ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):
Gaza ceasefire, hostage swap deal
Latest developments after phase one of the Gaza ceasefire deal, which began on Jan. 19, ended on March 2 and was not extended, nor did it move into the second phase.
White House Middle East envoy Steve Wietkoff is expected in Qatar on Tuesday to push for a breakthrough on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas as Tel Aviv continues to refuse progress on the second phase.
The visit follows the arrival of an Israeli negotiating team in Doha.
Hamas reiterated on Monday its “full commitment” to the agreement and readiness to begin phase two negotiations immediately.
The group also condemned Israel for violating the agreement by failing to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in southern Gaza by the 50-day deadline, which fell on Sunday.
Ukrainian president’s visit to Saudi Arabia
Second day of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Saudi Arabia to hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy arrived in the kingdom on Monday and was scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival, according to Saudi media outlets.
In February, Saudi Arabia also facilitated talks in Riyadh between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Rubio as part of the kingdom’s efforts to improve relations between Washington and Moscow.
Humanitarian and security situation in Gaza
Humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip as Israel escalated its attacks across Gaza last week after the expiry of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
On Monday, several people were killed and injured as Israeli drone struck a group of people in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to medics.
In another attack, a Palestinian man was seriously injured by Israeli army fire in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in the southern city of Rafah.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has approved military plans to resume the war in Gaza if negotiations fail, Israel’s public broadcaster reported.
The plans include ramping up airstrikes, expanding ground operations, and re-evacuating Palestinians from northern Gaza.
The latest casualties have pushed the overall death toll from Israel’s genocidal war since October 2023 to nearly 48,4500, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Israeli raids in West Bank
Nearly daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank with the army deploying tanks in the northern parts of the territory for the first time in over two decades.
On Monday, Palestinian prisoners’ affairs groups said that the Israeli army detained 762 Palestinians in military raids across the occupied West Bank in February.
The escalation came amid a deadly Israeli military onslaught in the northern West Bank since Jan. 21, killing more than 66 Palestinians and displacing thousands.
Israel's violations in southern Lebanon following incomplete pullout
Aftermath of the incomplete Israeli army withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
On Monday, the Lebanese Army said Israeli forces shot and wounded one of its soldiers in the southern town of Kfar Shouba before capturing him.
For his part, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem vowed to “confront” Israel if its occupation of southern Lebanon continues after a ceasefire deal between Tel Aviv and Beirut took place in Nov. 27
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.
Security developments in Syria
Latest security developments and updates in Syria following days of clashes between security forces and Assad’s loyalists.
On Monday, the Syrian Defense Ministry said that its military operation against the remnants of the deposed Bashar Assad regime in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus has concluded.
Syria’s military police arrested two individuals after they appeared in a video committing abuses against civilians in a coastal village.
Last week, Latakia and Tartus witnessed coordinated attacks by Assad loyalists against security forces.
Following all topics through translation from Arabic wire, official accounts, and relevant websites in addition to giving breakings about related possible important developments.
Türkiye-Netherlands meeting
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet with Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp, who will pay one-day working visit to Türkiye.
Turkish president's iftar dinner
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will host an iftar dinner, a special fast-breaking meal for the Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan, for the Palestinians at the presidential complex.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict - Middle East minister at select committee session
The UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee session will convene on the conflict between Israel and Palestine with the participation of the Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Hamish Falconer.
UN briefing
The UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists in Geneva.
German coalition talks
Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU alliance and center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) will continue formal negotiations to form a coalition government. Preliminary talks concluded Saturday with broad agreement on contentious issues.
Conservative leader Friedrich Merz, the country's likely next chancellor, expressed hope to establish the coalition government before the Easter holiday (April 20–21).
Following Germany's February 23 elections, Merz's CDU/CSU alliance won 28.5% of votes, while the Social Democrats hit their lowest-ever result at 16.4%. Together, their combined 328 seats would surpass the 316-seat majority needed in the Bundestag.
NATO chief visits Kosovo
The North Atlantic Council, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska will visit KFOR, the NATO-led mission in Kosovo, and the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team.
The secretary-general will also meet Foreign Minister Vjosa Osmani and Premier Albin Kurti in Pristina for bilateral discussions.
