By Rosemarie Francisco

More than half a million people in the Philippines have fled from a powerful typhoon in one of the world’s biggest peacetime evacuations, as the storm threatens to wreak more destruction on areas still bearing the scars of a super typhoon 13 months ago.

Residents of Samar island said they were experiencing strong winds, heavy rain and blackouts on Saturday as Typhoon Hagupit churned towards eastern provinces of the archipelago.

The storm had weakened to category 3, two notches below “super typhoon”, but could still unleash huge destruction with torrential rain and potentially disastrous storm surges of up to 4.5 metres (15 ft).

“Ruby’s lashing will be severe,” Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas told government radio, referring to the local name for Typhoon Hagupit. “Let’s be alert. Let’s evacuate to prevent any harm to your families.”

With winds of up to 175 kph (110 mph) near the centre and gusts of up to 220 kph (137 mph), the storm was moving slowly at 13 kph (8 mph), the weather bureau PAGASA said, and was expected to hit Eastern Samar province between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. (1200-1400 GMT).

“The wind feels like there’s a huge electric fan blowing air from the Pacific,” said Roxas, speaking from Eastern Samar.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific cancelled about 100 flights to central and southern Philippines on Saturday.

More than 616,000 residents of low-lying villages and landslide-prone areas have fled to schools, civic centres, town halls, gyms and churches, the national disaster agency said.

At least 50 municipalities in the central Philippines and the southern part of the country’s main Luzon island were at risk of storm surges, with the eye of the storm set to cross five provinces, the Science and Technology department said.

The typhoon was unlikely to hit the capital Manila, home to around 12 million people, the agency said.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva said 200,000 people had been evacuated in the central island province of Cebu alone.

“Typhoon Hagupit is triggering one of the largest evacuations we have ever seen in peacetime,” said spokesman Denis McClean.

Relief agency Refugees International said in a statement it was “deeply concerned” that evacuation centres may not be safe.

“A damage assessment of designated evacuation centres in typhoon-affected areas indicated that in some places – such as Eastern Samar, where Hagupit is headed – less than 10 percent of evacuation centres were likely to withstand future typhoons,” the group said.

LESSONS LEARNED

The eastern islands of Samar and Leyte, worst-hit by 250 kph (155 mph) winds and storm surges brought by Typhoon Haiyan in November last year, are in the firing line again.

“There has been a tremendous amount of learning from last year,” said Greg Matthews, emergency response advisor at the International Rescue Committee. “There have been reports from our field officers and partners that people are evacuating themselves. They are aware of the situation.”

Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons ever to make landfall, left more than 7,000 dead or missing and more than 4 million homeless or with damaged houses. About 25,000 people in Eastern Samar and Leyte still live in tents, shelters and bunkhouses.

“I am afraid and scared,” said Teresita Aban, a 58-year-old housewife from Sta. Rita, in Samar province, wiping away tears and trembling as she spoke to Reuters at an evacuation centre.

“We’re prepared but still fearful, we haven’t finished repairing our house, it still has tarpaulin patches and here comes another storm.”

Soldiers were deployed to urban centres, particularly in Tacloban City in Leyte, where massive looting broke out after Haiyan last year.

“The soldiers will help our police counterparts in maintaining peace and order, and prevent looting incidents,” said Colonel Restituto Padilla Jr, armed forces spokesman.

AccuWeather Global Weather Center said more than 30 million people would feel the impact of the typhoon across the Philippines.

The Pakistani military said on Saturday they killed a top al-Qaeda operative wanted in the United States for planning to bomb the New York subway system.

“In an intelligence borne operation, top al-Qaeda leader Adnan el Shukrijuma was killed by (the) Pakistan Army in an early morning raid in Shinwarsak, South Waziristan today,” the statement said. The remote region borders Afghanistan.

Shukrijumah is wanted in the United States for conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and to commit murder in a foreign country.

CYPRUS-WIDE police raids on Friday night netted 10 computers, nine individuals charged for gambling, two arrested in connection with a case of prostitution, and 38 tickets issued in connection with various cases of indoor smoking and disturbing the peace.

According to a police report, one raid on a suspected gambling establishment in Paphos revealed 10 computers, which police confiscated on suspicion that they had been modified into gambling machines. In a second raid on a different Paphos establishment, police found eight individuals gambling, with another on guard duty. All nine were charged, while 64 playing cards and 229 playing chips were seized as evidence.

