ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, March 21, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):
Israel resumes genocidal war on Gaza
Latest developments as Israel resumed genocidal war on the Gaza Strip for the fourth day, violating the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
The Israeli army banned Palestinians on Thursday from traveling through the Salah al-Din Street, a route designed by Tel Aviv for safe passage between northern Gaza and the south.
It further issued a “final warning” to Palestinians in the Bani Suheila area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza to evacuate before launching airstrikes.
The Yemeni Houthi group claimed a missile attack on Beni Gurion Airport in central Israel and a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea on Thursday.
Besides, Hamas group's armed wing on Thursday announced firing a barrage of rockets toward Tel Aviv, central Israel, marking the first rocket firing from Gaza since Israel broke the ceasefire on Tuesday.
The Palestinian death toll from Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023 mounted to 49,617 people, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.
Gaza's Government Media Office announced Thursday evening that the death toll from the Israeli attacks since their resumption early last Tuesday has risen to 591, with 1,042 injured.
Meanwhile, Hamas said that talks are ongoing with mediators to stop Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and implement a ceasefire agreement in the enclave.
US attacks on Yemen
On Thursday evening, Yemen's Houthi group announced that four US airstrikes targeted the Al-Katheeb area in the city of Al Hudaydah, western Yemen.
Israeli raids in West Bank
Nearly daily Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank especially in the northern parts of the territory.
Israel’s systematic home demolitions in the West Bank aim to change the demography of the occupied territory, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
A ministry statement said scores of homes were razed by the Israeli army in the northern West Bank, especially in the Jenin refugee camp where Israeli authorities threatened to demolish 60 houses there.
Developments in Syria under new administration
Latest developments and updates in Syria under the new post-Bashar al-Assad administration.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met in Damascus on Thursday with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and European Parliament member Armin Laschet.
Syrian security forces arrested a former commander in the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad on Thursday for involvement in war crimes in Syria, the Interior Ministry said.
Security situation on Syria-Lebanon border
Latest development on security tensions along the Lebanon-Syria border.
Lebanese media reported rocket fire from Syria into the border town of Hosh Al-Sayyed Ali on Thursday.
According to the state news agency NNA, several shells were fired from the Qusayr countryside in Homs province in western Syria.
There was no immediate comment from the Syrian authorities on the report.
On Wednesday, Lebanese and Syrian authorities agreed to withdraw their forces from Hosh al-Sayyed Ali town, with Damascus vowing a “decisive and immediate” reaction to any breach by Hezbollah after the two sides exchanged fire in recent days.
Military and humanitarian situation in war-torn Sudan
The security and humanitarian situation in the northern African country as the Sudanese army in recent days has made military gains against paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in key areas and states.
The Sudanese army is close to regaining control of the Presidential Palace in Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which suffered casualties and material losses during their attempted withdrawal from the palace early Thursday, according to local media.
Trump, Hegseth address at White House
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth deliver remarks from Oval Office at White House.
Developments in wake of executive order to close Department of Education
Developments after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Trump has said that the agency is wasteful, suggesting its funding would be better spent by individual states.
UN Security Council - Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be discussed
UN Security Council will meet for a briefing on Resolution 2334 on Israel’s establishment of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.
Mark Carney and provincial premiers - meeting
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet with premiers from Canadian provinces. Following key outcomes from his meeting amid reports Carney is set to call for snap elections on Sunday.
German Bundesrat to vote on €500-billion fund
The Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament, will vote on constitutional changes allowing the incoming government to borrow for major defense and infrastructure projects. The proposed amendments would exempt defense spending above 1% of GDP from the "debt brake" rule and create a €500 billion ($542 billion) special fund for infrastructure and climate protection initiatives.
German chancellor hopeful Merz to deliver speech
Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next chancellor, will deliver a speech addressing domestic and international issues in Frankfurt. He will speak at the annual FAZ Congress, organized by the influential conservative-liberal daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which draws prominent figures from politics, business, and academia. The speech holds particular significance as Merz spearheads coalition negotiations with the center-left Social Democrats, aiming to form a new government after last month's parliamentary elections.
Turkish president to speak with head of Bosnia’s Democratic Action Party
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold a phone call with Bakir Izzetbegovic, president of the Democratic Action Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Erdogan to also attend March 21 Nowruz Day commemoration program at the Halic Congress Center, and have an iftar dinner with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau at the Dolmabahce Office of the Presidency.
Turkish, Hungarian foreign ministers meet
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to meet with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto.
UN briefing in Geneva
The UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists in Geneva.
Russia-US normalization and Ukrainian settlement
Developments related to the recent Russia-US, and US-Ukraine contacts to find peace in Ukraine.
Chinese Foreign Ministry to hold briefing in Beijing
China’s Foreign Ministry to hold briefing in Beijing. The ministry is expected to deliver remarks on economic, political developments at regional and global levels.
South Korean MPs likely to move impeachment motion against acting president
South Korean lawmakers are likely to impeach acting President Choi Sang-mok for not appointing a ninth justice at the Constitutional Court which is set to deliver verdicts in impeachment motions against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol and Premier Han Duck-soo. The top court has capacity of total nine judges but only eight are working since Choi refused to accept parliament nomination for the ninth justice. While the top court is set to deliver verdict against Premier Han on Monday, no date has been given in the case of Yoon who was impeached last December over his bid to impose martial law.
Namibia to inaugurate its 1st female president
Namibia’s first woman president-elect, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, to take office in a ceremony to coincide with the country’s 35th Independence Day. Nandi-Ndaitwah won last December’s general election and takes over from Hage Geingob who died in office in Feb. 2024. The inauguration is expected to be attended by several regional and international leaders in the Namibian capital Windhoek.
THE ECONOMY
Türkiye's consumer confidence
TurkStat to share consumer confidence index figure for March. It increased to 82.1 in February from 81 in January.
Foreign arrivals in Türkiye
TurkStat will share foreign tourist arrival figures for February.
Russian Central Bank to hold meeting on key rate
Russia's Central Bank to outline the state of affairs in Russian economy and to announce its decision on the key rate.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Poland, Baltics’ landmine treaty exit undermines international law, could trigger domino effect: Global watchdog
Report on the decision by Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to withdraw from the 1997 mine ban treaty, a move condemned by disarmament advocates as a threat to international humanitarian law and a potential catalyst for further treaty withdrawals.
The story examines the humanitarian and legal implications of this withdrawal, with the (ICBL) warning that the decision undermines decades of progress in banning anti-personnel mines, which disproportionately harm civilians.
It includes an interview with ICBL Director Tamar Gabelnick, who highlights the risks of a “domino effect,” where other nations may follow suit, citing security concerns to justify abandoning international agreements.
Carbon credits or land grab? Tanzania’s Maasai face new ‘existential threat’
Report on the rising tensions in northern Tanzania as international carbon credit projects increasingly encroach on Maasai pastoral lands, raising concerns about land rights, informed consent, and long-term survival.
The story builds on a report by the Maasai International Solidarity Alliance (MISA), which warns that large-scale carbon credit schemes backed by major companies are being implemented with little community consultation. Activists and legal experts argue that carbon contracts limit pastoral mobility, divide communities, and could result in long-term land loss, echoing past displacements justified in the name of conservation.
The report includes interviews with Maasai elders, herders and activists, including MISA coordinator Ndia Marikoi and Maasai lawyer Joseph Oleshangay.
NEW MEDIA
VIDEO - Interview with Tamar Gabelnick, director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, about the impact of the decision by Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to withdraw from the 1997 mine ban treaty.