By Patroclos

HEARING our friend, justice minister Ionas Nicolaou, saying that Cyprus needed to do something about the under-representation of women in public and political life, our establishment entered a bout of self-criticism. It concluded that the minister was right.

Women were under-represented in our establishment as well, so we decided that we would engage in some positive discrimination, as part of our establishment’s modernisation drive. Apart from offering caramel latte and ginger mocha we will be giving more prominence to women in public life, and if we manage to attract female customers to our male-dominated shop we will report their views.

As Ionas said, “it is inconceivable that in 2013, Cyprus society fails to utilise the knowledge, talents and experience of highly educated women.” How appropriate that on the same day he said this, AKEL deputy Irini Charalambidou, showed off her knowledge of banking and undoubted talents in making a big fuss out of nothing.

AKEL, to its credit, has been fully utilising the knowledge and talents of the eighties TV queen, who, on Tuesday at the legislature, initiated another mindless witch-hunt in collaboration with her friend and fellow traveller Professor Panicos.

The way, a routine procedure at the Bank of Cyprus in the UK was turned into a major scandal meant that no minister could ever complain that stupidity was under-represented in political and public life.

AT TUESDAY’S meeting of the House Institutions Committee, Irini asked the Governor whether 100 accounts held by Cypriot politicians and state officials at the BoC (London) had been closed as ‘high risk’, with regard to money laundering.

Professor Panicos, who had been in London a week earlier, told the committee that the Bank of England had forced the BoC to investigate the accounts of Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) and more than 100 such accounts were closed as ‘high risk’, implying that money laundering was taking place.

He avoided mentioning that this was a routine check that takes place in all EU countries as a precautionary measure and that many accounts had been inactive for years, because it suited him to make an issue out of Irini’s planted question and play up the ‘high risk’ label given.

Allegations of money laundering by politicians would deflect attention away from the Central Bank Audit Committee’s investigation which found that Panicos had misled the CBC board, concealed information from it, ignored its decisions, violated procedures and awarded contracts without tenders.

The professor, whose media manipulation skills are very impressive, calculatingly failed to mention that nothing irregular had be found and that there was no issue of money laundering. MOKAS, the anti-fraud unit, did this for him, the following day, saying it had not received any such information from the British authorities.

The BoC also issued a statement on Thursday, saying that none of the accounts were closed because of money laundering suspicions; some were closed because they were inactive and had very small amounts of money.

ONE OF the PEPs with a ‘high risk’ account was the new leader of DIKO Ethnarch Junior who felt obliged to issue a statement saying he had an account in London, since his student days, with a balance of £78 and was asked to close it.

Unable to accept the embarrassment, Irini did not give up her imaginary crusade. Appearing on the Yiannis Kareklas TV witch-hunt show on Thursday night, she said that there was one person (she forgot the 150 she spoke about on Tuesday) with an account in the UK that was under investigation by MOKAS.

But she still demanded that all account-holders were named stating that they may have been moving millions three or four years ago. These mock-crusades by deputies are getting a bit out of hand. It is not illegal for people to have accounts in banks abroad, although hearing deputies you’d think it is a big crime, and they have no right to check how much money was moved through them two or three years ago.

If Irini wanted to make a fool of herself by helping Panicos’ media manipulation, it is her problem, but starting a witch-hunt in order to cover up her embarrassment seems a bit irresponsible, even if this shows that women politicians can be as bad as their male colleagues.

THE WITCH-HUNT appeared successful. The head of the KPMG auditing firm Nicos Syrimis called the Kareklas holy inquisition to explain that he was a PEP (his late father was finance minister in the Vassiliou government) and admit that he had a ‘high risk’ account at the BoC in London.

He used the account for his kids who were studying in the UK and for his expenses as he travelled regularly, he apologetically explained. He had complained to the BoC, he said, for wanting to close this account. It was surreal hearing a businessman, who had done nothing wrong, giving an explanation on TV about how he used his London bank account to Kareklas, Charalambidou and Syllouris. They magnanimously declared him not guilty.

POLYS Polyviou, the one-man investigative committee for the Mari blast, was not so magnanimous in his radio rant against the village idiot on Thursday morning, declaring him ‘guilty’ for the death of the 13 people.

“Mr Christofias is guilty and I say it clearly; enough lies and evasions,” he told the Lazarus patriotic radio show. “Mr Christofias should have been tried and I believe at the end of the day he will face justice.”

Pol Pol had said nothing in public after issuing his Mari verdict two years ago, but appears to have lost his patience after seeing a Tof TV interview, during which the infallible communist accused him of compiling a biased report and of giving assurances that it would be innocuous.

Tof was a liar, said Pol Pol who has a very formal way of speaking, even when he is heaping abuse on someone. And the most offensive lie he uttered in the interview, according to the livid lawyer, was that “I supposedly kissed him on both cheeks and told him not to worry.” These “are fantasies” he said. Not sexual fantasies I hope.

THE LAWYER also took a big swipe at AKEl’s vicious campaign against him, in which Mrs Tof (you can’t accuse the commies of not utilising highly educated women) played a leading role.

“He threw all the young Bolsheviks at me, Christofides and Stefanou in order to destroy me. They are Bolsheviks because they do not believe in the truth. They believe in the party. They have no scruples. They are young Bolsheviks because they will do anything for the supremacy of the party…”

It was sad that the former president had sunk to such a miserable level, “the only good thing being that he dragged AKEL down with him, for which the people should be grateful to him,” concluded Pol Pol.

After this sterling performance, we have decided to offer the distinguished lawyer, one year’s free membership to the Anti-AKEL Fan Club, because we need high-profile members.

FOR WEEKS rumours have been circulating that political parties had received big amounts of money from the crooked banker Andreas Vgenopoulos, via the Focus Maritime Corporation, owned by his associate and ship-owner Michalise Zolotas.

Politis had a story not so long ago mentioning account numbers but not giving the party names. On Friday, DISY came partly clean, saying it had received €500,000 for the 2008 presidential election from a group of ship-owners based in London and Greece.

