Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Israeli offensive in Gaza Strip has entered its 242nd day, with nearly 36,500 Palestinians killed and over 82,700 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. Israeli attacks in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip have forced nearly 1.7 million Palestinians to flee all shelters run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in the city and to be displaced in Khan Younis and Gaza middle areas.

Ramallah - Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank have continued since Oct. 7, 2023, with at least 524 Palestinians so far killed, 5,000 more injured, and at least 8,985 detained, according to Palestinian sources.

ISREAL

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

More reactions from Israeli officials on US President Joe Biden's cease-fire proposal announcement on Friday.

On Monday, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir renewed his threats to dismantle the government if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agrees to a Gaza cease-fire proposal laid out by Biden.

EGYPT

Cairo - Efforts to reach a hostage swap deal and a cease-fire in Gaza are underway.

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.

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.

IRAN

Tehran - Developments on Iranian early presidential elections slated for next month. On Monday, the registration for presidential candidates closed with 80 registered candidates, including Iran's Parliament Speaker Baqer Qalibaf and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Updates and statements from the candidates, as well as special profiles for them.

TÜRKİYE

ANKARA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to chair Cabinet meeting and later to address the nation on domestic and international issues, including Gaza.

GERMANY

Berlin - German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to hold a news conference on planned security measures for the upcoming EURO 2024 football championship in Germany.

UK

London - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer to face each other on ITV in the first televised debate of the upcoming UK election on July 4.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva - United Nations Information Service holds biweekly press briefing for UN bodies headquartered in Geneva.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden to depart White House and travel to Paris, France to attend events that will commemorate the 80th anniversary of landings in Normandy.

Washington - The House of Representatives expected to vote on a bill that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court for seeking arrest warrants for Israeli officials over war in Gaza. White House opposed Republican lawmakers' effort to sanction ICC and said sanctioning ICC is not the answer.

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Department of State.

Washington - Attorney General Merrick Garland to speak at the House Committee on the Judiciary hearing about oversight of the US Department of Justice.

Washington - FBI Director Chris Wray to appear at the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee hearing. Wray's key remarks regarding US domestic issues.

Washington - American voters to head to polls for primary elections in states of Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.

Washington - President Joe Biden expected to sign executive order allowing him to temporarily close the US border with Mexico to migrants.

CHINA

Beijing - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan holds bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.

Beijing - Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin on a five-day visit to China.

Beijing - Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on a four-day visit to China.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong - The anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

SOUTH KOREA

Seoul - South Korea hosts inaugural summit with African nations. 2-day Korea-Africa summit to gather delegates from 48 African countries.

CAMBODIA

Phnom Penh - US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visits Cambodia.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to leave for China on his five-day visit where Beijing and Islamabad are expected to formally launch the second stage of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

INDIA

New Delhi - After a marathon 7-phased voting, India announces results of general elections.

NIGERIA

Abuja - The Nigerian government is expected to respond to demands of trade unions after an indefinite strike shut down public transport, schools, and the national power grid.

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg - Disruptive rains that could cause disasters expected in the eastern coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, a day after 7 people died in floods in the Eastern Cape province.

Johannesburg - The ruling African National Congress party has begun private negotiations with opposition parties about possibilities of a coalition to form a government, after it failed to obtain the 51% mark in the concluded elections.

ETHIOPIA

Addis Ababa - The horn of Africa country is expected to respond to reports that Somalia will expel its peacekeeping troops stationed in the country, unless it scraps a controversial port deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland.

SPORTS

BOLOGNA, Italy - The Turkish national football team to visit Italy in a friendly match ahead of this month's EURO 2024.

Paris - Both men's and women's tennis singles quarterfinal round matches to be played in French Open.

BUSINESS ECONOMY

Berlin - Germany’s Destatis to reveal unemployment figures for May.

In April, Germany’s jobless rate was stable at 5.9% for the fifth consecutive 2024, marking its highest level since May 2021.

Washington - The US to share factory orders for April.

SPECIAL REPORTS

FACTBOX - European Parliament elections: All you need to know

By Nur Asena Erturk

Ankara - Explainer about the European Parliament elections due to be held on June 6-9.

The story presents key information about the elections, including voter statistics, procedures, and the current composition and top leaders of the legislature.

It presents a breakdown of the key groups and candidates contesting the election, along with the political context and primary issues on the European agenda heading into the vote.

Dhaka’s gambit: Can AI help tame Bangladeshi capital’s notorious traffic?

By Faisal Mahmud

Dhaka, Bangladesh - Report about the use of artificial intelligence technology to help address the issue of massive traffic congestion in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

The story lays out the extent of the traffic problems in Dhaka and their underlying reasons. It gives details of a recently introduced AI-based traffic signal system and explains how authorities are aiming to use it and similar technologies to tackle the issue.

The report includes interviews with officials from the traffic police and government departments, along with Md. Hadiuzzaman, a professor of civil engineering, and Musleh Uddin Hasan, a transportation policy and planning expert.

Heart of Anatolia: Ancient city of Afyonkarahisar

By Zehra Nur Duz

Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye - Report about Afyonkarahisar, a Turkish city with a rich history spanning thousands of years, focusing on its historical, cultural and natural beauties.

The story explains the main characteristics of the city, renowned for its gastronomy and recognized as a hub of marble, thermal, and religious tourism.

The report includes an interview with Kubra Guran Yigitbasi, the governor of Afyonkarahisar province, who discusses the region’s achievements in tourism and infrastructure development, as well as their plans for the future.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Report about how AI technology, particularly an AI-based traffic signal system, is being used to help address the issue of traffic congestion in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, including interviews with government officials and experts in civil planning and transportation.