Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Oct. 31, 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 Wednesday to over 43,160, with more than 101,500 injured.

An Israeli airstrike on Wednesday targeted a refugee tent west of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, killing three people and injuring several others, the source said.

Four more people, including a child and two women, were killed in another strike targeting a home east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the source added.

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.

At least eight Palestinians were killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a gathering of civilians in the Sultan neighborhood, west of Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, as per a medical source.

Eight more people were killed and 15 others injured in two more Israeli strikes in the same city, the source added.

Another Israeli attack near a medical clinic killed five more people and injured several others in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in northern Gaza City.

Israeli aggression against Lebanon

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

At least 27 people were killed and 36 others injured in a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanese media.

A Hezbollah drone hit a factory that produces aviation parts in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya on Wednesday, causing minor damage, according to local media on Wednesday.

The new Hezbollah chief said Wednesday that his group is not fighting on behalf of Iran, but to protect and liberate Lebanese territory.

The Israeli army claimed Wednesday to have assassinated the deputy commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, Mustafa Ahmad Shahadi, in an airstrike in southern Lebanon.

US officials' anticipated visit to Israel

White House officials Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk will be in Israel Thursday for discussions on Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, the hostages and “other regional matters,” a US official told CNN on Wednesday.

CENTCOM Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla is also is in the region and will visit Israel, the official added.

Gaza cease-fire talks

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

CIA Director William Burns is set to visit Egypt on Thursday for talks on a possible deal for the release of hostages and a cease-fire in Gaza, the Israeli broadcasting authority reported.

Qatar said late Tuesday that mediation efforts aimed at securing a cease-fire in Gaza are ongoing, expressing optimism for an agreement amid intensified violence.

For its part, Hamas announced late Tuesday that it responded to a request by mediators to discuss new proposals for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and finalize a hostage swap deal.

Global Coalition for Two-State Solution meeting in Riyadh

The 2nd day of the high-level meeting of the Global Coalition for Two-State Solution, which includes diplomats and envoys from several countries and regional and international organizations, and aims to present a specific timeline for the establishment and implementation of the Palestinian state under a two-state solution.

The coalition seeks to provide practical steps to support UN efforts and peace initiatives, with the goal of realizing an independent Palestinian state and ending the occupation.

Following the meeting, Saudi Arabia called for a joint Arab-Islamic follow-up summit to be held in the kingdom on Nov. 11 to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon, along with current developments in the region.

West Bank raids

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

Illegal Israeli settlers uprooted hundreds of centuries-old olive trees in Qaryut village in the northern West Bank, according to a Palestinian farmer and activist on Wednesday.

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.

Red weather alert across Spain as more than 70 dead in flash floods

Rescue operations continue in Spain as at least 72 people have died due to floods and a severe storm in the Valencia region, which has received excessive rainfall. Authorities have issued a red weather alert for the Valencia and Barcelona regions. The death toll may rise as new floods are expected.

Nordic Council ends

Prime ministers from Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden will hold the final day the Nordic Council gathering in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, which began on Oct. 29.

WWA report on 10 deadliest weather disasters since 2004

A World Weather Attribution report on the influence of climate change on the 10 deadliest weather disasters since 2004. The report marks the WWA's 10th anniversary and brings together key highlights from over 80 rapid attribution studies produced over the past decade.

WFP's Hunger Hotspots Report

The World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are expected to release their Hunger Hotspots Report. The release had earlier been postponed from Oct. 30.

Türkiye-Senagal talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will officialy welcome his Senegalese counterpart Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye at the presidential complex in Ankara.

The leaders will discuss bilateral relations, along with regional and international issues. After the discussions, several agreements are expected to be signed, which will be followed by a joint news conference.

US secretaries of state and defense host 2+2 talks with South Korean officials

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host their South Korean counterparts Cho Tae-yul and Kim Yong-hyun at the State Department. All four are scheduled to take part in a joint news conference as part of the talks.

