Turkey faces runoff election with Erdogan leading

By Orhan Coskun, Ece Toksabay and Ali Kucukgocmen ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey headed for a runoff vote after President Tayyip Erdogan led over his opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu in Sunday’s election but fell short of an outright majority to extend his 20-year rule of the NATO-member country. Neither Erdogan nor Kilicdaroglu cleared the 50% threshold needed…

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Palestinians and Israelis resume normal life after Gaza truce

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dan Williams GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Life on both sides of the Gaza Strip border began returning to normal on Sunday after an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire halted five days of fighting between Israel and Islamic Jihad, which killed 34 Palestinians and an Israeli. Israel reopened its goods and commercial border crossings, allowing fuel to…

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In Turkey, an election reckoning for the rise and fall of Erdogan’s economy

By Jonathan Spicer ISTANBUL (Reuters) -If Turks oust President Tayyip Erdogan in elections this month it will largely be because of an economic reversal that saw their prosperity, equality and ability to meet basic needs start to tumble midway through his two-decade reign. The May 14 vote, which lands during the Turkish Republic’s centenary year,…

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Turkey’s upbeat Kilicdaroglu says election will bring a new spring

By Ece Toksabay and Huseyin Hayatsever ANKARA (Reuters) – He is not as charismatic as Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan, but mild-mannered Kemal Kilicdaroglu is optimistic about his chances of beating Erdogan in Sunday’s election, promising a new spring after two decades of his rival’s tumultuous governance. Long stuck in the shadow of Erdogan and his…

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On final day of campaign, Erdogan accuses Turkish opposition of working with Biden

By Ali Kucukgocmen ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan held his last election rallies in Istanbul on Saturday, accusing the opposition of working with U.S. President Joe Biden to topple him while making a final appeal ahead of the biggest challenge to his 20-year rule. Polls show Erdogan trailing the main opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu…

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Israel, Palestinians agree to Gaza truce, Palestinian officials say

GAZA/CAIRO (Reuters) – Israel and Gaza militant groups have agreed to an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire that will start at 2200 local (1900 GMT), two Palestinian officials told Reuters. There was no immediate comment from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or other officials. Cairo called on all sides to adhere to the agreement, Egypt’s Al-Qahera News television…

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Europe could see record numbers trying to reach its borders this year, agency says

WARSAW (Reuters) – The European Union could see another record number of people seeking to reach its borders this year via irregular crossings, with more migrants driven by poverty and climate change rather than conflict, the EU’s Frontex border agency said on Friday. Frontex reported some 330,000 unauthorised arrivals via all routes last year, the…

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