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[1/2] Ayse Kekec, an earthquake survivor living in a tent with her son, stands in front of their tent with a poster of Turkish President Erdogan on it, in Kahramanmaras, Turkey May 11, 2023.... Read more

ANKARA, May 16 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party came out on top in Sunday's elections in 10 of the 11 provinces hit by February's earthquakes, with analysts saying his vow to rebuild devastated cities had reassured voters in what are mostly AKP strongholds.

The ruling party's strong showing, defying initial expectations in February that the quakes would hurt its support, was also driven by doubts about the opposition's ability to meet voters' expectations.

Nationwide, the Islamist-rooted AKP won a new parliamentary majority with its alliance partners, while Erdogan, 69, led comfortably in the presidential vote ahead of a runoff with his main rival on May 28.

The powerful earthquakes on Feb. 6 killed more than 50,000 people and left millions homeless in Turkey, causing destruction across 11 provinces from Adana near the Mediterranean coast to Diyarbakir in the mainly Kurdish southeast.

Despite the huge toll of deaths and injuries and mass migration afterwards, voter turnout was still very high in the region, at between 85-89% in most of the 11 provinces and above 80% in the others. The nationwide average was 88.9%.

Many Turks who fled the region returned to vote.

Kurdish voters in the region came out strongly in support of Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, in the presidential race, but the president was still ahead in voting in eight of the affected provinces.

Kilicdaroglu, 74, was clearly ahead in two provinces and in the worst-hit province of Hatay, they each got 48% support, with the opposition leader marginally ahead.

Critics and earthquake survivors had expressed anger over a slow initial quake response by Erdogan's government and lax enforcement of building rules - failures they said cost lives.

But dozens of people Reuters spoke to soon after the quake were thankful for the aid of the government and security forces, while also complaining that they had arrived late. Interviews since then provided little evidence that the issue would change how people voted.

Ibrahim Kadir Demir, who lost his daughter and grandchildren in the earthquake, said he was happy with government services, adding: "I wish our president had won outright (in the first round)."

A supporter of the opposition, Aslihan Cengiz, said she had expected a bigger backlash against the AKP in her native province of Hatay - the worst affected by the quakes - but added that its more pious electoral base probably helped it.

"(AKP voters) say the earthquake was an act of God," said Cengiz, who also said AKP-voting districts of Hatay had seen less destruction than areas that tended to back the opposition.

Erdogan's AKP has prioritised construction during its 20 years in power and this has helped to drive economic growth.

Pollster Mehmet Ali Kulat said the opposition alliance had failed to win over enough voters and they had ultimately put their faith in the government to improve their plight.

"Earthquake survivors had seriously criticised the government response in polls and they said they would not vote for them. But these people were also looking for an answer to the question of who 'will rebuild my house, who will rebuild my workplace?'" Kulat said.

"They see that it is Erdogan who can do this. This is one of the most important factors," he added.

Additional reporting by Daren ButlerEditing by Gareth Jones

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Turkey election results show Erdogan dominating in quake-hit region - Reuters

William Brangham:

Erdogan outperformed polls that had shown his grip on the nation slipping amid high inflation, an ongoing housing crisis, and February's devastating earthquakes. The run-off election is set for May 28.

A powerful cyclone in Myanmar has claimed the lives of at least six people and injured 700 others. Rescuers evacuated about 1,000 people today who were trapped by 12 feet of seawater along the country's western coast. The storm damaged homes and cut power lines across Rakhine State after making landfall Sunday afternoon.

Neighboring Bangladesh was spared a predicted direct hit, but hundreds of makeshift shelters were still torn apart.

A court in China sentenced a 78-year-old American citizen to life in prison on spying charges. It's a case that could widen the rift between Washington and Beijing. Hong Kong resident John Shing-wan Leung was detained in China in 2021, but details of his case haven't been released. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said it was aware of the charges, but had no further comment.

In Thailand, top opposition parties agreed to form a ruling coalition after they received a majority of seats in the House of Representatives in Sunday's general election. Today, the progressive Move Forward Party took a victory lap through the streets of Bangkok. Headed by a 42-year-old businessman, their electoral win dealt a stunning defeat to Thailand's military rulers.

