Cyprus Mail newspaper

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Cyprus Mail www.cyprus-mail.com

Friday, April 12, 2013

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How much worse can it possibly get? From a bailout of €17.5b only four months ago, Cyprus now needs €23b, as state blames its predecessors By Elias Hazou

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HE government yesterday put the blame squarely on the previous administration for the spectacular increase in the bailout cost for Cyprus within the space of a few months. In doing so, the DISY-led administration appeared to be confirming a draft assessment prepared by the European Commission, revealed by Reuters on Wednesday, according to which Cyprus’ total financing needs now stand at €23bn. By contrast, the preliminary bailout agreement struck between international lenders and the previous administration last November was thought to be worth €17.5bn to which international lenders would contribute €10 billion and Cyprus the remainder. Now Cyprus must stump up €13 billion. At a news briefing yesterday, government spokesman Christos Stylianides pointed an accusing finger at the previous government of Demetris Christofias. “Who is responsible? How did we get from there to here? It was the fear of taking responsibility and a total lack of decisive action on the part of the previous government,” he said. Asked what accounted for the additional €5.5bn on the tab, Stylianides said this

“clearly has to do with the banking sector. “When you have so many withdrawals from Cypriot banks, unfortunately that’s how you get to the new figure,” said Stylianides. He was evidently alluding to the flight of billions of euros from Cyprus since January when talk of a possible haircut on deposits picked up pace. He went on to say that the €23bn number “has been taken into consideration, and that is why we proceeded to the next phase of decisions at the Eurogroup of March 24.” The European Commission document said that of the total financing needs of €23bn between the second quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2016, the eurozone bailout fund will provide €9bn, the International Monetary Fund €1bn and Cyprus itself will generate €13 billion. Cyprus would raise €10.6bn from the winding down of Laiki Bank and the losses imposed on junior bondholders and the deposit-forequity swap for uninsured deposits in the Bank of Cyprus. It said also Nicosia was “committed” to sell excess gold reserves to raise about €400 million, and would raise a further €600 million over three years from hiking the corporate income tax

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MOUNTAIN OF OLD TYRES WORRIES DALI RESIDENTS

Tens of thousands of old tyres have piled up in a yard in Dali as the owners wait for machinery to begin recycling them. The company has been given until May 30 to start operations (Christos Theodorides) SEE STORY PAGE 3

‘Classy’ Dubai police add £360,000 Lamborghini to fleet IN a city of boundless bling, Dubai police are in hot pursuit after adding a £360,000 Lamborghini to their fleet. The sports car, painted in the green and white livery of the Dubai force, will probably not be roaring after lawbreakers. Instead, it will mostly be dispatched to tourist areas to show - in the words of deputy police director General Khamis Matter al-Muzaina “how classy Dubai is”. Local media reports said the Italianmade Lamborghini Aventador is the crown jewel of a wider upgrade in

Dubai police wheels. The force is also adding some American Camaros.

BRASH PLANS Dubai is seeking to show that it has rebounded from its debt crisis with brash plans which also include the world’s largest Ferris wheel and a satellite city named after the city-state’s ruler. Nonetheless, in a place where petrol is cheaper than drinking water, authorities genuinely face significant chal-

lenges to curb road accidents caused by speeding, Sky News reported. Last year, official figures put road deaths at 122, with 2,161 injuries, many of which occurred on the emirate’s notorious Sheikh Zayed highway. Around 15 per cent of traffic fines issued in Dubai every day are for driving at speeds in excess of 130mph, police figures released in March showed. Last year, Dubai police announced they had issued 67,000 traffic fines in one month alone, 2,000 of which were for reversing on motorways.


Friday, April 12, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

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Home PICTURE OF THE DAY

Weather Paralimni

Nicosia 25

15 Troodos

24 24

Larnaca

24

24

Paphos

Limassol

TODAY: Mainly clear and sunny. Temperatures will reach 25C inland, 24C along the coasts and 15C over higher ground OUTLOOK: Remaining settled over the weekend, with temperatures rising slightly YESTERDAY:

Max Temp Nicosia 23 Larnaca 22 Limassol 21 Paphos 21 Paralimni 21 Prodromos 12

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Min 9 10 12 13 12 5

Humidity 51% 51% 59% 65% 55% 89%

SUNRISE: 06:18am

SUNSET: 7:17pm

Pollution Medium/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 Damascos Dublin Frankfurt Geneva Istanbul London

21 17 16 12 23 4 19 6 15 14 15 8

Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Clear Drizzle Cloudy Drizzle Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy

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

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EXCHANGE

1.3129

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For a full list of exchange rates, see page 12

CHEMISTS NICOSIA L. Tsangaris, Gr. Dighenis Ave. Tel: 22671531, 22439014 (H) E. Matsa, 105E Athalassa Ave. Tel. 22425078, 22428570 (H) A. Hadjiioannou & E. Antoniou, 14C Naxou St, Lycavitos. Tel: 22755999, 22429210, 22429429 (H) Economidou Kefala M., 84C D Ithakis St, Engomi. Tel: 22352933, 22518687 (H) Ch. Filippou, 151A Larnakos Ave., Aglantzia, Tel: 22731020, 22484085 (H) LIMASSOL K. Kleovoulou Theodorou Potamianou K. Polemithia Tel:

25735505, 25561798 (H) E. Prastiti 150 Ay. Fylaxeos Tel: 25383120, 25735573 (H) A. Vasiliou 63 Griva Digheni Ave., Tel: 25580906, 25386449 (H) LARNACA E. Constantinidou , 64 Z. Kitiea St. Tel: 24655129, 24657435 (H) M. Synesiou, S. Timayia Ave. Tel: 24638765, 24634887(H) PAPHOS I. K. Konstantinou, 11 Ellados Ave., Tel. 26100292, 26653401 PARALIMNI E. Michael, 175 Protara Ave, Tel: 23811031, 23824471

Cyprus Mail Established 1945. Number 21,506 NICOSIA 24 Vass. Voulgaroctonou, P.O. Box 21144, 1502 Nicosia Tel: 22-818585, Fax: 22-676385 email: mail@cyprus-mail.com LIMASSOL 5A Nicolaou, Pentadromos Centre, Thessaloniki St, Tel: 25-761117, Fax: 25-761141 email: cyprusmail@cytanet.com.cy LARNACA Tel: 24-652243, Fax: 24-659982 PAPHOS 62 Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, Office 2, 8046 Paphos, Tel: 26 911383 Fax : 26 221049 email: paphos@cyprus-mail.com

A breeder covers his face as he sits behind his chickens, which according to the breeder are not infected with the H7N9 virus, in Yuxin township, Zhejiang province yesterday

QUICK CROSSWORD 2363 Across

Down

1 Lawbreaker (8) 6 W Indian island (4) 8 Bullet (6) 9 Loan shark (6) 10 Disgraced (11) 11 Team member (6) 14 Fermented milk (6) 16 Chastised (11) 20 Dream (6) 21 Amount of medicine (6) 22 Old (4) 23 Bandage (8)

2 Ball-shaped (5) 3 Humility (7) 4 Belgian town (5) 5 Wash-house (7) 6 Nobleman (5) 7 Food-mixer (7) 12 Accommodation (7) 13 Ruled (7) 15 OT book (7) 17 Watched secretly (5) 18 Gatehouse (5) 19 Take up a defensive position (3,2)

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

ON THIS DAY APRIL 12 1961 The Soviet Union beats the USA in the race to get the first man into space and Yuri Gagarin becomes a national hero.

1975 The US has admitted defeat in Cambodia and removed its remaining embassy personnel from the capital, Phnom Penh.

1980 Samuel Doe takes control of Liberia in a coup d’état, ending over 130 years of national democratic presidential succession.

1997 Police in Sarajevo discover mines under a bridge just hours before the arrival of the Pope.

WHAT THE MAIL SAID 35 years ago, Friday April 12, 1978 Turkey has offered to withdraw troops from six points along the ceasefire line and hand back no man’s land territory as part of a negotiated settlement, according to proposals handed yesterday in Vienna to the Secretary general Kurt Waldheim. The Turkish side has refused to specify the percentage of land it is prepared to hand back to the Greek Cypriot side, but sources quoted about 5 per cent.

45 years ago, Sunday April 12, 1968 Thousands of Turks gave Rauf Denktash a tumultuous welcome in Nicosia’s Turkish quarter yesterday when he returned to the island after four years of absence. Addressing a large crowd in Ataturk Square he said the Turkish Cypriots’ only wish was to live in complete freedom and lead a dignified life. “We want friendship, but this does not mean that we shall bow to anything”, he said.

55 years ago, Monday April 12, 1958 1999 US President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving “intentionally false statements” in a sexual harassment civil lawsuit.

Half a dozen bombs were placed last night in yachts belonging to RAF officers in Kyrenia harbour. Only one went off and damage was slight. The remainder was destroyed by bomb disposal experts. Sentries nearby gave the alarm when the first fire broke out shortly after ten.


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Worry that mountain of tyres a major fire hazard Recycling plant given May 30 deadline to begin ops By Peter Stevenson TENS of thousands of used tyres have piled up in a yard in Dali’s industrial area worrying locals who fear that as temperatures rise, a small spark could set off a fire which would cause widespread damage. There has not been an operational shredding and granulation plant for recycling tyres on the island since the CBP Plant in Ayios Silas shut in May 2012. Current legislation requires all tyres to be recycled, with tyre importers paying a recycling fee when they collect their goods from customs. “After the CBP plant closed there was a problem dealing with the amount of tyres piling up,” managing director of Envirotrans, the company in charge of tyre recycling in Cyprus, George Pavlides said. After May of last year the company had rented an open factory in Mari where they had stored the tyres until a permanent site could be found to begin operations. “We were told by the Fire Service in July that we needed to move the tyres as they were deemed as a danger so close to the Vassilikos power station,” he added. After months of searching, the company found a site in Dali’s industrial area and sent a letter to the Environment Department on October 18 asking for permission to move. “We received initial verbal permission three days later and began moving the tyres,” Pavlides said. In November over 1,000 tonnes of tyres were moved from Mari to Dali, but with

In November over 1,000 tonnes of tyres were moved from Mari to Dali a lack of machinery to deal with them, they continued to pile up. “We have suffered some delays in shipping the machinery we ordered as the dates we were due to make payments to the factory in China coincided with the capital controls put on our banks in light of the haircut on deposits,” he added. Pavlides revealed that full payment was completed on April 10, five days after the shipment had been made by the Chinese. “Shipment usually takes a month so we should be up and running before the May 30 deadline we have been set by Dali Municipality to deal with the tyres or move,” he said. Pavlides said reports that the tyres posed a danger were wide of the mark. “We have taken all measures to clear

the area of weeds and one of the reasons we moved there was because there is plenty of available water to help extinguish any fires,” he added. “If we didn’t collect the tyres they would have remained in 500 locations all over the island and that would have been 500 times more dangerous than collecting them in Dali,” he said. “After the CBP plant failed we decided we wanted to open a factory to deal with recycling tyres and we believe it is a unique project that will operate with custom built machinery and is in very responsible hands,” he said. Dali Municipality, which secured a court-order to remove the owner’s temporary planning permission to set-up the plant in the industrial zone, is just trying to cover itself

according to Mayor Leontios Kallenos. “If they receive the relevant machinery and manage to set up the factory to deal with the tyre pile-up then we are willing to remove our sanctions as long as they get the go-head from the relevant authorities,” the Mayor said. Kallenos said that after complaints in the area from local residents and businessmen, the Municipality had to take measures to ensure safety as the tyres had been deemed extremely dangerous by a team of experts from the Fire Service. “We held a board meeting at the Municipality and it was decided that we could not let the situation continue and called in the Fire Service, the Department of Labour and the Environmental Department to give us their appraisal of the situation,” Kallenos

(Christos Theodorises) said. “We placed a deadline of May 30 for them to either get it up and running or move the tyres elsewhere because the risk to the local area of a fire is too high once the summer begins,” the Mayor added. The Fire Services recommended to the local authorities that the tyres needed to be removed as quickly as possible as they were flammable and extremely dangerous. The Fire Service’s suggestion is that the tyres be moved as soon as possible but they are also aware of the difficulty in removing hundreds and thousands of tyres. “We presented the local authorities with our proposals and suggestions but it is not within our jurisdiction to shut down the plant for this reason,” said Fire Service spokeswoman Liza Kemidji.

Inquest opens into Zenobia dive death A LONG-DELAYED inquest has finally opened into the tragic death of a British diver who had been exploring a ship wreck off the Larnaca coast. Catherine Vicar, 33, was exploring the wreck of the Zenobia as part of a diving group, when she went missing inside the hulk in October 2010. According to reports at the time, a professional diving instructor entered the wreck 15-minutes after she was reported missing and spotted her unconscious in the engine room without her oxygen equipment. She was rushed to Larnaca General Hospital where she succumbed, despite efforts to revive her. In a short hearing yesterday at Larnaca District Court, the police investigator dealing with the incident submitted his case file. The inquest was adjourned until April 22, when the owner and an instructor from the diving school that arranged the trip will appear. More witnesses are expected to give testimony in May. “Well the whole thing has been devastating, as you can imagine,” Catherine’s father David told the Cyprus Mail. “She was a very experienced diver and had been on about 150 dives and had PADI training, she was very cautious.” Ms Vicar had been in Cyprus for a scuba-diving holiday with other experienced divers. The group rented the necessary gear from a Larnaca diving company and were on their third dive in the shipwreck when the incident occurred. Vicar is the second person to have died in the engine room in the past decade, after British tourist Dean Andrew Herrne drowned in the same location in 2003. The 12,000 tonne Zenobia passenger roll-on roll-off ferry capsized off the coast of Larnaca 33 years ago, taking with it over 100 lorries and industrial machinery. Today, it is regarded as one of the world’s top ten wreck dives because of the wide variety on offer, with cargo, sea life and scenic underwater views all available. The wreck’s top sits at 15m below the water while the maximum depth is 42m, attracting both novices and advanced divers.

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Raft of bailout measures tabled Public sector pay cuts, tax on property and merging of local authorities among them By Elias Hazou THE FIRST of a new batch of bailout-linked bills tabled to parliament yesterday includes scaled cuts in public sector salaries and pensions, a hike on the corporate tax rate from 10 to 12.5 per cent and an increase to 30 per cent of the tax rate on interest income. The fiscal measures are necessary for the government to qualify for a €10 billion bailout from international creditors following an agreement struck last month. More bills are on the way. Although the public-sector wage reductions will last until 2016, as previously agreed, a key difference is that now

these reductions are specified as cutbacks, not ‘contributions’ as was the case in the previous MoU between Cyprus and the troika - European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund. That’s because the troika insists the reductions should be effected in a way that impacts (lowers) pensions as well. Crucially, a new law on Immovable Property Tax (IPT) needs to be brought to parliament and passed as soon as possible. Under the deal reached with the troika, passage of the IPT law is a precondition for the lenders to release the first tranche of bailout money. The IPT bill has still to be tabled to the House, but it’s

Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos briefed MPs at the House Interior Committee yesterday understood that the text is all but ready and will be put to a vote at the plenum next week. Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos informed MPs that the bill has been designed to yield additional revenues of at least €75m. He did not disclose details. It’s speculated, however, that the extra revenues would be achieved by updating the 1980 real estate prices through application of the consumer price index for the period 1980 to 2012, and/or amending value bands. Hasikos said also that his

ministry was looking into the possibility of reducing the number of municipalities, through outright mergers of municipalities and/ or consolidation of departments across different municipalities. The minister revealed plans to attract investors from non-EU countries through relaxing investment requirements for Cypriot citizenship. Currently, to obtain a Cypriot passport, such foreign nationals must retain deposits here valued at €15m,

or alternatively have deposits of at least €10 million plus engage in investment activities on the island. The deposits threshold could be lowered to anywhere between €3m and €5m, Hasikos said. Moreover, applications for citizenship would be expedited so that they are processed and approved within 40 days, Hasikos said. According to the minister, this measure was targeted especially at Chinese nationals. So far, he said, some 1000 residences have been sold to

(Christos Theodorides)

Chinese businesspeople. Other expected measures will be geared at containing health expenditure; abolishing the category of beneficiaries class ‘B’ and all exemptions based on all non-income related categories (except for persons suffering from certain chronic diseases depending on illness severity); and introducing a compulsory health care contribution for public servants and public servant pensioners of 1.5 per cent of gross salaries and pensions.

German MPs see Cyprus depositors as ‘gamblers who should pay’ By Stefanos Evripidou CYPRIOT MPs yesterday agreed to disagree with their German counterparts on the Cyprus-troika bailout deal, following a meeting of the House Finance Committee with visiting members of Germany’s lower legislative house, the Bundestag. A delegation of seven German MPs from across the political spectrum met with the Cypriot finance committee to discuss the pending €23-billion rescue package which still needs final

approval from EU finance ministers followed by the endorsement of some national parliaments, including those of Germany and Finland. The German Bundestag is due to discuss the Cyprus rescue package, which includes a €10-billion bailout from the troika and a €13billion Cypriot contribution or ‘bail-in’ next week. Based on comments made by Cypriot MPs after yesterday’s meeting with their German counterparts, it appears the positions of the two national parliaments are miles apart on the handling of the latest eurozone

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crisis with German lawmakers reportedly keen on “destroying” the Cyprus economic model. House Finance Committee Chairman Nicolas Papadopoulos said the Cypriot deputies clearly conveyed their position that the solution imposed on Cyprus by its European partners was unfair and irrational, at least from a financial perspective. “Unfair because it is a solution which has not been applied anywhere else in the eurozone and certainly not for other European banks that faced similar problems in recent years,” he said. Papadopoulos argued it was financially unsound because it has forced Cyprus to take on an unbearable burden. The solution imposed by

EU partners has likely inflicted “irreparable” damage on an important sector of the Cypriot economy accounting for 40 per cent of state revenue. This loss of revenue will lead to greater austerity which will hit ordinary households with low incomes and lead to increased unemployment, all because of a solution which makes no sense. The solution is destroying the economy in order to save it, he added. According to the committee chairman, the German MPs maintained their known positions regarding the need to provide similar bailout packages in other eurozone countries in trouble. “They were clear that they agree with the philosophy and approach to the haircut on deposits because they

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believe this should be the future model for all banks facing problems. They have sent a message that Spanish depositors, Italian, Portuguese and perhaps Greek too will likely face the same approach,” he said. DISY’s Prodromos Prodromou said there was a noticeable difference in perception between the two sets of national MPs. For the German delegation, the aim was to put an end to the Cyprus economic model. “That’s why we’re talking about different perceptions and unfortunately, a large dose of misinformation,” he said, adding that Cyprus needed to make the most out of EU budgets now to ease its economy’s suffering. AKEL MP Pambos Papageorgiou said everyone

came out of the “honest” discussion more pessimistic than before. “For the Germans, matters are clear. For them, our banks were a form of gambling which had to be destroyed and for which depositors, whom they consider gamblers, should pay. Our economic model must be destroyed because it’s based on tax evasion and what is clear is that they have no alternative proposal for us following this destruction. In other words, if more money is needed to deal with this situation, it should come from the Cypriot taxpayer and not the EU taxpayer,” he said. Papageorgiou argued that European demands on Cyprus will increase, and “wherever there is hope of economic recovery, they will kill it”.


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How much worse can it possibly get? Government says it was unable to find Central Bank Governor on Wednesday to discuss capital controls

The Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Preneet Kaur, lays a wreath at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Nicosia yesterday. The minister was in Cyprus with a delegation for talks with the government

(continued from front page) rate and the capital gains tax rate. The document bore the date of April 23, 2013, indicating this will be the date when the eurozone is likely to formally sign the bailout agreement with Cyprus. If all goes according to plan, Cyprus could receive the first tranche of aid money in May. Under the first MoU drafted in November, it was understood that Cyprus would have contributed around €7bn of the €17.5bn. Stylianides said the new MoU concluded between the current administration and the troika of international lenders provides for €1.2bn to recapitalise co-operative banks; this was part of the €10bn to be put up by the eurozone, via the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), and the International Monetary Fund. Stylianides said also the sale of gold reserves was among the options for Cyprus’ own contribution towards an international bailout, but said the ultimate responsibility for that rested with its Central Bank. “The Cypriot government put various options forward, including this,” he said.

“In its consultations on drafting the memorandum of understanding the Cypriot government included such options so we could have the possibility of meeting financing requirements,” he said, adding that it was “one of many tools.” Earlier, however, a Central Bank spokeswoman said the sale of gold reserves had to be approved by the board of the Central Bank, and it was not presently on the board’s agenda. It was not the only miscommunication between the government and the banking regulator over the past 24 hours. Earlier in the day, communications minister Tasos Mitsopoulos said the Presidency could not get in touch with Central Bank governor Panicos Demetriades on Wednesday night. The Presidency had wanted to discuss with the central banker a number of “important issues,” including a further relaxation of capital restrictions. But according to Mitsopoulos, the CB governor had gone AWOL: “The President sought a number of clarifications on crucial matters of the economy, but Mr. Demetriades could not be reached on his mobile, his house or his office.

We were unable to reach him despite several attempts.” Later yesterday the CB released a statement explaining that the governor had on Wednesday evening flown out to Dublin, where he will be attending a summit of eurozone central bankers. The President and the governor spoke “at length” on the phone later in the day (Thursday), the statement added. On the capital restrictions in place, the government spokesman stressed the need to ease them as soon as possible: “Capital needs to be liberated so that the market can re-energise and return to normalcy.” The Finance Minister last night issued yet another decree – the sixth in a series – capping the movement of capital internally at €300,000. The previous decree set a cap of €2,000 a month per bank for individuals and €10,000 for legal entities. A political endorsement of the economic adjustment programme for Cyprus is expected at an informal meeting of euro-area finance ministers in Dublin today and tomorrow. (see editorial page 13)

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Home ECB: not so easy to remove Central Bank Governor from post By Stefanos Evripidou PRESIDENT of the European Central Bank (ECB) Mario Draghi has sent a letter to the Cypriot leadership regarding recent efforts to remove Cyprus’ Central Bank Governor Panicos Demetriades from office. The letter was sent to President Nicos Anastasiades and House President Yiannakis Omirou on Wednesday regarding recent reports of discussions in the Cypriot parliament suggesting a procedure for the dismissal of Demetriades might be initiated. The ECB head reminds in his letter of the independence of EU central banks, noting that governors can only be dismissed on grounds specified by EU law. The letter, reported by Stockwatch and obtained by the Cyprus Mail adds: “EU law establishes only two clear grounds for dismissal, namely if the Governor no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance of his duties or if he has been guilty of serious misconduct.” Draghi notes that initiating a procedure for dismissal is a “very serious step”, which can only be undertaken if there are serious allegations that one of the grounds for dismissal provided by EU law has materialised. In other words, criminal prosecution should only proceed if there is evidence of criminal acts. “In the absence of such seri-

ous allegations, any attempt to elicit evidence against a Governor as a means of putting pressure on him would jeopardise the Governor’s statutorily protected independence,” said Draghi. The ECB chief added that a decision to remove a governor from office is subject to the judicial control of the Court of Justice of the European Union. On Wednesday, Omirou announced that the House Ethics Committee will look into whether parliament was misled by Demetriades over the terms of reference of an investigation he launched into the island’s banking debacle. If the committee finds evidence of misconduct, the plenum will then choose to refer the matter to the Attorneygeneral or set up a parliamentary investigative committee. Demetriades has come under fire from various quarters recently over his handling of the banking crisis. Some accuse the governor of misleading parliament regarding the mandate of the independent investigation by Alvarez and Marsal (A&M) into the activities of the island’s two biggest banks which have led Cyprus to the brink of bankruptcy. His critics argue that the A&M investigation was restricted mainly to investigating the Bank of Cyprus rather than Laiki, despite parliament allegedly being told otherwise in a letter sent by Demetriades to Omirou last November.

CYPRUS TODAY Woman released THE 28-YEAR-OLD woman, who was arrested by bases police on Wednesday in connection with the murder of 35-year-old Loucas Charalambous on April 3, was released after no evidence was found against her. During a brief hearing at Sovereign Base Area (SBA) Court in Episkopi yesterday the judge was told by investigators that police were not charging the woman and there was no reason to hold her. A 36-year-old man SBA police had also arrested in the same case, was expected to be taken to court yesterday but after doctor’s orders he was moved from Limassol General Hospital to the Athalassa Psychiatric Hospital in Nicosia. Charalambous was found burnt in his car by a passerby near Ladies Mile beach.

Hurt by firecracker

European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi has sent a letter to the Cypriot leadership regarding recent efforts to remove Cyprus’ Central Bank Governor Panicos Demetriades from office

MOKAS: money laundering audits almost completed By Stefanos Evripidou THE COUNCIL of Europe’s Moneyval has completed its independent audit of Cyprus’ anti-money laundering laws and their implementation, while a second private audit is now on its way, said Cyprus’ anti-money laundering head Eva Rossidou Papakyriacou yesterday. The investigation into alleged money laundering activities was made a precondition to a €10 billion Cyprus bailout by its EU partners and the troika. Another precondition, which only became apparent to the

Moneyval and a private firm carrying out ‘parallel investigations’ on the island general public last month, was a “bail-in” of Cypriot bank depositors, who would be forced to contribute to the rescue package. Speaking to state broadcaster CyBC yesterday, MOKAS (Unit for Combating Money Laundering) head Papakyriacou explained that the agreement for an independent audit - one of the conditions set by the EU for the island’s bailout- provided for two parallel audits.

