Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025

Netanyahu to hold Cabinet meeting before US trip to meet Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold a Cabinet meeting Thursday to coordinate positions before departing for the US to meet President Donald Trump on Dec. 29.

Israeli violations in southern Syria

Daily Israeli incursions and attacks in Quneitra, southwestern Syria, involving raids, arrests, injuries of civilians, and assaults on residential areas.

Humanitarian plight in Darfur, Sudan amid RSF attacks on civilians

Developments in fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces following RSF attacks on Abu Gamra and Ambro in North Darfur, western Sudan, amid threats to civilian safety and new waves of displacement.

Holiday season

Europe enters the holiday season starting with Christmas (Dec. 25) through Jan. 2. During this period, the latest developments and breaking news will continue to be monitored, although almost all EU institutions and European governments will suspend routine operations until the end of the holiday season.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold weekly press briefing in Moscow. Eurasia desk will take part in briefing via video link and plans to ask the following questions:

- Does Russia consider the revised version of the US proposed peace plan submitted by Ukraine acceptable?

- What is Russia’s stance on the recent escalation between Thailand and Cambodia?

Developments as Thai, Cambodian militaries continue talks

Monitoring developments as rival militaries of Thailand and Cambodia continue talks amid ongoing cross-border clashes.

Bangladeshi leader returns home after 17 years in exile

Tarique Rahman, acting chair of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and son of former Premier Khaleda Zia, returns home after his 17 years of exile in the UK. His return comes as the South Asian nation moves towards general elections in February.

Turkish president receives Union of International Democrats delegation

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to host delegation from the Union of International Democrats at Bestepe Nation’s Exhibition Hall in Ankara

Erdogan to hold official talks with Sudan’s Sovereignty Council chief

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to formally welcome Sudan Sovereignty Council Chair Abdel Fattah al-Burhan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, followed by bilateral talks and a working dinner.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye's capacity utilization

TurkStat to release Turkish industry's capacity utilization rate data for December. In November, the rate rose to 74.4%.

SPECIAL REPORTS

YEAR-ENDER - How rising right wing is reshaping Latin America’s political landscape

Report on growing turn toward right-wing and far-right politics across Latin America in 2025, as conservative leaders gained ground in key elections, marking a reversal of the region’s earlier leftist “pink tide.”

The story examines election outcomes in countries including Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador, exploring how voter frustration over crime, economic instability and corruption has fueled support for leaders promising tougher security policies and economic reform.

It includes comments from political experts Consuelo Thiers of the University of Edinburgh and William Booth of University College London’s Institute of the Americas on the drivers of the rightward shift, the influence of US President Donald Trump, evolving relations with Washington and Beijing, and what elections in 2026 could mean for regional polarization and governance.

YEAR-ENDER - FACTBOX - From generational bans to outdoor restrictions: How countries tightened smoking laws in 2025

Story on how governments around the world tightened smoking and vaping laws in 2025, moving tobacco control beyond indoor spaces to include outdoor public areas, generational bans, and stricter limits on access to nicotine products.

It outlines key measures introduced during the year, from the Maldives’ nationwide generational tobacco ban to expanded outdoor smoking restrictions in France, Milan, and other areas, highlighting how policies increasingly target youth exposure, public visibility, and secondhand smoke.

The factbox draws on World Health Organization data, national legislation, and expert assessments, and includes comments from British physician and tobacco control advocate Judith Mackay and US tobacco industry researcher Ruth Malone on the effectiveness of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, industry resistance to regulation, and the evolving debate around vaping and public health.

YEAR-ENDER - 2000–2025: How climate change has hit Africa over a quarter century

Report examining how climate change has reshaped Africa over the past 25 years, despite the continent’s minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

Story traces environmental and human consequences of warming across regions from North Africa to the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and Southern Africa, detailing impact on food security, water availability, health outcomes, migration, and ecosystems, alongside evidence from UN agencies, climate scientists, and international institutions.

It also assesses Africa’s response to the climate crisis, highlighting progress in adaptation, renewable energy, and global climate diplomacy, while examining persistent challenges posed by funding gaps, debt burdens and accelerating climate risks that will shape the continent’s resilience in the decades ahead.