Didier Drogba came off the bench to again show his inspirational qualities as the Ivory Coast recovered to beat Japan 2-1 on Saturday and boost their bid to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time.

It had shaped up to be another disappointing occasion for the African side, who frequently flatter to deceive, when Keisuke Honda powered Japan into a first-half lead.

Yet Drogba’s introduction was swiftly followed by quickfire headed goals from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho in the space of three second-half minutes that turned the match on its head.

The victory at the Pernambuco arena moved the Ivorians level on three points at the top of Group C with Colombia, who beat Greece 3-0 earlier on Saturday.

With coaches so often judged on their ability to make brave decisions, Ivory Coast’s Sabri Lamouchi put his neck on the line by leaving out Drogba, for so long a talismanic presence in the lineup, in favour of the in-form Bony.

He claimed after the match it was partly due to the striker’s lack of fitness, but he also admitted it was a tactical decision.

It initially looked a poor call as Japan had the better of the first half, but the striker’s appearance proved decisive in wrestling the momentum towards the Africans.

Within seconds of coming on he had driven at the heart of a swiftly retreating Japanese back four, inspiring panic in the massed blue ranks that had been previously unthreatened.

EVERYTHING CHANGED

“When Didier Drogba came on the pitch everything changed,” Frenchman Lamouchi told reporters. “When you have this calibre of player on the pitch you are very lucky.

“Of course, he was frustrated to be on the bench but if you saw the joy when he finished the match… he is a champion.”

At 36 years old, Drogba is nearing the end of a career where he has made a habit of bullying defences into submission. Nonetheless, he had the look of a man who feels he still has unfinished business playing for his country.

While he has led them to the last two World Cups and five straight African Nations Cups, his international career has been marked by frequent and bitter disappointment, typified by the Ivorians’ failure to emerge from their group in 2006 and 2010.

This campaign had looked in danger of turning sour as well.

Japan started brightly and were sharp and nimble in possession, working clever angles as they picked off their opponents’ frequently misplaced passes and took the lead with a goal of genuine quality from Honda after 16 minutes.

Collecting a pass across the box, he took one touch to shift it out of his feet and then drove it powerfully into the top corner with his left foot, before galloping away in celebration as blue hordes of Japanese fans celebrated deliriously.

The Elephants had their moments, with midfielder Yaya Toure showing occasional glimpses of his destructive powers, shifting through the gears with trademark bursts of raw energy.

DESIRED IMPACT

Yet there was little killer instinct as half chances came and went, with Drogba prowling on the sidelines before entering the fray after 62 minutes.

The change had the desired impact on the Ivory Coast who levelled two minutes later when Bony leapt to glance a fizzing Serge Aurier cross into the far corner.

Two minutes later and a drilled Aurier centre was met this time by Gervinho who got in front of his marker to direct a header on goal that squirmed past Japan keeper Eiji Kawashima.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni felt his keeper was not the only player who could have done better.

“I expected a different performance and I want to analyse what I did and I will speak to players tomorrow,” he said.

“The day after that I will know if it is an issue of maturity or something else,” he added. “I know they can do better because they have done better many times before…

“We have two matches coming up and we have to keep the morale high. What we have done does not count that much. What counts is what we need to do.”

Former champions France should put underdogs Honduras to the sword in their World Cup Group E opener in Porto Alegre on Sunday – although their penchant for self-destruction gives the Central Americans hope of an upset.

Les Bleus go into the campaign with a happier, more settled squad under coach Didier Deschamps and will aim to banish the memories of the 2010 tournament in South Africa, when the players revolted against Raymond Domenech and flew home in disgrace after a disastrous showing.

Those with longer memories will also recall their opener as reigning champions in 2002 against Senegal, who handed them an embarrassing defeat that led to an early exit.

France were dealt a blow when veteran Frank Ribery pulled out of the squad with a back injury. The 31-year-old, though erratic in his performances for the national team, was in outstanding form for his club Bayern Munich in the past few seasons and was expected to spearhead the French challenge. Midfielder Clement Grenier has also been ruled out of action.

Morgan Schneiderlin and Remy Cabella have been drafted in their place. Deschamps, who captained the 1998 World Cup-winning side, resisted the temptation to call up Samir Nasri, whose girlfriend poured scorn on the French coach after her man was left out of the original squad.

The focus will now be on Karim Benzema, the 26-year-old Real Madrid striker, who has excelled for the Spanish club this season. Much is also expected of Paul Pogba.

For Honduras, Bob Dylan’s adage “When you ain’t got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose” might be their campaign motto. The Central Americans, whose country went to war in 1969 with neighbouring El Salvador in a dispute that came to a head over World Cup qualifiers, have not won a single game in their only two appearances in 1982 and 2010. They failed to score a goal in South Africa.

