Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

G20 summit

Leaders of the G20 group of largest economies will meet in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and Tuesday for their annual summit hosted by Brazil under the motto, Building a just world and a sustainable planet. The opening is expected Monday late in the evening (Turkish time).

The G20 leaders will take part in three sessions on the three main priorities: Social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty, Reform of the institutions of global governance, Sustainable development and energy transition.

Political crises such as the Ukraine war and Israel's deadly war on Gaza and Lebanon are also expected to be discussed.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has called a draft declaration of the G20 on its Gaza offensive “unbalanced and biased" and called on the meeting to condemn Hamas, Hezbollah, recognize what it calls Israel "right to defend itself."

Leaders are expected to adopt a declaration at the end of the summit. The main participants who confirmed their participation are:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Outgoing US President Joe Biden

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Europe - French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also expected to attend the summit as the country is invited to G20 as a permanent guest.

Asia-Pacific - China’s President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; Guest: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Africa - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and African Union representatives.

Arab participation - Saudi Arabia, as a full member, will be represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Guests: Qatar to be represented by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egypt by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, UAE by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

Russia is also a full member but President Vladimir Putin said he would not attend the G20 summit in Brazil because his arrival would "wreck" the conference. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would attend instead.

Israel’s destructive onslaught on Gaza

Unwavering Israeli bombardment, causing increasing number of Palestinian casualties in the face of worsening humanitarian conditions.

At least 24 Palestinians were killed and 60 others injured Sunday in a series of Israel attacks on the refugee camps of Nuseirat and Bureij in central Gaza, the enclave-based media office reported.

The overall death toll in the Palestinian enclave since October last year soared to over 43,800, with over 103,600 others injured, according to the Health Ministry.

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

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

More than 72 people lost their lives Sunday as Israeli warplanes targeted several residential buildings and homes in the town of Beit Lahia, the media office said.

Israel's attacks on Lebanon and the conflict with Hezbollah

One person was killed and three others were injured in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut on Sunday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The secretary-general of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party in Lebanon said Mohammad Afif, the media official for Hezbollah, was killed in that airstrike.

Israel reported the launch of 15 rockets from Lebanon and a drone from Iraq on Sunday as regional tension continues to escalate over the war in Gaza.

Two Lebanese soldiers were killed Sunday following an Israeli airstrike that directly targeted one of the military posts in the town of al-Mari in Hasbaya district, southern of Lebanon, the army reported.

Lebanon cease-fire efforts

Developments on ongoing efforts to draft a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon.

US envoy Amos Hochstein is expected to visit Beirut on Tuesday, while Lebanon will submit its comments and amendments to the draft cease-fire proposal to the US ambassador today.

Israeli public broadcaster authority KAN said Hochstein will arrive in Tel Aviv on Wednesday after completing his visit to Lebanon.

Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s office scandals

Developments on several unfolding scandals and leaked documents linked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

The scandals include attempts to alter documents regarding early warnings before the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, efforts to blackmail a senior officer for classified information, and a video showing former Defense Minister Gallant being blocked from entering Netanyahu's office after the Gaza war commenced.

Eli Feldstein, a spokesman who worked with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the central suspect in Netanyahu’s office security documents theft and leak scandal, was unable to publish the leaks in local media due to censorship, so he passed them on to foreign media, including the German Bild newspaper, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority KAN reported Sunday.

One of the documents leaked by Netanyahu's spokesperson is classified as "top secret" and was obtained from military officers, said the authority, adding that Feldstein sought to affect public opinion on hostage swap talks in leaking the documents.

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.

Five Palestinian female students were injured by suffocation on Sunday morning due to the Israeli army's deployment of tear gas near a school in the town of Al-Khader, south of Bethlehem. The settlers also set up a tent in the center of Hebron.

Israel has killed over 783 people since October last year, including 160 children, and injured nearly 6,300 others, with over 11,700 taken into custody.

Joe Biden's Brazil visit

President Joe Biden to attend an event launching the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty ahead of the first session of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. In the evening, he will attend the G20 Leaders reception.

Trump's Cabinet picks for second term

Monitoring developments regarding President-elect Donald Trump's picks for his Cabinet as he prepares for his second term at the White House following his win in Nov. 5 presidential election.

UN vote on Sudan draft resolution

UN Security Council to vote on a draft resolution urging Sudan's Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to uphold their commitments under the Declaration of Commitment to Protect Civilians in Sudan, signed in Jeddah on May 11, 2023.

Briefing at UN Security Council on Ukraine

UN Security Council to convene for a high-level meeting on Ukraine, a signature event of the UK’s Council presidency. It will mark 1,000 days since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is expected to brief.

Security Council meeting under on Middle East

UN Security Council to hold high-level briefing under “The situation in the Middle East” agenda item aimed at “ending the war and securing durable peace." UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will chair the meeting at which Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief.

Canadian PM Trudeau's Brazil visit

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be welcomed by Brazilian President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Rio de Janeiro. Trudeau will participate in the launch of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and later attend the G20 working session.

EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting

Foreign ministers from the European Union to meet to discuss the conflict in Ukraine with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha participating virtually. A discussion on the Oct. 26 elections in Georgia, EU-US relations in the wake of the Nov. 5 election won by Donald Trump, the situation in the Middle East and recent developments in the Horn of Africa also on the agenda.

