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Mayor blasted over illegal entertainment spot

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aphrodites palace

By Angelos Anastasiou
The interior ministry blasted Paralimni mayor Theodoros Pyrillis on Tuesday over the Aphrodite’s Palace entertainment establishment which operated illegally over the summer in the Pernera area of the resort.
In a statement, the ministry referred to press reports suggesting that, while admitting that the establishment has been constructed illegally, Pyrillis considers the matter the responsibility of the Famagusta District Officer and the Land Registry department as it was built on state land.
“The Paralimni municipality never granted a building permit for this establishment,” he told daily Phileleftheros.
“On the contrary, once it became aware of the case, it duly advised the Famagusta District Officer – when anyone infringes on state land, the case is the jurisdiction of the District Officer and the Land Registry.”
Pyrillis was commenting on a letter he received from acting permanent undersecretary at the interior ministry Constantinos Nicolaides, deeming him “responsible for the lifting of all illegalities – essentially, the demolition of the establishment, the construction of which implies further illegalities which other agencies are called on to investigate.”
Nicolaides’ letter was copied to the Municipalities Union, the Ayia Napa Sewerage Board, the Attorney General’s office, the Auditor General, the Forestry department, the Famagusta Land and Registry Department, and the interior ministry’s internal audit team.
“I expect a full update of your actions,” Nicolaides signed off his letter.
“We brought the case to the District Officer and from that point on it was his responsibility,” Pyrillis insisted.
But Tuesday’s statement by the interior ministry took issue with Pyrillis’ view and placed responsibility squarely on his shoulders, accusing him of negligence.
“Following a story by Politis newspaper on December 3 relating to the construction and operation of an entertainment establishment named Aphrodite’s Palace, an investigation by the interior ministry found that the aforementioned establishment is completely illegal,” the statement said.
“The municipality’s primary responsibility emanates, clearly and indisputably, from relevant legislation, which renders it the competent authority for all structures constructed and operating within its municipal boundaries, without exception.
“Therefore, any ignorance of his legal responsibilities and obligations by the Paralimni mayor constitutes negligent execution of his duties, and all it entails. Certainly, this does not excuse other public authorities of their responsibilities and obligations with regard to this matter. As a result, the Paralimni municipality must act immediately within the responsibility placed upon it by relevant legislation.”

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State seeks €27 million from Hermes

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The airport in the occupied north

By George Psyllides
The state is claiming €27 million from airports operator Hermes, which the company withheld over the past few years, as compensation for loss of revenue due to the operation of an airport in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island.
In 2002 when the state issued the conditions of the tender for a strategic investor, it had pledged that it would not create a third airport.
But the opening of the crossing points linking the island’s divided communities in 2003 changed the state of play. The condition was inserted in the agreement, which was signed in 2006.
MPs heard on Tuesday that it is a complicated mechanism and the state is disputing the money Hermes has withheld from the one-third share it pays the state as part of the concession agreement.
Auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides told the House Watchdog Committee that the two sides were currently negotiating with the state trying to recoup part of the €27 million.
Petros Liasis, head of Hermes’ legal department, said his company did not owe the state any money.
Liasis said the discussions focused on finding a compensation mechanism due to losses incurred by the operation of the Tympou, or Ercan airport.
It is understood that the passenger figures for Ercan were provided by the state.
The issue will be discussed in more detail at a later date.

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‘Hefty job cuts, sale of assets needed to save CY’

