Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

US

NATO summit

Leaders from 32 member countries of NATO begin their formal summit. President Joe Biden will welcome NATO leaders to summit and participate in welcome handshake and family photo. Biden will participate in Working Session I of the NATO summit. He will later host a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

President Erdogan at NATO summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend NATO leaders' summit and a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the heads of state and government level. President Erdogan will also have bilateral meetings on the margins of the event.

US Secretary of State Blinken's talks

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to participate in the NATO Public Forum in Washington, DC. Blinken will meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Later, Blinken will separately meet with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet with a bipartisan group of US Senators. House Speaker Mike Johnson will also meet with Zelenskyy as he visits Washington DC for the NATO summit.

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.

Israeli media reported Thursday that the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, will fly to Qatar on Wednesday for talks on a possible Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap deal with Hamas.

He is expected to meet with Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, CIA director William Burns and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.

Israel’s Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar will join Barnea’s visit to Doha following his Monday meeting in Cairo with Burns and senior Egyptian officials.

This comes as Netanyahu's government members continue to voice strong opposition to having a deal with the Hamas group, most notably Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs regional visit

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf's Middle East trip from July 8-14 to discuss a cease-fire agreement in Gaza.

Leaf will visit the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank and Italy to meet with government official.

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 38,240 Palestinians killed and over 88,000 others injured since Oct. 7.

At least 16 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others were injured in a series of Israeli overnight strikes and shelling across the Gaza Strip. The attacks targeted homes in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central part of the enclave and several neighborhoods in Gaza City.

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.

On Thursday, UN experts said that 34 Palestinians had died from malnutrition since last Oct. 7, most of them children.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in occupied West Bank have killed at least 571 people and injured 5,350 others, with 9,600 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.

Hezbollah said Tuesday that it targeted Al-Marj site with artillery shells. Lebanese local channel LBC reported that the former escort for Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, Haj Abu al-Fadl Qarnabish, was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his car on the Damascus-Beirut highway, while the group confirmed his death in a statement without specifying the circumstances.

Lebanon’s official news agency said that Israeli artillery targeted the outskirts of southern Lebanon’s Dhaira area. It also said the three people were injured after an Israeli airstrike targeted the town of Rab Thalathin.

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

India’s Premier Modi visits Austria

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays a two-day visit to Austria. Talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer take place on Wednesday at the Federal Chancellery, from 10 a.m. CEST, with press statements planned for 11:15 a.m.

UN report on Digital Economy

The UN Trade and Development will publish the Digital Economy Report 2024: Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital future.

EURASIA

Putin to meet with members of government

Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a meeting with ministers via video link. The main topic is the development of checkpoints across the state border of the Russian Federation. A number of current issues will also be discussed.

Meeting of heads of Russian, Chinese parliaments

Head of Russia's lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, will hold talks with the chairman of China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Zhao Leji. The two officials plan to discuss prospects of the Russian-Chinese parliamentary cooperation aimed at supporting the development of political and economic relations between the two countries, strengthening coordination in international affairs.

Head of Russian Space Corporation to visit China

Head of the Russian Space Corporation (Roscosmos) Yury Borisov to pay a visit to China. Borisov is expected to discuss the joint Moon development with his Chinese counterparts.

AFRICA

Cold weather, floods leave trail of destruction in Cape Town

South Africa’s tourism city of Cape Town is bracing for a week of cold fronts, torrential rains and flooding which has already affected more than 70 areas across the Cape Peninsula. More than 1,000 homes in informal settlements have been destroyed.

Pretoria court to deliver verdict in neglect case that led to 114 deaths of mental health patients

A court in South Africa’s capital Pretoria is expected to hand down its judgment following a long running case where 144 people with mental health issues died after health officials moved them from a highly specialized psychiatric care hospital to poorly equipped community facilities.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Jameson Timba to appear in court

Jailed opposition leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party in Zimbabwe Jameson Timba and 78 other activists arrested on June 16 for holding unauthorized gathering will appear in court for bail hearing.

