Diary

ANKARA 

Here are the main stories that The Anadolu Agency's English News Desk will cover Monday, Dec. 6, 2014:

TURKEY

ANKARA -- EU foreign policy chief Mogherini, Enlargement Commissioner Hahn and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Stylianides meet with President Erdogan, Prime Minister Davutoglu and Turkish EU Minister Bozkir. Visit comes on the heels of one by Putin; EU officials may seek more help with sanctions against Russia. They also want Turkey to do more regarding ISIL, and will visit refugee camps Tuesday.

ANKARA -- President Erdogan receives Lithuanian counterpart Dalia Grybauskaite; the two leaders hold ceremonial signing of agreements. 

ANKARA -- Prime Minister Davutoglu holds press conference before departing for Poland for talks with Polish counterpart, Ewa Kopacz.

ISTANBUL -- Energy Minister Yildiz to attend International Mediterranean Energy Conference and meet Algerian Minister of Energy Yusuf Yusufi. 

 

UNITED STATES

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON -- New protests planned against perceived injustices in US justice system after grand jury declines to indict two white police officers in deaths of two unarmed blacks.

NEW YORK -- Combined winner of reader polls for TIME's Person of the Year to be announced today. The magazine will reveal its pick for 2014 on Wednesday. 

WASHINGTON -- Senate committee report on CIA interrogation may be released. 

WASHINGTON -- President Obama hosts British Prince William at White House.

WASHINGTON -- Prince William delivers remarks at World Bank. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim to make remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations.

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Kerry may deliver remarks before the Senate Foreign Relations committee regarding authorization for the use of military force against ISIL. 

 

EUROPE

GERMANY 

BERLIN -- Chancellor Merkel’s junior coalition partner Christian Social Union draws criticism for stating in a draft party policy paper that immigrants should speak German not only in public but also at home.

BERLIN – Church based German non-governmental organization GKKE announces results of German arms export report 2014.

 

FRANCE

PARIS -- Official draw of EuroBasket 2015 to take place in Disneyland, Paris.

  

BELGIUM 

BRUSSELS -- Monday’s strike in Brussels, one of a series in Belgium. Unions and workers are angry about government's austerity measures, including raising retirement age from 65 to 67 by 2030. 

BRUSSELS -- MEPs from European leftist parties hold press conference to stop Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the European Union and the U.S. Supporters say the pact, which would lift trade barriers, will result in economic growth. Critics say it will increase corporate power and make it difficult for the government to regulate the market.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA -- Launch of the Global Humanitarian Appeal 2015 to support people affected by disaster and conflict by UNHCR Chief Antonio Guterres and Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

GENEVA -- Launch of Inter-Parliamentary Union statistics and trends on human rights abuses of parliamentarians a year in review.

 

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

ISRAEL -- Knesset House Committee expected to officially approve dissolution of parliament. 

UGANDA -- Housemaid Jolly Tumuhirriwe appears in court over a recent video showing her beating up a toddler. 

SOUTH SUDAN -- World Vision to launch a report on children displaced by ongoing conflict. 

Special Reports:

S. Sudan's Christmas prices rise over dollar scarcity 

By Okech Francis 

JUBA (AA) – Since declaring independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has experienced an upsurge in retail prices during every Christmas holiday season. This year, however, the hikes are exceptional, with the country facing a scarcity of U.S. currency aggravated by the ongoing conflict. 

 

Nigeria-Russia reach arms deal‏

Special for AA

LAGOS (AA) -- Nigeria officially seals arms deal and counterinsurgency pact with Russia to compensate for refusal of western nations to sell weapons to the African country, senior military officer confirms to AA.

 

SOUTH ASIA

FAISALABAD, Pakistan -- Life crippled in pakistan's textile city amid clashes between opposition and ruling party workers: former cricketer Imran Khan has called for supporters to shut down the city in line with his protest campaign against alleged electoral fraud; ruling party workers have announced plans to foil Khan's call.

 

SE ASIA-PACIFIC  

THE PHILIPPINES

ZAMBOANGA - Tropical Storm Hagubit continues battering the Philippines, causing deaths and destruction. 

THAILAND

BANGKOK - Criticism mounting against Thai police over recent cases of forcing tourists to undergo random urine tests under pretext of checking for drug use.

BANGKOK – Police launch three-month crackdown on transnational criminal outfits.

CAMBODIA

PHNOM PENH – The Cambodia National Rescue Party dissident group discussing plans to draft new constitution and form government in exile.

PHNOM PENH - Monk activists facing obstacles in taking part in human rights day march, with religious officials denying permission for such participation. 

CHINA 

HONG KONG – Employer faces trial for abuse of Indonesian domestic helper

MYANMAR

YANGON – UN report says Myanmar remains top opium producer in Southeast Asia, and second in world after Afghanistan.

www.aa.com.tr/en