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By Angelos Anastasiou
The survival of Cyprus Airways requires hefty job cuts and the sale of its remaining assets, the chairman of the carrier’s board Marinos Kallis told MPs on Tuesday.
With the threat of a negative ruling by the European Competition Commission over some €80 million in state funding it received in recent years looming large, the airline must implement a demanding restructuring plan in a few short months, after years of partial implementation.
“The goal is to restore profitability and strengthen the case before the European Competition Commission ahead of its ruling,” Kallis told the House Ethics committee.
The committee convened to discuss the appointment of Kallis’ predecessor Makis Constantinides, who resigned last month after he found himself unable to cooperate with his board.
A former boss of Hermes Airports, a consortium of local businessmen that manages both airports in Cyprus since 2006, Constantinides was suspected of having a conflict of interest after he settled a disputed claim between Hermes and the airline, allegedly in the consortium’s favour.
In the aftermath of his resignation, new chairman Kallis said ticket sales are plummeting due to the negative publicity given to Cyprus Airways.
Although losses are consistently falling and liquidity is available, the company cannot survive for long, Kallis told lawmakers.
“The restructuring plan submitted to the European Commission must be implemented fully,” he said.
“That means reducing staff from 550 to 385, cutting salaries by 12 per cent, and adjusting provident funds,” he added.
He noted that the company’s assets must be liquidated, meaning the catering and cargo departments, as well as its stake in Swissport, will be sold.
And if necessary, the company will sell its remaining plane and examine the prospect of changing its flight schedule.
“Doing the above will allow us to renegotiate a new extended timeframe with the European Commission with a view to attracting a strategic investor,” Kallis said.
“Restoring profitability, even marginally, will make the company more attractive to potential investors,” he pointed out.
A search for a strategic investor to take over the distressed airline over the summer failed as the only suitors deemed genuinely interested were Aegean Airlines and Ryanair, both of whom rejected any talk of buying the company, proposing that they buy assets instead.
Kallis told the Ethics committee that despite the board’s efforts “the situation is extremely difficult.”
“The aim is the sale of Cyprus Airways, but in order for the company to survive it must acquire liquidity,” he repeated.

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Tent of hunger striking Kurds almost washed away

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hunger strikers

Immigrant support group KISA on Tuesday called on the Cyprus government, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and civil society organisations to turn their attention to the plight of Kurds from Syria, after they have been camped outside the interior ministry more than a month.
In a statement, KISA said they are protesting the authorities’ refusal to review their requests for international protection for seven years, while for four of the protesters, Tuesday marked their fourteenth day of hunger-striking.
In a meeting last Friday, KISA was assured by the competent state bodies that the applications to be granted refugee status would be examined in a favourable light by the end of this week.
But Tuesday’s torrential rain flooded their tents, destroying one.
Due to the emergency, KISA called on the government to conclude the evaluation of the asylum requests, the UNHCR to assist the authorities in coming to a fair decision, and civil service organisations, as well as the general public to contribute blankets, sheets, winter clothing, a tent and juices.
The non-governmental organisation also asked for foodstuff for the protesters who are not on a hunger strike, one of whom suffers from diabetes.

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East Med corridor promoted in European energy meeting

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energy

Energy minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and his Greek counterpart Yiannis Maniatis on Tuesday met the Vice President of the European Commission for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič and discussed the exploitation of the natural gas resources of the eastern Mediterranean.
Israel’s energy minister Silvan Shalom was also expected to participate in the meeting, following the three ministers’ joint signing of a letter to Šefčovič but was unable to attend due to urgent election commitments.
Lakkotrypis and Maniatis underlined the need of the implementation of the Israel-Cyprus-Greece-Italy natural gas corridor (East-Med Corridor) for the energy safety of the EU.
Lakkotrypis called on the EC Vice President to support the countries of the region in their effort to evaluate the various politically feasible choices on the economic exploitation of the natural gas reserves, for the benefit of the European Union.
“The East-Med Corridor constitutes such a choice, while offering the additional advantage of passing exclusively through EU member states, thereby fully serving the interests and the aspirations of the EU,” Maniatis noted.
The East-Med corridor, which is expected to have the same capacity as the Southern Corridor (8-12 bcm), could constitute an extra alternative source and path for European countries, at a time when the prospect of such paths was raised to strategic priority by the EU.
Maniatis argued that studies to be prepared will confirm the technical feasibility and economic viability of the pipeline, which have already been suggested by initial studies.
Šefčovič showed great interest on the presented data and committed to examine ways to support the plan on behalf of the European Commission.

