First Thing: Runoff increasingly likely in Turkish elections
President Erdoan faces serious challenge in elections that could see runoff vote against Kemal Klcdarolu. Plus, why do so many generation Z Americans put on British accents?
Good morning.
Record high turnout in a tightly fought election has presented the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, with the greatest challenge to his leadership in two decades, amid signs that the vote was heading for a runoff even as Erdoan attempted to claim victory before an official vote count had ended.
What are the results so far? With just over 99% of ballot boxes opened, Erdoan has received 49.4% of votes in the country's presidential election, the head of the country's election council has said. Reuters is quoting Ahmet Yener as saying on Monday that Erdoan's rival, Kemal Klcdarolu, had scored 44.96%.
What has Klcdarolu said? He hit back at Erdoan in a more subdued speech: Despite all of his lies and attacks, Erdoan did not receive the desired outcome. No one should be enthusiastic about this being a done deal. The election is not won on the balcony," he said.
What is happening on the ground in Ukraine? Russia has said two of its military commanders were killed in eastern Ukraine, as Kyiv's forces renewed efforts to break through Russian defences in the embattled city of Bakhmut. The Russian defence ministry said yesterday that commander Vyacheslav Makarov of the 4th motorised rifle brigade and deputy commander Yevgeny Brovko from a separate unit were killed trying to repel Ukrainian attacks.
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