Saturday, May 4, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL
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Home CYPRUS TODAY Cypriot team head off to Eurovision CYPRUS’ delegation to the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest departs on Monday, for the Swedish city of Malmö, hosts of the 58th Eurovision Song Contest. Cypriot singer Despina Olympiou will represent Cyprus with the song “An me thimasai” (If you remember me), written by Zenon Zintillis and composed by Andreas Giorgallis. On Tuesday, May 7, the Cypriot delegation will have its first rehearsal and on May 14 Cyprus will take part in the first semi-final. The 58th Eurovision Song Contest will take place on 14, 16 and 18 of May. The two semi-finals and the final will be broadcast by CyBC.
Biker killed on the roads AT AROUND 1.30am yesterday in Nicosia 25-year-old Panicos Georgiou died in a motorbike accident. Georgiou was driving on Griva Dighenis Avenue towards Engomi when he lost control of his motorbike. The motorbike overturned and slammed into two cars at a set of traffic lights. Georgiou, who was wearing a helmet, was critically injured. He was taken to the emergency room of Nicosia General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Warning over Easter bonfires ENVIRONMENT Commissioner Ioanna Panayiotou released a statement yesterday reminding the public that the lighting of bonfires in municipalities and urban areas is illegal. “What goes on now has nothing to do with customs as citizens get involved in destructive competitions to see who can build the biggest bonfire. They destroy property, cut down trees, steal wood and may also sell timber for financial gain,” Panayiotou said. She urged the public to act reasonably and use common sense for their own safety and to protect the environment.
CY equipment worth $1m stolen CYPRUS Airways informed police on Thursday that equipment worth US$1.0 million had been stolen from storage. Three used electronic engine controls, part of equipment for Airbus 320 planes were stolen between February 15 and May 1 from a storehouse in the old Larnaca Airport, a Cyprus Airways official told police. Cyprus News Agency said the equipment was covered by insurance.
Film accolade for Cypriot director Online short about arms trade wins at Tribeca A FILM by Cypriot director Minos Papas looking at the impact of the unregulated arms’ trade won the top prize in the prestigious New York Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) online film competition. A Short Film about GUNS premiered in the history lessons’ shorts programme of the festival, wining $5,000 (about €3,800) and earning the TFF’s best short film competition, making it eligible for an academy award nomination. The film looks at the unregulated arms trade and how a recent diplomatic treaty could help tackle this global crisis, featuring four arms trafficking experts who recount first-hand experiences with the arms trade. The film, shot in London, New York City and Seattle, was produced to shed light on an industry that generates over €45.8bln a year. The screenings at the Tribeca film festival followed the culmination of diplomatic talks with the United Nations resulting last month in an agreement by governments on the first-ever arms trade treaty. The film argued there was an urgent need for the treaty and that the absence of one has caused much devastation. “I hope that our world lead-
Winner Minos Papas chats with Hollywood giant Robert De Niro ers will rush to sign and ratify the arms’ trade treaty. Unlike other UN resolutions that remain unenforced, this treaty has the potential to save lives and contain the rampant devastation occurring in war-torn areas,” said Papas. The screenings drew huge crowds that included members of the Cyprus Mission to the UN, Cypriot consul Koula Sophianou, representatives of the Control Arms coalition, and high profile guests in the film industry, a news release said. “The film has already received press and international attention. Minos Papas was interviewed for both the New York Times, and the New York 1 channel, and invited to par-
Cyprus Handicrafts
ticipate in festivals around the world.” The film’s producer, Louis Belanger, hailed the film as a victory for a worthy cause. A Short Film about GUNS will be a mouthpiece to spread awareness and convince governments to pass the Arms Trade Treaty into national laws and truly start making an impact,” said the film’s producer, Louis Belanger. “The fact that so many viewers voted for our film shows that people deeply care about this crucial issue. The award will serve to bring the message to even bigger audiences,” Belanger said. “We will be building on this support (demonstrated by
the film’s victory) to ensure that states sign the Treaty, which will open for signature on June 3,” said Allison Pytlak of Control Arms. Papas also enjoyed a lengthy conversation with Robert De Niro at the TFF directors’ brunch. Their conversation covered important issues ranging from Cyprus to the festival to the international arms trade. For more information visit: http://new.livestream.com/ TribecaFilm/events/2049026/ videos/17360542 http://controlarmsblog.posterous.com/ tribeca-the-arms-trade-treaty-and-history-les http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/festival/features/tff2013-award-winners
Lefkara handmade lace, embroideries, crochet and needlework. Woven cotton cloth in traditional Lefkoniko, Karpass and Phiti styles. Handwoven traditional costumes, leather goods, silverware, copperware, pottery, mosaic, wood-carved items, baskets and other rush-made articles. CYPRUS HANDICRAFT SERVICE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND TOURISM Lefkosia: 186, Athalassa Avenue, Tel: 22305024 Lemesos: 25, Themidos Street, Tel: 25305118 Larnaka: 6, Cosma Lysioti Street, Tel: 24304327 Pafos: 64, Apostolou Pavlou Avenue Tel: 26306243