Diary

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

PALESTINE

Rafah City - The already dire humanitarian conditions continue to decline in the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip as Israel intends to continue attacks in the heavily-populated city home to nearly 1.5 million displaced Palestinians, mostly living in tents and lacking food and proper health treatment. Nearly 100 Palestinians were killed in Rafah last night as Israeli airstrikes wrought severe damage.

Gaza City - Israel continues to pursue its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, killing 28,340 people and injuring 67,984 others across the enclave so far since Oct. 7 amid worsening humanitarian conditions.

Ramallah - Israeli military incursions persist on a daily basis into the cities and towns of the occupied West Bank. Israeli actions in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza have led to the killing of 392 Palestinians and the injury of around 4,450 others. The number of arrests has risen to 6,985, reaching record highs over more than four months.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Israeli evening rally-goers demand the release of hostages held in Gaza, especially after the Israeli army freed two from Rafah early on Monday, adding further pressure on Netanyahu's government for the rest.

UAE

Dubai - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to address World Governments Summit, with state and government officials participating, along with representatives of international organizations, the private sector, academia, civil society, think tanks, the media and businesspeople from various countries.

Erdogan to meet with Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his other counterparts from participating countries.

EGYPT

Cairo - Meeting expected to be held involving the head of Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies, David Barnea and Ronen Bar, as well as the US Central Intelligence Agency chief William Burns, Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and head of Egyptian intelligence Abbas Kamel, to push for talks on a prisoner swap deal between Israel and Palestinian groups.

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border tensions between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along Lebanon's border with Israel. Israeli chief of staff transferred the largest army division from the Gaza Strip to the border with Lebanon. The exchange of fire has so far killed 214 people, including at least 30 civilians, and displaced nearly 100,000 from southern Lebanon, according to the country's authorities.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Tensions growing in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel and US retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen. The Yemeni group on Monday said it attacked the US commercial ship Star Iris in the southern Red Sea.

EUROPE

GERMANY

Berlin - Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to meet her Palestinian counterpart Riyad Al-Maliki for talks on Gaza, diplomatic efforts for humanitarian pause, delivery of aid to Palestinian civilians.

Berlin - Digital rights groups NETTZ, GMK, HateAid to release outcome of representative study on how online hate threatens democratic discourse.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - UN Information Service to hold biweekly press briefing for UN bodies headquartered in Geneva.

UK

London - Preview of exhibition of work of artist and activist Yoko Ono, opening at the Tate on Feb. 15. Exhibition to include more than 200 pieces of her work over seven decades, examining their effect on contemporary culture.

GREECE

Athens - Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to meet in Athens with delegation of protesting farmers.

EURASIA

RUSSIA

Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to attend meeting of Valdai Discussion Club on Middle East.

Moscow - Delegation of North Korean lawmakers to visit Russia, take part in work of Russian lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma.

US

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly at State Department, later to hold talks with King Abdullah II of Jordan who met with President Joe Biden.

Washington - Group of healthcare professionals to gather in protest of American Medical Association (AMA) amid its annual meetings, criticizing organization's silence on ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Washington - House of Representatives expected to vote again on resolution to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Last week's vote by House failed after three Republicans joined Democrats in voting against resolution.

ASIA-PACIFIC

INDIA

New Delhi - About 200 farmers' unions to march to 'Delhi Chalo' to exert pressure on federal government to address several demands including law for minimum support price for all crops, full debt waiver for farmers. Authorities have imposed restrictions at several points ahead of march.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Efforts to form new government by two major parties of Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari continue as president must summon first session of newly-elected National Assembly to elect speaker, deputy speaker, and leader of house by Feb. 29. This comes as three lawmakers-elects forfeit their seats in protest against allegations of vote rigging while two other party heads also stepped down, accepting defeat. Party of jailed Imran Khan also cautious as it seeks court redressal to reclaim party symbol, gain more seats.

THE ECONOMY

Ankara - Turkstat to reveal Türkiye's retail sales, turnover indices for December.

In November, retail sales growth had slowed to one-year low of 12.8% y-o-y.

Ankara - Türkiye's Central Bank to reveal current account balance for December.

November current account deficit was at $2.72 billion, down from $4 billion one year ago.

Washington - US to release inflation figures for January. Rate exceeded expectations by reaching 3.4% in December, expected at 2.9% in first month of new year.

Berlin - Zew Institute to release economic sentiment index for Germany, Eurozone. Index has been exceeding forecasts in recent months.

SPORTS

DENMARK

Copenhagen - UEFA Champions League to return with Round of 16 matches. Defending champions Manchester City to visit Copenhagen while Real Madrid to face RB Leipzig in Germany in 1st leg.

SPECIAL REPORTS

As Israel expands Gaza war, expert warns regional situation could ‘easily spin out of control’

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report focusing on growing concerns of escalation in the Middle East and the risk of regional spillover as Israel pushes on with its deadly war on Gaza, expanding its assault by targeting Rafah.

The story includes an interview with Joost Hiltermann, MENA program director at the International Crisis Group, who shares his assessment of the latest developments in Gaza and the wider region.

He warns of the potential downsides of a prolonged war in Gaza, stressing that any incident of miscommunication or miscalculation could trigger a regional war.

Smaller parties take center stage in formation of Pakistan’s next government

By Aamir Latif

Karachi, Pakistan – Report about the post-election scenario in Pakistan, exploring the decisive role that relatively smaller political forces will now play in the formation of the next government.

The story gives details of these parties and their performance in the Feb. 8 general elections, which ended with results that make a coalition government a necessity.

It includes an interview with Abdul Khalique Ali, a Karachi-based political analyst, who gives reasons for the importance of these parties and why they continue to hold relevance in local politics.

EXPLAINER – Who and what will be key in Indonesia’s elections

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

Istanbul – Report about the elections set to be held in Indonesia on February 14, when more than 204 million eligible voters will elect a new president, vice-president and lawmakers for the bicameral parliament and provincial legislative bodies.

The story gives details of the main parties and candidates in the race, including presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto, the incumbent defense minister who has outgoing President Joko Widodo’s eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his running mate.

It also explains the process of the elections and tabulation of results, and has comments from Mardani Ali Sera, a two-time lawmaker of the Prosperous Justice Party who is also running for a parliament seat.

INTERVIEW - ‘Very strong majority' in Northern Ireland still wants to be part of UK: Democratic Unionist Party leader

By Burak Bir

London - Interview with Jeffrey Donaldson, head of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, in the context of the recent deal with the British government on post-Brexit trade rules that restored power-sharing after almost two years of political deadlock.

Donaldson shares his assessment of the deal, explaining why it is beneficial and a contributor to improved relations with the British government.

He also speaks about public sentiment within Northern Ireland, saying a majority want to remain with the UK and see that as a way to ensure strong future growth.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Joost Hiltermann, MENA program director at the International Crisis Group, about the latest developments in Israel’s war on Gaza and the growing risk of a regional spillover in the Middle East, with the expert warning that any miscommunication or miscalculation at this point could trigger a wider conflict.

VIDEO – Interview with Jeffrey Donaldson, head of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, where he shares his views on the impact of the recent deal with the British government on post-Brexit trade rules that ended a long political deadlock and restored power-sharing.