Diary

Here are main topics Anadolu’s English Desk plans to cover on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Day 93 of Israeli war on Gaza Strip, which so far left 22,722 people dead and 58,166 injured, most of them women and children, causing unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Day 3 of visit to Israel by US Presidential Envoy for Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein, who arrived on unannounced visit on Thursday, and met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. He is expected to visit Beirut on Sunday seeking to prevent war between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah.

LEBANON

Beirut – Final day of visit to Beirut of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to discuss with top Lebanese officials all aspects of the situation in Gaza Strip, especially escalation with Israel on southern border.

JORDAN

Amman - Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in kingdom on second leg of tour of countries in region. Humanitarian conditions in Gaza set to be discussed, plus ways to stop Israeli war on Palestinian enclave.

TÜRKİYE

Istanbul - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend event of his Justice and Development (AK) Party, where its mayoral candidate for metropolis of Istanbul in March 31 local elections set to be announced.

BANGLADESH

Dhaka - Amid opposition calls for boycott, Bangladesh heading to polls to elect parliament with voting set to take place from 8 am to 4 pm (0200-1000GMT). Around 120 million voters are registered to take part in polls, which have been marred by pre-election violence.

JAPAN

Ishikawa - Number of fatalities due to earthquakes in Japan continues to rise, with 126 declared dead and at least 200 others still missing. Following developments in aftermath of devastation caused by tremors as thousands of people remain in shelter in safer places.

SPORTS

London - Arsenal to face Liverpool in English FA Cup 3rd round.

SPECIAL REPORTS

'Israeli apartheid far more brutal than anything we saw in South Africa,' says former politician

By Aysu Bicer and Behlul Cetinkaya

London – Report on former South African politician Andrew Feinstein voicing strong support for his country’s decision to take Israel to International Court of Justice, calling situation in Gaza nothing short of a genocide against Palestinians.

Feinstein, onetime key figure in ruling African National Congress (ANC) and former colleague of Nelson Mandela, shared with Anadolu his unique perspective as Jewish son of Holocaust survivor.

"My mother survived the war in occupied Vienna itself. She lost dozens of members of her family, mainly in the death camp of Auschwitz, where I've lectured on genocide prevention,” he said.

“I am here today to talk about why it is that South Africa have taken Israel to the International Court of Justice, because I think it's particularly symbolic because South Africa knows what apartheid it is.”

Kylian Mbappe, Adrien Rabiot, Toni Kroos among top free agents in 2024

By Can Erozden

Ankara - Report on 2024's high-profile free agents in football.

January transfer window in football now open with new year, so European football clubs can buy or sell players this month.

Clubs eye free agents as many high-profile players, including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and France superstar Kylian Mbappe, entered the final 6 months of their current contracts on Jan. 1.

In addition to Mbappe, Juventus' French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, Real Madrid's German midfielder Toni Kroos, Liverpool's Spanish player Thiago Alcantara, and AC Milan's French forward Olivier Giroud can sign pre-contracts this year, which means their deals at current clubs will expire on June 30.