Limassol police raided eight flats on Friday and collected various items of evidence.

Investigations led to the arrest of two men early on Saturday morning, 51 and 44, in connection with a case of suspected conspiracy and gains from the prostitution of four women.

The four women were also called for questioning.

During the night, Larnaca and Nicosia police conducted checks in various night clubs and issued 31 tickets for indoor smoking, three for the unlicensed sale of alcoholic drinks, four for playing music without a permit, and one for violating its legal closing time.

Six minors – under 16 – were found in night clubs in breach of the law, while another – under 17 – was found consuming an alcoholic beverage.

A 68-YEAR-OLD man was killed on Friday night after he was hit by a car on the Nicosia-Limassol highway, a police report said.

The man, Yiorgos Papandreou, had been driving his pick-up truck on the highway when, at around 5:30 pm, he realised that three of the scaffolding boards he had been carrying had fallen onto the road.

He then parked his truck on the hard shoulder and got out to collect the boards, but was struck by a car driven by a 56-year-old woman under circumstances still under investigation.

An ambulance rushed Papandreou to the Nicosia General, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Nicosia traffic police continue to investigate the causes of the accident.

By Mohammed Ghobari

A US journalist and a South African teacher held by al Qaeda militants in Yemen were killed alongside 10 of their captors during a rescue attempt by US and Yemeni forces, senior officials said on Saturday.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said al Qaeda militants killed Luke Somers, 33, and another foreign national hostage during the rescue operation, which he said was only approved because of information that their lives were at imminent risk.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is seen by Washington as one of the movement’s most dangerous branches, and it has worked with the Yemeni government and via drone strikes to attack its leadership in southern and eastern parts of Yemen.

“The callous disregard for Luke’s life is more proof of the depths of AQAP’s depravity, and further reason why the world must never cease in seeking to defeat their evil ideology,” US President Barack Obama said in a statement.

He said he had authorised the attempted rescue and said the United States would “spare no effort to use all of its military, intelligence and diplomatic capabilities to bring Americans home safely, wherever they are located”.

Somers was moved from the scene of the rescue attempt but died later from his wounds, a senior official in the Yemeni president’s office said.

Relief group Gift of the Givers said South African teacher Pierre Korkie was killed in the operation.

“We received with sadness the news that Pierre was killed in an attempt by American Special Forces, in the early hours of this morning, to free hostages in Yemen,” it said in a statement on its website.

However, there was no new information about three other hostages, a Briton, a Turk and a Yemeni, who had previously been held alongside Somers and Korkie, a Yemeni security official told Reuters.

Lucy Somers, the photojournalist’s sister, told the Associated Press that she and her father learned of her brother’s death from FBI agents at 0500 GMT (12 a.m. EST) Saturday.

“We ask that all of Luke’s family members be allowed to mourn in peace,” she said from London.

IMMEDIATE DANGER

Kerry and US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel both said the decision to mount the raid was based on fears that AQAP planned to kill Somers.

“Earlier this week, AQAP released a video announcing that Luke would be murdered within 72 hours. Along with other information, there was a compelling indication that Luke’s life was in immediate danger,” Kerry said.

US officials on Thursday said American forces had already attempted to rescue Somers, without giving further details. Yemeni officials had previously disclosed the release of six Yemenis, a Saudi and an Ethiopian hostage in a raid on Nov 25.

AQAP on Thursday released a video showing a man it said was Somers speaking to the camera and saying: “I’m looking for any help that can get me out of this situation. I’m certain that my life is in danger”.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the authenticity of that video, which was reported on by SITE Monitoring.

Yemen’s Defence Ministry had earlier said that a military operation had succeeded in freeing a US hostage as well as killing 10 members of the al Qaeda group holding him. But Major General Ali al-Ahmadi, chief of the national security bureau in Yemen, later confirmed he had died.

The operation involved an air strike followed by a raid by US and Yemeni forces, a local security official said. It took place in the Wadi Abdan Al Daqqar region of Shabwa Province in southern Yemen and targeted an al Qaeda group headed by Mubarak al-Harad.

