Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 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 and worsen their living conditions.

The death toll in relentless Israeli attacks on the besieged territory since October last year has climbed to over 43,060, with more than 101,200 injured.

At least four people were killed and more than 80 others injured in an Israeli bombardment on a densely-populated neighborhood in Gaza City on Tuesday.

In a separate incident, paramedics recovered bodies of two people who were targeted by the Israeli army near the Red Crescent Society north of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

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 Tuesday, more than 100 Palestinians lost their lives and dozens were wounded in Israeli airstrikes in the city of Beit Lahia.

The Israeli army has continued its seige in northern Gaza since Oct. 5 to allegedly prevent Hamas from regrouping. Palestinians, however, accuse Israel of seeking to occupy the area and forcibly displace its residents.

Israeli ban on UNRWA

International and regional reactions to Israeli parliament passing a law to ban the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Several countries and UN agencies have voiced concern over the legislation, which, if implemented, could stall delivery of live-saving aid to Palestinians.

Israel has accused UNRWA employees of complicity in the Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border incursion by Hamas. The agency, however, denies the accusations and asserts that it remains neutral, solely focusing on supporting refugees.

Israeli aggression against Lebanon

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

More that 2,700 people have been killed and nearly 12,600 injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

On Tuesday, 13 people were killed and several injured in Israeli airstrikes on towns in eastern Lebanon.

The Israeli army also issued new evacuation orders for civilians in 16 towns and ordered them to immediately evacuate.

Hezbollah said it shot down an Israel drone over in southern Lebanon and targeted Israeli soldiers in northern Israel.

Israel’s reaction to Hezbollah’s naming of a new secretary general

Hezbollah named Naim Qassem as the group's new secretary general, succeeding Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month.

In his first comment on the decision, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hinted at Israel's intention to assassinate Qassem. "Temporary appointment. Not for long,” Gallant said in a post on X.

Gaza cease-fire talks

Latest developments in Gaza cease-fire talks after a two-month hiatus.

Israel is said to be seeking a deal under which a small number of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza would be released in exchange for a one-month cease-fire.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said mediation efforts are ongoing, expressing optimism for a breakthrough.

Israeli intelligence agency Mossad's chief David Barnea returned from Doha after a one-day visit where he met CIA Director William Burns and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

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

West Bank raids

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

On Tuesday, several Palestinians, including schoolchildren, suffered tear gas inhalation after Israeli forces raided the village of Husan and the town of Al-Khader, west of Bethlehem.

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.

UK budget statement

Chancellor Rachel Reeves to set out tax and spend plans in her first Budget.

UK prime minister faces questions from lawmakers

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will respond to questions from lawmakers in the House of Commons.

Turkish foreign minister visits UK

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to pay an official visit to London. Fidan is expected to meet UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to hold talks on bilateral relations, regional and international developments.

Health threats of climate change reach record-breaking levels: Lancet report

The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change to publish annual report into the growing health challenges posed by climate change.

This year's report warns people in every country are facing "record-breaking" threats to health and survival from the rapidly changing climate, with 10 of 15 indicators tracking health threats reaching concerning new records.

The report shows people were exposed to 50 more days of health-threatening temperatures than expected without climate change in 2023, with extreme drought affecting 48% of the global land area and 151 million more people experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity than annually between 1981 and 2010.

WFP's Hunger Hotspots Report

The World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization are expected to release the Hunger Hotspots Report.

US President Biden to meet Greek Cypriot president

President Joe Biden to host Greek Cypriot administration leader Nikos Christodoulides for a bilateral meeting at the White House.

Blinken remarks on American diplomacy

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deliver remarks on American Diplomacy for a New Era at the Foreign Service Institute at State Department.

US defense secretary to meet South Korean counterpart

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to host his South Korean counterpart Kim Yong Hyun for the for the 56th US-ROK Security Consultative Meeting, which comes ahead of 2+2 talks at the State Department this week and reports of North Korea's military deployment in Russia.

US election rallies

Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris to hold election campaign events in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump will hold rallies in the states of North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Kosovo briefing at UN Security Council

UN Security Council to convene for its second regular briefing this year on the situation in Kosovo. Special Representative and Head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Caroline Ziadeh is expected to brief the members on the secretary-general’s latest report on UNMIK.

UN General Assembly meeting on Cuba sanctions

UN General Assembly to hold vote on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the US against Cuba.

UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine

UN Security Council to hold meeting on maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine amid reports of deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to fight for Russia.

Canada ministerial conference on Ukraine

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to deliver remarks at a reception for the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s Peace Formula. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly will also be in attendance.

