ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
MIDDLE EAST
PALESTINE
Gaza City - Developments in the Gaza Strip amid unabated Israeli onslaught, which has so far killed at least 29,782 people and injured over 70,000 others. Tel Aviv stands trial before the International Court of Justice on charges of committing “genocide.”
Conditions of a famine in the Gaza Strip, especially in the governorates of Gaza and the north, as Israel continues preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the area. UNRWA's chief Philippe Lazzarini said the humanitarian aid in February was reduced by 50% in comparison with the quantity that entered Gaza in January.
Ramallah - Israeli military incursions in occupied West Bank, which has killed more than 400 Palestinians and injured over 4,500 others since Oct. 7. The number of arrests has risen to nearly 7,255, reaching record high.
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv - Evening rallies demanding release of Israeli captives held in Gaza and the resignation of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Developments related to plans of Israeli ground operation in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said an Israeli delegation was scheduled to fly to Qatar on Monday to discuss a prisoner swap and cease-fire deal with Hamas.
LEBANON
Beirut - Border tensions between Lebanon and Israel amid intermittent exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Hezbollah on Monday downed a Hermes 450 Israeli drone, triggering further escalation.
YEMEN
Sanaa - Escalating tensions 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.
FRANCE
Paris - Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to start two-day state visit to France.
SWITZERLAND
Geneva - The Permanent Mission of Switzerland, the World Meteorological Organization and 2050Today, with the support of the Geneva Environment Network, are organizing the United for Zero Emissions: The 2050Today Charter Explained event.
Geneva - The UN Information Service to hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists.
Geneva - The Conference on Disarmament to continue.
UK
London - The International Development Committee to hold oral evidence session as part of its inquiry into the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Witnesses are Regional Emergency Director for Eastern Mediterranean Region at the World Health Organization Dr Richard Brennan; and Country Director Palestine at the World Food Program Matthew Hollingworth.
London - Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz to meet British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.
BELGIUM
Brussels - Kosovar and Serbian officials to meet to discuss ban on Serbian dinar in Kosovo.
ALBANIA
Tirana - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. The two leaders to hold a summit for Ukraine a day later.
Tirana - Western Balkan leaders to meet and discuss objectives to intensify their efforts towards EU membership, among other issues.
TÜRKİYE
Ankara - Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus to attend publicity meeting of special report, Gaza: Disaster of Humanity, which was prepared by Türkiye's Ombudsman Institution.
US
Washington - President Joe Biden to meet four congressional leaders in bid to get approval for additional funding to Ukraine.,
Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deliver remarks at Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience Summit at Department of State.
Washington - Developments regarding death of US Air Force member Aaron Bushnell who set fire on himself outside Israeli Embassy in Washington over Israeli attacks on Gaza.
New York - UN Security Council members to discuss political and humanitarian situation in Syria.
Michigan - 2024 presidential race heads to Michigan, which is holding its primary for both Democrats and Republicans.
EURASIA
RUSSIA
Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to meet Yemeni counterpart Ahmed bin Mubarak.
Moscow - The Second Congress of the International Russophile Movement to take place.
AFRICA
KENYA
Nairobi - The United Nations Environment Assembly Summit on day-two convenes. The meeting will address critical solutions for global waste management.
DRC
Goma - Humanitarian crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes as conflict rages between M23 rebels and armed forces.
SOUTH AFRICA
Johannesburg - Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile to deliver keynote address at official opening of National Conference on the implementation of the Integrated Criminal Justice System aimed at strengthening the country’s criminal justice system.
Johannesburg - Statements by African leaders participating in 55th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
ASIA - PACIFIC
PAKISTAN
Islamabad - National Assembly speaker summons maiden sitting of the lower house on Feb. 29, as President Arif Alvi is said to have refused to summon the session. He argued that the house is still incomplete as reserved seats for women and religious minorities have not been allotted to Sunni Ittehad Council, the party which lawmakers backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan have joined.
CHINA
Beijing - Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio to begin state visit to China to meet Chinese leadership.
Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference.
SOUTH KOREA
Seoul - Around 10,000 medics have walked off duty throwing healthcare system out of gear in a protest to scuttle government’s move to increase annual medical seats. Government has insisted on its plans and warned of action if junior doctors remain absent from March 1.
THE ECONOMY
Tokyo - Japan to release inflation figures for January. Rate has been decreasing since October from 3.3% to 2.6% in December gradually. Except January, rate never seen over 3% during last year.
Washington - US to reveal house prices index for December. In November prices rose by 6.6% on a yearly basis.
London - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Truffle Capital to make second investment in Turkish financial technology firm DG Pays.
SPORTS
San Sebastian, Spain - Real Sociedad to host Mallorca in Spain's Copa Del Rey semifinals 2nd leg. 1st leg ended with goalless draw.
SPECIAL REPORTS
‘Make sure Biden loses’: Michigan’s Arab, Muslim Democrats push for ‘uncommitted’ vote over Gaza
By Iclal Turan
Dearborn, Michigan - Report about the Democratic primary in the US state of Michigan, where President Joe Biden is facing strong backlash from Muslim and Arab American voters over his stance over Israel’s war on Gaza.
The story explains the drive to convince people to vote “uncommitted” in Tuesday’s primary in Michigan, which is viewed as one of the key swing states and has a large bloc of Muslim and Arab American voters.
It includes interviews with Khaled Turaani, head of the Abandon Biden Campaign in Michigan, and Imran Salha, a prayer leader at the Islamic Center of Detroit.
INTERVIEW
UK parties ‘chose to stand’ against public on Gaza, says Muslim lawyer running for office
By Burak Bir
London - Interview with Mohammed Akunjee, a lawyer who has announced he will run as an independent in a London constituency against Labour MP Rushanara Ali later this year.
Akunjee’s explains his reservations about Ali and the Labour Party, accusing them of remaining silent over Israel’s deadly aggression in the Gaza Strip, saying their actions have been seen as a “betrayal by the community.”
He also criticizes the Conservative government’s policy in support of Israel, saying British taxpayers’ money is being “spent to support something that’s destroying civilians.”
Rise of AI: Which jobs will flourish and which will die
By Emre Basaran
Istanbul – Report about the impact of artificial intelligence on employment in various sectors.
The story explores which jobs and sectors are at particular risk because of the rise of AI technologies, explaining the reasons why some are in a more vulnerable position than others.
It also gives an overview of how certain fields are better positioned to take advantage of the progress being made in AI development.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO - Report about the push by Michigan’s Arab and Muslim Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in Tuesday’s primary in the key swing state to protest President Biden’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza, including interviews with Khaled Turaani, head of the Abandon Biden Campaign in Michigan, and Imran Salha, a prayer leader at the Islamic Center of Detroit.
VIDEO - Interview with Mohammed Akunjee, a lawyer who will run as an independent in a London constituency against Labour MP Rushanara Ali this year, where he criticizes both the Labour and Conservative parties for supporting Israel and its deadly war on Gaza.