Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Israel-Hezbollah escalation

Near-daily military clashes between Israel and Hezbollah on the border amid warnings of them escalating into a war between the two sides.

The Israeli army and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire on Monday. Hezbollah announced targeting an Israeli army's gathering in Lebanese occupied Kfarchouba, and as a result of an Israeli artillery shelling on southern Lebanon, one paramedic personnel was injured.

On Monday also, sixteen foreign ambassadors escorted by four Lebanese ministers visited Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport following recent British media claims about Iranian weapons storage on the premises amid growing escalation.

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip amid deadlocked efforts to reach cease-fire deal to end Israel's relentless attacks on Palestinian enclave. Since last Oct. 7, Israel has killed over 37,600 Palestinians and injured nearly 86,100 others.

International warnings about dire humanitarian situation in Gaza

The humanitarian situation continues to worsen day after day amid looming famine in northern Gaza, UNRWA chief said on Monday that breaking down civil order in Gaza has allowed widespread looting and smuggling, and blocked aid delivery, adding that "Gaza has been decimated."

West Bank raids

Almost daily Israeli military raids of Palestinian cities and towns in occupied West Bank, which have killed at least 553 people and injured 5,200 others, while 9,360 have been taken into Israeli custody since Oct. 7, 2023.

Netanyahu's government faces continued protests

Protests in Israel to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reach hostage-prisoner swap deal with Palestinians or resign.

German foreign minister's Middle East visit

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to travel to Ramallah on Tuesday morning and meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mustafa, later she’ll meet her Israeli counterpart Israel Katz in Jerusalem. In the afternoon, Baerbock will head to Lebanon, where she’ll meet top Lebanese government officials.

Red Sea tension

Periodic Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel in Red Sea and airstrikes by US-led coalition on group's positions in Yemen.

TÜRKİYE

Czech foreign minister's visit to Türkiye

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to meet with his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky in the capital Ankara to discuss bilateral relations, as well as Türkiye-EU relations and current international and regional developments. The ministers will hold a news conference.

Separately, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus to receive Lipavsky for talks.

UNRWA head Lazzarini’s press briefing in Geneva

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA), briefs media on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

UN agencies’ briefing

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

EU to begin accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova

Intergovernmental conferences to be held with Ukraine and Moldova to formally begin EU membership talks. During the ministerial meetings, EU to present “negotiation framework” documents, which establish the guidelines and principles for the membership negotiations with the candidate countries.

ECHR judgement on Ukraine vs Russia over Crimea

Grand Chamber of European Court of Human Rights hands down judgment on two complaints brought by Ukraine concerning Russia's seizure of Crimea in February 2014. Ukraine accuses Russia of exercising “extraterritorial jurisdiction over a situation which has resulted in a pattern ('administrative practice') of human-rights violations.”

French election leaders’ debate

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (Renaissance), Jordan Bardella (Rassemblement National), and Manuel Bompard (Nouveau Front Populaire) take part in televised debate ahead of the first round of voting in snap parliamentary elections on June 30.

German report on discrimination incidents

Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency to release its annual report on incidents of discrimination on grounds of racism, gender, religion, or belief.

Japanese emperor, empress start state visit to UK

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan travel to the UK for a state visit at the invitation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, with the formal state events beginning Tuesday after the imperial couple arrived in the country on June 22.

Congolese president pays official visit to Russia

Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso to conduct an official visit to Moscow to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Republic of the Congo. Nguesso is expected to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, during which they will discuss topical issues of bilateral cooperation in the context of implementing the agreements reached in the Russian-Congolese talks at the highest level.

US

SelectUSA Investment Summit

Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deliver remarks at annual gathering of SelectUSA Investment Summit. Later, Blinken will meet with Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer at the US Department of State.

US, Israeli defense chiefs' meeting

US Defense Secretary Llyod Austin to host his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant for talks at Pentagon in the morning. Two defense chiefs' meeting comes amid escalated tensions between Israel and Lebonon's Hezbollah.

UN Security Council

UN Security Council members to discuss Israel’s establishment of illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief on recent developments. In the afternoon, members will discuss the political and humanitarian situations in Syria.

