Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, August 1, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

Assassination of Hamas’ politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh

The international and regional response to the assassination of Hamas’ politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Hamas said Haniyeh was killed early Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike on his residence in Tehran, a day after he attended the inauguration of new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Sources linked to Hamas said Haniyeh's funeral prayers will be held in Tehran on Thursday, and he will be buried in Qatar’s capital Doha on Friday.

Israel, however, refrained from commenting on the incident. In response to a question from an Anadolu correspondent about the assassination of Hamas' Haniyeh, the Israeli army said, "We do not comment on these reports."

Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, said Haniyeh’s assassination “will turn battle to new dimensions with big consequences for the entire region.”

Iran's permanent mission to the UN on Wednesday called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council following the assassination of Haniyeh.

Assassination of most senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in Lebanon

The developments and reactions following Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah’s most senior commander Fouad Shukr in a drone attack in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Following the attack that killed at least four people and injured 80 others, Lebanon announced on Wednesday that it will file a complaint against Israel with the UN Security Council.

The Israeli army confirmed that it targeted Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr, whom Tel Aviv blamed for Saturday’s missile attack that killed 12 people in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in Israel-occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

Hezbollah confirmed that Shukr was inside the building hit by Israel, but said his fate remained unknown.

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 countries to suspend flights to Lebanon amid ongoing escalation.

Lebanon’s official news agency said Wednesday that an Israeli drone strike has targeted the area between the border villages of Ramya and Beit Lif in southern Lebanon.

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Humanitarian and military developments in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has killed more than 39,440 Palestinians and injured nearly 91,100 others since Oct. 7, 2023. The situation continues to worsen by the day amid attacks on Palestinians and little humanitarian assistance.

On Wednesday, 10 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip, according to a medical source.

Three other people were injured in the attack that targeted a civilian car in Zawayda. Eyewitnesses said an Israeli fighter jet hit the vehicle on Salaheddin Street near the entrance of the town.

Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas

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

After the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, Qatar on Wednesday questioned the seriousness of Israel regarding the cease-fire talks that have been taking place for months between Israel and Hamas.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said: “How can mediation (for Israel-Hamas cease-fire) succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?”

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 Wednesday, Israeli forces arrested a child during a raid in the town of Yatta, south of Hebron. The raid involved searching several homes and detaining numerous residents and their families.

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.

The Sudanese army said on Wednesday that five people were killed in an attack with two drones on a cadet ceremony in eastern Sudan, amid reports that Sudanese army chief Al-Burhan survived the assassination attempt.

EUROPE

New rules to ownership of XL Bully dogs take effect

New rules and safeguards surrounding the ownership of XL Bully dogs come into effect in Scotland. The new terms mirror a similar set of rules introduced in England in December that made it illegal to breed, sell, advertise, rehome or abandon an XL Bully dog. Under the new rules, it is an offence to have an XL Bully out in public without a lead or a muzzle. The move follows a series of attacks by XL Bullies on members of the public.

EU Artificial Intelligence Act enters into force

The world's first comprehensive set of rules for artificial intelligence goes into effect, though most provisions will not apply until August 2, 2026. A ban on AI systems that pose an unacceptable risk will go into effect on Feb. 2, 2025, with obligations for high-risk systems beginning August 2, 2027.

Haniyeh assassination

Developments in Europe following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. Iran accuses Israel of carrying out the strike that killed Haniyeh in Tehran.

Far-right riots in the UK

The latest situation in the UK, a day after violent far-right riots spread from Southport to London and Hartlepool, injuring many police officers and arresting over 100 people.

The riots were sparked by social media misinformation about the identity of the Southport knife attacker who murdered three young children. The riots escalated into Islamophobic, anti-Muslim hate crimes against Muslim communities and mosques.

EURASIA

EU foreign policy chief to visit Kazakhstan

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell will travel to Kazakhstan on an official visit, where he is expected to hold bilateral talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu. The visit will be an important opportunity to confirm, in a challenging geopolitical context, the EU’s commitment to further developing relations with both countries, as well as with the whole region of Central Asia.

1st Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to UN holds press briefing

Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky to hold a press briefing in which he will present the results of the Russian presidency in the UN Security Council in July 2024.

US

Death of Hamas leader Haniyeh

Developments in the US following the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in an airstrike in Tehran, which Iran blamed on Israel. Tel Aviv has yet to claim responsibility for his assassination.

Nominating Kamala Harris as presidential nominee

The Democratic National Committee to hold a virtual roll call to formally nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as its presidential candidate ahead of the convention after President Joe Biden announced on July 21 that he was ending his re-election campaign.

UN event

Sierra Leone takes over the UN Security Council presidency in August, and its UN Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu will hold a press briefing on the month's agenda.

AFRICA

Nigerians to hold protests over high cost of living

Nigerians plan to hold nationwide protests against the high cost of living and poor governance, despite the government’s appeal not to hold demonstrations.

