Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, December 8, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

GAZA CITY - As Israeli war on Gaza Strip enters its third month with ground operation mainly in northern part of the enclave, the death toll in the enclave soars to nearly 17,200 with 70% of the victims are children and women. Hospitals in northern Gaza Strip went out of service while hospitals in southern areas are packed with wounded people and lack essentials.

RAMALLAH - Israeli army continues its raids across the West Bank. At least 266 people have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7. Israeli detention campaigns continue with dozens of Palestinians jailed on almost daily basis with more than 3,640 detained since the escalation in Gaza.

LEBANON

BEIRUT - Lebanese Hezbollah group and Israel exchange attacks near the border area. The border tensions came amid an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

DUBAI - COP28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai continues, hosting international events until Dec. 12.

ABU DHABI - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to the UAE on Dec. 8-9 to attend the Sir Bani Yas Forum on peace and security.

UNITED KINGDOM

LONDON - IHRC Islamophobia Conference 2023 to be held in London. Islamic Human Rights Commission hosts annual conference on islamophobia. This year's theme is 'Muslims within and beyond the culture wars'.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA - UN Information Office in Geneva to hold its bi-weekly press briefing.

AUSTRIA

VIENNA - UN Office on Drugs and Crime to publish its report on intentional homicide trends and patterns around the world.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - The meeting of the Economic Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regional intergovernmental organization will be held in Moscow on Dec. 8.

MOSCOW - The meeting of the Joint Commission of the CIS Member States to the Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Illegal Migration will be held in Moscow.

US

NEW YORK - Russia will hold an Arria-formula meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss Ukraine.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to visit Nevada and California to deliver remarks on his economic policy Investing in America Agenda and attend campaign reception, respectively. His potential remarks on Gaza will be monitored.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with joint League of Arab States – Organization of Islamic Cooperation delegation from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Palestinian Authority at Department of State.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at State Department.

NEW YORK - UN Security Council members to discuss and vote on draft resolution introduced by United Arab Emirates, which demands immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza conflict. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will deliver remarks two days after invoking Article 99 of the UN Charter.

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD - US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West to visit Pakistan to discuss the latest situation in Afghanistan and ongoing repatriation of undocumented foreigners, mostly Afghan refugees, from the South Asian nation.

CHINA

BEIJING - China’s Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

SPORTS

BARCELONA - Barcelona to host Fenerbahce Beko on matchday 13 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Is global opinion shifting against Israel?

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON – Report exploring whether global opinion, particularly in Western nations, has shifted against Israel as its war on Gaza rages on into the third month. The story includes interviews with Nader Hashemi, associate professor of Middle East and Islamic Politics at US’ Georgetown University, and Anwar Mhajne, assistant professor of political science at Stonehill College. They speak about how government officials in the West are now forced “to respond to outraged public opinion,” while explaining the reasons why the changing attitudes could be limited to rhetoric and translate over into policies.

‘Where is humanity?’ Scottish activists decry Israel’s Gaza ‘genocide’

By Burak Bir

LONDON – Interviews with two Scottish activists from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign about Israel’s ongoing deadly assault on the Gaza Strip. Muna Ausat and Syed Ali Ausat, who are also volunteers for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, speak about how Israel’s attacks constitute war crimes and a genocide against Palestinian people, while also criticizing the international community’s opposition to a cease-fire and support for humanitarian pauses. They also delve into the historical context of the Israel-Palestine issue and the dangers posed by the “extremist, right-wing, Zionist” government currently ruling Israel.

Javier Milei: Who is Argentina’s new president?

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia – Report about Javier Milei, the radical anti-establishment politician who recently won Argentina’s presidential election and will take office in a few days. The report gives Milei’s personal profile and history of his political career, as well as explore the reasons for his surprising victory. It includes an interview with Pablo Touzon, a political scientist and director of political consulting firm Escenarios, who speaks about the underlying factors that propelled Milei to victory and the potential impact of his win on Argentina and the wider region.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interviews with Nader Hashemi, associate professor of Middle East and Islamic Politics at US’ Georgetown University, and Anwar Mhajne, assistant professor of political science at Stonehill College, focusing on whether and why global opinion is shifting against Israel and its ongoing war on Gaza.

VIDEO – Interview with Muna Ausat, a Scottish activist with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, about Israel’s ongoing deadly assault on the Gaza Strip, how it constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people, and the history of the issue.