Diary

ANKARA (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, March 9, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories), with a special emphasis on the latest developments in the abduction of over 280 Nigerian school pupils in the north-western town of Kuriga.

PALESTINE

Gaza City – The developments in the humanitarian situation and the Israeli army's relentless attacks in the Gaza Strip, which are now in their 155th day and have killed at least 30,880 people and injured nearly 72,500 others, as well as mass destruction and severe shortages of necessities in the besieged enclave, as accusations mount against Israel of intentionally starving Gaza's population.

The civil defense service in Gaza said five Palestinians were killed in a failed airdrop on Gaza when a parachute carrying an aid parcel did not open properly and fell on people chasing the aid parcels dropped by planes.

Ramallah – The Israeli army's daily military incursions into Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed at least 424 Palestinians and injured at least 4,650 others since Oct. 7. The number of arrests has risen to nearly 7,500, setting new records for four months and surpassing previous annual totals of Palestinians’ detentions by Israel.

EGYPT

Cairo – Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel to reach a hostage swap agreement and a cease-fire in Gaza.

Although no breakthroughs have been made, Hamas and a US official confirmed in separate events on Thursday that talks to reach an agreement are still ongoing.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv – Protests in Israel continue to put pressure on the Israeli government to reach a hostage swap deal with Hamas.

The battlefield situation of the Israeli army's expected plan to expand its offensive to Rafah City in southern Gaza.

LEBANON

Beirut – Cross-border tensions between the Lebanon-based group Hezbollah and Israel have risen as both sides intensify their attacks. On Friday, both the Israeli army and Hezbollah engaged in fire and attacks.

YEMEN

Sanaa – Continuous, escalating tensions in the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links to Israel, as well as US airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen, raise concerns about the deadly impact on shipping traffic in one of the world's most heavily used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

NIGERIA

Abuja – The latest developments in the abduction of over 280 Nigerian schoolchildren in Kuriga, a town in northwestern Nigeria.

GHANA

Accra – The African Union Commission to hold an extraordinary session of the specialized technical committee on youth, culture, and sports on the sidelines of the 13th edition of the African Games.

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg – Political parties launch election campaigns across the country ahead of the May 29 elections.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad – Pakistani lawmakers to select the country's new president for a five-year term. Former President Asif Ali Zardari has been nominated by the ruling coalition, while the opposition Sunni Ittehad Council, which now includes lawmakers from jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a veteran politician from southwestern Balochistan province.

SOUTH KOREA

Seoul – South Korean authorities expand the role of nurses in emergency as doctors protest enters 19th day. So far, over 13,000 trainee doctors have left their worksites as they refused to return despite the government’s repeated warnings.

INDIA

New Delhi – India has begun deporting Myanmar citizens who have fled the junta regime and entered the South Asian country since 2021.

SPORTS

Jeddah – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to be held at 2024 Formula 1 World Championship Round 2.