march.

In their last act before parliament shut for the election, lawmakers passed a bill to increase their end-term bonus to 9.3 million shillings ($107,200) each. Kibaki had rejected a similar attempt to raise their send-off pay in October. This time, the legislators also wanted diplomatic passports for themselves and their spouses, armed bodyguards for life paid for by taxpayers and the right to be given state funerals.

The demo featured blacktarred plywood coffins

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2012

11

World

US gun control package unveiled

WORLD TODAY Three Syria car bombs kill 24

Proposals stem from Biden-led task force

THREE car bombs exploded within minutes of each other in northwest Syria yesterday, killing at least two dozen people in a coordinated assault on government positions, a monitoring group said.

Fighting has spread throughout much of Syria and upended civilian life in many areas as rebels have pushed to uproot President Bashar al-Assad’s betterequipped forces and tip the balance of the 22month-old conflict.

The World Food Programme said Syria’s government had authorised it to step up food aid to some 2.5 million people going hungry, but did not say when it would be able to reach them all.

In the meantime, the war shows no signs of abating.

By Matt Spetalnick and Jeff Mason

Egypt apartment block collapses AT least 22 people were killed in Egypt yesterday when an apartment block collapsed in Alexandria, the state news agency reported.

The eight-storey building in a working class district of the Mediterranean city caved in just before 7 am (0500 GMT). Residents said the building was home to over 30 people.

Rescue workers used mechanical diggers and their bare hands to search through the rubble. Building collapses are common in Egypt because of lax building standards and poor maintenance.

Housing Minister Tarek Wafik said the building had been put up in 2006 without a licence. He added that 318,000 buildings had been erected without official permission since 2009, when the rate of illegal construction accelerated.

Settler convicted A WEST Bank settler dubbed “The Jewish Terrorist” by the Israeli media was convicted yesterday of killing two Palestinians in 1997.

Yaakov “Jack” Tytell, a US immigrant to a settlement in the occupied West Bank, confessed to the killings.

Efforts by his lawyers, one whom quoted him as saying he had been on a “mission from God”, to have him declared insane failed.

The court convicted him of murdering a Palestinian taxi driver in Jerusalem and a shepherd in the West Bank city of Hebron, while visiting Israel as a tourist in 1997.

Brett Nielsen adjusts the sights of an AR-15 rifle at the “Get Some Guns & Ammo” shooting range on January 15, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah (AFP)

PRESIDENT Barack Obama proposed a new assault weapons ban and mandatory background checks for all gun buyers yesterday in a bid to channel national outrage over the Newtown school massacre into the biggest U.S. gun-control push in generations.

Rolling out a wide-ranging plan for executive and legislative action to curb gun violence, Obama set up a fierce clash with the powerful US gun lobby and its supporters in Congress, who are expected to resist what they see as an encroachment on constitutionally protected gun rights.

Obama presented his agenda at a White House event in front of an audience that included children from around the country, a poignant reminder of the 20 first-graders who were killed along with six adults by a lone gunman on December 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

“While reducing gun violence is a complicated challenge, protecting our children from harm shouldn’t be a divisive one,” Obama said.

Until now, Obama had done little to rein in America’s weapons culture during his first four years in office. But just days before his second inauguration, he appears determined to champion gun control in his next term with

Obama has drawn a scathing response from the US National Rifle Association a concerted drive for tighter laws and other steps aimed at preventing further tragedies like the one at Newtown.

The proposals stem from a month-long review led by Vice President Joe Biden, who on orders from Obama met with advocates on both sides, including representatives from the weapons and entertainment industries.

Obama’s plan calls on Congress for a renewed prohibition on assault weapons sales that expired in 2004, a requirement for criminal background checks on all gun purchases, including closing a loophole for gun show sales, and a new federal gun trafficking law long sought by big-city may-

ors to keep out-of-state guns off their streets.

He also announced 23 steps he intends to take immediately without congressional approval.

These include improvements in the existing system for background checks, lifting the ban on federal research into gun violence, putting more counselors and “resource officers” in schools and improved access to mental health services.

The most politically contentious piece of the package is Obama’s call for a renewed ban on military-style assault weapons, a move that Republicans who control the House of Representatives are expected to oppose.

The Newtown gunman, 20year-old Adam Lanza, used a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle to shoot his victims, many of them 6- and 7-year-olds, before killing himself.

Underscoring the tough political fight ahead, the National Rifle Association, launched a scathing advertising campaign against Obama’s gun control effort and deployed its representatives in force on Capitol Hill.

The NRA, which says it has about 4 million members, took aim at Obama in a stinging TV and Internet spot, accusing him of being “just another elitist hypocrite” for accepting Secret Service protection for his two daughters but turning down the lobby group’s proposal to put armed guards in all schools.

Pakistan protests Kashmir killing PAKISTAN’S army protested to India yesterday over the killing of one of its soldiers in Kashmir, the fifth fatality this year in heightened hostilities that have raised concern about violations of the truce between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Indian troops shot the soldier at a position called Kundi during firing from the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Himalayan territory, the Pakistani army said in a statement.

Two Pakistani and two Indian soldiers were killed early this month in the worst outbreak of violence in Kashmir since India and Pakistan agreed a ceasefire nearly a decade ago.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947, two of them over the region that both countries claim.

Following public and media anger at the alleged decapitation of one Indian soldier, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there could be “no business as usual” with Pakistan, and the army chief said his commanders should retaliate for provocation.

Despite the heated rhetoric, government spokesmen on both sides have insisted the deaths will not derail talks meant to improve relations, and experts say an escalation is unlikely.

The Pakistani military said in a subsequent statement that both sides had spoken over a hotline yesterday and Islamabad lodged a strong protest over a “ceasefire violation”, but both sides agreed on the need to reduce tension.

Pakistan’s government is fighting for survival over corruption charges and its response has been less fiery than that of India to the frictions on the border.

The Pakistani army director of military operations had said he would call his Indian counterpart yesterday to complain about the latest killing. India’s army spokesman confirmed the call took place on a hotline set up to help defuse tension, but did not give details of the conversation.

India did not confirm the killing but said that if a soldier had died it could have been from Indian gunfire in response to shots from Pakistan.

“If any Pakistani soldier has been killed, it may have been in retaliatory firing. Our soldiers do not cross the LoC,” army chief General Bikram Singh told reporters. The latest skirmish followed a warning by Singh on Tuesday that he expected his commanders to respond aggressively to “provocation and fire”.

Indian Border Security Force soldiers patrol along the fence on the India-Pakistan border at Suchet Garh in Ranbir Singh Pura, about 36 km from Jammu yesterday

Balloon-like dwelling to be tested on International Space Station A LOW-cost space dwelling that inflates like a balloon in orbit will be tested aboard the International Space Station, opening the door for commercial leases of future free-flying outposts and deep-space astronaut habitats for NASA. The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, nicknamed BEAM,

will be the third orbital prototype developed and flown by privatelyowned Bigelow Aerospace.

The Las Vegas-based company, founded in 1999 by Budget Suites of America hotel chain owner Robert Bigelow, currently operates two small unmanned experimental habitats called Genesis 1, which was launched in 2006, and Genesis

2, which followed a year later.

BEAM, which measures about 13 feet long and 10.5 feet in diameter (4 metres by 3.2 metres) when inflated, is scheduled for launch in mid-2015 aboard a Space Exploration Technologies’ Dragon cargo ship, said Mike Gold, director of operations for Bigelow Aerospace.

“It will be the first expandable

habitat module ever constructed for human occupancy,” Gold said.

A successful test flight on the space station would be a stepping stone for planned Bigelow-staffed orbiting outposts that the company plans to lease to research organisations, businesses and wealthy individuals wishing to vacation in orbit.

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

12

Business US econ ends 2012 on sound note THE U.S. economy ended 2012 on a surprisingly sound note as factory output climbed and low inflation lifted consumers’ purchasing power, signs the economy may be able to weather the higher tax bills that rang in the new year.

Manufacturing output climbed 0.8 per cent in December, the Federal Reserve said yesterday, a day after retail sales data pointed to robust consumer spending last month.

“There is every indication that the improvement may be a reflection of a broader pick-up in overall economic activity,” said Millan Mulraine, an economist at TD Securities in New York.

The rise in demand appears unlikely to derail the Federal Reserve’s easy monetary policy anytime soon given the lack of inflation. The Labour Department said consumer prices were flat in December, restrained by a decline in gasoline prices.

That’s good news for consumers still smarting from the 2007-09 recession. Weekly earnings rose 0.6 per cent last month when adjusted for inflation, the Labour Department said.

The earnings data means family budgets started this month on slightly better footing as a rise in payroll taxes hit workers and the wealthiest Americans faced higher income taxes.

The tax hikes, aimed at reducing the lofty federal budget deficit, are expected to hold consumer spending back in the first half of 2013.

Some economists think higher taxes will subtract a full percentage point from economic growth this year.

US financial markets were little moved by the data, even though the increase in factory output and real earnings beat the forecasts of analysts polled by Reuters.

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

0.8316 0.8234

US Dollar

1.3354 1.3222

Australian $

1.2751 1.2437

Canadian Dol.

1.3257 1.2929

Swiss Fr

1.2456 1.2308

Denmark Kr

7.5551 7.3685 117.7171 116.3129

Norwegian Kr

7.5014 7.3162

Polish Zloty

4.1643

4.0615

Romanian Leu 4.4283 4.2547 Russian Ruble 40.7795 39.7726 Swedish Kr

Boeing shares fall 3.3% amid flagging conviction

This handout picture taken yesterday and released from a passenger to AFP via social network Twitter shows a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated

by All Nippon Airways (ANA) on the runway, with its slides inflated after an emergency landing at Takamatsu Airport (AFP)

By Mayumi Negishi and Tim Kelly JAPAN’S two leading airlines grounded their fleets of Boeing 787s yesterday after one of the Dreamliner passenger jets made an emergency landing, the latest in a series of incidents to heighten safety concerns over a plane many see as the future of commercial aviation.

Boeing’s shares fell 3.3 per cent as analysts began to lose some of their conviction in the stock, which had held up relatively well despite the dozen or so issues with the plane over the last six weeks.

All Nippon Airways Co said instruments aboard a domestic flight indicated a battery error, triggering emergency warnings. Shigeru Takano, a senior safety official at the Civil Aviation Bureau, said a second warning light indicated smoke.

Yesterday’s incident, described by a transport ministry official as “highly serious” - language used in international safety circles as indicating there could have been an accident - is the latest mishap to hit the world’s first mainly carbon-composite airliner in recent days.

“I think you’re nearing the tipping point where they need to regard this as a serious crisis,” said Richard Aboulafia, a senior analyst

with the Teal Group in Fairfax, Virginia. “This is going to change people’s perception of the aircraft if they don’t act quickly.”

ANA, which said the battery in the forward cargo hold was the same lithiumion type as one involved in a fire on another Dreamliner at a US airport last week, grounded all 17 of its 787s, and Japan Airlines Co suspended its 787 flights scheduled for yesterday and today.

The two airlines, which operate about half of the 50 Dreamliners delivered to date, said they would decide today whether to resume Dreamliner flights the following day.

The 787, which has a list

price of $207 million, represents a leap in the way planes are designed and built, but the project has been plagued by cost overruns and years of delays.

Some have suggested Boeing’s rush to get planes built after those delays resulted in the recent problems, a charge the company denies.

Both the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said they were monitoring the latest incident as part of a comprehensive review of the Dreamliner announced late last week. Financial analysts warned of the impact on a wider universe of

companies.

“This is another major negative for the B787 and its supplier(s) ... as this heightens the risk of a forced slowdown of the production ramp-up,” Kepler analyst Christophe Menard said, adding the latest incident was “extremely disturbing.”

It was not just analysts, however, passengers were also nervous about boarding the plane after the latest upset.

At Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, the LOT national carrier was announcing over the public address system that one of its Dreamliner aircraft was making its maiden trans-Atlantic flight yesterday. Some of the pas-

sengers checking in for the flight to Chicago expressed misgivings.

“We have decided to fly on the Dreamliner, but we are a bit worried since we’ve heard information that this plane is full of defects, albeit they are not really major,” said Daniel Rekret, 34, who was travelling with his wife and children.

A spokesman for Osaka Airport Authority said ANA flight 692 landed at Takamatsu at 8.45am local time.

All 129 passengers and eight crew evacuated via the plane’s inflatable chutes.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said five people were slightly injured.

Germany planning to bring home gold from Cold War havens

Rates

Japan Yen

Japanese airlines ground 787s after latest emergency

8.7416 8.5258

GERMANY’S central bank plans to bring home hundreds of tonnes of gold, part of the reserves it kept in the United States and France during the Cold War for safety from any Soviet invasion.

The Bundesbank’s decision to move the bullion, announced yesterday, stems partly from a desire among some German politicians to keep a direct eye on its condition. The bank also now has space in its own vaults for a metal widely seen as underpinning confidence in the country’s economic clout.

Only a third of Germany’s nearly 3,400 tonnes of gold, worth almost 138 billion

euros ($184 billion), are now stored in Frankfurt, with 45 per cent in New York.

“Now, the political security situation has changed because the East-West conflict is over. Considerations to store the gold as far west and as far from the Iron Curtain as possible had to be reconsidered,” Bundesbank board member Carl-Ludwig Thiele told reporters yesterday.

West Germany amassed gold reserves after World War Two due to rapid economic expansion that saw growing exports to the United States, where its dollar earnings were turned into gold under the Bretton Woods agreement

that Germany joined in 1952.

As the Cold War set in, the gold remained in central bank vaults abroad, well out of Moscow’s reach.

The German Federal Court of Auditors, which oversees the government’s financial management, called last October for an official inspection of the gold stored at foreign central banks, because they have never been fully checked. The Bundesbank is ready to comply although it has said it saw no need to count the bars or check their gold content itself as written assurances from the other central banks were sufficient.

Bundesbank board member Carl-Ludwig Thiele

Hedge funds betting that British retailers’ troubles will deepen OFFSHORE C O M PA N I E S

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HEDGE funds are betting that a prolonged consumer squeeze and a further shift to online shopping could spell trouble for Britain’s retail chains, and are targeting some of its best-known electrical, clothes and supermarket stores.

With the economic downturn and government tax hikes eating into consumer spending, many hedge funds

believe that less money to go round will mean few firms emerge unscathed.

High street entertainment retailer HMV and rival Blockbuster UK called in the administrators this week, both hit hard by customers moving online to buy music or DVDs. Electricals firm Dixons, Argos owner Home Retail, and supermarket giants

Tesco and J Sainsbury are among those whose stocks are being shorted by funds, data for bets outstanding as at January 14 published by Britain’s Financial Services Authority shows.

Dixons, which has made one half-year profit in Britain and Ireland in five years, faces an existential threat from internet rivals, one fund manager said.

“They can’t differentiate their products and they can’t offer a lower cost product offering. It makes it very difficult for them,” he said.

Dixons’ rival Comet went into administration late last year, while camera specialist Jessops became the first high-profile failure of 2013 when it called in administrators, closing 187 stores with the loss of 1,370 jobs.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

13

Opinion

Christofias’ request for ESM financing is too little too late PRESIDENT Christofias said that he had asked the European Commission for the financial assistance of the banks to come directly from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). This request was included in a letter he had given the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso during their meeting last Friday.

In the letter Christofias proposed that at least the amount the banks had lost as a result of the haircut of the Greek government debt – in the region of €4.5 billion – should be financed directly by the ESM rather than through the state. Such an arrangement would reduce the state’s financial assistance requirements and make the debt sustainable, but it is a long shot as the ESM would not be dealing with bailout applications that were made before it came into being in September 2012.

If Christofias could persuade the Commission to bend the rules it would be a big success, but the likelihood is that he will not and his request will simply serve as an indirect admission of one of his biggest mistakes – his consent to the Greek haircut at the European Council meeting of October 2011, without seeking special dispensation for Cyprus’ banks as Greece had done for its own banks. He had gone to the Council meeting without consulting the then Central Bank governor, ignoring the latter’s requests for a meeting, because they had fallen out. Now, more than a year later, it has finally dawned on him that Cyprus’ banks, should have been protected from the effects of the haircut as Greece’s were.

This is not the only disastrous blunder he eventually acknowledged. The Central Bank which, on instructions from the government, went out of its way to maximise the banks’ financial assistance requirements is now trying to persuade PIMCO – the US consultancy firm it hired to establish the amount – to lower the re-capitalisation figure. The state broadcaster said PIMCO’s figure was €9 billion, but the Central Bank was attempting to lower it in an attempt to make the debt sustainable. What were the governor and his advisors thinking when they were discussing with troika’s representatives the methodology and assumptions that would be used by PIMCO? The assumptions and methodology the committee agreed, would ensure the re-capitalisation needs would be at a maximum.

The government’s and the Central Bank’s policy of exaggerating the financial needs of the banks has proved the disaster many wiser heads had been warning, but it seems too late to put things right now. Leaving things too late and becoming wise after the event have been the key features of Christofias’ disastrous rule.

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Betting on new drug blockbusters in 2013 Comment Ben Hirscher and Bill Berkrot

D

RUGMAKERS are betting that a new wave of medicines for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and hepatitis will shape up as tomorrow’s blockbusters in the coming 12 months.

With the industry regaining some of its swagger after winning 39 new drug approvals last year - a record only beaten in 1996 - there are signs the improving trend could continue through 2013.

Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, Biogen Idec, Gilead Sciences and Novo Nordisk are among those with important new products reaching a critical point in development this year.

