Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza city – The developments of the humanitarian and military situations in the Gaza Strip as Israel continues its relentless offensive on the besieged despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the seaside enclave. The Israeli onslaught, now in its 173rd day, has killed more than 32,400 people and injured over 74,800 others since last October amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the verge of starvation.

Ramallah – Continuous security tension in the West Bank amid almost daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian towns in the occupied territory, which resulted in the death of nearly 450 Palestinians and the injury of around 4,750 others since Oct. 7, 2023.

QATAR

Doha – Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel after Tel Aviv pulled out its negotiating team from the Qatari capital, accusing Hamas of being ‘not interested in talks’. Doha, however, says that the talks are still ongoing between technical teams. Hamas demands an end to Israel’s deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the territory for any hostage-prisoner swap deal with Tel Aviv.

LEBANON

Beirut – Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel that broke out last October, in the deadliest clashes between the two sides since their full-scale war in 2006. More than 300 people are estimated to have been killed in Lebanon, including 247 Hezbollah fighters, while nearly 20 Israelis have been killed, according to Israeli figures.

Beirut - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to pay a two-day visit to Lebanon. On Wednesday, in Beirut, she is to meet with Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Growing tension in the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of ties to Israel and US retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen amid fears of a significant disruption to maritime traffic in one of the busiest global routes for oil and fuel transport.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - UN Human Rights Council to conclude debate on human rights in Palestine.

Geneva - The Food Waste Index Report will be launched to catalyze essential action towards reducing food waste and achieving SDG 12.3, it's imperative to grasp the extent of food waste.

Geneva - The World Health Organization to release new briefs focusing on the need to include older women and women with disability in research on gender-based violence.

GERMANY

Berlin - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to hold a joint news conference with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina following their talks in Berlin. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral ties, regional and international security issues.

RUSSIA

Moscow — Chairman of the Accounts Chamber Alexey Kudrin to present report to the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, on activities of the supreme body of state audit.

Moscow — Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a press briefing on current foreign policy issues.

US

Washington - Developments after US abstained from a UN Security Council vote on Gaza cease-fire, which prompted Israel to cancel visit of high-level delegation to Washington.

Washington - Hearing to take place on pretrial motions in case of President Joe Biden's son Hunter, who is facing three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses. Biden has pleaded not guilty and the trial is currently due to begin on June 20.

New York - UN Security Council to hold consultations on UN mission monitoring cease-fire between Syria and Israel.

MALAWI

Blantyre - President Lazarus Chakwera to lead the nation in a memorial service in remembrance of hundreds of victims of the March 2023 cyclone Freedy.

ZAMBIA

Lusaka – The President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi to embark on a two-day state visit to Zambia and hold talks with host President Hakainde Hichilema.

KENYA

Nairobi – The government will start releasing remains of some of the people who died in the coastal province of Kenya after they were told to starve themselves to death by their cult pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie.

SOUTH SUDAN

Juba – The Turkish state agency TIKA will donate laboratory equipment to Upper Nile University Medical students.

SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town – South Africa’s parliament to announce a date when the National Assembly will debate a motion of no confidence against Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula accused of corruption.

CHINA

Beijing - President Xi Jinping hosts US business leaders in an effort by the world’s second largest economy to prop up growth, set at around 5% this year. It is second such meeting after Xi visited the US last November.

Beijing - Visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte likely to call on President Xi Jinping.

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

INDIA

New Delhi - Indian court to hear bail plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who was arrested in a graft case last week by the country’s financial crime investigating agency. The arrest evoked criticism by all opposition parties in the country.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Monitoring Pakistani government’s move after militants killed in a suicide attack five Chinese nationals on their way to working site in northwest Pakistan.

SPECIAL REPORTS

World’s actions against Israel are still ‘baby steps’: Experts

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report analyzing the state of relations between Israel and its Western allies, particularly in the wake of the recent UN Security Council resolution calling for cease-fire in Gaza.

The story includes an interview with Middle East political expert Zeidon Alkinani, who emphasizes that Israel is facing more pressure from the international community over its war on Gaza, but there is still no major indication of isolation.

Another political analyst Chris Doyle speaks about the significance of the recent tensions between Western nations and Israel, while pointing out that countries are still at a stage of “baby steps” in terms of applying pressure on Tel Aviv to halt its deadly war on Gaza.

How crypto traders are defying a government ban in Bangladesh

By Faisal Mahmud

Dhaka, Bangladesh – Report about the ban on the trade and mining of cryptocurrencies in Bangladesh, focusing on how individuals are operating despite the restrictions.

The story is based on a group of cryptocurrency miners and traders who are bypassing the government ban to operate their businesses, mostly in the capital Dhaka.

It includes interviews with these traders about their operations, economist Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, fintech expert Mizanur Rahman, along with comments from Mezbaul Haque, spokesperson for Bangladesh’s central bank.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Report about the recent international steps against Israel, including the UN Security Council resolution for a cease-fire in Gaza, focusing on the impact for Tel Aviv and its relations with Western allies, with comments from global politics analyst Chris Doyle.​​​​​​​