Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, May 10, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Israeli army continues military operation against southernmost city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.

Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip as Israel continues its relentless onslaught on the 217th day despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

Since last October, the Israeli offensive has killed over 34,900 people and injured over 78,500 others amid a crippling blockade that has left most of the population on the verge of starvation.

Ramallah - Ongoing Israeli raids in the West Bank since Oct. 7 have led to the killing of nearly 500 Palestinians and injuring around 4,950. More than 8,665 have been arrested, according to Palestinian sources.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Protests persist in Israel to pressure government to resign and reach hostage swap deal with Hamas.

EGYPT

Cairo - Indirect talks underway between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in Cairo aimed at reaching hostage swap deal and cease-fire in Gaza.

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 - Tensions persist in Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of ties to Israel and retaliatory US airstrikes on Houthi targets inside Yemen, causing fears of significant disruption to maritime traffic in one of world's busiest routes for oil and fuel transport.

UAE

Abu Dhabi - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to hold formal talks.

FRANCE

Paris - France commemorates the abolition of slavery. France originally abolished slavery in 1794 before the practice was restored by Napoleon in the French colonies in 1802. It was later abolished permanently in 1848.

SWITZERLAND

Geneva- The UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists.

US

Washington - President Joe Biden is in California, where his schedule includes two campaign receptions in the Bay Area before heading to Washington.

Washington - Secretary of State Antony Blinken to host Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares at State Department.

Washington - Biden administration's awaited report to Congress on Israel's use of US-made weapons expected to be released.

New York - UN General Assembly to vote on draft resolution to reconsider Palestine's membership bid and grant additional rights.

KAZAKHSTAN

Almaty - Azerbaijan and Armenia's foreign ministers to hold bilateral talks as part of ongoing dialogue between two countries to reach peace agreement.

Astana - Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to visit Kazakh capital on official visit.

RUSSIA

Moscow - State Duma to discuss candidate for prime minister.

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg - South Africa to hold first global anti-apartheid conference for Palestine aimed to intensify crucial need to address Israel's ongoing war on Gaza.

NIGER

Niamey - Relations between Benin and Niger expected to deteriorate following Benin's decision to deny its neighbor access to its port for exportation of its inaugural crude oil shipment.

KOREAN PENINSULA

Pyongyang/Seoul - North Korea likely to react to South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's statements regarding Pyongyang as well as relations with Russia.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign Ministry to hold regular press briefing.

PAKISTAN

Islamabad - Islamabad high court to hear former Prime Minister Imran Khan's appeal against conviction in state secrets case. Court also expected to take up other cases related to his release from prison.

THE ECONOMY

Ankara - Turkish Statistical Institute to release unemployment figures and industrial production for March.

SPECIAL REPORTS

'Racism, oppression, Islamophobia': Why massive pro-Palestine student movement is facing police brutality

By Rabia Ali

Istanbul – Report on the police brutality and violence against pro-Palestine student protesters across the US and Europe.

The story explores the reasons for the violence being inflicted on pro-Palestine activists and the protection being extended to pro-Israel demonstrators.

It includes interviews with Abdel Razzaq Takriti, a professor at Rice University in the US, a staff member of the University of Amsterdam, student activist Sabine Scharwachter, and statements from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

'Smokescreen': Pro-Palestine demonstrators say 'outside agitator' allegations an effort to delegitimize movement

By Michael Hernandez

Washington - Report about the claims being made by US officials of outside influence and manipulation in the growing wave of pro-Palestine student protests in the country.

The story includes interviews with several protesters and organizers, who counter the allegations and explain how they are being weaponized to smear the movement.

It also has comments from Mike Golash, an 81-year-old protest veteran who speaks about how the strategy of delegitimizing the movement reminiscent of charges levied against demonstrators during the 1968 anti-war civil rights demonstrations.

'Biggest student movement of 21st century': Pro-Palestine protests spread across the globe

By Emre Basaran

Istanbul - Report charting how pro-Palestine demonstrations at universities have spread across the world over the past few weeks.

It gives details of the demonstrations being held in countries in all part of the globe, from the US to Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

The story also includes findings from a recent Gallup survey about growing pro-Palestinian sentiments among the youth, which remains a key factor in the continuing expansion of protest movement.

They want to silence witnesses and bury the evidence: British-Palestinian surgeon on Europe entry ban

By Burak Bir and Zuhal Demirci

London - Interview with British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta about the entry ban imposed on him in Europe.

Abu Sitta, who worked in Gaza and recently became the rector of Glasgow University, reiterates that these steps are "the job of criminals who are complicit in a crime."

He says this is part of Israel's attempts to silence witnesses and bury the evidence of the genocide it is carrying out in Gaza with the complicity of Western powers including the US, UK, France and Germany.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Interview with British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta about entry ban imposed on him in Europe, where he reiterates that these steps are "the job of criminals who are complicit in a crime" and part of Israel's attempts to hide the evidence of its genocide in Gaza. -