Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

⁠6th prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas

Palestinian resistance groups on Friday announced the names of three Israeli captives set to be released from Gaza on Saturday.

Following the announcement, the Hamas-run Prisoners’ Media Office said Israel on Saturday will release 36 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life in prison as well as 333 prisoners from Gaza arrested after Oct. 7, 2023.

Following updates and developments during handover processes.

⁠Humanitarian and security situation in Gaza

Humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing ceasefire.

Gaza’s Civil Defense Department reported on Friday that its teams continue to recover the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel during 15 months of mass killings, doing the grim job using manual tools and without personal protective equipment.

Local Gaza authorities on Friday also said that no mobile homes (caravans) or heavy machinery for the rubble removal have so far been delivered to the Palestinian enclave.

⁠Israeli raids in West Bank

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

On Friday, the Israeli army launched a raid on the city of Nablus, sparking armed clashes with Palestinians as its military offensive continues in the Jenin and Tulkarem governorates.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Friday said that Israeli forces turned an UNRWA health facility in the Arroub refugee camp, near Bethlehem, into a detention facility in violation of international law.

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

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

Since October 2023 Israel has killed at least 912 people in the occupied territory 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, Syria’s Central Bank confirmed that a shipment of Syrian pounds had arrived from Russia through Damascus International Airport.

The announcement follows recent media speculation and misinformation regarding financial transfers between Syria and Russia.

⁠Israeli violations of Lebanon ceasefire

Israel's violations of November's Lebanon ceasefire deal after extension of deadline for troop withdrawal until next Tuesday, Feb. 18.

On Friday, the Lebanese state news agency reported that Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

Since the agreement came into effect, Israel has violated the deal at least 923 times, resulting in 73 deaths and 265 injuries, according to a count by Anadolu based on official Lebanese data.

Ethiopia hosts African Union Assembly Summit

Two-day 38th ordinary session of African Union Assembly to be held in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. As the bloc’s top decision-making body, the assembly sets policies, priorities, and oversees implementation. The 2025 theme of the African Union Summit, Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations, will be officially launched by heads of state and government.

Togo set to hold 1st-ever senatorial elections

West African nation of Togo to hold its first-ever senatorial elections, following its 2024 transition from a presidential to a parliamentary system under President Faure Gnassingbe, who has ruled since 2005. The newly established Senate will serve as the upper legislative chamber, with two-thirds of its members elected by local representatives and the remainder appointed by the prime minister.

Monitoring ongoing humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Monitoring ongoing humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after M23 rebels mounted fresh offensive, claiming control over yet another airport. Earlier they claimed control of Goma airport in North Kivu province. Since Jan. 26, more than 3,000 people have been killed, 2,880 injured, and over half a million displaced, in Goma alone, adding to the 6.4 million already internally displaced people in eastern Congo, according to the UN.

Monitoring political crisis in South Korea over failed martial law bid

Monitoring political crisis in South Korea over president’s failed martial law bid last December. The Constitutional Court has scheduled two more hearings in impeachment trial of imprisoned President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been indicted for insurrection and abuse of power over Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The outcome of the ongoing trial is expected to be announced early next month.

Munich Security Conference enters 2nd day

Major international security conference featuring world leaders plus foreign and defense ministers. Speakers on Saturday includes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Council President Antonio Costa, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hasan al-Shaibani, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, and Turkish National Intelligence Organization head Ibrahim Kal-n. All G7 top diplomats are also among the attendees: 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.

A report released Monday by the conference underlined that “while emerging powers' rising clout offers hope for a more just and peaceful international order, increasing rivalry, polarization, and unilateral actions risk creating 'a more conflictual world' without shared rules and effective multilateral cooperation.”

A survey also found that most citizens in Western industrialized nations express concern over the emerging multipolar order, fearing it will increase disorder and conflict.

According to the report, “majorities in BRICS countries view the shift optimistically, seeing it as a path toward a fairer, more just, and peaceful world.”

The conference is expected to focus on “shared rules and effective multilateral cooperation” in the emerging multipolar order.

The conference is also expected to see discussion of a possible Trump administration plan to end the Ukraine-Russia war.

⁠Tajik president to meet with World Bank officials

Tajik President Emomali Rahmonto to meet with representatives of the World Bank to discuss infrastructure and agricultural development projects in his country.