With Turkey’s annual inflation rate soaring to its highest level since 2002, drastically affecting the purchasing power of millions of ordinary Turks, you’d expect the media spotlight to be firmly on the economy. Instead, the headlines have been occupied by a myriad of other news stories this past month. Commentators and opposition parties say these […]
Eleven women were elected as Members of Parliament (MP) in Sunday’s General Election in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC), a record number for the small Eastern Mediterranean country. While that is welcome news for gender equality campaigners in North Cyprus, at 22% of the total number of MPs, there is still some way […]
Turkey is mourning one of its greatest screen actresses, Fatma Girik. She died at a hospital in Istanbul aged 79. A statement issued by Liv Hospital, where the iconic actress was being treated for COVID-19-related pneumonia, said her death was due to multiple organ failure. Alongside Hülya Koçyiğit, Filiz Akın and Türkan Şoray, Girik was […]
There will be little change in the governance of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) after the ruling National Unity Party (UBP) secured the largest number of votes and seats in Sunday’s General Election. However, without an outright majority, the UBP will again need to form a coalition. Sunday’s win had been predicted, but […]
A new funding initiative has been announced by the European Union to help Turkish Cypriots wanting to pursue higher and vocational education in an EU member state. Earlier this week, the European Commission announced details of its latest scholarship programme for “the Turkish Cypriot community” for the next academic year. The 2022/23 EU Scholarship scheme […]
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 […]
