Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, March 22, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza Strip - The developments in the humanitarian and military situation in the Gaza Strip as Israel continues its relentless offensive on the besieged enclave on its 168th day, which resulted in killing nearly 32,000 people and injuring over 74,000 others amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the verge of starvation.

The Israeli army's renewed raids on Al-Shifa Hospital and its surrounding area in Gaza City continue for the fifth day with more destruction in the hospital's infrastructure and equipment, as well as the residential buildings around the hospital.

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 deaths of over 435 Palestinians and the injury of around 4,700 others. The number of arrests has also risen to 7,725, setting record figures over nearly five months compared to previous years.

QATAR

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

ISREAL

Tel Aviv - Escalating protests in Israel to pressure then Israeli government to reach a prisoner swap deal with Palestinians. The battlefield situation in the expected plan of the Israeli army to expand its aggression to Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip.

LEBANON

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

YEMEN

Sanaa - Continuous, escalating tension 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.

BELGIUM

Brussels - European Council meeting of EU heads of state and/or government to conclude.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - United Nations Information Service to hold biweekly press briefing for UN bodies headquartered in Geneva. Updates from UN agencies - such as UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO, OHCHR, OCHA, and the IFRC - on the situation in Gaza are likely.

GERMANY

Berlin - German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to host his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu.

US

Washington - Statements from Biden administration regarding situation in Gaza and potential protests in solidarity with Palestine amid negotiations in Doha aimed at achieving cease-fire in Palestinian enclave.

Washington - House lawmakers expected to vote on second six-bill appropriations package ahead of Friday's deadline to fund remaining federal departments, including Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and State Department.

New York - US to submit draft resolution at UN Security Council, urging "an immediate cease-fire" linked to release of hostages held by Hamas. There is little chance that all council members will favor as an alternative draft resolution could also be put to vote.

AUSTRALIA

Sydney - Australian and British Defense as well foreign affairs chiefs will hold 2+2 ministerial-level talks as two sides signed renewed defense and security pact.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Pakistan and IMF reached staff-level agreement this week for release of last tranche of 3 billion-dollar bailout package. The cash-strapped country is likely to initiate negotiations with IMF for another bailout package to keep the country's economy afloat.

KENYA

Nairobi - Kenyan doctors continue to strike over poor pay and working conditions, paralyzing services at public hospitals.

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg - Water shortages affecting millions of people in the largest city, Johannesburg, now in its second week.

ETHIOPIA

Addis Ababa - The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, the largest in the country, has vowed to take legal action against customers who withdrew more money than was in their bank accounts due to a technical glitch. About 10,000 customers withdrew money during the malfunction costing the bank thousands of dollars.

BUSINESS ECONOMY

Ankara - Turkish Central Bank to reveal capacity utilization rate for manufacturing industry for March. Rate slightly increased last month, by 0.6 points.

Ankara - Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye to share newly established/closed firm statistics for February.

Ankara - Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry to reveal tourist figures for February. Türkiye welcomed 56.7 million tourists last year and around 2 million in January.

Moscow - Russian Central Bank to announce interest rate decision. Since May, bank increased rate from 7.5% to 16% till December and kept rate constant in 2024’s first meeting in February. Bank is expected to hold rate unchanged in new meeting.

SPORTS

Budapest - Turkish national football team to visit Hungary in international friendly match as part of preparations for EURO 2024 finals to be held this summer.

Athens - Second-place Barcelona to face third-place Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in critical Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 31 game in Greece as both clubs eye playoff qualification. Leaders Real Madrid have already guaranteed spot in playoff stage.

Milan - Türkiye's Fenerbahce Beko, who are 4th in EuroLeague, to visit 12th-place EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Italy. EuroLeague regular season to end with Round 34 games. Best 6 clubs in standings to qualify for 2024 playoffs. Clubs ranked 7th through 10th to advance to play-in, knockout phase before playoffs.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Israel can face separate case for war crime of starvation in Gaza: Experts

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul - Report focusing on the possibility of Israel and its leaders being prosecuted for enforcing conditions that are leading to starvation in the Gaza Strip.

The story explains how starvation falls under the definition of war crimes in international law, and details the aspect of Israeli, which experts say has been clear and opens the window for legal action.

It includes interviews with international law expert Michael Becker, famine expert Alex De Waal, and Ahmed Benchemsi, communications director at Human Rights Watch.

Senegal’s presidential election: All you need to know

By Hassan Isilow

Johannesburg - Report about the March 24 presidential election in Senegal, where political tensions are running high ahead of what is expected to be a tightly contested race.

The story gives a rundown of the main candidates in the race, focusing specifically on the two with the highest chances – former Prime Minister Amadou Ba and main opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

It includes comments from Bonginkosi Ngwenya, a specialist on West African politics and elections, retired diplomat Harold Acemah, and Buchanan Ismael, a political scientist at the University of Rwanda.

Doxxing disproportionately impacts women, existing laws falling flat: Expert

By Emre Basaran

Istanbul - Report about the burgeoning digital issue of “doxxing,” the unlawful publishing of private or identifying information of individuals.

The story focuses on why women in particular are facing an increasing threat and how current laws and regulations have proven insufficient in tackling the issue.

The report includes an interview with Amanda Manyame, a digital law and rights advisor at Equality Now, a women’s rights watchdog.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interviews with Ahmed Benchemsi, communications director at Human Rights Watch, and famine expert Alex De Waal about the possibility of Israel and its leaders being prosecuted for enforcing conditions that are leading to starvation in the Gaza Strip.

VIDEO - Interview with Amanda Manyame, a digital law and rights advisor at women’s rights group Equality Now, about the issue of doxxing, focusing on why women are particularly vulnerable and how current laws are insufficient to address the problem.