Al Qaeda and allied Islamist militants have a strong presence in large parts of southern and eastern Yemen, an impoverished Arabian Peninsula country where the government has little control outside main cities.

By Nick Mulvenney

The death of Phillip Hughes will inevitably cast a long shadow over Australia’s delayed series against India when it finally gets underway next week at the former test batsman’s last home ground, Adelaide Oval.

There will undoubtedly be minutes of silence and black armbands to remember Hughes and his death will be still on the minds of his former team mates, not least those who were present at the Sydney Cricket Ground when he suffered the fatal blow.

The tragedy, however, should not much alter the competitive nature of a series which, after Adelaide, will continue with the rescheduled Brisbane match before the Boxing Day test in Melbourne and a delayed New Year’s encounter in Sydney.

Australia turned their fortunes around last year on the back of a fiercely aggressive brand of cricket nurtured by coach Darren Lehmann as well as the pace bowling of Mitchell Johnson, whose bouncer is a key part of his repertoire.

They are unlikely to give up any edge lightly as they take on an India touring party, who showed in their final warm-up match they will not be shy about using the short ball.

Both sides have question marks over their captains heading to Adelaide with Mahendra Singh Dhoni joining the tourists late after injuring his thumb and Michael Clarke’s recurring hamstring problems making him a doubt.

India have slumped to sixth in the world rankings after series defeats in New Zealand and England this year, while Australia are second despite a 2-0 humbling at the hands of Pakistan in October.

Australia’s showing against Pakistan highlighted their shortcomings against spin, while India have rarely thrived where the tracks are hard and bouncy, and will be seeking a first test series triumph in Australia at their 11th attempt.

The tourists lack the batting pedigree the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman brought three years ago but the 4-0 whitewash they suffered then illustrated once again that in Australia, it is the pace bowling that matters.

The hosts boast up to 10 quicks they can rotate over the series with the trio of Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle likely to get the first crack at the Indians.

Ishant Sharma will lead an inexperienced India attack and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja will be hoping the batting can keep the tourists in the contests long enough so that he can take advantage of any late turn.

The fallout from the tragic death of Hughes could have an impact on the spirit in which the matches are played, preventing any return to the acrimony of the “Bollyline” or “Monkeygate” row which marred the Sydney test on the 2007-08 India tour.

RAIDS against Islamic State are being conducted from RAF Akrotiri “with broken jets and tired and fed-up people”, the BBC reported on Saturday.

In a letter to BBC’s Newsnight, a British serviceman said the base was being neglected, morale was poor and ground crews had taken to eating humanitarian rations meant for Iraqis.

The BBC said it had also been told that only 16 of 102 RAF Tornado jets still meet full combat standards.

An RAF spokesman dismissed many of the claims as “factually inaccurate”.

But a British Ministry of Defence source confirmed to the BBC an incident in which ground crew had been given rations had happened.

The BBC said it knew the identity of the letter writer but that the organisation was protecting his anonymity.

The writer detailed how there is no hospital at RAF Akrotiri, even though there are daily operations involving live ammunition.

And he told the BBC that the placing of services with contractors meant that Cypriot cleaners at the base were being charged to the UK taxpayer at three times the annual cost of an airman’s salary.

An RAF spokesman responded: “In our opinion this letter is factually inaccurate. In layman’s terms, it is completely full of holes.”

A source at the British MoD said the facilities, as well as conditions of service, at Akrotiri are comparable with all RAF stations around the world.

The BBC described how during a recent visit by an air vice marshal, one sergeant from II Squadron complained about the quality of the food available to crews working overnight on Tornado jets.

Contracts at the base provide only for hot meals during the day, with snacks laid on at night.

The air vice marshal, on hearing the complaints, went to a pallet of rations intended for air dropping to refugees in northern Iraq.

He was “so disgusted by the ‘cheese sandwiches’ offered as meals to the night shift, he went and broke into a pallet of aid and handed it out as it was better than what we were feeding our airmen”, said the serviceman’s letter.

The MoD source  told the BBC “crews were offered a small number of excess [Department for International Development] rations [a vegetarian curry] as a one-off gesture during a testing deployment”, and argued there was no question of the crews needing the humanitarian rations in order to be “adequately fed”.

Shortly after operations began against Islamic State in September, the detachment of Tornado strike aircraft was increased from six to eight, the BBC reported.

