By Angelos Anastasiou

The newly-operational Financial Ombudsman’s office started accepting applications by borrowers for the restructuring of non-performing loans, it announced on Friday.

“We will spend the time required to address immediate needs, as well as large numbers of applications – both the staff and the ombudsman are willing to put in as much work as necessary to respond to the public’s needs,” Financial Ombudsman Pavlos Ioannou told the Cyprus News Agency.

The ombudsman is mandated with mediating – but not arbitrating – disputes relating to defaulting loans, and issuing non-binding suggestions.

Ioannou explained that his office will do its best to help distressed borrowers, without losing its objectivity and impartiality, and without creating false hope.

“If there is good will from both banks and borrowers, the process can be effective,” he said.

The Financial Ombudsman’s office will be staffed with 13 secondments from the broader public sector.

“These are officials with significant experience in public sector procedures, especially with regard to archiving, information management and serving the public, and highly skilled technocrats with academic credentials, who will be utilised as data and complaints analysts,” Ioannou said.

As well, the ombudsman’s service will appoint mediators from a list of 200 qualified individuals, which Ioannou considers sufficient.

The mediators were trained on credit facilities in Central Bank-organised seminars on November 15, following a request by Ioannou to the governor of the Central Bank.

The Financial Ombudsman also referred to the support his service receives from the finance ministry, especially on information management, as well as the Public Service and Personnel Department, which supports the ombudsman’s office on archiving issues.

Borrowers may submit applications to the Ombudsman’s office either by post or by hand.

“Also, our website [www.financialombudsman.gov.cy] will be up by Friday afternoon,” Ioannou said.

Mediators can step in for loans up to €350.000 which are in arrears, for which no legal proceedings are underway, and no foreclosure proceedings have been initiated.

The application must be submitted within 14 days of the date when the borrower has submitted all relevant information to the lender, or within 14 days from the date when the lender submitted its first loan restructuring proposal to the borrower in writing.

In addition for an unserviced loan to be eligible for mediation, the mortgaged property must have been used as the borrower’s primary residence for at least six months, and the borrower must not have been deemed insolvent or under liquidation.

Four frescoes removed from churches in the Turkish occupied north of the island have been returned to the NGO Walk of Truth by a Canadian collector, it was announced on Friday.

According to a statement, Walk of Truth founder and activist Tasoula Hadjitofi approached the collector after she heard they might have information on looted art.

The collector, who wished to remain anonymous, had been following Hadjitofi’s work on repatriating artefacts stolen from churches in northern Cyprus and decided to entrust her with the four frescoes and their repatriation.

Two of the four frescoes have been identified and will be displayed in the House of Lords in London during a presentation on December 16, 2014.  The other two remain unidentified since there is no evidence — photos or any other material — regarding their provenance.

Walk of Truth has already requested the expertise of Byzantinologists who decided that even though the frescoes were of Cypriot origin, there was not enough evidence to identify them.

Following the Turkish invasion in 1974, the cultural heritage of Cyprus has been plundered, churches  violated, icons  stolen, and frescoes and mosaics have been removed from walls and floors.

A large number of these artefacts have been repatriated but many others are still missing.

The lack of an archive for the cultural heritage in the occupied areas makes the identification process and the process of claiming stolen artefacts often found in private collections , auctions and art trade abroad, a difficult task, the NGO said.

Walk of Truth (WoT) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, based in The Hague, The Netherlands.

It was established by Hadjitofi in an effort to raise awareness among people of different ethnic, religious and national identities about the value of cultural heritage in all its forms.

By George Psyllides

VTTV on Friday took delivery of phase one of its fuel terminal at Vassilikos that boasts a storage capacity of 544,000 cubic metres and a jetty, which can service 500 tankers a year.

The €300 million project “considered one of the most sophisticated and demanding construction projects that were ever completed in Cyprus and the wider region, by Cypriot companies,” was delivered by contractors J&P.

“We would like to thank J&P and its subcontractors, for completing successfully and with great professionalism such a difficult construction project”, adding, “We are proud about the fact that our project provided Cypriot companies with the opportunity to gain further specialisation and expertise that they can now apply in other parts of the world. This is a state-of-the-art project that is unique to the region and we expect that it will soon transform Cyprus into an oil trading hub,” managing Director of VTTV George Papanstasiou said

Construction of the terminal took 32 months and employed more than 800 workers.

