ANKARA (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Friday, May 8, 2020 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):
TURKEY
ANKARA – Following latest developments in coronavirus outbreak in Turkey, worldwide.
ANKARA – Following latest cease-fire agreement for Idlib, northwestern Syria, along Turkey's southern border, reached by Turkey, Russia.
ANKARA – Following Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in Turkey, across Muslim world.
US
WASHINGTON – White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany to hold press conference.
GERMANY
BERLIN – President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Angela Merkel to attend ceremony to commemorate victims of Nazi regime in Germany, marking 75th anniversary of end of World War II.
ITALY
ROME – President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of EU Council Charles Michel, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to address videoconference to be held on occasion of Europe Day.
LIBYA / RUSSIA / TURKEY
TRIPOLI / MOSCOW / ANKARA – Monitoring diplomatic initiatives to resolve Libyan crisis.
THE ECONOMY
ANKARA – Treasury and Finance Ministry to announce cash realizations for April.
SPECIAL REPORT
South Sudan: Hunger forces COVID-19 patients to violate quarantine
By Benjamin Takpiny
JUBA, South Sudan (AA) – Authorities in South Sudan feel constrained to keep the coronavirus or COVID-19 infected patients locked inside their homes. Most of them have been seen roaming in the streets in search of food.
SPECIAL REPORT
Iran, Afghanistan scramble to normalize ties after spat
By Syed Zafar Mehdi
TEHRAN (AA) – Although Afghanistan and Iran have launched a joint investigation into allegations that dozens of Afghan migrants were thrown into a river last week by Iranian guards, the incident has thrown their relations out of gear.
SPECIAL REPORT
Did pandemic start earlier than we think?
By Rabia Iclal Turan
ANKARA (AA) – The novel coronavirus has infected more than 3.8 million people worldwide and killed nearly 270,000 since the first cases were reported in Wuhan, China last December, but the timeline may have been different according to some recent studies.
SPECIAL REPORT
COVID-19 affects India’s defense spending, acquisition
By Iftikhar Gilani
ANKARA (AA) – While the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing governments worldwide to put check on expenditures, India has withheld 15-20% funds earmarked for its Defense Ministry in the first quarter (April-June).
