Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Gaza ceasefire, hostage swap deal

Developments in phase one of Gaza ceasefire agreement.

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

Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group, announced on Tuesday that it will release six Israeli captives and hand over the bodies of four hostages this week as part of a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap with Israel.

"There is a positive atmosphere that may encourage the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told a press conference in Doha on Tuesday.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said early Tuesday that the second-phase negotiations of the Gaza deal will start this week.

Nineteen Israeli captives and five Thai workers have been released in exchange for 1,135 Palestinian prisoners under the first phase.

⁠US Secretary of State's Middle East trip

The last day of the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the Middle East.

During his scheduled tour from Feb. 15 to 19, he visited both Israel and Saudi Arabia and is set to visit the United Arab Emirates as his last destination.

Rubio on Tuesday outlined the "next step" to restore relations with Russia and end the three-year-long Ukraine war after a meeting with Russian representatives in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

Humanitarian and security situation in Gaza amid ceasefire

The humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip as Israel violates the ceasefire.

Palestinian medics and rescue teams recovered six more bodies from the rubble in the Gaza Strip, pushing the overall death toll from Israel’s genocidal war since October 2023 to 48,291, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Israeli raids in the West Bank

Nearly daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, particularly in Jenin, as well as Israeli illegal settlers' violence and property damage against Palestinians.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Tuesday condemned Israeli police raids on its schools in the occupied East Jerusalem.

Witnesses said police forces stormed the UNRWA-run Jerusalem Elementary School in Silwan town and interrogated its management members.

The raids also targeted another school in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood and a vocational training center in the Qalandia refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem, they added.

The Israeli army demolished seven Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday amid military escalation in the occupied territory.

On Jan. 21, the Israeli army launched a military offensive on the northern West Bank, which resulted in 55 fatalities as of Friday evening, according to official Palestinian data.

Israel has killed at least 915 people in the occupied territory since October 2023 and injured nearly 7,000 others, with more than 14,300 taken into custody.

Israel's pullout from southern Lebanon under ceasefire deal

Aftermath of the incomplete Israeli army withdrawal from southern Lebanon towns.

On Tuesday, Lebanon called for full Israeli troop withdrawal from its territory in the south under a ceasefire agreement.

President Joseph Aoun held talks with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal, a statement from the presidency said.

The talks came shortly after the Israeli army withdrew from southern Lebanese towns but remained in five border outposts in violation of the ceasefire deal.

Israel has committed nearly 1,000 violations, killing and injuring dozens in Lebanon, including women and children.

Qatar's Emir to visit Iran

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is expected to visit Tehran on Wednesday.

The visit will address bilateral relations and issues related to regional developments in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

However, Doha has not issued an official statement regarding the visit.

Manama to host Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference

Manama will host the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference on Feb. 19-20, under the theme "One Nation, One Shared Destiny."

The event is organized by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Bahrain, and the Muslim Council of Elders.

The conference will bring together more than 400 scholars, leaders, religious authorities, intellectuals, and cultural figures from around the world.

Egyptian President al-Sisi's visit to Spain

The second day of an open-ended visit that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi began on Tuesday evening in Madrid.

He is scheduled to meet with King Felipe VI, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and representatives of Spanish companies.

The visit will include the signing of an agreement to elevate bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership, along with the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in various fields of cooperation.

Developments in Syria under new administration

Latest developments and updates in Syria under the new post-Bashar al-Assad administration.

The UN refugee agency chief, Filippo Grandi, said on Tuesday that the agency estimates that 280,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their homes since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024.

Military situation in war-torn Sudan

The security situation in the northern African country has worsened as the Sudanese army has gained against Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in key areas and states in recent days.

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry accused the RSF on Tuesday of committing a "horrific massacre" that left 433 civilians dead in villages near Al-Qutaynah, White Nile state, in recent days.

Russia, US agree to work toward ending Ukraine's war

Monitoring developments after Russia and the US agreed to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties after a meeting in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ending birthright citizenship

Under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 20, children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States will no longer be automatically citizens of the country as of today.

Justice Department to hear motion to dismiss graft charges against NYC Mayor Adams

The hearing in the case of New York City Mayor Eric Adams will discuss the Department of Justice's motion to dismiss the charges against him. On September 26, he was charged with five federal counts, including bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign contributions. He pleaded not guilty.

Man accused of running Chinese police station in Manhattan

The case of Lu Jianwang, who is accused of opening and operating an undeclared overseas police station in lower Manhattan for the People's Republic of China's Ministry of Public Security, will be heard.

UN Security Council discusses Libya

Bimonthly briefing and consultation on the situation in Libya. UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is expected to give a briefing.

Guerrilla group announces 'armed strike' in Choco, Colombia

Developments since Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group declared a 72-hour "armed strike" in the country's Choco region on Tuesday. The declaration calls for the strict confinement of civilians to their homes. All transportation will be suspended, and no one will be allowed to travel on public roads. The group claims that the armed strike is intended to expose an alleged conspiracy between the state, military forces, and mercenary groups operating in the region.

Brazil’s ex-President Bolsonaro accused of involvement in attempted coup plot

Developments after Brazil’s prosecutor-general Paulo Gonet charged former President Jair Bolsonaro with attempting a coup to stay in office after his election defeat in 2022 involved a plot to kill his successor and current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet said Bolsonaro knew about and approved a plot to poison Lula while he was president.

Turkish president to attend parliamentary group meeting

Turkish President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the Parliamentary Group Meeting of the Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara.