Chinese Premier Li addresses World Economic Forum in Dalian

Premier Li Qiang addressed 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions by World Economic Forum in China's southern port city of Dalian. Polish President Andrzej Duda and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh are also attending the forum which is being participated by some 1,600 representatives from the political, business, academic, and media communities from around 80 countries and regions.

Chinese lawmakers meet in Beijing

China's top legislature, the 14th NPC Standing Committee, began its fresh session with 10 legislative bills on the agenda, including a new draft of the controversial revisions to the Public Security Administration Punishments Law.

Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference in Beijing

China’s Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference in Beijing, with issues, including Taiwan, Korean Peninsula, as well as South China Sea, at the agenda.

The Philippines navy to hold joint maritime drill

Amid tensions with China in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippines Navy and other law enforcement agencies to begin 6-day maritime drills off waters of the Mactan Island. Tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated to clashes between soldiers in the disputed waters and the two sides assert their claims on Second Thomas Shoal.

Australian premier hosts counterpart from Solomon Islands

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will host Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele. It is Manele’s first overseas trip since being elected early this year. The two sides are expected to discuss security cooperation in the wake of the island nation’s secret pact with China signed in 2022.

Tensions continue in New Caledonia

Tensions continue in New Caledonia as people resorted to violence against Paris’ move to fly away a group of seven independence leaders for pre-trial detention in France. New Caledonia saw massive riots since May 13 over an electoral reform to allow long-term French residents to participate in local elections. The proposals left at least nine people dead and injured besides arson and looting.

Power-sharing talks continue among gov't partners in South Africa

Power-sharing talks on Cabinet allocations continue among the African National Congress and nine other political parties that have joined the government of national unity. Smaller parties want more ministerial positions which could derail Cabinet formation.

Kenyan troops leave for Haiti

Kenya has deployed a contingent of police officers to Haiti as part of a UN multinational mission aimed at tackling gang violence and instability in the Caribbean nation.

Anti-tax protesters march to parliament

Kenyans to march to parliament against tax hikes proposed in the annual Finance Bill which has now entered the committee stage. It includes several tax hikes that have sparked widespread discontent among citizens.

SPORTS

⁠UEFA EURO 2024 group stage to continue with Matchday 3 in Germany

Group C leaders England to take on Slovenia, while Denmark to play with Serbia in last week games of Group C. On the other hand, Group D leaders Netherlands to face Austria, while France to face Poland in Group D's last week games.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Iran’s presidential election: Who are the frontrunners?

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

Tehran, Iran - Report about the leading candidates in Iran’s presidential election, which is scheduled to be held on June 28.

The story gives profiles of three frontrunners from different political camps -- Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili -- with details of their political background and past government roles.

It includes data from different opinion polls and comments from Iranian political analyst Javad Rastomi about the expected outcomes, including voter turnout and the possibility of a runoff.

Bosnia’s genocide survivors see Israel repeating deadly history in Gaza

By Semir Sejfovic

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Interview with Adel Sabanovic, a survivor of the Srebrenica genocide, and Fikret Grabovica, president of the association of parents of children killed during the siege of Sarajevo, about Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.

The interviews focus on Israel’s devastating violence in Gaza, with both men speaking about the parallels between Israeli atrocities against Palestinians and what happened in Srebrenica and the siege of Sarajevo.

Sabanovic and Grabovica also criticize the failure of the international community to stop Israel’s deadly assault, saying it reflects the West’s hypocrisy and that the global order remains just as ineffective as ever.

Traditional Turkish archery hits the mark in South Africa

By Hassan Isilow

Johannesburg - Report about the increasing popularity of traditional Turkish archery in South Africa.

The story gives details of a program initiated by the Turkish Yunus Emre Institute to teach Turkish archery, listed by UNESCO as part of humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, and how that has helped attract more enthusiasts to the sport.

It includes interviews with Huthaifa Hassan, a Turkish archery instructor and owner of an archery school, and Abdulaziz Yigit, director of the Yunus Emre Institute in South Africa.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interviews with Srebrenica genocide survivor Adel Sabanovic and Fikret Grabovica, head of an association of parents of children killed during the siege of Sarajevo, about Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza and the deadly parallels of history they see in Israeli atrocities against Palestinians.