Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

Israeli ceasefire violations in Lebanon

Continued Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon despite the November 2024 ceasefire, alongside Lebanese army efforts to advance the plan to place all weapons south of the Litani River under state control.

Netanyahu appears again before Tel Aviv court over corruption charges

Israeli Prime Minister is expected to appear before the Tel Aviv District Court to respond to corruption charges.

Yemeni government-Houthi prisoner-swap deal

Expected reactions and announcement of timelines for the prisoner exchange between the Yemeni government and the Houthis, following their agreement in Muscat – after 11 days of negotiations – to exchange around 2,900 prisoners and detainees from both sides, under UN and Red Cross sponsorship.

Humanitarian and security crisis in Sudan’s Kordofan amid army-RSF clashes

Humanitarian and security situation in Sudan’s North and West Kordofan amid escalating clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, with worsening access to aid and expectations of new waves of displacement.

Israeli ceasefire violations in Gaza amid severe aid shortfalls

Daily Israeli breaches of the Gaza ceasefire, including strikes on civilians, destruction of homes, and damage to vital infrastructure amid harsh winter and inadequate humanitarian assistance.

Israeli defense minister’s statement on future Gaza settlement

Expected reactions to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s remarks hinting at potential future settlement plans in the Gaza Strip.

Jet carrying Libyan army chief crashes near Ankara

Developments after a jet carrying Libya’s army chief Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad crashed south of Turkish capital Ankara shortly after takeoff.

Trump to participate in Christmas Eve calls

US President Donald Trump is in Palm Beach, scheduled to make a holiday call to US troops for Christmas Eve. He will also answer Christmas Eve calls from children calling the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) about the whereabouts of Santa Claus.

Greenland-related political developments

Renewed discussions after US President Donald Trump appointed Jeff Landry as US special envoy to Greenland. European leaders reacted to the move, highlighting it is up to Denmark and Greenland to decide on matters concerning the territory.

Launch of Russia’s medium-lift carrier rocket carrier Soyuz-5

At Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, the first launch of the Soyuz-5 medium-lift carrier rocket is scheduled. This Russian rocket is designed for launches of automatic spacecraft into Earth orbits.

Thai, Cambodian military talks after renewed fighting

Defense officials from Thailand and Cambodia hold military negotiations amid renewed border clashes. The talks come amid pressure from the US, China as well as the ASEAN regional bloc to halt the fighting that has left dozens dead.

THE ECONOMY

US initial jobless claims

US to share initial jobless claims figures for last week. In the previous week, the claims were down by 13,000 to 224,000.

SPECIAL REPORTS

YEAR-ENDER - 2000-2025: How humanity invented the future over the last 25 years

Report on how technological breakthroughs over the past 25 years reshaped daily life, medicine, energy, space exploration and global power dynamics, tracing humanity’s rapid transformation since the turn of the millennium.

The story examines landmark innovations from smartphones, social media and artificial intelligence to gene editing, mRNA vaccines and reusable rockets, highlighting how advances in computing, health and connectivity redefine how people communicate, work and organize society.

It places these developments in a broader historical and social context, exploring their impact on economies, geopolitics, inequality and everyday life, while assessing the challenges and choices that will shape the next phase of human innovation.

YEAR ENDER - US plan to control Western Hemisphere clashes with economic reality, experts say

Report on how Washington’s push to reassert control over the Western Hemisphere clashes with Latin America’s deepening economic ties with China, as experts question the feasibility of a region dominated exclusively by US influence.

The story examines the revival of Monroe Doctrine-style thinking under the Trump administration, exploring how protectionist trade policies, sanctions and political pressure intersect with China’s role as a leading trade partner, investor and infrastructure financier across much of Latin America.

It includes comments from international relations experts Luciana Wietchikoski and Livia Peres Milani, and UK-based economist Rhys Jenkins, who assess regional fragmentation, US leverage across the Americas, and whether Latin American states can resist pressure or continue balancing ties between Washington and Beijing amid a shifting global order.

INTERVIEW - Israel must be banned from all cultural, sporting events, not just Eurovision: Irish cartoonist

Interview with Irish cartoonist Harry Burton about the growing cultural backlash in Europe over Israel’s continued participation in international events, sparked by controversy around Eurovision and expanding into wider calls for exclusion from sport and the arts.

Burton, who shot to fame with a widely circulated cartoon critiquing Israel’s Eurovision participation, explains his intent and argues that allowing Israel to compete despite its genocide in Gaza reflects a dangerous normalization of violence.

He draws comparisons with Russia’s exclusion from global events, questioning the double standards applied by European institutions, and reflects on the role of political art, his fundraising efforts for Gaza, and why he believes cultural pressure is both legitimate and necessary.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Irish cartoonist Harry Burton highlighting his criticism of Israel’s participation in international events such as Eurovision and his call for Israel’s exclusion from sports and the arts.