live from washington. this is bbc news. turkey's presidential election on a knife edge — final results are yet to be announced in a vote that could decide the country's political future. the country is split between these two men — president recep tayyip erdogan and challenger kemal kilicdaroglu, with a run—off vote looking increasingly likely. and at least five people are believed to have died in myanmar as a powerful cyclone crashes into the country. i'm helena humphrey, great to have you with us. we begin in turkey,

where a pivotal presidential election is heading to the wire. with more than 91% of ballots counted, neither current president recep tayyip erdogan nor his most fierce rival kemal kilicdaroglu have cleared the threshold to win outright on sunday. the head of turkey's high election board said not long ago that mr erdogan was leading with a9.49%, while kilicdaroglu had 4a.49% of votes. now, if neither can clear 50%, there will be a run—off election. our international correspondent orla guerin is in ankara, and has more on what's at stake in this election. people talk excitedly a tense moment in a tight election. here in ankara, voters spotted two people in one polling booth. the police were called in. the ballot box matters in turkey, and the opposition are on the lookout for fraud. this is a pivotal vote

which could mean the end of the erdogan era. president erdogan�*s supporters insist he is going nowhere. this man tells us he will still be president tomorrow because he always wins elections, and he will keep developing turkey. the authoritarian leader voted in istanbul, looking sombre, with election officials standing to attention. he said he is praying for turkish democracy. the president's smiling secular rival, kemal kilicdaroglu, says democracy would be a lot better off without him. applause and cheering well, kemal kilicdaroglu has emerged here now having cast his vote. everyone is trying to get a picture. he's the focus of a lot of attention here today, a lot of hopes, he's promising

to bring a new beginning, to bring spring to turkey. there are 64 million turks eligible to vote, let's take a look at the leading candidates. recep tayyip erdogan first came to power in 2003 as prime minister in a sweeping electoral victory by the islamist—rooted justice and development party, commonly known as the akp. erdogan spent 11 years as prime minister before becoming the country's first directly elected president in 2014. his opponent is kemal kilicdaroglu. he was chosen as the opposition�*s unity candidate, representing six opposition parties who combined forces for this election. mr kilicdaroglu has led turkey's main opposition party, the republican people's party, or chp, since 2010. now although a run—off remains the most likely election outcome, mr erdogan acknowledged that vote—counting is ongoing but said "we believe

that we will finish this round with more than 50% of the votes." mr kilicdaroglu, meanwhile, acknowledged the likelihood of a second round of voting, saying, we will win the election in the runoff. live now to london, where we're joined by ozge ozdemir of the bbc turkish service. this appears to be very tight race, bring us up to date with the latest results. it has been a tight race. the head of the official election body of turkey has announced that more than 90% of the votes have been counted. erdogan is leading the polls but is not able to cross the 50% threshold. the opposition side of the election, kemal kilicdaroglu and his allies, have been accusing the state

agency of turkey, they have been accusing them of manipulating the results. because turkey has been watching the results through the agency, and they are saying the agency, and they are saying the agency, and they are saying the agency is not giving the correct results and they have been ahead in the elections. but it seems like most probably in two weeks there will be a one off in turkey.— in two weeks there will be a one off in turkey. explain to us how the _ one off in turkey. explain to us how the run-off - one off in turkey. explain to us how the run-off would i one off in turkey. explain to . us how the run-off would work. us how the run—off would work. actually, for example, if you look at the parliamentary results, because besides this election, there is an election in parliament, and it seems that the alliance is still very powerful in most of the cities. for example, in the earthquake zone, the votes haven't changed that much. so it's going to be tough for the opposition alliance. i tough for the opposition alliance.— alliance. i want to talk a little bit... _ alliance. i want to talk a little bit... you -

