News Wrap: Turkey’s presidential election headed to runoff between Erdogan and main rival

In our news wrap Monday, Turkey's presidential election is headed to a runoff between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a court in China sentenced a 78-year-old American citizen to life in prison on spying charges and Virginia Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly says a man armed with a metal baseball bat attacked two staff members at his district office in Fairfax.

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  • William Brangham:

    Turkey's presidential election is headed to a run-off.

    Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pulled ahead of his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, but he failed to win an outright majority of votes. Erdogan has dominated Turkish politics for two decades, and he remained confident at a rally in Ankara.

  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President (through translator):

    The fact that the election has not been finalized does not change the fact that our nation's choice is clearly in our favor. We believe we will serve our nation for the next five years.

  • 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.

  • Pita Limjaroenrat, Leader, Move Forward Party:

    It's the sentiment of the era that has changed. And the job or the duty of a member of Parliament is to speak on behalf of the people, is to pass progressive laws, is to make sure that we support the duty of the government.

  • William Brangham:

    Thailand's prime minister Former General Prayuth Chan-ocha has been in power since a 2014 military coup. The opposition alliance could face challenges as it navigates the military-backed establishment when Parliament selects a new prime minister in July.

    Back in this country, Virginia Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly says a man armed with a metal baseball bat attacked two staff members at his district office in Fairfax. Connolly was not in the office at the time. The suspect was taken into custody. And staffers are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

    In a statement, Connolly said — quote — "The thought that someone would take advantage of my staff's accessibility to commit an act of violence is unconscionable and devastating."

    And stocks managed modest gains on Wall Street today. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 48 points to close at 33349. The Nasdaq rose 80 points. And the S&P 500 added 12.

    Still to come on the "NewsHour": a veto by North Carolina's governor sets up a battle over abortion rights; Senator Amy Klobuchar talks about her new memoir on the ups and downs of political life; a look inside the American Museum of Natural History's stunning new expansion; plus much more.

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