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Taxi strike to cause traffic chaos

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Urban taxi drivers on Tuesday confirmed they will be going ahead with a four-hour work stoppage islandwide on Wednesday, seeking a reduction in road tax and fuel concessions.
The strike, the taxi drivers said, will take place from 6.30am to 10.30am with the divers gathering at central locations. In the case of Larnaca and Paphos the protest will take place outside the airports, and they have not excluded the possibility of blocking roads if their demands are not met.
Meanwhile, traffic police announced the taxi drivers will be blocking four major traffic junctures in Nicosia: the intersection between Strovolou and Athalassas avenues, the intersection between Grivas Dighenis and Makariou avenues, as well as the Presidential Palace and Dias roundabouts.
Police have advised drivers to seek alternate routes during the strike.
On behalf of the taxi drivers Dinos Constantinou said that problems had been accumulating in the sector for years and no matter how many times they asked for these problems to be discussed or how many times they talked with the government, no solutions were ever offered.

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Government to foot Nicosia municipality’s traffic lights bill

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traffic lights

The Interior ministry will cover the arrears of local government authorities to the Nicosia municipality for the maintenance of traffic lights, while withholding the equivalent from their 2015 government grant, minister Sokratis Hasikos said on Tuesday.
Last Wednesday, the Nicosia municipality announced it would axe all services for traffic lights maintenance to other municipalities as of January 1, because it was owed €400,000 for unpaid services.
In a statement, the interior ministry said that a 1982 cabinet decision assigned the maintenance of traffic lights to the Nicosia municipality, with each local government body contributing its share.
But the number of traffic lights has shot up over the years, from 38 in 1982 to 560 in 2014, and total maintenance costs islandwide are currently estimated at €45,000 per month.
As many municipalities and local councils have been unable to contribute their share to Nicosia municipality, total arrears of €370,000 have accumulated, the ministry’s statement said.
“Due to this situation, the Nicosia municipality appears to be facing difficulty fulfilling its own obligations as regards this matter,” it added.
“In order to remedy the situation, the interior minister has decided to cover the amount in arrears to the Nicosia municipality, withholding the equivalent amount from the government grant to the municipalities and local councils that have fallen behind in their obligations,” the statement said.
“Also, the Nicosia municipality will be granted an additional €130,000 – also in arrears – from funds saved from the interior ministry’s 2014 budget,” the statement concluded.

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Basel through as Gerrard heroics come too late to save Liverpool

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Liverpool’s Champions League challenge ended in a 1-1 draw against FC Basel, who booked their spot in the last 16 on Tuesday after withstanding a late fightback sparked by a stunning Steven Gerrard free kick.
Gerrard curled the ball into the top corner with eight minutes remaining to cancel out Fabian Frei’s rasping first-half drive, but the Premier League side, who had been reduced to 10 men following the second half sending off of Lazar Markovic, could not find the crucial winner.
Barring their late flurry, it was a largely a dismal home performance from Liverpool who finished third in Group B on five points, two adrift of second place Basel.
Liverpool, whose poor start to the season shows no sign of improving, will now drop into the demanding Europa League.

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Ramsey’s rocket seals easy Arsenal win over Galatasaray

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aresenal

Stunning goals from Lukas Podolski and Aaron Ramsey, who both scored twice, gave Arsenal a morale-boosting 4-1 win over Galatasaray as they finished in second place in Group D of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Arsenal were already assured of a place in the last 16 for the 15th successive season with the only issue to be decided being whether they could overtake Borussia Dortmund to finish top of the standings.
But Borussia’s 1-1 draw with Anderlecht meant the Germans topped the section on 13 points, the same as Arsenal but top on goal difference, followed by Anderlecht on six and Galatasaray on one.
The outcome at the Turk Telecom Arena was virtually settled inside the first 11 minutes after Podolski slammed in a blistering left-foot shot to open the scoring and Ramsey slotted home eight minutes later after good approach work from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Ramsey then scored one of the goals of the season after 29 minutes when he smashed an unstoppable left-foot volley past goalkeeper Sinan Bolat from 30 metres.
Wesley Sneijder scored a consolation for the home side with a brilliantly-executed free-kick after 88 minutes before Podolski made it 4-1 with the last kick of the game.