The money was not given as advanced payment for 10 years of consultancy services, as in the case of the former Governor Ttooulis, but to cover the cost of air tickets for students flying home to vote. DISY denied rumours the money had come from Vgen even though back in 2008 everyone in Kyproulla was giving the full arslickan treatment to the dodgy banker.

RUMOURS suggested that the commies of AKEL had also received half a million for the Tof’s election campaign from the same source. This would explain why the corrupt commies never said a bad word against Vgen even after it became clear that he had bankrupted Laiki.

Good old Pol Pol spilt the beans on a Friday TV show when he said that AKEL took money from Vgen. This led the commie chief Andros to call the show to deny the charge and inform Pol Pol that they would meet in court. “If he could (Pol) he would throw us into the ovens like Hitler had done to Jews,” said Andros, playing the victim card.

By the evening Vgen also joined the debate, releasing a statement which said: “I have never given a grant or made a contribution or donation to AKEL or any other political party in Cyprus or Greece, and never has any government done me any favours.”

One is inclined to take this as confirmation that Vgen had given the moollah to AKEL and DISY because the guy always lies.

WE WERE proved completely wrong in suggesting last week that Marios Lafazayian, by signing up thousands of new party members, would have easily won the clash of the titans at DIKO. He was defeated, by a narrow margin by Ethnarch Junior, as many of the new members did not bother to vote.

What won it for Junior was the Paphos vote, which gave him a very big lead. It is weird that the peasants of our most backward district would vote for a wealthy Nicosia butter-boy, but there is a metaphysical explanation for this.

Paphites are still influenced by the spirit of Makarios in their voting and were bound to give a big victory to the son of a Makarios loyalist like Tassos.

IN THE SPACE of a couple of years poor old Marios has gone from House president and party leader to being just another DIKO deputy. Will he now give back the state BMW he was granted as House president or will he be the only deputy who goes to work in a chauffeur-driven limo?

The real tragedy is that Mr and Mrs Garoyian will now be relegated from ‘A’ to ‘B’ celebrities. Their social outings will no longer be covered by the paparazzi. A quick look at the ShowBiz.cy web-site proves the point.

Whereas in the past there was a minimum of four stories with pictures about Marios and Rotika every week, in the last week Show Biz posted only one report with a stock picture – ‘a first reaction by Rotika after her husband’s defeat’. In her reaction Rotika said: “My husband and I will continue to serve the social whole and carry on giving selflessly to all those that need us.”

IT IS NOT only Marios and Rotika who have been advertising their selflessness. Bank of Piraeus has driven us mad with its ubiquitous adverts boasting about its “humanity and selflessness” or about its “giving, help and selflessness.” Give us a break please. A selfless and giving bank should have its banking licence revoked, because it will end up bankrupt, not to mention that this is about as plausible a claim as a clever Akelite or a sophisticated Paphite.

SPEAKING of banks, the BoC has undergone a management re-organisation. The executive in charge of big businesses, Phivos Stassopoulos, who was in charge of giving the big loans to the big developers during the golden era, has resigned.

Interestingly, the man in charge of dealing with NPLs, recoveries and loan restructuring will be the Scotsman Euan Hamilton, who was brought in as a consultant by CEO John Hourican. There is a reason for this.

Hourican has calculated that customers with problem loans will have difficulty communicating with Hamilton, who has a heavy Scottish accent, thus cutting the negotiating time for restructurings to a minimum. Also customers who do not understand what he tells them are more inclined to agree with him.

THE COUNCIL of Ministers approved the roadmap for the privatisation of semi-governmental organisations on Thursday and as expected the bills were primarily designed to limit political and union opposition. From the first reactions we can conclude that the government has failed in this respect. The union bosses of the SGOs paraded through the media on Friday morning vowing to fight against the government plans while AKEL tried to add fuel to the fire by accusing the government of being ideologically opposed to the state sector and championing the interests of capital.

The truth is we should not be having this debate because the government has signed the MoU which clearly stipulates that €1.4 billion would be raised through privatisations by 2018. As we cannot privatise the National Guard or Cyprus Police we have to sell off SGOs like Cyta, EAC and Ports Authority which have real assets and profit-making potential if properly managed; other smaller concerns could follow. Are the SGO unions suggesting the government does not honour its signature and find a way out of its commitment to international lenders?

It is astonishing that none of the opponents of privatisations have any scruples about going back on what we had agreed, presenting it as if it is the obvious thing to do. Union bosses are irresponsible chaps, but the parties are bringing the country into disrepute with their stance. AKEL is the worst of all. The provision for privatisations was included in the MoU agreed by Demetris Christofias so it is a bit hypocritical to complain now, unless of course the comrades had no intention of honouring their agreement either.

All the populism and union threats have obviously influenced the government’s plan which tries to pander to all interests. Even the terminology being used is designed to appease the moaners – de-nationalisation rather than privatisation would take place – while government spokesman Christos Stylianides assured that the state would keep a stake in all the de-nationalised firms. State participation will be directly related to how much money could be raised by the sales which prompted Stylianides to describe the de-nationalisation as an “evolutionary procedure”. So, in theory, if the sale of 40 per cent of Cyta, of EAC and the Ports Authority generated the €1.4bn required the remaining shares would stay with the state.

This muddled thinking permeates the government’s philosophy. For instance, the government said it would contribute to the €1.4bn with revenue from gaming licences including those for casinos and through the sale of state-owned real estate. The amount raised from these transactions would determine the size of the stake in the SGOs that would be sold to the private sector.

It is an irrational approach, because the economy would benefit much more if the funds generated from gaming licences and the sale of state property was spent on development projects instead of being used to maintain some state participation in SGOs, from which the economy has nothing to gain.

