By Ahmet Abdulaziz………
The Carlton Badminton Stars league made a bright start last Friday (13th April), in Lefkoşa.
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Near East University held “Freedom of the Press” Conference
By Ahmet Abdulaziz…….
Recently the Near East University conducted a conference regarding the Freedom of the Press. This conference was organised as part of the 6th International Media workshop, by the Radio, TV and Cinema departments of the University. Dr. Rona Aybay took part as a speaker.
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North Cyprus Cricket : A new twist in the Creditwest, Spring 2017 Cricket League
Last Sunday the 7th May, saw the first match between Middle East Technical University vs Near East University which was held at the Bellapais ground. Winning the toss, Masroor Ahmed the Near East University, Captain invited Middle East Technical University to bat first.
METU made a very grumpy start when they went 6 wickets down in six overs with a total of 62 runs in 9 overs with Captain, Muzzamil and tail ender hitting a strong 38 runs. Now it was looking like NEU had good prospects of a win but METU came back into the game with a help of their strong hitter Nihal with 16 runs, Khalid with 10 and Danial with 15 useful runs to give a defendable target of 151 runs in 20 overs.
In reply to 151 runs, the NEU didn’t look confident at all, when both openers were confused by the brilliant bowling performances from the METU bowlers. NEU were continuously losing wickets and .the only resistance showed, was from all-rounder Adeel but still that was not good enough. After Adeel lost his wicket it was obvious that METU had stamped their 3 victory in the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
The second match held was between the home team, Gentlemen of Girne against guest team, Eastern Mediterranean University. Danish Afridi, the Captain of Gentlemen of Girne, repeated his tradition of winning the toss and invited EMU Captain, Sohail Khilji to bat first.
Once again the Gentlemen openers and top order failed to provide a good start, when it went 4 wickets down in just six overs with a total score of 20 runs. EMU looked in a very strong position at this time but Waqas Ahmed scored 12 runs, on the 5th wicket, and after that it was a match turning performance, by SajjadKamal who scored 32 runs with help of 4 sixes and 1 four and Ather Mir scored 46 runs with help of 6 sixes, and 2 fours. That gave great confidence to Gentlemen hitters Wajid with 14 and Ali not out on 13 runs and the Gentlemen were all out in 18 overs with total of 158 runs.
In reply to 158 runs, EMU didn’t make a very good start when EMU Majid Khan was caught behind on the beautiful out swing bowling delivery by Janwali Khan and EMU were in trouble. After that Sohail Khilji, Captain of EMU, came out to rescue his team, but the luck was not with EMU when Khilji gave a straight catch to Gentlemen’s Captain Danish Afridi in short cover, and EMU were now in bigger trouble. At this time Gentlemen’s Captain, Danish Afridi brought in his team magician Shahzad Malik, the left arm spin bowler who completely destroyed EMU and they were all out on 82 runs in 17 overs giving the Gentlemen a good come back win in the Creditwest Spring Cricket League 2017,
Next Sunday matches on the 14th of May, 09:00 am, Gentlemen of Girne and Ozankoy Cricket Team and at 13:00 pm the Lefkosa Legends vs Eastern Mediterranean University
For more information go to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Cricket Club Facebook page click here or Contact Chairman of TRNC Cricket Association Danish Afridi
Telephone: 0548 890 4835 or email danisheen2001@yahoo.com
North Cyprus Cricket Round up of the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League
By Chris Elliott…….
Many people love to watch and follow cricket matches so we are publishing a brief roundup of what’s been happening on the North Cyprus Cricket scene recently in the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League as under:
First match on 23rd April 2017 – Gentlemen of Girne vs Near East University
The Gentlemen of Girne played the Near East University at Bellapais and the NEU Captain Masroor, winning the toss elected to bat first. The Gentlemen Captain, Danish Afridi, still looked confident having lost the toss, as Arif Khan struck first two wickets, in his first over, for the Gentlemen. The only solid partnership from the NEU was from one down, Talha, 19 runs and Adeel with 37 runs, After that none of the NEU batsmen could stand up to the ruthless bowling attack from the Gentlemen bowlers and the NEU team only succeeded in setting a target of 104 runs to beat in twenty overs in the first half, of the fourth week of the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
In reply to 104 runs, the Gentlemen were very confident, as usual, and openers Awais Ahmed and JanWali Khan came in to face the NEU bowlers. In the first over, after four runs, Janwali Khan was clean bowled by the NEU attack bowler Arshad. The Gentlemen didn’t lose their morale or courage and at one down, Muhammad Bilal scored 23 runs and Awais Ahmed scored 48 runs in a thrilling partnership, clearing the way for the Gentlemen’s victory when Shahzad Malik and Ather Mir come in to bat which brought an end to the match with a successful showing by the Gentlemen of Girne in just 13 overs in the Creditwest Spring 2017 League match.
