Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Sunday, July 7, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas

The developments about a potential cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office announced that an Israeli delegation will head to Qatar next week to continue negotiations over a Gaza cease-fire proposal. Following Friday's meeting in Doha between Mossad chief David Barnea and Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, further discussions will take place.

Despite ongoing gaps between the two sides, Barnea expressed optimism about Israel accepting a prisoner swap deal with Palestinian groups, according to Israel's public broadcaster KAN.

Pezeshkian's presidency in Iran

International and regional reactions to the election of the reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian as president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He has defeated his conservative opponent Saeed Jalili, the former lead nuclear negotiator and head of the top security body, by 2.7 million votes.

Pezeshkian, the sole reformist candidate, was supported by the country’s leading reformist coalition. He has signaled his openness to diplomatic engagement with the world, including the West, and intends to initiate reforms in economic and cultural domains.

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip amid stymied efforts to reach a cease-fire that would end Israel's relentless attacks which have resulted in nearly 38,100 Palestinians killed and more than 87,700 others injured since Oct. 7.

Five Palestinian journalists have been killed in different locations across the Gaza Strip, bringing the journalists death toll to 158 since Oct. 7, the Gaza government media office said on Saturday.

In an airstrike on southern Gaza’s Rafah, the Israeli jets killed six Palestinian policemen and injured others on Saturday.

Military operation in Gaza

Israeli military operations taking place in various areas across Gaza Strip, including Rafah and Shejaiya in eastern Gaza City, with airstrikes and artillery shelling.

Dire humanitarian situation, looming famine in Gaza

The humanitarian situation across Gaza Strip continues to get worse every day amid continued Israeli attacks and closure of Gaza's crossings.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in occupied West Bank have killed at least 569 people and injured 5,350 others, with 9,520 taken into Israeli custody since last Oct. 7.

Protests against Israeli government

Mounting protests in Israel to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to either negotiate hostage-prisoner swap deal with Palestinians or resign.

Israel-Hezbollah escalation

Daily border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah amid warnings of escalation into potential full-blown war.

The Israeli army said Friday it detected 10 more rockets fired from southern Lebanon toward Margaliot settlement in the Galilee area in northern Israel and it responded by targeting rocket launcher sites.

Red Sea tension

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

Humanitarian and security situation in Sudan

Deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Sudan amid ongoing clashes between Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum, El Fasher in North Darfur State, as well as in states of Sennar and Al-Jazira.

EUROPE

French parliamentary electiona

Voters in France to go to polls for second round of elections to vote for new members of the National Assembly. President Macron had dissolved the parliament and announced the election following the results of the European parliament election in France. The first round was held last Sunday, June 30.

AFRICA

Last US aircraft to fly out of Niger

The last US aircraft to fly out of Niger as part of deal under which Pentagon will withdraw all of its personnel from the African nation. The military Junta in Niger earlier this year ordered the 1,000 US troops to leave the west African nation.

EU’s foreign chief continues visit in Horn of Africa

European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell to visit the EU-funded Doraleh desalination drinking water plant in Djibouti. Borrell started his 3-day visit to the Horn of Africa country on Saturday.

Cold snap to hit South Africa from Sunday

The South African weather services have warned the country is expected to face intense cold front, disruptive snowfall accompanied by damaging winds over the interior and the coastline as well as high seas, which could lead to disasters.

ASIA-PACIFIC

Vanuatu prime minister to visit China

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai to begin his week-long visit to China.

Top diplomat of Belarus to meet Chinese counterpart

Belarus Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov, who began his three-day official visit to China on Saturday, is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.

TÜRKIYE

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus to visit the Diyanet Center as part of his program in the US. He will meet with the Turkish community and engage with Muslim civil society leaders in Washington.

SPORTS

Formula 1

British Grand Prix, round 12 of Formula 1 World Championship, to be held at Silverstone.

2024 Wimbledon Tennis Championships

The Wimbledon tennis championships, 3rd grand slam of the season, to continue with main table matches.

The 2024 edition of Wimbledon is scheduled to be held from July 1 to 14 in London.

FIBA U17 World Cup

The FIBA U17 World Cup, hosted by Türkiye, to conclude with the final, third-place, and classification matches. Türkiye will face New Zealand in the third-place match, and the final will be played between the US and Italy in Istanbul.