But it said only 16 of the RAF’s 102 Tornado GR4s meet “diamond fleet” standard, which is the aircraft fitted with all of the equipment necessary for combat.

Many of the remainder are now mothballed.

Half of these top specification jets are now in Akrotiri, but the BBC said that due to their age and long use, the battle to keep them airworthy requires long hours of work by ground crews, particularly on the engines.

On many days, just two or three of the Tornadoes are available for missions over Iraq.

The MoD source insisted: “The Tornado GR4 continues to offer good serviceability and is meeting required tasking.”

By Angelos Anastasiades

TURKEY has the will to resume talks and reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem “very soon”, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said on Saturday, adding that he “fully appreciates” President Nicos Anastasiades’ decision to suspend his participation in the peace talks last October, after Turkey despatched its seismic vessel Barbaros into Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.

He was speaking at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, after the conclusion of the third annual Greek-Turkish high-level cooperation council.

Despite avoiding any mention of the reason for Anastasiades’ withdrawal from the talks, Davutoglu linked the “desired settlement of the Cyprus problem” with energy cooperation between Greece and Turkey.

“Turkey’s will is to resume peace talks as soon as possible so that a settlement of the Cyprus problem can coincide with a settlement of the energy issues,” said Davutoglu.

The Turkish Premier noted that during talks with the Greek government in Athens, it was “accepted that both communities in Cyprus have a right to its energy sources, and unilateral action is best avoided.”

The joint communiqué issued by the two prime ministers on Saturday made no mention of Cyprus or the Cyprus problem, but declared that “Greece and Turkey aim to further strengthen their bilateral and regional cooperation in the field of energy.”

But in his own address after the summit, Samaras spoke of Greece’s “significant disagreements with Turkey”, stressing those relating to the Cyprus problem.

He added that in resolving these disputes, there must be “full respect of international law”, with the self-evident “respect to countries’ sovereign rights”.

Samaras said he fully supports the Cyprus government’s efforts to promote a settlement “under these circumstances” and under the auspices of the United Nations.

On Friday, Davutoglu called on Greece to help “solve together” the Cyprus problem, thereby strengthening trade relations between the two countries and exploiting energy reserves in the Aegean and South-eastern Mediterranean.

Earlier, Davutoglu, in Athens on a two-day visit, was informed by Samaras on the condition of President Nicos Anastasiades’ health following his operation on Tuesday.

“I wish Mr Anastasiades all the best in his health, so that we can work together for Cyprus’ health,” Davutoglu grinned to an audience of Greek and Turkish businessmen attending an annual Greek-Turkish business forum.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish press reports, the Greek and Turkish premiers agreed on the need to work towards establishing a formula for the resumption of peace talks on the Cyprus problem.

Hurriyet reported on Saturday that the two agreed to delegate the task to their respective foreign ministers.

Sources cited by the Turkish daily said that the two sides will attempt to utilise the three-month hiatus in exploratory drilling in Cyprus waters after the current session is over – by December 25, at which time the Barbaros will return to Turkey – in order to agree on a plan to resume talks.

In another report, Sabah cited sources claiming that the Cyprus government will prepare a bill formalising the sharing of natural gas revenues between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

But Acting President Yiannakis Omirou rejected any such compromise.

“There is no chance of a formula for compromise on the issue of hydrocarbons, as it would lead to the waiving of Cyprus’ sovereign rights to its exclusive economic zone,” Omirou said on Saturday.

“Any agreement of so-called co-management or distribution would lead to the recognition of the illegal breakaway regime of the occupied areas, in violation of clear provisions of Security Council resolutions,” he added.

During his visit to Athens, Omirou said, Davutoglu will receive “powerful messages” from Greek President Karolos Papoulias, the prime minister and vice-president of the Greek government that Turkey will have to comply with the United Nations’ 1982 convention of the law of the sea, and that before the peace talks can resume it will have to depart from Cyprus’ EEZ.

By Angelos Anastasiou

THREE  more arrest warrants were issued on Saturday in connection with the Paphos Sewerage Board (PSB) case, as EDEK deputy Fidias Sarikas and AKEL deputy Andreas Fakontis denied being implicated in the affair.

