Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said he was cancelling his planned election campaign appearances under doctor's orders after developing a stomach bug.
The 69-year-old leader's announcement came less than three weeks before Turkey holds what is widely viewed as its most important election of the post-Ottoman era.
"Today I will rest at home under the advice of our doctors," Mr Erdogan said on his official Twitter account.
The President has been campaigning tirelessly to reverse a dip in polls and extend his two-decade election-winning streak.
He is running neck-and-neck with secular opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and had three campaign appearances planned for Wednesday.
He cut short a live TV interview late on Tuesday after falling ill on air.
The appearance began more than 90 minutes behind schedule, only to cut to a commercial break in the middle of a question 10 minutes into the show.
The camera shook and the reporter asking the question stood up from his chair before the broadcast was cut off.
"Oh wow," an unidentified voice could be heard saying off camera.
Mr Erdogan returned about 15 minutes later to apologise.
"Yesterday and today were hard work. That's why I got a stomach flu," Mr Erdogan said.
"At one point, I wondered if it would be misunderstood if we cancelled the programme. But we promised. I ask for your and our audience's forgiveness."
The Turkish leader then took a few more questions before ending the broadcast.
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
SPECS
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The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
