Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, May 12, 2022 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to commemorate 1 million American lives lost due to COVID-19. He will issue presidential proclamation ordering flags to be flown at half-staff to mark victims.

WASHINGTON - Biden to welcome leaders of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and ASEAN secretary general to White House.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to participate virtually in Second Global COVID-19 Summit.

NEW YORK - UN Security Council to discuss Russia-Ukraine war.

GERMANY

BERLIN - Germany to host G7 foreign ministers' meeting at Weissenhaus in Schleswig-Holstein.

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS - Finland’s Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto to attend meeting of European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss European security challenges in light of war in Ukraine.

UK

LONDON - Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to hold talks with European Commission's Vice-President Maros Sefcovic on Northern Ireland Protocol.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA - UN Human Rights Council to hold special session on Ukraine.

UKRAINE

KYIV - Following war between Ukraine and Russia, international reactions.

THE ECONOMY

ANKARA - Turkish Statistical Institute to reveal birth statistics for 2021.

WASHINGTON – US industrial production price index to be released for April.

WASHINGTON – US weekly jobless claim figures to be shared.

SPECIAL REPORT

Sweden, Finland mull NATO membership amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine

By Leila Nezirevic

STOCKHOLM (AA) – Sweden and Finland are preparing for NATO accession, ending decades of neutrality despite Moscow’s threats that their NATO membership will push the region into conflict with Russia.

SPECIAL REPORT

ANALYSIS - Russia-Ukraine war casts shadow over Arctic region

By Iftikhar Gilani

ANKARA (AA) – In 2011, a Chinese ship, instead of taking a normal circuitous route to reach its shores from the Norwegian coast, cruised past the Arctic Ocean via the North Pole, marking the beginning of a new "Great Game."

SPECIAL REPORT

Rights activists urge Germany to do more to combat far-right crimes

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - Germany needs to step up its efforts to combat far-right violence as 41% of last year’s victims of politically motivated crimes were attacked by right-wing extremists, human rights activists in the capital Berlin told Anadolu Agency.

SPECIAL REPORT

Pakistan to start Turkish language course in public schools

By Kiran Butt

LAHORE, Pakistan (AA) - Language plays a significant role in personal, professional and diplomatic relations. Pakistan and Turkiye’s relationship is set to reach new heights, as under the framework of the Yunus Emre Institute, public schools in Punjab will start a Turkish language course soon.

SPECIAL REPORT

Nuclear arsenals maintain ‘credible deterrence’ in South Asia: Experts

By Aamir Latif and Ahmad Adil

KARACHI, Pakistan/NEW DELHI, India (AA) - The nuclear capabilities of India and Pakistan have maintained a “strategic and military” balance not only between the two neighbors but also with New Delhi’s longtime rival China, say defense and security experts.

SPECIAL REPORT

World continues to grapple with high inflation

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Russia-Ukraine war has wreaked havoc on commodity and energy prices and countries around the world are struggling with high inflation, which is hitting record levels.

SPECIAL REPORT

'Nothing on the shelves': Baby formula shortage sparks concerns in US

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, Texas (AA) - Many parents across the US are stressing over a nationwide shortage of baby formula, with supplies dwindling over the past three months due to massive recalls over contamination with deadly bacteria.

SPECIAL REPORT

Turkish taught as an elective foreign language in Uganda

By Hamza Kyeyune

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Turkiye this year established the Yunus Emre Institute in Uganda to widen understanding of the Turkish culture.

SPECIAL REPORT

Exodus of Zimbabwean nurses to western countries leave health system staggering

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) – Zimbabwe is witnessing a huge exodus of highly skilled nurses to countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, in search of greener pastures, leaving local hospitals in shambles.