Latest news with #MuradSezer
Japan Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Black smoke signals no pope elected in first conclave vote
Black smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating no decision has been made to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer By Crispian Balmer, Joshua McElwee and Philip Pullella Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday evening, signaling an inconclusive first vote by cardinals locked in the Sistine Chapel in a conclave to elect a new pope to guide the Roman Catholic Church. Thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square waiting for smoke to pour from a narrow flue on the roof of the chapel at the end of a day rich in ritual and pageantry, with prelates praying for divine guidance in their secret ballot. The crowds had to be patient as it took longer than expected for the smoke to appear, more than three hours after the start of the conclave. This was an hour more than it took for smoke to be seen after the first vote in the 2013 conclave that picked the late Pope Francis. When a pope is chosen, white smoke will emerge, but this had not been expected on Wednesday - a pontiff has not been picked on the first day of a conclave in modern times. However, some cardinals said this week that they hoped to wrap things up by Thursday or Friday to show the Church can remain unified after the often divisive, 12-year papacy of Francis, who died last month. The 133 cardinal electors, who are all aged under 80, will spend the night secluded in one of two Vatican guesthouses - where they can continue their deliberations in a more informal setting before returning to the chapel on Thursday morning. Following Wednesday's single round of voting, the red-hatted "princes of the Church" will hold two votes in the morning session and two in the afternoon, continuing in coming days until one man has secured a majority of at least two-thirds - 89 cardinals this time around. Their only communication with the outside world will be the smoke from the chimney as they burn their completed ballot papers mixed with special chemicals - black when a voting session ends with no result, white when a pontiff is elected. Modern papal conclaves are typically short. The 2013 conclave lasted just two days, likewise in 2005. In recent days, cardinals have offered different assessments of what they are looking for in the next pontiff who will lead the 1.4-billion-member Church. While some have called for continuity with Francis' vision of greater openness and reform, others have said they want to turn the clock back and embrace old traditions. Many have indicated they want a more predictable, measured pontificate. 'GOOD OF THE CHURCH' In a sermon ahead of the conclave, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who at 91 is too old to take part in the vote, told his fellow prelates they must set aside "every personal consideration" in choosing the new pontiff and keep in mind "only ... the good of the Church and of humanity". He also suggested the next pope had to respect diversity within the Church. "Unity does not mean uniformity, but a firm and profound communion in diversity," he said. Some ultra-conservatives had branded Francis as a heretic, accusing him of being too welcoming to the LGBT community, too accommodating to Protestants and Muslims and too open on a range of topics, including offering communion for the divorced. No clear favorite has emerged, although Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are considered the front-runners. However, if it quickly becomes obvious that neither can win, votes are likely to shift to other contenders, with the electors possibly coalescing around geography, doctrinal affinity or common languages. Among other potential candidates are France's Jean-Marc Aveline, Hungary's Peter Erdo, American Robert Prevost and Italy's Pierbattista Pizzaballa. A record 133 cardinals from 70 countries entered the Sistine Chapel, up from 115 from 48 nations in the last conclave in 2013 - growth that reflects efforts by Francis during his 12-year reign to extend the geographical reach of the Church. Among their considerations will be whether they should seek a pope from the global South where congregations are growing, as they did in 2013 with Francis, from Argentina, or hand back the reins to Europe, or even pick a first U.S. pope. Latin chants and organ music accompanied the cardinals as they processed into the frescoed Sistine Chapel before the conclave began, with Michelangelo's depiction of Christ delivering the Last Judgment dominating the 500-year-old room. They laid their hands on the Gospels, taking a vow of secrecy not to divulge anything about their gathering. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican's master of ceremonies, then pronounced the Latin command "Extra omnes!" (Everyone out!) telling those not involved in the gathering to leave the room, with the chapel's heavy wooden doors slamming shut on the outside world. There is not meant to be any discussion in the voting sessions but past experience suggests there will be plenty of covert campaigning during breaks and meals as the names of "papabili" rise and fall in successive ballots. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
The Star
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Turkish bank appeals Iran sanctions decision to US Supreme Court
