Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

GAZA CITY - Day 69 of Israeli war on Gaza Strip. Toll continues to mount, with at least 18,608 dead – most of them women and children – and 50,594 others injured. Humanitarian condition continues to deteriorate while Israel vows to continue war with or without international support.

RAMALLAH – At least 283 Palestinians in West Bank have been killed by Israeli gunfire and some 4,000 others, including 150 women and more than 255 children, detained in escalation since Oct. 7. A total of 7,800 Palestinians languish in Israeli jails, including 2,870 people with no trial or charge under the Israeli administrative detention policy.

ISRAEL

TEL AVIV - Israelis react to recent announcement of army about losing 10 soldiers, injury of 19 others over past 24 hours. Israeli troop death toll in ground operation in Gaza Strip rises to at least 115 and 619 others injured since Oct. 27.

LEBANON

BEIRUT - Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah continue to exchange cross-border attacks. Hezbollah announced losing a total of 101 members in clashes in border area in southern Lebanon.

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS - EU leaders to gather for final European Council summit of the year.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA - The Global Refugee Forum 2023 continues.

FRANCE

PARIS - Sosthene Munyemana to go on trial in France under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Munyemana, a doctor, is accused of participating in genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.

AZERBAIJAN

BAKU - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan where he will meet his counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov and President Ilham Aliyev.

FINLAND

HELSINKI - Finland to reopen two border checkpoints with Russia.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin to hold an annual big press conference through the Direct Line program.

MOSCOW - Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergey Aleinik to pay an official visit to Russia to attend annual Belarus-Russia foreign ministries meeting on Dec. 14-15.

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks on his administration’s progress to lower prescription drug costs. Potential remarks on Gaza conflict will be followed.

WASHINGTON - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to release monthly Global Climate Report.

NEW YORK - UN Security Council members to meet for briefing, followed by consultations on UN mission in South Sudan.

TÜRKIYE

ANKARA – National Defense Ministry to hold background meeting on Türkiye’s defense issues, including fight against terrorism.

JAPAN

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is revamping his government as a major political fundraising scandal in the ruling party has forced resignations of several ministers.

CHINA

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

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD - A court to resume hearing a case in which jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have been indicted on charges of revealing state secrets. The duo has pleaded not guilty.

INDIA

NEW DELHI - India is expected to react to China’s renewed claim over parts of Ladakh in disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.

THE ECONOMY

ANKARA - Turkish Central Bank to share private sector’s foreign debt figures for October.

FRANKFURT - The European Central Bank to reveal interest rate decision. In its October meeting, The European Central Bank kept interest rates at multi-year high of 4.5%, ending its 15-month of rate hike streak. The bank is expected to leave its interest rates stable.

SPORTS

BRIGHTON - Second-tier UEFA Europa League group stage's final matchweek to be held. England's Brighton to face French club Olympique Marseille in a home match in Group B. Both clubs guaranteed knockouts in Europa League but this game to name group winners.

ISTANBUL/ ZURICH - Third-tier UEFA Europa Conference League group stage's final matchweek to be held. Türkiye's Fenerbahce, who sit in 3rd spot in Group H, to host Slovakia's Spartak Trnava, who have been eliminated from tournament in previous weeks. Switzerland's Lugano to host already-eliminated Besiktas from Türkiye in Group D. Belgium's Club Brugge and Norway's Bodo/Glimt qualified for knockouts from Group D.

SPECIAL REPORTS

COP28 deal: How will the world transition away from fossil fuels?

By Nuran Erkul

LONDON – Report assessing the key outcomes of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, with a particular focus on the final agreement calling on countries to transition away from fossil fuels.

The report includes an interview with Clement Metivier, acting head of international advocacy at WWF-UK, Rachel Cleetus, policy director and a lead economist for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Friederike Roder, vice-president at advocacy group Global Citizen.

They explain how decisions taken at COP28 will impact the global fossil fuel industry and evaluate the other major issues, such as the lack of interim targets or a comprehensive timeline.

Is NATO likely to get involved in Gaza?

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON – Report exploring the possibility of whether NATO could take up some sort of a role in Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip or have any potential involvement in the future of the Palestinian territory.

The story includes an interview with political scientist Adnan Huskic, who explains the history of NATO’s actions during past conflicts and assesses its current position over the Gaza crisis.

Huskic also sheds light on critical factors influencing NATO’s stance and any decisions, including pressure from the US and the alliance’s own key interests.

Athens meeting a ‘breakthrough’ in push to revive Türkiye-Greece ties: Experts

By Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL – Report about the new push for rapprochement between Türkiye and Greece, focusing on the major outcomes of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to Athens.

The story includes interviews with Kostas Ifantis, professor of international relations from Panteion University in Athens, and Zuhal Mert Uzuner, a Turkish political science and international relations professor.

They speak about the positives that have come from the Athens talks and share their assessments on the key challenges that both sides must overcome in their drive to bilateral relations.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with political scientist Adnan Huskic about the possibility of NATO taking up any sort of role in Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip or whether it could have any potential involvement in the future of the Palestinian territory.

VIDEO – Interviews with Greek professor Kostas Ifantis and Turkish professor Zuhal Mert Uzuner about the new push for rapprochement between Türkiye and Greece, focusing on the key outcomes of last week’s talks and the path ahead for bilateral relations.