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EAGLESTAR GROUP LIMITED Company No. 664183 (In Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 208, subsection 3 of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that the Company was dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from 2nd April 2013. Dated 2nd April 2013 Michalis Thomaides Liquidator for EAGLESTAR GROUP LIMITED

The first would be headed by the Council of Europe’s Moneyval Committee, and the second by an independent private firm, with both coming under the supervision of the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC). “Moneyval’s evaluation is complete. A group of officials came to Cyprus, completed their work and have left. Our information is that their report is ready and will be submitted to the CBC,” said Papakyriacou. She added that “the private auditing firm will start its work in a few days”. According to CyBC, the private audit firm hired to carry out the job is believed to be Deloitte. The MOKAS chief explained that Moneyval and the private firm were carrying out “parallel investigations” which “involve the same issues but using different methodologies”. Asked if two separate reports will be submitted to the Eurogroup which demanded

the anti-money laundering audit in the first place, she replied: “There might be a provision in the mandate for exchange of information between the two teams of auditors, but certainly Moneyval has a different method which is internationally established and implemented by international institutions. I understand that the private company will do something different.” Prior to the Eurogroup’s decision to agree in principle to a €10 billion bailout of Cyprus, EU finance ministers demanded an independent audit of Cyprus’ anti-money laundering rules and application. Cyprus came under heavy criticism from eurozone members, particularly Germany, for an apparent lax approach to money laundering activities on the island. The EU powerhouse blamed Cyprus’ alleged light touch on anti-money laundering for creating an inflated banking system that needed rescue

following massive exposure to the EU haircut on Greek bonds. German media, citing unconfirmed German intelligence reports, published frequent articles about Cyprus’ banks being filled with dodgy Russian money, the implication being that German taxpayers were being asked to save the Russian mafia’s money. Without ever specifying details, EU finance ministers echoed German media sentiments on the culpability of Cypriot depositors, with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaueble stating that those who created the crisis will pay for it through a “bailin” of the banks. French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici went so far as to call Cyprus a “casino economy”. Before the independent audit could even start, however, the island’s international lenders agreed to lend Cyprus €10 billion. Now, with the audit only half way through its mission, it has transpired that Cyprus will need to come up with several extra billion on top of what was originally demanded by the troika.

FIVE people were injured on Wednesday during the Apollon – AEK football match in Limassol when a firecracker exploded near a group of fans, police said. The explosion took place in the West stand of the stadium. A 30-year-old man suffered a hand injury and was taken to Limassol Hospital along with three others who suffered hearing problems. A fourth was taken to private clinic where he was being treated for head and shoulder injuries.

Vehicles torched THREE vehicles – a truck and two forklifts – were severely damaged in the Kamares area of Larnaca around 4am yesterday after being torched, police said. The fire service extinguished the blaze. From initial investigations it appears the vehicles were covered in a flammable liquid and set on fire. They were parked outside the owners’ home.

Moved to ICU THE 42-YEAR-OLD Romanian man who was found unconscious on Kennedy Avenue in Nicosia on Wednesday has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit of Nicosia General Hospital. According to police, the 42-year-old had lost consciousness due to pathological reasons.

Bases drill THE BRITISH bases will carry out a military drill on April 15-16 at Akrotiri. They warned of a slight disruption of movement in the area from 8.30am until 3.30pm for the duration, and some explosions might be heard. Residents should not be alarmed, the statement said.


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CY union rejects proposal CYNIKA union calls on all employees to stand together By Poly Pantelides THE biggest Cyprus Airways (CY) union CYNIKA-SEK has rejected a government proposal to restructure the company, which needs acceptance by all staff to go through. CYNIKA said in an announcement yesterday that the proposal was not acceptable as it stood, and needed “substantial improvements”. “We fully understand the dire financial condition of the state but also the bitterness and anguish of employees at Cyprus Airways, who are realising that their job positions and provident (pension) funds are in danger,” CYNIKA said. “At this crucial time we call on all employees to stand together,” it added. Proposed measures – based on a plan drafted by Air France Consulting – include cutting staff by 650 immediately from the roughly 1,000 employed by CY, reducing salaries by 17 per cent and reducing the fleet to six aircraft from ten. CY chairman Stavros Stavrou said the choice was between taking a decision or else letting the company close down. A few hours before CYNIKA rejected the current restructuring plan, union chief Andreas Pierides told state broadcaster that the proposal was nothing more than an ultimatum. Pierides said they had issues with the lack of redundancy compensation, cutting salaries across the board rather

than having staggered wage cuts, and were worried about their pension funds and their Bank of Cyprus deposits. Stavrou said provident funds would “be secured”. On Wednesday the cabinet decided to give CY another last chance and keep it open at least until the end of the summer season. Communications Minister Tasos Mitsopoulos said yesterday the government made the “least painful choice under the circumstances that would keep the company going despite the dramatic financial circumstances”. Mitsopoulos conceded that timeframes were “asphyxiating”. But he said the reason for that was that the government itself was facing pressing deadlines. “There is no leeway for moves and flexibility as there might have been six months ago or a year ago,” Mitsopoulos said. Majority state owned CY posted a €55.8 million loss in 2012, compared with a loss of €23.9 million in 2011, while the government urgently needs assistance from its international lenders to meet its own financing needs. The European Commission has recently launched an investigation into whether some €100 million in state assistance granted to CY complied with EU rules. The Commission has said that the government can give no more help without their prior approval. The pilots’ union, PASYPI, is due to meet today to discuss the government’s proposal.

Appeal to hire Cypriots in tourism PRESIDENT Nicos Anastasiades yesterday asked hotel owners to hire the unemployed over the summer period in order to support Cypriots through a European Commission support funding scheme. Cyprus Hotels Association PASYXE chief head Haris Loizides said they had already committed to doing so. Loizides said that the proposal – which he said they would mull over with unions – related to EU support schemes. Although under EU rules, member states cannot discriminate against workers from other EU countries, the European Commission is trying to contain unemployment, especially among younger people and has asked member states to include younger people and vulnerable groups into the labour market. “We are off on a good path and should be able to offer several jobs to our Cypriot compatriots,” Loizides said.

Some 46,000 people were registered unemployed at the end of January this year, and unemployment – now close to 15 per cent – is expected to continue rising as austerity measures and restructuring of banks and the government takes place in the coming years as part of a Cyprus bailout. Loizides added that during yesterday’s meeting they discussed how to avoid losses in tourism, given an ongoing banking and financial crisis that has caught much international attention. Despite a good season so far, bookings have lately been stagnant, Loizides said, but did not elaborate. PASYXE has been offering discounts to tour operators in order to encourage bookings, Loizides added. “It is very important that we get this message through because some of our competitors are taking advantage of the situation and are trying to grab part of the share that may potentially be lost from Cyprus,” Loizides said.

President Nicos Anastasiades signed a Book of Condolence at the British High Commission in Nicosia yesterday for Baroness Margaret Thatcher who died on April 8. The book will be open to the public April 15-16 from 9am to 12.30pm

Eroglu invites Anastasiades to dinner By Stefanos Evripidou PRESIDENT NICOS Anastasiades is mulling the option of going to dinner with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on April 25, it transpired yesterday. Government spokesman Christos Stylianides confirmed reports that Eroglu has invited Anastasiades to dinner on April 25, adding that the Greek Cypriot leadership has yet to give an answer to the dinner proposal. Eroglu pulled out of peace talks last June, citing Cyprus’ EU presidency as the reason for stopping high-level talks with the then President Demetris Christofias, despite the latter’s willingness to continue talks through the EU presidency. Following Anastasiades’ election in late

February and the subsequent unfolding of the biggest economic crisis to hit the Cyprus Republic since the 1974 Turkish invasion, both Eroglu and the Turkish leadership have been pushing for a resumption of peace talks. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has made numerous statements saying now was the time for a peace solution in Cyprus which would return prosperity to the island and pave the way for energy collaboration in the region, the idea being that without it, Cyprus will not be allowed to exploit its natural resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone. Both Davutoglu and Eroglu have suggested that if the Greek Cypriots were not willing to return to the negotiating table soon to reach a solution and agree to energy collaboration, then the alterna-

tive would be a “two-state solution” for the island, with each side responsible for the exploitation of its own hydrocarbon resources. This appears to be the first time the Turkish government under Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is floating the idea of a two-state solution in Cyprus, having previously put the option of annexing the north on the table. Since Anastasiades took over the reins from Christofias at the Presidential Palace a little over a month ago, he has been knee-deep in economic chaos. The UN Good Offices led by UN Special Envoy Alexander Downer appear aware of the drastic circumstances unfolding in Cyprus and have not pushed yet for any serious moves regarding the resumption of peace talks.


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France chief rabbi Bernheim resigns GILLES Bernheim, the Chief Rabbi of France, quit his post yesterday after admitting to plagiarism in two books and to deception about his academic credentials. The Paris Central Consistory, the top Jewish religious organisation in France, said Bernheim was resigning and gave no further details. Bernheim, 60, a modern Orthodox Jew, was respected by other religious leaders as an active participant in interfaith talks, and his booklet opposing the government’s plan to legalise gay unions won praise from former Pope Benedict. His fall from grace shocked France’s 600,000-strong Jewish community and it was not clear who would take his place. Bernheim was elected to the seven-year post in 2008. Last month, a blogger accused him of copying a 1996 text by the late French postmodernist philosopher JeanFrancois Lyotard to use in his 2011 book Forty Jewish Meditations. After initially denying the report, he later admitted Lyotard had written the disputed passage. Another blogger accused Bernheim last week of plagiarism in a 2002 book and L’Express magazine revealed he had not earned the prestigious title of philosophy professor that was often attached to his name. Although his official biography did not mention him passing the “agregation”, the exam needed to qualify as a professor, Bernheim never disputed the title when it appeared in newspaper articles and publicity for his books.

Bernheim was respected by other religious leaders

The General Secretary of the Democratic Party (PD) Pier Luigi Bersani reacts during a press conference on April 2, 2013 at the PD headquarters in Rome (AFP)

Italy centre-left head denies party to split By Massimiliano Di Giorgio and Steve Scherer ITALY’S Democratic Party (PD) chief Pier Luigi Bersani yesterday denied an imminent split of his bloc, the largest in parliament, amid increasing criticism of his leadership during a prolonged political stalemate. The PD is divided over whether to join forces with its centre-right rival Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who says a “grand coalition” is the only way to break the political impasse caused by February’s inconclusive national vote. Bersani has repeatedly ruled out an alliance with Berlusconi, an unpalatable figure for many PD voters, but highranking party officials increasingly argue that a government with the media tycoon is a better option than a snap vote. The February 24-25 election gave the centre left control of the lower house but not the Senate, where only an alliance with Berlusconi’s centre right

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Party divided over joining forces with Silvio Berlusconi or Beppe Grillo’s 5-Star Movement would permit the formation of a government. The PD chief sought to woo the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, but he has not opened to the PDL even though he admitted to President Giorgio Napolitano before Easter that he had failed. Matteo Renzi, the mayor of Florence who lost a party primary to Bersani last year, has voiced increasingly open dissent with his leader’s strategy, saying the centre left must either deal with Berlusconi or accept new elections. When asked by reporters yesterday whether the party was on the verge of splitting, Bersani responded: “We don’t have problems of this kind.” But PD President Rosy Bindi said yesterday the party should support a government led by an “institutional” fig-

ure picked by the president to head off an early vote, according to an interview with la Stampa newspaper. She did not say who should back such an administration, but the 5-Star Movement has repeatedly said it would not give a vote of confidence in any government, and the PDL is the only other force that has the numbers to permit its formation. And PD deputy Dario Franceschini said he was “worried” the party would split, in a television talk show late on Wednesday. On Saturday, Franceschini said Bersani should “abandon the superiority complex” and deal with Berlusconi, 76, who is the leader of the centre right despite his legal troubles, including a trial for having sex with an underage prostitute. But Berlusconi “lacks cred-

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ibility” and cannot be a trusted ally, the PD’s economic spokesman Stefano Fassina repeated yesterday. As the internal party pressure grew, the PD chief opened up to talks with the centre right to select a new head of state. Bersani yesterday met Berlusconi ally Roberto Maroni, leader of the Northern League party, to discuss electing a new president to replace Napolitano with “a very broad majority” in parliament. Napolitano’s mandate ends on May 15. Italy’s president is an important figure during political crises. The head of state has the power to choose potential prime ministers and dissolve parliament, something Napolitano cannot do in the final months of his mandate because the law forbids it. Bersani met with Berlusconi on Tuesday to discuss criteria for selecting a neutral president when voting starts on April 19, but both said they did not talk about the formation of a government.

Bosnian Croat leader’s trip to Serbia off A BOSNIAN Croat leader yesterday pulled out of what would have been a historic visit to Serbia this month, accusing the country’s nationalist president of meddling in Bosnia’s internal affairs. It marked the latest spat between the two countries since the rise to power a year ago of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, once a fiery proponent of the “Greater Serbia” ideology that helped tear apart Bosnia in the 1990s. The strained relations represent a setback for efforts to reconcile the former republics of federal Yugoslavia as they each strive to draw closer to the European Union. Bosnia’s tripartite presidency, comprising leaders from its former warring Serb, Muslim and Croat communities, had been due to make an unprecedented joint visit to the Serbian capital Belgrade on April 23. But Croat presidency member Zeljko Komsic said he was pulling out following a speech by Nikolic on Wednesday at a United Nations General Assembly debate on the role of ad hoc UN war crimes courts. Nikolic accused the UN’s tribunal for the former Yugoslavia of bias against Serbs. Bosnia’s Muslims and Croats had already bristled at Nikolic’s reception this week of Milorad Dodik, president of Bosnia’s autonomous Serb Republic, when he referred to himself and Dodik as leaders “of the two Serb states”.

Zeljko Komsic pulled out of a historic trip to Serbia


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Britain

G8 fail to agree on Syria and no plan on N. Korea Jolie appeals for action against war rape By Arshad Mohammed and Natalie Huet FOREIGN ministers from the G8 group of rich countries failed to patch up deep divisions over Syria or come up with a plan on North Korea during a meeting in London on Thursday. British Foreign Secretary William Hague, speaking after talks with his counterparts, admitted the world had failed to resolve Syria’s two-year-old conflict in which an estimated 70,000 people have been killed. “The United Nations Security Council has not fulfilled its responsibilities because it is divided. That division continues. Have we solved that divi-

sion at this meeting? No. We didn’t expect to do so,” Hague told reporters. “The world has failed so far in its responsibilities and continues to do so.”

LITTLE SUBSTANCE North Korea’s threats of war and Iran’s nuclear programme were also high on the agenda of the ministers’ talks in London but little substance came out of their private meetings with members of Syria’s opposition on the sidelines of the gathering. On North Korea, they condemned Pyongyang’s development of nuclear weapons “in the strongest possible terms” but did not come up with any specific steps on how to address the threat.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, foreign ministers from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia just urged North Korea to “refrain from further provocative acts”. “They talked about the role of China,” said a US official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity. “That’s always something that comes up but there was nothing more specific than that.” Actress Angelina Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, also addressed the ministers, urging more action to prevent sexual violence against women in conflict zones. With diplomatic efforts

2,000 invited to Thatcher funeral DETAILS of more than 2,000 guests being invited to Baroness Thatcher’s funeral were issued yesterday - including all her surviving former Cabinet ministers, world leaders, and Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson. Fresh information about the ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral was released as Lady Thatcher’s old political adversary Lord Kinnock revealed he would not be attending. Ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Nancy Reagan have also said health problems will keep them away. Argentina’s president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been left off the list after a series of provocative comments about the Falklands. Number 10 said the guest roster had been drawn up by Lady Thatcher’s family and representatives with the assistance of the Government and the Conservative Party. More than 2,000 invitations are expected to be sent out today, with a total of 2,300 people set to pack St Paul’s. A spokeswoman said: “Those invited include family and friends of Lady Thatcher, those who worked with her over the years, including all surviving members of her Cabinets, former Chiefs of Staff, Conservative associates, peers and MPs, members of the Cabinet, members of the Order of the Garter, members of the Order of Merit, foreign associates and dignitaries and representatives from the wide range of groups she was associated with. “In agreement with Lady Thatcher’s rep-

A total of 2,300 people are expected to pack St Paul’s Cathedral for the funeral resentatives, around 200 states, territories and international organisations are being invited to send an official representative to the funeral service. “We have invited those countries and institutions with whom we have normal diplomatic relations. In addition, there are invitations being made in a personal capacity to some current and former world leaders as well as others from overseas who had a close connection to Baroness Thatcher.” According to Downing Street, confirmed guests so far include Sir John Major, Tony Blair and wife Cherie, Gordon Brown, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former South Africa leader FW de Klerk, and novelist Lord Jeffrey Archer.

30pct experience yob behaviour NEARLY a third of people experience some form of anti-social behaviour, according to official data released yesterday. Some 30 per cent of respondents to the 2011/12 Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) said they had personally experienced or witnessed at least one anti-social problem in their area, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The most common form of anti-social behaviour experienced or witnessed - by

around one-in-eight, or 12 per cent - was drink-related behaviour, the ONS added. After drink-related problems, the next most common type of anti-social behaviour experienced or witnessed was groups hanging around on the streets. Other categories include inconsiderate behaviour, loud music, vandalism, verbal abuse, littering and drug dealing. Three types of anti-social behaviour were experienced or witnessed by less than 1 per

cent of respondents - begging, dangerous dogs and people having sex in public. The most significant decline was in the abandoned or burnt-out cars category, which peaked at 25 per cent in 2002/03 and subsequently fell each year down to 4 per cent in 2010/11 and in 2011/12. A total of 15 per cent of adults perceived a “high level” of perceived anti-social behaviour in their area in the last 12 months, showing no change from the previous year.

US Secretary of State John Kerry (R) sits next to British Foreign Secretary William Hague (L) at the opening session of the G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in London yesterday deadlocked, Syria’s protracted conflict remains the biggest headache for global powers, and Hague described it as the world’s biggest destination for jihadists. Leaders of the Syrian National Coalition were present on the sidelines of the London meeting to ask for more humanitarian help but no promises

were made, according to officials. In their statement, the ministers “called for greater humanitarian assistance and for improved and safe access to the Syrian people by humanitarian agencies in co-ordination with all parties to the conflict”. On Iran, they expressed concern about the lack of

progress in the latest talks at resolving a decadelong nuclear dispute that threatens to trigger a new war in the Middle East. “People were concerned about that, that time is not unlimited,” the US official said. “They didn’t feel that the Iranians were bringing anything significant to the table, or anything new.”


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World

Malawi brands Madonna an ‘uncouth’ bully THE Malawi government has branded pop star Madonna an “uncouth” bully who exaggerates her charitable work in the country and demands preferential treatment when she visits. Malawi President Joyce Banda’s government accused the “Material Girl” of bullying officials after she complained about her latest trip to the southern African country this month. “Among the many things that Madonna needs to learn as a matter of urgency is the decency of telling the truth,” said an 11-point statement from Malawi’s State House. Media reports said Madonna and her children were forced to join a check-in queue and go through security with ordinary passengers at a Malawi airport when they left the country. The “Holiday” singer dismissed Malawi’s comments as “lies” in a statement on the website of her Raising Malawi foundation. “I’m saddened that Malawi’s President Joyce Banda has chosen to release lies about what we’ve accomplished, my intentions, how I personally conducted myself while visiting Malawi and other un-

truths,” Madonna said. Malawi said Madonna expected the government to be forever chained in an “obligation of gratitude” towards her for adopting two Malawian children and contributing to the construction of classrooms in the country. “Kindness, as far as its ordinary meaning is concerned, is free and anonymous. If it can’t be free and silent, it is not kindness; it is something else,” the statement said. “Blackmail is the closest it becomes.” The singer said she came to Malawi seven years ago with honourable intentions and returned earlier this month to view the new schools built by her foundation. “I did not ever ask or demand special treatment at the airport or elsewhere during my visit,” Madonna said. “I will not be distracted or discouraged by other people’s political agendas. I made a promise to the children of Malawi and I am keeping that promise.” She said the disagreement was rooted in her history with President Banda’s sister, Anjimile Mtila Oponyo, who once headed Raising Malawi. Oponyo was fired and sued the charity for wrongful termination.

A South Korean man checks the top of an M-48 tank, in the border city of Paju yesterday (AFP)

SOUTH Korea and the United States were on high alert for a North Korean missile launch yesterday as the reclusive and poverty-stricken state turned its attention to celebrating the ruling Kim dynasty and appeared to tone down rhetoric of impending war. Despite threats it will attack US bases and the South in response to any hostile acts, North Korea started to welcome a stream of visitors for Monday’s celebrations marking the birthday of founding father, Kim Il-sung. North Korea has stationed as many as five medium-range

missiles on its east coast, according to defence assessments made by Washington and Seoul, possibly in readiness for a test launch that would demonstrate its ability to hit US bases on Guam. “There are signs the North could fire off Musudan missiles any time soon,” an unnamed intelligence source in Seoul told Yonhap news agency. Musudan missiles are medium-range missiles that have the potential to hit US bases on Guam, although it is not known whether they have been tested or can fly that far.

Obama bids to restart deficit-reduction talks By Jeff Mason and Mark Felsenthal

Madonna (second right) dismissed Malawi’s comments as ‘lies’ on the website of her Raising Malawi foundation

Uruguay approves same-sex marriage URUGUAY’S Congress passed a bill on Wednesday to allow same-sex marriages, making it the second country in predominantly Roman Catholic Latin America to do so. Seventy-one of 92 lawmakers in the lower house of Congress voted in favour of the proposal, one week after the Senate passed it by a wide majority. Leftist President Jose Mujica, a former guerrilla fighter, is expected to sign the bill into law. “I agree that family is the basis of society but I also believe that love is the basis of family. And love is neither homosexual nor heterosexual,” said opposition lawmaker Fernando Amado of the center-right Colorado Party. Uruguay is the 12th country to pass a law of this kind, according to Human Rights Watch. In Latin America, Argentina also has approved gay marriage and it is allowed in Mexico City and some parts of Brazil. Roughly half a million people marched through Paris in January to protest the legalisation of same-sex marriage, underscoring opposition to the measure in the heart of Western Europe. In Uruguay, a nation of about 3.3 million people sandwiched between Argentina and Brazil, critics of the bill included the Catholic Church and other Christian organisations, which said it would endanger the institution of the family. “We are opposed to this bill because we understand it distorts and changes the nature of the institution of marriage,” said opposition lawmaker Gerardo Amarilla. Damian Diaz, a 25-year-old teacher who is in a committed relationship with a man, said he was heartened by the move.

PRESIDENT Barack Obama has proposed a $3.77 trillion budget that combines controversial cuts to social safety net programmes with tax increases on the wealthy in a package the White House hopes will jumpstart deficitreduction talks. The proposal, an annual attempt to identify and fund the president’s policy desires, is unlikely ever to become law. Its deficit-cutting measures mirror an outline Obama put forward last year that was rejected by John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives. There were no major departures from that plan, which the White House has stressed for weeks is still on offer. Obama’s budget included cuts in Social Security, the pension programme for retirees and in Medicare, the

His $3.77t budget would trim Social Security and Medicare health insurance programme for seniors. While Obama has made these proposals before, their prominence in Wednesday’s budget was designed to demonstrate his seriousness about negotiating with Republicans on ways to reduce the federal deficit. “I don’t believe that all these ideas are optimal, but I’m willing to accept them as part of a compromise,” Obama said during brief remarks in the White House Rose Garden. “When it comes to deficit reduction, I’ve already met Republicans more than halfway. So in the coming days and weeks, I hope that Republicans will come forward and demonstrate that they’re really as serious about the deficits and debt as they claim to be,” he said.

The budget predicts the deficit would fall to $744 billion in 2014, or 4.4 per cent of gross domestic product, from an estimated $973 billion in 2013. Fiscal 2014 begins on October 1. It aims to achieve $1.8 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years. Added to the $2.5 trillion in deficit cuts from past efforts, the total reduction would be more than the $4 trillion both parties have said would be an acceptable goal. The ratio of deficits to GDP would fall to 2.8 per cent in 2016, below the 3 per cent level economists say is necessary to put debt on a path to shrinking as a share of the economy. The proposal revives Obama’s call that wealthier people help more with deficit

reduction. It would require those making $1 million a year or more to pay at least 30 per cent of their income in taxes, after gifts to charity Obama’s budget also included proposals to cap tax breaks for wealthier taxpayers, increase the estate tax and end the tax break for “carried interest”, profits earned by fund managers like those who run private equity and other investment firms. Republicans, who are wary of any push to raise taxes after passing a rate increase for the wealthy at the beginning of this year, largely dismissed Obama’s proposal. Boehner, Obama’s main opponent in deficit talks, said the president’s proposed cuts to entitlement programmes such as Social Security were praiseworthy but not sufficient. “I would hope that he would not hold hostage these modest reforms for his demand for bigger tax hikes,” Boehner said.

Leaks spur Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to expand storage TOKYO Electric Power, the utility that operates the Japanese nuclear plant devastated two years ago by an earthquake and tsunami, is scrambling to build more tanks to safely store radioactive water after leaks were found at makeshift pits. Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi plant have so far filled up more than

80 per cent of the 325,000 tonnes of available storage with groundwater contaminated by the damaged nuclear reactors. Leaks in the current water transfer and storage system have added to the urgency to expand this capacity: yesterday, the utility known as Tepco said pipes used to transfer radioactive

water from a leaking pit burst in what is the fourth leak in less than a week. “We’ve been told it’s an emergency situation and we have to speed up the construction of the water tanks any way we can,” said a worker at the plant who declined to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media.


