Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, March 18, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):


PALESTINE

Gaza City - Developments in the humanitarian and military situations in the Gaza Strip as Israel continues for the 164th day to wage its relentless offensive on the besieged Palestinian enclave, which has resulted in the killing of 31,645 people and 73,676 others amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the verge of starvation as efforts are underway to send aid via a new sea route.

For the first time in about four months, six aid trucks reached the northern governorate of Gaza Strip on Saturday evening via Salah al-Din Street, which connects the southern and northern parts of the Strip.


Ramallah - Continuous security tension in the occupied West Bank due to escalating Israeli army actions since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Israeli military raids in the West Bank resulted in the death of over 435 Palestinians and the injury of around 4,700 others. The number of arrests has also risen over this period of over five months to 7,630, setting a record figure compared to previous years.


QATAR

Doha - An Israeli delegation to visit Doha for Gaza cease-fire talks. The delegation to be headed by Mossad President David Barnea. On March 14, Hamas presented Qatari and Egyptian mediators with a comprehensive vision for a cease-fire and prisoner swap deal with Israel.


ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Escalating protests to pressure Israel's government to reach a prisoner swap deal with Palestinians.

The battlefield situation of expected plans by the Israeli army to expand its offensive into Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip.


LEBANON

Beirut - Cross-border tensions between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel as both sides intensify attacks.


YEMEN

Sanaa - Continuous, escalating tensions in the Red Sea as Houthi attacks persist against commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel and US continues retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen. Concerns over the deadly impact this has on shipping traffic in one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.


BELGIUM

Brussels - Foreign ministers from EU nations to meet. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell to chair. Agenda includes Ukraine, Belarus, and the Middle East.

Brussels - Two-day European Humanitarian Forum to convene in Brussels. Speakers at opening ceremony include UN undersecretary for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic, and International Committee of Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Secretary General Jan Egeland also to speak Monday.


UK

London - Consideration of House of Lords amendments to Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill. Lawmakers to debate proposed amendments to controversial bill that will see asylum seekers sent to East African country until their cases are processed in UK.


SWITZERLAND

Geneva - Independent Fact-Finding Mission, established in November 2022 to investigate alleged human rights violations in Iran related to protests that began on Sept. 16 that year, launches latest report on margins of ongoing Human Rights Council session.


US

Washington - President Joe Biden to host Women's History Month reception at White House.

Washington - Statements from Biden administration about situation in Gaza, potential protests in solidarity with Gaza.

New York - UN Security Council to hold ministerial-level session on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, one of highlights of Japan's presidency this month. In afternoon, members to discuss situation in Haiti, Middle East.

New York - Interim findings from independent review into UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) due to be submitted to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday or Tuesday.


ARMENIA

Yerevan - Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to pay official visit to Armenia for talks with his counterpart.


GEORGIA

Tbilisi - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to meet with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.


MOLDOVA

Chisinau - President Maia Sandu to hold news conference, make statements on referendum about Moldova's EU accession.


RUSSIA

Moscow - Political rally marking end of Russian presidential election to take place in country's capital.

Moscow - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to meet with Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Zhang Ming.


SOUTH KOREA

Seoul - South Korea hosting its 3rd Summit for Democracy attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, among others.


SPECIAL REPORTS

Speed of Israel’s mass starvation in Gaza ‘has not happened anywhere’: Famine expert

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report about Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon in its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

The story is based on an interview with Alex de Waal, executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University and an international expert on famine and starvation.

He speaks about various aspects of the issue, including what he says is an unprecedented scale and speed at which Israel has enforced mass starvation conditions on millions of Palestinians.

De Waal says there were “very clear” warnings of starvation in Gaza, so Israel can be legally culpable for “committing an act of starvation.”


Romeo and Juliet aims to bridge Turkish-Greek divide

By Ahmet Gencturk

Athens – Report about a joint production of Romeo and Juliet being put up by Turkish and Greek theater companies.

The play is being jointly produced by Türkiye’s Ankara State Theater and the Municipal Theater of Piraeus in Greece, with rehearsals currently being held in Athens and performances set to begin in Ankara in April.

The story includes interviews with Lefteris Giovanidis, artistic director of the Municipal Theater of Piraeus, senior Turkish actor Eray Eserol, and other cast members of the production.


El Nino hits domestic animals and wildlife alike in Zimbabwe

By Jeffrey Moyo

Harare, Zimbabwe – Report about the impact of extreme weather patterns on domestic animals and wildlife in Zimbabwe.

The story gives details of how climate change and the El Nino weather phenomenon has taken a toll on animals across the country, particularly with scorching droughts that have caused massive losses.

The report includes interviews with affected herders and farmers, along with wildlife conservationist Tinos Malaba and Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife.


NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Alex de Waal, an international expert on famine and starvation, on the current situation in the Gaza Strip and how Israel has enforced mass starvation conditions on millions of Palestinians.

VIDEO – Report about a joint production of Romeo and Juliet being put up by Turkish and Greek theater companies, including interviews with directors, actors and other crew members.