Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu’s English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, Oct.15, 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.

Amid the ongoing air campaign across Lebanon, the Israeli army issued more immediate evacuation orders on Monday for residents of 25 southern towns.

At least 28 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern, eastern, and northern Lebanon on Monday, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

While the airstrikes continued, the Hezbollah group said it conducted several attacks on Israeli targets in northern Israel, including one targeting a group of soldiers near the town of Markaba, in northern Israel and another to confront forces attempting to infiltrate the border region.

In the Israel airstrikes that have gone on since Sept. 23 against what Tel Aviv claims are Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, at least 1,488 people have been killed, nearly 4,300 injured, and more than 1.34 million displaced.

Israeli attacks against UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon

Israel’s repeated attacks against the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which sparked outrage among the international community, including the United Nations, top EU figures, and numerous countries.

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 in the morning.

Germany and Norway, among others, on Monday condemned Israel’s military attacks on UNIFIL, urging parties to adhere to UN Security Council resolution 1701.

More reactions are possible regarding the situation with UNIFIL as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the UN on Sunday to withdraw its peacekeeping mission from southern Lebanon amid the incursion.

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.

The Israeli army has been continuing its deadly ground incursion against northern Gaza for over 10 days, killing more than 340 Palestinians.

On Monday evening, a medical source told Anadolu that three Palestinians were killed and 15 injured in Israeli shelling on a school sheltering displaced people in the Jabalia refugee camp.

The Israeli army shelled tents housing displaced civilians in a midnight attack on Monday in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah city, resulting at least four Palestinian deaths and 40 injured. The shelling caused a massive fire that burned most of the tents at the hospital.

The army alleged that it conducted a precise strike on members of the Hamas group who were operating inside a command and control center in the area of Deir al-Balah.

According to a medical source, at least 21 Palestinians, including three children, were killed Monday as Israel intensified its deadly offensive in the northern Gaza Strip.

Nearly 42,300 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 98,600 injured, according to local health authorities.

2nd round of polio vaccination in Gaza Strip

Amid Israel’s ongoing genocidal war on the enclave, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Monday that the second phase of a polio vaccination campaign had begun, scheduled to last three days with the possibility an extension for an additional day.

The campaign, according to the World Health Organization, aims to vaccinate over 500,000 children under 10 years of age with a second dose of the novel oral polio type 2 (nOPV2) vaccine.

Anticipated Israeli attack on Iran

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

Tehran remains on high alert and has vowed that its retaliation to any Israeli attacks would be “crushing.”

According to the Times of Israel news website, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a security meeting on Monday evening. The meeting comes as Israel prepares to retaliate against Iran’s missile attack.

With current regional tensions high and the US deployment of a THAAD air defense system in Israel, Iran said Monday that it halted its indirect negotiations with Washington.

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.

Four Palestinians were injured by the Israeli army on Monday after a raid on the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, in the northern West Bank.

Red Sea tensions

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

Repeated Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel in the Red Sea and US-led coalition airstrikes on the group’s positions in Yemen.

Conference on Palestine

The Justice and Development (AK) Party will organize a conference on the future of Palestine. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to address the conference.

Türkiye-Jordan consultations

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet with Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister. They will discuss bilateral ties, as well as regional and international developments.

Borrell meets foreign ministers from GCC countries

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell will hold talks with foreign ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries ahead of a summit on Wednesday.

UN agencies’ briefing

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

Turkish parliament speaker’s bilateral talks

Turkish parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus will hold bilateral talks on 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Switzerland.

⁠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.

Biden’s visit to Philadelphia

US President Joe Biden will visit Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to deliver remarks at a political event.

Biden administration’s statements on Lebanon, Gaza, Iran

Potential statements from Biden administration about Israeli ground operations in Lebanon, the situation in Gaza, and Iranian missile attacks on Israel earlier this month.

Meeting of US, Danish defense chiefs

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be hosting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen for talks at the Pentagon.

Discussions on IAEA report at UN General Assembly

UN General Assembly members will discuss the annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Ukraine, Iran and North Korea are likely to feature.

Bob Woodward’s book, ‘War,’ published

Renowned American investigative journalist and author Bob Woodward’s new book, War, which reportedly contains an account of one of the most tumultuous and dangerous periods in presidential politics and American history with Trump, Biden, and Harris at its center, has been published.