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‘Serious misgivings’ over treatment of detainees

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By Angelos Anastasiou
Claims of abuse, physical violence towards detainees, and improper use of tear gas, are included in a report on Cyprus by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), released on Tuesday.
The CPT performed spot checks in various detention facilities, including police departments, the Central Prisons in Nicosia, the Menoyia immigrants’ detention centre, and the state mental-health facility in Athalassa from September 23 to October 1, 2013 to prepare its report.
In one instance recorded in the report, the CPT delegation “found an unlabelled baseball bat and a set of samurai swords in an interrogation room at Ayia Napa police station […] the presence and purpose of which could not be explained by the police officers on duty.
“Apart from inviting speculation about improper conduct on the part of police officers, such objects are a potential source of danger to staff and detained persons alike,” the report noted.
In its response, the Cyprus government said these were merely confiscated evidence.
“The baseball bat and the set of samurai swords found during the visit in a room at Ayia Napa police station were evidence from cases investigated by the police,” the response read.
“They have already been removed and properly disposed,” it added. “It is worthwhile (sic) noting that the items were found in a room that was not used for detention or interrogation purposes.”
But the response did not address the fact that the officers at the Ayia Napa police station had been unable to explain the “presence and purpose” of the items when asked.
A series of allegations of physical abuse by police officers, mostly from foreign detainees who reported being slapped, punched and kicked in the head mainly by members of the immigration and aliens police (YAM) and of the Crime Investigation Department (CID), were also included in the report.
The report made extensive reference to an incident at the Central Prisons on August 15, 2013, when a peaceful protest in the prison yard by the inmates was met with what the CPT perceived as excessive force.
“An examination of the CCTV shows prison officers dragging prisoners out of the yard by their arms and/or legs and of several prisoners being subjected to a punch or a kick while being restrained by staff,” the report said.
“The delegation also heard that pepper spray and guard dogs were used to end the peaceful protest,” it added.
The committee’s report cited the example of one prisoner by way of illustrating the claim of excessive force during the August 15 incident.
“One prisoner alleged that when he was returning from working in the kitchen, five prison officers from the intervention team intercepted him, handcuffed his hands behind his back and proceeded to deliver blows to various parts of his body with truncheons and shields,” the report said.
“They also apparently kicked him in the lower back with their metal toe-capped boots and dragged him along the ground by his handcuffed arms.
“Upon examination by one of the delegation’s medical doctors, the prisoner in question still displayed evidence of injuries allegedly inflicted on August 15 (i.e. some six weeks after the incident).”
The justice ministry responded that, although “no prisoner was beaten” and “forensic tests did not substantiate the allegations of the inmates”, it proceeded immediately with the “adoption of measures to guarantee the handling of similar incidents in the future of a more appropriate manner and with respect to human rights.”
With regard to foreign nationals arrested for breaching immigration law, several claims of physical violence and verbal abuse were brought to the attention of the CPT during its visit.
The justice ministry responded that four complaints were investigated by the Attorney General in 2013, resulting in the prosecution of one police officer for the offence of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
An incident of seemingly improper use of tear gas at Menoyia was also reported. The justice ministry did not address the incident in its response.
Despite improvements, overcrowding in the Central Prisons remained an issue, with 523 inmates for 324 places, and the CPT recommended that “the Cypriot authorities adopt and implement a coherent strategy designed to combat prison overcrowding”.
The justice ministry said current capacity at the prisons is 469, and the latest available data suggest that the population of inmates was 537 in April 2014.
Allegations of prison officers carrying out searches in prison cells wearing masks and bearing no means of identification caused the committee to express “serious misgivings” in its report.
“Prison officers wear masks when carrying out specific searches only when needed following risk assessment and not on everyday searches,” was the justice ministry’s response, which did not address the need for identification – “by number or mark” – raised by the CPT.

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Georghadji confident rates can be reduced

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By Stelios Orphanides

Central Bank of Cyprus governor Chrystalla Georghadji will engage in bilateral talks with commercial banks aiming at lower interest rates in the Cypriot banking system, the Cyprus News Agency reported today citing Gerghadji.

