Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, March 28, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Israel resumes genocidal war on Gaza

Latest developments as Israel resumed genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, violating the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas.

On Thursday, the death toll in the Gaza Strip rose to 24 Palestinians, killed in various Israeli airstrikes and targeted attacks across several areas since dawn.

Gazans continue to suffer from famine, while the Israeli Supreme Court has rejected petitions demanding the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. These petitions had been submitted by human rights and humanitarian organizations.

Gaza ceasefire, hostage swap talks

Latest developments as the first phase of Gaza ceasefire agreement following Israel’s resumption of its genocidal war on March 18.

On Thursday, an Egyptian security delegation visited Doha to continue talks aimed at securing the release of prisoners and hostages within a transitional phase to de-escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip, according to Egypt’s Al-Qahera News Channel.

For its part, Hamas stated that Palestinian factions have responded responsibly to previous initiatives to halt the onslaught on Gaza, reiterating the readiness to seriously continue negotiations, according to a statement by Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi.

Israeli raids in West Bank

Nearly daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, especially in the northern parts of the territory.

A Palestinian youth was injured by Israeli army gunfire during a raid on the Askar refugee camp in the northern West Bank.

Tension has been running high across the occupied West Bank, where at least 939 Palestinians have been killed and over 7,000 injured in attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers since the start of the Gaza onslaught on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Military and humanitarian situation in war-torn Sudan

The security and humanitarian situation in the northern African country of Sudan as the army recaptured the capital, Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces.

On Thursday, the head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said that the military is working to create appropriate conditions for an elected civilian government to assume power in the country.

However, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group denied losing its war against the Sudanese army on Thursday, saying it is “strategically repositioning” its forces.

US aggression on Yemen, Houthis' strikes against Israel

Developments in US aggression against Yemen, as well as the Houthi military operations against Israel.

Yemen’s Houthi group said Thursday that it targeted “hostile” warships in the Red Sea, including the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.

According to the Houthi-led Health Ministry, at least 57 people have been killed and nearly 120 others injured, including women and children, in around 100 US attacks in Yemen since March 15.

Besides, the Israeli army said that it had intercepted two missiles fired from Yemen.

Lebanese president heading to France

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to visit France on Friday, his first trip to a European country since his January election.

Aoun is due to meet with French President Macron who, during a visit to Beirut days after Aoun's appointment, said that France would hold an international aid conference to support Lebanon's reconstruction after a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah.

No date for the conference has been announced yet.

Israel's violations in southern Lebanon following incomplete pullout

Aftermath of the incomplete Israeli army withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Six people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on three vehicles in southern Lebanon on Thursday, in the latest Israeli violation of a ceasefire agreement, health authorities said.

Trump hosts swearing-in ceremony for US Attorney for New Jersey

President Donald Trump will participate in the swearing-in ceremony for the US Attorney for New Jersey. Trump's remarks from the event.

Security Council on Gaza

UN Security Council will hold a private meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, which will discuss the humanitarian situation and the protection of aid workers in Gaza.

JD Vance - Greenland visit

US Vice President JD Vance will visit Pituffik Space Base in Greenland for a briefing on Arctic security and to meet with US servicemembers. Second Lady Usha Vance joins him, replacing her planned visit to the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race. Also accompanying Vance are National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Senator Mike Lee.

US' Kristi Noem - Mexico visit

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will visit Mexico, where she will meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Minister Juan Ramon De La Fuente.

German coalition talks

Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU alliance and center-left Social Democratic Party will continue formal negotiations to form a coalition government. Conservative leader Friedrich Merz, the country's likely next chancellor, expressed hope to establish the coalition government before the April 20–21 Easter holiday.

Macron to meet Lebanese president

French President Emmanuel Macron will host his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun in Paris to discuss bilateral ties, regional issues. The meeting follows Macron's January visit to Beirut.

