Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, June 14, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

Israeli offensive in Gaza

Humanitarian and military situation in Gaza amid relentless Israeli attacks despite efforts to reach a cease-fire. War has so far resulted in killing of more than 37,230 Palestinians and injury of over 85,000 others since Oct. 7 last year.

UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned of "catastrophic" environmental, health risks in Gaza Strip due to accumulation of waste in populated areas.

Israeli military said 10 gunmen were killed by army's Division 99 in central Gaza Strip.

Israeli attacks in Rafah

Ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. Army said Thursday that its Division 162 struck rocket launcher, killing several Palestinian gunmen.

West Bank raids

Almost daily military incursions into cities, towns of occupied West Bank have left at least 543 Palestinians dead, 5,200 injured, while more than 9,170 are in Israeli custody since Oct. 7.

Israeli army has imposed siege on Jenin refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, according to city's governor.

Protests against Netanyahu's government

Demonstrations in Israel to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to reach hostage swap deal with Palestinians.

Gaza cease-fire talks

Indirect negotiations in Egypt, Qatar between Hamas, Israel to reach Gaza cease-fire, hostage swap deal following regional tour by US Secretary of State Blinken to push for agreement.

International, regional calls to implement Israeli cease-fire proposal endorsed two by US President Joe Biden, who outlined it on May 31. Plan includes cease-fire, hostage-prisoner exchange, Gaza's reconstruction.

Palestinian group Hamas accuses Blinken of attempting to absolve Israel from blame for obstructing cease-fire.

Israel-Hezbollah clashes

Border skirmishes between Israel, Hezbollah following largest cross-border rocket attack by Lebanese group since Oct. 8, which came after Israel's assassination of a top Hezbollah commander, three other fighters in southern Lebanon.

Numerous fires in northern Israel, southern Lebanon, Syria's occupied Golan Heights broke out due to drone, rocket attacks between Israel, Lebanese groups.

Red Sea tensions

Potential Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected to have links with Israel in Red Sea, possible airstrikes by US-led coalition on group's positions in Yemen.

G7 Summit continues in Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosting her G7 counterparts at annual summit also featuring participation of several non-G7 leaders. Main issues include migration, Indo-Pacific, economic security, artificial intelligence, energy, Africa-Mediterranean.

Turkish president attends G7 Summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to travel to Italy to participate in summit of G7 leaders.

Biden meeting Italian premier, Pope

US President Joe Biden to meet separately with Italian Premier Meloni, Pope Francis on sidelines of ongoing G7 summit.

UN agencies' briefing

UN Information Service to hold bi-weekly briefing for journalists.

NATO defense ministers to conclude meeting

Two-day meeting of NATO-Ukraine Council of defense ministers to come to end in Brussels, with discussions to be held on major operational issues.

Putin to meet with Russian Foreign Ministry staff

Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with Foreign Ministry personnel.

US-backed Gaza cease-fire proposal

Desk to monitor statements from US Biden administration on situation in Gaza, cease-fire proposal announced by President Joe Biden in late May.

Brussels press briefing by US defense chief

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to hold press conference in Brussels, Belgium following meeting of NATO defense ministers.

UN Security Council session

UN Security Council to hold meeting on threats to international peace, security.

New South African parliament to convene

South African lawmakers to hold first sittings of National Assembly, National Council of Provinces two weeks after elections. Lawmakers to elect speaker, president of republic.

Mpox outbreak in South Africa

South African health officials monitoring outbreak of Mpox, a viral infection which has already claimed two lives out of five laboratory-confirmed cases. Officials expected to provide update.

Angolan president to visit SADC secretariat

Angolan President and Chairperson of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Joao Lourenco to visit bloc's Secretariat Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana to discuss regional issues with President Elias Magosi of Botswana. Lourenco also to address SADC ambassadors accredited to Botswana and SADC.

West Africa regional bloc discusses food security

Member states of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to meet in Nigeria to discuss how to strengthen regional security, avert hunger and poverty.