Kamala Harris' Arizona and Nevada rallies

Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris will hold election campaigns in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as in Reno and Las Vegas in Nevada. The Las Vegas rally will feature a performance by Mexican pop rock band Mana and remarks from singer and actress Jennifer Lopez.

Donald Trump's New Mexico and Nevada rallies

Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump will hold rallies in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Henderson, Nevada.

Reactions from Biden administration on Israel, Gaza and Lebanon

Possible reactions from the Biden administration on Israeli strikes against Iran this weekend and the situation in Gaza, as well as Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Vote on extending UNSMIL's mandate in Libya

The UN Security Council will vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for three months, until Jan. 31 2025, with a “further automatic extension” of an additional nine months, until Oct. 31, 2025.

UN Palestinian rights committee briefing on preventing genocide

The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will hold a briefing on the 'International legal responsibilities for preventing genocide, holding perpetrators of war crimes accountable, and for ending the unlawful occupation of Palestine'

Ministerial conference on Ukraine bby Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will deliver remarks at the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s Peace Formula. He will later meet with a Ukrainian delegation.

Highway blockades in Bolivia

Monitoring developments on highway blockades by supporters of former president Evo Morales, which have reportedly paralyzed parts of the country. President Luis Arce said the blockades' economic costs have exceeded $1.7 billion over 17 days and called for their end.

Resignation of Supreme Court judges in Mexico

Eight of Mexico's 11 Supreme Court judges have submitted their resignations over judicial reform legislation that requires they be elected instead of appointed as of next year. The eight judges have reportedly declined to stand for election in June 2025.

Russian, North Korean ministers to meet in Moscow

In accordance with an agreement reached in Pyongyang during a Russia-North Korea summit in June, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui arrived in Moscow Wednesday for an official visit. She will hold consultations with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Belarus to host 2nd International Conference on Eurasian Security

Belarus will launch the 2nd International Conference on Eurasian Security on Thursday. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will head the Russian delegation at the two-day event. In his remarks at the forum’s plenary session, the minister will touch upon issues related to implementing a common security initiative in Eurasia. He will set forth Russian assessments of overall Eurasian security.

Fighting between Russian and 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 has claimed that about 2,000 Ukrainian troops are encircled in Kursk.

Tensions mount in Georgia as opposition rejects results of parliamentary election

Tensions are rising in Georgia as the country's pro-EU opposition has rejected the results of a parliamentary election in which the ruling Georgian Dream party won about 54% of the vote. Possible domestic and regional developments, including remarks by Ukraine and Russia. Moscow has been accused of interfering in the vote.

Africa public health body update on the mpox, Marburg diseases

The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention will address reporters on the current situation of mpox and Marburg disease outbreaks on the continent. Africa CDC and the World Health Organization had declared mpox as a public health emergency in August.

Botswana expected to announce results of presidential, parliamentary polls

The Independent Electoral Commission of Botswana is expected to start announcing partial election results following presidential and parliamentary elections. Four candidates are contesting for the top job, including incumbent Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi.

Burundi to host heads of state from COMESA countries

Burundi will host the 23rd summit of heads of state and government from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) comprising of 21 African nations to promote regional integration. The summit comes a day after foreign ministers from the regional bloc met to review the status of peace and security in the region, climate change, and elections, among other issues.

UN General Assembly President Yang arrives in China

UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang arrived in China on an official five-day visit where he met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his stay in Beijing. He is expected to meet other high-ranking Chinese officials and travel to Hubei province. The two sides are expected to discuss China’s participation in multilateral forums and shed light on the fighting in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Slovakian Premier Fico to arrive on week-long visit to China

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico will pay an official visit to China. During his stay, Fico will hold bilateral meetings with Chinese leaders and visit several offices to expand trade.

Pakistani prime minister meets Qatari emir

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to meet Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani. Sharif has been in the Gulf state's capital Doha for a two-day trip since Wednesday. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations exploring new areas of cooperation, especially in trade and investment. They may also comment on Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Powerful typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan

Taiwan faces a powerful typhoon expected to make landfall on Thursday. Authorities have closed schools and other offices as Typhoon Kong-rey approaches. The neighboring Philippines is also facing the effects of the new typhoon, while the Southeast Asian country still grapples with the impact of recent severe Tropical Storm Trami, which killed 145.

Korean Peninsula on edge amid tensions over North Korean troops deployment in Russia

The Korean Peninsula is on edge as the divided Koreas mull counter actions amid tensions over the deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russia. Seoul has vowed a joint response with Ukraine, as Pyongyang has warned of punishment against South Korea in the case that the North's sovereignty is violated.

THE ECONOMY

Germany’s retail trade

Germany’s Destatis will share retail trade figures for September. Retail sales have been posting mixed figures for a while, mostly negative, with the market expecting an annual decline of 0.8% for last month.

Eurozone inflation

Eurostat to reveal provisional inflation figures for October. After declines in the last two months, a slight increase is expected this month. The statistical authority will also release unemployment data for September. The market forecasts no change.

Türkiye’s international trade

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) will reveal foreign trade figures for September. Türkiye's foreign trade deficit narrowed by 42.7% in August, reaching $4.99 billion. In August, its exports totaled $22.05 billion, marking a 2.3% increase compared to the same month last year. Imports amounted to $27.04 billion, representing a decline of 10.7%.

Türkiye’s tourism data

TurkStat will reveal tourism statistics for third quarter. Türkiye's tourism revenue increased in January-June 2024 on a yearly basis. The country's tourism revenue rose by 9.3% to $23.66 billion in the first half of the year.

Number of foreigners visiting Türkiye

Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Ministry will share foreign tourist numbers in Türkiye for September. The number of foreigners visiting the country in January-August rose 7.11% compared to the same period of last year, reaching 35.8 million.

US jobless claims

The US is expected to share weekly initial jobless claims data.

AI Summit in Istanbul

The Türkiye AI Summit will begin in Istanbul with the participation of experts and professionals.

SPORTS

Round 7 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (Basketball)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv – Real Madrid

Olympiacos – Barcelona

SPECIAL REPORTS

US election: Germans back Harris, fret over potential Trump victory

By Ayhan Simsek

Berlin – Report on public sentiments in Germany about the US presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

The story is based on interviews with people in the capital Berlin, who present a snapshot of the general public view in the country and the main concerns about either a Republican or Democrat administration in the US.

The overall trend among the respondents is support for Harris and anxiety over the prospects of a new Trump administration, particularly because of bilateral tensions during his previous stint in the White House.

US election: Serbians rooting for Trump’s return to the White House

By Talha Ozturk

Belgrade, Serbia – Report on public sentiments in Serbia about the US presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

The story is based on interviews with people in the capital Belgrade, presenting a snapshot of the general public view in the country and concerns about either candidate.

The dominant view among the respondents is support for Trump, who they say would be better for Serbia, the global economy, and represents a chance to end conflicts in Europe and other parts of the world.

Ghena Hariri’s supper club keeps Lebanon’s spirit alive in London

By Aysu Bicer

London – Interview with Ghena Hariri, niece of Lebanon’s assassinated Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

The story focuses on Ghena’s reflections on Israel’s escalating war on Lebanon and the general political situation in the region, where she recalls her own and her family’s personal experiences during times of conflict.

She also speaks about her supper club initiative offering traditional Lebanese cuisine in London and how she is using it to spread awareness about her country’s history and culture.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Street interviews in Germany’s capital Berlin about public views on the US presidential race between Trump and Harris.

VIDEO – Street interviews in Serbia’s capital Belgrade about public views on the US presidential race between Trump and Harris.

VIDEO – Interview with Ghena Hariri, niece of Lebanon’s assassinated Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, about Israel’s war on Lebanon, the security situation in the region, and her Lebanese supper club in London.