News archive of May 2020

The International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, was marked by labor unions, NGOs and political parties across Turkey.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak and the weekend curfew Ankara implemented, rallies were not held on May 1. Nevertheless, May Day was celebrated with "social distancing" in various cities on April 30.

Turkey's health minister on April 30 attended the weekly teleconference meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) under the presidency of Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.

Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has asked whether the World Health Organization (WHO) has prepared for a possible second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Koca tabled the question during the weekly teleconference meeting of the WHO, chaired by its director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus, which took place on April 30.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on April 30 to abandon its hostile attitude towards Ankara.
In response to a question from a reporter, spokesperson Hami Aksoy said the Turkish government has always respected the political unity and territorial integrity of Arab countries and supports the U.N.-recognized administration of Libya in this regard.

Turkey has imposed a 3-day curfew in 31 provinces beginning on April 30 midnight in an effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Another 6 persons infected with the novel coronavirus have died, the COVID-19 death toll thus reaching 723, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) informs on Friday. It is about three men and two women from Suceava county and one woman from Arad county. AGERPRES (RO - editor: Karina Olteanu; EN - editor: Rodica State)

Turkish soldiers fired at least one warning shot and aimed at German guards patrolling the border with Greece in the northeastern region of Evros on April 28, according to a report by German magazine Der Spiegel published on Thursday (May 30).

"We are also lifting measures for competitive sports. This will primarily apply to individual sports and under specific security conditions also to collective sports. Competitions in individual sports will also be allowed, but without spectators," the minister told commercial broadcaster POP TV on Wednesday, adding she hoped competitions would be broadcast live.

The European Central Bank tweaked policy around the edges on Thursday but kept the door wide open to further stimulus — including potentially controversial purchases of junk debt — to help an economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.

A joint venture between Greek utility DEPA and Italy's Edison is seeking to shortlist two contractors to build part of a pipeline to carry natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean's rapidly developing gas fields to Europe, DEPA said on Thursday.