alliance. i want to talk a little bit... you mention alliance. i want to talk a - little bit... you mention some of the issues including the response to the earthquake. how divided is the country right now? what is the atmosphere in turkey? now? what is the atmosphere in turke ? n . , now? what is the atmosphere in turke ? a ., , , now? what is the atmosphere in turke? , , turkey? actually, this result has been — turkey? actually, this result has been showing _ turkey? actually, this result has been showing that - turkey? actually, this resultl has been showing that turkey turkey? actually, this result. has been showing that turkey is still very polarised. the main issue until the vote has been the economic crisis, and of course the earthquake. inflation was almost more than 100% in turkey. the youth have been very complaining about unemployment and not being able to see the future. so the opposition alliance have been promising unity and fighting against economic crisis, and dealing with the infrastructure in turkey, which resulted in the collapse of buildings in the collapse of buildings in the earthquake zone. but it seems that erdogan�*s powerful profile has still been very important for his own electoral base, actually.— base, actually. thank you for explaining — base, actually. thank you for explaining that _

base, actually. thank you for explaining that for _ base, actually. thank you for explaining that for us, - base, actually. thank you for explaining that for us, from | explaining that for us, from the bbc turkish service. well, iam joined now in the studio by soner cagaptay, the director of the turkish research program at the washington institute and the author of "a sultan in autumn: erdogan faces turkey's uncontainable forces". and james fjeffrey, former ambassador to iraq and turkey, and special envoy to the global coalition to defeat isis. thank you both will be in with us. it's fair to say this appears to be one of the most closely fought elections in turkey for years, why? what is at stake for the turks? indeed, president erdogan _ at stake for the turks? indeed, president erdogan had - at stake for the turks? indeed, president erdogan had the - president erdogan had the advantages of the incumbent, near complete control of institutions, the courts, electoral bodies that have almost all folded under him. more importantly, his information control, nearly 90% of the media is owned by

erdogan loyalists, most citizens cannot read other languages than turkish, so he can cure the news, sometimes based on lies, i guess. not necessarily what is happening. but i think the opposition�*s strength at this time what it was a unified coalition, which helps, and the economy is not in good shape. president erdogan has always delivered growth. he did not reach the 50% threshold this time. i want to 5096 threshold this time. i want to ick 5096 threshold this time. i want to pick you _ 5096 threshold this time. i want to pick you up _ 5096 threshold this time. i want to pick you up on _ 5096 threshold this time. i want to pick you up on some - 5096 threshold this time. i want to pick you up on some of- 5096 threshold this time. i want | to pick you up on some of those issues, because we know president erdogan came to power as prime minister off the back of an earthquake. he has always had these populist policies when it comes to delivering growth, which you just touched on there. how much do you think these twin issues of hyperinflation as well as the earthquake response responsible for what we are potentially seeing? for what we are potentially seeinu ? . for what we are potentially seeinu ? , ., ., seeing? on paper, erdogan should have _ seeing? on paper, erdogan should have lost _ seeing? on paper, erdogan should have lost with - seeing? on paper, erdogan should have lost with a - should have lost with a landslide. 50% inflation,

transgression of democratic rights and freedoms, journalists and politicians in jail, a huge earthquake, and the government's reaction to it was lacklustre. relief agencies were not there. there was some corruption. we saw pictures of buildings collapsing next to buildings collapsing next to buildings standing suggesting it's not the earthquake, it's corruption. this could all have undermined his popularity, but using his complete control of the media, right after the earthquake, erdogan shifted the debate from responsibility for casualties and relief agencies, whether they were efficient, whether they were efficient, whether there was corruption, whether there was corruption, whether there was corruption, whether the economy was in good shape, to a discussion how under him turkey had become a military economic giant, and suggesting the earthquake was a force majeure. if erdogan wins the second round in a one—off, it would be the first time... you spread lies, they become

reality and the electorate forget they were lies to begin with. ., g ., , forget they were lies to begin with. ., , ., ~ ., with. nowjames, talking about some of with. now james, talking about some of those _ with. nowjames, talking about some of those external - some of those external diplomatic issues. we know this result will be of resonance internationally. washington will be watching very closely, russia will be watching very closely. what could the end of the erdogan rule meaningful foreign policy and crucially foreign policy and crucially for the in foreign policy and crucially forthe in ukraine? foreign policy and crucially for the in ukraine?- foreign policy and crucially for the in ukraine? thank you for the in ukraine? thank you for having _ for the in ukraine? thank you for having me. _ for the in ukraine? thank you for having me. the _ for the in ukraine? thank you for having me. the most - for having me. the most important thing washington will want _ important thing washington will want to— important thing washington will want to see is an election that is basically honest, and not riggeu _ is basically honest, and not rigged. therefore, it will watch _ rigged. therefore, it will watch closely the run—off election. i havejust watch closely the run—off election. i have just heard erdogan— election. i have just heard erdogan and kemal kilicdaroglu have agreed to a run—off. thate— have agreed to a run—off. that's the most important thing for washington. that's the most important thing forwashington. everything in our very— forwashington. everything in our very important relationship with turkey hinges on not having _ with turkey hinges on not having an illegitimate election. so we have to watch that —

