Diary

ANKARA

Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover Wednesday Jan. 27, 2016 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to chair National Security Council meeting at presidential palace.

ANKARA - Presidential spokesman to hold regular news conference at presidential palace.

SPECIAL REPORT: Turkish dog-handler recalls a life on the frontline

By Burcu Arik

ISTANBUL (AA) - Goktan Eker is a man with a mission. One of Turkey’s most experienced dog-handlers, the Istanbul-based expert says the country needs to establish a national standard for canine trainers.

EUROPE

SPECIAL REPORT: EU auditors critical of bailout spending

By Andrew Jay Rosenbaum

ANKARA (AA) - Did the EU go wrong in handling bailouts for Portugal, Hungary and Greece?

GERMANY

BERLIN - Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to reveal 130 billion-euro ($141.2 billion) defense investment for next 15 years.

BERLIN - Transparency International to release corruption index.

GREECE

SPECIAL REPORT: Debate over Greek pension reform puts bailout at risk

By Vasiliki Mitsiniotou

ATHENS (AA) - The government is fighting to convince its lawmakers and the opposition to accept pension reforms that include severe cuts.

AMERICAS

UNITED STATES

NEW YORK - UN aid officials to brief Security Council on humanitarian crisis in Syria.

NEW YORK - UN special coordinator for Middle East peace process to brief journalists on Israel-Palestine tensions.

AFRICA

KENYA

SPECIAL REPORT: In Kenya, old attitudes on FGM die hard

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - While on a visit to Kenya in October 2014, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said “entire communities in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa and around the world have decided to end female genital mutilation”.

NIGERIA

LAGOS - Currency devaluation likely following central bank report.

SOUTH AFRICA

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - South Africa’s main opposition Party Democratic Alliance to lead protest over unemployment.

ETHIOPIA

ADDIS ABABA - Growth to accelerate in Africa in 2016, according to UN report.

MIDDLE EAST-NORTH AFRICA

SPECIAL REPORT: Hamas’ surprise electoral victory, 10 years on

By Ola Atallah

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - In January 2006, Palestinian resistance movement Hamas swept Palestinian legislative elections, taking most political observers by surprise.

SOUTHEAST ASIA-PACIFIC

MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR - Parliament expected to approve U.S.-led regional trade pact.

CHINA

BEIJING - Outgoing Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou to visit island in disputed Spratlys amid tensions in South China Sea.

MYANMAR

SPECIAL REPORT: Inter-religious harmony faces serious challenges in Myanmar

By Kyaw Ye Lynn

YANGON - Myanmar’s Race and Religious Protection Organization laws see interfaith unions banned, leaving loving parents of Muslim and Buddhist persuasion encouraging their children to marry within their faith.