Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

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.

Attacks are reported around the clock claiming more lives across the war-torn enclave.

Israel’s siege, ground incursion in northern Gaza

Israeli siege, ground invasion and aerial bombardment continue in northern Gaza for more than two weeks.

The Israeli army intensified airstrikes, artillery shelling, and gunfire in northern Gaza on Monday amid a strict blockade that has halted the entry of food, water, fuel, and medicine.

More than 600 people have been killed in the offensive, the civil defense service said.

Israeli aggression against Lebanon

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

According to the American news site Axios, Israel has presented its conditions to end its ongoing air and ground operations in Lebanon to the US.

One Israeli demand is that the army be allowed to engage in “active enforcement” to make sure Hezbollah does not rearm and rebuild its military infrastructure in the areas of southern Lebanon that are close to the border.

Israel also demands its air force to have freedom of operation in Lebanese airspace.

Nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since last year, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Blinken's new Mideast tour

Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Israel and other countries in the Middle East this week.

Blinken will separately meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and President Isaac Herzog.

2nd round of polio vaccination in Gaza Strip

The second round of polio vaccination in Gaza Strip amid Israel’s ongoing genocidal war on the enclave.

The second phase of the second round, which started on Oct. 19, continues until Thursday.

The campaign, according to WHO, 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.

Potential Israeli military response to Iran’s missile attack

Iran is on high alert in anticipation of an Israeli military response to its Oct. 1 missile attack in retaliation for the recent assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed at least 757 people since October of last year, including 160 children, and injured over 6,250 others, with over 11,200 taken into custody.

New envoys presenting credentials

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will receive letters of credentials from newly appointed ambassadors of Belgium, Ireland, Czech Republic, and head of EU delegation to Türkiye.

President to address party meeting

Erdogan will address a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s provincial heads in the capital Ankara.

Türkiye-Latvia meeting

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze to pay official visit to Türkiye. She will meet her Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan to discuss bilateral issues, Türkiye-EU relations, as well as current regional and global developments.

Türkiye-Angola meeting

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus to meet his Angolan counterpart Carolina Cerqueira to discuss bilateral relations. They are expected to hold a news conference.

Kurtulmus will also receive Latvian top diplomat Braze for talks.

German chancellor meets Qatari emir in Berlin

Chancellor Olaf Scholz to host Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the government’s guest house in Meseberg Castle for talks on bilateral relations, regional and international security issues.

Finnish President Stubb visits Germany

Scholz will meet Finland’s President Alexander Stubb to discuss bilateral ties, Euro-Atlantic security and cooperation within NATO alliance. The leaders are expected to deliver remarks to the press before their meeting at the Federal Chancellery.

Foreign Office questions in London

Ministers from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to respond to questions from lawmakers in the House of Commons.

UN briefing

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

UNCTAD briefing on maritime chokepoints

The UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) agency would hold a hybrid briefing to present its Review of Maritime Transport 2024: Navigating Maritime Chokepoints.

16th BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan

Russia to host 16th summit of the BRICS economic group in the city of Kazan. The meeting will continue until Oct. 24 under chairmanship of President Vladimir Putin and will be attended by participants from over 30 countries.

Russian president to meet Chinese counterpart, Indian premier

Putin will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

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

US

President to host Slovenian premier

President Joe Biden to host Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob at White House.

Biden will later deliver remarks on lowering the cost of prescription drugs during a visit to Concord, New Hampshire.

UN Security Council's Haiti meeting

UN Security Council to hold open briefing followed by closed consultations on Haiti. Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Maria Isabel Salvador is expected to brief on recent developments.

NBC interviews Kamala Harris

Democratic presidential nominee Kamal Harris' interview with NBC News to air.

Obama campaigns for Harris

Former President Barack Obama to headline events in Madison, Wisconsin, Detroit and Michigan for Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris' campaign.

Tensions escalate on Korean Peninsula

North Korea has maintained silence over claims that it sent troops to Russia, while NATO has sought a “detailed” briefing from South Korea on the issue.

China’s Xi travels to Russia for BRICS summit in Kazan

China’s President Xi travels to Russia to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan. He is attending the summit of the emerging economic bloc at the invitation of Putin, and is expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines.

King Charles travels to Samoa

British King Charles travels to Samoa to attend Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. He first visited Australia where he faced protest by an Indigenous lawmaker, telling the monarch the southern Pacific nation was “not” his land and Britain committed genocide of First Nations people.

Maldives to raise age bar to 21 over tobacco use

Maldives to propose amendments to Tobacco Control Act to raise the minimum age for dealing in tobacco and tobacco products from 18 to 21. It comes after the island nation announced to ban import and use of vaping devices.

Search for missing people in Myanmar boat accident continues

Search for dozens of people continues after a motorboat capsized in southern Myanmar. The accident occurred in Palaw township, southern Taninthayi region.

China holds live-fire drills near closest point to Taiwan

China holds live-fire military exercises near Niushan Island, which is the closest point to Taiwan. Maritime safety administration in Pingtan in eastern Fujian province warned vessels to avoid the waters around the island, which is located roughly 80 kilometers south of the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands.

Floods displace thousands in South Sudan

Floods have displaced more than 270,000 people in South Sudan, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation. Humanitarian agencies are unable to deliver aid to affected communities as roads have been cut off.

Southern Africa electoral observer mission heads to Botswana

Southern Africa's regional bloc SADC to launch its election observer mission in Botswana ahead of general elections slated for Oct. 30. Former Prime Minister of Tanzania Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda will head the mission.

South African president to attend BRICS summit in Russia

President Cyril Ramaphosa to participate in the 16th BRICS summit in Russia. He will also hold bilateral talks with Russian counterpart Putin on the sidelines of the summit.

ECONOMY

Major Turkish defense event

Türkiye’s prominent defense industries event Saha Expo to begin in Istanbul.

SPORTS

Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 league phase to kick off with nine games.

Real Madrid to meet Borussia Dortmund at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Paris Saint-Germain to host PSV Endhoven at Parc des Princes, Paris.

Arsenal to face Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium, London.

SPECIAL REPORTS

US election: How Jewish voters could decide key swing state of Pennsylvania

By Darren Lyn

Houston, US – Report examining the preferences of Jewish voters in the US presidential race and their impact in the key swing state of Pennsylvania.

The story presents an overview of the Jewish community’s potential impact in the US elections, the key issues that could decide their vote, and includes current polling data on their choice between Trump and Kamala.

The report includes an interview with Asher Lubotzky, a professor of political science at the University of Houston who specializes in Israeli studies.

China-India border agreement: What and why now?

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

Istanbul – Report on a new pact between China and India to defuse border tensions in the Ladakh area of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.

The story presents details of the agreement, particularly patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border between India and China which has remained a thorny bilateral issue since deadly escalation in 2020.

It includes interviews with Chinese analyst Einar Tangen and Praveen Donthi, senior analyst on India at the International Crisis Group, who break down the significance of the deal and possible future scenarios between the two Asian giants.