“We would like to thank VTTV for the collaboration and for the opportunity to implement such a pioneering project for Cyprus, which required high-level specialisation and expertise.”

“J&P, having an abundance of experience in similarly sophisticated projects around the world, delivers today a project that is designed and constructed with the highest quality and technical specifications,” J&P General Manager of Efthyvoulos Iacovides said.

With the completion of the construction phase of the project, the operation system of the terminal will be tested with oil products, followed by the launch of the operational phase with the arrival of the first vessels which are expected during the next weeks.

The project includes an oil storage terminal with 28 tanks of 544,000 m³ storage capacity and a jetty with the capacity to service over 500 tank vessels per year.

The second phase of the Terminal, which is under evaluation, will include 13 additional tanks which will increase total capacity to 849,000 m³ and is expected to be completed in 2016.

Some remains of missing persons have been removed and hidden to cover up mass executions, the Pancyprian Organisation of Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons has said.

The organisation said that over the past two years less and less valid information is reaching the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) and the authorities of the Republic, while Turkey continues refusing to cooperate, open its archives and allow access for investigation in areas branded `military zones` in the north.

It said from a number of exhumations over the past few years, another dimension of the problem had come to light, that of the deliberate removal of remains from their initial burial sites with the aim of concealing mass executions carried out by invading Turkish troops on civilians and prisoners of war.
“The tragic case we see today concerns 70 civilians aged over 50, of whom 52 were from the village of Assia and 18 from neighbouring communities,” the organisation said.

It added that from the recent identification of incomplete remains found in the Ornithi area, information was confirmed regarding the removal of remains and their transfer to an unknown place.
“The result of this second, heinous crime against the victims and their relatives, is the discovery and handing over to the families of just a small part of the remains, which in most cases is just a few bones or bone fragments. Also, the refusal of the Turkish side to give information and explanations regarding the places they were taken to cannot be overlooked,” it added.

The organisation said it was unacceptable and demanded an immediate reaction from the government and the CMP so that the bones that were removed were found.

It also calls on the government and the CMP to make a firm commitment that the case files concerning the removal of remains would not be closed and that investigations would continue and intensify.

According to the CMP, to date, 1,508 Greek Cypriots and 493 Turkish Cypriots are on the missing list.

The number of identified remains of  individuals returned to their families are: Greek Cypriots: 509 and Turkish Cypriots: 127, while 927 sites have been excavated. (CNA)

By Justin Palmer

With Premier League leaders Chelsea on top form, Manchester City will be hoping their Champions League win over Bayern Munich boosts confidence and re-ignites their title defence when they visit high-flying Southampton on Sunday.

Third-placed City have fallen eight points behind unbeaten leaders Chelsea after 12 games and face a tough test against a Saints side defying the critics who said they would struggle.

City’s Sergio Aguero struck twice in the last five minutes to complete his hat-trick and secure a 3-2 victory at home to 10-man Bayern on Tuesday and Manuel Pellegrini’s side have certainly been doing it the hard way in recent matches.

As well as staging the Bayern comeback, which revived their fading hopes of reaching the last 16, City fell behind early on in their last Premier League game at home to Swansea and needed goals from Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure to claim victory.

They also trailed 1-0 and 2-1 at Queen Park Rangers earlier this month before Aguero rescued a point seven minutes from time, three days after the debacle of a 2-1 home defeat by CSKA Moscow in which City finished with nine men.

Ronald Koeman’s second-placed Southampton saw their run of four consecutive wins end with a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Monday but should be confident on home turf where they have won five and drawn one of six home league games — scoring 17 and conceding just one.

Manchester United, after a troubled start to Louis van Gaal’s reign, have quietly moved up to fourth, their improvement underlined by a 2-1 win at Arsenal on Sunday. United host Hull City on Saturday with Van Gaal remaining cautious.

“It is only one victory. We have to confirm that with victories in the next two home games. Then we can say, okay, we have the spirit now and we will go looking at upstairs and not downstairs,” he said.

Fifth-placed Newcastle United, who have racked up five successive league wins in a remarkable turnaround after a dismal start, on Saturday visit West Ham United, one place below.

