Turkish opposition leader jailed for ‘insulting' prosecutor
The case, which pre-dates his arrest, stems from comments he made on January 20 in which he criticised Istanbul chief public prosecutor Akin Gurlek, accusing him of targeting opposition figures through alleged politically motivated investigations.
The court on Wednesday convicted Mr Imamoglu of insulting and threatening Mr Gurlek but acquitted him of the charge of publicly identifying him with the intent of making him a target.
Mr Imamoglu, regarded as the main challenger to Mr Erdogan's more than two-decade-rule, has denied the accusations.
The mayor was arrested alongside other politicians from the main opposition party as part of investigations into alleged corruption. His arrest triggered the largest street protests in Turkey in more than a decade.
Despite being behind bars, he was officially nominated as the presidential candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP. Elections are due to be held in 2028 but may come sooner.
Since Mr Imamoglu's arrest, dozens of officials from CHP-controlled municipalities have faced waves of arrests as part of investigations into alleged tender rigging and bribery.
The arrests have drawn widespread criticism from opposition leaders, who argue that the charges are politically motivated.
Mr Imamoglu has described the trial as 'punishment, not justice' and accused the judiciary of acting under government pressure.
Mr Erdogan's government insists that the courts are impartial and free of political involvement.
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Scotsman
a day ago
- Scotsman
Donald Trump Scotland visit: How the future looks for Donald Trump's business empire in Scotland
The Trump Organisation is still sending money to Scotland as it pursues its long-term vision Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... With Donald Trump set to arrive in Scotland for his first visit as US president since 2018, there is renewed focus on the resorts he intends to visit during his time in his mother's homneland. For Nic Oldham, general manager of Trump Turnberry, the trip will be an opportunity to showcase the work that has been carried at the South Ayrshire resort, both on its historic links courses and in the hotel and wider accommodation offerings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That includes extensive remodelling of swathes of the famous Ailsa course, and the addition of a whisky tasting roon, games room, boutique cinema, and - what else - a Trump store - within the hotel, all of which have opened in recent months. 'The team are always excited to see the Trump family members as they have done so much for the property and local economy and continue to invest,' Mr Oldham told The Scotsman. Donald Trump is set to return to Scotland this weekend. | Scotsman It is two decades since former president Mr Trump incorporated his first company in Scotland. The country is a place he has called 'home,' and despite the fact his affection is rarely reciprocated, the 78 year-old's footprint in the nation where his mother was born and raised is well-established and slowly expanding. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While political commitments ensure that Mr Trump himself is an infrequent visitor, the responsibility for overseeing his two Scottish resorts - ultimately owned by a Florida-based revocable trust in Mr Trump's name - has fallen to his adult sons, alongside a coterie of trusted executives. Together, they are pursuing significant developments and remodelling work, with millions of pounds of investments planned. A series of investments totalling around £4 million are planned for the flagship Trump Turnberry, even though the resort's parent company, Golf Recreation Scotland, owes nearly £124m to other Trump-controlled entities. At the Trump Organisation's flagship resort, work has been carried over the past year to bolster its offering for well-heeled American golfers, who comprise the majority of its customers. After enduring long-standing losses under the former US president's ownership, the Turnberry property has turned two successive years of annual profits, and there are myriad plans afoot, with £1.8m earmarked for ongoing renovations of Turnberry's stately 118 year-old hotel. Donald Trump's Turnberry resort is undergoing extensive renovations, but is still far from securing the return of golf's prestigious Open Championship. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty | Getty Images All the while, the drive to increase occupancy, especially at the resort's cluster of self-catering villas, remains pressing, and the aim of those in charge is to generate annual revenues of around £40m - a bold ambition given the current figure stands at £21m. Turnberry is also wooing corporate custom, with the French fashion house, Dior, hosting a major conference at the property last autumn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Another key goal remains unchanged: to secure the return of golf's Open Championship. Turnberry's Ailsa links is regarded as one of the finest courses anywhere in the world, yet 15 years have passed since it hosted the prestigious tournament. There are multiple reasons for that. Around 120,000 spectators descended on Turnberry in 2009, but nowadays, The Open's attendance figures exceed the quarter of a million mark; Turnberry's remote location and challenging transport infrastructure means it is unlikely to ever emulate such numbers. Then there is Mr Trump himself. The R&A has said it has no plans to stage any of its championships at Turnberry, although its stance has softened since a change in CEO. A remaining concern alongside the logistical problems is that the focus of any gathering would not be on the tournament, the players, or even the course, but Turnberry's notorious owner. Even so, a £1m 'upgrade' of the Ailsa course has beenc carried out to shift parts of the links closer to the Firth of Clyde coastline. The project was overseen by the renowned golf course architect, Martin Ebert, and according to one planning consultancy involved, was designed to 'facilitate the return of The Open Championship.' Mr Trump's Turnberry firm is planning extensive works at the resort's historic hotel. Picture: Jan Kruger/Getty | Getty Even bigger plans for the resort may or may not be revisited. In 2022, planning officials at the Scottish Government rejected Turnberry's calls for a change to planning policies that would have made it easier for the firm to pursue an expansion unprecedented in the property's history, with 120 acres of farmland given over to hundreds of 'high end' private houses, retirement villas, and apartments as part of a 'coastal retreat.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the time, Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of Trump International Scotland in Aberdeenshire, said the Trump Organisation would make a formal application to develop the site 'in due course.' In the north east, where the Trump International Scotland resort has hosted the likes of the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, investment is also on the agenda. A new links course named after Mr Trump's mother, Mary, is scheduled to be officially opened during Mr Trump's visit, with Ms Malone promising the 'greatest 36 holes in golf.' A second course at Trump International Scotland in Aberdeenshire is set to open next summer, but the property has yet to turn a profit. Picture:. | Getty The Balmedie company, which has run up losses for 11 consecutive years and has received loans totalling more than £40m from Mr Trump, also received planning permission six years ago to create as many as 500 houses and 50 holiday homes at the Menie estate. Ms Malone said it had always been the case that any development would be 'phased,' adding that the business remains 'fully committed' to its long-term plans.
