Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - April 8, 2020

Here is Anadolu Agency's rundown of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic and other news in Turkey and around the world.

The novel coronavirus continues to spread rapidly worldwide. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally is now over 1.43 million, while nearly 82,200 people have died and more than 301,100 have made recoveries.

Turkey on Tuesday confirmed 76 more deaths and 3,892 new cases, bringing the death toll to 725 and the total number of cases to 34,109.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced that wearing mask is mandatory in workplaces and public areas. Country also established Social Sciences Board to investigate and reduce sociological and psychological effects of the pandemic on society.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marked the holy Night of Barat. "I wish this blessed night, which is covered by Allah's mercy, grace and compassion, brings goodness for the Turkish nation, the Islamic world and all humanity," he said.

The head of the Turkish Red Crescent said that patients who have recovered from the outbreak can help heal others by donating plasma three times a week, 14 days after their recovery.

Meanwhile, the number of people worldwide who have recovered from the novel coronavirus crossed 300,000 early Wednesday, according to figures compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said he is setting aside nearly $1 billion of his wealth -- represent about 28% of his overall wealth -- to aid in the fight against the COVID-19.

With nearly 400,000 people in the U.S. sickened by the virus, and death toll surpassing 12,000, President Donald Trump said this week will be "very painful" for the U.S. in terms of coronavirus-related casualties, adding that "we see glimmers of very, very strong hope".

Trump went on to say the U.S. is seeing "tremendous evidence" that African Americans are being impacted disproportionately by the coronavirus pandemic, adding that the black community was impacted "three or four times more so" as opposed to others.

Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly submitted his resignation amid calls for him to step down over his handling of the ouster of an aircraft carrier captain who raised the alarm over the spread of the novel coronavirus on board his ship.

While the COVID-19 deaths hit new records in the U.K. – jumped by unprecedented 786 in 24 hours – the Department of Health reported that 213,181 people have been tested of which 55,242 tested positive.

Meanwhile, a Downing Street statement said that after passing a "stable overnight" in intensive care, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is now "in good spirits."

The UN urged Sudan to coordinate with its agencies so that "lifesaving aid" can continue to be provided to the country's most vulnerable people, including to help combat the coronavirus outbreak.

In Lebanon, inmates in Qubbah prison set fires and burned mattresses in cells to press government to grant general amnesty amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has already claimed 19 lives in the country.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo has released 1,200 inmates to decongest prisons as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The trial of Sudan's former President Omar al-Bashir over the 1989 coup that brought him to power and the killing of protesters has been postponed due to coronavirus outbreak.

The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan moved close to 4,000 on Tuesday as the country reported 577 new cases, its highest daily tally to date.

The pandemic ended the basketball season in Italy early as the Italian basketball body declared early closure of 2019-2020 top-tier Serie A league led by Segafredo Virtus Bologna.

The virus concerns also hit Italian and Catalan Grands Prix as the MotoGP delayed the Italian Grand Prix and Barcelona's Catalan Grand Prix, pushing the number of top races postponed this year due to coronavirus to seven.

Turkey's efforts to fight terrorism also continue, as the country "neutralized" nine PKK/YPG terrorists in Turkey's Operations Peace Spring and Euphrates Shield zones in northern Syria. -