Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, May 6, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Rafah - Israeli army calls on Palestinians to evacuate eastern parts of Rafah ahead of possible invasion. The southern city is currently a refuge for some 1.4 million displaced persons.

Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip as Israel continues its relentless onslaught for 213th day. Since last October, the offensive has killed more than 34,600 people and injured nearly 78,000 others amid crippling blockade that has left most of population on verge of starvation.

Ramallah - Ongoing Israeli raids in West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023 have led to killing of 497 Palestinians, injuring around 4,950, and arrested more than 8,550, according to Palestinian sources.

ISRAEL

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

Backlash over decision to shut down bureau of Qatar-owned Al Jazeera network in Israel. Reporters Without Borders condemns "repressive legislation" that led to the move.

EGYPT

Cairo - Indirect talks between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas aimed at reaching hostage swap deal and cease-fire in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected calls to end offensive in return for a hostage swap deal, claiming that ending the war now would keep Hamas in power. In response, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh accused him of undermining efforts to reach truce agreement.

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.

According to Israeli Army Radio, rocket fire from Lebanon into Israel has more than doubled in last three months.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Growing tensions in Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of ties to Israel, and retaliatory US airstrikes on targets inside Yemen.

LATVIA

Riga - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to hold joint press conference with leaders of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania following his visit to Baltic region.

FRANCE

Paris - Chinese President Xi Jinping to conclude two-day visit to France. He will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

US

Washington - Pro-Palestine college campus protests as more than 2,200 people arrested since April 18 Columbia University protest.

Washington - President Joe Biden to present Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the US Military Academy Army Black Knights at White House. He will later have lunch with Jordan's King Abdullah II, and then host Cinco de Mayo reception in Rose Garden.

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deliver keynote speech at RSA Conference 2024, a series of IT security conferences, in San Francisco, California.

Washington - Developments after final pre-trial conference ahead of Senator Bob Menendez's trial on bribery charges. Menendez pleaded not guilty to accusations that he and his wife Nadine Menendez accepted gold bars and cash from three New Jersey businessmen.

Washington - Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she would formally bring motion to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson this week.

New York - UN Security Council members to hold closed consultations on situation in Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

RUSSIA

Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to meet his Sierra Leonean counterpart Timothy Musa Kabba.

Moscow - State Duma Council to decide on procedure for approving government candidates.

UZBEKISTAN

Tashkent - 9th meeting of Uzbek-Hungarian Intergovernmental Economic Cooperation Commission to be held for next two days.

SINGAPORE

Singapore - Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar to pay two-day state visit. This is his first overseas visit since ascending to throne on Jan 31.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Saudi Arabian trade delegation, on official visit, expected to strike several bilateral trade and investment deals.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

THE ECONOMY

Istanbul – Turkish banking watchdog to share sector figures for March.

Luxembourg – Eurostat to reveal producer prices index for March.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Palestinians killed in Israeli prisons: ‘If this is not genocide, then what it is?’

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report on the persistent killings of Palestinians held in Israeli jails, shedding light on the brutal conditions they are subjected to, including torture and starvation.

The story gives data and statistics on Palestinians in Israeli detention, including the number of deaths and recorded incidents of abuse and torture.

It includes an interview with Qadura Fares, head of the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, who presents details about the recent killings in Israeli jails, while explaining their systematic policies of torture and how the international community has refused to address the issue.

‘Double standards’: Polish party sees EU ‘manipulation’ in losing power after 8 years

By Jo Harper

Warsaw, Poland – Interview with Poland’s ex-Europe Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk about a range of issues, including his Law and Justice (PiS) party’s ouster from power and the country’s current stance on the joint EU defense strategy.

Mularczyk accuses the EU of playing a pivotal role in the PiS’ electoral defeat in late 2023, claiming the bloc used “political and diplomatic instruments, and a lot of manipulation” against the former government.

The interview also focuses on other key issues including Ukraine’s entry into the EU, the situation on the Poland-Belarus border, and the EU’s migration plan.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Qadura Fares, head of the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, about the continued killings of Palestinians in Israeli jails.

VIDEO – Interview with Poland’s ex-Europe Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk about topics including the Law and Justice (PiS) party’s elections defeat last year and the country’s current stance on various EU-related issues.