Still, they should give a decent account of themselves this time round and the positive mood was boosted by a scoreless draw against England in a friendly in Miami last week.

The Hondurans, coached by Colombian Luis Fernando Suarez, reached Brazil in some style. They topped their group in the CONCACAF preliminaries then won a famous victory away against Mexico in the Azteca stadium in the crucial qualifying game.

“We know about the other teams in Group E – I know all the players in France, Switzerland and Ecuador – but France and Switzerland don’t know much about us,” said veteran midfielder Wilson Palacios.

Much will rest on Palacios’ shoulders even though he spent a lot of time on the bench this season for his club side, England’s Stoke City. Emilio Izaguirre of Celtic, Scotland’s player of the year in 2011, will also have to be at his best in defence to stem the French attack.

Up front, they will rely on strikers Jerry Bengtson and Carlo Costly, hardly household names but scorers of 16 goals between them in 16 qualifiers. The latter will be hoping his name is propitious against the French.

By Brian Homewood

Stephan Lichtsteiner, whose marauding runs down right flank for Switzerland have earned him the nickname Forrest Gump, may find his style cramped by Ecuador’s pacey wingers in Sunday’s World Cup match.

The Swiss right back, one of his team’s most potent attacking weapons, could find himself bogged down with less-favoured defensive duties to help his side cope with the threat posed by Ecuador winger Jefferson Montero in Sunday’s Group E match.

Lichtsteiner, who has won three successive Serie A titles with Juventus, usually plays on the right of a five-man midfield for his club, giving him more freedom for his probing runs.

But Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld prefers him as a right-back in a 4-4-2 which, against teams such as Ecuador who attack down the flanks, invariably limits his freedom to charge forward.

Sunday’s match will also be played at 1300 local time and, with temperatures likely to be in the mid to upper 20s Celsius, Lichtsteiner may also have to dose his energies.

“When it’s 30 degress Celsius and you have to run 80 metres back, it’s a different story,” he said after scoring in a 2-0 friendly win over Peru on June 3.

Montero’s speed and trickery can make him unplayable on his day, although he is prone to inconsistency and frustrating tendency to go it alone.

The first-ever meeting between the two sides could be instrumental in deciding who finishes second in the group where France are seen as likely winners and Honduras are considered rank outsiders.

The Swiss side is considered one of the best the country has produced with nearly all the players based with top Serie A or Bundesliga clubs and has risen to an unprecedented sixth in the world rankings.

Boosted by second generation Kosovan immigrants, they are feistier, more confident and more inventive than their predecessors, although they still find goals hard to come by and tend to win by narrow margins even against lesser opponents.

Ecuador, taking part in their third World Cup, are strong going forward, with Antonio Valencia’s darting runs providing an added threat down the right flank, but have a soft centre.

None of their central defenders are playing regularly at club level and they have suffered an added blow with the injury to defensive midfielder Segundo Castillo, who played a vital role in protecting the defence.

“Ecuador are direct rivals for a place in the round of 16,” Hitzfeld told reporters at the Swiss camp in the resort town of Porto Seguro.

“A good start in the group will be decisive. They are outstandingly well-organised and strong technically. We can’t hope to score a single goal and win, they are far too strong for that.”

By Jeffrey Heller

Israel said on Sunday Hamas militants had abducted three Israeli teenagers in the occupied West Bank, warning of “serious consequences” as it pressed on with a search and detained dozens of Palestinians.

The two 16-year-olds and a third man aged 19 disappeared on Thursday night in the West Bank, where they were seminary students in a Jewish settlement.

“Those who carried out the kidnapping of our youngsters are Hamas people,” Netanyahu told his cabinet, referring to the Palestinian Islamist group that has ruled the Gaza Strip.

There has been no public claim of responsibility. Asked about Netanyahu’s remarks, Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip, stopped short of a clear denial or confirmation that it was involved.

Since the three went missing, the Israeli army has carried out house-to-house searches, round-ups and interrogations in the Palestinian city of Hebron and outlying villages.

In a statement, the military said that as part of the “effort to return the three abducted Israeli teenagers approximately 80 Palestinian suspects were detained in a widespread overnight operation”.

Palestinian officials put the number of people taken into custody so far by Israeli authorities at more than 100 and said they included at least seven Hamas members of the Palestinian parliament and several prisoners recently released by Israel.

The incident tests ties between the Israeli government and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which were frayed by his power-sharing deal in April with Hamas, a group that advocates Israel’s destruction.

In broadcast remarks at the cabinet session in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said Israel was focusing all its efforts on bringing the teenagers home.

“This will have serious consequences,” said Netanyahu, who has been overseeing security efforts at the main military headquarters in the Mediterranean city.

Abu Zuhri suggested that in casting blame on Hamas, the Israeli leader was trying to draw the group into disclosing whether it was behind the teenagers’ disappearance.

