Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

TÜRKİYE

Ankara - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to meet his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas to discuss bilateral and regional issues, including recent developments in Gaza Strip.

Erdogan and Abbas are expected to hold joint news conference.

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in the besieged Gaza Strip on day 150 of Israeli attacks, which have killed 30,534 people and injured 71,920 people.

Ongoing attacks exacerbate the catastrophic humanitarian situation amid increasing famine risk and shortage of necessities in the besieged enclave.

Ramallah - Daily military incursions by Israeli army into Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank, which killed at least 418 Palestinians and injured over 4,650 others since Oct. 7. Number of arrests has risen to 7,225, reaching record highs over last 4 months, exceeding those seen annually in previous years.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Expected plan of Israeli army to expand its offensive to Rafah City in southern Gaza Strip.

Tel Aviv - Israeli evening rallies demanding release of Israeli captives held in Gaza and the resignation of Netanyahu’s government in the main streets and squares.

Tel Aviv - Divisions among ruling coalition parties over War Cabinet member Benny Gantz's visit to US.

EGYPT

Cairo - Developments in indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel to reach a hostage deal and cease-fire agreement in Gaza, as Egyptian media claimed ‘progress’ in talks.

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border clashes between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel amid appeals for both parties to halt hostilities to prevent further escalation. Clashes are worst between two sides since they fought a full-scale war in 2006. Hezbollah strikes on northern Israel on Monday left one foreign laborer killed, according to Israeli media.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Escalating tensions in Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel and US’ retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen amid concerns about impact on shipping traffic in one of world’s most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

SAUDI ARABIA

Jeddah - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend Extraordinary Session of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss Israeli attacks against Palestinian people. Meeting will follow up on decisions taken at Arab League-OIC Extraordinary Summit held on Nov. 11 in Riyadh.

On sidelines of the meeting, Fidan is expected to hold bilateral talks.

GERMANY

Berlin - Chancellor Olaf Scholz to visit Special Forces Command of German armed forces.

ITALY

Rome - UN Food and Agriculture Organization to publish new report looking at effects of climate change on income and adaptation in rural areas, and how they vary for poor, women, and young people.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Sarajevo - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina for talks on bilateral relations and regional developments. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU membership bid will be among main topics on the agenda.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists. Statements on latest situation in Gaza are likely to be made.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Prague - French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Czech Republic.

SWEDEN

Stockholm - Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson to host his German counterpart Boris Pistorius.

UK

London - A new briefing to be released by charity Centre for Mental Health finds that mental health of older people is often overlooked when health professionals determine who should receive mental health support.

RUSSIA

Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in meeting of leaders of the Russia-Islamic World Group of Strategic Vision with ambassadors from Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states accredited in Moscow.

Moscow - Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar will arrive in Russian capital on three-day working visit, during which he will meet with number of officials.

US

Washington - Possible statements from Biden administration regarding conflict in Gaza. White House voiced hope for potential cease-fire before Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Washington - President Joe Biden to convene meeting of his Competition Council to announce new actions to lower costs for hardworking families by fighting corporate rip-offs. Desk will monitor for key remarks.

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to host Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for talks at State Department. Later, Blinken will meet Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz.

Washington - American voters in 16 states and one territory to head to polls in biggest primary election day of 2024 cycle, known as Super Tuesday.

New York - UN Security Council to discuss UN mission in South Sudan, UNMISS.

SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria - Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor to host her Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen for political consultations. Denmark was strong supporter of South Africa’s struggle for freedom during apartheid regime.

Pretoria - South Africa will host First Deputy Foreign Minister of Czech Republic Jiri Kozak for bilateral political consultations on regional, multilateral and global issues of mutual concern.

Durban - Solid Waste Workers affiliated with South African Municipal Workers Union continue with protest demanding wage increases.

Johannesburg - Investigations against South African Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula in connection with allegations that she was paid millions of rands in bribes while she was minister of defense.

CAMEROON

Yaounde - Three-day International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Media in Africa organized by African Union Broadcasting.

NIGERIA

Abuja - Nigeria to reveal details of economic bilateral agreement with Qatar, following President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Middle East country last Friday.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Goma - Humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continues to deteriorate after thousands flee their homes as rebel group M23 continues to clash with Congolese government troops.

IVORY COAST

Abidjan - Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus to meet Kamissoko Camara, president of the Ivorian Senate.

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Beijing/Philippines - Vessels of China and Philippines collide in disputed waters of South China Sea as war of words between Beijing and Manila continues over maritime claims.

AUSTRALIA

Canberra - ASEAN leaders along with Australian prime minister to deliver statements during special bilateral summit to mark 50 years of relations. Canberra is Southeast Asian bloc’s oldest dialogue partner and has maritime partnerships with ASEAN amid disputes in South China Sea.

SOUTH KOREA

Seoul - Government has announced suspending licenses of unrelenting protesting medics who want rollback of decision to add 2,000 more medical seats annually. Protest has hit health care in the country as standoff continues.

KOREAN PENINSULA

Pyongyang/Seoul - North Korea is expected to react to joint military exercises by the and South Korea - one of 48 drills planned this year by two allies. It also comes as Pyongyang has launched several missiles this year.

CHINA

Beijing - Nearly 3,000 deputies of National People’s Congress from across China convene for annual political gathering in Beijing where Premier Li Qiang delivered government report and also set policy for next year.

THE ECONOMY

Luxembourg - Eurostat to share producer prices index for January. Producer inflation was at minus 10.6% in December, and minus 8.8% in November.

Washington - US to reveal factory orders for January. Orders rose by 0.2% month-on-month in December and expected to increase by 0.3% in January.

SPORTS

Munich/San Sebastian, SPAIN - Bayern Munich to host Lazio while Real Sociedad to face Paris Saint-Germain in UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg. Lazio secure narrow win over Bayern Munich while Paris Saint-Germain beat Real Sociedad 2-0 in first leg.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Pro-Palestine figures face growing hostility on Czech soil

By Ebad Ahmed

Prague, Czech Republic – Report about the increasing backlash that pro-Palestine activists are facing in the Czech Republic.

The story gives details of what pro-Palestine activists and protest organizers have been facing in the country, including threats of sexual violence and eviction from their homes.

It includes personal narratives of activists Jana Ridvanova, Jakub Kovar and Kara Kloss, an American national living in the capital Prague. They also speak about the reasons for the pushback within Czech society, including the government's stance and media’s role.

Sanctions reprieve for coup-hit nations: Another ECOWAS message to the West?

By James Tasamba

Kigali, Rwanda – Report about the recent decision by West African regional bloc ECOWAS to lift sanctions on three countries where there have been military coups in recent years – Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The story explains the significance and possible implications of the decision, which was taken after the three countries announced their withdrawal from the bloc in late January.

The report includes interviews with Rwandan political analyst Ladislas Ngendahimana and Harold Acemah, a Uganda-based political scientist, who share their assessments on the ramifications of ECOWAS’ move on the bloc, its members and the wider region.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Report about the growing backlash that pro-Palestine activists are facing in the Czech Republic, including an interview with Kara Kloss, an American national living in Prague, who was threatened with eviction due to her views on the issue.