Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Russia-US talks in Istanbul

Russian, US diplomats and high-level experts set to meet in Istanbul for talks and to consider problems in the work of diplomatic missions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said following the meeting, Moscow expects "it will be clear to what extent the parties can move quickly and effectively in normalization of relations." Eurasia Desk will follow statements by the Russian side.

Visit by Russia's federation council head

Valentina Matviyenko, head of Russia’s upper parliamentary chamber the Federation Council, to pay two-day visit to Türkiye. Ahead of the visit she said the Russian side is interested in building inter-parliamentary cooperation to the level of interaction at the highest political level. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will receive Matviyenko at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Presidential Office. Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus will meet with Matviyenko in the capital Ankara to discuss relations, followed by news conference.

Gaza ceasefire, hostage swap deal

Developments in phase one of Gaza ceasefire agreement. The phase, which includes prisoner exchange, started on Jan. 19 and is set to end on Saturday.

Palestinian resistance group Hamas late Wednesday handed over the bodies of four Israeli captives under the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in exchange for Israel releasing over 600 Palestinian prisoners, including around 500 released last night.

The prisoners were originally scheduled for release last Saturday as part of the seventh and final batch of phase one of the agreement.

Israel continues to obstruct the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, in violation of the agreed humanitarian protocol for phase one.

- Humanitarian and security situation in Gaza amid ceasefire

Humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip as Israel continues to violate the ceasefire.

An uninhabited residential complex that was bombed by the Israeli army suffered a partial collapse in northern Gaza, the Civil Defense Agency said on Wednesday.

Another Palestinian detainee from the Gaza Strip died in Israeli detention, prisoners’ affairs groups said on Wednesday.

- Israeli raids in West Bank

Nearly daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank with the army deploying tanks in the northern parts of the territory for the first time in over two decades.

A Palestinian teenager was shot dead by Israeli army fire in the West Bank city of Qalqilya on Wednesday, medics said.

The Israeli army rounded up at least 50 Palestinians in military raids in the occupied West Bank, according to prisoners’ affairs groups on Wednesday.

Last month, the Israeli army launched a military offensive on the northern West Bank, which has resulted in more than 60 fatalities and thousands of displacements.

Israel has killed at least 924 people in the occupied territory since October 2023 and injured nearly 7,000 others, with more than 14,300 taken into custody.

- 2025 Makkah Halal Forum in Saudi Arabia

The third and last day of the Makkah Halal Forum 2025 in Saudi Arabia, which kicked off on Tuesday and will last till Thursday, Feb. 27.

Organized by the Makkah Chamber of Commerce, the forum is being held under the theme “Sustainable Development Through Halal” at the Makkah Chamber's conference and exhibition center with broad international participation.

This year’s edition features international exhibitions with over 150 exhibitors from 15 countries, including Türkiye, to foster trade collaboration and expand global partnerships.

⁠- Developments in Syria under new administration

Latest developments and updates in Syria under the new post-Bashar al-Assad administration.

Syrian Oil Minister Ghiath Diab called Wednesday on oil companies that had operated in the country to return and develop the energy sector.

On Monday, the EU suspended sanctions imposed on Syria's energy and transportation sectors and removed the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority and four banking institutions from the list of entities subject to asset freezes and economic restrictions.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Jordan on Tuesday on his first official visit to the kingdom. During his visit, Jordan’s King Abdullah II reiterated support for Syria’s rebuilding.

Discussions between the two sides covered opportunities to expand cooperation in trade, energy, and, water.

- Israel's violations in southern Lebanon following incomplete pullout

Aftermath of the incomplete Israeli army withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

One person was killed and another wounded in an Israeli drone strike in eastern Lebanon on Wednesday evening despite a ceasefire agreement, Lebanese media reported.

Lebanese authorities have reported over 1,000 Israeli violations of the ceasefire, including the deaths of at least 83 victims and injuries to 280 others.

- Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs visits UAE

Majid Takht Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs of Iran, is set to travel to Abu Dhabi on Thursday for consultations with officials of the United Arab Emirates government.

The Deputy Foreign Minister's visit to the UAE is being carried out within the framework of periodic political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

Albanian foreign minister to visit Türkiye

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet in the capital Ankara with Igli Hasani, Albania’s minister of Europe and foreign affairs.

Russia-Ukraine conflict

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. Developments to be followed on recent and upcoming Russia-US contacts and US-Ukraine tension as well as other related events and comments.

Russian Foreign Ministry briefing

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold press briefing in Moscow on current issues of foreign policy with Q&A.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea's Constitutional Court rules on crucial appointment of 9th justice

The Constitutional Court is set to rule on constitutionality of acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to withhold the appointment of a ninth justice to the bench.

Choi appointed two justices to the court in December but held off on the appointment of opposition-recommended candidate Ma Eun-hyuk, citing the need for a bipartisan consensus amid impeachment trial of imprisoned President Yoon Sul Yeol. Currently, eight judges are hearing the trial. Under the Constitution, six out of nine justices are required to uphold an impeachment.

