ANKARA
Here are the main stories that The Anadolu Agency's English News Desk will cover Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014:
TURKEY
SPECIAL REPORT
Istanbul welcomes Christmas spirit
By Sare Ozturk
ISTANBUL -- Istanbul during Christmas resembles any Western city in the midst of holiday cheer. While Christmas is a workday like any other in a country where 99 percent of the population is Muslim, Istanbulites have incorporated the holiday’s symbols, the Christmas tree for instance, in their New Year celebrations.
UNITED STATES
NEW YORK
SPECIAL REPORT
Despite growth, experts skeptical of U.S. recovering from recession
By Mustafa Caglayan
NEW YORK – The U.S. economy Tuesday posted its fastest expansion in more than a decade, but experts warn that there may be a dark cloud to this silver lining.
MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
PALESTINE / ISRAEL
BETHLEHEM -- Christmas mass, celebration in Bethlehem.
KENYA
NAIROBI -- Court expected to decide on a petition by the opposition to block the new controversial security bill.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Gloomy Christmas for cash-strapped Zimbabweans
By John Cassim
HARARE – The general mood in Zimbabwe appears completely devoid of Christmas merriment, with most Zimbabweans dogged by chronic economic woes.
Presidency candidates say have answer to Zambia woes
By Francis Maingaila
LUSAKA -- In exclusive interviews with The Anadolu Agency after the end of the nomination process, Zambia's presidential hopefuls sound confident in their chances of winning the top office, saying they have the solution to the country's woes.
Kenya beefs up security ahead of Christmas holiday
By Yassin Juma
NAIROBI -- Kenya has deployed extra police officers in the resort city of Mombasa ahead of Christmas and New Year holidays amid fears of possible attacks by Somalia's al-Shabaab militant group.
SE ASIA-PACIFIC
AUSTRALIA
MELBOURNE -- Two men arrested in an anti-terror operation in Sydney.
SOUTH KOREA
SEOUL -- Former Korean Air executive Cho Hyuin-ah facing arrested over “nut rage” incident.
MALAYSIA/INDONESIA
KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA -- Floods led to evacuation of tens of thousands as some areas experience worst rains in 40 years.
THAILAND
BANGKOK -- Immigration agreement reached between Thailand and China.
BANGKOK -- How the 2004 tsunami changed the world for Thailand's Sea Gypsies (feature).
ASIA
INDIA
NEW DELHI -- Indian home minister visits northeastern state of Assam, where separatist militants killed 55 people from indigenous tribes Tuesday.
PAKISTAN
PESHAWAR -- Afghan refugees say they have are regularly targeted after violence in city of Peshawar. Pakistani authorities are planning to close nine Afghan refugee camps in the wake of the last week's Taliban attack on a school, which killed 132 children.
NEPAL
KATHMANDU -- Right wing Hindu groups begin 10-day campaign calling for the country's constitution, which is currently being drafted, to declare Nepal a Hindu state.
EUROPE
ITALY
VATICAN CITY – Christians will celebrate Christmas Eve at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City and Pope Francis will hold a special ritual on the occasion.
BALKANS
SERBIA
BELGRADE -- Serb member of the Tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivanic pays formal visit to Serbia's capital Belgrade where he will meet with the president and prime minister of Serbia.
www.aa.com.tr/en
