Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

• Day 20 of Israel-Palestinian conflict. Following;
• The Israeli attacks on Gaza and their consequences on the humanitarian level. The increasing number of victims (the death toll from ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has soared to 6,546, including 2,704 children, 1,584 women, and 364 elders on Wednesday). The problem of fuel shortages affecting all aspects of life in the Strip. Israel’s continued targeting of the collapsing health sector as 73 medics were killed and 25 ambulances destroyed until Wednesday.
• The continuing Israeli incursions into the West Bank where 103 Palestinians were killed until Wednesday.
• The tense situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, where the exchange of fire continues between Israel and Hezbollah.
• The continued American military support for Israel amid reports saying that Israel delayed the ground attack in Gaza to accommodate US deployment of missile defense.

US

WASHINGTON - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to pay three-day visit at invitation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

NEW YORK - UN General Assembly expected to debate situation in Middle East, specifically Israel and Gaza, following US veto of UN Security Council resolution that demanded humanitarian pauses in Gaza.

TÜRKİYE

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to meet Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedow to discuss bilateral ties, and regional and global issues. The leaders are expected to hold news conference after signing of various agreements.

EUROPE

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS – Leaders of the EU member states to gather in Brussels for European Council Summit. (Agenda includes: the Middle East in light of the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel's response in Gaza; the situation in Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion; migration; economic matters; and other foreign policy issues of concern including the situation in the Sahel, Pristina-Belgrade relations, and the South Caucasus.)

BRUSSELS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to meet in Brussels as part of the EU-facilitated normalization talks.

BELARUS

MINSK - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend the high-level international conference "Eurasian Security: Reality and Prospects in a Transforming World" to be held in Minsk on Oct. 26-27. Lavrov is scheduled to make a speech at the plenary session of the forum outlining Russian assessments of the current state of security in Eurasia.

KYRGYZSTAN

BISHKEK - Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the member states of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) will be held in Bishkek on Oct. 26-27.

BISHKEK - The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting will be held in Bishkek with the participation of the prime ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union member countries on Oct. 26-27.

BISHKEK - Chinese Premier Li Qiang to attend and speak at Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit of heads of governments. Officials from Pakistan and India are also expected to attend the summit.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a weekly press briefing on current issues of foreign affairs.

GEORGIA

TBILISI - The Tbilisi Silk Road Forum will be held in the Georgian capital on Oct. 26-27. Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are expected to attend.

SPORTS

ISTANBUL / BODO, Norway - Fenerbahce to face Bulgaria's Ludogorets, Besiktas to visit Norway's Bodo/Glimt in third-tier UEFA Europa Conference League group matches. Following second-tier UEFA Europa League group games as well.

THE ECONOMY

ANKARA – Turkish Central Bank to reveal interest rate decision. It has increased 500 basis points in September to 30% and economists expect another hike of 500 basis points in October.

FRANKFURT – European Central Bank to reveal interest rate decision. The bank has raised the rate in the last 10 monetary policy meetings. But it is expected to keep the rate constant in October.

WASHINGTON – US Bureau of Economic Analysis to release quarter-on-quarter GDP figures for third quarter. It was 1.3% in first and 2.1% in second quarter but is expected to be at 4.1% in third quarter.

WASHINGTON – US Department of Labor to release initial jobless claims weekly data.

ISTANBUL - Turkish Artificial Intelligence Summit to be held in Istanbul. Experts and representatives of companies to discuss new trends and topics related to AI.

SPECIAL REPORT

US military support to Israel: What and how?

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL – Report focusing on the military assistance that the US is extending to Israel for its ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The report is based on interviews with experts including Merrisa Khurma, director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center in the US, and Turkish professor and defense analyst Murat Aslan.

They speak about the various types of military support being given by Washington, including the weapons and other equipment. The experts also discuss other details such as a possible US role in an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza, as well as the potential geopolitical ramifications.

SPECIAL REPORT

Igdir-Nakhchivan natural gas pipeline holds great significance for Türkiye’s current energy profile: Expert

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA – Interview with Deniz Istikbal, an economy researcher at the Foundation for Political, Economic, and Social Research (SETA), about the newly inaugurated Igdir-Nakhchivan natural gas pipeline running from Türkiye to the Nakhchivan exclave.

Istikbal speaks about how the pipeline will contribute to energy and economy cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, and its overall impact on energy security for Türkiye and Nakhchivan.

The expert also discusses details such as the significance of Türkiye’s energy cooperation with other members of the Organization of Turkic States regional bloc.

SPECIAL REPORT

Türkiye finish 2002 World Cup 3rd, Galatasaray win UEFA Cup in country's 100-year history

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Football has been always a hugely popular sports in Türkiye as the notable achievements of men's national team and one of its big clubs Galatasaray caused great excitement and interest.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEOS – Latest developments in Israel-Palestine conflict

Reports covering developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict, including packages from correspondents on the ground, updates about the overall situation, and other major developments.