TRNC president, Greek Cypriot administration leader to meet with UN chief

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar will meet with the Greek Cypriot administration's leader Nikos Christodoulides at an informal dinner hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York.

South Africa reflects on 100 days of unity government

Political parties that formed the Government of National Unity (GNU) in South Africa will start reflecting on the achievements of their 100 days in office, as well as the challenges they face. Ten political parties came together after the May 30 general elections to form the GNU after no party received the majority vote.

Mpox and Marburg situation in Africa

The recent outbreaks of mpox in several African countries and Marburg virus disease in Rwanda have sparked worldwide concerns, though officials say the situation is under control.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit opens in Pakistan

Government leaders in Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states will convene in Islamabad for their 23rd meeting. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the two-day meeting, where participating leaders will deliver their national statements.

Tensions rise on Korean Peninsula

North Korea is likely to carry out explosions at roads which connect it with South Korea as it warned Seoul of “horrible disaster” if drone incursions into its territory continue.

Philippines' top diplomat to visit Malaysia

Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo will pay a two-day visit to Malaysia for the eighth Malaysia-Philippines joint Commission meeting as the two Southeast Asian nations mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.

Campaigning for snap polls begins in Japan

Official campaigning for snap elections begins in Japan as the country gears up for general elections scheduled on Oct. 27.

India likely to announce further measures as it withdraws envoy from Canada

India has warned of further measures against Canada as it withdrew its ambassador from Ottawa amid a probe into the murder of a Sikh activist. Canada has pointed fingers to Indian diplomats and other officials into last year’s killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

THE ECONOMY

Turkish governmental budget balance

Türkiye's Treasury and Finance Ministry will reveal the central government budget balance table for September. The balance saw a negative figure of around $3.7 billion in August.

UK unemployment

Britain will reveal unemployment figures for August. It was at 4.4% in May, 4.2% in June and 4.1% in July, with the downward trend expected to end in August with the rate unchanged at 4.1%.

Germany’s wholesale inflation

Germany will share wholesale inflation figures for September. The rate has been on the negative side since March 2023 due to weakening energy prices. The market expects a negative figure for September, too.

Eurozone industrial production

Eurostat will share industrial production data for August. Since February 2024, industrial production in the euro area has been posting negative results, exhibiting a downward trend expected to continue.

Canada’s inflation

Canada will reveal its annual inflation figures for September. In 2024, except for January, the rate was below 3%, but for September, the market expects a figure below 2%, at roughly 1.8%.

SPORTS

UEFA Nations League October fixtures to end

Spain will take on Serbia in a League A Group A4 match, while Scotland will face Portugal in the League A Group A1 game. Portugal lead Group A1 with nine points and Scotland are at the bottom of the table with none. Spain are at the top of Group A4 with seven points, while Serbia are in the third spot with four.

EuroLeague round 3 matches to be played

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz will take on Real Madrid in a Spanish derby, while Anadolu Efes will face Israeli club MaccabiPlaytika Tel Aviv in round three of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Real Madrid are nineth with one win and one defeat, while BaskoniaVitoria-Gasteiz are 10th, also with a single win loss each. Anadolu Efes are sixth with a victory and. a defeat, while Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv are seventh with a win and a loss.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Israel attacks UN peacekeepers in Lebanon: Why and what next?

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report on Israel’s attacks on peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The story focuses on the reasons for Israel’s aggression against UN forces, the question of international law, impact on the Blue Line and status quo, and Israel’s overall strategic objectives in southern Lebanon.

The report includes interviews with former UNIFIL officer Ray Murphy; Alexander Gilder, an associate professor of international law and security; Richard Gowan, UN expert at the International Crisis Group; and Lebanese security and geopolitical analyst Ali Rizk.

US elections ‘going down to the wire’: Will social media prove decisive?

By Darren Lyn

Houston, United States – Report on the potentially pivotal role of social media in the upcoming US presidential election.

The story details the current standing of both candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and presents an overview of their positions in the key battleground states.

It explains the particularly significant role that social media platforms could play in these states, listing the ways in which they could be utilized by both sides, including celebrity and influencer endorsements, as well as disinformation or smear campaigns.

The report includes an interview with Jennifer Clark, an associate professor of political science at the University of Houston.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with former UNIFIL officer Ray Murphy and Lebanese security analyst Ali Rizk about Israel’s attacks on UN peacekeepers, including the question of violations of international law, and Israel’s overall strategic objectives in southern Lebanon.