Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, July 19, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Humanitarian and military developments in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has killed more than 38,840 Palestinians and injured nearly 89,500 since Oct. 7, 2023. Situation continues to worsen by the day amid attacks and minimal aid.

On Thursday, three Palestinians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the Deir al-Balah city.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society recovered the bodies of 12 Palestinians buried by Israeli forces at Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas

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

Israeli media reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the Israeli negotiators on Thursday “to discuss Netanyahu’s most recent demands for a deal.”

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West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed at least 576 people and injured 5,350 more, with nearly 9,700 taken into Israeli custody since last October.

Protests against Israeli government

Mounting protests in Israel to pressure the Netanyahu government to either negotiate a hostage-prisoner swap deal with Hamas, or resign.

Israel-Hezbollah escalation

Continued border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah amid fears of a full-blown war.

On Thursday, Mahmoud Mohammad Jbara, a senior leader of the Lebanese Jamaa Islamiya group, was killed in an Israeli drone attack in eastern Lebanon.

Hezbollah said it targeted the Israeli site of Birkat Risha, newly installed spy equipment in the Hadab Yarin site of the army..

Red Sea tension

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

Humanitarian and security situation in Sudan.

Sudan's humanitarian and security situation is deteriorating as clashes between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continue in various parts of the country.

US

Calls for Biden's withdrawal

Developments regarding growing calls from Democratic lawmakers for President Joe Biden to withdraw from presidential elections. Biden, currently isolated due to COVID-19 infection, is expected to drop out of the race soon, according to multiple reports.

Blinken at Aspen Security Forum

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to speak during the Aspen Security Forum in the state of Colorado.

UN Security Council event

UN Security Council to meet for a Russia-chaired debate on UN's cooperation with the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

ICJ delivers advisory opinion on legal consequences of Israeli action in Occupied Palestinian Territory

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) to deliver its advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The UN General Assembly resolution asks the ICJ to determine legal consequences "arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and from its adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures," as well as how those policies and practices affect the legal status of the occupation. Follows hearings on the matter held in February.

UN agencies’ briefing

The UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists in Geneva.

Court appearance of wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez

Begona Gomez has been summoned to reappear to continue giving evidence as part of the investigation into allegations of corruption that Sanchez claims is part of a smear campaign. Continued from July 5.

German Chancellor Scholz meets Serbian President Vucic

Olaf Scholz will visit Serbia's capital Belgrade to meet President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday.

An EU lithium deal is expected to be signed by the two leaders.

Court hearing on US reporter Evan Gershkovich espionage case

Espionage trial of US reporter Evan Gershkovich continues in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Gershkovich was detained in Russia in March 2023 on charges of espionage. The Federal Security Service accused him of collecting state secrets about the military-industrial complex. Gershkovich and the WSJ have denied the claims, insisting he was simply doing his job as a journalist.

African ministers continue talks on AU budget in Ghana

African foreign ministers and government representatives continue a second day of discussion on the 55-member bloc's budget for 2025 and other issues affecting the continent such as conflicts, terrorism, and climate change among others. The ministers are attending the African Union's 45th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council. They will issue a statement at the end of their deliberations.

Situation in Kenya remains tense as youth vow to continue protests

Kenyan youth calling for the resignation of President William Ruto over alleged poor governance threaten to continue protesting a day after police banned protests in the capital Nairobi, but a high court later overturned the decision.

South Africa’s Foreign Minister Lamola to hold bilateral talks in Ghana

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola to engage in bilateral discussions with counterparts from various African nations on the sidelines of the African Union's 45th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council held in Accra Ghana.

Situation remains volatile in Bangladesh as death toll climbs to 39

Clashes between police and protesters continue against the quota system in public jobs sector in Bangladesh. At least 39 people have been killed and dozens other injured, so far. Students across the South Asian nation are observing shutdown while government has closed all educational institutions.

Top Chinese, Canadian diplomats meet in Beijing

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to host his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly for bilateral talks in Beijing.

THE ECONOMY

Japan’s inflation rate for June

Japan’s Internal Affairs Ministry to release consumer inflation rate for June. With a rise in electricity prices, Japan’s annual consumer inflation accelerated to three-month high of 2.8% in May.

Germany’s producer inflation

Statistical authority Destatis to reveal producer inflation for June.

Türkiye’s automobile market

Turkish Statistical Institute to share road motor vehicles registration for June. Türkiye sees a 4% year-on-year hike in road motor vehicle registrations to 232,401 units in May.

Company establishments in Türkiye last month

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye to reveal newly established closed firm statistics for June. In May, the number of newly founded companies in Türkiye ticked up slightly by 0.3% year-on-year to 10,072.

Türkiye’s international investment position

Türkiye’s Central Bank to share international investment position of country for May.

SPECIAL REPORTS

ICJ opinion on Israeli occupation of Palestine could ‘change political calculus in West’: Expert

By Muhammed Enes Calli

Istanbul - Report on the advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal consequences of Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

The story gives assessments from legal experts on the possible outcomes, their significance, and the potential implications for Israel, along with historical precedents from past ICJ advisory opinions.

It includes interviews with Gerhard Kemp, a law professor from the University of the West of England, Bristol, and Marco Longobardo, an international law expert at the University of Westminster.

Palestinian activist sheds light on targeting of pro-Palestine students in Australia

By Yasin Gungor

Istanbul - Interview with Dana Alshaer, a Palestinian student organizer at the University of Melbourne, about the challenges faced by pro-Palestine protesters.

She speaks about the ways in which student protesters have been targeted, including with “extremely baseless” charges of misconduct that could jeopardize their academic and professional futures.

Alshaer also shares details about the objectives of the student-led Unimelb for Palestine movement and their successes so far, such as forcing the university to disclose its ties with companies and firms linked to Israel.

Trump ‘ready with new vigor’ to address world issues: US congressman

By Diyar Guldogan

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Interview with Pete Sessions, a Republican Congressman, at the Republican National Convention held in the US city of Milwaukee.

Sessions speaks about his strong and the party’s strong support for Donald Trump as their candidate for the November election, and says the recent assassination attempt has given Trump “new vigor to address the issues of the world.”

The congressman also delves into Türkiye-US bilateral relations, praising a recent phone call between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and stressing that a Trump presidency would help further strengthen ties between the two nations.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Dana Alshaer, a Palestinian student organizer at the University of Melbourne, about the pro-Palestine student protests in Australia, where she speaks about how students have been targeted and shed light on the successes and objectives of the solidarity campaign.