ISTANBUL (AA) –
Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):
Israeli aggression against Lebanon
The latest developments in the ongoing massive Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon amid border clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.
The Israeli army continues to strike Lebanon around the clock, either with airstrikes or artillery, killing more people and displacing thousands of others after Israeli evacuation warnings to residents in Lebanon's southern villages.
More Israeli airstrikes are reported on areas in Beirut's southern suburb, including two incursions near the Lebanese University.
According to Israeli media, over 100 rockets were fired from Lebanon since Friday morning, some of which caused fires in the Galilee region.
The Lebanese official news agency said four paramedics were killed in Israeli shelling near Marjayoun Governmental Hospital in southern Lebanon.
In separate statements, Hezbollah confirmed attacking Israeli soldiers and sites, including targeting an Israeli tank with a guided missile near the Al-Malikiyah military site, which resulted in casualties and a fire.
On Friday also, the Israeli army claimed that Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the commander of Hezbollah's communications unit, was “assassinated in a targeted airstrike” on Beirut on Thursday. Hezbollah has yet to respond to the claim.
Amid Israel's ongoing deadly assault on Lebanon, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtchi paid an official visit to Beirut and met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
At a press conference, the Iranian foreign minister warned Tel Aviv that "our response will be comprehensive, proportionate to any aggression from Israel."
Moreover, UN experts issued a statement on Friday voicing "sharp condemnation" for Israel's violations of international law in Lebanon, warning that its escalating attacks would only exacerbate death and displacement in its neighbor.
As of Friday evening, the number of casualties from the Israeli offensive on Lebanon since Sept. 23 has reached over 1,100 dead and 3,040 injured, according to Anadolu’s monitoring of Lebanese authorities’ data.
The total number of Lebanese deaths since the start of military confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah on Oct. 8 reached 2020, with nearly 10,000 others injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
In a related development, the Israeli army reported that two soldiers were killed and several others seriously injured when a drone launched from Iraq crashed in northern occupied Golan Heights.
Israeli forces continued genocide in Gaza
Despite a decrease in the number of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip as the occupying forces focus their military offensive on the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, the Israeli military continues to carry out airstrikes and shelling across the besieged enclave, killing more Palestinians.
The humanitarian situation for Palestinians is worsening daily as a result of ongoing attacks and a suffocating siege that is preventing aid from entering Gaza.
At least nine Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, including four members of the same family in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
The Israeli army reported on Friday that two rockets were fired from Gaza towards settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip, claiming that it was the first in two months.
West Bank raids
Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed at least 740 people since October of last year, including 160 children, and injured nearly 6,000 others, with nearly 11,000 taken into custody.
On Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said 18 Palestinians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike late Thursday on the Tulkarem refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank.
The Israeli army also prevented hundreds of Palestinians from entering the Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank to perform weekly Friday prayers.
Red Sea tensions
Red Sea tensions and the possible exchange of attacks between Israel and the Yemeni Houthi group.
Following the Israeli airstrike on Hudaydah port on Sunday, the Houthis said they had taken precautionary measures and that Tel Aviv's strikes would not deter them from attacking shipping routes and Israel.
The Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported on Friday evening that 15 US-British airstrikes had hit Yemen's Sanaa, Al-Hudayda, and Dhamar provinces.
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.
Pro-Palestinian demonstration in London
National March for Palestine to hold a rally in London to mark one year of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Pakistan witnesses mass protests by opposition as military called in in Islamabad
Protesters refused to back down despite mass tear gas shelling and security personnel arrests as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party workers and supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan marched toward Islamabad despite the government's refusal to allow them to hold a protest near the parliament building.
Indonesia's Jokowi on nationwide tours in final days of his 2nd-term presidency
Joko Widodo, alias Jokowi, is on a national tour in the final days of his second term as president. He will step down on October 20 when his successor, Prabowo Subianto, takes the oath of office in Indonesia.
China prepares to launch new manned crew as it unveils space suit
China is preparing to launch a new manned crew and welcome back the crew of Shenzhou-18, which is currently aboard its self-built Tiangong space station. The new crew is set to launch in late October.
Nigeria’s Borno state hit by cholera weeks after devastating floods
Nigerian health authorities are dealing with a cholera outbreak in northeastern Borno state, which experienced its worst floods last month, displacing 2 million people.
Kenyan parliament expands public participation in impeachment of deputy president
The Kenyan parliament has expanded public participation in the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. On October 1, the house introduced an impeachment motion against Gachagua, accusing him of corruption and involvement in the deadly June protests.
DR Congo launches mpox vaccinations
The Democratic Republic of the Congo to launch the first phase of mpox virus vaccination in Goma, North Kivu province. The DR Congo is the epicenter of Africa's mpox outbreak.