Leicester City, who have slipped into the relegation places after seven games without a win, will look to end their problems in front of goal at bottom side QPR.

Since putting five past Manchester United in September, the toothless Foxes have scored just twice.

By Iacovos Constantinou

Championship leaders APOEL face arch-rivals Omonia in the weekends top fixture while second placed Apollon travel to the Antonis Papadopoulos stadium to face Anorthosis on Monday. Elsewhere AEK are expected to return to winning ways against Doxa Katokopias while Ermis entertain Ethnikos Achnas.

Despite being eight points clear of Omonia APOEL will have to dig deep to be able to overcome their bitter ‘enemies’ on Sunday afternoon at GSP stadium.

APOEL will be without their captain Charalambides while Argenitinian Tomas de Vincenti pulled out of Friday’s practice session with a slight abdominal strain and is doubtful for Sundays game.

This may force APOEL’s coach Donis to change his plans as the Argentinian was expected to return to the starting line-up following his impressive second half performance against Barcelona last Tuesday.

APOEL’s star studded forward line has been unable to find the net in the last two domestic games.
No such worries for Omonia’s Kaiafas as his 30 year old striker from Benin, Pote, cannot stop scoring, netting 8 of his team’s 11 goals.

Oucha and Serginio are out through injury while Economides hopes to retain his place and prove wrong his old club APOEL for allowing him to leave.

Apollon face a tricky away tie against a resurgent Anorthosis on Monday. The Famagusta team has improved immensely in recent weeks and has gradually edged up the table to be just a point off third place.

Seran and promising young striker Yacovenko are unlikely to feature for the home side as they did not manage to overcome their injuries.

Apollon will be without their influential Greek forward Papoulis who injured himself against FC Zurich last Thursday but captain Merkis is expected to lead his team against Anorthosis.

Third placed Ermis Aradippou should be able to record their sixth win against Ethnikos Achnas and consolidate their position in the top half of the league.

AEL’s new coach Christoforou will be hoping to record his team’s first win under his guidance against newly promoted Othellos Athienou. AEL have not won in a month and a win will be a huge tonic for their disillusioned fans.

Othellos may be without their star player Grigalasvili while another three players will face late fitness tests.

In the weeks curtain raiser Ayia Napa taken on fast faltering Nea Salamina with both sides in urgent need of a win while AEK are expected to beat Doxa Katokopias who seem to have taken their slot in the relegation zone early on in the season.

By Nick Mulvenney

The Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died on Thursday after being hit in the head by a ball, will be honoured with a state memorial service.

The service will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground next week, the same stadium where he suffered the horrific injury on Tuesday.

State memorials are normally reserved for political figures but the New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced on Friday that Hughes, whose death has triggered a global outpouring of grief would also be afforded the honour.

“This service has been arranged in consultation with Phillip’s family, and it will be an opportunity for the entire community to pay their respects to a much-loved Australian and New South Welshman,” Baird said in a statement.

Hughes’ death dominated Australia’s major newspapers on Friday, with sombre eulogies for the boy raised on a banana plantation whose life ended three days before his 26th birthday.

“Nation shares the agony of an innings cut short,” The Australian’s front-page headline read above a picture of Hughes gazing above with an Australian flag in the background.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph blacked out its entire back page, except for a picture of Hughes, in his honour.

Government flags were at half-mast across the cricket-mad country and floral tributes were placed outside the entrance to the SCG.

Local cricket clubs were painting 408 into the turf of their grounds, the number on Hughes’ national ‘baggy green’ cap signifying his status as the country’s 408th test player, while black armbands would be worn and a minute’s silence observed before games on the weekend.

Junior cricketers would also retire their innings at 63, instead of the usual 50, to commemorate Hughes’ final score.

ABBOTT SUPPORT

The tragedy touched the country’s other top sports, with the national Wallabies rugby team to wear black armbands in Saturday’s match against England in London.

A social media tribute with the hashtag #putoutyourbats saw cricketers from around the world post pictures of their bats outside their doors.

Support also rang out for Sean Abbott, the 22-year-old all-rounder whose rising delivery struck Hughes.

Hughes’ family and Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke spent time with Abbott during the week and Cricket Australia (CA) boss James Sutherland said he was “holding up” well.

“I had a chat to him last night and I was incredibly impressed by the way he was holding himself and his maturity,” Sutherland added.