Mpox virus spreads across Africa

African health officials to explain measures to curb the spread of mpox virus, which is spreading to many countries on the continent. The Central African Republic (CAR) and Kenya are the latest to report cases of the highly infectious disease that spreads through close contact.

Kenyan parliament starts vetting of newly nominated ministers

Kenya’s National Assembly Appointments Committee to start vetting newly nominated ministers. Earlier this month, President William Ruto fired almost his entire Cabinet after weeks of anti-government protests.

ASIA – PACIFIC

US top diplomat Blinken visits Mongolia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pays an official visit to Mongolia where he holds bilateral talks with his counterpart Battsetseg Batmunkh. He is also expected to meet Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai.

Civil society urges India to halt military supplies to Israel amid war on Gaza

Amid reports of Indian supplies of weapons to Israel, a group of prominent civil society members, including Booker prize-winning author Arundhati Roy and economist Jean Dreze, are scheduled to hold a news conference, to urge New Delhi to stop such arms shipments to Tel Aviv. They cite India's obligation under international law to halt military supplies to Israel amid the war on Gaza.

Landslide in Southern India

Nearly 200 people are still missing as search and rescue enters the third day in the southern Indian state of Kerala where landslides killed over 150 people. Hundreds of others have been rescued as military and Air Force help evacuations.

Vietnamese premier meets Indian counterpart

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is set to hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

China’s Foreign Ministry to hold news conference

China’s Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference. A ministry spokesperson is expected to deliver statements on the situation in the Middle East as well as the Asia-Pacific tour of US top diplomat Antony Blinken.

Japan expected to react to assassination of Hamas chief

Japan is expected to respond to the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.

PLA commemorates 97th founding day

Chinese military, the People’s Liberation Army or PLA, to commemorate its 97th founding day. This year’s anniversary comes amid PLA’s intensive missions and development amid tensions in the Taiwan Straits and South China Sea.

THE ECONOMY

Eurozone unemployment figure

Eurostat to reveal unemployment data for June

SPORTS

Team USA to meet Belgium at Paris 2024 women's Olympic basketball group match at Lille's Pierre Mauroy Stadium. Australian women's basketball team to play Canada at the same venue. Olympics hosts France to face Nigeria in another women's basketball game.

In Artistic Gymnastics, the women's all-around final at Paris 2024 to be held at Bercy Arena.

Türkiye to meet the Dominican Republic, Brazil to play against Japan, and Italy to face the Netherlands in the women's Olympic volleyball preliminary round in the French capital.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Ismail Haniyeh's assassination: What does it mean for Hamas?

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report on the implications of Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination, as well as the future of Hamas as the Palestinian resistance group is forced to adapt and respond amid the ongoing fighting and bombardment in the Gaza Strip against Israel.

The story explores the possible impacts of Haniyeh’s killing on the group and the wider Palestinian cause, efforts for a cease-fire in Gaza.

It includes an interview with Palestinian political scientist Abdalhadi Alijla and remarks by Chris Doyle of the Council for Arab-British Understanding. The experts argue that the resistance group will remain undeterred in the wake of Haniyeh’s killing, referring to previous assassinations that they did not significantly impact the Palestinian liberation movement.

Tensions in Southport: The rise of far-right extremism in the UK

By Aysu Bıcer

Southport – Report exploring the impact of misinformation that ran rife on social media in the wake of a deadly knife attack in Southport, northwest England that claimed the lives of three children.

The story will also focus on the rise of far-right extremism in the context of the incident, after which heightened islamophobia led to extremist actions, including an attack on the local mosque, despite authorities clarifying that the 17-year-old suspect is from Cardiff.

It also discusses the community’s response to the harrowing incident and includes interviews with residents and officials, including the head of Southport’s mosque, as tensions continue to linger.

Warsaw remembers 80 years after the city’s World War II uprising

By Jo Harper

Warsaw – Report on the 80th anniversary commemorations of the Warsaw uprising in Poland's capital city, detailing the historical significance of the 1944 revolt against Nazi occupation.

The story highlights the uprising as the largest military effort by a European resistance movement during World War II, focusing on personal accounts from descendants of uprising participants and international visitors who have come to Warsaw to pay tribute.

It includes insights from Maria Klos, whose father fought in the uprising at age 14, and perspectives from international visitors like Keiichiro Ushio from Japan. It also provides historical context about the uprising's objectives, casualties, and aftermath, including the deliberate destruction of Warsaw by German forces.

NEW MEDIA

Video – Interview with Palestinian political scientist Abdalhadi Alijla on the aftermath of the killing of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was slain in an airstrike on his residence in Tehran, and its impacts on the group, its cause, and the situation in Gaza.

Video – Interviews with local residents, the Southport mosque leader, the mayor of Liverpool, and the chief of Merseyside Police, providing a comprehensive view of the situation and its broader implications for the UK after a knife-wielding assailant killed three children in the town of Southport.

Video – Interviews with descendants of participants in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, as well as with foreign visitors to the Polish capital on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the revolt against Nazi occupation.