Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

PALESTINE

Gaza City – The humanitarian and military developments in the Gaza Strip on the 116th day of the offensive, as the death toll reached 26,637 and 65,387 others also injured. The Israeli army continues to intensify its ground offensive in southern Khan Yunis city as well as the northern part of the besieged enclave. Meanwhile, the Hamas military wing announced that it fired a barrage of rockets toward Israeli territory. Also, reactions to Tel Aviv's allegations against UNRWA that some of its staff members were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel continue, with policy statements regarding aid delivery to Palestinians in Gaza expected from some countries.

Ramallah – Daily Israeli forces incursions into West Bank cities and towns continue at a rapid pace since the offensive on Gaza began on Oct. 7. The death toll in the West Bank has risen to nearly 380, with over 4,200 injured. While there have been 6,370 arrests in the last 116 days when Israel launched its offensive on Oct. 7.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv – Ongoing protests against the Israeli government demanding the release of hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza.

Further developments are expected in negotiations for a possible cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and a hostage swap deal. The White House announced on Monday that negotiators from the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar have reached an agreement in Paris on a framework for a new deal for hostages’ exchange.

LEBANON

Beirut – Tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanon remain high. On Monday, Lebonan-based resistance group Hezbollah said that it attacked a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Al-Sammaqa site, while Israeli shelling was reported in several southern Lebanese areas.

YEMEN

Sanaa – Tensions in the Red Sea remain high following attacks on commercial ships by Yemen's Houthis and airstrikes by US and UK forces in Yemen. On Monday, the Houthis claimed to have attacked a US military ship in the Gulf of Aden.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Abu Dhabi – Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus will meet with Federal National Council Speaker and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Kurtulmus will also attend the office opening ceremony of Türkiye's defense company, Aselsan.

EUROPE

BULGARIA

Sofia – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet with his Bulgarian counterpart, Mariya Gabriel, and the deputy prime minister to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international issues. Bulgaria's President Rumen Rudev and Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov will welcome Fidan on his arrival to the country.

BELGIUM

Brussels - EU defense ministers to gather for a two-day informal ministerial meeting.

GERMANY

Berlin – Doctors at university hospitals are expected to go on strike to pressure the government to raise salaries and improve working conditions.

UK

London – Ministers from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to respond to lawmakers’ questions in the House of Commons.

Londonderry, Derry – A memorial service will be held on the 52nd anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday." On January 30, 1972, British soldiers opened fire on 28 unarmed civilians during a peaceful protest march in Derry's Bogside area. A total of 13 people were shot and killed, with another dying from their injuries several weeks later.

FRANCE

Paris - New Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to deliver a statement to lawmakers outlining his vision for the new government.

SWEDEN

Stockholm - French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a two-day state visit, which has been rescheduled from last October. The state visit will cover a range of topics, including "cooperation in the areas of innovation and green transition, trade and investment, as well as defense and security."

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - United Nations Information Service to hold a biweekly press briefing.

EURASIA

KYRGYZSTAN

Bishkek — Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu concludes his regional tour involving visits to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

RUSSIA

Moscow - The first meeting of the BRICS countries' Sherpas/Sous-Sherpas will be held under Russia's chairmanship. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will deliver a speech during the session "BRICS Strategic Partnership as a pillar of multilateralism."

TURKMENISTAN

Ashgabat - The 13th meeting of the Turkmen-Russian Economic Cooperation Commission and joint business forum will be held.

US

Washington - Further developments after the Biden administration blamed Iran for a recent drone attack in Jordan near the Syrian border that killed three US soldiers. A group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack. Sunday’s attack is considered one of the deadliest recent attacks on American troops in the Middle East. On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the possibility that the US response to the attack could be prolonged and multi-staged.

Washington - Senior Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, to host European Union representatives for the fifth Trade and Technology Council Ministerial. Officials will also partake in a working lunch at the State Department.

Washington - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to meet with congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Meeting to be held following US President Joe Biden’s request for additional funding for Ukraine – a key NATO priority – remains stalled in Congress amid a standoff with Republicans over additional border funding.

Washington – US President Joe Biden to visit Florida to attend two fundraisers, including one hosted at the home of Chris Korge, national finance chair of the Biden Victory Fund. The visit comes as Biden seeks to jumpstart his re-election campaign.

Washington – House Committee on Homeland Security to meet for markup session on a resolution to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Republicans allege Mayorkas has failed to act to stem the uptick in migrant crossings along the southern US border.

Washington – UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag expected to brief Security Council members amid worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal enclave currently under Israeli forces siege. Security Council will meet later in the afternoon for a session in which members are expected to renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

ASIA – PACIFIC

PAKISTAN

Islamabad – A special court will continue hearing a case against jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is accused of "revealing state secrets," and his Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as co-accused. Both have already been charged in the case, and they have pleaded not guilty.

BANGLADESH

Dhaka – The first parliamentary session of Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina's newly elected government will begin. The opposition that boycotted the general elections earlier this month will have no representation in the newly elected legislature.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

THE ECONOMY

Ankara - Turkish Statistical Institute to reveal economic confidence index for January and poverty and living conditions statistics for 2023.

Istanbul - Turkish banking watchdog to reveal sector statistics for 2023.

Berlin - Germany’s Destatis to share GDP figures for 2023.

Luxembourg - Eurostat to release GDP figures for 2023.

Washington - US to release house prices index for November.

SPORTS

Villeurbanne - LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne of France to host Turkish club Fenerbahce Beko in Round 24 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Ivory Coast - Mali-Burkina Faso, Morocco-South Africa round of 16 matches to be played at Africa Cup of Nations.

SPECIAL REPORTS

US, UK, others cutting UNRWA funding directly violating Genocide Convention: Legal expert

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report on the controversial decision by Western powers, led by the US and UK, to withdraw funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The report focuses on the criticism that the decision has garnered, with legal experts describing it as a violation of the Genocide Convention that directly implicates these states in the genocidal acts that Israel has been accused of at the International Court of Justice.

The write-up includes comments from veteran international human rights lawyer Francis Boyle, who explains the specific provisions violated in this case and the potential consequences for the offending countries.

Why have Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso quit West Africa bloc?

By Hassan Isilow

Johannesburg - Report on the recent decision by three military juntas in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States.

The story explains the reasons for the decision and the potential consequences for the regional political situation, as fears grow of increased instability and a potential standoff between West African states.

The report includes comments from experts such as Buchanan Ismael, a political scientist at the University of Rwanda, who shares his assessment of the strife within ECOWAS and its potential impact on the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region.

US Federal Reserve to signal monetary policy path in first meeting of 2024

By Ovunc Kutlu

Istanbul - Report about the US Federal Reserve’s first meeting of 2024 to be held on Jan. 30-31, which is expected to outline the path of its monetary policy for this year.

The story presents an analysis of the possible decisions that could be taken by the US central bank, as well as the most influential factors that will determine the bank’s position.

It also presents comprehensive data about major indicators such as inflation, along with an evaluation of the bank’s progress toward objectives like achieving a soft landing and avoiding a recession.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with international human rights lawyer Francis Boyle about Western nations withdrawing funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, where he explains how these countries, including the US and UK, are directly violating the Genocide Convention.