Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, November 17, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

GAZA

Day 42 of the devastating Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the killing of nearly 11,500 Palestinians, including about 7,900 children and women, in addition to 29,800 injured. The death toll in Israel stands at 1,200, amid continuing international calls for an immediate cease-fire and the provision of health services and protection for civilians.

The Palestinian Telecommunication Group on Thursday announced a complete blackout of communication and internet services due to the depletion of fuel.

Following the tragic humanitarian situation in Gaza, especially the lack of fuel as the UN warned on Thursday that this shortage would be 'main reason' for deaths in Gaza if not supplied.

Also Following up on the deteriorating situation in Al-Shifa Hospital due to Israeli blockade. Over 7,000, including displaced people, patients, medical staff at the Hospital, face death due to this blockade causing water, food shortages, according to the Gaza government.

WEST BANK

Continuing security tension through arrests and raids carried out by the Israeli army in various areas of the West Bank. At least 195 Palestinians have been killed, and over 2,500 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory since Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 2,650 people have also been detained by the Israeli army in the West Bank during the same period, according to figures released by prisoners’ affairs groups.

LEBANON

Tense situation on the southern border, confrontations, and intermittent exchanges of bombardment continue between the Israeli army on the one hand and Hezbollah and Palestinian factions in Lebanon on the other. Meanwhile, the latest death toll of Hezbollah militants has reached 76 since Oct. 8.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA - UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists.

GERMANY

BERLIN - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to hold one-on-one meeting with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier and inter-delegation meeting.

BERLIN - Chancellor Olaf Scholz to host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Berlin for talks on bilateral relations and international issues. The leaders are expected to discuss current developments in the Middle East, EU-Türkiye cooperation, as well as NATO issues.

NETHERLANDS

THE HAGUE - The UN International Court of Justice will rule on interim measures against Azerbaijan on the claim of Armenia, which accused Baku of violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination due to the escalation in Karabakh.

JAPAN

TOKYO - Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov will pay a 3-day visit to Japan. He will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to hold bilateral meeting in San Francisco on margins of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

WASHINGTON - Desk to monitor pro-Palestine protests across US.

NEW YORK - UN Security Council to hold meeting on threats to international peace and security.

NEW YORK - UN General Assembly to hold informal meeting of plenary to hear briefing on humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

MALDIVES

MALE - Mohamed Muizzu of Progressive Party of Maldives to take oath of office as president of Maldives.

INDIA

NEW DELHI - India will host second Voice of Global South Summit on Friday in virtual format scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leaders from several developing nations are expected to participate in the summit.

SPORTS

EUROPE - Following UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round's matchday nine. Spain, Scotland, France, England, Türkiye, Belgium, Austria, and Portugal have reserved their places each at EURO 2024. Hosts Germany automatically qualified for next summer's tournament.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Situation ‘extremely worrying’ as no aid entering northern Gaza: UNRWA chief

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA - Interview with Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), about the situation in the Gaza Strip. He warns of an increasingly desperate situation in the besieged Palestinian enclave, particularly in the northern part, due to the lack of access for UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies. He says displaced Palestinians have only been moving out of northern Gaza, but there has not been “any possibility” of delivering aid to the devastated region. Lazzarini gives details of the immediate needs at the moment, such as fuel requirements, and also explains how the coming few days are critical for UNRWA’s ability to continue its operations.

Is Anyone Alive? Athens photo exhibit reveals horrors of Gaza

By Ahmet Gencturk and Derya Gulnaz Ozcan

ATHENS - Report about a photo exhibition held in Athens to showcase the death and destruction inflicted on the Gaza Strip by Israel’s devastating attacks and its decades-long siege of the Palestinian enclave. The exhibition, titled ‘Is Anyone Alive? The Language of Communication in Gaza,’ has been curated by Greek-Palestinian artist Mirei Al-Sayyed, who terms it an attempt to raise awareness among the European public about the dire situation in Gaza. She says that most visitors to the exhibit have been shocked by the images on display, which proves how Western audiences remain aloof about the crisis due to Western media’s skewed portrayal of the issue and its tendency to gloss over the extent of the devastation in Gaza.

Moscow waiting for Ukraine to be ‘completely exhausted’ to go on offensive: Russian military expert

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW - Interview with Viktor Litovkin, a retired colonel and Russian military expert, about the current situation on the Russia-Ukraine frontline. He gives details of the latest developments on the ground, including assessments on the capacities and possible strategies of both sides, saying that Russia is waiting for an opportune moment to go on the offensive. Litovkin also discusses the possibility of dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv, as well as the impact of the Gaza crisis on the war in Ukraine, particularly the status of support from Western nations to Kyiv.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEOS - Latest developments in Israel-Palestine conflict

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