Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ANKARA – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to meet Pakistani lawmakers plus delegation of Islamic NGOs.

ANKARA – Prime Minister Binali Yildirim to meet head of Turkish armed forces Hulusi Akar and Turkic Council Secretary-General Ramil Hasanov.

FRANCE

SPECIAL REPORT:

France: Are burkinis illegal, an infraction of France’s ‘laicite’?

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS (AA) – A wave of bans on ‘burkinis’ on French beaches is gaining ground as more French mayors prohibit the concealing swimming suit worn by some Muslim women.

KOREA

SEOUL – South Korea announces largest ever artillery exercise close to border with North Korea.

THAILAND

BANGKOK – Thai junta chief hints at accepting offer of premiership after elections.

PHILIPPINES

ZAMBOANGA – Second Indonesian escapes Abu Sayyaf captors.