ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu’s English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
MIDDLE EAST
PALESTINE
Gaza Strip - Israel continues its deadly military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has killed at least 22,313 Palestinians and injured 57,296 others since Oct. 7 amid rising tensions following the assassination of Hamas deputy chief Saleh Arouri in an Israeli drone strike in the Lebanese capital Beirut as calls grow for a solution to the current conflict in the Palestinian enclave.
Ramallah - The Israeli army continues its almost daily military raids into Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank, with at least 324 Palestinians killed and nearly 3,800 others injured since Oct. 7 amid a deadly Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip.
LEBANON
Beirut - Cross-border fire continues between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah in the deadliest clashes between the two sides since their last war in 2006 amid growing tensions following an Israeli drone strike in Beirut’s southern neighborhood, a Hezbollah stronghold, in which al-Arouri and two Hamas commanders were killed.
IRAN
Tehran - Further developments after more than 100 people were killed and many others injured in two explosions near the ceremony organized on the anniversary of the death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone attack in 2020. The attack, which appears to be the deadliest to target Iran since the 1979 revolution, came amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel over the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
US
Washington - Statements from Biden administration on Gaza conflict, potential pro-Palestine demonstrations to be followed.
EUROPE
ITALY
Rome - Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to hold end-of-the-year press conference, which has been postponed twice due to health reasons.
KOSOVO
Pristina - British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to visit Kosovo and meet with Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, and hold talks with President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti on regional security.
UK
London - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to hold a public Q&A during a visit to the East Midlands. Thursday marks the anniversary of Sunak’s speech announcing his five pledges on the economy, the National Health Service, and migration.
London - Labour leader Keir Starmer to deliver a speech, during which he is expected to set out policy priorities ahead of general elections this year.
EURASIA
RUSSIA
Moscow - Further developments regarding Ukraine’s air attack on the city of Belgorod late Saturday.
UKRAINE
Kyiv - Further developments regarding Russian air attacks on various cities of Ukraine since Friday.
TÜRKİYE
Ankara - Communications Director Fahrettin Altun to attend exhibition titled Cyprus Facts alongside Ersin Tatar, president of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Ankara - National Defense Ministry to hold background meeting on Türkiye’s defense issues, including fight against terrorism.
ASIA – PACIFIC
JAPAN
Ishikawa - Japan is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake with 73 declared dead on the third day since massive tremors hit the central Noto region on Monday. Authorities are also probing the plane clash which found Japan Coast Guard aircraft had landed without permission in Tokyo. Following developments as hundreds of people are displaced while thousands are without electricity.
BANGLADESH
Dhaka - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to address nation ahead of national election scheduled to be held on Jan. 7.
SOUTH KOREA
Seoul - Police are probing motive behind knife attack on opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who is recuperating in a Seoul hospital. Following developments as Democratic Party called it ‘act of political terror.’
CHINA
Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.
THE ECONOMY
Berlin - Germany’s Destatis to share preliminary inflation figures for December. Germany’s annual consumer inflation was at over 2-year low of 3.2% in November, down from 3.8% in October with a slowdown in food inflation and a further fall in energy prices. The figure is expected to come in at 3.7%.
Washington - US to reveal initial jobless claims data.
SPORTS
Panevezys, Lithuania - Turkish basketball club Fenerbahce Beko to take on Israeli opponents Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Round 19 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Organizers previously confirmed that game would be held in Lithuania instead of Istanbul as originally scheduled after the Turkish and Israeli governments’ recommendations.
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv are fourth with 11 wins in 18 regular season games. Fenerbahce Beko have 10-8 win/loss record to be in ninth spot.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Netanyahu risking total regional explosion, giving false image of victory with Hamas leader’s assassination: Palestinian politician Barghouti
By Muhammed Enes Calli
Istanbul - Interview with veteran Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti about Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, focusing on the current situation and future scenarios as the deadly Israeli campaign enters its fourth month.
Barghouti speaks about a range of issues, from how the war could reshape the Middle East and the wider region, to the future of the Palestinian cause and the impact of Israel’s aggression on global perception of the issue.
He also shares his views on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategies, saying that he is ready to risk “a total explosion of the region” and wants to “provide to the Israeli public an image of victory which is not true” by assassinating Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanon.
Saleh al-Arouri assassination: What will influence Hezbollah’s reaction?
By Rabia Ali
Istanbul - Report on latest developments in the Middle East after Israel’s assassination of Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanon and the possible response by Hezbollah.
The story includes interviews with Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Program, and Zeidon Alkinani, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC.
The analysts speak about the potential repercussions of the Israeli escalation, laying out scenarios for possible wider regional spillover and reactions by Hamas and Lebanon.
YEAR-ENDER - 2024: ‘Milestone’ year for India’s space sector?
By Ahmad Adil
New Delhi - Report about India’s booming space sector, outlining the historic progress that the South Asian nation has made over the past year, when it became the first country to land on the lunar south pole.
The story includes an interview with Kailasavadivoo Sivan, former chief of the Indian Space Research Organization, space scientist Chaitanya Giri and Pawan Chandana, co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace.
They speak about the progress made over the past few years, the need for India to upgrade its capacity to maintain momentum, and provide details on some of the 16 major space missions planned for this year.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO - Interview with veteran Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti about Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, focusing on the current situation, regional spillover risks, and future scenarios as the deadly Israeli campaign enters its fourth month.
VIDEO - Interview with Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Program, about latest developments in the Middle East after Israel’s assassination of Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri and the possible reactions by Hezbollah.