Diary

ANKARA (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Sunday, June 2, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Israeli offensive in Gaza Strip entered its 240th day, with nearly 36,400 Palestinians killed and over 82,400 others injured as a crippling blockade has left the majority of the population on the verge of starvation.

Israeli military offensive in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah also continued, with the army taking full control of the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

Ramallah – Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank have continued since Oct. 7, 2023, with at least 520 Palestinians so far killed, 5,000 more injured, and at least 8,975 detained, according to Palestinian sources.

ISRAEL

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

EGYPT

Cairo - Efforts to reach a hostage swap deal and a cease-fire in Gaza are underway. Egypt is stepping up efforts to secure a cease-fire deal in Gaza in light of Washington's new proposal, Egyptian news channel Al Qahera reported, citing a high-ranking source.

It noted that “an Egyptian-American-Israeli meeting is scheduled for Sunday in Cairo to discuss reopening the Rafah crossing with Egypt, with the insistence on a complete Israeli withdrawal from the area.”

LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in October, have continued, becoming the deadliest clashes between the two sides since their full-fledged war in 2006.

The Israeli army announced on Saturday that the Lebanese group Hezbollah launched a Volcano missile toward the Gibor military camp in the northern settlement of Kiryat Shmona, causing "significant damage."

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.

SINGAPORE

Singapore – Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun to address Shangri-La Dialogue.

PAKISTAN

Karachi – A Gaza million march to be held as part of the "All eyes on Rafah" movement.

SPORTS

Paris - French Open to run for 2 weeks, ending with final on June 9.

SPECIAL REPORT

PROFILE - Real Madrid, Germany’s midfield maestro Toni Kroos bows out

By Yasin Gungor and Can Erozden

ISTANBUL (AA) - Toni Kroos, the German 2014 FIFA World Cup champion and world class midfielder with pinpoint passing, crossing skills and creativity, will end his illustrious career this summer after he plays in the UEFA EURO 2024 on his home soil.

Kroos, 34, whose career is full of titles, confirmed this month that he will soon leave the sport.