Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) — Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Gaza ceasefire, hostage swap deal

Developments in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's threat to cancel the deal if Israeli hostages in the enclave are not released by Saturday noon.

The first phase, which includes a hostage-prisoner exchange, started on Jan. 19 and is set to last for 42 days.

On Thursday, Palestinian resistance group Hamas said it is ready to resume the next hostage release on Saturday if Israel adheres to the terms of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Egypt’s Al-Qahera News channel, citing an unnamed Egyptian official, said mediation efforts by Cairo and Doha “managed to successfully overcome obstacles hindering the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, with both Hamas and Israel committed to completing the deal.”

Netanyahu’s office, however, denied any understanding with Hamas in Gaza.

His spokesman Omer Dostri also denied any agreement to allow mobile homes into Gaza.

Humanitarian and security situation in Gaza

The humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire.

Two Palestinians, including a child, were killed on Thursday by Israeli army gunfire and an explosion from a leftover rocket in the center of the Gaza Strip.

Dozens of tents and shelters housing displaced civilians were flooded in the Gaza Strip amid rainfall and cold weather, the Civil Defense Agency said on Thursday.

Palestinian medics and rescue teams retrieved 14 more bodies from the rubble in the Gaza Strip, pushing the overall death toll from Israel’s genocidal war since October 2023 to 48,239, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Israeli raids in West Bank

Nearly daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, especially in Jenin, accompanied by illegal settler violence against Palestinians and their property.

On Thursday, three Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli army forces in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the northern West Bank, the military said.

The Israeli army continues its devastating offensive in the areas of Jenin and Tulkarem, the northern West Bank, that started on Jan. 21, and has so far killed over 30 people, displaced thousands, and caused wide-scale destruction.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army also raided other areas in the West Bank, including in Nablus city to arrest Palestinians, according to witnesses.

According to the Doctors Without Borders aid group, the Israeli onslaught in Jenin and Tulkarem in the northern West Bank has displaced over 38,000 Palestinians.

Israel has killed at least 911 people in the occupied territory since October 2023 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-Bashar al-Assad administration.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris on Thursday, according to the Foreign Ministry. Shaibani visited France to participate in a ministerial meeting on Syria.

Syrian National Dialogue Conference

On Thursday, the Preparatory Committee for the Syrian National Dialogue Conference announced the official launch of its activities, during its first news conference held in the capital, Damascus, the day after President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a decree forming the committee.

Israeli violations of Lebanon ceasefire

Israel's violations of the November Lebanon ceasefire deal after the deadline's extension for its troops' withdrawal by Feb. 18.

The Israeli army said it destroyed several sites in southern Lebanon on Thursday, claiming to have found weapon storage facilities and rocket launchers targeting Israeli territory.

Since the agreement came into effect, Israel has committed at least 923 violations of it in Lebanon, resulting in 73 deaths and 265 injuries, according to official Lebanese data.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that Beirut is continuing communications to compel Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon by Feb. 18.

Munich Security Conference

Major international security conference, featuring world leaders, foreign and defence ministers. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance will attend.

Other participants include German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who opens the conference; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; European Council President Antonio Costa; European Parliament President Roberta Metsola; EU High Representative Kaja Kallas; NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte; US Special Envoy for Russia and Ukraine Gen. (retd.) Keith Kellogg; and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who speaks on Saturday.

All G7 foreign ministers, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy are confirmed to attend.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, US Vice President Vance to meet

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting Friday on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. They are expected to talk about possible negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, as well as bilateral matters and regional security issues.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits Poland

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits Poland following Thursday’s NATO defense ministers' meeting. He is due to meet Polish leaders, including his Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak, and visit US troops stationed in Poland "to discuss their critical role in the region." Hegseth is expected to talk with Polish officials about possible negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, as well as bilateral matters and regional security issues.

President Trump to sign executive orders

President Donald Trump will sign a series of executive orders at the White House.

News briefing by ambassadors at UN

A group of ambassadors will hold a news briefing on the situation in Gaza at the UN headquarters.

Hearing in case challenging DOGE access to Treasury payment system

Hearing in a multi-state case challenging the Trump administration's decision to allow Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system.

Washington DC plane crash briefing

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jennifer Homendy will hold a briefing on the latest investigation into the American Airlines 5342 and US Army Black Hawk helicopter collision that killed 67 people on Jan. 29 near Washington, D.C.

Briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold a news briefing in Moscow on current issues of foreign policy. She will also hold a Q&A session.

Somali security forces to intensify operation to hunt down terrorists

The Somali National Army (SNA) is expected to intensify operations to hunt down al-Shabaab and ISIS (Daesh) fighters destabilizing the horn of Africa country. The SNA killed 10 al-Shabab militants, including Abdullahi Said Bulxiye, leader of the militant group in the Jawle area in the Mudug region.

The Horn of Africa country has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats emanating from the al-Shabaab and ISIS terror groups.

M23 rebels advance towards South Kivu in eastern DR Congo

Despite a recent ceasefire and regional summits calling for an end to hostiles, M23 rebels are advancing towards the South Kivu Province. The rebels now claim control of Goma, a city of some roughly 3 million people. They have declared their own administration in the strategic city.

Fresh clashes between the rebels and Congolese government forces resumed this week. Since Jan. 26, more than 3,000 people have been killed, 2,880 injured, and over 500,000 displaced in Goma alone, adding to the 6.4 million already internally displaced people in eastern Congo, according to the UN.

Latest on Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda

The World Health Organization has released an additional $2 million to help Uganda’s response to curb the spread of Ebola which killed one and infected nine others. The landlocked East African country is currently battling its sixth outbreak of the Sudan Ebola virus. Officials are expected to give an update on the latest situation.

Foreign Ministry holds briefing in Islamabad

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry to hold weekly news conference in Islamabad. The ministry is expected to shed light on a two-day official visit to Pakistan by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Islamabad’s anti-terrorism efforts, and efforts to build ties with the Donald Trump administration in Washington.

Foreign Ministry holds briefing in Beijing

China’s Foreign Ministry holds briefing in Beijing.

THE ECONOMY

Eurozone GDP

Eurostat to release Eurozone GDP growth figures for the last quarter of 2024. Preliminary estimates showed a growth of 0.9% for the last quarter. Markets expect the figure to be in line with the preliminary estimates.

US industrial production

US Federal Reserve to share industrial production data for January. In December, it grew 0.9%. Market forecasts are a growth of 0.3% for January.

US retail sales

US Census Bureau to reveal retail sales figures for January. The figure came in at 0.4% in December. The markets expect no growth for January.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Paris AI summit: What happened and why did US, UK not sign global pact?

Report on the recent AI Action Summit held in Paris, which brought together world leaders and tech titans for discussions on key issues regarding the growth of AI technology.

The story focuses on the key outcomes of the event and the major developments, including the controversy over the US and UK’s refusal to sign the final declaration. The report explains the major points of contention and the potential implications of the two world powers’ stance.

The story includes comments from multiple tech and governance experts, including Isabella Wilkinson, a research fellow at the Digital Society Program of think tank Chatham House.

‘Blizzard of absurdity’: Trump’s first days in power prove impulse towards authoritarianism, warns ex-US ambassador

Interview with Charles Adams, a former US ambassador to Finland, about US President Donald Trump’s new term and his disruptive actions since taking office for a second time.

Adams issues a stark warning about the dangers of Trump’s strategies, including the early flurry of executive orders and stance against multilateralism, which he says are driven mostly by an “impulse towards authoritarianism.”

The ex-US diplomat also shares his views on the sweeping changes in US international engagement, covering its withdrawal from global health organizations, border militarization, territorial interests in Greenland, NATO relations, and significant Middle East policy reversals, including settler sanctions and Gaza statements.

Innovating tradition: Kashmir’s first bone artist fuses heritage with modern craft

Report on the journey of Aziz-ur-Rehman, a self-taught artist from Indian-administered Kashmir who transforms discarded animal bones and wood into intricate utility items and ornaments.

The story gives an insight into Rehman’s work over the years, which draws inspiration from early human history and combines traditional crafts with modern innovation.

The report also delves into Kashmir's rich history of arts and crafts, with historian Abdul Ahad highlighting the indigenous roots of many traditional skills and sharing his views on the impact of new technologies.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Charles Adams, a former US ambassador to Finland, about Trump’s disruptive actions since taking office for a second time and the wider implications that his strategies could have on America’s alliances and standing in the international order.