Diary

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

Israel’s genocidal onslaught on blockaded Gaza

Unabated Israeli bombardment continues in the Gaza Strip, leading to further Palestinian casualties amid the crumbling humanitarian conditions.

On Tuesday, six people were killed, including four children, in an Israeli strike targeting a group of civilians west of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Another Palestinian was killed and 25 others injured in a drone shelled a gathering of civilians in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza. City.

The Israeli genocidal war on the enclave has resulted in the killing of nearly 43,700 people and injured more than 103,000 others since Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel’s enlarging blockade, ground invasion in northern Gaza Strip

Israel's over a month-long siege, incursion, and bombardment of northern Gaza Strip exacerbating shortages of food, water, fuel, and medicine.

On Tuesday, three children from the same family lost their lives when an Israeli warplane hit their home in the Jabalia refugee camp.

Israeli forces besieged some 130 families inside a shelter in Beit Hanoun and forced them to leave at gunpoint.

Israeli aggression in Lebanon

Israel's attacks on Lebanon and the Hezbollah group's targeting of Israel with rockets and drones.

On Tuesday, an Israeli fighter jets struck a home in the town of Debaal in Tyre, southern Lebanon, leaving several people dead and injured.

Five more people killed and two others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Baalchmay, Aalay District in the Mount Lebanon Governorate.

The Israeli army carried also out several airstrikes on multiple areas in Beirut’s southern suburb.

For its part, Hezbollah said it launched rockets targeting three settlements in northern Israel and engaged two Israeli drones over Lebanese territory, forcing them to withdraw.

Israeli media reported that two people were killed after rocket from Lebanon landed on a residential building in Nahariya, Western Galilee in northern Israel.

The Israeli army said it began the second phase of the ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon

Israeli Premier Netanyahu’s office scandals

Developments on unfolding scandals in the office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu's office is involved in theft, manipulation, and leakage of information from the military to foreign media to influence public opinion on a possible hostage swap deal with Palestinian factions in Gaza.

A second case involves alleged attempts to alter documents regarding early warnings before the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Officials are also accused of attempting to blackmail a senior officer in the military secretariat to obtain classified information.

The fourth case pertains to a video of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant being blocked by security guards from entering Netanyahu's office shortly after the onset of the Gaza war.

Israeli security forces have detained five individuals on suspicion of involvement in a sensitive document leak. Among the suspects are four soldiers and Eli Feldstein, an employee in Netanyahu’s office, who has been named as the primary suspect.

On Tuesday, in a twist to the ongoing sensitive documents leak investigation, the lawyer of a suspect in a security leaks scandal made a statement implicating Netanyahu.

The lawyer’s remarks ignited a response from the prime minister’s office, which issued a forceful statement rejecting the accusations.

Israeli strategic affairs minister's anticipated visit to Washington

Statements from Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer during his visit to Washington for talks with US President Biden and senior White House officials over several issues.

On Tuesday, Axios reported that Dermer held discussions with US President-elect Donald Trump regarding a possible cease-fire in Lebanon and Israel's genocide in Gaza.

He also met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and discussed an alleged ultimatum from the Biden administration urging Israel to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza by Nov. 13.

The Israeli minister is expected to meet National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Biden’s advisers, Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein.

Israeli finance minister’s remarks to ‘apply sovereignty’ in West Bank

More international and regional reactions to the Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s remarks to “apply the Israeli sovereignty” on the occupied West Bank.

On Tuesday, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye decried the far-right minister's call.

Smotrich said 2025 will mark the year of applying Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, thus ending “the threat” of a Palestinian state.

He said he had instructed the Settlement Division and the Civil Administration, both under the Defense Ministry, to begin preparations for the necessary infrastructure to implement this policy.

Israeli media said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to push for annexing the occupied West Bank when US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

West Bank raids

Israel’s almost daily military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in occupied West Bank, and illegal settlers' violence against Palestinians and their properties.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces fatally shoot a Palestinian near a military checkpoint in Nablus, claiming he attempted to stab soldiers.

Dozens of illegal Israeli settlers also raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem under heavy police escort.

Israel has killed 780 people since October last year, including 160 children, and injured nearly 6,300 others, with over 11,700 taken into custody.

NATO chief meets Blinken

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will receive US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken for talks on international security issues, military support for Ukraine.

German chancellor addresses parliament

Chancellor Olaf Scholz to deliver a government statement on current political and economic challenges. This comes after his-left liberal coalition government collapsed last week due to disputes over economic policy. Early elections are expected to be held on Feb. 23, 2025.

UK prime minister faces questions from lawmakers

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will respond to questions from lawmakers in the House of Commons.