election. so we have to watch that. beyond that, there is some — that. beyond that, there is some optimism that with kemal kilicdaroglu, a lot of the rhetoric _ kilicdaroglu, a lot of the rhetoric that is very anti—western from erdogan and his people people will fall away— his people people will fall away dramatically. but i've heard _ away dramatically. but i've heard some people close to him, many— heard some people close to him, many things we are concerned about, — many things we are concerned about, policies around iraq, syria. — about, policies around iraq, syria, relations with the anti—islamic states syrian democratic forces, the pkk offshoot... and typed us... those — offshoot... and typed us... those issues will continue because _ those issues will continue because they are national issues _ because they are national issues not erdogan's issues. washington can manage them, it has been — washington can manage them, it has been managing them with erdogan _ has been managing them with erdogan. in terms of putin, erdogan— erdogan. in terms of putin, erdogan has been next to the united — erdogan has been next to the united states the most effective container of russia in a — effective container of russia in a of— effective container of russia in a of putin, erdogan has been next _ in a of putin, erdogan has been next to— in a of putin, erdogan has been next to the _ in a of putin, erdogan has been next to the united states the most — next to the united states the most effective container of lush — most effective container of lush enabled area around this country— lush enabled area around this country in _ lush enabled area around this country in the last half a decade _ country in the last half a decade. libya, north—west

syria. _ decade. libya, north—west syria. the _ decade. libya, north—west syria, the caucasus, and of course _ syria, the caucasus, and of course in _ syria, the caucasus, and of course in ukraine. he has also been — course in ukraine. he has also been one _ course in ukraine. he has also been one of the biggest helps of russia, which is important to note _ of russia, which is important to note. he is both on our side importantly, but he keeps one foot in— importantly, but he keeps one foot in the other camps. kemal kilicdaroglu is less likely to do that _ kilicdaroglu is less likely to do that. on the other hand, he is inexperienced and i know from — is inexperienced and i know from insider reports that putin is very— from insider reports that putin is very cautious around erdogan, so whether putin would be happy— erdogan, so whether putin would be happy or sad to see him go, i'm be happy or sad to see him go, i'rn not— be happy or sad to see him go, i'm not sure. be happy or sad to see him go, i'm not sure-— i'm not sure. the former ambassador _ i'm not sure. the former ambassador was - i'm not sure. the former ambassador was saying l i'm not sure. the former - ambassador was saying there, essentially talking about what people see as the diplomatic tightrope president erdogan has been walking in terms of his relationship with president putin. 0ther relationship with president putin. other people saying he is growing increasingly close to russia at the expense of the relationship with the west. how do you think the turks feel about that?—

do you think the turks feel about that? his brand is that he has transactional- about that? his brand is that he has transactional eyes - about that? his brand is that he has transactional eyes to | he has transactional eyes to turkish foreign policy. he pits the us and russia against each other. they don't always align with the us on issues, but while turkey doesn't have a lot of political friends in the neighbourhood, erdogan has been able to make up for missing political clout with hard power, using an effective military to win wars, including libya, south caucasus, mostly against russian allies and proxies. turkey and russia in a power struggle, although the presidents get along well, i think putin likes erdogan. a lot of money went from russia to turkey in the last year, in terms of financial assistance but also trade inflows, helping to stabilise the turkish economy. some of which president erdogan handed out in terms of generous social security hand—outs and wage increases to sustain his popularity. why would putin do

that? i think he likes erdogan as a —— a like—minded leader that can challenge the us order. he has decided he wants erdogan and not kemal kilicdaroglu in the presidential seat. kilicdaroglu in the residential seat. ,, , presidential seat. the turkish economy has _ presidential seat. the turkish economy has been _ presidential seat. the turkish economy has been in - presidential seat. the turkish economy has been in severe l economy has been in severe difficulty as we know for around five years now. if we do see a potential run—off, as it appears that we may do, in your assessment, is this because the turkish electorate specifically backed the policies of kemal kilicdaroglu and his unity opposition parties in this or is it a stronger desire for change, do you think? i think one paper— change, do you think? i think one paper president - change, do you think? i think one paper president erdogan| one paper president erdogan should be losing, given how bad the economy is, he has never won elections while not delivering growth. the economy has stabilised thanks to the infocom washer and wealthy gulf monarchies. but still not in good shape, inflation at 50%.

