ANKARA
Here are the main stories that The Anadolu Agency's English News Desk is planning to cover Wednesday, March 11, 2015:
TURKEY
ANKARA -- Turkish Development Minister Yilmaz attends The Anadolu Agency's Editor's Desk.
ISTANBUL -- Coverage of visit of senior NATO official Jamie Shea to Istanbul. Turkey recently pledged to back international efforts to oust Daesh militants from key points in northern Iraq as well as support selected Syrian rebel fighters.
SPECIAL REPORT:
Foreign investors still bullish on Turkey
by Andrew Jay Rosenbaum and Bahattin Gonultas
ANKARA (AA) - Foreign investors continue to rate Turkey highly as an investment target.
UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON -- Michael Fallon, U.K. secretary of state for defense, will hold conference on "Transatlantic Security Cooperation in a Dangerous World."
WASHINGTON -- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing -- "The President's Request for Authorization to Use Force against ISIS: Military and Diplomatic Efforts."
WASHINGTON -- First Lady Michelle Obama to host event to mark Nevruz at White House.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Carter and U.K. Secretary of Defence Fallon to hold press briefing at Pentagon.
WASHINGTON -- Secretary Kerry hosts dinner for German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Department of State.
SPECIAL REPORT:
U.S. Muslims hail New York City's Eid decision
By Mustafa Caglayan
NEW YORK -- Muslim activists in the U.S. reacted with delight to a decision by New York City to add the two most important Muslim holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, to the public school calendar.
EUROPE
GERMANY
BERLIN -- German Chancellor Merkel to meet with heads of International Monetary Fund, World Bank, International Labor Organization and Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development.
BELGIUM
BRUSSELS -- Greece and international lenders expected to hold technical talks on indebted country's reforms in both Brussels and Athens.
SWITZERLAND
GENEVA -- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to hold press briefing on annual report to Human Rights Council in which he explores international legal framework and standards to protect children deprived of liberty from being subjected to torture or other ill-treatment.
GENEVA -- UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief to hold press briefing on annual report to the Human Rights Council on preventing violence committed in name of religion.
GENEVA -- UN health and food agencies to hold joint press conference on new operational WHO/WFP partnership to get to zero Ebola cases.
FRANCE
PARIS -- French President Hollande to hold talks with head of European Central Bank Mario Draghi.
STRASBOURG -- MEPs to debate murder of Russian opposition leader Nemtsov and general state of democracy in Russia with EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and put resolution to the vote.
STRASBOURG -- MEPs to vote on EU Budget 2016 guidelines.
STRASBOURG -- MEPs to debate EU foreign policy choices with EU Foreign Affairs chief Federica Mogherini and vote on resolution. MEPs to also seek her views on EU counter-terrorism cooperation with League of Arab States and discuss annual report on human rights in the world.
SE ASIA-PACIFIC
SOUTH KOREA
SEOUL -- Korean Air flight attendant sues former vice president over 'nut rage' incident.
AUSTRALIA
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Virgin boss Richard Branson, member of Global Commission on Drug Policy, calls for clemency for Indonesia's death row drug convicts.
CHINA
BEIJING -- Senior Chinese official accuses Dalai Lama of betraying faith.
PAKISTAN
KARACHI -- Hundreds of protesters clash with police during raid on offices of MQM, a controversial political party based in the city of Karachi where a number of convicted criminals were allegedly taking refuge.
SPECIAL REPORT:
Afghans doubtful on Pakistan role in Taliban peace talks
By Zabihullah Tamanna
KABUL -- Reports that neighbors Afghanistan and Pakistan are putting behind their tense past has been welcomed by ordinary Afghans, but they still doubt the relationship will lead to fruitful negotiations with the Afghan Taliban to end decades of conflict.
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
UGANDA
Media briefing on joint exercise involving military personnel from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and the U.S. to counter violent extremist organizations.
ALGERIA
ALGIERS - Arab interior ministers hold two-day meeting on combating terrorism.
MOROCCO
Morocco expected to host new round of UN-sponsored Libyan dialogue
SOUTH AFRICA
President Zuma to answer questions by opposition lawmakers at national assembly.
SPECIAL REPORTS:
Skateboarding breaks racial barriers in S. Africa (photos)
By Hassan Isilow
JOHANNESBURG (AA) – It's a sunny afternoon at the Library Gardens in Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city. A group of young people brave the heat to do some skateboarding.
Ethiopian city dwellers shun arranged marriage (photos)
By Seleshi Tessema & Abebech Tamene
ADDIS ABABA (AA) - Kiflu Abebe first met his new bride, Selamawit Gashaw, in capital Addis Ababa three years ago. They are among the many urban Ethiopians who are increasingly shunning traditional notions of arranged marriage.
