Turkish court convicts jailed Istanbul mayor and Erdogan rival of threatening a public official
Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is being held in a prison west of Istanbul since March 23, is expected to appeal the verdict, which is part of several ongoing legal proceedings against him.
The case, which predates his arrest, stems from comments he made on Jan. 20 in which he criticized Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akin Gurlek, accusing him of targeting opposition figures through alleged politically motivated investigations.
The court on Wednesday convicted Imamoglu of insulting and threatening Gurlek but acquitted him of the charge of publicly identifying him with the intent of making him a target.
Imamoglu, regarded as the main challenger to 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 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. Imamoglu himself has described the trial as 'punishment, not justice,' and accused the judiciary of acting under government pressure.
Erdogan's government insists that the courts are impartial and free of political involvement.
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Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thousands gather to protest as Zelenskyy signs bill weakening anti-corruption agencies
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine on Tuesday to urge the president to veto a controversial bill that threatens anti-corruption infrastructure. It marked the first major rally against the government in more than three years of war. Ukraine 's parliament passed legislation that will tighten oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies, which critics say could significantly weaken their independence and give President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's circle greater sway over investigations. Zelenskyy signed the bill into law, according to the parliament's website late Tuesday. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's bid to join the European Union and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid. The legislation's passage has triggered public outrage in Ukraine, with some saying it appeared to be a greater moral blow than the routine Russian drone and missile attacks. The changes would grant the prosecutor general new authority over investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). 'In effect, if this bill becomes law, the head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor general's office,' the agencies said in a joint statement on Telegram. In a post on X, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote in the parliament, called the Rada, calling it 'a serious step back.' Kos added: 'Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO are essential for Ukraine's EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations." While rallies have taken place during the war in Ukraine, they have largely focused on the return of prisoners of war or missing people. Protests, however, remain a traditional form of public pressure in Ukraine, where two previous revolutions were victorious for the public. 'Corruption is a problem in any country, and it must always be fought,' said Ihor Lachenkov, a blogger and activist who urged people to join the protest through his social media platforms, which reach more than 1.5 million followers. 'Ukraine has far fewer resources than Russia in this war," he said. "If we misuse them, or worse, allow them to end up in the pockets of thieves, our chances of victory diminish. All our resources must go toward the fight.' The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and damages trust with international partners. The group urged Zelenskyy to veto the law, warning that otherwise he would share responsibility with the Rada for "dismantling Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure.' Many protesters carried signs reading 'Veto the law,' 'Protect the anti-corruption system, protect Ukraine's future,' or simply 'We are against it.' The mood of anger and frustration among the war-weary Ukrainians prevailed in the crowd. Some protesters accused Ukraine's leadership of prioritizing loyalty and personal connections over the fight against corruption. 'Those who swore to protect the laws and the Constitution have instead chosen to shield their inner circle, even at the expense of Ukrainian democracy,' said veteran Oleh Symoroz, sitting in a wheelchair because both his legs were amputated after he was wounded in 2022. 'Instead of setting an example of zero tolerance for corruption, the president is using his power to take control of criminal cases involving his allies,' he said. On Monday, Ukraine's domestic security agency detained two NABU officials on suspicion of links to Russia and searched other agency employees on unrelated allegations. Zelenskyy's office didn't respond to a request for comment. Last week, the president carried out a reshuffle of his wartime Cabinet, a move widely viewed as further consolidating power within his inner circle. Hanna Arhirova And Vasilisa Stepanenko, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Geek Vibes Nation
an hour ago
- Geek Vibes Nation
'The Card Player' 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review - Dario Argento Takes His Giallo Antics Online
In Rome, Inspector Anna Mari receives a macabre surprise for her birthday when an email lands in her inbox from someone calling themself 'The Card Player', and claiming to be the one responsible for the recent kidnapping of a British tourist. In a sadistic twist, the kidnapper challenges the authorities to a game of online poker to determine whether the young woman lives or dies. When the Police Commissioner forbids his team to go through with the game, the maniac brutally slaughters the tourist before their very eyes via webcam, later dumping the body in a river. As more and more women are abducted from the streets of the Italian capital and subjected to the same treatment, Anna Mari joins forces with Irish policeman John Brennan and young poker whizz-kid Remo in an attempt to beat The Card Player at their own deadly game. A later giallo offering from the master of the form, Dario Argento's (Deep Red, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage) THE CARD PLAYER takes all the familiar trappings of the genre and plants them firmly in an early 2000s milieu, complete with a fittingly pulsing, contemporary electronic score by Claudio Simonetti (Suspiria, Tenebrae). Co-scripted by regular Argento collaborator Franco Ferrini (Phenomena, Demons) and featuring gruesome corpse special effects from Sergio Stivaletti (Cemetery Man), Vinegar Syndrome is delighted to present THE CARD PLAYER in its world UHD debut, newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative and loaded with a full deck of both new and archival extras. For thoughts on The Card Player, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic here. Video Quality The Card Player comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray from Vinegar Syndrome with a 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer in 1.85:1 that is derived from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. The film was last released on Blu-Ray in 2022 by Scorpion Releasing from an older master that was decent but left room for improvement. This new 4K UHD release brings out so much more life that allows the film to flourish and impress. The presentation is impeccable throughout with image stability and delineation being top notch. Instances of print damage have been mostly eradicated, although there is some lingering damage near the beginning of the film. Otherwise, overall clarity and detail are excellent. This transfer retains the natural film grain of the presentation with everything resolving seamlessly and consistently. Colors are deftly saturated to bring out the complexity of the environments and certain articles of clothing. Skin tones are natural with subtle facial features easily noticeable in close-ups. Black levels are deep with nothing in the way of crush, and highlights avoid any unsightly blooming. This presentation is a major win for fans of the film. Audio Quality This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix in both Italian and English that captures the intention of the film as well as the source will allow. A personal pet peeve with a film this recent is the decision to film with actors in different languages and post-dubbing to match the language chosen. No matter which track you choose, there are going to be some characters who are dubbed. This is a side effect of the filming technique and not an issue with the disc. That being said, the dialogue is strong, coming through clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely from the chatter at the police station to the train in the final segment. The track avoids any instances of age-related wear and tear or distortion. The music from Claudio Simonetti maintains a pleasing fidelity as it comes through the room. This is a track that represents the film as was intended by Argento. Newly translated optional Italian-to-English and English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc. Special Features Audio Commentary: Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson deliver a really great commentary track in which they discuss the divisive nature of the feature, how this finds Argento functioning in a very different mode, the shot composition of the feature, how this film evolved into something very different from the the original plans, the performances in the film and more. These two like the film quite a bit more than I did, but it is nice to hear different arguments as to why they think it succeeds. Playing the Game – Interview with Actress Stefania Rocca: A new 27-minute interview with the star in which she discusses her early love of Dario Argento, her surprise at getting to star in one of his movies, the direct line of communication she had with Argento, the complexity of her character, and more. Digital Nightmare – Interview with Composer Claudio Simonetti: A new 19-minute interview with the composer in which he discusses the fun he had composing The Card Player , incorporating electronic music into the score, collaborating with Argento, the negative reaction he has received from certain fans, and more. Like In War – Interview with Make-up Artist Sergio Stivaletti: A new ten-minute interview with the make-up artist in which he discusses working with Argento, the scenes he felt were most important to get right, creating a realistic-looking corpse, and more. Sharp Cuts – Interview with Editor Walter Fasano: A new 20-minute interview with the editor in which he discusses his admiration for Argento, stepping in as an editor for Argento after a fight with his previous collaborator, letting go of his reverence in the editing room, and more. Watch Me When I Kill – Interview with Director/Screenwriter Dario Argento: An 18-minute archival interview with Argento is provided here in which he discusses his inspiration to make the film, having the lead characters be police, the shooting locations, the decision to not shoot in Venice, the work on his new cinematographer, the performances and more. Taking Risks – Interview with Screenwriter Franco Ferrini: A nine-minute archival interview with Ferrini in which he talks about Argento contacting him with initial ideas, the real-life inspirations for the story, the intentional bleakness of the locations, how it compares to other Argento films and more. A Chip And A Chair – Interview with Set Designer Antonello Geleng: A 12-minute archival conversation with Geleng in which he talks about his thoughts on abandoning the idea to shoot in Venice, finding a balance between real locations and sets, how the setting ties into the themes of the film, the lighting of the film, his collaborations with Argento, his feelings towards the film and more. Game Over – Interview with Actress Fiore Argento: A nearly nine-minute interview with 'Lucia Marini' in which she discusses where she was at this point in her career, her father writing a role specifically for her, the lighting and costumes in the film, what she represented in the film, how his style and temperament evolved from his earlier days, and more that is very insightful. Archival Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: A nearly ten-minute piece that gives a broad overview of the creation of the film. Final Thoughts The Card Player is an interesting giallo mostly due to the fact that it is made by the one and only Dario Argento. The legend does not seem to be comfortable working with stories in recent decades, as he has more of a classic sensibility that fits into a certain time period. This effort feels slightly stilted in its execution, yet there are undeniably some thrilling set pieces that will appeal to longtime fans of the filmmaker. Vinegar Syndrome has released a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a mostly great A/V presentation and a pleasing array of special features. If you are a completist for Dario Argento, this is the best release of the film. The Card Player is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Vinegar Syndrome has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Carlos Ghosn, French Minister Set to Face Corruption Trial
By and Gaspard Sebag Updated on Save Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan and Renault chief who once escaped Japan in a box, must stand trial alongside French culture minister Rachida Dati over alleged corruption tied to consultancy fees she received more than a decade ago. The escalation follows a long-running probe into payments to Dati when she was serving as a lawyer and member of the European Parliament. The case is expected to center on whether she provided any genuine advisory work in return for the money she received from Renault-Nissan BV, the Amsterdam-based entity created to coordinate the carmakers' alliance.
