TV gameshow offers atheists ‘salvation’

A Turkish television show is offering contestants what it claims is the "biggest prize ever" — the chance for atheists to convert to one of the world’s major religions. The show, called “Tovbekarlar Yarisiyor,” or “Penitents Compete,” features a Muslim imam, a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi and a Buddhist monk attempting to persuade 10 atheists of the merits of their religion, according to CNN Turk

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Rijkaard takes over as Galatasaray coach

Dutchman Frank Rijkaard has been appointed as the new coach of Turkish giants Galatasaray on a two-year contract. The 46-year-old, who has previously coached the Dutch national side, Sparta Rotterdam and Barcelona, replaces Bulent Korkmaz — who resigned earlier this week. The Istanbul-based side finished a disappointing fifth in the top flight Super Lig, a clear 10 points behind champions Besiktas.

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Iraqi Kurds begin exporting oil

In an elaborately choreographed ceremony broadcast live on television, the leaders of Iraqi Kurdistan began pumping oil from Kurdish-controlled oil fields in northern Iraq through a pipeline to neighboring Turkey. It is the first time Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region has officially exported oil out of the country

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Report: Dane in running for NATO top job

The Danish prime minister has told his party he is a candidate for NATO’s top job, a spokeswoman for the party told Danish TV on Friday. Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced his aspirations to the Liberal Party Friday morning, party spokeswoman Inger Stojberg said in an interview posted on Denmark’s TV2 News Web site.

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Turkish PM shows common touch on campaign trail

The yellow bus with a giant photo of the prime minister on its side raced through Elazig, a provincial town in eastern Anatolia, blaring patriotic music. Crowds of cheering locals, some of them women dressed in robes and veils, lined the dusty streets, straining to get a glimpse of Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he waved through the windshield. Suddenly, Emine Erdogan, the prime minister’s wife, gasped in shock

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New video of Briton seized in Iraq in 2007

The British Embassy in Baghdad has received a new video of one of five British hostages kidnapped about two years ago. “Regarding the transfer of troops, soldiers, we are positive on that issue,” said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking through an interpreter. In an exclusive interview with CNN at the headquarters of his Justice and Development Party, Erdogan indicated he had not yet received an official request from his American ally for permission to move troops across Turkish soil.

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Turkish airline accused over plane repairs

Turkish Airlines was accused a week before one of its aircraft was involved in a deadly crash near Amsterdam of "inviting disaster" by ignoring aircraft maintenance, it emerged Thursday. At least nine people were killed Tuesday, and dozens more seriously injured when the Boeing 737-800 flying from Istanbul to Amsterdam crashed into a muddy field on its final approach to Schiphol Airport

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