Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to chair National Security Council meeting at presidential complex.

ANKARA - Following latest developments on novel coronavirus worldwide.

ANKARA / ATHENS / LEFKOSA - Following latest developments in Eastern Mediterranean.

US

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump to make campaign stop in southern state of North Carolina.

WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold hearing on US’ Mideast policy, with witnesses Iran (and Venezuela) envoy Elliot Abrams and David Hale, under secretary of state for political affairs.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley to speak at virtual town hall meeting.

NEW YORK - World leaders to speak on day 3 of UN General Assembly’s 75th session.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov for various talks.

LIBYA

TRIPOLI - Following clashes between Libyan army and militias of warlord Khalifa Haftar.

THE ECONOMY

ANKARA - Turkish Statistical Institute to release sectoral confidence indices for September.

ANKARA - Turkish Central Bank to announce manufacturing industry's capacity utilization rate for September.

ANKARA - Central Bank to announce decision on interest rates.

GAZIANTEP - Start of third annual Teknofest, Turkey’s biggest aerospace and technology event, in southeastern city.

SPECIAL REPORT

Turkey gives more to UN budget than many in Europe

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey finances the lion’s share of the UN budget among European nations, while it is the largest contributor among Middle Eastern countries.

SPECIAL REPORT

Somalis happy to be back in class after lockdown

By Magdalene Mukami

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) – When Somalia announced the closure of schools in March to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, students like 17-year-old Halima Astur lost all hope.

SPECIAL REPORT

Pakistan's centuries-old boat village faces dual threat

By Aamir Latif

JAMSHORO, Pakistan (AA) - Under the broiling midday sun, 15-year-old Mohammad Afzal Mallah rows a small wooden boat carrying three people to his village, which floats on the light blue waters of Lake Manchar, Pakistan's largest freshwater lake.