Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu Agency’s English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

TURKEY

KAHRAMANMARAS – Prime Minister Binali Yildirim to attend an opening and groundbreaking ceremony in Kahramanmaras. Yildirim to also attend the ceremony for the 743rd anniversary of the death of Sufi mystic Mevlana Jelaluddin al-Rumi in Konya.

FRANCE

PARIS – Gathering before the Iranian embassy to protest the intervention of Iranian militias in Syria.​

EGYPT

CAIRO – Egyptian authorities to open border with Gaza for three-day period.​

JAPAN

SPECIAL REPORT - Putin visit to Japan: No deal on island dispute

By Todd Crowell

TOKYO – PM Shinzo Abe had staked a considerable amount of his capital on reaching a breakthrough, but it was never very likely that he would have ended a stalemate that has gone on for decades in just one meeting.

INDONESIA

JAKARTA – Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi says will visit her counterpart in Bangladesh to discuss Rohingya refugees after attending regional meet held by Myanmar next week to address violence in Rakhine State.

PHILIPPINES

ZAMBOANGA CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte threatens to abrogate Visiting Forces Agreement after U.S. aid agency defers decision on aid package to Philippines