Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, January 12, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories)

MIDDLE EAST

PALESTINE

Gaza Strip - After 98 days of the Israeli war on Gaza, the latest figures released on Thursday indicate 23,469 lives lost and 59,604 people injured, with the majority being women and children. The conflict has wrought immense destruction, unfolding into an unparalleled humanitarian and health crisis.

Ramallah - The Israeli army's daily incursions into cities and towns in the occupied West Bank persist, with recent developments leading to a rise in the death toll to 343 since Oct. 7. The number of Palestinians from the West Bank, including Jerusalem, held in Israeli prisons has reached 5,810, while the Israeli army has reported the arrest of 2,600 Palestinians during the same period. Among those apprehended are 1,300 activists affiliated with the Gaza-based resistance group Hamas, according to the Israeli military's statement.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - As the Israeli military ground operation in Gaza Strip continues, the army death toll since the operation started has reached 186, and to 520 since Oct. 7.

LEBANON

Beirut - The ongoing border tension between Hezbollah and Israel since Oct. 8 resulted in the death of two members of Hezbollah's affiliated Islamic Health Organization in an airstrike on the town of Hanine in southern Lebanon. Simultaneously, Hezbollah directed rocket attacks at Israeli soldiers around the Metula and Al-Baghdadi sites, causing direct blows. The toll of the confrontations along the country's borders has been devastating, with 29 Lebanese civilians killed, including three journalists, three children, a Lebanese army soldier, and four from Hamas' armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, in addition to 161 Hezbollah members. On the Israeli side, five civilians and nine soldiers have been killed due to the Hezbollah attacks, as reported by the Israeli army and authorities in Tel Aviv.

EUROPE

THE NETHERLANDS

The Hague - International Court of Justice to hear Israel’s arguments in genocide case brought by South Africa. Israeli authorities accused of perpetrating genocide against Palestinians in Gaza during ongoing military assault.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - UN Information Service to hold bi-weekly briefing for journalists.

EURASIA

KAZAKHSTAN

Astana - Business forum, including business-to-business (B2B) meetings, to be held as part of visit to Kazakhstan by Japanese business delegation.

ROMANIA

Timisoara - Moldovan President Maia Sandu to conduct 2-day visit to Romania at invitation of Timisoara Mayor Dominic Fritz, where she will be awarded Timisoara Prize for European Values.

RUSSIA

Moscow - Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold press conference on current foreign policy issues.

US

Washington - Possible statements to be made by Biden administration on Friday's strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, ongoing conflict in Gaza.

New York - UN Security Council to hold meeting on threat of forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza Strip.

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with Communist Party of China International Liaison Department Minister Liu Jianchao at State Department, later to hold talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko.

ASIA PACIFIC

INDIA

New Delhi - Decision to stop funding by authorities in northern state of Uttar Pradesh set to impact thousands of teachers at Muslim religious schools, or madrasas, which have recently faced scrutiny in several states ruled by Bhartiya Janata Party. In northeastern state of Assam, authorities mulling conversion of hundreds of madrasas into conventional schools. Federal government had stopped funding program known as Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrasas, and now Uttar Pradesh state government stopped funds as well, months ahead of general elections in India. Report to talk to affected people, seek remarks by officials.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

TAIWAN

Taipei - Opener on weekend polls in Taiwan, with over 19 million voters to elect new president, lawmakers Saturday. More than 1 million young people to vote for first time in election. Some 17,794 polling stations to be established, with voters to cast ballot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time (0000-0800GMT).

KOREAN PENINSULA

Seoul / Pyongyang - Tensions on Korean Peninsula grow as Pyongyang reiterated its threat of "annihilating" South, while Seoul readies to resume military drills in waters between two Koreas.

JAPAN

Ishikawa - Japan continues search for survivors after massive New Year Day earthquake, with about 52 people still missing. Around 213 people declared dead as bad weather hit rescue efforts. Thousands remain evacuated to safer shelter, where many have died as stress, anxiety surge while cases of COVID-19 resurfaced. High waves, seismic activity triggered fears around Shika nuclear power plant, which suffered "stress" beyond design limits.

VIETNAM

Hanoi - Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived on three-day official visit to Vietnam Thursday, expected to hold bilateral talks with counterpart Vo Van Thuong, besides other leaders.

THE ECONOMY

Beijing - China to release consumer prices index, trade figures for December.

China's consumer prices fell by 0.5% year-on-year in November, steeper than 0.2% drop in October. This was the fastest decline in consumer prices index since November 2020, thanks to stronger decline in food costs. Figure is expected to fall 0.4% from a year ago in December.

In November 2023, Chinese exports surprisingly rose 0.5% annually for first time in seven months, imports dropped 0.6% from prior year.

Ankara - Turkstat to announce Türkiye's retail sales figures for November.

In October 2023, Türkiye's retail sales returned to growth following two-month losing streak, up 2% from a month ago.

Ankara - Turkish Central Bank to announce current account balance for November.

In October, Türkiye's current account balance posted surplus of $186 million.

SPECIAL REPORTS

INTERVIEW - ‘A massacre the world is witness to’: Chilean legal front seeks International Criminal Court action against Israel

By Semir Sejfovic

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Interview with Nelson Hadad, a prominent international lawyer and representative of a group of lawyers from Chile that has filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israel.

The complaint calls for arrest warrants to be issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli ministers, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes in Gaza.

Hadad speaks about the main objectives of their filing and explains the actions that the group is specifically seeking from the ICC.

INTERVIEW - Hard to be optimistic about change in US tone on Gaza: Palestinian-American analyst

By Iclal Turan

Washington - Interview with Khalil Jahshan, executive director of Arab Center in Washington, DC, about the most recent Middle East tour of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Jahshan speaks about the significance of Blinken’s engagements during the trip and the change in the US’ tone regarding Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.

He says the shift is stemming from the belief that Israel’s campaign “has taken too long from an American perspective” and is “beginning to harm US national interests.”

Jahshan also speaks about the potential impact of Washington’s changing stance on Israeli strategies.

In battle between India and China, what next for Maldives?

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul - Report about the Maldives and its geopolitical balancing act between India and China.

The story focuses on the possible policies of newly-elected President Mohamed Muizzu, who is visiting China this week and has recently called for the withdrawal of Indian military from the island nation.

The report gives an insight into ties between the three countries, and includes interviews with Indian analyst Bharat Gopalaswamy, Chatham House senior research fellow Gareth Price, and Maldivian writer and journalist Ahmed Azaan.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with with Nelson Hadad, a prominent international lawyer and representative of a group of lawyers from Chile that has filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court, seeking action against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other ministers for crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes in Gaza.

VIDEO - Interview with Khalil Jahshan, executive director of Arab Center in Washington, DC, about US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s most recent Middle East tour and the change in the US’ tone regarding Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.