Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend ceremony of disabled citizens and youths who benefited from legal protection, placement in public institutions.

IRAQ

BAGHDAD - Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on official visit.

IRAN / US / IRAQ

TEHRAN / WASHINGTON / BAGHDAD - Following developments as tensions remain high after U.S. operation killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Forces, and Iran’s missile attack on Iraqi bases housing US troops.

US

WASHINGTON - House of Representatives to vote on resolution limiting President Donald Trump’s war-making powers on Iran.

UK

LONDON - European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill to continue with parliamentary legislation proceedings, with final vote on law expected.

FRANCE

PARIS - Protests against proposed pension reforms of President Emmanuel Macron administration.

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

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency’s Finance Desk to host Ismail Gulle, head of Turkish Exporters’ Assembly.

LUXEMBOURG - European statistical authority Eurostat to release unemployment figures for November 2019.

SPORTS

ANKARA - Turkish basketball club Fenerbahce Beko to face Spain's Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular season Round 18.

SPECIAL REPORT

Taiwan set to hold elections this weekend

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – More than 19 million voters in Taiwan are set to vote on Saturday to elect a new president and 113 members of parliament.

SPECIAL REPORT

Cameroonians innovate to fight plastic pollution

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA/YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AA) - Groups and entrepreneurs in the Central African nation of Cameroon have developed innovative ways of reducing pollution.

SPECIAL REPORT

Experts sound cautious optimism over CFA franc reform

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Overhauling the CFA franc, a France-backed currency used by former colonies in West Africa, could give Francophone Africa more control over their economies, experts say, even as skepticism remains.