ANKARA
Here are the main stories that Anadolu Agency’s English News Desk will cover Thursday, July 2, 2015:
EUROPE
GERMANY
BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel’s former aide and minister responsible for intelligence services, Ronald Pofalla, to testify in parliament on NSA’s suspected surveillance activities targeting European politicians and companies.
BELGIUM
BRUSSELS - EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will participate in the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna.
SPECIAL REPORT
Stocks steady, euro firm despite Greek debacle
by Andrew Jay Rosenbaum
ANKARA (AA) - Analysts say chances good of 'yes' vote in Greek referendum, which would cause Athens government to fall and end crisis.
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
SPECIAL REPORT
Ugandan women box their way out of poverty
By Halima Athumani
KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – The punching bag sways from side to side, absorbing the powerful blows being dealt by 27-year-old Hellen Baleke. With sweat pouring down her dark, smooth face, her feet and body move effortlessly in sync.
Ivory Coast villagers pray for 'beautiful mosque'
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AA) – During Ramadan, Muslims in Tofesso, a village in the center of Ivory Coast, are praying for the completion of their mosque, which was suspended in 1994 due to lack of funds.
SOUTH ASIA
SPECIAL REPORT
Afghanistan's Ghani walks tightrope on women's rights
By Shadi Khan Saif
KABUL (AA) – Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani is trying to introduce women into senior public positions but history shows he has to avoid a backlash.
Voted out, now Sri Lanka's ex-president looks for return
By Dilrukshi Handunetti
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AA) – Voted out by a Sri Lankan public looking for reform, controversial ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa is looking to return to leadership after less than a year by announcing his run for parliament, with the hope of becoming prime minister.
SE ASIA-PACIFIC
INDONESIA
JAKARTA – With crash site cleared of 142 bodies, questions raised of Indonesian air force practice and equipment.
SOUTH KOREA
SEOUL – Nurse confirmed with MERS as country’s hopes of having stopped new infections are dashed.
CHINA
BEIJING – 11 South Koreans killed after bus carrying group falls off highway bridge in China’s northeast.
