The arrests came after a similar operation in Istanbul earlier this year that saw the arrest of its mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the principal political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.PoliticsTurkey
Turkey detains scores of opposition party members in Izmir

The arrests came after a similar operation in Istanbul earlier this year that saw the arrest of its mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the principal political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Tunc Soyer and his wife Neptun soyer in a frame with Turkish flags on Izmir’s Day of Liberty
Former Izmir Mayor Tunc Soyer (center) was among those arrested, according to the vice president of the CHP [FILE: September 9, 2021]

Authorities in Turkey detained 157 people, including opposition party members and a former mayor of Izmir, early on Tuesday, local media and the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) said.

The Izmir prosecutor ordered the detentions in the early hours as part of an investigation into corruption, tender rigging and fraud in the west-coast city, broadcaster NTV reported.

The coastal city is seen as a bastion of Turkey’s political opposition.Izmir’s former mayor, Tunc Soyer, and numerous “senior officials” were among those detained in Izmir, Murat Bakan, the vice president of the CHP posted on X.

“We are faced with a process similar to that in Istanbul,” Bakan said, referring to the March 19 arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Bakan added that Senol Aslanoglu, the party’s regional president, was among those detained on Tuesday.

“These dawn arrests were not a legal obligation, but a clear political choice,” Bakan added, saying that many of those detained had already been under investigation. “If they had been called to testify, they would have done so.”

“This dawn detention is not a legal necessity but a clear political choice. Indeed, President Erdogan signaled these operations from the palace a few days ago. The scene we are witnessing today is not a product of the rule of law but of a judicial system acting on instructions.”

The F1 film receives an overwhelmingly positive response after being released in theatres last weekend.The Apple Originals film earned $55.6 million in North America alone following its theatrical release on Friday, 27 June, ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.

F1 generated another $88.4 million from international markets and was the best-performing movie in various countries including the UK, where it netted $9.2 million.

Other regions where the F1 movie performed strongly included China ($9mn), Mexico ($6.7mn), the Middle East ($5.6mn) and France ($5.4mn).

Brad Pitt F1 movie fetches staggering nine-figure sum at the box office
The F1 film receives an overwhelmingly positive response after being released in theatres last weekend.

The Brad Pitt-starring ‘F1: The Movie made a flying start at the box office, grossing $144 million worldwide by the end of its opening weekend.

The Apple Originals film earned $55.6 million in North America alone following its theatrical release on Friday, 27 June, ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.

F1 generated another $88.4 million from international markets and was the best-performing movie in various countries including the UK, where it netted $9.2 million.

Other regions where the F1 movie performed strongly included China ($9mn), Mexico ($6.7mn), the Middle East ($5.6mn) and France ($5.4mn).

The figures exceeded expectations and marked the best opening weekend for a film headlined by Pitt.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the movie is reported to have cost between $200 million and $300 million to produce according to various estimates, with a further $175 million spent on global marketing.

However, unlike traditional blockbusters, the F1 film is not entirely reliant on ticket sales, with Apple intending to use it to drive subscriptions for its streaming service, Apple TV

Three decommissioned Royal Marines hovercraft have been sold to Pakistan in a government-to-government deal aimed at supporting coastal and humanitarian operations, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has confirmed.The Landing Craft Air Cushion (Light), or LCAC(L), were previously operated by 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines before being withdrawn from service in 2021. The vessels have now been refurbished and transferred to the Pakistan Navy as part of a broader UK effort to deliver surplus military assets to partner nations through DE&S’s Exports and Sales Team.

The platform, capable of operating over both land and water, is considered well-suited to the maritime geography of Pakistan’s coastal regions. It will be used for tasks including shallow-water patrols, amphibious support, humanitarian relief, and rapid deployment operations.According to DE&S, the hovercraft were prepared for delivery by Southampton-based Griffon Marine Support under contract. The company, which has provided maintenance and refit services to DE&S for several years, will also supply in-service support for the craft under a direct agreement with the Pakistan Navy.