Indian premier to attend G7 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend G7 summit in Italy, expected to hold bilateral meetings on sidelines in first overseas visit since reelection for third term.

Operation to locate 2 missing Japanese climbers in Pakistan

Efforts underway in Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan region to locate two Japanese climbers missing since Tuesday. Rescuers have traced their location, while foot-team has been dropped by helicopter.

Japan, North Korea hold behind-scenes talks

Representatives of Japan, North Korea met in secret talks in Mongolia despite Pyongyang's refusal to engage with Tokyo on demands concerning alleged abduction of Japanese nationals, with neither side confirming meeting.

Chinese Premier Li's official trip to New Zealand continues

Prime Minister Li Qiang holds business-level meetings in Auckland as part of two-day trip to New Zealand in first since 2017 by Chinese official in his position. During bilateral talks, Li told his counterpart Christopher Luxon that Beijing was 'committed to working' with Wellington to renew 'longstanding friendship,' also discussing AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pact between US, UK, Australia.

Chinese Foreign Ministry news conference

Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference, Beijing expected to deliver statements on G7 leaders' summit, upcoming Ukraine peace summit, Japan-Ukraine security deal, high tariffs on Chinese imports by EU, blacklisting of Chinese firms by US.

UEFA EURO 2024 football tournament

EURO 2024 to kick off at Allianz Arena in Munich with hosts Germany taking on Scotland in Group A.

Europe must be ‘very alert’ heading into ‘high danger’ wildfire season: Expert

By Muhammed Enes Calli

Istanbul – Report about expectations for wildfire outbreaks this summer and preparations being made in various countries that are vulnerable to such incidents.

The story includes an interview with Jesus San-Miguel, an official of the European Forest Fire Information System, who shares projections for the current season, warning that Europe and the Mediterranean region are headed for a “high danger” fire season.

He also speaks about the measures being taken in various countries and how these could assist in containing the potential damage.

US elections: How and why AI poses a serious threat

By Beril Canakci and Emre Basaran

Istanbul – Report about how artificial intelligence technologies could potentially impact this year’s presidential election in the US.

The story explains in detail how AI is becoming a larger threat in the lead-up to the election, laying out both the technical side of the issue as well as the sociopolitical impacts, including distrust in traditional media and unchecked dissemination of dangerous views.

It includes interviews with Henry Ajder, a renowned expert on generative AI, deepfakes and the synthetic media revolution, and Sam Gregory, who has founded an initiative on media manipulation and the link with generative AI.

‘Human rights don’t exist’: Activists fearful as tensions rise on Poland-Belarus border

By Jo Harper

Bialystok, Poland – Report about growing tensions on the Poland-Belarus border, where rights groups say Polish authorities are using more excessive force to push back migrants.

The story gives details of figures of migrant arrivals and recent incidents that have led to heightened fears of violence, including the stabbing of a Polish soldier and consequent government measures like relaxing rules for firearms use by military personnel.

It includes an interview with Karolina Mazurek, a human rights activist working in the border area, who speaks about how the situation is being worsened because of the government’s increasingly hardline stance and anti-migrant rhetoric.

US inflation will have to ‘sufficiently cool’ for Fed to cut rates twice this year: Expert

By Ovunc Kutlu

Istanbul – Interview with Martin Wurm, a director at Moody’s Analytics, about expectations for inflation in the US after the Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy meeting.

He shares his assessment of the Fed’s signal that it expects just one interest rate cut this year, explaining that there were divisions within the Fed committee that point to the possibility of more than one cut in the remainder of 2024.

Wurm says current indicators are now all pointing in the right direction and recent positive trends are expected to continue, but stresses that inflation will have to “sufficiently cool” for the Fed to move for two cuts.

VIDEO - Report about how artificial intelligence technologies could potentially impact this year’s presidential election in the US, with comments from Henry Ajder, a leading expert on generative AI, deepfakes and the synthetic media revolution.

VIDEO - Interview with Karolina Mazurek, a human rights activist working on the Poland-Belarus border, about the increasingly tense situation and how Polish authorities are using more excessive force to push back migrants.