ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
EGYPT
Cairo - US President Joe Biden’s top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk due in Egypt for talks on a potential Israeli ground attack in Rafah amid prospects of a hostage-prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel. The visit comes as Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh is already in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials on the situation in the Gaza Strip. Egypt is worried that any Israeli attack in Rafah, an area densely populated with over 1.4 million Palestinians, will force thousands of Palestinians into its Sinai Peninsula.
PALESTINE
Gaza City - The humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens as the death toll nears 30,000. The World Food Program halted its aid deliveries in northern Gaza due to security concerns.
Ramallah - Daily military incursions by the Israeli army into Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank have killed 398 Palestinians and injured over 4,500 others since Oct. 7. The number of arrests has risen to 7,100, reaching record highs.
LEBANON
Beirut - Border tensions between Lebanon and Israel amid intermittent exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, with Tel Aviv expanding its airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, in the worst clashes between the two sides since 2006.
YEMEN
Sanaa - Escalating tensions in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel and US retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen, with Houthis threatening to respond to any European attempt to send naval missions to protect Israeli ships in the Red Sea.
THE NETHERLANDS
The Hague - The ICJ public hearings on Israeli practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to continue. Nations scheduled to present include Cuba, Egypt, the UAE, United States, Russia and France.
UK
London - Lawmakers in the House of Commons to hold a debate on a cease-fire in Gaza. A vote is expected at the end of the debate.
London - A big protest is expected in front of Parliament to call for immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
London - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to respond to lawmakers’ questions. Questions are expected on Gaza and cease-fire.
London - High Court appeal hearing of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange against his impending extradition to the United States to conclude. High Court Judge Jonathan Swift unilaterally rejected an appeal of Assange's extradition order on all grounds in June last year. A final appeal was granted by the court in December last year.
FRANCE
Paris - President Emmanuel Macron to host Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in separate meetings.
RUSSIA
Kazan - President Vladimir Putin to attend the opening ceremony of international multi-sports competition "Games of the Future." The presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will also attend the event.
CHINA
Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.
AUSTRALIA
Canberra - Australian government has sought return to home of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who is contesting extradition to the US from UK. Assange is an Australian citizen.
US
Washington - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks to press in California. He will later attend two campaign receptions in San Francisco.
New York - UN Security Council to discuss situation in Central African Republic.
BRAZIL
Rio de Janeiro - The foreign affairs ministers of the world's main economies, including Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to land in Rio de Janeiro for the first G-20 ministerial meeting under the Brazilian presidency.
In a context of global crises and tensions, the meeting seeks to address urgent issues, from conflicts in the Middle East to the need for reforms in global governance institutions, such as the UN, WTO, and multilateral banks.
Brasilia - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He will later participate in G-20 Foreign Ministers Meeting Session I: Addressing International Tensions in Rio de Janeiro.
INDIA
New Delhi - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis begins two-day state visit to India. This is first such bilateral visit from Greece to India in 15 years.
SOUTH KOREA
Seoul - Thousands of trainee doctors have walked off work in protest against government’s move to increase number of medical seats. Services of such medics is critical in South Korea where hospitals had to postpone surgeries while normal working hours were extended to meet rush of patients.
SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town - Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to present the budget allocation for 2024 to Parliament amid the country's energy crisis and other socio-economic challenges. He is expected to outline the financial, economic, and social commitments the government will prioritize in its planned expenditure.
Cape Town - Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor to participate in the G20 Ministerial and IBSA Standalone Foreign Ministers Meetings from February 21-22 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
THE ECONOMY
Ankara - Turkish Statistical Institute to share consumer confidence index for February. Türkiye's consumer confidence index improved by 3.9% from 77.4 in December 2023 to 80.4 in January.
Tokyo - Japan to reveal international trade figures for January. Exports of country rose by 9.7% in December 2023 and imports dropped by 6.9% while trade balance posted surplus of $68.9 billion.
Paris - OECD to reveal GDP figures for its area for Q3.
SPORTS
Naples, Italy / Porto, Portugal - Napoli to host Barcelona at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona while Porto to play against Arsenal at Estadio do Dragao in first leg of UEFA Champions League round 16.
SPECIAL REPORTS
‘Erasure of history’: Israel’s ‘cultural genocide’ decimates Gaza’s archaeological treasures
By Necva Tastan
Istanbul - Report about how Israel has been destroying archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip during its ongoing war, which experts and officials say is part of a deliberate "cultural genocide."
The story gives details of some of the important sites attacked by Israel and their historical significance, while also laying out the impact of these losses in terms of global cultural heritage.
It includes interviews with French archeologist Simon Brelaud, Georgia Andreou, director of the Gazamap project, and Hamdan Taha, former Palestinian deputy minister for tourism and antiquities.
‘We see him as a war criminal’: Biden faces ire of Muslim, Arab American voters in Michigan
By Muhammed Enes Calli
Istanbul - Report about the backlash that US President Joe Biden is facing from Muslim and Arab American voters over his staunch support for Israel’s devastating war on Gaza.
The story focuses particularly on the Muslim and Arab American community in the key swing state of Michigan, where Biden faced protests on a recent visit.
It includes data from recent polls indicating declining support for the incumbent president, and has interviews with journalist Osama Siblami and Edward Ahmed Mitchell, national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Flexibility demands, talent scarcity defining dynamics in new era for labor markets
By Nuran Erkul
London - Report about the changing structures of global labor markets and their impact on sectors around the world.
The story gives details of the most critical factors in the shift, such as increasing demands by employees for flexible working conditions and a growing shortage of talented human resource.
It includes data from recent surveys and an interview with Bettina Schaller, president of the World Employment Confederation, who lays out how labor markets have evolved in the recent past and the challenges that could be faced in the coming years.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO - Report about Israel’s destruction of archaeological history in Gaza, with details of some of the significant sites attacked and comments from French archeologist Simon Brelaud and Hamdan Taha, former Palestinian deputy minister for tourism and antiquities.
VIDEO - Report about Muslim and Arab American voters in Michigan and their growing anger at President Joe Biden over his staunch support for Israel’s war on Gaza, including interviews with journalist Osama Siblami and Edward Ahmed Mitchell, national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.