Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fell short of securing a majority in a tight election race on Monday, sending voters back to the polls for a second-round run-off.
Preliminary results showed Mr Erdogan had received 49.51 per cent of votes, short of the 50 per cent needed to win in the first round, High Election Board chief Ahmet Yener said on Monday.
His closest rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu had 44.88 per cent, the board said, while third-placed candidate Sinan Ogan had 5.17 per cent.
The remaining 35,874 uncounted overseas votes would not tip any of the candidates over the 50 per cent threshold, Mr Yener said.
The second round of voting will be held on May 28.
Before the final result, Mr Ogan said he could only support Mr Kilicdaroglu in the run-off if he agreed to offer no concessions to a pro-Kurdish party.
“We will consult with our voter base for our decision in the run-off. But we already made clear that the fight against terrorism and sending refugees back are our red lines,” he said.
Speaking earlier on Monday, Mr Erdogan said a second round would be “welcome”.
Mr Kilicdaroglu urged his supporters not to be disheartened.
“Do not fall into despair. I will stand upright.,” he tweeted shortly after the election board announcement.
“I will tell you my clear observations of what is happening. Then we will stand up and take this election together.”
He said earlier on Monday that he would accept the people's decision for a second round, as Mr Erdogan said another poll would be “welcome”.
Media outlets, which were banned from reporting on the election until after 6.30pm local time, offered differing predictions as votes were counted across the country.
State-run news agencies initially placed Mr Erdogan ahead of Mr Kilicdaroglu, while opposition officials accused Anadolu Agency of manipulating data in favour of the President.
“We will not sleep tonight, my people,” said Mr Kilicdaroglu, leader of the People's Republican Party (CHP), calling on the election board to release data from various provinces.
The election authority later said it was not withholding vote counts from political parties.
Election rallies in Turkey ahead of May 14 elections - in pictures
Opposition figures said the government was deliberately slowing down the count in districts where Mr Kilicdaroglu was enjoying strong support.
“They are contesting the count emerging from ballot boxes where we are massively ahead,” Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, said.
State broadcaster TRT earlier showed Mr Erdogan leading with just over 50 per cent of votes, compared with Mr Kilicdaroglu's 43 per cent, based on almost 86 per cent of votes counted.
HalkTV, close to the CHP, also placed the President ahead of its candidate, although estimates continued to fluctuate as the night progressed.
But later, Mr Kilicdaroglu wrote on Twitter that “we are leading”, while Mr Imamoglu and Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas also said he was on track for victory.
In past elections, Mr Erdogan has generally placed ahead in early results as votes from urban centres are still to be counted.
Exit polls are banned in Turkey.
Mr Erdogan also wrote on Twitter that hurried results were “stealing the national will of the people”.
CHP officials have said the party expects its highest turnout to date in Istanbul as polls closed in the country's most important presidential election yet.
“We expect record turnout in Istanbul,” said Canan Kaftancioglu, the CHP's provincial leader in Istanbul, where Mr Erdogan made a last attempt to appeal to voters at three separate rallies on Saturday.
“There is information that this is the case all over Turkey,” Ms Kaftancioglu said. He added that the party expected a 90 per cent voter turnout in Turkey's largest city of almost 16 million.
Results from Istanbul are decisive in determining the course of the election.
Sunday's presidential election, accompanied by parliamentary elections, is the most important to take place in the 100 years of the post-Ottoman republic.
For the millions of first-time voters taking to the polls, estimates suggested they could wake up under a new leader for the very first time.
Mr Kilicdaroglu had been predicted to narrowly beat Mr Erdogan and clinch victory in a single round.
His spokesman, Faik Oztrak, said they were seeing a positive picture even as TRT showed Mr Erdogan leading.
Polling stations in Taksim and Besiktas were packed in the late morning and into the afternoon.
As polling drew to a close, police erected security barriers in the central Taksim Square, historically the scene of large political protests.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash
5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy
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The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Super Saturday race card
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Honeymoonish
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Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
UK%20-%20UAE%20Trade
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.4-litre%2C%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E617hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E750Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh630%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
MO
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CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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