Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, July 11, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas

Developments in potential cease-fire agreement in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian movement Hamas.

Following Wednesday’s round in Qatar, new round of negotiations on cease-fire in Gaza and hostage swap deal to be held in Cairo on Thursday, with participation of CIA Director William Burns, Mossad head David Barnea, Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

But members of Netanyahu's government continue to voice strong opposition to striking a deal, most notably Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Senior US diplomat on regional visit

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf continues her trip to the Middle East through Sunday to discuss possible cease-fire agreement for Gaza.

Leaf is visiting the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and West Bank and Italy to meet with government officials.

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip amid stymied efforts to reach cease-fire that would end Israel's relentless attacks, which have resulted in over 38,000 Palestinians killed and over 88,000 others injured since Oct. 7.

Israeli military dropped leaflets calling on residents to leave Gaza City immediately and head south towards Zawaida and Deir al-Balah. Flyers provide instructions on “safe routes” to evacuate Gaza City via Salah a-Din road or coastal road.

Dire humanitarian situation, looming famine in Gaza

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

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur to Palestinian territories, said Wednesday that there is famine across all of Gaza as “consequence of Israel's intentional starvation, used as part of its genocidal campaign against Palestinians.”

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 since last Oct. 7, with 9,600 taken into Israeli custody.

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.

Israeli police Wednesday arrested 9 protesters after they blocked highway near Tel Aviv demanding early elections and a prisoner swap deal with Hamas. Holding banner reading "Enough of government of destruction," protesters blocked traffic on Morasha Junction and burned tires on road.

Israel-Hezbollah escalation

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

Cautious calm prevailed in southern Lebanon Wednesday after a series of overnight Israeli raids amid growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

State-run National News Agency said Israeli artillery targeted town of Markaba and outskirts of village of Hounine at dawn. Israeli fighter jets also carried out five raids in southern towns of Kafr Kila and Janta in eastern Lebanon.

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

EU population figures

Eurostat to publish first estimates of EU's population figures for 2023.

Bosnia Herzegovina – Srebrenica victims’ burial

⁠Bosnia and Herzegovina to bid farewell to 14 additional victims of Srebrenica genocide on 29th anniversary of atrocity.

US

NATO summit concludes

Leaders from NATO members conclude summit marking alliance’s 75th anniversary. Schedule includes meeting with Indo-Pacific partners (Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand) and meeting of NATO-Ukraine Council at heads of state level. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to hold press conference. US President Joe Biden to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and later hold press conference.

President Erdogan's schedule

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend meetings at NATO summit, including meeting of heads of state and government and meeting of NATO-Ukraine Council. Erdogan later to hold news conference.

Independent candidate Kennedy to speak in Washington

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, independent candidate for 2024 presidential election, to deliver address in Washington on “mounting political crisis.”

UN events

UN Security Council to meet for consultations on UN mission in Cyprus, UNFICYP, and then in afternoon for briefing followed by consultations on Colombia.

High-level commemorative event at UN General Assembly marking International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.

AFRICA

Top diplomat Lamola to hold inaugural discussions on S.Africa’s foreign policy

Newly appointed Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola to hold first public discussion on South Africa’s foreign policy at event organized by Institute of International Affairs in Cape Town. South Africa has nonaligned policy.

Zambia to host southern Africa regional bloc meeting

Zambia to host two-day forum of ministers from 16-bloc Southern African Development Community (SADC) in capital Lusaka.

South Africa’s Western Cape closes schools following storm warnings

Education Department in South Africa’s Western Cape Province has ordered closure of some schools ahead of expected severe storms. Cape Town is among areas in province bracing for week of cold fronts, torrential rains, and flooding expected to cause damage.

ASIA–PACIFIC

Weatherman warns of heavy rains in Japan

Government warned of torrential rains in parts of Japan through Friday. Intermittent downpours, accompanied by thunder, expected to impact normal life in country.

Azerbaijan President Aliyev to meet Pakistani leadership

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to meet President Asif Zardari as well as Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif during 2-day visit to Pakistan. Sides are expected to sign agreements, focused on trade and energy.

