Kudret Özersay

The shaky coalition governing Turkish Cyprus resigned yesterday after months of political deadlock in the parliament following a presidential election held last year.

Turkish Cypriot Premier Ersan Saner has said in a written statement that the coalition of the National Unity Party (UBP), the Rebirth Party (YDP) and the Democrat Party (DP) has ended.

No new cases of the novel coronavirus have been detected in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) over the last 41 days, the country's deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs said on May 28. 

"#Day41 #NoNewCase #Covid-freeNorthCyrpus," Kudret Özersay said on Twitter.

The last positive case was confirmed on April 17.

A forest fire broke out in Turkish Cyprus' northwestern town of Tepebaşı, as heat waves continued to grip the island.
The fire occurred in forestland in the area, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı said the fire was partially under control, but it would create massive environmental damage.
Akıncı noted it was too soon to say what the cause was.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) may be the first country in the world that does not have any new coronavirus case since April 20, the country's Foreign Ministry said on May 9. 

At least 80 Turkish Cypriots living in the U.K. died due to novel coronavirus, an official said on late on April 19. 

The Turkish Cypriot government has taken additional measures to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus on the island.

As part of those actions, the government has declared a curfew between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting March 31.

The curfew will be effective until April 5.

The current president of the Turkish Cyprus announced on Feb. 5 that he will contest the 2020 presidential election to be held on April 26.

Mustafa Akıncı told reporters in the capital Lefkoşa that he will run as an independent candidate.

The presidency is an important position for overcoming the "frozen uncertainty" in Cyprus and "the deadlocked problem can be solved with more creative and new ideas," according to a top Turkish Cypriot politician.

Greek Cyprus is not ready to share power and wealth, but a move that will change the current conditions could be made, including halting the isolation of Turkish Cypriots, North Cyprus' Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay has said at a conference at Cambridge University.

The presidential election in Turkish Cyprus will be held on April 26, 2020.

The election bans will start on March 1, according to the statement made by Turkish Cyprus Supreme Election Board (YSK).

Four politicians announced the presidential candidacy.