Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MENA

GAZA CITY – Following up political, humanitarian developments in Gaza Strip amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the enclave following Hamas attack inside Israeli territory. A humanitarian disaster looms in Gaza as the city runs out of medical supplies, and fuel.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that "crucial life-saving supplies," including food, fuel and water, 'must be allowed' to enter Gaza Strip. The number of displaced people in Gaza has exceeded 338,000, according to the UN.

TÜRKİYE

ANKARA – Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to attend general meeting session at parliament which will address Israel-Palestine conflict.

ANKARA – National Defense Ministry to hold background meeting on Türkiye’s defense issues, including fight against terrorism.

EURASIA

KYRGYZSTAN

KANT — Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov will take part in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian military base in the town of Kant.

BISHKEK — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) foreign ministers’ council.

KAZAKHSTAN

ASTANA - The International Digital Bridge Forum will commence until Oct. 13.

EUROPE

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS - NATO defense ministers to conclude their two-day meeting on international security issues, Ukraine and the Middle East. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is expected to brief NATO allies via videoconference.

GERMANY

BERLIN - Chancellor Olaf Scholz to address parliament on German government’s diplomatic response to Israel-Hamas war, latest developments in the Middle East.

BERLIN - Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for talks on bilateral ties, international issues. The two leaders are also expected to discuss energy cooperation.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA - World Meteorological Organization to hold a press conference on State of Global Water Resources 2022 with the participation of WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to meet with CEOs to discuss 'Bidenomics' and US economy at White House.

NEW YORK - UN Security Council members to hold meeting on UN mission (UNDOF) monitoring cease-fire between Syria and Israel.

ASIA-PACIFIC

AFGHANISTAN

KABUL / ISLAMABAD - Closely following situation in Afghanistan which has been rocked by repeated yet strong earthquakes over the weekend. The casualties are over 4,500, including dead and injured, while affected people are in dire need of food and shelter. Anadolu staff based in Pakistan will cover the related developments.

INDIA

NEW DELHI - Parliamentarians from several countries will deliberate on strategies for advancing sustainable lifestyles and combating climate change, at the Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). The forum on Mission LiFE precedes the 9th edition of the two-day G-20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20 Summit), which is being held on Friday and Saturday. Anadolu reporter based in New Delhi will follow the event.

CHINA

BEIJING - China's Foreign Ministry will hold its daily news conference.

BEIJING - China and EU will hold 12th round of high-level strategic dialogue. Foreign Minister Wang Yi will represent Bejing while EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell will represent the bloc.

SPORTS

OSIJEK, Croatia - Following UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying group matches. Türkiye to visit Croatia in matchday seven. Croatia is leading Group D with 10 points. They have a game in hand. Second-place Türkiye have 10 points as well.

MUGLA, Türkiye - Fifth stage of 58th Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye to be held. Alpecin-Deceuninck's Belgian rider Jasper Philipsen won previous stage.

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Efes to play against Real Madrid in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 2 game at home.

ECONOMY

ISTANBUL – Türkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum, organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye, Turkish Trade Ministry and African Union jointly, to begin in Istanbul.

LONDON – The UK’s statistical department Ons to reveal GDP figures, foreign trade balance data and industrial production data for August. The GDP was stable in July. Industrial production showed slight increases in July and June and a decline period between August 2022 to May 2023. Trade balance has been on the negative side for a long period.

NEW YORK – The US to release annual inflation rate for September. The advanced economy’s inflation rate was up to 3.7% in August but markets expect a slight decline in September.

SPECIAL REPORT

Ties with Afghanistan should not be hostage to Taliban recognition: Russian president’s envoy

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW – Interview with Zamir Kabulov, the Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan, about bilateral relations with Afghanistan and the Taliban government.

He speaks about the issue of recognizing the Taliban and bilateral issues such as the Afghan government’s ability to pay for imports.

Kabulov outlines conditions for the Taliban government to get international recognition, describing the possible benefits that could follow. He also explains how and why diplomatic missions work with the unrecognized government.

The diplomat also speaks about Afghanistan’s transit potential and safety of cargoes, and the Taliban’s ability to fulfill commercial contracts.

He also addresses the possibility of the Taliban sending fighters to Palestine during the ongoing escalation of hostilities with Israel.

SPECIAL REPORT

Britain has lost its leadership on climate action: Expert

By Burak Bir

LONDON – Report about the UK’s recent changes in its net-zero targets, which have been met with severe criticism.

The story includes comments from Amelia Hadfield, the head of the politics department at the University of Surrey, who says the changes are absolutely a U-turn, which will cause “big delays.”

Doug Parr, policy director for Greenpeace UK, says the net-zero target is now starting to feel like “a pipe dream,” adding that the government’s moves are “sowing confusion among the public.”

The report also has comments from climate activist Elijah McKenzie-Jackson, who criticizes the government for the irresponsible step and explains its possible negative consequences.

SPECIAL REPORT

After scorching drought, floods destroy lives in Somalia’s Baidao

By Mohammed Dhaysane

BAIDOA, Somalia – Report about the damage and destruction caused by heavy rains and flooding in the city of Baidoa in Somalia.

The story is based on an on-ground visit to the region, where nearly 90,000 internally-displaced people are living in more than 130 emergency shelters.

It includes interviews with affected people, who describe the overall situation and narrate their personal experiences, as well as officials who give an overview of the response.

SPECIAL REPORT

Turkish aid agency turns around fortunes of Gambia nature park

By Gozde Bayar

BANJUL, The Gambia – Report about the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency’s project for a nature park in the Gambia that was affected by three decades of drought.

The story gives details about the donations made by TIKA and includes comments from the Turkish ambassador, as well as the agency’s coordinator, about the project and Türkiye’s interest in such environment projects.