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EU experts to check out LSD outbreak among cattle

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By George Psyllides
European Union experts have arrived in Cyprus to look into an outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) among cattle in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island, Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis said on Wednesday.
The minister said it was a “very important matter” as it was the first time LSD appeared on EU soil, apparently imported from Turkey.
Since the Republic does not have any control over the north, it has asked the EU for experts who arrived on the island on Monday and were expected to go to the north to assess the situation.
The minister said so far only a small number of animals have been affected but the objective was to tackle the disease before it spread.
LSD is a disease spread by insect bites. Symptoms include fever, discharge from the eyes and nose and skin lesions among others. It is sometimes fatal. Quarantine restrictions are of limited use and vaccinations are the best method of control.
Kouyialis said the Republic was monitoring the situation and measures were already in place but it was not known what measures were taken in the occupied areas.
“It is not transmitted to humans … but there is a problem with the animal population because it can easily spread, if not tackled effectively, and we would never want such incidents in Cyprus again,” Kouyialis said.
Cyprus had a difficult time with Brucellosis — a bacterial infection that spreads from animals to humans treated with antibiotics — in the past, which took 13 years to eradicate.
The EU has recently declared Cyprus free of Brucellosis.
“You realise we cannot play games with these matters and that is the reason I asked the (European) Commission to come here and tell us what is happening,” the minister said. “The Commission is very concerned about this disease. I am certain that within the next two to three days we will have an assessment and the ways with which the disease must be tackled.”

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Palestinian minister dies after confrontation with Israeli police (Update 1)

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Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ein argues with Israeli border policemen during a protest near the West Bank city of Ramallah

By Mohammed Torokman

A Palestinian minister died on Wednesday shortly after an Israeli border policeman shoved and grabbed him by the throat during a protest in the West Bank, an incident Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described as barbaric.

Ziad Abu Ein, 55, a minister without portfolio, was among scores of Palestinian and foreign activists who were confronted at an Israeli checkpoint in the occupied Palestinian territory while heading to a demonstration against Jewish settlements.

Around 30 Israeli soldiers and border policemen fired tear gas and sound grenades at the group and a scuffle ensued in which one border policeman pushed Abu Ein and grabbed his neck firmly with one hand. Footage of the incident and pictures taken by Reuters do not show Abu Ein responding with any violence.

Minutes later the minister began to look faint and fell to the ground clasping his chest. He died on his way to hospital.

It was not clear what caused his death. An autopsy is being carried out with Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian pathologists present, with the results expected later on Wednesday.

The incident comes at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians, following months of violent unrest in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Clashes broke out in a refugee camp near Ramallah and an Israeli soldier shot and critically wounded a Palestinian youth, Palestinian medics said. Ramallah shops were shuttered for the day in protest at the minister’s death.

Israel’s army spokesman said the march towards the settlement involved “approximately 200 rioters” and was stopped by its forces using “riot dispersal means.” Footage shows the marchers moving peacefully towards the demonstration, although at one point an Arab man struck an Israeli soldier with a flag.

The Israeli military said in a statement it was investigating the circumstances that led to Abu Ein’s death.

NATIONAL MOURNING

Abbas described the incident as “a barbaric act which we cannot be silent about or accept”. He announced three days of national mourning and said “necessary steps” would be taken after an investigation.

Abu Ein, who was convicted of killing two young Israelis in a bomb attack in 1979 and released as part of a prisoner swap in 1985, was a vocal opponent of Israel’s settlement building in the West Bank, which Palestinians want as part of an independent state together with Gaza and East Jerusalem.

A leader of Palestinian civil society groups for decades, Abu Ein was a regular attendee of non-violent protests and was appointed this year to head a government-backed protest group, the Committee to Resist Settlements and the Wall.

Shortly before his death, Abu Ein spoke to television reporters, sounding hoarse and short of breath.

“This is the terrorism of the occupation, this is a terrorist army, practising its terrorism on the Palestinian people,” he told the official Palestine TV. “We came to plant trees on Palestinian land, and they launch into an attack on us from the first moment. Nobody threw a single stone.”

