Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, January 18, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

YEMEN

Sanaa - Continued tensions in the Red Sea as the US re-designates Yemen’s Houthi group as a terrorist organization over its attacks on commercial ships. The Yemeni group, however, said the US blacklisting will not deter it from providing support to the Palestinians. Houthis say their attacks aim to pressure Israel to halt its deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

PALESTINE

Gaza Strip - Israel continues its attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 24,448 people and injuring 61,504 others. The continued bombardment has resulted in widespread destruction, displacement, with fears of outbreak of diseases such as Hepatitis A in the crowded refugee camps. There are acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine as well.

Ramallah - Daily Israeli military raids into Palestinian towns and refugee camps in the occupied West Bank, which has killed at least 360 Palestinians and injured nearly 4,000 others since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on Oct. 7.

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the shared border, which has so far killed nearly 200 people on the Lebanese side and 15 on the Israeli side.

JORDAN

AMMAN - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to meet his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments and situation in Palestine.

TÜRKİYE

Ankara - National Defense Ministry to hold background briefing on Türkiye’s defense issues, including fight against terrorism.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks on Bidenomics and Investing in America Agenda during visit to North Carolina. Desk will monitor for remarks on Gaza conflict.

Washington - Desk to monitor Houthi attacks on merchant vessels in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and US strikes on Houthi targets inside Yemen.

Washington - Desk to monitor developments after another Republican presidential debate planned by CNN was canceled after Nikki Haley's refusal to participate in any forum that does not include former President Donald Trump. Previously, ABC News canceled Thursday's debate in New Hampshire ahead of next week's primary.

Washington - House Committee on Homeland Security to hold further hearing on subject of impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

New York - UN Security Council to meet for consultations on North Korea and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Florida - After 1-day delay, SpaceX spacecraft carrying Türkiye's first space traveler Col. Alper Gezeravci and three other astronauts will be launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center for International Space Station.

EUROPE

SWITZERLAND

Davos - Discussions at the World Economic Forum to continue. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shyaa Al Sudani among leaders to speak at various events.

FRANCE

Strasbourg - MEPs to meet for plenary session. Agenda includes votes on humanitarian situation in Gaza, need to reach a cease-fire and risks of regional escalation, and situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds.

UK

London/Belfast - Deadline to be reached for Executive formation for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Initially set to expire in January 2023 under the terms of the Northern Ireland Executive Formation Act 2022, the executive formation period was extended by a year by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris in February 2023 to allow more time for parties to break the deadlock over the Northern Ireland Protocol and restore the Executive.

BELGIUM

Brussels - NATO Military Committee to convene at Chiefs of Defense Session.

EURASIA

RUSSIA

Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to hold news conference on 2023 Russian diplomacy results.

ASIA-PACIFIC

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Pakistan hits 'terrorist hideouts' inside Iran after Tehran's airstrikes in the country. Pakistan also recalled its ambassador and suspended high-level engagements over the attacks.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

THE ECONOMY

Frankfurt - European Central Bank to share current account balance figures for November.

Ankara - Turkish Central Bank to release short-term debt statistics for November.

Paris - OECD to share unemployment figures.

SPORTS

Ivory Coast - Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosts Ivory Coast to face Nigeria; Egypt to play against Ghana in group stage.

Madrid - Atletico Madrid to play against archrivals Real Madrid in Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) Round of 16.

Melbourne - Round 2 matches in women's and men's singles at Australian Open, first Grand Slam of 2024.

SPECIAL REPORTS

When will ICJ rule on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel?

By Semir Sejfovic

Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina - Interview with Triestino Mariniello, an Italian lawyer part of the legal team representing Gaza victims before the International Criminal Court.

Mariniello, who was present in The Hague for South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, shares his assessment of the expected timeline for a court order on the special emergency request for an urgent halt to the assault on the Gaza Strip.

The legal expert says he expects an order from the ICJ “by February, if not before.”

He lists the various factors that could determine the timeframe for an order, as well as the considerations that the judges would be taking into account.

He also speaks about the strengths of South Africa’s case and presents an evaluation of Israel’s defense strategy.

West vs Houthis: Experts warn of regional escalation, call for political solutions to Red Sea standoff

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report analyzing recent developments in the Red Sea and growing regional tensions after the US and UK launched attacks on Yemen’s Houthi group.

The report includes interviews with security analysts Hisham al-Omeisy and Zoran Kusovac, who warn of an increasing risk of escalation in the wider region and lay out the various scenarios that could play out over the coming days.

The experts emphasize the need for a political approach toward the Houthis, stressing that military actions are unlikely to deter the group.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Report focusing on the expected timeline for an order in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, including an interview with Triestino Mariniello, a lawyer part of the legal team representing Gaza victims.

VIDEO - Interview with Yemeni conflict analyst Hisham al-Omeisy about the growing Red Sea standoff and heightened regional tensions after the US and UK launched attacks on Yemen’s Houthi group.