Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, Oct. 14, 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.

Israel has mounted massive airstrikes across Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets since Sept. 23, killing at least 1,437 people, injuring over 4,123 others, and displacing more than 1.34 million people.

Three Lebanese soldiers were injured in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Sunday, bringing the army death toll since October last year to 8. The attack targeted a military vehicle on a road leading to the border town of Burj al-Muluk, the state news agency NNA said.

The Lebanon-based group accused Israel of shelling border towns in southern Lebanon with internationally banned cluster bombs.

Israeli attacks against UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon

The Israeli ongoing attacks against the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) which sparked outrage among the international community, including the United Nations, the top European Union figures, and many states.

UNIFIL announced Sunday that the Israeli army stormed the UN peacekeeping position in Ramyeh, southern Lebanon, with peacekeepers observing three units of the Israeli army crossing the Blue Line early Sunday morning.

Moreover, two Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate and forcibly entered the site while peacekeepers were in shelters.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the United Nations on Sunday to withdraw its peacekeeping mission from southern Lebanon amid an incursion in the area.

Israeli forces' continued genocide in Gaza

More than a year after the ongoing genocide in Gaza began, Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave continue, killing more people and destroying more infrastructure and buildings.

More than 42,200 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 98,400 injured, according to local health authorities.

2nd round of polio vaccination in Gaza Strip

Second round of polio vaccination campaign in Gaza Strip will start on Monday amid the ongoing Israeli genocidal war on the Palestinian enclave.

The campaign, according to the World Health Organization, aims to vaccinate over half a million children under ten years of age with a second dose of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) vaccine.

Anticipated Israeli attack on Iran

Potential Israeli military response to Iran’s missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1.

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

Israel has "already decided on the type of response to Iran," though the exact timing remains undecided, the Israeli Channel 12 reported.

On Saturday evening, the Israeli army announced the deployment of the US-made THAAD missile defense system in Israel to counter potential long-range ballistic missile threats from Iran.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed at least 752 people since October last year, including 160 children, and injured over 6,250 others, with over 11,200 taken into custody.

Turkish president to chair Cabinet meeting

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to chair Cabinet meeting at Presidential Complex in Ankara.

EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting

EU foreign ministers will attend the Foreign Affairs Council 2-day meeting to discuss various issues, including the situation in the Middle East, as well as Ukraine.

British foreign secretary meets EU’s Borrell

Foreign Secretary David Lammy participates in an informal lunch with attending foreign ministers and also holds a meeting with EU High Representative Josep Borrell.

Macron hosts Belgian king, queen

President Emmanuel Macron will host King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde for a 3-day state visit, for the first time in 21 years in France.

Germany hosts Western Balkans summit

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to host leaders from Western Balkan countries for a summit meeting as part of the Berlin Process initiative. The meeting aims at improving regional cooperation as well as cooperation with the EU.

UK Ministry of Defence responds to questions

British Ministry of Defence to respond to questions from lawmakers.

UK international investment summit

UK government hosts summit on attracting investment into the country.

UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award

The 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award ceremony will take place in Geneva. The award ceremony will honor five trailblazing women for their outstanding work assisting refugees, internally displaced and stateless people.

Biden administration's statements on Lebanon, Gaza and Iran

Monitoring statements from Biden administration regarding the Israeli ground operations in Lebanon and the situation in Gaza that is under Israeli onslaught, and Iranian missile attacks on Israel earlier this month.

UN Security Council meeting

UN Security Council to be briefed in closed consultations on the secretary-general’s report on the implementation of resolution 1559 on Lebanon. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is the anticipated briefer.

Romanian Consulate General in Rostov-on-Don will cease its activities

The Romanian Consulate General in Rostov-on-Don will cease its activities. Consular services in the relevant district will be now provided by the Romanian Embassy in Moscow.

Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops continues 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.

Election campaigns gain momentum in Botswana

Election campaigns are heating up in the diamond-rich Southern African nation of Botswana ahead of the Oct. 30 parliamentary and local elections.

AU holds Africa skills week in Ghana

The African Union and several of its partners to hold the Africa skills week in Accra Ghana aimed at raising awareness about the significance of skills development in enhancing employability, entrepreneurship, and economic resilience in Africa.

Somali National Economic Policy Forum

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to open the 7th National Economic Policy Forum focusing on the country’s development nexus, economy, governance, and social empowerment. The two-day event is expected to attract lawmakers and foreign diplomats.

Chinese premier's 4-day visit to Pakistan

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on a four-day visit from Oct. 14 to 17. He will also attend the Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Oct 15-16.

World leaders arrive in Pakistan for SCO Summit

Leaders of SCO member states, including prime ministers and foreign ministers, are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan's capital Islamabad to attend the two-day Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Oct 15-16.

China holds large-scale joint military drills around Taiwan

The Chinese military conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan, second such exercise this year and third since 2022. The drills were held in response to national day speech by Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te, who had said Beijing had "no right" to represent his country as Taipei is not a "subordinate" to China.

North Korean soldiers on ‘shoot at sight’ alert level

North Korean soldiers deployed along the South Korean border have been ordered to ‘shoot at sight’ following alleged drone flights over Pyongyang. South Korea has said it could not “verify” claims by Pyongyang, while North Korea has warned of “forceful response” if such flights continued.

SPORTS

⁠UEFA Nations League to continue

In the UEFA Nations League, Belgium to take on France in League A Group A2, Germany to face Netherlands in League A Group A2 and Iceland to play with Türkiye in League B Group B4. Italy top Group A2 with 7 points, France are just behind with 6 points and Belgium are at the 3rd spot of Group A2 with 4 points. In Group B4 standings, Türkiye are at the top with 7 points, while Iceland are at the 3rd spot with 4 points. Germany lay at the top of Group A3 with 7 points, while Netherlands are 2nd with 5 points.

SPECIAL REPORTS

‘Still alive in me’: Father mourns Palestinian child Wadea stabbed to death in US

By Ayse Betul Akcesme and Michael Hernandez

Washington – Interview with Oday Al-Fayoume, the father of 6-year-old Palestinian American child Wadea who was brutally murdered in Illinois, US last October.

Oday shares memories of his son and speaks about the family’s experiences over the past year, including their journey through grief and their drive to get justice for Wadea.

He also delves into the wider issue of racism and discrimination in the US, and the way the Biden administration’s staunch pro-Israel policies have left the Palestinian American community feeling unsafe and abandoned in a time of great need.

Israel chasing historical Zionist aim of occupying southern Lebanon, wider region: Expert

By Ahmet Gencturk

Athens – Interview with Karim Makdisi, an academic at the American University of Beirut, about Israel’s escalating war on Lebanon and Hezbollah.

Makdisi speaks about the wider Israeli objectives, the history of its actions in southern Lebanon, and the main drivers of the current aggression.

He presents an analysis of Israel’s ambitions and policies with regards to Lebanon, the geographical importance of the region, the possible future scenarios, and the role of the international community, particularly the US.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Oday Al-Fayoume, the father of 6-year-old Palestinian American child Wadea who was murdered in the US last October, where he shares memories of his son and speaks about the family’s fight for justice.

VIDEO – Interview with Karim Makdisi, an academic at the American University of Beirut, about Israel’s war on Lebanon, focusing on the wider Israeli objectives, the history of the region and the dangers going forward.