ANKARA
Here are the main stories that The Anadolu Agency's English News Desk will cover Monday, Dec. 15, 2014:
TURKEY
ISTANBUL -- Latest developments following a Sunday police operation against media figures and police officials allegedly linked to the ‘Hizmet’ or Gulen movement.
KOCAELI -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend the opening of fuel-oil recycling facility run by the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation, known as TUPRAS, and the signing ceremony for the TURKSAT 6A Communication Satellite Project in western province of Kocaeli.
UNITED STATES
NEW YORK -- Situation in Middle East dominates the UN Security Council agenda: Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry and Syria Joint Representative Staffan de Mistura are expected to give briefings.
WASHINGTON D.C. -- A panel report to be released on the White House compound's security.
EUROPE
GERMANY
BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel to meet with her Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov. The two leaders are expected to debate bilateral relations within the EU and the cancellation of the South Stream pipeline announced by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
BELGIUM
BRUSSELS -- The Council of the European Union in Brussels, chaired by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, to discuss Iraq and Syria. The body will assess the situation in Ukraine ahead of the Mogherini's upcoming visit to the country.
BRUSSELS -- Federica Mogherini and Ukrainian prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk expected to hold a press conference at 19:20 local time.
BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament in Strasbourg to vote on the EU's 2015 budget and top-up funds to pay pending 2014 bills, sealing a provisional deal struck by budget negotiators for Parliament and the Council of Ministers on 8 December. The deal must first be approved by Parliament's Budgets Committee.
ITALY
ROME -- Israeli Prime Minister expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State in Rome amid suggestions that Palestine may take action at the UN over Israeli activity in the West Bank.
UK
LONDON -- U.K. Home Secretary Theresa May replies to questions from British MPs at Parliament regarding to U.K.'s role in CIA operations linked to alleged rendition and torture.
LONDON -- British MPs continue to discuss anti-terror legislation in the House of Commons.
SWITZERLAND
GENEVA -- Launch of a new report on the human rights situation in Ukraine by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which will be the eighth to be released by OHCHR on Ukraine.
GENEVA -- WHO to hold a press briefing on Ebola.
GENEVA --The draws for the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Youth League to take place in Nyon.
GENEVA – U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman leads American delegation in talks with Iranian counterparts, which take place ahead of P5+1 negotiations scheduled for December 17.
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
NIGERIA -- ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) leaders to debate regional security, elect new leader.
SOUTH SUDAN -- The first anniversary of ongoing war, with a special commemoration in memory of those killed.
UGANDA -- Court to sentence maid caught on camera assaulting a toddler; ruling National Resistance Movement meets and is expected to give president sole power to elect party chairman.
KENYA -- International and regional watchdogs issue report on human rights situation in South Sudan.
MOROCCO -- A two-day international forum on terror will take place with participation from 30 countries.
Special Reports:
Year on, war leaves S. Sudanese in despair
By Okech Francis
JUBA
A year after an armed conflict broke out between government troops and rebels loyal to sacked vice president Riek Machar, many South Sudanese remain in despair, with no solution in sight despite on-and-off peace talks.
Zimbabwe's political crisis: Two women, one man
By John Cassim
HARARE
Many believe the political crisis in Zimbabwe, which saw President Robert Mugabe sacking, for the first time since 1980, a serving vice president, was actually a battle between two women on who succeeds the aging leader.
SE ASIA-PACIFIC
JAPAN
TOKYO -- Analysis of landslide victory of PM Shinzo Abe’s ruling party and coalition partner in lower house elections.
AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY -- Unidentified gunman lays siege to Sydney cafe, takes hostages during morning rush hour.
CHINA
HONG KONG -- Police clear last and smallest pro-democracy protest site at Causeway Bay.
BEIJING -- 11 killed in karaoke bar fire in central China.
www.aa.com.tr/en