Second Match on 23rd April – Ozankoy Cricket Club vs Middle East Technical University
In the second Match between the Ozankoy Cricket Club vs the Middle East Technical University, the Ozankoy Captain Imran Bajwa won the toss and elected to bat first. METU Captain Muzzamil started his bowling attack and struck the Ozankoy first two wickets for just 31 runs, in two overs. The Ozankoy team continued losing its wickets, but the match completely changed, when Ozankoy were only 94 runs, in 15 overs, with a loss of 7 wickets, Captain Imran Bajwa, started his one man show with 44 runs with the help of 5 sixes and 3 fours, and succeeded in making a defendable total of 163 runs, in 20 overs.
In reply to the 163 target, the METU openers Captain Muzzamil and Nabil made a sturdy start, but still they couldn’t stop losing wickets and the first wicket went down on 28 runs. After that METU continued to lose wickets until they were out for 9 in just 15 overs, with the score of 80 runs, which saved the day for Ozankoy’s 2nd victory in Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
30th April first match – Ozankoy Cricket Club vs Lefkosa Legends,
In the 5th week of the Creditwest, Spring 2017 Cricket League; the Ozankoy Cricket Club played their 4th Match against the Lefkosa Legends and it was the Legends third match and Imran Bajwa winning the toss elected to bat first. Ozankoy were in full attack mood but not succeeding in winning the match when Ozankoy lost 5 wickets in 7 overs for only 58 runs and Ozankoy were then in big trouble. After the 7th wicket went down, Ozankoy’s Muhammad Imran made 52 runs and Butt made 44 runs and this brilliant partnership took the game away from The Legends and put a big total of 175 runs, in twenty overs to beat.
In reply to 175 runs, the Legends made a slow but good start with two wickets down for 72 runs in 9 overs, but Legends could not control the loss of wickets, and they were all out in 17 overs with the total of 129 runs. The only really successful batsman was Salman with 43 runs which included 4 sixes and 3 fours.
30th April second match – The Gentlemen of Girne vs Middle East Technical University
The next match was between The Gentlemen of Girne vs the Middle East Technical University, once again unluckily The Gentlemen of Girne captain Danish Afridi lost the toss against the METU Captain Muzzamil and the METU started their innings under pressure by losing the first wicket in the second over, and continuously losing wickets until the 5th over when the partnership of all-rounder Nehal with 58 runs not out and Khalid with 20 runs. Saad came to the rescue with 23 runs and METU had set a defendable total of 155 runs, in the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
In reply to 155 Runs The Gentlemen didn’t make a very good start with 3 wickets down in 29 runs in six overs. After that the Gentlemen’s Captain, Danish Afridi made a firm and responsible stand like a wall against the METU bowling attack and fought until the end scoring 31 runs with the help of 2 sixes and 1 four and with fine contributions from Abdul Waris with 16 runs, Shahzad Malik with 17 runs, Sajjad Kamal with 13 runs. At the end of a thrilling match with only 5 runs to Win or 4 to draw, the last man Sajjad Kamal tried to hit the ball but gave an easy catch to the fielder at which point, it was a first victory for METU against The Gentlemen of Girne who lost their 2nd Match, in Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League.
Next matches in the Creditwest Spring 2017 Cricket League at Bellapais
This Sunday the 7th of May at 09:00am the Near East University play Middle East Technical University and at 13:00pm The Gentlemen of Girne play Eastern Mediterranean University
For more information go to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Cricket Club Facebook page click here or Contact Chairman of TRNC Cricket Association Danish Afridi
Telephone: 0548 890 4835 or email danisheen2001@yahoo.com
A great picture of Lefkosa Legends player Salman who made 43 runs.
TRNC News 3.5.2017 Akinci calls for more progress in talks
Akıncı calls for more progress in talks
President Mustafa Akıncı has stated that it is not possible to make progress in the negotiations by discussing the same issues again and again, adding that the four chapters should be discussed with the support of the UN.
President Mustafa Akıncı made the statement on his return from the four-hour-long meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades.
The President said that that the leaders mainly discussed the issues related to active participation in decision making, however he stressed that some divergences remain. Akıncı said “It is not possible to make a progress by July if talks continue like this.”
