分类： politics

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, currently imprisoned on corruption charges, was transported to the city’s main courthouse on Sunday for questioning in a newly initiated espionage investigation. The probe, launched two days prior, focuses on alleged connections between Imamoglu’s political campaign and an individual arrested in July for suspected intelligence activities on behalf of foreign states. Imamoglu’s former campaign manager, Necati Ozkan, and journalist Merdan Yanardag are also under scrutiny as part of the investigation. This marks the first time Imamoglu has left Istanbul’s Marmara Prison, where he has been held in pretrial detention since March, in seven months. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the courthouse to demonstrate solidarity with the opposition leader, who is widely seen as a political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Critics argue that the investigation is part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures, particularly following significant gains by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in last year’s local elections. CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel addressed the crowd, vowing to continue democratic resistance against what he described as oppression and injustice. Faruk Kılıç, a 26-year-old electrician, expressed his determination to support Imamoglu, stating, ‘I believe these injustices will never cease, so I will offer my support till the very end.’ Erdogan’s government maintains that the judiciary operates independently and that the investigations are solely focused on corruption.

Catherine Connolly, an independent member of the Irish parliament (TD), has been elected as the 10th President of the Republic of Ireland following a historic landslide victory. Connolly secured an unprecedented 914,143 first preference votes, accounting for 63% of the total votes cast, the highest in Irish presidential election history. Her triumph was officially announced on Saturday evening at Dublin Castle, where she defeated Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys. Outgoing President Michael D. Higgins congratulated Connolly, describing the day as “momentous” and pledging his office’s “full support” ahead of her inauguration on November 11. However, the election also saw a record 213,738 spoiled votes, nearly 13% of the total, prompting calls for reflection on voter dissatisfaction and the limited candidate choices. Humphreys garnered 29% of first preference votes, while Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin, who withdrew from the race but remained on the ballot, secured 7%. BBC NI’s Dublin correspondent, Gabija Gataveckaite, noted that the high number of spoiled ballots sends a clear message to the government about the electorate’s discontent. Tánaiste Simon Harris acknowledged the issue, emphasizing the need for “soul searching” after a 46% voter turnout. Connolly, a TD since 2016, was supported by major left-wing parties, including Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and the Greens. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald expressed confidence that Connolly’s victory could pave the way for a left-wing coalition in the next general election. During her campaign, Connolly positioned herself as a proponent of a united Ireland, advocating for a border poll during her seven-year presidency. McDonald echoed this sentiment, expressing optimism that Connolly’s tenure would see significant progress toward this goal.

MOSCOW, Russia — In a significant development for Russia’s military capabilities, President Vladimir Putin announced the successful testing of a new nuclear-capable cruise missile, the Burevestnik, which is designed to evade existing defense systems. The announcement was made during a meeting with senior military officials, as shown in a Kremlin-released video on Sunday. Dressed in camouflage fatigues, Putin was briefed by General Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s Chief of General Staff, who revealed that the missile had traveled 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) during a critical test on Tuesday. The Burevestnik, also known as the Storm Petrel, remained airborne for 15 hours, with Gerasimov noting that this was not its maximum capability. Putin emphasized the need to finalize the missile’s testing and prepare the necessary infrastructure for its deployment, asserting that its nearly unlimited range and unpredictable flight path render it invulnerable to current and future missile defenses. The announcement coincided with Russia’s strategic nuclear forces conducting drills on Wednesday, which included practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles from northwestern Russia and a submarine in the Barents Sea, as well as long-range cruise missile firings by Tu-95 strategic bombers. The Kremlin stated that the exercises aimed to evaluate the proficiency of military command structures.

In a significant development toward peace, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant Kurdish group, declared on Sunday its decision to withdraw its fighters from Turkey to Iraq. The announcement, made in northern Iraq, marks a pivotal step in the ongoing peace process between the PKK and Turkey. This move follows a symbolic ceremony months earlier where PKK fighters began laying down their weapons, signaling a commitment to de-escalation. The PKK, which has been engaged in a decades-long insurgency against Turkey since the 1980s, has been responsible for tens of thousands of deaths. The group’s statement, issued by Sabri Ok, emphasized the withdrawal of all forces to the Medya Defense Area in northern Iraq, a term frequently used by the PKK to describe its strongholds. The decision was made with the approval of Abdullah Ocalan, the group’s imprisoned leader, who has long advocated for peace. The statement also called for legal and political concessions to ensure the successful implementation of the peace process. Ocalan, imprisoned since 1999, had urged the PKK in February to convene a congress and formally disband and disarm, a move the group agreed to in May. Initially, the PKK’s insurgency aimed to establish an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey, but its objectives later shifted to advocating for Kurdish autonomy and rights within Turkey. Despite the PKK’s efforts toward peace, it remains designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.