“These are stupid comments by Netanyahu and they are of an intelligence nature,” Abu Zuhri said.

DUAL U.S.-ISRAELI NATIONAL

Israel identified the seminary students as Eyal Yifrach, Gil-ad Sha’er and Naftali Frankel, who also holds U.S. citizenship.

Palestinian militants have said they want to kidnap Israelis to win concessions from the Israeli government, and the current incident coincides with a hunger strike by some 300 Palestinian prisoners protesting against detention without trial.

More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners were freed in 2011 in exchange for the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held captive in the nearby Gaza Strip for more than five years.

In a televised statement on Saturday, Netanyahu said Abbas’s alliance with Hamas had emboldened Palestinian militants and demanded the Palestinian leader do “all that is necessary” to resolve the crisis.

Security coordination between Israel and Abbas’s Palestinian Authority in the West Bank has been close in recent years, despite the diplomatic impasse, and at U.S. urging Abbas was working with Israel in the search.

Palestinian security officials said they were helping Israeli counterparts. Hamas condemned that cooperation.

By Ahmed Rasheed

The insurgent offensive that has threatened to dismember Iraq spread to the northwest of the country on Sunday, when Sunni militants launched a dawn raid on a town close to the Syrian border, clashing with police and government forces.

As the rapid advance south by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) towards Baghdad appeared to slow over the weekend, fierce fighting erupted in the town of Tal Afar 60 km (40 miles) west of Mosul near the Syrian border, security sources and a local official said.

ISIL fighters and other Sunni Muslim armed groups have stormed several towns on the road to Baghdad after seizing Mosul nearly a week ago – an offensive which only stalled as it approached the mainly Shi’ite capital.

The advance alarmed both Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s Shi’ite supporters in Iran and officials in the United States, which helped bring him to power after its 2003 invasion that toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein.

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday he was reviewing military options, short of sending troops, to combat the insurgency, and Iran held out the prospect of working with its longtime U.S. arch-enemy to help restore security in Iraq.

Maliki’s security forces and allied militias regained some territory on Saturday, easing part of the pressure on his Shi’ite-led government, and officials said they were regaining the initiative. Maliki has vowed to rout the insurgents.

But Sunday’s fighting in Tal Afar, a majority Turkomen town which is home to both Shi’ites and Sunnis, showed how volatile the deepening sectarian divisions have become.

Residents in Sunni districts accused Shi’ite police and army forces of launching mortar fire at their neighbourhoods, prompting ISIL forces stationed outside the town to move in.

“The situation is disastrous in Tal Afar. There is crazy fighting and most families are trapped inside houses, they can’t leave town,” a local official said. “If the fighting continues, a mass killing among civilians could result.”

BAGHDAD BOMB

In Baghdad on Sunday, a suicide attacker detonated explosives in a vest he was wearing, killing at least nine people and wounding 20 in a crowded street in the centre of the capital, police and medical sources said.

At least six people were killed, including three soldiers and three volunteers, when four mortars landed at a recruiting centre in Khlais, 50 km (30 miles) north of Baghdad.

Volunteers were gathered by army to join fighting to regain control of the northern town of Udhaim from ISIL militants.

They were some of the thousands who responded to a call by the country’s most influential Shi’ite cleric to take up arms and defend the country against the hardline insurgents, many of whom consider Shi’ites as heretics.

Pictures distributed on a purported ISIL Twitter account from Salahuddin province appeared to show dozens of men lying on the ground and being shot by groups of gunmen. “This is the fate of the Shi’ites which Nuri brought to fight the Sunnis,” a caption to one of the pictures reads.

Across the border, a Syrian government air raid hit near ISIL’s headquarters in the eastern city of Raqqa, activists said.

Raqqa, the first and only Syrian city to fall to insurgents since Syria’s conflict began more than three years ago, has been a major base for ISIL since it evicted rival rebels including al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate during infighting this year.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said warplanes targeted the governorate building, a large structure in the centre of town, as well as two other buildings, including a sharia, or Islamic law, court.

Images posted by ISIL supporters online showed a hole surrounded by rubble in the pavement outside the governorate building, although the date and authenticity could not be verified. It was unclear if the building itself was damaged.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

While expressing support for Iraq’s government, the United States has stressed the need for a political solution to a crisis threatening to fracture the country less than three years after the U.S. military withdrawal.

Secretary of State John Kerry told Iraq’s foreign minister in a call on Saturday that U.S. assistance would only succeed if Iraqi leaders set aside their differences and forged the national unity needed to confront the insurgent threat.

The United States ordered an aircraft carrier moved into the Gulf on Saturday, readying it in case Washington decides to pursue a military option after insurgents overran areas in the north and advanced on Baghdad.

Oil prices have risen to the highest level this year over fears of the violence disrupting exports from OPEC member Iraq.

Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby said Arab foreign ministers will discuss the “dangerous situation in Iraq” at a meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah in the next two days.