Ten Israelis and a foreign visitor have been killed by Palestinian assailants over the past three months, while more than a dozen Palestinians have also been killed, including most of those who carried out the attacks.

Palestinian officials indicated that cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli security forces in the West Bank could be suspended as a result of Abu Ein’s death.

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Club World Cup highlights gulf between Europe and the rest

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European champions Real Madrid are hot favourites to lift the trophy in Morocco

By Brian Homewood

The Club World Cup is billed by FIFA as “the biggest club title of all” yet this month’s tournament in Morocco is more likely to serve as a reminder of the chasm that separates domestic football in Europe from the rest of the world.

It is difficult to envisage anything other than a win for Real Madrid in the tournament which, bizarrely, has been thrown under a cloud by players at Asian champions Western Sydney Wanderers threatening a boycott over a pay dispute.

There is a logic to FIFA’s claim as the contest brings together the champion club sides from each continent, plus the domestic title holders of the hosts.

But the reality modern football, where the world’s top players are concentrated in Europe, is very different.

While European champions Real Madrid will be brimming with cherry-picked world class talent, the likes of Argentina’s San Lorenzo, Mexico’s Cruz Azul and Algeria’s ES Setif struggle to muster half a dozen regular internationals between them.
The talent drain to Europe means that the top South Americans and Africans play against, rather than for, the teams from their continent.

Teams from South America and Africa are generally made up of players who have not been good enough to earn a move to Europe, plus a few who have been abroad and have returned.

In the wake of the World Cup, a tournament featuring teams from Argentina, Mexico and Algeria, who all reached the knockout stages, should give plenty for Real Madrid to think about.

But the only member of the San Lorenzo squad who played at the World Cup was 38-year-old Colombian defender Mario Yepes and, while ES Setif have a few players with a sprinkling of appearances for Algeria, none of them played in Brazil.

Nevertheless, San Lorenzo, like all South American teams before them, will believe they can spring an upset.
“We’re not going there to see the sights,” midfielder Nestor Ortigoza told FIFA.com.
“We won the Libertadores but now we have to turn the page and keep on making history. We’re a good side and we’re going to be up to the task.”

Despite limited resources, South America has won the tournament three times since it was started up in its current format in 2005.
The action starts in Rabat on Wednesday night when Moghreb Tetouan, champions of the host nation, face Oceania champions Auckland City, who are taking part for a record sixth time but have only progressed beyond the preliminary round once.

The winners progress to the quarter-finals – of which there are only two – where they will face ES Setif on Saturday.

Cruz Azul meet Sydney in the other tie, on the second half of a double bill, providing the Australians resolve their bonus dispute.
Sydney left for Morocco on Sunday night with the players still considering whether to participate in the tournament because the club have refused to negotiate over what they believe to be a “fair and equitable share” of the prize money.

San Lorenzo and Real Madrid parachute in at the semi-final stage with the 10-time European champions taking on Cruz Azul or Sydney in Rabat on Tuesday and the Argentines taking on either Moghreb, Setif or Auckland on Wednesday in Marrakech.

The logical outcome would then be San Lorenzo meeting Real Madrid in the final although Edgardo Bauza, the coach of the Argentine side, is not taking anything for granted.

“When everyone starts talking to me about Real Madrid, I tell them that we have to win the semi-final first of all,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been saying to the players.”

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Ruthless Chelsea end Sporting hopes

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The Blues finished comfortably clear at the top of Group G

By Toby Davis

Chelsea gave a helping hand to a former hero on Wednesday by rounding off the Champions League group stage with a 3-1 victory over Sporting which sent the Portuguese side packing and opened the door for Schalke to reach the last 16.

The English side finished comfortably clear at the top of Group G after a Cesc Fabregas penalty and a rasping strike from Andre Schurrle set them on their way and John Obi Mikel rounded off the scoring after Jonathan Silva had given Sporting hope.

The result proved a boon to Chelsea’s former Champions League-winning coach Roberto Di Matteo whose Schalke side clinched the runners-up spot after a 1-0 win over Maribor that left them on eight points, one clear of Sporting.

