ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, December 7, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
MIDDLE EAST
PALESTINE
GAZA CITY – Over 2 months into Israeli war on Gaza Strip, ground operation spreads following end of recent humanitarian pause. Over 16,200 Palestinians have been killed and more than 43,600 wounded, alongside massive infrastructure destruction and humanitarian catastrophe.
RAMALLAH – Ongoing almost daily Israeli army incursions into Palestinian cities and towns in addition to settler assaults, resulting in clashes. West Bank death toll has risen to at least 264 since Oct. 7, with 3,640 people detained.
LEBANON
BEIRUT – Clashes continue on southern border between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah. Amnesty International holds press conference in Beirut on findings of its investigation into Oct. 13 Israeli attack on group of journalists in southern Lebanon, killing Issam Abdullah and injuring six others.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
DUBAI – COP28 Climate Change Conference continues in Dubai. Conference to continue its international events through Dec. 12.
EUROPE
GREECE
ATHENS – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to meet with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and attend meeting of Türkiye-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council.
FRANCE
PARIS – President Emmanuel Macron to host Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for talks ahead of next week's European Council meeting.
UK
LONDON – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte to hold talks on various issues, including illegal migration.
US
WASHINGTON – UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, in first visit to US since taking post last month, to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
RUSSIA
MOSCOW – On official visit, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
MOSCOW – Scientific and practical conference on cooperation between law enforcement agencies of CIS member states in fight against illegal migration.
MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin to attend Russia is Calling investment forum organized by VTB Bank.
MOSCOW – Russian Federation Council to consider setting definitive date for country's presidential elections. March 17 expected to be proposed.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD – “Public Diplomacy as a Soft Power Tool in the Development of International Cooperation” international forum to begin.
MONGOLIA
ULANBAATAAR – 6-day Kharkhorum International Film Festival to begin.
TÜRKİYE
ANKARA – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to head to Greece to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.
ANKARA – National Defense Ministry to hold background meeting on Türkiye’s defense issues, including fight against terrorism.
ASIA – PACIFIC
AUSTRALIA
CANBERRA – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to host counterpart from Papua New Guinea James Marap, with bilateral security agreement set to be signed.
CHINA
BEIJING – Beijing to host first in-person China-EU summit since 2019 when President Xi Jinping hosts European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Later, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and EU leaders to jointly co-chair 24th bilateral summit.
BEIJING – Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterpart from Myanmar U Than Swe to jointly host eighth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) in Beijing.
PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD – Islamabad High Court set to hear 3-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s appeal of his 7-year sentence in corruption case.
THE ECONOMY
ANKARA – Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry to announce cash realizations for November.
BEIJING – China to announce foreign trade figures for November.
BERLIN – Destatis to release industrial production data for October.
LUXEMBOURG – Eurostat to share Q3 GDP figures.
SPORTS
LONDON – Fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur to face London club West Ham United in English Premier League.
ATHENS – Greek basketball club Panathinakos to take on Turkish Airlines EuroLeague leaders Real Madrid in Round 13.
SPECIAL REPORTS
The Electronic Intifada: A tool to counter Israel’s ‘propaganda’ and ‘lies’
By Rabia Ali
ISTANBUL – Report on Palestinian digital platform The Electronic Intifada and its role in countering Israeli disinformation during ongoing Gaza crisis. Report includes interview with Ali Abunimah, Palestinian-American journalist who co-founded and leads platform. He speaks about how the independent platfrom plays pivotal role in combatting disinformation and fake news, providing alternative perspectives, analysism and firsthand accounts from people in Gaza. Abunimah also speaks on role of Western mainstream media and how they are further fueling disinformation crisis.
Turkish economy’s progress being recognized by more global finance institutions: World Bank country director
By Nuran Erkul
DUBAI – Interview with Humberto Lopez, World Bank country director for Türkiye, about how policy changes implemented by Turkish government’s new economy team are positively impacting its trajectory, pointing out that the World Bank and other financial institutions feel “things are going into the right direction.” He shares his views on how a stable macroeconomic situation will enable Türkiye to attract more financing. He also gives details of how the World Bank will provide further financing to climate change-related projects, as well as the bank’s tentative $18 billion additional financing planned for the next three years.
Former top NATO commander backs US F-16 sale to Türkiye
By Ayhan Simsek
BERLIN – Interview with retired US Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO Supreme allied commander, focusing on Türkiye’s bid to purchase F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits from US. Breedlove voices support for deal, saying it will benefit all sides. He underlines Turkish Air Force’s important contributions to NATO, also stressing need for it to “upgrade its capabilities and remain completely compatible with the rest of NATO.” Breedlove also opposes view that US and Türkiye’s strategic interests no longer align, saying that Ankara remains a key partner.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO – Interview with Ali Abunimah, Palestinian-American journalist who co-founded and leads The Electronic Intifada, about how independent online publication plays pivotal role in combatting Israeli disinformation and fake news during ongoing Gaza crisis.
VIDEO – Interview with retired US Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO Supreme allied commander, on Türkiye’s bid to purchase F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits from US.