Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

Hamas political bureau chief Haniyeh's assassination

The latest developments in the region after the Palestinian resistance group Hamas announced early Wednesday that its political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his residence in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Israeli extremists storm 2 military bases

The developments in Israel and international reactions following the sexual abuse of a Palestinian detainee from Gaza by Israeli soldiers at the notorious Sde Teiman Prison in the Negev desert in southern Israel.

This was followed by hundreds of extremists storming into the Beit Lid military base compound, which houses a military court and the Sde Teiman detention center, to protest the detention of soldiers who sexually assaulted the Palestinian detainee.

The incident sparked debate about whether it was a protest or an attempted rebellion and coup.

Ten Israeli soldiers have been accused of gang molestation of a Palestinian detainee from Gaza at the Sde Teiman Prison in the Negev Desert in southern Israel. Nine soldiers were detained for questioning as part of the sexual abuse investigation.

On Tuesday, Yair Golan, leader of the Labor Party described the storming by far-right protesters as “a coup attempt,” accusing the Israeli army of “refraining from sending police reinforcements to Sde Teiman field for 3 hours.”

The Israel opposition leader Yair Lapid said that “a dangerous fascist group threatens the existence of the State of Israel,” referring to the extremists who broke into the two military bases.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of failing to take prompt action against Israeli rioters.

Israel claims killing Hezbollah top commander

The developments after the Israeli military said late Tuesday that it assassinated Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah's top military commander, in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs while Hezbollah has not confirmed his killing.

Israel-Hezbollah escalation

Border clashes between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah continue amid fears of a full-fledged war.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army claimed to have attacked a weapons depot, military buildings, a rocket platform, and "hostile" Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah targeted the Jal al-Alam site with artillery shells and the command headquarters of the Al-Sahl Battalion in the Beit Hillel barracks with a salvo of Katyusha.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Beirut advised its citizens in Lebanon to prepare emergency plans or leave the country amid fears of escalation. In light of rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, 11 countries have urged their citizens to avoid travel to or leave Lebanon.

Jordanian, French, German, and Greek airlines were among the latest to suspend flights to Lebanon due to the ongoing escalation.

Tension has escalated between Hezbollah and Israel following a missile attack on the Druze town of Majdal Shams in Israel-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday.

Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have risen following a missile attack on the Druze town of Majdal Shams in Israel's occupied Golan Heights on Saturday.

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Humanitarian and military developments in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has killed more than 39,400 Palestinians and injured nearly 91,000 since Oct. 7, 2023. The situation continues to worsen by the day amid attacks and minimal aid.

On Tuesday, Palestinian medics recovered the bodies of at least 42 people in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip following the Israeli army withdrawal from the area.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has reported an outbreak of hepatitis across the Gaza Strip amid relentless Israeli attacks on the enclave.

Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas

The latest development regarding a potential cease-fire agreement and hostage swap deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Israel, Hamas, and the mediators have yet to issue a new official statement about the status of the talks.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed nearly 592 people and injured 5,400 more, with nearly 9,700 taken into custody since last October.

On Tuesday, a Palestinian was shot by Israeli army fire near Qalqilya city in the northern West Bank, according to medical and local sources.

Protests against Israeli government

Mounting protests in Israel to pressure the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to either negotiate a hostage-prisoner swap deal with Hamas or resign.

Red Sea tension

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

Humanitarian and security situation in Sudan

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

EURASIA

Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman holds news conference on current issues

Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Andrey Nastasyin to hold a press conference on a wide range of current foreign affairs issues. Nastasyin will make his remarks during the initiative section of the briefing and answer reporters' questions.

AFRICA

Nigerian security beefs up ahead of protests on August 1

A massive military and police deployment is expected to begin across the country before August 1, as some youths and civil society groups plan protests against high living costs and poor governance.

Former South African Presidential Protection Unit officers to appear in court

Eight former members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s Protection Unit are to appear in court to face charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm to soldiers. The eight were filmed assaulting off-duty soldiers on the side of a busy highway in 2023. The incident caused outrage across the country prompting their arrest.

Traders' strike to begin in Uganda's capital Kampala

Businesses in Uganda's capital Kampala are expected to shut down due to a protest over a proposed tax collection system. The traders' strike coincides with an anti-corruption protest planned by young people who intend to march to parliament for the second time this month.

ASIA – PACIFIC

Bangladesh to ban opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, its students' wing

The Bangladeshi government is set to ban the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party and its students' wing Chhatra Shibir.

US top diplomat Blinken visits Singapore

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to address Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at National University of Singapore.

