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Opposition in Istanbul Elects Interim Mayor After Imamoglu's Imprisonment

The opposition municipal council in Istanbul today elected an interim mayor to manage the city following the imprisonment of the current mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is facing trial on corruption charges that he and his supporters deny, viewing them as "politically motivated" attempts to remove him from the political scene.
Council members, numbering 314 and mostly representing the main opposition party, selected Nuri Aslan as the mayor of Istanbul, receiving 177 votes in support, according to the NTV television station.
Aslan is expected to manage the city's affairs for the remainder of Imamoglu's term, who is considered one of the prominent challengers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The arrest of Imamoglu last week sparked the largest anti-government protests in over a decade, with a widespread crackdown involving hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to protest peacefully.
A Turkish court ruled on Sunday to imprison Imamoglu pending trial on corruption charges he denies.
Despite a ban on gatherings in many cities, anti-government demonstrations occurred with the participation of hundreds of thousands after the Republican People's Party called for people to take to the streets nationwide.
Erdogan stated after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday that the Republican People's Party needs to stop "inciting" citizens.
He added that their "show" will eventually come to an end and they will feel ashamed of the "evil" they have done to their country.
The Republican People's Party describes Imamoglu's arrest as "politically motivated and inconsistent with democratic principles." The government denies the allegations and emphasizes the independence of the judiciary.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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