UNRWA press briefing in Geneva

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA), to brief media on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

UK government challenged over Israel weapons sales

High Court to hear a legal challenge against the government selling weapons to Israel. Al Haq, a Palestinian non-governmental human rights organization, claim it is a breach of Export Licensing Criteria, which says it will not be granted if there is a clear risk that the weapons sold will be used to commit acts that contravene international humanitarian law as Israeli state has been accused of committing genocide in Gaza since October 2023. Campaigners from the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International UK to gather outside the High Court ahead of the hearing.

Questions to Defense Ministry in London

Ministers from the British Ministry of Defense to respond to lawmakers’ questions in the House of Commons.

UK farmers call national strike

Welsh campaign group Enough is Enough has called a national strike for British farmers to stop producing food in the wake of the government's changes to laws around inheritance tax. The group was formed last year to oppose the Welsh government's planned agricultural reforms.

Report on taxing big oil firms

Introducing a 'Climate Damages Tax' on seven of the world's biggest oil and gas companies could grow the UN Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage by more than 2000%, according to an analysis by Greenpeace.

Farmers to relaunch protests in France

Farmers who are unsatisfied with the government’s actions after promises were made earlier this year, mainly about simplifying EU regulations and canceling the Mercosur agreement, are planning to launch a series of two-day protests across the country, as French President Emmanuel Macron will be attending the G20 summit in Brazil. French farmers blocked main routes and protested in January. They consider that because of the Mercosur deal - signed in 2019 with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, but not yet ratified - and thus the arrival of Latin American products may undermine their production.

Senegal to announce results of parliamentary elections

Electoral officials in Senegal expected to start announcing the first provisional results of the Nov. 17 snap legislative elections called by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The president dissolved the opposition-led National Assembly in September in a bid to break the tension between the legislature and the executive.

Illegal miners expected to ended standoff with police at abandoned South African mine

Thousands of illegal miners who have been hiding inside an abandoned mine shaft in South Africa fearing arrest by the police, could end their stand off and resurface after weeks underground. A court on the weekend ordered the police to unblock closed routes used by the illegal miners to get food and water supplies underground. Several mines are reported to be starving after their supply routes were cut off by police.

Sri Lanka's new Cabinet takes oath

New Sri Lankan Cabinet members take oath. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has picked 23 members after sweeping parliamentary elections last week.

Search and rescue operations on after Typhoon hits Philippines

Search and rescue operations are going on after super Typhoon Man-yi hit Philippines hard, triggering massive rain and floods in many areas. Tens of thousands of people are affected with many areas without water and electricity.

Bangladesh court hears case against ex-Premier Hasina

A local court to hear case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is facing murder charges. She fled to India after her government was ousted on Aug. 5.

SPORTS

UEFA Nations League Matchday 6, final matchday of group stage

Croatia vs. Portugal (League A - Group A1)

Poland vs. Scotland (League A - Group A1)

Spain vs. Switzerland (League A - Group A4)

Serbia vs. Denmark (League A - Group A4)

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye’s short-term foreign debt

Turkish Central Bank to release the country’s short-term debt figures for September. Türkiye's short-term external debt stock totaled $173.7 billion in August, declining 1.4% from the end of 2023.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Trump’s policy toward Europe will be anchored in fear and anxiety about Russia: Scholar

Interview with British academic and activist Maung Zarni about expectations for Donald Trump’s second term, particularly his policies toward Europe.

Zarni argues that US policies toward Europe would aim to capitalize on the sense of fear and anxiety about Russia that is prevalent on the continent, while also speaking about how US support to Israel would also weigh on ties with European nations.

He views Trump’s threats to pull out of NATO as mere “scaremongering,” explaining why such a move would go against US interests and would be met with backlash within the country.

Luwians of Türkiye: Unlocking an untold chapter of ancient history

Interview with Swiss geoarchaeologist Eberhard Zangger on recent significant discoveries in Türkiye about the Luwians, an ancient people who once lived in Anatolia.Zangger, head of the Luwian Studies Foundation, explains why the Luwian culture is emerging as a crucial piece of the ancient Anatolian puzzle and transforming the understanding of Türkiye’s Bronze Age history.

He also speaks about how Türkiye’s rich archaeological heritage offers “endless possibilities” for new insights into the Bronze Age, while also delving into deeper issues such as the Western-centric narrative dominating archaeological discourse today.

Saudi Arabia’s football investments a ‘long-term project’: World Football Summit official

Interview with Jaime Dominguez Perez de Ayala, director of content and communications at World Football Summit (WFS), an international network that brings together industry leaders from the world of football.

Ayala speaks about the potential of football growth in Saudi Arabia and how the country’s recent investments in the game are part of a “long-term project” backed by the government “to diversify the economy.”

He explains how and why Saudi Arabia’s football boom is a different case from similar attempts in China and Japan, illustrating its various strengths and sharing his views on the future of the game in the kingdom.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with British academic and activist Maung Zarni about Trump’s second term, particularly his policies toward Europe, and how his administration could strain ties between Washington and its European allies.