Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, March 29, 2025

⁠Israel continues genocidal war on Gaza

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

At least 11 more Palestinians were killed on Friday in Israeli airstrikes targeting various areas of the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli army continued its attacks, demolishing residential buildings in the northern part of the enclave.

On Friday, Palestinian Civil Defense confirmed that five of its members remain missing after Israeli forces targeted its team in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of western Rafah six days ago.

The team had been dispatched to rescue paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society who also lost contact after being surrounded by Israeli forces.

The Gaza death toll on Friday stood at 50,251 as Israel continues its genocidal war on the Palestinian enclave.

⁠Gaza ceasefire, hostage swap talks

Latest developments in efforts to reach ceasefire deal after Israel backtracked from Jan. 19 ceasefire agreement and resumed its war on Gaza.

Efforts by mediators continue seeking a new settlement to Israel’s ongoing devastating war on Gaza.

⁠Israel's violations in southern Lebanon following incomplete pullout, airstrikes near Beirut

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Friday killed at least five people and injured 18 others, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

Separately, Israeli fighter jets bombed and destroyed a building in Hadath in Beirut’s southern suburbs, marking the first Israeli strike on the area since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon last November.

Earlier, the Israeli army claimed that two rockets had been fired from Lebanon toward Israel and said: “One was intercepted, while the other landed in Lebanese territory.”

However, Lebanese group Hezbollah once again denied responsibility for launching the rockets, asserting its commitment to the ceasefire agreement.

⁠Israeli raids in West Bank

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

Five Palestinians were injured on Friday in an assault by illegal Israeli settlers in the Masafer Yatta area in the southern occupied West Bank.

Also on Friday, Israel released around 30 Palestinian prisoners after they completed their sentences, but many were in critical health condition, with some requiring immediate hospitalization.

The Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a statement that many of the freed detainees, particularly those from Megiddo Prison in northern Israel, were suffering from scabies and other medical complications due to inhumane prison conditions.

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.

US aggression towards Yemen, Houthis' strikes against Israel

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

The Yemeni Houthi group on Friday said that seven civilians were injured in US airstrikes on several areas of the capital Sanaa.

A statement by the Houthi-run Health Ministry said seven civilians were injured by US airstrikes on the command area in Al-Tahreer District, central Sanaa.

The ministry said nearly 60 people have been killed and nearly 120 others injured, including women and children, in around 100 US attacks in Yemen since March 15.

The Israeli army also said that it had intercepted two missiles fired from Yemen.

Military, humanitarian situation in war-torn Sudan

Security and humanitarian situation in the North African country of Sudan after the army recaptured the capital Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces.

The Sudanese army announced late Thursday that its troops had succeeded in clearing the last pockets of resistance from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Khartoum Governorate.

Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chair Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared Khartoum “free” after his forces expelled the RSF from the city.

The RSF’s territorial control has been shrinking rapidly in recent weeks, with the army reclaiming areas across the Khartoum, Al-Jazira, White Nile, North Kordofan, Sennar and Blue Nile states.

Kazakh, Uzbek presidents to hold informal talks

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to host informal meeting in the capital Almaty with his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The two leaders aim to bolster their strategic partnership and deepen bilateral relations. Key topics of discussion will include regional developments and advancing cooperation across multiple sectors, such as trade, industry, transport and logistics, energy, agriculture, and water resource management. Additionally, the talks will stress strengthening interregional connections and fostering cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

Aftermath of Myanmar’s devastating earthquakes

Search and rescue efforts ongoing in the aftermath of two massive earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 6.4 on the Richter scale. The earthquakes were felt in neighboring countries, with Thailand also suffering damage. At least 700 are dead, including six in Thailand where 117 others are still missing.

Pentagon chief Hegseth pays 1st trip to Japan

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is paying his first trip to Japan since being appointed. Hegseth to hold talks with Japanese officials amid reports the US is halting the expansion of its military command in Japan, which hosts more than 50,000 American troops and is a major US military ally US in the Asia-Pacific region.

SPECIAL REPORT

Karagoz and Hacivat: Traditional Turkish shadow play enthralls UK audiences

Report on performances of traditional Turkish shadow plays Karagoz and Hacivat in the UK during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Story details the plays’ importance and cultural role during Ramadan, featuring in-depth interview with Mengu Turk, Turkish British stage actor and “hayali,” or shadow play performer.

Turk explains how the centuries-old art form continues to entertain and educate audiences to this day, and shares insights on its place in Türkiye’s cultural heritage and the behind-the-scenes process, from assembling the stage to filming a full performance.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Turkish British stage actor Mengu Turk about the importance and cultural legacy of the traditional Turkish shadow plays Karagoz and Hacivat.