The government has adopted this half-baked approach so that President Anastasiades does not go back on his election promise to DIKO and so as not to be accused of having sold off the national wealth by AKEL and EDEK. This is how national policy is shaped. Inevitably, national policy has to pander to the unions. The bill, the spokesman said, would safeguard all workers’ rights, without specifying if this meant that the plundering of SGOs by unions would continue.

Worse still, as part of the roadmap, shares would be offered to workers of the SGOs or their provident funds. This is scandalous preferential treatment which should not be allowed to stand. Shares should be offered to members of the public who have as much right to buy a stake in SGOs – after all, this is the national wealth belonging to the public as AKEL keeps reminding us – as the workers of the organisations. Are people that do not work for the SGOs second-class citizens, excluded from investing in these companies?

In its effort to limit the noise made by unions and political parties the government has come up with a plan that leaves all options open. Full privatisation might be still be necessary to raise the €1.4bn but the government will worry about that when the need arises, via the “evolutionary procedure.”  There is a big risk involved in not setting a clearly-defined path for such an important policy objective. Improvising policy, in accordance with public demand, as we go along, is how the government has decided to implement the de-nationalisations. In Cyprus politicians always choose the path of least resistance, usually, with disastrous results.

By Constantinos Psillides

WHENEVER someone mentions educational reform or educational overhaul, a vivid memory comes to mind. Back in 2004, a year into the presidency of Tassos Papadopoulos, I was sent to report on a delegation visit to then minister of education Pefkios Georgiadis.

When the trite statements to the media were done and cameras left the room, a delegation member asked the late Georgiadis (he died in 2007) how education reform was going. Without realising that a reporter was still in the room, Georgiadis stood up, walked to his office, picked up a bulky tome titled “Educational Reform”, returned to the table and slammed it down. “There’s your educational reform”, he had said angrily, “but they are never going to let me to go through with it. Never”.

Ten years passed and the reform is still stuck in the mud.

The ‘they’ that Georgiades was referring of course are all the stakeholders in education, the political parties who openly support candidates for key positions in the unions, the two largest teachers unions POED – elementary teachers – and OELMEK -secondary teachers – parents associations and the Church.

Archbishop Chrysostomos said on more than one occasion that he wants a “Greek-Orthodox centered” education; oftentimes with current minister Kyriakos Kenevezos sitting by his side.

A school season usually kicks off with an official meeting of the Archbishop and the current minister while the worst kept secret in Cypriot politics is that the president cannot appoint an education minister without the silent approval of the head of the church.

Decades of feeble attempts at adjusting our antiquated education system in a rapidly evolving world, have finally taken their toll. A study conducted by OECD’s (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Programme for International Student Assessment found that Cypriot 15-year-olds were the worst performing among EU member states, achieving the worst results in sciences, second worst in math and third worst in reading skills.

But if the study results were saddening, the official response was down-right depressing. Themis Poliviou, head of OELMEK, challenged the study’s methodology arguing that students in other countries were carefully selected and coached, while Kenevezos said that the level of standards was ‘everyone’s fault’.

Androulla Vassiliou: saddened

Androulla Vassiliou, the Cypriot  EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth told the Sunday Mail that she was very saddened with the reports findings for Cyprus. “Measures must be taken. The authorities must analyse the report in depth, study what other countries did and proceed with educational reform”, the commissioner said, Vassiliou said Cyprus’ problem was not a matter of funding. “There is a lot of money spent on education,” she said.

The commissioner urged the government to proceed immediately with reforms, pointing out that not every government should have its own, special reform. “There was a lot of work done in previous years. The new government must build on that and continue with the reform,” the commissioner added.

Education’s main areas of concern are modernisation of teaching methods, teachers’ salaries and working conditions, revamping the syllabus and the abolishment of the ‘teachers list. Educators add their names to a list and are appointed on a first-come first-served basis, which could take anything from ten to 25 years. At last count there were over 30,000 names on the list. The education ministry proposed recently the substitution of the list with appointments based on –among other things- a written exam. The two unions are strongly against it and have gathered enough political support to almost guarantee that the proposal will fail.

Although some progress is being made in modernising teaching methods and revamping the syllabus, unions and state are far apart regarding salary reduction and changing working conditions. OELMEK and POED have repeatedly opposed any reform that meant lower wages and introduce longer hours.

The OECD study results might came as a shock to the rest of us, but it was certainly no news for the teachers in the trenches of public education.

Nikolas, 31, a physics teacher says that he is not surprised at all by the report findings. “It’s to be expected. I have been teaching physics at a lyceum for a number of years and the report sounds about accurate”, Nikolas said, adding that in his opinion the wording of exam questions is a major factor.

“The majority of students don’t understand the questions. They get confused on simple wording and fumble the answer. More often than not their answers have nothing to do with the questions,” the physics teacher notes, adding that as a teacher he tries to give emphasis on keywords so the students can understand what is asked of them.

When asked what needs to be done to better science education, Nikolas answer was immediate. “Smaller study groups and more time for physics classes. For example, four group of six can be more effectively taught than a class of twenty-four and if we had more time allotted we could do much better,” he said.

Although there are a lot of factors affecting the optimal teacher-student ratio, the US National Assessment of Educational Progress reports that in most cases the best fit is ten students per teacher. OECD reports that on average globally the ratio is twenty-one students per teacher. In Cyprus, classes of twenty-five to thirty students are not an uncommon sight.

The number of students is an issue in elementary schools too. Maro, 28, an elementary teacher laments that there is simply not enough time to teach her pupils effectively. “I have a class of almost thirty kids. It’s next to impossible to help all of them. I teach kids outside my teaching hours but I still can’t help them as much as I want to. Smaller classes would be so much better”, says Maro.

She added that there was also a lack of supplies, like markers, stationery and teaching aids. “If a teacher wants to do a better job, he buys those things on his own”, she says.

Maro has a different take on the subject of the teachers’ waiting list. “I agree with the proposal. It’s not right for someone capable to wait years for an appointment. Besides that, everyone nowadays can get a degree in education and be put on the list. The proposed system of evaluation is a good way to determine who is better suited to be a teacher. Provided that meritocracy will apply,” she said.

