Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, March 12, 2020 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expected to hold meeting at presidential complex on measures to fight coronavirus.

ANKARA - Following new cease-fire agreement for Idlib, Syria, along Turkey's southern border, reached by Turkey and Russia.

ANKARA - Following developments as asylum seekers try to cross from Turkey to Europe via northwestern Edirne province.

TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

LEFKOSA - Cabinet meeting chaired by President Mustafa Akinci to discuss additional measures to fight coronavirus

US

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump to meet Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at White House.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zaharova to hold news conference.

FRANCE

PARIS - President Emmanuel Macron to give televised address on coronavirus outbreak.

LIBYA / RUSSIA / TURKEY

TRIPOLI / MOSCOW / ANKARA - Monitoring diplomatic initiatives to resolve Libyan crisis.

IRAQ

BAGHDAD - Following efforts to form new government after Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Allawi withdrew bid.

IRAN

TEHRAN - Following coronavirus outbreak.

THE ECONOMY

LUXEMBOURG - Eurostat to release industrial production data for January.

SPORTS

ISTANBUL- Anadolu Efes to face Valencia Basket of Spain in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 29.

ISTANBUL - Medipol Basaksehir to take on Denmark's FC Copenhagen in UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg match.

SPECIAL REPORT

India: Scientists slam proposed state-funded research on cow products

By Cheena Kapoor

NEW DELHI (AA) - Over 500 Indian scientists are protesting government plans to fund research into the alleged curative properties of cow dung, urine, and milk. In a Feb. 20 letter to the Science and Technology Ministry, the scientists blasted the proposal as “unscientific.”

SPECIAL REPORT

Cameroon: Tech startups' secrets of success in transport sector

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) - Entrepreneurs in Cameroon offering digital services in the transport sector are betting on different approaches to tackle the challenges they face.

SPECIAL REPORT

Turkey marks 99th anniversary of national anthem

By Erdogan Cagatay Zontur

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Thursday marked the 99th anniversary of the Istiklal Marsi, or March of Independence, the country's national anthem.

SPECIAL REPORT

Coronavirus outbreak disrupts int'l economic events in Turkey

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - With as yet just one case of infection confirmed, Turkey took many steps early on, and is joining the world in suspending or postponing many international events that had been planned for the coming weeks.