The industry needs a winning streak after delivering poor returns for years due to a wave of patent expiries. Now companies are emerging from that patent “cliff” and the balance of losses to new opportunities is improving.

European drugmakers, for example, have the potential to deliver new drugs from 2013 to 2015 with peak annual sales of $64 billion (or $27 billion after adjusting for the risk of failure), while fresh patent losses in the period will be only $12 billion, according to Deutsche Bank estimates.

Simon Friend, global pharmaceutical leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, agrees the picture is improving. But he warns it is still too early to say that drug companies are out of the woods, especially with governments and insurers taking an increasingly tough line on paying for new medicines.

“Productivity is starting to turn the corner - but the other big issue is whether the industry can get the prices it needs for new products,” he said.

Still, analysts say interest in the sector from growth funds is now picking up and investors are taking a closer look at drug pipelines - a trend to watch as Johnson & Johnson and Novartis kick off the reporting season next week.

A number of key research and development bets on potential multibillion-dollar-ayear products will play out in 2013.

One of the most highly anticipated approvals of the year, likely to come in the first quarter, is for Biogen’s multiple sclerosis (MS) drug BG-12.

It will be the third oral MS drug to market after Gilenya from Novartis and Sanofi’s Aubagio, but many investors already see it as best in class.

That has helped Biogen shares nearly treble over the past three years.

“It’s going to be priced very high, it will have a rapid market uptake and it’s going to have a timely approval because the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) can’t afford to keep

A number of key research and development bets on potential multibillion-dollar-a-year products will play out in 2013 but drug companies are not out of the woods yet a drug like this off the market,” said Raghuram Selvaraju, head of healthcare equity research with Aegis Capital.

Doctors treating diabetes are also likely to have new drugs before the year is out, with a new class of medicines that work via the kidneys seen entering the fray.

The SGLT2 inhibitors for type 2 diabetes had a setback when dapagliflozin from AstraZeneca and Bristol-Meyers Squibb was rejected by the FDA over safety concerns.

But Johnson & Johnson is likely to get an FDA green light for its canagliflozin after an expert advisory panel last week recommended its approval, and Morningstar analyst Damien Conover sees a

‘One of the most highly anticipated approvals of the year, likely to come in the first quarter, is for Biogen’s multiple sclerosis (MS) drug BG-12’

SGLT2 market of around $7 billion by 2020. Novo Nordisk, meanwhile, is banking on a new ultra long-lasting insulin, Tresiba, to keep it out in front as leader in diabetes care. It also has a major chance in the obesity market, if it can prove its existing medicine liraglutide is safe and effective in weight loss.

The picture should become clear this year for regimens to treat hepatitis C without the need for injections, as closely watched Phase III data from Gilead and Abbvie reveals long-term cure rates for the liver disease.

An all-oral therapy with a high cure rate and low relapse rates would be sure to garner billions in annual sales.

Gilead’s sofosbuvir, acquired with the $11 billion purchase of Pharmasset, is seen as the clear leader in a crowded race but Abbvie has also had impressive early data for its products.

Cancer - the disease with the highest R&D investment - offers openings for a number of companies, with particular excitement centred on Lilly’s ramucirumab, which could be filed to treat gastric cancer this year and has a far bigger commercial potential in breast cancer.

Lilly is a prime example of a pharmaceutical company that has the wind back in its R&D sails. While still facing the daunting December patent expiration of its nearly $5 billion a year antidepressant Cymbalta, Lilly now has 13 drugs in Phase III development - the most at any one time in its history.

Roche’s aim to consolidate its position as the leading player in cancer looks within reach in 2013 with approval expected for new breast can-

cer treatment T-DM1.

The Swiss group may also start to show its promise in neuroscience, with pivotal trial data due in 2013 for bitopertin, a new kind of schizophrenia drug that analysts estimate could generate sales of more than $3 billion a year.

GlaxoSmithKline perhaps has the most riding on 2013, with six new drugs submitted for approval in lung disease, diabetes, cancer and HIV, as well as Phase III clinical results due on two high-risk, high-reward projects in heart disease and cancer.

Darapladib, designed to fight clogged arteries in a different way to statins, could, in theory, become a $10 billiona-year seller, while MAGE-A3 may prove equally revolutionary for lung cancer and melanoma. But in both cases GSK is pushing the scientific boundaries and the chances of success are considered below average.

Drug development still remains a risky business.

Last year’s tally of drug approvals was lifted in part by a large number of niche drugs for rare diseases. Success in drugs for common diseases was more elusive, as highlighted by the failure of clinical trials for two experimental Alzheimer’s drugs.

“The industry has done a lot to try and improve productivity and has corrected a lot of past mistakes,” said Deutsche Bank analyst Richard Parkes, who highlights fewer failures in final Phase III testing as a key measure of success.

“It’s too early to say whether this is going to be a sustained break-out from the trend but the efforts that have been put in place should at least improve the efficiency of what is being spent.”

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

14

Showbiz

Americans favour Lincoln for top Oscars, claims poll Globes winner Argo left in the shade

By Eric Kelsey

By Patricia Reaney DIRECTOR Ben Affleck and Argo may have been the big winners at the Golden Globes, but many Americans think Steven Spielberg and Lincoln should take home the top Oscars at next month’s awards.

Nearly a quarter of Americans questioned in an Ipsos poll for Reuters thought the Civil War drama Lincoln should win the Oscar for best picture at the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on February 24. Spielberg was also their top choice for best director, with 36 per cent choosing him.

Only 4 per cent of Americans thought Argo, which depicts the rescue of American diplomats in Iran in the 1970s, should win the Academy Award for best picture.

The poll results have little if any implication for who will ultimately win the Oscars, which are voted on by movie industry professionals.

The Golden Globes are sometimes looked to for hints on the eventual Oscar victors, the biggest prizes in the film industry, as many Globe winners have gone on to Oscars success. But Affleck is not even in the running for best director af-

Natalie Wood ‘may have sustained bruises before drowning’

Daniel Day-Lewis (left), winner for Best Actor for Lincoln, poses with his award backstage at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards. Ben Affleck took Best Director honours for Argo ter he was snubbed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences which announced its nominations last week.

Americans chose Daniel Day-Lewis as their clear favorite to follow up his Golden Globe win for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln with a best actor Oscar.

Twenty-two per cent chose him over Denzel Washington in Flight, who polled 16 per cent while Hugh Jackman, who won a Golden Globe for his role in the musical Les

Miserables was third.

But the choice for best actress was less clear cut.

Twelve per cent of the 1,158 Americans polled voted for Naomi Watts as the distraught mother in the tsunami drama The Impossible, followed by 10 per cent for Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook and 9 per cent for Jessica Chastain in the search for Osama Bin Laden thriller, Zero Dark Thirty.

Lawrence won the Golden Globe on Sunday for best ac-

tress in a comedy or musical, while Chastain took home the prize for best actress in a drama.

Lincoln was also the top choice in the poll for the supporting categories, with Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field favourites for their performances in the film.

Comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who won praise for their first stint hosting the Golden Globes, will be a hard act to follow but 42 per cent of Americans approved of the choice of outspoken

comedian and creator of Family Guy Seth MacFarlane to helm the Academy Awards.

If given the opportunity to select the host for the Oscars, 15 per cent of people said they would opt for comedian Billy Crystal, followed by 12 per cent who chose Ellen DeGeneres while 10 per cent wanted Steve Martin.

The poll, which was conducted online from January 11-15, has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.3 per centage points.

Elton John is thrilled to Sheen’s brain ‘separated into itself’ become a father again SIR Elton John has said his family is now complete after he became a parent for the second time.

He and partner David Furnish said they were “overwhelmed with happiness” at the birth of Elijah Joseph Daniel FurnishJohn.

The new arrival was born in Los Angeles on Friday, weighing in at 8lb 4oz, via a surrogate mother, according to Hello!

The couple already have a two-year-old boy called Zachary.

“Both of us have longed to have children, but the reality that we now have two sons is almost unbelievable,” said the couple.

“The birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way. It is difficult to fully express how we are feeling at this time; we are just overwhelmed with happiness and excitement.”

“I know when he goes to school there’s going to be an awful lot of pressure, and I know he’s going to have people saying, ‘You don’t have a mummy,’” John said of his decision to have another baby.

“It’s going to happen. We talked about it before we had him. I want someone to be at his side and back him up. We shall see.”

The baby shares his middle name, Daniel, with one of Sir Elton’s 1970s hit singles.

Last week the couple’s UK spokesman issued a statement to say reports that they were parents again were “false”.

It was issued just hours before the birth after news began circulating in the US that a child had been born over the Christmas period.

Sir Elton, 65, and film producer David have been in a relationship for almost 20 years and have been civil partners since 2005.

The 47-year-old actor caused controversy in 2011 with his outlandish behaviour and bizarre rants

CHARLIE Sheen’s brain ‘separated into itself’ during his infamous meltdown.

The 47-year-old actor caused controversy in 2011 with his outlandish behaviour and bizarre rants - which resulted in his sacking from Two and a Half Men - and insisted he wishes drugs were at the root of his antics, but hinted his problems ran deeper.

Asked by talk show host David Letterman if his meltdown had been a result of crack cocaine use, he said: “Here’s the confusing part. I wish it was crack cocaine. I wish it was an ocean of vodka, a bathtub full of pills.

“It was just my brain was kind of separated into itself. I just had to take a stand for what I know was right.”

Asked if he had ever had problems with the drug, he added: “Not during the meltdown.

During the previous 30 years of my life.”

Though the star is aware his behaviour caused concern, he insisted he never felt he would come to any harm and thinks his antics were ‘fuelled by anger.’

ACTRESS Natalie Wood had bruising on her arms and wrists and scratches on her neck when her body was pulled from the Pacific Ocean in 1981, suggesting she was injured before she hit the water, according to a report released by Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office this week.

But the report, written in June 2012, said there was not enough evidence to say that her death was definitively “non accidental.”

The body of the West Side Story star, 43, was found floating in a Santa Catalina Island cove off the coast of Southern California in 1981 after she had spent a night of dining and drinking on the island and on a yacht with her husband, television star Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken.

The case has been surrounded by mystery and suspicion for decades and Los Angeles homicide detectives reopened the investigation into Wood’s death in 2011.

DEATH CERTIFICATE In June 2012, authorities changed Wood’s death certificate to “drowning and other undetermined factors” from the original finding of accidental drowning, but did not explain why.

The change was based on a 10-page document, drawn up as an addendum to the original autopsy report, that said Wood died shortly after she entered the water.

“The location of the bruises, the multiplicity of the bruises, lack of head trauma, or facial bruising, support bruising having occurred prior to the entry into the water,” the supplemental coroner’s report states.

“This medical examiner is unable to exclude non-volitional, unplanned entry into the water ... Since there are many unanswered questions and limited additional evidence available for evaluation, it is opined by this medical examiner that the manner of death should be left as undetermined,” it adds.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department said on Tuesday the case was still open but declined to discuss any new evidence that may have been discovered.

The Sheriff ’s Department has said that neither Wagner, now 82, nor Walken are suspects.

Wood starred opposite James Dean in the classic 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause, and later in musical West Side Story and Splendor in the Grass.

15

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

Noticeboard International accreditation for PrimeTel

‘Quit smoking with Barca’ set in motion

Hard Rock competition now open NICOSIA’S Hard Rock Café has announced that applications from bands wishing to participate in the international music competition Hard Rock Rising are now officially being accepted.

Participating bands will fight for the ultimate prize, which is participating in a world tour, recording their own album, creating a video clip as part of HARD ROCK RECORDS, as well as receiving completely new equipment!

The registration procedure of bands began on January 7 and ends January 21. Bands can register via a specialised application found on Hard Rock Café Nicosia’s facebook page www.facebook.com/hrcnicosia.

To participate in Hard Rock Rising 2013, interested bands must first create their own account on Reverb Nation (www. reverbnation.com), where they will then be able to post their own copyrighted song.

Bands can register to participate in only one market, specifically their country of residence. There are no restrictions regarding the size of the band or the number of members participating.

Once the registration process is completed on January 21, Hard Rock will start the next phase, which is the voting phase. Fans will be able to vote for their favourite band via a specialised application on facebook. The bands with the most votes from the second phase, will have the opportunity to play live at Hard Rock Café Nicosia in front of a judging committee. This will take place around the middle of February 2013.

Support Paphos charity night THIS Saturday, January 19, Michael Antoniou will be performing a live show with some guests at The Silver Prince music club in Paphos, in aid of the charity Cancer Patients' Support Group Cyprus (PASYKAF) No 525, of which the chairman is Tom Handley (tel 97658018).

The show lasts from 9pm12am and will consist of a night of swing tracks - e.g. greatest hits by Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Nat King Cole etc. The entrance fee is €5, and the club is located between Alfa Bank and Vienna Cafe, across from Starbucks in the tourist area. There are only 47 seats available, the rest are standing, so please call Michael Antoniou on 99854375 for bookings.

AS of December 1, smokers across Europe have been able to ‘Quit Smoking with Barça’ since the unique public health programme went live.

The campaign, a joint initiative of the European Commission and FC Barcelona uses a unique, science-based approach to help those who love life, Barça and football to quit smoking for good.

The latest innovation of the European Commission’s successful “Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable” campaign that has run across the 27 EU countries for the past two years, ‘Quit Smoking with Barça’ (quitsmokingwithbarca.eu) is powered by the ‘FCB iCoach’, a free, dedicated online resource and mobile app that provides tailored guidance and support straight from the mouths of Barça players, coaches and staff.

Building on the success of “Ex-Smokers are Unstop-

pable” (exsmokers.eu) and harnessing the support of Barça’s millions of fans, this unprecedented partnership between a sporting institution and the European Commission can help many more of Europe’s 140 million smokers to kick the habit forever.

‘Quit Smoking with Barça’ is built around the FCB iCoach – a personal health coaching programme. When a smoker registers, he or she completes a short questionnaire that determines the type of coaching needed to quit. Based on the answers, the individual receives personalised tips, information and motivation directly from Barça players, coaches and staff.

To find out more about ‘Quit Smoking with Barça’ and the FCB iCoach visit www.quitsmokingwithbarca.eu

PRIMETEL’S Customer Service Department “stands out” one more time after being honoured by Investors In People (IIP) International.

The IIP standard is a continuous business improvement framework, which is internationally recognised for improving an organisation’s performance through the development of its people.

With this accreditation, the Customer Service Department of PrimeTel PLC becomes the first in the telecommunications field in Cyprus to possess IIP, and confirms its high performance standards and service excellence.

Football superstars Barcelona have thrown their own weight behind the EC's anti-smoking campaign

For further information regarding PrimeTel and its offered services please visit www.primetel.com.cy or call 133

Sunrise Hotels Group earns honorary award for quality Distinction boosts tourism status of Cyprus THE Brilliant Hotel Apartments of the Sunrise Hotels Group received an honorary award for the innovative and high quality services offered, during the global travel industry event “World Travel Market 2012”, which took place recently in London.

The award was bestowed by international travel operator Thomson Holidays.

This distinction serves as a reward for the quality and philosophy of the Group, while it takes yet another significant step towards projecting Cyprus tourism on an international level and positioning Cypriot hotels among the most prominent tourist destinations.

The Sunrise Hotels Group recently fully upgraded and updated the Brilliant Hotel Apartments complex, through a project that was co-funded by the Europe-

The €40-million Sunrise Pearl hotel (pictured) is located on the Protaras coast, right next to the Sunrise hotel an Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

It is worth noting that the Sunrise Hotels Group recently invested €40 million in building the ultramod-

ern and luxurious Sunrise Pearl hotel, which opened for the first time last summer. The high-tech Sunrise Pearl is located on the Protaras coast, right

next to the Sunrise Hotel.

The Pearl is the company’s fourth hotel, after Sunrise Hotel and two apartment complexes: Sandra Hotel Apartments and Brilliant

Hotel Apartments.

For more information on the Sunrise Hotels Group, you can visit: www.sunrise. com.cy

MapCyprus app now available to Android users Following the great success of "MapCyprus" for the iPhone, the application is now available for Android devices on Google Play.

Brought to you by SELAS Mapping Services, “MapCyprus” is the most detailed and comprehensive app available on Cyprus for smartphones.

The app, which is based on SELAS’ awardwinning Map of Cyprus, the most detailed and complete map of the island, enabling you to search for any address or Point Of Interest (POI) in Cyprus on your mobile phone by using an intuitive and user-friendly

interface, to take you anywhere you want to go. The application includes over 9,000 POIs, more than any other map of Cyprus, giving you all the information you will ever need.

Categories include banks, public services, medical centres and pharmacies, education, restaurants, hotels and shopping.

Download the FREE “MapCyprus” application today from the App Store and Google Play.

For more information, please visit www. selas.com.cy.

CYPRUS MAIL Thurs

16

Reportage

The latest foreclosure oreclosure h The mess left behind by squatters in the Kellers’ home

J

OSEPH Keller doesn’t expect he’ll live to see the end of 2013. He blames the house at 190 Avondale Avenue. Five years ago, Keller, 10 months behind on his mortgage payments, received notice of a foreclosure judgment from JP Morgan Chase. In a few weeks, the bank said, his three-story house with gray vinyl siding in Columbus, Ohio, would be put up for auction at a sheriff’s sale.

The 58-year-old former social worker and his wife, Jennifer, packed up their home of 13 years and moved in with their daughter. Joseph thought he would never have anything to do with the house again. And for about a year, he didn’t.

Then it started to stalk him.

