Activist Osman Kavala is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. AFP
Activist Osman Kavala is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. AFP
Activist Osman Kavala is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. AFP
Activist Osman Kavala is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. AFP

Erdogan critic's life sentence upheld by Turkish appeals court


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A Turkish appeals court on Wednesday upheld the conviction of a leading critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Osman Kavala, an activist and philanthropist born in Paris, was in April sentenced to life in jail without the possibility of parole after being convicted of trying to topple the government by financing street protests in 2013.

His conviction increased tensions between Ankara and the West.

Seven others were jailed for 18 years for aiding the attempt to overthrow the government of Mr Erdogan, who was prime minister at the time, during the Gezi Park rallies in Istanbul.

The appeals court ruled that the April verdict "complied with the law", the Anadolu state news agency reported.

The case can still be appealed in Turkey's Supreme Court.

Kavala was arrested in October 2017 and the case has affected Nato member Turkey's ties with its main western allies.

He played a major role in developing Turkish civil society before he was detained.

Protesters in Berlin display the images of activists jailed by Turkey, including Osman Kavala. Getty
Protesters in Berlin display the images of activists jailed by Turkey, including Osman Kavala. Getty

A court acquitted and released Kavala in February 2020, but he was arrested again before he returned home on charges of being involved in a failed 2016 coup attempt against Mr Erdogan.

Kavala faced both sets of charges and was convicted of attempting to overthrow the government.

US 'deeply troubled' by ruling

Germany demanded his immediate release and the US said it was "deeply troubled" by the ruling of the appeals court.

"His unjust conviction is inconsistent with respect for human rights and the rule of law. We again call on Turkey to release Osman Kavala," said Vedant Patel, a spokesman with the US State Department.

"The people of Turkey deserve to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms without fear of retribution."

Turkey has dismissed a European Court of Human Rights ruling that demanded Kavala's release.

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Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time

Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.

Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.

The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.

The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.

Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.

The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.

• Bloomberg

Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier

UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs

Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)

1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0

Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am

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Infobox

Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August

Results

UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets

Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets

Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets

Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs

Monday fixtures

UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

Directed by: Shaka King

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons

Four stars

Updated: December 29, 2022, 6:49 AM