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News Wrap: Turkey's presidential election headed to runoff - PBS NewsHour

Observer TV reviews

Uptown and downtown collide in a crowded New York thriller; the BBC attempts to get inside the mind of the Turkish president; and an exemplary docuseries meets young people in care

Sun 14 May 2023 04.30 EDT

City on Fire (Apple TV+)Turkey: Empire of Erdogan (BBC Two) | iPlayerKids (Channel 4) | All 4Mulligan (Netflix)

Sometimes theres no stopping the DNA from past fictional characters seeping into the present. In City on Fire, the eight-part Apple TV+ adaptation of Garth Risk Hallbergs 2015 novel, created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the young student character, Sam (Chase Sui Wonders), practically vibrates with Penny Lane from Almost Famous energy.

Charismatic cool chick Sam bewitches Charlie (Wyatt Oleff), who himself is reminiscent of AFs naive William. Charlie comes across Sam in a record shop when hes in New York to see a therapist (his father died on 9/11). While the scenes function as High Fidelity-esque, indie-kid schmaltz (From now on, Charles, youre going to be my project), theyre technically flashbacks. City on Fire opens with Sam being shot in Central Park on the Fourth of July. Who wants Sam silenced? And how is she connected to a series of fires around the city?

Hallbergs novel, which garnered a $2m advance and thumped in at 944 pages, is set in the 1970s, but this series is repositioned in the early 00s. With a track from the Walkmen here, a namecheck for the Libertines there, and Jesse Peretz (Girls) co-directing, the sense is of a counterculture thriller (sex, drugs, addiction) for the Meet Me in the Bathroom generation. Theres a focus on everything from race (a prominent black character, played nicely by Xavier Clyde, is mistaken for a waiter at a party) to the imploding lives of the super-rich (Jemima Kirke and Ashley Zukerman play a fragmenting couple). The anti-establishment fires and explosions echo the Bonfire of the Vanities theme of uptown/downtown NYC worlds colliding.

It all becomes a mite stodged up a veritable bottleneck of competing narratives. It doesnt help that Nicky Chaos (Max Milner), one of the rebel rockers Sam is obsessed with in flashback, is a cringeworthy Iggy clone (why are fictional musicians so difficult to write?). In fact, too many of the counterculture scenes come across like an attempt to redo Less Than Zero with lethargic hipsters. If you can forgive that, theres some nifty dialogue and performances to enjoy. Kirke, as a beleaguered Manhattan alpha, is excellent; so too is John Cameron Mitchell (co-creator/star of Hedwig and the Angry Inch), playing against type as a flinty power-suit.

In the run-up to todays Turkish elections, Gabriel Ranges two-part BBC Two documentary Turkey: Empire of Erdogan probed the mindset of the countrys president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, the leader who has retained power for two decades.

Beginning with scenes of rubble and devastation after Februarys earthquake, it draws on an extensive range of commentators, journalists and Turkish politicos to document Erdoans dominance. Born into an impoverished religious family, he established himself as the voice of ordinary Islamists pitted against the secular elite rulers and the ruthless military. Imprisoned (for publicly reciting dissident poetry), he still managed to rise to power, his pro-western stance further burnishing his international respectability.

Narrated by David Morrissey, the series goes on to scrutinise Erdoans vice-like grip on power. His increasingly dictatorial stance. The stifling of dissent (theres still almost no independent media in Turkey). The quashing of not only military coups but also political opponents and peaceful protest. The unexplained wealth. The military manoeuvres in Syria. The vote-rigging. The far-right alliances. The blatant lunges for absolute power. Even Erdoans insistence that he is fighting against foreign interference and the deep state is the classic us and them rhetoric often used by authoritarian/strongman leaders.

As forecast, will Erdoan now finally be unseated? Some of those interviewed here werent entirely counting him out. By the end of the two hours, I still wasnt sure Id wholly seen Erdoan (as a man, he remains elusive a shadow guttering on a wall), but this is a compelling examination of power and the ruthless resolve to hold on to it.

