Diary

ANKARA

Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):


TURKEY

ANKARA – Turkey: Report on consumer confidence due from TurkStat at 10 a.m. local time [0800GMT]

ISTANBUL – Turkish police detain 20 people amid claims of financially supporting terrorism.

SPECIAL REPORT

Weak world economy doesn't daunt Turkish exporters
by Andrew Jay Rosenbaum
ANKARA (AA) - In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Mehmet Buyukeksi, chairman of the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly, discusses how Turkish exporters are achieving success despite the weak global economy and other challenges

AMERICAS

US
WASHINGTON - First openly gay man to be nominated as Secretary of the Army, Eric Fanning, to testify during Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing.

WASHINGTON - Leading senators, including Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain to hold news conference on Iran.

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to deliver remarks on homeland security priorities.

EUROPE

SWITZERLAND
DAVOS - Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is in Davos for World Economic Forum.

GERMANY
BERLIN - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visiting Poland today, amid tensions between two EU partners. German politicians have sharply criticized new Polish government for what they describe as anti-democratic moves, while Poland summoned Germany’s ambassador last week.

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

EGYPT

CAIRO – Reaction to deadly overnight ambush on five Egyptian police officers who were manning a checkpoint in Areesh city.

SPECIAL REPORT

EGYPT
Tourists shun Egypt in wake of Russian plane crash
By Mohammed Sabry
CAIRO (AA) – Following the Oct. 31 crash of a Russian passenger plane – which may have been downed by terrorists – several countries suspended flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, dealing a heavy blow to Egypt’s tourism industry.

AFRICA

KENYA
NAIROBI – Thousands of Kenyans to hold candle-lit vigil on Thursday for soldiers killed in Somalia last week by al-Shabaab militants.

SPECIAL REPORTS

ETHIOPIA
Slow progress on employment in Africa: ILO
By Addis Getachew
ADDIS ABABA (AA) – Progress on raising the number of employed in Africa has been slow and too many workers are still underemployed, the International Labor Organization has warned.

ETHOPIA
Miners flock to exploit new mineral discovery
By Francis Maingalia
ADDIS ABABA (AA) – New discoveries of mineral wealth made in 2014 are attracting a flock of international mining companies and investors.

ZIMBABWE
Environmental agency slammed by Auditor-General
By Wallace Mawire
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) – Zimbabwe’s Auditor-General has severely criticized the country's environmental watchdog, accusing it of not doing its job.



SOUTH EAST ASIA & PACIFIC

THAILAND

BANGKOK – Two students protesting against military-run park project mired in corruption arrested after arriving at Bangkok police station to give moral support to comrades whisked away by military earlier.

MYANMAR

YANGON – Powerful ethnic party in Myanmar’s troubled western Rakhine state threatens to boycott new government unless election winner Aung San Suu Kyi appoints local politician as chief minister.

CHINA

BEIJING – Newspapers of seven regional People's Liberation Army commands cease publication after president announces new command structure.