FILE PHOTO: People walk past a branch of Halkbank in central Istanbul, Turkey, January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) - Turkey's Halkbank asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling saying it can be prosecuted for allegedly helping Iran evade American sanctions, a U.S.-based lawyer for the bank said on Monday. The Supreme Court had given Halkbank until Monday to file a petition appealing the October 22, 2024, decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan allowing the prosecution. In a letter to the appeals court, Halkbank's lawyer Robert Cary said the bank has filed the petition. The petition was not available on the Supreme Court's website. Cary did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Halkbank pleaded not guilty to fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges over its alleged use of money servicers and front companies in Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to evade sanctions. U.S. prosecutors said Halkbank helped Iran secretly transfer $20 billion of restricted funds, converted oil revenue into gold and cash to benefit Iranian interests, and documented fake food shipments to justify transfers of oil proceeds. Brought in 2019, the case has been a thorn in U.S.-Turkeyrelations, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan calling it an "unlawful, ugly" step. The countries' ties have soured in the last decade, amid disagreements on Syria, Ankara's ties with Moscow and other matters. But on Monday, Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump each said they had a very productive phone call earlier in the day, and had invited each other to their respective countries. Halkbank's case is making a second trip to the Supreme Court. In 2023, that court said Congress' desire to shield foreign countries and theirinstrumentalities from civil liability under the federal Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 did not cover criminal cases. But in a 7-2 decision, it said the 2nd Circuit should more fully review whether common law immunity shielded Halkbank, leading to last October's ruling. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Howard Goller)
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
All cardinals who will elect new pope arrive in Rome ahead of conclave
Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez walks as he departs a general congregation meeting ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa departs a general congregation meeting ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer Cardinals walk as they depart a general congregation meeting ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa departs a general congregation meeting ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer All cardinals who will elect new pope arrive in Rome ahead of conclave VATICAN CITY - All of the 133 cardinals expected to take part in the secret conclave to elect a new pope have arrived in Rome, the Vatican said on Monday, with the race to succeed Pope Francis seen as wide open. The conclave will start behind the closed, wooden doors of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon, with all cardinals aged under 80 entitled to take part to choose a successor to Francis, who died last month. Some cardinals are looking for a new pope who will continue with Francis' push for a more transparent, welcoming Church, while others are seeking retrenchment to more traditional roots that put a premium on doctrine. Conclaves are often spread out over several days, with multiple votes held before a contender wins the necessary three-quarters majority to become pope. The world's Catholic cardinals have been meeting on a near daily basis since the day after Francis' death on April 21 to discuss the state of the 1.4-billion-member Church, with the numbers of participating clerics gradually swelling. The Vatican said 180 cardinals, including 132 electors, took part in a meeting on Monday morning. The 133rd elector is also in Rome, but did not take part in the discussions. Two cardinals, one from Spain and one from Kenya, will not be joining the conclave for health reasons, the Vatican said. Among the questions addressed on Monday were "strong concern" about divisions within the Church, said the Vatican spokesman -- a possible reference to splits over Francis' decision to allow blessings for same-sex partners and to open discussion about the role of women in the Church. Cardinals also talked about the profile of a future pope -- "a figure who must be present, close, capable of being a bridge and a guide ... a shepherd close to the real life of the people," the spokesman said. CHANGING LISTS While there are a few cardinals seen as potential front-runners to succeed Francis -- two often mentioned are Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle -- many of the voting clerics have not made up their minds. "My list is changing, and I think it will continue to change over the next few days," British Cardinal Vincent Nichols, participating in his first conclave, told Reuters. "It's a process which for me is far from concluded, far from concluded." The cardinals will hold a second session of talks on Monday afternoon, with a final round expected on Tuesday. Two Vatican guest houses will house the cardinals during the conclave, when they will be barred from contact with the outside world. German Cardinal Walter Kasper, who is 92 and cannot take part in the vote, said he was sure the electors would choose someone to pursue Francis' progressive agenda. "I believe that there is a very clear expectation. People want a pope to follow Francis. A pastor who knows the language of the heart, who does not close himself in palaces," Kasper told La Stampa newspaper. "Of course, there are also cardinals who hope for a change of direction with respect to Francis. But my impression ... is that the majority of cardinals are in favour of continuity." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
COP29 president Azerbaijan will submit delayed climate plan by September
COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev walks during a closing plenary meeting at the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Murad Sezer COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev speaks during a closing plenary meeting at the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev holds a hammer as he attends a plenary meeting, during the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Murad Sezer LONDON - Azerbaijan, host of last year's United Nations climate summit, will deliver its overdue climate action plan by September, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev told Reuters on Thursday, adding the oil-producing country was advancing its green energy transition, Azerbaijan had said it would use its presidency of the annual U.N. talks to lead by example and persuade countries to submit national climate plans aligned with the U.N. goal to try to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit)above pre-industrial levels. The Paris Agreement requires all countries to submit Nationally Determined Contributions, or climate action plans, that describe policies or decisions to cut emissions, and update them every few years. But only a handful of countries submitted plans by the original February deadline and Azerbaijan was among those who failed to do so, prompting the U.N. to extend the deadline to September. "It is very easy to declare something," Babayev said, noting that countries may have delayed submission of their NDCs due to the need for more preparation into developing their programmes. He said Azerbaijan was developing a comprehensive programme on a transition to a lower carbon economy and would submit its plan by September. Campaigners are concerned global efforts to tackle climate change are losing momentum after the United States, historically the biggest producer of greenhouse gases, under President Donald Trump has withdrawn from the United Nations' efforts and big business has abandoned sustainability goals. Babayev said Azerbaijan was working towards a goal to generate 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and planned to increase its solar capacity, as well as seeking to export offshore wind from the Caspian Sea to EU customers. "For us, it's so important to demonstrate how the country with a big oil and gas history (has) now turned the economy to the green energy direction," he said. Only 19 countries have submitted new Nationally Determined Contributions, according to tracker Climate Watch. Azerbaijan this year hands the presidency of the U.N. talks to Brazil, which will host COP30 in November. REUTERS Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Turkish police scuffle with May Day protesters in Istanbul, detain hundreds
Detained protesters shout slogans from inside a bus, as people attempt to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square to celebrate May Day, in Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer People march to celebrate May Day, in Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya People hold a banner with the picture of Ekrem Imamoglu, the arrested mayor of Istanbul, as they gather to celebrate May Day, in Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya People gather to celebrate May Day, in Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya People march to celebrate May Day, in Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya People march to celebrate May Day, in Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya People carry banners as they march to celebrate May Day, in Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya Protesters scuffle with riot police as they attempt to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square to celebrate May Day in Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas A protester gestures as she is detained, on the day people attempt to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square to celebrate May Day, in Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer Plain-clothed police members detain a protester, as people attempt to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square to celebrate May Day in Istanbul, Turkey May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas ISTANBUL - Turkish police charged May Day protesters in Istanbul on Thursday, detaining hundreds of people and dragging some away in buses after they tried to defy a ban on public gatherings and march towards Taksim Square. Unions and NGOs had called for protests and marches across Istanbul, which has seen a wave of mass demonstrations in recent weeks over the detention of its mayor and President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, Ekrem Imamoglu. On Thursday, protesters attempted to march towards central Istanbul's Taksim Square, where all protests have been banned for years, under overcast and rainy weather. Police blocked them in Istanbul's central Besiktas and Sisli districts and pushed them back, scuffling with some who attempted to break through barricades. Footage from Istanbul showed riot police and protesters charging at each other. Protesters held up signs and chanted slogans as police forcefully hauled detainees to waiting buses. The Istanbul governor's office said in a statement that 384 people who demonstrated without authorisation had been detained. Gatherings in Turkey for International Labour Day are held annually, but police have often intervened in recent years. Last year, police detained more than 200 people attempting to march to Taksim Square. In 1977, 34 people were killed during May Day demonstrations in the square. Ozgur Ozel, head of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), to which Imamoglu also belongs, said the ban on demonstrations and marches in Taksim Square showed "the ruling party's insecurity and lack of confidence". "Imprisoning a square with thousands of police shows those who lead the country have no real authority and have turned the state into a police state," Ozel told reporters. In Ankara, Erdogan hosted representatives from unions and various professional fields to mark May Day. He said his government had, over the years, lifted some restrictions on labourers and implemented several legal amendments to improve working conditions. Thousands more rallied in Ankara for largely peaceful marches and demonstrations, while gatherings were held in other cities as well. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
