Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, April 19, 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 196th day despite UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

Since last October, Israeli offensive has killed nearly 33,900 people and injured more than 76,700 others amid crippling blockade that has left most of population on the verge of starvation. Despite growing international opposition, an Israeli military commander said Thursday the army will invade Rafah city.

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 8,310, according to Palestinian sources.

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.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Reactions to Iran's retaliation against Israel last weekend for a missile attack on Iranian Embassy in Damascus on April 1.

IRAN

Tehran - Reactions to small-scale explosions reported in Isfahan and Tabriz cities of Iran.

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, the 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.

The group said Thursday it has targeted 98 Israeli, US, and British ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean since last November.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks at IBEW Construction and Maintenance Conference. Biden's remarks expected on reported Israeli attack in Iran.

New York - UN Security Council to hold meeting over reports of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sudan and South Sudan.

BELGIUM

Brussels - Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council takes place to discuss Ukraine's request for supplies of air defense systems and ammunition. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participates in the meeting, as well as NATO defense ministers.

ITALY

Carpi - G7 counterparts conclude their three-day meeting. Discussions focus on Ukraine, the war in Gaza, and Haiti, as well as global issues, including climate change, artificial intelligence, development finance, and public health. An increased focus is likely on Iran following the attack on Israel over the weekend. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani holds a closing news conference at 11.45 a.m. CEST (0945GMT).

UK

LONDON - Vigil to be held outside Prime Minister’s Office to commemorate healthcare workers that have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists.

NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to attend 10th Meeting of the Turkish-Dutch Bilateral Conference.

Fidan will meet with his counterpart Hanke Bruins Slot to discuss bilateral relations, Türkiye-EU relations, and regional developments. Fidan will also meet with Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, who announced his bid to become the next NATO secretary-general.

SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria - Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor to host Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry for bilateral talks.

Pretoria - Government and private sector partners to publish a report on the terrorist financing risk assessment on the non-profit organization sector.

KENYA

Nairobi - President William Ruto has called for an urgent security meeting after a Kenya Defense Forces helicopter crashed, killing five people and injuring three. The Chief of Defense Forces Francis Ogolla was on board.

TÜRKİYE

Ankara - Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz will attend the Türkiye-Tanzania Business Forum. Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas will also participate in the forum.

CHINA

Beijing - China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson will hold regular daily briefing.

INDONESIA

Jakarta - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Indonesia to attend China-Indonesia High-Level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism. He will also visit Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. In Cambodia, Wang will participate in Seventh Meeting of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee.

INDIA

New Delhi - Voting for the first phase of the seven-phased Indian general election, which begins on Friday. Voters in 102 parliamentary constituencies in 21 states to cast votes.

THE PHILIPPINES

Manila - New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon arrived in the Philippines on his three-day official visit on Thursday. He is the first prime minister of New Zealand to visit Manila in 14 years.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - A Pakistani High Court is hearing the former Prime Minister Imran Khan's appeals against the conviction in a state secret case.

THE ECONOMY

Ankara - Turkish Central Bank to share private sector’s foreign debt figures for February.

Tokyo - Japan to release inflation figures for March. It was 2.2% in January and 2.8% in February.

Berlin - Germany’s Destatis to share producer prices for March. It has been decreasing for seven months.

SPECIAL REPORTS

‘Boycat’: The app driving change for Palestine with every barcode scan

By Servet Gunerigok

Washington – Report about Boycat, an app launched in the US to help people identify and boycott businesses supporting Israel.

The story explains the origins and functions of the app, which includes providing information about alternative products and pro-Palestine companies.

It includes an interview with Adil Abbuthalha, the app’s founder, who speaks about its core objectives, focus areas such as community building, and future aims.

India elections: Ruling party looks south in hunt for record win

By Ahmad Adil

New Delhi - Report about India’s general elections, focusing on the potentially significant role that the country’s southern states could play in the race for power.

The story gives a breakdown of the electoral data for key southern states, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Telangana. It explains why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party are focusing efforts on wooing voters in the south, and why the region remains a challenge for the party.

The story includes interviews with Niranjan Sahoo, a senior fellow at the think tank Observer Research Foundation, political analyst Rasheed Kidwai, and veteran journalist Nirupama Subramanian.

Red Sea tensions: Container shipping more than halves, LNG trade nearly halts

By Nuran Erkul Kaya

London - Report about how the situation in the Red Sea has impacted shipping and maritime trade in the region.

The story gives latest data illustrating the sharp drop in transits of container ships and liquified natural gas tankers (LNG), as well as the spike in freight rates and its implications.

It includes interviews with Jan Hoffman, trade logistics head at the UN Conference on Trade and Development, and Niels Rasmussen, chief shipping analyst at Baltic and International Maritime Council.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Adil Abbuthalha, the founder of Boycat, an app launched in the US to help people identify and boycott businesses supporting Israel, where he explains the origins, functions, and core objectives of the app.

INFOGRAPHIC - Data illustration of how tensions in the Red Sea have impacted shipping and maritime trade in the region, including the drastic drop in transits of container ships and LNG tankers.