—— money coming in from russia and wealthy gulf monarchies. he has won the country for the last 20 years, but he is saying he is still best manager, the opposition has not won anything. the run—off could still change the outcome, because there is a third—party candidate. the question is who will get his support?— will get his support? exactly, i want to will get his support? exactly, i want to put _ will get his support? exactly, i want to put that _ will get his support? exactly, i want to put that to - will get his support? exactly, i want to put that to you, - i want to put that to you, ambassador. if president erdogan stays power, what do you think the future looks like for turks, you think the future looks like forturks, briefly you think the future looks like for turks, briefly if you don't mind? . for turks, briefly if you don't mind? , , ., _, mind? first, you will continue to have pressure _ mind? first, you will continue to have pressure on _ mind? first, you will continue to have pressure on liberal. to have pressure on liberal institutions, the media, the judiciary _ institutions, the media, the judiciary. and perhaps more. that— judiciary. and perhaps more. that is— judiciary. and perhaps more. that is the _ judiciary. and perhaps more. that is the biggest concern people _ that is the biggest concern people have. you will have continued consistency in foreign _ continued consistency in foreign policy, where erdogan is transactioning with everybody. the question is, we are not— everybody. the question is, we

are not sure it we would get it with _ are not sure it we would get it with kemal kilicdaroglu. what washington doesn't want again is some — washington doesn't want again is some kind of really messy, viotent— is some kind of really messy, violent or— is some kind of really messy, violent or fraudulent election. that's— violent or fraudulent election. that's the _ violent or fraudulent election. that's the most important thing right— that's the most important thing right now — that's the most important thing riaht now. . ~ that's the most important thing riaht now. ., ,, i. that's the most important thing riaht now. ., ,, right now. thank you both so much for _ right now. thank you both so much for your _ right now. thank you both so much for your insights. - around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. its dirty work but someone's got to do it. that's the attitude in barnstable for the biggest ever clean—up of the river tor. biggest ever clean-up of the river ton— river tor. we think it's important _ river tor. we think it's important to _ river tor. we think it's important to bring - river tor. we think it's important to bring the | river tor. we think it's - important to bring the services together and work together as a community to clear out our town, notjust the river. this town, not “ust the river. this is the town, notjust the river. this is the thought _ town, notjust the river. this is the thought clean-up - town, notjust the river. this is the thought clean—up of the river in the last two years,

and each time things like shopping trolleys and traffic cones are among the larger items removed. it cones are among the larger items removed.— cones are among the larger items removed. it is only one or two people _ items removed. it is only one or two people who _ items removed. it is only one or two people who do - items removed. it is only one or two people who do this - items removed. it is only onel or two people who do this kind of thing, however there are accidental things that get in the river, but a lot of it is deliberate and it's quite sad. as well as making the town look better, river clean—ups like this are important for the safety of anyone using the water. ., ., . . safety of anyone using the water, ,, ., ,, ., i, water. shopping trolleys, bicycles. _ water. shopping trolleys, bicycles, tires. _ water. shopping trolleys, bicycles, tires. the - water. shopping trolleys, bicycles, tires. the only i bicycles, tires. the only reason _ bicycles, tires. the only reason they are in the river is that— reason they are in the river is that someone has chucked them there _ that someone has chucked them there. let's have a little thought, a bit of consideration, nobody is paid to get— consideration, nobody is paid to get this out of the river. you're watching bbc news. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky and his french counterpart have called for fresh sanctions against russia. it comes during a surprise meeting in paris on sunday with emmanuel macron. zelensky also met this weekend with leaders in germany and italy, part of a tour of european allies ahead of ukraine's anticipated counter—offensive.