Theres a real skill to exploring troubled, deprived worlds and ensuring your subjects emerge recognisably human and not caricatures to be demonised and gawped at. Bafta-winning Paddy Wivells three-part docuseries Kids (Channel 4) an absorbing look at young people in the care of Coventry childrens services and their families manages it.

We meet Xorin, a 17-year-old returning to live with his mother, Kelly, having been moved to Wales after being exploited by a drugs gang. You can imagine how tattooed, nose-ringed Kelly might once have fared on Benefits Street. Here, shes given space to be everything from emotional (about the family breakdown) to resourceful (she went without food and electricity to keep her home) to defiant, shouting at TV images of Boris Johnson (Fucking tax the rich bastards!). Although damaged by his experiences, Xorin is contemplative and wry. Putting down his vape to play football again, he succinctly critiques his performance: My fitness is bollocks.

In the same episode, 19-year-old Annabelle vows to give her newborn son the childhood she never had (so thats not taken away from them) with a gentle passion that makes the screen shimmer. The remaining episodes (all on streaming) deal with leaving care and issues of identity. Deceptively unassuming in tone, Kids crystallises a simple truth: childhood scar tissue doesnt conveniently disappear.

Over to Netflix for the new 10-part adult animation Mulligan, created by Robert Carlock and Sam Means (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and woah, all these names!

The premise: after foiling an alien invasion, a demolished, barely populated Earth appoints a jock US president (Nat Faxon), who is helped by a sweet pageant queen (Chrissy Teigen) and manipulated by a corrupt senator (Waynes Worlds Dana Carvey). Elsewhere, the cast includes Tina Fey, Sam Richardson (Veep), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and Daniel Radcliffe (he was definitely in something give me a minute).

Never mind the star power is it funny? Short answer: yes, albeit a tad dated. With an underlying eco theme, Mulligan has Futurama-style animation, while the humour (Now we rebuild. Or whatever) is an uber-sarky mashup of Armando Iannuccis Avenue 5 and executive producer Feys 30 Rock (her lovelorn scientist character is essentially a post-apocalyptic Liz Lemon). Mulligan isnt edgy or pioneering, but the cast has fun and doubtless so will you.

Star ratings (out of five)City on Fire Turkey: Empire of Erdogan Kids Mulligan

Mad Women(Channel 4)Who recalls Nick Kamen taking off his Levis to give them a wash in a launderette? In this intriguing documentary, trailblazing female advertising executives talk about life in an industry dominated by real-life Don Drapers.

Eurovision Song Contest (BBC One)Too late for this columns deadlines, the final, live from Liverpools M&S Bank Arena, is hosted on behalf of 2022 victors Ukraine (who won with Kalush Orchestras Stefania). Heres to joy, tears, Euro unity, ticker tape and song.

Succession(Sky Atlantic)Episode 7 of the final series was a masterpiece: horrible gift-giving, grim schmoozing of investors and a (spectacularly acted) couples row on a balcony that felt like a mutual nuking. Is there a best argument Emmy? There should be.

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The week in TV: City on Fire; Turkey: Empire of Erdogan; Kids; Mulligan review - The Guardian

The two leaders spoke prior to the inauguration of the Akkuyu plant, Turkeys first nuclear power reactor.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have held talks by telephone, their offices said, before the two countries marked the inauguration of Turkeys first nuclear power reactor.

The Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkeys southern Mersin province has been built by Russias state nuclear energy company Rosatom.

Erdogan thanked Putin on Thursday during their call for his help on the power plant, the Turkish leaders office said. They also discussed the Black Sea grain initiative and the situation in Ukraine, it said.

Putin said they agreed to deepen economic, trade and agricultural cooperation. He said the two countries were working on an initiative by Erdogan to send flour made from Russian grain to countries that needed it.

Both presidents took part virtually in a ceremony marking the loading of nuclear fuel into the first power unit at Akkuyu.

The $20bn, 4,800-megawatt project to build four reactors in the Mediterranean town of Akkuyu will allow Turkey to join the small club of nations with civil nuclear energy.

We plan to complete the physical launch [of the plant] next year in order to be able to produce electricity on a steady basis from 2025, as we agreed, said Andrei Likhachev, head of Rosatom.