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Germany OKs Eurofighter delivery to Turkey, Spiegel reports
BERLIN, July 23 (Reuters) - The German government has cleared the way for the delivery of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey following a positive decision by the federal security council, the Spiegel news magazine reported on Wednesday. Turkey has been in talks on buying Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, represented by companies Airbus ( opens new tab, BAE Systems (BAES.L), opens new tab and Leonardo ( opens new tab. Germany's federal security council, whose approval is required for arms exports, operates behind closed doors and the government generally does not comment on its decisions. The German defence ministry declined to comment on the report. The economy ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Earlier this week, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Germany and Britain took a positive stance on the sale of the jets, adding that Ankara wanted to finalise the purchase as soon as possible.
NBC News
2 days ago
- NBC News
The Epstein saga continues to affect Washington: From the Politics Desk
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. Happy Tuesday! In today's edition, our Congress team breaks down how the Jeffrey Epstein saga is freezing up the House of Representatives. And speaking of the House, Steve Kornacki analyzes how mid-decade redistricting by Republicans in a few key states could alter the math of the midterms. — Scott Bland House cancels last day of votes before summer break as Epstein consumes Capitol Hill By Scott Wong, Kyle Stewart and Syedah Asghar The GOP-controlled House is cutting short its last workweek before the summer recess because of a fight on Capitol Hill over the release of the government's files on the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The House was scheduled to hold votes on Thursday before lawmakers departed for their five-week recess. But Republican leaders informed rank-and-file lawmakers on Tuesday that the final vote of the week would now be a day earlier, on Wednesday afternoon. The shift in schedule occurred because of a standoff on the Rules Committee, which decides how legislation comes to the floor but has been ground to a halt by the Epstein issue. The panel, which is closely aligned with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., typically passes a rule for legislation on Monday that sets up debate and allows bills to come to the floor for the week. But Democrats had promised Monday to force the committee to take more votes on whether to require the Trump administration to release all remaining files from the Epstein case. To avoid embarrassing votes on Epstein, Republicans decided to recess the committee and not attempt to pass a rule for bills this week. Without a rule, Republicans would be left with nothing to vote on after Wednesday. The Epstein saga has dominated chatter on Capitol Hill for more than a week as many Trump supporters have clamored for the release of all documents related to the convicted sex offender and the president and his administration sought to downplay the issue. It appeared to be dying down in recent days, but the Trump administration breathed new life into the story Tuesday morning, when the Justice Department announced that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will meet with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell in the coming days. By Steve Kornacki In the coming weeks, Republicans in Texas and Ohio are expected to redraw their states' congressional maps. Their intent is transparent: to bolster their party's chances of protecting its super-slim House majority in next year's midterm elections. As it stands now, there are 220 Republican districts, meaning the party can afford a net loss of no more than two seats in 2026 and still keep the House. In theory, the redistricting effort could shift as many as eight seats from the Democratic to the GOP column, although the ultimate yield will depend on how aggressive the GOP gets — and how much the courts and voters will tolerate. It could also be offset by similar measures from Democrats in blue states like California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to do a redraw of his own but faces a far trickier process. Yet even if Republicans do emerge from a fresh round of redistricting with a batch of new, safe seats, it may still be woefully insufficient to keep the House, given the dramatic losses that the party in the White House often endures in midterm elections. It was during the first Trump presidency that the GOP coughed up a net 40 House seats in the 2018 midterms, easily losing control of the chamber. But the structure of the current Republican majority is much different than it was back in '18. Far fewer GOP seats now are in districts that are politically hostile to Trump and a far greater share are in politically safe Trump landslide districts. Nor are there as many marginal GOP incumbents in districts Trump carried only narrowly in the most recent presidential election. If successful, the redistricting push would amount to another big difference from 2018: It would give Republicans far more opportunities to play offense this time around.
