Diary

ISTANBUL (AA)— Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Developments in Syria under new administration

Latest developments and updates in Syria under the new administration following the overthrow of the Baathist regime.

Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia' al-Sudani reaffirmed Friday his country's respect for the will of the neighboring Syrian people and expressed a commitment to supporting a comprehensive political process in the war-torn country.

More Arab and international officials' political and diplomatic visits to Syria and meetings with Syria's new president, Ahmad AlAl-Sharaa, will be monitored.

Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza

Israel continues its relentless genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, disregarding international calls to end hostilities and address the severe hardships endured by millions under constant attacks and a devastating blockade.

On Friday, at least 11 Palestinians were killed and several others injured as Israeli airstrikes targeted two homes and civilians in Gaza City amid ongoing artillery shelling across the besieged territory.

A Palestinian nurse died tragically in Gaza due to freezing temperatures, and his body was discovered in a tent in western Khan Younis, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Friday. The tragic incident came a day after the ministry announced on Thursday that three Palestinian babies had died as a result of the freezing temperatures in war-torn Gaza.

The overall death toll due to the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since last year surged to 45,436, with over 108,000 others injured, the enclave's Health Ministry said Friday.

Israel’s escalating blockade, ground offensives in northern Gaza Strip

The ongoing Israeli military offensives, displacement, and blockade of Gaza's north have had devastating humanitarian consequences for thousands of Palestinians trapped there since October 5 and killed over 4,800 people.

The Israeli army early Friday stormed into the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, forcing all inside to leave.

According to medical sources, several intensive care unit patients were confirmed dead after the Israeli army set fire to multiple sections of Kamal Adwan Hospital.

The Palestinian presidency condemned Israel's "grave crime of setting fire to Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, which serves over 400,000 residents."

Israeli violations of cease-fire deal with Lebanon

Over one month of the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, meant to halt over 14 months of fighting between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group.

According to the Lebanese state news agency NNA, the Israeli army shelled the outskirts of the town of Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon early Friday.

Since the cease-fire was declared on Nov. 27, the total number of Israeli violations has risen to over 300, with 33 people killed and 38 injured during the incidents.

Gaza cease-fire talks

Latest developments in Gaza cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli Walla news portal on Friday cited American and Israeli officials as saying that the chances of reaching a hostage swap and cease-fire deal with the Hamas group before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20 are low.

The Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Friday that hundreds of people protested in various locations across Israel, demanding an agreement with Hamas. The protesters sat silently on the ground in multiple cities, including Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Hadera.

West Bank raids

Almost daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank and illegal settler violence against Palestinians and their property.

On Friday, the Israeli army prevented several Palestinian farmers from continuing their work on their agricultural lands in the Umm al-Qaba area in the northern Jordan Valley, northeast of the occupied West Bank, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Israel has killed at least 834 people in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, including 160 children, and injured nearly 6,600 others, with more than 12,100 taken into custody.

Red Sea tensions and Houthi-Israel attacks

Israel, its US-UK allies, and Yemen's Houthi group intensified their attacks on each other's positions. The Houthis increased their attacks on Israeli military targets, as well as cargo ships associated with Tel Aviv in the Red Sea.

At least 18 Israelis were injured early Friday while rushing to shelters in Tel Aviv, following a missile launch from Yemen, which the Israeli army claimed to have intercepted.

According to the army, the missile was intercepted before entering Israeli airspace, with alarm sirens sounding across central areas of the country, including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree confirmed that the group carried out "three significant military operations" against Israeli targets.

Crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Kazakh city of Aktau

The latest update on the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, which killed 38 people, with some surviving passengers claiming a mid-air explosion.

An AZAL flight carrying 67 people from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny, Russia, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on the Caspian Sea coast.

Both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have begun investigations into the incident. While the exact causes of the incident are unknown, senior Azerbaijani officials confirmed to Anadolu media reports that the plane was hit by a Russian air defense system.

Russia on developments in Syria

Moscow's reaction to developments in post-Assad regime Syria. Assad and his family have received asylum in Russia, with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying he plans to meet with the ousted leader.

Moscow says the inviolability of its facilities in Syria is a priority, and it has established contacts with new authorities in Syria.

Situation in Georgia after suspension of EU accession talks, presidential election

Georgia is facing mounting political tensions after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Nov. 28 that the country's EU accession talks would be suspended until 2028. The move has since sparked major protests in the country, including in the capital, Tbilisi, as well as international and regional criticism.

Tensions between the government and the opposition have escalated further due to the situation surrounding the country's presidency.

Situation in Mozambique remains tense after deadly protests

The situation in Mozambique remains tense after a week of violent post-election protests and a prison break in the capital, Maputo.

Residents of Maputo and the city of Matola are expected to start cleaning up their streets to remove barricades and trash used to block roads during this week’s violent protests.

The Southern African country has been gripped by violent protests since late October, when the electoral authority declared Danniel Chapo as the winner of the Oct 9 presidential elections with 71% of the vote, defeating opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 20%.

Fresh protests erupted on Monday after the Constitutional Council’s ruling, confirming Chapo's victory but adjusting his winning percentage from 71% to 65%. At least 261 people have lost their lives since October 21, according to the latest tally by the elections monitoring group platform Decide.

Monitoring developments in South Korea after 2nd acting president takes charge

Monitoring developments in South Korea, where the second acting president has taken charge. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok succeeded Premier Han Duck-soo, who was impeached by parliament over refusal to appoint three judges to the top court.

South Korea is amid political instability after full-time President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed short-lived martial law on Dec. 3.

Chinese, Iranian top diplomats hold talks in Beijing

Chinese and Iranian top diplomats hold talks in Beijing. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi is on a two-day visit to China at the invitation of Beijing, where Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosts him.

Heavy snow likely to hit parts of Japan

A winter pressure pattern and a cold air mass are forecast to bring heavy snow to several parts of Japan. Officials have warned of severe weather in eastern and western Japan through the weekend.

Sports

Week 18 of Italian Serie A

Lazio vs. Atalanta

Cagliari vs. Inter Milan