The two politicians had been named by former Paphos mayor Savvas Vergas’ on Friday when he was re-remanded for eight days along with PSB director Eftihios Malekkides and former DISY Paphos municipality councilman Yiorgos Michaelides.

Police spokesman Andreas Angelides announced that more arrests were “imminent” on Saturday, shortly before three warrants were issued for the arrest of AKEL councilman Yiorgos Shailis, CEO of Nemesis Construction Kyriacos Chrisochos, and technical director at Medcon Construction Andreas Chimarrides.

Vergas’ testimony came a day after another suspect, the Greek owner of construction company Envitec Christos Drakopoulos, arrived in Cyprus and testified that the former Paphos mayor had pressured him into donating some €85,000 to the Paphos municipality out of the money he received from securing a PSB contract. Drakopoulos complied but later found out that the ‘donation’ was paid into the bank account of Vergas’ wife, Sofia Apostolidou, who was also arrested and questioned on Friday.

According to state radio, Drakopoulos’ testimony prompted Vergas to abandon his pleas of innocence and admit to bribery in his testimony on Friday, in which he implicated other public figures into the corruption scandal.

Following the accusations, the two Paphos parliamentarians vehemently declared their innocence and attacked both Vergas for trying to incriminate them and police investigators for leaking his unsubstantiated claims.

In a statement on Saturday, Sarikas – Vergas’ predecessor at the helm of both the Paphos municipality and the PSB from 1997 to 2006 – said he was unaware of the details of Vergas’ claims against him, but cited his record in the local Paphos community as evidence of his innocence.

“For the last few hours, following leaked extracts from Vergas’ testimony, my name and my dignity are being dragged through the mud,” Sarikas said.

“I don’t know, nor can I imagine what [Vergas] attributes to me, very simply because I have never followed his corrupt ways. Paphos citizens are well aware of who each of us is. My bank accounts and assets are at the authorities’ disposal.”

In the same vein, Fakontis – Paphos municipality councilman and PSB board member from 1996 to 2006 – denied Vergas’ allegations and argued that individuals shouldn’t be left to fall victim to unsubstantiated claims.

In a statement, Fakontis claimed Vergas lied in order to get back at him for exposing his corruption.

“These claims are clearly slanders, regardless of who is making them,” Fakontis said.

“If it is true that Vergas made them, then it was done vindictively, because I am the one who led, reported and brought to light the PSB scandal. As AKEL’s deputy in 2012, I tabled the issue at the House watchdog committee and furnished specific evidence and figures pointing towards mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds at the PSB.

“In the interest of restoring the truth and my name I state that I am ready and willing to offer the police and investigators full access to my bank accounts and assets, overriding any legal obstacles that parliamentary immunity may pose.”

House president and EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou said his party’s stance towards corruption is one of zero tolerance, but that the party would offer further views if investigators “move ahead”.

“Our municipal councilmen, former and current, as well as our deputies, stand ready to voluntarily disclose their bank accounts and assets to the authorities,” he said.

“If investigators move ahead, we will position ourselves further,” he added.

DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos said the revelations of scandals in Paphos have “injured and hurt” the city, and that DIKO will work towards addressing the issues.

“Paphos has made great contributions to Cyprus’ economy and society, and it is not fair for its image to be tarnished like this,” he said.

“It is everyone’s duty to contribute to efforts of restoring and purging the municipality, and DIKO will continue its contacts with a view to addressing problems and healing the wounds.”

But Vergas’ testimony, deemed “one of the most important items of evidence in the case thus far” by police spokesman Andreas Angelides, is being evaluated and could lead to further arrests, “either within the day or in the coming days” he said on Saturday”

Speaking at the Limassol Police headquarters, Angelides said the testimony was the object of a session convened on Saturday morning by the Deputy Attorney-general Rikkos Erotokritou, attended by the deputy police chief, the deputy CID chief and the lead investigator.

“A review of the statement and the body of evidence collected thus far and decisions for further action within the day and in the coming days have been made,” said Angelides.

“Anyone’s implication, or suspected implication, will be investigated, and no one will be spared,” he added.

Angelides clarified that the figures made public on Friday in connection with investigations into Vergas and Malekkides’ bank accounts relate to movement in and out of the accounts and not deposits.