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Abbas under pressure to back Fayyad

Israeli policewomen detain a member (C) of the liberal religious group Women of the Wall at the Western Wall in Jerusalem yesterday

Western allies keen for PM to retain post By Crispian Balmer PALESTINIAN President Mahmoud Abbas faced pressure from Western allies yesterday not to let Prime Minister Salam Fayyad quit at a time when Washington is seeking to resurrect Middle East peace talks. Palestinian sources told Reuters that Fayyad would present his formal resignation to Abbas later on Thursday after weeks of sparring over his handling of the economic crisis afflicting the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Fayyad, a former World Bank official, is credited by Western powers with helping create the institutions needed if the Palestinians are to gain independence from Israeli occupation. His reputation among Palestinians is more mixed. Aides to Abbas, speaking on condition of anonymity, were scathing in their assessment of the Texas-educated Fayyad, hinting that the president would be pleased to see him go. However, a Western diplomat expressed dismay at the political in-fighting at a time when the United States is making a concerted effort to revive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and boost the flailing economy. “Pressure is being put on Abbas to sit on this resignation offer for at least two months to see what comes of the U.S. initiative,” said a senior European diplomat, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. US diplomats were due to visit

Strained relations: Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad (AFP) Ramallah yesterday and expected to press Fayyad’s case, another diplomat said. During a visit to the region last month, US President Barack Obama hailed Fayyad as a partner in peace, and Secretary of State John Kerry held private talks with the beleaguered prime minister earlier this week, in a clear sign of support. Admired abroad, including in Israel, Fayyad has failed to build a strong political base within the Palestinian territories, leaving him vulnerable to attacks from Abbas’s own Fatah party and the Islamist group Hamas, which governs in Gaza. Fayyad was one of the few top officials to pay regular visits to marginal communities and ask after their concerns. But angry crowds pelted

his image with shoes during protests against commodity price hikes last September, and many locals complain of not being able to make ends meet. As the man who controls the purse strings, Fayyad’s problems grew last year when foreign aid started to slow. The situation worsened markedly at the end of the year when Washington froze funding to punish the Palestinians for gaining de-facto statehood recognition at the United Nations. Israel also withheld tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinians in November and December in response to the unilateral UN move, making it impossible for Fayyad to keep up with already delayed public sector salary payments. Israel resumed handing over the customs dues in January, but economic problems persist and the World Bank said in a report last month that Israel’s curbs on trade had inflicted long-term damage on Palestinians’ ability to compete in the global market. Sources close to Fayyad accuse Fatah of stirring political discontent, saying the party wants to get more control over Palestinian Authority (PA) coffers. The same sources complain that Abbas had not given his prime minister enough support. Relations between the two men soured further last month when Palestinian Finance Minister Nabil Qassis quit, amid disagreements over a forthcoming draft budget. Fayyad accepted the resignation, against the wishes of Abbas.

Five women arrested in prayer protest ISRAELI police detained five women activists yesterday at the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s most sacred sites, for wearing prayer shawls, which Orthodox tradition sees as solely for men, a spokesman said. The incident occurred during a monthly prayer session by the Women of the Wall, a group opposed to police-enforced Orthodox controls at the Jerusalem holy site, where worshippers are segregated by sex in accordance with strict Jewish tradition. “Police detained for questioning five women who prayed with religious garments at the Wall ... and an ultra-Orthodox man who burnt a book belonging to the Women of the Wall,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

The group’s monthly gatherings at the Western Wall often end with arrests of women who don prayer shawls or read publicly from the holy scriptures, a rite that is also reserved under Orthodox ritual for men. Such scenes have caused consternation within the Reform and Conservative movements of Judaism, which are predominant among Jews living outside Israel and allow men and women to pray side by side. On Wednesday, officials said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was considering a plan to convert an old archaeological dig south of the Wall to an area where men and women would be allowed to mix and worship freely.

THIS WEEK IN YOUR

SundayMail The Lost Island Kids get on stage to entertain other kids

Dozens die in shelling, executions in Syria town, say opposition activitists By Erika Solomon AT least 45 Syrians were killed, some of them in cold blood, after troops stormed the contested town of Sanamein in the southern province of Deraa, opposition activists and a monitoring group said yesterday. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said dozens of civilians, including children, were killed on Wednesday in shelling and summary executions after forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad entered Sanamein. There was no immediate comment from Syrian state officials. Security forces had been fighting anti-Assad rebels in the town in Deraa, a province bordering Jordan that has become a focal point of battles as both sides seek to control Syria’s frontiers and seize supply lines to the capital, Damascus. Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Observatory, which uses a network of contacts in Syria, told Reuters by telephone that the

situation was still too confused to determine how many people had died in the fighting and how many in cold blood. “Residents say there were heavy clashes yesterday and later security forces stormed the town. As they entered, they started shelling some districts and other gunmen were executing people,” he said, adding that 45 victims of what he called a massacre had been named, with the confirmed death toll likely to rise. Dozens of houses had been destroyed in shelling or by fire, Abdelrahman said. Activist groups in Deraa said more than 60 people had been killed. Video uploaded by residents showed rows of corpses laid out in a building, their faces covered in blood and their bodies wrapped in blankets, with names scribbled on sheets of paper placed on top of them. Some of the dead appeared to be young children. “Sanamein, April 10, a massacre has happened in Sanamein. I put my faith in God,” said the cameraman filming the scene. Reports and videos from inside Syria are hard to verify, as access to the country for international media is limited.

Maths is fun! Meeting the educator who thinks so

Natural tea The Cyprus factory producing herbal teas


Friday, April 12, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

12

Business Vehicles recalled over defect in airbags

Jobless claims data calms US labour market jitters

FOUR Japanese automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co, are recalling 3.4 million vehicles sold around the world because airbags supplied by Takata Corp are at risk of catching fire or injuring passengers. The move announced yesterday is the largest recall ever for airbags made by Takata, the world’s secondlargest supplier of airbags and seatbelts. Shares of Takata, which first learned of the issue in October 2011, tumbled almost 10 per cent in Tokyo trading. The recall, also including vehicles from Honda Motor Co Ltd and Mazda Motor Corp, is the largest since Toyota pulled back more than 7 million vehicles in October. The scale of the recent safety actions underscores the risk of huge global supply chain problems as automakers increasingly rely on a handful of suppliers for common or similar parts to cut costs, analysts have said. Toyota, Honda and Nissan said there were no reports of injuries or deaths because of the defective airbags. In an accident, the airbag for the front passenger seat may not inflate correctly because of a manufacturing defect in the propellant used in the airbag inflator, the companies said. As a result, there is a risk of fires starting or of passengers being injured by metal fragments shooting up toward the windshield or down into the passenger foot well. The recall covers some of the top-selling Japanese cars, including Toyota’s Camry and Corolla, and rivals like the Nissan Maxima and Honda Civic. All of the vehicles in question were manufactured in or after 2000.

Weekly jobless claims fall 42,000 By Lucia Mutikani THE number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, easing fears of a marked deterioration in labour market conditions after a surprise stumble in job growth in March. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 42,000 to a seasonally adjusted 346,000, the Labour Department said yesterday, unwinding a jump in the prior week that appeared related to difficulties adjusting the data for seasonal variations. It was the largest weekly drop since mid-November. Economists, who had expected first-time applications for jobless aid to fall only to 365,000, said the decline suggested the sharp slowdown in employment in March was an aberration. “We will see more job creation this month than we did in March and today’s jobless claims numbers are consistent with that expectation,” said Robert Dye, chief economist at Comerica in Dallas. Employers added only 88,000 workers to their payrolls in March - the fewest in nine months - after a solid 268,000 increase in February. Economists said the claims data suggested the slowdown in job creation reflected seasonal hiring being

A woman opens a glass door with a “Now Hiring” sign on it as she enters a Staples store in New York brought forward rather than underlying weakness in the labour market. “All the March employment report provided a hint of is that jobs that normally would have got hired in March, some of them got hired earlier in February,” said Michael Strauss, chief economist at Commonfund in Wilton, Connecticut. “Seasonal hiring occurred a little bit earlier. The construction sector, for example, was so strong. This claims data supports that as well.” Jobless claims are now back at the lower end of their range for this year, sug-

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 0.8564 0.8478

US Dollar

1.3129 1.2999

Australian $

1.2575 1.2265

Canadian Dol.

1.3425 1.3093

Swiss Fr

1.2233 1.2087

Denmark Kr

7.5494 7.3630

Japan Yen

130.6794 129.1206

Norwegian Kr

7.5967 7.4091

Polish Zloty

4.1474

4.0450

Romanian Leu 4.4844 4.3086 Russian Ruble 40.8243 39.8163 Swedish Kr

8.4654 8.2564

A Labour Department analyst said no states had been estimated and there was nothing unusual in the statelevel data for the latest week. He noted, however, that the floating Easter holiday and spring breaks continued to pose challenges for the socalled seasonal factor. The seasonal distortions in the data will probably remain over the next few weeks. The four-week moving average for new claims, a better measure of labour market trends, increased 3,000 to 358,000. It remains close to a level economists normally associate with payroll gains

of about 150,000 per month. “My sense is that the economy is generating on an average basis somewhere around 180,000 to 190,000 jobs a month,” said Dye. “I do think that is enough to slowly bring the unemployment rate down and provide enough lift to households to help them feel some increase in disposable income.” Separate data suggested weak job growth last month hurt retail sales. Several top US retailers, including Costco Wholesale Corp and T.J. Maxx parent TJX Cos Inc, reported weaker-thanexpected March sales.

M&S relies on food sales for growth as clothing struggles

Rates

Pound St

gesting the labour market recovery remains on track. Stocks on Wall Street rose on the report, with the Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index hitting fresh all-time intraday highs. The dollar eased off a fouryear high against the yen, while US Treasury debt prices pushed higher. Differences in the timing of Easter and school spring breaks, which likely threw off the model used to smooth the data for seasonal fluctuations, had been blamed for the spike in claims during the week ended March 30.

A pedestrian walks past a branch of Marks and Spencer on Oxford Street, central London yesterday

BRITISH retailer Marks & Spencer posted a seventh straight quarterly fall in underlying sales of clothing and homewares, having to rely on a strong performance from its food business to deliver overall growth. Marc Bolland, chief executive of the 129year-old retailer that has recently been the subject of takeover speculation, is under pressure from shareholders to revive its clothing operations. He has said that a new general merchandise management team led by John Dixon, the former boss of M&S’s food business, and Belinda Earl, the former chief of Debenhams and Jaeger, will not make a major impact on sales until autumn/winter collections hit the shops in July. An important early test will be the reaction of the fashion press when they see the ranges on May 14, a week before M&S reports 2012-13 results, with analysts forecasting a 7 per cent fall in pretax profit to 659 million pounds. Trevor Green, head of institutional equities at Aviva Investors, an M&S shareholder, said he wants M&S to present a clear strategy for womenswear when it reports results. “If not, then patience will start to wear thin with shareholders as Bolland has al-

ready been given three years to turn the general merchandise side around,” he said on Thursday. Aviva Investors holds 0.1 per cent of M&S, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data. M&S finance director Alan Stewart said the company had the backing of its major investors. “What we’re hearing directly from shareholders is that they are supportive of our strategy ... and that they recognise it’s going to take time,” he told reporters. Shares in M&S rose 3.2 per cent after it said sales of non-food products, spanning clothing, footwear and homewares, at stores open more than a year fell 3.8 per cent in the 13 weeks to March 30, its financial fourth quarter. That was slightly better than analysts’ forecasts of a drop of between 4 and 6 per cent, but matched the fall of the previous quarter when M&S moved to protect profit margins by offering fewer discounts. “People had got themselves into a very gloomy frame of mind about M&S ahead of this statement, so any non-disastrous news was probably always going to make the shares bounce,” one of the ten largest M&S shareholders said.


CYPRUS MAIL Friday, April 12, 2013

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Opinion

LETTER to the Editor Bailout seems to be turning into a bottomless pit THE CYPRUS bailout will be top of the agenda at a two-day meeting of EU finance ministers in Dublin beginning today. No doubt they will be told what’s really going on while the people of Cyprus continue to be kept in the dark. While we’ve been distracted by capital controls, lists of people who took money out before March 15, investigations into who was responsible for the demise of the economy, and a political row over who ordered a draft haircut law the day before, and just when you thought it could not get any worse, the bailout jumps from €17.5 billion to €23 billion while we were not looking. Where Cyprus was initially to contribute €5.8 billion, then €7.5 billion, to the bailout, this has been hiked to €13 billion with no explanations offered to the people – the victims of this grand theft. A bigger outflow than originally estimated from the banks was cited as possibly one of the reasons. In addition, reports have surfaced that the bulk of the island’s gold reserves would be sold for a paltry €400 million. None of this news originated in Cyprus. It came in a Reuters report based on draft official European Commission documents outlining the island’s financial needs. The only reaction from within the island was a Central Bank denial that the gold sale was not under discussion, and a comment from the government spokesman yesterday that it was an issue between the Cypriot and European central banks. On the €23 billion, the spokesman simply blamed the previous government and the banks without giving any details. It’s becoming increasingly hard for anyone to figure out what the real facts are other than the certainty that we are in a worse mess than anyone could possibly have imagined. It is probably too much to ask that the ‘government of change’ come clean and tell the people who have been robbed of their money, jobs, and standard of living what is really going on, how much money is really needed and how this will affect their lives. President Nicos Anastasiades has gone on television a couple of times to tell us that everything will be all right. Clearly he is delusional, lying through his teeth, or wants to spare us from how bad it really is with soothing words devoid of any real meaning given the whiff we’ve had of the real facts on the ground. At a time like this, people don’t want to hear political rhetoric about some imaginary golden future where we are living happily ever after on a cloud of natural gas. People want to hear the truth about what is happening to their country now so they can make up their own minds and take decisions about their futures, or in this case, the lack thereof. It’s the least people deserve before we are all called on to line up and donate a kidney to raise more cash for this bottomless pit of a bailout because people really have nothing else left to give.

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

Fools, fiascos and phone calls

I

had made up my mind not to put pen to paper over the recent insensitive and idiotically administered financial fiasco, I had lots to say but none of it was good. It was a situation one has to say, which ranks among one of the most pathetically ill handled and badly thought out decisions since Argentina decided to invade the Falkland Islands in 1982. It is one which will quite rightly take its place in the ever lengthening list of well publicised and mismanaged Cypriot government generated fiascos. It could well have qualified for a rating in the Darwin Awards had there been a fatality, which thankfully there was not. Had the overall situation not been so collectively serious it would have been hilarious, to see the way it was handled was like watching Benny Hill minus the women. It could be compared to the dentist telling you he was going to carry out extensive root canal work and remove all your teeth without anaesthetic, only to tell you ten days later he was only going to give you a small filling. Utterly and totally inept, those involved brought a whole new meaning to the word buffoonery. But just when I thought I was past the most venomous, vitriolic and vicious stage, something tipped me over the edge and caused me to react badly... again, and this time it wasn’t my fault, honestly. I am not renowned for my tact and diplomacy, when confronted with abject idiocy as those who know me well will testify, and therefore I had decided that during this farce, it would be to everyone’s advantage, none more so than mine if the lid on my lap top remained well and truly shut. This worked very well and all remained calm until the day my family were out of the house, I was home alone, and the fateful phone call materialised. What actually happened was, I was sat at home, working out which bills I couldn’t pay with the money I couldn’t get, and knowing I couldn’t get it for some time, and working with the ever changing and extremely unhelpful information constantly being given out by someone who obviously had no idea what was going on and couldn’t make his mind up. Mind you, having said that it appeared the Presidential Palace and the banking hierarchy were all suffering the same fate. Rectal cranial inversion, I think they call it!! Anyway, as I said, here I am, desperately trying, as I’m sure everyone else was, to work out a sufficiently viable financial plan which will allow me to use what limited funds are at my disposal, in order to allow me to feed clothe and provide for my family for the longest possible time, without eating the pets or reverting to plan “B”. By this, I mean I am trying to secure a financial solution which will prevent me from having to dress my wife and daughter in rags, rob the dog of his feeding bowl, and launch a family begging offensive on the local streets. Suddenly the phone rang. Lo and behold it was the Bank manager, no doubt fresh, rested, frisky and relaxed following a ten day extended sojourn courtesy of the Government, and judging from what she said next, totally

It would have been much simpler to have explained things to the dog than it was to the bank manager out of touch with both reality and recent events. Either that or she was smoking some extremely good stuff! Without preamble, and without enquiring as to the health and welfare of either myself or my family, and without attempting to explain the situation from either her or the bank’s perspective, she very pointedly and brusquely informed me I urgently needed to make a deposit on both my personal loan and my credit card. What’s more, I actually think she said it with a straight face, and knowing the standard of the local sense of humour I had to assume it was odds on she had! My initial reaction to this somewhat obvious statement was to reply in my usual fashion using a phrase which refers somewhat rudely to the absence of a daily bodily function being directed to a well-known fictitious private detective who allegedly resided in Baker Street. To those unfamiliar with this reply, it is; “No XXXX Sherlock” !! However, I felt that the effect would be lost in translation and restrained myself. I took a moment to calmly reflect upon what she had said, and my face must have indicated my state of mind and rising temper, because as I looked at the dog, his eyes opened, his ears dropped and he slowly got up, and keeping his eye fixed firmly on me, he crept under the tiny space under the sofa. Not a bad effort for a German shepherd I thought. As his backside slowly and painfully retreated to his haven of security looking very much like a spatchcocked chicken, (You will have to look that up for yourself.) I managed to retain my composure, which surprised me because at times such as these I am known to react rather badly and normally go for the throat.

Up like a trout, I believe is the phrase. However, on this occasion I excelled. I calmly and politely informed her that I was more than aware of the situation and had been for the ten days she had been sat at home on her backside with her feet up, and I was very much aware that things needed to be addressed. I also informed her that for me to comply with her request, I needed three things to happen, all of which were out of my control. These were, I needed my employer to pay me upon my having returned to work, I needed the Cypriot Government to pay me what it owed me for the three month period I had just spent out of work as my workplace had been closed, and I needed a payment I had arranged to be sent from the U.K to be processed into my account by the Cypriot banking system. Oh and one more thing, access to my account over the previous ten days may have helped. When all this had happened we would all be happy and there would be much rejoicing, my family and I could eat, we could feed our pets, petrol would be put in the car, bills would be paid and she would get what she needed. Simple enough isn’t it? Well it should have been but I forgot where I was living. She continued to protest that funds needed to be deposited immediately, and seemed to think that the more she demanded, the more chance there was that the money fairy would knock on my door and all would be well. It was at this time I felt the urgent need to share with her the fact that in case she had missed it, as the Government of the day, God bless ‘em, had been doing the work of two men, sadly it was Laurel and Hardy, they had, by their crass incompetence managed to bring the entire Cypriot banking system to a screech-

ing grinding halt. As a result of this, I explained, the electronic backlog would ensure that any money destined for my account was unlikely to materialise any time soon. In other words I politely informed her not to hold her breath while it happened. God Almighty where do they get these people? It seemed an eternity before the penny finally seemed to drop. Well I think it dropped somewhere, but it certainly wasn’t into my account, or anywhere near me for that matter, and I eventually managed to terminate the conversation without either verbally abusing her or throwing my mobile, minus calling credit because I couldn’t afford any, through the patio window. I am not entirely sure that she fully grasped the gist of what I was saying but I had had enough. The words from the song, “There’s a hole in my bucket dear Liza” sprang to mind, and I hummed it for the rest of the day. As I sat and quietly reflected on the conversation, I saw that the dog was assessing if it was safe to emerge from his hide under the sofa. He was also no doubt trying to judge his chances of getting back under there safely if he miscalled it. When he saw me smile to myself, and shake my head in disbelief at what I had just gone through, he obviously realised he was on a winner. It crossed my mind, that it would have been much simpler to have explained the situation to him instead of the bank manager. I was very pleased with the fact I had not lost my cool, and felt that by being as patient as I had been in explaining how things were to her, I may have contributed something positive to her day. I also felt as I did several years ago when I worked as a Mental Health Nurse in a Psychiatric hospital, (something which happens to me quite a lot out here) and hoped that I may have assisted her to recognise how people were feeling in general, which would possibly help her to alter her approach and prevent her from receiving abuse from people less in control than myself. I think I was initially stunned by the obvious lack of awareness displayed by the bank manager as to the general situation most of the population were suffering. I was more frustrated at the fact that in spite of speaking extremely good English, she seemed unwilling or unable to grasp the fact that as I had no money I couldn’t give her any. Perhaps the banks on the island should now consider treating their customers with a little more compassion than they have done before. The situation is bad for everyone at the moment, and demanding money down the phone is unhelpful, unfair and inconsiderate. The emotional effect a phone call such as the one I experienced may have on someone who is emotionally weaker than I was, or who may have been intimidated by such a call could be devastating and could cause immense distress. Therefore, someone should take steps to ensure calls are both appropriate and carried out with compassion and understanding. Rob Wharton, Mazotos


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Friday, April 12, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Showbiz

Olympic satire races against dramas in British TV awards Twenty Twelve to fight it out with The Girl, Last Tango in Halifax By Belinda Goldsmith A television satire that lampooned organisers of the 2012 London Olympics was in a head-to-head race against two dramas as the most nominated shows in Britain’s top TV awards this week. The satire Twenty Twelve received four nominations in the British Academy Television Awards as did the Hitchcock drama The Girl and romantic series Last Tango in Halifax. Three actors from Twenty Twelve were competing for best performance in a comedy programme - Jessica Hynes, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Bonneville - while the show on public broadcaster BBC was also nominated for best Situation Comedy. The Olympic opening ceremony aired on BBC1 was also nominated for an award, in the Sport and Live Event category, alongside the Olympics Super Saturday on BBC1, Channel Four’s Paralympic coverage and Wimbledon’s Men’s Final broadcast by BBC1. Actors from the most nominated drama series were competing for the top acting awards handed out by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ (BAFTA) in its annual TV prizes. Tony Jones from The Girl shown on BBC2 was up against Derek Jacobi from Last Tango in Halifax on BBC1 for Leading Actor. The four-man field also included Ben Whishaw, best known as the gadget guy Q in the James Bond movie Skyfall, for his portrayal of Richard II on BBC2, and Sean Bean for playing the transvestite Tracie in Ac-

The satire Twenty Twelve received four nominations in the British Academy Television Awards cused on BBC1. Sienna Miller in The Girl was competing against Anne Reid from Last Tango in Halifax, Rebecca Hall from period drama Parade’s End and Sheridan Smith from Mrs Biggs about the wife of the great train robber Ronnie Biggs for Leading Actress. The International Award

was a contest between the Danish crime drama The Bridge on BBC4, the post 9/11 psychological drama Homeland on Channel 4, and Sky’s fantasy epic Game of Thrones and New York quirky comedy Girls. An ITV exposé about the late TV presenter Jimmy Savile who, posthumously, was found to have carried

out sex crimes on an unprecedented scale over six decades, was nominated for best Current Affairs show. Also competing in this category was a Panorama special about Britain’s hidden housing crisis, a documentary called The Shame of the Catholic Church on BBC2 and the second

nomination for Arab news channel Al Jazeera’s What Killed Arafat? Among the leading channels, BBC2 led the field with a total of 26 nominations, followed by BBC1 with 22, Channel 4 with 16, and ITV with 10. The BAFTA TV awards, sponsored by Arqiva, will be announced on May 12.

Sir Paul McCartney tops Justin Timberlake still No.1 list of music millionaires SIR Paul McCartney has conquered the charts again - coming top of the Sunday Times Rich List of musical millionaires. The former Beatle shares a £680 million fortune with his wife Nancy Shevell, according to the researchers who put the list together. He has topped the list of wealthy musicians every time it has been put together since 1989 when his fortune was estimated at £80 million. At least some of his fortune comes from his wife - the heiress to a US transport firm - who is said to be worth £150 million alone.

BOOST IN THEIR FORTUNE Sir Paul is not the only entry to get a boost in their fortune from their partner - a combined fortune of £200 million puts Victoria and David Beckham in the top 10, while Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne and Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow also feature. Andrew Lloyd Webber was second in the chart with a fortune of £620 million, followed by Irish rockers U2 with £520 million. Other music millionaires who made the top ten were Sir Elton John, Sir Mick Jagger, Michael Flatley, Keith Richards, Olivia and Dhani Harrison and Sting.

The singer’s The 20/20 Experience album made it to the top of the charts after selling 139,000 copies last week

JUSTIN Timberlake continued his reign at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart for the third consecutive week, keeping new entries by The Band Perry and Tyler, The Creator from the coveted No.1 slot. Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience sold 139,000 copies last week, according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan, bringing the album’s total U.S. sales to 1.43 million since its debut on March 19. Country music group The Band Perry entered the chart this week at No.2 with their sophomore album Pioneer, following their performance at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music awards, which was watched by more than 15 million people on television. Pioneer sold 129,000 copies, coming in ahead of rapper Tyler, The Creator’s latest record Wolf, which notched the No.3 slot with 89,000 sales.

Lohan dodges rehab questions in TV appearance By Jill Serjeant TROUBLED actress Lindsay Lohan dodged questions about her upcoming courtordered stint in rehab in her first interview for five months. Lohan, 26, told late-night TV talk show host David Letterman in an appearance on his Late Show that she was due to enter three months of rehabilitation on May 2. But the Mean Girls actress, whose Hollywood career has been wrecked by repeated court cases and erratic behaviour since 2007, brushed aside questions about the nature of her addiction or her several previous efforts to change her ways. “And how will this time be different? What are they rehabbing, first of all? What is on their list? What are they going to work on when you walk through the door?” Letterman asked her. Lohan replied with a laugh, “We didn’t discuss this in the pre-interview, I’m just saying to everyone.” “No, I think, to be honest, I’m the happiest when I’m working and the healthiest, and I think this an opportunity for me to, you know, focus on what I love in life. And I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I think it’s a blessing ... and not a curse,” she added. Lohan was ordered in March to spend three months in a locked rehab facility, do 30 days of community labour, and undergo psychotherapy for 18 months in a plea bargain over charges arising from a June 2012 car crash in Southern California. The deal, struck in Los Angeles Superior Court, allowed her to avoid jail in return for pleading no contest to charges that she lied to police when she said she was not behind the wheel when her Porsche smashed into a truck. Lohan has been jailed or placed under house arrest for short periods numerous times since 2007, including three times in 2011. She has also spent at least five periods in rehab in the last six years, saying after each stint that she was a changed woman. Her appearance on the Late Show ostensibly to promote this weekend’s release Scary Movie 5, in which she has a cameo with Charlie Sheen, was Lohan’s first interview since November 2012.

Lindsay Lohan with host David Letterman


CYPRUS MAIL Friday, April 12, 2013

15

Health

Health

bites

Netherlands tops child wellbeing in industrialised world THE Netherlands ranks first and Romania last among 29 developed countries examined in a UNICEF report on the well-being of children that warns budget-slashing governments to spare a thought for future generations. Nordic countries held the rest of the top five places in a survey by the United Nations Children’s Fund based on criteria of material well-being, health and safety, education, behaviour and risk, housing and environment. Britain was ranked 16th and the United States 26th. In its ‘Report Card 11: Child well-being in rich countries’,

UNICEF urged governments to place children at the heart of their decision-making in their efforts to slash national debt burdens. A 2008 financial crisis has led to austerity policies across the West and bailouts for several European countries.