Reactions to Ukraine-US meeting in Saudi Arabia
Reactions from of Kyiv and Moscow to be followed as senior officials from Ukraine and the US to hold talks in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah on the topic of finding a just and lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Kyiv will be represented at the meeting by a delegation also containing the country's foreign and defense ministers. The meeting comes just over a week after a heated argument between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office.
Top Russian diplomat to hold talks with OSCE secretary general
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to hold talks with visiting Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu in the capital Moscow.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the meeting will address both current issues under the secretary general’s mandate and the general state of affairs within the OSCE, particularly in light of what Moscow describes as a "profound existential and institutional crisis" within the organization.
Trump address - Business Roundtable meeting
US President Donald Trump will deliver remarks at quarterly meeting of Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of America's leading companies. His address comes a day after stock market posted the largest one-day loss since 2022 after Trump declined to rule out recession.
Former inspectors general suing Trump - hearing on preliminary injunction request
A hearing in a lawsuit by eight former inspectors general suing the Trump administration over their January termination. Plaintiffs seek a preliminary injunction, alleging the administration failed to provide Congress the required 30-day notice.
US House of Representatives - planned vote on short-term funding bill
House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to hold a vote on the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 that would extend government beyond Friday through Sept. 30 and avert a partial shutdown.
UN Security Council - Cooperation with the EU discussed
UN Security Council will meet for a briefing on cooperation between the UN and European Union. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas takes part. Desk will monitor key remarks from the session.
Volcano of Fire is erupting
Developments after Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire began activity and erupts as authorities have evacuated nearly 300 families while warning that another 30,000 people in the area could be at risk.
Humanitarian situation remains worrying in eastern DR Congo
Developments as humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains worrisome as the M23 rebels control the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. Recently, Germany joined the US and UK in imposing financial sanctions on Rwanda over its alleged support for the M23 rebel group. Fighting since January has led to the deaths of more than 8,500 people, with at least 5,700 wounded, according to Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba.
Indian premier visits Mauritius
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to begin his two-day state visit to Mauritius. He will attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius on March 12 as the chief guest.
During the visit, Modi will meet his counterpart and the president of Mauritius, besides holding meetings with senior dignitaries and leaders of political parties in Mauritius.
South Korea's political crisis continues as chief prosecutor rejects opposition's demand to resign
Political temperatures continue to haunt South Korea as the country's chief prosecutor rejected opposition's demand to resign for not appealing against release of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon's fate lies with the country's Constitutional Court, which is set to announce its verdict to whether uphold or dismiss his impeachment by the National Assembly, in a few days.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to impact Australia
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to dump rains, inundating roads, shutting schools, and leaving over 238,000 households without power in large swaths of Australia's New South Wales and Queensland states. Weather authorities have warned more rains and flooding over the next 24 hours in several districts of the two states. The ex-tropical cyclone reached the Queensland coast on Saturday as a “tropical low” after 16 days as a cyclone.
THE ECONOMY
Türkiye’s retail trade figures
The Turkish Statistical Institute will release retail trade and turnover indexes for January.
SPECIAL REPORTS
South Sudan: Why are political tensions escalating and what comes next?
Report on rising violence and political tensions in South Sudan amid a growing rift between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar.
The story details the reasons for the spiraling fighting in recent days, which is threatening an already fragile peace deal between Kiir and Machar, sparking fears of renewed conflict. It also gives an overview of other related recent developments, including high-level arrests and dismissals of political and army figures.
The report includes interviews with Daniel Akech, senior analyst for South Sudan at the International Crisis Group, and Edmund Yakani, the executive director of the CEPO.
South Sudan, who lay out the possible domestic and geopolitical repercussions of the escalating tensions.
Climate change and more: Kashmir’s ancient Chinar trees in peril
Report on the alarming decline of Kashmir’s iconic Chinar trees, with their population plummeting due to climate change, urban expansion, and illegal felling.
The story explains how Chinar numbers have dropped over recent decades, identifying the key reasons for the crisis such as increasing climate-related disasters, rapid urbanization, and violations of legal measures.
The report includes insights from Kashmiri environmental activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat; Anzar Ahmad Khuroo, a professor of botany at the University of Kashmir; Mukhtar Ahmad, director of the region’s met department; and historian Abdul Ahad.