Chelsea, who dominated Wednesday’s match, finished with 14 points, having won four of their six group games.

Chelsea’s place in the last 16 was assured long before kick-off, as was their status as group winners, after they thrashed Schalke 5-0 in their last game.

But after their unbeaten start to the season was halted in a Premier League defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday, there was no question of Jose Mourinho taking it easy or picking an entirely second-string side.

With Nemanja Matic restored to midfield alongside Fabregas and Diego Costa leading the line, Chelsea enjoyed an immediate stranglehold on possession and were ahead after just eight minutes.

Fullback Filipe Luis was brought down by Sporting’s Ricardo Esgaio and Fabregas stepped up to fire his penalty straight down the middle and into the net.

The one-way traffic continued and the hosts doubled the lead eight minutes later when Schurrle found the bottom corner with a fierce drive from the edge of the area having been teed up by Matic.

The Portuguese team perked up in the second half and grabbed a goal back through Silva who fired home from the edge of the area, but hopes of a revival were dashed by Mikel’s close-range finish.

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Man City complete great escape with win in Rome

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Samir Nasri was the hero for the Premier League champions

By Ian Chadband

Manchester City concluded one of the great Champions League Houdini acts on Wednesday as they qualified for the knockout stages with goals from Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta sinking Roma 2-0 to eliminate the Italians at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Frenchman’s 60th-minute thunderbolt, before he layed on a second for the Argentine in the 86th minute, ensured the English champions did not suffer another frustrating early exit in Group E.

City’s great escape into the last 16 seemed unthinkable when they trailed in their penultimate game at home to Bayern Munich with just five minutes remaining before Sergio Aguero completed his famous hat-trick.

Victory or a score draw offered City’s most realistic chance of progressing from the group behind Bayern Munich in a fevered atmosphere in Rome and even without their injured totem Aguero, Manuel Pellegrini’s men produced a performance full of resolve.

Nasri, given too much space on the edge of the box, hammered a glorious 20-metre shot which cannoned off the post and into the net, and City defended manfully before Nasri freed the rampaging fullback Zabaleta to score his first Champions League goal.

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Conscripts with foreign mothers to serve equally

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National Guard conscripts will now serve equal time

THE government on Wednesday approved an amendment to the National Guard law that ends discrimination in relation with the duration of service among people with one foreign parent.

The amendment provides that young recruits with one foreign parent will have to do the full service of 24 months.

The current law provides that people born between August 16, 1960 and June 11, 1999, to a foreign father and a Cypriot mother do a reduced service if they gained the Cypriot nationality through their mother.

Under the same conditions, those born to a foreign mother and Cypriot father and who gained nationality through their father have to do the full service.

The amendment does not affect the rights or obligations stemming from current legal provisions, according to a cabinet announcement.

This includes individuals already summoned to enlist or have either served or are currently serving less time, or have already been informed they have no obligation to serve.

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APOEL’s European dream over

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It's over: Cyprus champions APOEL are out of European competition

By Andreas Vou

APOEL were sent crashing out of European competition at the Amsterdam Arena on Wednesday night after falling to a 4-0 defeat against Ajax.

The Cyprus champions needed to win in order to leapfrog Ajax who occupied third place in the group which guarantees a place to the next round of the Europa League.

Giorgos Donis made three changes to the team which lost 0-4 against FC Barcelona in Cyprus two weeks ago. The manager ditched his familiar 4-4-1-1 formation in favour of an additional centre-back in Anastasios Papazoglou for Gustavo Manduca. Nektarios Alexandrou came in for the suspended Guilherme as Marios Antoniades tucked in as a third centre-back and Giorgos Efrem replaced Stathis Aloneftis.

In the opening 20 minutes, there was clearly a more purposeful look about the APOEL players knowing that they would have to take the game to their opponents in contrast to previous European encounters but, as has been the case this campaign, their inexistent threat up front would prevent any surprises.