SPORTS
Title contenders' fixtures in English Premier League
Arsenal to face Southampton in London, Manchester City to play Fulham at home, Liverpool to visit London's Crystal Palace in English Premier League. Leaders Liverpool have 15 points, second-place Manchester City collect 14, and third-place Arsenal are just behind them with 14 points and a goal difference in the league.
Real Madrid to play Villarreal in critical match
Spanish title contenders Real Madrid to host third-place Villarreal as the La Liga match in Madrid will shape the top of the league. Second-place Real Madrid are on 18 points. The Whites are three points behind leaders Barcelona.
SPECIAL REPORTS
1 year of Gaza genocide: How support for Palestine has grown worldwide
By Rabia Ali
Istanbul – Report exploring how the pro-Palestine solidarity movement has grown around the world due to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza.
The story explains the various ways in which the Palestine cause has become a central issue in global discourse, with more international recognition of a Palestinian state, rulings by international courts, boycott movements, and a massive wave of student solidarity.
It includes interviews with Palestinian-American author Ramzy Baroud and political analyst Omar Shaban, who share their views on the growing strength of the pro-Palestine movement and its future implications.
1 year of Gaza genocide: UK draws flak for ‘balancing act’ on Israel arms sales
By Aysu Bicer
London – Report about the UK’s support to Israel and its decision to continue supplying weapons during the ongoing war on Gaza.
The story explains how the British government has assisted Israel since last October, charts the various decisions taken in support of Tel Aviv, and lays out the scale of domestic and international criticism being aimed at the UK.
It includes interviews with Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the UK, and Oliver Feeley-Sprague, director of Amnesty UK’s Military, Security and Police Program.
1 year of Gaza genocide: Czech activists standing for Palestine face online vitriol
By Ebad Ahmed
Prague, Czech Republic – Report about the surging level of online abuse being faced by pro-Palestine activists in the Czech Republic since last October.
The story presents details of various such incidents through interviews with activists Yasar Abu Ghosh and Yaara Abu Aataya, whose protests and social media posts condemning the Czech government’s support for Israel have made them a target of vile online abuse, including explicit hate messages.
It also has insights from Czech human rights lawyer Jarda Tunkova about the legal and societal implications for free speech and human rights in the most pro-Israel country in Europe.
1 year of Gaza genocide: No recovery prospects as war drains Israeli economy, says expert
By Rabia Ali
Istanbul – Report about how the war on Gaza has dented Israel’s own economy.
The story uses comparative figures and data to present an overview of the economic hit suffered by the Israeli government and businesses, while also explaining the reasons and the future implications of the
economic crisis.
It includes an interview with Israeli economic researcher Shir Hever, who speaks about the various ways in which the country’s economy has been damaged and shares his assessment on a potential recovery.
1 year of Gaza genocide: Moment of deep shame for the world, says head of Palestine Solidarity Campaign
By Burak Bir
London – Interview with Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Europe’s largest Palestinian rights organization.
The story focuses on the impunity afforded to Israel by the international community despite its genocidal campaign in Gaza and simultaneous aggression in the occupied West Bank.
Jamal views the situation as a cause of “deep shame” for governments and global community, calling out Western nations and other allies of Israel for enabling the genocide of Palestinians.
He also speaks about the global pro-Palestine solidarity movement and shares his assessments for the future.
1 year of Gaza genocide: How Pakistanis boycotted companies supporting Israel
By Aamir Latif
Karachi, Pakistan – Report about the movement in Pakistan for a boycott of companies supporting Israel.
The story illustrates the scale of the boycott campaign using comparative figures and data, while also delving into the reasons for the strong pro-Palestine support in the South Asian country.
The report also explains how local brands have boomed over the past year, featuring interviews with various businesspeople and Kashif Hafeez, a consumer markets consultant.
VIDEO – Interviews with Palestinian-American author Ramzy Baroud and political analyst Omar Shaban about how the pro-Palestine solidarity movement has grown around the world due to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza.
VIDEO – Interview with Oliver Feeley-Sprague, director of Amnesty UK’s Military, Security and Police Program, about the British government’s decision to continue supplying weapons to Israel and its possible ramifications.
VIDEO – Interviews with activists Yasar Abu Ghosh and Yaara Abu Aataya about the surging level of online abuse being faced by pro-Palestine activists in the Czech Republic since last October.
VIDEO – Interview with Israeli economic researcher Shir Hever about how the war on Gaza has damaged Israel’s own economy, the future implications of the downturn, and any prospects of a recovery.
VIDEO – Interview with Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, about the global movement in support of Gaza, the impunity afforded to Israel by the international community, and the future of the Palestinian cause.