The possible faults of the proposed change are also of concern for Dr Christiana Karousiou, an expert on educational reform.

“The proposed plan is riddled with vagueness, omissions, possible injustices and rife with sketchiness. It victimises experienced educators in the name of hope and modernisation and leaves a wide open door for nepotism”, argues Karousiou, adding that it was time for properly structured solutions, not experimentations.

Asked to identify the reasons behind the decline, Karousiou points out educators training, job evaluation and an educational system that is conservative, bureaucratic and promotes low expectations.

“The educational system in Cyprus needs to overcome the deficiency of the current training provision. Teachers’ In-Service training is mainly informal and voluntary, and has been criticised for ignoring the central principles of adult education problem-solving, such as building on experience, promoting interaction with colleagues and enabling in-depth reflection,” she said.

Karousiou said teachers should participate in an effective training scheme, which is inclusive and accessible, considers teachers as professionals and adult learners, promotes school-based and teacher initiatives and it is focused on students’ learning.

In these training courses, it is important for teachers to work collaboratively with academics in problem-solving activities, constructing and applying a specific practice skill and monitoring the success of their efforts, she added.

Referring to teacher’s evaluation process, Karousiou characterises it as highly problematic due to the fact that teaching experience in Cyprus is drawn from age, which she says is also the principle factor for promotions.

“Therefore, the need for a new evaluation system which will be based on more objective and rational criteria, such as teacher’s professionalism and ability to provide quality education, is more than apparent,” she said.

“The centralised structure automatically restricts teachers’ and schools’ autonomy, thus limiting any chance for having teachers’ voice being heard outside of the micro level of the organisation and more specifically at the operational level of the education system. The educational system in Cyprus needs to escape from conservatism and bureaucracy.”

Karousiou said any new system should have in mind the significance of student involvement.

“Students should be given the opportunity to make a difference to their school by investigating a problematic area of their interest, sharing their views about teaching, learning and schooling, in order to create a feasible working collaboration with their educators and influence school procedure”, she noted.

Cyprus Mail tried to get a comment from deputy head of secondary education Savvas Antoniou. Through his secretary, Antoniou refused to comment saying that “report findings are presently not a concern of the secondary education department”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main coalition partner publicly prodded him on Sunday to show “historic courage” and reach a peace deal with the Palestinians even at the risk of his government’s collapse.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid, in a speech, reassured Netanyahu of his centrist Yesh Atid party’s support and spoke of possible changes in the coalition – a nod to any future exit of far-right factions and their replacement by left-wing partners – should a land-for-peace agreement be achieved.

“I’m determined to do everything within my power to ensure that this government stays the course – even if developments in the peace negotiations necessitate a coalition realignment of one kind or another,” Lapid said.

But he also appeared to issue a warning to Netanyahu, reiterating that Yesh Atid, which has 19 legislators in the 120-member parliament and is the second-biggest party in the coalition, would not remain in a government that did not genuinely pursue a negotiated settlement.

“I am not ready to have Yesh Atid serve as a fig leaf for pointless political manoeuvring,” Lapid told an economic conference.

Speaking two days after meeting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who was on a visit to the region, Lapid gave no indication that U.S.-brokered peace talks, which began in July with a nine-month timeframe for success, were making progress.

But he said that accepting a narrative, voiced by opponents of a deal on both sides of the conflict, that nothing would come of the negotiations could turn into a self-fulfilling prophesy and destroy chances for an accord.

“We cannot continue pretending that peace does not involve paying a price – a heavy, painful, national and political price that both signatories of the peace agreement will be forced to bear,” Lapid said.

“The prime minister has declared that he is aware of this price and of the notion that the only solution on the table is the implementation of the principle of two states for two peoples. I sincerely hope that he exhibits the kind of historic courage required to pay this price,” he said of Netanyahu.

Israeli commentators have suggested in the past few weeks that Lapid was looking to win back disappointed dovish voters who have abandoned Yesh Atid for left-wing opposition parties.

In Washington on Saturday, U.S. President Barack Obama said he believed it was possible to reach a framework agreement over the next several months that would not address every detail of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but could move things forward.

On Thursday, Kerry said he has presented Israel with “some thoughts” about improving its security under any eventual accord on establishing a Palestinian state.

Neither side has given details of the U.S. ideas. Israel has long said it would want to keep a military presence between the occupied West Bank and Jordan, as well as swathes of Jewish settlements – enclaves that most of the world deems illegal.

Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, rejected on Sunday what she said was Israel’s demand to control the borders of a future state that Palestinians seek in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

“It means that Israel does not want a peaceful solution and does not want to abide by the international law and the peace obligations and is making impossible conditions,” she told Voice of Palestine radio.

Netanyahu has voiced concern that without stringent security arrangements, Palestinian militants could attack Israel from the West Bank after any Israeli pullout, much as they have done from the Gaza Strip, now run by Hamas Islamists, since an Israeli withdrawal in 2005.

Goals from Steve Sidwell and Dimitar Berbatov helped Fulham end a six-match losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Sidwell struck from a tight angle on 21 minutes and Berbatov rolled in a cheeky penalty on the half hour as Fulham dominated against disappointing Villa.

Fulham, who sacked manager Martin Jol last week and replaced him with fellow Dutchman Rene Meulensteen, moved to 13 points alongside West Ham United who are one place above the relegation zone owing to a superior goal difference.

Later on Sunday leaders Arsenal take on in-form Everton looking to stretch their advantage to seven points over Liverpool.

In yesterdays evening game Spurs recovered from an early strike by Sunderland’s England winger Adam Johnson with goals from Brazil midfielder Paulinho and an own goal by John O’Shea, to win at the Stadium of Light.

It was their second win in four days and eased the pressure on manager Andre Villas Boas. “That’s a massive result for us,” said defender Michael Dawson. “That was a good performance and we showed our spirit and the unity we have in our team.”

