Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ISTANBUL - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Erdogan, Putin later due to attend opening ceremony of TurkStream natural gas pipeline project.

ISTANBUL - Erdogan to host leaders of Russia, Serbia, and Bulgaria over dinner following TurkStream opening ceremony.

US

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump to hold press conference regarding Iranian missile attacks on Iraqi military bases where US troops are stationed.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, CIA Director Gina Haspel, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley to hold closed briefing for senators on operation that led to death of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

UK

LONDON - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

LONDON - European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill to continue with parliamentary legislation proceedings.

IRAN / US / IRAQ

TEHRAN / WASHINGTON / BAGHDAD - Following developments after Iran targeted Iraqi bases housing US troops.

TEHRAN - Following developments after Ukrainian 737 plane crashed in Tehran, leaving all passengers, crew members dead.

LIBYA

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

SYRIA

ALEPPO / IDLIB - Monitoring developments in Syrian civil war and northwestern Idlib de-escalation zone targeted by Bashar al-Assad regime and allies.

ECONOMY

ANKARA - Treasury and Finance Ministry to release cash realizations for December 2019.

SPORTS

APELDOORN, Netherlands - Turkish women's national volleyball team to face Croatia in European Qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

SPECIAL REPORT

US, Iran tensions may put India’s Chabahar dreams on hold

By Iftikhar Gilani

ANKARA (AA) - The killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani has once again put a question mark on the completion and operationalization of the strategic Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Baluchistan province on Iran’s southeastern coast.

SPECIAL REPORT

US military presence in Iraq in spotlight

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) – After Iran launched missile attacks early Wednesday on military bases in Iraq where U.S. forces are stationed, the spotlight is on the U.S. military presence in the country.