Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

EGYPT

Cairo - Arab League to hold emergency meeting to discuss growing tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia following sea access agreement between Addis Ababa and breakaway region of Somaliland, which grants Ethiopia operational privileges in northwest Somalia's Red Sea area. Under Jan. 1 pact, Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, permitted Ethiopia to use its shores for commercial and military purposes through memorandum of understanding, including strategic Red Sea port of Berbera.

PALESTINE

Gaza Strip - Israeli army continues deadly offensive on Gaza Strip, which has so far claimed lives of at least 24,285 Palestinians and injured 61,154 others since Oct. 7, amid catastrophic humanitarian conditions. UN estimates that 85% of Gaza's residents are currently displaced in enclave amid severe shortages of essential resources such as food, clean water, and medicine. Additionally, 60% of territory’s infrastructure has been either damaged or completely destroyed.

Ramallah - Israeli military persists with frequent military incursions into Palestinian towns in occupied West Bank, resulting in death of at least 355 Palestinians, nearly 4,000 injured and 5,950 others detained since Oct. 7 amid deadly Israeli offensive on Gaza Strip.

LEBANON

Beirut - Tensions rising along Lebanon’s border with Israel amid exchanges of weapons fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, marking deadliest clashes between two since their all-out war in 2006.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Tensions rising in Red Sea amid US airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels suspected to be associated with Israel. US Central Command said it seized boatload of advanced conventional weapons sent from Iran to Houthis in Yemen, a day after CENTCOM said US-owned and operated dry bulk ship was attacked by anti-ship ballistic missiles in Red Sea amid fears current tension could fuel inflation and supply chain disruptions. Houthis say their attacks on ships in Red Sea are strategy to pressure Israel to cease its deadly offensive in Gaza Strip, where nearly over 24,000 people have been killed since Oct. 7.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to host congressional leaders at White House to discuss critical importance of his national security supplemental request that includes aid to Ukraine and Israel.

Washington - Desk to monitor developments in Red Sea after US seized shipment of Iranian-made ballistic and cruise missile components intended for Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Washington - Hearing for ex-State Department diplomat Stuart Seldowitz, who faces charges of aggravated harassment, hate crime stalking, stalking causing fear, and stalking at place of employment. Seldowitz was filmed repeatedly making allegedly Islamophobic comments towards New York City food cart vendor.

New York - UN Security Council to meet for consultations on UN mission on Cyprus, or UNFICYP.

Florida - Türkiye’s first space traveler Alper Gezeravci to be launched on mission to International Space Station (Jan 17, 5.11 pm Florida time – Jan. 17, 2211GMT – Jan. 18, 1.11 am Turkish time).

SWITZERLAND

Davos - Continuing coverage of World Economic Forum annual gathering of political and business leaders.

Davos - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken set to speak.

Davos - Discussion of Middle East featuring Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Qatari State Minister for International Cooperation Lolwah Al Khater.

Davos - WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Session to take part in session on preparing for future diseases.

Davos - Session on AI regulations featuring European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova.

Davos - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, French President Emmanuel Macron to speak at various events.

UK

London - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take questions from lawmakers in House of Commons.

FRANCE

Strasbourg - European Parliament to host debate with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

GERMANY

Berlin - Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck to take questions from lawmakers in parliament.

ITALY

Rome - Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to discuss his priorities for Italy's G7 presidency this year.

IRELAND

Dublin - Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar to host Chinese Premier Li Qiang for talks.

EURASIA

RUSSIA

Moscow - President Vladimir Putin to hold meeting with government via videoconference.

Moscow - Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold weekly press briefing.

ASIA PACIFIC

CHINA

Beijing - Premier Li Qiang to pay official trip to Ireland.

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kaakar expected to address World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and meet with global leaders on sidelines.

Islamabad - In escalation of cross-border conflict between Pakistan and Iran, Islamabad confirmed that Tehran violated its airspace by launching airstrike which killed 2 and injured three others. Following how Islamabad reacts after condemning Iran.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Beijing - China to release GDP figures for fourth quarter.

Ankara - Turkish Central Bank to release private sector’s foreign debt figures for November.

London - UK to release inflation figures for December.

Luxembourg - Eurostat to share inflation data for December.

Washington - US to release retail sales and industrial production figures for December.

SPORTS

Ivory Coast - Africa Cup of Nations group games to be held as Morocco vs. Tanzania, and DR Congo vs. Zambia games to be played.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Türkiye's 1st space traveler to do 13 scientific experiments on board International Space Station

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Just hours from now, Türkiye's very first space traveler, Alper Gezeravci, is headed to the International Space Station to do more than a dozen scientific experiments over the course of his two-week stay while in Earth orbit.

INTERVIEW - ‘Sometimes it feels criminal to be a Palestinian in Czech Republic’

By Ebad Ahmed

Prague - Report on censorship of pro-Palestine voices in Czech Republic amid Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.

Story gives details of how Czech media has been silencing narratives in favor of Palestine, focusing particularly on Yara Abu Aataya, Gaza-born multidisciplinary content designer based in Prague.

Includes interview with Yara, who speaks about discrimination she has faced and the way Czech media outlets have censored her interviews, while also taking retribution against journalists who have engaged with her.

Palestinians, Namibia genocide victims ‘not human’ in Germany’s eyes: Experts

By Hassan Isilow

Johannesburg - Report on Namibia’s stance in favor of Palestine on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at International Court of Justice.

Interviews with South African academics Everisto Benyera and Ahmed Jazbhay and political analyst Iqbal Jassat on Namibia’s history, focusing on German colonization and genocides perpetrated during that era.

Experts explain reasons for Namibia’s support for South Africa and condemnation of Germany, as well as Berlin’s own constraints on its position with Israel.

How Ukraine, Gaza wars have hit India’s precious gems industry

By Ahmad Adil

New Delhi - Report on how wars in Gaza and Ukraine have impacted the precious stones industry in India, where western state of Gujarat ranks as one of the world’s biggest hubs of diamond cutting and polishing.

Story includes data for India’s trade in precious stones and illustrates how it has been affected by ongoing crises, with exports plunging as geopolitical concerns take toll on international markets.

Featuring interviews with industry insiders including Ramesh Jilariya, head of Gujarat Diamond Worker Union, and Vipul Shah, chairman of Gem & Jewelry Export Promotion Council.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Yara Abu Aataya, Gaza-born multidisciplinary content designer based in Prague, about silencing of pro-Palestine voices in Czech Republic and her own personal experiences with discrimination and censorship in the EU member state.