CA will launch an “immediate” review into player safety in the wake of Hughes’ death, while the fate of next week’s first test against India remained in limbo.

Sutherland said the board would work with manufacturers and regulators to look into safety standards and seek improvements after Hughes was killed despite wearing a helmet.

“Statistics say it is clearly a freak incident, but one freak incident is one freak incident too many, so that of course puts us in a position of looking into that,” Sutherland said.

Hughes was set to replace the injured Clarke in the Australia team for the first test against India next week, according to selector Mark Waugh, but the debate has turned to whether the match should go ahead at all.

Sutherland declined to confirm the Dec. 4-8 match in Brisbane, saying Hughes’ team mates needed time to grieve.

“I know for many people, seven days doesn’t seem too far away but in other ways it is a million miles away. We will get there when we can,” he said.

By Stelios Orphanides

The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce acknowledges that damages claimed against the Republic of Cyprus by FBME Bank Ltd, the lender which saw its management taken over and its operations placed under resolution and put on sale by the Central Bank of Cyprus in July, may exceed 500 million dollars, a shareholders’ spokesperson said.

GUNMEN set off three bombs and opened fire on worshippers at the central mosque in north Nigeria’s biggest city Kano, killing at least 35 people on Friday, witnesses and police said, in an attack that bore the hallmarks of Islamist Boko Haram militants.

“These people have bombed the mosque. I am face to face with people screaming,” said Chijjani Usman, a local reporter who had gone to the mosque in the old city to pray.

The mosque is next to the palace of the emir of Kano, the second highest Islamic authority in Africa’s most populous country, although the emir himself, former central bank governor Lamido Sanusi, was not present.

Suspicion fell on Boko Haram, a Sunni jihadist movement fighting to revive a medieval Islamic caliphate in the region.

Boko Haram regards the traditional Islamic religious authorities in Nigeria with disdain, considering them a corrupt, self-serving elite that is too close to the secular government.

The insurgents have killed thousands in gun and bomb attacks on churches, schools, police stations, military bases, government buildings and mosques that do not share their radical Islamist ideology.

“Three bombs were planted in the courtyard to the mosque and they went off simultaneously,” a security source who declined to be named said.

“After multiple explosions, they also opened fire. I cannot tell you the casualties because we all ran away,” added a member of staff at the palace.

Angry youths blocked the mosque’s gates to police, who had to disperse them with tear gas to gain entry.

The insurgency has forced more than one million people to flee during its campaign focused on Nigeria’s northeast, the Red Cross told reporters on Friday, an increase on a September U.N. refugee agency estimate of 700,000.

Islamic leaders sometimes shy away from direct criticism of Boko Haram for fear of reprisals. But Kano’s emir Sanusi, angered by atrocities such as the kidnapping of 200 schoolgirls from the village of Chibok in April, has been increasingly vocal.

He was quoted in the local press as calling on Nigerians this month to defend themselves against Boko Haram. During a broadcast recitation of the Koran he was reported to have said:

“These people, when they attack towns, they kill boys and enslave girls. People must stand resolute … They should acquire what they can to defend themselves. People must not wait for soldiers to protect them.”

Persistent insecurity is dogging President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign for re-election to a second term in February 2015.

THREE people including an army general were killed and at least 26 wounded on Friday in a drive-by shooting and violence that erupted at Islamist protests around Egypt.

Police were out in force for the demonstrations, organised by a hardline Salafi group calling for the ousting of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the ex-army chief who led last year’s overthrow of elected Islamist president Mohamed Mursi.

In Matariya, focal point for early afternoon protests in Cairo, a civilian was killed before security forces dispersed the gathering, security sources said.

Hours before the protests, an army brigadier general was killed and two soldiers wounded when gunmen in an unmarked car opened fire in a parking lot in nearby Gesr al-Suez, they said. One of the wounded later died.

The demonstrations were small. Reuters witnesses saw no more than 100 or 200 people in Matariya, the largest gathering in Cairo, at any one time.

The Interior Ministry said it had thwarted ten planned bombings and arrested 224 people nationwide as part of its crackdown on the protests.

