ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 23rd, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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MOR VE OTESI GOES TO EUROVISION FINALS
The second semi-finals of the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest took place in Serbia`s capital city of Belgrade on Thursday night. Turkey`s Mor ve Otesi rock group succeeded in going to the finals with its hit song `Deli`. The audience of 11,000 people gave a standing ovation to Mor ve Otesi after the group`s performance.

TURKS LOSE 1 BLN USD IN INTERNET GAMBLING IN 6 MONTHS
Turks have lost at least one billion USD in internet gambling. According to a senior telecommunications officer, this amount was lost in a period of only six months.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FIVE REASON OF TENSION
Five important reasons are laying behind the tension which escalated upon the statement of the Presidents Commission of the Supreme Court of Appeals criticising certain political circles for attempting to influence and control the judiciary branch and the government`s harsh reaction to the statement. These reasons are:
1. Deputy Prime Minister & State Minister Cemil Cicek`s failure to convene the Higher Board of Judges and Prosecutors during his term in office as the justice minister.
2. Some allegations that the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party envisaged to change structure of all judicial organs in its draft constitution.
3. The AK party`s decision to amend the Constitution to lift the ban on headscarf in universities.
4. The closure case filed by the chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals against the AK Party.
5. Presentation of the draft judicial reform to the EU by Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin without listening to views of judicial organs.

"CRAZY" IN FINAL
Turkish music band "Mor ve Otesi" has qualified to the final round of the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest in the Serbian capital city of Belgrade with its song "Deli (Crazy)". The band was ranked 9th among ten other finalists in the semi-final. The 2008 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Belgrade on May 24th.

TURKISH STUDENT WINS INTERNATIONAL POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION
A Turkish student has won an international poster design competition with her poster regarding whale hunting. Aycin Turan, a communication design student from Turkey`s Izmir Economy University (IEU), came first at the "Good 50x70", an international poster design competition, with her poster titled "Beauty: Not Innocent As it Seems".

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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2ND ROUND PEACE SUMMIT TO TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK
World press put news reports about Turkey`s acting as arbitrator for peace between Israel and Syria in their headlines. The second round talks will take place between Israel and Syria next week. Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said the basic principle in the talks was "land for peace and peace for land". "The Israeli-Syrian leg of the Middle Eastern peace process officially resumed after 13 years and the talks will continue under Turkey`s supervision," Babacan said.

MOR VE OTESI QUALIFIES TO FINAL
Turkish music band "Mor ve Otesi" qualified to the final round of the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade with its song "Deli (Crazy)". The band will appear on the stage on the 12th rank in the final of Eurovision Song Contest.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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3 WEEKS NECESSARY FOR PM ERDOGAN`S EYE TO HEAL
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s ophthalmologist Kazim Devranoglu said that it would take at least three weeks for Erdogan`s eye to heal. "Erdogan`s eye has entered a period of healing", said Devranoglu.

SAUDI JUSTICE!
Saudi Arabian authorities have put another Turkish barber, 25 year old Ersin Taze of Iskenderun, in jail for swearing at Prophet Muhammad. A barber from Hatay, Sabri Bogday was recently sentenced to death for swearing at Allah (God) in Saudi Arabia.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BIG SUPPORT TO STATEMENT
The Council of State, political parties and jurists have extended full support to the statement of the Presidents Commission of the Supreme Court of Appeals criticising attempts to influence and control the judiciary branch. The Council of State expressed its concerns in a statement about recent arguments over democratic legitimacy of the judiciary.

PETA`S PROTEST
The international animal right group, PETA, has staged a demonstration in front of the Turkish Embassy in Berlin, Germany, to protest killing of stray dogs and cats in Turkey. Demonstrators carried photographs of slain animals.

PKK AMBUSH
Two Turkish troops were killed in clashes with the PKK terrorists in Beytussebap town of the southeastern city of Sirnak.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT FISCHER HOLDS TALKS IN ISTANBUL
After completing his talks in Ankara, Austrian President Heinz Fischer held talks in Istanbul. Fischer visited Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and attended Turkish-Austrian Business Council meeting in the city. Fischer had a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting between Fischer and Erdogan lasted for five minutes.

TURKISH DOCTOR GETS ENVIRONMENT AWARD
A Turkish biologist received an environment award from Britain. Cagan Sekercioglu, a tropical biologist, ecologist, ornithologist and nature photographer, received "Whitley Gold Award" -- defined as the "environment Nobel" of Britain -- for his studies on preservation of a lake in the east of Turkey, ecological restoration of the wetlands around the lake and improvement of nature in the region.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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UNIVERSITIES IN ALL PROVINCES
Turkish parliament has approved the bill envisaging establishment of universities in nine provinces. Accordingly, there will be higher education institutions in all provinces of Turkey. Under the bill,universities will be established in the provinces of Ardahan, Bartin, Bayburt, Gumushane, Hakkari, Igdir, Sirnak, Tunceli and Yalova soon.

A CALL FROM BAHCELI TO PRESIDENT GUL
Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has called on President Abdullah Gul to take initiative in an effort to end the recent tension between the government and the Supreme Court of Appeals. "Heads of legislative, executive and judicial organs should come together under the chairmanship of President Gul," Bahceli proposed.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY EXPORTS TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO MIDDLE EAST AND BALKANS
A company owned by the Municipality of Istanbul is exporting traffic lights to the Middle East and the Balkans. Many countries, including Syria, Greece, Romania, Hungary, Sudan, Lebanon, Italy, Russia and the United States, are using Turkish made traffic lights.

FISCHER EXTENDS SUPPORT TO TURKEY OVER EU
Austrian President Heinz Fischer completed his visit to Turkey with warm messages. Fischer gave the message that he will support Turkey in its bid to join the EU as a full member. "Austria will always extend support to Turkey so that your lights are always turned on", Fischer said.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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LUCKY TURK
A Turkish student who was run over by a Hummer in Canada won 1 million USD in the Supreme Court. In a decision released Wednesday, Judge Victoria Gray said Moe Samieian -- owner of Moe`s Classic Rugs and Home Accessories -- was responsible for the accident that left 30-year-old Murat Dikey with severe brain trauma and other injuries. Dikey, who had come to help a friend move a piano from Samieian`s West Vancouver home June 16th, 2004, was standing beside the driveway when he was struck by the Hummer SUV and thrown 15 metres.

TURKEY RANKS AT 59TH PLACE IN WORLD INFLATION LIST
Turkish State Minister Mehmet Simsek announced that Turkey was ranked the 59th in the world inflation list. "We are the 59th in the world despite our inflation figure, which is said to be fairly high at the beginning of this year," Simsek said at a financial administration meeting in Ankara.

(SOL-EÖ-UK)