ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
MIDDLE EAST
PALESTINE
Gaza City – Israel's onslaught on Gaza continues with at least 29,954 killed and 70,325 others injured, according to UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Aid flow to the enclave dropped by 50% this month triggering famine like conditions.
Ramallah – Military incursions occur on a daily basis by the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank killing at least 410 Palestinians and injured over 4,600 others since Oct. 7. The number of arrests has risen to nearly 7,305, reaching record highs over four months.
Israeli forces raided Al-Walaja, south of East Jerusalem, and razed the three houses on the pretext of lacking building permits, municipal chief Hadir al-Araj told Anadolu.
QATAR
Doha – Mediation efforts to reach a cease-fire deal and hostage swap between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip amid reports of a possible agreement ahead of the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, due next week.
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv - The battlefield situation of the Israeli army in the war on Gaza. The Israeli military analyst Yossi Yehoshua said the Israeli army had already lost “a considerable number” of soldiers and commanders, in addition to thousands injured, with the current year to end with 12,000 Israeli soldiers suffering from disabilities as a result of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.
LEBANON
Beirut – Cross-border clashes between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel amid appeals for both parties to halt hostilities to prevent further escalation. The clashes are the worst between the two sides since they fought a full-scale war in 2006.
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 Houthi targets inside Yemen amid concerns about a deadly impact on shipping traffic in one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.
EUROPE
SWITZERLAND
Geneva - UN Human Rights Council to continue session. Thursday's schedule includes an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice.
UK
London - Home Office to publish quarterly statistics on irregular migration to the UK.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Sarajevo- Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler to visit the Turkish Representation Team of the European Union Peacekeeping Mission (EUFOR). Guler to also meet with EUFOR Commander Major General Laszlo Sticz and NATO's Sarajevo Commander Brigadier General Pamela McGaha.
US
Washington - President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to visit US-Mexico border on same day. Biden is visiting Bronsville to meet Border Patrol agents, law enforcement and local leaders, while Trump will visit Eagle Pass.
Washington - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to appear before US House Armed Services Committee to discuss issues related to his hospitalization at start of year.
Washington - Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib to host press conference on humanitarian crisis in Gaza city of Rafah, joined by fellow colleagues including Ilhan Omar and Cory Bush, at Capitol Hill.
TÜRKİYE
Antalya- Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan to hold bilateral meetings a day ahead of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
EURASIA
RUSSIA
Moscow — Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the Russian parliament, Federal Assembly.
Moscow — Representatives of different Palestinian political forces will gather for three-day meeting in the Russian capital in an attempt to bring closer their position and reconciliation in face of the situation in Gaza.
AFRICA
NIGERIA
Abuja- Nigeria’s national assembly opens debate on amendment of the country's constitution, following increasing condemnation of the current law.
KENYA
Nairobi- A high level segment of the United Nations Environment Assembly kicks off in Kenya with heads of state expected to issue national statements.
CHAD
N'Djamena- Covering the latest on the security situation in Chad after several people were killed in an attack on the headquarters of the National Security Agency. Many people have been arrested.
ASIA – PACIFIC
PAKISTAN
Islamabad - Maiden sitting of the newly-elected parliament will begin to elect new speaker, deputy speaker and leader of house for a five years term.
CHINA
Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold routine news conference.
SOUTH KOREA
Seoul - Protesting medics have last day to resume work else government will take action including cancellation of their licenses from March 1. Thousands of junior doctors have walked off work to scuttle government’s move to increase medical seats.
THE ECONOMY
Ankara – Turkish Statistical Institute to announce GDP figures for last quarter of 2023. Turkish economy enlarged by 4% in Q1, 3.8% in Q2, and 5.9% in Q3.
Istanbul – Turkish banking watchdog to reveal sector statistics for January.
Berlin – Destatis to reveal retail sales figures for January, and inflation figures for February.
SPORTS
BILBAO, Spain - Athletic Bilbao to play against Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) semifinal 2nd leg. Athletic Bilbao won 1st leg 1-0 in February. Winning club of this tie to face Mallorca in final in Seville on April 6.
Madrid - After 2-week break, Turkish Airlines EuroLeague to return. Leaders Real Madrid to meet third-place Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in Round 27 game in Spain. Meanwhile Türkiye's Anadolu Efes, who are in 14th spot, to visit Serbia's Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Muslim charities facing debanking in UK decry decades of discrimination
By Aysu Bicer
London – Report about the crisis of debanking in the UK, where banks have been disproportionately closing accounts of Muslim individuals and organizations.
The story lays out the issue, which spans nearly two decades, with specific examples that show the extent of the problem and its impact.
It includes an interview with Abdulsami Arjumand, policy and advocacy lead for Muslim Charities Forum, who explains the detrimental effects that organizations have been facing in the UK and stresses the need for fair banking practices.
Biden has to change course on Gaza, says Jewish former US congressman
By Iclal Turan
Dearborn, Michigan – Interview with Andy Levin, a Jewish former US congressman, who supported the “uncommitted” vote campaign in Michigan to protest President Joe Biden’s Gaza policy.
Levin stressed the need for Biden to take real action to change his policy of unconditional support to Israel, saying the goal of the uncommitted vote push is to make him realize that it will be “hard to imagine winning Michigan” if he does not change course.
Levin also speaks about the importance of the US-Israel security relationship, calls for a sustainable solution to the Israel-Palestine issue, and shares his views on Israel’s politicization of antisemitism.
Decoding Disease X: What is the unknown pathogen threatening the world?
By Rabia Ali
Istanbul – Report about Disease X, an unknown pathogen that experts are warning could emerge in the future and cause a serious international epidemic or pandemic.
The story explores what the disease might be, its possible symptoms, how it could originate and the potential risks for populations across the globe.
The story includes an interview with Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, and written comments from the World Health Organization.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO – Interview with Abdulsami Arjumand, policy and advocacy lead at Muslim Charities Forum, about the crisis of debanking in the UK, where he explains how Muslim organizations are being affected by discriminatory banking practices.
VIDEO – Interview with Andy Levin, a Jewish former US congressman, who speaks about the “uncommitted” vote protest against President Joe Biden in Michigan, calling for a change in his administration’s Gaza policy, while also sharing his views on the importance of the US-Israel security relationship and Israel’s politicization of antisemitism.
VIDEO – Interview with Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, about Disease X, the unknown pathogen that experts warn could cause a future epidemic or pandemic.