Diary

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

PALESTINE

Gaza City – The humanitarian and military situations in the Gaza Strip as Israel continues its deadly onslaught on the enclave, which has killed around 31,200 people and injured 72,900 others amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the verge of starvation as efforts are underway to send aid via a new sea route to the Palestinians in the besieged territory.

Ramallah – Continuous security tension in the West Bank due to escalating Israeli army actions since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Israeli military raids in the West Bank resulted in the death of 427 Palestinians and the injury of around 4,700 others. The number of arrests has also risen to about 7,555, setting record figures over nearly five months compared to previous years.

LEBANON

Beirut – Cross-border tension between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel amid intensified attacks by both sides as Tel Aviv expanded its airstrikes to Baalbek, a Hezbollah stronghold, in eastern Lebanon. At least 300 people are estimated to have been killed in Lebanon, including 240 Hezbollah fighters, since the clashes erupted last October. Nearly 20 Israelis have been killed, according to Israeli figures.

YEMEN

Sanaa – Continuous, escalating tensions in the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel and US retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen amid concerns about a deadly impact on shipping traffic in one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks on his administration's investments for American communities during visit to Wisconsin. He will participate in a campaign event.

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with EU High Representative Josep Borrell at the Department of State. Blinken will later participate in a virtual ministerial on humanitarian assistance for Gaza.

Washington - House Republicans expected to vote bill that would require Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban in the United States.

New York - UN Security Council to meet for open debate on 'peacebuilding and conflict prevention' through the empowerment of all actors, including women and youth.

FRANCE

Paris – Senators will vote on France's strategy to support Ukraine after the voting at the National Assembly.

Strasbourg - MEPs continue plenary session. The draft schedule includes an address by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and a vote on the Artificial Intelligence Act.

GERMANY

Berlin - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Thai Premier Srettha Thavisin to hold a joint news conference after their meeting at the Federal Chancellery.

Berlin - Scholz to take questions from lawmakers in Bundestag. Expecting comments on domestic issues, as well as international developments, including Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - The UN refugee agency, International Organization for Migration, and humanitarian partners to launch the 2024 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis.

UK

London – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to respond to questions from lawmakers in the House of Commons. Questions on the situation in Gaza are likely.

KAZAKHSTAN

Almaty - The B5+1 Business Forum will be attended by representatives of the authorities and businesses of the Central Asian states and the US. The sides will discuss the enhancement of bilateral and multilateral business cooperation.

RUSSIA

Moscow - A meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Support Fund will be held under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Moscow - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a weekly news conference on current issues of foreign policy.

SOUTH AFRICA

Durban – The impact of heavy disruptive rains is expected in KwaZulu Natal province on Wednesday. A government weather service has issued the warning. Last year, flash floods killed dozens of people in the province and destroyed hundreds of homes.

Johannesburg – Election campaigns by political parties are ongoing ahead of the May 29 polls.

NIGERIA

Abuja – The Nigerian army continues a search for the 300 school children taken hostage by the terrorist group Boko Haram.

INDIA

New Delhi - Developments in the aftermath of implementation of controversial citizenship law.

CHINA

Beijing - The Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

AUSTRALIA

Canberra - Australia is mulling to resume funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) as Canberra warned Israel will lose support if it did not change its course in Gaza.

THE ECONOMY

London – UK to reveal monthly GDP figures, trade balance data, and industrial production index for January.

Luxembourg – Eurostat to share industrial production figures for January. Production rose by 2.6% in December.

Moscow – Russia to reveal annual inflation data for February. The rate was at 7.4% in January.

Paris – OECD to share GDP figures for its region for 2023.

SPORTS

Madrid / Milano - Atletico Madrid to face Inter Milan while Borussia Dortmund to take on PSV in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 return leg. Inter Milan seal narrow win over Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund draw 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven in first legs.

SPECIAL REPORTS

In Afghanistan, women and children bear brunt of biting food crisis

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report on the food security crisis in Afghanistan, focusing particularly on its impact on women and children.

The story gives details of the extent of the issue with data from the World Food Program (WFP), along with figures highlighting the impact of funding cuts.

It includes an interview with Philippe Kropf, WFP’s head of communications in Afghanistan, who speaks about the situation on the ground and also explains the various factors fueling the crisis, ranging from political instability to climate change.

UN system does not work anymore, needs ‘cardinal reform’: Ukrainian Nobel laureate

By Burak Bir

London – Interview with Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk, who leads the Center for Civil Liberties, a rights group that won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.

She speaks about the pressing need for comprehensive reforms to the international system, stressing that it has failed to deliver the basics of peace and security.

Matviichuk calls for coordinated global efforts for UN reforms, emphasizing the necessity of immediate action to resolve global conflicts.

Global hunger: Countries stalked by starvation around the world

By Necva Tastan

Istanbul - Report about the global hunger crisis, focusing on the areas bearing the brunt of spiraling food insecurity.

The report gives details of the world’s worst-hit countries, which include several nations in Africa, with data and figures laying out the scale of the issue.

It also includes reasons for the growing problem of world hunger and projections for the coming years.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Report on the food security crisis in Afghanistan, focusing particularly on its impact on women and children, including an interview with Philippe Kropf, head of communications for the World Food Program in Afghanistan.

VIDEO – Interview with Nobel Peace Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk, who speaks about the pressing need for immediate reforms to the UN and international systems due to their failure to ensure peace and security in the world.