ISTANBUL (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):
Israeli aggression on Lebanon
Developments in Israel's onslaught on Lebanon that have pushed the conflict between Tel Aviv and the Hezbollah group to dangerous levels, threatening to ignite an all-out war.
Since early Monday, the Israeli army has been launching intensive airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, marking the heaviest bombardment since the onset of hostilities last Oct. 8.
At least 558 people, including 95 women and 50 children, were killed and 1,835 others injured since Monday, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The chief of the UN refugee agency confirmed that two UNHCR staff members were among the hundreds killed in the Israeli attacks.
Amid heavy Israeli bombardment, thousands were forced to flee from southern Lebanon to Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.
In a southern suburb of Beirut, at least six people were killed and 15 others injured Tuesday in an Israeli airstrike, according to the Health Ministry.
State media said the strike targeted a six-story residential building in the municipality of Ghobeiry.
For its part, the Israeli army claimed that it assassinated the commander of Hezbollah's missile and rocket system, Ibrahim Qabisi, in a raid on Beirut's southern suburb.
Israeli Channel 12 said some 100 rockets were launched from Lebanon towards the settlement of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee region. At least 10 were also fired on northern city Haifa.
Army Radio reported that the Israeli military hit 1,500 targets in airstrikes in Lebanon since Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the army said it would intensify "offensive operations" in its northern neighbor. "Hezbollah must not be given a respite. (We must) keep working with all our might," Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated.
In response of the Israeli attacks, Hezbollah announced that it had carried out 15 attacks on airports and military bases in northern Israel, including the first-ever use of the "Fadi 3" missile.
The group said the missile struck the Samson military base in northern Israel. The group also targeted the Megiddo military airport three times with barrages of Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 missiles. Hezbollah also announced the shelling of the Dado military base in northern Israel with 50 rockets.
The Israeli escalation against Lebanon has also prompted a wave of international and regional reactions.
Israeli onslaught on Gaza
Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza, where Israel has killed nearly 41,500 Palestinians and injured around 96,000 since incursion last Oct. 7 by Palestinian group Hamas. The situation is deteriorating as Israeli attacks continue and aid grows scarcer in the besieged enclave.
On Tuesday, at least nine Palestinians were killed and others, including women and children, were injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Also, 23 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting homes and civilian vehicles in various other areas of the strip.
Israeli military vehicles advanced in the Al-Shimaa area, north of the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, and carried out bulldozing operations under the cover of heavy fire.
West Bank raids
Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank since last October have killed at least 716 people, including 160 children, and injured 5,750 others, with nearly 11,000 taken into custody.
On Tuesday, illegal Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians' vehicles at the entrance to the village of Yasuf, east of Salfit.
Red Sea tensions
Continued Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel in the Red Sea and US-led coalition airstrikes on group's positions in Yemen. There are reports of possible Israeli retaliation against Houthi missile attacks on central Israel.
Cease-fire talks between Israel, Hamas
Latest on Israel-Hamas talks on a possible cease-fire in Gaza and a hostage swap.
Tel Aviv submitted a new proposal to Washington last week for a prisoner exchange and ending to the war in Gaza, according to the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority.
The proposal stipulates the release of all Israeli hostages in a single batch, a "safe exit" for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the disarming the strip.
While there has been no immediate comment from mediators or Hamas, the movement has previously confirmed repeatedly that it does not want new proposals and that it agrees with a late-May proposal announced by US President Joe Biden.
Citing "intelligence" reports, Netanyahu said Sunday that half of Israeli hostages held in Gaza are alive, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
Protests against Israeli government
Mounting protests in Israel to pressure government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to either negotiate a hostage-prisoner swap deal with Hamas or resign.
Deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Sudan
Humanitarian and security conditions continue to deteriorate in Sudan amid clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
European leaders to address UN General Assembly
French President Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will be among world leaders addressing the UN General Assembly meeting in New York on Wednesday.
G20 foreign ministers meeting
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will host a meeting of G20 foreign ministers on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, with the attendance of the Latin American country's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who is expected to deliver remarks on Middle East tensions and international issues.
2024 Global Innovation Index
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will hold a press conference for the launch of 2024 Global Innovation Index.
Turkish president's ongoing visit to New York and contacts by Turkish foreign minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Türkiye will be holding closed-door meetings with counterparts on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. He will speak to Turkish press members and attend a reception hosted by US President Joe Biden.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend an informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States, a G20 foreign ministers meeting, and a joint meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League Gaza Contact Group with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Biden's UN schedule
Biden will join ABC's "The View" for a live interview. In the afternoon, he will host a bilateral meeting with To Lam, general secretary of Vietnam's Communist Party. Later, he will host an event with world leaders, launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction. Biden will also host a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Open debate at UN Security Council
Slovenia's Prime Minister Robert Golob will chair the signature event of his country's presidency of the UN Security Council this month, focused on "building trust and recommitting to the purpose and principles of both the Charter of the United Nations and international law."
