Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Trump to be sworn in for 2nd term as US president

Donald Trump to return to the White House, taking office as the 47th president of the United States, succeeding outgoing President Joe Biden. JD Vance to be sworn in first as vice president, followed by Trump.

The inauguration day will start with a church service followed by morning tea at the White House with the Bidens.

The swearing-in ceremony, inside the Capitol building due to cold weather, will take place at 12 noon Eastern Standard Time (1700GMT).

The inauguration will be followed by a signing ceremony, where Trump is expected to sign nominations and other documents in his first official acts.

Trump will later attend a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. He will watch troops in a presidential parade march down Pennsylvania Avenue, followed by a signing ceremony at the Oval Office in the White House.

Broader coverage will include domestic reactions to the ceremony and the start of Trump’s second term, featuring comments from celebrities and prominent figures. It will also highlight details and angles related to inauguration day, with a survey of American media.

Gaza cease-fire, prisoner swap deal

The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the prisoner exchange, which will last 42 days.

The agreement took effect at 11.15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours delay.

On Sunday, the Palestinian resistance group Hamas handed over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross at Saraya Square in central Gaza City, according to an Anadolu reporter.

According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the three freed captives are in good health.

Israel’s Prison Service Sunday began to transfer 90 Palestinian detainees to Ofer Prison near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank to be released under a Gaza ceasefire deal, local media said.

The list includes 69 female detainees, 20 children, and one young, according to a joint statement by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ Affairs, the Palestinian Prisoner Society, and the Prisoners' Media Office

The statement added that the set-to-be freed prisoners do not include any detainees from Gaza.

Humanitarian situation in Gaza following Israeli genocidal war

The humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip on the second day of the ceasefire agreement after 471 days of the Israeli genocidal war.

On Sunday, at least 26 Palestinians were killed and over 36 others injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza on Sunday in the run-up to a ceasefire agreement in the enclave, medical sources reported.

Thousands of Gaza security forces deployed in several areas across the enclave as a ceasefire deal with Israel took effect, local authorities said.

Gaza’s government media office said the deployment comes under a plan to maintain security and order across the territory.

"Municipalities began reopening and rehabilitating streets, shortly after the cease-fire began,” it added in a statement.

As of Sunday, the overall death toll due to Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023 surged to nearly 47,000, with nearly 110,800 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.

Israel has killed nearly 860 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 the new post-Assad administration.

On Sunday, the leader of Syria's new administration Ahmed al-Sharaa met in Damascus Sunday with a Norwegian ministerial delegation, in the first official meeting between the two nations since last month’s fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

⁠

Israeli violations of cease-fire deal with Lebanon

November cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon meant to halt over 14 months of fighting between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group.

On Sunday, an Israeli force raided several homes in the town of Houla, in the Marjayoun district of southern Lebanon, amid heavy gunfire, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

Israel to date has committed over 570 violations of the cease-fire 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 Sunday, the Houthi group in Yemen announced that the US conducted four airstrikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa.

The group’s media outlet Al-Masirah said: “Four US airstrikes targeted the Al-Azraqeen area, north of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.”

Deteriorating situation in war-torn Sudan

A dire security situation continues in the North African nation amid intensified clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

On Sunday, one person was killed and 17 others were injured in artillery shelling by RSF in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, the Sudanese Health Ministry said.

European reaction to Gaza ceasefire

The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the prisoner exchange, which lasts 42 days, in effect since Sunday.

Turkish president receives Slovak premier

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico with an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. After bilateral and delegation meetings, a joint press conference will be held with the signing ceremony of agreements.

World Economic Forum (Davos) - annual meeting starts in Switzerland

Conference of world leaders from government, business, civil society, media, academia, and the arts in partnerships designed to shape the global, regional and industry agendas. The four-day annual meeting, Collaboration for the Intelligent Age, begins with the participation of global leaders to address key global and regional challenges. These include responding to geopolitical shocks, stimulating growth to improve living standards, and stewarding a just and inclusive energy transition.

European Parliament - plenary in Strasbourg

Parliament's statements -- Ceasefire in Gaza to be discussed with particular focus on the urgent need to release the hostages, to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to pave the way for a two-state solution.

Macron - address to the armed forces

French President Emmanuel Macron to deliver annual message to the armed forces. It is one of a series of speeches given by Macron in January laying out his vision for the year. He is expected to talk about Europe’s safety and common threats, as well as preparedness to such threats to the continent.

