Brazil kicks off carnival as fears of unrest fade

Revellers in Brazil's two biggest carnival capitals kicked off the annual celebrations restoring a festive atmosphere to cities where police strikes in recent weeks raised fears that crime and violence would spoil the party.

Price trends and Cyprus property prospects in 2012

. BY GEORGE MOUSKIDES and GEORGE MAVREAS The medium-term prospects of the economy and the property sector are positive, following the recent developments, especially the discovery of significant gas reserves. Let's start