us presidentjoe biden has said the situation at the us—mexico border is "better than you all expected" after the expiration of title 42 last week. border crossings have actually dropped 50%, according to us homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas. it comes as a new immigration policy takes effect barring migrants from seeking asylum if they don't request refugee status in another country first. the leader of belarus, alexander lukashenko, did not make his usual speech at the annual national flag, emblem and anthem day event on sunday, fuelling further speculation over his health. the autocratic politician also skipped a planned lunch last week with president vladimir putin in moscow. lukashenko has recently appeared visibly tired, and his right hand was bandaged. his officials have yet to comment. to the coastlines of bangladesh and myanmar, where at least

five people are reported dead as a powerful cyclone, cyclone mocha, continued to inundate parts of both countries, cutting communications and destroying buildings. the city of sittwe is said to be deep in water with 200 kilometres per hour winds causing chaos. and in bangladesh, fears for the nearly one million rohingya refugees living in flimsy camps in the region proved unfounded, but more than 1,300 bamboo shelters in cox's bazar, the world's largest refugee camp, have been destroyed. from cox's bazar, rajini vaidyanathan sent this report. cyclone mocha arrived with great force. winds gusting at high speeds. it hit the bangladesh—myanmar coastline. as the cyclone intensified, so did the panic. here in southeast bangladesh, hundreds of thousands left their homes in coastal

areas for shelter. some even brought their livestock. janat carried her two—month—old baby from their home on the banks of a river. every classroom in this school is absolutely packed with people who've left their homes, seeking shelter from the cyclone. there are many mothers with babies, there's young children, the elderly and the sick. almost everyone here is from a low—lying coastal area in fishing communities, and they're terrified about whether their homes will still be standing once the cyclone passes. for now, it's about finding a space to settle here. we metjanat again as she searched for a place to sit with her baby, imran. for her, this cyclone is part of an endless cycle. translation: last year, another cyclone destroyed my house. -

we repaired it, but now i fear it is damaged again. how can i live if this keeps happening? i can't afford to rebuild it. we are very poor. nature was also punishing the poor in the world's largest refugee camp nearby. hundreds of bamboo shelters damaged by the storm. rohingya refugees who'd fled persecution in myanmar more than five years ago already live in miserable conditions. this cyclone just made things worse. as families return from the shelter, relief that no—one was killed in the storm here. evacuations are credited for saving lives as the extreme weather continues to disrupt them. rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news, cox's bazar, bangladesh. joining me now is regina de la portilla, from the un's

refugee agency, who is regularly in cox's bazar. thank you for taking the time to be with us this evening. what are your team is witnessing on the ground in cox's bazar?— cox's bazar? you need to imagine _ cox's bazar? you need to imagine the _ cox's bazar? you need to imagine the camps, - cox's bazar? you need to| imagine the camps, made cox's bazar? you need to - imagine the camps, made up of mainly bamboo shelters, everything is temporary. so we were very scared, the refugees were very scared, the refugees were super scared of what was going to happen with the storm. the storm hit the camps, it didn't hit as bad as we expected. we prepared for the worst and we were lucky enough that it was not as bad as we had anticipated. however, we expected devastation in the camps would be extensive. the preliminary report you mentioned, it already shows tens of thousands of families have been affected. this means they have lost their shelter, lost their homes, their belongings. and also already hearing of the facilities that have been destroyed and

damaged, this includes learning centres, bridges, roads, all sorts of communal spaces that the refugees need to survive. we know that especially in the southern part, it's been particularly severe. i “ust want mi particularly severe. i “ust want to ask i particularly severe. i “ust want to ask you, i particularly severe. i “ust want to ask you, youh particularly severe. i just. want to ask you, you were saying there that unhcr, other aid organisations, had been preparing for the worst. but in this particular situation, i understand the bangladesh government doesn't allow rohingya refugees to build anything permanent there or leave the camp, so when they are faced with a potential natural disaster like this, where do they go? 50 natural disaster like this, where do they go?- natural disaster like this, where do they go? so we have a very strong _ where do they go? so we have a very strong response, _ where do they go? so we have a very strong response, very - very strong response, very tightly connected to the government response to such emergencies. it's a very weather affected area where the refugees live, so the preparations started early. we have thousands of rohingya refugees volunteers that have been trained in emergency response. they know how to identify people who might be living in low level zones that