On 19 minutes came APOEL’s best opportunity of the first-half via a quick breakaway – Nuno Morais had options either side in a three-on-two situation but his pass was slightly too heavy for Efrem who could only earn a corner.

Ajax then came close just minutes later. Ricardo Kishna easily skipped past Mario Sergio on the left wing and his excellent cross found an unmarked Arkadiusz Milik from six yards out who stooped low to head towards goal but was denied by a good stop from Urko Pardo.

APOEL’s gameplan looked to be working as the match edged towards the break but on the stroke of half-time would come the defining point. Positive play from Lasse Schoene with some good fortune along the way saw him break free of the APOEL defence out on the left hand side. Milik received Schoene’s pass to feet, turning away from Antoniades who made minimal contact with the striker inside the box and a penalty was awarded.

Schoene placed the ball low and hard to the keeper’s right and although Pardo guessed the right way, the ball went millimiteres wide of his extended right hand and into the corner, giving APOEL an uphill task for the second half.

APOEL had only scored one goal in the group stages and would need at least two to reverse proceedings. Any hopes were put to bed by a quick-fire double at the start of the second half from the home side.

Schoene and Milik would be the architects of Ajax’s second goal. After seeing his initial effort saved, Milik maintained his composure on the rebound, laying the ball off to Schoene who had the simple task of tucking away the finish.

Three minutes later, it was 3-0. Kishna caused problems all night and the 19-year-old’s excellent cross after taking on three APOEL players found Davy Klaassen at the far post who headed firmly beyond the keeper.

From then on it was a matter of how many as Ajax continued to toy with their wounded opponents. APOEL are famed for their discipline but it had all gone out of the window after Ajax’s three goals in eight minutes.

Frank de Boer’s side defeated Willem II 5-0 on the weekend and they could have surpassed that scoreline with the chances they had.

With 16 minutes to go, Ajax made it four goals without reply. Milik eventually grabbed his goal after Klassen played a neat through pass beyond a tired APOEL defence and the Polish striker cleverly sent the keeper the wrong way with a disguised near-post finish.

APOEL wave goodbye to Europe and will now be focusing on maintaining their lead at the top of the Cyprus championship in order to make an instant return to Europe’s elite competition next season.

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Cabinet approves €6.3m Christmas allowance

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Unemployed stand in line for benefits

THE cabinet on Wednesday approved an extra Christmas allowance for people on state welfare worth €6.3m.

The cash will go to 14,473 recipients living in the Republic.

An additional €30,000 will be shared out to 108 Greek Cypriots living in the Turkish-occupied north of the island.

The cabinet also decided to subsidise the purchase of laptops by poor second and third year high-school pupils in the public and private sectors.

Assistance will also be given to people attending night school preparatory classes whose parents are state aid recipients.

The cost is estimated to be €297,000.

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No ‘vindictive’ reassignments in police, says minister

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The Minister of Justice and Public Order, Ionas Nicolaou

By Angelos Anastasiou

THERE have been no mass reassignments for vindictive, partisan or other reasons, except for purposes of interchangeability, Justice minister Ionas Nicolaou said on Wednesday.

He was responding to personal accusations against him by the opposition party AKEL that during the government’s two years in office, 25 per cent of the police force has been reassigned to other posts.

“Reassignments within the police force are effected for purposes of interchangeability, and claims of serving party loyalists or vindictiveness against opponents bear no relation to the truth,” Nicolaou said in a statement.

“Such practices, employed by governments in the near or distant past, have been abandoned, and therefore it is in the police force’s best interest for the whisper campaigns to stop,” he added. “Any evidence to such claims should be submitted for investigation.”

Nicolaou argued that reassignments have been made to facilitate the smoother operation and strengthen the efficiency of the police force.

“It is specious to speak of mass reassignments while arguing that they are in excess of 25 per cent, when in the same time period the Christofias government saw 2,400 police members reassigned, meaning 39 per cent,” Nicolaou said.

The Justice minister asserted that he always acts within the confines of his legal authority and does not infringe on issues within the police’s remit, and called on all stakeholders to a joint effort for the necessary changes that will help modernise the police by instituting objective and merit-based criteria.

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