Gene found that may raise Alzheimer’s risk in blacks THE largest study to date looking for genetic causes of Alzheimer’s in African Americans may offer new clues about why blacks in the United States are twice as likely as whites to develop the deadly, brain-wasting disease. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, show that mutations in two genes that play a role in whites also contribute to Alzheimer’s risk in blacks. One of those, known as ABCA7, may double the risk in blacks who have the mutation versus those who don’t. Although many genes have been found to raise the risk of Alzheimer’s, most studies have been conducted in largely white populations, and few studies have looked specifically at genes that drive Alzheimer’s in blacks. Part of that is because very few African Americans take part in gene studies looking at Alzheimer’s risk.

The latest findings will need to be confirmed by other research teams, and critics say the study is incomplete until that work is done.

July to see Ireland abortion law published THE Irish Government has pledged to publish new abortion laws in July. As it stands in current medical practice, doctors must treat an expectant mother and her unborn baby as equals. This constitutional protection for the unborn child places a ban on abortion, but allows medical intervention to save the life of a woman in limited circumstances. The Department of Health announced its intention to introduce a combination of legislation and regulations for doctors to abide by in cases where there may be uncertainty. Its decision came on the back of an expert group report on a separate court ruling - a European Court of Human Rights ruling on how to respond to the so-called ABC case. The new regime will provide clear procedures that will enable pregnant women to determine whether they are entitled to a lawful abortion.

See-through brains promise to clear up mental mysteries At least some of technological innovations Obama’s project envisions are within reach By Sharon Begley IF DR Karl Deisseroth were an architect he might be replacing stone or brick walls with floor-to-ceiling glass to build transparent houses. But since he is a neuroscientist at Stanford University, he has done the biological equivalent: invented a technique to make brains transparent, a breakthrough that should give researchers a truer picture of the pathways underlying both normal mental function and neurological illnesses from autism to Alzheimer’s. In fact, the first human brain the scientists clarified came from someone with autism. Deisseroth and his colleagues reported in the online edition of the journal Nature they had developed a way to replace the opaque tissue in brains (harvested from lab mice or donated by people for research) with “hydrogel,” a substance similar to that used for contact lenses. The result is see-through brains, their innards revealed in a way no current technique can: large structures such as the hippocampus show up with the clarity of organs in a transparent fish, and even neural circuits and individual cells are visible. The announcement comes just a week after President Barack Obama announced a $100 million initiative to plumb the mysteries of the brain, and offers hope that at least some of the technological breakthroughs the project envisions are within reach. Neuroscientist William Newsome, who will co-lead Obama’s initiative, called the hydrogel technique “a

major technological innovation” that “will speed our mapping of the brain’s ‘circuit diagram.’” That mapping, he said, is “an essential goal of neuroscience, and will probably be a substantial focus” of Obama’s brain project. Until now, the only way to trace neural connections was by cutting a brain into ultra-thin slices, examining each slide under a microscope to map the cells and then using a computer to virtually reassemble the slices to reveal the entire circuit. But slicing the brain like so much salami deforms the tissue and makes it difficult to work out long-range connections, like those between such far-flung regions as the prefrontal cortex and the amygdale. Neuroscientists have therefore long dreamed of studying intact brains, said Deisseroth: “That would give you a better chance of working out connections over large distances, which would help you determine structure-function relationships.” Deisseroth’s process, dubbed CLARITY (an anagram for the technique), works by a delicate feat of biochemical engineering. It turns out that what makes the brain opaque are the fatty membranes that surround and support its cells. Removing these layers by brute force, however, would make the brain tissue collapse in a puddle of neuroglop. Instead, Deisseroth and his colleagues immersed the brains of three-month-old mice in a vat of soft, jellylike hydrogel. Molecules of the hydrogel seeped into the brain and took the place of

Rosemary smell ‘may improve memory’ By Ella Pickover

New techniques mean scientists will be able to ‘see’ what happens in the brain the lipid bilayers, which were then removed through an electro-chemical process. Once the hydrogel was in place, the scientists heated it to just above body temperature, causing the molecules to connect to one another and form a sturdy mesh that acted like a shell holding in the contents of each brain. After eight days, the scientists had just what they had hoped for: an intact, seethrough mouse brain. CLARITY “is a giant step forward from having to slice

the mouse brain into 1,000 pieces and looking at them each individually, then trying to reconstruct the relationships of all those slices,” said neuroscientist Cori Bargmann of Rockefeller University, also a co-leader of Obama’s brain initiative. Because neural connections can be mapped in an intact brain, she said, “I think it will accelerate research in neuroscience.” The Stanford scientists could see the thalamus and the brainstem, the cortex

and hippocampus with the naked eye. Using a microscope revealed the white matter that serves as a brain’s transmission lines, carrying signals from one neuron to another in farflung circuits that underlie mental function. The scientists posted a three-dimensional tour of the transparent mouse brain on YouTube (www.youtube.com/ watch?v=stPThgZ2Y5o).

THE SMELL of rosemary could boost your memory, researchers said. Aroma of essential oil from the herb could improve memory in healthy adults, according to researchers from the University of Northumbria. The smell may enhance the ability to remember events and to remember to complete tasks at particular times. A group of 66 people were given memory tests in either a rosemary-scented room or another room with no scent. Participants were tasked various tests to assess memory functions, including finding hidden objects and passing specified objects to researchers at a particular time. The results, presented at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference in Harrogate, showed that participants in the rosemaryscented room performed better on the prospective memory tasks than those in the room with no smell. “We wanted to build on our previous research that indicated rosemary aroma improved long-term memory and mental arithmetic,” said author Dr Mark Moss. “In this study we focused on prospective memory, which involves the ability to remember events that will occur in the future and to remember to complete tasks at particular times. This is critical for everyday functioning. For example, when someone needs to remember to post a birthday card or to take medication at a particular time.” Co-author Jemma McCready, added: “These findings may have implications for treating individuals with memory impairments. “It supports our previous research indicating that the aroma of rosemary essential oil can enhance cognitive functioning in healthy adults, here extending to the ability to remember events and to complete tasks in the future.


CYPRUS MAIL Fri

16

Film

Oblivion

SUMMARIES Oblivion

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

(See page opposite)

Our rating:

Silver Linings Playbook (See page opposite)

Our rating:

Zero Dark Thirty (See page opposite)

Our rating:

Beautiful Creatures Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich) is a young man who longs to escape his small Southern town. Lena (Alice Englert) is the new girl in town, beautiful and mysterious. The two fall in love – but Lena is a witch (a ‘Caster’) faced with a cosmic choice: on her 16th birthday, her true nature will emerge. Will it be light or dark? Her uncle Macon (Jeremy Irons) and other members of her family are trying to shepherd her to the light, while her mother and cousin are advocating that she embrace the dark side.

After a deadly surprise attack on a team of G.I. Joes in the field near North Korea, the survivors swear revenge. The attack seems to emanate from the highest levels within the government itself. Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson), Lady Jaye (Adrienne Palicki) and Mouse (Joseph Mazzello) enlist the help of retired Col. Joe Colton (Bruce Willis) to track down the threat, facing off against Zartan, his accomplices, and the world leaders he has under his influence. Also starring D.J. Cotrona and Channing Tatum. Directed by Jon M. Chu. In 3D. (Sci-fi action, 110 mins.)

Our rating:

The Sessions At the age of 38, San Francisco poet and journalist Mark O’Brien (John Hawkes), who has been confined to an iron lung since childhood polio, decides he wants to lose his virginity before he dies. With the help of

Jack the Giant Slayer Jack (Nicholas Hoult) is a hapless farm boy who finds a pouch of magic seeds and inadvertently grows a gargantuan beanstalk that pierces the clouds and extends all the way up to a sky world populated by giants. When the beanstalk grows, Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson), the heir to the realm of King Brahmwell (Ian McShane), is in

Silver Linings Playbook

starring Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville and Peter Stormare. Directed by Kim Jee-woon. (Action thriller, 107 mins.)

Our rating:

Oz the Great and Powerful Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a travelling circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. At first he thinks he’s hit the jackpot: fame and fortune are his for the taking. That all changes, however, when he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he’s the great wizard everyone’s been expecting as per the prophecy. Nonetheless, he’s all they’ve got – and, as their new king, he’s expected to save them from evil. He is after all, the great and powerful Oz. Also starring Zach Braff. Directed by Sam Raimi. In 3D. (Adventure fantasy, 130 mins.) Our rating:

Mama

Also starring Emma Thompson, Viola Davis and Emmy Rossum. Directed by Richard LaGravenese. (Romantic fantasy, 124 mins.) Our rating:

Pitch Perfect Beca (Anna Kendrick), a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining ‘The Bellas’, the school’s all-girl a capella group, led by the demanding and headstrong Aubrey (Anna Camp), competing against the all-boy a capella group The Treblemakers. But The Bellas are stuck in an old groove, despite Beca’s attempts to make them more energetic and relevant. Meanwhile, Beca’s budding relationship with Treblemaker member Jesse (Skylar Astin) is causing all sorts of problems. Also starring Rebel Wilson and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Directed by Jason Moore. (Romantic comedy, 112 mins.) Our rating: N/A

his therapist and his priest, he contacts Cheryl Cohen-Greene (Helen Hunt), a professional ‘sex surrogate’ – but otherwise a typical mother with a teenager, a house and a husband. An unusual relationship evolves between Cheryl and Mark as she takes him on his journey. Based on a true story. Also starring William H. Macy, Moon Bloodgood and Adam Arkin. Directed by Ben Lewin. (Drama, 95 mins.) Our rating:

the wrong place at the wrong time. She is caught in the vines and carried into the sky. Jack, along with Isabelle’s protectors Elmont (Ewan McGregor) and Crawe (Eddie Marsan) and her would-be groom Roderick (Stanley Tucci), head off in pursuit. Unfortunately, Roderickk has an agenda that doesn’t involve rescuing Isabelle. In 3D. Directed by Bryan Singer. (Fantasy adventure, 114 mins.) Our rating:

Zarafa

The Last Stand

A grandfather tells his grandchildren the story of Maki, a young boy who escapes from slave traders, befriends a giraffe (the title character), crosses the desert, meets a pirate, and a few other things on a trip that takes him from Africa to Paris. Directed by Remi Bezancon and Jean-Christophe Lie. DUBBED INTO GREEK. (Kids’ cartoon, 78 mins.) Our rating: N/A

Diabolical drug-cartel boss Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega) a) busts out of FBI custody and heads for the Mexican border. His plan is to cross over near the he small town of Sommerton, and there’s only one man who can thwart him: the town’s pencilpushing sheriff Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger), armed with nothing more than years of experience as an LA narcotics cop and a team of inexperienced sidekicks. Also

A man, having shot his ex-wife, kidnaps his two young daughters (aged one and three), and wanders with the kids through the woods till they come to a dilapidated cabin. Once inside, he prepares a double murdersuicide – but something emerges from the dark to snatch him away. Five years later, the girls, Victoria (Megan Charpentier) and Lilly (Isabelle Nelisse), now eight and six, have been discovered living on their own in the cabin. Feral, and frightened of people, they’re eventually released into the custody of their uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his goth rocker girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain). But the girls don’t come on their own: they bring with them “Mama”, their ‘friend’ from the cabin. Directed by Andres Muschietti. (Horror, 100 mins.) Our rating:

Barbie in the Pink Shoes

Padre Padrone

Barbie is Kristyn, a ballerina with big dreams. When she tries on a pair of sparkling pink shoes, she and her best friend Hailey are whisked away to a fantastical ballet world where Kristyn discovers she must dance in her favourite ballets in order to defeat an evil Snow Queen. Directed by Owen Hurley. DUBBED INTO GREEK. (Kids’ cartoon, 75 mins.)

The true story of Gavino Ledda (Saverio Marconi), the son of a Sardinian shepherd, and how he managed to escape his harsh, almost barbaric existence by slowly educating himself, despite violent opposition from his brutal father (Omero Antonutti). Directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani in 1977. In Italian, with Greek subtitles. (Drama, 113 mins.)

Our rating: N/A

Our rating:

Sammy’s Great Escape

Small Crime

Sammy and Ray, a pair of leatherback turtles, are captured by a poacher and shipped off to a spectacular aquarium show in Dubai. The kingpin of the place, Big D the seahorse, enlists them in his plans for a great escape – but, with their new friends Jimbo the bug-eyed blob fish and Lulu the snippy lobster, Annabel the sweet octopus and a whole family of penguins, Sammy and Ray hatch breakout plans of their own. That is when little Ricky and Ella arrive, determined to break in to rescue them. Directed by Vincent Kesteloot and Ben Stassen. DUBBED INTO GREEK. (Kids’ cartoon, 92 mins.)

On a beautiful but ragged Greek island in the Aegean, Leonidas (Akis Servetalis) is a frustrated young policeman who’d much rather be in the big city than stuck on a sleepy island. He finds hope for action in the discovery of Zacharias’ body. Each person he talks to on the island has their own version of how Zacharias died – and, through his unorthodox investigation, Leonidas will get to know them all, fall in love, become part of the island and in the end solve the mystery of Zacharias’ death. Also starring Vicky Papadopoulou. Directed by Christos Georgiou. In Greek. (Comedy, 85 mins.)

Our rating: N/A

Our rating: N/A

Ratings Key

Unforgettable Unmissable Recommendable Watchable Regrettable Abominable


iday, April 12, 2013

17 For full cinema listings see page 18

Television

20

Crossword

21

Sport

28-32

NEW FILMS Oblivion Directed by: Joseph Kosinski Starring: Tom Cruise, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough US 2013, 126 mins. Showing from today at the K-Cineplex and K-Cineplex (Mall of Cyprus) in Nicosia, the Rio and K-Cineplex in Limassol, the K-Cineplex in Larnaca and the Rio in Paphos.

THE PLOT 60 years have passed since Earth was nearly destroyed by an alien invasion. Jack Harper (Tom Cruise), a former Marine commander, is one of the last remaining men on the planet. He’s a drone mechanic, part of a huge operation to extract the planet’s remaining vital resources, and lives on a oating station thousands of metres above the ground. A couple of weeks before his mission is due to end, Jack rescues a young stranger named Julia (Olga Kurylenko) from a crashed spacecraft – and soon ďŹ nds himself captured by an insurgency led by 102-yearold Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman), eventually making him question everything he knows about the society he lives in.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID Anti: “Only recently, Tom Cruise looked as if he was attempting to grow twelve inches to play tall tough guy Jack Reacher; now his role-model appears to be Wall-E, the diminutive cartoon automaton left behind on a wrecked planet Earth to clean up. Sadly there’s none of Wall-E’s spark in this bafingly solemn, lugubrious and fantastically derivative sci-ďŹ which serves up great big undigested lumps of Total Recall, AI, Planet of the Apes – with little snippets

Beautiful Be B eau utifu tiiffu u ull C Cr ea e attu ures rre es Creatures

of Top Gun‌ “There is little of the knowing humour and fun we saw in the Mission Impossible ďŹ lms, just plenty of shots of Tom doing his Action Hero face, at the controls of his elaborate helicopter-plane-device, or dropping athletically down on ropes, or on the macho motorbike he occasionally rides around on ‌ Oblivion goes on for a long time, moving slowly and self-consciously, and it looks like a very expensive movie project that has been written and rewritten many times over. It is a shame: Cruise, Riseborough and Kurylenko as the last love triangle left on Planet Earth should have been quite interesting.â€? Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian (UK)

Silver Linings Playbook Directed by: David O. Russell Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver US 2012, 122 mins. Showing from today at the K-Cineplex and K-Cineplex (Mall of Cyprus) in Nicosia, the Rio and K-Cineplex in Limassol, the K-Cineplex in Larnaca and the Rio in Paphos.

THE PLOT Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything – his house, his job, and his wife. He now ďŹ nds himself living back with his mother Dolores (Jacki Weaver) and father Pat Snr (Robert De Niro) after spending eight months in a mental health facility. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet – but Pat is obsessed with reuniting with his estranged wife Nikki, even though she’s the reason he went off the rails in the ďŹ rst place. When he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl

with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with Nikki – but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return.

THE PLOT Hitchcock

Maya (Jessica Chastain) is a CIA agent whose life is transformed after 9/11. She reluctantly participates in extreme duress (read: torture) applied to detainees, but believes that the truth can only be obtained through such tactics. For several years, she’s singleminded – and increasingly obsessive – in her pursuit of leads to uncover the whereabouts of Al Qaeda’s leader, Osama Bin Laden. Finally, in 2011, it appears that her work will pay off, and a U.S. Navy SEAL team is sent to kill or capture Bin Laden. But only Maya is conďŹ dent that Bin Laden is where she says he is.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID Pro: “Silver Linings Playbook, the exuberant new movie from David O. Russell, does almost everything right. The story tracks the feverish, happy, sad, absurdly funny ups and downs of a head case named Pat Solatano, played by a surprisingly effective, intensely focused Bradley Cooper‌ “Russell’s afďŹ nity for sight gags and the slap and tickle that makes lovers of combatants derives from his afďŹ nity for screwball comedy, a genre that emerged in the 1930s and that he borrows for his own singular purposes ‌ The world in Silver Linings Playbook looks different from the way it does in old screwball comedies, of course, but it too is racked by pain and worry, and there are lost jobs and pensions amid its hiccupping laughter. For all its high-ying zaniness the movie has the sting of life, and its humour feels dredged up from the same dark, boggy place from which Samuel Beckett extracted his yuks. Silver Linings Playbook is crammed with people talking and shouting and weeping and also yielding to what are sometimes called boundary issues but which here turn out to be the mad, loving scrambling of people ďŹ nding and saving one another.â€? Manohla Dargis, New York Yo Times (US) “Cooper, best known as tthe People Hangover guy and People’s Sexiest Man Alive, seizes tthe juiciest role of his career an and meets every comic and dr dramatic challenge. There’s an touchin ache in his funny, touching th and vital performance that fe resonates. Lawrence, the fem warrior of The Hunger Gam Games nom and Academy Award nomiWinter nee at 20 for 2010’s Winter’s Bone, is some kind of mirac miracle. She’s rude, dirty, funny, fou foulv mouthed, sloppy, sexy, vibrant and vulnerable, som somescen times all in the same scene, even in the same breath‌ “Russell gives Silver Linin Linings Playbook a jagged, joltin jolting ba spark that throws you off balbehin ance. Tiffany jogs up behind Pat, prodding and pokin poking T until she wins him over. The movie works the same way ‌ o Pat and Tiffany walk and ofem ten wobble among the emoTha tionally wounded. That’s when these two losers in love cut deepest. Ting Tinged with shadows and iignited by Lawren Lawrence and Cooper, Silv Silver Linings Playboo Playbook raises the b bar

Silver Linings Playbook

Zero Dark Thirty

on romantic comedy. It’s crazy good.� Peter Travers, Rolling Stone (US)

Zero Dark Thirty Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow Starring: Jessica Chastain,

Jennifer Ehle, Jason Clarke US 2012, 157 mins. Showing from today at the K-Cineplex and K-Cineplex (Mall of Cyprus) in Nicosia, the Rio and K-Cineplex in Limassol, the K-Cineplex in Larnaca and the Rio in Paphos.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID Pro: “In Zero Dark Thirty, the key American ďŹ lm of 2012, Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal – the pair behind The Hurt Locker – are after something truer and more lasting than getting an audience to burst into applause when the bad guys are outfoxed. Nothing in the climax of Zero Dark Thirty settles for easy triumphalism. Everything about the ďŹ lm is potentially controversial, yet hardly any of it can be pigeonholed by way of ideology or politics‌ “Events depicted in the ďŹ lm, notably the waterboarding, have been debated from every side, both for their factual accuracy (not that anyone’s complaining about the hogwash content in Argo) and their political implications. I assure you: Although Zero Dark Thirty ends with the sight of a (metaphorical) bloodstained ag behind its elusive protagonist, its stance is extremely tricky. It’s not a documentary. It’s not a load of revenge nonsense. It’s not 24. I’m still arguing with myself over parts of it. “And that’s a sign that a movie will endure.â€? Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune (US)

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Friday, April 12, 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

TELEPHONE NUMBERS: K-CINEPLEX: 77778383 RIO LIMASSOL: 25871410 RIO PAPHOS: 26207000

NICOSIA Oblivion (N/A) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 5.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 1) at 5.25, 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 11.30am and 3pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Silver Linings Playbook (N/A) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 5.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 4) at 5.25, 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 11.30am and 3pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Zero Dark Thirty (N/A) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 7.15 and 10.10pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 5) at 7.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Beautiful Creatures (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also 5.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 5) at 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Pitch Perfect (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.50pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) at 7.50pm. Tel: 7777-8383 G.I. Joe: Retaliation (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 7.45 and 10.15pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 2) at 7.45 and 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Zarafa (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek), weekends only at 5.35pm; KCineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 2) (in Greek) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Jack the Giant Slayer (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 10.15pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) at 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Barbie in the Pink Shoes (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek), weekends only at 5.35pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 3) (in Greek) at 5.35pm, weekends also at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Sammy’s Great Escape (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) (in Greek), weekends only at 5.25pm; K-Cineplex, Mall of Cyprus (Screen 5) (in Greek) at 5.25pm, weekends also at 11.20am, 1.15pm and 3.20pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Padre Padrone (in Italian, with Greek subtitles) Cine Studio, tonight at 9pm, Sunday at 8pm, Tuesday and Thursday at 9pm, presented by the Friends of the Cinema Society. Tel: 96-420491, www.ofk.org.cy

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

LIMASSOL Oblivion (N/A) Rio 1 at 7.45 and 10pm, weekends also at 5pm. Tel: 25871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 5.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Silver Linings Playbook (N/A) Rio 4 at 7.45 and 10pm, weekends also at 5.15pm. Tel: 25871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 5.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Zero Dark Thirty (N/A) Rio 2 at 10pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 7.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Beautiful Creatures (12) Rio 5 at 7.45 and 10pm, weekends also at 5.15pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Pitch Perfect (12) Rio 3 at 10pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.50pm. Tel: 7777-8383 G.I. Joe: Retaliation (12) Rio 2, weekdays at 7.45pm, weekends at 8.10pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 7.45 and 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383 The Sessions (15) Rio 6 at 8pm, weekends also at 6pm. Tel: 25-871410

Zarafa (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek), weekends only at 5.35pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Silver Linings Playbook (N/A) K-Cineplex (Screen 4) at 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 5.25pm

Jack the Giant Slayer (12) Rio 3 at 7.45pm. Tel: 25871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 10.15pm. Tel: 7777-8383

Zero Dark Thirty (N/A) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) at 7.15 and 10.10pm

The Last Stand (15) Rio 6 at 10.10pm. Tel: 25871410 Oz the Great and Powerful (12) Rio 3, weekends only at 5.20pm. Tel: 25-871410 Barbie in the Pink Shoes (K) Rio 2 (in Greek), weekends only at 5 and 6.30pm. Tel: 25-871410; K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek) weekends only at 5.35pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Sammy’s Great Escape (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 5), weekends only at 5.25pm. Tel: 7777-8383 Padre Padrone (in Italian, with Greek subtitles) Rio 5, Monday at 8.30pm, presented by the Limassol Cine Club. www.cinelesxi.org

LARNACA Oblivion (N/A) K-Cineplex (Screen 1) at 7.45 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 5.25pm

PAPHOS Oblivion (N/A) Rio 1 at 7.30 and 9.45pm, weekends also at 3 and 5.15pm Silver Linings Playbook (N/A) Rio 5 at 7.30 and 9.45pm, weekends also at 3 and 5.15pm

Beautiful Creatures (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 6) at 7.50 and 10.15pm, weekends also at 5.25pm

Zero Dark Thirty (N/A) Rio 2 at 9.45pm, weekends also at 4.30pm

Pitch Perfect (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 7.50pm

Beautiful Creatures (12) Rio 4 at 7.30 and 9.45pm, weekends also at 5.15pm

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) at 7.45 and 10.15pm

Pitch Perfect (12) Rio 6 at 9.45pm

Zarafa (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 2) (in Greek), weekends only at 5.35pm Jack the Giant Slayer (12) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) at 10.15pm Barbie in the Pink Shoes (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 3) (in Greek), weekends only at 5.35pm Sammy’s Great Escape (K) K-Cineplex (Screen 5) (in Greek), weekends only at 5.25pm Small Crime (in Greek) Thursday at 8.30pm, Tel: 99-658831, www.lfcinema.org

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (12) Rio 7 at 7.30 and 9.45pm The Sessions (15) Rio 3, weekdays at 7.30pm, weekends at 6 and 7.45pm Jack the Giant Slayer (12) Rio 6 at 7.30pm, weekends also at 3 and 5.15pm The Last Stand (15) Rio 3 at 9.45pm Oz the Great and Powerful (12) Rio 7, weekends only at 3 and 5.15pm Mama (15) Rio 2 at 7.30pm

listings Today Exhibitions Christos Michlis Solo painting exhibition. Opens April 12, 8pm until April 26. Rouan Gallery, 28 Dodekanisou, Limassol. Monday-Saturday: 10.30am-1pm and 4.30pm-7.30pm. Tel: 25-350845 Costas Economou Solo painting exhibition. Opens April 12, 7.30pm until April 26. EKATE building, 11 Paeonos, Nicosia. 10am1pm and 5pm-8pm. Tel: 22-466426 A Fleur de Peau Group exhibition. Opens April 12, 8pm until May 4. Is Not Gallery, 11 Odysseus, Chrysaliniotissa, Nicosia. Monday-Saturday: 10am-1pm and 4pm-8pm. Tel: 22-343670

Random Walk Solo art exhibition by Dimitra Bista. Opens April 12, 8pm until May 4. 50-1 Gallery, 49 Ellados Street, Limassol. Monday-Friday: 11am-1pm & 4pm-8pm. Saturday: 12 midday-4pm. Email: info@50-1gallery.com Erick Vittorino Solo art exhibition by Brazilian interior designer/decorator, muralist and colour specialist. Opens April 12, until April 22. ArtHouse 59 Kitou Kyprianou Street Old Town Limassol. Open daily: 2pm-10pm My Utopia Solo art exhibition by Maria Tsiakka. Opens April 12, until April 15. Stegi Grammaton Kai Tehnon, June 16 1943 Avenue, Limassol. Friday-Sunday: 10am-1pm and 4pm-7pm. Monday: 10am-10pm. Tel: 99-231912/25-749179

Music

Myth of Image Solo painting exhibition by Andreas Makariou. Opens April 12, 8pm until April 17. Thiseas Art Gallery, 9 Thiseos Street, Limassol. 11am-1pm and 4pm7pm. Tel: 99-674243/96-335889

Armenian and Italian Music Concert by Cyprus Symphony Orchestra presenting arias, duets and overtures from works by prominent Armenian and Italian composers. April 12. Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. €12/7. Tel: 22-313010

Space, Colour, City – The City as a Large Home Twenty art works by young people aged 17 to 22 within the context of the art competition Space, Shade, State. Opens April 12, 6pm until April 30. The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, 15-17 Hippocrates Street, old Nicosia. Tel: 22-661475

Yiannis Kotsiras Popular Greek artist in concert presenting old and new works accompanied by Savveria Margiola and five musicians. April 12-13. Rialto Theatre, Limassol. 8.30pm. €18/22. The proceeds will go towards the Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends. Tel: 77-777745

Caritas Spring Concert A charity event with two guitar recitals and an intermezzo by a violin performer. April 12. Catherine’s Catholic Church, 2 Jerusalem Street on the sea front in Limassol. 7.30pm. Free entrance, but donation will be much appreciated Tel: 99-835650/25-362946

Sovrakaless Play based on the book by Terrence McNally and the film The Full Monty. April 12 until June 9. WhereHaus 612, 5 Michael Kousoulide, Pallouriotissa Industrial Area, Nicosia. On Specific days at 8.30pm. In Greek. €15/12. Tel: 70-000612

Theatre

Tomorrow

Kai Mi Heirotera Theatro Lexi presents comedy by Giorgos Tsiakkas which satirizes Europe and Cyprus today. April 12 until May 1. Latsia Municipal Theatre, 57 Yiannos Kranidiotis Avenue, Nicosia. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8.30pm and Sundays at 6.30pm. €15. In Greek. Tel: 22-878688 The Good Body XMAS Productions presents a play by Tony award-winning playwright Eve Ensler. April 12-14. Melina Merkouri Hall, Famagusta Gate, Nicosia. 9 pm. In English, with two exceptions in Greek. €10. All profits will go towards the Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Cyprus. Tel: Tel: 99-467966/22797650. For reservations email thegoodbodyshow@gmail.com Centuries away from Alaska Dionysos Theatre presents play by Akis Dimou, directed by Tonia Misiali. April 12 until June 2. Dionysos Theatre, 29 Diagorou Street, Nicosia. On Fridays and Saturdays at 8.30pm and Sundays at 6.30pm. In Greek. €15. Tel: 99-621845/22-818999

Music Neon Knights Local band present an evening of rock ‘n’ roll classics. April 13. Savino Live, 1 Watkins Street, Larnaca. €5. Tel: 99-426011/ 99-860304 I Love the 90s with Dino G [Volume 2.5] Relive the golden days with Dino G behind the decks spinning tunes, videos by Veejay Steel, and dance show by Constantine Dance Crew. April 13. Club Occhio, 23, Alkeou Street, Engomi, Nicosia 10.30pm. Free entrance if you reserve or €5 + 1 drink on the door. Tel: 99-310031

Theatre Children of Cain Theatro Ena presents psychological thriller by Andreas Thomopoulos. April 13-14. B Municipal Market (Theatro Ena), Limassol. 8.30pm. In Greek. €15/12.