Emergency Lebanon meeting at UN Security Council
The Security Council will be holding an emergency meeting to discuss the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon between the Hezbollah group and Israel after two consecutive days of Israeli strikes across the country have killed hundreds.
Ukrainian, Mongolian presidents to address UN General Assembly
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa will address the UN General Assembly. Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov will also speak at the assembly.
Russian President Putin to meet with Türkiye's parliament speaker
Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive the speaker of Türkiye's parliament Numan Kurtulmus, who is paying an official visit to Moscow. Discussions are planned on the prospects of further developing Russia-Türkiye relations, along with the possible contribution of the two countries' legislatures towards this end.
Turkish parliament speaker addresses Russian Federal Assembly
Kurtulmus will also address a plenary session of the Russian Federal Assembly's Federation Council and meet with the chairman of the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin
Continued fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops in Kursk, Donetsk
Russia and Ukraine continue fighting in the border region of Kursk, where Kyiv launched an incursion last month, as well as in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow continues claiming advances on multiple fronts.
Opposition parties in DRC set to protest
Opposition political parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to hold demonstrations in the capital Kinshasa demanding the release of people considered to be political prisoners.
More African leaders to address UN General Assembly
African presidents from Seychelles, Ghana, Botswana, Senegal, Togo, and Cabo Verde to address the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Students rally, protest in Australia
Students and academics in Australia plan to hold a protest in Melbourne on the sidelines at an international conference bringing together panelists and executives from a range of defense and intelligence agencies. Australia has seen protests against arms deal with Israel in the months since Oct. 7.
China fires intercontinental ballistic missile into Pacific Ocean
The Chinese military test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, with Beijing saying the munition carried a dummy warhead and fell into a designated area in international waters.
India holds 2nd phase of legislative polls in Kashmir
Voters in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir will be casting their ballots in the second phase of legislative elections in the region. The polls, which are the first since 2014, are being held in three phases since Sept. 18 and will last until Oct. 1.
IMF meets to discuss $7B bailout package for Pakistan
The International Monetary Fund to meet will discuss a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility to Pakistan.
Sri Lankan President to address nation
Sri Lanka's newly-elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, known as AKD, will be addressing the South Asian nation to announce his national policies amid a slow economic recovery two years after its bankruptcy.
THE ECONOMY
Sweden's interest rate
Sweden's Central Bank will share its interest rate decision. The bank lowered the rate at its last meeting to 3.5%, with the market expecting 3.25% for this meeting.
US house sales
The US will share building permits data for August and new home sales figures. The country saw 739,000 new home sales in July. The market expectation was at 699,000 for last month.
Ukraine's GDP
Ukraine will reveal GDP figures for the second quarter. The country's economy expanded 6.5% in the first quarter and 4.7% in the last quarter of 2023.
SPORTS
Manchester City will play Inter Milan in a Champions League match at City of Manchester Stadium, while Borussia Dortmund will visit Belgium's Club Brugge.
SPECIAL REPORTS
UK, US must pressure Israel to stop blatant aggression: Lebanese ambassador
By Aysu Bicer
London – Interview with Rami Mortada, Lebanon’s ambassador to the UK, about Israel’s escalating attacks on the country.
Mortada emphasizes the illegal nature of Israel’s attacks and the threat they pose to regional security and the international rules-based order, calling on the UK and US to exert pressure on Tel Aviv to stop its assault.
The envoy also calls out Western powers for their support to Israel, stressing that there is still “a diplomatic way out of this” if these nations change their stances.
New vision must for colonial, archaic UN Security Council: Oxfam chief
By Leila Nezirevic
London – Interview with Amitabh Behar, executive director of Oxfam International, about the inefficacy of the United Nations and the reasons for its failures.
He emphasizes the need for immediate reform of the UN Security Council to stop the P5 members from operating as their own “judge and jury.”
Behar highlights how the UN Security Council is effectively hostage to the whims of the P5, who exploit their exclusive voting and negotiating powers to suit their own geopolitical interests.
Oxfam’s view on the matter, according to Behar, is that “the Security Council is not fit for purpose, and we are seeing the global security and peace architecture in shambles.”
Why is mob violence surging in Bangladesh?
By Faisal Mahmud
Dhaka, Bangladesh – Report on the rise of mob violence and lynchings in Bangladesh as the country undergoes a volatile transition after the fall of ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
The story gives details of the nearly two dozen lynchings reported in the country since Aug. 5, exploring the links between political turmoil and presenting a picture of the current status in the country in terms of law and order.
The report includes comments from Mubashar Hasan, a research fellow at the University of Oslo; Sarjis Alam, a key student movement coordinator; political commentator Rezaul Karim Rony; and AKM Wahiduzzaman, information and political affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO – Interview with Amitabh Behar, executive director of Oxfam International, about the issues plaguing the UN, the reasons for its failures, and the need for immediate reform of its organs such as the UN Security Council.