Turkish prosecutors add charges of forging diploma against jailed Istanbul mayor
Imamoglu, at the center of a sprawling legal crackdown on the main opposition party, has been jailed since March 23 pending trial. He denies the allegations against him, which his party says are orchestrated to protect Erdogan in power.
His indictment over his diploma was reported by Milliyet newspaper, which said prosecutors were seeking eight years and nine months of prison time for the new charges. Reuters could not immediately obtain the document.
On March 18, Istanbul University said it had annulled Imamoglu's diploma. He was detained a day later on the corruption charges, triggering Turkey's largest protests in a decade, and later jailed pending trial.
His detention has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and some foreign leaders, who call the case politically motivated and anti-democratic. The government denies the case is political.
Imamoglu is the main opposition Republican People's Party's presidential candidate in any future election. He won re-election as mayor in March last year by a wide margin against a candidate from Erdogan's ruling AK Party.
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Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
India's Online Gaming Bill 2025: Regulation or disguise for prohibition?
Reuters Representative image In the past decade, India has become one of the world's fastest growing online gaming markets, with nearly half-a-billion users and a projected addition of 250,000 jobs by 2025, as reported by EY India's New frontiers: Navigating the evolving landscape for online gaming in India in 2023. It has become a mainstream industry that caters to employment generation, innovation and tech, while also propelling India's global digital the introduction of Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, there appears to be speculation among stakeholders. By proposing a blanket ban on online money gaming while selectively encouraging e-sports and casual games, GoI's intent seems inclined more towards prohibition than regulation in disguise. This approach may fail to address the sources of harm while undermining the domestic gaming ecosystem that India has progressively built. It is undeniable that the Bill's intentions are well placed, as it attempts to address problems of addiction, consumer protection and prevention of money laundering. However, in practice, it may inadvertently create an illegal betting economy and encourage the gambling industry. This may undermine India's domestic gaming sector and its digital Make in India ambitions. The areas of concern include: Disadvantages Indian innovator e-Sports and casual gaming sectors are dominated by international giants, whereas India's domestic gaming companies are in the skill-based money games space. Out of India's 488 mn gamer base, more than 155 mn are engaged with real-money gaming (RMG) sub-segments like fantasy sports and other transaction-based games, making it the largest segment in the country's gaming economy. This could distort the market under the guise of consumer protection. Moreover, by equating legitimate businesses with gambling, the Bill risks setting a dangerous precedent that not only undermines judicially recognised distinctions between games of skill and games of chance, but also violates the constitutionally guaranteed right to trade and occupation under Article 19(1)(g), thereby affecting multiple stakeholders who have built a value chain around this sector. Overlooks money mechanics in casual gaming The Bill overlooks real-money mechanics in casual gaming, social gaming and video gaming. If addiction and overspending are the concern, the real danger lies in in-app purchases, microtransactions and loot boxes, which are key features embedded in such games. These monetisation models rely on psychological nudges that resemble gambling mechanics. Players routinely spend on skins, upgrades and loot boxes, which use triggers that encourage repeat spending, as suggested by the 2023 IAMAI and the Netherlands have classified loot boxes as gambling and imposed bans. Meanwhile, Japan enforces strict disclosure norms without prohibiting the mechanic altogether. India should analyse these models and adapt them while keeping in view indigenous ecosystems. Prohibition doesn't work Instead of reducing harm, prohibitions create black markets that are harder to regulate and far riskier for users. In states where RMG is banned, such as Telangana, over 3,900 betting platform-related violations were documented in 2025. Additionally, 25 celebrities and influencers faced charges for endorsing prohibited betting platforms. Moreover, prohibition risks discounting the judgement of adult gamers. Many view RMG as a form of entertainment or relaxation and should have the right to make that choice under a regulated regime. Regulation must avoid paternalism, providing safeguards without underestimating user agency. Skill vs chance Courts have reiterated that games like rummy and fantasy sports involve a substantial degree of skill and cannot be equated with gambling. By putting all online money games into the same category, the Bill ignores judicial precedent, stifles skill-based industries and chills investor confidence in a fast-growing digital sector. By equating the two, it erases this intelligible difference and treats legitimate skill-based industries as if they were indistinguishable from betting or lotteries. Weak framework While the Bill hints at the creation of a central regulatory authority, this stands in stark contradiction to MeitY's 2023 amendment to the IT Rules 2021, which had envisioned industry-led self-regulatory bodies with GoI oversight. The sudden pivot