Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Israeli forces continue genocidal attacks in Gaza

Ongoing Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling on the Gaza Strip, which continue to claim the lives of more Palestinians.

The death toll in relentless Israeli attacks on the besieged territory since October last year has climbed to over 43,000, with more than 101,100 injured.

On Monday, at least 13 people were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes that targeted the areas of Beit Lahia, the neighborhoods of Shejaiya and Zeitoun in addition to the Nuseirat refugee camp and Al Zawayda town.

Israel’s siege, ground incursion in northern Gaza Strip

Israel's weeks-long siege, ground invasion, and bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip continues amid food, water, fuel, and medicine shortages.

On Monday, an Israeli drone struck a group of people in the Beit Lahia area, northern Gaza, leaving one person killed and several others injured.

Israeli forces also detonated several homes and residential blocks in Jabalia and Bureij refugee camps.

Israeli aggression against Lebanon

Israel's continuous attacks on Lebanon and the Hezbollah group's targeting of Israel with rockets.

More than 2,670 people have been killed and nearly 12,500 injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

On Monday, at least 25 more people were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting several towns in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese media.

Hezbollah said it carried out six military operations against the Israeli army in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that around 15 rockets were launched from Lebanon towards Kiryat Shmona and other settlements in northern Israel.

For its part, the Israeli army said that it intercepted a drone over Lebanese airspace that was fired towards Israel.

Gaza cease-fire talks

Latest developments in Gaza cease-fire talks after two months of hiatus.

On Monday, Israel’s Mossad Chief David Barnea returned from Doha after a one-day visit where he met with CIA Director William Burns and Qatar's prime minister to discuss the resumption of the talks with Hamas.

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Barnea, CIA chief Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discussed “a new unified proposal that combines previous proposals and also takes into account the main issues and recent developments in the region.”

It also noted that “in the coming days, the discussions between the mediators and with Hamas will continue to examine the feasibility of talks and to try to promote a deal.”

Israeli Channel 12 reported that if negotiators managed to make progress during the Doha talks, an expanded round of negotiations could be held in Egypt with the participation of the head of Egypt’s intelligence service Hassan Rashad.

Egypt proposed on Sunday an initiative for a 48-hour cease-fire in Gaza, along with a partial prisoner-hostage exchange deal, with negotiations to take place within 10 days for a complete cease-fire.

However, Netanyahu rejected the Egyptian initiative and emphasized that “negotiations will take place only under fire,” according to Israel’s Channel 12.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in occupied West Bank.

On Monday, a Palestinian man was injured by Israeli forces' bullets north of Tulkarem.

Israel has killed at least 763 people since last October, including 160 children, and injured nearly 6,300 others, with over 11,500 taken into custody.

Developments in Sudan

Deteriorating security situation in Sudan amid clashes between army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The UN confirmed that dozens of civilians were killed and injured in addition to 46,000 displaced in Al Jazirah during the past week.

101st anniversary of Turkish Republic

Celebrations in Türkiye marking the 101st anniversary of the founding of Republic will begin with state officials' visit to Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the country's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in the capital Ankara.

Türkiye's multipurpose helicopter Gokbey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend delivery ceremony of Gokbey, a multipurpose helicopter, to the Turkish army at the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters.

The ceremony comes after last week’s PKK terror attack on TAI, which killed five people and injured 22 others.

German Chancellor Scholz to meet business, trade union leaders

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet with business leaders and representatives of trade unions to discuss economic problems, possible measures to strengthen and modernize Germany's industrial sector.

Nordic Council convenes in Iceland

Prime ministers from the Nordic region are gathering in Iceland for this year’s Nordic Council, with the main theme focused on peace and security in the Arctic. An opening press conference is set for today, followed by separate briefings from Nordic prime ministers and foreign ministers on the same day.

Ursula von der Leyen hosts Mark Rutte

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosts NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at working lunch.

Türkiye’s Republic Day celebration in London

Türkiye’s Communications Directorate to hold Republic Day event in London’s famous National Portrait Gallery.

UN agencies briefing

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

WHO Tuberculosis report

The World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to release its 2024 Global Tuberculosis Report.

⁠Fighting between Russian, Ukrainian troops continues in Kursk, Donetsk

Russia and Ukraine continue fighting in Russia’s border region of Kursk, where Kyiv began an incursion in August, and in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow continues to claim advances on multiple fronts. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that about 2,000 Ukrainian troops are encircled in Kursk.

Tensions rise in Georgia as opposition rejects results of parliamentary election

Domestic tensions in Georgia rise as the pro-EU opposition rejected the results of the country’s parliamentary election, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party won about 54% of the vote. Statements from key figures in the country, as well as domestic and regional developments in this regard, including remarks from Ukraine and Russia, the latter of which has been accused of interfering in the vote.