Call for commission to probe missing Indigenous children in Canada

Developments after release of independent report calling on the Canadian government to form an Indigenous-led national commission with a 20-year mandate to investigate the cases of missing and disappeared Indigenous children at residential schools.

Arrest of Mexican carter leader

Reactions from the US after Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero urged Washington to disclose details on the kidnapping and arrest of former cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, now in US custody, which sparked a diplomatic a row between the two countries.

⁠Russian Foreign Ministry to hold press briefing

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold a press briefing in Moscow on current issues of foreign policy. She will also hold a Q&A session.

⁠Russian capital to host 8th World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad

Russia's capital Moscow to start two-day 8th World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to take part in the event. The congress is to bring together about 400 leaders and activists of the Russian community from 103 countries.

⁠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 about 2,000 Ukrainian troops are encircled in Kursk.

Political crisis in Georgia after election

The pro-EU opposition in Georgia has rejected the results of the recent parliamentary election, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party won about 54% of the vote.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, on a visit to Tbilisi, on Tuesday described the results of the vote “indisputable.”

Turkish President Erdogan speaks at parliamentary group meeting

Turkish President and Justice and Development (AK) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend his party's group meeting at Turkish parliament.

‘The lies of Israel’ event in Ankara

Türkiye's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun to attend The Lies of Israel program organized by the Directorate of Communications in the capital Ankara. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic, journalists, and analysts will be among the speakers.

Botswana holds general elections

Diamond-rich Southern African nation of Botswana holds general elections, with incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi seeking a second and final term in office.

Masisi’s ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in power since 1966 is expected to win. Main competitors include Duma Boko of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Mephato Reatile of the Botswana Patriotic Front.

South Africa’s finance minister to deliver mid-term budget

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to deliver the first budget review under South Africa’s new government of national unity formed in June comprising several political parties. The mid-term budget review is expected to outline policy goals and macroeconomic forecasts for the next three years.

Chinese Foreign Ministry holds news briefing in Beijing

China’s Foreign Ministry holds news conference in Beijing which may include responses to tensions on the Korean Peninsula as well as war on Gaza and Lebanon.

North Korea likely to respond to claims by South

Pyongyang is likely to respond to South Korean claims of alleged security beef up around North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as well as deployment of troops to Russia.

Progress in Japan government formation

Ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Japan is likely to make progress in new government formation as one more smaller party has indicated support to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

ECONOMY

Türkiye’s economic sentiment

Turkish Statistical Institute to reveal economic confidence index for October. Economic confidence index increased by 2% on monthly basis to 95 in September.

Turkish banking sector data

Turkish banking watchdog BDDK to reveal sector statistics for September. As of the end of August, the sector's net profit for the period amounted to $11.3 billion. The sector's assets reached $879.3 billion.

Inflation in Germany

Germany’s Destatis to share preliminary inflation figures for September. Figures fell for the second month in a row last month, as energy prices pulled back.

German GDP

Germany’s Destatis to share gross domestic product data for third quarter of 2024. The German economy has been posting negative growth rate since the first quarter of 2023 while in the second quarter of 2024 saw a zero-percent GDP growth. Market expects another decline for third quarter.

SPORTS

Round 6 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (Basketball)

Panathinaikos - Asvel Villeurbanne

SPECIAL REPORTS

US election: What to expect from a Trump administration

Report outlining the expected US policy path if Donald Trump wins the Nov. 5 presidential election.

The story presents an overview of what policies on key issues could look like under a Trump-led Republican administration, covering areas such as global economics, conflicts around the world, and the US position toward major rivals such as Russia and China.

The report includes an interview with Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham, who underscores Trump’s “unpredictability” and “transactional” manner of operating as the most significant causes for concern.

US election: What to expect from a Harris administration

Report on the possible policies and plans of Kamala Harris if she wins the race for the White House.

The story presents an overview of the likely approach of a Harris-led Democratic administration, focusing on critical areas such as the global economy, conflicts in various parts of the world, and US geopolitical rivalries.

The report includes interviews with John Calabrese, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, and Mohamed Nimer, an assistant professor at American University, who explain how and why Harris is unlikely to dramatically deviate from the policy path of her predecessor.

Historic election defeat for Japan’s ruling party: What next?

Report analyzing the outcome of the Oct. 27 snap elections in Japan, where the ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered historic losses and lost its parliamentary majority.

The story presents a picture of the various post-election scenarios as the LDP makes efforts to form a coalition government and a resurgent opposition attempts to capitalize on its electoral gains.

It includes comments by Jingdong Yuan, director of the China and Asia Security Program at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and Osaka University academic Saul Takahashi, who evaluate how the political deadlock could impact Japan’s domestic and foreign affairs.