Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

Israeli forces continue genocidal attacks in Gaza

The death toll in the relentless Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave since October last year climbed to nearly 42,800, with over 100,400 injured.

Three people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli strike targeting Al-Zahra School, housing thousands of displaced civilians in Gaza City, a medical source told Anadolu.

Two Palestinians working for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) were killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike on their vehicle in the central Gaza Strip.

Israel’s siege, ground incursion in northern Gaza

Israel's continuing, suffocating siege, ground invasion, and aerial bombardment in northern Gaza for more than two weeks amid food, water, fuel, and medicine shortages.

Two Palestinian medics were killed in an Israeli drone strike in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, a local health official said.

The Palestinian Prisoner Society said Wednesday that Israel launched widespread arrest campaigns in northern Gaza, arresting dozens of women, children, and medical personnel.

Israel has permitted only four out of 66 planned humanitarian aid missions to northern Gaza during the first 20 days of October, with no food aid allowed for 14 days, the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) said.

Israeli aggression against Lebanon

Israel continuous attacks on Lebanon while Hezbollah continues to target Israel with rockets.

At least 10 people were killed in a new wave of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanese media.

The Lebanese group Hezbollah confirmed on Wednesday that its top leader Hashem Safieddine was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut almost three weeks ago.

Hezbollah Wednesday said it fired a barrage of rockets toward the Glilot base of the Israeli army's military intelligence unit 8200 near Tel Aviv, central Israel.

More than 2,500 people have been killed and nearly 11,900 injured in Israeli attacks since October last year, according to Lebanese health authorities.

US secretary of state’s Mideast tour

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s 11th regional tour since the outbreak of Israel’s deadly war more than a year ago.

Blinken has already visited Israel and Saudi Arabia and the trip is said to include stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"There are two things left to do, get the hostages home and bring the war to an end with an understanding of what will follow,” Blinken told reporters before departing to Saudi Arabia.

He met with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Wednesday and discussed “regional developments, primarily the situation in Gaza and Lebanon, and the ongoing efforts to address them.”

The US secretary of state postponed his visit to Jordan due to "schedule constraints,” instead, he spoke by phone with Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi.

Gaza cease-fire talks

Latest developments on the Gaza cease-fire following US Secretery of State Blinken’s meeting with families of Israeli hostages.

Blinken outlined a plan for a limited deal to release fewer than 10 hostages in exchange for Israeli agreement on a temporary cease-fire in Gaza.

This proposal was discussed between Ronen Bar, head of the Israeli Security Agency, and Hassan Rashad, head of Egyptian intelligence, according to Haaretz.

It, however, does not include the Israeli army's withdrawal from Gaza.

Polio vaccination in Gaza Strip postponed

Gaza’s Health Ministry and UN partners were compelled to postpone the third phase of the second polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza due to the escalating violence, intense bombardment, mass displacement orders, and lack of assured humanitarian pauses, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed nearly 760 people since October last year, including 160 children, and injured over 6,250 others, with over 11,200 taken into custody.

Mozambique to release election results amid claims of fraud

Mozambique’s National Electoral Commission is expected to announce results of the Oct. 9 general elections amid claims of poll rigging.

Opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane claims to have won the polls, and accuses the commission of preparing "profoundly false results.”

Incumbent President Filipe Nyusi is stepping down after two terms as his party candidate Daniel Chapo is widely expected to win the ballot.

African top diplomats to attend commonwealth summit in Samoa

Foreign ministers from across Africa to join colleagues from other continents in Samoa for a summit of the Commonwealth nations. The summit until the weekend aims to strengthen resilient democratic institutions upholding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law among others.

Zambia marks 60th Independence Day

Zambia marks its 60th Independence Day from British colonial rule. President Hakainde Hichilema to lead the festivities which include a wreath laying ceremony at the Freedom Statue and investiture ceremony to honor living and past heroes.

Hundreds of prisoners have been released on eve of the Independence Day.

Lebanon conference in Paris

France hosts international conference in support of the people of Lebanon and its sovereignty. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to hold a press conference.

The conference comes after Israel expanded the conflict on Oct. 1 this year by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon. The ministerial conference will bring together Lebanon’s partner states, the United Nations, the European Union and international, regional and civil-society organizations, and it will aim to rally the international community to respond to the Lebanese people’s needs for protection and emergency relief and identify ways of supporting Lebanon’s institutions, especially those of the Lebanese armed forces, which guarantee the country’s internal stability, according to French authorities.

France is expected to repeat the call for cessation of hostilities and a diplomatic solution based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and allowing the safe return of displaced people to their homes in both Israel and Lebanon.