Search for missing continues after landslides kill over 150 in India

More than 150 people have been killed in southern India, with massive search and rescue efforts underway in Kerala state. The government sent military and air force personnel to assist with the rescue operation.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye’s international trade

Turkish Statistical Institute to reveal foreign trade figures and tourism statistics for H1. Türkiye’s foreign trade gap was at $6.5 billion in May.

Türkiye’s tourism figures

Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry to reveal the number of foreign tourists who visited the country during H1.

Australia’s inflation

Australia to share annual inflation figures for Q2.

Japan’s interest rate

Bank of Japan to release interest rate decision. Bank, after a long period, increased the rate from the minus side to 0.1% but it has been kept at a constant level during two meetings and this meeting is expected to keep it at the same level.

Germany’s import prices

Germany to share import prices for June unemployment rate for July. While import prices dropped by 0.4% in June slight increase of 0.5% is expected for July.

France’s inflation

France to share provisional annual inflation data for July. It was at 2.2% but a slight increase is expected for July.

Eurostat’s inflation

Eurostat to reveal provisional inflation data for July. Eurozone's annual consumer inflation rate in June eased to 2.5%. Market expectation at 2.5% for July.

SPORTS

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Serbia to play against Puerto Rico in men's Olympic basketball group match at Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Lille. Team USA including many basketball superstars such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry to face South Sudan in another group match at the same venue.

Brazil to meet Spain in women's Olympic football match at Bordeaux Stadium. In addition, the US to meet Serbia in the women's volleyball preliminary round at South Paris Arena 1.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Profile of Fuad Shukr: Key Hezbollah figure whose death remains uncertain after Israeli attack on Beirut:

By Stephanie Rady

Beirut – The fate of Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr remains shrouded in mystery following an assassination attempt late Tuesday in an Israeli drone strike on a building in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut.

The strike was reported in the vicinity of the Hezbollah Shura Council’s headquarters in Haret Hreik, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The country’s health ministry said a woman was killed and at least 68 others were injured in the attack.

This marks the second Israeli attack on a southern suburb of Beirut since Jan. 2, when Israel assassinated Saleh al-Arouri, a senior official of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

– Israel's 'Guantanamo Bay': Israeli analyst demands closure of detention facility amid abuse of Palestinian detainees

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report highlighting the condition of Palestinian prisoners at the Sde Teiman Prison in the wake of reports of severe sexual abuse of a Palestinian detainee from Gaza.

The story includes interviews with Israeli analyst Shaiel Ben-Ephraim and peace activist Maoz Inon, who underline the need to shut down the facility, as well as to investigate and prosecute Israeli soldiers involved in the abuse.

They also discuss the unrest that erupted in Israel after the detention of the nine soldiers at Sde Teiman, with mobs storming the notorious facility and a military courthouse, as well as the role of far-right politicians in the abuse of Palestinian prisoners.

Modern slavery: Rising forced labor in Italy demands systemic response, experts say

By Giada Zampano

Rome – Report delving into a recent police operation in Italy that resulted in the liberation of 33 Indian workers who had been subjected to slave-like labor conditions.

The story will also explore the root causes of modern slavery, which has resulted in economic exploitation and violation of human and worker rights in Europe, particularly focusing on the vulnerable migrant population.

Shedding light on the ongoing issue of labor exploitation, particularly in Italy but within a European context, the report will include interviews with experts in this field.

US Fed expected to signal economy on course for interest rate cut

By Ovunc Kutlu

Istanbul – Report on the US Federal Reserve’s two-day monetary policy meeting set to conclude Wednesday evening, and its expected outcome based on current economic indicators and the outlook for the American economy.

The story is based on an interview with Martin Wurm, a director at Moody’s Analytics who observes a slowdown in all relevant categories of inflation in the US: goods, services, and shelter inflation.

Wurm also suggests that members of the Federal Open Market Committee and Fed Chair Jerome Powell are likely to indicate a clear signal that things are on track for rate cuts, as the central bank is unlikely to have cause to delay the move beyond September.

Tanzanian divers draw attention to war in Gaza

Zanzibar - Tanzanian young divers team up with social media influencer Jamal Amoul Abdallah and South African traveler Candice King to draw attention to the war in Gaza. Holding “Free Palestine” placards, the young people are seen jumping into the waters in a unique way, which has garnered millions of views on social media.

NEW MEDIA

Video – Interview with Israeli analyst Shaiel Ben-Ephraim, who argues the need to shut down Sde Teiman Prison after reports that Israeli soldiers there severely abused a Palestinian detainee from Gaza.