Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ISTANBUL - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend inauguration of historical movie theater and cinema museum.

ANKARA - Following latest developments on COVID-19 outbreak in Turkey, worldwide.

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to visit Texas hit by winter storm.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to embark on his first 'virtual trip' to Mexico and Canada.

WASHINGTON - Office of Director of National Intelligence (DNI) expected to release declassified report on murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

CROATIA

ZAGREB - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to pay visit to Croatia.

ITALY

ROMA - G20 finance ministers and central bank governors will attend online meeting hosted by term president Italy.

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS- Leaders of EU countries to hold virtual summit on COVID-19 measures and vaccination.

ARMENIA

YEREVAN- Following developments after coup attempt in Armenia.

THE ECONOMY

ANKARA - TurkStat to announce foreign trade figures for January.

ANKARA - Turkish Central Bank to reveal international reserves and foreign currency liquidity for January.

ANKARA - Treasury and Finance Ministry to announce borrowing strategy for the next three months.

SPORTS

ISTANBUL- Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 26 to see Turkish derby between Fenerbahce Beko and Anadolu Efes.

NYON, Switzerland - UEFA Europa League Round of 16 draw to be held.

SPECIAL REPORT

No cure for SMA, but results may be near: Cuban neurologist

By Beyza Binnur Donmez and Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) - It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men, according to Frederick Douglas, the famed 19th century US anti-slavery activist. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) disease, however, with its debilitating symptoms, takes an especially hard toll on children, so treatment for them would be especially welcome.

SPECIAL REPORT

Turkey: Sit-in mother pleads daughter to flee YPG/PKK

By Ali Murat Alhas

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) – One of the mothers staging a sit-in protest against the PKK terror group, and its Syrian offshoot YPG, in southeastern Turkey called on her daughter to lay down her weapons and surrender to Turkish security forces.

OPINION

Despite odds, Hamas keeps date with democracy

BY Basem Naim

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement -- Hamas, is currently conducting internal elections to choose its leadership at the consultative, political, and organizational levels.