Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, March 18, 2022 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKIYE

ISTANBUL - 1915 Canakkale Bridge, world's longest mid-span suspension bridge connecting Europe and Asia, to be inaugurated in northwestern Turkiye.

ISTANBUL - Health Minister Fahrettin Koca to address news conference after high-level meeting on health and migration in European region to be jointly hosted by World Health Organization and Turkish Health Ministry.

UKRAINE

KYIV - Following Russia's war in Ukraine, sanctions, efforts for peace, and related international developments.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin to attend event marking 8th anniversary of Crimea's annexation.

MOSCOW - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to give interview to RT TV channel.

GERMANY

BERLIN - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to discuss international issues, including Russia-Ukraine war.

BERLIN - German government spokesman to hold news conference.

UK

LONDON - Visa applications for Homes for Ukraine scheme to be launched.

ABERDEEN - Prime Minister Boris Johnson to address Scottish Conservatives' annual conference.

ITALY

ROME - Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi to host talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attending virtually.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA - UN Human Rights Council to meet to discuss Syria, Myanmar.

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to address European Cohesion Forum.

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to speak to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over phone.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera at State Department.

NEW YORK - Martin Griffiths, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, to hold briefing on humanitarian situation in Ukraine, neighboring countries.

THE ECONOMY

LUXEMBOURG - Eurostat to release international trade in goods statistics for January.

MOSCOW - Bank of Russia to meet to discuss key interest rates.

TOKYO - Bank of Japan to announce its decision on interest rates.

ANKARA - Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges to share established, liquidated companies data for February.

ANKARA - Turkish Statistical Institute to release foreign trade statistics for January.

ANKARA - Industry and Technology Ministry to reveal international investment position for January.

SPORTS

NYON, Switzerland - Quarterfinal, semifinal draws for Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League to be held in Nyon, Switzerland.

SPECIAL REPORT

Sleep apnea increases risk of heart attack, stroke in Tanzania

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA) - Health experts in the East African country of Tanzania have sounded alarm on the rising sleep-related breathing disorders such as snoring and apnea, which, if left untreated, may double the risk of heart attack, stroke, or sudden death.

SPECIAL REPORT

Ethiopia's ruling party vows emphasis on unity in face of deepening ethnic divisions

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - Deeply divided along ethnic lines, facing numerous social and economic woes, and fighting rebels, as well as being under unprecedented external pressures, Ethiopia struggles to turn the tide.

SPECIAL REPORT

Obliged to bring peace in Black Sea region, says head of regional body

By Busra Nur Cakmak

ANTALYA, Turkiye (AA) - We are obliged to bring peace, prosperity and cooperation to the Black Sea region, said the head of a regional organization.

SPECIAL REPORT

Poverty, social injustice drive unhappiness in South Asia

By Aamir Latif and Ahmad Adil

KARACHI/NEW DELHI (AA) - Grinding poverty, a lack of security, socioeconomic injustice, and increasing political polarization are the driving forces behind rising unhappiness in South Asian countries, according to experts.