Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Gaza ceasefire, hostage swap talks amid Israel’s Gaza reoccupation plan

The latest developments on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage swap talks amid Hamas delegation visit to Cairo for consultations on a new Egyptian-Qatari proposal to end the war in the Gaza Strip and block Israel’s plan to fully reoccupy the territory.

Iran’s top security official to visit Beirut

Ali Larijani, the secretary-general of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, will arrive in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Wednesday for a visit taking place at a sensitive time for Lebanon, amid a government decision to disarm the Hezbollah group. Larijani is scheduled to meet with senior Lebanese officials and political figures.

Türkiye-Georgia talks

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus will meet with Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili in the capital Ankara, where they are expected to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues. This marks Kavelashvili's first official visit to Türkiye.

Turkish foreign minister to hold separate talks with counterparts from Botswana, Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet with Botswana's International Relations Minister Phenyo Butale, who is on an official visit to Türkiye on Aug. 12-14. Türkiye's relations with the Southern African country were established in 1981. The Turkish Embassy in Gaborone was inaugurated on Oct. 15, 2014.

Fidan will also hold separate meetings with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, who is set for an official visit to Türkiye on Wednesday.

Turkish president's political and consultative agenda

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend his Justice and Development (AK) Party's Youth Strategy and Consultation Camp Closing Program at the party's congress center in Ankara. Erdogan will then chair the High Consultation Board Meeting to be held at the Presidential Complex.

Trump, EU, Ukraine, NATO leaders hold virtual summit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host virtual Ukraine talks ahead of the upcoming Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The virtual meeting will focus on ways to exert pressure on Russia, preparations for possible peace negotiations, and related questions regarding territorial claims and security guarantees, according to a German government spokesman. Participants will include Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO chief Mark Rutte, and leaders from Finland, France, Italy, Poland, and the UK.

US vice president visits Royal Air Force Fairford base

JD Vance visits US troops stationed at Royal Air Force Fairford in England, home to the US Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. Vance receives a briefing on the base's capabilities and expected to deliver remarks.

Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman to hold press briefing

Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Alexey Fadeyev to hold a press briefing in Moscow on the current issues of foreign policy. His press briefing is expected to particularly touch on the situation surrounding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, along with other international issues.

Trump to attend performing arts awards at Kennedy Center, sign executive orders

US President Trump will attend the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors, awarded at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, where he will also make an announcement. Trump will later sign executive orders at the White House.

Deadline to notify US Congress for extension of DC police federalization

President Trump is expected to inform key members of Congress of the reason and duration for keeping the DC Metropolitan Police under federal control. Under the 2013 Home Rule Act, if he does not, control will revert to the district 48 hours after his original decision on Monday.

South Africa to host African Union Water Investment Summit

South Africa to host a water investment summit in partnership with the African Union (AU) Commission, the Continental Africa Water Investment Program (AIP), the AU-AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Angolan President Joao Lourenco, and AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf are among the high-level participants to attend the summit in Cape Town.

India, Singapore hold ministerial roundtable

New Delhi hosts 3rd round of India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable. Finance, foreign affairs, commerce, and railways ministers to attend the meeting to discuss bilateral ties and strengthening economic cooperation.

Typhoon Podul likely to hit Taiwan

Typhoon Podul is expected to hit southern Taiwan as authorities suspended land, air, and sea traffic in the affected regions. The Central Weather Administration issued a warning for Hualien, Taitung, Pingtung, and Kaohsiung areas for heavy rains. Hundreds of people have been moved to safer places.

THE ECONOMY

Germany's inflation

Destatis to release consumer inflation figures for July. In June, the CPI rose 2% yearly and 0.3% monthly.

Türkiye's house sales

TurkStat to announce monthly house sales figures for July. In June, the sales rose 35.8% month-on-month to 107,723 houses.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Tactics and strategy: What is Putin seeking in summit with Trump?

Report exploring Russia’s objectives ahead of the upcoming Putin-Trump summit, focusing on potential demands, concessions, and personal diplomacy.

The story examines what Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to achieve from the meeting, including possible strategic gains, security assurances, and leverage in ongoing conflicts. It considers how he may approach negotiations with US President Donald Trump, what compromises he might offer, and how Moscow could frame its agenda.

The report includes comments from Mikhail Alexseev, a professor of political science at San Diego State University; Eugene Chausovsky, senior analyst at New Lines Institute; and Oleg Ignatov, a senior analyst for Russia at the International Crisis Group.

What are Israel’s objectives in push to reoccupy Gaza?

Report on Israel’s plans for the reoccupation of Gaza City and the wider Strip, examining the Netanyahu administration’s objectives and strategies.

The story explores Israel’s potential aims with the ramped-up military operations, including the final expulsion of Palestinians from the battered enclave and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to evade growing domestic legal pressures.

The report includes interviews with Israeli analyst Ori Goldberg, Arab-Israeli analyst Mohammad Magadli, and Robert Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in defense studies at King’s College London.