Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, April 10, 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 calling for an immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

The Israeli offensive has resulted in the killing of over 33,200 people and injured nearly 76,000 others since Oct. 7, with the majority of the population on the verge of starvation due to a crippling blockade.

Ramallah - Continuous security tensions in the West Bank amid almost daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian towns in the occupied territory, which resulted in the death of at least 459 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023. The number of arrests has risen to 8,165, reaching record highs over nearly six months and exceeding those recorded on an annual basis in previous years.

EGYPT

Cairo - The indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Cairo aimed to reach a hostage swap deal and a cease-fire in Gaza. Egyptian media has described the ongoing indirect talks as "intensive."

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Protests in Israel continue to put pressure on the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign and reach a hostage swap deal with the Palestinian group Hamas. Members of Netanyahu's government coalition also continue to put pressure on him, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatening to depose him if the war in Gaza is ended.

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel, which broke out last October, in the deadliest clashes between the two sides since their full-scale war in 2006. Hezbollah on Monday said several Israeli soldiers were killed or injured in an attack on a gathering near a military post in northern Israel.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Growing tension in the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having ties to Israel and US airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen, raising concerns about a significant disruption to maritime traffic on one of the world's busiest oil and fuel routes.

SOUTH KOREA

Seoul - Millions of South Koreans to elect their lawmakers in parliamentary elections on Wednesday, with over 13 million eligible voters having already cast their ballots in two days of early voting.

JAPAN

Tokyo - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Washington on his official visit to meet with President Joe Biden. Biden will host Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at a summit in Washington on Thursday.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

BELGIUM

Brussels – European Parliament to debate and vote on the EU’s new migration pact.

Brussels – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to receive Finnish President Alexander Stubb and later both leaders will discuss regional developments and international security issues.

SPAIN

Madrid - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will appear before lawmakers in Spain's lower house, where he is expected to discuss his position on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, as well as relations with Morocco.

UK

LONDON - The Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement between the governments of Britain and Ireland, signed on April 10, 1998, celebrates its 26th anniversary.

LONDON - Ahead of the 5th anniversary of his arrest, supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to stage a protest outside Australia House in London, demanding that Assange not be extradited to the US.

RUSSIA

Moscow - Head of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina will present a report on the results of the financial policy implemented in 2023 in Russia's lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma.

Moscow - Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a weekly news conference on the current foreign policy issues.

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg - Turkish charities to distribute food aid to underprivileged communities across the continent during the Muslim festival of Eid-ul Fitr.

NIGERIA

Kaduna - Thousands of security personnel will be deployed to places of worship during the Muslim Eid-ul Fitr prayers in northern Nigeria's restive regions, where kidnapping and terrorism are common.

SPORTS

Madrid - Spanish LaLiga side Atletico Madrid to take on German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.

Paris - French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain to take on Spanish LaLiga powerhouse Barcelona in UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.