Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to separately meet head of National Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan and Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar at presidential complex. Erdogan also to address 34th meeting of local administrators (mukhtars).

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency’s Editor’s Desk welcomes Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci.

ANKARA - Defense Minister Fikri Isik to address ambassadors’ conference. Sports Minister Akif Cagatay Kilic and head of International Organization for Migration also to speak.

ANKARA - Parliamentary debate on constitutional amendments continues.

UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON - Senate committees to hold confirmation hearings for Gen. James Mattis and Rep. Mike Pompeo to be President-elect Donald Trump's defense secretary and CIA director respectively.

SPECIAL REPORT: Rise of populism in west undermining rights: HRW report

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The rise of populist leaders in Europe and the U.S. is fueling bigotry and discrimination, a leading human rights group said Thursday.

GERMANY

BERLIN - German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier to meet Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry for talks on recent developments in Middle East and conflict in Syria.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA – President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Mustafa Akinci, Greek Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades as well as foreign ministers of Turkey, Greece, and UK to attend historic Cyprus talks chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

GENEVA - Press stakeout with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, following meeting of International Syria Support Group's Humanitarian Access Task Force.​

ISRAEL

SPECIAL REPORT: Israel ‘Judaizes’ historical Bethlehem village

By Qais Abu Samra

BETHLEHEM - Israel seizes historical Arab village with view to building exclusive park for Jewish settlers, Palestinian officials say.​

SOUTH KOREA

SEOUL - Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong appears for questioning over alleged massive payments in return for government favors.

THAILAND

BANGKOK - New King Maha Vajiralongkorn seeks to amend certain provisions in draft constitution in order not to be required to appoint regent each time he leaves Thai territory.

INDONESIA

JAKARTA - Students countrywide to hold demonstrations calling on government to lower price of certain commodities and public services.

BANGLADESH

DHAKA - Bangladesh foreign minister will brief press on visit of special envoy from Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi.