Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

Cease-fire talks between Israel, Hamas

Latest in potential cease-fire agreement and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

New round of indirect talks on cease-fire and hostage swap between Israel and Hamas is set to begin in Qatar’s capital Doha.

Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said: "Washington will unveil a new proposal during talks and will exert significant pressure to push agreement through."

Anadolu Agency also confirmed, citing Hamas official Suhail Hindi, that the movement will not be part of tomorrow’s negotiations. He stressed that Hamas demands Israel’s commitment to what was agreed upon on July 2 (to back Biden-backed proposal). “Hamas is ready to engage in implementation mechanisms of agreement,” he added.

Channel 12 also confirmed that Mossad Chief David Barnea will head Israel’s delegation, which also includes Shin Bet security service head Ronen Bar.

Military escalation in Mideast

Israel on high alert for possible military attack from Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Iranian-backed armed militias in Iraq and Syria, following last month’s assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Israel has not taken responsibility for Haniyeh's assassination, but did claim responsibility for earlier assassination of prominent Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr in Beirut suburb.

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza, where Israel has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians and injured over 92,000 since Oct. 7 Hamas incursion. Situation continues to worsen amid continuing attacks and minimal access to aid.

Number of victims who died in Gaza of malnutrition due to Israel's war on Gaza Strip rose to 37, including children. Government Media Office said Israel has been preventing entry of aid trucks into enclave for 100 days.

Civil defense agency in Gaza announced killing of two of its members by Israeli army gunfire in Rafah, southern Gaza, raising death toll since Oct. 7 to 82.

Some 8 Palestinians were killed, and dozens injured, including women and children, in Israeli airstrike targeting several homes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Wednesday.

Israel-Hezbollah escalation

Continued border clashes between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah amid fears of full-blown war following Tel Aviv’s July 30 assassination of senior Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut.

Rockets continued to fall on northern Israel from southern Lebanon. Rockets fired by Hezbollah on Wednesday hit settlements of Metula and Kiryat Shmona, while sirens sounded in other areas of northern Israel due to detection of rocket fire.

US Ambassador to Lebanon Amos Hochstein said Wednesday that diplomatic solution to avoid war between Israel and Hezbollah is still "achievable and urgent." Conflict between "Hezbollah and Israel has gone on for long enough," he said after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in occupied West Bank since last October have killed at least 630 people and injured 5,400 more, with nearly 10,000 taken into custody.

Israeli forces have been conducting regular raids across various areas of West Bank, which have escalated since onset of Gaza conflict last Oct. 7. Palestinians have also faced violent attacks by illegal Israeli settlers.

Protests against Israeli government

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

Families of Israeli hostages in Gaza are expected to demonstrate in Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, coinciding with potential resumption of cease-fire talks in Doha. They aim to pressure government to reach agreement that would lead to release of captives.

Palestinian president to address Turkish parliament

At the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to deliver a speech to the Turkish parliament on Thursday evening, focusing on the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and the attacks in the West Bank.

Red Sea tensions

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

Humanitarian and security situation in Sudan

Humanitarian and security situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate amid clashes between army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

UK knife crime statistics

Quarterly statistics on trends in cautioning and sentencing of knife or offensive weapon possession offenses to be released.

Election campaign in US

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to hold event in Maryland to make case to American people that their economic policies have lowered costs for public as Harris prepares to take on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November.

Ex-US President Donald Trump to hold news conference at his New Jersey golf club as he loses ground in national polling to Republican nominee Kamala Harris ahead of November’s national election.

Experts from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to hold press conference call to discuss findings of agency’s climate analysis for July after scientists determined it was hottest July on record. Specialists to also provide overview on drought and wildfire conditions in US and Canada.

Desk to monitor US comments on developments in Mideast amid cease-fire talks and prospect of Iranian reprisal following attack in Tehran late last month that killed Hamas’ former political leader.

UN Security Council to discuss latest situation in Middle East

UN Security Council to convene for morning session on situation in Middle East as negotiators meet in Doha, Qatar for latest rounds of talks on a cease-fire in Gaza, and possibility that Iran could soon retaliate against Israel for last month’s killing of ex-Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

⁠Launch of cargo spacecraft Progress MS-28 to International Space Station

Russian to launch cargo spacecraft Progress MS-28 to International Space Station to deliver food, fuel, and other consumables to cosmonauts.

Clashes between Russian and Ukrainian troops continue in Kursk region

Russia and Ukraine continue to clash in Kursk region, where Kyiv launched an incursion on Aug. 6. Ukraine claims it captured 74 settlements since then. Russian authorities have said that 12 people were killed and 121 injured in region, including 10 children, since start of Kyiv’s incursion.

Iraqi delegation’s visit to Türkiye

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, accompanied by a high-level delegation, to pay an official visit to Türkiye.

During the visit, the first meeting of the Türkiye-Iraq Joint Planning Group to be convened under the co-chairmanship of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Iraqi counterpart.

On the same day, the fourth meeting of the High-Level Security Mechanism will also be held, with the attendance of Defense Minister Yasar Guler, intelligence chief İbrahim Kalin, Deputy Interior Minister Munir Karaloglu, and their Iraqi counterparts.

At these meetings, various aspects of bilateral relations, as well as regional developments, will be discussed.

South Africa to deport arrested Mozambican nationals

South Africa is expected to deport several Mozambican nationals found guilty by court for contravening Immigration Act. They were arrested this week for being in country illegally. South Africa is battling surge of illegal immigrants who flee their countries in search of job opportunities in Africa’s most industrialized nation.

Kenyan president to honor best athletes on continent

President William Ruto expected to host grand reception in honor of Kenyan athletes who represented country at Paris Olympics, emerging as best on continent. Kenyan athletes brought home 11 medals: four golds, two silvers, and five bronzes.

African countries respond to declaration of mpox as a public health emergency

African countries expected to work to allay fears and announce measures to curb spread of mpox virus a day after Africa Center for Disease Control (Africa CDC) and Prevention declared disease a public health emergency, resulting in widespread concern.

India celebrates 78th Independence Day

India celebrates its 78th Independence Day, marking liberation from colonial British Raj in 1947. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to unfurl national flag in capital New Delhi, besides celebrations to be held across South Asian nation.

New Zealand prime minister due in Australia

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to pay two-day official visit to Australia where he will meet his counterpart Anthony Albanese for their annual meeting in capital Canberra.

Samsung workers launch 4-day strike in South Korea

Samsung labor union to launch four-day strike on day South Korea marks Liberation Day. Union aims to step up pressure for pay raises as well as additional bonuses.

China's top diplomat due in Thailand after visiting Myanmar

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi due in Thailand after his official visit to neighboring junta-ruled Myanmar. Besides bilateral engagements, Wang will co-chair 9th meeting of foreign ministers of Mekong-Lancang Cooperation.

Taliban celebrates 3rd anniversary of return to power

Afghan Taliban interim administration in Kabul to celebrate its third anniversary of returning to power.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye's international reserves

Turkish Central Bank to release international reserve figures for July and central government budget balance.

⁠UK GDP growth rate

UK to share provisional GDP figures for Q2.

SPECIAL REPORTS

'Drop in the ocean': Widespread abuse of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli authorities

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL – Report on systemic abuse inflicted on Palestinian prisoners by Israeli authorities, especially in wake of reports and footage of detainees tortured at hands of prison guards.

Story highlights how abuse of Palestinian prisoners, which has long been reported in Israeli prisons, has grown more open and severe since Tel Aviv launched its offensive on Gaza last Oct. 7.

Includes interview with Tal Steiner, executive director of Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, who speaks on widespread abuse of prisoners inside jails, lack of accountability of Israeli authorities, and emergence of “new” phenomenon of torture by prison guards during war.

From autocracy to uncertainty: Bangladesh navigates road to elections under caretaker government

By Faisal Mahmud

Dhaka, Bangladesh – Report on Bangladesh's interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, highlighting concerns about administration's legitimacy due to its lack of constitutional foundation, following ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Story underscores how, despite initial widespread acceptance, interim government's mandate remains legally unclear.

Includes remarks from officials of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which supports Yunus but stress need for swift elections, along with analysts, who underline unprecedented situation country finds itself in. Report also covers activities of Hasina’s supporters since her resignation, including misinformation and demonstrations.

Israeli backers using genocide from last century to justify Gaza genocide, says son of Holocaust survivor

By Burak Bir

London – Report including interviews with protesters in recent pro-Palestinian demonstration in London, including Mark Etkind, son of Holocaust survivor.

At pro-Palestinian rally in London, Etkind expresses outrage at Israeli government and its backers for using what his father and millions of others suffered during World War II to justify Tel Aviv’s attacks on Palestinians in Gaza Strip.

Etkind, whose father survived Lodz ghetto and other concentration camps, including Buchenwald, stresses arms that US and UK are providing Israel make them complicit in rising death toll in Gaza

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Mark Etkind, son of a Holocaust survivor, decrying role of Israel’s allies US and UK in facilitating country’s ongoing deadly attacks on Gaza Strip.