ASIA – PACIFIC

Bangladesh Premier expected to meet Chinese leadership

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to meet Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, during her 4-day China trip. It’s expected the two sides will issue a joint statement.

Search continues for 35 people missing after landslides in Indonesia

Search and rescue efforts continue as around 35 people were missing after landslides killed at least 23 at a traditional gold mine in Indonesia’s remote Bone Bolango district in Gorontalo province.

Pakistan's top court likely to announce its verdict on reserved seats

Supreme Court of Pakistan is expected to deliver its reserved verdict regarding over 200 reserved seats of women and minorities in the National and Provincial Assemblies.

Pro-Palestine students face scrutiny in Australia

Pro-Palestine students at University of Melbourne face jury to defend their actions during anti-genocide pro-Palestine activities on the campus. At least 19 pro-Palestine student protesters received "general misconduct" notices from the university administration. The move has triggered backlash as it may negatively impact their education career.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye's industrial production and unemployment

Turkish Statistical Institute to release industrial production index and unemployment figures for May. Industrial production posted annual decline of 0.7% in April after increasing by 4.3% in March. Unemployment rate has been decreasing for last three months from 9.1% to 8.5% gradually.

Chinese inflation

China to share annual inflation data for June. After four-month minus inflation period, ending in January, country's inflation rate was posting slow figures during Feb-May period. Markets' expectation for June is at 0.4%.

Russian inflation

Russia to reveal annual inflation figures for June. Country's inflation rate has been posting mixed figures but is in upward trend since mid-2023. In May, the rate stood at 8.3% but June expectations were at 8.6%.

SPORTS

EURO 2024 semifinals

Netherlands to face England at BVB Stadion Dortmund in UEFA European Football Championship semifinal

2024 Wimbledon tennis championships

The Wimbledon tennis championships, 3rd grand slam of the season, to continue with men's, women's singles quarterfinal clashes. The 2024 edition of Wimbledon is scheduled to be held from July 1 to 14 in London.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Gaza cease-fire: Is Israel’s ‘third phase’ of war a stumbling block or wrecking ball?

By Muhammed Enes Calli

Istanbul – Report about Israel’s plans to move its war on Gaza into the “third phase” and how that is undermining the push for a cease-fire.

The story gives details of Israel’s new military plans, explains the ways in which the Netanyahu government is blocking efforts for a cease-fire, and the reactions it has drawn from other parties involved in the negotiations.

It includes interviews with Ihab Maharmeh, a researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Israeli political analyst Ori Goldberg, and Omar Rahman, a fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.

How is climate change fueling a global surge in diseases?

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report about the link between climate change and a surge in both infectious and non-communicable diseases around the world.

The story explains how climate disasters and extreme weather phenomena are fueling a rise in infectious diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, malaria and cholera.

It highlights the worst affected regions of the world, with data illustrating the rising incidence rate of deadly diseases and the toll they are taking on vulnerable populations.

The report includes interviews with Celine Gossner, principal expert for emerging and vector-borne diseases at the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, and Barrak Alahmad, a research fellow of environmental health at Harvard University.

Hunter turns protector for Pakistan’s rare markhor

By Aamir Latif

Quetta, Pakistan – Report about a wildlife conservation initiative being led by a person who was once an avid hunter.

The story gives a profile of Asadullah Bazai, Pakistan’s former national shooting champion and a veteran hunter, and details of his mission to save the Sulaiman markhor, a subspecies of the country’s national animal that was once on the verge of extinction due to extensive hunting and poaching.

It includes interviews with Bazai and other conservationists such as Tahir Rasheed, a Quetta-based wildlife expert and former official of WWF-Pakistan.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Report about Israel’s planned ‘third phase’ for its ongoing war on Gaza, which gives details of the military strategies it could use going forward and explains how the Netanyahu government is undermining efforts to achieve a cease-fire.