“The figures reported related to the movement of €4.5 million for the former mayor, and €1.9 million for the PSB director,” he said.

By Martyn Herman

Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season ended in a dramatic 2-1 loss at Newcastle United on Saturday when Papiss Cisse struck twice to stun the Premier League leaders at St James’ Park.

Arsenal’s hopes of a third successive victory were dashed in a 3-2 defeat at Stoke City where they trailed 3-0 at halftime and Liverpool were held to a 0-0 home draw by Sunderland.

Undefeated in 23 matches in all competitions since April’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, Chelsea proved far from invincible as 10-man Newcastle survived a late barrage to prevent the visitors setting a record unbeaten run.

Few could deny Newcastle a deserved win that lifted them to seventh in the table, although Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said his side had been unlucky to lose.

The hosts lost goalkeeper Rob Elliot to injury at halftime, replaced by young rookie debutant Jak Alnwick, and had to man the barricades with only 10 men when Steven Taylor was dismissed after getting a second yellow card 10 minutes from the end.

Substitute Cisse, who replaced Remy Cabella after the break, put Newcastle in front after 57 minutes following a slip by Gary Cahill and struck again on the break 20 minutes later, seconds after Eden Hazard was denied an equaliser by the woodwork.

Didier Drogba’s majestic header halved the deficit and there were groans from the home fans when six minutes of added time were indicated.

Newcastle rode their luck, however, and Chelsea’s 14-match unbeaten start to the season, which had drawn comparisons with the Arsenal side that went through the 2003-04 league campaign unbeaten, was over.

“We were very unlucky, even more than last season,” Mourinho, beaten 2-0 at Newcastle in the last campaign, told the BBC.

“Only one team wants to win, only one team plays to win, but that team doesn’t score and they go and cross the midfield line and score a goal and after that we have to chase the game which we did, which gave me lots of pride.”

THREE POINTS

Champions Manchester City can close the gap at the top to three points if they beat Everton later on Saturday.

Queens Park Rangers beat Burnley 2-0 to climb out of the relegation zone.

Tottenham Hotspur were held 0-0 at home by Crystal Palace and strugglers Hull City and West Bromwich Albion were also involved in a goalless stalemate.

Third-placed Southampton host Manchester United, in fourth, on Monday.

Chelsea, with Diego Costa back in attack after missing the midweek win over Tottenham Hotspur through suspension, dominated for long periods but were unusually profligate in front of goal.

Willian should have scored but shot narrowly wide and the Brazilian forced Elliot into a diving save. Costa also failed to capitalise from a couple of dangerous situations.

Elliot limped off at halftime and failed to reappear, allowing 21-year-old Alnwick to make his first competitive appearance.

However, it was Newcastle’s second substitution that proved the most telling as Cisse strode on.

The Senegal striker had barely touched the ball when Sammy Ameobi’s low cross was not cleared by Cahill and he had the simplest of tasks to tap the ball past Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea responded with Hazard hitting the post but Newcastle went further ahead after a counter-attack ended with Moussa Sissoko setting up Cisse for another tap-in.

Taylor’s sending-off and Drogba’s second goal of the week silenced the home crowd but Mourinho was left still waiting for his first away league victory over Newcastle.

By Jack Stubbs

Brent crude oil fell more than $2 a barrel on Monday to a new five-year low on predictions that oversupply would keep building until next year after OPEC decided not to cut output.

In a report dated Dec. 5, U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley said oil prices could fall as low as $43 a barrel next year. The bank cut its average 2015 Brent base-case outlook by $28 to $70 per barrel, and by $14 to $88 a barrel for 2016.

The semi-state power company’s director Stelios Stylianou said he expects the price of electricity to fall soon, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Monday.
The cost of electricity in Cyprus, long considered the highest in Europe and among the highest globally, is heavily fuel-dependent, meaning fluctuations in oil prices internationally impact it directly, and the recent tumbling in the price of oil has already precipitated cheaper electricity relative to previous months.
“The cost of the latest shipments the EAC has received is lower than previous shipments, thus the cost will be recalculated,” Stylianou said.
“Any reduction in the cost of fuel will be passed on to consumers,” he added.
Stylianou explained that protocol dictates falling import costs to be passed on to consumers automatically.
“Therefore, I expect there will be a reduction in the price of electricity for the bills covering December and January,” Stylianou explained.

