Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-01-15

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] EU - SIMULATION EXERCISES

[02] COMMISSION - FOOD REGULATION

[03] 2007 TOP ATHLETES - AWARDS

[04] BAGHDATIS - AUSTRALIAN OPEN

[01] EU - SIMULATION EXERCISES

The exercises will involve earthquake and flooding simulations and they will be led by organisations from five European countries.

Seven simulation exercises to be led by France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the United Kingdom and Sweden have been awarded just over 2.6 million euro. The exercises will feature a variety of scenarios, including earthquakes and cross-border flooding.

Simulation exercises promote a common understanding of co-operation in civil protection assistance interventions and help accelerate response in major emergencies. These learning exercises test response capabilities and provide an opportunity for all actors involved in operations under the Community Civil Protection Mechanism to enhance their operational co-operation. The exercises will take place over 2008-2009.

The six selected projects will share 1.47 million euro in funding. They are led by organisations from five European countries (Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Belgium).

The projects cover: fighting forest fires preparing the public, especially vulnerable groups, for natural disasters helping municipalities prepare for climate change and any resulting floods cooperation between European volunteer organisations during emergencies training professional and volunteer fire-fighters, local civil protection services and volunteer groups for common emergencies disseminating the results of previous EU civil protection activities to improve community resilience.

The six projects also include organisations from various Member States including Italy, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Finland, Cyprus, and Estonia. The projects are due to be completed by the end of 2009.

The Civil Protection Financial Instrument is intended to support and complement the efforts of Member States for the protection of people, the environment and property (including cultural heritage) in the event of natural and man-made disasters, acts of terrorism and technological, radiological or environmental accidents. It also facilitates reinforced co-operation between Member States in the field of civil protection. It covers response and preparedness actions, and has a financial envelope of around 190 million euro for 2007-2013.

[02] COMMISSION - FOOD REGULATION

EU Commissioner for Health, Markos Kyprianou said: ``This proposal aims to create a more efficient and practical system for regulating novel foods, which will offer EU consumers the benefit of the most up-to-date choice of foodstuffs possible and provide a favourable environment for the food industry in Europe.``

Under the revised legislation, the assessment and authorisation procedure for novel foods will be centralised, so instead of the initial assessment being carried out by a single Member State and then sent to other Member States for comment, the Commission will receive the application for authorisation and the European Food Safety Authority will carry out the scientific assessment on the product. According to an EU press release, following an extensive stakeholder consultation, the Commission decided to review the legislation for novel foods, taking into account technological developments, scientific advice and the experience gained through the application of the legislation. An impact assessment on the major changes was carried out by the Commission in 2006, the press release adds.

[03] 2007 TOP ATHLETES - AWARDS

The five best men and five best women athletes and the three best teams of the year who received the awards were: Mens category: 1. George Achilleos (shooting), 2. Kyriakos Ioannou (track and field), 3. Marcos Baghdatis (tennis), 4. Pavlos Kontides (sailing), 5. Antonis Nicolaides (shooting).

Womens category: 1. Eleni Artimata (track and field), 2. Anna Stylianou (swimming), 3. Alisa Kallinikou (track and field), 4. Louiza Theophanous (shooting) 5. Alexandra Tsisou (track and field). Category of teams: 1. National men`s team in football, 2. AEL mens basketball team, 3. AEK womens volleyball team.

Awards were also given to former volleyball, basketball and handball player Yiannoula Orphanou, former football player, track athlete, gymnastics teacher and member of CSO Board of Administration Andreas Stylianou for their contribution to sports while Cyprus Shooting Federation and Paraolympics champion Karolina Pelendritou were also given prizes. The golden ball was awarded to Omonia, a Nicosia football club, for the best offensive of the 2006-2007 Cyprus League season, while Anorthosis, a refugee football club from the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta, were awarded for the best defence during the same season. The golden shoe was awarded to the first scorer of the League, Estevan Solari, the striker of Champions APOEL club of Nicosia.

[04] BAGHDATIS - AUSTRALIAN OPEN

According to the Australian Open website, Baghdatis, who lost to Roger Federer in the 2006 Australian Open, is seeded 15 this year, has played down the extent of a hamstring injury, declaring he will be fully fit heading into a probable meeting with Marat Safin on Thursday. The Cypriot athlete was forced to call for treatment on his left leg at the start of the third set against Johansson, eventually recovering to take the match in four.

After his largely impressive 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 3-6 6-3 win over the former Australian Open champion, Baghdatis indicated the injury was not as bad as it first appeared.

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