By Zoran Milosavljevic

Argentina embark on an expected breeze through World Cup Group F on Sunday against a talented if inexperienced Bosnia side playing in the finals for the first time.

The sides meet at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro where Lionel Messi’s side, boasting one of the world’s best attacks, will be hoping to return for the final on July 13 in search of their nation’s third world title.

Messi scored his 38th Argentina goal in last week’s warmup win over Slovenia, opponents chosen specifically with Bosnia in mind.

The Argentina captain will see it as a good omen as he looks to break a World Cup scoring hoodoo dating back to his 2006 debut in Germany and a goalless 2010 finals in South Africa.

Messi appears in good shape and mood going into the tournament after a mixed season with hamstring problems and fewer goals than usual with a mere three for Argentina compared with the 13 he notched between June 2012 and June 2013.

Argentina, who beat Bosnia 2-0 in a November friendly without Messi thanks to two Sergio Aguero goals, have an average defence compared with to their attacking riches but midfielder Fernando Gago said the key to success would be balance and playing as an 11-man unit.

“We know that in the final quarter few teams can play at the speed of Angel (Di Maria), Kun (Aguero), Leo (Messi) The precision they have at such speed marks the difference,” Gago told reporters.

“From my position I have to help them to ensure they get clean ball and give balance to the rear, you can’t cut the team (in half),” he told the sports daily Ole.

“You need the 11 to attack and the 11 to defend The forwards have to have high precision and sometimes withdraw to break out in quick counters.”

DZEKO ROLE

Striker Gonzalo Higuain, the other member of Argentina’s “Fab Four” strike force, played the first half of Thursday’s practice for the reserves in a role coach Alejandro Sabella expects Bosnia danger man Edin Dzeko to play.

With Higuain having recovered from a left ankle problem, Argentina should be at full strength against Bosnia in a group which also contains Nigeria and Iran.

Bosnia coach Safet Susic, known for his penchant for attacking football, is likely to deploy a more conservative formation against Argentina with top scorer Dzeko as the lone striker operating in front of a five-man midfield.

Having qualified for their first major tournament as an independent nation, Bosnia could not have asked for a tougher first appearance on the biggest stage.

“We are up against the group favourites and a team whose ambition is to go all the way but nonetheless, we have high hopes of getting something from this game and going through to the last 16,” Susic said.

The magnitude of the task has left Susic pondering how to use versatile midfielder Muhamed Besic, whose designated role was to man-mark Messi.

Susuc hinted he was prepared to make a tactical U-turn.

“It’s a dilemma but I now think it would be counterproductive to sacrifice a player of Besic’s fitness and ability just to man-mark Messi although he would be ideal for that role,” he said.

“Messi will probably enjoy plenty of freedom but we need to have someone near him every time he gets the ball.”

By Patrick Johnston

Haris Seferovic struck a stoppage time winner as Switzerland fought back from a goal down to claim a thrilling last-gasp 2-1 win over Ecuador in a scrappy but entertaining World Cup Group E opener on Sunday.

The substitute was left unmarked at the near post as he converted a 93rd minute cross from the left following a rapid counter-attack to send the Swiss fans into raptures.

The Swiss had bossed possession for long periods at the Brasilia national stadium, where many thousands of fans missed the kick-off as the negotiated the lengthy security queues, but fell behind in the 22nd minute after pre-match concerns about their soft centre proved true.

Ecuador striker Enner Valencia easily stepped away from Johan Djourou to meet Walter Ayovi’s free kick from the right with Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio stuck on his line as the ball fizzed into his six yard box.

The Swiss struggled to break down the South Americans and were restricted to long shots for the remainder of the half with Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld opting to introduce Admir Mehmedi at the break to help find a way through.

The forward needed just three minutes to make an impact as he beat Carlos Gruezo to head home a corner to level the scores.

The goal opened up the scrappy contest as the play flowed end to end but both teams lacked calmness and quality in the final third.

The Swiss, who beat Spain in their opening match in South Africa four years ago but failed to reach the knockout stages, thought they had taken the lead when Josip Drmic poked home from close range with 20 minutes left but the strike was wrongly ruled out for offside.

But it mattered little as Seferovic’s late effort claimed all three points.

France and Honduras meet later on Sunday in the other Group E clash.

By Rex Gowar

A Karim Benzema brace and an own goal by goalkeeper Noel Valladares awarded after confirmation by goalline technology gave France a 3-0 victory over 10-man Honduras in their World Cup Group E match on Sunday.

Wilson Palacios charged into French midfielder Paul Pogba seconds before the break in a reckless challenge that had him sent-off for a second booking, and Karim Benzema smashed home the resulting penalty to give France a lead they deserved having dominated the first 45 minutes.

Three minutes into the second half, Benzema stole past the defence to shoot across goal with his shot coming back off the far post, rolling along the line and going in off Valladares.