Fifty-nine foreign heads of state or government have said so far they will attend either the memorial ceremony or the state funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa in the coming week, a foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters.

He said the final number of who would attend either Tuesday’s memorial in Johannesburg or the funeral in Qunu next Sunday would be confirmed in due course.

Gerard Delofeu’s late goal earned Everton a deserved 1-1 draw at Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday after Mesut Ozil’s strike seemed set to seal three points for the home side.

An absorbing clash which sizzled throughout caught fire in the closing stages as Ozil swept Arsenal in front from close range in the 80th minute and substitute Delofeu fired a powerful shot past Wojciech Szczesny four minutes later.

Olivier Giroud almost snatched victory in stoppage-time for the hosts when his 30 metre thunderbolt thumped against the woodwork.

The draw left Arsenal on 35 points, five clear of Liverpool and Chelsea after 15 games with Everton, who have lost only once in the league, fifth on 28.
(R)

A crowd set fire to vehicles and clashed with police in the Indian district of Singapore late on Sunday, in a rare outbreak of rioting in the city state.

The incident reportedly started after a private bus hit and killed a foreign worker in the Little India area. Television footage showing a crowd of people smashing the windscreen of a bus, and at least three police cars being flipped over.

Singapore Police Force said the riot started after a fatal traffic accident. “Shortly after, a riot broke out involving a crowd of about 400 subjects where the subjects damaged five police vehicles and one ambulance,” it said in a statement, adding that around 10 police officers were injured.

Little India is usually packed with people on Sundays, with many construction workers from Bangladesh and India gathering there to spend their day off.

Incidents like this are rare in Singapore, which has tough laws on rioting that carry a sentence of up to seven years in prison and possible caning.

“This is a serious incident which has resulted in injuries and damage to public property,” said Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs. “Police will spare no efforts to apprehend the subjects involved in the riot.”

The breakout is likely to fuel concerns about discontent among low-paid foreign workers. Last year Singapore saw its biggest outbreak of labour unrest in years when around 170 bus drivers from mainland China went on strike illegally.

Footage on Channel NewsAsia showed at least two vehicles on fire and debris strewn across Racecourse Road, one of the main thoroughfares in Little India. Many other private cars were reported to have been damaged as well.(R)

A 51-YEAR-OLD Cypriot man shot and injured a 30-year old Israeli-born citizen on Monday in Larnaca, after accusing him of stealing his mobile phone, police said.

The incident took place in Phaneromeni Avenue near the elementary school of Ayios Lazaros, around 12.30pm.

According to the police report, the 51-year old realised upon returning to his unlocked car that his mobile phone had been stolen. Police said he asked around and was given the description of two men, who he was told, had taken his mobile phone.

The 51-year-old drove around when he spotted the two men confronted them while holding his hunting shotgun. The two men ran and the 51-year old shot at them, injuring the 30-year-old Israeli in the lower back.

The victim was rushed to Famagusta general hospital where he is treated for a gunshot to the lower back area.

The Cypriot and the two Israeli men were arrested.

According to the Charalambos Zachariou, a spokesperson for Larnaca police, the 51-year-old was charged with attempted murder and illegal transportation, and for discharging of a firearm. The 30-year-old Israeli was charged with theft.

Although it’s hunting season (November 3 to January 4) it’s illegal to transport an assembled hunting rifle. Hunters are required to carry them dissembled and assemble them upon reaching the hunting area.

According to Zachariou, the Israeli man refused to cooperate with police and a rabbi was called in to convince him to speak with the authorities.

A synagogue is situated near where the shooting took place.

NOBLE Energy, operators of the Block 12 offshore licence, are planning further exploratory drilling towards the end of 2014, officials said on Monday.

The Houston-based company should be ready to determine the next site or sites of exploratory drilling by April next year, as well as show whether an additional appraisal well for the Aphrodite well is needed, Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis told reporters.

He was speaking after a meeting at the Palace between President Nicos Anastasiades and a Noble delegation headed by Keith Elliott, Noble Energy Senior Vice Chairman for the Eastern Mediterranean.

Asked about the development timeframe, Lakkotrypis said the President asked Noble whether it could expedite exploration drilling, adding however that based on ongoing evaluation work and depending on rig availability “it is difficult to achieve this target sooner than October 2014.”

For his part, Noble’s Elliott said the company continues to work on exploration processes and is looking at further opportunities.

“We continue to evaluate the results of the A2 well and look at further opportunities for the need for further appraisal activities and working through the process of fully evaluating the block, this is our priority,” he said.

Asked whether Noble plans to prospect for oil, Elliot said they are in the process of evaluating what type of prospects exists in the block.

“We are looking for oil and gas but primarily we look for gas. We really don’t know at the moment which is coming to the forefront,” he said.

Responding to a question on Noble’s participation in a possible LNG plant in Cyprus, Elliot said the Americans continue to work closely with the government negotiating team toward developing a project framework agreement.”

Asked whether he believed the reserves discovered so far in the Aphrodite prospect are enough to justify the LNG plant, Elliot said: “We think it is probably going to take more and we are working with the teams to develop additional sourcing there both from block 12 as well as working with other co-ventures in the region offshore Cyprus.”

Noble Energy operates Block 12 with a 70 percent working interest; Israel’s Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration each have a 15 percent working interest.

Exploratory drilling carried out in late 2011 in Block 12 revealed an estimated gross resource range of 5 to 8 trillion cubic feet (tcf), with a gross mean of 7 tcf. Follow-up drilling in October of this year lowered the estimates to a range from 3.6 tcf to 6 tcf, with a mean of approximately 5 tcf.

Cyprus’ trade deficit shrank by €917 million during the period January to September 2013, according to the island’s statistical service.

In a publication of summarised data released on Monday, the Service said total imports during this period amounted to €3.6 billion, from €4.3 billion between January and September 2012.

Total exports during in the first nine months of 2013 were €1.2 billion, up from around €1.1 billion in the corresponding period last year.

