This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Rachel Wright, and in the early hours of Thursday the 20th of March, these are our main stories.

Thousands of demonstrators in Istanbul protest against the detention of the city's popular mayor.

Donald Trump says his phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky was very positive.

Ecuador's president tells the BBC he wants military help from abroad to fight criminal drugs gangs.

Also in this podcast, the drones that could help Sherpas on Mount Everest and...

The Olympic Games is perhaps the greatest event on the planet.

It's critically important that the next president comes in and addresses some of the major challenges that are faced.

So who will get the most powerful job in world sport?

We start in Turkey.

Students outside Istanbul University were pepper sprayed by riot police as they protested

against the detention of one of President Recep Tayyub Erdogan's biggest

political rivals, the mayor of Istanbul at Kram Imamolu.

In a rare display of public anger, crowds chanted anti-government slogans, while the main opposition

called his arrest a coup against our next president.

Mr. Imammolo was detained with about 100 politicians, journalists and businessmen.

At a news conference, Turkey's justice minister, Yomaj Tunch, defended the arrests.

I would like to underscore that the Republic of Turkey is a state governed by the rule of law.

Everyone is equal before the law.

No individual or group is granted special privileges.

I asked Emery Temel from BBC Turkish service, what were the accusations against Mr. Imammolu?

The Istanbul chief public prosecutor's office described Ekram Imammolo as a suspected criminal organization leader.

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