Other Events Mind Body & Spirit Exhibition Join wellbeing experts, discover natural health, organic products, the environment, yoga, spirituality and much more. April 13-14. St Raphael Hotel, Limassol. Saturday: 11am-8pm. Sunday: 11am-7pm. Free seminars or workshops. €8. Tel: 25-834200/96472717. www.mbscyprus.com Second Motorbike Show & Exhibition The exhibition will include new motorbike models, special equipment, a large range of accessories and many other products for the modern motorcyclist. With Live music, shows and competitions. April 13-14. Pavilion Hall, Lakatameia, Nicosia. Saturday: 10am-9pm. Sunday: 11am-9pm. Tel: 22-322222 Baby, Toddler and Christening Exhibition An exhibition of products and services for expectant parents and infant children also covers the needs of organising a christening. April 13-14. Hilton Nicosia, Archbishop Makarios III Avenue. 1pm-8pm. €5. Tel: 22315474/22-315477 Stage One Youth Festival Festival comprising speech and drama, singing and dancing young performers from Young Stars Theatre School. April 13. Emba Theatre, Paphos. 7pm. €5. Tel: 99-967737

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

Spring Event A bazaar featuring illustrations, prints, fabric accessories, jewellery and pottery all in the courtyard of a traditional Cypriot house. With food by The Two Little Chefs in a Green Kitchen and Heavenly Cupcakes. April 13-14. 8 Aphrodite Street, Old Strovolos, Nicosia. 11am-6pm. Tel: 99-880554

Ongoing Other Events East Med Marine Exhibition The only specialised technical marine exhibition in the Eastern Mediterranean, showcasing a wide range of marine equipment and components to the shipping industry. April 11-12. GrandResort, Limassol. 4pm-9pm. Tel: 25-889804. www.eastmedexpo.com

Theatre Pinocchio Theatre Maskarini unique adaptation of well-known tale. Until April 14. Russian Cultural Centre, 16 Alassias Street, Nicosia. Every Sunday at 10.30am. In Greek. Tel: 22-761607/22-270420

Exhibition Coloureceivers Solo art exhibition by Savvinos Pareskevas. Until April 12. Gallery Kypriaki Gonia, 45 Stadiou Street, Larnaca. MondaySaturday: 10am-1pm & 4.30pm-8pm. Tel: 24-621109


CYPRUS MAIL Friday, April 12, 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

A fair bit of Spring

Review Other Events Mime: something different

THE BIRDS are chirping, the intoxicating smell of orange blossoms permeates the air and the sun is shining late into the day. Spring is here and we couldn’t be more excited despite the economic doom and gloom. The spring season is full of daylong, weekend long and weeklong festivals, fairs and bazaars that are nd bring sure to get you outside to enjoy the sun and a smile back to your face. puCyprus’ spring festivals range from the popular Street Life Festival in Limassol and the Inal ternational Pharos Chamber Music Festival in Nicosia and Paphos to smaller intimate fairs and bazaars; this weekend there are couple of events to look out for. Lovers of one-of-a-kind finds ought to d descend on the Spring Event, where the goods up for grabs include illustrations, prints, fabric, accessories, jewellery, pottery and much more. The weekend-long sale located in a quaint courtyard of a traditional Cypriot house is punctuated with food and drink by The Two Little Chefs in a Green Kitchen. They make homemade, organic (when possible), good quality vegetarian food, which is always freshly made on the day. You can normally find The Two Little Chefs in a Green Kitchen serving their vegetarian meals at Utopia every Wednesday. Following the success of the December fair, the organisers decided to host another show. The event will begin on both days at 11am and go on to 6 pm. On Saturday, The Two Little Chefs in a Green Kitchen will be selling their delicious vegetarian food and on Sunday, Dina from Heavenly Cupcakes will be selling her yummy treats. The food can be eaten in the garden or taken away with you. It’s all about family fun at Fashion Show Bazaar, a fundraiser for the Nicosia Dog Shelter (NDS). Pet shelters are often underfunded, leaving them unable to accept animals that need a place to stay. One of the best ways to show that you care for pets in your community, outside of adopting them of course, is a fundraiser that benefits the shelter and on Sunday the (NDS) is doing just that with an entertaining day out for kids and a fashion event for adults at the Junior School in Nicosia. The event will showcase the latest fashion trends that include samples from London as well as almost new clothes for sale. Also there will be games for the little ones, face painting, a bake sale, toys, books and a painting competition. If you are thinking of getting a dog the shelter urge

THE Cyprus French institute offered a fresh experience to Cypriot audiences by hosting a mime performance at Skali Aglandjias last Friday. Guerassim Dichliev performed the one hour solo piece, One Mime Retells in which he energetically portrayed a variety of original physical characters, entertaining both adults and children alike. The pieces, titled by a recorded voice, pivoted between comedy and art, ranging from abstract ideas such as ‘creation’, ‘imagination’ and ‘life’, to much lighter and more typical mime comedy sketches including a violinist (Man + violin + bug = problem), a hilarious phone-call between a boy and a girl, and a tragicomic portrayal of a lonely chef who finds a chick in one of his eggs. The comedy pieces were far more powerful than the abstract ones, which seemed slightly misplaced once a comic atmosphere had been established. Nevertheless, Dichliev proved a highly gifted

yo to consider adoption first. From 11am to you 2p dogs will be available for adoption from 2pm the shelter. Meet a new family member, or just take a look and talk to shelter staff. Even those that cannot adopt can find out about volunteering or fostering a pet to help out. Activities will include pooch related games and competitions. It’s also worth noting that 10 per cent of proceeds will be donated to charity Cans for Kids, a charity that organises the collection and recycling of aluminium cans in Cyprus. To encourage people to save their cans, it was decided to use the proceeds to purchase medical equipment for the children’s wards at Cypriot hospitals. Since its inception, the charity has raised thousands of euros worth of equipment has been donated to the Makarios Hospital in Nicosia. Spring Event A bazaar featuring illustrations, prints, fabric accessories, jewellery and pottery all in the courtyard of se. With food a traditional Cypriot house. by The Two Little Chefs in a Green upcakes. Kitchen and Heavenly Cupcakes. April 13-14. 8 Aphroditee Street, Old Strovolos, Nicosia. 11am6pm. Tel: 99-880554 NDS Fashion Bazaar draiser Nicosia Dog Shelter fundraiser with clothes (samples off London) for sale, games for kids, food option. & drink and dogs for adoption. April 14. Junior School inn Nicosia. 11am-4pm. 10 per cent of proceeds will be donatedd to char357005 ity. Tel: 99-868512/22-357005 By Ledha Socratous

On The Scene Other Events Limassol’s got talent ANY local or area resident who has a talent will have an opportunity to strut their stuff at the third annual Open Talent Show at the Limassol Theatre Arts School. Limassol’s own stage school for kids is giving young singers, dancers, musicians and entertainers the opportunity to perform in a competition showdown which will be judged by a panel of professionals flying in from the West End, London and top musicians of Cyprus next Saturday. Competitors will be divided into four age categories – Juniors 4 to 8, Intermediates 9 to 13 and Seniors 14 to 18 years old. There’s still time to sign up for the annual talent show as the deadline for registration is Tuesday April 16. These fun-filled shows are jampacked with a broad array of performing arts, including local and instrumental music, dance and more. Performers range from the oh-so-cute youth to the well-seasoned star. And there are always a few surprises. The panel of judges for this year’s Talent Show includes a well-known West End performer with a list of credits to his name (most recently

physical performer, conveying the mute characters and stories effectively. Skali is well known for its impressive amphitheatre, but the interior spaces are rarely used for theatre due to their poor technical facilities and lack of a backstage area. This is a true shame, as the experience within the spectacular cave-like structures is magical, and even without the theatrical ‘necessities’, performances can maintain a powerful character. For the mime, the stone backdrop offered a simplistic natural setting which proved ideal for all of the pieces. The only pitfall of the aesthetics were the cold LED lights projected onto the stage. Overall, the show was definitely something different and while the majority of the audience was French, I would highly recommend looking out for the rare opportunity to experience foreign performance work. While Cyprus does provide a wide selection of impressive theatrical pieces which are constantly improving as new artists step forward, we are a very small island and any foreign influence will only serve to encourage audiences to demand more and artists to ultimately supply.

By Eleni Cosma

Dance Captain for The Wizard of Oz and Sweet Charity) and a professional musician (Spirit of the Dance, backing well-known solo artists) as well as an actress. All competitors will be called for a technical rehearsal in the week leading up to the competition. Among the prizes awarded to each winner of each category will be: a fully produced cover song with video sponsored by Soundscape Studios amounting to the value of 3,600 Euro; a scholarship to the Musical Theatre Summer School at the renowned Pineapple Performing Arts Studio in Covent Garden, London; and scholarships to the stage school (LTAS) for Vocal and Musical Theatre coaching. The judge from the West End Richard Roe will also be giving potential young performers from Cyprus, aged 8 – 18 years the opportunity to take part in a prestigious workshop based on his work in The Wizard of Oz on Sunday, April 21. LTAS Third Annual Talent Show Limassol’s stage school for kids is giving young singers, dancers, musicians and entertainers the opportunity to perform in a competition showdown which will be judged by a panel of professionals from the West End and top musicians of Cyprus. April 20, deadline for registration April 16. Limassol Theatre Arts School, Panathineon 13, Ayia Zoni. 3pm-9pm. €5. Tel: 99-784927. www.limassolarts.com April 21: Workshop by Judge from the West End. €12 per child. email limassl.arts@gmail.com

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


Friday, April 12, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

20

Television CYBC 1 06.45 08.15

Proti Enimerosi Kali Sas Mera

CYBC 2 08.00 17.00

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

11.00 11.30

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

12.00 15.30 16.00 18.00 18.15

Apo Mera Se Mera Entehnos Mazi Sto CyBC News Kaftes Piperies

18.00 18.50 19.00 19.10 20.00 21.00

Paizoume Kypriaka

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

20.00 21.15

22.30

News Patates 8

FILM: Transformers A teenage boy is drawn into a long-running war between the noble alien Autobots and their devious nemeses, the Decepticons. Sci-fi action adventure, starring Shia La Beouf. 2007. With News at 23.30.

00.15

Repeats

07.50 08.40

Biz/Emeis News In English News In Turkish Album Show NRG Zone Vera

09.30 10.25 11.15

Top Gear Seventeenth season. Episode 1: Jeremy Clarkson celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-type by driving a modernday interpretation of the classic sports car. Richard Hammond is in South Africa, where he tests the Marauder, and James May tries out the latest Mini rally car. Plus, the Stig takes the BMW 1 Series M Coupe around the test track and Alice Cooper gets behind the wheel of the Reasonably Priced Car.

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

22.00

05.30 06.20 06.50 07.00

First season of detective drama. ‘Little Lazarus’. A woman is murdered in a hedgerow but her son survives the attack. As the investigation into the mother’s killing unfolds, Vera finds a kindred spirit in the boy and comes to realise the key to solving the case lies deep in his memory.

Local game show, asking questions having to do with Cypriot dialect.

19.20

Kids’ TV Kati Psinetai (rpt) Amateur chefs each stage a dinner party to find who will be crowned the winning host.

Live cookery show.

18.45

ANTENNA

23.30

Repeats

12.10 13.00 13.20 14.00 14.50 15.45 16.40 17.30 17.40

Erotas (rpt) Proini Enimerosi Me Agapi Strivein Dia Tou Arravonos (rpt) Vodka Portokali (rpt) Fila To Vatraho Sou (rpt) Einai Stigmes (rpt) Panselinos (rpt) Tis Agapis Mahairia (rpt) Niose Me (rpt) News Mera Mesimeri Konstantinou Kai Elenis (rpt) To Kafe Tis Haras (rpt) Ta Koritsia Tou Baba (rpt) Oneiropagida (rpt) Lefta Sto Lepto Yia Tin Agapi Sou (rpt) With News at 18.00.

18.40 19.30 20.20 21.25 22.20

Tin Patisa (rpt) Niose Me News Ekeino To Kalokairi (rpt) Laikes Paraskeves

MEGA 06.00 06.15

Greek drama series.

07.00 08.00

01.40 02.30 03.20 04.40

News Sports News Vradi Me Ton Petro Kostopoulo (rpt) Horis Oria (rpt) Angigma Zois (rpt) News Deal (rpt)

Epomeni Mera (rpt) Master Chef (rpt) Greek competitive cooking reality show, open to amateur and home chefs.

09.00 10.00

Klemmena Oneira (rpt) Proino Mou Lifestyle programme hosted by real life couple Giorgos Liagas and Fay Skorda.

11.40 14.00 16.00 18.00 18.10 19.00 20.20 21.20

Enimerosi Tora Eheis Meson Yia Sena News Erastis Ditikon Proastion (rpt) Epomeni Mera News Klemmena Oneira Greek drama series.

22.20

FILM: Fire Down Below A government agent sets out to stop a wealthy tycoon dumping toxic waste in abandoned mine shafts. Action adventure, starring Steven Seagal. 1997.

Greek music show.

00.00 00.05 00.30

Ta Epta Kaka Tis Moiras Mou Retire (rpt)

00.00 00.10

News ‘Til Death

SIGMA 06.10 07.00 08.20 10.00 10.50 12.00 14.30 15.20 17.10 18.00 18.05 18.40 19.30 20.20 21.20 22.30

Anna Paola (rpt) Protoselido Eleni Vasiliki (rpt) Mila Mou (rpt) Mesimeri Kai Kati Efta Ourani Kai Sinnefa Alites (rpt) Magazino Siga Min To’ Xeres News Ti Tha Fame Simera Mama Anna Paola Efta Ourani Kai Sinnefa Alites News Aspra Balonia Stin Igeia Mas Greek variety show, with well-known guests pretending to have a goood time for the benefit of You At Home.

00.20 00.25 01.20 02.10 03.30 04.00 04.30

News Istories Tou Astinomou Beka (rpt) Siga Min To’ Xeres (rpt) Mona Mia Fora (rpt) Se Fonto Kokkino (rpt) Ta Hrisopsara (rpt) Eleni (rpt)

Sitcom chronicling the domestic discord of a middle-aged couple.

01.00 03.00 04.30

PLUS TV 06.45 07.20 08.30 09.05 10.00

Kid’s TV Fotis - Maria Live Best Of Exelixeis Sti Showbiz Mesimeriani Meleti Best Of I Kouzina Me Ti Dina (rpt) Cooking show.

10.45

Mila (rpt) Discussions about women’s issues with showbiz guests.

11.40 12.30 13.00 15.30 17.00 17.50 19.40

Berdema(rpt) Star News Mesimeriani Meleti Kids’ TV Berdema Fotis Maria Live Mila Discussions about various issues based on a woman’s life.

21.15 22.00

Exelixeis Stin Showbiz FILM: Interview With The Vampire A man who claims to be an 18th-century vampire tells the story of his life to a journalist in modern-day San Francisco. Gothic horror, with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst. 1994.

00.00 01.50 02.20

CAPITAL 06.45 09.05 09.35 10.00 11.00 11.30 12.30 13.20 15.20 16.15 16.45 17.40 18.10 18.15 19.15 19.50 20.05 21.00

A con-man decides to go straight and starts working at a post office, where he begins answering a stream of letters addressed to God. Comedy drama, starring Greg Kinnear. 1996.

23.10

FILM: Glengarry Glen Ross A day in the life of real estate salesmen who goes to dramatic lengths to survive a bleak economic climate. Drama, starring Jack Lemmon. 1992.

LTV Sports News Star News Repeats 01.10

Yia Sena (rpt) Enimerosi Tora (rpt) Proino Mou (rpt)

Kid’s TV Magikos Kosmos Akti Oneiron Ston Asterismos Tis Imeras Kouzina Me Apopsi Sto Mati Tou Kiklona (rpt) Milagros Kids’ TV Top Models Kouzina Me Apopsi (rpt) Sabrina, To Koritsi Tis Agapis Akti Oneiron News Sto Mati Tou Kiklona News Sports Time O Anthropos Tis Thalassas FILM: Dear God

FILM: Direct Action Action thriller, starring Dolph Lundgren. 1996.

War Horse (Novacinema3, 18.30)

01:15 Silk 02:05 The Weakest Link 02:50 EastEnders 03:20 Doctors 03:50 Famous, Rich & In The Slums 04:45 The Stephen K Amos Show 05:15 Bleak Old Shop of Stuff 05:45 My Family 06:15 The Weakest Link 07:00 Garth And Bev 07:10 Fimbles 07:30 Boogie Beebies 07:45 Tellytales 07:55 Me Too! 08:15 Garth And Bev 08:25 Fimbles 08:45 Boogie Beebies 09:00 Tellytales 09:10 Me Too! 09:30 My Family 10:00 Keeping Up Appearances 10:30 The Weakest Link 11:15 EastEnders 11:45 Doctors 12:15 Richard Hammond Meets Evel Knievel 13:05 Famous, Rich & In The Slums 14:00 My Family 14:30 The Weakest Link 15:15 Keeping Up Appearances 15:45 EastEnders 16:15 Doctors 16:45 Richard Hammond Meets Evel Knievel 17:35 Famous, Rich & In The Slums 18:25 The Weakest Link 19:10 EastEnders 19:40 Doctors 20:10 Casualty 21:00 My Family 21:30 2 Point 4 Children 22:00 The Diamond Queen 22:50 Lead Balloon 23:20 Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show 23:45 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 00:30 Mad Dogs

07:00 Sunrise Earth 07:55 The Aviators 08:40 Chasing Classic Cars 09:30 Solving History With Olly Steeds 10:15 Science Of The Movies 11:05 Deadliest Catch 11:50 Time Warp 12:15 Reign Of The Dinosaurs 13:05 Mighty Mississippi 13:50 Chasing Classic Cars 14:35 1000 Places To See Before You Die 15:25

Solving History With Olly Steeds 16:10 Mythbusters 17:00 Unchained Reaction 17:50 Meteorite Men 18:40 Chasing Classic Cars 19:30 1000 Places To See Before You Die 20:20 Science Of The Movies 21:10 The History Of Singapore 22:00 Unchained Reaction 22:50 Meteorite Men 23:40 Deadliest Catch 00:30 Science Of The Movies 01:15 Mythbusters 02:05 Unchained Reaction 02:50 Meteorite Men 03:40 Chasing Classic Cars 04:30 The History Of Singapore 05:20 1000 Places To See Before You Die 06:10 Science Of The Movies

09:30 Rally Raid : Abu Dhabi Challenge In Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates 09:45 Fitness: The Box 10:00 Tennis: Wta Tournament Poland 11:00 Weightlifting: European Championship Albania 13:00 Tennis: Wta Tournament Poland 17:00 Weightlifting: European Championship Albania 23:00 Fight Sport: Total Ko 00:00 Equestrian Sports: Riders Club 00:15 Strongest Man: Champions League Martinique 01:15 Weightlifting: European Championship Albania Saturday, April 13 09:30 Fitness: The Box 09:45 Tennis: Wta Tournament Poland 11:00 Weightlifting: European Championship Albania 13:00 Cycling: Paris Roubaix, France 14:00 Tennis: Wta Tournament Poland 17:00 Equestrian: Saut Hermès Paris 18:45 Weightlifting: European Championship Albania 23:30 Fight Sport: Fight

Club 01:30 Weightlifting: European Championship Albania

05:40 Desperate Housewives 7 06:25 Bones 3 07:10 Raising Hope 2 07:35 Scrubs 9 08:00 Grey’s Anatomy 08:50 Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations 09:40 Desperate Housewives 7 10:25 Bones 3 11:10 Raising Hope 11:35 Scrubs 9 12:00 Happy Endings 3 12:25 Don’t Trust The B...In Apartment 23 12:50 Glee 3 13:40 Grey’s Anatomy 14:25 Jamie’s Ministry Of Food 15:20 Desperate Housewives 7 16:05 Bones 3 16:50 Raising Hope 2 17:15 Scrubs 9 17:40 Grey’s Anatomy 18:30 Donna Hay: Fast, Fresh, Simple 19:25 Desperate Housewives 7 20:10 Bones 3 21:00 Happy Endings 3 21:25 Don’t Trust The B...In Apartment 23 21:50 Last Man Standing 2 22:15 The Neighbors 22:40 Raising Hope 2 23:05 Scrubs 9 23:30 Happy Endings 3 23:55 Don’t Trust The B...In Apartment 23 00:20 Last Man Standing 2 00:45 The Neighbors 01:10 Donna Hay: Fast, Fresh, Simple 02:00 Desperate Housewives 7 02:45 Raising Hope 2 03:10 Scrubs 9 03:35 Surviving Suburbia 04:00 Grey’s Anatomy 04:50 Make It Or Break It

07:30 Heyday! 09:15 Un Prophete 12:00 Rollover 14:00 Chloe 15:45 Unknown (2011) 17:45 Hereafter 20:00 LTV Sports News 21:00 Red State 23:00 Carnage

00:25 Hustler TV 03:00 Insidious 04:40 Messenger 06:30 LTV Sports News (E)

07:00 Kids TV 15:45 Justice League Unlimited 16:10 Legion Of Super Heroes 16:35 Young Justice 17:00 Best Premier League Games 17:30 Planet Speed 18:00 Barclays Premier League World 18:30 Nba Action 19:00 La Liga World 19:30 Barclays Premier League 201213 21:30 Best Classic Premier League Games 23:30 Barclays Premier League Preview 00:00 La Liga Show 2012-13 00:30 Barclays Premier League Review 01:30 La Liga Review 2012-13 02:30 Nba 2012-13 05:00 Barclays Premier League 2012-13

07:15 Privileged 08:00 Friends 08:30 Closer 09:20 Luck 10:20 One Tree Hill 11:15 Strike Back 13:00 Closer 13:45 Privileged 14:30 Closer 15:20 Luck 16:15 Big Bang Theory 16:40 2 Broke Girls 17:25 Mentalist 18:10 C.S.I. Miami 19:00 Closer 19:45 Pan Am 20:30 Friends 21:00 Necessary Roughness 22:50 Ncis: Los Angeles 23:35 Underbelly Nz: Land Of The Long Green Cloud 00:25 In Praise Of Older Women 02:15 Groupie 03:45 Big Bang Theory 04:10 2 Broke Girls 05:00 Mentalist 05:45 C.S.I. Miami 06:30 Closer

07:45 Botched 09:30 80 Minutes 11:15

14:00 The Masters Rd.1 Augusta, GA 18:00 PRE GAME(E) 18:45 CHAMPIONSHIP 2012-13: AEP VS APOLLON (E) 20:45 POST GAME (E) 21:30 A DIVISION CYPRUS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP 22:00 The Masters Rd.2 Augusta, GA

Running With Scissors 13:30 Majestic 16:15 A Scanner Darkly 18:00 Extract 20:00 Stone 22:00 Beyond Borders 00:10 Daring! TV 04:05 Fathers And Sons 06:00 Mechanic

18:30 War Horse 21:00 Love Crime 00:35 Cine News 01:30 Adult Zone 03:05 The Jackal

05:05 London 06:40 Cine News 06:55 Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life 09:00 Marley & Me: The Puppy Years 10:30 Mad On Novacinema 13:10 Big Miracle 15:00 Beastly 16:30 Cine News 16:45 Thor 18:45 The Way 21:00 Ncis Shell Shock Part 2 22:00 Turn Me On, Dammit! 23:25 Polisse 03:20 Proof Of Life

19:10 Habemus Papam 21:00 Sweet Home Alabama 22:55 Chicken With Plums 00:35 It Happened To Jane 02:15 Cine News 02:50 Our Day Will Come 04:20 The Woman Who Dreamed Of A Man

06:30 Old School 08:00 There Is A Girl In My Soup 09:40 Cine News 10:10 John Carter 12:25 Michael 15:35 Hugo 17:45 Action Zone 18:20 The Ghost And The Darkness 20:15 Happythankyoumoreplease 22:00 Tower Heist 23:55 The Double 01:40 Trust 03:30 Cine News 04:10 Seeking Justice

2:30 NHL: San Jose Sharks At Detroit Red Wings 5:00 MLB: Oakland Athletics At Los Angeles Angels 8:00 Feherty 9:00 Golf Central International LIVE From The Masters 10:00 Golf Fitness - Rhythm 10:30 Golf Fitness - Posture 11:00 NHL: San Jose Sharks At Detroit Red Wings 13:30 Mobil 1 The Grid

06:00 Only Hits 08:00 MTV GreekLips 09:00 MTV Hollywood Heights 10:00 MTV Plain Jane (Commissioned Version) 11:00 Pure Local 12:00 MTV VHI Pop up Video 13:00 MTV Made 14:00 MTV Big Time Rush 14:30 MTV Victorious 15:00 MTV Hollywood Heights 16:00 MTV Crash Canyon 17:00 MTV Pranked 18:00 MTV GreekLips 19:00 Only Hits 20:00 MTV Catfish 21:00 MTV Hitlist Hellas 22:00 MTV World Stage 23:00 MTV GreekLips 00:00 MTV Jersey Shore 01:00 MTV Geordie Shore 02:00 Only Hits

07:00 The Perfect Specimen 08:45 Operation Crossbow 10:45 Ben-Hur 14:10 The Naked Spur 15:45 The Asphalt Jungle 17:40 Bells Are Ringing 20:00 All The Fine Young Cannibals 22:00 The Arrangement 00:05 McCabe And Mrs. Miller 02:05 Giant 05:20 The Perfect Specimen

By Preston Wilder

Turn Me On, Dammit! (Novacinema1, 22.00) Another kidpic on Nova1, dammit! Yes, but wait: this Norwegian film may have juvenile heroes - specifically Alma, a 15-year-old girl in a small town, and her teenage friends - but it’s more for nostalgic adults than younger kids, a tender but unsentimental (and sexually explicit) take on pubescent horniness that won Best Screenplay at the Tribeca Festival. Alma feels trapped in leafy Skoddeheimen, finding solace in a rich inner life ranging from romantic daydreams about teenage crush Artur to out-and-out sex fantasies - and coming-of-age clichés are amusingly deployed, spiced with a very Scandinavian frankness

Turn Me On, Dammit!

that doesn’t shrink from phone sex or masturbation. “I totally recommend it, especially if you’re a young female like me,” says a gal from New York at the Internet Movie Database. “Boys might not be as hip to it, but who really cares LOL.” LOL yourself. Made in 2011.