Stating that the UN must carry out shuttle diplomacy between the sides without making official proposals and without taking on a mediatory role in order to get a result as soon as possible, Akıncı said that new tensions may arise in case of the Greek Cypriots’ latest natural gas exploration project in July.
President Akıncı also indicated that there has been no progress on the rotating presidency, which is one of the important issues for the Turkish Cypriots.
The President expressed that the TRNC had declared that it will not leave the table because of the negative attitude of the Greek Cypriot side. He added that the TRNC wants to see the goodwill of the Greek Cypriot side to find a positive outcome to the talks, instead of losing the chance for a solution to be reached.
Regarding the Greek Cypriot media’s efforts to create an optimistic atmosphere about the negotiation process, Akıncı warned that this optimism does not reflect the reality of the situation.
The President departed for İstanbul today, in order to hold a conference on the Cyprus negotiations process on Thursday, the 4th of May at the Istanbul University’s Faculty of Political Science. On Saturday the 6th of May, he will deliver the opening speech at the Global Leaders Forum at Bahçeşehir University as the honorary guest.
President Akıncı is expected to return to the island on Sunday the 7th of May.
Ertuğruloğlu: “Current negotiations do not point towards equality”
In his speech at the TRNC Assembly yesterday, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu stated that the current on-going negotiations do not point to equality for the TRNC.
Ertuğruloğlu said that it is natural for the Turkish Cypriot people to demand compromise because it is the Turkish Cypriot people who were ousted from the partnership, denied of their identity rights, forced into isolation and who suffered from long-standing embargoes.
Ertuğruloğlu stressed that agreements are made between equals, but that the current negotiations did not point to equality; rather a false and misleading form of equality.
Ertuğruloğlu explained that the Greek Cypriot side used the advantages of recognition, presenting the Turkish Cypriot side as a minority to the world. He added that concessions should be made for reaching an agreement and that the Greek Cypriot side is not forced into a position to make these concessions, as a result of its international recognition.
Ertuğruloğlu expressed his belief that reaching an agreement in the current negotiation process, which the two sides would accept and which would be based on equality, would not be possible.
The Minister said that as long as the Greek Cypriots were recognized as the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ and the Turkish Cypriots were seen as an ‘ethnic minority’, the only possible outcome from the negotiations would be the achievement of minority rights. He stressed that only a negotiation process between two equals could be successful.
Ertuğruloğlu holds conference in İstanbul
Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu will hold a conference entitled “The latest developments in the Cyprus Negotiations” at İstanbul Arel University today.
The conference, which was organized by İstanbul Arel University Student Council, will take place at the Tepekent Campus Conference Hall later today.
Ertuğruloğlu will speak to the students about the history of the Cyprus problem, and the latest developments in the Cyprus negotiations.
TRNC to host 9th Para-Athletics
The TRNC is preparing to host the 9th Para-Athletics. The 9th Para-Athletics will be held in Lefkoşa on 4 and 5 May. Athletes from Turkey and the UK will participate in the games, as well as TRNC athletes.
There are 450 students studying with special educational needs at elementary schools in the TRNC.
The Para-Athletics have been organised in order to promote health and wellbeing among differently-abled students. The games are designed to improve sports skills, tackle behavioural problems, and to develop self-confidence.
The Para- Athletics which started in 2009, have gained an international status with the participation of Turkey and the UK from 2011 to the present day. Azerbaijani athletes have also been taking part in the games since 2013.
Near East University wins ‘Technology Leadership’ Award
The Near East University was awarded with the Technology Leadership Award for its projects in the areas of information, communication and innovation.
The Technology Leadership Award from Priştene AAB University, which is one of the largest universities in Kosovo, was awarded to Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel, Chairman of Board of Trustees of Near East University, at the 7th World Conference on Education Technologies and Computer Science.
Emphasising that the achievements of Near East University in the fields of communication, knowledge and innovation should be regarded as solid examples in the education world, Kosovo Minister of Education, Science and Technology Dr. Arsim Bajrami congratulated Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel for the success of NEU.
Final International University joins the International Universities Search and Rescue Games Council (IUSARC)
The Final International University has become a member of the International Universities Search and Rescue Games Council (IUSARC).
The Final International University, which attend the general assembly of the council between the dates of 24-26 April, became a member of the council as a result of a ballot. As a result, the university will participate in the international activities of the council over the coming years.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
To read more news and information from the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please click here
Pictures shown are courtesy of the TRNC Public Information Office Facebook page.