Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in the Gaza Strip due to Israel's onslaught as international alarm over the risk of famine and lack of medical supplies grows. Israeli attacks on the enclave have resulted in the killing of more than 27,100 Palestinians, with 66,287 injured. Residents are beginning to return to northern areas from which Israeli forces have withdrawn.

Ramallah - The Israeli army continues its daily raids into cities and towns in the occupied West Bank. The incursions have killed 381 Palestinians, with 4,340 others injured and 6,485 arrested since Oct. 7.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Israeli evening protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in cities and squares.

Tel Aviv - Developments in indirect negotiations for cease-fire, hostage swap deal between Israel and Hamas continue, including remarks and statements by Israeli officials. On Friday, Avigdor Liberman, leader of the opposition Yisrael Beytenu Party, said the possibility of a two-state solution has vanished.

LEBANON

Beirut - Latest updates in ongoing tensions between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel amid an exchange of cross-border fire. The Israeli army said it struck a Hezbollah cell and sites in southern Lebanon in the village of Aitaroun, as well as other locations in the area. Hezbollah targeted an Israeli army site in Ruwaisat Al-Alam in the Kfar Shuba hilltops.

EGYPT

Cairo - Developments in indirect negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage swap deal between Israel and Hamas, including a potential upcoming Hamas delegation visit led by Ismail Haniyeh to Cairo, yet to be announced.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Escalating tensions in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of links with Israel, as well as US retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen. On Friday evening, the Houthis reported US-UK airstrikes on Yemen's northwestern Hajjah province.

BELGIUM

Brussels - EU foreign ministers to discuss international issues, relations with Africa, in informal meeting. EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to hold news conference after meeting.

UK

London - Various groups, including Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, to hold national demonstration to call for end to conflict in Gaza.

GERMANY

Berlin - Demonstrations to be held across Germany to protest far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, its plans for mass expulsion of immigrants. In capital Berlin, protesters are planning to form human chain surrounding German parliament.

SPORTS

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - Quarterfinal matches to be played in Africa Cup of Nations, with Mali to face Ivory Coast, Cape Verde to take on South Africa.

DOHA, Qatar - Asian Cup 2023 to continue with quarterfinals as⁠ ⁠Qatar-Uzbekistan, Iran-Japan matches are set to kick off.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Why Nayib Bukele is set for second presidential term in El Salvador

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia — Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, is expected to secure a second term in office when the country votes on Sunday as 90% of Salvadorans support him, despite a constitutional ban on reelection. In 2021, however, the Supreme Court, composed of justices selected by Bukele's supporters in Congress, ruled that the president could seek a second five-year term in this year's elections.

Major central banks announce 1st interest rate decisions of 2024

By Serhat Tutak

ISTANBUL — Major central banks around the world left their policy rates unchanged in their first monetary policy conferences of 2024, as “dovish” expectations came to the fore in the new year after nearly two years of “hawkish” policies in most global economies.