Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing / breaking stories):

MIDDLE EAST

Iran's missile attack on Israel

Regional tensions escalated further on Tuesday after Iran fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel amid heightened tensions between the two regional arch-rivals.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the attack was in response to the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoshan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran made a “big mistake” and “will pay for it.”

Israeli assaults on Lebanon

Extensive Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon continue, with Israel also announcing the launch of a ground operation into southern Lebanon.

The ground assault is a new escalation in a cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, which killed more than 41,000 people.

Hezbollah, however, denied Israeli claims of invading southern Lebanon and engaging in direct clashes with its fighters, saying “Israeli claims about invading Lebanon are lies.”

Israeli public broadcaster KAN said the incursion could last several weeks.

Since Sept. 23, Israel has launched heavy airstrikes against what it calls Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, killing more than a 1,000 and displacing tens of thousands of others.

Several Hezbollah leaders have been killed in the assault, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Israeli onslaught on Gaza

Israel also continues its assault on the Gaza Strip, and humanitarian situation for Palestinians is worsening daily under the ongoing attacks and suffocating siege affecting the flow of aid into the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli forces continued their shelling across the enclave, including homes, shelters and schools.

Israel has killed over 41,000 Palestinians and injured more than 96,000 since last year's Oct. 7 incursion by Palestinian group Hamas.

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.

Red Sea tensions

Following the Israeli airstrike on Hudaydah port on Sunday that killed four, Houthis said they had taken precautionary measures and would not stop the group from attacking shipping vessels linked to Israel.

The group said on Tuesday it carried out three military operations in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, targeting two ships, one of which was a British oil tanker that was severely damaged.

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.

US

Biden administration's statement on Lebanon, Gaza and Iran

Biden administration's remarks regarding the Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon and the situation in Gaza that is under Israeli onslaught, and Tuesday's missile attack on Israel by Iran.

Biden visits North Carolina and South Carolina following Hurricane Helene

President Biden will visit North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene to receive a briefing at the State Emergency Operations Center and to participate in an aerial tour of Asheville. He will also engage with first responders and state and local officials.

Kamala Harris to visit Georgia following Hurricane Helene

Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Georgia to survey the impacts of Hurricane Helene and receive an on-the-ground briefing about the continued recovery efforts that are occurring in communities across the state.

UN Security Council emergency meeting

UN Security Council to meet for an emergency session on situation in the Middle East, which follows Israel's incursion into Lebanon as part of operations against Hezbollah and Iran's missile attack on Israel.

EUROPE

French President Macron visits Berlin

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin for talks on bilateral relations, EU and international issues.

British Prime Minister Starmer in Brussels

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer travels to Brussels to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with talks focused on 'resetting' the UK-EU relationship.

Georgian president meets Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen to also host meeting with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili.

UK charter flight planned to extract British citizens from Lebanon

A UK government-chartered commercial flight for British nationals and their dependents to depart the Lebanese capital amid the escalating situation with Israel.

EURASIA

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold weekly press briefing.

Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops continue in Kursk, Donetsk

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

AFRICA

DR Congo to launch vaccination drive for mpox virus

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is expected to launch its first phase of the mpox vaccination after receiving some vaccine donations from wealthy nations. Congo is the current epicenter of the mpox disease outbreak driven by different strains of the virus, according to the World Health Organization.

Kenyan lawmakers start process to impeach deputy president

Kenyan members of parliament are expected to debate a motion to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is accused of corruption and playing a role in June's deadly anti-government demonstrations.

South Africa prepares for severe weather conditions

The Weather Service has warned of severe weather conditions including heat waves, storms and the possibility of damaging winds.

Rwanda introduces measures to curb spread of Marburg virus

Rwandan health authorities continue to battle cases of the Marburg virus, which has claimed nine lives and infected many since it was announced last week. Authorities have introduced a set of measures to control its spread including restricting gatherings at funerals and other public spaces.

Zambia to host digital Africa summit

President Hakainde Hichilema to open a three-day Africa digital summit with hundreds of delegates expected to attend including technology ministers from across the continent.

ASIA – PACIFIC

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar to arrive in Pakistan

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to arrive in Pakistan on a three-day first official visit to the South Asian nation where he will hold bilateral meetings with his counterpart Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari.

Dozens of people still missing in devastating Nepal floods

Dozens of people are still missing in Nepal due to devastating rains and floods which killed at least 217 people. Search and rescue operations continue.

Opposition party turns to protests amid talk of controversial judicial package

The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to turn its public rallies into protest demonstrations amid preparations of a controversial judicial reforms package. Protests are planned in several cities as the government plans to extend the term of judges, and create a parallel top court against the existing Supreme Court. The move has been opposed by lawyers as well.

IMF delegation arrives in Sri Lanka

A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to arrive in Sri Lanka to hold talks with newly-elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The South Asian nation declared bankruptcy in April 2022 after which it received credit facility from the IMF.

Japan’s 102nd premier assumes office with sights on new polls

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba assumes office as 102nd chief executive of the world’s 4th largest economy. Eyes are set on his move to dissolve the parliament for snap polls on Oct. 27.

Foreign Ministry holds news conference in Beijing

China’s Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference in Beijing.

Bangladesh sees rising dengue deaths amid ‘changing behavior’ of disease

Bangladesh continues to report an increasing number of deaths due to dengue, with September alone witnessing 80 deaths, half of the total 166 deaths this year.

THE ECONOMY

Teknofest in Türkiye's Adana

Türkiye’s premier technology and aviation event Teknofest is starting in the southern city Adana. Event to host contests, seminars, side events, airshows, and to exhibit cutting edge technology, defense and aviation projects.

SPORTS

UEFA Champions League matchday 2 to end with Wednesday's fixtures

Top-tier UEFA Champions League matchday two to end with Benfica vs. Atletico Madrid, Aston Villa vs. Bayern Munich, and Lille vs. Real Madrid fixtures.

Benfica and Atletico Madrid won their Champions League openers each in September.

Bayern Munich, who will visit Aston Villa in Birmingham, previously trounced Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 at home.

Aston Villa beat Swiss opponents Young Boys 3-0 in the matchday one.

Defending champions Real Madrid, who will travel to France's Lille, previously beat Germany's Stuttgart 3-1 in Spain. In the matchday one, Lille were defeated by Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Religious fundamentalism in Israel major barrier to peace: Ex-UK diplomat

By Aysu Bicer

London – Interview with William Patey, a former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, about rising tensions in the Middle East due to Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza and escalation with Lebanon.

Patey raises concerns over the growing clout of religious extremists within the Israeli government and society, warning that their dominance endangers any chances of lasting peace.

He also shares his assessment on the threat of a wider regional war, British policy in support of Israel, and the steps needed to move toward a sustainable solution.

South Korea grapples with one of the world’s longest medical strikes

By Islamuddin Sajid

Islamabad – Report about the ongoing health sector strike in South Korea, which has entered its eight month and become one of the longest-ever in the world.

The story explains the reasons for the strike by junior doctors and the implications on South Korea’s health sector, presenting a timeline of the crisis and an assessment of efforts being made for a potential solution.

The report also compiles the key events since the strike started in February, along with major statements by officials and medical community representatives.