Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, March 21, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza Strip - Developments in humanitarian and military situation in Gaza Strip on day 167 of Israel’s relentless offensive on besieged enclave, which has killed nearly 32,000 people and injured over 74,000 others amid crippling blockade that has left most of population on verge of starvation.

RAMALLAH

Tension building in West Bank due to escalating Israeli army actions since outbreak of Gaza war. Israeli raids in West Bank have resulted in deaths of over 435 Palestinians and injury of around 4,700 others. Number of arrests has also risen to 7,700 in the last several months – more than arrests seen previously in entire years.

QATAR

Doha - Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel for Gaza truce agreement and hostage-prisoner swap amid mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and US to reach a deal to end Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza Strip.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Escalating protests in Israel to pressure Israeli government to reach prisoner swap deal with Palestinians.

Situation in field of expected Israeli army expanded offensive to Rafah in southern Gaza Strip.

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border attacks between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel that broke out last October, in deadliest clashes between two sides since their full-scale war in 2006.

YEMEN

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

DENMARK

Copenhagen - Denmark to host 2-day Climate Ministerial gathering following up on COP28 UN climate change conference and looking ahead to COP29 this fall.

BELGIUM

Brussels - EU heads of state and government to convene for European Council meeting to discuss such topics as include Middle East, enlargement, external relations, and migration.

Brussels - World leaders to gather at 2-day Nuclear Energy Summit, event highlighting role of nuclear energy in addressing global challenges to reduce use of fossil fuels, enhance energy security, and boost economic development.

Co-Chairs IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to deliver opening statements before heads of state and government statements and adoption of summit declaration.

Participants include International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol. Additionally, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also scheduled to participate in the summit.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to headline campaign event in Texas.

Washington - Tracking Biden administration statements on situation in Gaza and protests in solidarity with Gaza.

New York - UN Security Council to discuss humanitarian and political situation in Syria. Later, members will discuss draft resolutions on Gaza.

New York - Ulrika Richardson, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Haiti, to give virtual briefing on situation in chaos-ridden island nation.

RUSSIA

Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to hold meeting with Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic.

Moscow - Central Election Commission to officially announce results of last weekend’s presidential election.

SOUTH AFRICA

Durban - Lawyers of former South African President Jacob Zuma to appeal court decision to dismiss his bid to remove prosecutor in corruption case against him.

Pretoria - International Down Syndrome Awareness Day organized by Ministry for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. South Africa has high incidence rate of Down syndrome.

Cape Town - Continued campaigning ahead of May 29 general elections.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Goma - Ongoing clashes between Congolese armed forces and M23 rebels who reportedly took control of some towns and villages.

SENEGAL

Dakar - Campaigning for presidential elections this weekend.

AUSTRALIA

Canberra - China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on official trip to Australia where he met with counterpart Penny Wong, is expected to meet former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating. Keating has been critical of Canberra’s leaning towards US as well as AUKUS deal.

BANGLADESH

Dhaka - Bangladesh made first contacts with Somali pirates to negotiate release of 23 crew members and hijacked tanker.

INDIA

New Delhi - Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay state visit to neighboring Bhutan.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Monitoring developments in Gawadar in southwestern Balohlchistan province where 7 militants were neutralized after they attacked government facility.

Islamabad - Interim Afghan administration likely to react to statement of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on cooperation to fight terrorism. Sharif made statement after Islamabad launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan on Monday, killing 8 and drawing armed response from Kabul against border Pakistani military installations.

Islamabad - Foreign Ministry to hold weekly news conference.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

VIETNAM

Hanoi - Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party likely to announce successor to Vo Van Thuong, who resigned as president. Lawmakers to convene to choose new chief executive.

ECONOMY

Ankara - Turkish Central Bank to announce reserve figures for February.

Ankara - Turkish Central Bank to announce interest rate decision after Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

London - Bank of England to announce interest rate decision.

Washington - US to announce jobless claims figures.

SPORTS

Europe - UEFA EURO 2024 playoff semifinals, with 12 nations vying for final three tickets to this summer's European football championship in Germany. Winners of six semifinals in Path A, B, C to reach three finals on March 26. Playoffs are all single-leg knockout matches.

Thursday semifinals: Poland vs Estonia, Wales vs Finland (Path A), Israel vs Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Ukraine (Path B), Georgia vs Luxembourg, Greece vs Kazakhstan (Path C).

SPECIAL REPORTS

Sweden no longer committed to Palestinian cause due to US pressure’

By Leila Nezirevic

London - Report about how Sweden has shifted its stance from pro-Palestine to becoming a strong supporter of Israel during its ongoing war on Gaza.

Story lays out Sweden’s historical position as advocate of Palestinian cause, and explains reasons for radical change in its policy, particularly US pressure on NATO’s latest member.

Includes comments from Masoud Kamali, professor, author, and former special investigator, and Nader Hashemi, associate professor at School of Foreign Service of US’ Georgetown University.

Rising ocean temperatures: Intensified hurricanes expected in coming months

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul - Report about impact of rising ocean temperatures on weather and climate patterns worldwide in coming months.

Story gives details of recent scientific assessments on ocean and land temperatures, and explains reasons for record surges being witnessed around globe.

Includes interviews with Joel Hirschi, senior researcher at National Oceanography Center, and Leon Simons, climate researcher at Club of Rome, Netherlands.

Russia’s Muzeon Park redefines fate of Soviet-era monuments

By Elena Teslova

Moscow - Report on Muzeon Park of Arts in Moscow, also known as Fallen Monument Park.

Story explains significance of open-air museum, which is home to some 700 sculptures, many saved from two waves of monument demolitions in Russia in early and late 1990s.

Includes comments from Elena Soboleva, head of historical and cultural sector at Moscow’s Gorky Park.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interviews with climate researchers Joel Hirschi and Leon Simons about reasons and impact of rising ocean temperatures, particularly on weather and climate patterns worldwide in coming months.

VIDEO - Interview with Masoud Kamali, professor, author, and former special investigator, about reasons for shift in Sweden’s stance from pro-Palestine to becoming a strong supporter of Israel during its ongoing war on Gaza.

VIDEO - Report on Moscow’s Muzeon Park of Arts, or Fallen Monument Park, explaining its history and significance, with comments from visitors and cultural expert.