Diary

ANKARA

Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to host Turkey’s 2015 Science Academy Awards at presidential palace.

ANKARA - Council of Ministers meet under chairmanship of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

SPECIAL REPORT: Turkey, Pakistan seek ways to help the poor

By Andrew Jay Rosenbaum

ANKARA (AA) - Pakistan could work with Turkish investors to raise new businesses from poverty and empower women, Pakistani State Minister Marvi Memnon told Anadolu Agency.

EUROPE

GERMANY

KARLSRUHE - Ruling Christian Democratic Union conference. Chancellor Angela Merkel to address amid growing criticism of refugee policy.

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS - Opening of Chapter 17 on economic policy in Turkey’s EU accession process. Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, EU Minister Volkan Bozkir, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu attending.

SPECIAL REPORT: Can Russia and Germany repair relations?

By Zaki Shaikh and Andrew Jay Rosenbaum

LONDON (AA) - Relations between Russia and Germany have been strained by Russian actions in Ukraine and Syria but the two nations are trying to repair the damage, according to analysts.

AMERICAS

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s Pentagon statement following National Security Council meeting.

MIDDLE EAST-NORTH AFRICA

SPECIAL REPORT: Israel prefers ‘devil we know’ in Syria

By Selen Temizer and Mohamed Misto

ANKARA (AA) - Israel would prefer to see the Assad regime stay in power than deal with chaos and instability on its northeastern border, experts say.

AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

PRETORIA - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to hold news conference following swearing in.

ZAMBIA

SPECIAL REPORT: Attacks ‘violate’ Zambian radios’ right to broadcast

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Broadcasters in Zambia are claiming that a recent wave of violence has forced some community radio stations to suspend political programming and news reporting.

ETHIOPIA

SPECIAL REPORT: Flower industry flourishes in Ethiopia

By Seleshi Tessema and Abebech Tamene

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - The Ethiopian flower industry is flourishing with government help and private investment.

SOUTHEAST ASIA-PACIFIC

MYANMAR

YANGON - No truth in link between Yangon mosque, human trafficking, police say.

CHINA

BEIJING - Human Rights Watch calls for dropping of charges against lawyer Pu Zhiqiang, due in court over online posts.

SOUTH KOREA

SEOUL - South Korea pushes to revive collapsed talks with North.

SPORTS

TURKEY

ANKARA - Istanbul football rivals Besiktas, Galatasaray to meet in derby.

SWITZERLAND

NYON - UEFA Champions League, Europa League draws.