ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu’s English Desk plans to cover on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
MIDDLE EAST
PALESTINE
Gaza City – More than 90 days of Israeli army attacks on the Gaza Strip resulted in 22,438 deaths and 57,614 injuries, most of them children and women, massive destruction of infrastructure, and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.
Ramallah – The Israeli army's almost daily incursions into cities and towns in the West Bank in which 325 Palestinians were killed, and 5,630 others detained since Oct. 7.
IRAN
Tehran – Expected reactions and repercussions of twin explosions that killed at least 84 people and injured 220 others in the southeastern city of Kerman on Wednesday, in close vicinity to the cemetery where Iran's former top military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani was buried.
LEBANON
Beirut – Cross-border attacks between the Hezbollah group and the Israel army have increased since the assassination of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri. At least 28 people were killed, in addition to 147 Hezbollah members as well as five Israeli civilians and nine soldiers.
IRAQ
Baghdad – Repercussions a day after the Iraqi army held the US-led coalition responsible for a drone strike on an Iraqi security force in the capital Baghdad, condemning the attack and labeling it ‘a dangerous escalation and an assault on Iraq.'
EUROPE
SWITZERLAND
Geneva – The UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists (virtual).
FRANCE
Paris – French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend a national homage event for former European Commission President Jacques Delors.
US
Washington – President Joe Biden to deliver remarks at a campaign event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Washington – Possible US remarks about Yemen's Houthis attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, as well as responses in the context of the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian.
EURASIA
RUSSIA
Moscow — Developments in the region followed Ukraine's air attack on the city of Belgorod late Saturday.
UKRAINE
Kyiv — Developments in the region as a result of Russian air raids on numerous Ukrainian cities since last Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC
KOREAN PENINSULA
Seoul / Pyongyang – Tensions on the Korean Peninsula rose further as North Korea fired 200 artillery shells off its western coast, while South Korea ordered the evacuation of its population from Yeonpyeong Island.
JAPAN
Ishikawa – The US has extended military aid to Japan as the death toll from the New Year's Day earthquakes has risen to 92, with 240 people still missing.
Tokyo – Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will begin a multi-nation visit of the US, Canada, and five EU countries to meet with her counterparts for bilateral meetings. Her trip to Washington comes as Japan prepares for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's state visit to the US. She will visit Poland, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Germany in addition to North America. The visit, which has no set end date, is intended to promote collaboration and to strengthen a free and open global order based on the rule of law.
CHINA
Beijing – Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.
BANGLADESH
Dhaka – Opposition parties will hold protests in Dhaka and other parts of the country, calling for the cancellation or boycott of the Jan. 7 general elections.
SPORTS
Madrid – Real Madrid to host Anadolu Efes in round 19 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
ECONOMY
Berlin– Germany’s Destatis to share retail sales data for November. In October, Germany's retail sales posted monthly growth, reversing four months of declines. The figure is projected to decrease by 0.1% month-on-month.
Luxembourg – Eurostat to reveal provisional inflation figures for December. Annual eurozone consumer inflation in November was confirmed at 2.4%, the lowest since July 2021. The market forecast the figure to come in at 3% in December.
SPECIAL REPORTS
EXPLAINER – Why Ethiopia’s quest for Red Sea access has sparked regional controversy
By Andrew Wasike
Nairobi, Kenya – Report about the controversy sparked by Ethiopia’s agreement with Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland to use its Red Sea port of Berbera.
The story explains the significance and reasons for the deal, as well as the diplomatic and political issues that it has raised among regional countries.
It includes comments from Midamba Noah, a foreign policy and diplomacy analyst from Kenya, international relations expert Patrick Maluki, and Hassan Khannenje, director of the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies.
YEAR-ENDER – Pakistan enters 2024 with dual challenge of polarizing elections, flailing economy
By Aamir Latif
Karachi, Pakistan – Report about the main challenges facing Pakistan in 2024, ranging from economic recovery to political instability and growing security threats.
The story gives details of the primary economic problems and the concerns surrounding the elections, which are scheduled to be held in February. It also lays out the various factors fueling the rise in security issues, supported by collective data for the previous year.
It includes interviews with political analyst Amir Ilyas Rana, economist Shahid Hasan Siddiqui, and Mahmood Shah, a defense and security analyst.
YEAR-ENDER – 2024: Markets expect interest rates dips, bright year for economies
By Gokhan Ergocun
Istanbul – Report on global economic expectations for 2024, focusing on the issues of inflation, monetary tightening, and soaring interest rates.
The story includes an interview with Max Gillman, an economics professor at the University of Missouri, who expresses optimism for the new year, particularly on the global growth front.
Gillman also shares his assessments about interest rate decisions in the US, Europe, and other parts of the globe, explaining the effects that these moves will have on markets worldwide.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEOS – Latest developments in Israel’s war on Gaza
Reports covering developments as Israel’s deadly campaign against the Gaza Strip enters its fourth month, including videos from the ground, updates about the overall situation, and other major developments, particularly the heightened risk of regional escalation.