ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
TÜRKİYE
ANKARA – At Justice and Development (AK) Party group meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expected to speak on domestic and global issues, including recent developments in Gaza.
ANKARA – Erdogan to receive Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for talks.
ANKARA – National Security Council to meet under chairmanship of Erdogan at presidential complex. It will address strategic, regional and national security issues, especially anti-terrorism operations. Regional issues, including Gaza, will also be discussed.
MIDDLE EAST
PALESTINE
GAZA CITY – 2nd day of 2-day humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip to extend initial four-day pause. Release of 10 Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for 30 Palestinians in Israeli prisons expected amid negotiations led by Qatar to reach new extension of humanitarian pause as well as minor clashes in Gaza strip between Israel and Hamas.
Unprecedented humanitarian and health catastrophe in Gaza Strip continues as a result of Israeli attacks launched by Israel for approximately a month-and-a-half, which left massive destruction, and more than 1.7 million peopled isplaced.
WEST BANK - Daily Israeli raids in West Bank; since Oct. 7, as of Tuesday evening, 242 Palestinians have been killed, more than 3,000 injured, and about 3,300 arrested.
International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People marked by UN every Nov. 29, anniversary of 1947 UN General Assembly resolution on partition of Palestine. Demonstrations and events expected in various countries in solidarity with Palestine to mark the day.
EGYPT
CAIRO - Movement of humanitarian aid through Rafah land crossing into the Gaza Strip under humanitarian pause agreement between Palestinian factions in Gaza and Israel.
LEBANON
BEIRUT - Situation on Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, which on Tuesday witnessed Israeli bombing of a town, in first incident of its kind since start of humanitarian pause last Friday in Gaza Strip.
EUROPE
BELGIUM
BRUSSELS – 2-day NATO foreign ministers meeting to conclude. This morning, ministers (as well as Sweden) to be joined by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba for meeting of NATO-Ukraine Council from 9 a.m. CET. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg then to brief media from 11.30 a.m.
BRUSSELS - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba's official visit to Belgium continues with him taking part in 1st Ukraine-NATO Council meeting at level of foreign ministers. He is also set to hold a number of bilateral talks, particularly with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and with his Italian, Norwegian and US counterparts.
BRUSSELS – EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi to hold press conference to discuss new report on EU-Turkey political, economic, and trade relations.
UK
LONDON – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take questions from lawmakers.
GERMANY
BERLIN - Senior European military officials and security experts to discuss Russia-Ukraine war, European security, and EU-NATO cooperation at Berlin Security Conference.
SWITZERLAND
GENEVA - World Health Organization (WHO) to hold press conference on global health issues.
US
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks on clean energy manufacturing during visit to Colorado. Desk will monitor for his potential remarks on Gaza conflict.
NEW YORK - UN Security Council members to discuss ongoing conflict in Gaza. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in New York to chair session.
NEW YORK - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to take part in UN Security Council meeting on Gaza conflict.
NEW YORK - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to hold press conference after UN Security Council meeting on Gaza conflict.
NEW YORK - Thomas White, director of UN Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, and UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma to give update on situation in Gaza and region at UN press briefing.
EURASIA
BELARUS
MINSK - First-ever meeting of Commonwealth of Independent States human rights commission, created in October 2022. The body includes representatives of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Agenda includes consideration of work rules, plan for 2024-2025, and exchange of experience on issues of interest.
MINSK - Meeting of CIS Member States Commission on the Use of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes.
RUSSIA
MOSCOW - Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold weekly news conference.
TURKMENISTAN
ASHGABAT - 6th meeting of Turkmen-China Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee. Chinese State Council Deputy Prime Minister Ding Xuexiang to attend.
UZBEKISTAN
TASHKENT - EU Special Representative for Sanctions David O'Sullivan to visit Uzbekistan for talks on combating Russia's sanctions circumvention.
ASIA-PACIFIC
PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD - Islamabad High Court to resume hearing of appeals against conviction of three-time Premier Nawaz Sharif in two corruption cases. In 2018, Sharif was sentenced to 10 years and 7 years in jail in two cases.
