Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MENA

•⁠ ⁠Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon

Israeli army’s ongoing assault on southern Lebanese towns, as several areas were hit on Wednesday, with claims of targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. More possible Israeli attacks and reactions from Lebanese authorities to be monitored.

•⁠ ⁠Israel’s ceasefire violations in Gaza Strip

Ongoing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip as the army struck southern areas Wednesday, killing five and injuring 30, breaching ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10.

•⁠ ⁠Israeli premier to hold discussion on settler violence in West Bank

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet on escalating violent incidents by extremist settlers in the occupied West Bank with senior government and military officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, according to local media.

Meeting is expected to address proposal by Shin Bet chief David Zini to use electronic handcuffing to enforce arrests of extremist settlers without administrative arrest warrants.

•⁠ ⁠Situation in field in Sudan and humanitarian plight

Latest developments in fighting between Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as the army announced “major victories” in Kordofan region against rebel group and called for nationwide mobilization to lift the RSF siege on other areas.

US

UN Security Council to be briefed on 2006 resolution on Israel, Hezbollah

Security Council members expect to get briefing in consultations on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ report on the implementation of Resolution 1701. Passed in 2006, the resolution called for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert are expected to lead briefing.

EUROPE

EU foreign ministers to meet in Brussels

EU member states’ foreign ministers to meet in Brussels to discuss Russia-Ukraine war following informal exchange of views with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, as well as situation in the Middle East, Sudan, and the Sahel.

The foreign ministers are also expected to review a plan for the bloc to lead the training of 3,000 Palestinian police officers for future deployment in Gaza, according to some reports.

EU’s Palestine Donor Group to hold inaugural meeting

Inaugural meeting of Palestine Donor Group with the participation of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, also set to hold joint press conference with European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica.

EU decided last year to establish the group to “bring together international partners to jointly promote reforms and support for the Palestinian Authority.”

Protest in support of Palestine Action

“Lift the Ban” protest to take place outside Justice Ministry in London, with venue chosen as it oversees prisons holding 29 alleged Palestine Action activists without trial, six of them now on hunger strike.

This is the first in a series of protests in the capital in the runup to next week’s judicial review to determine whether deeming Palestine Action a terrorist organization is lawful.

EURASIA

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman to hold weekly press briefing

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold press briefing in Moscow. The Eurasia desk will not take part in the briefing. Turkish wire correspondent to join via video link and ask:

⁠Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said Kyiv is discussing resuming the process of exchanging captured servicemen with Russia through the mediation of Türkiye and the UAE. Can we say that the direct negotiation process has become indirect? Does this mean that direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are not expected in the near future?

⁠Armenian prime minister to visit Kazakhstan

At the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to start 2-day state visit to Kazakhstan. Pashinyan is scheduled to hold high-level meetings to discuss prospects for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation across a range of sectors.

ASIA-PACIFIC

Developments in Japan-China tension

Monitoring developments as diplomatic tensions continue between Japan and China after remarks on Taiwan by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi triggered a backlash.

Australian, Indian top diplomats meet

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar to hold 16th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue in New Delhi. Wong is on 2-day visit to the South Asian nation.

ECONOMY

Germany producer prices
Germany’s Destatis to share producer prices index for October. Prices fell 1.7% in September on a yearly basis.

US home sales
US to announce existing home sales for October. In September, sales totaled around 4 million, and a similar figure is expected for October.

SPECIAL REPORTS

EXPLAINER – Major non-NATO ally: Who are they and what does it mean?

Report on major non-NATO ally (MNNA) designation granted to countries by the US, following President Donald Trump’s recent announcement for Saudi Arabia.

Story outlines what MNNA status is and how it functions within US foreign and security policy. It details the kinds of benefits the designation offers – including priority access to US defense cooperation, joint research opportunities, expedited arms transfers, and closer military coordination – while also explaining limits of the label.

Report includes analysis from Anna Jacobs, nonresident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, who explains technical details of the designation and political significance it carries.

(Rabia Ali, from office)

ISTANBUL, WITH CARDS

NOTE: Story can be translated for all language services.

INTERVIEW – Lithuania backs closer EU-Türkiye cooperation on security, defense: Foreign minister

Interview with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys focusing on her country’s call for stronger EU collaboration with Türkiye and other NATO allies as Europe confronts heightened security risks.

Budrys argues that EU members, despite increased spending, cannot meet current military demand alone and must work more closely with partners such as the US, UK, Norway and especially Türkiye. He voices support for including Türkiye and Turkish defense firms in EU initiatives like the multibillion-dollar SAFE program, stressing the need to avoid defense-sector protectionism at a time of urgent procurement and capacity shortages.

Budrys also praises Türkiye’s recent contribution to NATO’s eastern flank, including its deployment of AWACS aircraft to the Baltic region, which he said significantly strengthened deterrence.

(Ayhan Simsek, from the field)

BERLIN, WITH CARDS

NOTE: Story can be translated for all language services.

Bitcoin erases yearly gains: Why and what next?

Report on reversal of Bitcoin’s 2025 performance as economic instability, US tariffs, and shifting rate expectations pressure crypto markets.

Story charts the rise of Bitcoin prices through the year and how they have since fallen back below its starting point, erasing all year-to-date gains. It traces the volatility to global market turbulence – driven by US tariff battles, geopolitical tensions, and fading expectations of major interest rate cuts – which has dampened investor appetite for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Report includes analysis from Bill Maurer, director at the University of California Irvine’s Institute for Money, Technology and Financial Inclusion, and Campbell Harvey, professor of finance at Duke University, highlighting how Bitcoin now moves more like traditional risk assets than the market-hedging alternative it was once marketed as.

(Gokhan Ergocun and Mucahithan Avcioglu, from office)

ISTANBUL, WITH CARDS

NOTE: Story can be translated for all language services.