First, in 2010, the county sued Keller because the house, already picked clean by scavengers, was in a sham-

Security Administration rejected Keller’s application for disability benefits; the “asset” on Avondale Avenue rendered him ineligible. Keller’s medical problems include advanced liver disease, hepatitis C and inactive tuberculosis. Without disability coverage, he can’t get the liver transplant he needs to stay alive.

“I can’t make it end,” says Keller. “This house, I can’t get out.”

Keller continues to bear responsibility for the house because on December 23, 2008 - about two months after he received Chase’s notice of sale - the bank filed to dismiss the foreclosure judgment and the order of sale. Chase said it sent Keller a copy of its court filing on December 9, 2008.

Keller says he never received any notification. Either way, his name remained on the property title.

Keller stands outside the door of the abandoned home

bles, its hanging gutters and collapsed garage in violation of local housing code. Then the tax collector started sending Keller notices about mounting back taxes, sewer fees and bills for weed and waste removal. And last year, Chase’s debt collector began pressing Keller to pay his mortgage, which had swollen, with penalties and fees, from $62,100.27 to $84,194.69.

The worst news came last January, when the Social

The Kellers are caught up in a little-known horror of the US housing bust: the zombie title. Six years in, thousands of homeowners are finding themselves legally liable for houses they didn’t know they still owned after banks decided it wasn’t worth their while to complete foreclosures on them. With impunity, banks have been walking away from foreclosures much the way some homeowners walked away from their mortgages

when the housing market first crashed.

Since 2006, 10 million homes have reportedly fallen into foreclosure, a number that in earlier, more stable times would have taken nearly two decades to reach. Of those foreclosures, more than 2 million have never come out.

Some may be occupied by owners who have been living gratis. Others have been caught up in what is now known as the robo-signing scandal, when banks spun out reams of fraudulent documents to foreclose quickly on as many homeowners as they could.

And then there are cases like the Kellers, in which homeowners moved out after receiving notice of a foreclosure sale, thinking they were leaving the house in bank hands.

No national databases track zombie titles. But dozens of housing court judges, code enforcement officials, lawyers and other professionals involved in foreclosures across the country say that these titles number in the many thousands, and that the problem is worsening.

“There are thousands of foreclosures in limbo, just hanging out there, just sitting, with nothing being done,” says Cleveland Housing Court Judge Raymond Pianka, whose pending court cases tied to derelict properties have doubled in the past two years, to 1,000. He says the surge is due largely to homes vacated by people who fled before an imminent foreclosure sale, only to learn later that they remain legally responsible for their house.

When people move out after receiving a notice of a planned foreclosure sale and the bank then cancels, municipalities are left to deal with the mess.

In at least three states in recent months, houses abandoned by owners and banks alike have exploded because the gas was never shut off.

Unsuspecting homeowners have had their wages garnished, their credit destroyed and their tax refunds seized.

They’ve opened their mail

Thousands of US homeowners are finding didn’t know they still owned after banks dec foreclosures on them re to find bills for back taxes, graffiti-scrubbing services, demolition crews, trash removal, gutter repair, exterior cleaning and lawn clipping.

At their front doors they’ve encountered bailiffs brandishing summonses to appear in court.

In some cities, people with zombie titles can be sentenced to probation - with the threat of jail if they don’t bring their houses into compliance.

Banks used to almost always follow through with foreclosures, either repossessing a house outright or putting it up for auction at a sheriff’s sale. The bank sent a letter notifying the homeowner of an impending foreclosure sale, the homeowner moved out, the house was sold, and the bank applied the proceeds toward the unpaid portion of the original mortgage.

That has changed since the housing crash. Financial institutions have realised that following through on sales of decaying houses in markets swamped with foreclosures may not yield anything close

to what is owed on them.

By walking away, banks can at least reap the insurance, tax and accounting benefits from documenting the loss without having to take on any of the costs and responsibilities of ownership, according to a 2010 Federal Reserve paper. A walk-away also enables them to “sell the unpaid debt to debt collectors, sometimes noting to the court that the loan has been charged off,” according to a Case Western Reserve University study released in 2011.

No regulations require that banks let homeowners know when they change their minds about a foreclosure. So they rarely do.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal agency established in the wake of the financial crisis to guard against predatory lending and other abuses, declined to comment for this article.

Banks say that because they are not the legal owners of these homes, they aren’t required to maintain them, pay taxes on them, or take any

legal responsibility for them.

Homeowners legally own their properties until the day of sale. And it’s not until that day, the banks point out, that a homeowner’s name vanishes from the title.

David Volker found that out the hard way. When the hous-

No regulations req homeowners know their minds abou So they r ing market crashed, so did Volker’s contractor business, and he was unable to keep up with payments on his barnlike two-story house in Buffalo, New York. His mortgage servicer, HSBC, foreclosed on the home in 2009. A few months later, while he was staying with his girlfriend, he stopped by the house to find an HSBC padlock on the

sday, January 17, 2013

17 Television

20

Crossword

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Sport

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horror: the zombie z title Joseph and Jennifer Keller stand on the porch of their abandoned house

g themselves legally liable for houses they cided it wasn’t worth their while to complete eports Michelle Conlin doorknob and bank stickers plastered across the door.

Shattered glass covered his front steps. When he crawled through a broken window, he found the place trashed - by whom, he doesn’t know. Even the toilets were gone. Hearing nothing more from the bank,

quire that banks let when they change ut a foreclosure. rarely do. he figured the house was no longer his.

The place continued to decay. Gutters tore loose from the eaves. The yard turned into a dump for balding tyres.

Volker’s neighbours started complaining to the Buffalo Housing Court, which eventually tracked down Volker at the rental where the 49-yearold was living and ordered

him to appear in court. That’s when Judge Carney told him that he was still the owner.

“I was stunned,” Volker says.

“I never for a moment thought I still owned this house.”

Volker worked with a realtor to try to get HSBC to take several short-sale offers - deals under which the bank would allow Volker to sell the house for less than the amount owed on it - but he says HSBC turned them down. Since then, he’s been asking the bank to agree to a deed in lieu, whereby he would give the house back to the bank. So far, he hasn’t been able to make that happen. He has $1,000 in water and trash bills and faces up to $30,000 in demolition fees if the city decides his house is a safety hazard and must be torn down.

HSBC declined to comment on Volker’s case, citing privacy concerns.

Cases against zombie-title holders are rising due to everything from sewer bills to tilting chimneys, and they are clogging the courts. In

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about 900 cases in the foreclosure process involve zombie titles.

In South Bend, Indiana, the number is 1,275, up from 600 in 2006. In Memphis, Tennessee, cases have doubled in the past two years to 1,500.

In Cleveland, 15 per cent of foreclosures between 2005 and 2009 stalled out in foreclosure limbo, more than a third of them involving homeowners who had fled foreclosure notices, according to the Case Western Reserve study.

Once a bank walks away from a foreclosure, the real rot begins. Living rooms turn into meth labs. Falling shingles menace passers-by. Squatters’ cooking fires turn into infernos. The latest iteration of the trend: gas explosions.

Electric companies usually shut off the juice when homeowners tell the utility they are moving. But natural-gas companies usually don’t. In recent months, abandoned homes have exploded in Chicago, Cleveland and Bridgeport, Connecticut. In all cases, foreclosed homeowners

Assessing the damage: the Kellers in their former kitchen

had moved out. With no one home to smell the gas, it went undetected - until the houses blew.

“We are seeing more and more close calls,” says Mark McDonald, a former natural gas public safety worker who now runs the New England Gas Workers Association.

“These houses are a formula for disaster.”

Cities are struggling to find ways to cope with growing numbers of blighted properties. Miami, Detroit and Las Vegas have created registries intended to force banks to take more responsibility for vacant houses.

The Mortgage Bankers Association has opposed these measures. Placing “unreasonable” and “onerous” requests upon servicers will only hurt the already ailing mortgagelending business, the association says.

Registry advocates say the banking industry’s opposition has helped water down some of those actions, such as a recently enacted Georgia law that requires banks to register vacant properties only after a foreclosure has been completed.

A vacant-property ordinance in Los Angeles requires banks to register a house as soon as they file a default notice. Failure to do so could result in a $1,000-a-day fee. However, “it’s not being enforced,” says Los Angeles Assistant City Attorney Tina Hess. “Part of the problem in LA is the building and safety departments have been cut so severely they don’t have the inspection staff to monitor these properties.”

In Columbus, Ohio, Keller recently paid a visit to the empty house on Avondale Avenue. In the living room, the floor was littered with dirty diapers, pill bottles, condoms, sooty mattresses and soda cans. In the kitchen, squatters had hung pink curtains.

“They tore it to hell and back,” Keller said, kicking at a dirty mattress. “We never would have left the home if we

weren’t told to get out.”

The Kellers live in their daughter’s dining room, where their queen-size bed leaves little room to manoeuvre. Joseph can’t sit, stand or sleep for more than 15 minutes at a time. He can’t take pain medication because of his diseased liver. Every few months, he makes a trip to the emergency room, where doctors drain his abdomen of excess fluid.

Last May, Chase’s debt collector, Professional Recovery Services, sent Keller a letter: “At this time,” it said, “we are able to offer you a settlement of $25,258.41 on this account to be paid within 15 days.” He

lacks that kind of money, as well as the $11,759.08 he owes to the county in back taxes.

At a hearing in early December, a Social Security administrative judge told the Kellers that he would review their appeal of the original denial of benefits, a process that he said could take two months.

Joseph Keller responded that he might not be around that long. Earlier this month, the judge sent the case back to the local office after it determined that the house was virtually worthless. Keller still has no benefits.

“He’s dying,” says Keller’s daughter, Barbara. “He needs his name off this house.”

The trashed bathroom of the Kellers’ Ohio home

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

18

What’s on

films

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

NICOSIA Les Miserables (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.30pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 1) at 7 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 11.30am and 3.30pm Hope Springs (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.35, 7.50 and 10.20pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 1) at 7.50 and 10.20pm Jack Reacher (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 5.25, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.05pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 5) at 7.50 and 10.15pm House at the End of the Street (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 10.20pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) at 10.20pm Cloud Atlas (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 10.15pm

Times are subject to change, so check first with cinemas before you An… (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in head out

Telephone nos:

Greek) at 7.55 and 10.20pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 2) (in Greek) at 7.55 and 10.20pm

K-Cineplex: 7777-8383

Wreck-It Ralph (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek) Rio Limassol: 25-871410 at 5.35pm, weekends also at 3.20pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Rio Paphos: 26-207000 Cyprus (Screen 2) (in Greek) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 11am, 1.10pm and 3.20pm

Life of Pi (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 7.50pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 4) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 11.30am and 3.05pm The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) at 7pm Hotel Transylvania (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) (in Greek, in 2D) at 5.15pm, weekends only at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) (in Greek, in 2D) at 5.15pm, weekends only at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.25pm Rise of the Guardians (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 5) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 11.20am, 1.20pm and 3.25pm About Elly (in Farsi, with Greek subtitles) Cine Studio, tonight at 9pm, presented by the Friends of the Cinema Society. Tel: 96-420491, www.ofk.org.cy

LIMASSOL

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

Hope Springs (12) Rio 6 at 7.45pm, weekends also at 3.30 and 5.30pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 7.50 and 10.20pm

Zarafa (K) Rio 2 (in Greek), weekends only at 2.30 and 4pm; Rio 3 (in Greek), weekdays only at 6pm

Jack Reacher (15) Rio 2 at 7.35pm. Rio 4 at 10pm.

Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 7.50 and 10.15pm

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) Rio 2 at 10pm; Rio 3, weekends only at 4.30pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7pm

House at the End of the Street (15) Rio 5 at 7.45 and 10pm, weekends also at 5.30pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 10.20pm

Hotel Transylvania (K) Rio 3 (in Greek, in 3D), weekends only at 2.50pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek, in 2D) at 5.15pm, weekends only at 3.25pm

Cloud Atlas (15) Rio 6 at 10pm An… (12) Rio 3 (in Greek) at 7.45 and 10pm. Tel: 25-871410; KCineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek) at 7.55 and 10.20pm Wreck-It Ralph (K) Rio 2 (in Greek) at 5.30pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 3.20pm Life of Pi (K) Rio 4 at 7.45pm, weekends also at 3 and 5.20pm; K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.05pm

Rise of the Guardians (K) Rio 5 (in English, in 2D), weekends only at 3.30pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm

LARNACA Les Miserables (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 7 and 10.15pm, weekends at 3.30pm Hope Springs (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 5.35, 7.50 and 10.20pm, weekends also at 3.25pm House at the End of the Street (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 10.20pm

Les Miserables (K) Rio 1 at 7.30 and 10.25pm, weekends also at 4.15pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.30pm

Cloud Atlas (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 10.15pm Jack Reacher (15) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 5.25, 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 3.05pm An… (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek) at 7.55 and 10.20pm Wreck-It Ralph (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 3.20pm Life of Pi (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 7.50pm The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7pm Hotel Transylvania (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek, in 2D) at 5.15pm, weekends only at 3.25pm Rise of the Guardians (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 3.25pm

PAPHOS Les Miserables (K) Rio 1 at 7.30pm, weekends also at 4.30pm; Rio 7 at 10pm

House at the End of the Street (15) Rio 4 at 7.30 and 9.45pm Cloud Atlas (15) Rio 5 at 7pm. Tel: 26-207000 An… (12) Rio 6 (in Greek) at 7.30pm; Rio 5 (in Greek) at 10pm Wreck-It Ralph (K) Rio 6 (in Greek) weekdays only at 5.30pm, weekends only at 11am and 2.30pm Life of Pi (K) Rio 3 at 5, 7.30 and 10pm Zarafa (K) Rio 5 (in Greek) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 11am and 4pm The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) Rio 6 at 9.45pm, weekends also at 4.30pm Hotel Transylvania (K) Rio 7 (in Greek, in 3D), weekends only at 11am and 3pm Rise of the Guardians (K) Rio 4 (in English, in 2D) at 5.30pm, weekends also at 11am and 3.30pm; Rio 1 (in Greek, in 3D), weekdays only at 5.30pm, weekends only at 11am and 2.30pm

Hope Springs (12) Rio 2 at 5.30, 7.30 and 9.45pm Jack Reacher (15) Rio 7 at 5 and 7.30pm; Rio 1 at 10.20pm

Hope Springs

listings Today Exhibition Place – Light – Man: As Memory and as Expectation Solo painting, collage and engravings by Nikos Papaloukas. Opens January 17, 7.30pm until January 31.

Apocalypse Gallery, 30 Chytron Street, Nicosia. Monday- Friday: 10.30am1pm and 5pm-8pm. Saturday: 10.30am-1pm. Tel: 22-766655

Theatre Social Security THOC presents satire on modern high society by Andrew Bergman. January 17. Markidio Theatre, Paphos. 8.30pm. €12/6. With Greek and English surtitles. Tel: 77-772717/26-932571

Andrew Oliver: Piano. January 17.

Latchi Y & P Hotel. Concert 7pm, dinner 9pm. €20 inc. dinner. B & B rooms available. Reservations - Tel: 26-321411 J.Kriste, Master of Disguise Seven-piece band will play songs from their new album, previous album and some covers. January 17 until January 31. Antonaki’s Music Hall, 17 Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou Street, Nicosia. Every Thursday at 9.30pm. €10. Tel: 99-566485

Other Events Cursed to Isolation The Costas and Rita Severis Foundation present a lecture with Senem Gokel on lepers in Cyprus. January 17. Famagusta Gate Cultural Centre.

7pm. Tel: 99-630872

Tomorrow

Music Lavrentis Macheritsas A unique musical presentation full of new melodies, nostalgic feelings and humour with singers Demetris Starovas and Zenovia Arvanitidi. January 17. Rialto Theatre, Limassol. 8.30pm. €18/12. Tel: 77-777745 Fusion Music Pop meets opera meets show-tunes with Tina Chester: Soprano and

Music Fusion Music Pop meets opera meets showtunes with Tina Chester: Soprano and Andrew Oliver: Piano. January 18. Larnaca Pyla Village Tavern.

FUSION 2 with special guest Ross Neil. Dinner 7pm, concert 9pm. €20 inc. dinner. Reservations – Tel: 99975863/99-070168

George Dalaras A three hour programme presenting new songs, popular rembetika and great range of well known hits.

January 18-19. Lanitis Carob Mill Complex, Vasilissis Street, Limassol.

10pm. €50. Tel: 25-372855

Ongoing Other Events First Exhibition of Vespa And Lambretta See classic models of Vespa and Lambretta scooters. Registration and renewals of membership, kids Vespa drawing-painting competition.

Until January 19. The Mall of Cyprus.

10am-6pm. Free. Tel: 99-455844. www.vlccyprus.com Climate – Culture – Change Screenings of international documentary films about climate change.

January 14 until January 18. GoetheInstitut, located in the buffer zone next to Ledra Palace Hotel, Nicosia.

7pm. All films are with English subtitles. Free. Tel: 22-674608 or www. goethe.de/cyprus

Theatre The Whore from Ohio The central stage of ETHAL presents black comedy by Israeli playwright

Hanoch Levin, directed by Panagiotis Larkou. January 16-17. THOC New Theatre Building, 9 Gregori Afxentiou, Nicosia. 8.30pm. In Greek with English subtitles. Tel: 77-772717 Death and the Maiden Satiriko Theatro presents play by Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman. Until January 25. Vladimiros Kafkarides Cultural Centre, 11-15 Vladimiros, Kafkarides Street, Aglantzia, Nicosia. Every Wednesday and Friday at 8.30pm. €15/10. In Greek. Tel: 22-312940/22-421609 The Elephant Man Theatro Ena presents a play by Bernard Pomerance, translated and directed by Andreas Christodoulides.