As a result, the country’s trade deficit shrank to €2.4 billion in January-September 2013, marking a €917 million reduction compared to last year’s €3.2 billion.

According to the report, total imports for September 2013 amounted to €426.9 million, down from €462.6 million in September 2012.

Total exports in September 2013 were €145.6 million, from €120.3 million in September 2012.

The resulting trade deficit for September 2013 was €281.3 million, lower than September 2012 – €342.3 million.

A man accused of murdering a young fusilier in broad daylight on a London street told a court yesterday that he was a soldier at war and loved the Islamic militant group al Qaeda.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, is accused with co-defendant Michael Adebowale, 22, of running over Afghan war veteran Lee Rigby in Woolwich on May 22 before attacking his unconscious body with knives and a meat cleaver.

Adebolajo sat in the dock of the Old Bailey just metres away from Rigby’s family as he gave evidence for the first time. He told the court that he was engaged in a war against western nations fighting in Muslim countries.

Adebolajo and Adebowale, both British citizens, have both denied murder.

“I am a soldier of Allah. I understand that some people might not recognise this because we do not wear fatigues,” Adebolajo said, flanked by five prison guards in the heavily-secured courtroom.

“It’s a war between Islam and those militaries that invaded Muslim lands. One of them happens to be British military and, unfortunately, the war continues to this day.”

Adebolajo looked composed during most of his testimony, but became emotional when he told the court that he feared “hellfire” if he did not fight for Allah but remained with his wife and his six children instead.

Asked what should happen to him, Adebolajo said he considered death a possible consequence of the attack.

“I should be ransomed to my mujaheed (holy fighter) brothers or I should be set free or I should be killed,” Adebolajo said.

He told the hushed courtroom he had not seen his baby son since the day of his birth, just days before Rigby was murdered.

Adebolajo said that ever since his conversion he had thought he might one day end up killing a soldier, and expressed his admiration for al Qaeda.

“I love them. They are my brothers,” said Adebolajo, giving his name as Mujaahid Abu Hamza. “I have never met them but I love them.”

He told the jury he had tried to move to Somalia in 2010 because it embraced Islamic law, or sharia, but that he had been detained in Kenya, put on trial and brought back to Britain.

The jury has been shown footage of Adebolajo with bloodied hands talking to passers-by shortly after dragging Rigby’s body into the street so the public could see it.

Cyprus is due to experience bad weather conditions this week, including lower-than-normal temperatures, and snowfall, the met office said on Monday.

Stormy weather, low temperatures, rainfall, and snowfall in mountainous areas, are forecast.

Average temperatures are expected to drop sharply to around 10˚C in the plains, and below zero in mountainous areas.

Over the next couple of days temperatures inland are expected to range between 13˚C and 15˚C during the day, and 5˚C and 7˚C at night.

Temperatures in mountainous areas will range from 3˚C during the day to 0˚C at night.

Rainfall in low areas, snowfall in the highlands and stronger winds throughout are forecast to commence late on Tuesday, carrying on throughout Wednesday.

During this time, the meteorological service expects at least some snowfall to reach semi-mountainous areas.

Data from previous years suggests that current temperatures are significantly lower than normal, by 2˚C to 4˚C in the plains and up to 5˚C in mountainous regions.

This trend is expected to continue throughout the week.

A massive winter storm that drove parts of the United States into a deep freeze over the weekend kept a tight grip on the nation on Monday, as bitter temperatures, snow and ice spread across the East Coast, snarling traffic and knocking out power to thousands.

Northern Maryland received 7 to 10 inches of snow over the weekend, while central and eastern Pennsylvania got 4 to 10 inches, and parts of New York received up to 10 inches through Monday morning. Sleet and freezing rain also pummeled the area, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

From 1 inch to at least 5 inches of snow were forecast for Monday night into Tuesday for an area stretching from Virginia into New York, the weather service said.

Meanwhile, dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills were forecast for the western half of the United States, the weather service said, with temperatures about 10 to 30 degrees below average from the Rockies to the Great Lakes and lower Mississippi Valley.

“I don’t think things are going to warm up anytime soon,” said Bruce Sullivan, National Weather Service meteorologist.

The Arctic effect was widespread, stretching from the west coast to the east. The temperature in Jordan, Montana, fell to 42 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (minus 41 degrees Celsius) on Saturday, the lowest U.S. temperature recorded during the storm.

Among other lows, Burns, Oregon, in the northern part of the state, hit a record minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, said Sullivan.

Minneapolis was forecast hitting a high of 1 degree Fahrenheit (minus 17.2 Celsius), with wind chill values as low as minus 21 degrees.

Thousands of homes and businesses were without power Monday morning, and thousands of flights were delayed as snow and ice covered roads, highways and airport runways from Texas to Virginia and north through Pennsylvania.

On one stretch of highway near Philadelphia, more than 50 cars and trucks were caught in a series of chain-reaction crashes on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Sunday afternoon. One man was killed when he left his vehicle after the crashes, officials said.

AAA Mid-Atlantic, the auto group, said it pulled 109 vehicles out of snow and ice in Pennsylvania on Sunday, compared with three the week before.

At least three people were killed in weather-related car accidents in Arkansas and Tennessee as well, authorities said.

Virginia officials warned drivers of hazardous travel conditions, said Laura Southard, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Emergency Management.

The heavy snow and slippery conditions were on display during Sunday’s National Football League matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions in Philadelphia.

At times it was nearly impossible to see the game from his seat in the upper deck of Lincoln Financial Field, said Eagles season ticket holder Pete Peters.

“For the first half of the game it was a complete whiteout,” Peters said. “I was shivering, my teeth were chattering by the fourth quarter.”

While he was at the game, Peters’ wife and daughter were stranded at the Philadelphia airport when their flight to Orlando was canceled.

COLD PERSISTS IN SOUTH, CENTRAL U.S

Frigid temperatures persisted in the nation’s midsection on Monday morning, and travel was snarled in airports and along roadways due to icy conditions.

