Diary

ISTANBUL / ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

EUROPE

SWEDEN

STOCKHOLM - Winner of Nobel Literature Prize to be announced.

SPAIN

GRANADA - Leaders from over 40 countries to gather in Granada for 3rd meeting of European Political Community to discuss issues of common interest, routes to strengthening security, stability, prosperity in Europe.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA - UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to provide update on humanitarian situation in Sudan. Resident, humanitarian coordinator in Sudan Clementine Nkweta-Salami to address news briefing.

RUSSIA

SOCHI - President Vladimir Putin to attend meeting Moscow-based think tank, discussion forum Valdai Discussion Club. The same day he will take part in a ceremony of delivery of nuclear fuel to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh, built by the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom.

MOSCOW - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to pay a 3-day visit to Russia. On Oct.6 he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to receive briefing on Ukraine from members of his national security team, in first to include newly confirmed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown Jr.

WASHINGTON - US, Mexico to hold High-Level Security Dialogue in Mexico City. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to attend. Sides expected to discuss issues related to illegal border crossings and fentanyl trafficking.

WASHINGTON - Marquette Law Poll to release national survey results on policy preferences, political topics, including Republicans' inclinations on presidential nominee and support among Democrats for President Biden seeking second term.

AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa to preside over launch of Border Management Authority (BMA), hold talks with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Musina near border.

KENYA

NAIROBI - UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) to hold press conference in Nairobi to launch an investigation report on the civic and political space in South Sudan.

MENA

EGPYT

CAIRO - Presidential election nominees to start making submissions to run for polls slated for Dec. 10.

PALESTINE

JERUSALEM - Following mounting tension in Jerusalem due to repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa complex by Israeli settlers observing the Sukkot Jewish holiday.

ASIA

CHINA

BEIJING - Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation begins in in Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region with top diplomats, country representatives attending.

SOUTH KOREA

SEOUL - South Korea, Japan to hold strategic dialogue for first time in 9 years. "Strategic dialogue" to take place between First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin, his Japanese counterpart Masataka Okano.

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD - Foreign Ministry likely to hold weekly briefing.

BANGLADESH

DHAKA - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to join virtual official handover ceremony for nuclear fuel provided by Moscow for Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant.

INDIA

NEW DELHI - At least 23 Indian army personnel missing after massive flood in Sikkim. Search operations continue.

NEW DELHI - Delegation led by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to pay United Arab Emirates October 2-day visit to co-chair 11th India-UAE high-level task force on investments, engage with industry representatives, interact with Emirati delegation led by Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

SPORTS

TRNAVA, Slovakia / ISTANBUL - Fenerbahce to take on Spartak Trnava, Besiktas to face Lugano on matchday 2 of UEFA Europa Conference League.

THE ECONOMY

BERLIN - Germany's statistical department Destatis to reveal foreign trade data for August. Country's trade balance posted surplus of €15.9 billion in July, expected to be $15.8B in following month.

SPECIAL REPORT

'Nothing out there for us': Afghan refugees worry over Pakistan’s eviction plan

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan - Report about Pakistan’s recent decision to expel over 1 million Afghan refugees from the country by Nov. 1.

The report details how the announcement has sparked concerns among Afghans in Pakistan, many of whom have already started leaving the country.

It includes interviews with Afghans who share their concerns and personal narratives, as well as data about the presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

The report also gives context about the issue and the history of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

SPECIAL REPORT

How many Afghan refugees are in Pakistan?

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD - Data-driven report about the number of Afghan refugees currently in Pakistan.

The report is in the context of Islamabad’s recent decision to expel Afghan refugees by Nov. 1. It gives a breakdown of the figures for Afghan refugees from various sources, including the Pakistani government and the UNHCR.

It also includes comments from an Afghan businessman in Pakistan about the Afghan community’s business interests in the country and how they will be impacted by the repatriation.

SPECIAL REPORT

European Political Community: What is on the agenda for key summit?

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS - Report about the summit of the European Political Community, a pan-European cooperation platform initiated by the EU, that will begin on Thursday in the Spanish city of Granada.

The report summarizes the main agenda items of the meeting, gives details about the expected discussions on security issues, developments in the region, and the war in Ukraine.

A total of 47 leaders have been invited to the meeting, including heads of state and government from the 27 EU member states, the UK, Switzerland and Ukraine.

SPECIAL REPORT

Dominican Republic keen on direct flights from Türkiye: Ambassador

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA - Interview with Elvis Antonio Alam Lora, Dominican Republic’s ambassador to Türkiye, about bilateral relations, trade and cultural ties.

He speaks about the potential positive impacts of starting direct flights between the two countries, particularly a boost in tourism and trade volumes.

The official also discusses diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Türkiye, as well as ways to enhance trade volume and cultural ties between the two nations.

SPECIAL REPORT

1,700-year-old trident found in ancient city of Assos

By Cigdem Alyanak

CANAKKALE, Türkiye - Report about the recent findings during excavations at the site of the ancient city of Assos, located in Türkiye’s northwestern Canakkale province.

The story focuses on an iron trident harpoon, believed to be 1,700 to 1,800 years old, and gives specific details about its material and other aspects.

The report includes comments from Nurettin Arslan, faculty member of the Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University and head of the excavation committee, who speaks about the significance and implications of the new finding.

SPECIAL REPORT

Unique Madrid museum to showcase Turkish football next March

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID - Report about ‘LEGENDS - The Home of Football,’ a dedicated museum that opened in the Spanish capital Madrid in June.

The museum will host ‘Turkish Football Week’ in March 2024, which will run for 15 days. It will showcase many unique pieces from Turkish footballing history, including jerseys from Türkiye’s team that won the bronze medal at World Cup 2002 and Galatasaray’s shirt for the 2000 UEFA Cup final.

The report includes an interview with LEGENDS President Marcelo Ordas, who speaks about the museum’s aims and objectives, as well as its plans for the future.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - 'Panda diplomacy': What's happening with US and China?

Report about the imminent return of three pandas that were loaned to the US by China as part of a diplomacy initiative.

The report explains the reasons why the pandas are being taken back to China, while also giving a brief history of China’s “panda diplomacy.”