Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

PALESTINE

GAZA CITY – Day 68 of Israeli war on Gaza Strip. Toll continues to mount, with at least 18,412 dead – most of them women and children – and 50,100 others injured. Israel reopened Kerem Shalom border crossing for 1st time since beginning of conflict to inspect aid coming from Egypt.

RAMALLAH – At least 281 Palestinians in West Bank have been killed by Israeli gunfire and 3,810 others detained in escalation since Oct. 7. Tension continues as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tel Aviv is preparing for possibility of waging war against Palestinian security forces in West Bank if they cooperate with Hamas.

LEBANON

BEIRUT – Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah continue to exchange cross–border attacks. Hezbollah recently targeted at least eight Israeli military sites, and an Israeli interceptor missile fell on grounds of public school in southern Lebanon.

SAUDI ARABIA

RIYADH – 2nd and final day of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s visit.

EUROPE

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA – Global Refugee Forum 2023 to take place, co-convened by five states – Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan and Uganda – and co-hosted by Switzerland and UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

GENEVA – Parliament to elect new Federal Council and successor to current President Alain Berset.

UK

LONDON – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take lawmakers’ questions in House of Commons.

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS – EU-Western Balkans Summit to take place – annual meeting of EU member nations and leaders from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo.

GERMANY

BERLIN – Chancellor Olaf Scholz to address lawmakers ahead of EU summit where European leaders are to discuss Middle East, Ukraine’s EU membership bid, and enlargement process.

EURASIA

RUSSIA

MOSCOW – Sergey Lavrov to give speech at Federation Council.

MOSCOW – United Russia party to hold Future of Russia discussion platform.

BELARUS

MINSK – 11th session of Council of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the seventh convocation.

ASIA – PACIFIC

CHINA

BEIJING – President Xi Jinping continues 2-day state visit to Vietnam.

BEIJING – Foreign Ministry to hold news conference.

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD – Election Commission of Pakistan to hold contempt case proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

ISLAMABAD – Special court to hear case accusing Khan of exposing state secrets. Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi likely to be indicted.

PHILIPPINES / CHINA

MANILA / BEIJING – Tensions in South China Sea escalated amid accusations between Philippines and China over disputed maritime areas. Manila summoned Chinese ambassador to lodge protest while Beijing wants Philippines to remove rusting warship from waters it calls its own.

THE ECONOMY

ANKARA – Turkish Statistical Institute to announce turnover and retail sales indexes for October. Country's retail sales have been rising by double-digit figures for long period and this is expected to continue in October.

LUXEMBOURG – Eurostat to release industrial production data for October. 27-member bloc's industrial production figures have been in the red since May and expectations for October say this will continue.

PARIS – OECD to release unemployment report. Previous report said September unemployment was 4.8%.

SPORTS

EUROPE – UEFA Champions League group stage final round.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Israel’s actions against Palestinians ‘remind us of apartheid’: Ex-South African official

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG – Interview with Ronnie Kasrils, a Jewish former intelligence minister of South Africa and leading figure of anti-apartheid movement, on ongoing Gaza crisis.

Interview focuses on reasons for South Africa’s strong anti-Israel position, such as why people view Israel’s actions as similar to former apartheid regime.

Kasrils speaks in detail about similarities with apartheid regime, highlighting Israel’s “repressiveness, cruelty, police brutality, restrictions on movement, arrests, illegal settlements on Palestinian land.”

It also includes comments on issue of antisemitism and wider implications of the crisis.

WITH VIDEO – China and its social media not immune to Israeli propaganda on Gaza: Expert

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL – Report focusing on social media trends in China during ongoing Gaza crisis.

Story includes interview with journalist Liu Bo, who gives details of sentiments being expressed by users on Chinese social media.

He also explains prevalent divisions in social media discussions between netizens and liberal intellectual elite, explaining why one section is more sympathetic toward Palestinians.

Report also delves into issue of disinformation, as well as potential impact of public opinion on Chinese policies.

Green hydrogen: Renewable energy revolution in the making

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL – Report on green hydrogen and its potential benefits as alternate energy source.

Report explains basic information about green hydrogen, such as what it is and how is it harnessed. It also gives details about countries playing pivotal role in push to increase green hydrogen production.

Story also highlights benefits of green hydrogen and how it can prove to be vital resource in fight against climate change.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with journalist Liu Bo on social media trends in China during ongoing Gaza crisis, focusing on divisions within Chinese netizens and issue of disinformation.

VIDEOS – Videos on ongoing Gaza crisis, including packages developed from on-the-ground footage and social media content related to the issue.