Benzema struck again with 18 minutes left when he shot from a narrow angle on the right past Valladares and into the roof of the net.

Scoring in their opening World Cup match for the first time since 1998 when they won the trophy, the French dominated when both teams still had 11 men and might have opened their account earlier.

A shot by midfielder Blaise Matuidi was tipped on to the crossbar by Valladares and over for a corner in the 15th minute and Les Bleus rattled the bar again in the 23rd with a header by Antoine Griezmann from left back Patrice Evra’s cross.

Benzema then headed busy midfielder Mathieu Valbuena’s right cross over the bar two minutes later as Honduras battled in defence to stay in the match before the penalty with the striker sending Valladares the wrong way with his spot kick.

Matuidi skimmed the outside of his right post with a fine chance midway through the second half as France, making light of the absence of Frank Ribery, kept the Honduras goal under siege.

By Evie Andreou
Government doctors are asking the health ministry to come up with an extra €2 million to cover their over time pay.
The 2014 budget to cover overtime pay for state doctors has been reduced to €6.5m from €7.8m in 2013. The doctors’ union PASYKI is asking for €8m and had presented proposals earlier in the year asking for funds to be allocated from other health service sectors to cover their overtime.
In January former Health Minister Petros Petrides made clear that the health ministry could not allocate more for overtime, telling the doctor’s union to submit requests for more money to the finance ministry.
PASYKI head Maro Kontou on Monday denounced the ministry’s attempt to save money by slashing doctors’ over time budget while at the same time hiring services from the private sector which costs more than the €2m required.
“With this practice they strangle the government sector. When doctors leave, they are not being replaced,” said Kontou who added that the low salaries are the reason there is difficulty in finding doctors for empty positions, giving as an example the need of a gynaecologist in the Paralimni Hospital.
“With the peanuts they give in salaries, no doctor wants to take the job,” she said.
The dispute between PASYKI and health ministry concerning government doctors’ overtime pay started last year when the government agreed with the troika to overhaul the health sector’s overtime wages and eventually pay healthcare employees a normal rate for working between 7am and 7pm.
In November, the ministry had proposed a standard payment for overtime, better patient management so as state surgeons can operate on more patients and limiting the 15 categories of specialties that are paid overtime to two so that no one can abuse the system.
PASYKI had given the health ministry a 15-day ultimatum to reconsider plans to reduce their overtime pay.
Each year former auditor-general Chrystalla Georghadji had repeated in her report that the overtime system in hospitals is broken and regularly abused by doctors and that some doctors have been paid the value of their whole annual wage in overtime over the course of a year.
The health ministry announced last year that starting from 2014 it would overhaul the system of regular, shift and overtime pay and start monitoring overtime hours.
Auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides has also asked for the re-opening of two cases reported by Georghadji in 2012 and an allegation that state doctors abused overtime pay.
Health Minister Christos Patsalis announced last week that he would investigate all incidences of mismanagement from the past or present and that every probe ordered by his ministry will be presented to the House Watchdog Committee to ensure transparency.
Patsalis consulted the Attorney General whether the case of abuse of overtime pay, the investigation of which was stopped by former health minister Stavros Malas and the cabinet at the time, can be re-opened.
PASYKI will meet with the health minister next Monday (June 23), to discuss the issue of the overtime budget.

By Angelos Anastasiou
THE FINANCE ministry is gearing up for the €500 million public bond issue it has planned and has already started testing the waters through roadshows organised by the five banks it has commissioned to approach possible investors, as analysts report growing international appetite for Cypriot public debt.
In a written statement last week, the ministry had announced commissioning Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs International, HSBC, UBS Investment Bank and VTB Capital to approach investors in order to attend roadshows ahead of the upcoming bond issue.
According to Reuters, the first of the roadshows was scheduled to take place in London over two days, starting June 16, but officials from the finance ministry declined to confirm or deny the schedule. On Monday, local daily Phileleftheros reported that the roadshows will be carried out by officials from the finance ministry and the public debt management office both in person, as well as via teleconferencing sessions with potential investors.
Regardless of the logistics, however, international analysts expect a particularly strong order book for Cyprus. Receding concerns over the European sovereign debt crisis have driven yields across the eurozone to record lows, even in recently bailed-out countries like Portugal’s 2.8 per cent and Ireland’s 2.4 per cent. In this environment, investors are likely to be on the look-out for higher-paying issues, with Cyprus 10-year sovereign debt hovering around the 4.8 mark as of last week.
“This will be a higher-yielding asset for investors and may be seen as representing good value against other eurozone trades,” Exotix Partners chief economist Stuart Culverhouse told the International Financing Review.
The issue has been planned with a view to swapping internal for medium- to long-term international public debt, which would boost liquidity by repaying short- to medium-term debt held by local institutional investors. Additionally, the move is expected to further restore investor confidence in Cyprus, bringing the country one step closer to its full return to international borrowing and prompting further upgrades by credit-rating agencies.
Widespread optimism is not unfounded. Following the devastating banking collapse and a subsequent €10 billion bailout last year, Cyprus has been fully compliant with the adjustment programme imposed by its creditors, and its economy has shown more resilience than anticipated. Neither went unnoticed.
“They have been on track with their programme and that is a good thing to sell to investors,” said Culverhouse.

