Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - The Israeli army's military operation in Gaza Strip's southernmost city of Rafah.

Israeli offensive in the blockaded enclave on its 221st day has killed nearly 35,100 people, leaving most of the population on the verge of starvation.

The Israeli army’s expanded, simultaneous ground and air attacks across all governorates of Gaza, especially in the Jabalia refugee camp area, northern the enclave.

Ramallah - Israeli raids in the West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023 which have led to the killing of nearly 500 Palestinians, injured around 4,950, and arrested at least 8,725, according to Palestinian sources.

ISRAEL

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

Israeli officials' statements on the ongoing Israeli devastating onslaught against the Gaza Strip.

EGYPT

Cairo - Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at reaching a hostage swap deal and cease-fire in Gaza.

Israeli media on Monday reported that Egyptian and Qatari mediators will convene in Doha this week to reach a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas.

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 - Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of ties to Israel, and retaliatory US airstrikes.

TÜRKİYE

Ankara - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg set to appear in a joint news conference.

Ankara - Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus will meet with the head of the Ukrainian parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, to hold talks.

Istanbul - Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar to attend Türkiye-Azerbaijan cooperation agreement signing ceremony in the field of natural gas.

SWEDEN

Stockholm - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to discuss bilateral ties, EU issues, and international developments.

SWITZERLAND

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

UK

London - Middle East Minister Tariq Ahmad attends the Foreign Affairs Select Committee oral evidence session as part of its inquiry into the UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North Africa.

London - Secretary of Defense Grant Shapps to address First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference.

GEORGIA

Tbilisi - Georgia's parliament to vote on the third and final reading of the draft bill on "transparency of foreign influence."

RUSSIA

Kazan - The 15th International Economic Forum, Russia-Islamic World: Kazanforum, to be held in the capital of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan.

Moscow - The Federation Council will consider candidates for positions in the government.

US

Washington - Developments regarding Israeli war in Gaza after US State Department report that found Israel has not acted in a manner that is consistent with international humanitarian law.

Washington - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks on his agenda to promote American investments and jobs. Biden will later deliver remarks at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ 30th Annual Gala.

Washington - Republican and Democratic primaries to take place in the states of Maryland, Nebraska, and West Virginia.

New York - UN Security Council to receive a briefing of International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, on ICC’s Libya-related activities. In the afternoon, council members will hold a meeting on the maintenance of peace and security in Ukraine.

TANZANIA

Dar es Salaam - President Samia Hassan Suluhu to co-chair the Heads of State Global Summit on Clean Energy in France.

SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria - Electoral Commission to hold a media briefing on readiness for holding the May 29 general elections.

Pretoria - Ongoing election campaign rallies.

INDONESIA

West Sumatra - Monitoring developments in the aftermath of cold lava floods in West Sumatra which killed 37 while a search for 17 others is going on.

CHINA

Beijing - Officials from China and the US will hold the first-ever inter-governmental talks on artificial intelligence in Geneva where the two sides will discuss technological risks and global governance, besides other issues.

Beijing - Brunei's Foreign Minister Erywan Pehin to pay a three-day official visit to China.

MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to address students and faculty at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha as he continues his three-day official trip to Qatar.

SPORTS

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur to host Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the English Premier League.

Manchester City, who have a game in hand, are 1 point behind leaders Arsenal with 85 points, while Tottenham Hotspur are in 5th place with 63 points.

THE ECONOMY

Berlin - Destatis to announce second reading of Germany’s inflation rate for April.

Mannheim - Zew institute to share Germany and eurozone’s economic sentiment in May.

Washington - The US to share producer prices index for April.

SPECIAL REPORTS

‘We don’t want it to turn hostile’: Students fearful as UK university threatens action against pro-Palestine encampment

By Mehmet Solmaz

Birmingham, England - Report about Birmingham University’s threat of police action against pro-Palestinian protesters who have set up an encampment on the premises.

The story gives details of the situation at the university and the specifics of the threat issued by the administration, which marks a first for any educational institute in the UK, where similar protests are being held at several college campuses.

It includes interviews with students about their demands and expectations, while also speaking about the sense of fear over possible use of force by authorities.

They will budge: Pro-Palestine protesters at Danish university hopeful of divestment success

By Ebad Ahmed

Prague, Czech Republic - Report about the ongoing pro-Palestine protest at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark’s capital.

The story presents details of the encampment set up by students on the university premises, including their demands and the administration’s response.

It includes interviews with students and protest organizers, who speak about the university’s stance, the demonization they have been facing by Danish media, and their expectations for negotiations with the administration.

From trade to energy, Serbia has ‘big plans’ for cooperation with China: Minister

By Talha Ozturk

Belgrade, Serbia - Interview with Serbia’s Minister of Labor and Employment Nemanja Starovic about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the country last week.

The interview focuses on Serbia’s aims and objectives with regard to cooperation with China, with Starovic explaining the particular plans that the government is pursuing, specifically in bilateral trade and the energy sector.

Starovic also speaks about the significance of Belgrade’s deepening ties with Beijing, emphasizing that the two sides are intent on maintaining their relations “as part of their planned future for decades.”

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interviews with Birmingham University students about their pro-Palestine encampment and the administration’s threat of police action against the protesters.

VIDEO - Interviews with students and organizers about the ongoing pro-Palestine protest at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, where they speak about their demands, the administration’s response, and other related issues.

VIDEO - Interview with Serbia’s Minister of Labor and Employment Nemanja Starovic about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the country, focusing on bilateral agreements and plans for enhanced cooperation in trade, energy, and other fields.