ISTANBUL / ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu’s English Desk plans to cover on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing / breaking stories):
GAZA / ISRAEL
GAZA CITY - Following humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip as conflict enters its 28th day, with death toll soaring to at least 9,061, including 3,760 children and 2,326 women, while 32,000 others were injured.
RAMALLAH - Following tension in the West Bank caused by continued Israeli raids, raising the death toll to 134 Palestinians since Oct. 7.
TEL AVIV - Following Israeli ground operation in Gaza Strip amid statements by top officials speaking of major losses in battles. At least 20 soldiers announced dead in enclave since Tuesday.
LEBANON
BEIRUT - Following field developments between Hezbollah on southern border with Israel. Israeli army has been warned of Iranian group Imam Hossein’s arrival in southern Lebanon to support Hezbollah.
EGYPT
CAIRO - Following foreign passport holders who left Gaza Strip for Egypt via Rafah border crossing. Cairo announced readiness to receive around 7,000 foreigners from the enclave.
BAHRAIN
MANAMA - Following political developments after Bahrain recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv and cut economic ties with Israel.
EUROPE
SWITZERLAND
GENEVA - Biweekly UN press briefing; Gaza situation discussed. Updates from UN agencies (UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO, OHCHR, OCHA, IFRC) on situation in Mideast are likely.
ASIA-PACIFIC
NEW ZEALAND
WELLINGTON - New Zealand election authority to release final results of 2023 elections.
JAPAN
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to start 2-day official visit to the Philippines.
PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD - Nationwide protests of Israeli attacks on Gaza likely to follow Friday prayers.
EURASIA
ARMENIA
YEREVAN - Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to hold talks with German counterpart Annalena Baerbock.
KAZAKHSTAN
ASTANA - 10th summit of Organization of Turkic states.
ASTANA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend 10th Summit of the Heads of State of Organization of Turkic States.
ASTANA - Erdogan to hold sideline meetings with participating leaders.
RUSSIA
MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin to meet with members of Public Chamber, a consultative civil society institution created to analyze draft legislation and monitor activities of parliament, government, and other government bodies of Russia.
MOSCOW - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to meet with Kuwaiti counterpart Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
US
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to travel to Lewiston, Maine following last week’s shootings in which 18 people were murdered and many others injured.
WASHINGTON - Monitoring developments across US as today marks fourth Friday since Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and subsequent Israeli military response, notably in Gaza.
NEW YORK - UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to hold press briefing on humanitarian situation in occupied Palestinian territory.
SPORTS
BOLOGNA, Italy - Anadolu Efes to take on Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 6 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
ECONOMY
WASHINGTON - US to announce unemployment rate for October. The rate was 3.8% in September and it is expected be the same in October.
BERLIN - Germany’s Destatis to release international trade figures for September. Markets expect a rise in imports and a decline in exports.
ANKARA - Turkish Statistical Institute to announce inflation figures for October. Türkiye's annual inflation rate rose for the third consecutive month to 61.53% in September, its highest this year. In its fourth inflation report this year, Turkish Central Bank projects year-end inflation will hit 65% in 2023.
LUXEMBOURG - Eurostat to release unemployment figures for September. The figure dropped to a record low of 6.4% in August, from an upwardly revised 6.5% in July. In September, markets expect no change.
SPECIAL REPORT
Sweden says Israel must respect international humanitarian law
By Ayhan Simsek
BERLIN - Interview with Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom about the situation in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s continued attacks on the besieged Palestinian territory.
Billstrom calls on Israel to exercise its right to self-defense “within the framework of international humanitarian law,” stressing that no one is allowed to target civilians or civilian installations.
He also urges Israel and Palestinian groups to take steps to de-escalate the crisis and create conditions for diplomatic talks.
SPECIAL REPORT
Israel’s targeting of Gaza refugee camps ‘absolutely unacceptable’: Irish minister
By Anadolu staff
BERLIN - Interview with Irish Minister of State Thomas Byrne about the current situation in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s relentless attacks on the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Byrne says Israel’s recent attacks on refugee camps in Gaza are “absolutely unacceptable and deeply shocking,” stressing that it must act “proportionately and in accordance with international humanitarian law.”
He says Ireland supports calls for a “humanitarian pause” and also backs any efforts to revive talks for a two-state solution.
SPECIAL REPORT
US Muslim groups outraged by Biden’s dismissal of Palestinian death toll in Gaza
By Darren Lyn
HOUSTON, United States - Interviews with top officials of prominent US Muslim rights groups focusing on President Joe Biden casting doubt on the number of Palestinian deaths in Israel’s ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip.
Ayah Ziyadeh, advocacy director of American Muslims for Palestine, speaks about how the president’s remarks added to the dehumanization of Palestinians, saying that they personally left him “disturbed and disgusted.”
Hussam Ayloush, CEO of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ California chapter, also denounces Biden’s “offensive and insensitive” remarks, urging him to both apologize and condemn the Israeli government’s actions.
SPECIAL REPORT
Why are Latin American nations' ties with Israel strained over Palestine?
By Rabia Ali
ISTANBUL - Report exploring the reasons for the strong pro-Palestine stance taken by some Latin American countries, focusing particularly on Colombia, Chile, and Bolivia.
The story includes an interview with Elizabeth Dickinson, the International Crisis Group’s senior analyst on Colombia, who speaks about the historical support for Palestine by leftist leaders on the continent, Bogota’s military ties with Tel Aviv, and the possibility of coordinated steps being taken by Colombia, Chile, and Bolivia.
The report also has comments from international relations expert Mariano de Alba about the economic aspects of the diplomatic tiffs, as well as the stance of Latin American countries on a cease-fire and a sustainable two-state solution.
SPECIAL REPORT
Second Nakba can’t be allowed to happen in Gaza: British aid group
By Burak Bir
LONDON - Interview with Rohan Talbot, director of advocacy and campaigns at Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip due to Israel’s continued attacks on the blockaded Palestinian territory.
Talbot speaks about the aid situation in Gaza, stressing that the meager amount that has come in so far is nowhere near close to what is needed.
He tells of the on-ground experiences of MAP personnel in Gaza, many of whom have personally been displaced.
Talbot also sheds light on the growing fears among Palestinians that they could be forced to move from parts of the Gaza Strip or even “be expelled out into Egypt.”
NEW MEDIA
VIDEOS - Latest developments in Israel-Palestine conflict
Reports covering developments in Israel-Palestine conflict, including packages from correspondents on the ground, updates on the overall situation, and other major developments.