Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to hold meeting with deputy chairmen of Presidential Policy Committee at Presidential Complex.

ISTANBUL - Turkish parliament speaker Mustafa Sentop to address participants at 46th meeting of Islamic Cooperation Organization Parliamentary Union Executive Committee as part of 16th session of ISIPAB conference.

ISTANBUL - Sentop to also meet counterparts from Niger, Iran, Azerbaijan, Libya, and deputy parliament speaker of Pakistan.

ANTALYA – Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum to attend closing of 22nd meeting of Contracting Parties to Barcelona Convention (COP22).

US

WASHINGTON - US President Joe Biden to deliver opening remarks at virtual Summit for Democracy.

WASHINGTON - President Biden to hold call with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders.

WASHINGTON - Israeli security officials to meet US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to take part in meeting of Russian International Affairs Council.

MOSCOW - Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold weekly news conference.

BELARUS

MINSK - Following ongoing migrant crisis at Belarus-Poland border.

THE ECONOMY

WASHINGTON - US Labor Department to announce initial jobless claims.

SPORTS

ISTANBUL, ROME - UEFA Europa League group phase to end after Thursday's matches.

SPECIAL REPORT

Palestinian journalist recalls horrible violations of dignity of Sabra and Shatila massacre victims

By Salam Abu Sharar

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Mahmoud Hashim spends his days at the Palestinian Chess Center, giving the children of Shatila camp training in the game and performing other activities aimed at promoting their national identity.

SPECIAL REPORT

Air pollution crisis poses risks to life in South Asia

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - Despite some positive steps toward reducing carbon emissions, air pollution is still a serious issue around the world, especially in Asia, as the continent hosts the top 10 most polluted cities worldwide.

SPECIAL REPORT

India has seen rise in child marriages amid COVID-19: Activist

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - In 2012, when child rights activist Kirti Bharti from northern Rajasthan state obtained the country's first annulment of child marriage, little did she know that in years to come she would become India's most successful campaigners against child marriage.

SPECIAL REPORT

Ugandan, Congolese forces jointly engaging ADF rebels

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - At last, forces from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are jointly fighting to flush out ADF rebels from the jungles of eastern Congo.

SPECIAL REPORT

Merkel’s legacy: How will her chancellorship be remembered?

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - With German Chancellor Angela Merkel stepping down after 16 years in office, the main questions remain: What is her legacy? What did she achieve and where did she fail?