Diary

ANKARA (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

POLAND

WARSAW – Polish President Andrzej Duda to meet his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics for talks on security issues, Russia-Ukraine war, and Wagner presence in neighboring Belarus.

BELARUS

MINSK – Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu to pay 3-day visit to Belarus' capital after visit to Russia.

GERMANY

BERLIN – Health Minister Karl Lauterbach to hold news conference on government's draft bill to legalize cannabis for personal use.

US

WASHINGTON – UN Security Council to hold open briefing on situation in Nagorno-Karabakh at Armenia's request.

WASHINGTON – UN Security Council to receive briefing on situation in Yemen as Middle East's most impoverished nation continues to face widespread instability, unprecedented famine.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Antony Blinken to host Jordanian King Abdullah II at State Department for bilateral talks as Washington seeks to maintain regional alliances.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin to hold meeting with government members via videoconference to mainly discuss situation about investments in economy of coal-mining regions.

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD – Monitoring political developments in Pakistan as caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar expected to pick his Cabinet to oversee general elections due in next three months.

INDIA

NEW DELHI – Following aftermath of heavy rains, landslides in northern Himachal province which killed at least 55 in past two days.

SPORTS

PIRAEUS, Greece – Manchester City to face Sevilla in UEFA Super Cup Final.

SPECIAL REPORT

Devastating Hawaii wildfires fueled by perfect combination of forces

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, US (AA) – Nearly 100 people have been confirmed dead as a result of devastating wildfires that tore through parts of Maui, making it the deadliest US inferno in over 100 years as officials warn the death toll is likely to rise as search and rescue crews sift through devastated communities.

SPECIAL REPORT

Why is India trying to overhaul colonial-era criminal laws?

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – The Indian government this month introduced in the lower house of the parliament three bills to repeal the existing British-era criminal laws, which according to the government will "prioritize citizens' rights." The proposed bills will be sent to a parliamentary standing committee for deliberations before they are put in the parliament for passage – likely before the general elections next May.