Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, April 22, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

IRAQ

Baghdad - Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to meet with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al Sudani in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad as part of his one-day visit.

Erdogan and al-Sudani to hold a joint press conference, and several agreements to be signed between the two countries.

President Erdogan to also visit Erbil in northern Iraq after Baghdad.

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip, as Israel continues its relentless onslaught for 199th day despite UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in besieged enclave.

Since last October, Israeli offensive has killed nearly 34,100 people and injured nearly 77,000 others amid crippling blockade that has left most of population on verge of starvation.

The Israeli airstrikes continue on several areas in the Gaza Strip, including the city of Rafah, which Israel insists on invading under the pretext of confronting the last strongholds of the Hamas movement, despite increasing international warnings of catastrophic consequences, amidst the presence of approximately 1.4 million displaced persons.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees stated that one child is killed every 10 minutes in the Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate cease-fire as it is the last hope remaining for Gazans.

Ramallah - Ongoing Israeli raids in West Bank since Oct. 7 which have led to killing of 485 Palestinians, injuring around 4,900, and arrest of 8,400, according to Palestinian sources.

ISRAEL

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

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.

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.

EUROPE

LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg - EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) virtual meeting. Foreign ministers from European Union to discuss current affairs, Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and Sudan. The section on Ukraine also includes the participation of EU defense ministers as well as Ukraine's foreign and defense ministers. A closing press conference is planned for 5:30 p.m.

GERMANY

Berlin - German chief of defense Gen. Carsten Breuer to hold press conference on Quadriga 2024, the largest military exercise of German land forces since Russia-Ukraine war.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - International Labour Organization to publish report on the effects that climate change is having on the safety and health of workers.

UK

London – The House of Commons to hold session on Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

EURASIA

RUSSIA

Moscow - President Vladimir Putin to hold talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, who will be on a working visit to Russia. The agenda covers the key matters dealing with further developing the strategic partnership and allied relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as detailed exchange of views on the recent developments in the region.

Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to attend a ceremony to mark 70 years since Russia joined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to chair meeting of heads of Russian regions. The topic of the meeting is “development of interregional cooperation between the regions of the Russian Federation and China.”

ASIA – PACIFIC

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is arriving in Pakistan on 3-day visit.

CAMBODIA

Phnom Penh- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has arrived in Phnom Penh in second leg of his three-nation visit.

BANGLADESH

Dhaka- Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to land in Bangladesh on two-day state visit. During the visit, six agreements and five memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed between the two countries.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks to commemorate Earth Day in state of Virginia.

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deliver remarks on release of 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices during briefing at Department of State.

New York - Opening statements in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York. Trump faces 34-count indictment in relation to his alleged involvement in paying hush money to Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

New York - UN Security Council members to meet to receive briefing on UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK. In afternoon, members will convene for briefing on situation in Haiti from special representative and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti.

ECONOMY

Ankara – Turkish Statistical Institute to reveal consumer confidence index for April.

Ankara – Turkish Patent and Trademark Office to release patent, trademark and design statistics for first quarter.

Ankara – Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry to reveal central government’s debt figures for March.

SPORTS

Milan - AC Milan to face leaders Inter Milan on matchday 33 of Italy's Serie A. Inter top Serie A standings with 83 points; AC Milan follow them with 69 points.

Antalya - 59th edition of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye, under the patronage of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to be followed.

SPECIAL REPORTS

‘We will never forget you’: UK health workers vow to be voice of Gaza colleagues facing Israeli horrors

By Burak Bir and Zuhal Demirci

London – Report about a recent demonstration held by health workers in the UK to express solidarity with their colleagues in Gaza, who have been working through all sorts of horrors during Israel’s ongoing war on the Palestinian enclave.

It includes interviews with three British health workers – clinical research scientist Taby Khan, occupational therapist Jordan Rivera, and physiotherapist Rachel Moses.

They condemn Israel’s complete annihilation of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, where it has destroyed dozens of hospitals and killed numerous health personnel. They call for an immediate cease-fire and end to British arms supplies to Israel, vowing to continue their protests until their demands are met.

‘They stole my identity’: The recurring plague of dreadlock theft in Kenya

By Andrew Wasike

Nairobi, Kenya – Report about the unique phenomenon of dreadlock theft in Kenya, an issue that has kept recurring over the past several years.

It gives details of cases where people have had their dreadlocks cut off and stolen in broad daylight, with some victims being drugged on public transport.

The story explains the possible factors for the troubling trend and its impact through interviews with victims and officials, as well as psychologist Susan Gitau and Amina Dhaashi, a follower of the Rastafarian faith in which dreadlocks hold religious importance.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interviews with three British health workers – Taby Khan, Jordan Rivera and Rachel Moses – about Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, where they voice solidarity with their colleagues in the Palestinian enclave and call for an immediate cease-fire and end to British arms supplies to Israel.

VIDEO – Report about the recurring issue of dreadlock theft in Kenya, explaining the reasons for and impact of the troubling trend through interviews with victims, officials and a psychologist.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​