ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
US envoy Hochstein to visit Lebanon
US presidential envoy Amos Hochstein is set to travel to Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday.
Hochstein will be engaged in a dual mission; monitoring the implementation of the Lebanon-Israel cease-fire agreement alongside discussions regarding the presidential elections in Lebanon, according to media reports.
An important meeting of the committee supervising the cease-fire agreement will be held Monday in Naqoura. Sources said that the meeting will be chaired by Hochstein which may send a message of seriousness regarding the implementation of the agreement.
Developments in Syria under new administration
Latest developments and updates in Syria under the new administration following the overthrow of the Baath regime.
On Sunday, Syria’s new Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, accompanied by Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Khattab, visited Doha, according to the Syrian news agency SANA.
Besides, the minister unveiled Friday his intention to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan this week.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia sent another relief plane to Syria as part of an air bridge launched by the kingdom to assist Syria.
A plane carrying 34 tons of humanitarian aid departed Sunday from the city of Misrata, Libya, bound for Syria.
More Arab and international officials' political and diplomatic visits to Damascus and their meetings with Syrian officials.
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza
Israel continues its relentless genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, disregarding international calls to end hostilities and address the severe hardships endured by millions under constant attacks and a devastating blockade amid heavy rainstorms.
On Sunday, the Civil Defense Agency said the body of a Palestinian was recovered and several other Palestinians were injured after an Israeli strike reduced a house to rubble in the southern city of Khan Younis.
Another Palestinian was killed in a drone strike in the Shabura refugee camp in central Rafah in southern Gaza, he added.
Civil defense crews also recovered the body of a Palestinian man after an Israeli strike in northern Gaza, the agency said.
On Sunday, Gaza’s Health Ministry warned of a severe shortage of medicine and medical supplies amid Israel’s war on the Palestinian enclave.
As of Sunday, the overall death toll due to Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 surged to over 45,800, with nearly 109,100 others injured.
Israel’s escalating blockade, ground invasion in northern Gaza Strip
The ongoing Israeli military operations, displacement, and blockade in northern Gaza which resulted in devastating humanitarian consequences for thousands of Palestinians trapped in the areas since Oct. 5 and claimed the lives of more than 4,800 people.
On Sunday, four people were killed and several others injured in Israeli shelling of a group of civilians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, a medical source said.
Another Palestinian was killed in Israeli bombardment in the same town, he added.
Gaza cease-fire talks
Latest developments in Gaza cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas.
Mossad chief David Barnea is expected to travel to Doha on Monday for talks on a possible hostage release deal, reported the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth Sunday.
US special envoy to the Middle East Brett McGurk is already in the Qatari capital, indicating the importance that the Biden administration attaches to the meetings and the efforts to reach a deal before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
On Friday, Hamas announced the resumption of indirect negotiations with Israel in Qatar's capital Doha, focusing on a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the return of displaced persons.
Israeli violations of cease-fire deal with Lebanon
Over one month of the 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, the Israeli army set houses on fire in Taybeh town of Marjayoun in southern Lebanon, carried out demolitions, and conducted sweeping operations with heavy and medium machine guns in the town, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened on Sunday to abolish a cease-fire agreement with Lebanon if Hezbollah does not withdraw from southern Lebanon.
Israel had committed over 380 violations of the cease-fire agreement, resulting in 32 deaths and 39 injuries, according to an Anadolu tally based on official Lebanese data.
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.
On Sunday, five Palestinians were injured when an Israeli military vehicle rammed into their car in the occupied West Bank, local media reported.
Israel has killed at least 837 people in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 2023, including 160 children, and injured nearly 6,600 others, with more than 12,100 taken into custody.
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.
Yemen’s Houthi group said Sunday that it targeted a power plant in Haifa in northern Israel amid escalation over Tel Aviv’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.
Military spokesman Yahya Saree said a hypersonic ballistic missile was fired at the Orot Rabin power station in southern Haifa.
The Yemeni Houthi group said Sunday that the American-British coalition had carried out three airstrikes on their stronghold city of Saada in northwestern Yemen.
Turkish, Jordanian officials' meeting in 3+3 format
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief Ibrahim Kalin to meet with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Jordanian Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Al-Hunaiti, and Jordanian General Intelligence Department Chief Maj. Gen. Ahmed Husni in a 3+3 format in the capital Ankara.
Turkish president to chair Cabinet meeting
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to chair a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara.
President Macron to address French ambassadors in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron to address French ambassadors in Paris. He is expected to talk about French foreign policies.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy on trial
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy goes on trial over accusations he illegally received money from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential campaign. The trial is expected to last for a week. Sarkozy, who was the president from 2007 to 2012, was previously sentenced to 3 years in prison in a separate corruption case, but 2 years of his sentence was postponed and the remaining year was converted in house imprisonment with an electronic tag. The court rejected his appeal in December.
UK Defense Ministry to answer lawmakers' questions
Officials from the Ministry of Defense to answer questions by lawmakers in the House of Commons. Questions are likely to include the situation in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.
London rally for Palestine
A Pro-Palestinian rally to take place in Parliament Square to protest ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestinian health care system.
Reducing child poverty in UK: Resolution Foundation report
Rising parental employment over the last two decades has changed the focus of tackling child poverty in Britain from supporting workless households to supporting those in work, according to a report by the Resolution Foundation. The report says many kinds of working families face a greater risk of poverty than at the turn of the millennium, with most families in poverty in Britain today already including at least one person in work. The think tank says the new government's forthcoming child poverty strategy must consider how to support working families to earn more.
