Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, May 18, 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. Palestinians continue to flee from Rafah amid Israeli incursion. As of Friday, UNRWA says 630,000 Palestinians fled Rafah.

The ongoing Israeli offensive in the blockaded enclave, now on its 225th day, has killed more than 35,300 people and injured nearly 79,300 amid a crippling blockade that has left most of population on verge of starvation.

Ramallah - Israeli raids in West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023 which have led to killing of at least 503 Palestinians, injuries to around 5,000, and arrest of at least 8,755, according to Palestinian sources.

ISRAEL

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

The Israeli army claimed to have recovered bodies of three Israelis who were killed on Oct. 7.

EGYPT

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

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.

On Friday, several Israeli airstrikes and shelling on areas in southern Lebanon.

YEMEN

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

UK

London - Groups including Stop the War and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign to hold a national demonstration to call for an end to the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The rally coincides the days the anniversary of Nakba.

AFGHANISTAN

Bamyan - At least three foreign tourists and an Afghan civilian were killed and four others injured in armed attack in central Bamyan province on Saturday. Interim government officials are expected to reveal identities of deceased.

SOUTH AFRICA

George - Diplomatic missions of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Lesotho to start repatriating bodies of citizens who died after multi-story building collapsed on them last week.

Johannesburg - Pro-Palestine protests expected to take place at universities where students have setup encampments in solidarity with Palestinians.

TAJIKISTAN

Dushanbe - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to pay 2-day visit to Central Asian country. He is expected to meet with number of Tajik officials, including President Emomali Rakhmon.

SPECIAL REPORT

US loses its standing to talk about freedom, US-based professor says

Burton Lee Artz, a professor of media studies and the director of the center for global studies at the US based Purdue University, evaluated the recent developments in the US related to Israel's attacks on Palestine and said: "I think the US has lost its standing to talk to anybody about freedom of speech or about freedom."

Touching on Anadolu's works in Gaza region, he said the news agency "identified the perpetrators, the Zionist state, they have identified the humanitarian disaster, the genocide."

He said: "I think Anadolu has done an exceptional job of covering the war in Gaza."