The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe expressed disappointment on Monday after Turkey's decision to bar two politicians who were part of a 100-strong mission to monitor the country's May 14 elections on Monday.
Danish MP Soren Sondergaard and Swedish MP Kadir Kasirga had their accreditations denied by Turkish authorities, the parliamentary assembly of the 57-member OSCE said.
"We are disappointed with this step taken by the Turkish authorities, which could impact negatively on the work of the international observer mission," the assembly said.
It said Turkey "should not, directly or indirectly, influence the composition of the mission".
It said Mr Sondergaard and Mr Kasirga had been refused entry because of statements made "as independent members of parliament".
The 100-strong team is made up of politicians from OSCE member countries.
Another OSCE body is sending a team of almost 400 people to observe Turkey's vote, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces the toughest challenge of his two-decade rule.
Election rallies in Turkey ahead of May 14 elections - in pictures
-

Turkish President and People's Alliance's candidate Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a campaign rally in Ankara. AFP -

Emine Erdogan, the President's wife, greets his supporters in Ankara on Sunday. AFP -

Supporters of Mr Erdogan at the Ankara rally. AFP -

Mr and Mrs Erdogan wave to supporters. AFP -

Mr Erdogan delivers his speech in Ankara on Sunday. AFP -

Mr Erdogan delivers his speech in Ankara on Sunday. AFP -

Mr Erdogan delivers his speech in Ankara on Sunday. AFP -

Supporters of Mr Erdogan wave Turkish flags at the Ankara rally. AFP -

The Erdogans wave to supporters. AFP -

Erdogan supporters smile at the campaign rally. AFP -

Supporters listen to Mr Erdogan's address in Ankara on Sunday. AP -

Mr Erdogan speaks with an Ankara football club's scarf around his neck. AP -

Supporters of Turkey's Republican People's Party chairman and Presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu rally in Izmir, Turkey, on Sunday. Republican People's Party Press Service / AFP -

Mr Kilicdaroglu delivers a speech in Izmir. Republican People's Party Press Service / AFP -

Mr Kilicdaroglu and his wife Selvi wave to supporters. Republican People's Party Press Service / AFP -

Mr and Mrs Kilicdaroglu pose in front of thousands of his supporters. Republican People's Party Press Service / AFP -

Mr Kilicdaroglu's supporters throng in Izmir. Republican People's Party Press Service / AFP -

Supporters of Mr Kilicdaroglu make the heart gesture in Izmir. Republican People's Party Press Service / AFP -

Supporters wave flags and chant while awaiting the arrival of CHP presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu at a campaign rally on Sunday in Izmir, Turkey. He is considered to pose a major threat to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's long rule in the May elections. Getty -

Mr Kilicdaroglu addresses his supporters on Sunday. Republican People's Party Press Service / AFP -

Supporters await Mr Kilicdaroglu's arrival in Izmir. Getty -

Supporters await Mr Kilicdaroglu's arrival in Izmir. Getty -

The Kilicdaroglus return the heart gesture to his supporters. Getty -

Supporters await Mr Kilicdaroglu's arrival in Izmir. Getty
Mr Sondergaard, from Denmark's Socialist-Green Alliance, said last week that Turkey had denied him access because he had previously visited the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
He told Danish public television TV2 that Ankara had accused him of "promoting a terrorist organisation".
The SDF led the fight against ISIS in Syria.
Turkey regards it as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it classifies as a terrorist organisation.
In 2018, Ankara barred two politicians, from Germany and Sweden, from an election observer mission sent by the OSCE's parliamentary assembly.
The OSCE was founded in 1975 to foster relations between the West and the Eastern Bloc. Its current members include Nato countries and Russia.
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
MANDOOB
More from Firas Maksad
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The%20specs
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)
Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Bologna (10.45om)
Playing September 30
Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
Udinese v Spezia (8pm)
Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
More from Tom Fletcher
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
While you're here
Richard Heydarian: Across Asia there are crowds who can't get enough of Donald Trump
C Uday Bhaskar: The 'Asian Century' depends on China and India working together
Sholto Byrnes: Asia's bumpy trade routes are by no means dead-end streets
Ireland (15-1):
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Ammar 808:
Maghreb United
Sofyann Ben Youssef
Glitterbeat
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Race%20card
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
Rashmee Roshan Lall: Sound of silence in South Asia
Richard Olson: Why Afghanistan will be very wary
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
The biog
Age: 46
Number of Children: Four
Hobby: Reading history books
Loves: Sports
MO
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
The other virus: bigotry
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
While you're here
The National editorial: Turkey's soft power weighs heavy on Europe's Muslims
Con Coughlin: How extremists use Zoom and other tools to exploit pandemic
Nicky Harley: Peace TV preacher Zakir Naik prompts UK hate laws review
While you're here
National Editorial: What 'Fight Island' means for Abu Dhabi and the world
National Editorial: The UAE looks to cycling for exercise and for the planet
Gareth Cox: Sporting week in pictures, as Covid-19 makes its presence felt