Human Rights Council briefing in Geneva

Ambassador Jurg Lauber, the president of the Human Rights Council, will brief journalists about the upcoming 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Giorgia Meloni hosts Israeli president in Rome

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosts Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The two leaders are expected to talk about the implementation of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire and the issue based on the two-state solution.

UK Secretary of Defence John Healey's Norway visit

Defence Secretary John Healey travels to Norway to meet with his counterpart Tore Sandvik to discuss European security and the Type 26 export deal. The Type 26 design is to be used by Canada and Australia for their respective frigate programs. The UK Royal Navy expected to introduce eight City-class Type 26 frigates into service from 2028-2035 in a bid to reverse a steep decline in surface combatant numbers.

Anti-Muslim hate crime statistics

Tell MAMA, the public service that supports victims of anti-Muslim hatred, publishes an annual report showing it has recorded the highest number of online and street-based cases of anti-Muslim hate since its founding in 2011. Tell MAMA recorded 9,604 cases of anti-Muslim hate in the UK between 2023 and 2024, with 6,313 cases reported last year, a 165% increase from 2022. The biggest recorded increase came after the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, with anti-Muslim hate reports jumping by 1,619% compared to before the conflict.

French Senate to discuss controversial bill on secularism in sports considered

Lawmakers in the French upper house meet to continue consideration of a controversial bill on secularism in sports that has been criticised for unfairly targeting Muslim women and girls by banning the wearing of the hijab across a range of sports competitions.

German elections: Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz at Welt TV/Bild debate

SPD's Olaf Scholz and the CDU's Friedrich Merz take part in a head-to-head debate jointly hosted by Welt TV and Bild newspaper. The debate is expected to see reaction to recent meddling with the German elections and harsh criticism on European politicians on “democratic values” by US Vice President JD Vance and White House aide Elon Musk.

Russian foreign minister to present report on foreign policy to lawmakers

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will brief lawmakers on Moscow's foreign policy priorities and field their questions during the Government Hour, an annual meeting between the head of diplomacy and members of parliament aimed at strengthening ties between the executive and legislative branches of government.

Humanitarian crisis in eastern DR Congo amid escalated violence

The latest situation in both North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Around 10,000 displaced people have fled to neighboring Burundi following the fall of the eastern city of Bukavu to M23 rebels. The UN human rights office said that they had “confirmed cases of summary execution of children by M23 after they entered the city of Bukavu last week."

Trial of jailed South Korean impeached President Yoon

The Constitutional Court to hear the impeachment trial of imprisoned South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The top court will hold its final hearing. Yoon has been charged with abuse of power and insurrection for his brief declaration of martial law on December 3.

Pakistan hosts ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy tournament, featuring the top eight teams in the world, kicks off in Karachi. Defending champions Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the opening match. The cricket-frenzied South Asian country is hosting an ICC tournament after 29 years.

Sri Lanka, Maldivian top diplomats hold talks in Colombo

Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra hosts his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Khaleel for bilateral talks in Colombo. Khaleel is on his first trip to the maritime neighbor.

Foreign Ministry to hold news briefing in Beijing

China’s Foreign Ministry is to hold a news conference in Beijing.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye’s short-term foreign debt

The Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye will release the country’s short-term foreign debt figures for December 2024. Türkiye’s short-term external debt was down to $178.8 billion at the end of November, posting an 0.8% month-on-month decrease.

UK’s inflation

The UK’s Office for National Statistics will release inflation figures for January. It was at 2.5% in December 2024, but it is expected to reach 2.8% in the first month of 2025.

Housing starts in US

The US will reveal housing starts and building permits figures for January. Housing starts, at 1.5 million in December 2024 and is expected to drop to 1.4 million.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Germany elections: Far-right AfD gaining ground as center-right fails to capture protest votes, says pollster

Interview with Manfred Gullner, head of the Forsa polling institute, about the prospects of various parties ahead of Germany’s crucial Feb. 23 elections.

Gullner explains the factors behind the far-right AfD’s growing support, such as public dissatisfaction with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s collapsed coalition and the unpopularity of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz.

He warns that the AfD’s growing appeal extends beyond protest voters, with many now embracing its extremist ideology, while also examining the broader electoral dynamics, including the CDU’s challenges under Merz and the risk of political instability if smaller parties enter parliament.

Transatlantic tensions: How does China see deepening US-Europe rift?

Report on China’s view on the rising tensions between Europe and the US under the Trump administration.

The story analyzes China’s possible stance on the matter and how it could be positioning itself to capitalize on the rift, the challenges it could face from both the US and Europe, and whether the current situation could lead to increased China-EU trade and a greater global role for Beijing.

The report includes interviews with Beijing-based political analyst Einar Tangen; Andrea Ghiselli, lecturer at the University of Exeter and head of research at TOChina Hub; and Ali Wyne, senior US-China research and advocacy adviser for the International Crisis Group.

Ultrasound technology: New solution to global water crisis?

Report on a recent breakthrough in the use of ultrasound technology for water purification.

The story explains the potential use of this technology to address various aspects of the global water crisis, including the increasing presence of contaminants like microplastics, and assesses the potential of ultrasound technology as a sustainable and chemical-free method for water treatment.

The report includes an interview with Niels Nussler, project manager at German firm LifeTech Water Solutions, who explains how their ultrasonic reactor purifies contaminated water without chemicals and shares their plans for scaling up its use.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with Manfred Gullner, head of the Forsa polling institute, about the prospects of various parties in Germany’s Feb. 23 elections and the reasons for the rising popularity of the far-right AfD party.