Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, November 21, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing / breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza

In its second year, the ongoing Israeli genocidal war in the Gaza Strip continues to claim the lives of more Palestinians and worsen their living conditions.

At least seven Palestinians, including three children, were killed in an Israeli strike on tents of the displaced people in the west of Khan Younis city, southern Gaza, Palestinian medics told Anadolu on Wednesday.

Separately, six Palestinians were killed and several others injured on Wednesday in another Israeli attack on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in the Al-Nusierat refugee camp of the central Gaza Strip, medical sources told Anadolu.

The overall death toll in the Palestinian enclave since October of last year has risen to nearly 44,000, with about 104,100 others injured, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

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

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

Israeli fighter jets hit a house in the northern town of Jabalia, leaving 12 people dead and several others injured, a medical source told Anadolu on Wednesday.

Israeli aggression in Lebanon

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

At least 13 people were killed in overnight airstrikes by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon, local media said on Wednesday.

Separately, a Lebanese soldier died of injuries from an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, the army said.

The Israeli military announced on Wednesday evening that it detected the launch of 25 rockets from Lebanon towards the Upper and Western Galilee regions in the north, with some of the rockets falling in the area.

Lebanon cease-fire efforts

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

US special envoy to Lebanon Amos Hochstein on Wednesday hinted at "additional progress" in talks aimed at reaching a cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Following his talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Hochstein traveled to Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli officials about a cease-fire.

The US envoy briefed Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Roner Dermer Wednesday evening on Lebanon's response to the US cease-fire proposal. The envoy is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to discuss a cease-fire in Lebanon, The Times of Israel reported, citing an official.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah's Secretary-General Naeem Qassem announced on Wednesday that his group had submitted its remarks on the US proposal regarding the cessation of Israeli aggression against Lebanon. He indicated that the matter now “depends on the seriousness of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Israeli attacks on Syria

Almost daily Israeli attacks on Syria, allegedly targeting Iranian-backed and Palestinian groups.

At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in an Israeli airstrike that targeted residential buildings and an industrial zone in Palmyra in central Syria on Wednesday, the Syrian state news agency SANA said.

West Bank raids

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

A Palestinian young man was killed by Israeli military gunfire on Wednesday evening during the ongoing military offensive in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank for the second consecutive day. Meanwhile, the number of injuries has risen to eight.

Israel has killed over 785 people since October last year, including 160 children, and injured nearly 6,450 others, with over 11,700 taken into custody.

EUROPE

Spanish-Palestinian intergovernmental talks in Madrid

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to host talks between Spanish and Palestinian counterparts. The talks are expected to focus on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the future of Palestine.

Spain is one of the European countries that has decided to officially recognize the State of Palestine as a sign of support for a peace process with Israel. Sanchez called on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank and withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip to pave the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. President Abbas had expressed gratitude to the Spanish prime minister for his unwavering support for the Palestinian people and called for a peace conference in Madrid.

Defence Committee session in House of Commons

Defence Secretary John Healey to preside over a session of the Defence Committee, which has been appointed by the House of Commons to investigate the Ministry of Defence's spending, administration, and policy, as well as its related public bodies.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence David Williams, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Capability) Lieutenant General Sir Rob Magowan, and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations) Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, are also in attendance.

MPs on the committee are likely to ask defense questions, such as the UK's military readiness in the face of rising tensions with Russia and President Putin's signing of a new nuclear doctrine in retaliation for the US approval of Ukraine's long-range missile use.

UK knife crime statistics

Quarterly statistics on trends in cautioning and sentencing for knife or offensive weapon possession. Knife-related crimes in England and Wales have increased by 4% in the last year, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), released in July.

Police reported a total of 50,510 knife-related incidents in the 12 months leading up to March 2024, up from 48,409 offenses the previous year, but 3% lower than the 51,982 incidents reported in the year leading up to March 2020. The "notable rise" in robberies involving knives or sharp instruments is a significant contributor to the overall increase.

Poor mental health linked to browsing negative content online

People with poorer mental health are more prone to browsing negative content online, according to a study by UCL researchers published in the Nature Human Behaviour journal. The study shows such browsing further exacerbates symptoms, suggesting the relationship between mental health and web browsing is causal and bi-directional.

US

Joe Biden hosts Boston Celtics at White House

President Joe Biden to welcome the Boston Celtics to the White House to celebrate their victory in the 2024 NBA Championship.

Senate committee hears homeland security threats

The US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to hold hearings on homeland security threats. Witnesses included Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and National Counterterrorism Center Acting Director Brett Holmgren.

Blinken address in Virginia

Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deliver remarks at annual Overseas Security Advisory Council meeting in Arlington, Virginia.

UN Security Council discusses Middle East

UN Security Council members to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

CANADA

Court to hear case against Indians charged with murder of Canadian Sikh activist

The court will hear a case involving Indian nationals Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, who are accused of the murder of Canadian Sikh separatist activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in a car on June 18, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadian intelligence indicated that the Indian government may have been involved in Nijjar's assassination.

EURASIA

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman holds weekly press briefing

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

Moscow to host 3rd meeting of Interdepartmental Commission on Caspian Cooperation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to chair the third meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on Caspian Cooperation in the capital Moscow. The meeting will involve the heads of specialized Russian ministries and agencies, as well as representatives from three Russian federal subjects, the Astrakhan region, and the Russian republics of Dagestan and Kalmykia.

Russian top diplomat visit to Belarus

Belarus to hold a joint meeting of the collegiums of the Russian and Belarusian foreign ministries in Brest. Since 2000, the annual meeting of the collegiums has served as an effective mechanism for synchronizing Russian and Belarussian efforts on the international stage. As part of the discussions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay a two-day working visit to Belarus beginning on Thursday.

AFRICA

Uganda starts construction of standard gauge railway to be built by Turkish firm

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will lay the groundwork for the construction of the standard gauge railway (SGR) by Turkish company Yapi Merkezi. The East African country last month signed a contract with the company to build a 272-kilometer railway for $3 billion.

ASIA – PACIFIC

Pakistani forces likely to hit terrorist hideouts near Afghan border

Pakistani security forces are likely to launch targeted operations against terrorist hideouts in tribal districts in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the border with Afghanistan. It comes after a suicide bombing in the Bannu district of the province killed 12 soldiers and in retaliation, six terrorists were also killed. At least 55 Pakistani security personnel have been killed during this month.

Samoa Premier Mata’afa arrives in China

Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa arrives on his week-long official visit to China. Fiame is expected to meet with China’s President Xi Jinping as well as Premier Li Qiang and other officials.

Foreign Ministry holds regular briefing in Beijing

China’s Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference in Beijing. The ministry spokesperson is expected to reflect on conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine tensions on the Korean Peninsula among other issues.

North Korea likely to react to claims by South over arms supplies to Russia

North Korea is likely to react to claims made by South Korea that Pyongyang has supplied more arms to Russia, including howitzers and rocket launchers. Claims by Seoul came as South Korean and French navies held joint exercises in waters around the Korean Peninsula.

Southeast Asian defense chiefs meet with counterparts from China, US, India

Defense chiefs of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to hold bloc-level bilateral summits with counterparts from China, US, and India in Laos. The ASEAN defense chiefs are holding their annual summit in Lao’s capital Vientiane.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye interest rate decision

Turkish Central Bank to announce its interest rate decision. The bank is projected to keep the policy rate unchanged at 50% for the seventh consecutive meeting.

US’ jobless claims

US to share initial weekly jobless claims figures.

The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims dropped 4,000 to 217,000, the previous week.

SPORTS

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 11 (Basketball)

Anadolu Efes vs. Paris Basketball

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Olympiacos vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Real Madrid vs. ALBA Berlin

SPECIAL REPORTS

FACTBOX – Second year of Gaza genocide: Who is calling out Israel for its crimes?

Report compiling recent comments declaring Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza a genocide and calling for accountability of the country and its leadership.

The story includes statements from a UN committee, politicians from various Western nations, activists, authors, figures from the world of culture, and other fields.

The report also has comments from figures within Israel who are speaking out against the Netanyahu government, calling for an end to the genocide, and accountability for their crimes against Palestinians.

Rabia Ali

Starmer will follow US on Gaza but likely diverge on West Bank: Veteran British journalist

Interview with Peter Oborne, a veteran British journalist and former chief political commentator for The Daily Telegraph.

The interview focuses on UK’s stance in support of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the potential long-term consequences for British politics, with Oborne deconstructing the Labour government’s policies and actions since coming to power.

He also speaks about how the UK’s stance could be shaped once Donald Trump takes over as US president, explaining why Trump’s foreign policies could continue to cast a long shadow over British decision-making.

Aysu Bicer

Air pollution crisis weighs heavy on India’s most vulnerable

Report on the climate crisis in India and the disparity in how it impacts different socioeconomic groups, with low-income communities bearing the brunt in urban centers such as the capital New Delhi.

The story illustrates the extent of the air pollution problem in New Delhi and other areas, and the devastating effects it has had on the lives of vulnerable people such as daily wage workers and laborers.

The report also addresses the issue of mitigation strategies, with interviews of climate experts including Tanushree Ganguly, director of the Air Quality Life Index, and Sharanjeet Kaur, program officer at the Center for Science and Environment.

Muhammad Aafa​​​​​​​