Glengarry Glen Ross (Capital, 23.10) Bit of a late slot (what the hell, it’s Friday), but you owe it to yourself to watch at least the first hour of this harsh, brilliant drama - if only to catch Alec Baldwin’s big scene, as the shark-like enforcer who comes down from Mitch & Murray to inform a roomful of salesmen of the new rules for this month’s sales con-

test. “First prize is a Cadillac El Dorado. Anyone wanna see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you’re fired”. The salesmen - Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris and Al Pacino - are harried, weary and out of ideas; all they have are verbal pyrotechnics, David Mamet’s often foul-mouthed dialogue (from his Pulitzer Prize-winning play) building to big angry speeches with a constant undertow of acrid, hard-boiled resentment. “A-B-C! A-Always, B-Be, C-Closing! Always be closing. Always be closing,” Baldwin harangues them implacably. “Nice guy? I don’t give a shit. Good father? F**k you! Go home and play with your kids”. I could quote from this film all night. Also with Kevin Spacey; made in 1992.


CYPRUS MAIL Friday, April 12, 2013

21

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 2363 1

2

3

4

8

5

PREVIOUS DAY’S SOLUTIONS

6

7

9

10

11 12

17

14

15

18

20

19

EASY

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD

21

Down

1 Notice the money that’s put down (4,4) 6 Comfortable but shy about Sunday opening

2 It may be sung by a girl in the afternoon (5) 3 Without him the horse would not be prepared to run (7)

(4)

8 Odd-sounding sale (6) 9 From Bogotá to W Indian island (6) 10 A responsible bloke? (3,2,6) 11 Does it drive one to drink? (6) 14 Thanks for success I had on the island (6) 16 Presumably such rain doesn’t come from dark clouds (5,6)

20 Gloomy lads I’m upsetting (6) 21 Attempting to be irksome (6) 22 A small vessel heard at sea (4) 23 Blame salesman having fish (8)

4 Clothing a couple and almost one more (5) 5 A one-handed woodcutter (7) 6 Many on brae turning to toss it (5) 7 Part federal agents prepared to surround (7) 12 Diabolical hill he’s stumbled upon (7) 13 Nominal tribal leader in another ritual (7) 15 Said greeting a troublesome state of affairs

Rating EASY

Across

Rating HARD

23

Rating MEDIUM

22

Rating MEDIUM

16

13

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.

(5-2)

17 Stuck up fellow holding the medal (5) 18 Angry with explosive put out (3,2) 19 Pronouncedly icy path made by animals first that’s Scandinavian (5)

Answers to crossword 2362

HOROSCOPE

CRYPTIC: Across – 1 Matter-of-fact; 7 Microdot; 8 Lust; 9 Sumo; 11 Eventual; 12 Stolid; 14 Deform; 16 Ambrosia; 19 Next; 21 Stab; 22 Pigtails; 23 Mud in your eye. Down – 1 Mumps; 2 Turmoil; 3 Ridge; 4 Fat-head; 5 Allot; 6 Testatrix; 10 Ultimatum; 13 Dust-pan; 15 Funfair; 17 Rabid; 18 Anglo; 20 Taste.

QUICK: Across – 1 Collywobbles; 7 Première; 8 Nook; 9 Daft; 11 Deserter; 12 Studio; 14 Defile; 16 Emeritus; 19 Rudd; 21 Stay; 22 Adriatic; 23 Confectioner. Down – 1 Cupid; 2 Limited; 3 Wield; 4 Blessed; 5 Lunar; 6 Shovelled; 10 Automatic; 13 Outrage; 15 Farrago; 17 Rayon; 18 Strut; 20 Décor.

ARIES March 21 - April 20

LEO July 23 - August 22

SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21

Uranus, in your sign, is edging back into a square with the formidable powers of Pluto. This becomes exact by the middle of next month, and give or take a degree or two, lasts until the year’s end. This was also potent for much of last year. Be conscious that your need to do your “own thing” may not meet with universal approval, and that of who holds the power.

An exchange of views could occur today. If you are a Leo who prefers not to get drawn into open conflict, you may find this uncomfortable. Then again, perhaps there is something that you want to say that is best ventilating. The crucial thing is to ensure you are clear about the facts. If not, you may accuse someone of something in error.

Whatever you are doing, be it artistic, social or romantic, today’s Moon asks you to be mindful of details - even if those self same details can at times, have a tendency to bore you. By putting in some extra effort to get a good grip on these, and quickly, everything else that is going well can flow along perfectly for you. Don’t hold back.

TAURUS April 21 - May 21

VIRGO August 23 - September 23

CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20

The Moon is in your sign today, but she is happy and at peace in Taurus, and will help your natural appreciation for what is really important in life. You might find yourself establishing something new or happily tending your garden or renovating an old piece of furniture. All this can also give you more thinking time, and that can be therapeutic in itself.

If you have had a full-on week, plan to do something completely new or different today or over the weekend. You might even find yourself calling someone who is a trusted confidant. Anyone with a good knowledge of the ways of the world or finances, could prove to be a big help. There may be one issue where the more information you have, the better.

Is it time to lighten up? Or is it time for those around you to lighten up? Either way, someone needs to take the first step, so might this be you? An issue may have taken on almost a life force of its own this week, and rather than feeding it any more oxygen, try to step back and be much less emotional about it. Once you do, the dynamic can change.

GEMINI May 22 - June 21

LIBRA September 24 - October 23

AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19

Your mood could be a bit more tender than usual, but loaded on top of this can still be the burning energies of Mars. So any issue of unfairness can seem amplified all the more. Strictly stick to the people you feel truly at ease with. There may even be someone in your inner circle who occasionally can get under your skin more. Today, they can do so even more.

You might find yourself in a more curious mood today. If people bat away your questions, this can make you all the more determined to earth out what’s really what. You can have an almost forensic approach to costs and finances. So if you need to buy something expensive or to get an insurance quote, the chances are you will dig until you are satisfied.

You may have found yourself literally going at a million miles an hour this week. If so, do you need to cut yourself some slack and take a breather? If you do, you might really appreciate it. Although your mind can be hard wired for plenty of stimulation, you’re not a robot. Some downtime, and some time spent nurturing yourself, may truly help.

CANCER June 22 - July 22

SCORPIO October 24 - November 22

PISCES February 20 - March 20

If you have had an intense week around work or family politics, depending on your mood, you may plump for some solo time or with friends who accept you exactly as you are. It may help you to feed back exactly what has occurred and get some different perspectives. Once you do, it will help to clear your senses ready for the weekend’s pleasures.

Feedback can be important today. You may even find yourself encouraging someone with the knowledge you have gained of late, especially to do with health, fitness or dietary issues. There is a chance that recent discoveries will turn you into something of an evangelist. However, your enthusiasm can certainly be put to good use and help others.

You might lose interest in things which only recently seemed so very important. This is a hint of things to come later this month, a time when the emphasis can change to a much more cerebral phase, packed full of lots of different buzzy events and people. That said, if you feel you need to know more about anything new, do search for it online.


22

Friday, April 12, 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

SERVICES ***************************** STAGE ONE THEATRE, PAPHOS AUDITIONS at 7pm on 16 & 23 April for STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Director Cathy Aseter, performances October. Also THE VICAR OF DIBLEY, Director Peter Sandwith, in June. Performances December. Call Peter 99984035 for information. Auditionees must advise intention to audition in advance.

SHARMA SATISH resident of India current working in Cyprus, Passport No K 9510759, has changed his name from Sharma Satish to Satish. All concerned may note. ***************************** WANTED: COUPLES OF EU CITIZENS LIVING IN CYPRUS We are currently conducting research as regards European families living in Cyprus. If both you and your spouse come from the same or a different country of the EU (except Cyprus and Greece, e.g. both from Germany, or Germany and France), if you have children over 6, and if you are interested in taking part in some research financed by the University of Cyprus please contact us 96530033. Participants will complete a questionnaire and participate in a face-to-face interview. They will also receive a symbolic amount of money. ***************************** 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 Sunday 99013596 Paphos Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday 99916331 / 99399240 Details of meetings are available on www.aa-europe.net

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

HEALTH & FITNESS

***************************** PROFESSIONAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING, also carpets, rugs and mattresses. Special offers now available. FREE STAIN GUARD FOR LIMITED TIME For a quote call Rickys Cleaning Services on 99131044 (all areas) info@rcs-cyprus.net / www.rcs-cyprus.net ***************************** K.D.FLYSCREENS LTD. We manufacture top quality sliding screens, opening doors and roller systems. We also do repairs. For a FREE QUOTE please contact Phone: 99119582 Website: www.kdflyscreens.com

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 ***************************** 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 All areas

PETS ***************************** RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK Quality pedigree puppies for sale, Kennels club registered. An excellent hunter, a good family dog, as well as a good guard dog. Lovely to have around, both parents can be seen. Price €500 for more info pls call 99046966

HONEY is a 3 month old pincher/ terrier mix. She is very small sized and very sweet and playful. Honey is looking for a loving family to be hers forever! She will remain small sized so she is ideal for a family with an apartment! For adoptions call 99 520 511 Monday-Friday between hours 10-2 or email ndsadoptions@gmail.com *****************************

***************************** FOR PRETTY WOMAN: anticellulite treatment, reflexology, aromatherapy massage against stress, back pains, headache. Also spa for nails. Tel: 99986991 Nicosia area near Hilton

FOR SALE MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE: British ex-pat leaving Cyprus. Excellent quality goods

Nicosia - tel: 22 818583 fax: 22 676385 for sale. Solid wood patio furniture; modern dining room furniture; glass/metal office table; beds and mattreses, solid wood bookcases; standard lamps, oak arm chairs and cabinet etc. Contact: 99678180 ***************************** FOR SALE: Electric Cooker, Bosch 4 ceramic hotplates and oven, used 1 1/2 year, €300 For further information contact phone 99757511 ***************************** FOR SALE – PAPHOS CATERING EQUIPMENT 1. Industrial freezer – CORECO Height 200cm, width 68cm, depth 58cm 2. Electrolux Freezer, model EUC3109X, width-595mm, height-1800mm, depth623mm, freezing capacity-24kg/24hours, energy class A 3. CONVOTHERM OVEN modelOBG 6.10Combi Oven-Steamer with Gas Steam Generator Extra: Stand with stainless steel shelving, extractor fan, water supply system and gas installation connections, PLUS CHAFING TRAYS & THERMO BOXES, ALL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AT REDUCED PRICES. PLEASE CALL: 99622678 *****************************

FOR SALE BUSINESS/ PROPERTY/LAND ***************************** FOR SALE plot of land with sea view. In Chlorakas area. Very quiet and private location. Title deed. Tel. 99519370. ***************************** LIMASSOL

1) GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY PLOT OF LAND FOR SALE 1,789 sq.m, IN THE AREA OF AGIA ZONI BUILDING FACTOR 140% WITH TITLE DEED. The land is located at a central point in the city, very close to various amenities and has excellent accessibility. Tel: 96885030 owner 2) RESIDENTIAL LAND FOR SALE GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY The plot of land is located in the area of Foinikaria Total area 5,686 with a 20% Building Factor Tel: 96885030 owner ***************************** PAFOS 1) PLOTS OF LAND FOR SALE ANAVARGOS AREA GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY The plots can be sold as a single unit or individually. From 626 sq.m up to 776 sq.m with building factor 60% and title deeds. Mountain and sea view with nice villas developing around the area. Tel: 96885030 owner

Limassol - tel: 25 761117 fax: 25 761141

2) COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR SALE IN KATO PAFOS 96sq.m The shop is within the ‘’Limnaria Complex’’ and faces the main road Melina Mercouri Avenue It’s in good condition with suspended ceiling, recessed lighting, VRV AC, fitted carpet, motorised shutters, CCTV and more. Tel: 96885030 owner ***************************** LAND FOR SALE MITSERO. 7 skalas. 10% build. South facing, unobstructed views. Access road, water, electricity. Fenced compound with 48sq.meter timber framed 2 bedroom unit, septic tank, grey water system, storage, workshop. €135,000 mobile 99594205 pumpitch@ hotmail.com ***************************** PLOT FOR SALE IN KATO PLATRES in a pine tree area. It comes with title deeds, 1095 square feet. Tel. 99881051. ***************************** FOR SALE LAND in Anthoupoli (half plot) 288 sq.metres. for information 99621554. *****************************

GERMANY INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT in Germany. Guaranteed Annual return 2%-4%. Safe investment without risk. Tel: +4915233833850. Επενδύσεις σε ακίνητα στη Γερμανία, εγγυημένη ετήσια απόδοση 2%-4% Ασφαλής επένδυση χωρίς κίνδυνο. Τηλ: 004915233833850

PROPERTY TO LET NICOSIA ***************************** 3 BEDROOM ground floor apartment for rent in blind school area, Nicosia, with c/h, a/c and front and back garden. €550 p/m. References required. Call 97852977.

4 BEDROOM ground floor apartment for rent in blind school area, Nicosia with c/h, a/c and front and back garden. €650 p/m. References required. Call 97852977. HOUSE FOR RENT 1st floor, 2 levels, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, spacious open plan sitting room, dining room, veranda and Italian kitchen. Fully a/c, c/h. Place: Ayios Dometios. For information mobile no. 99510244 ***************************** FLATS/HOUSES FOR RENT studio Makarios Av. €300, Kennedy furnished €300, 1 bdrm Str/ los €400, Hilton €400, 2 bdrm

Paphos - tel: 26 911383 fax: 26221049

Lycavitos €480 fully equipped, Ag. Dometios ground floor + garden €450, Ag. Paylos rear house newly built €390, Acropolis furnished €450, 3 bdrm Ag. Omologites garden €700, Nikis Av. Furnished €500, Archangelos detached with pool €1,200, Acropolis independent ideal for office/residence €750, 4 bdrm Kwsta Theodorou new house €1,100, Mosfiloti unique villa with pool/landscaping €2,500. 99474839, 99646822. 21 PROPERTY FINDER LTD. Licenced & Registered Estate Agents A.M.627 A.A.108/E ***************************** FOR RENT a spacious two bedroom apartment, near Hilton and Central Bank. Living/dining room, sitting room, large veranda, kitchen, c/h, s/h, covered parking. Title deeds. Tel. 99519370. ***************************** HOUSES/FLATS 2 bedr. lux. flat, Ayioi Omoloyites, wooden floors €800, 3 bedr. Acropolis c/h a/c wooden floors €650, Mak/ssa 3 bedr., modern, open plan €1000 f/f €1200, Nicosia 3 bedr., f/f, luxury €1000 f/f, Latsia 2 bedr., pool €430, Strovolos f/f house 4 bedr €1300, Mak/ssa ground floor house detached €850 Photos www.markidesestates. com Markides 22- 378898 / 99464764 Reg.No. 487 E 16 ***************************** TO LET 1 bedroom upper floor house, large veranda near restaurant Periyiali in Acropolis 5 Aeantos Street €300 call 99680208 ***************************** LUXURY HOUSES: 1. 4 bedr luxury detached house built in 3/4 of a plot, office space, central heating, full a/c, big sitting and dining area, separate big kitchen with family room and all the electrical appliances, blinds and curtains on all windows, aluminium shutters, big garden with grass, 3 wc, covered parking, in a quiet area – Strovolos €1000 (H4ST10051-R), (photos in the website) 2. 3 bedr luxury terraced house, 210sq.m,central heating, full a/c, marble floor in the sitting areas and solid parquet floor on stairs and bedrooms,4 wc,3 bathrooms, 2 en suite, big verandas, electrical appliances in the kitchen, 3 covered parking spaces, roof garden access, in a quiet neighbourhood on Mon Parnas hill – Engomi €800 (photos in the website). 3. 3 bedr detached house with extra room for office, 250sq.m, central heating independent, 4 a/c, big renovated kitchen with cooker and oven, big sitting and dining room with parquet floor and fireplace, 1 bathroom, 2 shower, 3 wc, 2 covered parking, double glazed windows and shutters in bedrooms, big verandas surrounded by trees and bushes off 28th October street IN the

Larnaca - tel: 99 634725

classified contents Employment Opportunities pg -Employment Miscellaneous 22 Pets 22 Lessons -Health & Fitness 22 Personal -Services 22 For Sale Miscellaneous 22 For Sale Land/ Property Business 22 For Sale Motor vehicles -Properties 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 27 For Sale Limassol -For Sale Larnaca -For Sale Paphos 27 For Sale Ayia Napa -For Sale Famagusta Protaras 27 For Sale Athens -Property& Home Services display ads -Churches 27

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

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

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


23

CYPRUS MAIL Friday, April 12, 2013

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA central part of Makedonitissa – €1100 (H3MAK0004-R) (photos on the website) 4. 3 bedr luxury semi-detached house with character, 200sq.m, central heating, full ac, sitting and dining room with fireplace, 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 neighbourhood. Available middle of January. Agios Andreas €1200 - H3AAD0001-R (photos on website). 5. 3 bedr luxury house, office space, attic room, with central heating, full a/c, separate kitchen, NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, 2 verandas, in a quiet area – Lakatamia €680 (H4LAK009-R), (photos in the website). 6. 3 bedr + attic room with shower and wc luxury detached house with central heating, a/c, fireplace, modern kitchen open plan with expensive electrical appliances, blinds, garden with grass, over flow swimming

FOR RENT 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment in Larnaca near new hospital. €400 per month including service charge and refuse collection Call 99358916

TO LET NICOSIA

TO LET NICOSIA

pool, covered parking in a quiet area. – Makedonitissa €1600 (H4MAK0023-R), (photos on the website). 7. 4 bedr luxury detached house with big sitting and dining room with parquet floor, separate big kitchen with family room and all the electrical appliances, small garden with grass and bbq area,3wc, central heating, full a/c, covered parking, in a very quiet neighbourhood – Archangelos €1200 (H4AR0017-R), (photos in the website).

attic room which can be used for office space or bedroom. Ground floor with 2 sitting areas ,dining area and breakfast area, kitchen with all the electrical appliances, central heating, full a/c units. Basement with kitchen with cooker and oven, dishwasher, microwave and 2 refrigerators, sitting room with fireplace, and 2 bedrooms with one bathroom. Outside private fenced garden with artificial grass, bbq area and covered veranda. The house has blinds and shutters on all windows, false ceiling with spot lights throughout house, pressure system, covered parking, satellite dish, central music and network system, storage room, very good double glazed windows. Behind General flooring in the centre of Makedonitissa - €2000 (H4MAK0001-R), (photos on the website). 10. 4 bedr semi detached house with central heating, 4 a/c, 3 wc, 2 bathrooms, 180sq.m, electrical appliances, small yard, bbq area, off Kostantinoupoleos street near French ambassador

8. 3 bedr +office space partially renovated detached ground floor house, 280sq.m, central heating with oil, full a/c, 3wc, separate TV room, big sitting and dining area, big verandas around the house, bbq area, covered parking, private yard near the parking.– Strovolos €1200 (H4ST10048-R), (photos in the website). 9. New modern luxury very good quality finished semi detached house built in 3 levels. Upstairs 1st level 3 bedrs all en suite+ laundry room, 2nd level big

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TO LET NICOSIA residence.- STROVOLOS €700 (H4ST10043-R), (photos in the website). 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, aluminium 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. 3 bedrs luxury 2 storey, FULLY RENOVATED LISTED HOUSE with high ceilings in the centre of Nicosia, 260sq.m, 2 small attic rooms, big sitting room upstairs, big sitting room and dining area downstairs, wooden floor, kitchen with all the electrical appliances, 2 bathrooms (one en suite),3wc,CH independent, A/C, big garden – Nicosia Centre €1400 (H4NIC0002-R), (photos in the website).

