Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

US Secretary of State Antony Blinke in a Middle East tour on February 4-8 that will take him to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and occupied West Bank. This is his 5th trip to the region since outbreak of Gaza conflict on Oct. 7 last year.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne's tour of the Middle East to continue until Tuesday, with stops in Jordan, Egypt, Israel, the West Bank, and Lebanon.

PALESTINE

Gaza City – The latest humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli military onslaught, which enters its 121st day amid fears of famine and a growing humanitarian crisis, particularly following the Israeli defense minister's warning to extend the army offensive to Rafah in the southern besieged enclave. Since Oct. 7, the Israeli onslaught has killed at least 27,365 people, mostly women and children, and injured 66,630.

Ramallah – The Israeli army's daily and continuous raids into West Bank cities and towns to be tracked. Since Oct. 7, the soldiers’ incursions and attacks have killed 381 Palestinians, injured 4,400 others, and arrested 6,512.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv – Evening protests against Netanyahu's government are expected to take place in different cities. Israel government, meanwhile, is waiting for Hamas to respond to proposal of a new hostage swap deal.

IRAQ

Baghdad – Implications of US forces airstrikes on over 85 targets in Iraq and Syria to be followed. After US forces conducted airstrikes against Iran's Quds Force and affiliated armed militias, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned the US charge d'affaires in Baghdad and handed him an official protest memorandum.

EGYPT

Cairo – Israeli and Hamas' indirect negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage swap have progressed. A Hamas delegation led by Ismail Haniyeh is expected to visit Cairo, but the exact date has yet to be announced.

LEBANON

Beirut – Tensions remained high along the border between Lebanon and Israel, with Hezbollah's latest death toll reaching 179 since Oct. 8. Additionally, 30 civilians, including three children, three journalists, and a soldier from the Lebanese army, have also been killed. Six members of Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades in Lebanon have also been targeted by the Israeli army.

YEMEN

Sanaa – The growing tension in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links to Israel, as well as US and UK-led coalition forces airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

HUNGARY

Budapest – The Hungarian parliament is scheduled to meet for an extraordinary session to discuss ratification of Sweden's accession to NATO. A quorum is required before the matter can be discussed by lawmakers, and ruling Fidesz party lawmakers could still boycott the session to prevent the topic from being discussed. The next regular session is due to open on February 26.

UK

London – Train drivers from Great Western, CrossCountry, and Chiltern who are members of the ASLEF union will go on strike for 24 hours in an ongoing pay dispute.

GERMANY

Berlin – Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet with France's new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to discuss bilateral relations, the EU, and international issues. Scholz and Attal plan to hold a press conference after their meeting.

Berlin – Scholz and Integration Commissioner Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan to meet with leaders of immigrant organizations to discuss their concerns and demands. The meeting comes amid growing concern about the popularity of far-right parties, as well as increased violence by right-wing extremists.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva – The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) to hold a press briefing to reveal the 1st findings of the Feasibility Study for the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a particle collider that could succeed the High-Luminosity.

SPAIN

Barcelona – The three-day trial of Brazilian footballer Dani Alves, who is accused of sexual assault in December 2022, to begin with his testimony on the first day.

RUSSIA

Moscow — The International Affairs Committee of the Federation Council to discuss the call to world parliaments regarding the supply of weapons and equipment by Western countries to Ukraine.

TÜRKİYE

Ankara – Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to meet with Saleumxay Kommasith, the Lao People's Democratic Republic's deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, to discuss bilateral relations and current international and regional issues.

The meetings will also cover areas of cooperation between Türkiye and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with Lao PDR currently holding ASEAN chairmanship.

US

Washington – President Joe Biden to hold a campaign rally in Nevada as he seeks to build momentum for his presidential campaign. Nevada's presidential primary will take place on Tuesday. In national polling, Biden continues to trail likely Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.

Washington – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to move the legislative vehicle for US President Joe Biden's national security spending supplemental, which includes billions of dollars in additional aid to Ukraine and Israel, among other budget priorities.

Washington – The UN Security Council is expected to address the situation in Myanmar amid ongoing violence between junta forces and ethnic militias across the country.

CHINA

Beijing – Norwegian Foreign Minister Essen Barth to pay three-day official visit to China.

Beijing – Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad – Pakistan is experiencing unprecedented political and security upheaval ahead of the Feb. 8 general elections.

THE ECONOMY

Ankara – Turkish Statistical Institute to release annual consumer inflation data for January. An Anadolu survey estimated annual inflation to rise to 65.07% in January, from a 13-month high of 64.77% in December last year.

Berlin – Germany’s Destatis to reveal international trade figures for 2023.

Paris – The OECD to publish its latest Interim Economic Outlook, containing analysis and projections for the world economy and all G-20 countries. In its November report, the OECD cut its world economic growth projection for 2023 to 2.9%, but for 2024 left it unchanged at 2.7%. It projected global GDP to grow by 3% in 2025, with inflation going down and real incomes strengthening. Türkiye's GDP is foreseen to rise 4.5% in 2023, 2.9% in 2024 and 3.2% in 2025.

All figures mentioned are to be followed online.

SPECIAL REPORTS

INTERVIEW – Recognition is a Palestinian right, not a gift, says envoy to UK

By Burak Bir

London – Interview with Husam Zomlot, Palestine’s ambassador to the UK, about Israel’s war on Gaza and the recent indications from British leaders about possible recognition of Palestine.

Zomlot emphasizes that recognition is “a historic, moral, political and legal responsibility” of the UK since it was the British who took away the Palestinian homeland through the Balfour Declaration.

Regarding efforts to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza, the envoy says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing all in his power to derail the process because he wants to extend the war and spread it throughout the region to avoid court cases and possible jail time.

Zionism is extension of Western imperialism in Holy Land, says historian

By Ahmet Gencturk

Athens – Interview with Ussama Makdisi, an author and professor at the University of California Berkeley, about the history of Zionism and its interrelation with colonialism.

Makdisi speaks in detail about the ties between Zionism and European colonialism and racism, explaining how European antisemitism encouraged the push to move the Jewish population out of Europe to Palestine.

He also delves into the reasons for the support that Zionism has among evangelical Protestants and liberals in the Western world. Makdisi also speaks about the rhetoric being used by Israeli leaders and the manipulation of history done to justify their actions.

Violence, security threats cast a pall over Pakistan’s elections

By Aamir Latif

Quetta, Pakistan – Report about Pakistan’s general elections and the potential security threats that could affect the national vote scheduled for Feb. 8.

The report gives details of the recent violence and other security incidents that have hampered campaigning activities in the country, particularly in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It includes interviews with political analysts Zafar Baloch and Imtiaz Hussein, along with comments from Zahoor Buledi, a candidate who recently escaped a grenade attack in Balochistan.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Husam Zomlot, Palestinian ambassador to the UK, about Israel’s war on Gaza, possible British recognition of Palestine, and efforts for a cease-fire, which he says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is derailing for his interests.

VIDEO – Interview with Ussama Makdisi, an author and professor at the University of California Berkeley, about the history of Zionism, where he speaks about its link with colonialism and explains the reasons for the support that Zionism has among evangelical Protestants and liberals in the West.