Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 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.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he will send his negotiating team to Cairo this week to continue talks over a prisoner swap deal with Palestinians.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN also said an Israeli delegation returned from Egypt after holding a meeting for several hours under which it discussed the Philadelphi Corridor border area between Gaza and Egypt.

The Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer (8.69-mile) demilitarized buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, remains one of the major sticking points in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

US Secretary of State Blinken's visit to Egypt

After Israel, Antony Blinken is scheduled on Tuesday to travel to Egypt to meet the country's leaders to discuss indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in the hope of inking a cease-fire deal in Gaza.

Blinken will meet with senior Egyptian officials, including President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and Egyptian Director of General Intelligence Services Abbas Kamel.

Later, he will meet with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha.

This is Antony Blinken's ninth visit to the Mideast since Oct. 7. On Monday, he met with top Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.

Earlier, he warned that the ongoing Gaza cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas may be the last opportunity to end the war.

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza, where Israel has killed over 40,100 Palestinians and injured more than 92,700 since Oct. 7 Hamas incursion. Situation continues to worsen amid continuing attacks and minimal access to aid.

According to a medical source, 8-month Palestinian baby was killed and several displaced women were injured in an Israeli drone strike in western Khan Younis city on Monday.

Gaza’s government media office also on Monday said another Palestinian journalist was killed in an Israeli attack in the southern Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of members of the press killed to 169 since last Oct. 7.

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.

The Israeli army on Monday said it detected multiple drones launched from Lebanon, triggering alarms in the western Galilee, northern Israel.

Lebanese Foreign Ministry lodged a complaint with the UN Security Council against Israel on Monday after its warplanes breached the sound barrier over several areas, including the capital Beirut.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in occupied West Bank since last October have killed at least 635 people and injured 5,400 others, with over 10,000 taken into custody.

Four Palestinians were injured on Monday by Israeli forces which stormed into Nablus city, causing clashes and armed confrontations with Palestinians.

The Israeli army also rearrested a Palestinian woman, who was released in a prisoner exchange deal last November, bringing the total number of freed detainees arrested by Israel to 24, a prisoners’ affairs group said on Monday.

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.

Military escalation in Mideast

Israel is on high alert for possible military attacks 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.

International reports suggest that Iran might delay its response to the assassination of Haniyeh if an agreement between the two sides is reached in the light of the new round of negotiations in Qatar.

With no cease-fire deal yet reached after Doha talks, the prospects for Iran's retaliatory response are looming again.

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.

Human Rights Watch on Monday denounced last month’s Israeli airstrikes on Al Hudaydah Port in western Yemen as a “possible war crime.”

Humanitarian and security situation in Sudan

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

Drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2023

Annual figures from the National Records of Scotland on the number of drug-related deaths.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to pay 3-day visit to Russia

Prime Minister Li Qiang to pay a 3-day visit to Russia on Aug. 20-22, 2024 at the invitation of Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin. The 29th regular meeting of the heads of government of Russia and China is scheduled in Moscow. The parties will discuss Russia-China comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation.

Fighting between Russian, Ukrainian troops continues in Kursk region

Russia and Ukraine continue fighting in the Kursk region, where Kyiv launched an incursion on Aug. 5-6. Ukraine claims it has captured more than 80 settlements since then, particularly the town of Sudzha.

Russian authorities have said that 12 people were killed and 121 were injured in the region, including 10 children, since the start of Kyiv’s incursion.

Ukraine's presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak admitted the incursion is aimed at improving position at possible peace talks.

US comments on MidEast

US comments on developments in the Middle East amid ongoing cease-fire talks, and the prospect of an Iranian reprisal following an attack in Tehran that killed Hamas’ former political leader late last month.

Democratic National Convention underway in Chicago

Ex-US President Barack Obama, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff to address Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago in gathering that brings together delegates from all 50 US states to rally around nominee Kamala Harris ahead of November’s national election. Celebratory roll call to take place in which delegates will cast celebratory votes for Harris and running mate Tim Walz. Harris and Walz were previously formally nominated during a virtual roll call vote on Aug. 6. Pro-Palestine protests are expected to continue outside the DNC, demanding Washington change course on its hitherto unwavering support for Israel.

Vice President Harris' remarks

Vice President Kamala Harris to deliver remarks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Campaign event will mark her third trip to Wisconsin in her barely month-old campaign as she seeks to bolster her standing in key battleground states ahead of November election. Harris has narrowed Trump’s lead, or pulled ahead, in several pivotal states as Trump seeks to stunt her momentum.

UN meetings

UN secretary-general to deliver report to UN Security Council on the situation in Libya. The council is later expected to address support mission in Libya, as well as Libya sanctions, amid ongoing political turmoil in the North African nation. Fears have mounted in recent weeks that Libya could be on the verge of a new civil war. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya raised alarm on Aug. 9 over a mobilization of forces in southern and western Libya.

South Africa’s parliament resumes work

The South African parliament will resume work after a three-week break. Lawmakers are expected to start questioning ministers on key issues affecting the country including the recent arrest and deportation of 95 Libyans who were reportedly illegally undertaking military training.

Kenya risks further unrest as scrapped taxes could be brought back

East Africa’s largest economy risks further unrest after the country’s new Finance Minister John Mbadi said government will bring back some of the proposed tax measures that were scrapped in July following weeks of riots across the country.

Mpox situation in Africa

African countries are expected to make announcements on when they expect to receive mpox vaccines for emergency use as the virus continues to spread across the continent. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) recently declared mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. The World Health Organization has also declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar visits India

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim holds talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Several pacts between the two countries are likely to be inked.

India-Japan hold 2+2 ministerial dialogue

Two+two ministerial dialogue to be held between Japan and India in New Delhi.

ECONOMY

Türkiye’s interest rate decision, int’l investment position

Turkish Central Bank to reveal international investment position debt for June and interest rate decision. In its July meeting, the bank left the benchmark one-week repo rate unchanged at 50% for the fourth time.

Türkiye’s central gov't debt figure

Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry to announce central government’s debt figures for July.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Israel ‘engaged in genocidal actions in Gaza,’ says Israeli-American Holocaust scholar

By Michael Hernandez

Washington - Interview with Omer Bartov, a leading Israeli-American scholar on the Holocaust and professor at Brown University in the US.

Bartov shares his views on Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, saying the Israeli army is “engaged in genocidal actions” in the Palestinian enclave.

He also speaks about the underlying reasons for the Israeli army’s deadly aggression against Palestinians, such as the rhetoric of dehumanization pushed by Israeli politicians, and other aspects such as the impact on Israeli society and growing divisions within the country.

500 days of war: Death, disease, hunger stalk tens of millions in Sudan

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul - Report about the conflict in Sudan that is now just shy of the grim mark of 500 days.

The data-driven story sheds light on the human toll of the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, with latest figures on the number of casualties and the massive scale of internal displacement.

It also includes data from UN agencies on the alarming spread of hunger and disease, which remain as potent a threat to Sudanese people as the violence itself.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with Omer Bartov, a leading Israeli-American scholar on the Holocaust, who says the Israeli army is “engaged in genocidal actions in Gaza,” and speaks about the reasons for Israeli violence against Palestinians and other aspects such as growing divisions within Israeli society.

INFOGRAPHIC - Data illustration of the humanitarian toll of the war in Sudan, including latest figures on the number of casualties and the massive scale of internal displacement and the alarming spread of hunger and disease.