Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, October 17, 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 death toll from Israel’s ongoing onslaught on Lebanon since last year has reached 2,367, with 11,088 others injured, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Israeli army reported on Wednesday that Lebanon launched at least 90 rockets at northern Israel as tensions with Hezbollah escalated.

Lebanon lodged a new complaint with the UN Security Council on Wednesday, requesting to compel Israel to immediately halt its ongoing attacks and withdraw troops from Lebanese territory.

The Lebanon-based Hezbollah group said it killed and injured several Israeli soldiers during close-range clashes near Qaouzah town in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon.

Israeli violations against UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon

Israel's repeated violations in Lebanon, targeting UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers, have outraged the international community, including the UN, top EU officials, and many countries.

The UNIFIL told Anadolu that it would not abandon its positions despite being “directly and deliberately attacked” by the Israeli military.

More reactions are possible in response to the UNIFIL situation, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the UN on Sunday to withdraw its peacekeeping mission from southern Lebanon amid his forces’ repeated incursions.

Israeli forces continue to carry out genocidal attacks on Gaza

More than a year after Israel launched its genocidal attacks on Gaza, the besieged enclave is still being attacked, with more people killed and infrastructure and buildings destroyed.

Israeli attacks killed at least 65 more Palestinians in the latest attacks on the Gaza Strip, bringing the overall death toll to 42,409 since October of last year, with 99,153 others injured, the Health Ministry in the enclave said on Wednesday.

The Israeli army also set fire to Palestinian homes on Wednesday, west of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, which has been subjected to military incursions for 12 days as part of the ongoing genocide since Oct. 7, 2023.

2nd round of polio vaccinations in Gaza Strip continues

The second round of polio vaccinations in the Gaza Strip continues amid Israel's ongoing genocidal war on the territory.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) chief announced Wednesday that the total number of children who received a second polio vaccine in central Gaza had reached nearly 157,000 by the end of day two of the current vaccination drive.

According to WHO, the campaign aims to vaccinate over 500,000 children under 10 with a second dose of the novel oral polio type 2 (nOPV2).

The first phase of the second round, which began on Oct. 14, is expected to continue until Thursday.

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

During a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi assured that Jordan “will not be a war zone for anyone and will not allow any party to violate its sovereignty and airspace or threaten the security of its citizens.”

Amid the threats to attack Iran, Qatar also said it will not allow any attacks from the Al-Udeid Air Base, which hosts the largest US military facility in the Middle East, against any other country.

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

Iranian foreign minister visits Egypt

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit Egypt on Thursday as part of his regional tour.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Araghchi will arrive in Cairo as part of Egypt's diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed at least 756 people since October of last year, including 160 children, and injured over 6,250 others, with over 11,200 taken into custody.

The Israeli army deployed additional forces in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday ahead of a weeklong Jewish holiday.

European Council leaders' summit begins in Brussels, with Ukraine, Middle East top on agenda

EU Heads of State and Government will meet for a two-day summit in Brussels, with topics on the agenda including Ukraine, the latest developments in the Middle East, and discussions about the EU's potential for competitiveness.

NATO Defense Ministers' 2-day meeting begins

The two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers will begin at NATO Headquarters in Brussels to discuss major operational issues. According to Secretary General Mark Rutte, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand (known as the Indo-Pacific Four or IP4) will attend the meeting. A Ukraine Contact Group ministerial may be held as part of the gathering following the cancelation of the planned Oct. 12 leaders' level meeting due to President Joe Biden's stay in the United States to deal with Hurricane Milton.

2-day Ukraine Mine Action Conference begins in Switzerland

The two-day annual Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2024 will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland. The conference, co-organized by Switzerland and Ukraine, will be opened by Swiss Confederation President Viola Amherd.

Turkish parliament speaker to meet with Hungarian counterpart

Turkish parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus will meet with his Hungarian counterpart Laszlo Köver, and hold a joint press conference.

Russian foreign minister to visit Türkiye

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will travel to Istanbul to take part in the third meeting of the consultative regional platform "3+3" for the South Caucasus (Russia, Iran, Türkiye + Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia). He will also have several bilateral meetings.

UK to release 2023 statistics on smoking, drinking, drug use in young people

NHS Digital publishes the findings of a nationwide survey of school students aged 11 to 15, asking if they have ever smoked, tried alcohol, or used drugs. The survey also looks at schoolchildren's attitudes and beliefs about smoking, drinking, and drug use, as well as where they get their cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs.

Biden heading to Germany

President Joe Biden's potential remarks on the Middle East and Ukraine before departing for Berlin, Germany.

Biden administration's statements on Lebanon, Gaza, Iran

Possible statements from the Biden administration regarding Israeli incursions into Lebanon, the situation in Gaza, and Iran's missile attacks on Israel earlier this month.