Until January 27. Theatro Ena, 4 Athinas Avenue, Nicosia. Every Friday through Sunday at 8.30pm. In Greek. €15/12. Tel: 22-348203 Heights Three actors confront their personal conflicts among the spectators. Until January 29. Theatro Ena, 4 Athinas Avenue, Nicosia. €10 including the first glass of wine. 10pm. In Greek.

Tel: 2234 8203 or email theatroena@cytanet.com.cy Social Security THOC presents satire on modern high society by Andrew Bergman. Until February 3. THOC New Theatre Building, 9 Gregori Afxentiou,

Nicosia. Friday through Sunday at 8.30pm, Saturday at 6pm and 8.30pm. €12/6 . In Greek. Tel: 77772717/22-864300 Spring Awakening THOC presents work by Frank Wedekind, about sexual and spiritual awakening of teenagers. Until February 9. THOC New Theatre Building, 9 Gregori Afxentiou, Nicosia. On specific days at 8.30pm. In Greek. €12/6. Tel: 77-772717/22-864300 Kali-Kantzar & Co A musical directed by Lea Maleni with music by Dimitris Zavros. Until February 10. THOC New Theatre Building, 9 Gregori Afxentiou, Nicosia. Every Saturday and Sunday at 6pm. In Greek. Tel: 22-864300 Misery Stephen King’s psychological thriller staged by Satiriko Theatre. Every Friday and Saturday. Until February 13. 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 Nursing Home the Cherubim Theatre Anemona celebrates its tenth anniversary with a comedy

by Nearchos Ioannou. Until March 17. Anemona Theater, 7 Archagelou Street, Latsia, Nicosia. Every Friday and Saturday at 8.30pm and Sunday at 8pm. In Greek. Tel: 22-573031

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

Shear Madness Popular Cypriot actor and director Loris Loizides returns with an adaptation of one of the longest-running non-musical plays in the world. Until March 17. Pantheon Art Cinema, 29 Diagorou Street, Nicosia. Every Saturday and Sunday at 8.30pm. €20. In Greek. Tel: 70-001910/22-675787 Shakespeare in an Hour Pirasmos Productions presents a theatrical comedy directed by popular Cypriot actor and director Loris Loizides. Until March 29. Pantheon Art Cinema, 29 Diagorou Street, Nicosia. Thursday and Friday at 8.30pm. In Greek. Tel: 70-001910

Exhibition The of Art as a Functional Object Group art exhibition. Until January 18. Centre of Contemporary Art Diotopos, 11 DZ, Crete Street, Nicosia.

Monday: 5pm-8pm.Tuesday-Friday: 11am-1pm and 5pm-8pm. Saturday: 11am-1pm. Tel: 22-766117 AnThrOPOS: Faces of Cyprus through the Ages An exhibition that explores the human form as it is represented in the art of Cyprus from the Neolithic period until today, focusing specifically on depictions of the human face. Until January 18. The Cyprus Museum 1 Special Exhibition Hall, Museum Street, Nicosia. Tel: 22-865854

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

19 To have your event included for FREE in our listings, send details to: Arts Editor, Cyprus Mail, PO Box 21144, Nicosia. Fax: 22-676385.

Email: whatson@cyprus-mail.com Please send your information as early as possible.

Include full details, a contact number and good quality photos

Don’t Forget Theatre The shiksa hits Nicosia Last night ETHAL (Limassol Theatre Development Company) had its Cyprus premiere of The Whore from Ohio, a black comedy masterpiece by Hanoch Levin.

With one more performance taking place tonight at the THOC new stage in Nicosia before it goes on its Limassol run, this is a unique opportunity to see Israel’s most controversial and provocative playwright, known for his sardonic style, bawdy humour, and strong language. His plays have generated much discussion in Israel and before his untimely death in 1999 at the age of 56 Levin had produced an enormous body of work, which included sketches, songs, and poetry, as well as plays.

Levin’s The Whore from Ohio features just three characters and centres around a beggar who on his 70th birthday, wishes to spend his savings on the services of a prostitute.

Although he fantasises about a rich prostitute from Ohio he settles for the street prostitute because this is all he can afford.

His son, also a tramp, imagines his father as a secretly wealthy man and dreams of the vast inheritance that will one day be his.

The son is tormented over the idea of his father throwing away his money, and knowing his father is impotent, this infuriates him further. The street whore is far more practical than both of

them.

In the prostitute’s world, a spade is called a spade. You pay for it, you get the goods either way, the prostitute does not dilly-dally. She delivers according to the bargain. But what if her client doesn’t “rise to the occasion”?

At its core, this play is a poetic drama about forgotten yearnings, thwarted dreams and finding hope in desperate times.

Levin infuses the unveiling of human crudity with his trademark wit and invariably leaves the audience facing the same baffling paradox: the essential absurdity of human existence.

It’s important to remember that tonight’s performance at the THOC new stage will have English subtitles. Following tonight’s show the play will then be staged at ETHAL in Limassol from the weekend, where it will run every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday until February 5. The translation (from Hebrew to Greek) was done by awardwinning interpreter Jacob Shibi and it is directed by Panayiotis Larkou. The Whore from Ohio features Eftyhios Poullaides (old beggar), Vasiliki Kypraiou (the whore) and Minas Tingilis (beggar’s son). Set design by Edwardos Georgiou and lighting by Vasilis Peteinaris.

The Whore from Ohio The central stage of ETHAL presents black comedy by Israeli playwright Hanoch Levin, directed by Panagiotis Larkou.

January 17. THOC New Theatre Building, 9 Gregori Afxentiou, Nicosia. 8.30pm.

In Greek with English subtitles. Tel: 77772717 January 19-February 5. Technohoros ETHAL, 76 Franklin Roosevelt Avenue, Limassol. Every Tuesday and Saturday at 8.30pm and Sunday at 6.30pm & 8.30pm. In Greek Tel: 25-877827

Live from The Met this week On Saturday, Limassol’s Rialto Theatre continues the 2012-13 season of The Met: Live in HD, with Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic opera Maria Stuarda.

Cyprus culture lovers need no longer travel to London or New York to get their fix of the very best in theatre and opera, because now you can enjoy world-class productions right on your doorstep. Through a new partnership with the Antenna Group, the Rialto is offering an inaugural season that includes Wagner’s Parsifal live by satellite from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Not only will you not have to travel far, but now there’s a cheaper way of introducing yourself to this art form. The Met: Live in HD is a scheme by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, one of the world’s most renowned opera houses, to introduce new audiences to the art. Performances of a diverse selection of shows from The Met’s season are beamed to cinemas all over the world.

Greek and English subtitles are provided onscreen and cinema audiences are treated to exclusive behind-the-scenes features, live interviews with cast and crew, insightful short documentaries and bird’s-eye views of the productions, offering an unprecedented look at what goes into the staging of an opera.

Last month, the Rialto held the first broadcast of the The Met: Live in HD, with Verdi’s opera Aida to great success. This weekend’s Met offering, Maria Stuarda, is the second in what is commonly called Donizetti’s ‘Tudor Trilogy,’ a series of three operas which all deal with the Tudor period of English history. Along with A nna Bolena and Roberto Devereux, the three Anna featu female lead characters. operas all feature Maria Stuarda is very different from Donizetti’s other o operas and in this opera audiw see a free wheeling visual ences will

style. Facts rarely get in the way of a good story in the world of opera and Donizetti’s history-based Maria Stuarda, reflects the romantic nature of the retelling of the story rather than the history.

Set in 1587 this challenging bel canto tragedy recounts the clash between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart (Mary, Queen of Scots) and ends with the anguished Mary heading to the executioner’s block. Between these two women, the political conflict is shadowed by a conflict of two lovers in a spectacular and dramatic confrontation between a reigning sovereign and a fallen queen. They are surrounded by court intrigues, conspiracies, and cruelty.

As ever at the Met, a stellar international cast has been assembled, headed by Joyce Di Donato singing in the title role of the defiant Mary, Queen of Scots and South African soprano Elza van den Heever makes her debut as Mary’s formidable rival, Queen Elizabeth I. Maurizio Benini conducts a cast that also includes Francesco Meli as the Earl of Leicester, Joshua Hopkins as Cecil, and Matthew Rose as Talbot It’s now possible to see this extraordinary story unfold on the cinema screen thanks to the concept of screening live performances of prestigious opera productions from the Met giving audiences the chance to see the finest productions without leaving their cinema seats. Best of all you can be transported by the powerful emotions of opera at an unbeatable price.

Maria Stuarda - The Met: Live in HD Live broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera of New York in high-definition. January 19. Rialto Theatre, Limassol.

7.55pm. €20/15. With Greek and English Subtitles Tel: 77-777745. Online ticket: www.rialto.com.cy

By Ledha Socratous

NIGHTLIFE Winter season sparks

into life with minimalist electronic music

Sleepy through winter, Cyprus nightlife wakes up with a vengeance come summer with outdoor clubs and free parties popping up left right and centre. But as the temperature outside continue to dip, venues such as Nicosia’s Klub d ensure that the music reaches boiling point over the winter season and the party scene remains alive and kicking.

Those of you with a penchant for glitchy, dark techno music

the charge. On the menu this weekend, weeken is Genevaborn Sonja Moonear, a DJ M who produces produc inspired minimalist electronic e mustu sic. After studying classifo many years, cal music for swappe the piano she swapped turn for the turntables and R a Roland R-8, a decision prov that has proved fruitful. co In the last couple of years re she’s been releasing her

ely on can always rely Klub d to bring ing in reputably internaternational DJs that hat will keep you dancing ncing he all through the o night. Techno ced has experienced e a renaissance de, in this decade, with Berlin nd producers and DJ’s leading

own tracks and remixes on renowned international labels such as Karat and Perlon.

She slowly began collaborating with artists such as Luciano and Dimbiman/Zip, and she has acquired an impressive international reputation, playing in clubs and festivals worldwide.

What makes this artist stand out from the rest is the fact that she evades easy categorisation; her sets reflect an enormous

wealth of ideas and creativity and lead her to perpetually redefine her style. Playing subtle and varied sets, her musical background, eclectic tastes and record collection have made Miss Moonear a much soughtafter DJ. Sonja Moonear Swiss-born female DJ performs live. January 19. Klubd, 36 Ammochostou Street, Old Nicosia. 11.45pm. Tel: 22-104841

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

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

20

Television CYBC 1 06.45 08.15

Proti Enimerosi Kali Sas Mera Local variety show, with entertainment options, cookery tips and more.

11.00 11.30

07.00 08.00 16.30 17.00

Kaftes Piperies (rpt) Istories Tou Horkou (rpt) Local comedy series, which happens to be the longest-running show on TV.

12.00

CYBC 2

Apo Mera Se Mera

18.00 18.50 19.00 19.10

Entehnos Local cultrual show.

16.00

Mazi Sto CyBC Local talk-show.

18.00 18.15

News Kaftes Piperies

18.45

Paizoume Kypriaka

Live cookery show.

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

19.20

20.00 21.00

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

20.00 21.15

News Patates 8

23.30 23.45 00.15 00.45

Presidential Elections 2013 News Moiraia Fengaria (rpt) Entehnos (rpt) More repeats

05.30 06.20 06.50 07.00

Amateur chefs each stage a dinner party to find who will be crowned the winning host.

07.50 08.40 09.30 10.25 11.15

Biz/Emeis News In English News In Turkish Doctor Who (rpt)

NRG Zone A Touch Of Frost: Near Death Experience

22.30 23.00

12.10 13.00 13.20 14.00 14.50 15.45 16.40 17.30

Erotas (rpt) Proini Enimerosi Me Agapi Idiaitera Yia Klamata (rpt) Englimata (rpt) Lyke, Lyke Eisai Edo (rpt) Einai Stigmes (rpt) Pansellinos (rpt) Ekeino To Kalokairi (rpt) Niose Me (rpt) News Mera Mesimeri Konstantinou Kai Elenis (rpt) To Kafe Tis Haras (rpt) Elftheros Kai Oraios (rpt) Vals Me 12 Theous (rpt) Ekeino To Kalokairi (rpt) With News at 18.00.

The irascible copper finds his methods are called into question when a colleague is seriously injured during an attempt to thwart a suicide. The murder of a widow soon gives Frost a chance to prove his worth again, but the investigation only reveals an intriguing web of deceit. Oneoff episode starring David Jason. 2006.

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

22.00

NRG Zone Kids’ TV Euromaxx Kati Psinetai (rpt)

Fourth season. ‘Forest of the Dead’. Part one of two. Part two of two.

The Doctor joins forces with Professor River Song as the Vashta Nerada advance, and is stunned by shocking revelations about his future, while the Nodes declare Donna is doomed.

Current affairs show.

15.30

ANTENNA

Motor Sports Repeats

18.30 19.30 20.15 21.15 22.10 23.00 00.00 00.05 00.20 01.40 02.30 03.20 04.40

Aiyia Fuxia Niose Me News Vals Me 12 Theous Ekeino To Kalokairi Presidential Elections 2013 News Sports News Ola Bahalo Fetos Sinora Agapis (rpt) I Agapi Irthe Apo Makria (rpt) News Deal (rpt)

MEGA 06.00 06.15 07.00 08.00 10.00 12.45 14.00 15.00 16.00 18.00 18.20

Ta Epta Kaka Tis Moiras Mou Emeis Ki Emeis (rpt) Koinonia Ora Mega Nea Mera Proino Mou Enimerosi Tora Klemmena Oneira (rpt) Eheis Meson Yia Sena News Master Chef Greek reality competition show where amatuer chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges.

19.20 20.20 21.15

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

22.10

SIGMA 07.00 08.20 10.00 11.10 12.00 14.20 15.20 18.00 18.05 18.30 19.30 20.20 21.15

23.20

00.00 00.05 01.20 02.10 03.00 03.10 04.30

07.20 08.35 09.05 10.15 10.35

12.30 13.00 15.30 16.15 17.00

Star News Mesimeriani Meleti Classic Cartoons More Kid’s TV To Kleidi Greek comedy series.

17.50 19.40

Fotis Maria Live Mila Discussions about various issues based on a woman’s life (men, relationships, sex, kids etc.) with showbiz guests. Hosted by Tatiana Stefanidou.

21.15 22.00

News Dekati Entoli (rpt) Alithinoi Erotes (rpt) Mila Mou (rpt) Se Fonto Kokkino Ta Hrisopsara (rpt) Eleni (rpt)

Fotis - Maria Live Best Of Exelixeis Sti Showbiz Mesimeriani Meleti Best Of Mila (rpt) Nistikoi Praktores (rpt) Cooking show, with helpful tips on eating well and nutrition.

Las Vegas First season. ‘Year of the Tiger’. A contract killer targets a highrolling guest at the Montecito, so Ed and Danny are forced to team up with a detective to stop the assassination. Mary has problems dealing with 50 brides at a mass wedding, and Mike clashes with a moneygrubbing stripper.

FILM: The Shepherd - Border Patrol

News Fae Ti Sokolata Sou Yia Sena (rpt) Enimerosi Tora (rpt) Proino Mou (rpt)

Protoselido Eleni Vasiliki (rpt) Efta Ouranoi kai Synnefa Alites (rpt) Mesimeri Kai Kati Aspra Balonia (rpt) Magazino News Ti Tha Fame Simera Mama The Del Monte Heirs Efta Ouranoi kai Synnefa Alites News Pame Paketo Talk-show that deals with human interest stories such as reuniting people, fulfilling dreams and connecting people who want to correct their past.

A texas cop battles ex-navy seals who are trying to traffic drugs from Mexico into the USA. Action, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. 2008.

00.00 00.10 01.00 03.00 04.20

PLUS TV

LTV Sports News Kostakis Ki Yioi Star News Local comedy series.

03.00

08.25 08.55 09.25 10.00 11.00 11.30 12.30 13.20 14.05 15.15 16.05 16.45 17.35 18.15

Repeats

Magikos Kosmos S’Agapo (rpt) Akti Oneiron Ston Asterismo Tis Imeras Kouzina Me Apopsi Epi Topou (rpt) Milagros Kids’ TV Telemarketing Top Models S’Agapo Sabrina, To Koritsi Tis Agapis Akti Oneiron Pacific Blue With News at 18.30.

19.15 19.50 20.05 21.00

News Sports Time O Anthropos Tis Thalassas FILM: May Wine An American woman and her daughter unknowingly both fall for the same man, while on holiday in Paris. Romantic comedy, starring Joanna Cassidy. 1990.

Exelixeis Stin Showbiz FILM: Memory Of Lies An agoraphobic woman is trapped inside her house and thinks her husband is conspiring with her psychiatrist to drive her insane. Mystery, starring B. Anthony Cohen.

2009.

23.30 00.30 01.10

CAPITAL

22.40

FILM: Fixing The Shadow A maverick cop goes undercover to investigate a gang of drug-dealing bikers, but is drawn into their wild lifestyle. Crime drama, starring Charlie Sheen. 1992.

00.45

FILM: The Real Blonde Comedy, starring Matthew Modinecal.

1997.