Russian state gas company Gazprom said on Monday it would set up a company to build a gas pipeline to Turkey, days after President Vladimir Putin announced the new project.

By Robin Emmott

The European Union has drawn up a wish list of almost 2,000 projects worth 1.3 trillion euros ($1.59 trillion) for possible inclusion in an investment plan to revive growth and jobs without adding to countries’ debts.

Investment has been a casualty of the financial crisis in Europe, tumbling around 20 percent in the euro zone since 2008, according to the European Central Bank.

By Brian Homewood

Five knockout stage places are up for grabs in the Champions League this week, offering enough late drama to stop the final round of group matches from turning into a damp squib.

Eleven teams are already through from a group stage which has produced too many one-sided matches for comfort.

Only half of the matches involve teams playing for a place in the last 16 while the remainder will decide who wins each group, gaining a theoretical advantage for the draw, or qualifies for the Europa League.

Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Chelsea, Paris St Germain, Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk have already qualified by securing a top-two finish in the four-team groups.

Italian pair Juventus and AS Roma and English Premiership duo Manchester City and Liverpool are among 11 sides battling to join them and Roma’s match at home to Manchester City on Wednesday is the highlight.

Roma, City and CSKA Moscow all have five points in Group E, but the head-to-head system favours Roma who need a win to qualify, or a draw if CSKA fail to beat runaway leaders Bayern.

Such a scenario barely looked likely when Roma lost 7-1 at home to Bayern, but City’s defeat at home to CSKA has thrown the race wide open.

English champions City need to win and hope CSKA do not beat Bayern while the Russians can only qualify if they win and Roma do not beat City.

The situation is simpler in Group B where Liverpool must beat Basel to follow Real Madrid through, while the Swiss need a draw to oust the five-time European champions.

Basel qualified for the last 16 at the expense of Manchester United three seasons ago and Real coach Carlo Ancelotti believes they could repeat the trick.

“They’re in better shape than Liverpool at the moment, they are in very good physical condition,” he said after his side won 1-0 in Basel a fortnight ago. “At this moment Basel have a slight advantage.”

In Group C, Monaco need a draw at home to Zenit St Petersburg to follow Bayer Leverkusen through, while the Russians need a win.
If the game ends goalless, Monaco will qualify despite having scored only two goals in six games, one less than the previous low set by AS Roma in 2002/03 and Villarreal in 2005/06.

Serie A champions Juventus need a point at home to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday to avoid a repeat of last season’s failure to make it beyond the group stage.

If they lose and Olympiakos beat Malmo at home, the Greek champions would qualify instead.

The final place at stake is in Group G where a draw at Chelsea will be enough for Sporting Lisbon if German rivals Schalke 04 fail to win in Maribor.

The Bundesliga side, thrashed 5-0 at home by Chelsea in their previous match, must beat the Slovenian champions and hope Sporting lose.

The draw for the round of 16 is on December 15 where the eight group winners will be seeded. They could find Barcelona lurking in pot two if the Catalans fail to beat Paris St Germain at home in Wednesday’s heavyweight clash and finish second in Group F.

The scoring race between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will continue to provide a distraction.
Barcelona’s Messi reached a Champions League record of 74 goals in their last game while Real Madrid’s Ronaldo has 71 and will see the game at home to eliminated Ludogorets Razgrad as a chance to close the gap.

By Marie Kambas
Leda Koursoumba was reappointed on Monday as the Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights, and sworn in at a ceremony presided over by Acting President Yiannakis Omirou.
“The Cabinet has reappointed Leda Koursouba as the Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights given the continued substantial developments within an important institution that fulfills international obligations … and to ensure the safety of children’s rights within the family, at school and in society,” Omirou said.
The reappointed commissioner will be empowered to make any recommendations to relevant authorities when it comes to all aspects of children’s rights.
“When I was first appointed in 2008 as Children’s Rights Commissioner my vision was to see every child who lives in Cyprus enjoy of their rights… with the same vision I start today my second term and I am fully aware of the hard work that I have to do,” Koursoumba said. She said much had been accomplished since then and the officer of the commissioner had brought a number of issues into the spotlight for public debate.
“Safeguarding and promoting human rights in general and children’s rights in particular, is always a challenge that requires collective effort, sustained action at all levels of society, as well as consistent and constant vigilance at the level of institutions and bodies at the level of the state,” she added.