Kamala Harris’s election campaign in Wisconsin

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris will campaign in Wisconsin, holding events in Milwaukee, La Crosse, and Green Bay. Harris' key remarks from the events with less than three weeks until the presidential election will be important.

Hearing in Afghan man case charged with plotting election day terror attack

Hearing in the case of Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan resident of Oklahoma City who is accused of planning a terrorist attack on election day on behalf of Daesh/ISIS-K.

UN Security Council to discuss violations of freedom of religion in Ukraine

Russia summons the UN Security Council to discuss the violations of freedom of religion in Ukraine and Kyiv’s persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

⁠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 on August 8, and in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow continues claiming advances on multiple fronts.

Africa CDC to provide updates on mpox, Marburg outbreak

The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) will hold a media briefing to provide updates on the continent's mpox and Marburg disease outbreaks. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC director, and Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwandan minister of health, will jointly address the briefing.

Kenyan Senate votes on deputy president impeachment

Kenya's Senate is expected to vote in an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua whom parliament voted to remove from office last week.

Death toll in Nigeria's fuel tanker explosion

The death toll from Tuesday night's fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria's northern state of Jigawa is likely to rise. The driver lost control of the truck, spilling gasoline that exploded and killed at least 147 people.

Mozambicans await election results amid protests

Police in Nampula, Mozambique, used tear gas to disperse hundreds of supporters of opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane who were disputing preliminary election results from October 9. Frelimo, the ruling party, is currently leading in all 11 provinces' provisional election results.

Pakistan's ruling allies likely to move motion for changes in judiciary

As President Asif Zardari convenes both the National Assembly and the Senate, ruling allies are expected to propose controversial changes to Pakistan's judiciary. Opposition parties oppose the proposed amendments.

Tensions run high on Korean Peninsula

Tensions between divided Koreas are running high on the Korean Peninsula as Seoul and Pyongyang escalate rhetoric over alleged drone flights.

Chinese Foreign Ministry news briefing

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson to hold regular news briefing in Beijing.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye’s house sales

Turkish Statistical Institute to release house sales figures for September.

Türkiye’s short-term debt

Turkish Central Bank to reveal short-term debt foreign debt figures for August. Türkiye's short-term debt stock was at $176.1 billion at the end of July, unchanging from the end of 2023.

Eurozone inflation

Eurostat to share inflation figures for September. Eurozone's annual consumer inflation rate in August slowed to a more than 3-year low of 2.2%.

Türkiye’s interest rate

Turkish Central Bank to announce interest rate decision and international reserve figures. The country’s policy rate is at 50%, market expects no change for this meeting.

US jobless claims

US to reveal weekly jobless claims data.

Türkiye-Africa Economic Forum

The 15th Türkiye-Africa Economy Forum will be held in Istanbul, with high-level official participation from Türkiye and African countries.

SPORTS

Top-tier Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's Round 4 to begin

Round four in Europe's top-flight club basketball tournament, Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, to start as Spanish giants Real Madrid play defending champions Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens from Greece at Madrid's Wizink Center. This season Ergin Ataman's Panathinaikos won twice in three games during the 2024-25 EuroLeague campaign that started earlier in October. Real Madrid have 1-2 win/loss record in the competition.

Türkiye's Fenerbahce Beko to visit ALBA Berlin at Uber Arena in the German capital. Istanbul-based club Fenerbahce Beko won two games but lost one in the EuroLeague. Hosts ALBA Berlin have lost twice in three rounds.

Thursday will also see the Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade game at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv have been playing their home games in Serbia for Israel's war on Gaza since October 2023.

SPECIAL REPORTS

US withdrawal from Iraq: Will it finally happen?

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report on the American plan for a military withdrawal from Iraq as the two sides having inked a recent agreement on the matter.

The story focuses on the feasibility of US troops leaving Iraq at a time when Israel’s unchecked aggression is pushing the entire region closer to all-out war. It also addresses the threat of a resurgence in violence, as seen with a recent Daesh/ISIS attack that was the first in months.

The report includes interviews with International Crisis Group’s Iraq analyst Lahib Higel, European Council on Foreign Relations’ visiting fellow Hamzeh Hadad, and Ryan Bohl, a senior MENA analyst at risk intelligence firm RANE.

Russia’s fertilizer industry: A look at the past and present

By Elena Teslova

Moscow – Report about fertilizer production and exports in Russia.

The story gives details of the current production levels in Russia’s and the country’s top export destinations, charting the growth and impact of sanctions over recent years.

It also sheds light on the history and evolution of Russia’s fertilizer industry, with comments from Vladimir Karpov and Svetlana Zlobina, two officials of leading Russian fertilizer producer Phosgaro.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with American geopolitical analyst Ryan Bohl about the US plan to complete a military withdrawal from Iraq over the next two years, focusing on the question of feasibility and the possible ramifications for regional security.