Diary

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

Israeli aggression in Lebanon

Cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon continues to intensify with more developments on the ground as the Israeli army and the Lebanese Hezbollah group exchanged attacks. Further escalation is expected as the Israeli army announced "limited, localized" ground raids in southern Lebanon.

In the first appearance of a senior Hezbollah leader following the assassination of Nasrallah, Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Monday that the group will elect a new leader "as soon as possible."

"The battle is long, the options are open, and we will confront any Israeli ground invasion into Lebanon," he said.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Monday that the country was ready to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which involves deploying the Lebanese army south of the Litani River.

"We affirm our agreement and pledge to implement the cease-fire immediately with Israel," Mikati said following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut.

Also on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hinted that the Israeli army may launch a ground operation in Lebanon.

"The elimination of (Hezbollah leader Hassan) Nasrallah is not the end," he said during a meeting with forces on Israel's border with Lebanon.

"To return the northern residents, we will activate all our capabilities, including you," he told soldiers.

Gallant said later that the next stage of war against Hezbollah would soon begin and would be a critical factor in changing the security situation, according to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

Hours later, the army announced that it had launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon.

A military statement said that “in accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF (army) began limited, localized and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.”

The statement added that “operation ‘Northern Arrows’ will continue according to the situational assessment and in parallel to combat in Gaza and in other arenas.”

On the ground, the Health Ministry said that at least 63 people were killed and 92 others injured in a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting various regions in southern and eastern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, for its part, continued strikes on northern Israel as it said its fighters fired a barrage of "Fadi-2" rockets towards the Naoura military base. The group's fighters also struck the settlement of Sa'arwith a salvo of rockets.

Since Sept. 23, Israel has launched massive airstrikes against what it calls Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, killing more than 900 people and injuring over 2,700 others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Several Hezbollah commanders have been killed in the Israeli assault, including the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Despite a relative decrease in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, as the army is directing its military efforts towards northern Israel against the Hezbollah group, airstrikes and shelling by the Israeli army were still reported across the enclave, killing more Palestinians.

The humanitarian situation for Palestinians is worsening daily under the ongoing attacks and suffocating siege affecting the flow of aid into Gaza.

At least 12 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in fresh Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Monday, according to medical sources and witnesses.

A mother, husband, and two children were killed and several people injured when warplanes hit a dwelling in the central city of Deir al-Balah, a medical source said.

The Gaza-based Government Media Office said the mother who was killed along with her family in Deir al-Balah city was journalist Wafa Aludaini, bringing the total death toll of journalists in Gaza since Oct. 7 to 174.

Israel has killed over 41,600 Palestinians and injured nearly 96,300 since last year's Oct. 7 incursion by Palestinian group Hamas. The situation is deteriorating as Israeli attacks continue.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed at least 719 people since last October, including 160 children, and injured over 5,750 others, with nearly 11,000 taken into custody.

According to official Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli authorities have seized over 57,000 dunums of land east of Qalqilya for military and security purposes.

Red Sea tensions

Red Sea tensions and the possible exchange of attacks between Israel and the Yemeni Houthi group

Following the Israeli airstrike on Hudaydah port on Sunday, the Houthis said they had taken precautionary measures and that Tel Aviv's strikes would not stop the group from attacking shipping routes and on Israel.

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.

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.

Demonstrations in Israel have slowed in recent days amid escalating tensions between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah along the northern border.

Deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Sudan

Humanitarian and security conditions continue to deteriorate in Sudan amid clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Mark Rutte takes office as new NATO chief

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will assume his functions as new Secretary General of NATO, replacing Norway's Jens Stoltenberg, whose term expired after ten years at the helm of the alliance.

WikiLeaks founder Assange to attend parliamentary hearing

WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange will attend a parliamentary hearing at the Strasbourg-based Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's legal affairs and human rights committee. The hearing will focus on his detention and conviction and their effect on human rights, to be followed by a full plenary debate on the matter by the Parliamentary Assembly the following day.

Nationwide protest planned in France

France's CGT union is calling for a nationwide protests against pension reforms and President Emmanuel Macron's decision to appoint Michel Barnier as prime minister over Nouveau Front Populaire candidate Lucie Castets.

Germany host to EU-Western Balkans meeting

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will host counterparts from European and Western Balkan countries as part of the Berlin Process to discuss the region's EU integration.

UN agencies' briefing

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

Oxfam report on Gaza

More women and children killed in Gaza by Israeli military than any other recent conflict in a single year, according to a new report which will be released by Oxfam on Tuesday.

UK's last coal-fired plant to close

Minister for Energy Michael Shanks will attend a closing ceremony for the UK's last coal power plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire.

Finnish president visiting Türkiye

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb to discuss bilateral relations, regional and international issues after attending an event marking Turkish parliament's new legislative term following a three-month recess.

Russian premier to visit Armenian capital Yerevan

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Armenia's capital to take part in the third Eurasian Economic Forum. Mishustin is also excpected to participate in a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

Ukraine marks Defenders Day

Ukraine will mark the country's Defenders Day, which honors veterans and fallen members of the country's Armed Forces. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to make an address for the holiday.

IMF mission to visit Moldova

A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), headed by Mission Chief for Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina Alina Iancu, will start a 10-day visit to Moldova's capital Chisinau on Tuesday.

IAEA chief visiting Belarus

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is visiting Belarus Tuesday for high-level meetings in the capital Minsk, as well as a visit to the country's nuclear power plant.

Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops continue in Kursk, Donetsk

Russia and Ukraine continue fighting in the border region of Kursk, where Kyiv began an incursion last month, as well as in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow continues claiming advances on multiple fronts.

200-year-old mosque to be demolished in Tanzania

A two-century-old mosque in Tanzania is set to be demolished to make way for the construction of a new road. Built in 1826, the mosque has served as both a place of worship and a historical landmark. The decision to demolish it has sparked concern among locals, with some calling for its preservation as a cultural monument.

Rwanda continues to battle Marburg virus disease

Rwandan health authorities continue to battle cases of the Marburg virus, which has claimed eight lives and infected many since it was announced last week.

Nigerians to protest high cost of living

Nigerians are expected to hold nation-wide protests over the rising cost of living in the country, as well as lack of security and other challenges facing the continent's most populous nation. The protests coincide with Independence Day celebrations.

Biden administration statements on Lebanon, Gaza

Monitoring statements from the Biden administration on the Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon and the situation in Gaza that is under Israeli onslaught.

Hurricane Helene in US

President Joe Biden will receive a briefing on the latest impacts of Hurricane Helene and the ongoing federal response. More than 100 people were killed and 600 others have been unaccounted in storms that have impacted 10 states so far.

Meeting between Antony Blinken, Indian counterpart

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the State Department.

US vice presidential debate

Republican Vice presidential nominee JD Vance and Democratic nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will face off in the first and only vice presidential debate of the election cycle.

Press briefing on month ahead at UN Security Council

Switzerland's UN envoy, Pascale Christine Baeriswyl, will hold a press conference as her country takes over the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October.

Japan elects new prime minister

Japanese lawmakers voted to elect Shigeru Ishiba as the 102nd prime minister of the world’s fourth-largest economy. He was elected as ruling party leader last week.

Indonesian parliament opens for fresh session

Representing a total of eight parties, the 580-seat Indonesian parliament is opening for a new session as it welcomes 360 first-time lawmakers. Seven parties have extended support to the incoming administration of President-elect Prabowo Subianto.

South Korea showcases new ballistic missile amid tensions

South Korea showcased a new ballistic missile, the Hyunmoo-5, on the 76th founding anniversary of its armed forces during an event at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam. The missile can reportedly carry a warhead of 8-9 tons.

Thai premier to pay 1st overseas visit to Qatar

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will pay her first overseas visit to Qatar's capital Doha, where she will attend the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit. She was elected to the top post in July.

China celebrates 75th founding anniversary

China is celebrating 75 years since the foundation. Various events, including by state leaders, are scheduled.

India holds last of three-phase elections in disputed Jammu and Kashmir

India is holding the last of three election phases for the legislative assembly in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir. The results of all three phases of the election, which began on Sept. 18, are scheduled to be released on Oct. 8.

Floods wreak havoc in Nepal

At least 170 people have been confirmed dead, while search and rescue efforts continue for dozens of others in Nepal as rains and floods have severely impacted the Himalayan nation.

Junta expected to begin census in conflict-ridden Myanmar

The military junta in conflict-ridden Myanmar is expected to begin a census in preparation for general elections. The junta has unexpectedly invited opposition groups, including rebels, to join the census as well as the polls.

Jamaican premier visits India

Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica will hold talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye's PMI

S&P Global will share September PMI figures for the Turkish manufacturing industry.

Eurozone inflation

Eurostat will reveal annual inflation figures for September. Inflation was at 2.2% in August and 2.6% in July. It is expected to drop 1.9% in September.

SPORTS

UEFA Champions League matchday 2 to start

Arsenal will play against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a league phase match of the Champions League at London's Arsenal Stadium. Paris Saint-Germain won their opener against Spain's Girona in September. Meanwhile, Arsenal drew at Italy's Atalanta.

German club Bayer Leverkusen will host Italy's AC Milan at BayArena. Leverkusen beat Feyenoord 4-0 in matchday one in Rotterdam but Milan were defeated by Liverpool 3-1 in a home match.

Manchester City to visit Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia as the English giants drew with Inter Milan 0-0 in the previous fixture. S. Bratislava previously lost 5-1 to Celtic in Glasgow.

SPECIAL REPORTS

US election: Will the Muslim vote prove make-or-break for Trump and Harris?

By Darren Lyn

Houston, US – Report on the importance of the Muslim vote in the upcoming US presidential elections.

The story focuses on how Muslims are expected to vote in November, specifically whether they are favoring Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, or weighing options such as abstention or going for other candidates like Jill Stein.

The report uses latest polling data to present a picture of the current trends among Muslim voters, particularly in key swing states that will be decisive in the final outcome.

It also has comments from Hussam Ayloush, head of the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Bob Stein, a political science professor at Rice University in Houston.

Shigeru Ishiba: What to expect from Japan’s incoming prime minister

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

Istanbul – Report on the political landscape in Japan after the election of Shigeru Ishiba as the new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who is set to take office as the next prime minister.

The story focuses on Ishiba’s possible policy direction on issues ranging from domestic economic plans to geopolitical alliances and military cooperation with the West, particularly the US.

It includes interviews with Saul Takahashi, a professor at Osaka Jogakuin University; Wang Zaibang, a senior fellow of Taihe Institute in Beijing; and Jingdong Yuan, director of the China and Asia Security Program at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.