Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

- Gaza ceasefire, prisoner swap deal

Latest updates and global reactions to announcement of Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli Cabinet on Friday approved the ceasefire agreement announced by the mediators, recommending the wider government to give its final green light to the deal.

A statement by the Palestinian group Hamas group on Friday said the obstacles caused by Israel's failure to comply with the terms of the announced ceasefire agreement have been resolved through regional and international mediation efforts.

- Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza

Israel’s genocidal war on Palestinians in Gaza which continues unabated, ignoring the announced ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Israeli airstrikes have killed over 110 Palestinians since the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, according to an official tally by the Gaza Civil Defense on Friday.

The overall death toll due to Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023 surged to over 46,800, with more than 110,400 others injured, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

- West Bank raids

Almost daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, and illegal settler violence against Palestinians and their property.

According to local media on Friday, several Palestinians suffered from tear gas asphyxiation during confrontations that erupted following an Israeli military raid on the town of Beita, south of Nablus, in the northern occupied West Bank.

Israel has killed at least 858 people in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, including 160 children, and injured over 6,700 others, with more than 14,300 taken into custody.

- Developments in Syria under new administration

Latest developments and updates in Syria under new post-Assad administration

On Friday, EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib announced a 235 million euro aid package for Syria as she met in Damascus with Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of the new administration in the war-torn country.

Following a phone call late on Thursday between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a French Presidency statement said France will host a conference on Syria in February.

Al-Sharaa also on Friday met with Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, in the capital Damascus.

- ⁠Israeli violations of ceasefire deal with Lebanon

Monitoring November ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, meant to halt over 14 months of fighting between the Israeli army and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Israeli violations on Friday were concentrated on southern Lebanon with continued drone and reconnaissance aircraft flights flying over the area.

The Lebanese state news agency NNA also reported that a Syrian national was arrested by the Israeli army while grazing a herd of cattle on the outskirts of the Rmeish village.

Israel to date has committed more than 560 violations of the ceasefire agreement, resulting in 37 deaths and 45 injuries, according to an Anadolu tally based on official Lebanese data.

- Red Sea tensions and Houthi-Israel attacks

Red Sea tensions and the exchange of attacks between Israel and the US-UK coalition on one side and Yemen’s Houthi group on the other side, which intensified its attacks on Israeli military targets along with hitting Israeli cargo ships or those associated with Tel Aviv in the Red Sea.

On Friday, the Yemeni Houthi group announced carrying out three military operations against Israeli targets in southern and central Israel, and also announced targeting a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.

The group earlier reported that the US carried out five airstrikes targeting the Harf Sufyan district in the northern Amran province.

- Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan visits Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Baku on Saturday during Fidan’s working visit to Azerbaijan.

The two ministers are expected to discuss various aspects of bilateral ties and regional issues. Fidan is also scheduled to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

- Epiphany dips in Russia

The Russian Orthodox Church is celebrating Epiphany Eve, a religious holiday commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.

Russians will have traditional Epiphany dips, when people cut cross-shaped holes in ice of water bodies, the churchmen bless the water, and after going to a church, people dip thrice into the freezing water.

- South Korea’s impeached President Yoon likely to be formally arrested

A court in Seoul is likely to issue formal arrest warrants against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The country’s anti-graft body has sought unprecedented arrest warrants after charging Yoon with insurrection, as well as abuse of power, for his shocking martial decree.

- National March for Palestine - BBC protest in London

Pro-Palestine march calling for the government to stop arming Israel. March was due to assemble outside the BBC headquarters to protest the corporation's "pro-Israel bias," but on Jan. 9 the Met Police announced that they would impose conditions preventing organizers from using that route as it begins a few hundred years away from Central Synagogue on Hallam Street and could pose disruption to services on the Jewish holy day. Organisers have reversed the procession route to end it at the BBC, however, police told Anadolu that their position has not changed. Organizers this week said they would go ahead with the protest.

- Opposition parties request President Ramaphosa to establish a commission to probe mine deaths

More political parties in South Africa are expected to make calls urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to establish a commission of injury to probe the deaths of 78 illegal miners who died at the abandoned Stilfontein mine in the country’s North West province.

The Democratic Alliance, a member of the ruling Government of National Unity led by Ramaphosa’s ANC party, were the first to make the call.

More than 240 illegal miners were rescued from the mine this week after two months delay by respective government departments.

SPORTS

Round 4 of Australian Open, 1st Grand Slam of the season, to be played in women's and men's (Tennis)

English Premier League week 22 (Football)

Newcastle vs Bournemouth

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Italian Serie A week 21 (Football)

Atalanta vs. Napoli

Juventus vs. Milan