ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):
Gaza ceasefire, prisoner swap deal
Day 15 of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as the first phase of the Hamas-Israel deal continues. The phase, which includes a prisoner exchange, started on Jan. 19 and is set to last for 42 days.
Israel on Saturday released Palestinians from its jails in the fourth prisoner-hostage swap under the ongoing ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Thirty-two of the freed prisoners from the occupied West Bank were handed over to the International Red Cross from the Ofer Prison facility near Ramallah, in line with the terms of the Jan. 19 truce.
Later, 143 freed Palestinian prisoners arrived in the Gaza Strip escorted by the Red Cross. Many were taken to the European Hospital in Khan Younis.
Among them, 111 were arrested by the Israeli army in Gaza in the course of its war that began on Oct. 7, 2023.
A total of 183 Palestinians were released on Saturday from Israeli jails.
Earlier, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, released three Israeli captives from Gaza and handed them over to the Red Cross.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to visit US
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will begin a visit to the United States on Sunday to meet with President Donald Trump.
This will be his first international trip since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Nov. 21, 2024, on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
Trump and Netanyahu “will discuss Gaza, the hostages, dealing with all components of the Iranian axis and other main issues,” according to the prime minister’s office.
Kuwait’s first deputy prime minister to meet Egyptian president
A meeting between Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Interior Fahd Yousef Saud Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is set to take place on Sunday during Al-Sabah’s two-day visit to Cairo, according to Kuwait’s ambassador to Egypt, Ghanem Al-Ghanem.
Humanitarian and security situation in Gaza
The humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip during ceasefire.
Palestinian medics recovered 24 bodies from the rubble in Gaza, pushing the overall death toll from Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave since October 2023 to 47,487, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.
The first batch of wounded Palestinians and patients on Saturday left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing to undergo medical treatment in Egypt.
Their exit marks the first day of the Rafah crossing opening in accordance with the ceasefire agreement that took effect on Jan. 19.
Israeli violations of Lebanon ceasefire
Israeli army violations of a ceasefire deal after Lebanon and Israel agreed to extend a deadline for Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon until Feb. 18.
The Israeli army on Saturday set fire to more buildings in Marjayoun district, southern Lebanon, again violating the Nov. 27 ceasefire, state media reported.
Israeli drones also dropped bombs on vehicles clearing rubble in the town of Taybeh.
The latest breaches bring the total number of ceasefire violations to 830, according to data compiled by Anadolu.
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.
The Israeli assault on Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank has entered its 13th day, with ongoing clashes, a continued siege, and escalated attacks in Tubas and Qalqilya.
On Saturday, five Palestinians were killed and three injured in Israeli airstrikes on Jenin. Since Jan. 21, the assault has killed 22 Palestinians, including two children, injured over 50, displaced nearly 2,000 families, and destroyed or burned over 100 homes, according to Palestinian sources.
Meanwhile, for the fifth day, Israeli forces continued their offensive in Tulkarm refugee camp, destroying infrastructure, arresting dozens, displacing hundreds, and killing three Palestinians since Tuesday, including a child and a journalist.
Israel has killed more than 900 people in the occupied West Bank 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 Assad administration.
At least three people were killed and 15 others injured in a terrorist attack in the Manbij district of Syria's Aleppo province on Saturday, security sources said.
A bomb-laden vehicle exploded in the Rabita neighborhood of Manbij, which is under the control of the Syrian National Army.
Ahmad Al-Sharaa has received official congratulations from several Arab nations following his assumption of role as Syria’s transitional president.
Official statements from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, and Yemen expressed support for Sharaa’s leadership and the restructuring efforts underway in the war-torn country.
Deteriorating situation in war-torn Sudan
The dire security situation which continues in the North African nation amid intensified clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Sudanese army announced Saturday that it had regained control of Al-Hasaheisa and Al-Rufaa in Al-Jazira State from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday evening of killing more than 60 civilians in an artillery shelling on the Sabreen market in Omdurman, west of the capital Khartoum.
Turkish foreign minister's working visit
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to pay a working visit to Qatar.
Political crisis in South Korea
Political crisis continues in South Korea after impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol asked three Constitutional Court judges to recuse themselves from martial law trial. Yoon is facing a case of insurrection and abuse of power over short-lived martial law of Dec. 3.
Hindu monks to release ‘constitution for Unified Hindu Nation’
A purported constitution for the proposed "Akhand Hindu Rashtra" (Unified Hindu Nation) prepared by a 25-member committee of Hindu monks to be revealed at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, India’s largest Hindu festival. It is likely to be sent to federal government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Humanitarian situation in Goma remains dire
As relative calm returns to Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, residents continue to live without clean running water and electricity which were disconnected a week after the M23 rebels took partial control of the city . Hospitals dealing with trauma cases are overwhelmed and medical teams are exhausted. Bodies are also reported to be scattered across town after at least 700 people were killed and 2,800 injured in five days of heavy fighting.
Outbreak of Ebola virus in Uganda
Developments on the outbreak of Ebola virus disease reported in Uganda after the death of a 32-year-old male nurse at the country’s main referral hospital in the capital Kampala. The World Health Organization and its partners are supporting the country to contain the spread of the disease. Officials expected to give an update.
Rwanda expected to deploy new contingent of troops to Cabo Delgado Mozambique
The Rwanda Security Forces (RSF) are expected to deploy a new contingent of troops to Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado Northern Province to fight terrorist groups there. The Rwanda Defense Force leadership briefed the RSF contingent late last week ahead of their anticipated deployment this week to the South East African nation. The East African country already has 2,000 troops in Mozambique helping the government there fight terrorist groups in Cabo Delgado.
SPORTS
Italian Serie A Week 23
Inter Milan vs. AC Milan
Roma vs. Napoli
French Ligue 1 Week 20
Olympique Marseille vs. Olympique Lyon
English Premier League Matchday 24
Arsenal vs. Manchester City