Turkish court jails mayor of opposition-run Adana pending trial as crackdown widens
Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar was detained on Saturday as part of a corruption probe into opposition-run municipalities, which has expanded dramatically from its roots in Istanbul.
In March, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, was also jailed pending trial over corruption charges.
As part of the widening crackdown, a separate court ruled to put under house arrest, pending trial, the mayor of the southern city of Adiyaman, Abdurrahman Tutdere.
The mayor of the district of Manavgat in the southern resort province of Antalya was also jailed pending trial over suspected bribery and corruption charges. The Interior Ministry later said the mayor had been suspended from his duty over the arrest.
All the mayors, from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), have denied the charges against them. The CHP, some Western countries and rights groups have called the arrests part of a politicised attempt by the government to remove electoral threats against Erdogan.
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, also from the CHP, said after the arrest of Karalar that the mayor's arrest was "part of different calculations" and not a sound legal process.
"We are not against prosecution. However, we want a fair, independent and unbiased prosecution. Because the law does not bend or twist according to the time or politics," he said on X.
The government denies influencing the judiciary and says the courts operate independently to investigate a ring of corruption at the municipalities.
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India reacts to Trump's 25% tariff on exports to US
(Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a 25% tariff on goods imported from India starting August 1 and an unspecified penalty for buying Russian weapons and oil. Trump's decision dashes hopes of a limited trade agreement between the two countries, which had been under negotiation for several months. Here are some reactions: MADHAVI ARORA, ECONOMIST, EMKAY GLOBAL "While the negotiations seem to have broken down, we don't think the trade deal haggling between the two nations is over yet. We see it more from the lens of geopolitics than purely economics and see both sides striving to get the deal done, even as the power equations may change a bit in U.S. favour." RANEN BANERJEE, PARTNER OF ECONOMIC ADVISORY, PWC INDIA "Higher tariffs for India compared to countries it competes with, for exports to the U.S., are going to be challenging. However, the expectation is that the trade deal is likely to be finalised shortly and hence the period of applicability of these higher tariffs could be short." NILESH SHAH, MD KOTAK MAHINDRA AMC "Despite the unpredictable policy making of the U.S., the market was expecting a tariff deal to work out as longer-term U.S.-India strategic interests are aligned. Markets will hope for a 'TACO' trade if better senses prevail. China is defying U.S./UN sanctions on Iran oil, Myanmar and Russia trade and North Korea support. Size and the competitiveness of the economy has its advantages. I hope and pray that this unilateral imposition should accelerate Indian policy making to be growth supportive. Our biggest deterrence continues to remain GDP size and competitiveness." AGNESHWAR SEN, TRADE POLICY LEADER, EY INDIA "The decision to raise the U.S. tariff to 25% on Indian exports is an unfortunate development, particularly given the strong strategic partnership that has been steadily built between India and the USA in recent years. However, it's important to note that both countries remain positively engaged in active negotiations with the U.S. team expected in India later in August to finalize a comprehensive trade agreement." KIRIT BHANSALI, CHAIRMAN, GEM AND JEWELLERY EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL INDIA "This is a deeply concerning development. The Indian gem and jewellery sector, in particular, stands to be severely impacted. The United States is our single largest market, accounting for over $10 billion in exports - nearly 30% of our industry's total global trade. A blanket tariff of this magnitude will place immense pressure on every part of the value chain. We recognise the need to address trade imbalances, but such extreme measures undermine decades of economic cooperation. We urge the U.S. administration to reconsider, and call on both governments to engage in constructive dialogue that safeguards bilateral trade and protects the millions of jobs that depend on it on both sides." N. THIRUKKUMARAN, GENERAL SECRETARY OF TIRUPPUR EXPORTERS' ASSOCIATION "It is just a negotiation tactic. Trade negotiations are ongoing. The Indian government is tough on certain terms like agriculture and dairy — India isn't opening up. If it goes through, U.S. exports from the association will be affected, because Vietnam has lower tariffs. We will be losing our competitive edge. We are optimistic that an imminent trade agreement will be on the lines of the one with the UK. We have to wait and watch, and not panic. There is no reason to panic." GARIMA KAPOOR, ECONOMIST, INSTITUTIONAL EQUITIES, ELARA SECURITIES, MUMBAI "Overall, we continue to see a deal by end Q3 but, a kneejerk reaction in Indian asset classes is likely in the near term." S.C. RALHAN, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION OF INDIAN EXPORT ORGANISATIONS "This is a major setback for Indian exporters, especially in sectors like textiles, footwear, and furniture, as the 25% tariff will render them uncompetitive in the US market against rivals from Vietnam, China, and elsewhere. However, we remain hopeful that both countries will work towards a bilateral trade agreement." AVINASH