Diary

ANKARA (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

GAZA CITY - The fifth day of a humanitarian pause between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, following an agreement to extend an initial four-day deal for two more days, “under the same terms as a previous deal,” as announced by Hamas. Israel has also conditioned the extension on the release of 10 hostages from the Gaza Strip for every additional day of pause. In return, three Palestinian prisoners will be released for every Israeli prisoner.

This extended deal comes a day after the release of 40 Israeli hostages in Gaza and 117 Palestinian women and children prisoners in Israel since Friday as of Monday evening, as part of an agreement that includes the release of 50 Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons, and also includes the entry of hundreds of trucks loaded with humanitarian, relief, medical, and fuel aid to all areas of the blockaded Gaza Strip.

WEST BANK - Continued raids by Israeli army into several areas of occupied West Bank, where 240 Palestinians killed so far and 3,260 others arrested since Oct 7, according to latest Palestinian statistics.

EGYPT

CAIRO - Movement of humanitarian aid, fuel for fifth day in a row through Rafah land crossing into Gaza Strip, as part of extended humanitarian pause agreement.

LEBANON

BEIRUT - Situation on Lebanese-Israeli border relatively calm amid decrease in intensity of exchange of attacks between Hezbollah, Israel since start of the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip.

OMAN

MUSCAT - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to start official visit to Muscat where he will hold talks with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said to discuss latest developments in region. His visit to Oman comes as part of Middle East tour that kicked off Sunday with "solidarity visit" to Israel, with trip to Qatar also expected.

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS - NATO foreign ministers to gather for two-day summit. On first day, ministers, including Sweden, meet from 1.30 p.m. CET (1230GMT). NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg holds press conference at 4.30 p.m. before ministers meet again, this time also joined by EU High Representative Josep Borrell, from 5.15 p.m.

GERMANY

BERLIN - Foreign Minister Annalena Bearbock, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to speak at Berlin Foreign Policy Forum, with high-ranking national, international politicians, government representatives, experts, journalists attending to discuss foreign policy challenges for Germany, Europe.

BERLIN - Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela for talks on bilateral relations and EU, international issues.

BERLIN - Scholz also to deliver speech at parliament on plan to solve budget crisis as concerns grow over the €60 billion ($65 billion) hole in government finances.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA - UN Refugee Agency UNHCR to announce winners of this year's Nansen Refugee Award, which honours individuals, groups, organizations for exceptional efforts to protect refugees, displaced, stateless people.

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

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to pay official visit to Belgium on Nov. 28-29. Kuleba also to hold talks with EU foreign policy chief Borrell, speak at European Parliament.

KAZAKHSTAN

ASTANA - EU Special Representative for Sanctions David O'Sullivan to visit Kazakhstan for talks on combating Russian circumvention of sanctions.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin will take part in plenary session of World Russian People's Council via videoconference.

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to attend tribute service for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta, Georgia.

NEW YORK - UN Security Council members to convene to discuss political, humanitarian situation in Syria.

NEW YORK - UN General Assembly members to discuss Palestinian issue, situation in Middle East.

NEW YORK - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Chairperson of African Union Commission Moussa Faki to hold hybrid news briefing.

BANGLADESH

DHAKA - With candidate list for general elections due Wednesday, only ruling Awami League Party, allied Jatiya Party have registered runners. Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, allies have called for boycott but government adamant on going ahead with polls set for January.

INDIA

NEW DELHI - Efforts to evacuate 41 workers alive from collapsed tunnel in northern Uttarakhand state continue to face obstacles, with officials exploring new options to pull out workers trapped since Nov. 12.

AFGHANISTAN

KABUL - Afghanistan among nations hit hard by climate change with drought a major challenge to interim administration. Calls have been made to include Taliban in UN Climate Conference set to be held in United Arab Emirates.

MYANMAR

YANGON - Ethnic conflict escalating in northern Myanmar, causing caution in China, India. China has banned travel to northern parts, launched joint drills with Myanmar on its side of border. Reports of civilian killings, including Rohingya.

CHINA

BEIJING - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar to embark on two-day official visit to Kuwait, sides expected to sign several memoranda of understanding in fields of manpower, information and technology, mineral exploration, food security, energy, defense.

SPORTS

MILAN, Italy / PARIS / MANCHESTER, UK - Matchday five in UEFA Champions League to begin, with eight matches to be held; AC Milan to face Group F leaders Borussia Dortmund at home, second-place Paris Saint-Germain to play against Newcastle United in same group. Defending champions Manchester City to host Leipzig in Group G. Both clubs qualified for last 16.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Lives of Palestinian citizens under constant threat in Israel’s ‘sick society’: Ex-Palestinian Knesset member

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL – Interview with Sami Abu Shehadeh, an Israeli-Palestinian politician who leads the Balad party and was a member of the Knesset from 2019 to 2022. The story focuses on the conditions for Palestinian citizens of Israel, particularly how their lives have been impacted by the ongoing Gaza crisis. He speaks about the pressures they have been facing from the Israeli government, including the stringent curbs on any sort of expression of support for the Palestinian cause. He also sheds light on the overall discrimination and threats they face in a society that has been radicalized to a “very dangerous” extent. Abu Shehadeh also shares his assessment on the political implications of the current crisis, warning that this will spell the end for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political career.

World faced record number of humanitarian emergencies in 2023: UNHCR

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL – Interview with Matthew Saltmarsh, head of the News and Media Section at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about the global migration and refugee crises. Speaking to Anadolu in Istanbul, Saltmarsh gives insights on the major humanitarian challenges around the world, including the Mediterranean migration crisis and massive internal displacement in Sudan. He also comments on the feasibility of policies adopted by various countries, particularly those in Europe, to combat the issue, while also sharing the UNHCR’s projections for the coming year.

Israel’s aim is to ‘ethnically cleanse Gaza to make it unlivable,’ says British-Palestinian surgeon

By Burak Bir

LONDON – Interview with British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sitta, who recently returned to the UK after working in the Gaza Strip, including at the Al-Shifa Hospital and the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.

He narrates his experiences working at the hospitals and the suffering of Palestinians during weeks of relentless Israeli attacks that have killed thousands of children, women and men.

Abu Sitta says he is willing to give evidence through his lawyer to all international bodies about the “war crimes” committed by Israel in Gaza.

He also speaks about the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian enclave, asserting that Israel’s apparent objective at the moment is to “ethnically cleanse Gaza to make it unlivable.”

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.​​​​​​​