By Constantinos Psillides
PRESIDENT Nicos Anastasiades’ decision to accept an offer to use the private jet of a Cypriot UK property mogul hit turbulence on Monday when he was criticised by opposition parties.
Chris Lazari offered the use of his jet to the Anastasiades on Friday, claiming that it was a sign of active support for the president whom, he said, had been a good friend for decades.
AKEL spokesman Giorgos Loukaides accused the government of undermining the country’s institutions by accepting a gift from a citizen, regardless of the fact that the property mogul business activities were in the UK exclusively.
Loukaides demanded that the president gave a full explanation for his dealings with Lazaris.
EDEK also joined in reprimanding Anastasiades, saying in a written statement that if the president really needed to use a private jet then he should go through the House “so as to ensure full transparency”.
“Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion. We can’t have businessmen fulfilling state obligations,” read EDEK’s statement.
The office of the president issued a response on Monday afternoon, stressing that if the institution of the presidency was in any danger then he would have rejected the offer outright.
“The businessman portofolio is strictly limited to the UK and he has no interest in expanding to Cyprus,” read the statement, blasting AKEL for having included in the state’s budget a fund for purchasing the services of a private jet when former President Demetris Christofias was in power.
Anastasiades threw down the gauntlet, asking those who criticised him to take action.
“The president is ready to reject the offer made if AKEL and all other parties who oppose this development are willing to ask the public to shoulder the cost of hiring a jet for the president’s travels, like the previous administration did.”
The House allocated around €1 m. for former President Demetris Christofias to use a private jet during the five years he was president.
Anastasiades also pointed out that it was he who asked Lazaris to go public with his proposal, so as to ensure transparency.

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By Constantinos Psillides
HIGH-SCHOOL TEACHERS, mostly principals, have been providing false information so that they work at schools close to home, said the head of the Greek Principals Association Kyriakos Mparis on Monday.
“Everybody knows this is happening and nobody is saying anything. The reason I chose to speak up is to get a discussion going so we can remedy this,” said Mparis, adding that the education ministry should put an end to this practice.
Asked by CyBC radio to provide examples, Mparis said that some educators list as a place of residence their family home from which they have moved a long time ago – he specifically mentioned a teacher posted at Nicosia who listed the village of Evrichou as a residence – while others present false medical certificates.
“People claiming that they suffer from vertigo or a back pain or being unable to walk properly or being chronically ill. We see the same people going on vacations and having no problem whatsoever when it’s leisure time,” explained Mparis.
Every educator has to be posted at a rural position – or another city – as part of the posting rotation system. Postings are decided based on a point system, with more points being awarded to educators who have served away from their listed residence. By listing another residence, these teachers get to be posted near their actual address and not go through the rural posting, at the expense of their colleagues.
Mparis pointed out that covering up for these teachers hurt the honest ones, as they are saddled with having to teach in areas away from their home more often. “In these dire financial times, this is not something the teachers want,” he said.
Head of the high-school teachers union (OELMEK) Dimitris Taliadoros confirmed that there was a problem but argued that the number of teachers resorting to scamming the system was very limited.
“We do not cover for any of them. We do not support them in any way and we ask the education ministry to enforce their rules and regulations,” said Taliadoros.

MORE THAN 5, 000 hunters have signed a protest letter addressing Interior Minister Socratis Hasikos, demanding that he step in and deal with a wide range of hunting-related issues. In a letter sent to the minister on Monday, the hunters are protesting what they say is the low number of rabbits available to hunt, describing the situation as “tragic”. Around 600 hunters gathered at Aradippou last week, demanding that steps be taken to deal with the decreasing number of rabbits. According to daily Phileleftheros, the discussion got heated and the hunters present asked for the resignation of officials in the Cyprus Hunters Association (CHA). The hunters are also accusing the game service of failing to deal with poaching effectively. The CHA decided to expand its protest by organising meetings in every town. Their goal is to gather 10, 000 signatures and take their demands to the interior minister directly.

