Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - The humanitarian and military situation in the Gaza Strip as Israel continues its relentless onslaught despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

The Israeli offensive resulted, on its 179th day, in killing over 32,800 people and injuring about 75,400 others since last October amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the verge of starvation.

Early on Monday, the Israeli army withdrew from Al-Shifa Hospital, western Gaza City, after a two-week raid that left the hospital completely damaged, along with mass destruction in the hospital's surrounding area.

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 455 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023. The number of arrests has risen to nearly 7,920, reaching record highs over nearly 6 months, exceeding those recorded on an annual basis in previous years.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Escalating protests in Israel to pressure on Israeli government to resign and reach a hostage swap deal with Palestinians.

The indirect talks between Israel and the Hamas group in Cairo and Doha aimed at reaching a prisoner swap deal and a cease-fire in Gaza.

SYRIA

Damascus - The airstrike, likely by Israel, on a building adjacent to the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, and the deaths it caused.

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.

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 Information Service to hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists. Statements are expected on the latest situation in Gaza Strip.

PORTUGAL

Lisbon - Luis Montenegro to be sworn in as Portugal's next prime minister following elections last month.

FRANCE

Paris - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, and bilateral issues.

KAZAKHSTAN

Astana - A two-day meeting of the secretaries of the Security Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states to begin in the Kazakh capital.

MONGOLIA

Ulaanbaatar - Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Defense Andrey Kartapolov to begin his visit to Mongolia.

US

Washington - Statements from Biden administration regarding situation in Gaza amid Israeli attacks and potential protests in solidarity with Palestine.

Washington - Developments after Israeli airstrike killed World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza.

Washington - Muslim group Council on American-Islamic Relations to host news conference to launch its annual civil rights report which it said reveals worst wave of anti-Muslim hate recorded in group's 30-year history, underpinned by Israel-Hamas war.

Washington - American voters to head to polls in primaries to be held in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin to choose their presidential candidates.

Wisconsin - Former President Donald Trump to hold rally in Wisconsin and deliver election night remarks on day of the state's primary.

SENEGAL

Dakar - Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 44, to be sworn in as Senegal's youngest president after winning the election last week.

SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria - Former President Jacob Zuma expected to appeal the electoral commission's decision to bar him from contesting for a parliamentary seat in the May 29 elections.

CHINA

Yunnan – People’s Liberation Army to conduct joint live ammunition drill on Chinese side of China-Myanmar border. The drill is being held when bordering northern regions of Myanmar have witnessed intense fighting by rebels against junta regime.

Beijing - Foreign ministers of Laos, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste to visit China.

JAPAN

Tokyo - Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Sabianto to visit Japan where he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other ministers.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Lawmakers from across the nation to elect 30 senators.

Islamabad - Supreme Court to probe allegations levelled by six Islamabad High Court judges that the country’s premier spy agency was influencing outcome of the court proceedings.

INDIA

New Delhi - Admiral Adoong Pan-Iam, commander-in-chief of Thai Navy, on official three-day visit to India where he is scheduled to meet officials of the Indian defense industries.

BANGLADESH

Dhaka - Students at Bangladesh's most prestigious public university -- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology -- likely to challenge High Court order to overturn ban on student politics on the campus. Students fear return of students politics may trigger violence which had led to death of student in recent past.

SPECIAL REPORTS

This is a genocide and we need it to stop: British-Egyptian on Gaza

By Burak Bir

London – Interview with British-Egyptian actor Khalid Abdalla focusing on Israel’s war on Gaza.

Abdalla, best known for his role in the Netflix show The Crown, strongly denounces the failure of the international community to halt Israel’s “genocide” of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

He calls for more international pressure on Israel to stop its war, voicing optimism that the swell of global solidarity with Palestinians will bring an end to the deadly assault.

Critically endangered pancake tortoise struggles for survival in Kenya

By Andrew Wasike

Nairobi, Kenya – Report about conservation efforts for the critically endangered pancake tortoise in Kenya.

The story explains the current situation and challenges, particularly the issue of habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, and the ever-growing threat of climate change.

It includes interviews with African wildlife expert Tom Lalampaa and experienced conservationist Simon Mwangi.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with British-Egyptian actor Khalid Abdalla about Israel’s war on Gaza, who condemns the international community’s failure to stop Israel’s “genocide” of Palestinians and calls for greater global pressure to put an end to the deadly assault.

VIDEO – Report about conservation efforts for the critically endangered pancake tortoise in Kenya, including interviews with African wildlife expert Tom Lalampaa and experienced conservationist Simon Mwangi.