UN briefing

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

Reactions to detainment of governor of Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region

Reactions from Moldova and Russia to be followed amid the 72-hour detention of Gagauzia governor Evghenia Gutul at Chisinau International Airport on Tuesday. According to Moldova's National Anticorruption Center, Gutul is suspected of "violation of the management of financial means from electoral funds, illegal financing of electoral competitors, forgery of documents and forgery of declarations, related to the 2023 elections.” Gutul, a member of the pro-Russian Shor party, won the regional presidential election in Gagauzia in May 2023. The region has a population of around 120,000 Gagauz people -- an Orthodox Christian, Turkic community that speaks Gagauz Turkish.

China’s president hosts Bangladeshi interim leader

China’s President Xi Jinping hosts Bangladeshi interim leader Muhammad Yunus for bilateral talks. Yunus is on his debut official trip to China since taking office last August. Separately, Xi is expected to meet global CEOs and business representatives.

Pentagon chief pays 1st visit to the Philippines

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pays official two-day trip to the Philippines. It is the first time Hegseth visits the US’ oldest military ally in Asia since being appointed in 2nd term of Trump administration this January. In Manila, Hegseth holds talks with his Filipino counterpart and is likely to meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Washington and Manila enjoy strong military ties based on a mutual defense treaty.

Australian premier likely to announce dates for general elections likely due in May

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is likely to meet with the governor-general, Sam Mostyn, in the capital Canberra to discuss and announce dates for general elections which are due by May 17.

EU trade commissioner holds talks in China

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic holds talks with Chinese officials in Beijing. Several European leaders have visited China in recent weeks. It comes as US initiated additional tariffs against rivals and allies alike, including on the EU while Trump administration is unilaterally negotiating with Russia an end to Ukraine war.

South Korea expects rains to halt raging wildfires

South Korea is expecting rains to stop raging wildfires which have wreaked havoc in southeastern parts of the county. At least 27 people have been killed while hundreds of people to relocate to safer places.

Filipinos launch global movement to seek release of ex-President Duterte

Tens of hundreds people gather to launch a global movement to seek release of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte is in the custody of the International Criminal Court, The Hague in the Netherlands, over alleged crimes against humanity during his so-called war on drugs. The launch of movement to press for his release coincides with his birthday as Duterte turns 80.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye’s economic confidence

Turkish Statistical Institute to release economic confidence index for March. The Turkish consumer confidence index rose in February to its highest level since June 2023; up 1.4% from the previous month to 82.1.

UK GDP

The Office for National Statistics will release GDP figures for the last quarter of 2024. It expanded by 0.9% in the third quarter and it is expected to increase by 1.4% in the Q4. The country will also release foreign trade data for January.

Germany’s unemployment

Destatis will release unemployment figures for March. It was at 6.2% in February and the market expects no change for March.

SPECIAL REPORTS

US backsliding on rights with crackdown on pro-Palestine activism, warns UN rapporteur

Interview with Gina Romero, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association, who voices grave concerns over a growing repression of civil liberties in the US, particularly targeting pro-Palestine voices.

Romero warns of a “tremendous curtailment of freedom of expression, assembly, and association for the pro-Palestine movement,” as US authorities have targeted people like Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk, and other academics.

She criticizes academic institutions like Harvard and Columbia for failing to protect student rights, and explains how the Trump administration’s policies are fueling a wave of fear and censorship on campuses, undermining youth empowerment and democratic engagement.

‘Verge of civil war’: Leftist Israeli politicians sound alarm over spiral into ‘full-fledged fascist dictatorship’

Interviews with leftist Israeli politicians Ofer Cassif, a member of the Knesset from the left-wing Hadash coalition, and Sami Abu Shehadeh, a former lawmaker and current leader of the left-wing Balad party, about the current political turmoil in the country.

Cassif and Abu Shehadeh issue a stark warning that Israel is on the verge of a civil war, citing escalating violence, political repression, and the rise of what they describe as a fascist government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They also speak about how the government has systematically undermined any check on its power, leaving Israel deeply polarized and with an entrenched far-right ideology that threatens to tear apart its societal fabric.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with UN special rapporteur Gina Romero about the increasing repression of civil liberties in the US, particularly the targeting of pro-Palestine voices.

VIDEO - Interviews with Israeli politicians Ofer Cassif and Sami Abu Shehadeh about the reasons for the spiraling political turmoil in the country, and how the Netanyahu government is pushing Israel toward potential civil war.