Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend joint session of National Assembly and Senate and Turkey-Pakistan Business Forum.

ISLAMABAD - Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to attend High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council Meeting following one-on-one meeting and hold joint press conference after signing ceremony for agreements.

ISLAMABAD - Erdogan later due to attend dinner at Prime Minister’s Office.

TURKEY

ANKARA - Monitoring developments in Idlib, northwestern Syria, in wake of Assad regime attacks martyring Turkish soldiers.

GERMANY

MUNICH - 3-day Munich Security Conference to begin with attendance of more than 100 leading figures, including presidents, prime ministers, cabinet ministers, and military leaders from all over world. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to deliver opening remarks.

CHINA

WUHAN - Following global spread of coronavirus outbreak and efforts to fight it.

LIBYA / RUSSIA / TURKEY

TRIPOLI / MOSCOW / ANKARA - Monitoring diplomatic initiatives to find solution to Libya crisis.

TRIPOLI - Following developments after UN Security Council called for cease-fire in war-torn country.

SUDAN

KHARTOUM - Following developments amid reports that former President Omar Al-Bashir may be extradited to International Criminal Court.

IRAQ

BAGHDAD - Following anti-government protests in Baghdad, Babil, and Dhi Qar provinces.

THE ECONOMY

ANKARA - Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) to release housing sales statistics for January 2020.

ANKARA - Turkish Central Bank to release balance of payments statistics for December 2019.

SPORTS

ANKARA - Darussafaka Tekfen to face Galatasaray Doga Sigorta in Solgar Vitamin Turkish Cup semifinals.

ANKARA - Turk Telekom to take on Fenerbahce Beko in Solgar Vitamin Turkish Cup semifinals.

ROME - 2020 European Wrestling Championships.

SPECIAL REPORT

Bollywood triggers debate surrounding Kashmiri Hindus

By Hilal Mir

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA) - A Kashmiri Hindu woman broke down at the premiere of the movie Shikara, a romantic period drama loosely based on the migration of the community from Indian-administered Kashmir at the onset of an armed insurgency.

SPECIAL REPORT

Cameroon-made biometric card promotes digitalization, ecology

By Aurore Bonny

NGAOUNDERE, Cameroon (AA) - An environmentalist entrepreneur from Cameroon has a mission to protect classified documents and fight the exploitation of trees: developing a secure biometric card with a QR code.

SPECIAL REPORT

India: Modi's 'hate campaign backfired' in Delhi polls

By Cheena Kapoor

NEW DELHI, India (AA) - Indian ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) hate campaign backfired in capital Delhi’s assembly elections last week, with voters spurning its divisive platform, according to a winning party official.

SPECIAL REPORT

‘China testing anti-Ebola drug against coronavirus’

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - China is testing anti-Ebola drugs to fight the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), which has killed over 1,300 people, a medical expert said.

SPECIAL REPORT

ANALYSIS - Global rivalry for Africa intensifies

By Sadik Unay

ISTANBUL (AA) - Major international powers are, once again, competing for the rich natural resources, market potential, and influence opportunities offered by the African continent.

SPECIAL REPORT

All eyes to turn to Turkey's ancient city of Patara in 2020

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - The ancient city of Patara, located in Turkey’s Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, is eyeing a UNESCO World Heritage nomination, according to an expert.

SPECIAL REPORT

Do we fall in love or in oxytocin?

By Sibel Morrow

ANKARA (AA) - A feeling of strong or constant affection for a person is described as love, but did you know that it is also a physical process in the brain triggered by a hormone called oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone”?

SPECIAL REPORT

Turkish cyclist Bekar ecstatic over move to Belgian team

By Can Erozden

ANKARA - The move to Belgium's ASFRA Flanders Racing Team is a big step up for Turkish cyclist Azize Bekar, she said, calling it a milestone in her young career.

SPECIAL REPORT

Turkish president’s Paraguay visit milestone for ties

By Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) - Despite the ocean between them, Turkey and Paraguay recently tapped into their shared economic potential and are now keen to make up for lost time.

SPECIAL REPORT

Fears, cautious optimism grip Afghans on anniversary of Soviet withdrawal

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - A cautious optimism for peace as well as fears of deadly chaos are gripping Afghanistan on the 31st anniversary of Soviet withdrawal from the country, with hints of U.S. withdrawal on the horizon.