On Sunday, Turks will vote in the second round of the presidential election which could leave incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan out of a job after almost a decade in the post.
Mr Erdogan transformed the presidential system in 2017, allowing Turkish voters to select their leader rather than leaving it up to the parliament.
None of the three candidates in May 14's election achieved the 50 per cent threshold, forcing a run-off between Mr Erdogan and rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who heads the Nation Alliance. The third candidate, Sinan Ogan, has declared his support for Mr Erdogan.
What is at stake in the run-off elections?
Mr Erdogan's consolidation of power in 2017 and 2018 means that Turkey is now one of the most highly centralised forms of democracy in the world.
"The president is able to effectively rule the country by decree," Guney Yildiz, PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, told The National.
“He has ... threatened to take action against those who oppose him.”
Meanwhile, Mr Kilicdaroglu has promised to undo the centralisation of the past two decades, restoring more power to bodies such as parliament and the judiciary. Even if he triumphs, that might not be easy.
"One of the first orders of business, the opposition has said, is reverting back to a decentralised system of power but with a majority of 320 out of 600 seats in parliament, the ruling AKP party still holds all the cards," says Mr Yildiz.
The economy has been a huge issue in recent years following a long slide in the value of the currency and a dire cost-of-living crisis brought on by his policy of slashing interest rates in the face of soaring inflation.
But one of the most significant differences between Mr Erdogan and his rival is their respective stance on the Syrian refugee issue.
Turkey has nearly four million refugees who have fled the war in Syria since it began in 2011. Many Syrians face racism and xenophobia on a daily basis and have been also accused of playing a role in the economic crisis, despite data suggesting they have made a net positive contribution, according to an August report from US-based NGO Building Markets.
Mr Kilicdaroglu has vowed to crack down on Syrian refugees and send them back.
Many of the nearly 200,000 Syrians who have been granted citizenship in Turkey over the past decade are worried by this.
"There are many reasons why Syrians are voting for Erdogan," said Orwa Ajjoub, senior analyst at the Centre for Operational Analysis and Research.
"Erdogan stands out from his political rivals by promising not to repatriate Syrian refugees unless they voluntarily choose to return and that’s not the case with his opponent, who is very adamant to send them back to Syria.
"If it wasn’t for Erdogan’s ruling AKP party, they wouldn’t have gotten their citizenship. This makes him a favourable choice for many Syrians in Turkey."
Who is predicted to win?
Analysts are expecting a win for Mr Erdogan in the run-offs but they were also not anticipating that there would be a second round to begin with.
"The largest political camp is anti-Erdoganism," Mr Yildiz said. "In the beginning of the elections, the opposition was divided among four candidates. But now, there are two main rivals. We are in uncharted territory in the run-offs."
Mr Erdogan received a boost this week when Mr Ogan endorsed the President.
Mr Ogan received slightly more than 5 per cent of the vote in the first round but that doesn't mean an easy win in the second round. Political analysts such as Seren Selvin Korkmaz say the support for the opposition would have been greater had there been unity among anti-Erdogan factions.
"The fact that the opposition got 45 per cent of the vote is important," said Ms Korkmaz, who is also the executive director of the Istanbul-based think tank IstanPol Institute. "If Mr Ogan did not run, Kilicdaroglu would have gotten more than this percentage ― up to 49 per cent."
Although Mr Ogan has called for supporters to back the President, which way they vote will be crucial.
The bruising first round has also left its mark.
"Given the damage that was done by Mr Erdogan's campaign against Mr Kilicdaroglu through the fabrication of his ties to the PKK, the opposition has a very, very difficult job in the second round," Mr Korkmaz told The National.
How fair will the run-off be?
While the opposition claimed there were irregularities in the first round of the election, there were no claims of widespread fraud. The international observers on hand have not raised any issues.
However, there is concern around freedom of speech and the media's role.
Reporters Without Borders scored Turkey 165 out of 180 countries in terms of media freedom, saying "more than 90 per cent of the national media is now under government control".
Critics argue this has given Mr Erdogan monopolistic and even inappropriate access to the public through the media.
The Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordination (OSCE) in Europe said after the initial poll that the ruling party had an "unjustified advantage, including through biased media coverage".
“The continued restrictions on fundamental freedoms of assembly, association and expression hindered the participation of some opposition politicians and parties, civil society and independent media in the election process," the OSCE's Michael Georg Link said before the first round vote was held.
One example held up is from early this month, when Mr Erdogan showed a video during a rally of his opposition rival followed by clips of Murat Karayilan, one of the founders of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey has designated a terrorist organisation.
Mr Erdogan suggested the PKK was involved in Mr Kilicdaroglu's campaign.
"This is against Turkish law, which prohibits knowingly sharing false information for political gains," Mr Yildiz said.
"So Erdogan broke his own law."
Mr Erdogan later admitted in a televised interview that the video was a montage and not a real campaign clip from Mr Kilicdaroglu.
"I am tired of being slandered but he is not tired of slandering me," Mr Kilicdaroglu wrote in a tweet after the interview.
In recent years, Mr Erdogan has used his consolidated position of power to influence electoral decisions on a local level.
"In 2019, his party lost municipal elections by a small margin of 13,000 votes in Istanbul," Mr Yildiz said.
The judiciary then "annulled the election", he added, following numerous complaints from Mr Erdogan and his AKP with another round held within two months.
"In that round, people reacted negatively to Erdogan not accepting the poll results. He lost by 18,000 votes this time, as people increasingly voted against him."
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPeyton%20Reed%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Paul%20Rudd%2C%20Evangeline%20Lilly%2C%20Jonathan%20Majors%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Switch%20Foods%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Edward%20Hamod%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Plant-based%20meat%20production%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2034%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%246.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Based%20in%20US%20and%20across%20Middle%20East%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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%3Cp%3E1.%20Protracted%20but%20less%20intense%20war%20(60%25%20likelihood)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20Negotiated%20end%20to%20the%20conflict%20(30%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E3.%20Russia%20seizes%20more%20territory%20(20%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.%20Ukraine%20pushes%20Russia%20back%20(10%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EForecast%20by%20Economist%20Intelligence%20Unit%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
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No_One Ever Really Dies
N*E*R*D
(I Am Other/Columbia)
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
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The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy