Diary

ISTANBUL / ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu’s English Desk plans to cover on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

EUROPE

NORWAY

OSLO – The Norwegian Nobel Committee to announce the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

SPAIN

GRANADA – EU leaders to meet in Granada for an informal summit to assess current challenges, including migration, and plan the bloc's five-year strategic agenda. The discussions aim to strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy and make it a strong, dynamic, and competitive power.

ALBANIA

TIRANA – Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from EU member states and Balkan countries to discuss recent tensions in the region. The meeting will be held as part of the "Berlin process," a Germany-led initiative to facilitate Western Balkan countries' integration into the European Union.

SWITZERLAND

GENEVA – The World Health Organization to release its new country, regional and global data on preterm births.

GENEVA – The UN Information Office to hold its bi-weekly press conference, where several officials from various UN or international agencies to address the latest agenda from around the world, at the UN Office in Geneva.

GENEVA – International Organization for Migration Director General Amy Pope to hold a press conference in Geneva.

UK

LONDON – RMT-affiliated London Underground workers go on strike in an ongoing dispute over job losses and safety concerns.

US

WASHINGTON – Former US President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial to continue, with the future of his New York real estate empire at stake.

WASHINGTON – Bureau of Labor Statistics to release monthly unemployment statistics data.

RUSSIA

MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin to hold talks with Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is on an official visit to Russia. Prospects for cementing allied Russia-Uzbekistan relations and transforming them into a comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as other regional and international issues, are likely to be discussed. Following their talks, Russia and Uzbekistan's leaders are expected to issue a joint statement and sign a number of interdepartmental and commercial documents.

ASIA - PACIFIC

CHINA

BEIJING – Chinese authorities closed schools in Guangdong, a coastal province in southeastern China, as the typhoon is expected to hit the city of Shantou on Friday. On Thursday, some 190 people were injured when Typhoon Koinu brought gusty winds and heavy rains in southern Taiwan, causing air and maritime traffic to be suspended.

INDIA

NEW DELHI – The death toll from the flash floods that swept through India's northeastern Sikkim state on Wednesday has risen to 14, with the search for more than 100 people continuing for the second consecutive day on Thursday.

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD – Following the government's announcement of a one-month deadline for illegal immigrants to leave the country, police have launched crackdowns in various parts of the country to net them.

MENA

EGYPT

CAIRO – Since no nominees filed nomination papers on the first day of general elections in December, as announced by the country's National Elections Authority, Anadolu will monitor the situation on the second day.

PALESTINE

JERUSALEM – Following the tensions in Jerusalem at the Al-Aqsa flashpoint. Friday is the last day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

SPORTS

ISTANBUL – Turkish basketball team Fenerbahce to host Italy's EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Turkish Airlines Euroleague game.

THE ECONOMY

ANKARA – Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry to share cash realizations for September. The cash balance was at $61.9 billion in August and $19.3 billion in July, in a positive side.

BERLIN – Germany’s statistical department Destatis to reveal factory orders for August. The country’s factory orders dropped by 11.7% in July after increases in June and May. In August, a slight increase is expected.

SPECIAL REPORT

NO PHOTO/VIDEO – ‘Mental health support key as migrants’ trauma never ends’

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL – Story on a humanitarian storytelling organization, Migrants of the Mediterranean, which includes an interview of Pamela Kerpius, the head of the group.

She speaks in detail about the various kinds of difficulties and trauma that migrants face, explaining how it impacts their mental health in the long run.

Kerpius also discusses the recent migrant crisis on Italy’s Lampedusa island and how the Italian government’s policies on the issue have been shifting.

SPECIAL REPORT

WITH VIDEO – Experts voice optimism on prospects for Greek-Turkish relations

By Ahmet Gencturk and Derya Gulnaz Ozcan

ATHENS – Interviews with three prominent experts on bilateral ties between Türkiye and Greece, focusing on the recent developments in this regard.

The report has comments from Mustafa Aydin of Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Evantis Hatzivassiliou of the University of Athens, and Enis Tulca of the Galatasaray University in Istanbul.

The experts share their assessments on how the two sides can capitalize on the “window of opportunity” that has emerged after elections this year in both countries.

They also speak about Ankara’s wider efforts to normalize relations with other countries in the region, as well as the considerations that Athens has in the ongoing push for rapprochement, such as less defense spending and a safer position within the EU.

SPECIAL REPORT

WITH VIDEO – Europe must act quick to combat populism, warns Latvian foreign minister

By Jo Harper

RIGA, Latvia – Interview with Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins, focusing in part on the dangers of the rising wave of populism in Europe.

Karins calls for immediate and unified efforts to curb the growing support for populist politicians on the continent, while also explaining the reasons for the phenomenon, including the ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine war.

He stressed the need for European politicians to reconnect with voters across the board and explained the reasons for the economic difficulties that are driving people to vote for more populist figures.

SPECIAL REPORT

Türkiye having two astronauts an exciting prospect: US space explorers

By Tugba Altun

BURSA, Türkiye – Interview with American astronauts Victor Glover and Rusty Schweickart, who are visiting Türkiye for the Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers.

The astronauts narrate their personal experiences in space and speak about a range of issues, including the challenges of training and the actual missions that they undertook.

They also speak about Türkiye’s ongoing efforts in the field of space, as well as the positive aspects of the Gokmen Space Aviation Training Center in northwestern Bursa province, where the congress was hosted.

SPECIAL REPORT

Poor living conditions spark mass migration from Gaza

By Nour Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine – Report about how worsening living conditions in the Gaza Strip are triggering a mass migration of young Palestinians heading to Europe to seek a better future.

The report includes interviews with Gaza residents about their personal experiences, who explain what they are facing and how people are overcoming various challenges to make the move to other countries.

It also has comments from economist Mohamed Abu Jiab, who explains how the mass exodus from Gaza has turned into a “phenomenon,” as well as a statement from Palestinian authorities who deny that there has been a rise in the number of people migrating from Gaza.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Greek-Turkish ties: Experts see reason for optimism

Interviews with Mustafa Aydin of Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Evantis Hatzivassiliou of the University of Athens, and Enis Tulca of the Galatasaray University about the recent developments in efforts to improve ties between Türkiye and Greece.

The experts share their assessments on the reasons for the push for rapprochement and how the two sides can capitalize on the “window of opportunity” that has emerged after elections this year in both countries.

VIDEO – Europe must act quick to combat populism: Latvian foreign minister

Interview with Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins focusing in part on the dangers of a rising wave of populism in Europe.

The official calls for efforts to curb the growing support for populist politicians, while also explaining the reasons for the phenomenon, including the ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine war.