Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories).

PALESTINE

Gaza Strip - After 99 days of the Israeli war on Gaza, the latest figures indicate 23,708 lives are lost and 60,005 others 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 continue, with recent developments leading to a rise in the death toll to 346 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 ground offensive started on Oct. 27 has reached 186, and to 520 since Oct. 7.

LEBANON

Beirut - The ongoing border tension between Hezbollah and Israel since Oct. 8 with both parties continuing to exchange fire across the border areas between them.

Confrontations along the country's borders have left many people dead, including 29 Lebanese civilians, three of them journalists and as many children, a Lebanese army soldier, four from Hamas' armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades, in addition to 161 Hezbollah members.

According to recent Israeli media reports, 15 Israelis, including 11 soldiers and 4 civilians, have so far been killed on border areas with Lebanon in clashes between army and Hezbollah since Oct. 8.

YEMEN

Developments in the Red Sea reached a dangerous level as the US and UK initiated a series of military raids on Yemen late Thursday, which led to the death of five Houthi fighters and the injury of six others, according to the Yemeni authorities.

On Saturday, the US conducted a strike against a Houthi radar site in Yemen, according to the American military.

Countries worldwide continue to react and issue statements regarding the developments in the Red Sea area.

UK

London - The Palestine Solidarity Campaign holds National March for Palestine, calling for immediate cease-fire in Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of people have joined marches in city since start of Israeli bombardment after Hamas attack on Oct 7.

TÜRKİYE

Istanbul - Türkiye to hold security meeting under chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after Turkish soldiers were killed in PKK attack in northern Iraq.

TAIWAN

Taipei - Around 19 million registered voters are participating in three-way presidential and legislative elections in closely-watched polls. Results, which may signal future direction of the island nation claimed by China but run independent of Beijing, are expected to pour in by evening, Taipei time.

SPORTS

Abidjan, IVORY COAST - Africa Cup of Nations to kick off with opening match between hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Türkiye's Togg shines at CES in Las Vegas with its new sedan model

By Gokhan Ergocun, Dilara Zengin, Abdusselam Durdak

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye's Togg, which started its journey with its first electric vehicle, T10X, in 2019, introduced its new sedan model at the CES tech show in Las Vegas, US.

Delivering around 20,000 units of T10X - C SUV - so far, the firm wants to increase its production capacity to 200,000 units annually as soon as possible to meet export demand.

Togg targets a deliverly of 1 million units to Europe by 2030.

Turkish companies wining African infrastructure, superstructure projects

By Hamza Kyeyune

KAMPALA, Uganda, (AA) - Turkish companies are rapidly expanding in the African infrastructure sector, creating employment opportunities for hundreds of thousands of workers.

Data from the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) said that in 2023, Turkish contracting companies completed 1,864 projects on the African continent, totaling $85.4 billion in infrastructure and superstructure investments, while Turkish investments in Africa hit $10 billion.

In Uganda, major Turkish construction companies, Polat Yol and Yapi Merkezi, have ongoing mega projects.