By Elias Hazou
CYPRUS AIRWAYS (CY) officially announced on Monday the sale of its remaining time-slot at London’s Heathrow Airport.
In a statement, CY said it has concluded a deal to sell the slot to American Airlines for US $31m (€22.9m). The slot serviced flight CY346/CY347.
The national carrier said the sale of the time-slot was included in the airline’s restructuring plan.
The deal was finalised and ink was put on paper on Monday, CY chairman Tony Antoniou told the Cyprus Mail.
The agreement secures a significant revenue stream that would boost the company’s liquidity through 2015, CY said in a press release.
The move is ideally timed, as the time-slot’s value would plunge to zero if the European Commission were to give the thumbs-down to the restructuring plan submitted to it, CY said.
The EC is set to rule by year’s end on whether capital injections from the government to the airline constitute state aid, forbidden by EU competition rules.
Moreover, the airline noted, in the event of a negative ruling by the EC, possession of the slot would automatically be returned to Heathrow’s airport authorities.
The sale will help improve the financial viability of the Larnaca to London route, which currently operates at a loss, CY noted.
The deal paves the way for the airline to transfer its route to another London airport, with more frequent flights and at more convenient times, it added.
It stressed the airline would continue flying to London, but with Standsted airport as the destination.
The Larnaca to Stansted route would open from September 14. Up until September 13, all CY flights to and from Heathrow will continue normally.
The company said it would be notifying passengers who have booked flights to London for after September 13.
The sale of the slot to the American carrier had been rumoured for days, with the ministry of finance said to be on board with the move.
Notice of the deal was posted on Monday on the website of the Cyprus Stock Exchange. CY is publicly traded, though the government owns a majority holding.
Last Friday CY boss Antoniou confirmed for the first time the airline was seeking to sell the Heathrow slot.
Fending off criticism that management was stripping the airline of its assets and lucrative routes, Antoniou said that on the contrary selling the slot would rescue the company.
A parliamentary discussion – tabled by the AKEL party – was cancelled last week, most likely due to fears that any leaks might scupper the deal.
AKEL and other opposition parties raised concerns that the carrier was selling off its assets and this would lead to its demise – a fear shared by CY’s once-pampered pilots.
The pilots – which have made no secret of their lack of confidence in management – even threatened to strike should the last Heathrow slot be sold.
Politicians are dead set against a possible closure of CY, arguing that the country must have a national carrier, despite the fact the airline has been consistently posting losses at the taxpayer’s expense.
CY’s first slot at Heathrow was sold three years ago for €22m and due to further liquidity problems, the second recently followed suit, going for €6.5m.

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl from England has drowned in a hotel swimming pool in Protaras, where she and her family had been staying while on holiday.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Famagusta police spokesman Giorgos Oikonomou said that “around 4 pm on Monday, in a hotel in Protaras, a five-year-old girl was spotted floating unconscious in the swimming pool.”
The incident was reported by hotel residents and an ambulance rushed the girl to a private clinic in Paralimni, where the on-call doctor confirmed her death.
The girl had arrived in Cyprus on Sunday with her mother, grandparents and other relatives for a week holiday.
No lifeguard was present at the swimming pool but there were signs in English, Russian and other languages urging adult supervision of children.
An autopsy will be performed at the Larnaca General on Tuesday, in order to confirm the precise cause of the girl’s death.

A SECOND big fire broke out in the village of Fasoula, Limassol on Monday, approximately 500 metres away from the site of another fire the day before.
It burned approximately 30 hectares of shrubbery, olive trees and carob trees before being put out late in the evening.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, the fire brigade’s spokeswoman Lisa Kemidji said that the fire broke out at 3 pm, and 20 firefighters were rushed to the site.
Thirteen vehicles and six aircraft were also engaged, and were able to put out the fire shortly before 6 pm.
In addition to the trees, two houses were endangered before the fire was extinguished.
According to state radio, even after managing to control the blaze, strong winds at the site suggested a possible risk of the fire reigniting.
The police and fire brigade are investigating possible arson after two individuals were seen leaving the area shortly after the fire broke out.