Commodore Richard Whalley, Head of Exports and Sales at DE&S, said the agreement builds on a “long history of excellent defence equipment sales with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” He added that “by transferring these proven assets, we are supporting the Pakistan Navy’s ability to enhance its coastal and amphibious operations, supporting our shared goal of maintaining global security as well as providing a return for the UK’s defence budget.”

Toronto is reportedly trading pending unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner to Vegas. The winger signed an eight-year, US$96-million contract with Toronto before the deal with the Golden Knights, according to multiple media reports Monday. He would have only been able to sign a seven-year pact if he went to market Tuesday.

News
Leafs, Oilers make big moves ahead of NHL free agency’s opening bell

Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (16) hits Florida Panthers defenceman Gustav Forsling (42) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The Maple Leafs and Oilers went to work ahead of NHL free agency’s opening bell.

Toronto is reportedly trading pending unrestricted free agent Mitch Marner to Vegas. The winger signed an eight-year, US$96-million contract with Toronto before the deal with the Golden Knights, according to multiple media reports Monday. He would have only been able to sign a seven-year pact if he went to market Tuesday.

Marner’s departure ends a nine-year tenure with the team he cheered for as a kid growing up just north of the city in Thornhill, Ont.

He had four seasons of 90 or more points — including 102 in 2024-25 — playing alongside fellow star forwards Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares. But that production dropped significantly in the playoffs as Toronto won just two of 11 series after drafting Marner with the fourth pick at the 2015 draft.

Marner departs the Leafs after putting up 221 goals and 520 assists for 741 points in 657 games. He added 63 points (13 goals, 50 assists) in 70 playoff games, but scored just once in Games 5, 6 and 7 — a total of 26 contests — in those 11 post-season matchups for Toronto.

Edmonton made splash of its own, signing pending restricted free agent defenceman Evan Bouchard to a four-year, US$42-million extension.

The blueliner with a booming shot had 14 goals and 53 assists for 67 points in 82 games this past season. Bouchard, who put up a career-high 81 points in 2023-24, has registered 55 goals and 183 assists in 347 regular-season games.

The Oakville, Ont., product has added 20 goals and 61 assists in 75 playoff appearances, with 55 of those points coming during back-to-back runs to the Stanley Cup final the last two springs.

A number of big names are off the free-agent board after Monday’s frenzy. Apart from Marner bolting for Sin City, the Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers have reportedly agreed on long-term deals with forward Brad Marchand and defenceman Aaron Ekblad.

Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers and Vancouver Canucks sniper Brock Boeser remain poised to hit free agency Tuesday.

Other players to watch including Oilers superstar centre Connor McDavid, who has a year left on his current deal, but will be eligible to sign a new contract for the 2026-27 season and beyond.

Edmonton also re-signed winger Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year, $1.3-million contract. Claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Blues in November, Kapanen combined for 14 points in 67 regular-season games in 2024-25. The 28-year-old added six more points, including an overtime goal in the second round, across 12 playoff contests.

The Leafs made a couple of other moves Monday, acquiring winger Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth for a conditional third-round pick at the 2027 and re-signing forward Steven Lorentz on a three-year, $4.05-million pact.

The Ottawa Senators signed goalie Leevi Merilainen to a one-year, $1.05-million contract extensio

The suspect has been taken into custody and there is no further danger to the public, police added. No motive has been provided so far.

Germany’s Bild newspaper reported that one of the victims had died and said the incident took place at the site of electric utility company Ueberlandwerk Rhön.

A spokesperson for the company declined to comment and referred inquiries to the police.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who has come under mounting pressure to resign over her leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

The clip, in which Paetongtarn called him “uncle” and criticised a Thai military commander, sparked public anger and a petition for her dismissal, which the court is now considering.

That would make Paetongtarn the third politician in the powerful Shinawatra clan – which has dominated Thai politics for the past two decades – to lose power before completing their term.

Her ruling coalition is already teetering with a slim majority after a key conservative ally abandoned it two weeks ago. Paetongtarn apologized to the public on Thursday, after a major coalition partner used the leaked phone call to pull out of the fragile government led by her Pheu Thai Party. Paetongtarn has already been criticized for a perceived soft stance toward Cambodia, especially by right-wing nationalists who are longtime foes of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.