GORAKSHAKAR, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT PROFITMART SECURITIES "Until the final document is released, it's all speculation. India is a large, attractive market that the U.S. cannot afford to ignore, so any move will ultimately be weighed against long-term interests. My sense is that the August 1 deadline may itself be flexible and India is unlikely to budge easily. In the short term, the announcement could trigger some selling pressure, but in the longer term, I expect the impact to neutralize. India's market attractiveness remains intact." COLIN SHAH, MD, KAMA JEWELRY "With U.S. being one of the key export destinations, this will severely impact the sectors like gems and jewellery that are heavily dependent on exports. Going ahead, we expect trade activities to remain muted with U.S. However, we also need to wait and watch how the situation unfolds." RAHUL MEHTA, CHIEF MENTOR, CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA "Having seen the several about turns on the tariff front in the case of other countries, I would not press panic buttons right now. But, if the proposed terms do come into effect, it will make our products 7% to 10% more expensive than some of our competitors, and it will certainly hurt our apparel exports to the U.S. Fortunately, this set-back has come at the time when we have just signed an FTA with UK, and are proceeding rapidly with an FTA with EU." SAKSHI GUPTA, PRINCIPAL ECONOMIST, HDFC BANK, GURUGRAM "For now, the announcement of 25% tariffs is likely to cause volatility in the FX market with mounting depreciation pressure on the rupee. Although the RBI is likely to intervene tomorrow to tamp down the depreciation pressure." ADITI NAYAR, CHIEF ECONOMIST, ICRA "When the U.S. had initially imposed tariffs, we had lowered our forecast of India's GDP expansion to 6.2% for FY2026, presuming a tepid rise in exports and a delay in private capex. The tariff (and penalty) now proposed by the U.S. is higher than what we had anticipated, and is therefore likely to pose a headwind to India's GDP growth. The extent of the downside will depend on the size of the penalties imposed." ASHOK CHANDAK, PRESIDENT, INDIA ELECTRONICS & SEMICONDUCTOR ASSOCIATION "The imposition of a 25% tariff by the U.S. on Indian goods will be short term. Indian electronics exports is a short-term challenge that could disrupt supply chains and dent price competitiveness. India does not have any major advantage compared to other Asian countries anymore if 25% tariff above baseline 10% is continued. However, it also underlines the urgency for India's electronics sector to diversify export markets, deepen domestic markets, develop Indian brands and products, and move up the value chain to reduce dependency on price-sensitive, tariff-exposed exports." RISHI SHAH, PARTNER AND ECONOMIC ADVISORY SERVICES LEADER, GRANT THORNTON BHARAT "Given the escalating rhetoric around Russia-Ukraine negotiations, some form of adverse development was anticipated... the specifics of the additional 'penalty' beyond the 25% tariff may determine the actual economic impact." HARSHA VARDHAN AGARWAL, PRESIDENT, FEDERATION OF INDIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY "We hope that this imposition of higher tariffs will be a short-term phenomenon and that a permanent trade deal between the two sides will be finalised soon. The aim is to secure a beneficial pact rather than a hurried deal that gives short term benefit but may result in adverse outcomes in the long term. It is also important to note that India offers a large market for U.S. businesses and many of the large companies from the U.S. benefit from leveraging the demand as well as the skills and talent pool that we have to offer."
Yahoo
an hour ago
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China calls for more engagement with US, warns against confrontation
BEIJING (Reuters) -China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called for more engagement with the United States, and warned against confrontations between the two global powers, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry. Wang made the comments during a meeting in Beijing with a delegation of U.S. businesses that include executives from Goldman Sachs, Boeing and Apple, the ministry said. "China is willing to enhance engagement with the U.S., avoid misjudgment, manage differences, and explore cooperation," Wang was quoted as saying. His remarks came a day after top Chinese and U.S. negotiators wrapped up a latest round of trade talks in Stockholm, with both sides agreeing to seek an extension of their 90-day tariff truce struck in May. Wang said that China-U.S. relations are affected by global developments and exert a "profound impact" on international dynamics. "China and the U.S. need to establish more channels of communication and consultation, view each other objectively, rationally, and pragmatically, and foster a correct strategic perception," he said, urging both countries to reject "unilateralism and bullying". He encouraged U.S. companies to maintain confidence in the Chinese market, and welcomed them to continue to invest in China, the ministry statement said. A high-level delegation of U.S. executives is visiting China this week and has also met with China's commerce and industry ministers. The trip comes as Beijing and Washington work towards a summit between the two countries' leaders later this year, probably around the time of the APEC forum in South Korea from October 26 to November 1, sources previously told Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he thinks he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping before the end of the year, but did not elaborate. Solve the daily Crossword
UPI
2 hours ago
- UPI
The Jeffrey Epstein saga: a new national security threat?
