Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in the Gaza Strip, as Israel continues its relentless onslaught for the 200th day despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

Since last October, Israeli offensive has killed more than 34,150 people and injured at least 77,084 others amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the 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, amid the presence of around 1.4 million displaced persons.

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

ISRAEL

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

Reactions to the resignation of the Israeli army's military intelligence chief, Aharon Haliva, for failure in dealing with Hamas attacks on Oct. 7.

LEBANON

Beirut - Continuing cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel that flared up last October, in the deadliest clashes between the 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.

TÜRKİYE

Ankara - Türkiye to celebrate its National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, which marks the anniversary of the foundation of the country’s parliament in 1920.

Ankara - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to receive children at presidential complex, later to attend a reception at the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

FRANCE

Strasbourg - EU High Representative Josep Borrell to make a statement on the EU response to "the repeated killing of humanitarian aid workers, journalists and civilians by the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza strip," the use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s victory and reconstruction.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - United Nations Information Service to hold biweekly press briefing for UN bodies headquartered in Geneva.

SWEDEN

Oslo - Finnish President Alexander Stubb to pay a 2-day state visit to Sweden.

POLAND

Warsaw - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to visit Poland. Sunak is expected to announce a new £500 million ($617 million) military aid to Ukraine.

KYRGYZSTAN

Bishkek - UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron to hold talks with Kyrgyz officials amid regional visit to Central Asia.

RUSSIA

Moscow - President Vladimir Putin to take part in a gala event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the start of construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline railway.

Moscow - The Third Belarusian-Latin American Forum to take place in the Russian capital. Belarusian participants will be able to present the potential of their country and establish direct contacts with the trade and economic services of Latin American diplomatic missions.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to participate in two campaign events in Tampa, Florida. Biden's potential remarks regarding situation in Gaza and tensions in Middle East.

Washington - Senate expected to vote legislative package that House of Representatives approved on Saturday that includes crucial foreign aid bills for Ukraine and Israel.

New York - UN Security Council to hold annual open debate on sexual violence in conflict. Maltese Deputy Prime Minister Christopher Fearne will chair session, and debate features address by UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten.

New York - Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, to brief reporters, one day after report by independent review group regarding Israeli allegations on refugee agency.

New York - Former President Donald Trump's criminal trial of hush money case continues following opening statements on Monday.

Pennsylvania - Biden and Trump to go before voters in Pennsylvania's presidential primaries.​​​​​​​

NIGERIA

Abuja - High-level counter-terrorism meeting kicks off in the West African nation bringing together African presidents, the African Union, and top United Nations officials.

RWANDA

Kigali - Some countries in East Africa have issued alerts for precautionary measures after the outbreak of the highly infectious red eye disease in neighboring South Sudan and Uganda.

TOGO

Lome - Activists and opposition politicians threaten to hold protests despite a ban after parliament removed term limits allowing the incumbent President Faure Gnassingbe to increase his time in office to 2031. The country will hold elections on April 29.

PAKISTAN

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

JAPAN

Tokyo - The International Atomic Energy Agency Task Force is set to visit Japan on April 23-26 for the review of the safety and regulatory aspects of the discharge of the ALPS-treated water from TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the sea.

CAMBODIA

Phnom Penh - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to conclude his 3-day official visit to Cambodia.

CHINA

Beijing - Malaysian Foreign Minister Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan is paying an official visit to China on April 23-25.

SPORTS

London - Chelsea to face city rivals Arsenal in London derby at Emirates Stadium in 29th week. Arsenal vs. Chelsea game was set to be held on March 16 but it was moved due to the FA Cup quarterfinals taking place over the same weekend.

MUGLA, Türkiye - 59th edition of Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye (Stage 3: Fethiye-Marmaris).

SPECIAL REPORTS

European future in focus as North Macedonia holds presidential election

By Talha Ozturk

Belgrade, Serbia - Explainer about the presidential election set to be held in North Macedonia on Wednesday.

The story gives a breakdown of electoral data and the main contenders, who include incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, and main opposition candidate Gordana Siljanovska Davkova.

The report also gives details of the key issues in the build-up to the April 24 vote, including the country’s EU membership prospects and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Sotheby’s Islamic art auction spotlights Ottoman gems

By Aysu Bicer

London - Report about Sotheby’s biannual Arts of the Islamic World exhibition and auction.

The story gives details of the dazzling display of Ottoman-era treasures featured in this year’s event, including oil paintings, ceramic pieces, metalwork, carpets, and textiles.

It includes an interview with Benedict Carter, head of Sotheby’s Islamic and Indian Art department, who gives insights into the collection up for auction and shares his views on the richness of Ottoman history and culture.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Report about Sotheby’s Arts of the Islamic World exhibition and auction, which features an array of Ottoman-era treasures this time around, including an interview with Benedict Carter, head of the organization’s Islamic and Indian Art department.