ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
PALESTINE
Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in the besieged Gaza Strip on day 143 of Israeli attacks, which have killed close to 29,700 people and injured nearly 70,000.
Ongoing attacks exacerbates the catastrophic humanitarian situation amid increasing famine risk and shortage of necessities in the besieged enclave.
Ramallah - Daily military incursions by the Israeli army into cities and towns of occupied West Bank, which killed more than 400 Palestinians and injured over 4,500 others since Oct. 7. Number of arrests has risen to 7,225, reaching record highs over last 4 months, exceeding those seen annually in previous years.
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv - Rallies in main streets and squares demanding release of Israeli captives held in Gaza, resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
ISRAEL-HAMAS
Tel Aviv / Gaza - Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel regarding hostage exchange deal. Israeli War Cabinet on Sunday approved guidelines for negotiations with Hamas regarding hostage exchange deal. When Hamas accepts these guidelines, Israel will send delegation to Qatar to continue hostage swap talks.
LEBANON
Beirut - Border tensions between Lebanon and Israel amid intermittent exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.
LIBYA
Tripoli - Developments after Oil Facilities Guard, affiliated with Government of National Unity, announced closing all oil fields and export terminals over pay dispute. Move may lead to devastating consequences in country where oil revenues are considered main source of income.
YEMEN
Sanaa - Escalating tensions in Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel and US’ retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen.
THE NETHERLANDS
The Hague - International Court of Justice to continue public hearings on legal consequences of Israeli actions in occupied Palestinian territory. Türkiye, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, African Union and Spain to make oral statements at world court. Deadline also comes to an end for Israel to submit report to ICJ on measures taken to implement court’s interim ruling.
SWITZERLAND
Geneva - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to visit Switzerland. He is expected to give speeches at 55th session of Human Rights Council. Conference on Disarmament High-Level Segment to begin.
FRANCE
Paris - President Emmanuel Macron to host international conference on support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
GERMANY
Berlin - President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to deliver speech on democracy and far-right extremism, at event organized by industry groups in southwestern city of Stuttgart.
UNITED KINGDOM
London - Western Balkans Investment Summit to be held at headquarters of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. At summit, interactive question-answer session will be held with foreign investors with participation of the prime ministers of six Western Balkan countries. Aim of summit is to highlight potential investment and business opportunities in Western Balkans region and to promote regional and cross-border projects.
UNITED STATES
Washington - President Joe Biden to participate in campaign meeting closed to press. Key remarks that could surface in media later would be followed.
Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet with Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government's Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at State Department. Blinken to also meet Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.
Washington - Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who was defeated by former President Donald Trump in South Carolina primary, to hold rallies in states of Michigan and Minnesota.
New York - UN Security Council members to discuss situation in Afghanistan.
AZERBAIJAN
Baku - Azerbaijan commemorates 32th anniversary of Khojaly massacre, site of two-hour Armenian offensive that killed 613 Azerbaijani civilians — including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly people — and seriously injured 487 others, according to Azerbaijani figures.
KYRGYZSTAN
Bishkek - Chairman of State Great Khural of Mongolia Gombozhavin Zandanshatar to pay three-day official visit to Kyrgyzstan.
RUSSIA
Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to deliver speech at the International Multipolarity Forum.
KENYA
Nairobi - United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) to begin, where heads of state and more than 5,000 representatives from government, civil society and private sector are expected to tackle some of planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.
PAKISTAN
Lahore - South Asian country set to have its first ever female chief minister. Maryam Nawaz, daughter of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, will be elected chief minister of country's most populous Punjab province.
CHINA
Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold news conference.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Knots and AI: Weaving the future of Kashmiri carpets
By Hilal Mir
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir - Report about the use of artificial intelligence technologies in the traditional Kashmiri carpet industry.
The story explains how AI is being integrated into the process of designing and creating carpets, and the impact that it has had on production and various other aspects of the industry.
It includes interviews with Kashmiri carpet makers, along with Zubair Ahmad, the director of a local carpet technology institute who has worked on AI software for the industry.
‘Wounds of the past run deep’: Tanzania pushes Germany on justice for colonial atrocities
By Kizito Makoye
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Report about Tanzania’s growing push for justice and reparations from Germany for its colonial atrocities in the African nation.
The story gives the history of the Maji Maji Rebellion, the movement against brutal German colonial that ran from 1905 to 1907. German colonial forces were ruthless in quashing the rebellion, destroying entire villages, farmlands and deliberately inducing a famine, killing an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 people.
The report includes an interview with Pindi Chana, Tanzania’s minister for constitutional and legal affairs, who speaks about how the country aims to pressure Germany to meet its demands.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO – Report about how the use of AI technologies is reshaping the traditional Kashmiri carpet industry, including interviews with Kashmiri artisans and Zubair Ahmad, the director of a local carpet technology institute who has worked on AI software for the industry.