ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, May 3, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
MIDDLE EAST
PALESTINE
Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip, as Israel continues its relentless onslaught on the 210th day despite UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.
Since last October, the Israeli offensive has killed nearly 34,600 people and injured over 77,800 others amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the verge of starvation.
The Israeli airstrikes continue on several areas in the Gaza Strip, including the city of Rafah, which Israel insists on invading under the pretext of confronting the last strongholds of the Hamas movement, despite increasing international warnings of catastrophic consequences, amid the presence of approximately 1.4 million displaced persons.
Ramallah - Ongoing Israeli raids in West Bank since Oct. 7 have led to the killing of 492 Palestinians, injuring around 4,900, and the arrest of more than 8,550, according to Palestinian sources.
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv - Protests in Israel to pressure on Israeli government to resign and reach a hostage swap deal with Palestinians.
EGYPT
Cairo - The indirect talks between Israel and the Hamas group in Cairo aimed at reaching a hostage swap deal and a cease-fire in Gaza.
Hamas said Thursday that a delegation will visit Egypt soon to continue indirect talks with Israel for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian state media reported “positive progress” on Thursday in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas regarding a truce in the Gaza Strip.
LEBANON
Beirut - Continuing cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel that flared up last October, in deadliest clashes between two sides since their full-scale war in 2006.
YEMEN
Sanaa - Growing tension in Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of ties to Israel and US retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi targets inside Yemen, causing fears of significant disruption to maritime traffic in one of world’s busiest global routes for oil and fuel transport.
EUROPE
SWITZERLAND
Geneva - United Nations Information Service to hold biweekly press briefing for UN bodies headquartered in Geneva.
GERMANY
Berlin - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev for talks on bilateral relations, regional and international issues.
Berlin - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to discuss military support for Ukraine, international security issues.
UK
London – Local elections results to be announced in various regions.
US
Washington - President Joe Biden to present Presidential Medal of Freedom to individuals 'who have made exemplary contributions to the country' at White House.
Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to speak at McCain Institute’s 2024 Sedona Forum.
Washington - Reporters Without Borders to release annual report on freedom of press in 180 countries around world.
Florida - Republican National Committee to hold annual spring donor retreat. Speakers include former President Donald Trump.
AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town - Deputy President Paul Mashatile to hold talks with inter-faith leaders in Western Cape province aimed at promoting social cohesion and nation building.
NIGERIA
Abuja - Citizens of Africa's largest oil producer are faced with fuel scarcity with motorists waiting in queues for several hours to get petrol.
ASIA – PACIFIC
CHINA
Beijing - Pakistan's historic lunar mission is set to be launched aboard China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe from the country's southernmost Hainan province. The satellite ICUBE-Q has been designed and developed in Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University.
PAKISTAN
Islamabad - Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to leave for Gambia to attend the 15th leaders summit of Organization of Islamic Cooperation being held in capital Banjul over the weekend.
THE ECONOMY
Ankara – Turkish Statistical Institute to release annual inflation figures for April. Inflation has been increasing since October 2023 and it is expected to post a slight increase in April.
Luxembourg – Eurostat to reveal unemployment rate for March. It was at 6.5% in February and it is expected to be at same level.
Washington – US to reveal unemployment figures for April. It was at 3.8% in March and forecasted as the same level for April.
Ankara – Turkish Trade Ministry to share provisional trade data for April.
SPECIAL REPORTS
WITH VIDEO – Gaza protest crackdowns reflect threat to academic freedom in US: Columbia Nobel laureate Stiglitz
By Aysu Bicer
London – Interview with Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and Columbia University professor, about the intensifying repression of pro-Palestine protests that have erupted on campuses across the US.
Stiglitz expresses dismay at the heavy-handed tactics authorities have used against students, warning that such actions represent a larger threat to academic freedom in the country.
He also touches upon the broader ramifications for the country and its reputation as a bastion of intellectual freedom and diversity, stressing the need for a different approach based on constructive dialogue.
WITH VIDEO – Legal experts debunk Israeli, US claims on ICC jurisdiction
By Rabia Ali
Istanbul – Report focusing on the question of the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction to take action against Israeli officials.
The story is based on interviews with international law experts Gerhard Kemp and Mark Kersten, who refute the claims made by Israeli and US officials challenging the ICC’s powers.
The legal experts explain why the court has the authority to act against Israel and break down what the implications would be if the ICC issues arrest warrants against Israeli officials.
They also speak about the pressure being exerted on the ICC by Israel and its allies, as well as the potential timeframe and basis for the issuance of arrest warrants.
WITH VIDEO – Western media enabling Israel’s war crimes, including attacks on media workers: Palestinian journalist
By Burak Bir
London – Interview with Ahmed Alnaouq, a Palestinian journalist, about Israel’s continuing deadly attacks on media workers in the Gaza Strip.
He says the killings of journalists are intentional assassinations that Israel is carrying out to hide its “horrific war crimes,” but they have not deterred journalists in Gaza who continue to fulfill their “moral, ethical and professional responsibility.”
Alnaouq, who has had 21 family members killed in Israel’s ongoing assault, criticizes the role being played by Western media outlets, asserting that they are “part of the problem” and “enabling Israel’s war crimes.”
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO – Interview with Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and Columbia University professor, about the intensifying repression of pro-Palestine protests on campuses across the US.
VIDEO – Interviews with international law experts Gerhard Kemp and Mark Kersten, who debunk Israeli and US claims about the ICC’s jurisdiction to act against Israel, while explaining what the implications would be if the court issues arrest warrants against Israeli officials.
VIDEO – Interview with Ahmed Alnaouq, a Palestinian journalist, about Israel’s continuing deadly attacks on media workers in the Gaza Strip, and the role of Western media outlets in providing cover to Israeli war crimes.