ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, March 25, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
PALESTINE
Gaza City - Latest humanitarian developments as the Israeli military continues its relentless attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip on its 171st day, killing more than 32,200 people and injuring over 74,500 others since Oct. 7, as well as a crippling blockade that has left the majority of the population on the verge of starvation.
Following a week-long siege of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the Israeli army raided Nasser and Al-Amal Hospitals in Khan Younis, resulting in intense shelling and heavy fire. Israeli forces continue to besiege the three hospitals, which house patients, displaced people, and medical staff.
Ramallah - Security tensions have remained high in the occupied West Bank as a result of escalating Israeli army incursions and detentions of people since the offensive on Gaza began.
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv - Escalating protests in Israel to put pressure on the Israeli government to reach a cease-fire in Gaza and a hostage swap deal with Palestinian group Hamas, coinciding with ongoing talks in Doha.
QATAR
Doha - Israel and Hamas are in indirect talks about a hostage swap and a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
LEBANON
Beirut - Cross-border attacks between the Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel erupted last October, in the deadliest clashes between the two sides since their full-scale war in 2006. Since the clashes began in October of last year, at least 300 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 240 Hezbollah fighters. Nearly 20 Israelis have also been killed, according to Israeli authorities.
YEMEN
Sanaa - Rising tensions in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having ties to Israel, as well as US airstrikes on Houthi targets inside Yemen, raise concerns about a significant disruption to maritime traffic on one of the world's busiest oil and fuel transport routes.
UK
London - Defense minister to respond to lawmakers’ questions.
Cardiff - Up to 3,000 junior doctors in Wales who are members of the British Medical Association will go on strike for 96 hours in an ongoing pay dispute.
FRANCE
Paris - Climate activists plan protests in several towns until March 31 in front of local government buildings to commemorate violent demonstrations in Sainte-Soline, western France last year when several people were injured during clashes with police in a protest against the government's plans to build water reservoirs.
GERMANY
Berlin - Chancellor Olaf Scholz to attend a citizens' dialogue meeting in the eastern city of Brandenburg an der Havel. He is expected to make comments on both domestic and foreign policy issues.
BELGIUM
Brussels - Another meeting related to the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, facilitated by the European Union (EU), will be held. Petar Petkovic and Besnik Bislimi, the chief negotiators for Serbia and Kosovo, respectively, will attend the meeting.
RUSSIA
Moscow - Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will meet with Communist and Liberal-Democratic Party representatives.
Sochi - The AtomExpo International Forum will take place.
AFGHANISTAN
Kabul - Kabul will host a delegation-level meeting between officials from Pakistan's Commerce Ministry and the interim Taliban government. The meeting is related to larger economic decisions about regional and border trade.
PAKISTAN
Islamabad - Court proceedings will resume on a plea to overturn former Prime Minister Imran Khan's conviction in a case involving the illegal purchase and sale of state gifts.
CHINA
Beijing - President Xi Jinping is expected to address the China Development Forum 2024, which is on its second day and is attended by dozens of corporate heads and businessmen from around the world as the world's second-largest economy faces headwinds.
Beijing - Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to pay an official visit to China.
Beijing - Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha will arrive on an official visit.
Beijing - Foreign Ministry plans to hold regular news conferences.
BANGLADESH
Dhaka - Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will arrive on an official visit.
INDONESIA
Jakarta - Latest geological developments in the aftermath of three days of earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher.
SOUTH KOREA
Seoul - South Korean government plans to cancel the medical licenses of thousands of protesting doctors. Junior doctors and interns across the country have been protesting for weeks demanding an increase in allocations of annual medical seats.
THE ECONOMY
Washington - US to share new home sales figures for February.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Pro-Palestine group throws legal noose around dual-national Israeli soldiers for Gaza war crimes
By Rabia Ali
Istanbul – Report about the March 30 Movement, a pro-Palestine group leading efforts to bring criminal charges against dual nationality holders from European countries deployed with the Israeli military in Gaza.
The story gives details of multiple cases that the group has filed in local courts in countries including Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
It includes an interview with Haroon Raza, a Dutch lawyer associated with the movement, who explains the nature of the cases, how the group has been collecting evidence against Israeli soldiers, and shares his expectations for the legal proceedings.
British activists ramp up protests for end to arms sales ‘aiding Israeli genocide in Gaza’
By Burak Bir
Bristol, UK – Report about continuing protests in the UK against the country’s arms sales to Israel, which activists say make it complicit in "the ongoing genocide in Gaza."
The story focuses on recent demonstrations outside the Bristol headquarters of Israeli firm Elbit Systems, where activists strongly condemned the British government for its inaction over weapons transfers to Israel.
It includes interviews with Zoe Goodman, a councilor in the Bristol City Council, and Eldin Fahmy, senior lecturer at the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO - Report about pro-Palestine group March 30 Movement and its efforts for legal action against dual-national Israeli soldiers from European countries, including an interview with the organization’s Dutch lawyer Haroon Raza.
VIDEO - Report about a protest outside the Bristol headquarters of Israeli firm Elbit Systems calling for an end to British arms sales to Tel Aviv, including interviews with local councilor Zoe Goodman and University of Bristol’s Eldin Fahmy.