An officer was wounded by gunfire in Alexandria while four police officers were wounded by an improvised bomb in the Nile Delta town of Sharqiya. In Al-Arish, a town in largely lawless northern Sinai province, a roadside bomb wounded six policemen, security sources said.

Security sources said violence also erupted in the southern town of Beni Soueif and the Delta town of Kafr Sheikh.

Since the army’s ousting of Mursi in July 2013, Egypt has cracked down on his Muslim Brotherhood supporters, arresting thousands and sentencing hundreds to death in mass trials that drew international criticism.

Hundreds of Brotherhood supporters were killed on one day in August 2013 when security forces cleared two protest camps in one of the bloodiest episodes in Egypt’s modern history.

That crackdown and subsequent laws banning protests without permission have created an atmosphere of fear and dampened enthusiasm for the kind of mass rallies that helped remove President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and Mursi last year.

By Nick Mulvenney

Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes will be buried in his home town on Wednesday, Cricket Australia said on Saturday, forcing the indefinite postponement of the Test match against India which was scheduled to begin the following day.

Hughes, 25, died on Thursday as the result of a catastrophic injury he sustained when struck on the head by a ball during a domestic match, triggering a wave of mourning in Australia and around the world.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said it would have been unreasonable to expect the players to get the four-Test series underway less than 24 hours after Hughes was laid to rest in Macksville, New South Wales.

“Their welfare is our absolute priority. They are grieving and to expect that they could play a high-pressured, five-day Test match the following day is out of the question,” he said in a statement.
“We appreciate the incredible understanding and support of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It has been nothing short of outstanding during these difficult times.”

Ticket sales for the match at the Gabba in Brisbane had been suspended and a new date would be set after consultation with the BCCI, broadcasters and stadium officials, Sutherland added.

Australia captain Michael Clarke earlier gave a graphic illustration of the raw emotions of the players when he broke down repeatedly while paying tribute to his friend.

Battling to hold back tears, he read out a statement on behalf of the players at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Hughes suffered his fatal injury on Tuesday.

“Words cannot express the loss we feel as a team right now,” Clarke said.
“We are going to miss that cheeky grin and that twinkle in his eye. He epitomised what the baggy green was about and what it means to us all.
“The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it.”

Clarke said the players had requested that Cricket Australia retire Hughes’ one-day international number, 64.

“They agreed. That means so much,” he added. “His legacy of trying to improve each and every day will drive us for the rest of our lives.
“Our dressing room will never be the same. We loved him and always will. Rest in peace bruzzy.”

Tributes continued to flood in from around the world for Hughes and an indication of how deeply his death has affected his fellow professionals came in Sharjah, where Pakistan are hosting New Zealand in a Test.

The second Test had been postponed for a day after Hughes died and there was no celebration of wickets or centuries when it resumed on Friday.

“The game was irrelevant at that stage, that was just a natural reaction by a group of people whose mind was elsewhere,” New Zealand coach Mike Hesson told reporters in Sharjah.
“We didn’t bowl any bouncers and that was to show respect.”

Back in Australia, Hughes was not forgotten as Saturday morning cricket was played across the country in blazing sunshine, as it has been for more than a century.

Cricket Australia has encouraged teams at all levels to remember Hughes and both the score he had accumulated when the fatal blow struck him, 63 not out, and his Test number, 408, were much in evidence on pitches around the country.

At a match between Sydney Boys and Shore schools in Centennial Park, just a stone’s throw from the SCG, a row of bats topped with cricket caps were lined up beside the pitch in tribute.

Cricket at the elite level has yet to resume with senior club matches cancelled in Sydney and Adelaide, where Hughes played his state cricket for South Australia for the last couple of years.

The fate of the first Test against India had been in the balance even before Hughes died of his horrific injury as many of the Australia team were among his closest friends.

TV rights make an incoming tour by the India Test team by far the most lucrative in the world game so cancellation of the Brisbane match is unlikely.

There is precious little room for manoeuvre, however, with the second Test scheduled to take place in Adelaide from December 12-16 with the third starting on Boxing Day (December 26) in Melbourne and the fourth in Sydney running from January 3-7.

By Lin Noueihed, Maggie Fick and Ali Abdelaty

Arab foreign ministers met on Saturday to agree a draft resolution setting a deadline for the creation of a Palestinian state and to agree on a date to present it to the United Nations Security Council for a vote.