Biden visits New Orleans after deadly attack
President Joe Biden to travel to New Orleans after a pickup truck attack killed 14 people and injured 35 others on New Year's Day.
Congress to certify Electoral College votes
Senate and House of Representatives to convene for a joint session at Congress to formally count and certify the Electoral College votes ahead of Inauguration Day.
UN meeting on protection of civilians in armed conflict
UN Security Council to meet in a session on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
Trudeau reported to be resigning this week
Developments after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reportedly preparing to announce his resignation this week. Citing anonymous sources, The Globe and Mail reported that Trudeau is expected to resign as leader of the Liberal Party possibly before a critical party meeting on Wednesday.
North Korea fires ballistic missile
Developments and reactions after North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). This marks North Korea's first ballistic missile launch of the year. The launch occurred roughly two weeks before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
US top diplomat holds talks in Seoul amid political crisis in South Korea
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold stalks in Seoul as political crisis drags on in South Korea. Blinken is paying his final trip to US allies in Far East as Biden administration moves out of the White House on Jan. 20. South Korea hosts more than 28,500 American troops besides bases and military arsenal.
Last push to arrest South Korean impeached president
Investigators have a last chance to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol before warrants expire. Yoon has so far defied and resisted to hand himself over to face questioning over Dec. 3 martial law. He is also facing charges of insurrection and treason and is under travel ban. A top court is also holding a trial on whether to remove or reinstate Yoon.
Indonesia launches free meal program
Indonesia launches President Prabowo Subianto’s much-awaited Free Nutritious Meal program. In the first phase running through March, National Nutrition Agency (Bapanas) to target schools, Islamic boarding schools, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers and aims to benefit three million recipients.
Foreign Ministry to hold news briefing in Beijing
China's Foreign Ministry to hold regular news conference in Beijing amid fresh tensions with India over two new counties along disputed Ladakh region, US top diplomat Antony Blinken's ongoing trip to South Korea and Japan as well as situation on Korean Peninsula.
Rally in support of ex-Premier Najib planned in Malaysia
A rally has been planned in Kuala Lumpur in support of imprisoned former Prime Minister Najib Razak. The rally is expected to go ahead despite no permission granted by police which urged people to stay away from attending it.
Chinese top diplomat to hold talks with Namibian president
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to hold talks with Namibia’s outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba and President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during his visit to the Southern African nation. Wang Yi is on a week-long tour of four countries, including the Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Chad.
Clashes intensify in eastern DR Congo, rebels seize key city
Hundreds of Congolese have fled their homes in the town of Masisi in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after M23 rebels seized the strategic town from government forces during heavy clashes.
The M23 rebels, who are said to be backed by the government of Rwanda, have taken control of large territory in the eastern Congo since 2021. Neighboring Uganda and Rwanda expect an influx of refugees.
Situation in Mozambique remains uncertain
Ongoing post-election violence in Mozambique after a week of relative calm. Supporters of Mozambique’s main opposition party PEDEMOS have been protesting since the electoral authority declared 47-year-old Daniel Chapo of the ruling Frelimo party the winner of the Oct. 9 presidential elections. Opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane refused the election outcome, claiming vote rigging and urged supporters to protest. At least 278 people have been killed since the main opposition party began protesting the alleged election fraud.
SPORTS
Italian Super Cup final in Riyadh (Football)
Inter Milan vs. AC Milan
English Premier League matchweek 20 (Football)
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Nottingham Forest
2025 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia (Off-road endurance)
Dakar Rally Stage 2, 48-hour chrono stage that started Sunday in Saudi Arabia's Bisha, to finish Monday in the same town.
THE ECONOMY
Germany’s inflation
Germany’s Destatis to share inflation figures for December. It rose to 2.2% in November from 2% in October. A slight increase is also expected for December.
US factory orders
US to release factory orders for November. Orders went up by 0.2% on a monthly basis but market expects a slight decline for November.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Is the UN’s role as global mediator coming to an end?
Report examining the accelerating international trend of countries mediating in conflicts instead of international institutions such as the UN.
The story details examples of growing mediation interventions by countries, and explains the reasons and significance of the shift away from platforms such as the UN.
The report explores the reasons for the failures of the UN and international bodies, and examines the rising chorus of calls for reforms and immediate structural changes.
The story includes interviews with Susan Akram, a professor at Boston University School of Law; Mark Seddon, director of the Centre for United Nations Studies at the University of Buckingham; and Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.
After Syria, British Palestinian academic hopes for peace in Gaza with stronger Turkish role
Interview with British Palestinian academic Ibrahim Assalia about Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and Türkiye’s potential role in bringing an end to the deadly war.
Assalia expresses hope for a stronger Turkish role to bring peace in Gaza, citing Ankara’s positive impact in helping Syrians take down the Assad regime.
Assalia, who has lost several family members to Israeli attacks, also speaks about the harrowing conditions being faced by Palestinians, criticizing the international community for its failures and calling for renewed efforts for a cease-fire.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO - Interview with British Palestinian academic Ibrahim Assalia about Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, Türkiye’s potential role in bringing an end to the deadly assault, and the worsening humanitarian situation for millions of displaced Palestinians.