could be inundated or at risk of landslides, so they know when to alert each other, and when to alert each other, and when to alert each other, and when to evacuate. when we say evacuate, we mean evacuate to safer areas within the camps. maybe even to communal spaces, learning centres, to the warehouses we previously identified. and this has been particularly important this time around, because we evacuated those people at risk, as well as those for example with a disability or a lot of children, or people who are older. they were evacuated to the safe spaces, so this is part of the response. the other thing we do is we prepositions certain materials that are crucial. kits to tie down the shelters, so the roofs don't fly off as easily.— fly off as easily. this is provided _ fly off as easily. this is provided ahead - fly off as easily. this is provided ahead of - fly off as easily. this is | provided ahead of time. fly off as easily. this is i provided ahead of time. i fly off as easily. this is - provided ahead of time. ijust want to ask you, we are increasingly ourselves reporting on extreme weather wreaking havoc particularly in poorer communities. how often

are you finding these weather events are going hand—in—hand with migration crises? i events are going hand-in-hand with migration crises?- with migration crises? i mean, we are seeing _ with migration crises? i mean, we are seeing an _ with migration crises? i mean, we are seeing an effect - with migration crises? i mean, we are seeing an effect in - with migration crises? i mean, we are seeing an effect in both ways. as i was saying, for example, this camp during the dry season, it's affected by fires. anything can trigger a fires. anything can trigger a fire and this place is quite dry during the dry season. the heat is extreme. we experienced a fire not long ago that displaced 16,000 people. and now we are seeing the complete opposite, a cyclone that is going to displace thousands of people again. and we have not even started the monsoon season. so we are seeing a deep impact on displaced communities already, and we need to find stronger solutions for them. thank you so much for explaining that to us. stay with us here on bbc news.

see you soon. hello. the weather over the weekend varied quite a bit from day to day, sunnier moments, cloudier moments, but we still managed to reach 22 celsius in kew gardens, making it the warm spot. how about monday? sunny spells in the forecast, scattered showers, too, but we're focusing on the dry weather, and indeed, it will be a mostly dry day for many of us. now, on the satellite picture, there is a line of cloud across the uk, that is a weather front, it's been bringing rain. and early in the morning, it is going to be raining across east anglia, the south east and central southern england, as this weather front gradually moves towards the east. but behind it, a large area of high pressure is building in, and that means settled weather for many of us. so here's the forecast through the early hours.

you can see where the cloud and the rain is. but even once the weather front clears away, still a few showers behind it. it will be on the nippy side across some parts of the country. temperatures in glasgow and edinburgh around four celsius, but in the southeast, around ten. so early in the morning, there will be some cloud and rain in the southeast. eventually that weather front clears away, and then it's a case of sunny spells and scattered showers maybe in northern ireland, scotland, northern england and further east as well. the temperatures pretty disappointing for this time in may, typically around about 13—14 celsius. and it will actually be quite chilly along the north sea coast, where we'll have a keen breeze out of the north—northwest. high pressure very close by on tuesday. in fact, light winds expected across many western areas. it'll feel a little bit warmer. further north, though, showers are expected across scotland, northern england, certainly into yorkshire. temperatures recovering somewhat, especially where the winds are lighter out towards the west, perhaps as high as 17 celsius in belfast and also in cardiff.

and then that high pressure is pretty much on top of us. midweek, we've light winds, but i think variable amounts of cloud. now, if we look at the air mass map, and that's the temperature of the atmosphere, you can see these yellow colours and actually a drift of warmer weather from the south. so, yes, temperatures will recover a little bit as we head towards the end of the week. in fact, that's reflected in the forecast here until friday. you can see we're sort of generally in the high teens towards the end of the week. and from the weather icons, you can gather it is going to be a mostly dry week as well. bye— bye.

citizens in thailand and turkey have voted in elections that may shape the future of this region. we'll bring you what we know of the results. and unrest in pakistan continues, as former prime minister imran khan calls for nationwide protest. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm karishma vaswani. millions of votes are being counted across turkey and thailand, with both countries holding once—in—a—generation elections. with most ballots counted in turkey's crucial general election, there does not seem to be a clear winner yet. turkish presented recep tayyip erdogan has said