Author: John Oakes

News - TRNC
“TRNC’s Bronze Age treasures could be looted”, say archaeologists

TRNC national treasures are in danger of being stolen or destroyed, claim amateur archaeologists in North Cyprus. Their concerns were raised after a follow-up visit to a site in the Karpaz peninsula in April, where they discovered efforts had been made to try to dislodge pieces of priceless Bronze Age statues. The statues lie near the […]

News - Global
USA refuses entry visa to Baroness Meral Ece
 

Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece, the UK’s first and only Turkish Cypriot member of Westminster’s Upper Chamber, and the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Equalities, has been refused an entry visa by the USA. The Muslim Peer was due to represent the UK Parliament as part of the European Parliamentary Forum at two important meetings: at the World […]

News - UK
Why the Liberal Democrats referred UKIP to the BBC Trust and Ofcom

The day after UKIP’s first-ever party political broadcast, the Liberal Democrats made an official complaint to the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom and the BBC over the broadcast’s content, claiming it incited racial and religious hatred. The Lib Dems said the presentation and tone of the broadcast focused on provoking negative and hostile reactions. It uses images, […]

News - UK
Turkish Cypriot landowners fear Talks “sell-out” as UN claims property issue is “90% solved”

A Turkish Cypriot property seminar held in London has called on TRNC President Akıncı to adopt the “global exchange” solution to overcome problems posed by conflicting Greek and Turkish land claims in Cyprus. Owners say they are afraid their rights are being sacrificed to obtain a quick solution. Many are calling on the TRNC government […]

News - UK
Barnet councillor Dan Thomas calls for TRNC travel ads ban

A Deputy Council Leader in North London criticised Transport for London for allowing adverts for holidays in the TRNC, which he called “insensitive”. Barnet councillor Dan Thomas, who is also standing as Conservative candidate for the Greater London Authority later this year, has called on TfL to remove the adverts. He says the ads on […]

News - Global
Australia bans TRNC driving licences

TRNC driving licences are no longer being accepted as valid in Australia, thanks to Greek Cypriot pressure. The ban reverses a decades-old agreement by vetting agency Austroads that TRNC licence-holders conformed to its driving standards, and could legally drive in Australia. Thousands of perfectly capable TRNC licence-holders will now have to take a new driving […]