Latest news with #GreekCypriot


The Star
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Greeks mourn, Turks celebrate anniversary of invasion splitting Cyprus
A woman walks next to the graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus at the Tymvos Makedonitissas military cemetery in Nicosia, Cyprus July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou NICOSIA (Reuters) -Greek and Turkish Cypriots on Sunday marked the 51st anniversary of Turkey's 1974 invasion of Cyprus, an event that split the island and continues to shape geopolitics in the region. Air raid sirens wailed across the southern Greek Cypriot populated parts of Cyprus at 0530 local time (0230 GMT), the hour Turkish troops landed on the northern coast in a military intervention triggered by a brief Greece-inspired coup. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was due to attend celebrations in north Cyprus, a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides attended a memorial service in the south for people who died. Efforts to reunify Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation have repeatedly failed amid deep-rooted mistrust and competing visions for the island's future. The simmering conflict is a source of tension between NATO partners Greece and Turkey and complicates Turkey's ambitions to foster closer ties with the European Union, of which both Cyprus and Greece are members. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday the two sides would continue discussions on trust-building measures. "There is a long road ahead," he said. (Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Aidan Lewis)

Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Greeks mourn, Turks celebrate anniversary of invasion splitting Cyprus
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A woman walks next to the graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus at the Tymvos Makedonitissas military cemetery in Nicosia, Cyprus July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou NICOSIA - Greek and Turkish Cypriots on Sunday marked the 51st anniversary of Turkey's 1974 invasion of Cyprus, an event that split the island and continues to shape geopolitics in the region. Air raid sirens wailed across the southern Greek Cypriot populated parts of Cyprus at 0530 local time (0230 GMT), the hour Turkish troops landed on the northern coast in a military intervention triggered by a brief Greece-inspired coup. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was due to attend celebrations in north Cyprus, a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides attended a memorial service in the south for people who died. Efforts to reunify Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation have repeatedly failed amid deep-rooted mistrust and competing visions for the island's future. The simmering conflict is a source of tension between NATO partners Greece and Turkey and complicates Turkey's ambitions to foster closer ties with the European Union, of which both Cyprus and Greece are members. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday the two sides would continue discussions on trust-building measures. "There is a long road ahead," he said. REUTERS
Yahoo
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Desiree Burch's life on a plate: ‘Comedy runs on crisps'
Photograph by Alex Lake The microwave did most of the cooking in our family. My parents worked, so us kids took care of ourselves by reheating frozen foods from Costco. Vegetables were something we explored on our own. The only time we dined together was Thanksgiving and Christmas, which sounds sad but we just got on with it. At the weekend, my mom would cook a fry-up. Bacon and eggs, yes, but also Spam. It was always in the pantry and tasted phenomenal sliced and fried – much better than on the grill. My siblings and I could eat it all day. It's probably why I still like breakfast food so much. After I moved to England [from the US] I was excited to have high tea at the Savoy. As it turns out, a cucumber sandwich can be pretty great. It was lovely: the grand dining room; flights of tea I'd never heard of; getting buzzed off caffeine; the fancy trays; spending far too much on cake. Oysters with a glass of champagne is cliche, but I don't care – it feels fantastic Everybody I've made sweet potato pie for in the UK assumes it's savoury, and is delighted to learn it's a dessert made with nearly an entire bag of sugar. It's perfect for Thanksgiving; you think you can't fit more food into your body, then have three slices. My Greek-Cypriot boyfriend taught me the holy trinity of his cuisine: halloumi, olive oil and lemon. Lemon has the power to transform the taste of anything – even a fried egg is perked up if you finish it with a squeeze. He does the cooking, I load the dishwasher afterwards. Once you reach your 40s, you change the way you eat. I'm lactose intolerant now, so I lean towards food with ingredients that don't cause me pain, like spinach and eggs on toast rather than cereal in the morning. That said, visits to late-night chicken shops do still happen. There was a time when I didn't like seafood. Salmon, which is the bacon of the sea, was my gateway drug fish. Now, I even love shellfish. Oysters with mignonette and a glass of champagne is cliche, but I don't care – it feels fantastic. Comedy runs on crisps. There's always salt and pepper or salt and vinegar on my tour rider – preferably Tyrells or Kettle Chips, because I enjoy life. Prawn cocktail isn't my vibe and I stay away from cheese and onion; I can't be smelling like that when I talk to people on stage. When I perform at Edinburgh Fringe, I can't fuck with food that might mess up my voice. I know where I am with a tuna baguette from Pret. After a show I'll head to Desi Pakwan; the lamb biryani is excellent and affordable. You must also make a pilgrimage to the Deep Sea chip shop and Storries Home Bakery, because they're open late. If you drive past people queuing at a Mexican food truck in California, you turn around and come back. The meat will have been marinated for at least a day by someone's abuela [grandmother] and the food will be better – and much cheaper – than any restaurant. You can get fresh produce in the US, of course, but so much of what you buy in supermarkets is processed. Bread doesn't taste like bread. I hope the UK doesn't go further in the direction of adding unnecessary, unnameable ingredients to food. My favourite things Food It's a toss up between a burrito al pastor and a classic New York bagel with salmon, cream cheese and capers from Zucker's. Those are the two I could eat at the end of my life, then be ready to go. Drink Daytime champagne in a bar that has just enough people to have an atmosphere, but not so many that you need to yell to make yourself heard. Dish to make Good guacamole is everything. I make it fresh, which is hard to get in the UK, and it has to start with the best avocados. If you get them right, everything else falls into place. Desiree Burch's new show, The Golden Wrath, will be at the Monkey Barrel at the Edinburgh Fringe from 28 July to 10 August. She tours the UK from October 2025. Tickets at Hair And makeup by Neusa Neves at Arlington Artists using Makeup By Mario, Lashify Lashes and Color Wow Hair.


Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Cyprus talks end without resolution, leaders to meet in September
Five-party negotiations on the Cyprus problem concluded on Thursday without resolving key disputes. However, participants agreed to continue discussions under the guidance of the UN. The informal talks between Greek Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, and representatives from Greece, Turkey and the UK produced no agreement on reopening crossing points between the island's two parts. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has scheduled additional meetings for September. "We are seeing small but significant progress, step by step, towards the major goal which is the resumption of talks and the resolution of the Cyprus problem," Christodoulides said after the meeting. Guterres confirmed that four of six measures agreed in Geneva in March — establishing a technical committee on youth issues, environmental and climate change initiatives, cemetery rehabilitation, and a de-mining agreement, which is awaiting final technical details — have been implemented. Crossing points remain an issue Two measures remain unresolved: opening four transit points and installing solar power in the buffer zone. The crossing points remained the key issue, with Guterres making what officials described as significant efforts to reach an agreement. "There are very different views on both sides with regard to the solution of the Cyprus problem, but I think we are building, step by step, trust and creating the conditions to do concrete things for the benefit of the Cypriot people," Guterres said. Greek Cypriots accepted Turkish Cypriot proposals to open crossings at Mia Milia and Louroutzina, but received no response regarding other proposed routes, Christodoulides said. Discussions on opening a crossing from Athienou to Aglandjia stalled when Turkish representatives stated that they needed to consult with Turkish military officials. The talks produced three new measures: establishing an advisory body for civil society participation, exchanging cultural artefacts and monitoring air quality while addressing microplastic pollution. Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis called the discussion "extremely productive," but that negotiations had been dormant for eight years since the failed Crans-Montana talks. "It is extremely important that the Cyprus problem is now at the top of the agenda of the UN Secretary General, who has appointed a personal envoy," Gerapetritis said. A trilateral meeting between Christodoulides, Tatar and Guterres is scheduled to take place in September during the UN General Assembly. Another five-party meeting is planned for after the elections in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus in 2025. UN secretary-general's personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin will continue working on the crossing points issue between meetings. Christodoulides also met privately with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan for nearly an hour after the dinner on Wednesday. "Today we did not hear anything different from Turkey's well-known public statements," Christodoulides said of the broader talks. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey occupied the northern third of the island following a coup attempt. The Republic of Cyprus which encompasses the southern two-thirds of the island is internationally recognised and an EU member state, while the breakaway entity in northern Cyprus remains recognised only by Turkey. The UN has maintained a peacekeeping force in Cyprus since 1964.


Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
UN talks with rival leaders of Cyprus fail to reach deal on new border crossings
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief said Thursday that he would have liked more results from his meetings with the rival leaders of divided Cyprus, while the Turkish Cypriot leader said he was 'very, very upset' that there was no agreement on opening four new border crossings. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the meetings 'constructive' and pointed to progress on four of the six initiatives that the leaders agreed to in March. He cautioned, however, that 'there's a long road ahead .' The Mediterranean island was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by Athens junta-backed supporters of uniting the island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, and it maintains more than 35,000 troops in the island's northern third. Negotiations between the rivals have been stalled since 2017 . When asked whether he would start a new round, Guterres responded that there is more to be done before any negotiations. The current talks are 'complex,' he said, stressing the very different views of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on a solution. 'I think we are building, step by step, confidence and creating the conditions to do concrete things to the benefit of the Cypriot people,' the secretary-general said. The agreed-upon, U.N.-endorsed framework for a peace deal has been a reunified Cyprus as a federation composed of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot zones. Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has been demanding a two-state deal ever since his 2020 election. He faces reelection in October and says he's running on the same two-state platform with Ankara's full backing. Tatar told reporters after the meeting that 'unless our sovereign equality and equal international status is reaffirmed, we will not resume formal negotiations for the resolution of the Cyprus problem.' Greek Cypriots reject any agreement that would formalize partition, fearing Turkey would seek to control the entire island in light of its demand to maintain a permanent troop presence and military intervention rights in Cyprus. Turkey also insists the minority Turkish Cypriots should have veto rights over all federal government decisions. Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides did not speak to reporters after the meeting, which included the foreign ministers of guarantor countries Turkey and Greece and a United Kingdom deputy minister. Despite differences on the future of Cyprus, the rivals have made some progress on trust-building measures. Guterres told reporters that four initiatives had been achieved: creating a technical committee on youth; initiatives on the environment and climate change, including the impact on mining areas ; the restoration of cemeteries; and an agreement on demining, where technical details still need to be finalized. He said discussions will continue on opening four new crossings between the Greek and Turkish sides of the island and on solar energy in the buffer zone between them, which is patrolled by a U.N. peacekeeping force. Tatar accused Christodoulides of preventing the announcement of the four border crossings on Thursday by insisting that one of them go through the buffer zone, which he called unacceptable to Turkish Cypriots. He also sharply criticized Greek Cypriots for pursuing legal action over the sale of properties in the Turkish Cypriot north, saying the moves 'are certainly damaging to the relations of the two peoples and are aimed at damaging our economy and our tourism.' Property rights are a deeply contentious issue in Cyprus. A recent boom in construction of luxury villas and apartments in the north has prompted Cypriot legal authorities to take a more assertive stance toward realtors and developers to discourage what they say is the large-scale 'illegal usurpation' of Greek Cypriot land. Guterres said the meeting also produced an understanding on a consultative body for civil society engagement, exchange of cultural artifacts, an initiative on air quality monitoring and addressing microplastic pollution. The secretary-general said Tatar and Christodoulides agreed to meet with him in late September during the annual gathering of world leaders at the General Assembly and to hold another informal meeting later in the year. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .