Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Israeli aggression against Lebanon

Israel continues to pound Lebanon with relentless airstrikes amid border clashes between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group.

The Israeli army on Wednesday renewed its attempts to penetrate southern Lebanon, which began in early October this year. Hezbollah announced that it repelled two incursion attempts and targeted a gathering of soldiers south of the town of Al-Labounah, while the Israeli army acknowledged that three soldiers sustained "serious injuries" during these confrontations.

Hezbollah also said it targeted Israeli forces advancing in several areas of southern Lebanon, including Mais al-Jabal.

Two Israelis were killed Wednesday due to rocket fire from Lebanon on the settlement of Kiryat Shmona, near Israel's northern border.

Tel Aviv reported the launch of 40 rockets from Lebanon towards northern Israel, resulting in five injuries in Haifa and power outages in parts of Kiryat Bialik.

In a marked escalation of rocket fire, the Israeli army reported that it had detected nearly 90 rockets launched from Lebanon in under ten minutes targeting the Upper Galilee and western Galilee in northern Israel, as well as the occupied Golan Heights.

Due to Israeli attacks on Lebanon, which started on Sept. 23, at least 2,140 people have been killed so far, nearly 10,100 injured, and 1.2 million others displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israeli forces' continued genocide in Gaza

More than a year after the ongoing genocide in Gaza began, Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave continue as the death toll has risen above 42,000, mostly women and children, while more than 97,700 have been injured.

The humanitarian situation is declining daily for Palestinians as a result of ongoing attacks and a suffocating siege preventing aid from entering Gaza.

The Israeli army continues to wage its third ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip since October 2023, particularly in the Jabalia area, aiming to expel Palestinians who have refused to comply with evacuation orders, resulting in severe humanitarian conditions.

On Wednesday, the Gaza Strip's government media office said the Israeli army killed 125 Palestinians over the past five days in the northern part of the territory. Additionally, 16 Palestinians were killed and others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Yemen al-Saeed Hospital in the Jabalia camp.

The Israeli army has tightened its siege on northern Gaza from all sides, isolating it from Gaza City amid intense artillery and aerial bombardment, resulting in the destruction of numerous civilian homes.

Eyewitnesses reported that the bodies of dozens of victims are scattered in the streets of Jabalia camp and that the Israeli army is preventing rescue teams from reaching them and taking them to hospitals. Furthermore, tens of thousands of Palestinians are trapped in their homes without food and water, fearing to leave due to the risk of gunfire.

The army has also targeted the health system in northern Gaza, having ordered the area's three functioning hospitals, Kamala Adwan, the Indonesian Hospital, and Al-Awda, to evacuate within 24 hours.

Out of 1.2 million people who lived in Gaza and its northern area, approximately 700,000 have refused to evacuate to southern Gaza, according to official Palestinian data.

Al-Aqsa TV photojournalist Mohammed al-Tanani was killed, along with the broadcaster's reporter Tamer Lubbad, and an Al Jazeera photojournalist was injured by Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza, bringing the number of journalist deaths since Oct. 7 to 176.

Anticipated Israeli attack on Iran

Potential Israeli military response, which Iran has been anticipating for over a week following its missile attack on broad areas in Israel on Oct. 1. The missile attack was in response to the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburb of Beirut at the end of September.

The situation, however, remains on high alert in Iran, as it vowed a "crushing response" to any Israeli attacks against the country.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed at least 749 people since October of last year, including 160 children, and injured over 6,200 others, with 11,200 taken into custody.

On Wednesday, at least four Palestinians were killed by Israeli army gunfire in Nablus in the northern West Bank.

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.

Protesters have been consistently calling for a deal with Hamas to secure the release of Israeli captives, especially as the Gaza war enters its second year.

Despite ongoing mediation efforts, the Israeli government has yet to reach an agreement with Hamas.

Red Sea tensions

Red Sea tensions and the possible exchange of attacks between Israel and Yemen’s Houthi group.

On Wednesday, the Houthi group announced that a Yemeni academic and four of his family members were killed due to an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential building in the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday.

Deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Sudan

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

Hurricane Milton sweeps through Florida in US

Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida's Gulf Coast Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm packing 233-kilometer-per-hour (145 miles per hour) winds. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be briefed throughout the day on Hurricane Milton.