In October, the Palestinians informally shared a draft resolution with Arab states and some council members, calling for an end to Israeli occupation by November 2016.

The text was not formally circulated to the full 15-nation Security Council, a move that can only be done by a council member. It was unclear at the time if it would be put to a vote.

Arab states have already given their blessings to the idea of presenting a resolution to the Security Council but had yet to agree a finalised draft and set a date to present it.

Speaking at the opening of an Arab League session in Cairo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the resolution would be discussed “in order to deliver it to the Security Council.”

Arab League chief Nabil al-Araby appeared to suggest that the final draft would be endorsed and sent to a vote.
“It is natural that Palestine is heading to the UN Security Council to issue a resolution setting a deadline for ending the occupation,” he said.

Palestinians seek statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and blockaded Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as their capital – lands captured by Israel in a 1967 war.

Israel accepts the idea of a “two-state solution” of an independent and democratic Palestinian state living alongside Israel, but has not accepted the 1967 borders as the basis for final negotiations, citing security and other concerns.

The latest round of efforts to forge a two-state solution collapsed in April and relations between the two sides have worsened since a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip this summer. Palestinians have since said they see little choice but to push unilaterally for statehood.

Diplomats have said that France, Britain and Germany are preparing a separate text to end the conflict, which could be accelerated if the Palestinian draft is put forward.

France warned on Friday it would recognise a Palestinian state if a final international effort to overcome the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians failed.

French parliamentarians will hold a symbolic vote on December 2 on whether the French government should recognize Palestine as a state, after similar moves in Sweden, Britain, Ireland and Spain.

By Ian Chadband

Arsenal, gaining welcome relief amid their worst start to a season for 32 years, were left toasting Danny Welbeck on Saturday after the England stiker’s goal earned them a 1-0 Premier League victory at West Bromwich Albion.

On the back of two consecutive league defeats, it had looked for an hour as if Arsenal might succumb to an all too familiar lack of reward for their domination until a brilliant run and cross from Santi Cazorla allowed Welbeck to head home.

It was the former Manchester United forward’s third Premier League goal – and sixth goal in all – for the Gunners since his move from Old Trafford.

The goal was just reward for Arsenal’s superiority but they had to endure nervous moments, particularly when Saido Berahino, selected by West Brom despite revelations surrounding his arrest for alleged drink-driving, headed against the bar with 10 minutes remaining.

Following Arsenal’s victory over Borussia Dortmund which secured their place in the Champions League knockout stages, the upturn in fortunes lifted the Londoners, playing in the day’s early fixture, move, temporarily at least, back into the top four on 20 points.

That left them still 12 points adrift of leaders Chelsea, who play at Sunderland in the day’s late fixture.

TURKEY must respect the rights of the Republic of Cyprus for reunification talks to restart, Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said on Saturday.
The Greek diplomat was speaking after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Venizelos said the talks were interrupted because the Republic’s sovereign rights were under attack by Turkey, which sent a research vessel to carry out hydrocarbon exploration in the island’s exclusive economic zone.
Turkey opposes Cyprus’ venture, claiming it is protecting the rights of Turkish Cypriots.
“It is our desire to find a solution for the people of both sides to protect their rights,” Cavusoglu said.
The Turkish minister said drilling work in the eastern Mediterranean did not have good intentions adding that “it is our desire to find a solution for the people of both sides to protect their rights.”
Venizelos said talks could not resume until Turkey showed respect for Cyprus’ rights and withdrew its vessels, including warships, from the EEZ.

By Mitch Phillips

England ended their November on a high as they produced an excellent performance to beat Australia 26-17 on Saturday but the Wallabies showed enough to suggest there will be nothing between the teams when they meet again in the World Cup.

England produced their best 40 minutes for a long time to lead 13-3 at half-time after a superbly-worked try for Ben Morgan and two penalties from George Ford, with their pack supremely dominant and the backs finally showing some real penetration.

Ever-dangerous Australia hit back with a try by Bernard Foley, a huge England scrum gave number eight Morgan his second before Wallaby replacement Will Skelton replied again in an all-action second half.

Australia, already beaten by France and Ireland, continued to look dangerous but England defended well and, fittingly, a huge rolling maul set up Ford for the all-important 78th-minute penalty that made the game safe.

