Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

GAZA CITY - Reactions on the Israeli airstrikes on Palestinian tents on Sunday night in Rafah that left at least 45 displaced Palestinians killed, mostly women and children.

The incident triggered a wave of condemnations from around the world amid accusations of Israel of defying calls to halt its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli offensive on the besieged Gaza Strip entered its 234th day, with 36,050 Palestinians killed and over 81,000 others injured as the crippling blockade has left the majority of the population on the verge of starvation.

Ramallah - Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank have continued since Oct. 7, 2023, with at least 519 Palestinians so far killed, 5,000 more injured, and at least 8,875 detained, according to Palestinian sources.

ISRAEL

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

EGYPT

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

Reactions and developments on the shooting incident between Egyptian and Israeli soldiers in the Rafah border area that left one Egyptian soldier killed. The Israeli Army Radio said an Egyptian-Israeli joint investigation was launched into the incident.

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel erupted last October, in the deadliest clashes between the two sides since their full-fledged war in 2006.

YEMEN

Sanaa - Tensions in the Red Sea continue to increase amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having ties to Israel and airstrikes by US-led coalition forces on targets in Yemen.

US

Washington - Statements from the Joe Biden administration regarding deadly Israeli airstrike on a camp for displaced people in Rafah.

New York - UNRWA Director of Communications Juliette Touma to brief on the situation in Gaza during UN briefing.

New York - Closing arguments to take place in former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York. Trump faces 34-count indictment in relation to his alleged involvement in paying hush money to Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

California - Strikes expected at the University of California, Davis and the University of California, Los Angeles in response to free speech violations related to pro-Palestinian protests.

IRELAND, SPAIN, NORWAY

Dublin/Madrid/Oslo - Official recognition of the Palestinian state by Ireland, Spain, and Norway to take effect.

DENMARK

Copenhagen - Danish lawmakers are scheduled to consider a proposal on the recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

GERMANY

Paris - French President Emmanuel Macron to conclude a three-day state visit to Germany.

Tuesday's schedule includes a morning event in Munster where Macron is awarded the International Prize of the Peace of Westphalia, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen due to deliver opening remarks, and a joint French-German Cabinet meeting in Meseberg near Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with a joint news conference.

BELGIUM

Brussels - EU defense ministers to meet. Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to join the meeting for an informal exchange on Ukraine. A news conference to follow.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - UN Information Service holds biweekly press briefing for UN bodies headquartered in Geneva. Statements expected on the latest situation in Gaza following last week's International Criminal Court order to Israel to hold all military activities in Rafah and immediately open the border crossing.

UK

London - Emergency rally, "Hands off Rafah, End the Genocide” to be held in London following Sunday’s deadly attack by Israel in Rafah.

TÜRKİYE

Ankara - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to chair the National Security Council meeting at the presidential complex in Ankara.

Ankara - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to hold a joint news conference with Sok Chenda Sophea. Separately, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus to host Chenda Sophea.

AZERBAIJAN

Country - Azerbaijan celebrates Independence Day honoring the foundation of the first secular democratic state in the Muslim world.

RUSSIA

Kaliningrad - Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi to visit Russia’s westernmost region to discuss the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with Russia’s interdepartmental delegation.

TAJIKISTAN

Dushanbe - The Council of Heads of Migration Authorities of the Commonwealth of Independent States meeting in the Tajik capital.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Port Moresby - Search and rescue operations continue as more than 2,000 are feared buried alive after landslides hit residential areas in the highlands of Enga province, north of the country in the southwest Pacific.

SOUTH KOREA

Seoul - United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to pay state visit to South Korea to mark the first state visit to the country by a sitting UAE president.

NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang - North Korea likely to release details after it launched a suspected ballistic missile.

CHINA

Beijing - Heads of four Arab states, including Egypt, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Tunisia, begin to arrive in Beijing for China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Bilateral trade, as well as Palestine, to top the agenda.

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.

INDONESIA

North Maluku province - Active volcano on Mount Ibu continues to flow ash and sand which have hit residential areas in eastern Indonesia, triggering highest alert call by authorities.

TAIWAN

Taipei - Lawmakers continue to debate for the final third reading contentious amendments to empower legislature which is dominated by opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party. The proposed bills empower lawmakers to punish officials for making false statements, and require president to personally reply to legislative questions.

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg - Reports of recurring Mpox infections, formerly known as Monkeypox, in the country.

Johannesburg - Special voting to end on Tuesday after 1.6 million registered voters cast their vote early due to special needs ahead of the May 29 election day.

Johannesburg - Comments and reactions following Israel's attack Sunday on a Rafah refugee camp.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Paris - OECD to share quarterly G20 international trade statistics.

Berlin - Germany’s Destatis to share wholesale inflation for April.

SPORTS

Paris - 2024 edition of the French Open, 2nd Grand Slam of the year, to run for 2 weeks, ending with final on June 9.

SPECIAL REPORTS

‘Back to Nazi roots’: Jewish activist blasts Germany’s ‘frightening’ crackdown on pro-Palestine voices

By Anadolu staff

Berlin - Interview with Iris Hefets, a German activist and board member of Jewish Voices for Peace, about Germany’s crackdown on the Palestine solidarity movement in the country.

She speaks about the historical context of Germany’s staunch pro-Israel stance, explaining how that has led to policies where any sort of criticism is being met with extreme force.

Hefets expresses particular concern over the way in which Germany has also been targeting Jews who are speaking against Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, saying it is becoming a “frightening” reminder of the country’s “Nazi roots.”

South Africa elections: How Israel’s war on Gaza could sway voters

By Hassan Isilow

Istanbul - Report on how Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza has become a key issue in the lead-up to the May 29 elections and is expected to influence voter choices.

The story gives details and reasons for the positions taken by various parties and candidates, explaining how voters in certain predominantly Muslim areas like the Western Cape could ditch parties for their stance in support of Israel.

It includes interviews with several voters, along with Ahmed Jazbhay, professor of politics at the University of South Africa, and Bonginkosi Ngwenya, a researcher at the Pretoria-based Human Sciences Research Council.

Climate extremes spur food insecurity concerns in Pakistan

By Aamir Latif

Karachi, Pakistan - Report about the recent climate extremes in Pakistan and how they are impacting agricultural production in the country, heightening fears of food insecurity and inflation.

The story gives details of the recent extreme weather patterns observed in the country, such as the extraordinarily wet April that has been followed by a scorching heat wave, and the effects these are having on various areas of food production cycles.

It includes interviews with environment experts Zabardast Khan Bangash Abdul Razzak, and Waheed Ahmed, head of the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Iris Hefets, a German activist and board member of Jewish Voices for Peace, about Germany’s crackdown on the Palestine solidarity movement in the country, including Jews who are speaking against Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.