Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, May 15, 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.

The ongoing Israeli offensive in the blockaded enclave, now on its 222nd day, has killed nearly 35,180 people amid a crippling blockade that has left most of population on verge of starvation.

Palestinians to mark the anniversary of Nakba, or Catastrophe, when tens of thousands of Palestinians were expelled from their homes and lands in 1948 to make way for the creation of Israel.

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

ISRAEL

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

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

EGYPT

Cairo - Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at reaching 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 deadliest clashes between 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.

GERMANY

Berlin - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to host Swiss Confederation President Viola Amherd for talks on bilateral ties, international security issues.

UK

London - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to respond to questions from lawmakers in the House of Commons.

GREECE

Athens - On 76th anniversary of Nakba, group of leftist politicians and activists, including former Greek Finance Minister Yannis Varofakis and some European lawmakers, will march to the Embassy of Israel in Athens.

RUSSIA

Moscow - Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold a weekly news conference on current issues of foreign affairs.

TÜRKİYE

Ankara - Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to meet Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly in capital.

SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria - President Cyril Ramaphosa to publicly sign into law the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill aimed at achieving universal health coverage despite criticism from opposition parties.

KENYA

Nairobi - African countries are struggling to restore internet connections after a severe outage caused by damage to sea cables disrupted services in several countries in East and Southern Africa.

SINGAPORE

Singapore - Lawrence Wong to assume role as new prime minister of city-state as he succeeds Lee Hsien Loong as 4th chief executive in Singapore’s 59 years of independent history.

INDONESIA

West Sumatra - Search and rescue operations to locate 27 missing persons underway after cold lava floods from active volcano at Mt. Marapi hit residential areas of the province over the weekend.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

PAKISTAN

Karachi - Team of International Monetary Fund is visiting Pakistan to hold negotiations on another bailout program.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to deliver remarks at National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service at Congress. He will later host Joint Chiefs and Combatant Commanders for meeting at White House.

Washington - House Republicans expect to vote on draft legislation that would seek to force Biden administration into continuing weapons transfers to Israel. Bill is not expected to move forward in Senate while Biden said he would veto it.

New York - UN Security Council to hold its semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Washington - Developments and protests as Wednesday marks anniversary of Palestinian 'Nakba' (Catastrophe) day of 1948.

Washington - Opening statements expected to begin on Democratic Senator Bob Menendez's bribery charges trial. Menendez and his wife Nadine are accused of accepting gold bars and cash from three New Jersey businessmen to 'benefit the government of Egypt' and obstructing justice.

ECONOMY

Ankara - Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry to reveal central government’s budget balance for April.

Luxemburg - Eurostat to announce second reading of eurozone 1st quarter GDP growth rate and industrial production for March.

Washington - US to reveal inflation figures for April.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Unexploded ordnance in Gaza rubble poses unprecedented challenge: UN Mine Action Service chief

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

Geneva – Interview with Charles Birch, chief of the UN Mine Action Service in Palestine, about the dangers posed by unexploded Israeli ordnance in the Gaza Strip.

Birch shares the agency’s estimates on the issue, warning that clearing the millions of tons of rubble in Gaza will be a daunting and unprecedented challenge.

He also speaks about the current situation in Gaza, particularly Israel’s invasion of Rafah, and the problems his agency and other humanitarian groups are facing in operations.

Pakistan’s marsh crocodile population falls prey to climate ravages

By Aamir Latif

Karachi, Pakistan - Report about the declining population of marsh crocodiles in Pakistan.

The story explains the reasons for the dwindling numbers of the already endangered species, including a slew of climate-related factors such as periodical droughts, habitat loss and frequent flooding.

It will include interviews with Muhammad Moazzam Khan, technical adviser to the WWF Pakistan, and ecologist Attaullah Pandrani.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Charles Birch, chief of the UN Mine Action Service in Palestine, about the dangers posed by unexploded Israeli ordnance in the Gaza Strip, and how that makes clearing the millions of tons of rubble in the Palestinian enclave an unprecedented challenge.​​​​​​​