Man on a Ledge (Novacinema1, 20.10)

06:15 The Weakest Link 07:00 3rd & Bird 07:10 Boogie Beebies 07:25 Gigglebiz 07:40 The Roly Mo Show 07:55 Me Too! 08:15 3rd & Bird 08:25 Boogie Beebies 08:40 Gigglebiz 08:55 The Roly Mo Show 09:10 Me Too! 09:30 Buzz & Tell 09:35 My Family 10:05 One Foot In The Grave 10:35 The Weakest Link 11:20 EastEnders 11:50 Doctors 12:20 Casualty 13:10 Bleak House 13:40 Bleak House 14:10 My Family 14:40 The Weakest Link 15:25 EastEnders 15:55 Doctors 16:25 Casualty 17:15 Bleak House 18:15 The Weakest Link 19:00 EastEnders 19:30 Doctors 20:00 Coast 21:00 Keeping Up Appearances 21:30 Gavin & Stacey 22:00 Waking The Dead 22:50 Blackadder Goes Forth 23:20 Taking the Flak 23:50 Friday Night Dinner 00:15 Last Man Standing 01:05 The Weakest Link 01:50 EastEnders 02:20 Doctors 02:50 Keeping Up Appearances 03:20 Coast 04:20 Gavin & Stacey 04:50 Friday Night Dinner 05:15 Blackadder Goes Forth 05:45 Keeping Up Appearances

07:00 How It’s Made 07:25 Wheeler Dealers 08:15 American Chopper 09:10 Dirty Jobs 10:05

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

04:00 Tennis: Australian Open, Melbourne 15:30 Biathlon: World Cup Italy 16:45 Snooker: International Masters London 18:00 Tennis: Australian Open, Melbourne 19:30 Tennis: Game, Set And Mats 20:00 Snooker: International Masters London 00:00 Rally: Rally Raid Dakar 00:30 Poker: European Poker Tour 01:30 Tennis: Game, Set And Mats 02:00 Tennis: Australian Open, Melbourne

05:40

Desperate

Housewives

06:25 Castle 07:10 Modern Family 07:35 New Girl 08:00 Body Of Proof 08:50 Masterchef 09:40 Desperate Housewives 10:25 Castle 11:10 Modern Family 11:35 New Girl 12:00 Scandal 12:50 Castle 13:40 Body Of Proof 14:30 Tabatha’s Salon Takeover 15:20 Desperate Housewives 16:05 Castle 16:50 Modern Family 17:15 New Girl 17:40 Body Of Proof 18:30 Tabatha’s Salon Takeover 19:20 Desperate Housewives 20:10 Castle 21:00 Scandal 21:50 Castle 22:40 Modern Family 23:05 Last Man Standing 23:30 Scandal 00:20 Castle 02:00 Desperate Housewives 02:45 Modern Family 03:10 Last Man Standing 03:35 Rita Rocks 04:00 Body Of Proof 04:50 Tabatha’s Salon Takeover l

07:00 Pawn Stars 07:30 Storage Wars 08:00 Mud Men 09:00 Pawn Stars 09:30 American Restoration 10:00 Pawn Stars 10:30 Storage Wars 11:00 Ancient Aliens 12:00 Swamp People 13:00 Storage Wars 14:00 Pawn Stars 14:30 American Restoration 15:00 Mud Men 16:00 Swamp People 17:00 Storage Wars 18:00 Pawn Stars 18:30 American Restoration 19:00 Mud Men 20:00 Pawn Stars 20:30 Storage Wars 21:00

Ancient Aliens 22:00 American Restoration 23:00 Ax Men 00:00 Pawn Stars 00:30 Storage Wars 01:00 Ancient Aliens 02:00 American Restoration 03:00 Ax Men 04:00 Mud Men 05:00 Pawn Stars 05:30 American Restoration 06:00 Ancient Aliens

07:30 Brighton Rock 09:30 Mother Night 11:30 Search For El Dorado, The (Part 1) 13:15 Search For El Dorado, The (Part 2) 15:00 What Women Want 17:10 Hollywood Buzz 17:45 Next Three Days, The 20:00 Ltv Sports News 21:00 Sleepy Hollow 23:00 Special 00:30 Hustler Tv 02:15 Fred Claus 04:15 Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants 2, The 06:30 Ltv Sports News

07:00 Chowder I 07:25 Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack, The 07:50 Tom & Jerry Show,

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

07:15 According To Jim 08:00 2 Broke Girls 08:30 Necessary Roughness 10:00 Friends 10:30

Gossip Girl 11:15 Ncis: Los Angeles 12:50 Pan Am 13:40 According To Jim 14:30 Necessary Roughness 16:05 2 Broke Girls 16:30 Chuck 17:15 Bones 19:00 Pan Am 19:45 Two And A Half Men 20:30 Friends 21:00 Closer, The 22:00 Harry’s Law 22:45 C.S.I. New York 23:30 Luck 00:30 Last Samurai, The 03:10 Action Zone 03:50 2 Broke Girls 04:15 Chuck 05:00 Bones 06:30 Pan Am

07:10 Youth In Revolt 08:45 Blindness 10:50 Simon Birch 12:45 Another Year 15:00 Before Sunrise 16:45 Eye Of The Dolphin 18:30 Run 20:10 Everybody Wants To Be Italian 22:00 Facing Ali 00:05 Daring! TV 04:05 My Soul To Take 06:00 Christmas With The Kranks

05:55 The Client 07:55 Cine News 08:20 Beginners 10:05 Action Zone 10:35 Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 12:50 Desperately Seeking Santa 14:20 Mad On Novacinema 15:00 The Cake Eaters 16:30 Cine News 17:00 Les Emotifs Anonymes 18:25 Gospel Hill 20:10 Man On A Ledge 22:00 Transit 23:40 Mao’s Last Dancer 01:40 Cine News 02:00 Julia’s Eyes 04:00 Albert Nobbs

05:55 Cine News 06:40 In Time 08:30 Cine News 11:20 Against All Odds 13:25 Cine News 16:10 Cat Ballou 17:50 Hollywood 1 On 1 18:25 Nisos 2: To Kinigi Tou Xamenou Thisavrou 20:20 Source Code 22:00 The Vow 23:50 Blue Valentine 01:55 American Gangster 04:35 Machine Gun Preacher

18:55 The Lincoln Lawyer 21:00 Men Of Honor 23:15 Magic City 00:15 C.S.I. 01:05 Adult Zone

18:50 Manuale D’am3re 21:00 A Better Life 22:45 Jude 00:50 Take Me Home Tonight

07:00 Live A Little, Love A Little 08:30 Kelly’s Heroes 10:50 Live A Little, Love A Little 12:20 Bad Day At Black Rock 13:45 Torpedo Run 15:20 Key Largo 17:00 Ice Station Zebra 19:25 Where Eagles Dare 22:00 Pink Floyd - The Wall 23:35 Mutiny on the Bounty 02:30 Honeymoon Machine 03:55 Naked Spur 05:25 Boys Town

By Preston Wilder

Facing Ali (LTV3, 22.00) If you’ve never seen When We Were Kings, the 90s documentary on the so-called ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman ... well, you should, because it’s hugely entertaining and also shows how intelligent and charismatic Ali was in his prime (before being brought low by Parkinson’s), a universe away from the likes of Mike Tyson. The former Cassius Clay turns 70 today - and it’s nice of LTV to mark the occasion, even if this documentary sounds a lot more conventional than Kings. “10 of Muhammad Ali’s former rivals pay tribute to the three-time world heavyweight champion,” says the synopsis, the interviewees including such names as Joe Frazier, Larry

Holmes and the aforementioned Mr. Foreman; they also talk a bit about their own lives, the interviews cross-cut with footage of Ali and clips from his greatest fights - and it’s all very watchable, though the constant emotional paeans sometimes make it feel like a eulogy. Not for a while, hopefully. Made in 2009.

Transit (Novacinema1, 22.00) “One man will stop at nothing to save his family,” says the trailer for this crime thriller, aligning it with approximately one zillion other crime thrillers in which a man will stop at nothing to save his family. The man is Jim Caviezel, who once played Jesus but refuses to turn the other cheek when his wife and kids are

Transit

threatened by violent bank robbers; the crooks stash their loot on the roof-rack of the rather dysfunctional family’s station wagon, planning to get it later - but of course things go wrong, forcing Jim to bang, crash and wallop his way to a happy ending. “If I tried to list all the illogical behaviour of the characters in Transit then I’d be here all day,” sighs an unimpressed Welsh viewer at the Internet Movie Database. “I’d like to say that if you were prepared to put your brain in a jamjar for 90 minutes then you may enjoy this film, but I can’t even do that”. Are you saying you don’t admire a man who’ll stop at nothing to save his family? Rated ‘R’ (speaking of families) for “violence and terror, pervasive language and brief teen drug use”. Made in 2012.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

21

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 2287 1

2

3

4

5

PREVIOUS DAY’S SOLUTIONS

6

7 8

9 10

11 12 14

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.

13

15

16

17 18

20

19

21

EASY

HARD

MEDIUM

HARD

22 23

1 Fabulous eastern flier (5,6) 2 Get to know name of king first (5) 3 Surprisingly not right during lunch perhaps in a Canadian city (8) 4 Modern song heard about nakedness (6) 5 Egg on a N London footballer (4) 6 She was in the quadrangle crushed (7) 9 Prisoner’s tale? (6,5) 12 Gambler almost about to do an errand for a young lady (8) 14 Gladly accept a greeting (7) 17 Some petty ranting from the despot (6) 19 Stocking filler (5) 21 Go and look first at the design (4)

Rating EASY

1 Exploit the chap, one regularly on a round (7) 7 Let the bath water out? (6) 8 Reading version that said it was granulated (7) 10 It comes from plants and trees Clare’s included (5) 11 It is hard to walk on (8) 13 He is mentioned in passing in 1 Samuel IV (3) 14 Envelop in snow rapidly (4) 15 Nail the railway poster (4) 16 Growth of repentance (3) 18 His pony’s affected by semi-consciousness (8) 20 Do better taking 90 fish out (5) 22 Italian boy had a silly notion (7) 23 Girl to go in with me stumbling (6) 24 They admit blame for hospital treatment (7)

Rating HARD

Down

Rating EASY

Across

Rating MEDIUM

24

Answers to crossword 2286

HOROSCOPE

CRYPTIC: Across – 1 Shackled; 6 Turn; 8 Spigot; 9 Curacy; 10 Associate; 13 Ware; 14 Fro; 15 Rink; 16 Wholesome; 19 Strati; 20 Shinto; 21 Oral; 22 Nicotine. Down – 2 Hypo; 3 Cage; 4 Latest fashion; 5 Doctor of Music; 6 Tertiary; 7 Reciting; 11 Catheter; 12 Heelball; 17 Fist; 18 Stun.

QUICK: Across – 1 Overcast; 6 Malt; 8 Plenum; 9 Karate; 10 Instigate; 13 Grab; 14 Sot; 15 Lady; 16 Evergreen; 19 Advent; 20 Octave; 21 Odin; 22 Rudiment. Down – 2 Volt; 3 Rank; 4 Administrator; 5 Take to the road; 6 Marigold; 7 Latitude; 11 Provided; 12 Aberdeen; 17 Stem; 18 Oven.

ARIES March 21 - April 20

LEO July 23 - August 22

SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21

Things may get intense today, especially where business and finances are concerned. You may also be in a rebellious mood, perhaps resentful of red tape, an officious authority figure and various rules. At the same time, fun and good times beckon. Call up friends, or accept an invite to an event that you would really enjoy. Don’t get too tied up in problems.

A rather demanding situation at work, may be down to a budding romance, or a run-in with someone who tends to be very controlling. Whatever the scenario, you may find it hard to contain your feelings. Try not to do anything you might regret, especially as the Moon in feisty Aries may mean your temper or passions could easily be aroused.

You may have important issues that you really need to deal with, and yet feel in such a rebellious mood that you don’t see why you should. You might have to contend with a financial issue that needs some attention. Don’t let your lack of patience or responsibility get in the way. Anyway, once it’s all sorted, you can go off and enjoy yourself.

TAURUS April 21 - May 21

VIRGO August 23 - September 23

CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20

Powerful influences could make this day full-on in a number of ways. Be aware of the message you are giving out. Don’t try to force a situation, especially if your partner disagrees with you. Rather than go ahead on your own steam, try to create a compromise. Later, you may want to plan a dinner with a loved one as a way to kiss and make up.

You may need to take action concerning a relationship matter that seems to be quite complicated. This may relate to an obsessive attraction that can be exhausting as well as very exciting. The promise of passion can entice, but you may need to ask yourself if it’s really worth it. Reflect deeply on the matter but don’t let your heart rule your head.

Dark emotions may mean that one friendship may be spoilt by jealousy, or perhaps resentment. You may not see eye-to-eye with someone and find it hard to see any way you can get back on track. Things may be made worse if you have expectations of them they are not meeting. Give them some space and the issue may eventually resolve itself.

GEMINI May 22 - June 21

LIBRA September 24 - October 23

AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19

The social vibe may be turned up high and invitations can follow. Disruptions may occur as someone may be extremely self-willed and hot-headed. Despite this, an evening out could prove delightful - if you’re with the right crowd. Financial affairs come to a head too. You may need to make a decision, and take practical action as soon as possible.

If there are any tensions at home they may ratchet up.

Financial issues may be at the heart of an ongoing problem. You may be keen to get a loan or other financial deal for a good reason. You may be faced with a choice, or perhaps a need to make a new decision. Yet with careful planning or compromise you may be able to come out of this okay.

Though you may be in a bright and breezy mood on the surface, hidden tensions may mean you feel exhausted - even if you haven’t done that much. Worries about a career issue or career progress may be causing you to feel edgy. Rather than push this away, look deeply into what you feel and why you feel it - things may not be that bad, after all.

CANCER June 22 - July 22

SCORPIO October 24 - November 22

PISCES February 20 - March 20

As Venus conjoins Pluto in your partnership zone, there may be control battles in your long-term relationship, or perhaps a burst of passion in a newer love match. If any close relationship seems stuck, think about moving out of your mutual comfort zone. Career wise, you could do very well today, and especially if you listen to your intuition.

You may be in a suspicious mood, believing that someone is not being honest with you. Your activities today may be focused around finding information which either backs up or refutes your beliefs. Even if you do find that things are above board, you may still feel mistrustful. To make the best of today, it may be best to just let things be.

If you are out on a date this evening, it could become quite passionate - either this or you and a friend may fall out.

Intense energies seem to take over an outing or event and may cause a rift. Try to tune into the more amiable side of your nature, radiate good wishes and compassion and look to heal the situation. Be determined this will be overcome.

22

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser

ADVERTISER helps you find what you’re looking for

Only

€14 (plus VAT)

a week for classifieds (up to 40 words)

Send your classified by fax or email and pay by credit card, cheque or cash. It couldn’t be simpler!

Nicosia - email: classified@cyprus-mail.com Limassol - email: limassol@cyprus-mail.com Paphos - email: paphos@cyprus-mail.com

MISCELLANEOUS **************************** 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 ****************************

LESSONS

from 25€. Curtains, Roman blinds, Vertical Blinds need to be surveyed. Collection Service available. For a free quotation call Mark on 70006766 All areas **************************** 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 **************************** 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 ****************************

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

***************************** PRIVATE TUITION Experienced, UK-qualified teacher offers fulltime or part-time private home tuition in Maths, English, the Sciences, I.C.T., Geography, History, Business Studies and Economics, from KS3 to iGCSE, AS and A2 levels. 9 years experience in Cyprus; references available. Telephone 99318796 *****************************

SERVICES 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 ***************************** SWIFT SERVICE AND REPAIRS air-cons, commercial and domestic fridges and freezers, ice machines, cool rooms, supply and fit air-cons VRV S. Call Nik on 99579602 Limassol **************************** PROFESSIONAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING, also carpets, rugs and mattresses. Special offers now available. For a quote call Rickys Cleaning Services on 99131044 (all areas) rickyscleaningservices@gmail.com **************************** UPHOLSTERY, RUG, BLINDS + CURTAIN Cleaning Rugs from 20€ - Carpets from 38€ - Fabric Suites form 85€ - Leather Suites from 95€ - Mattresses

MIKI is a male poodle x terrier dog, 1.5 year old. He is smart and well behaved young dog. Great with children. 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. *****************************

Nicosia - tel: 22 818583 fax: 22 676385 looking for forever homes ! To provide a temporary foster home or to adopt contact on 99520511 mon-frid 10-2pm.

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

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.

FOR SALE BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND ****************************

GRAY is a loving gentle female, 4 months old. She is beagle cross. She is very clever, playful and loving. Gets on well with other dogs. 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. *****************************

BABYSITTING/CHILD minder for two 3 year old boys in Engomi, Nicosia . All year round Monday – Thursday hours between 15:00 – 18:00 extra hours during school holidays.

We are looking for a fun, active and patient English speaking person that can take care of the boys after school hours, preferably with previous experience.

Please call at 99 679412 or send your cv at vana papa@ hotmail.com with the title babysitting .

‘PROPERTY BUSINESS FOR SALE’ ‘Unique Opportunity to purchase FREEHOLD stonebuilt village property currently operating as a Cafe, with fully equipped kitchen.Seating for 40. Potential for further expansion. Easily converted to residential dwelling.

Viewing highly recommended.

Greatly Reduced. Details ring Tel: 99864097’ – Paphos Area **************************** 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

JOB WANTED

FOR SALE LAND in Anthoupoli (half plot) 288 sq.metres. for information 99621554.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

YOUNG MAN from Sri Lanka with release paper is looking for any job in Nicosia District. Speak Greek and English language.

For info contact 97841633.

PERSONAL SMART GERMAN BUSINESSWOMAN, 43, living in Cyprus, seeks a nice, intelligent man for marriage. Pls write with picture to: salieris@ymail.com.

OREO is a female dog, 8 months old. She is dachshund cross.

