elections

The 74-year-old former PM is campaigning across the country, vowing to position Pakistan as an economic powerhouse in Asia ahead of general elections on 8 February.

President-elect Lai will certainly be limited in his capacity to enact any major shift in the coming years. Meanwhile, Beijing's Taiwan policy has proven ineffective and may need a change of course.

As the world grapples with relentless wars and conflicts, it also stands at the precipice of significant change, driven by numerous possibilities

One might think that three by-elections were more than enough to give everyone a snapshot of the political situation in the country and a forecast of who would survive the political storm. Sadly, no.

Suggestions that Erdoğan's long rule has reinvigorated the idea of reviving the Ottoman Empire are misplaced, as is speculation over calls for a broader Muslim state.

Syrian refugees say that up until two years ago Turkey had been very welcoming until racist rhetoric began being used which has led to killings and hate crimes against them

The default assumption voiced repeatedly by both Western diplomats and Western journalists in recent months had been that Turks and the West both "want him [Erdogan] out"

Turkey's 64 million plus registered voters will mobilise once again for the second round which will be held on 28 May

It is the single most important election since the first multi-party election was held in 1946, and also comes on the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic

These could be the last elections in the country if its president wins again, according to the influential advisor, pundit and journalist. Democracy itself and the Kurdish issue are the main factors.