South Korea's political crisis continues

South Korea’s Constitutional Court has entered its final stage after the court completed its final hearing in impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 3 martial law decree. Verdict is likely to be announced in mid-March.

Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing

China’s Foreign Ministry to hold briefing. Ministry is expected to deliver statements on Chinese-Russian relations and the Ukraine war as well as US tariffs.

New Zealand foreign minister paying visit to Mongolia

Winston Peters, New Zealand’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, beginning two-day visit to Mongolia. Discussions are expected to focus on expanding cooperation in priority areas, including the economy, agriculture, tourism, and education.

AFRICA

Ethiopia’s premier to visit Somali, meet with president

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is expected to arrive in Somalia for an official visit. He is expected to hold talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, as exchange visits were agreed to after Ankara Declaration that ended a nearly year-long standoff between the neighbors. The Ankara Declaration was reached in December during talks between Ahmed and Mohamud hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

Situation remains volatile in eastern DR Congo, Rwanda rejects sanctions

Situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains volatile after M23 rebels advanced in the region and called on all foreign forces to leave. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan was in Congo to assess the situation. Accused of alleged support to M23, Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said his country does not fear sanctions and being diplomatically isolated following US, UK, and EU decisions. M23, one of dozens of armed groups active in eastern Congo, last week captured the city of Bukavu after seizing Goma in January.

Africa CDC press briefing on mpox, health emergencies

Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to hold weekly press briefing on mpox outbreak affecting African Union states, Marburg outbreak in Tanzania, as well as Ebola outbreak in Uganda.

THE ECONOMY

Turkish economic confidence

TurkStat to release Türkiye's economic confidence index figure for February. It was 99.7 in January.

Türkiye's foreign trade statistics

TurkStat to release Türkiye's foreign trade statistics for January. Exports were 21.2 billion in preliminary data for January. Market expects no change in the export, import, and trade balance data.

German unemployment rate

Germany's Destatis to release unemployment figures for February. It was at 6.1% in January. The forecast for February is 6.2%.

US durable goods orders

US to release durable goods order figures for January. Orders fell 2.2% monthly in December.

US GDP

US to release quarterly GDP figures for the fourth quarter of 2024. Preliminary estimates are for growth of 2.3%. Market expects no change in the figures.

Initial jobless claims in US

US to release initial jobless claims data. It was 219,000 the previous week and a similar figure is now expected.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Are UK and US headed to a new era of trade disruptions?

Report on mounting concerns in the UK over US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats as Prime Minister Keir Starmer heads to the White House for crucial talks.

Story explores the UK’s push to secure an exemption from Trump’s new steel tariffs, which could severely impact British industries, particularly steel, automotive, and pharmaceuticals. It examines the inclusion of VAT in tariff calculations, a move that has alarmed UK businesses, with industry leaders warning of supply chain disruptions and economic fallout.

Report includes comments from Soumitra Dutta, dean of Said Business School at the University of Oxford, who discusses the economic risks, strategic importance of UK steel to US industries, and the potential for negotiations.

Muslims call for protection after vandals target London mosques, schools

Report on a series of hate crimes in London, where anti-Muslim graffiti has been found on several buildings, including mosques, community centers, and a primary school.

Story presents details of the incidents and investigation of the cases, particularly focusing on their impact on local communities and growing concerns among Muslims in the UK.

Report includes interviews with Shabir Hussain, head of one of the mosques targeted, and mosque official Manzoor Hussain, and has statements from UK Muslim rights groups.

INTERVIEW - Gaza reconstruction must be part of Palestinian-led decolonization, not a capitalist American show: Ilan Pappe

Interview with Israeli historian Ilan Pappe on US President Donald Trump’s widely condemned Gaza reconstruction proposal and the wider issue of Israel’s violence against Palestinians and other countries in the region.

Pappe highlights the challenges of rebuilding Gaza, particularly the risk of multinational corporations exploiting it for profit, stressing that reconstruction must be Palestinian-led, with stronger financial and political backing from the Global South and regional powers, to contribute to decolonization.

Pappe also reiterates his skepticism about long-pursued two-state solution, while stressing the need for stronger Palestinian leadership and how global perspectives are shifting against Israel.

Indian wolf faces extinction threat in Pakistan

Report on rapid decline of Pakistan’s wolf population, particularly the endangered Indian wolf, with experts warning of possible local extinction.

Story highlights key threats facing the species, including retaliatory killings, habitat loss, and declining prey due to human expansion, as conservationists stress urgent need for population assessments and habitat restoration.

Features remarks by senior WWF-Pakistan official Rab Nawaz, wildlife expert Saeed-ul-Islam, ecologist Muhammad Kabir, and conservationist Sharifuddin Baloch, who speak about the challenges in preservation efforts and the ecological role of wolves.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interviews with Shabir Hussain and Manzoor Hussain, officials at one of the London mosques recently targeted with anti-Muslim graffiti, where they speak about the incidents, the impact on their communities, and the need for stronger protection measures.

VIDEO - Interview with Israeli historian Ilan Pappe about US President Donald Trump’s widely condemned Gaza takeover plan, Israel’s violence against Palestinians and other countries in the region, and efforts to hold Israel accountable for its actions.