Biden administration's statement on Lebanon, Gaza, Iran

The Biden administration may issue remarks on the Israeli strikes in Lebanon and the situation in Gaza, which remains under Israeli onslaught, as well as on Tuesday's missile attacks on Israel by Iran.

Lebanon on UN Security Council agenda

The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the situation in Lebanon amid Israeli military operations in the country. The meeting, requested by France, includes a briefing followed by consultations.

Türkiye's President Erdogan visiting Albania

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye is expected to hold bilateral and inter-delegation meetings with his Albanian counterpart Bajram Begaj. Erdogan will also meet with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and attend to the second meeting of the two countries' High-Level Cooperation Council, the signing ceremony of several agreements, and a joint news conference. Erdogan will also attend the inauguration of the Namazgah Mosque.

2024 Nobel Literature Prize winner to be announced

The winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced on Thursday.

German chancellor to meet Portugal's former Premier Costa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will receive the European Council President-elect Antonio Costa, the former prime minister of Portugal, to discuss current European topics and international issues.

EU’s von der Leyen visits Moldova

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet with Moldovan President Maia Sandu to discuss the country’s EU membership bid and regional issues.

Hate crime statistics in England and Wales

British authorities are expected to release annual statistics on hate crimes and racist incidents recorded by police in England and Wales.

Mongolian president to visit Turkmenistan

Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh will pay a state visit to Turkmenistan on Oct. 10-13 at the invitation of his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedow.

Fighting between Russian, Ukrainian troops continues in Kursk, Donetsk

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

Somali president heads to Eritrea for working visit

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will pay a working visit to Eritrea for talks with host President Isaias Afwerki. The two leaders will discuss strengthening bilateral relations, as well as regional issues affecting the Horn of Africa region.

Early election results expected in Mozambique

Partial election results are expected to start trickling in following Mozambique's elections on Wednesday. The Southern African nation voted for a new head of state and 250 members of parliament in what is billed as a "youth-led" election.

ASEAN leaders to meet partners in Laos

The leaders of ASEAN countries will meet visiting leaders and top diplomats of partner countries, including China, the US, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and India, in the Laotian capital Vientiane.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye's industrial production and unemployment

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) will release the industrial production index and unemployment figures for August. Türkiye's jobless rate eased to 8.8% in July from an 11-month high of 9.2% in June.

US inflation

The US will share annual inflation data for September. The country's annual inflation rate eased to 2.5% in August from 2.9% in July and 3% in June. Markets expect 2.3% for September.

SPORTS

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's Round 2 to see Turkish derby

Turkish clubs Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce Beko will meet in an Istanbul derby, while Greek giants Panathinaikos will take on Germany's Bayern Munich in Round 2 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

UEFA Nations League returns after a month-long hiatus

The UEFA Nations League is back after a month, meaning no club competitions will take place in Europe this week. Italy will host Belgium in a League A Group 2 match at Stadio Olimpico. Italy are the top group in the standings with 6 points in two games, while Belgium sits in the third spot with three points.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Palestinian-Canadian mourning over 100 family members condemns global inaction on Israel’s Gaza genocide

By Merve Aydogan

Hamilton, Canada – Interview with Adel Abu Lebdeh, a Palestinian-Canadian national who has lost more than 100 family members in Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip.

Abu Lebdeh speaks about his harrowing personal experience and sheds more light on the abhorrent conditions that Palestinians in Gaza are facing during Israel’s ongoing genocide.

He strongly rebukes the international community for its inaction and failure to stop Israel, calling out the complicity of Muslim leaders and political systems, and urging the Canadian government to do more to support Palestinians and protect their rights.

Turkish hammams: In for a modern revival?

By Seda Sevencan

Istanbul – Report on Türkiye’s hammam culture, exploring the question of whether and why the traditional practice is witnessing a sort of revival at the moment.

The story presents the overall history of hammam culture, explaining its roots and origins, and the various forces that have played a part in making it a global phenomenon.

The report includes an interview with Elizabet Kurumlu, an expert on hammam culture in Türkiye.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Interview with Adel Abu Lebdeh, a Palestinian-Canadian man who has lost more than 100 family members in Israel’s ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip.

VIDEO – Report on Türkiye’s hammam culture, presenting its history and the current situation in terms of its popularity, including an interview with Elizabet Kurumlu, an expert on the Turkish hammam culture.