Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

KOCAELI - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend official opening ceremony of Information Valley, unveiling of Turkey’s indigenous automobile.

ANKARA - Turkish national anthem poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy to be commemorated on 83rd death anniversary.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - Russia, Ukraine expected to sign agreement on Russian gas transit to Europe through Ukrainian territory.

AFGHANISTAN

KABUL - Afghanistan's Independent Electoral Complaints Commission to make decision on complaints against preliminary results of presidential polls.

LIBYA

TRIPOLI - Monitoring clashes between Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and forces of commander Khalifa Haftar.

IRAQ

BAGHDAD - Following Iraqi anti-government protests.

LEBANON

BEIRUT - Following months-long anti-government protests.

SYRIA

ALEPPO / IDLIB / HASAKAH / RAQQA - Monitoring developments in Syrian civil war.

ECONOMY

ANKARA - Turkish Central Bank to release International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity statistics for November.

SPORTS

ISTANBUL - Turkey's Fenerbahce Beko to take on Spain's Valencia Basket in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular season match.

ISTANBUL - Besiktas to face Genclerbirligi in Turkish Super Lig's week 17 match at Vodafone Park.

SPECIAL REPORT

An evening in Ankara with Urdu language legend

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - The excitement was palpable at the Urdu Department of Ankara University, where students, teachers and literati of Turkish capital had gathered to listen to renowned Urdu poet, play writer and lyricist Amjad Islam Amjad.

SPECIAL REPORT

Bangladesh: Racing to move from middle-income to developed economy

By Sorvar Alam

ANKARA (AA) - Robust economic reforms, remittances received from expatriate community, boost in exports, coupled with the vision of country's leadership, are major factors behind the turnaround of Bangladeshi economy, believes country’s top official.

SPECIAL REPORT

Exodus exhibit to tour to raise awareness on refugees

By Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL (AA) - An exhibition of the works of renowned photographers who documented the travails of refugees will tour European and U.S. cities in 2020, said its organizer.

SPECIAL REPORT

Amazon fires wreak new level of havoc on surroundings

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - The deforestation of the Amazon rainforest -- the "lungs of the earth"-- by wildfires is untold destruction, not just for the Amazon but for the entire planet, according to the head of a nonprofit environmental group.

SPECIAL REPORT

Mosaic of armed groups in Sudan

By Adel Abdelrahim

KHARTOUM (AA) - Sudan's Sovereign Council has held several rounds of talks with armed movements that have been fighting successive governments for years.