UK parliament debate on asylum seekers’ hotel use

Question in the House of Commons in London for short debate on when the government will cease the use of hotels to house asylum seekers. The issue was taken by the previous Tory government and some controversial decisions such as hosting asylum seekers in barges and former army barracks had been criticized. However, the soaring cost of hotels has also been criticized and the issue has been used by far-right groups to fuel xenophobia and Islamophobia.

EU high representative hosts Egyptian foreign minister, Malaysian premier

New EU High Representative Kaja Kallas hosts Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in separate meetings. In meetings, various issues, including migration and mutual relations, are expected to be discussed.

Teen charged over Southport stabbings that prompted far-right riots in UK

Axel Rudakubana appears for trial charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article following the July 29, 2024 deadly stabbing incident in Southport.

The teen, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, is charged with the murders of three children and the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults. Two further charges of ricin production and possessing a document likely to be used for an act of terrorism were added to existing charges last month.

The incident had caused days of unrest from far-right groups targeting British Muslims and asylum centers after circulated social media rumors that the teen was a Muslim asylum seeker.

⁠Top Russian diplomat to chair meeting of compatriots living abroad

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to chair a meeting of the Government Commission on Compatriots Living Abroad in the country's capital Moscow. The event will be attended by lawmakers, representatives of federal and regional executive authorities, and leaders of civil society organizations and foundations, and will focus on discussing the outcomes of the 8th World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad back in October 2024, among other matters.

South African president to lead delegation to World Economic Forum

President Cyril Ramaphosa to lead a South African delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. His delegation will highlight the country’s G20 presidency, themed Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability. South Africa officially assumed the G20 presidency in December 2024, becoming the first African country to lead the group of powerful nations.

UN expert on freedom of expression to visit Zambia

Irene Khan, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, to start 10-day visit in Zambia to assess a range of issues, including the safety of journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society actors in the country. She will meet with various actors, including government officials, members of parliament, the judiciary, the media, and human rights defenders among others.

Cholera outbreak reported in several Southern Africa countries

Developments after Angola, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe reported outbreaks of cholera.

Investigators summon impeached South Korean President Yoon

Investigators summon South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Sul Yeol who has been formally arrested over failed martial law. Amid violent protests against his arrest, Yoon has again refused to attend questioning over his ill-fated plan to impose martial law.

Also, the Supreme Court chief justice hold emergency meeting of justices over the impact of violent protesters storming the Seoul court that granted arrest warrant against Yoon.

Bangladesh's top diplomat visits China

Foreign Minister Touhid Hossain of interim government in Bangladesh pays five-day official visit to China. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to host Hossain for bilateral talks, as well as to discuss regional situation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry holds regular news conference in Beijing

China’s Foreign Ministry holds regular news conference in Beijing. The ministry is expected to deliver statements on US presidential inauguration and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

THE ECONOMY

Germany’s producer prices

Germany’s statistical office Destatis to reveal producer inflation for December 2024. It was at 0.1% in November.

Türkiye’s Investment Position

Turkish Central Bank to release international investment position figures for November.

Turkish government debt figures

The Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry to reveal central government’s debt figures for December.

SPORTS

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

SPECIAL REPORTS

Costliest fires in US history: Experts warn local economy would take years to recover

Report on the long-term local economic impact of the Los Angeles wildfires in California, the costliest in US history.

The story particularly highlights the issues of unemployment and housing, as well as the insurance crisis unfolding in the region as a result of the ongoing wildfires.

It includes comments from Charles Nyce, a professor of risk management and insurance at Florida State University, who lays out how recovery and reconstruction will take years in the affected areas, and Tatyana Deryugina, an associate professor at the Department of Finance at University of Illinois who highlights the unprecedented cost of the fires and the local economic disruption they are likely to, particularly affecting jobs and housing prices. The story also features remarks from economics professor Galina Hale of UC Santa Cruz, who note that the fires will particularly impact the tourism and film industries, while causing job losses and income disruption in directly affected communities.

Syria displacement crisis: UN sees potential turning point amid challenges

Report on UNHCR's assessment that recent developments in Syria could mark a shift in the world's largest displacement crisis, though significant obstacles remain for the return of over 13 million displaced Syrians.

The story details major barriers to refugee return, including persistent security concerns, destroyed infrastructure, and limited access to basic services, with UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler emphasizing the need for conditions that enable safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation.

The report includes UNHCR's $310 million funding appeal for early 2025, projections for refugee returns, and calls for lifting economic sanctions, featuring extensive quotes from Spindler on the agency's position against forced returns and the importance of international support in rebuilding Syria's economy and infrastructure.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO - Report on how recent events in Syria could affect millions of Syrians displaced since the civil war in the country began in 2011 and their prospects for return, with comments from UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler.