Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, April 29, 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 206th day despite UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

Since last October, Israeli offensive has killed over 34,400 people and injured more than 77,500 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, amid the presence of around 1.4 million displaced persons.

Ramallah - Ongoing Israeli raids in West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023 which have led to the killing of 491 Palestinians, around 4,900 injuries, and arrest of nearly 8,500, 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.

EGYPT

Cairo - The indirect talks between Israel and the Hamas group in Cairo aimed at reaching a hostage swap deal and a cease-fire in Gaza. Hamas will provide its response regarding a proposed new cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and a hostage swap deal with Israel, according to the Al-Qahera News channel. A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told Anadolu that a Hamas delegation led by Khalil Al-Hayyah will arrive in Cairo to deliver the movement's response regarding the cease-fire proposal in Gaza.

SAUDI ARABIA

Riyadh - Arab and international meetings regarding regional developments and the future of the war on Gaza, being held on the sidelines of the two-day World Economic Forum.

Saudi Arabia plans to host a meeting in Riyadh to discuss Gaza’s future at the level of foreign ministers and key officials, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, and key officials from the EU, Jordan, Egypt, and Qatar.

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 the 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.

SPAIN

Madrid - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to announce his decision on whether he will continue as the prime minister. Sanchez announced last week that he was suspending his duties and considering whether to remain in office amid political attacks from the right and a probe into his wife, and that he would announce his decision in a public appearance.

GERMANY

Berlin - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet Montenegro's Prime Minister Milojko Spajic for talks on bilateral relations, the country’s bid for EU membership.

Berlin - Trial of far-right suspects who are accused of planning a coup in Germany to begin in the southwestern city of Stuttgart. Suspects are accused of plotting terror attacks to overthrow the government.

UK

London - A vigil to take place to honor the deaths of more than 100 journalists in Gaza in the last six months.

US

Washington - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to pay two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.

New York - UN Security Council to meet to adopt a resolution on the UN mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, ahead of its mandate expiry Tuesday.

KAZAKHSTAN

Astana - The Farabi Film Festival to take place with the support of the International Organization of Turkic Culture to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Kazakh National University named after Farabi.

INDIA

New Delhi - Supreme Court to hear petitions against arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the country's Enforcement Directorate on corruption charges.

New Delhi - Election campaigning of Indian general elections which has intensified, with the third phase due on May 7.

CHINA

Beijing - Peru's Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea Franco and Bolivia's top diplomat Celinda Sosa Lunda are visiting China.

KENYA

Nairobi - The Kenyan government is hosting African heads of state and the World Bank to identify key priorities for financing in Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria - Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya to host a media briefing to discuss topical issues.

TOGO

Lome - The African Union has sent 40 observers to Togo as the country votes for legislative and regional representatives on Monday.

THE ECONOMY

Ankara - Turkish Statistical Institute to announce economic confidence index for April.

Berlin - Germany’s Destatis to share inflation figures for April. It has been in a downward trend since December, from 3.7% to 2.2%, April figure may post a slight increase.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Rwanda legislation damages UK’s reputation, Labour will repeal it: Veteran politician Lord Dubs

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

London - Interview with Alf Dubs, a member of the British House of Lords, about the UK’s controversial plan to ship off asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Dubs, a veteran politician from the Labour Party, criticizes the new law pushed through by the government, terming it “wrong in principle” and warning it will cause serious damage to the UK’s reputation. He vows that Labour will repeal the legislation if it comes to power.

The story also includes comments from James Wilson, the director of rights group Detention Action, who denounces the new law as “cruel and inhumane,” and a move that will tarnish the country’s global image.

Israeli settlements ‘neither legal nor product of natural growth’: Italian historian

By Ahmet Gencturk

Athens - Interview with Lorenzo Kamel, a historian and associate professor at the University of Turin, focusing on a historical perspective on Israel’s illegal settlement activity on occupied Palestinian lands.

Kamel, who has authored several books on the Middle East, gives a breakdown of the legal and historical reasons why Israel’s actions are illegal under international law.

He also explains how Israel’s push to ramp up illegal settlement construction in the occupied West Bank harms the prospects of a two-state solution and lasting peace.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interviews with British House of Lords member Alf Dubs and James Wilson, the director of rights group Detention Action, about the UK’s controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, where they both criticize the move and warn of potential implications for the country’s global image and moral standing.