Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

PALESTINE

GAZA STRIP - Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip from the air and land with the Palestinian death toll surging to 20,674 and 54,536 others injured in a deadly offensive that brought much of the enclave to waste.

RAMALLAH - Israeli military raids into Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank continue with more than 300 Palestinians killed and nearly 4,730 others detained by Israeli forces in the occupied territory since Oct. 7 amid the ongoing onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

ISRAEL

TEL AVIV - Pressure grows on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from families of Israeli hostages to strike a new deal with Hamas to secure their release amid reports of an Egyptian proposal to end the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and create a technocrat government to govern the enclave, together with the West Bank, in return for the release of hostages held by Hamas. Nearly 130 Israeli hostages are believed to be held by Palestinian factions in Gaza following a cross-border attack on Oct. 7. A previous swap deal last month saw the release of 84 Israelis and 24 foreigners by Hamas in exchange for 240 Palestinians from Israeli jails, including 71 women and 169 children.

LEBANON

BEIRUT - Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah continue to exchange cross-border fire in the deadliest clashes between the two sides since their last war in 2006. Nearly 150 people, including at least 26 Lebanese civilians, have been killed since the clashes first erupted on Oct. 8, according to Lebanese figures.

US

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to return to White House from Camp David.

EUROPE

Christmas is celebrated across the continent.

EURASIA

RUSSIA

ST. PETERSBURG - President Vladimir Putin to host informal summit of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders.

MOSCOW - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to chair meeting of the Commission of the General Council of the United Russia Party on international cooperation and support of compatriots abroad.

MOSCOW - Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's visit to Russia continues.

TÜRKIYE

ANKARA - Türkiye and Uzbekistan to hold business forum under chairmanship of Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz. Both sides are expected to sign agreements in various areas to enhance cooperation.

ANKARA - Turkish parliament's foreign affairs commission to resume discussions on Sweden's NATO bid. For ratification, the bill needs to be approved by the commission before being put to a full parliament vote.

ASIA - PACIFIC

CHINA

BEIJING - China to commemorate birth anniversary of late Mao Zedong, the founding chairman of Communist Party of China. President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a statement which may indicate future direction of world’s top second economy and military power.

INDIA

NEW DELHI - Indian navy is set to commission its latest Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer Imphal at western Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD - As Pakistan moves closer to elections, proceedings of several court cases involving former prime ministers and other officials continue. Many politicians have claimed the cases are meant to keep them away from polls.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Why are Indian trade unions against sending workers to Israel?

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI – Report on Israel’s efforts to address domestic labor shortages with tens of thousands of workers from India as its assault on the Gaza Strip has drained its workforce, while Indian trade unions and opposition parties have pushed back on the proposition.

Includes several interviews with Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress; Kabir Taneja, Middle East researcher at the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation; Harbhajan Singh, a member of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha trade union; and Neeraj Sharma, lawmaker from opposition Congress party.

Outlines concerns of those in India opposing scheme to allow workers from the South Asian country to work in Israel, particularly those related to security woes in the conflict-hit area, as well as fears that they would be replacing Palestinians who worked there until Oct. 7.

Bitcoin in for ‘very explosive’ year in 2024, says expert

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL - Report discussing Bitcoin's anticipated resurgence in 2024, highlighting factors such as the potential approval of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and legislative developments that could either positively elevate or disrupt the cryptocurrency industry.

Includes insight by Brandon Zemp, head of blockchain consultancy BlockHash LLC, on the trajectory that the cryptocurrency market has taken, particularly in relation to liabilities that the sector faces and legal regulations evolving as new trends and conditions take shape.

It also features an account of major turning points for the crypto market that have led to severe losses in recent years, while Zemp argues that these have served to gradually make the sector more robust.

YEAR-ENDER - Is UK losing its 'leading role' in climate issues?

By Burak Bir

LONDON - Report on the UK's climate policy challenges in 2023, revealing a disconnect between government priorities and climate concerns for the future.

Discusses priorities outlined by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the year that did not include climate change, despite warnings from the country’s Climate Change Committee and the UK Meteorological Office about the country's vulnerability to climate impacts.

Includes information on criticism against the government that has mounted over slow climate action, support for fossil fuel projects, and delays in environmental commitments, leading to accusations of a leadership loss on climate issues. Also addresses policy shifts by the government, including delays in banning petrol cars and gas boilers, sparking debates and concerns about the UK's commitment to net-zero targets.

WITH VIDEO - From connection to contention: How AI curbs access to information

By Elif Tugtekin

ISTANBUL - Report delving into the impact of social media on the spread of misinformation, highlighting how algorithms, driven by advertising incentives, prioritize engaging content over informative or balanced perspectives.

Includes interview with Kalev Hannes Leetaru, founder of AI-related open online database GDELT Project.

The report also touches on how search engine algorithms may limit the diversity of sources, reflecting the values and biases of the companies that design them. The example of corporate policies affecting search results on sensitive topics like Gaza and Islam is cited, highlighting the broader issue of how AI tools are shaped by the values of the companies creating them.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Kalev Hannes Leetaru, who discusses the risk of the spread of fake content, increased with generative AI and argues that Western companies are selecting sources they believe provide answers most aligned to their political values.