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman speaks during a news conference about the arrest of American financier Jeffrey Epstein in New York on July 8, 2019, on sex trafficking charges, File photo by Jason Szenes July 30 (UPI) -- The sordid saga of the long dead and convicted predator Jeffrey Epstein not only poses a threat to Donald Trump's presidency, but it also conceivably threatens the credibility of the U.S. political system. Yet, an even more sinister and potentially dangerous threat lurks for the United States and its friends. The two threats are linked, ironically, by Epstein's ghost. Trump's MAGA base is furious that the promised Epstein files have not been released. What's worse is that that Attorney General Pam Bondi apparently informed Trump his name was in the file -- high-test fuel for that blaze. And, now, possibly to deflect attention, Trump and his director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, have accused former President Barack Obama of treason by interfering in the 2016 election with Russian help. In a nation as politically divided as America, any spark could ignite a political firestorm. Beijing, Moscow and others with malicious intent are intensely watching this saga. One conclusion must be that even greater opportunities exist today to interfere in United States and Western politics, not just exploiting this debacle. More importantly, creating new crises that manipulate and fracture political and social cohesion is a formidable danger. The U.K.'s Brexit is an example of manipulation. In the effort to withdraw from the European Union -- the Leave campaign -- former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his key adviser, Dominic Cummings determined that 1 million or so Britons lacked party affiliation. Then, using social media, this group was targeted with Leave propaganda generated by Cummings. That swung the vote to leave. Cummings was not alone. Substantial evidence exists that Moscow helped influence Brexit and the Leave campaign to weaken the Atlantic Alliance. And Moscow also interfered in the 2016 U.S. elections. Consider the infamous Steele Dossier. Among the allegations, the dossier accused Trump of lewd sexual behavior in Moscow. Suspend reality and imagine Vladimir Putin intervened to help elect Hillary Clinton as president in 2016. Following Cummings' lead, Russian trolls would have filled the Internet with deep-fake photos and invented stories exaggerating or inventing Trump's misconduct. One wonders who might have been elected 45th president. China and Moscow have significant interests in manipulating and fracturing American and Western cohesion. Putin is focused on winning in Ukraine, minimizing sanctions, and in the process, weakening Western solidarity. China is keen on reducing American economic and political influence, as well as annexing Taiwan. It would be negligent to not assume China and Russia are identifying critical weaknesses and potential future fracture points in the United States and elsewhere. In that event where might they focus? National political systems, given the Epstein debacle and national infrastructures, are the two most obvious candidates. Regarding the United States, the Constitution and its system of government based on checks and balances and a division of power among three co-equal branches are the best targets. A super-majority of Americans is highly distrustful and disdainful of government. Exploiting this distrust would not be difficult using the ubiquity of social media and the propensity of Americans to embrace conspiracy theories. Epstein and the Steele Dossier are two examples of how possible future fractures can be invented to sow political, social and economic disruption. The difference is that these effects could be even more destructive. Regarding infrastructure, Israeli and Ukrainian infiltration of two societies with seeming control of their borders and people to launch surprise attacks deep into Iran and Russia underscores how potentially vulnerable military bases and installations are to drones. And even more susceptible to drone attacks are electric generation and power grids, which could cause nationwide disruption. Kinetic attacks on military and civilian infrastructure are fraught with risk. But perceived threats are not. The strategy would be to use a variant of Orson Welles' provocation of massive public and psychological panic in his radio broadcast of War of the Worlds in 1938. Consider future Wellesian scenarios on steroids that threaten catastrophic events or apply fake news reports of spreading epidemics or environmental, financial and other disasters to induce fear and disruption. Concocting new and credible conspiracy theories would be part of this disruptive strategy. None of this is new. The USSR used the Comintern, Cominform and KGB to misinform, disinform, disrupt and provoke. The United States and the U.K. employed similar techniques principally against the Nazis in World War II. However, today is different because social and other media can turn these activities into political weapons of mass disruption. The United States will survive Epstein. Against determined adversaries who intend to create and exploit new political fractures, are the United States and the West ready? That answer is sadly no. Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist, senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, chairman of a private company and principal author of the doctrine of shock and awe. His next book, co-written with Field Marshal The Lord David Richards, former U.K. chief of defense and due out next year, is Who Thinks Best Wins: Preventing Strategic Catastrophe. The writer can be reached on X @harlankullman.