She is good with other dogs, children and cats. At the Nicosia Dog Shelter, many more dogs and puppies like this one are

Limassol - tel: 25 761117 fax: 25 761141

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLES MINI COOPER 2005. Full mini spec., long MOT. Mileage 52K. Excellent condition. Priced to sell €4.750. Call 99531267.

2005 MINI 1 1.6 taxed MOT one owner good all round 6000 Euros O.N.O Tel: 99096902 – Paphos area.

HEALTH & FITNESS

ROVER 600. 1998. 126000 km. €1200. Price Negotiable. A Honda-Era Rover, so the engine is a Honda Accord. Has Never had engine problem. Any parts I found at both Rover AND Honda. Oil change, MOT included Tel No: 99564063.

CLINICAL PILATES. Personalised

FORD FOCUS GHIA (2006) diesel, 1600cc, 98000km, blue, automatic - tiptronic. dual zone climate control, power steering,

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049 electric windows, 6 airbags, central locking, cruise control, computer board, alloy wheels, and many extras. €6900 ono. Contact: 99022779 - Nicosia

FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE FURNITURE in excellent condition, at very low prices. 1. NATUZZI brown suite 3-seater €400 - 2-seater €300.

2. Pine, round light brown dining table + 4 chairs €70. 3. 1 1/2 size bed + mattress + side cupboard €80. 4. Student desk €50. 5. Dark wood chest, 3 drawers €40. 6. ARGO airconditioning unit, as new €150. 7. LG washing machine (2 years) €200. Other household items. Tel. 99511430, Nicosia.

PROPERTY TO LET NICOSIA 3 BEDROOM flat 140 sq.metres plus 80 sq.m veranda with extra room (studio). Fireplace, fitted kitchen appliances. Split-units in all areas, covered parking.

In Pindarou str, 5 min walk to Makariou. 600 Euro. hadjidas@ yahoo.com 0049 17670769271 99067198

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

Larnaca - tel: 24 652243 fax: 24 659982

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg 22 Employment Miscellaneous 22 Pets 22 Lessons 22 Health & Fitness 22 Personal 22 Services 22 For Sale Miscellaneous -For Sale Land/ Property Business 22 For Sale Motor vehicles 22 Wanted -To Let Nicosia 22 To Let Limassol 25 To Let Larnaca 25 To Let Paphos 25 To Let Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paralimni -For Sale Nicosia 26 For Sale Limassol -For Sale Larnaca -For Sale Paphos 26 For Sale Ayia Napa -For Sale Famagusta Protaras 26 For Sale Athens -Property& Home Services display ads --

abbreviations LUXURY 6 BEDROOM HOUSE IN A QUIET AREA IN LATSIA. The house has been constructed with the most modern building materials and one can enjoy all comforts of modern life. The house has 3 storage rooms 3 kitchens, 2 covered garage, housekeeper’s room, study room, en-suite bathroom – master bedroom, walk in closet, Jacuzzi, c/h, a/c, and fireplace. Rent €5.000pm.

Call 99609239 or 99424106. ***************************** 2 BEDROOM flat, fully furnished.

Fully A/C, small block, 3rd floor. Covered parking. Central heating. Near Hilton hotel off Makarios Avenue. €480pm. Tel 99444336 ***************************** FLATS/HOUSES for rent 1 bdrm in Aglantzia near the new university semi-furnished €430, 1 bdrm with furniture in Engomi €280, 1 bdrm in Akropoli near Philips college €450, 2 bdrm €550, Strovolos brand new 3 bdrm €650, Penthouse 3 bdrm roofgarden €850, detached house Aglantzia 2 bdrm big yard €450, detached house Pallouriotissa 3 bdrm €550. STAVRINOS REAL ESTATE AGENCE A.M. 497 A A 166/E Tel: 99666703 email:

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

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

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

23

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

yemo@cytanet.com.cy ***************************** FOR RENT or sell: 2 bed-room flat in Nikis Avn in Nicosia, 80 m. Completely renovated, with electric supplies. Excellent for office or flat. 3 bed-room flat with electric supplies and some furnitures in Nicosia near Central Bank, 140m. Completely renovated like new. For info call mob: 99460860. ***************************** STROVOLOS 4 bdrm., house, c/h, a/c from €1000 now €800, Mak/ ssa f/f house, pool, 4 bdrm., 4wc, 2 shower €1700, Kornos villa, pool, mature garden €4000 (2) penthouse luxury Acropolis 1 bdrm, f/f, centre €450. For info www.markidesestates.com Markides 22378898, 99464764, Reg. No. 487, E16 ***************************** FLATS/HOUSES FOR RENT stu-

dio Acropolis €300, 1bdrm P/ ssa €450, Aglantzia €350, Str/ los €350, Acropolis €350 2bdrm Lycavito furnished €530, Acropolis €550, Ag. Dometios €500, 3bdrm Nikis av. €550 Str/los G/F €660, Tymbos independent €800, Ag. Omologites colonial listed building swimming pool maids room €2,500. PROPERTY FINDER LTD. 99474839 99646822 A.M.627 A.A.108/E ***************************** STUDIO flat in Pallouriotissa (next to McDonald) furnished €280.

For info call 99606984. ***************************** TO LET spacious 2 bdrm apartment in a small building in Strovolos area near ARETAIEION hospital (dead-end) with independent petrol heating, 3 a/c, water pressure system, satellite. Directly available. TEL.: 96275151

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

***************************** 2 ROOMS €125 each, near McDonald’s Engomi only Philippine girls. Call 99663927.

***************************** 2 BDRM flat (almost new, 4 years old) at Lycavitos with good area near University of Cyprus with fully equipment kitchen, a/c in all rooms. For info call 96530532. ***************************** 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.

TO LET NICOSIA 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).

Call 99900177.

***************************** FOR RENT 3 B/R apartment fully furnished close to Central Bank.

3 W.C., fully air-conditioned extra storeroom, owned covered parking. Excellent condition. Information: Tel. 99621554 ***************************** 3 BEDROOMS flat on second floor in a block of six flats, in a nice position at Strovolos area, fully a/c, c/h, covered parking place for one car, recently painted. Rent €650pm. (furnished if required). Tel: 97773358. ***************************** LUXURY HOUSES: 1. 5 bedrs detached house,

SONNY’S RESTAURANT WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR CUSTOMERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR !

WE WILL BE OPEN FROM WEDNESDAY 16 JANUARY, 6PM UNTIL LATE. ROAST DINNERS ON SUNDAY FROM 1PM TO LATE CLOSED TUESDAYS WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU! CALL: 96877248

2.

3 bedrs luxury terraced house,210sq.m,central heating, full a/c, marble floor in the sitting areas and solid parquet floor the stairs and bedrooms,4 wc,3 bathrooms the 2 en suite ,big verandas, electrical appliances in the kitchen,3 covered

TO LET NICOSIA parking, roof garden access, in a quiet neighbourhood on Mon Parnas hill – Engomi €800 (photos in the 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 grass, covered parking, 3wc, 2 bathrooms in a quiet neighborhood. Available middle of January. Agios Andreas

24

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

- €1200 - H3AAD0001-R (photos in website).

€1000 - H3ACS0004-R (photos in website).

end of February –Strovolos €1800 (photos in the website).

5. 3 bedr luxury detached house, 200sq.m, central heating, full a/c, 3wc, blinds and curtains, open plan kitchen with cooker, oven and dishwasher, veranda with bbq, good size garden, covered parking, storage room, alarm system, in a quiet area – Archangellos €1100 (photos in the website).

8. 4 bedr very big luxury semi detached house 350sq.m, with big separate basement 80sq.m with 2 rooms, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom. Consists of big sitting and dining areas upstairs, big kitchen with big family room and breakfast area, big bedrooms, 3 showers, 1 bathroom, central heating, full a/c, black out blinds on all windows, cooker and oven in the kitchen, covered parking and patio with bbq in a very quiet neighbourhood close to Makarios foorball stadium. Available END of February - Makedonitissa €1500.

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).

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 -

9. 4 bedr new luxury detached house build in a big plot of land, central heating, full a/c, 2 bedrs with en suite shower, 4 wc, bathroom with jacuzzi, big open space sitting and dining areas, 330sq.m, big swimming pool 5x10, big garden with grass, big covered patio with bbq area, roller blinds and curtains on all the windows, electrical appliances in kitchen, covered parking, in a quiet neighbourhood off Tseriou avenue. AVAILABLE

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

11. 4 bedr new luxury finished detached house with central heating independent, full a/c, 3wc, 2 bathrooms, big kitchen with cooker oven, dishwasher and big family room, aluminum shutters in all the house, separate big sitting and dining room with parquet floor, 2 covered parking, alarm system, big covered patio, SWIMMING POOL, in a newly built area near Falcon school – Strovolos €2000 (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

TO LET NICOSIA 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. 4 bedr new luxury finished top quality detached house, 290sq.m, central heating, full a/c, master bedroom with en suite shower/jacuzzi, guest bedroom with shower, main bathroom with jacuzzi, 4w , fully expensive furnished with LCD televisions (all furniture and appliances cost 100,000 EURO), kitchen with very expensive electrical appliances and family room, garden with grass, big covered patio with bbq area,2 covered parkings, alarm system, pressure system, in a nice

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA bedroom, fully newly modern furnished with LCD TV 32’, covered veranda, covered parking, storage heaters, full a/c, near Cyta, Laiki and Hellenic Bank headquarters – Dasoupolis €550 (photos in the website).

quiet neighbourhood - Strovolos €2000 (photos in the website).

For many more properties with photos visit our website at www.landtouristestates.com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22422225/96-422225/96422226, 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. 1 bedr spacious fully luxury renovated apartment,60sq.m, big sitting and dining room, big

FOR SALE – JAGUAR XJ6 (2003) BLACK, TIPTRONIC, P/M/ P/W, LEATHER POWER SEATS, NAVIGATION, CD CHANGER, CLIMATE CONTROL, TV, DVD, CRUISE CONTROPARKTRONIC, ALARM ETC PRICE: €19,700 Tel. 99628928

3.

2 bedr penthouse apartment,100sq.m + 80sq.m veranda with flowers and bbq, big sitting and dining room with big 60” TV, storage heaters, full a/v, 2 wc, en suite bathroom/ jacuzzi, roman blinds, cooker, oven, microwave, washing machine and refrigerator in the kitchen, covered parking, near Metro supermarket – Aglantzia €600 (photos in the 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 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 modern luxury finished apartment with parquet floor, central heating independent, 2 a/c, modern kitchen with all fitted expensive electrical appliances, blinds on the windows, big covered veranda, FULLY NICELY FURNISHED, covered parking in a quiet neighborhood off Kallipoleos street – Lykavitos €650 (photos in the website).

6. 2 bedr luxury finished apartment on a small building with 4 flats only, central heating with petrol independent, full a/c, 2 bedrooms with en suite bathroom/ shower, separate guest wc, NICELY MODERN EXPENSIVE FURNISHED, big covered ve-

25

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

randa, covered parking, storage room, in a very quiet neighbourhood very close to Junior school and the park – Agioi Omologites €800 (photos in the 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. New top quality 2 bedr apartment, 93sq.m+20sq.m veranda, on a small modern building with 6 flats only. Central heating independent, full a/c, 2 bathrooms, 2wc, fully fitted kitchen with all the electrical appliances, water pressure system roller blinds and shutters on windows, big sitting and dining room, big bedrooms, covered parking and storage room, in a quiet neibourhood near Akropolis park. AVAILABLE middle of February – Acropolis €850 (photos in the 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 show-

room – 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. 3 bedr spacious luxury finished apartment 150sq.m+30sq.m covered veranda, central heating independent with petrol,full wall a/c units, solid parquet floor, expensive electrical appliances in the kitchen, 3wc, curtains and blinds on windows, 3 COVERED PARKING,storage room, near Pizza Hut in Strovolos €1100 (photos

TO LET NICOSIA in the 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. 3 bedr new luxury ground floor apartment, with separate big TV room or guest room, 225sq.m, big kitchen with all the electrical appliances and breakfast area, 4 bathrooms, 4 wc, 2 bedrs with en suite bathroom, floor heating independent, full a/c, blinds on all the windows, marble and parquet floor, big veranda with bbq, small garden, closed 2 covered parking with remote control, in a very quiet area very close to Junior school and 50 metres from the park. FULLY NICELY FURNISHED – Agioi Omologites €1200 (photos in the website).

For many more properties with photos visit our website at www.landtouristestates.com which is updated daily. LANDTOURIST ESTATES LTD 22422225 / 96-422225 / 96422226 www.landtouristestates.com

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

LIMASSOL ***************************** PROPERTY TO LET - A 2 bdrm

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Abbeygate CYPRUS 1

TO LET LIMASSOL furnished flat in Yermasoyia (close to Miramare Hotel) and 20 yds from the beach. It consist of 55sq.mtrs of balcony, private access and swimming pool €750/ month excluding water consumption, electricity and refuge collection. Mob: 96381524(cy) Mob(uk) 0044 7714400279.

***************************** GROUND FLOOR HOUSE, furnished renovated this year. Laminated parke floor, and big wardrobes in the 3 bedrooms. Rent €590.00 Tel 99497576 99886775 *****************************

LARNACA ***************************** 1. Superior Real Estate Larnaca.

Town centre, fully furnished one bedroom apartment available for immediate occupation. Ref. TLL341. Tel 24815926 2. Superior Real Estate Larnaca.

Stunning two bedroom fully furnished apartment in Oroklini.

Ref. TLL1574 Please call to arrange a viewing Tel. 24815926 3. www.SuperiorRealEstateLarnaca.com – LARGE RANGE OF RENTAL PROPERTIES. From studio apartments to 5 bedroom villas for rent, all properties have detailed descriptions, professional photographs. Interactive Virtual/Video Tours. Please visit our website. www.SuperiorRealEstateLarnaca.com

TO LET LARNACA 4.

www.SuperiorRealEstateLarnaca.com. License No. 419.

LANDLORDS AVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY WITH US FOR FREE. Tel. 24815926 Email. info@superiorrealestatelarnaca.com ***************************** 2 BDRM ground floor semi-furnished in Larnaca, Dhekelia road opposite Marine club 30 metre from the beach €450. Stavrinos Real Estate R.B. 497 L/N 166/E Phone: 99666703 email yemo@ cytanet.com.cy FLAT IN CENTRAL LARNACA, Stasinou St, f/f, a/c, one bedroom, Off street car parking.

Foinikoudes, Zenonos Kiteos shops 200 metres. Rent €350 p/m. Tel: 24 815104/9939 5954 ***************************** ON THE PHINIKOUDES PROMENADE. An unobrstructed, panoramic view of the sea and the marina. An exclusive superb 1 bdrm on the 4th floor on the beach. Fully renovated, brand new. Has fitted new kitchen, w/m, fully a/c and sauna room!!

Also suitable for office use. Must see to appreciate. Rent €450.

Call 99222197, 99541828. ***************************** 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 2 bed, 2 bath, new

TO LET LARNACA built apartment, in a quiet scenic location In Alethriko, Larnaca 5 min. to Larnaka, 5 min. to the beach Fully furnished, A/C, communal pool, under covered parking, Long term rent, €350.00 per month For more info pls call 99639378

***************************** FULLY FURNISHED one bedroom flat near Larco hotel Larnaca.

Price €370. Tel: 99202543 *****************************

PAPHOS GREAT VALUE STUDIO FLAT FOR RENT - large modern studio flat in small residential block,

PAPHOS LONDON TRAINED HAIRDRESSER **SPECIAL OFFERS** *Free Cut & Blowdry (worth €25) with any Colour Service* *Gents Cut & Style 8 euro* Claim your reward by simply quoting ‘Cyprus Mail’ (valid until 28th Feb ‛13) VENUS BEACH HAIR SALON Find us -1 Venus Beach Hotel, Tomb of Kings.

Call Michelle: 99760543 or 26949200 (ext 350) Visit: facebook.com/VenusBeach HotelHairSalon for more info.

26

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS in central Paphos, 5 minutes from town centre, 2 minutes from motorway, and 10 minutes from Kato Paphos. Separate Living area/kitchen and bedroom. and shower room. Fully furnished (washing machine etc.) and air conditioning. Covered veranda, and undercover designated parking. Only €215/month inc. Communal charges. Phone 99-310481. ***************************** MR RENT PAPHOS, THE LEADING PROPERTY RENTAL AGENCY IN PAPHOS OFFICE: 26271858 (00357) IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY TO RENT WE ARE THE RENTAL AGENCY TO CONTACT OFFERING FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & RENT COLLECTION SERVICE 1. UNIVERSAL AREA €450 spacious 3 bedroom first floor apartment, master with ensuite.

Situated on small complex with no pool. Fully furnished with modern furniture, fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher. Balcony leads to a large private roof terrace with shaded barbeque area offering views of the sea, storage & sunbathing deck.

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 de-

TO LET PAPHOS tached 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

***************************** EMBA, 3 bedroom detached house, with attached separate one bedroom apartment, large garden, mountain and sea views, unfurnished, €600 p/m o.n.o – agents welcome, call : 99683379 ***************************** LONG TERM RENTALS 1. Geroskipou A large 2 bed apartment with large balcony facing the sea, fully furnished, covered parking, a/c €345 pcm 2. Tala 2 bed fully furnished apartment. Stunning sea views, large balcony, well kept gardens,

POLICE DIVISION HQ

HOSPITALS ........ 1400

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) 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

communal pool, and quiet area. €350 pcm 3. Peyia Large 3 or 4 bed detached villas, secluded position, large private pool, a/c, and parking. Unfurnished or furnished.