to a stringent central authority reflects a dichotomous approach. Instead, GoI could have institutionalised responsible gaming measures, mandated transparency and created safeguards for vulnerable groups such as minors. Such a model would align better with global best practices and balance innovation with consumer forward, GoI must: Create a transparent system that mandates disclosure of odds, pricing and spending limits on loot boxes and in-app purchases. Initiate age-appropriate safeguarding protocols with verification mechanisms and parental oversight in cases of minor gamers. Adopt a self-regulatory model where compliances are monitored by an independent regulator. Together, these measures can construct a transparent, user-friendly and accountable ecosystem. To attain Aatmanirbhar Bharat, GoI must strive to make India a hub of a world-class gaming ecosystem. User protection must go together with technological innovation to uphold the essence of Viksit Bharat. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. 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Time of India
3 hours ago
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Kneecap rapper Liam O'Hanna faces terror charge over Hezbollah flag as fans rally in London
The usually grey steps of Westminster Magistrates' Court were anything but quiet on Wednesday. Dozens of Kneecap supporters, waving banners and chanting 'Free Palestine,' flooded the streets in a show of solidarity with Liam O'Hanna, the band's 27-year-old rapper known on stage as Mo Chara. A sea of protest in central London O'Hanna, dressed defiantly and flanked by his bandmates, arrived to face charges of supporting a banned organisation. Prosecutors allege he displayed a Hezbollah flag during a London performance in November 2024, a move that could carry up to 14 years in prison under UK anti-terrorism laws. 🇬🇧 #Kneecap rapper #MoChara, also known as Liam O'Hanna, has been charged with a #terrorism offence over allegedly displaying a #Hezbollah flag at a London concert last more details: Reuters A charge rooted in controversy The case hinges not only on O'Hanna's alleged actions but also on timing. Legal arguments are being made over whether the prosecution missed the six-month window for filing such a charge. Supporters of the rapper describe the case as politically charged and absurd, pointing to Britain's wider clampdown on dissent over Gaza. Since Hezbollah was banned in the UK in 2019, any public support is deemed a criminal offence. Prosecutors argue O'Hanna not only wore the group's flag but also shouted slogans backing Hamas and Hezbollah. Kneecap, however, insists the video evidence has been taken out of context and branded the proceedings a 'farce.' Fans call it 'ludicrous' Among the crowd outside court was Mary Hobbs, a 31-year-old fan from Belfast, who had taken time off work to stand in solidarity. She said the charges highlight what she described as a broken justice system, where symbolic gestures are treated as terrorism offences while the public clamours for fairness. Between art, politics, and provocation Kneecap is no stranger to controversy. The punk-rap trio, performing in both Irish and English, has long relished its reputation as troublemakers. Their lyrics reference drugs, their stage antics spark outrage, and their politics, from anti-British sentiment to fiery support for Palestine, often ignite headlines. Still, their supporters insist the group is being persecuted for speaking truth to power, while detractors call them dangerous extremists cloaked in rebellion. A band that thrives on the edge Since their formation in 2017, Kneecap have turned provocation into an art form, winning awards, selling out shows, and starring in a Sundance-winning film that cemented their cult status. Now, as Mo Chara fights a terrorism charge, the band faces its most dramatic clash yet, not with censors or critics, but with the British courts.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Death toll in Nigeria mosque attack rises to 50, dozens abducted
The death toll from an attack by gunmen on a mosque and nearby homes in Nigeria's northwest Katsina state has risen to at least 50, with around 60 others abducted, local officials and residents said on Wednesday (August 20, 2025). The attack occurred early on Tuesday in the remote community of Unguwan Mantau, in Malumfashi district, as Muslim worshippers gathered for Fajr, the dawn prayer. Witnesses reported that armed assailants arrived on motorcycles, opening fire inside the mosque before moving through the village. Aminu Ibrahim, a lawmaker representing Malumfashi, said at least 30 people were killed and 20 others burned alive in what he described as a series of brutal attacks on the community. Katsina police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu said officers intercepted the attackers and successfully prevented a planned assault on two villages. But while fleeing through Mantau, the attackers opened fire on residents. Several homes were also set ablaze before security forces arrived at the scene, he said. Survivors recounted harrowing scenes of women and girls being dragged away by the assailants. "They started shooting inside the mosque while people were praying," said Muhammad Abdullahi, a resident. "My neighbour was killed. I was lucky I didn't come out early." On Tuesday, Fatima Abakar, an official at the local general hospital, told Reuters that 27 bodies were registered at the morgue, though many victims were taken by relatives for Islamic burial rites. Northwest Nigeria has seen a surge in attacks by gangs, known locally as bandits, in recent years, targeting villages and highways, abducting residents for ransom, and extorting farming communities.