Joe Biden's Baltimore visit

US President Joe Biden to deliver remarks on how his Investing in America agenda is rebuilding infrastructure, tackling the climate crisis, and creating good paying union jobs during visit to Baltimore, Maryland. In evening, he will attend a political engagement in Potomac, Maryland.

Kamala Harris to deliver speech in Washington DC

US Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris to deliver a speech during a rally near White House one week ahead of the presidential election. The speech takes place at the Ellipse, the same location where Donald Trump delivered his Jan. 6, 2021 speech that led to storming of Congress.

Reactions from Biden administration on Israel, Gaza, Lebanon

Reactions from Biden administration regarding Israeli strikes on Iran this weekend and situation in Gaza as well as Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Trump remarks to press

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump to deliver remarks to the press in Palm Beach, Florida.

UN Security Council's open debate on Middle East

UN Security Council to hold its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.” Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis will chair the meeting. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is the expected briefer.

Bolivia's Morales assassination attempt

Developments after former Bolivian President Evo Morales said he survived an assassination attempt after unidentified men opened fire at his car.

African, Asian first ladies gather in Tanzania for luminary summit

Fifteen first ladies from Africa and Asia to meet in Tanzania under the patronage of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to discuss strategies for building health care capacity, and supporting girl child education.

The East African nation is hosting the 11th Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary summit which brings together first ladies, ministers, policymakers, health experts, and journalists from more than 70 countries to discuss health issues.

Ministers from 12 countries gather in Kenya to discuss global school feeding programs

Kenya to host second ministerial meeting of the School Meals Coalition, in partnership with the UN World Food Programme in capital Nairobi. Ministers from 12 countries gather to discuss expanding access to school meals. The meeting precedes the G20 Summit in Brazil, where the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty will be launched.

Pakistani Premier Sharif to visit Saudi Arabia

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to kick off two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. During his visit, he will attend 8th ‘Future Investment Initiative’ in Riyadh between Oct. 29 and 30. Sharif is expected to hold bilateral talks with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and other senior Saudi officials as well as other visiting leaders and officials.

Political wrangling continues in Japan to form new gov't

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader and Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is leading negotiations inside the party as well as with other parties to seek support for next government after the ruling party faced a historic loss in weekend snap polls. The LDP is likely to seek outside support from opposition parties to form next Cabinet which must be in place within a month after polls.

China to launch crewed Shenzhou-19 spaceship

China to launch three astronauts into space aboard Shenzhou-19 spaceship. The new crew, whose identities have not been revealed yet, comprises three members of the People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps, locally known as taikonauts. They will succeed Shenzhou-18 taikonauts who are preparing to return home after conducting six months of research in space.

China’s President Xi likely to host Finland’s Alexander Stubb

China’s President Xi Jinping is expected to host visiting Finnish President Alexandar Stubb.

Stubb has reached Beijing and the two sides are scheduled discuss bilateral relations as well as issues of international concern. The Finnish president is set to return home on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry to hold news conference in Beijing

China’s Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference in Beijing. The spokesperson is expected to issue statement on Chinese military’s firing warning shots at fighter jet along its border on the side of Myanmar.

UN Human Rights chief to visit Bangladesh

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to pay two-day visit to Bangladesh until Wednesday. Turk is scheduled to hold meetings with transitional government chief Muhammad Yunus, the chief justice, the army chief and other officials. The UN rights chief is also scheduled to deliver address at the University of Dhaka and meet students involved in the protests that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee.

North Korea likely to react to claims of NATO

Pyongyang is expected to respond to NATO claims that North Korean troops have been deployed in Russia. NATO called for them to "cease these actions immediately.” Earlier South Korea made similar claims while Pyongyang has neither denied nor confirmed such claims.

SPORTS

Round 6 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (Basketball)

Anadolu Efes – Barcelona

Fenerbahce Beko - Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

Olympiacos - Real Madrid

Week 10 of Italian Serie A (Football)

Milan - Napoli

SPECIAL REPORTS

US election: Who does Europe want in the White House?

Report on perspectives in Europe with regards to the US presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

The story presents an overview of the main issues of concern for the EU and major European nations, covering topics ranging from transatlantic relations to views on China, Ukraine, NATO spending, energy and climate.

The report includes an interview with Giuseppe Spatafora of the European Union Institute for Security Studies, who explains why this election is pivotal for the domestic future of the US and its role on global stage, including in Europe.

US election: How voting works and why swing states are key

Explainer about the US election process and the importance of swing states.

The story outlines the main elements of the US election process, particularly explaining the role of the Electoral College and how that system determines who gets to be the next president.

The report also breaks down the particular impact of seven key swing states – Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – and presents an overview of each candidate’s current standings in these electoral battlegrounds.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Giuseppe Spatafora, associate analyst at the European Union Institute for Security Studies, about Europe’s preference with regards to the US presidential race and the major points of concern for European countries and the EU.