Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

PALESTINE

Gaza City – The developments on the humanitarian and military situation in the Gaza enclave on the 110th day of the Israeli offensive as the death toll reached 25,700, with 63,740 others injured. The Israeli army is escalating its artillery attacks and airstrikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, targeting UN shelters, killing and trapping displaced civilians inside. The resulting humanitarian crisis is hindering medical teams from saving the wounded.

The people of Gaza not only risk being killed or injured by relentless bombardments, but they also run a growing chance of contracting infectious diseases, UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday.

Ramallah – The Israeli daily incursions into the West Bank cities and towns have been continuing at a high pace since the offensive on Gaza started on Oct. 7. The latest death toll climbed in the West Bank to nearly 370, with 4,200 injured. While the arrests have reached 6,255 since Oct. 7.

Gaza Strip - Indirect negotiations underway between Hamas and Israel on a cease-fire in Gaza and the hostage swap deal. As per Palestinian sources, Hamas demands an end to Israel's offensive on Gaza for hostage release.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv – Developments on the field situation of the Israeli army, as its figures showed that 1,250 soldiers had been injured since Israel expanded its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 27. According to military figures, at least 556 soldiers have been killed and 2,710 others injured since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7.

Tel Aviv – Ongoing rallies against the Israeli government demanding the release of hostages. Israelis staged rallies across Israel on Wednesday to demand an immediate deal for releasing hostages held by Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as Hamas is believed to be holding nearly 136 hostages following its Oct. 7 attack into Israel.

YEMEN

Sanaa – Escalating tensions in the Red Sea amid attacks on commercial ships by Yemen’s Houthis and strikes by the US and UK. The Houthis have targeted vessels in the Southern Red Sea, warning it will attack all Israel-bound ships to support Palestinians as they face Israel's “aggression and siege” in Gaza. In response, the US said it destroyed two Houthi anti-ship missiles early Wednesday in the southern Red Sea.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks on Investing in America and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law during visit to state of Wisconsin.

Alabama - Kenneth Eugene Smith is expected to be executed in state of Alabama for 1988 murder-for-hire killing of a preacher’s wife. He is scheduled to be the first person to be executed with nitrogen gas in the US after lethal injection attempts failed.

EUROPE

GERMANY

Berlin - A group of researchers to release their report on the sexualized violence and other forms of abuse in the protestant churches in Germany. Their study aims at analyzing structures and systemic conditions within the protestant churches that facilitate sexualized violence and abuse of power.

FRANCE

Paris - Constitutional Council to finish reviewing much-contested immigration law, announce its decision.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - The UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists.

TÜRKİYE

Ankara – National Security Council to meet under chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at presidential complex. It will address strategic, regional and national security issues, especially anti-terrorism operations. Regional issues, including Gaza, will be on the agenda.

Ankara – National Defense Ministry to hold a meeting on Türkiye’s defense issues, including fight against terrorism.

EURASIA

KAZAKHSTAN

Almaty — The head of the Russian delegation at the Astana talks, Aleksandr Lavrentyev, will hold a news conference on results of the two-day meeting on the Syrian settlement.

RUSSIA

Moscow — The Moscow city court will announce sentence for the former “defense minister” of the “Donetsk People’s Republic.”

UKRAINE-RUSSIA

Kyiv / Moscow — Following developments with regards to the Russian military plane crash in Russia's Belgorod region, which Moscow claims killed all 65 Ukrainian servicemen on board, as well as its six crew members and three escorts.

ASIA-PACIFIC

CHINA

Beijing – Following developments with regards to a landslide in China's southwestern Yunnan province as the death toll rose to 34, with 13 people still missing. Some 1,000 rescue workers are carrying out rescue operations in affected area despite snowfall and freezing weather to search for the missing.

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

INDIA

New Delhi - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday. Macron will attend India’s Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest on Friday in New Delhi.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson will hold a weekly briefing.

SPORTS

Istanbul - Fenerbahce Beko to host Italy's Virtus Segafredo Bologna in round 23 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

ECONOMY

Ankara – Turkish Central Bank to release capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector for January.

Ankara – Turkish Central Bank to share interest rate decision.

Frankfurt – European Central Bank to reveal interest rate decision.

Washington – US to share provisional GDP figures for 2023 and initial jobless claims data.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Artificial island to nuclear bomb: Israel’s controversial plans to take over Gaza

By Emre Basaran

Istanbul – Report compiling the various controversial plans floated by Israeli officials over recent months to expel Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

It gives details of the contentious statements that have ranged from dropping a nuclear bomb to relocating Gazans to Egypt’s Sinai peninsula or an artificial island, all of which rights groups and UN officials have warned are an attempt to ethnically cleanse Gaza.

The story includes an interview with David Campbell, an associate professor at the University of Vienna, who condemns the “completely unjustifiable” statements and links them to embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to cling to power.

Ecuador seeks to recover after violence rocks oasis of peace

By Laura Gamba

Bogota, Colombia – Report about the recent surge in violence in Ecuador and the measures consequently implemented by the government.

The story gives a breakdown of the violent events that have shaken the once peaceful haven in Latin America, including gang leaders escaping from prisons, bombings in various cities and the dramatic televised attack on a national broadcaster.

It includes an interview with Fernando Carrion, professor at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Ecuador, about the steps taken by President Daniel Noboa’s government and its possible future plans.

In Zimbabwe, illegal charcoal production decimating forests

By Jeffrey Moyo

Harare, Zimbabwe – Report about how the illegal charcoal trade in Zimbabwe is taking a deadly toll on the country’s forestlands.

It explains how dealers are decimating forests for personal sustenance and survival, while also fulfilling demand as charcoal remains a key source of energy in both urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe.

The report has interviews with people involved in the illicit trade and officials such as Lewis Radzire, operations director at the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe.

NEW MEDIA

INFOGRAPHIC – Visual illustration and timeline of various controversial plans floated by Israeli officials over recent months to expel Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, ranging from dropping a nuclear bomb to relocating Gazans to Egypt’s Sinai or an artificial island, all of which rights groups and UN officials have warned are an attempt to ethnically cleanse Gaza.