Turkey hopes the plant, described by Likhachev as the largest nuclear construction site on the planet, will reduce its dependence on imported hydrocarbons for energy.

Construction of the Akkuyu plant was complicated by sanctions the West imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Yes, we have certain logistical problems, Akkuyu plant director Sergei Butskikh told reporters on the eve of the launch.

The transportation routes are getting longer. Not all of the shipping companies are able to work with us. So here yes, we feel the sanctions, he added.

But this has not affected the quality of the plants construction.

Erdogan has been one of the few world leaders to maintain good relations with Putin by refusing to sign up for Western sanctions on Russia and trying to mediate an end to the war.

Erdogan joined Thursdays ceremony by video link rather than travelling to the site due to a health issue that forced him to cancel campaign rallies this week. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the president was now feeling better.

Turkey faces landmark presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14.

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Erdogan thanks Putin for his help on Turkish nuclear plant - Al Jazeera English

Erdogan is known for his love of campaigning and embrace of political fights.

Turkey's ailing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday re-emerged from a two-day absence and spoke by video link with Vladimir Putin at a virtual ceremony unveiling a Russian-built nuclear power plant.

The 69-year-old leader suspended all campaigning for Turkey's pivotal May 14 election after getting sick while conducting a live TV interview on Tuesday evening.

Erdogan said he had developed an upset stomach while hopping between five cities for rallies and public project launches at the start of the week.

Health Minister Fehrettin Koca said on Thursday that Erdogan had "infectious gastroenteritis" -- a short-term illness caused by the inflammation of the digestive tract.

But the scare forced Erdogan to cancel events on Wednesday and then stay at home instead of travelling to the Mediterranean coast for Thursday's grand opening of Turkey's first nuclear power plant.

The video appearance represented Erdogan's effort to project health and vigour at one of the more vulnerable moments of his two-decade rule.

But he looked wan and visibly frail as he addressed Putin and the nation from behind his presidential desk.

"Our country has risen to the league of nations with nuclear power, albeit after a 60-year delay," Erdogan said in prepared remarks.

'Disinformation'

Erdogan is known for his love of campaigning and embrace of political fights.

Polls suggest either that he is running neck-and-neck or losing against opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in Turkey's most momentous election in decades.

His Islamic-rooted party's control of parliament through an alliance with a far-right group is also under threat.

Erdogan had used his rallies to launch fierce attacks at the opposition and portray himself as a man who gets the job done.

That image has been shaken -- and his office is fighting back.

The president's powerful media director Fahrettin Altun posted screen shots on Twitter of Chinese state media and some popular accounts speculating about Erdogan's condition being more serious than officially reported.

"We categorically reject such baseless claims regarding President Erdogan's health," Altun wrote.

"No amount of disinformation can dispute the fact that the Turkish people stand with their leader and Erdogan and his AK Party are set to win the May 14 elections."

Guarded Secret

Rumours about Erdogan's health have been circulating since he underwent two gastrointestinal surgeries in 2011 and 2012.

The operations left him with a slight hitch in his gait that appears to have fed some of the social media speculation.

Turkey does not publicise the results of its leaders' health evaluations and it is illegal to "insult the president".

Thousands of people have been prosecuted for the offence -- punishable by either a fine or a jail term of up to four years.

Turkey's main opposition leaders all quickly tweeted messages wishing Erdogan a speedy recovery.

Erdogan's video linkup with Putin unveiled a project that Russia began building during a chill in Ankara's relations with its Western allies in 2018

Construction of the Akkuyu plant was complicated by sanctions the West imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

"Yes, we have certain logistical problems," Akkuyu plant director Sergei Butskikh told reporters on the eve of the launch.

"The transportation routes are getting longer. Not all of the shipping companies are able to work with us. So here yes, we feel the sanctions," he added.

"But this has not affected the quality of the plant's construction."

Erdogan has been one of the few world leaders to maintain good relations with Putin by refusing to sign up to Western sanctions on Russia and trying to mediate an end to the war.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Turkey's Erdogan Re-Emerges With Putin After Citing Health Issues - NDTV