ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
QATAR
Doha - Mediation efforts to reach a cease-fire deal and hostage swap between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip amid reports of a possible agreement ahead of the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, due next week. Hamas, believed to be holding more than 130 Israeli hostages, demands an end to Israel’s ongoing onslaught on Gaza in return for any hostage deal with Tel Aviv.
PALESTINE
Gaza City - The developments of humanitarian and military situations in the Gaza Strip amid unabated Israeli onslaught, which resulted in the death of at least 29,878 people and injuring over 70,000 amid conditions for famine as aid flows into the enclave dropped by 50% this month, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Ramallah - Daily, growing military incursions by the Israeli army into Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank, which killed more than 400 Palestinians and injured over 4,500 others since Oct. 7. The number of arrests has risen to nearly 7,270, reaching record highs over 4 months, exceeding those recorded on an annual basis in previous years.
LEBANON
Beirut - Cross-border clashes between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel amid appeals for both parties to halt hostilities to prevent further escalation. The clashes are the worst between the two sides since they fought a full-scale war in 2006.
YEMEN
Sanaa - Continuous, 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 amid concerns about a deadly impact on shipping traffic in one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.
UK
London - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to respond to lawmakers’ questions. Questions on escalated Islamophobia within the Tory ranks and the government’s response are likely to be asked.
GERMANY
Berlin - Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan are expected to meet in Berlin as part of peace talks.
SWITZERLAND
Geneva - Palestinian Foreign Minister to hold a news conference in Geneva to update the situation in Gaza.
Geneva - At the Human Rights Council, there will be a launch of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua’s latest report on the human rights situation in Nicaragua.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Sarajevo - Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler to meet his counterpart Zukan Helez to discuss bilateral ties, regional issues.
Guler will be received by the members of Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidential Council. He is also expected to visit Kovaci Martrys' Memorial Cemetry.
MONTENEGRO
Podgorica - EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi on an official visit to Montenegro.
RUSSIA
Moscow - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop.
Moscow - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a weekly news conference on current issues of the foreign policy.
Moscow - A Palestinian delegation is expected to arrive in Moscow amid the situation in Gaza.
MOLDOVA
Tiraspol - Congress of deputies of all levels will discuss recent changes in Moldova’s legislation.
ALBANIA
Tirana - Meeting on Ukraine at the level of heads of state and government of the countries of South-Eastern Europe.
IRAN
Tehran - Meeting of the Iranian-Russian trade commission.
US
Washington - Desk to monitor statements from Biden administration regarding Gaza conflict, one day after President Joe Biden said there might be temporary cease-fire by Monday.
Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to host Trilateral Migration Ministerial with counterparts from Guatemala and Mexico.
Washington - US Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters and Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz to testify on deaths in federal prison system before Senate Judiciary Committee.
AUSTRALIA
Canberra - Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on a two-day official visit to Australia where he will hold bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and also address a joint sitting of the parliament.
CHINA
Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.
PAKISTAN
Islamabad - Speaker National Assembly is expected to issue formal statement to summon the first session of the newly elected lower house to elect speaker, deputy speaker, and leader of the house. Amid backdrop efforts to woo him, President Arif Alvi has reportedly rejected any move to summon the inaugural session arguing that the house is incomplete as the election commission has not allotted reserved seats for women and religious minorities to Sunni Ittehad Council, a small religio-political group and new home to jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
KENYA
Nairobi - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will start an official state visit to Kenya to hold talks with President William Ruto on regional security and economic collaboration.
SOUTH AFRICA
Johannesburg - Monitoring the ongoing election campaigns across the country.
THE ECONOMY
Ankara – Turkish Statistical Institute to reveal foreign trade figures for January. In 2023, the country’s exports totaled $255.7 billion while imports amounted to $361.7 billion. Foreign trade gap was at $105.99 billion, down by 3.2% year-on-year.
Ankara – Turkish Statistical Institute to release economic confidence index for February. The index has been increasing since November 2023.
Washington – US to reveal GDP figures for last quarter. In third quarter, GDP rose by 4.9% and expected to be at 3.3% in last quarter.
Brussels – European Commission to reveal consumer confidence and business climate indexes for February.
Moscow – Russia to reveal unemployment figures for January. Rate rose to 3% in December from 2.9% in December.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Palestine keen to see cease-fire, hostage swap as soon as possible: Foreign minister
By Beyza Donmez
Geneva - Interview with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki about the efforts and increasing possibility of a cease-fire in Gaza.
He speaks about the expectations of the Palestinian side, saying they want a deal “as soon as possible, before the month of Ramadan.”
Al-Maliki also shares his views on what he says are Israel’s violations of the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, warning that Tel Aviv will “pay the price for that.”
The Palestinian foreign minister particularly criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying his main objective is to make Gaza “uninhabitable.” He also calls for immediate global efforts to prevent Netanyahu from dragging the world into “a regional war that will destroy everything.”
Türkiye garnered $700M in early-stage tech investments in 2023: Official
By Aysu Bicer
London - Interview with Burak Daglioglu, the head of the Turkish Presidency’s Investment Office, about the country’s current and future investment outlook.
He shares figures about the ballooning investments going toward early-stage technology investments, saying it is a strong indicator of growing global interest in the country's burgeoning tech sector.
Daglioglu also speaks about Türkiye’s progress in the field of fintech, while outlining the country’s goals and objectives for international investments.
AI for Earth: New weapon in climate change mitigation arsenal
By Seda Sevencan
Istanbul - Report exploring the potential use of artificial intelligence in efforts to address the growing global impacts of climate change.
The story explains the various ways that AI and machine learning can, and is, being used in climate action strategies around the world, including emissions monitoring and food security systems.
It includes an interview with Alp Kucukelbir, a member of Climate Change AI, an organization of volunteers from academia and various industries who have been working in this field since 2019.
‘Hero and villain’: Freed after years, opposition leader Job Sikhala divides Zimbabwe
By Jeffrey Moyo
Harare, Zimbabwe – Report about Job Sikhala, an opposition leader in Zimbabwe who has recently been released after nearly two years behind bars.
The report explains Sikhala’s significance in Zimbabwe’s political scenario, where he is seen by many as a rising political star who poses a major threat to the ruling Zanu-PF party.
It lays out the steps that Sikhala has taken since gaining freedom, including dumping his former party and launching a new movement, which has divided opinions in the country over his intentions.
The story includes comments from political analyst Wurayayi Zembe, researcher Rashweat Mukundu, and Farai Marapira, the director for information and publicity for Zanu-PF.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO – Interview with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki about the current situation in Gaza, efforts and increasing possibility of a cease-fire, Israel’s violations of ICJ orders, and how Israeli leaders are escalating the risk of a wider regional war.
VIDEO – Interview with Burak Daglioglu, the head of the Turkish Presidency’s Investment Office, about the current and future investment outlook, where he speaks about the growing global interest in the country’s burgeoning tech sector, progress in the field of fintech, while also outlining the goals and objectives for international investments.
VIDEO – Interview with Alp Kucukelbir, a member of Climate Change AI, about the ways that artificial intelligence can be utilized in efforts to address the growing global impacts of climate change.