Pakistani court likely to announce verdict in illegal marriage case of ex-Premier Khan

Local court in Islamabad expected to announce verdict in unlawful marriage case of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.

Pakistan's top court likely to deliver verdict on reserved seats

Supreme Court likely to deliver verdict on long-awaited petition seeking allocation of reserved seats to main opposition party of jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan. Some 70 reserved seats for women and minorities are divided among political parties in proportion to number of seats they win in general elections.

South Korea to hold defense conference in Australia

South Korea to hold defense conference in Australian capital Canberra. Participants to discuss ways to bolster bilateral defense and arms industry cooperation. Seoul also seeks to clinch major arms contracts.

Dozens stranded in Tibet

Over 130 people including tourists stranded in southern Tibet, also known as Xizang, region of China along border with Nepal, after heavy rains caused landslides and washed roads.

Vietnamese President To Lam to pay 1st overseas visit

Newly elected Vietnamese President To Lam to pay first overseas state visits to Laos and Cambodia. To was elected in May.

Papua New Guinea minister to appear before Australian court for domestic abuse

Papua New Guinea Minister for Petroleum Jimmy Maladina to appear before court in Australia on charge of domestic assault offense. He is out on bail.

India to host BIMSTEC foreign ministers

India to host Foreign Ministers of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation or BIMSTEC. It is 2nd such meeting after last year’s in Thailand.

Students continue protesting for reforms in public jobs

University students to continue traffic blockade movement for 4th day across Bangladesh, demanding reforms in public jobs. Students are demanding quota system to acceptable ratio. As many as 56% of places in government are filled by job seekers on quota basis.

THE ECONOMY

Turkish retail sales

Turkish Statistical Institute to release Türkiye’s retail sales figures for May. Retail sales fell for 2nd straight month in April, down 1.8% month-on-month.

German inflation

Destatis to share second reading of inflation figures for June.

According to provisional data released earlier, Germany's consumer inflation rate eased to 2.2% in June following rise in May thanks to stronger decline in energy costs. On monthly basis, Germany's Consumer Price Index gained 0.1% in June.

SPORTS

Wimbledon tennis championships, 3rd grand slam of season, to continue with women's singles semifinal clashes. Wimbledon 2024 in London set to wrap up on July 14.

SPECIAL REPORTS

WITH INFOGRAPHIC – ‘Suffering horrifically’: 10 months of Israel’s ‘war on children’ in Gaza

By Muhammed Enes Calli

Istanbul – Report on devastating impact that Israel’s war on Gaza has had on children in besieged Palestinian enclave.

Story uses data from various sources to illustrate toll that Israel’s relentless aggression has taken on Gaza’s children, including figures such as number of casualties, number of missing children, children who have lost parents and family, and children who have lost limbs due to Israeli bombing.

Includes interview with Alexandra Saieh, head of humanitarian policy and advocacy at Save Children International, one of several groups that have been documenting Israeli violence against children.

Srebrenica genocide: 29 years of pain and a fight for justice

By Talha Ozturk

Belgrade, Serbia - Explainer about Srebrenica genocide of 1995, where Bosnian Serb forces killed more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslims, despite presence of Dutch peacekeeping troops.

Story presents timeline of events, breakdown of case heard at International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, which ruled that crimes committed by Serb forces constituted genocide, and subsequent ruling by International Court of Justice.

Report gives details of reactions of international community over past decades and recent steps taken on issue, such as UN General Assembly resolution passed this year to designate July 11 day of commemoration of Srebrenica genocide.

Modi’s visit to Russia showcases India’s balancing act: Experts

By Hilal Mir

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – Report on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia, focusing on outcomes of geopolitically significant trip.

Story gives details of major deals and agreements that materialized during visit this week, and potential implications of Modi’s outreach to Moscow, particularly in context of India’s position as key US ally in South Asia.

Includes interviews with Praveen Donthi, International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for India, international relations expert Wajahat Qazi, and Indian political analyst Suvojit Bagchi.

NEW MEDIA

INFOGRAPHIC - Visualization of devastating impact that Israel’s war has had on children in Gaza Strip, including figures such as number of children killed, missing, orphaned and those who have lost their limbs in relentless Israeli attacks.