Very nice, well worth seeing. €650pcm & €750pcm 4. Kato Paphos Furnished 1 bedroom apartment, a/c, private parking, well kept garden, communal swimming pool, large balcony with sea view. From €300 pcm REDUCED THIS IS JUST A SMALL SELECTION OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND MANY MORE PLEASE CALL EITHER 96 545 174 OR E-MAIL ON info@unique-consultancy.eu LANDLORDS; WE NEED YOUR PROPERTIES NOW. PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT. ***************************** KILI – PAPHOS, 3 bedroom villa, with swimming pool and garden, unfurnished, gas central heating, large verandas, lovely mountain views, very quiet and tranquil area, €500 per month o.n.o. Call: 99479006 ***************************** 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

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

TEL: 97790883 OFFICE: 26271858 VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MANY MORE PROPERTIES www.mrrent-paphos.net Email: info@mrrent-paphos. net

U SEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

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

TO LET PAPHOS

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!

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

AIDS Advisory Bureau ................................ 22-302826

• chafing trays

Domestic Violence Centre .......................................... 1440 (Emergency Centre for Victims)

• catering tables

Drug Info & Poison Control ............... 1401

• glassware, cutlery

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

***************************** 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 300400 Euros per month. Ref 7777 Price 300-400 ANARITA: 3 bed nicely furnished villa in the centre of Anarita village with private pool, off street parking. Property has a modern kitchen with granite work tops, sitting and dining area, guest wc.

Upstairs 3 bedrooms Master with en suite shower, separate family bathroom. Outside shaded pergolas. Ref 855 Price 600 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

CATERING EQUIPMENT: • 2 stand up freezers

Police Duty Officer ......... 1499 (Confidential Information)

at are website www.cyprussands.com Fully Registered Company in Cyprus

FOR SALE – PAPHOS

Narcotics Helpline ......... 1410 (Outside hours.............. 22304160)

Cyprus Samaritans ... 77777267

TO LET PAPHOS

• industrial oven • thermo boxes • tablecloths with frills • All in excellent condition at reduced prices

please call : 99532841

TO LET PAPHOS 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

***************************** 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 on 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. €425.00 or near offer 2 EMBA 3 bed 2 bath unfurnished villa in handy location close to the shopping areas. Property also has separate 1 bed apartment on the lower level. Large open plan living area and dining area. Fully fitted dining/kitchen with appliances . Guest WC. 3 double bedrooms one with ensuite. Family bathroom. Separate 1 bed apartment on lower level. Perfect for dual living.

Small garden & and parking. €550.00 a month.

3. GIOLOU – 5 bed unfurnished villa consisting of 3 bed, 2 bath main house (bungalow) with self contained 2 bed apartment with own entrance. Main house, open plan living area, beamed ceilings with feature fireplace.

Dining space and kitchen. 3 bedrooms, master with ensuite and family bathroom.

Covered balcony with sea and rural views, swimming pool and garden areas. Lower level apartment reached via the main house or separate entrance.

Large open plan living area, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. €850.00 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 bed room 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.

Lnadscaped gardens €750.00 per month or close offers only 5. TRIMITHOUSA – 4 bed, 3.5 bath unfurnished villa set in quiet location. Open plan living area.

Fully fitted kitchen. Ground floor bedroom with en-suite shower.

TO LET PAPHOS Guest WC. Stairs to 3 more bedrooms, one with en-suite and family bathroom. Garden areas, large terraces and feature BBQ area and pergola. Private pool, garage. Never been occupied.

Available 1 Feb. €725.00 per month OVNO. 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. €375.00 a month or offers. 1 & 2 bed apartments available on Universal starting at €250per 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 the 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 APARTMENTS/TOWNHOUSES 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

***************************** 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 REDUCED, new, three bedroom luxury flat, 165sq metres, for sale. Covered verandas, underfloor heating, three baths, 4th floor with views of the Pendadactylos mountains. Centrally located, behind Gabrielides lights, €375.000. (Original selling price €433.000). If interested, please call 22768833, leave telephone and name.

PAPHOS FLAT FOR SALE 1 bdrm at Peyia village with title deeds, fully furnished. €65.000. For information call 99526562.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY IN LOFOS/ TALA, 2 three bedroom detached villas on large plot.

House 1 with studio flat & pool.

Both open plan with A/C, provision for C/H, BBQ, pergolas, gardens, private drives, sea/ mountain views, SEPARATE DEEDS. Available together or separately.

Tel: 96718163/ 96366419 Price: €399,000 & €299,000 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.

27

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

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

28

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Sport Cycling ‘could be dropped’ from Olympics

By Steve Keating CYCLING could be dumped from the Olympic program if Lance Armstrong implicated the sport’s governing body of covering up a widespread doping scheme, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound has said.

Pound said the IOC might be left with no choice other than to take drastic action if Armstrong was able to prove theInternational Cycling Union (UCI) had acted improperly.

“We could say, ‘look, you’ve clearly got a problem why don’t we give you four years, eight years to sort it out,” Pound said.

“And when you think you’re ready come on back we’ll see whether it would be a good idea to put you back on the program.”

A former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Pound said it was clear the IOC needed to take matters into its own hands in the wake of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.

“The only way it cycling is going to clean up is if all these people say ‘hey, we’re no longer in the Olympics and that’s where we want to be so let’s earn our way back into it,’” Pound said in a telephone interview.

“The IOC would have to deal with it, the UCI is not known for its strong actions to anti-doping.

“It was the same in weightlifting a few

years ago, all of a sudden when you get right up against it things go fuzzy and they say, ‘well, we can’t punish innocent athletes in these sports by dropping the sport from the program.’”

Pound made his comments after talk show host Oprah Winfrey confirmed media reports that Armstrong admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs in an interview that was taped on Monday.

The full details will not be known until the interview is broadcast on Thursday and Friday although CBS reported that Armstrong indicated he might be willing to testify against others.

“You have to wait to see to what degree he has admitted, to what degree he is prepared to help,” said Pound.

Lance Armstrong is pictured during his interview with Oprah Winfrey, where he reportedly confessed to doping

McGinley selection backed Irishman to skipper Ryder Cup holders in 2014

By Rory Dollard

By Tony Jimenez

IN BRIEF

JUSTIN Rose and Martin Kaymer, two heroes of Europe’s triumphant Ryder Cup campaign at Medinah Country Club last year, have backed the choice of Paul McGinley as captain for the 2014 edition.

The Players Committee announced that Irishman McGinley would skipper the holders against the United States in Gleneagles, Scotland next year.

“I am very excited for Paul,” world number five Rose told reporters. “I think that could well be a career-definining moment for him. It’s obviously a huge honour and one he’s clearly going to take incredibly seriously. He’ll do a fantastic job.”

McGinley was one of five captaincy candidates discussed by the committee, along with 2010 Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul Lawrie and

Finn eager to conquer fear factor

Paul McGinley was one of five captaincy candidates discussed by the Players Committee, along with 2010 Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul Lawrie and Sandy Lyle Sandy Lyle. Montgomerie had his share of support in the lead-up to Tuesday’s meeting in Abu Dhabi, with some players believing Europe had to counter the appointment of Tom Watson as US skipper last month by picking a bigname opponent.

Rose, who sank a remarkable 35-foot putt on the pe-

nultimate hole of his last-day singles victory over Phil Mickelson in Illinois in September, disagreed with that view.

“Monty came into the picture to combat Tom Watson and I felt like that was something the European Tour did not need to do,” said the Englishman. “I felt like we have a pretty good thing going right

now in the Ryder Cup and there was no need to counter the US decision. I had quite a lot of conversations with Paul at Medinah...and I believe he’ll make some very good decisions.” Kaymer, who holed the putt that ensured Europe retained the trophy, also said he was impressed by the way McGinley carried out his vice-

captaincy duties under Jose Maria Olazabal in Illinois.

“What I liked about him was that he really listened,” the German said. “There is nothing superficial about him and he gave me some very good feedback.

“I think he has done a lot for European golf. He deserves to be captain.”

STEVEN Finn spends most of his career attempting to put the fear into opposition batsmen but even he admits that playing in India can be “intimidating”.

Finn is one of the sport’s most imposing figures, a 6ft 7in opening bowler who delivers the ball with a distinctive grimace and no shortage of pace.

But the fervour of the fans in India, especially for limitedovers cricket, can be unsettling for all touring players.

England had first-hand experience of that in Kochi on Tuesday, where in excess of 60,000 raucous fans cheered their side to a resounding 127-run victory that levelled the series at 1-1.

Finn believes the atmosphere in the match was unique not just to cricket, but to all sport, yet remains confident that the tourists can flourish in such an environment.

“To play in front of close to 70,000 people with that sort of noise going on all day was incredible,” said Finn.

“It’s something you don’t experience anywhere else in the world. The atmosphere was like nothing you get in any other sporting event in the world, anywhere.

“It can be quite intimidating I suppose but I don’t think that’s something that would have affected us.

Five uncapped players in Wales’ Six Nations squad

Roy Jones Jr set to fight 48-year-old Steve Collins

Howard and Bryant fuel Lakers in Bucks blowout

INJURY-HIT Wales named five uncapped players in a 35-man squad for the defence of their Six Nations championship title which gets underway next month.

Unable to call on locks Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies through injury, interim coach Rob Howley called up James King and Andrew Coombs for the first time.

Back-row forwards Josh Navidi and Andries Pretorius were also selected, along with wing Eli Walker.

Wales won a third Six Nations grand slam in eight years last season but have since lost seven successive games.

AMERICAN legend Roy Jones Jr says he is in talks to fight the Republic of Ireland’s former world champion Steve Collins, 48, in England in April.

Jones, 44, is a former four-weight world champion and is widely regarded as the best boxer of the 1990s.

Collins, the former WBO middleweight and super-middleweight champion, last fought in 1997.

“I’ve spoken to Steve and I said ‘I don’t duck or dive nobody’, so it’s a very big possibility,” said Jones.

Collins told TalkSPORT: “It’s a fight Roy Jones needs. He claims to be one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters around but he refused to fight me.”

DWIGHT Howard and Kobe Bryant formed a dominant inside-outside combination to maintain the Los Angeles Lakers’ winning momentum with a 10488 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Howard ruled the inside with 31 points and 16 rebounds in his second game since missing three with a shoulder injury, while Bryant controlled the perimeter with 31 and six assists.

It was the Lakers’ (17-21) second straight win after enduring a six-game losing streak.

“We’re starting to get a better connection,” Bryant told reporters of his relationship with Howard.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

29

Australian Open Stosur is knocked out of home slam early, again

Devastating Djokovic sees off next generation

By Greg Stutchbury

World number one routs young American

By Ian Ransom NOVAK Djokovic delivered a stinging lesson in the realities of grand slam tennis to young American Ryan Harrison yesterday and warned the next generation they need to work harder to break into the top ranks.

The steely-eyed Serb’s campaign for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles kicked into overdrive in the late match atRod Laver Arena, as he demolished the highly-fancied 20-yearold 6-1 6-2 6-3 to charge into the third round.

“I definitely didn’t want to underestimate my opponent tonight, even though he’s younger than me, still didn’t establish himself, you know, as a top 20 or top 30 player,” the world number one told reporters after the 91-minute rout.

“But I still knew that he has a quality.

“Mentally he’s probably going to go out on the court knowing he doesn’t have anything to lose.

“He’s going to try to smack serves and forehands. I

went with that kind of mindset on the court, just trying to play as sharp as possible from the start, and I’ve done so.”

Bullied on the baseline and broken early in each set, the 62nd-ranked Harrison scrambled hard to make a contest under the lights on centre court, but was left pinned at the back and stunned by Djokovic’s shot-making.

It was a harsh realitycheck for the American, who had pumped himself up like a prize-fighter prior to the match, talking of taking it up to the five-times grand slam champion.

Two breaks down into the second set, a punch-drunk Harrison was shell-shocked.

He later conceded he felt powerless against a man with no perceptible frailty.

“Whenever your game plan is to try and take control of a guy and you’re not getting balls to hit, you know, if I try to lace balls from six, eight feet behind the baseline I just look stupid and crazy,” said Harrison.

“It’s one where you’re disappointed because obvious-

ly leading up the last day and a half, two days, I’m all excited because I’m wanting to make a statement, wanting to win this match, wanting to step up.

“I get stuck hitting six slices in a row, and then I’m running side to side and I look like I’m on a string.”

Harrison said he would take a learning experience, however bitter, from the match. Djokovic warned him it was likely to be one in a long line of lessons.

“Well, we all know that the hard work and dedication pays off in the end,” said the 25-year-old Serb, who will continue his bid for a sixth grand slam title and fourth at Melbourne Park against Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.

“But it’s a process. And tennis has changed. It’s much more demanding nowadays with the competition that is around the tour and many quality players.

“It’s more difficult to make that breakthrough for a youngster. He needs patience and he needs to believe in himself and wait for a chance.”

The steely-eyed Serb’s campaign for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles kicked into overdrive with an easy win

Ruthless Sharapova serves up another double-bagel

By Ian Ransom

Maria Sharapova became the first player in 28 years to dole out consecutive double-bagels at a grand slam

A RAMPAGING Maria Sharapova became the first player in 28 years to dole out consecutive double-bagels at a grand slam yesterday, but said her tally of major titles was the only statistic worth worrying about.

The second seed left opponent Misaki Doi of Japan struggling to hold back tears after a 6-0 6-0 humiliation completed in 47 minutes at Hisense Arena, two days after inflicting the same scoreline on fellow Russian Olga Puchkova in the first round.

“I didn’t offer candy today,” Sharapova, who launched a sweet making business last year, told reporters.

“It’s not really the statistic I want to be known for.

I want to be known for winning grand slam titles, not that I won two matches 6-0 6-0.”

Sharapova, bidding for a fifth major trophy and a second Down Under, has spent only 102 minutes on court at Melbourne Park so far but will face a much stiffer test against seventime grand slam champion Venus Williams in the next round.

The ruthless Russian played down her lack of competition to sharpen her game and said she had never been tempted to take her foot off the gas against the 92nd-ranked Doi, who managed to cobble only 15 points from the match.

“My focus is always on the next point and to try to win as many of them as possible,” said Sharapova, who suffered neck and collarbone pain in the leadup but was in full flight as she unleashed 16 raking winners.

“When you have your chances and opportunities, little doors that open up, you try to take them.

“I don’t want anyone to know what score it is on the scoreboard just by looking at my face or my attitude. I try to play every single point like I really need to win it.”

The diminutive Doi resembled a rabbit caught in the headlights, despite the wishes of one sympathetic fan who repeatedly urged fans to clap their support.

By the closing stage of the second set, fans were roaring ironic approval at every point stolen from the Russian.

With drooping shoulders, Doi was ushered into a room of Japanese report-

ers where she slumped into a chair with her head in her hands before talking about her ordeal.

She said she thought Sharapova could win the tournament in her current form, and hoped that she would.

“I didn’t know how I could get a point or a game. It was very tough,” said Doi, her voice barely raising above a whisper.

Sharapova’s victory ensured she would have good news to report on her new Twitter account, having finally joined the social media network two days before.

The glamorous Russian has already drawn more than 60,000 followers after posting her first tweet: “Your ultimate sugarmama has arrived.”

Rather than mastering the mysteries of Twitter, however, her immediate focus is a match-up with 32-year-old Williams for only the eighth time in her career.

“Despite the fact that she might not be seeded high or didn’t play for a little bit, she’s still a very experienced player and a tremendous athlete,” Sharapova said.

“Going out there, there won’t be too many secrets.”

PLAYING an unranked opponent, 5-2 up in the third set and serving for the match, world number nine Samantha Stosur agreed she had ‘choked’ to lose her Australian Open second round match against China’s Zheng Jie yesterday.

The 6-4 1-6 7-5 ‘choke’ ensured she crashed out of her home grand slam early, again. The Australian has not advanced beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park in 10 main draws.

Her form in her home country is even more abysmal.

Over the last two seasons, the 2011 US Open champion has won just twice in eight matches.

“Obviously it’s a pretty hard one to take when you get yourself well and truly into a winning position and playing really quite well,” Stosur told reporters.

“Then all of a sudden you get to 5-2 and you lose five games straight.

“Whatever word you want to put on it. At 5-2 up in the third, double break probably is a bit of a choke, yeah.”

Stosur had started terribly against Zheng, who had beaten her a week earlier in the first round in Sydney, with her kick serve drifting wide of the service line or beyond the “T”.

However, battling to hold her serve in the first game of the second set kick-started a renaissance for the Australian and she won 11 of the next 14 games.

Serving for the match, and a third round clash with Germany’s Julia Goerges, the Australian served a double fault and then blasted an easy forehand return straight into the net.

The loss of the game tightened her up, she said, and she got too within her head as she could not let the lost opportunities to seal the match go until it got too late.

“You make an error and you tighten up a little bit, but you try and reset and refocus before that next point,” she said.

“Unfortunately it just kept happening point after point after point.

“You do it over and over and over again, and then, yeah, you start not wanting to miss rather than wanting to make the winner.”

The Australian has had an unhappy time in Melbourne

30

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Sport Inter go through in last minute of extra-time

By Brian Homewood

Karim Benzema scored just before the break and an own goal from Andres Guardado in the 74th minute gave Jose Mourinho’s side the advantage in the quarter-final ahead of next week’s return at the Mestalla against Valencia

Real close on King’s Cup semis

By Mark Elkington REAL Madrid put themselves on course for a place in the King’s Cup semi-finals after securing a 2-0 first leg victory over Valencia at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.

Karim Benzema scored just before the break and an own goal from Andres Guardado in the 74th minute gave Jose Mourinho’s side the advantage in the quarter-final ahead of next week’s return at the Mestalla.