By Stelios Orphanides

Finance minister Harris Georgiades said the European Stability Mechanism approved the disbursement of a 350 million euros tranche to Cyprus, after the international creditors froze Cyprus’s bailout three months ago.

Nicosia and Athens have agreed that Turkish actions in the island’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) should stop immediately in order for the resumption of Cyprus talks to become feasible.
The issue was discussed on Monday during a telephone conversation between Acting President Yiannakis Omirou and Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
In a written statement Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said that during the conversation Omirou was briefed by Venizelos on the results of the Turkey-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council which took place on Saturday in Athens.
He was also briefed of the results of Venizelos` recent visit to Turkey, Christodoulides adds.
Christodoulides said that during their conversation Omirou underlined Nicosia’s firm position that the Turkish be terminated immediately and that Turkey demonstrated, in practice, respect for the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, so that the resumption of the talks for the Cyprus problem could become feasible.
In a statement, Venizelos also referred to the telephone conversation. “The recognition of the state, national sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus always remain at the core of the matter,” he said.
“Therefore ending the violation of Cyprus` EEZ by the Turkish vessel Barbaros constitutes a priority so that the resumption of intercommunal talks can become feasible,” Venizelos said.
On Saturday speaking at a joint news conference with his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras, Turkish Prime Minister counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, said Turkey had the will to resume talks and reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem “very soon”.
“Turkey’s will is to resume peace talks as soon as possible so that a settlement of the Cyprus problem can coincide with a settlement of the energy issues,” said Davutoglu.
According to Turkish media reports, on his way back to Turkey Davutoglu gave reporters his evaluation of the two-day visit to Greece, saying the two guarantor countries had agreed to develop a joint formula to revive the stalled peace talks focused on sharing the island’s natural resources.
“Of course, these are not issues to be finalised in one setting, but there is a common will on both sides to progress the talks toward a positive agenda,” Davutoglu added.
He said if there was a delay in reunifying the island, a joint commission could be established by Turkey and Greece to oversee research on offshore drilling. “Both sides realised that it is not possible to drill and manage the resources by only one side. Now, an opportunity for negotiation over how to conduct these studies has presented itself and Turkey and Greece have the will to cooperate,” Davutoglu said.
“Let’s solve this issue, in order to exploit our energy resources and connect possible natural gas resources with Greece through Turkey.”

Following is the draw for the third round of the FA Cup made on Monday, December 8:

Arsenal v Hull City

Southampton v Ipswich Town

Stoke City v Wrexham

Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers

Dover Athletic v Crystal Palace

AFC Wimbledon v Liverpool

Manchester City v Sheffield Wednesday

Aldershot/Rochdale v Nottingham Forest

West Bromwich Albion v Gateshead

Blyth Spartans v Birmingham City

Aston Villa v Blackpool

Rotherham United v AFC Bournemouth

Huddersfield Town v Reading

Oxford United/Tranmere v Swansea City

Cardiff City v Colchester United

Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic

Sunderland v Leeds United

Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur

Millwall v Bradford City

Derby County v Southport

Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion

Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Leicester City v Newcastle United

Scunthorpe/Worcester City v Chesterfield

Everton v West Ham United

Cambridge United/Mansfield v Bury/Luton

Chelsea v Watford

Barnsley v Chester v Middlesbrough

Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United

Accrington Stanley/Yeovil v Manchester United

Preston North End v Norwich City

Doncaster Rovers v Bristol Rovers

Ties to be played on the weekend beginning January 3

By Tom Hayward

Robin van Persie scored twice as Manchester United continued their recent resurgence to climb to third in the Premier League after a 2-1 victory against Southampton on Monday night.

The Dutchman scored in each half as United, who were distinctly second best for much of the game, secured their fifth successive Premier League victory.
Graziano Pelle ended a personal goal drought dating back to October by equalising but Southampton have now lost three successive Premier League games and are without a league victory since a 1-0 victory against struggling Leicester City on Nov. 8.

Manchester United have 28 points, five behind rivals Man City in second and eight less than leaders Chelsea while Southampton have dropped to fifth on 26 points, one point behind fourth-placed West Ham United.