Diary

ANKARA (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKIYE

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend appointment ceremony of disabled public employees and chair meeting of provincial heads of his Justice and Development (AK) Party.

ANKARA - Following Russia-Ukraine border tensions as many countries urge their nationals to leave Ukraine amid fears of Russian invasion.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to meet with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio.

MOSCOW - Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias to pay 2-day visit.

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS - EU leaders to hold informal meeting to discuss recent tensions with Russia, ahead of today’s EU-African Union (AU) summit.

BRUSSELS - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to hold news conference after North Atlantic Council’s meeting with Georgian and Ukrainian defense ministers.

BRUSSELS - Second day of NATO defense ministers' meeting. Turkiye is represented by Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

THE ECONOMY

ANKARA - Turkish Central Bank to release Short Term External Debt Statistics for December.

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

WASHINGTON - US Labor Department to announce weekly initial jobless claims.

SPORTS

BEIJING – Following Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

ISTANBUL - Following UEFA Europa League and Conference League playoff matches.

SPECIAL REPORT

National book fair in Bangladesh fosters language, culture

By Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - The Bangladesh national book fair, held every year in February to honor the demonstrators killed in the Bengali language movement of the mid-20th century, promotes a spirit and desire to uphold the country's language and culture, especially among book lovers, according to analysts and readers.

SPECIAL REPORT

Tanzania seeks ‘wider national interests’ on disputed Maasai land

By Kizito Makoye

LOLIONDO, Tanzania (AA) - In a desperate bid to curb increasing human activities at one of UNESCO’s cultural heritage sites, authorities in Tanzania are planning to review a controversial law allowing a multiple land use system in the northern Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), ostensibly to protect wildlife sanctuaries.

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SPECIAL REPORT

‘In Sikh dominated Indian Punjab, communal politics has no takers’

By Ahmad Adil

LUDHIANA, CHANDIGARH, India (AA) – Nearly 75 years ago, when India and Pakistan gained freedom from the British, the large swathe of Punjab province across the newly created borders witnessed bloody rioting between Sikhs and Muslims, forcing one of the largest migrations in history.