In Cardiff meanwhile, Wales ended their long and frustrating wait for victory over a southern hemisphere heavyweight when Leigh Halfpenny kicked them to a 12-6 victory over South Africa.

Welsh celebrations were at odds with Springbok gloom. Among the World Cup favourites when they return to these shores next year, their northern hemisphere tour was marred by an apparent serious leg injury suffered by captain and centre Jean de Villiers.

It was only a second win for Wales in 28 games against the big three of New Zealand, Australia and the Springboks, and the first over South Africa since 1999 having lost their last 16 before yesterday’s triumph.

Wales had come agonsingly close to beating the Springboks in June, a late converted penalty try condemning them to a 31-30 defeat in Nelspruit.

In a dress rehearsal for a possible World Cup quarter-final meeting next year if both progress from the pool stage, Pat Lambie landed two penalties for the tired-looking Springboks who go home after suffering tour defeats against Ireland and Wales, along with victories over England and Italy.

By Maria Gregoriou

On Tuesday and Friday the Diastasis Cultural Association is celebrating 30 years of music with their vocal ensemble, children’s choir and dance group at the Rialto theatre in Limassol. There will also be a number of guest soloists and musicians sharing their musical talents on stage to perform music and songs from some of the most renowned musicals which have been performed around the world

The soloists who will be filling the Rialto with their great voices are Doros Demosthenous, Riana Athanasiou, and Stefanos Gerogiades. Manolis Neophytou will be at the piano, Doros Panayiotou will be on percussion and Michalis Karkatsanis will be at the accordion.

The two Music Project concerts are part of Diastasis’ From the Start Again series of events. Just as the name suggests, the association is re-visiting most of the music they have performed over the years and invite new generations to listen to it for the first time.

Music Project
A night full of music from Diastasis and others. December 2 and 5. Rialto theatre, Limassol. 8.30pm. €18/15. Tel 77-777745

High-profile CyBC news anchor and presenter Emilia Kenevezou presented her last show on Friday after failing to agree on a new pay deal with the management.

Kenevezou had refused to accept a pay cut – from around €6,000 a month to €4,500 – and to work more hours, 38, instead of 23.

She is the sister of former education minister and DIKO member Kyriacos Kenevezos, the godson of the late President Tassos Papadopoulos and currently the Cypriot ambassador to Greece.

The Athens posting was a consolation prize from President Nicos Anastasiades for Kenevezos having to quit his cabinet post when DIKO withdrew from the government earlier this year.

Limassol police have arrested four men after the discovery of two luxury vehicles thought to have been stolen in the UK.
Police said one of the suspects, 27, has been remanded in custody for four days while the other three, aged 68, 40 and 31, were expected to be charged in writing and released.
The cars were located at the village of Trahoni after an operation carried out in co-operation with the British bases police, which has jurisdiction in the area.
With the help of the dealership, authorities determined that the chassis numbers had been changed. Through Interpol, police found out that the cars had been stolen in the UK.
“Some of the individuals arrested now appear to be involved in other cases under investigation in Larnaca and Limassol,” Limassol police spokesman Marinos Vasiliou said.
The vehicles had been imported from Greece. Police were checking the registration certificates to determine whether they were genuine.
Vasiliou said “it appears it is an organised ring made up of various groups of individuals who may have spotted loopholes in the law or have other arrangements in place that allow them to import stolen cars from abroad.”
Limassol police have so far found eight stolen cars that were imported to Cyprus.

By Ian Chadband

Liverpool’s inspirational captain Steven Gerrard was dropped on the 16th anniversary of his club debut but manager Brendan Rodgers’ surprise decision was vindicated as they arrested their slump with a 1-0 win over Stoke City at Anfield on Saturday.

Even though there have been questions over his form and effectiveness at 34 during Liverpool’s struggles this term, Gerrard’s sidelining felt like a shock symbol of their struggles.

Yet when the captain was sent on to save the day with quarter of an hour left, amid deafening cheers from the home faithful, Liverpool, still labouring for the breakthrough, soon prevailed through Glen Johnson’s 85th-minute headed winner.

The triumph ended a dismal November for Rodgers on a positive note, with his side earning a Premier League victory after three consecutive defeats.

Arsenal, gaining welcome relief amid their worst start to a season for 32 years, were left toasting Danny Welbeck after the England striker’s goal earned them a 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion.