More than 1,600 flights were canceled nationwide on Monday, according to tracking website Flightaware.com, with “excessive delays” reported at Boston’s Logan International Airport, Chicago’s O’Hare International, and Philadelphia International airport, among others.

About 650 travelers were stranded overnight in the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport overnight Sunday, officials said. Still, that was an improvement from the more than 2,000 people who were forced to sleep on cots and chairs Saturday night and 4,000 people stranded in the airport on Friday night.

Dallas/Fort Worth airport had four runways fully operational early Monday, allowing some 500 flights to be scheduled for departure. About 350 flights remained canceled in Monday, airport officials said.

Some 267,000 customers in Texas lost power at the height of the storm, according to utility Oncor. About 21,000 homes and businesses remained without power statewide on Monday, Oncor said.

Most Dallas-area schools were closed Monday.

Temperatures pushed just above freezing on Sunday, causing large sheets of ice to slide from the roof of an apartment complex in Plano, a suburb north of Dallas, and damage cars, according to the complex’s property manager. No injuries were reported.

Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) voted yesterday to approve a coalition with the arch-rival Social Democrats (SPD) after Chancellor Angela Merkel urged her conservatives to swallow some of their misgivings and back the deal.

Merkel won September’s election but fell short of a majority and struck an agreement on November 27 for a “grand coalition” with the centre-left SPD. All 474,000 SPD members are now voting on it in a postal ballot whose results are expected this weekend.

“It’s taken us nearly three months to form a government and now it’s time to get to work,” Merkel told the 181 CDU delegates at a special party congress called to vote on the coalition deal. “I believe the compromises we’ve made are acceptable.”

Merkel could be sworn in for a third term on December 17 if the SPD – a distant second in September’s election – also backs the agreement. That is seen as increasingly likely even though the SPD’s youth wing urged members to vote “no” on Saturday.

The negotiations between Merkel’s conservatives and the SPD proved tortuous because the SPD was reluctant to join forces with Merkel again after seeing their support plunge in 2009 following the last “grand coalition”.

Courted by the CDU and their Christian Social Union (CSU) sister party, the SPD pushed through many of its campaign demands – including a minimum wage and costly changes to the pension system that the CDU’s youth and business wings opposed.

Yesterday, Merkel nevertheless won near unanimous backing from the 181 delegates, with just two abstentions, after an unusually lively three-hour debate fuelled by criticism and grumbling from her party’s conservative wing.

She defended the decision to accept a first-ever minimum wage in Germany, saying she had been able to stagger its full introduction until 2017. She brushed off criticism about agreeing to lowering the retirement ages for some workers.

“The negotiations weren’t easy for us,” Merkel acknowledged in her speech, which was met by frosty silence at times. “The important thing is that I can say that with this agreement people in Germany will be better off in 2017 than they are now.”

Merkel said that she fought off SPD demands for higher taxes to finance spending for infrastructure and education.

She also admitted she would rather have continued ruling with the Free Democrats – or even forming a government with the Greens. But the FDP, her junior coalition partners, failed to clear the five per cent of vote hurdle and were ejected from parliament. The Greens opted against pursuing coalition talks, she said.

The turbulence Merkel felt yesterday was mild compared with the resistance faced by SPD Chairman Sigmar Gabriel. On Saturday the Jusos, the SPD’s youth wing, voted against the coalition agreement despite his appeals for their support.

“This isn’t a marriage of love – it’s a coalition of reasonable prudence,” Gabriel told the Jusos, many of whom would prefer a coalition with the hardline Left Party and Greens to another term as junior partner to Merkel’s conservatives.

Eurozone countries have agreed to pay Cyprus another installment of financial aid as the country progresses with its economic reforms, the Eurogroup of finance ministers said on Monday.

The European Stability Mechanism, the euro zone’s rescue fund, is set to pay €100 million to Cyprus by the end of the year while the International Monetary Fund is due to sign off on a further €86 million on December 20 the Eurogroup said.

In a written statement, the Eurogroup welcomed the conclusion of the troika’s second review mission that the adjustment programme was on track.

“Macroeconomic conditions are developing in line with programme projections, albeit uncertainty remains high. Fiscal consolidation is advancing in line with the agreed consolidation process,” the Eurogroup said.

It added that structural reforms were progressing, “although in some cases further efforts are required”. Progress continues to be made as regards the recapitalisation and restructuring of the financial sector, including a further gradual relaxation of administrative measures.

“We commend the Cypriot authorities for the progress achieved in this review and underline that a full and timely policy implementation remains essential to address the many challenges that the Cypriot economy is facing,” said the Eurogroup. “In particular, we welcome the firm commitment of the Cypriot authorities to strengthen the privatisation plans as agreed with the troika institutions.”

PRESIDENT Nicos Anastasiades leaves Wednesday for Cairo on an official visit where he will meet Egyptian President Adly Mansour. The meeting will be followed by talks between delegations from the two sides. A bilateral agreement will be signed on the development of cross-median line hydrocarbon resources, and air services. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and the Children’s Cancer Hospital of Egypt will also be signed on Cooperation in the provision of Services, and on research and education in the field of medical and biomedical sciences.

The President will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Energy, Minister George Lakkotrypis, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Tasos Tzionis and Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President, Nicos Christodoulides.

THE US hopes rapid progress will be achieved towards a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem that will be acceptable to both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, a State Department official has said.

The official had been asked to comment on reports about a letter US Secretary of State John Kerry sent to President Nicos Anastasiades in November.

The official said the Secretary of State sent a letter to Anastasiades in the first half of November. “However, we do not comment publicly on the content of the Secretary’s correspondence,” he added.

“Our position on a Cyprus settlement has not changed:  the United States strongly supports the efforts under the auspices of the United Nations Good Offices Mission to reunify the island as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.”

“We hope rapid progress will be achieved toward a just and lasting settlement that will be acceptable to both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities,” the official concluded.

