Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City – Humanitarian situations in the Gaza Strip on the 158th day of Israel's onslaught, which has killed over 31,100 Palestinians and injured over 72,600 others since Oct. 7, as well as mass destruction of the enclave, which has resulted in severe shortages of necessities as accusations against Tel Aviv grow of intentionally starving Gaza's population.

RAMALLAH – Tensions remained high in the occupied West Bank amid escalated Israeli army actions since the start of the Gaza war on Oct 7. Israeli military actions in the West Bank killed 425 Palestinians and injured an estimated 4,700 others. The number of arrests has also increased to around 7,530, setting new records over nearly five months compared to previous years.

Israeli army measures and the deployment of additional forces in Jerusalem are expected to restrict Palestinian access to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, particularly during the Tarawih, Muslims' special night prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv – Protests are escalating in Israel, putting pressure on the government to reach a hostage swap deal with the Palestinian group Hamas.

Tel Aviv – The situation is expected to worsen if the Israeli army attempts to carry out a plan to expand its aggressive action against civilians in Rafah City, in the southern Gaza Strip. Late Sunday, Netanyahu vowed to proceed with his plans to invade Rafah.

Tel Aviv – The indirect talks between Hamas and Israel to reach a cease-fire and hostage swap deal. Even though no breakthroughs have been made, indirect negotiations are still taking place to bridge differences between Israel and Hamas on details of the agreement.

LEBANON

Beirut – Cross-border tensions between the Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel have escalated as both sides intensify their attacks.

YEMEN

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

TÜRKİYE

Ankara – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to receive credentials from new ambassadors of five countries, including Albania, Philippines, Greece, Burundi, and the Republic of Korea.

Ankara - Erdogan to attend an iftar (fast-breaking dinner) program with ambassadors at Justice and Development (AK) Party's headquarters.

GERMANY

Berlin – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for talks about bilateral relations and international issues.

Berlin – Eva Hoegl, Germany’s parliamentary commissioner for the military, to present her annual report on the state of the armed forces. The report is expected to cover a wide range of issues, including equipment deficiencies, dramatic shortages in personnel, and incidents of right-wing extremism.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva – The UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists.

FRANCE

Paris – Members of the National Assembly to debate and vote on France's strategy to support Ukraine, following President Emmanuel Macron's controversial remarks about "sending troops" and the signing of a security agreement with Kyiv on Feb. 16.

Strasbourg – EU High Representative Josep Borrell to attend a European Parliament plenary session debate and is expected to speak about the situation in Gaza.

UK

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

London – Third reading of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill to take place in the House of Lords. The bill will be sent back to the House of Commons for consideration of amendments proposed by the Lords.

RUSSIA

Moscow — Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with the heads of diplomatic missions of Latin American and Caribbean countries accredited in Russia.

Moscow — The State Duma will discuss a draft appeal to the Bundestag in connection with Germany’s participation in "crimes committed by Ukraine."

BELARUS

Minsk — Nominations for delegates to the All-Belarusian People's Assembly will begin.

US

Washington – President Joe Biden to host Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk for a joint meeting at the White House.

Washington – US Senate Armed Services Committee to hold a hearing on global security challenges and US strategy.

Washington – Voters in Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington state head to polls to choose their party's nominee for president in primary elections. Former President Donald Trump is on track to earn the 1,215 delegates needed to win the nomination.

New York – UN Security Council to meet for a briefing on cooperation between the UN and European Union. EU High Representative Josep Borrell participates.

MOZAMBIQUE

Maputo – Storm Flipo is expected to make landfall in the country, bringing damaging winds and more than 250mm of rain, resulting in flooding. Mudslides are also a concern.

NIGERIA

Kaduna – The Nigerian army is still looking for 300 schoolchildren and dozens of women kidnapped by terrorists last week. The government says it has identified 14 schools in at least 14 states, including the capital, Abuja, vulnerable to attack.

SOMALIA

Kismayo – Millions of Muslims fasting in the war-torn country are struggling to find a meal to break their fast due to droughts and floods that have devastated crops.

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg – Thousands of residents in South Africa's largest city remain without water after weeks of shortages.

INDIA

New Delhi – The implementation of an amended citizenship law by the government deemed discriminatory may elicit a response from opposition parties and human rights groups in India.

CHINA

Beijing – Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

THE ECONOMY

Ankara – The Turkish Statistical Institute will reveal the January industrial production index. Industrial production has been increasing for quite some time and is expected to continue in the current year.

Ankara – The Turkish Central Bank to announce the January current account balance. Balance reported deficits in the final two months of 2023, following two months of positive figures.

Berlin – Germany's statistics agency Destatis to release February inflation figures. In January, the rate was 2.5%.

Washington – The US to release annual inflation data for February. The rate was at 3.1% in January.

SPORTS

London/Barcelona - Arsenal to face Porto while Barcelona to take on Napoli in the UEFA Champions League last-16 return leg. Porto secured a narrow win over Arsenal, Barcelona drew 1-1 with Napoli in the first legs.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Netanyahu exploiting US mistake of linking Gaza war end to Palestinian statehood: Ex-Israeli foreign minister

By Beril Canakci

Istanbul – Interview with Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former foreign minister of Israel, about its ongoing war on Gaza and the political situation within the country.

The interview focuses particularly on his assessment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and strategies, as well as the ongoing efforts for a sustainable cease-fire and halt to the Israeli assault.

Ben-Ami speaks about the international push to link Palestinian statehood to efforts for a long-term solution, something which he believes is a “tactical mistake” by the Biden administration that Netanyahu is exploiting for his own political gains.

London’s Muslims start Ramadan under shadow of Islamophobia

By Burak Bir

London – Report about London’s Muslim community’s growing fear of Islamophobic attacks during the holy month of Ramadan.

The story gives details of recent incidents that have heightened concerns among the community and the steps they are demanding, such as increased surveillance and security.

It includes an interview with Bibi Rabbiyah Khan, head of the London Islamic Cultural Society, along with written comments from the Metropolitan Police.

Turkish Cypriot leader says ‘new model’ needed to solve Cyprus issue

By Ayhan Simsek

Berlin – Interview with Ersin Tatar, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, focusing on efforts to resolve the decades-old Cyprus dispute.

Tatar calls for a “creative” approach and a “new model” based on the political realities on the island, which he stresses must be recognized and accepted by the international community.

He speaks about the need for recognition of sovereign equality of Turkish Cypriots and the continuation of Türkiye’s guarantorship, while also warning of the dangers posed by the rise of the far-right in the Greek Cypriot administration.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former foreign minister of Israel, about its ongoing war on Gaza and the political situation within the country, where he shares a critical assessment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and strategies.

VIDEO – Report about London’s Muslim community’s growing fear of Islamophobic attacks during Ramadan, including an interview with Bibi Rabbiyah Khan, head of the London Islamic Cultural Society.

VIDEO – Interview with Ersin Tatar, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, where he stresses the need for a “creative” approach and a “new model” to resolve the decades-old Cyprus dispute.