ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
PALESTINE
Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip due to Israeli onslaught amid growing international calls of a risk of famine, and lack of medical supplies. Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 27,000 Palestinians, with 66,139 others injured. The withdrawal from areas in the northwest and northern part of the strip is a first since the ground military operation started on Oct. 27, 2023.
Ramallah - Daily Israeli army raids in cities and towns of occupied the West Bank continue. The incursions have killed 381 Palestinians, while 4,340 others have been injured and 6,460 detained since Oct. 7.
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv - Israeli evening protests against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in different cities continue.
LEBANON
Beirut - Tensions between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel amid an exchange of cross-border fire.
Beirut - British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to visit the Lebanese capital. The visit is unspecified by the British Foreign Office. The latest trip is his third to the Middle East in past two months.
EGYPT
Cairo - Negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage swap deal between Israel and Hamas.
YEMEN
Sanaa - Escalating tension in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel, and US retaliatory airstrikes against targets inside Yemen.
US
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden to attend somber ceremony for return of remains of 3 US service members killed in deadly drone attack on military installation in Jordan. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will also attend. Desk will monitor for potential retaliatory strikes, which multiple US officials have said could be drawn out over a period of time.
WASHINGTON - Bureau of Labor Statistics to release monthly unemployment data. Figures will likely be used by President Joe Biden, or his political rivals, as the 2024 White House campaign season kicks into high gear.
WASHINGTON - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to meet Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani as diplomatic momentum builds on a prospective deal to halt hostilities in Gaza in exchange for the release of detainees still held by Hamas.
SWITZERLAND
Geneva - United Nations Information Service to hold biweekly press briefing for UN bodies headquartered in Geneva. Updates from UN agencies such as UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO, OHCHR, OCHA, and the IFRC on the situation in Gaza are likely.
BELGIUM
Brussels - EU foreign ministers to gather for two-day informal ministerial meeting.
GERMANY
Berlin - German public transport workers to stage a nationwide strike over an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions. Around 90,000 public transport workers in more than 80 German cities are expected to walk off the job, and nearly all local trams and buses in these cities will be out of service. During the first round of negotiations last week, the Verdi union and transport companies could not reach agreement.
UK
London - Preliminary hearing ahead of public hearings into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died in July 2018 following exposure to the Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury. The inquiry was announced by then-Home Secretary Priti Patel on Nov. 18, 2021, and is chaired by Lord Hughes of Ombersley. It is scheduled to begin in October 2024.
London - Train drivers working for Greater Anglia, C2C, and LNER who are members of ASLEF union go on strike for 24 hours in an ongoing dispute over pay.
KAZAKHSTAN
Almaty - Meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. The heads of government of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union will sum up results of work in 2023, outline plans for 2024, and discuss progress of projects in implementation. The prime ministers of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia will attend the meeting, along with chairman of the board of Eurasian Economic Commission.
RUSSIA
MOSCOW - The 81st anniversary of defeat of Nazi German troops by Soviet troops in the Battle of Stalingrad (1943). The battle is believed to be the bloodiest fight of the Second World War, with both sides suffering enormous casualties. The event is considered to be a turning point in World War II.
UKRAINE
Kyiv - Visit of Maltese Foreign Minister Jan Borg.
PAKISTAN
Islamabad - String of legal and political developments in run-up to Feb. 8 general elections.
CHINA
Beijing - Foreign Ministry will hold regular news conference.
SOUTH AFRICA
Johannesburg - Leaders of Southern African countries to hold virtual Extra Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government to discuss cholera situation in the region. Hundreds have died from the water-borne disease.
SPORTS
Al Rayyan/Al Wakrah, Qatar - 2023 Asian Cup quarterfinals in football to begin with 2 matches; Tajikistan to face Jordan, Australia to play against South Korea.
Abidjan, Ebimpe, Ivory Coast - Nigeria to play against Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo to meet Guinea in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as tournament's quarterfinal stage to kick off.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Israel genocide case: How do legal experts interpret the ICJ ruling?
By Semir Sejfovic and Rabia Ali
Sarajevo/Istanbul - Report presenting a detailed analysis of the International Court of Justice ruling on South Africa’s request for provisional measures in its genocide case against Israel.
The report includes interviews with international law experts Toby Cadman and Michael Becker, who is also a former ICJ staffer.
They break down the possible impact of the ruling, particularly the significance of the court’s view on genocide in Gaza, along with scenarios for enforcement of the order and the obligations of other state parties to the Geneva Convention.
Mother of Canadian-Palestinian journalist missing in Gaza pleads for his safe return
By Rabia Ali
Istanbul - Report on the disappearance of Palestinian-Canadian journalist Mansour Shouman, who has been missing in Gaza for the past several days.
The story includes an interview with his mother Mai Hussein, who explains the reasons why Shouman decided to stay back in Gaza when his wife and children were evacuated.
She speaks about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and her concerns about the Israeli military’s involvement, while appealing to the Canadian government to make more efforts for her safe return.
Pakistan elections: Parties race to woo key youth voters
By Aamir Latif
Karachi, Pakistan - Report exploring the critical role that youth voters are expected to play in Pakistan’s general elections next week.
The story gives data about youth voters in the country, with people between 18 and 35 currently making up about 45% of the total electorate, and the possible ways that their voting behavior could influence the results.
It includes interviews with Bilal Gilani, executive director of Gallup Pakistan, and Kashif Hafeez, head of a Karachi-based think tank and political consultancy.
US Fed’s first interest rate cut expected to come in May: Expert
By Ovunc Kutlu
Istanbul - Interview with Martin Wurm, a director at Moody's Analytics, about the US Federal Reserve’s first monetary policy meeting of 2024 held earlier this week.
He shares his assessment of the signals given by the Fed, such as that it is unlikely that the first interest rate cut would happen in March.
Wurm also gives his expectations for the coming months, saying that the first rate cut could come in the May meeting, while also evaluating other key indicators of US economic performance.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO - Interviews with international law experts Toby Cadman and Michael Becker, where they present a detailed analysis of the ICJ ruling on South Africa’s request for provisional measures in its genocide case against Israel.
VIDEO - Interview with Mai Hussein, the mother of Palestinian-Canadian journalist Mansour Shouman, who has been missing in Gaza for the past several days, where she speaks about his work and the circumstances of his disappearance.