Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, January 8, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza Strip - Israel continues its deadly military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has killed at least 22,835 Palestinians and injured 58,416 others since Oct. 7 amid efforts by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region as tension rises in the wake of the assassination of Hamas deputy chief Saleh Arouri in an Israeli airstrike in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Ramallah - The Israeli army continues its almost daily military raids into Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank leaving at least 330 Palestinians killed and nearly 3,800 others injured since Oct. 7.

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border fire continues between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah in the deadliest clashes between the two sides since their last war in 2006 amid US concerns that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would use the Lebanon front as a means to ensure his political survival. US intelligence assessment found that it would be difficult for Tel Aviv to succeed because its military assets and resources would be spread too thin given the conflict in Gaza.

UK

Glasgow - Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf to deliver a speech on independence and industrial policy.

GERMANY

Berlin - Chancellor Olaf Scholz to host Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden.

GREECE

Athens - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to speak at the European Solution to Migration Problem conference, which will also be attended by EU Home Affairs Commissioner Yvan Johnson and Migration Minister Dimitris Keridis.

UKRAINE

Kyiv - Developments being followed regarding Ukrainian air attacks on the city of Belgorod and other regions since Dec. 30.

SAUDI ARABIA

Riyadh - Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik to complete his official visit to Saudi Arabia which began on Sunday.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks at a political event in South Carolina.

New York - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to meet with new senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza.

Texas - Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to visit southern border with Mexico and hold press conference.

CANADA

Toronto - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to deliver remarks at an event to commemorate victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 tragedy, which left all 176 people on board dead in January 2020, including 55 Canadian citizens.

BANGLADESH

Dhaka - Bangladesh held its 12th parliamentary elections which were largely boycotted by opposition parties. Ruling Awami League party is set to claim victory amid allegations of “staged” polls. Following developments in the aftermath of the polls which saw around 40% of participation.

JAPAN

Ishikawa - Japan continues its operations to look for more survivors as around 200 people still remain missing, one week after earthquakes hit the country on New Year Day. 128 people have been declared dead amid bad weather hitting rescue efforts.

KOREAN PENINSULA

Seoul / Pyongyang - Situation on Korean Peninsula took a dramatic turn Sunday after North Korea claimed it did not fire artillery shells, contradicting claims made by South Korea. Pyongyang, however, said it conducted ‘deceptive operations’ to assess response capacity of Seoul. Following developments as tensions persist after days of military activities by two Koreas.

CHINA

Beijing - Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu to pay state visit to China at the invitation of his counterpart Xi Jinping.

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

SPECIAL REPORTS

WITH VIDEO - Israel’s Gaza war pushing Islamophobia ‘out of control’ worldwide: Experts

By Leila Nezirevic

London – Report exploring how Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip has fueled an explosion of Islamophobia worldwide.

The story focuses on the reasons for growing anti-Muslim sentiments and particularly the role being played by the media and politicians, with experts warning that the world is facing the worst waves of Islamophobia since ex-President Donald Trump announced plans in December 2015 to ban Muslims from entering the US.

The report includes interviews with Corey Saylor, director of research and advocacy at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and John Esposito, professor of religion, international affairs and Islamic studies at Georgetown University.

Poland facing 1989 all over again, need to restore democracy paramount: Deputy finance minister

By Jo Harper

Warsaw - Interview with Poland’s Deputy Finance Minister Pawel Karbownik, focusing on the challenges facing the new government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who took office in December 2023.

Karbownik emphasizes the need for efforts to restore democratic norms in Poland, criticizing the previous Law and Justice (PiS) party government for leaving behind a state “which was transitioning from democracy to semi-autocracy.”

Comparing the current situation to 1989, a year that marked the end of decades of communist rule, he expresses confidence in Tusk and the Civic Platform party’s ability to steer Poland into a better direction, stressing that the need right now is “as much about immediate policies like proper migration policy or green transition as it is about the bigger picture.”

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interviews with Corey Saylor, director of research and advocacy at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and John Esposito, professor of religion, international affairs and Islamic studies at Georgetown University, about how Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip is fueling a rise in Islamophobia worldwide.