It was the former Manchester United forward’s third Premier League goal – and sixth goal in all – for the Gunners since his move from Old Trafford.

The victory, well deserved after Arsenal’s domination, did not stop manager Arsene Wenger having to field questions about a fans’ banner which suggested “Thanks for the memories but it’s time to say goodbye.”

“I don’t want to comment on that. I try to do my best for this club that I love,” responded Wenger. “We are very united with the players and staff around the team, that’s all you can do.”

Arsenal’s win moved them up to sixth in the table on 20 points, still 12 adrift of leaders Chelsea, even before they played the late game at Sunderland.

Manchester United consolidated their fourth place, on 22 points, after first-half goals from Chris Smalling and Wayne Rooney and a brilliant, morale-boosting strike from Robin van Persie after the break sealed a 3-0 victory over Hull City.

Smalling’s 16th-minute opener, his first for over three years at Old Trafford, was only awarded after recourse to the new goal-line technology, which showed his shot had sneaked over the line.

From that point, United dominated en route to their third successive league win, Rooney scoring after 42 minutes and Van Persie, under pressure after insipid performances, scoring a glorious third.

Once again, though, an injury clouded United’s joy with record signing Angel di Maria limping off in the first half with a suspected hamstring injury.

Queens Park Rangers prevailed in a wildly entertaining and open bottom-of-the table clash at Loftus Road, overcoming Leicester City 3-2 to move above both their opponents and Burnley in the table.

Leicester struck first with their 34-year-old Argentina international Esteban Cambiasso an unlikely hero with a fourth minute goal, the visitors’ first in 503 minutes of Premier League football.

QPR responded before half-time with Wes Morgan putting past his own keeper in the 37th minute and Leroy Fer striking just before the interval but Jeffrey Schlupp equalised with a long shot, only for Charlie Austin to snatch the points with his 73rd-minute winner.

The mercurial Joe Cole, a bit-part player these days, flitted back into the limelight at 33 with the opener for Aston Villa but Burnley, on a roll after two straight league wins, earned a point at Turf Moor when Danny Ings converted a late penalty.

Newcastle’s remarkable charge up the table was rudely interrupted at Upton Park as Aaron Cresswell netted the 56th- minute winner for West Ham before visiting captain Moussa Sissoko was shown two yellow cards in the space of a minute.

Wilfried Bony put Swansea ahead but Mile Jedinak’s fifth goal in his last eight matches before half-time ensured Crystal Palace earned a 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium.

By George Psyllides
The chairman of the House Ethics Committee said he will raise the matter of President Nicos Anastasiades’ link with his law office after it initially represented an airline interested in acquiring national carrier Cyprus Airways.
Phidias Sarikas’ statement followed Anastasiades’ call on Friday for the committee to investigate whether he was either directly or indirectly involved, through his law office, which had represented one of the suitors, Ryanair, for a short period.
Anastasiades said he would resign if any link was found.
The president said he left the firm after his election and agreed with his former partners that they would not represent anyone whose interests were linked with government decisions.
Anastasiades’ daughters are partners in the firm.
He said after he found out that the firm represented Ryanair in the early stages of the procedure to sell Cyprus Airways, he asked them to terminate the agreement, which they did.
Parties criticised the president over the affair though the leaked minutes of a cabinet meeting that discussed Cyprus Airways suggest that he was against Ryanair taking over.
According to the October 8 transcript, the president said of the main suitors, Ryanair and Aegean Airlines: “When you see the conditions they set, you will think we have to pay them” to take over Cyprus Airways.
The minutes indicate that Anastasiades preferred an investor from a Gulf state.
The minutes of a meeting between Anastasiades and the CY board on November 13 showed that the body was not really in touch with reality.
The meeting took place after the board wrote to Anastasiades claiming they had been left in the dark over the negotiations and charged that other potential investors had been rejected over Ryanair and Aegean.
It appeared that members could not substantiate their arguments even when they were challenged by Anastasiades to point out the investors who were prepared to pour millions into CY.
“There is no one left gentlemen,” Anastasiades told them. He asked them to present any investor before him and “we will approve it tomorrow in the cabinet to save Cyprus Airways and award you plaques and medals for your contribution to your country.”