ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, June 24, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
MIDDLE EAST
Israeli onslaught on Gaza
Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip amid deadlocked efforts to reach cease-fire deal to end Israel's relentless attacks on Palestinian enclave. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed nearly 37,600 Palestinians and injured many more besides mass destruction and creating conditions of famine.
West Bank raids
Almost daily Israeli military raids of Palestinian cities and towns in occupied West Bank, which have killed at least 553 people and injured 5,200 others, while more than 9,300 have been taken into custody since the start of Gaza war.
Netanyahu's government faces continued protests
Protests in Israel to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reach hostage-prisoner swap deal with Palestinians, or resign.
Israel-Hezbollah escalation
Clasehes between Israel and Hezbollah on the border amid warnings escaltion into a wider war between the two sides.
Israel’s Defense Minister has flown to meet senior Biden administration officials in Washington for talks over conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
Red Sea tension
Periodic Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel in Red Sea and airstrikes by US-led coalition on group's positions in Yemen.
Turkish officials' visit to Algeria
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas to be received by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Türkiye's president to chair party meeting
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to chair his party’s Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting at its headquarters in Ankara.
AFRICA
Demonstrations to continue across major cities in Kenya
Anti-tax protests expected to continue across major cities in Kenya against a new finance bill passed last week.
South Africans still waiting for new cabinet
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce his new cabinet anytime this week after 10 political parties joined the government of national unity, the African National Congress said.
EUROPE
Israeli report on provisional measures regarding South Africa Gaza genocide case deadline
Israel has until today to submit a report to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on efforts taken to give effect to the court's order on provisional measures set out on May 24. Measures included half of offensive in southern Gaza city of Rafah.
EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to chair meeting of foreign ministers from the European Union in Luxembourg. Agenda includes discussion on Russia's war on Ukraine after informal exchange of views with top Ukrainian diplomat Dmytro Kuleba. There will also be discussions on Middle East and Western Balkans.
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly summer session
Regular plenary session. Draft agenda includes presentation by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on recent session of the Committee of Ministers, address by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and debate on ensuring human rights-compliant asylum procedures and address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Japanese emperor, empress visit UK
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in UK ahead of state visit (25-28 June) and undertake private engagements.
Olaf Scholz’s speech
Chancellor Olaf Scholz to speak at a conference of German industry association BDI. He is expected to comment on government’s key climate and energy plans, reforms to attract highly qualified workers from abroad.
NATO chief to visit France
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will visit France and meet President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. They are expected to address a news conference after the meeting.
US
Biden at Camp David
President Joe Biden expected to remain at presidential retreat Camp David in state of Maryland in preparation for his first debate with former President Donald Trump in November election.
2024 Trafficking in Persons Report
Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deliver remarks on release of 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report at State Department. Blinken will later meet Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
UN Security Council briefing on Somalia
UN Security Council to hold open briefing and closed consultations on situation in Somalia. Members to also gather for briefing on non-proliferation, which is expected to focus on implementation of resolution 2231 of 2015 that endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear program.
EURASIA
Russia's foreign minister to visit Belarus
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to pay two-day official visit to Minsk. He is expected to meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his counterpart Sergey Aleynik.
Developments regarding armed attacks in Russia's autonomous Dagestan region.
ASIA – PACIFIC
Polish president meets Chinese leader in Beijing
Polish President Andrzej Duda expected to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Duda is on a 5-day official trip to China. Besides bilateral relations, Duda is expected to raise war in Ukraine with Xi.
Foreign ministry to hold news conference in Beijing
Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference in Beijing to deliver statements on policy issues concerning China. Statements on tensions with the Philippines in disputed South China Sea are among other issues which may come up during the briefing.
Solomon Islands premier pays first overseas trip to Australia
Since being elected early this year, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele begins his first foreign trip to Australia to hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. His trip will run through Saturday.
Pakistani court to resume hearing of case against ex-premier
A Pakistani court is expected to resume hearing of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s appeal against his conviction in unlawful marriage case.
New parliament session in India
First session of newly-elected parliament to open after government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was formed early this month. Newly elected members lawmakers will take oath.
Fresh violence erupts in New Caledonia
Fresh violence erupted in New Caledonia following arrest and transfer of independence leaders, including Christian Tein, to France for prosecution. The overseas French territory had witnessed violence over planned electoral reforms.
THE ECONOMY
Turkish Central Bank to reveal capacity utilization rate for manufacturing industry for June.
TurkStat to announce Turkiye's sectoral confidence indices for June.
SPORTS
UEFA EURO 2024 group stage to continue with Matchday 3 in Germany
Group B winners Spain to play against Albania in Dusseldorf, while the group's other contenders Croatia to face second-place Italy in Leipzig. Spain won all their two matches in this group to have already qualified for the last 16.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Overtourism: Why more cities are taking steps to keep out visitors
By Muhammed Enes Calli
Istanbul – Report about the problem of overtourism and the measures being taken by several cities to combat the issue, particularly in Europe.
The story explains the impacts of overtourism, specifically on heritage sites and the environment in major cities, while also giving details of the steps taken in places such as Venice, Barcelona and others.
It includes an interview with Harold Goodwin, managing director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership, who shares his views on the current success of strategies being pursued and what more can be done to improve their implementation.
Endangered stripes: The decline of rare Grevy’s zebras in Kenya
By Andrew Wasike
Laikipia, Kenya – Report about the dwindling numbers of Grevy’s zebras in northern Kenya, which has led to the unique and rare animal being classified as an endangered species.
The story explains the reasons for the fall in the zebra population, such as human-induced habitat loss and the threat of poaching, as well as the steps being taken to combat the problems.
It includes interviews with wildlife ranger Eunice Peneti and conservation experts, including Yussuf Wato, manager of the Biodiversity, Research and Innovation Program at WWF-Kenya.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO – Report about the declining numbers of the rare and already endangered Grevy’s zebras in northern Kenya, explaining the reasons and threats to the animal, with comments from a wildlife ranger and conservation experts.