Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a strong political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained by authorities just days before he was set to be selected as a presidential candidate. He has been accused of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, sparking protests and concerns over Turkey’s shift towards autocracy. The arrest is part of a wider crackdown on opposition figures in the country. Erdogan and his party deny any involvement in the arrests, claiming that Turkey’s judiciary is independent. Imamoglu’s party, the CHP, has condemned the arrests as a “coup against our next president”. His arrest came after Istanbul University annulled his degree, potentially preventing him from running in presidential elections. Erdogan, who has been in power for 22 years, cannot currently run for office again, but could change the constitution or call for an early election to contest another term.
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Opinion | Trump Should Stop Iran’s Nuclear Threat With a Deal
President Trump's efforts to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear program have escalated to military threats and economic sanctions, but Tehran remains defiant, spurning his overtures. Iran's struggling economy and recent military setbacks may push it towards a potential deal, but the country's enrichment of uranium to 60 percent purity raises concerns of nuclear weapon development. The Trump administration faces limited military options and a significant gap in negotiating positions, with Iran showing no willingness...
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