Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

GAZA - Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip to continue releasing hostages following Qatari diplomatic efforts. The humanitarian pause was to end on Thursday morning. Since the initial pause that took place on Nov. 24, 70 Israeli prisoners were released over the course of 6 days, in exchange for 210 Palestinian inmates.

The deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip in light of the insufficient aid entering the Strip through the Rafah crossing. World Health Organization on Wednesday emphasized the need for "more supplies" in Gaza, saying the amount they received during the first three days of the pause was only enough to support 90,000 people in the blockaded enclave.

WEST BANK - The daily Israeli army operations in cities and towns in the West Bank, the latest of which lasted 18 hours in Jenin until Wednesday. At least 244 Palestinians were killed as of Wednesday evening, with more than 3,000 injured, and 3,260 arrested since Oct. 7.

LEBANON

BEIRUT - Situation on the southern Lebanese border, the day after the Israeli army opened fire on the vicinity of a Lebanese military vehicle in the town of Hula in the south of the country. This was the second incident since the start of a temporary pause on Friday between the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip and Israel.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

DUBAI - The Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) takes place in Dubai, until Dec. 12. The conference sees the participation of over 200 countries and 70,000 people, including world leaders and NGOs, with an aim to fast-track transition to a clean-energy future.

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to host bilateral meeting with Angola's President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenço at the White House.

NEW YORK - Thomas White, director of UNRWA’s Affairs in Gaza, and Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s Director of Communications, to give update on situation in Gaza and region at UN press briefing.

EUROPE

GERMANY

BERLIN - Second and final day of Berlin Security Conference. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary-General Jorg See will be among the speakers.

SWITZERLAND

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

NORTH MACEDONIA

SKOPJE - The meeting of the OSCE ministerial council at the level of foreign ministers will be held in Skopje. The Russian delegation is expected to attend, while the delegations of Ukraine and the Baltic states will not participate.

TÜRKİYE

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will head to United Arab Emirates to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP28, to discuss fight against the impact of climate change.

EURASIA

AZERBAIJAN

AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA BORDER - The 5th meeting of the Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be held at an undisclosed location at the border between both countries.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - The Russian Supreme Court will consider the Ministry of Justice's request to recognize the LGBT movement as extremist and ban its activities in Russia.

ASIA-PASIFIC

BANGLADESH

DHAKA - Nomination deadline for Jan. 07 general elections in Bangladesh ends on Thursday. Only ruling party, its ally, have registered their candidates while opposition parties have announced boycott of elections if not held under a caretaker setup.

INDIA

NEW DELHI - Last phase of Indian provincial elections will be held on Thursday. Exit poll results are expected to come out in the evening.

CHINA

BEIJING – China delivered its statement on Palestine to UN Security Council. Following the country’s Foreign Ministry news conference for significant comments.

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD - Islamabad High Court to resume hearing of appeal by former Prime Minister Imran Khan against his conviction in a case that accuses him of illegally purchasing and selling state gifts. Khan has been sentenced to 3 years in jail in the case. His sentence stands suspended currently.

THE ECONOMY

TOKYO – Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry to announce industrial production for October. Industrial production posted growth for the first time since June, rising 0.5% month-on-month in September. It shifted from declines of 0.7% in August and 1.8% in July, led by an upturn in the production of motor vehicles, general-purpose and business-oriented machinery, and ceramics, stone and clay products. On an annual basis, industrial output plunged by 4.4% in September.

Market expects a 0.8% growth in October’s industrial output.

BERLIN – Destatis to release German retail sales for October. Germany's retail sales fell for the fourth consecutive month by 0.8 month-on-month in September, as persistent inflation and surging borrowing costs continued to dampen consumer demand. On a yearly basis, retail sales plunged 4.3% in September. Market estimates a 0.5% monthly decline and 1.9% yearly decrease in October’s figure.

ANKARA – TurkStat to reveal Türkiye’s gross domestic product growth rate for the third quarter of this year. In the second quarter, Türkiye's economy grew better than forecast with 3.8% year-on-year, following a downwardly-revised 3.9% annual growth in the first quarter of 2023.

On a quarterly basis, the Turkish economy grew 3.5% in the three months to June, shifting from a 0.1% contraction in the previous period. Economists interviewed by Anadolu last week projected Türkiye’s GDP to grow 5.19% on an annual basis in the second quarter of this year.

LUXEMBOURG – Eurostat to announce provisional reading of Eurozone inflation rate for November and unemployment rate for October. Eurozone's annual consumer inflation eased to over 2-year low of 2.9% in October as energy prices fell. On a monthly basis, Eurozone's consumer price index went up by 0.1% in October. The figure is expected to rise to 3.9% in November. The jobless rate in the euro area rose to 6.5% in September from the record low of 6.4% in August. The figure is projected to remain unchanged in October.

ISTANBUL – Turkish banking watchdog to reveal banking sector figures for October

SPORTS

EUROPE - Matchday 5 of UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League to be followed.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Guarantor formula could play role for Israel-Palestine peace: Expert

By Burak Bir

LONDON – Interview with Tayab Ali, director of the International Center of Justice for Palestinians, about solutions to the Israel-Palestine dispute, including the viability of a guarantorship formula. Ali, who is also an international human rights lawyer, stresses the need for a solution that would be acceptable to both Israelis and Palestinians, such as UN members putting together an intervention force on the ground to guarantee security for both sides. He says the proposal could only work with “neutral peacekeepers” if it comes from “honest partners.” Ali also speaks about the need to address the underlying causes of the issue, emphasizing the futility of pursuing a military solution.

COP28: Expert warns global economic survival at stake in climate change fight

By Emre Basaran

ISTANBUL – Interview with Huseyin Toros, an expert on climate change, about the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, kicking off in Dubai on Thursday. He speaks about the pressing need for immediate action from all countries, warning that their economic survival – and that of the entire globe – depends on their collective response to climate change. The expert also touches upon the goals set out for COP28, stressing that the forum can prove to be a crucial platform to initiate and implement impactful changes. He also shares his assessments of the outcomes of previous COP conferences, and the challenges that have hindered their implementation.

Chiltan ibex: How Pakistan brought endangered wild goat back from brink of extinction

By Aamir Latif

QUETTA, Pakistan – Report about the steady growth in the numbers of the Chiltan wild goat, a species endemic to Pakistan that was once on the brink of extinction. The story explains the reasons for the increase in its population in the southwestern Balochistan province, which has led to its status being upgraded from endangered to near-threatened. It includes interviews with Naseeb Ullah, an official of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Quetta chapter, Arz Mohammad, a conservator associated with Balochistan’s Wildlife Department, and Tahir Rasheed, a Quetta-based wildlife expert. They give details of the various conservation methods and initiatives employed to revive the falling numbers of the wild goal, as well as the role played by local communities.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Report about the Israeli army’s Hannibal Protocol, a controversial military policy that authorizes the use of deadly force to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers, and its apparent implementation by Israeli forces during the ongoing Gaza war.

VIDEO – Interview with Tayab Ali, director of the International Center of Justice for Palestinians, about solutions to the Israel-Palestine dispute, including the viability of a possible guarantor formula.