By Neil Maidment
Thomas Mueller’s hat-trick inspired Germany to a ruthless 4-0 mauling of 10-man Portugal in their opening World Cup Group G match on Monday and underlined their credentials as serious title contenders.
Billed as a clash of European heavyweights, the Germans ignored the sizzling Salvador heat to deliver a sizzling attacking display that ensured the game was over as a contest by halftime.
Portugal could not cope with their opponents’ pace and movement and were 3-0 down by the interval as Mueller, marking his 50th international, scored either side of a thumping Mats Hummels header.
“Three goals in one match, in the opening match against such an opponent is just great,” Mueller, whose side are bidding to end a 18-year title drought, told German television.
“We got into the match really well and had some half chances then suddenly we were ahead 2-0. In heat like this a lead like that is a great advantage.”
In their 100th World Cup match, the first team to reach the milestone, Germany were in the mood to party and went 1-0 up on 12 minutes through a Mueller penalty after the clever Mario Goetze wriggled away from Joao Pereira and was hauled down.
Hummels powered home the second from a Toni Kroos corner on 32 minutes before Mueller, top scorer at the World Cup four years ago, stole in ahead of a sleepy Bruno Alves to smash in the third in first-half stoppage-time.
The task was made even harder for Portugal by a needless 37th minute red card for Pepe. The defender, furious at what he felt was “simulation” by Mueller following a slight collision between the two, was sent off for pushing his head into the German’s face as he sat on the ground.
The interchanging attack of Goetze, Mueller and Mesut Ozil bamboozled Portugal, whose talismanCristiano Ronaldo was left a frustrated observer for much of the match as the German midfield dominated proceedings.
Much had been made of Ronaldo’s inclusion after injury problems and although he began the day with wild screams meeting the mere mention of his name, jeers soon rang around the Fonte Nova arena as his infrequent touches came to little and all but one of his trademark free kicks disappointed.
With German Chancellor Angela Merkel watching in the crowd, it was Mueller who took the crowd’s appreciation, completing the first hat-trick of the tournament after 78 minute when he prodded home a spilled Andre Schuerrle cross.
The victory extended Germany’s run of having won every opening World Cup match since 1990 and they have scored at least four goals in five of those seven games.
“We worked hard to create goal chances, the team played well and didn’t let them have many chances,”Germany coach Joachim Loew told a news conference.
“We played fast in the first half to get our chances. In the second half it was a different match, to play economically in this heat and keep control of the ball.”
The demolition will send a strong message to Germany’s rival title contenders in Brazil and left Portugallooking nervously at qualification with games against the U.S. and Ghana to come.
“We have to analyse this in all calm,” Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. “We tried in the second half but didn’t succeed. We lost the match in the first half and couldn’t change that in the second half.
“Germany played well, two right away and three in the first half. Then we lost Pepe. Our counter attacks didn’t really succeed either.”

By Alan Baldwin
Iran and Nigeria laboured to the first stalemate of a scintillating World Cup on Monday with a dismal 0-0 draw that left both sides still chasing their first victory at a finals since 1998.
While Iran could take some small satisfaction in keeping a clean sheet for the first time since their debut in 1978, the bore at the Baixada arena stood out like a suit salesman on Copacabana beach.
With Lionel Messi’s Argentina, installed as clear Group F favourites, and exciting debutants Bosnia still to come, the other two look destined for an early exit unless they can raise their game considerably.
Both teams were whistled and booed off the field by the largely Brazilian crowd of 39,000 after a first half that looked shockingly meagre compared to the goal feasts served up elsewhere.
Iran packed their defence as expected and Nigeria, with Emmanuel Emenike rarely posing a threat as the main target man for the African champions, squandered their chances with long balls to nowhere and passes straight to opponents.
The Super Eagles had the ball in the back of the net after seven minutes in a goalmouth scramble but Ecuadorean referee Carlos Vera, perhaps harshly, ruled it out for a push on goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi.
Ogenyi Onazi then drilled a shot wide two minutes later.
Iran came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute when goalkeeper captain Vincent Enyeama produced a fine save to beat out Reza Ghoochannejhad’s header from their first corner of the game.
Nigeria defender Godfrey Oboabona made an early exit from the fray, replaced by former captain Joseph Yobo on the half hour after earlier receiving treatment on the touchline following a heavy tackle.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi warned on Sunday that the African sides were as good as any in Brazil and could win the tournament, but on Monday’s evidence they will not be celebrating in Lagos.

A couple from Austria was on Tuesday honoured by the Mayor of Ayia Napa for visiting the resort 49 times since 1984.
The couple, Karl and Inge Domonkos, were presented by Mayor Yiannis Karousos with a commemorative plaque and medal with the insignia ‘Ambassadors of Tourism for Ayia Napa’.
“It’s a great honour for the city to have such visitors,” he said, adding that he wished the Austrian couple many more visits.
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By David Alexander

The United States said on Tuesday it had captured a suspected ringleader of the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, a raid that killed four Americans including the US ambassador, and ignited a political firestorm in Washington.

Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said US military troops, working with law enforcement personnel, captured Ahmed Abu Khatallah on Sunday in Libya and were holding him at a secure location outside the country.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Khatallah was being held aboard an American ship after he was grabbed on the outskirts of Benghazi in an operation carried out by US special operations forces.

Kirby said there were no civilian casualties in the operation and all US personnel involved in the capture had safely left Libya. The Pentagon declined to discuss further details of the operation and it was not immediately clear whether there were non-civilian casualties.

A US official said Khatallah would be charged and prosecuted through the US court system and would not be sent to the prison for suspected al Qaeda militants in Guantanamo, Cuba.

After the 2012 attack, which killed Ambassador Chris Stevens, Republicans accused the Obama administration of playing down the role of al Qaeda in the attack for political reasons.

They also said then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had failed to take adequate steps to ensure the safety of American diplomatic personnel, an issue that is still resonating as Clinton considers running for US president in 2016.