By Eleni Messiou 

Propaganda Cyprus Dance Bar is a brand new flashy addition to Limassol’s tourist area, aspiring to resemble the jet setting bars of big cities in Europe and America. By day Propaganda is a fusion food restaurant with a menu that aims to please all types of tastes and by night it turns into a luxury nightclub offering intriguing cocktails, as far as their names and their presentation. The scene is young, fresh and international.

The music is mainly electronic, dance and house and is mixed by guest DJs from both the local and international music stage. Propaganda Cyprus frequently features guest DJs from known venues from abroad, such as the Buddha Bar Dubai, Soho Rooms Moscow, Cavo Paradiso of Mykonos and others. On special occasions, more famous names are known to have been hosted, such as the international German sensation DJ Stefan Biniak, who was the guest DJ for the bar’s opening party.

Propaganda Cyprus aims to offer its patrons an experience rather than just a regular night out, hence the regular promotion of themed events, such as the latest Halloween bash which featured zombies and corpse brides, or the famed Kremlin Nights, which are well attended by the local Russian and Eastern European residents of the city.

Signature cocktails promise to make your night tastier, with a menu that features a cocktail for every taste. Try the Alien Aromas, which mixes gin, rose pepper, chilli pepper, vanilla and lavender syrup, topped up with grapefruit juice, or the Cyprus Nick with zivania, orange juice, strawberry puree and chillis!! If you are undecided on what to order, just ask a staff member, who will happily assist you to find your newest favourite cocktail, which you never know could also be the non alcoholic Goji Berry Mango Smoothie.

You can start your evening with a light dinner and progress through the night dancing to the DJ’s beats. If you are looking for a dance bar that actually makes an effort to bring something different to the local bar scene, then Propaganda Cyprus should definitely be on your list!!

Propaganda Cyprus Dance Bar
Where: Georgiou 60A Yermasogeia, Limassol
Contact: 99 009911, http://www.propagandaglobal.com/
When: Tue – Sun: 7pm – 2am
Price: €7 – €9:50 for a cocktail

By Poly Pantelides

PRESIDENT Nicos Anastasiades announced on Wednesday a series of measures worth €340m to rein in unemployment and support businesses.

Anastasiades said the measures had the potential to incorporate 7,500 unemployed in the economy, support 2,000 vulnerable families and a substantial number of businesses.

He warned however the measures did not solve any problems, merely alleviated them.

His government, the president said, would implement whatever policies and actions they could to help the economy recover as soon as possible. “…That is the only solution to everything our people are undergoing today.”

In a speech broadcast live from the presidential palace, Anastasiades said the government was focused on alleviating the debt crisis’ impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the unemployed, and other vulnerable groups.

The measures fall under four broad categories – SMEs, hotels, youth unemployment and social cohesion –  and are due to be launched in January, Anastasiades said.

SMEs

Some €300m will be channelled to businesses via the Entrepreneurship Fund, to be jointly funded by the European Investment Fund and the government.

Funds will be made available to commercial banks so they give loans to SMEs.

The goal is to stimulate growth, support SMEs and create new jobs, but also maintain existing jobs, Anastasiades said.

Terms and conditions for the loans will be set by the European Central Bank to avoid mistakes of the past, the president said.

About 1,000 small retailers employing up to four people will have 70 per cent of the cost of one employee subsidised for ten months, with the employer obliged to pay the employee’s full wages for a further two months. About €7.0m is available for the scheme.

The government is also looking to use €3.0m to employ some 1,000 registered unemployed benefits’ recipients.

The scheme is available to retailers with a staff of up to 49 people who will be sent over an intern at no cost. Interns will continue to receive unemployment benefits for a month while the employer and the government will later jointly cover their wages for six months. The employer will then pay full wages for an additional two months.

Youth unemployment

The government will continue subsidising work experience at no extra cost to the employer. Anastasiades said the goal was to get another 5,000 young people working.

Some 2,500 unemployed up to the age of 35 will be able to apply for a six-month work experience. They will be given a certificate of work experience at the end of their term.

The same scheme will be open to up to 2,500 graduates of technical schools, high schools and two-year colleges. Together, the government is willing to spend €17 million on both measures.

Hotel industry

There will be training available to those who are normally under- employed or unemployed in the hotel industry during the winter season.
Trainees will be paid a normal wage by their employers. The government will then pay employers whatever sum trainees would have been entitled to if they were still receiving unemployment benefits.
Anastasiades said the measure would help hotels stay open during the winter season by reducing their costs and help hotel staff improve their professional skills.

Those with no prior experience in the hotel industry who have been unemployed for at least 12 consecutive months may also opt for two-month training in the sector.

They will receive a €500 a month stipend while participating hotels will have their administrative costs compensated. Anastasiades said they had €2.0m to spend on training 1,500 unemployed.

Social Cohesion

Recipients of small pensions will be supported by registered unemployed who will be trained in caring for elderly people.

The aim is to cover some of their social and house-related needs by having someone help around the house, escort an older person to health centres or help them participate in social activities such as going to church, the cinema, or an art exhibition.

There is €1.8m available to support 1,000 pensioners and employ the people who will be helping them.

Financially vulnerable households will be given child care subsidies to help children’s caretakers find employment.

This is available to the long-term unemployed who are actively job hunting and to people whose wage is so low they cannot afford child care costs. Some 1,000 families will be able to either entrust their child in nurseries or else with people who are currently unemployed and will be trained in child care. Total budget is €4.0m.

Another €6.0m will be made available to 180 businesses wanting to become active in social enterprises, i.e. serve community interests without necessarily seeking to maximise profit.

Social enterprises are part of a new form of entrepreneurship already active in Europe that can create new jobs, Anastasiades said. Social enterprises offer services to vulnerable groups at a low cost and are not profit-minded, he said.

They often involve sectors dealing with community support, social services, health, and education.

Each business will be given up to €30,000 over a year to cover administrative costs. Authorities will offer them professional guidance and technical know-how to run social enterprises.