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TO LET NICOSIA 13. 3 bedr upstairs and 2 separate bedrooms in the basement luxury detached house (all the bedrooms with en suite bathrooms/shower), also separate kitchen and sitting room in the basement which also has separate entrance from the house, central heating, full a/c, solid parquet floor throughout house, big sitting and dining room with fireplace, big fully equipped kitchen with breakfast area and family room, big over flow, swimming pool with covered patio area with fully equipped bar (bbq, fridge, freezer, cooker), mature garden around the house,2 parking places, alarm system near the Cyprus Conference Centre – Platy Aglantzias €3500 (H5PAG0002-R). 14. 4 bedr very big luxury semi

TO LET NICOSIA 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 football stadium. CAN BE RENTED FURNISHED, PARTIALLY FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED - Makedonitissa €1500 (H4MAK0032-R), (photos in the website) 15. 4 bedrs new luxury detached house, all the bedrooms very big and all with big bathroom/ shower, sitting room upstairs,

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24

Friday, April 12, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA attic room with shower and wc, office space/maid’s room with shower and wc, central heating, full AC,450sq.m, big sitting and dining areas, big kitchen with sitting area and fitted cooker and oven, 6wc, 2 covered parking, yard with tiles and SWIMMING POOL, bbq area in a very quiet neighbourhood near CYBC (RIK) station and near a neighbourhood park – Platy Aglantzias €2500 (H4AGZ0005-R), (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 through, central heating independent, full a/c, all the bedrooms with en suite shower/bathroom,

TO LET NICOSIA 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 neighbourhood – Agios Andreas€1300 – A3AAD0005-R (photos on website). 2. 1 bedr spacious fully luxury renovated apartment,60sq.m, big sitting and dining room, big 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). 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. 2 bedr luxury ground floor

TO LET NICOSIA apartment with central heatingindependent, full a/c, structure cabling internet and satellite network, FULLY MODERN EXPENSIVE FURNISHED, with 46”LCD TV, covered parking, double glazed windows, aluminium shutters, on Pericleous street near Klimataria traffic lights – Strovolos €650 (A2ST10054-R) (photos in the website) 5. 4 bedr new spacious luxury finished floor apartment with floor heating independent, full a/c, 3wc, electrical appliances in the kitchen, blinds on all windows, very big 50sq.m covered veranda, fireplace, covered parking and big over floor heated covered swimming pool on the ground floor, on a small 3 storey building in a quiet neighbourhood near a playground and near Ippokration private hospital – Engomi €1500 (A4ENG0003-R) (photos in the website) 6. 1 bedr new luxury apartment in a modern building (TSENTAS), with central heating ind, 2 a/c, cooker and oven, refrigerator

TO LET NICOSIA and washing machine in the kitchen, parquet floor, NICELY FURNISHED big covered veranda, big sitting room off Kyriakou Matsi street, 1 km from the centre €460 (A1AOM0002-R), (photos in the website). 7. 1 bedr cozy luxury apartment,60sq.m,parquet floor, nicely furnished ,all fitted electrical appliances (cooker, oven, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge), roman blinds, provisions for home cinema, big covered verandah, storage heaters, 2 a/c ,covered parking in Dasoupolis near Alpha Mega supermarket and Areteion hospital. – Dasoupoli €470 (A1DAS0009-R) (photos in the website) 8. 2 bedr spacious renovated apartment 100sq.m with separate big kitchen, air condition for hot and cold in all the rooms, covered veranda, nicely newly fully furnished , off Kyriakou Matsi street very close to the centre on foot– Agioi Omologites €500 (A2AOM0003-R) (photos in the website) 9. New top quality 2 bedr apart-

TO LET NICOSIA ment, 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 neighbourhood near Akropolis park. AVAILABLE end of March – Acropolis €800 A2ACS0002-R (photos in the website) . 10. New luxury finished 1 bedr penthouse apartment with big verandah with nice view, in a small modern building,55sq.m,storage heaters,2 a/c, blinds on the windows, expensive electrical appliances (cooker, oven, extractor, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer), covered parking and storage room, off Kalippoleos street opposite Dessange Day Spa near the University – Lykavitos €420 (A1LYK0002-R), (photos in the website). 11. 3 bedrs luxury penthouse one floor apartment in a small building with 3 apartments,250sq.m plus big covered verandas, fire place, solid parquet floor,2 bathrooms, 3 wc, cooker, oven, fridge, washing machine and dishwasher in the kitchen, CH independent, full a/c, big reception areas opening to the verandas, pressure system and 2 covered with remote control entrance, walking distance to the centre very close to Debenhams €1300 (A3NIC0028-R), (photos in the website) 12. 2 bedr new modern luxury fin-

TO LET NICOSIA ished 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 neighbourhood off Kallipoleos Street - Lykavitos €700 (A2LYK0024-R) (photos on the website) 13. 3 bedr luxury penthouse apartment with central heating independent, full a/c, 2wc, big sitting and dining room with fireplace, separate kitchen, NICELY MODERN FURNISHED, big covered and uncovered veranda, covered parking, in Strovolos near the Municipal building - €650 (A3ST10014-R) (photos on the 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 in the website). 15. 3 bedrs luxury penthouse,165sq.m+80sq.m verandah with bbq, central heating ind, full AC, 3 wc, 2 bathrooms, solid parquet floor all the flat, big kitchen with dining area, fully MODERN FURNISHED, covered parking off Athalassa Avenue near Stephanis Electrinics and English school – Strovolos €800 (A3ST10013-R) (photos in the website) 16. New luxury finished 4 bed


25

CYPRUS MAIL Friday, April 12, 2013

Advertiser TO LET NICOSIA PENTHOUSE apartment in a small modern building, 186sq. m+90sq.m big veranda with nice view, separate floor heating, fully air conditioned, 4wc, 2 en suite bedrooms with shower,1 bathroom, solid parquet floor all through, big sitting and dining areas with electric modern shutters opening to the veranda, fully equipped kitchen with expensive electrical appliances, 2 parking places (1 covered), in a very quiet neighbourhood ,near the Russian Embassy. AVAILABLE END OF MARCH –Engomi €1900 (A4ENG0005-R) (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 ***************************** THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO RENT AN OFFICE! The Rent package includes: fully furnished office, receptionist, internet connection, conference room, electricity, aicondition, cleaning, all utilities. Call 25365046

EMBA

FOR RENT office of around 85m2, with partitions, kitchenette and parking in a peaceful, green yet central area at Helladion House (off. 302; 3rd floor), 5 Andrea Kalvou Str. For viewing, please call Ms. Jenny on 25-340987(3rd floor of building; office hours). For further details, please call 25-521873 after 8:00pm. ***************************** UN-DETACHED HOUSE for rent in Apshiou village, 2 bedrooms, kitchen, sitting room, bathroom with solar water heater. A/C, satellite, 15mins to roundabout. €350. Tel 25369219, work 10.30-17.30 25542968 home 99773151 TO LET Large 4 bedroom unfurnished house in the village of Asomatos nr Akrotiri Limassol. Fully A/C & Heating (storage heaters). 5 wc’s, large kitchen/ diner, lounge and sitting room. Large loft with own shower/wc (suitable for office/playroom/ gym). Carport - prominent position in cul-de-sac - lots of parking. €850 pcm (negotiable).

TO LET LIMASSOL

TO LET LARNACA

Available from April 2013. Tel. 99831431 TRADITIONAL VILLAGE STONE HOUSE IN APESHIA. Very quiet village, 20mins from Limassol. Road to heritage school/ Troodos. 2 bedrooms, office available top floor with veranda great view of mountains. Small courtyard with trees. Electric solar water. A/C-toilet in main bedroom. Semi/full furnished. Fitted kitchen with electrical appliances, fireplace. Toilet/ shower. €550pm negotiable. Tel 96891800.

1. Superior Real Estate Larnaca. 3 bedroom detached unfurnished property set on a fantastic development in the village of Tersefanou. Available for immediate occupation. Ref. TLL973. Tel 24815926 2. Superior Real Estate Larnaca. 2 bedroom fully furnished apartment, nr the Metro/American Academy Larnaca. Ref. TLL1654 Please call to arrange a viewing Tel. 24815926

GROUND FLOOR HOUSE, furnished renovated this year. Laminated parke floor, and big wardrobes in the 3 bedrooms. Rent €590.00 Tel 99497576 99886775

LARNACA TO LET 3 bedroom house, 100m from beach, Dekelia road Oroklini area. 1 bed flat Makenzie near sea and Petros supermarket. tel: 96693375 ***************************** FOR RENT fully furnished 1 bedroom flat near Larco hotel Larnaca. Price €370. Tel 99202543 1 BEDROOM flat in Ermou Square area Larnaca - 2 bedroom flat in Phaneromenis area Larnaca. Call 96693375 *****************************

3.

www.superiorrealestatelarnaca.com – LARGE RANGE OF RENTAL PROPERTIES. From studio apartments to 5 bedroom villa’s for rent, all properties have detailed descriptions, professional photographs. Interactive Virtual/ Video Tours. Please visit our website. www.superiorrealestatelarnaca.com 4. www.superiorrealestatelarnaca.com - License No. 419. LANDLORDS AVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY WITH US FOR FREE. Tel. 24815926 Email. info@superiorrealestatelarnaca.com *****************************

PAPHOS ***************************** 1. Sea Caves Paphos, luxury 3 bed unfurnished villa with private pool on a big plot. One bed downstairs, kitchen white

UK House Offered in Exchange for Apartment or House in Cyprus A 100 sq. m. four bedroom Semi Detached house in the East Midlands, with a market value of £120,000, is offered in exchange for a 2 bedroom (minimum) apartment or house anywhere in Cyprus. My house has been recently renovated at a cost of over £25,000 and is situated within less than three miles from Clumber Park. If interested, please email Natalia at nzah50@hotmail.com for a detailed description of my property and please include the internal size in square metres and photos of what you are offering in exchange.

INDOOR MARKET & CAR BOOT SALE FRIDAY – SATURDAY – SUNDAY FRI 8:00AM – 2:00PM

FRESH VILLAGE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES WATCH REPAIRS & JEWELLERY POTTED FLOWERS NEW & USED HANDBAGS & CLOTHES SECOND HAND BOOKS COMPUTERS & TELEPHONE ACCESSORIES SECOND HAND FURNITURE & ANTIQUES INDIAN TAKE AWAY HOME MADE FRESH CAKES & PIES

STALLHOLDERS & CAR-BOOTERS WELCOME ALL ENQUIRIES CALL: 96533839/99771532

TO LET PAPHOS goods include dish washer. Spacious bedrooms, dressing room, balconies, separate outdoor storeroom, enclosed garden. €1000 2. Secret Valley, 3 bed un/furnished villa with private pool on a big plot. Spacious living space, good sized bedrooms. Pool and garden maintenance included in rent. Lovely sea and country side views. €700 3. Peyia, Beautiful 3 bed un/furnished villa with amazing sea views. Private pool, lovely garden, double bedrooms, master en suite. €500 4. Koili, brand new 4 bed unfurnished villa. Finished to a very high quality in a very quiet location. Italian kitchen, fire place, under floor heating, shutters, fly screens, pool, one bed downstairs. €850 PAPHOS TO RENT Tel: 99389198. For listings and many other properties please visit our web www.paphotorent.com and give us a call. ***************************** PEYIA, luxury villa, 3 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully or part furnished, private pool, quiet location, paved garden area, sea and mountain views. Sky satellite, €550 ono, please call: 99771532 – no agents FOR RENT a selection of 1 to 5 bedroom houses & apartments F/F & U/F Universal, Peyia, Tomb of the Kings, Tsada, Timi, Kato Paphos & Kissonerga Landlord & Owners please call 99329357 Or please view at our website www.cyprussands.com Fully Registered Company in Cyprus

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

CHLORAKAS: 3 Bedroom unfurnished villa private swimming pool, utility room, walking wardrobes, en suite shower 180 m2 covered area fenced garden fully a/c, € 575 p/m For more information’s phone 99400697 ***************************** TREMITHOUSA- Modern 2 Double Bedroom Townhouse with Stunning Sea views, Large Secluded Terrace with Open Views, Roof Garden, Fitted Kitchen, A/C, U/F 350 Euros or F/F 400 Euros TREMITHOUSA- Superb Detached 3 Bedroom Villa with Large Pool, F/F to a very High Standard, Mater En-Suite, Family Bathroom with Jacuzzi, Beautifully Fitted Kitchen, Utility, Separate Shower room, Spectacular Mountain and Sea views, Quite Cul-De-Sac loca-

tion 700 Euros KISSONERGA- Beautiful Detached U/F 3 Bedroomed Villa, Large Pool,2 Bedrooms Upstairs Master En-suite, Family Bathroom, modern Fitted Kitchen, Downstairs Bedroom with En-suite Shower room, Low maintenance Garden, Large Terraces and Separate Storage Room 600 Euros TREMITHOUSA- Purpose Built Ground and First Floor 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments U/F and F/F, A/C, Parking From Only 150 Euros URGENTLY WANTED – 3 Bedroom U/F Detached Villas 600/700 MORE PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 99862922 *****************************


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Friday, April 12, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

LOW COST, long term 3 bedroom bungalow, Polis area, Gialia village, on 3 acres of property, large variety of fruit trees, extremely private with panoramic mountain and sea views, unfurnished, swimming pool, a/c and ďŹ replace, fence around the property â‚Ź550 per month ono – available from 1st of April For more info call: 99 442485 ***************************** 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. PEYIA â‚Ź500 PRICE REDUCED FOR QUICK RENTAL. Modern detached 3 bedroom villa situated in a quiet residential area offering stunning sea views. Low maintenance garden with private pool and off street parking. Available unfurnished. Photos to be added to the website shortly. 2. SECRET VALLEY â‚Ź750 spacious modern detached 3 bed-

Fun

room villa situated on a corner plot in a peaceful residential area. Offering large private pool with a low maintenance lovely garden with sea views. Off street parking. Fully furnished with modern furniture and includes gas central heating throughout. Modern ďŹ tted kitchen with granite worktops. One bedroom on ground oor with bathroom. Pets allowed at owners discretion. Viewings highly recommended. website reference number: RTL_561 3. UNIVERSAL AREA â‚Ź750 spacious 4 bedroom detached villa situated on a quiet complex offering well kept gardens & communal pool. Spacious living accommodation with one bedroom on ground oor plus bathroom. Available fully furnished. Allocated parking at side of property. A great central location close to all amenities. website reference number: RTL_663 4. LOWER CHLORAKA â‚Ź750 spacious detached 3 bedroom modern villa offering stunning unobstructed views of the sea. Situated in a quiet residential area, opposite orange groves. Gated entrance, a good size

Fashion E

R

FAY

enclosed low maintenance mature garden with shrubs & fruit trees. a private pool with sea views. Spacious living area with real ďŹ replace. Downstairs guest wc. Master bedroom with ensuite. Available fully furnished. Viewings highly recommended. website reference number: RTL_550 5. KAMARES TALA â‚Ź850 a stunning detached villa offering 4 bedrooms plus ofďŹ ce in a quiet & private residential area with large parking bay for numerous cars and covered off street parking. Offering spacious living accommodation and breathtaking views of the sea. This property includes a lift to all 4 oors. Luxury modern ďŹ tted kitchen with appliances. Lovely garden with spacious veranda & private pool. Available unfurnished. website reference number: RTL_669 6. KAMARES TALA â‚Ź900 a unique property combining modern and traditional. Situated in the sought after area of Kamares on a large plot

TO LET PAPHOS with mature gardens & stunning private pool, offering total privacy and breathtaking sea views. Separate annex with modern shower room & separate kitchen. Guest room offering bedroom & shower room at pool level. Large modern ofďŹ ce. Main house offering 2 further bedrooms plus a number of sitting rooms. Perfect for those who require something completely different from the norm. Available furnished or part furnished. website reference number: RTL_673 7. PEYIA â‚Ź950 we are delighted to offer this ultra modern 4 bedroom villa with luxury furnishings & ďŹ ttings. Offering spacious accommodation with breathtaking sea views. Furnishings & ďŹ ttings are of a very high quality. Spacious living area with modern ďŹ tted kitchen & utility area. One bedroom on ground oor with ensuite & kitchenette. Guest wc. Private inďŹ nity pool & enclosed low maintenance garden. A must to see! website reference number: RTL_670

TO LET PAPHOS

TO LET PAPHOS

8. CHLORAKA â‚Ź2000 substantial luxury 4 bedroom villa, spacious (350 sq metres), beautifully designed with unique detail. Conservatory with views of landscaped gardens. Large modern ďŹ tted kitchen, living room with working ďŹ replace. Circular dining room with vaulted dome ceiling. Stunning private pool area. Available unfurnished. website reference number: RTL_579

throughout 3 bedrooms upstairs, master bedroom has ensuite. Large shower room. Fourth bedroom downstairs with shower room. Lovely large kitchen and sitting room. Covered area for car and back garden REF 1234 â‚Ź500 SEA CAVES PAFOS Modern Bungalow offered furnished or unfurnished, 3 bedrooms, master en suite shower, family bathroom, kitchen, sitting area, yscreens. Private pool, roof garden, outside showertoilet, nice location with great sea views. REF 1213 â‚Ź750 PANO PAFOS Large 3 bedroom house on ground oor on large plot with lovely garden and private pool with BBQ area with outside utility room and shower in a residential area that is within walking distance to shops government ofďŹ ces, school, pharmacy and near to bus stop. REF 1231 â‚Ź700

Tel: 97790883 Tel: 99133422 ofďŹ ce: 26271858 visit our website for many more properties www.mrrent-paphos. net email: info@mrrent-paphos.net **************************** KONIA PAFOS 4 bedroom villa in Konia on 3 oors. Four spacious bedrooms with nice veranda views of mountains. Middle oor has sitting/dining area all with classic furniture and ďŹ replace and lovely big kitchen. Downstairs is a selfcontained annex with bedroom and kitchen area/bathroom wc. Private pool BBQ area and outside sink. REF 1232 â‚Ź1300

AYIA MARINOUDA PAFOS 2 bedroom furnished bungalow in lovely quiet complex with communal pool. Property has ďŹ re place, off street parking, nice stone features, character property. REF 1224 â‚Ź500 KOLETRIA PAFOS 4 bedroom house with 3 bathrooms offered unfurnished, central heating and yscreens

SECRET VALLEY A 3 bedroom bungalow in a peaceful location, fully furnished with central heating, airconditioning private pool and beauďŹ ful sea views. Offstreet parking. REF 1228 â‚Ź800 ANARITA 3 bedroom villa in Anarita in a nice quiet location with outside fenced area with gates, private pool, great seaviews. Unfurnished, airconditioning, ďŹ replace in living room. Modern kitchen with granite worktops, guest WC. Nice garden and offstreet parking. REF 1229 â‚Ź700

SPECIAL OFFER NICOSIA DOG SHELTER

Toys

TO LET PAPHOS

OUR LOV EL WILL BE Y DOGS THERE FOR ADO PT 11:30 - 14 ION :30

Books and more

Childrens art competition Face Painting Snacks and bake sale

1 14th April Sunday 11:00 - 16:00 11:

Childrens games

NEW (Fashion samples from London) and Nearly new clothes

10% of our proceeds will be donated to CANS FOR KIDS 99868512 - 22357005

ESOGBA - Steliou Mavromatti 4 (behind Junior School)

7JTJUJOH "UIFOT

Family, friends? Why stay in a hotel? A new, comfortable, modern and fully-furnished apartment, giving you greater leisure and at a lower price, sounds much better. And with the added bonus of being located in one of the most vibrant areas in Athens.

t (B[J "SFB OFYU UP UIF .FUSP 4UBUJPO XJUI GSFF 8J 'J t 'SPN FVSPT QFS QFSTPO Tel 22819742 - www.menogazi.com

In Kokkinotrimithia, 15km from Nicosia in a good area, (in the centre, opposite Maragos bakery, 41/2 acres or 7 plot with 90% building factor. For more information please call 99673286, 99918830.


27

CYPRUS MAIL Friday, April 12, 2013

Advertiser TO LET PAPHOS CORAL BAY 3 bedroom villa offered furnished or unfurnished in a lovely private and peaceful location. Property is cosy with a small kitchen, sitting room and dining area with a fireplace, airconditioning, guest WC, 3 bedrooms master ensuite, family bathroom. Nice views. Ref 842 €750 Please call for a free viewing on Office 26600450 Mobile: 97614070 many more properties on our website at www. flowron.com - Your Vision is our Mission LANDLORDS IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY FOR RENT, PLEASE CALL US!!!!!! **************************** PEYIA – 3 bedroom villa with modern quality furniture and finishes. Central heating, sky, alarm, infinity pool and stunning 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 €340 p.m. Tel 99403261

PROPERTY FOR SALE NICOSIA ***************************** FOR SALE BEAUTIFUL VILLA, Nicosia, Strovolos 550sqm

FOR SALE NICOSIA build in two lots 1250sqm. 6 bds, 6 bath, under floor heating, A/C, basement, two car garage, beautiful landscape, well, pool, quiet area, great for families. Motivated seller. Price reduced 1.500000.Call 99432074 mpapadmd@gmail. com FOR SALE a very nice, large, two bedroom apartment near Hilton and Central Bank. Living, dining room, sitting room, large veranda. Spacious kitchen, c/h, s/h, covered parking. Title deed. Tel. 99519370. ***************************** FOR SALE OFFICES, ground floor space, suitable for offices or any other business. Centrally located, off Arch. Makarios Avenue, in the Commercial Centre of Nicosia, near Hilton. Also mezzanine, basement, small kitchen, a/c, parking. Title deeds. Tel. 99519370. ***************************** STROVOLOS, Symi street, Tseriou new one bedroom apartment, 55 sqm, large sunny balcony, air-conditioned, private parking, lift, title deeds, reduced price €95.000 (including VAT) (no offers) tel: 99266282 (no agents) ***************************** FOR SALE upper floor house 210 sq.m built on 301 sq. m land, Lapatsa area, Pereous 1a. 4 bedrooms with attic room (not finished), c/h ,4 a/c, aluminium doors& window, covered parking and storage room. Price €310.000 pm call 22431095 99330632.

FOR SALE PAPHOS PAPHOS FOR SALE large, beautiful, nice designed, sea view house. In Chlorakas area, very quiet and private location. 4 en-suite bedrooms. Spacious living - dining room, sitting room, kitchen with all electrical appliances, breakfast room, two fireplaces, built-in bookcases, electrical shutters, a/c, swimming pool, garden, patio, garage, store room. Option for second floor. Title deed. Adjacent to above. Sold separately plot of land, with sea view. Title deed. Tel. 99519370. 2 BEDROOM top floor apartment built in 2006, 75 sqm, large sunny balcony with sea views, 2 bathrooms (en-suite), communal pool, air conditioning. Small block of 9 apartments, located behind Darmart store, near the Debenhams roundabout, underground private parking, storage room and lift, reduced price: €98.000 (including VAT) with title deeds (no agents) please call: 99266282

PROTARAS 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.

3nt Easter Breaks in Cyprus! All Inclusive Protaras 4* hotel ONLY ¤365 PER COUPLE PER STAY! UPGRADE TO SEA VIEW FOR ONLY ¤30 EXTRA!! www.centurycyprus.com

info@centurycyprus.com

Tel: 70 000 970


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Friday, April 12, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Sport Euroleague champs Olympiakos off to good playoffs start

IN BRIEF Bryant sets Rose Garden record

Big guns flex their muscles in quarter-finals By Zoran Milosavljevic A VINTAGE performance by forward Georgios Printezis helped Euroleague holders Olympiakos Piraeus beat Anadolu Efes Istanbul 67-62 in the opening game of their best-of-five quarter-final playoff series. Last season’s finalists CSKA Moscow eased to an 89-78 home win over Caja Laboral Vitoria, eighttime winners Real Madrid thumped Maccabi Tel Aviv 79-53 and 2010 champions Barcelona scraped a 72-70 victory over Panathinaikos Athens. Printezis, who sank the game-winning shot on the buzzer for Olympiakos in the 2012 final in Istanbul, was again instrumental for the Greek side with 26 points in a physical encounter against Efes. He was the only player in double digits for the winners, whose iron-clad defence forced the visitors to hit only one of 19 three-point attempts and saw former NBA guards Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic combine for a slim total of 12 points. CSKA were in control from start to finish against Caja

and a balanced team effort saw them carve out a whopping 24-point lead in the final quarter before the Basque outfit salvaged some pride with a late rally. Former Toronto Raptors sharpshooter Sonny Weems led CSKA with 19 points, Serbia playmaker Milos Teodosicadded 17 while his compatriot Nenad Krtsic and Russia centre Sasha Kaun chipped in with 16 each. The home team’s Italian coach Ettore Messina, who steered CSKA to two titles in Europe’s flagship club competition during his first spell in charge 2005-2009, was unhappy with his team’s defence. “The team efficiency ranking says we had a lot of great moments but we also allowed Caja to score 69 per cent of their two-point shots, which is unacceptable and tell us that we still have to improve,” Messina told the competition’s official website (www.euroleague.net). Kaun added: “It’s a short series so we can’t allow ourselves to make so many mistakes, we lost concentration in some parts of the game and we will try not to do

that any more.” Maccabi made a bright start against Real and led 26-14 midway through the first half before the hosts turned the match on its head with a stunning 24-1 run which threw the home fans into raptures. Versatile shooting guard Rudy Fernandez led Real with 15 points and Montenegrin-born forward Nikola Mirotic nailed 14 as the home team’s entire 11-man roster got on the scoresheet. Barcelona missed four key players through illness or injury and eked out their victory after Panathinaikos centre Stephane Lasme missed a pair of free throws in the dying seconds of overtime, spoiling a fine individual performance garnished by 14 points and four rebounds. “This game is over and we have to focus on the next one,” said Lasme. “Barcelona are a great team and a performance like this is a confidence booster, hence we should take as a positive the fact that we were in the game the whole time.” The playoff winners will advance to the May 10-12 Final Four in London’s O2 Arena.

Greek giants Olympiakos beat Anadolu Efes Istanbul 6762 in the opening game of their playoff series

NFL wants brain injuries suit dismissed as workplace issue By Dave Warner

Lawyers argued that the NFL failed to disclose information about the risks of playing American Football

LAWYERS argued in federal court this week over whether 4,200 former NFL players can sue the league over brain injuries or whether the issue should be decided under the players’ collective bargaining agreement. In what could be a high stakes challenge for both sides, the players want the case heard in court, their attorney David Frederick said. He argued that the league failed to disclose information about the risks of playing football and “glorified violence at the expense of the players.” NFL lawyer Paul Clement, however, called it a “case about workplace safety.” He said suing the league is not the way to go since the NFL Players Association has a collective bargaining agreement.

“There is a certain give-andtake with collective bargaining and you don’t have the same rights to sue an employer as somebody in a nonunionised industry would have,” Clement told reporters outside the court. The hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Anita Brody focused on the NFL’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, and the judge gave no indication as to when she would decide. “I will rule when I sort these things out for myself,” Brody said. Outside the court, among those attending dueling press conferences was Mary Ann Easterling, widow of former Atlanta Falcons safety Ray Easterling, who committed suicide in April 2012 following his diagnosis of a degenerative brain disease that his lawyers said was linked to repeated concussive blows to the head. In other news meanwhile,

free agent linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo said four NFL players were considering coming out as gay, the Baltimore Sun reported. Ayanbadejo, who was cut by the Baltimore Ravens last week after winning the Super Bowl with the team in February, told the paper that the groundwork was being laid to reduce the pressure on such a player. “I think it will happen sooner than you think,” Ayanbadejo was quoted as saying. There is still not one openly gay player in any of America’s major professional sports leagues and nowhere has the issue become hotter than in the NFL, the most macho of pro sports. “Of course, there would be backlash. If they could share the backlash, it would be more positive. It’s cool. It’s exciting. We’re in talks with a few guys who are considering it,” the former Raven said.

KOBE Bryant set a Rose Garden record by an opponent with his seasonhigh 47 points and visiting Los Angeles edged Portland to keep their playoff hopes alive. Pau Gasol had 23 points and nine assists while Dwight Howard added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who maintained their one-game hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with three games to play. Damian Lillard led Portland with a career-high 38 points along with nine assists. The Trail Blazers were within 108-104 with 1:15 left, but Steve Blake grabbed two critical offensive rebounds in the final minute to seal the Lakers’ victory. Bryant played 48 minutes and made 14-of-27 shots from the field - and all 18 from the foul line. Elsewhere, Wilson Chandler scored 29 points and Corey Brewer added 28 as Denver downed San Antonio to set a franchise record with its 21st consecutive home victory. The Nuggets improved to a league-best 36-3 at home while surpassing the record set by the 1984-85 squad. Denver has won five straight and is one game ahead of Memphis for the third seed in the Western Conference. San Antonio fell into a tie with Oklahoma City for the top seed in the West. Ray Allen meanwhile scored 23 points off the bench and Rashard Lewis added 17 as Miami set a franchise record with their 62nd victory.