UK report on low-to-middle income families

Low-to-middle income families across Britain have got older and sicker over past three decades, according to the Resolution Foundation report.

The families are more likely to suffer from poor health or disability over the last three decades, though they are still more likely to be in work today than in the mid-1990s, according to the report.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump meeting

US President Joe Biden to host President-elect Donald Trump at the White House to discuss the government transition. Trump will also meet House Speaker Mike Johnson and the new Senate Republican leader while he is in Washington DC.

US House committee hearing on UFOs

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability's Subcommittees on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, and on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs to hold joint hearing, Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth.

Senate Republicans to hold leadership elections

Senate Republicans to vote on their leadership positions for the next Congress as Mitch McConnell is stepping down. Candidates who have announced their intention to seek the position are South Dakota Senator John Thune, Texas Senator John Cornyn, Florida Senator Rick Scott, and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.

UNRWA Commissioner-General's press conference in New York

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini to hold a press conference at the UN office in New York.

UN Security Council to discuss Yemen

UN Security Council to be briefed on the Middle East followed by consultations on Yemen.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman to hold weekly press briefing

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold a briefing on current foreign policy issues.

Fighting between Russian, Ukrainian troops continues in Kursk, Donetsk

Russia and Ukraine continue fighting in Russia’s border region of Kursk, where Kyiv began an incursion in August, and in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow continues to claim advances on multiple fronts.

Asian leaders address COP29 in Azerbaijan

Asian leaders including Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Bhutanese Premier Tshering Tobgay to address the 29th UN climate conference, also known as COP29, in Azerbaijani capital Baku.

China’s President Xi departs to Peru on his 5-day visit to Latin America

China’s President Xi Jinping travels to Peru to attend the Asia Pacific Cooperation forum in Peru. Xi is expected to hold bilateral meetings in Lima including with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. During his five-day trip, Xi will also fly to Brazil to attend the G20 summit where he is also expected to meet US President Joe Biden.

Saudi top diplomat visits India

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to hold meeting with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. India is the second-largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia and bilateral trade last year was around $43.3 billion.

South Korea likely to respond after North Korea ratifies military pact with Russia

South Korea is likely to respond after North Korea ratified its pact with Russia which allows extending military aid in case of aggression by a third party. Situation on Korean Peninsula has remained on edge after Seoul accused Pyongyang of moving soldiers to Moscow. Seoul has warned to review its ban on supply of arms to Ukraine.

Curtain raiser on Sri Lanka general elections

Curtain raiser on parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka. The vote to elect 225 members of parliament is scheduled on Nov. 14. It is the first parliamentary elections being held since the island nation declared bankruptcy in April 2022.

Somaliland to hold presidential poll

Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland to hold presidential election in the midst of regional tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over the divisive memorandum of understanding Ethiopia signed with Somaliland regarding a port deal. Three candidates, including incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi, are vying for the top job.

South Africa’s foreign minister heads to Cairo

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola to embark on a two-day working visit to Egypt to co-chair the South Africa-Egypt political consultations with counterpart Badr Abdelatty. The two countries enjoy cordial political, economic, and social relations established in 1995.

THE ECONOMY

House sales in Türkiye

The Turkish Statistical Institute to share house sales figures for October. Türkiye recorded 140,919 house sales in September, marking a 37.3% increase year-on-year. House sales to foreigners fell by 31% year-on-year to 2,022 units over the same period.

US inflation

The US to reveal annual inflation figures for October. It was at 2.4% in September, above market expectations. Similar level is expected for the month of October.

SPORTS

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 9

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Barcelona

Paris Basketball vs. Zalgiris Kaunas

SPECIAL REPORTS

Trump’s return: How will US-China ties fare under new administration?

Report on potential China-US tensions under a Trump administration, particularly in trade and economic ties.

The story explains the various policy changes that could be seen when Trump takes office in January, including more tariffs on China and increased US protectionism, their implications for the two superpowers, and explores the possibility of a detente and improved ties.

It includes interviews with Jeffrey Tucker, president of the US-based Brownstone Institute; Wang Zaibang, a senior fellow at Taihe Institute in Beijing; Hong Kong-based China expert Andrew KP Leung; and Andrea Ghiselli, head of research at the ChinaMed Project.

Sudan war: Is an end in sight as army gains ground against RSF?

Report on the war in Sudan and how things have changed in the conflict over recent weeks, with the Sudanese army gaining ground against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The story explains where and how the army has made progress, its significance for efforts to end the deadly conflict, and gives details of the ongoing international push to resolve the crisis.

It includes interviews with Sudanese researcher Jihad Mashamoun and Moses Chrispus Okello, a conflict analyst, who give a picture of the situation on the ground and their expectations for the coming months.