Diary

ANKARA (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Sunday, April 28, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

PALESTINE

Gaza City - Humanitarian and military developments in Gaza Strip, as Israel continues its relentless onslaught for 205th day despite UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in besieged enclave.

Since last October, Israeli offensive has killed nearly 34,400 people and injured over 77,400 others amid crippling blockade that has left most of population on verge of starvation.

Israeli airstrikes continue to hit several areas in Gaza Strip, including city of Rafah, launching ground offensive under pretext of confronting last strongholds of Palestinian resistance group Hamas, despite rising international warnings of catastrophic consequences, for about 1.4 million displaced people taking refuge there.

Ramallah - Ongoing Israeli raids in occupied West Bank since Oct. 7, which have led to killing of 491 Palestinians, injuring around 4,900, and arrest of nearly 8,480, according to Palestinian sources.

ISRAEL

Tel Aviv - Protests in Israel for Israeli government to resign, reach hostage swap deal with Palestinians.

Hamas said Saturday it received Israel's official response to hostage swap, cease-fire proposal it sent to Egyptian, Qatari mediators in this month. Hamas said it would submit its answer after studying Israeli response, which reportedly coincided with Friday visit by top Egyptian security delegation to Tel Aviv.

LEBANON

Beirut - Continuing cross-border attacks between Hezbollah, Israel that flared up last October, in deadliest clashes between two sides since full-scale war in 2006.

New wave of displacement has begun in southern Lebanese towns, including Shebaa, where residents were forced to flee due to escalating border clashes between Hezbollah group, Israeli army.

YEMEN

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

SAUDI ARABIA

Riyadh - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to attend a meeting of the Gaza Contact Group, which was formed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League to push for a cease-fire in the Palestinian enclave.

Riyadh - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to attend special meeting of World Economic Forum on Global Cooperation, Growth and Energy on May 28-29.

CHINA

Beijing - Foreign ministers of Peru and Bolivia to arrive on three-day official visits to China.

SPORTS

Istanbul - 59th edition of Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye to end with stage eight in Istanbul.

London - Arsenal to visit Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in crucial North London derby.

Arsenal are top of English Premier League with 77 points after 34 games, Tottenham fifth with 60 points after 32 matches. -