Chisora to fight Alfredo BRITISH heavyweight Dereck Chisora is to face Argentine Hector Alfredo Avila over 10 rounds in London on April 20. The 29-year-old’s last fight was a defeat by David Haye in July 2012. His British Boxing Board of Control licence was reissued last month having been withdrawn following a brawl with Haye in a media conference in Germany. “The world title is my goal and I will achieve it,” Chisora said. The Chisora bout will feature on the undercard of Nathan Cleverly’s WBO light-heavyweight title defence against Robin Krasniqi at Wembley Arena.


CYPRUS MAIL Friday, April 12, 2013

29

Sport

Ashes-focused Aussies in a spin over Pakistani refugee

By Rex Gowar

Fallen giants trying to secure a passport to England for spinner Fawad Ahmed By Ian Ransom MIRED in gloom following a Test drubbing in India, Australian cricket has turned to Canberra’s halls of power for succour, asking the country’s top immigration official to act as a de facto selector ahead of back-to-back Ashes series this year. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Australia’s bid to secure a passport to England for Fawad Ahmed, a 31-year-old Pakistani refugee with just 13 first-class matches under his belt, has underscored the anxiety felt Down Under as the national team prepares to do battle with the ‘Old Enemy’. While Australia’s humiliation in India, their first 4-0 series loss in more than 40 years, was stinging enough, defeat by England in one or both of the Ashes series would be simply unforgivable. Embittered cricket lovers in the once-mighty Test nation have waited over two years for vengeance after England’s 3-1 thrashing of the hosts in the 2010-11 series on home soil, which followed a 2-1 loss away in 2009. Hence, the determination to leave no stone unturned, and in Ahmed, the resourcerich nation hopes to have unearthed the rarest of commodities Down Under - a world class spin bowler. Born in Swabi, a rural district fringed by the Hindu Kush mountains and the Indus river, the legspinner has taken 39 first class wickets at an average of 32.20 since

making his debut for Abbottabad in 2005. The modest resume has not discouraged Australia’s cricket board, however, who are petitioning immigration minister Brendan O’Connor to fast-track Ahmed’s citizenship and allow him to be available for selection before the first Ashes series gets underway in July. Without the minister’s signoff, Ahmed could still play a part in England, but would not become eligible until August 18, according to cricket’s global governing body, the ICC. That would be three days before the fifth and final Test at the Oval - too long to wait for Cricket Australia. “Biomechanically, he is like an Anil Kumble who really spins the ball,” former Australia Test spinner Stuart MacGill told local media this week, referring to the tall Indian spinner who captured 619 Test wickets in a brilliant career. “I had (former Test batsman) Damien Martyn face him and he thinks he’s the best Australian spinner he’s seen since Warney. “I think he is definitely worth a place in the Ashes squad.” Shane Warne retired with 708 Test wickets after helping Australia whitewash England 5-0 in the 2006/07 Ashes series. Australia have lost both Ashes series since and have searched in vain for a successor to the peerless blond legspinner, churning through 12 slow bowlers and discarding almost all of them quickly.

The 11th, Nathan Lyon, has more or less cemented his place as Australia’s leading spinner and is expected to be named in the Ashes squad for England after taking 15 wickets from his three Tests in India. Selectors will take a second spinner, however, leaving the door open for Ahmed to complete a fairytale entry into Test cricket only eight months after being granted asylum in Australia. “I’m not sure whether the process is going to be solved but Cricket Australia are definitely helping me and we are pretty hopeful we will get through,” Ahmed told Reuters in a telephone interview. Ahmed’s journey to the cusp of international selection has been an unusual one, arriving in Australia in 2010 on a short-term visa to play cricket in Yoogali, a remote rural town in New South Wales. Ahmed ended up in Melbourne and applied for asylum as a refugee, claiming he was subject to death threats from Islamic extremists for being involved with a Pakistan-based NGO promoting women’s rights. Ahmed made a big impression playing club cricket in Melbourne but his initial application for asylum was rejected last year, leaving the player facing deportation. An appeal backed by Cricket Australia to then-immigration minister Chris Bowen secured Ahmed’s permanent residency in November, paving the way for him to play in the top-flight leagues, including first-class cricket for Victoria.

In Ahmed, the resource-rich nation hopes to have unearthed the rarest of commodities Down Under - a world class spin bowler

Henman labels British men’s tennis ‘embarrassing’

The next best-placed British player in the world rankings after No.2 ranked Andy Murray is James Ward in 217th

TIM Henman says the state of British men’s tennis is “embarrassing” and that unless Andy Murray plays GB have little chance of progressing in the Davis Cup. World number two Murray has pledged to make himself available to face Croatia in September’s World Group play-off. “The signs are he will probably play against Croatia so I fancy their chances,” said Henman. But he added: “The fact we haven’t got anyone else inside the top 200 in the world is still a bit embarrassing.” Dan Evans starred in the win over Russia at the weekend but he is currently ranked down at 324th in the world and Henman said the underachieving 22-year-old needs to “give 100 per cent to his job” if he is to maximise his talent. Evans shocked Evgeny Donskoy 6-4 6-4 6-1 as Brit-

Henry to again help Pumas face heavyweights

ain clinched a place in the world group play-offs thanks to a historic 3-2 victory over Russia in Coventry. But Evans admitted in an interview that he lacks consistency because “I don’t train hard enough and don’t work hard enough day in day out”. Evans is widely considered to have the talent to get inside the top 100 in the word rankings but former world number four Henman is frustrated by the 22-yearold’s attitude. “He’s a pretty good athlete but he lets himself down mentally,” Henman, speaking at the launch of the Aegon Classic, which will be staged at Edgbaston Priory in Birmingham from 9-16 June, told BBC Sport. Asked whether he could see Evans break into the world’s top 100, Henman said: “Not if he carries on with the attitude he has

had. “There’s far better players than him in the world. But he has to maximise his potential. The next best placed British men’s player in the world rankings after Murray is James Ward in 217th. Jamie Baker is 235th, Josh Goodall is 282nd and Alex Bogdanovic is 19 places lower. Edward Corrie is 326th, Daniel Smethurst 371st and Joshua Milton 379th. “It’s fantastic that Andy is number two in the world,” Henman added. “He’s doing what he’s doing and he’s a great example for the groups behind him.” On Great Britain’s Davis Cup chances against Croatia, Henman said: “It would have been nice to have had a home tie on back of the win over Russia - I guess it depends a little bit on whether Andy Murray plays.”

WORLD Cup-winning coach Graham Henry will again help the Pumas prepare for the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship this year, the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) said. Henry, who steered New Zealand to their second world title in 2011, worked with Pumas coach Santiago ‘Tati’ Phelan last year when Argentina made their debut in the expanded Tri-nations, their first participation in a major annual international tournament. “It’s an honour for the UAR to be able to count on the assistance of such an experienced and important person in the rugby world as Graham Henry,” Manuel Galindo, head of the UAR’s high performance department, told a news conference. Henry is currently a technical adviser to John Kirwan at the Super Rugby Auckland Blues franchise, allowing him to resume the Argentina role, which caused debate in New Zealand last year when the Pumas played the All Blacks in Wellington. “Having been a very competitive team in the 2013 Rugby Championship, this new edition of the tournament will be an even greater challenge for Argentina,” Henry said in an UAR statement. “The Springboks, All Blacks and Wallabies will surely be stronger teams than last year. South Africa were a young team in 2012, Australia will have recovered their injured players and New Zealand seems to play better each year. “But without doubt it will be a positive challenge, you only improve facing the best,” Henry said. Argentina finished bottom of the 2012 standings but took points off South Africa with a 16-16 draw in Mendoza and lost their matches against Australia by four and six points. This year’s championship could be Phelan’s last as Pumas coach, a position he has held since Marcelo Loffreda quit after steering Argentina to third place at the 2007 World Cup in France. “Tati has the doors open to continue but whether he does or not is a personal issue,” Castillo said. “My opinion and that of the directors is that Tati and his staff should stay on.” He said Phelan had mentioned possibly quitting for family reasons. The UAR expects Phelan to advise it of his decision as soon as The Rugby Championship ends with the home match against Australia in Rosario on October 5. Argentina are hopeful their greater presence on the international stage will open doors to getting a franchise in SANZAR’s (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) Super Rugby competition.


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Friday, April 12, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

Sport

Charlton: England can’t win the World Cup due to foreign influx Three Lions desperate to end 47year wait for major title

By Nemanja Bjedov

By Mike Collett ENGLAND are unlikely to become world champions again because the country’s Premier League is now flooded with foreign players, 1966 World Cup winner Bobby Charlton said this week. “I worry a bit. Every year I feel when one of the newspapers wants me to give an opinion on whether there is a chance to win the World Cup or whatever, I feel obliged to say ‘yes they have got a chance’ but I think it’s a fool’s errand,” Charlton told delegates at the Soccerex Business Forum. “I feel that we need good players and if all of the spaces in the English game are taken up by foreigners then we don’t have any chance. “I’m not saying that it is not fair but it is hard to think that we can win a World Cup when you see the quality now,” added Charlton, who played 106 times for England between 1958 and 1970 and is still the country’s record goalscorer with 49 goals. “The only thing that gives me a bit of hope is that I do see good coaching and I do see English coaches having as much to say in world terms as anyone else”. Charlton, who spent al-

Apollon close in on Cup final, Omonia frustrated

On top of the world: Sir Bobby Charlton lifts the World Cup trophy after England beat West Germany in 1966 most his entire career at Manchester United and won the European Cup in 1968, highlighted how Manchester City’s recent run of success is mostly reliant on the club’s overseas players. City were transformed in 2008 when Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi bought the club and has since spent more than one billion dollars on players and infrastructure, ending a 35-year

wait for honours when they won the FA Cup in 2011 and captured their first top flight league title for 44 years in 2012. “The difference from City five or six years ago is that they did not have any foreign players and once they had the finance to do it, they went into the market and got some good players. “They are going to be a hard team to beat.”

While Charlton painted a bleak future for England, Dan Ashworth, the FA’s new Director of Elite Development, was more optimistic as he outlined plans to end the nation’s 47-year wait for another major title. “The World Cup is a very tough tournament to win but I think the signs are there. We have some good young players coming through, five or six that look like they are

going to be the nucleus of the national team and we have to build on that,” Ashworth said. “We have to make sure that (England manager) Roy Hodgson and future England managers have a bigger base and a better base of players available to play on the world stage. It is not going to happen overnight, but that is what we must aim for.”

Rodgers not expecting Rafa return By Carl Markham

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says the club had the chance to appoint Rafa Benitez in the summer but opted to recruit him from Swansea instead

MANAGER Brendan Rodgers has dismissed former boss Rafael Benitez’s assertion that he will return to Liverpool in the future. The Northern Irishman said American owners Fenway Sports Group had the chance to appoint the Spaniard in the summer but opted to recruit him from Swansea instead. Benitez, whose appointment as Chelsea interim manager earlier this season prompted an unprecedented hostile backlash from Blues fans, has suggested he could take charge of his former club again. “My idea is to keep coaching a competitive team. Why not in England?” Benitez, whose success in winning the Champions League in 2005 means he still holds a special place in most Liverpool fans’ hearts, told Spanish newspaper Marca.

“I will return to Liverpool one day almost certainly, I just don’t know when, my daughters and wife are still living there.” Rodgers was appointed in the summer when FSG decided to dispense with Reds icon Kenny Dalglish and look for a different way forward. Their faith in the appointment, even after a frustratingly up and down season, has given him the necessary confidence to not be intimidated by former managers looming large in the background. Benitez is set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season but the current Reds boss does not feel threatened. “I haven’t seen the statements but I’ve heard plenty of people talk about it,” Rodgers said. “Rafa had a successful time here in the period he was here and I think he will join a list of probably many

managers throughout the world who would love to manage a great club - especially having been here before. “Obviously that opportunity was there in the summer if the owners wanted to go down that route as Rafa was unemployed and not working. “But they felt it best to go in a different direction and develop the club in a different way. “And from that the board, players, myself and the club have all become one in looking to move forward and build success for the future. “It is understandable any manager wanting to manage the club because it is truly a world-class football club. “It is not a hindrance to me. Before I came here I had seen comments about Rafa wanting to be manager and I’ve seen comments while I’ve been here.”

APOLLON capitalised on a quality attacking performance to beat AEK Larnaca 2-0 in the first leg of their Cyprus Coca-Cola Cup semi-final clash, moving the Limassol side a step closer to the final. “This victory is very important for us. Our fans were of great assistance. However, this is only the first half and we have to continue to work hard and prepare for the second leg in Larnaca as we play against one of the best teams in the country,” said Apollon coach Christakis Christoforou. Greek midfielder Fotios Papoulis broke the deadlock with a goal directly from a corner kick only 17 minutes into the match, while 20-year-old striker Alex Konstantinou set up the final score with a precise shot from just outside the penalty area 15 minutes from time. “We have to go to Larnaca thinking the score is still 0-0. I want to thank our fans who came to support us. I hope that their faith in us has been restored and that they will be following us next week too,” Christoforou added. At the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Omonia, who beat arch-rivals APOEL over the weekend in the first game of the championship playoffs, were held to a goalless stalemate by AEL Limassol in the second semi-final tie. “The only positive thing from this match is that we have not conceded a goal at home, so now the pressure is on AEL. The match itself was a bad one from our perspective. We did not play well, but we should not use last weekend’s derby as an excuse, while AEL were indifferent themselves,” said Omonia coach Toni Savevski. “On Saturday we have another difficult league match and we now fully focus on that matter,” concluded Savevski whose side will be looking to extend their league winning streak to nine matches when they take on AEK at the GSZ Stadium in Larnaca. AEL coach Jorge Costa agreed with Savevski on the quality of the game: “It was a close match, although it lacked any real quality,” he said. “It is a semi-final so it was obvious that both teams felt a lot of pressure. In the second half we were the better side and we created a few chances to score, but unfortunately failed to do so. In my opinion the teams are evenly matched, so anything can happen in the second leg.” The return legs are scheduled for Wednesday, April 17.


CYPRUS MAIL Friday, April 12, 2013

31

Champions League PIQUE: EVEN IF HE IS HALF LAME, HIS PRESENCE IS ENOUGH TO LIFT US AND OUR PLAY

The mere sight of Lionel Messi warming up had already lifted the palpably nervous fans at the Camp Nou, and when the Argentina international entered the fray, Barca were transformed

Relief for Messi-dependent Barca By Iain Rogers ANDRES Iniesta admitted this week that Barcelona suffer from “Messi-dependence” and his view was painfully highlighted as the favourites laboured in the Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris St Germain on Wednesday. Messi started on the bench at the Camp Nou after straining a hamstring in last week’s 2-2 first leg draw in Paris and for the hour before his introduction, Barca produced a flat performance despite the best efforts of the home fans to rouse the players. Cesc Fabregas was deployed in Messi’s roving forward role as he had been on Saturday when he scored a hat-trick against Real Mal-

lorca in La Liga, but the Spaniard made little impact as passes went astray and possession was surrendered all to easily. A fired-up PSG side stuffed with expensive talent were an entirely different proposition to Mallorca and the Ligue 1 leaders came close to inflicting a first home defeat on Barca in the Champions League in 21 games since October 2009. When Messi replaced Fabregas in the 62nd minute, Barca were losing 1-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate thanks to Javier Pastore’s breakaway goal five minutes after halftime. The mere sight of Messi warming up had already lifted the palpably nervous fans and when the Argentina international entered the fray, Barca were trans-

formed. He was clearly short on fitness but it was his clever pass to David Villa with around 20 minutes left that allowed the Spain forward to feed his international team mate Pedro, who cracked a first-time shot past Salvatore Sirigu. With Messi on the pitch, a reliable link between the forward and the midfield was restored, and Barca were better able to control possession and see out the game to secure a sixth straight appearance in the last four. “In Leo we are talking about the best player in the world and when things are not going well you have to use him,” centre back Gerard Pique, who came through Barca’s youth ranks with Messi, told re-

porters. “Even if he is half lame, his presence on the pitch is enough to lift us and our play in general,” added the Spain international, one of nine in the starting lineup against PSG. While Barca’s subdued performance without their talisman was a concern, they can comfort themselves with the knowledge that he is likely to be fully fit for the semi-final, first leg in two weeks time. “At this point he doesn’t have any physical problems,” assistant coach Jordi Roura told a news conference. Arch rivals Real Madrid, last year’s runners-up Bayern Munich and the side they displaced as German champions at the weekend, Borussia Dortmund,

are also through and the draw for the last four will be made this afternoon. “It feels like it’s a duel between the Spanish and German leagues and I really have no preference,” Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta told reporters. “For better or for worse, we showed that like a Manchester United or a Bayern Munich, we can make it through whether we are playing poorly or playing well,” added the former Barca and Spain goalkeeper. With Messi, who has 59 Champions League goals in 77 appearances, second behind only former Real striker Raul, back to full fitness Barca have every chance of securing a third European crown in five years and their fifth overall.

Conte truth bombs unlikely to have explosive impact By Brian Homewood

Italian champions Juventus were outclassed by Bayern

JUVENTUS coach Antonio Conte’s criticism of Italian football following his side’s Champions League exit was greeted with tutting and head-shaking by the listening journalists, raising doubts as to whether his harsh words would be heeded. Juventus have dominated Italian football in the last 18 months, yet they were outclassed by Bayern Munich in their quarter-final, where a 4-0 aggregate defeat prompted some soul-searching from Conte in the post-match news conference. “I can’t see an Italian team winning the Champions League in the coming years,” he said, warning that Italian clubs could no longer match the financial power of Real

Madrid, Barcelona, the two Manchester clubs, Paris St Germain and Bayern. “It makes me laugh when I hear that with just two or three new signings we can win the Champions League,” he added. “Italian football has come to a standstill and that should be a concern for everyone. “When was the last time an Italian team reached the semi-finals?” he added. “I think everyone has to pull together to try and change things in Italian football. When I say everyone, I mean the clubs, the supporters, the media and all the institutions.” Conte’s words came against the backdrop of a typically untidy week in Serie A, which sometimes bears more resemblance to a chaotic South American domestic league than the highly professional

organisation of the Bundesliga. Inter Milan have spent most of this week complaining about referees and an alleged conspiracy theory against them after a 4-3 home defeat by Atalanta on Sunday. Monday night’s derby between Roma and Lazio was marred by clashes in the streets before the game and, despite the passion involved in the match, there were swathes of empty seats in the Stadio Olimpico. Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta reiterated Conte’s warning. “We have clubs like Bayern, who double the revenue of Italian sides such as AC Milan, Inter Milan or Juventus,” he said. “They can buy one player for 40 million euros, while Italian clubs need to buy three or four players to justify that sort of money.”

Ancelotti: PSG have solid base for European project PARIS St Germain’s performance in this season’s Champions League gives them a strong base on which to build for another attempt at winning a first European crown next season, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti. Narrowly denied a place in the last four by Barcelona on Wednesday after giving the favourites a mighty scare at the Camp Nou, PSG are closing in on the Ligue 1 title and a place in the 2013-14 edition of Europe’s elite club competition. The ambitious Qatar-owned side are one of football’s biggest spenders in recent years and hired Italian Ancelotti, one of only six men to win the European Cup as a player and a coach, in December 2011 to mould a squad packed with expensive talent into continental champions. “It’s a very good foundation on which to improve next year,” Ancelotti told a news conference after Wednesday’s 1-1 quarter-final, second leg draw in the Catalan capital, which put Barca through 3-3 on aggregate on away goals. “We played 10 matches and we only lost one, against Porto (in the group stage),” he added. “We played against some great teams and we gathered experience. The goal for next year is to advance further than the quarter-finals.” PSG were leading Barca 3-2 over the two legs after midfielder Javier Pastore struck five minutes after half-time on Wednesday. However, the introduction of Pastore’s Argentina teammate Lionel Messi, who strained a hamstring in last week’s 2-2 draw in Paris and only received the all-clear shortly before kickoff, galvanised Barca and Pedro levelled 19 minutes from time. “Messi gave his team-mates more confidence, he’s a fantastic player,” Ancelotti said. “We showed solidity, character and most importantly an identity,” he added. “It’s something that takes time, which is very hard to create and tonight we created enormous problems for a fantastic team. “We can improve, we can be more competitive and we will do better next year.”

Europa League Rubin Kazan Chelsea (Aggregate 4-5)

3 2

Basel Tottenham (Aggregate 4-4)

L L

Newcastle Benfica (Aggregate 2-4)

1 1

Lazio Fenerbahce (Aggregate 1-3)

1 1


Friday, April 12, 2013 CYPRUS MAIL

32 Euroleague champions Olympiakos off to good playoffs start 28

Sport

Charlton: England can’t win World Cup due to foreign influx 30

Hawk-Eye awarded Premier League contract By Martyn Ziegler THE Premier League will use goal-line technology provided by British-based firm Hawk-Eye from next season, it was agreed yesterday. League sources have confirmed the Hawk-Eye system was ratified at meeting of the 20 top-flight clubs in London. A German system, GoalControl, had also been under consideration after submitting a tender. The decision means Hawk-Eye’s camera-based system will be in place at Premier League grounds and at Wembley Stadium from next season. HawkEye, which was sold to technology giant Sony two years ago, already provides systems for tennis and cricket. The Premier League provided seed

money to help Hawk-Eye develop a goal-line technology system back in 2007, but there was no longer a formal relationship with the company. League chiefs made their recommendation based on both cost and ease of implementation and use. Earlier this month FIFA chose GoalControl, which is also a camera-based system, for the Confederations Cup in Brazil in June and next year’s World Cup finals. Two other systems, also German, have also been licensed by FIFA but they both use magnetic sensors rather than cameras. Former Arsenal and FA vice-chairman David Dein, who has long campaigned for goal-line technology, claimed every top-flight referee in England was in favour of having a system. He said at the Soccerex conference in

Manchester: “The Premier League will be the first league in Europe to introduce it. “I have been on this campaign for six or seven years and now it’s going to happen. The referees need help, the camera will always beat the eye, and every referee in the Premier League is in favour of it.” The head of Spain’s La Liga said it would follow suit and bring in goal-line technology in two or three years. Francisco Roca Perez told the Soccerex conference: “We are truly advocates for technology and we will look at the systems and the cost. “We are not going to be as quick as the Premier League but we are in favour of the system. “I expect that in two or three years we will be able to do something like this.”

Controversy: Hawk-Eye would have been able to award England a goal against Germany at the 2010 World Cup

Team orders fallout hangs over the Chinese Grand Prix Rosberg and Webber have points to prove By Alan Baldwin

M

EMORIES of China would have given Nico Rosberg plenty of extra motivation on his return to Shanghai this weekend, even without a ‘team orders’ furore that blew up at the last race in Malaysia. While Red Bull caught the full force of the storm at Sepang, with triple world champion Sebastian Vettel winning after ignoring instructions from his pitwall to stay behind team mate Mark Webber, Mercedes were buffeted by their own drama. “Remember this one,” Rosberg told Mercedes principal Ross Brawn over the radio after obeying the boss’ orders and finishing fourth behind team mate Lewis Hamilton despite believing he was faster. Brawn, who said he imposed the orders to prevent his cars running out of fuel, would rather think back a bit further to last year’s race in China when Rosberg secured Mercedes’ first win as a works team since 1955. The German, son of Finland’s 1982 champion Keke, has a special relationship with the monumental Shanghai circuit and Sunday’s race could bring an immediate payback.

Great memories: last year’s race in Shanghai saw Germany’s Nico Rosberg claim his first Grand Prix win as he secured Mercedes’ first victory as a works team since 1955 He has led the last three races in China and his success, in a car that was off the pace for much of the rest of the season, marked a big breakthrough as his first grand prix victory. Brawn saw no reason why the run could not continue, particularly with a car that has looked much more competitive. “It was a very special day,” the burly Briton said of 2012. “We always seem to go quite well in China and in particular Nico is very strong there.

“It seems to be a track that suits him. it’s a track which is front tyre-limited because of the nature of the corners, not rear tyre-limited. possibly over the last few years we’ve been a bit weak in terms of rear tyre durability. “I think that’s better now. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in that leading group, we’ve got some steps we want to do with the car and the car seems to be behaving pretty well and we’ve got two great drivers,” said Brawn. Hamilton’s third place in

Malaysia was the 2008 world champion’s first podium since he left McLaren at the end of last season and the Briton also has a strong record in China. The only driver to have won twice in Shanghai, his 2011 success means Mercedes now have the last two Chinese GP winners in their cars. “We’ve had a better start than we expected and to have finished in fifth and third places so far is really positive,” said Hamilton. “I know there is much more to

come...” Champions Red Bull will be the focus of much of the media attention, despite Vettel apologising to the team and to Webber after the Malaysian race. Team principal Christian Horner has said the matter has now been dealt with, and Red Bull’s unusually bland race preview made no mention of the controversy, but it is sure to be simmering still. McLaren, who have won three times in China, are looking for a marked im-

provement after two disappointing opening races that have left 2009 champion Jenson Button with just two points. “In a funny way, the Chinese Grand Prix almost feels like something of a reboot of the start of my season,” said Button, whose China memories run the gamut from victory in 2010 to embarrassment in 2011 when he pulled in at the Red Bull garage instead of McLaren’s. “I think everybody in the team has picked themselves up and really attacked the task of addressing our car’s issues,” added the Briton. “We know where we’re losing performance so I think we’re actually all looking forward to seeing just what we can achieve.” Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso will be keen to get his championship campaign back on track after crashing out in Malaysia while Kimi Raikkonen is another force to reckon with in the Lotus. Memories of China may also play on Adrian Sutil’s mind, although the Force India driver would rather forget them as he makes his return for the first time since a 2011 nightclub brawl in Shanghai almost ended the German’s career. The German, handed a suspended jail sentence and fined, was dropped by the team for the 2012 season before making a comeback this year. Shanghai partygoers are unlikely to see him among their number on Sunday night.


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