Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, March 14, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City – The humanitarian and military situation in the Gaza Strip as Israel's relentless offensive on the besieged enclave enters its 160th day, killing nearly 31,300 people and injuring at least 73,024 others amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the verge of starvation, while efforts are underway to send aid to the Palestinians via a new sea route.​​​​​​​

The Israeli army continues to target Palestinians who are awaiting humanitarian aid in the Gaza City. At least five people were killed and several others injured on Wednesday in Israeli shelling of a humanitarian aid distribution center in the southern Gaza Strip.

Ramallah – Continuous security tension in the West Bank due to escalating Israeli army actions since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Israeli military raids in the West Bank resulted in the death of 432 Palestinians and the injury of around 4,700 others. The number of arrests has also risen to about 7,600, setting record figures over nearly five months compared to previous years.

LEBANON

Beirut – Cross-border tension between the Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel amid intensified attacks by both sides. At least 300 people are estimated to have been killed in Lebanon, including 240 Hezbollah fighters, since Oct. 8 last year. Nearly 20 Israelis have also been killed, according to Israeli figures.

YEMEN

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

IRAQ

Baghdad – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, along with National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and head of National Intelligence Organization Ibrahim Kalin, to visit Iraq where they will attend the next meeting of the security-oriented consultations with Iraq to be hosted by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

During the meeting in the capital Baghdad, various topics on the bilateral agenda, particularly cooperation in the fields of combatting terrorism, security, and military cooperation will be discussed thoroughly.

TÜRKİYE

Ankara - National Defense Ministry to hold background meeting on defense issues, including Türkiye’s fight against terrorism.

BELGIUM

Brussels - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses media at news conference to launch annual report looking at NATO's achievements, initiatives, and challenges over the past year.

Brussels - Stoltenberg to host Polish President Andrzej Duda. They are set to hold a joint news conference at 3.30pm CET (1430GMT).

FRANCE

Paris – Head of the EU Council Charles Michel to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of next week's European Council summit.

GERMANY

Berlin - Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte for talks on bilateral relations, international security issues, and military support for Ukraine.

UK

London – HOPE not Hate anti-racism organization to publish its annual "State of Hate" report.

London – A candle light vigil to be held in front of the government offices in Downing Street for Gaza children who died of hunger due to Israeli blockade on the enclave.

LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg - European Court of Justice to hand down judgment in a case brought by the European Commission against the UK over a 2020 Supreme Court ruling (Micula v Romania) which, the Commission argues, violated EU law since it was delivered during the Brexit transition period.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to participate in a campaign event in Saginaw, Michigan.

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea at State Department.

New York - UN Security Council members to discuss Yemen.

ANGOLA

Luanda - President Joao Lourenco to embark on an official three-day visit to China to hold bilateral talks and sign cooperation agreement with President Xi.

KENYA

Nairobi - Doctors expected to strike over unresolved welfare issues with the government.​​​​​​​

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg - Police updates in the brutal murder of three Egyptian Coptic monks killed inside a monastery east of the capital Pretoria.

ETHIOPIA

Addis Ababa - Robert Oliphant, Canada's parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, to embark on a diplomatic mission to Ethiopia to nurture its evolving relationship with the African Union. He will also hold talks to boost ties with Ethiopia.

NIGERIA

Abuja - The Nigerian military continues to search for hundreds of students kidnapped last week as abductors demand for a ransom.

INDIA

New Delhi - As general elections near, farmers from different states to hold Maha Panchayat or grand village council in the Indian national capital New Delhi. Farmers are protesting to press for their demands, including the minimum support price.

BANGLADESH

Dhaka - Amid "ongoing efforts," government is likely to contact "third party" negotiator for freeing hijacked crew and Bangladesh-flagged ship from Somali pirates in Indian Ocean.

CHINA

Beijing - Angola President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco to arrive on three-day visit to China. During his stay in Beijing, he will meet with President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders.

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

THE ECONOMY

Ankara – Turkish Statistical Institute to reveal house sales figures for February.

Ankara – Turkish airport authority to announce airport statistics for February.

Washington – US to share jobless claims data and producer prices index.

SPORTS

Istanbul - Turkish club Fenerbahce to host Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium in second leg of UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round.

Liverpool - English Premier League side Liverpool to host Czech club Sparta Prague in second leg of UEFA Europa League Round of 16.

SPECIAL REPORTS

‘Ecocide’: Impact of Israel’s devastation of Gaza’s environment to last for years

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report about the massive environmental destruction, or “ecocide,” being committed by Israel in its ongoing war on Gaza.

The story looks into the environmental impact of Israel’s war on Gaza, particularly its air, water, and agriculture resources, and how this will have a lasting impact on the enclave’s ecology.

The report includes an interview with Palestinian environmental engineer Abeer Butmeh and comments from David Boyd, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and environment.

Germany tries out four-day work week to tackle labor crunch

By Salman Ahmed

Berlin – Report about the four-day work week pilot project in Germany, where dozens of companies have started a trial that will run for at least six months.

The story explains the idea behind the experiment and how it aims to address an increasing labor shortage in various sectors of Germany, laying out its pros and cons along with an overview of its potential future implementation.

It includes interviews with Jan Buhren, an official of Berlin-based human resource consultancy Intraprenor and Tia Robinson, head of a language school that is part of the pilot project.

Can Burkina Faso overcome growing terrorism threat?

By Aurore Bonny

Douala, Cameroon – Report about the persistent issue of terrorism in Burkina Faso, where a spate of recent attacks has claimed more than 100 lives.

The story gives details of the various terrorist groups operating in the country, and lays out the reasons for their continued strength and their tactical objectives.

It also explains the government’s standpoint and efforts being made to address the issue. The report has interviews with political analyst Gilles Olakounle Yabi and Seyni Diop, a former Senegalese military official and security expert.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Palestinian environmental engineer Abeer Butmeh about the environmental destruction that Israel has caused in the Gaza Strip and the long-term effects it would have for the enclave and its population.

VIDEO – Report about the four-day work week pilot project in Germany, including interviews with people who are taking part in the initiative, who speak about its pros and cons, as well as its potential future implementation.