On Sunday, 23 January 2022, Turkish Cypriots will be selecting their next government, but few are expecting any major changes to the current make-up of the 50-seat Parliament in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC). The right-wing National Unity Party (UBP), the main party in the TRNC’s current minority coalition Government, is predicted to […]
A British Turk is set to become head of one of the UK’s most prestigious cultural centres. Bengi Ünsal has been appointed as director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). Currently based at the Southbank Centre, Ünsal will take over the running of the ICA in March 2022. The news was announced last Friday, […]
Staff at the BBC Istanbul bureau are holding a one day strike today, after talks between BBC management and the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS) broke down. The parties had been in negotiations over a new collective labour deal that would give parity to local journalists and their international peers, but the BBC and TGS […]
Ten years ago today, Rauf Raif Denktaş – the man many people regard as the father of the Turkish Cypriot nation – passed away at Near East University Hospital from multiple organ failure. The former President of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus’ (TRNC) health had been deteriorating following a stroke he suffered in May […]
People inoculated against the coronavirus in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) will no longer have to self-isolate for ten days when they visit Britain following rule changes that come in to force on Monday, 10 January. Up until now, those jabbed against Covid-19 in the TRNC and arriving in Britain were treated by […]
The body of an Ethiopian student, who died in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) while working on an outdoor billboard in unsafe conditions, has been repatriated to his home country following a successful funeral fundraising campaign by his fellow students. Meles Halieu, a 28-year-old Master’s student at Near East University, was electrocuted while […]
The mother of Martyn Hett, who was killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, has been recognised in this year’s New Year Honours list for her work in counter-terrorism. Figen Ayşe Murray has been appointed OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her campaign to introduce Martyn’s Law, which would force venues […]
Liberal Democrats in East London have condemned the actions of Council Leader Grace Williams after she controversially ordered the removal of the TRNC flag from outside Waltham Forest Town Hall, despite the Turkish Cypriot community having permission to fly it for a day. In their statement issued earlier today, the Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats (WF […]
Scottish MP Drew Hendry is the latest politician to press the British government on recognising Covid-19 vaccination certificates issued by the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC). The Shadow SNP (Scottish National Party) Spokesperson for Trade tabled a question in Parliament asking the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on “what assessment her Department has made of […]
There was relief and euphoria after Turkey beat Montenegro in its final group match of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, securing the team a place in the play-offs early next year. Turkey scored a brace in an important 1-2 away win at the Podgorica City Stadium in Montenegro on Tuesday night to finish its qualifying […]
