Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip, as Israel continues its relentless onslaught for 194th day despite UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in besieged enclave.

Since last October, Israeli offensive has killed over 33,800 people and injured more than 76,500 others amid crippling blockade that has left most of population on verge of starvation.

Ramallah - Ongoing Israeli raids in West Bank since Oct. 7 which have led to killing of 468 Palestinians, injuring around 4,800, and arrest of 8,270, according to Palestinian sources.

Attacks by illegal Israeli settlers, under Israeli army and police protection, since early Friday against several towns in West Bank.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Reactions to Iran's retaliation last weekend against Israel’s missile attack on Iranian Embassy in Damascus.

According to Israeli news portal Walla, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told his US counterpart Lloyd Austin that Israel has no choice but to respond to Iran’s attack.

QATAR

Doha - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister.

During meeting, bilateral relations as well as situation in Palestine and regional developments to be discussed.

EGYPT

Cairo - Developments in negotiations between Israel and Hamas over hostage swap and cease-fire in Gaza Strip.

Hamas said in its response to mediators on cease-fire proposal it stuck to its demands for permanent cease-fire, Israeli army withdrawal from all of Gaza, and return of displaced people, which Israeli military considered negative response.

LEBANON

Beirut - Continuing cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel that flared up last October, in deadliest clashes between two sides since their full-scale war in 2006.

Israeli army confirmed on Tuesday that it had assassinated Ismail Yusuf Baz, commander of Hezbollah's coastal region, in drone attack in Tyre, southern Lebanon.

YEMEN

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

TÜRKİYE

Ankara - At Justice and Development (AK) Party group meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan set to speak on domestic and global issues, including Gaza."

Ankara - Erdogan to receive letters of credentials from new ambassadors of Rwanda and Nicaragua.

Ankara - Communications Director Fahrettin Altun to attend program organized by Anadolu on The Evidence, its book and documentary on Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.

BELGIUM

Brussels - EU leaders to convene for special 2-day summit.

ITALY

Rome - Foreign ministers from G7 group of wealthy countries to meet on island of Capri to discuss Ukraine war, Mideast tensions, and international issues.

UK

LONDON - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take questions from lawmakers in House of Commons, with questions expected on Rwanda deportation plan and situation in Gaza.

London - Lords’ amendments to Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill to be discussed in House of Commons with amendments considered.

CROATIA

Zagreb - Country to hold parliamentary elections.

RUSSIA

Moscow - President Vladimir Putin to hold meeting with Cabinet ministers on economic issues.

Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Rady Khabirov, head of Russian Republic of Bashkortostan, to speak at presentation on republic’s economic, investment and tourism potential.

TOGO

Lome- West African regional bloc ECOWAS to deploy team to Togo ahead of legislative and regional elections set for April 29.

SOUTH SUDAN

Juba - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to pay working visit to South Sudan to discuss conflict resolution and upcoming elections with President Salva Kiir and other stakeholders.

KENYA

Nairobi - Strike by doctors in East African nation continues for second month with no resolution in sight.

ETHIOPIA

Addis Ababa - Fighting in disputed areas bordering Tigray and Amhara regions in Ethiopia risks derailing 2022 peace deal.

US

Washington - Speaking at United Steelworkers headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden may address Gaza and Mideast tension amid possibility of another Israeli attack on Iran.

Washington - House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense to hold hearing on Defense Department 2025 budget. Witnesses include Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr.

New York - UN Security Council to meet to debate efforts for international peace and security, focusing on role of young people in addressing security challenges in Mediterranean.

New York - UN Security Council expected to hold briefing on situation in Mideast, including Palestinian question. Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), is expected to brief council members.

New York - Jury selection in trial of former President Donald Trump in hush money case, which began on Monday, continuing all week. Trump faces 34-count indictment over alleged involvement in paying hush money to Stormy Daniels during 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

COLOMBIA

Bogota - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to meet his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro and discuss bilateral ties and regional issues. Lula to also attend business forum and inaugurate Bogota International Book Fair.

CHINA

Beijing - Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon paying week-long visit. Fajon is expected to meet Chinese leadership.

Beijing - Press briefing by Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

AUSTRALIA

Sydney - Australian police probe following Sydney church stabbing. New South Wales police have called attack a terrorist act. (from the office )

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Honiara - In Wednesday's general election, over 420,000 registered voters are eligible to cast ballots at around 1,200 polling stations across island nation. Regional neighbors Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea have sent police to help with election security.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Pakistani High Court hearing former Prime Minister Imran Khan's appeals against conviction in state secrets case. (from the office )

ECONOMY

Tokyo - Japan’s trade balance for March to be announced.

Ankara - Turkish Central Bank to announce current account balance for February. For last three months, balance was on negative side.

Luxemburg - Eurostat to share second reading of consumer inflation for March. After 2.8% and 2.6% in January and February, further drop to 2.4% is expected.

Tokyo - Japan to release foreign trade figures for March. It posted foreign trade deficit in both January and February.

London - British statistical authority to share CPI inflation figures for March. CPI was at 3.4% in February and 4% in January, with further drop to 3.1% expected in March.

SPORTS

Munich - German Bundesliga side Bayern Munich to host English Premier League club Arsenal in UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 2nd leg match. First leg ended 2-2 in London.

Manchester - English Premier League club Manchester City to host Spanish LaLiga powerhouse Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 2nd leg game. First leg ended 3-3 in Madrid.

SPECIAL REPORTS

BAE Systems: UK’s largest arms company under fire for Israel ties

By Aysu Bicer

London - Interview with Iain Overton, executive director of Action on Armed Violence, about non-profit’s recent report on British arms giant BAE Systems and its ties with Israel.

Overton breaks down scale of BAE System’s global business with Israel and other countries accused of human rights abuses and corruption.

He speaks about Israel’s omission from UK’s list of countries with human rights concerns, suggesting potential political influence in decision-making, while calling for investigations of defense firm’s deals with Israel.

How US led Israel’s defense against Iran’s retaliatory attack

By Emre Basaran

Istanbul - Report on how Israel’s allies, particularly US, played pivotal role in its defense during Iran’s April 13 retaliatory attack.

Story provides details on military assets and defense systems that US deployed to help Israel limit damage from Iranian salvo of drones and missiles.

Includes comments from David Campbell, associate professor at University of Vienna, about attack’s implications and repercussions for region.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Iain Overton, executive director of Action on Armed Violence, about non-profit’s recent report on British arms giant BAE Systems’ continuing ties with Israel during its ongoing deadly war on Gaza.