JAPAN
TOKYO – Japan expected to respond to Russia’s move to terminate bilateral agreement on cooperation in reduction of nuclear weapons. Moscow has informed Tokyo of its intention, which Russia said was triggered by “openly anti-Russian policy” of Prime Minister Kumio Fushida’s administration.
INDIA
NEW DELHI – After 17 days of relentless efforts, India pulled out alive all 41 workers from a collapsed tunnel in northern Uttarakhand state. Rescued workers are undergoing treatment.
BANGLADESH
DHAKA – Bangladesh continues to receive repatriated irregular migrants from Libya. UN migration agency and Bangladeshi mission in Tripoli are working together to send home Bangladeshi migrants. Around 373 such migrants are set to reach Dhaka on Wednesday.
CHINA
BEIJING – China’s Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.
THE ECONOMY
PARIS - OECD to release Economic Outlook report.
ANKARA – TurkStat to release Turkish economic confidence for November and trade balance for October. In October, economic confidence index rose to 3-month high of 96.5 as confidence improved among consumers, manufacturers, service providers, and constructors while it deteriorated among retailers. Türkiye's trade deficit plunged 47.8% from last year to $5 billion in September. Its exports rose slightly by 0.5% to $22.5 billion, while imports dipped 14.6% to $27.5 billion in the same period.
BERLIN – Destatis to announce flash estimate for Germany’s consumer inflation rate in November. Thanks to a slowdown in rising food prices and fall in energy prices, in October Germany's annual consumer inflation fell to 27-month low of 3.8%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices in October remained unchanged from September. Economists expect Germany’s consumer prices to rise 3.5% year-on-year and fall 0.2% month-on-month in November.
SPORTS
ISTANBUL / MUNICH - Turkish football club Galatasaray to play against England's Manchester United in critical UEFA Champions League Group A match while group winners Bayern Munich to face Copenhagen at home. Bayern Munich won all four of their games to have already qualified for last 16. Copenhagen, Galatasaray have 4 points each, fourth-place Manchester United have 3 points in 4 matches, so these three are battling for runners-up position.
SPECIAL REPORTS
WITH VIDEO – Economic hits, military embargoes, global isolation: How BDS movement aims to take down Israel
By Rabia Ali
ISTANBUL – Report on Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and its significance during ongoing Gaza crisis. Story includes interview with Olivia Katbi, coordinator for BDS movement in the US, who speaks about its history and objectives. She explains various strategies that BDS aims to employ to inflict economic pressure on Israel, while also pursuing steps such as suspension and expulsion from global forums, as well as sanctions. Story also talks about role of labor unions and workers who are supporting movement around the world.
WITH VIDEO – Germany’s ex-President Christian Wulff warns of rise in anti-Muslim sentiments
By Ayhan Simsek
BERLIN – Interview with Germany’s former President Christian Wulff focusing on rise in anti-Muslim sentiments in country. Wulff speaks about positive contributions of Muslim migrants in Germany, which he says are under-reported in the media. He also warns against potential impact of growing anti-Islamic sentiments in Germany, calling for efforts to stem the rise.
COP28: What to expect as global climate emergency hits new peaks
By Necva Tastan
ISTANBUL – Report on upcoming COP28 summit, which will kick off in Dubai on Thursday, with key details including major objectives and participants. It includes main agenda points this year, which include critical climate issues and focus on accelerating steps to reduce emissions, transitioning to sustainable energy, reforming land use, and transforming food systems. Report also has information about past summits, including outcomes and progress on their implementation.
English football star Harry Kane shines bright in German Bundesliga
By Can Erozden
ANKARA (AA) - Report on Bayern Munich's English star Harry Kane.
30-year-old, who previously played for Tottenham Hotspur, has been displaying brilliant performance in the German Bundesliga, scoring 18 goals in 12 appearances.
Detailed special report also includes his possible goalscoring record at Bayern Munich.