Germany’s Scholz meets Slovakia's President Pellegrini

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet Slovakia's President Peter Pellegrini for talks on bilateral relations, EU affairs and current regional issues. The leaders are also expected to discuss ways to increase diplomatic and military support for
Ukraine in its war of defense against Russia.

Ursula von der Leyen visits North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visits North Macedonia and then Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is expected to talk about the countries’ EU membership aspects and migration.

Polish premier visits Serbia

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is starting a two-day visit to Serbia. During the visit, Tusk will meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other officials to talk about security issues and migration.

Crime in England and Wales - quarterly update

Crime against households and adults, also including data on crime experienced by children, and crimes against businesses and society.

Last day of BRICS summit

The final day of the BRICS summit. The program includes a meeting in the BRICS Outreach/Plus format, which include countries that are not BRICS members but interested in cooperation with the bloc.

Representatives of 36 states, 22 of them at the level of heads of states, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are expected to take part in the meeting.

The leaders of the countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, as well as the heads of executive bodies of a number of international organizations are participating. Russia is represented by President Vladimir Putin.

Putin is scheduled to have a number of bilateral meetings, including with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Putin will also hold a news conference on results of the summit.

On Wednesday, the BRICS leaders adopted the Kazan summit declaration that sums up the results of the meeting and Russia’s chairmanship in the association.

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.

Seoul expected to announce arms shipments to Ukraine amid heightened security risks on Korean Peninsula

Seoul is expected to announce arms shipments to Ukraine amid heightened security risks on Korean Peninsula. South Korea has indicated its 'phased measures' in response to North Korea's alleged deployment of soldiers to Russia.

German chancellor to arrive in India on 3-day visit

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to pay three-day official visit to India where he will co-chair the 7th inter-governmental consultations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions include economic and defense issues as well as coordination in regional and international affairs.

Wife of former Pakistani Premier Khan likely to be released from jail

Bushra Bibi, wife of incarcerated former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, is likely to be released from jail on court orders. She is in jail for more than a year in alleged corruption and terror cases. If the court directions materialize, it would be a major relief for the embattled opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of Khan.

Taiwan holds 2-day live-fire military exercise

Taiwan holds two-day live-fire military drills on Penghu Islands, close to one of the hotspots where the Chinese military recently held exercises. Tanks and armored vehicles will fire live rounds, simulating response to a Chinese invasion. Tensions in Taiwan Strait have escalated in recent weeks.

SPORTS

Matchday 3 of UEFA Europa League (Football)

Roma - Dynamo Kyiv

Olympique Lyon - Besiktas

Fenerbahce - Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur - AZ Alkmaar

UEFA Conference League 3rd week (Football)

Chelsea - Panathinaikos

Round 5 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (Basketball)

Anadolu Efes - EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Real Madrid - Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

ECONOMY

US jobless claims

US to share weekly jobless claims data. Last week figure was at 241,000 but slight increase expected for this week. US to also share new house sales data for September.

Premier Turkish tech event

Türkiye's major defense event SAHA Istanbul continues in Istanbul to showcase cutting edge defense products from around 1,500 Turkish and foreign companies. New naval, land and air defense systems, weapons and software products are introduced at event.

AmChams Eurasian Summit

AmChams Eurasian Economic Summit to be held in Istanbul for the first time. Summit, which will take place with participation of 12 countries in total, to bring together business people, public representatives and international institutions. Summit, which is also backed by US Department of Commerce, aims to strengthen economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.

SPECIAL REPORTS

What is Pakistan’s new constitutional amendment all about?

Report about the new constitutional amendments approved in Pakistan, which are related to the functioning of the country’s judiciary.

The story gives details of the key features of the legislation and their potential impact, while laying out all points of view in the country, including the government’s reasoning for the move and the criticism emanating from the opposition and judicial fraternity.

It includes interviews with political analysts Hasan Askari and Sajjad Mir, who share their evaluations on the reasons for the changes and give their assessments on the possible implications.

Is Israel moving its Eswatini Embassy from South Africa?

Report about Israel’s possible move to relocate its embassy from South Africa to the tiny kingdom of Eswatini.

The story gives details of reports that have fueled speculation of such a move, the possible reasons and tensions with South Africa, and a view of the current situation, with officials trying to keep a lid on the matter.

The report lays out the history of Eswatini-Israel diplomatic relations and the current internal debate in Eswatini, where political forces and advocacy groups have voiced opposition to the idea of having an Israeli Embassy.

It includes comments from Newman Ntshangase, principal secretary at Eswatini’s Foreign Ministry; Thokozane Kunene, general secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland; and political analyst Petros Qambukusa Magagula.