Diary

ANKARA

Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ANKARA – Turkish President Erdogan addresses local officials in Ankara as Turkey-Russia tensions remain high.

ANKARA -- Turkish PM Davutoglu meets with Special Adviser to UN Secretary-General on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide as negotiations to solve Cyprus issue are estimated to be closer than ever to breakthrough agreement.

ANKARA – Turkish Minister of European Union Affairs Volkan Bozkir meets with European Parliament’s Turkey Rapporteur Kati Piri, as Turkey-EU relations has entered a new phase following summit in November.

SPECIAL REPORT

- Turkish investment sought for Pakistan's energy sector

By Humeyra Atilgan Buyukovali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish investment is sought for Pakistan's energy sector, Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, told Anadolu Agency late on Monday.

EUROPE

LONDON - Developments in aftermath of Storm Desmond

GREECE

ATHENS - Egypt's president al-Sisi wii visit Greek capital.

ALBANIA

TIRANA - Opposition parties to hold anti-government protest. (MERITS)

AMERICAS

UNITED STATES

NEW YORK - Russia is expected to raise Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane and presence of Turkish troops in northern Iraq at closed-door UN Security Council discussions. (MERITS)

MIDDLE EAST

JERUSALEM -- Death of Palestinian man in West Bank city of Hebron brings total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces to 116 since Oct. 1.

AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

JOHANNESBURG - Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius will appear in Pretoria High court to apply for bail after Supreme Court overturned his manslaughter conviction to murder.

SPECIAL REPORTS

- Zambia plans to outlaw use of dollars

by Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - The Zambian government plans to outlaw the use of the dollar in commerce, Zambian Finance Minister told Anadolu Agency in an interview on Friday.

- Kenya: Government debt grows, while economy falters

by Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - As Kenyan government debt grows, and the economy falters, experts are concerned about the country's ability to repay its creditors.

- Nigeria increases government spending

by Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - The Nigerian N6 trillion budget ($30 million) is up N1.5 trillion from the previous year, as the government seeks to support the agriculture and mining sectors.

SE ASIA-PACIFIC

MYANMAR

YANGON - 12 men get five-year sentences in ‘Muslim Army’ trial.

MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR - Three days before Malaysia PM attempts to sew up his authority at party GM, a former deputy has asked him to take leave while probe into losses at state-owned investment vehicle and $700 million discovered in his accounts is completed.

KOREAS

SEOUL – Park pushes to protect South Korea from possible terror attack, despite doubters.

SPORTS

TURKEY

ISTANBUL -- Turkey’s Galatasaray hosts Kazakhstan’s Astana in last match of Champions League Group C. Istanbul club needs at least a draw to qualify for Europa League.