The winners go on to meet either holders Barcelona or Malaga, who met at the Nou Camp last night.

On the other side of the draw, Real Zaragoza host-

The way forward is very tough, says Casillas ed Sevilla last night, and Atletico Madrid receive Real Betis today.

“It is a good result,” Real captain Iker Casillas told reporters, “But the way forward in the Cup is very tough.

“We have the return leg away and after that, if we progress, a meeting with either Barca or Malaga, who are in good form. But the victory gives us a lift and helps us get over our frustrations in La Liga.”

After a recent poor run of form which has seen Real slip 18 points behind league leaders Barcelona, Mourinho’s name once again was

met with a mixture of whistles and applause before the start of the 600th top-flight match of his career.

Brazil full back Marcelo was back in the side after almost three months out with a foot injury but firstchoice centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Pepe were missing through suspension and injury respectively.

Luka Modric fluffed an early chance for the hosts and Iker Casillas pulled off a great reflex save to deny Jonas.

As so often happens with Real, a close chance at one end turned into a goal at the other, as Michael Essien

burst away on a counterattac He fed Sami Khedira, who immediately laid off for Benzema and the hosts were 1-0 up in the 37th minute.

Valencia carved the perfect opportunity to equalise midway through the second half, after good work by Ever Banega, but when Casillas parried Roberto Soldado’s shot Jonas fired wide of the gaping goal.

As with the first goal, Real immediately struck back.

Substitute Fabio Coentrao’s low cross was turned into the net by a combination of Guardado and Gonzalo Higuain as the two

slid in at the near post, the Argentine getting the final touch with his hand.

Valencia’s new coach Ernesto Valverde was sent off after the goal, though he was sanguine when asked if he was unhappy with the referee.

“It’s a lot easier when you see it on the television,” Valverde told a news conference. “We have to try and put ourselves in their place.

“Perhaps when I see it on the television it will hurt more. We had chances to score and this is more painful.”

Valencia keeper Vicente Guaita denied Cristiano Ronaldo with two magnificent saves towards the end to keep his side’s hopes alive in the tie.

Nations Cup poses problems for clubs who lose players

By Mark Gleeson

15 players from the Premier League in England, including Man City’s Yaya Toure, will be away for three weeks

MANAGERS’ complaints across Europe as players jet off for the African Nations Cup every two years have become the norm in football in recent years.

This time, the problem has been exacerbated by the change in staging the tournament from even to odd years, meaning there have been just 12 months between finals.

This year’s tournament in South Africa, which kicks off on Saturday, features 368 players from clubs in 55 countries, showing how widely dispersed exported African players are.

There are 27 European countries represented, including Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, and clubs from Brazil, China, Japan and the United States.

The French league traditionally provides the most players, this time a total of 50, all but 15 of them from Ligue 1 clubs, who will miss key matches for

the three-week tournament.

There are 15 players from the Premier League in England, 14 from the top flight in Portugal, 10 from La Liga in Spainand six from Serie A in Italy.

FIFA rules stipulate players had to be released by their clubs to prepare 14 days ahead of the competition.

Struggling French club AJ Ajaccio are paying a heavy price, losing five regulars to the Nations Cup at a time when they are attempting to stay out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone.

“It is not easy especially when you face a difficult fixture list without them,” assistant coach Stephane Paganelli told the sports daily L’Equipe.

Fellow strugglers Stade Brest have lost three of their usual back four and have already moved to sign a replacement.

Herita Ilunga is a Democratic Republic of Congo international but has not been

picked for the Nations Cup. Among the high-profile players who have chosen their club over country is former South Africa captain Steven Pienaar who retired from international football last September.

Cape Verde Islands defender Ricardo also faced a difficult choice.

His national team make their debut at the Nations Cup finals after unexpected qualification but the 32-yearold centre back’s club Pacos de Ferreira find themselves in unusual territory among the front-runners in the Portuguese league.

Ricardo has chosen to stay with his club for vital games over the next week as they seek a place in European club competition next season.

While his compatriots from the tiny island archipelago meet hosts South Africa in the opening game of the Nations Cup, Ricardo will be playing away at champions FC Porto.

ANDREA Ranocchia scored in the last minute of extra-time to give Inter Milan a 3-2 Italian Cup win over Bologna whose fightback from two goals down proved in vain.

Bologna had scored twice in the last 10 minutes of normal time to stun a sparse San Siro crowd in the quarter-final tie after Fredy Guarin and Rodrigo Palacio had put Inter in control with long-range goals.

Colombia midfielder Guarin waltzed past a defender before rifling in an unstoppable shot from the end of the penalty area in the 34th minute.

Argentine forward Palacio appeared to have made the game safe in the 77th minute when he collected the ball just inside the Bologna half, ran forward, cut inside a defender and scored with a curling 30metre shot.

Bologna suddenly came to life as Alessandro Diamanti pulled one back with a free kick in the 80th minute and Manolo Gabbiandini equalised four minutes later, volleying in Marco Motta’s cross.

Both teams could have won the game, with Javier Zanetti hitting the post for Inter and Bologna having several chances on the break, before Ranocchia headed in from a corner at the end of extra-time to earn Inter a semifinal against AS Roma or Fiorentina.

“That’s the great thing about football, they could have win it as well but it went our way,” said Inter coach Andrea Stramacionni. “We showed tremendous character.”

In other news, AC Milan’s walkoff after midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng was racially abused in a friendly this month was against the rules but the club will not be punished, Serie A’s disciplinary commissioner said.

Ghanaian Boateng was widely praised across the game after stopping play at Italian fourth tier side Pro Patria, booting the ball into the stand and marching off in the company of his team mates after hearing repeated monkey chants.

The referee then abandoned the match after 26 minutes.

The fourth tier disciplinary commissioner imposed a one-game stadium ban on Pro Patria but left any decision onMilan up to his Serie A counterpart.

“In the current regulations of football, no rule allows a team to stop a game and abandon the pitch without the agreement of the referee or public safety bodies,” a Serie A statement read.

CYPRUS MAIL Thursday, January 17, 2013

31

Sport

Unaffected Walters redeems himself following horror show

Erratic Black Cats have Martin smarting

Stoke forward goes from villain to hero

By Mark Staniforth

By Phil Medlicott FORWARD Jon Walters was confident memories of his previous miserable outing would not have a negative impact on his performance in Stoke’s FA Cup thirdround replay against Crystal Palace.

The Potters’ 4-0 Barclays Premier League defeat to Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday could hardly have gone worse for Walters, who managed to head in two own goals and then capped a luckless display by firing a penalty against the bar.

But playing on the same ground just three days later, the Republic of Ireland international bounced back in style in the Palace game, netting a brace in extra-time to send Stoke on their way to a 4-1 victory and a fourthround home clash with Manchester City.

In retaining him in the starting line-up, manager Tony Pulis demonstrated his faith in the 29-year-old, who stressed after the match that he had had no fear prior to kick-off that thoughts of the Chelsea contest might hinder him.

“It’s been a funny few days for me, without doubt,” Walters told www.stokecityfc. com.

“But it’s just important not

Stoke forward Jon Walters, who managed to head in two own goals and then capped a luckless display against Chelsea by firing a penalty against the bar, scored twice at the right end against Crystal Palace in an FA Cup third round replay to get too high with the highs and too low with the lows.

“In football you have ups and downs, but you have to try and remain level headed at all times - because if you don’t then you get affected by things.

“I was confident coming into the Palace game, there was never an issue about that.

“What happened on Saturday happened on Saturday and you just have to move on.”

He added: “I got a bit of stick from the lads at the weekend, but most of that came from me kicking the

ball against my own head (while attempting to take a shot in the first half) before I scored the two own goals.

“It’s nice to get a couple at the right end though.”

Palace, who are chasing promotion in the npower Championship, put up a decent fight before Walters stole the show in the additional period.

The visitors spurned the opportunity to take the lead in the first half when Thomas Sorensen tipped Jermaine Easter’s penalty on to the post.

Palace goalkeeper Lewis Price had then allowed Ken-

wyne Jones’ 69th-minute header to slip through his gloves and into the net, but the Eagles equalised through Glenn Murray’s successful spot-kick in the 87th minute.

Walters then took centrestage with a 95th-minute header and slotted finish on 110 minutes, before Cameron Jerome added Stoke’s fourth in the dying seconds.

It made for a satisfying night’s work in the end for the Potters, who returned to winning ways and a more typically solid defensive showing on their own turf following the Chelsea thrashing and a

3-3 draw with Southampton in their last two home league games.

One concerning aspect for the hosts, though, was Andy Wilkinson’s enforced substitution in the first half.

Pulis said: “He felt his back again - his back cramped up and we had to bring him off.”

Asked if it meant the fullback was a doubt for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Swansea, Pulis said: “I wouldn’t know.

“Whether he has just cramped up because of the conditions, I don’t know, but we’ll assess it.”

Redknapp thrilled with Remy deal

By John Curtis

Loic Remy has joined QPR for a club record fee

QPR boss Harry Redknapp believes Loic Remy has the potential to become a worldclass striker after the club confirmed his signing from Marseille for a club record fee yesterday.

The France international signed a four-anda-half-year deal at Loftus Road after choosing the Barclays Premier League basement boys over Newcastle.

“I’m delighted to bring him in, he’s a great buy for us,” Redknapp told the club’s official website. “I didn’t think we’d get him to be honest but chairman Tony Fernandes worked ever so hard on this. He wouldn’t give up on it, and it’s great that we now have him here with us.

“He’s always been a player I’ve admired. I’ve watched him on so many occasions throughout the last few years. I actually spent three or four hours with him last year so he knew what I thought of him, and I think that was important.

“He’s quick, can score goals and makes great runs. His movement is excellent. He’s got the potential to be a really outstanding striker.’’

Remy, who has four goals in 17 games for France, is eligible to make his Rangers debut against West Ham on Saturday, subject to re-

ceiving international clearance.

He said: “Harry played a big part in me coming here. I spoke to him and Tony Fernandes at length and they made it clear they wanted me here. They gave me the right motivation to join QPR. “I want to develop my game here. This season the objective is to stay up but beyond that we have greater objectives.

“After seven years in France, this is the right time for me to pursue a new challenge in the Premier League - the best league in the world.

“I am confident I can adapt to the Premier League. My main characteristics have taken me to the level I am at today but I am keen to keep improving in the Premier League.’’

Meanwhile, FA Cup hero Jay Bothroyd wants to prove to Redknapp he has a future at QPR despite Remy’s arrival.

The 30-year-old striker was loaned to Sheffield Wednesday by former boss Mark Hughes at the start of the season but returned to Loftus Road two weeks ago and marked his comeback with the only goal in Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory over West Brom in an FA Cup thirdround replay.

“I am really happy. It was my first start after coming back and I was happy with my performance,” the former England international said.

SUNDERLAND boss Martin O’Neill bemoaned his side’s lack of consistency after the Black Cats followed up Saturday’s thumping win over West Ham by sliding out of the FA Cup to npower Championship Bolton.

Two second half goals from Marvin Sordell sealed victory for Dougie Freedman’s men and left a frustrated O’Neill admitting his side only had themselves to blame for their “rather too meek” performance.

O’Neill said: “It was really disappointing following Saturday’s excellent display, and we need to start getting some consistency to our game.

“We’re going to have to get it. This is a big club and we shouldn’t be spending 40 years without winning something, we really shouldn’t.

“We didn’t take anybody lightly here, we just got beaten because we didn’t create enough chances in the second half.

“I know some people field weakened sides but we didn’t, we tried to win and we weren’t able to do it, and that was very disappointing.”

O’Neill admitted having some complaints over Sordell’s opener from the penalty spot after Jack Colback was penalised for tripping Bolton’s Darren Pratley on the edge of the box.

O’Neill said: “I’ve seen it back a number of times and I think it’s rather dubious. It is a big moment, but Bolton put a big effort in and did very well indeed.

It was a very disappointing night.”

Premier League Chelsea Southampton

2 2

FA Cup Third Round replays Arsenal Swansea

1 0

Man United West Ham

1 0

Cyprus Cup Last 16 Second Legs A. Derynias 0 Ayia Napa 3 (Ayia Napa win 3-1 on aggregate) E.N Paralimni 0 Ermis 0 (Paralimni win 1-0 on aggregate) PAEEK 1 AEP 4 (AEP win 6-3 on aggregate) Omonia 2 Ethnicos Achnas 0 (Omonia win 4-0 on aggregate)

Thursday, January 17, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

32 McGinley Ryder Cup selection backed 28

Sport

Unaffected Walters redeems himself following horror show 31

Baghdatis downs Ito to set up Ferrer clash

By Nemanja Bjedov MARCOS Baghdatis recovered from a set down to beat Tatsuma Ito of Japan 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the Australian Open to set up a mouth-watering clash with fourth seed David Ferrer of Spain yesterday in Melbourne.

“As I said after my opening match, I always feel a lot of pressure when playing at the Australian Open so I want to thank all the Greek people who came again and supported me. I really appreciate it,” said Baghdatis afterwards.

The Cypriot broke Ito in the first game of the match and quickly went 3-1 up, but he then lost the next five games, allowing the Japanese, ranked 82, to claim the opener.

An angry outburst by Baghdatis at last year’s edition of the event, when

the Cypriot smashed four rackets in quick succession during a changeover, has since had 1.4 million online hits, but there was no need for a similar reaction this time.

In the next three sets, he raised his game, minimised unforced errors and cruised to a comfortable victory in two hours and 13 minutes.

“It was a difficult match as it was really sunny, completely opposite to my first round match which finished close to 1am. I am pleased with the way I played. I was much more aggressive and it makes me happy that I went through,” he added.

Baghdatis, who made the final in Melbourne in 2006, will now play a blockbuster third-round clash with Ferrer, who yesterday also dropped a set to American lucky loser Tim Smyczek before raising his game to post a 6-0, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

The Spaniard, a semi-finalist in

Melbourne two years ago, came into the Australian Open in a rich vein of form, having triumphed at the Heineken Open in Auckland last week for a record fourth time.

However, 27-year-old Baghdatis, ranked 35, who survived a five-set scare against Albert Ramos in the first round, knocked Ferrer out in Melbourne in the second round two years ago after fighting back from two sets down in an encounter that lasted more than four hours.

That was his only win in four meetings with the Spaniard, who claimed victories in the second round of the 2010 Madrid Masters, a year earlier in the quarter-finals of the SA Tennis Open in Johannesburg and in the third round of the 2006 Cincinnati Masters.

DEVASTATING DJOKOVIC SEES OFF NEXT GENERATION PAGE 29

Marcos Baghdatis is through to the third round in Melbourne

Ambitious Bayern Munich hand the reins to Guardiola Weeks of speculation come to an end

By Iain Rogers

B

AYERN Munich have underlined the scope of their ambition by announcing the appointment of spectacularly successful former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola to replace Jupp Heynckes from the end of this season.

Spaniard Guardiola, 41, will take over from Heynckes, who has decided not to extend his contract, in July and has agreed a deal until the end of June 2016, Bayern said in a statement on their website (www.fcbayern.telekom.de) yesterday.

“We are very pleased that we have managed to convince the football expert Pep Guardiola, who was coveted and contacted by many top clubs, to come to Bayern Munich,” Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

“Pep Guardiola is one of the world’s most successful coaches and we are sure that he can bring a great deal of sparkle not only to Bayern Munich but to German football in general,” he added.

Bayern’s general manager Uli Hoeness said: “Only a coach of Guardiola’s calibre came into consideration as

Kiss goodbye: former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola with the UEFA Champions League trophy at the end of the 2011 final against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium a successor to Jupp Heynckes.”

Bayern’s announcement brings to an end weeks of speculation about which club would win the race to hire Guardiola, who announced this month he would return to coaching next season after taking a year out to rest.

He stepped down as Barca coach at the end of last term after leading the La Liga club, where he began his

career as a player, to 14 trophies in four years, including two Champions League crowns and three straight Spanish league titles.

SIGNIFICANT COUP It is a significant coup for the German club, runnersup in Europe’s elite club competition last season, given that big-spending rivals, including Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris

St Germain, were reportedly also hoping to hire Guardiola.

Speaking to the English Football Association as part of the organisation’s 150th anniversary celebrations, Guardiola had said earlier on Wednesday that he wanted to take on the “challenge” of managing an English club at some point in the future.

He said: “As a player I couldn’t realise my dream

to play in England.”

“But I hope in the future, I have a challenge to be a coach or a manager there.”

Under his guidance, his first top-flight coaching job, Barca won plaudits for their entertaining, attacking brand of football based on domination of possession and swift, one-touch passing.

Many credit Johan Cruyff, another former Barca player and coach, with creating

the club’s distinctive style and Guardiola played under the Dutchman in the 1990s when the club won their first European Cup. The ex-Spain international also won praise for getting the best out of quadruple World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, to whom he gave more liberty to roam the pitch than his predecessor as coach Frank Rijkaard.

Whether Guardiola’s philosophy and tactics will suit Bayern and the Bundesliga remains to be seen.

There is also a question mark over whether he can manage a group of players the majority of whom, unlike at Barca, did not come through the club’s academy.

One player at the German club he already knows well is Spain midfielder Javi Martinez, who joined in the close season.

Guardiola may be hoping to lure some of his former charges to Germany to join Martinez and his imminent return to coaching has already prompted Barca president Sandro Rosell to warn him off.

Bayern are top of the Bundesliga with a nine-point lead after 17 matches. The league resumes this week after a month-long winter break and they meet Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League when the competition resumes next month.