ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, March 25, 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, violating the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas.
On Monday, at least 41 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, the Nuseirat refugee camp, Al-Mughraqa town and Gaza City.
After the Israeli army announced Sunday that it had surrounded Tel al-Sultan in Rafah, the Rafah Municipality in southern Gaza accused Israel of committing genocide by besieging, killing, and starving thousands of civilians in the western part of the city for a second consecutive day.
The Israeli army killed 61 more Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, taking the overall death toll since October 2023 to over 50,000, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
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.
On Monday, Israeli forces stormed the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, arresting 30 Palestinians from various cities.
Doctors Without Borders warned of a sharp increase in violence against Palestinians and systematic obstruction of healthcare access in the occupied territory.
Tension has been running high across the occupied West Bank, where at least 937 Palestinians have been killed and over 7,000 injured in attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers since the start of the Gaza onslaught on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Growing protests in Israel amid calls to negotiate hostages deal with Hamas
Mounting outrage against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government continues to grow as calls grow to end the war in Gaza and negotiate with Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages.
The anger intensified after Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, released a new video showing two Israeli captives urging their government to stop the war to secure their freedom, saying: “We saw death with our own eyes after the fighting resumed on March 18.”
US aggression on Yemen, Houthis' strikes against Israel
Developments in US aggression against Yemen, as well as the Houthi military operations against Israel.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said on Sunday that American forces have “taken out key Houthi leadership, including their head missileer,” although the Pentagon has yet to confirm specific targets.
The Yemeni Houthi group has not acknowledged the loss.
The group announced Sunday night that four people were killed and two others wounded following US airstrikes on a residential building in the capital Sanaa.
Israel's violations in southern Lebanon following incomplete pullout
Aftermath of the incomplete Israeli army withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
On Monday, the Israeli army launched airstrikes on the outskirts of Shebaa in southern Lebanon and deployed low-flying drones over Beirut and its southern suburbs.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army announced that its forces dismantled an earthen barrier and filled in a trench that the Israeli military had constructed near the town of Rmaish in southern Lebanon.
Jordan’s king expected to visit to the UAE
Jordan’s King Abdullah II is expected to visit Abu Dhabi, UAE for a meeting with President Mohammed bin Zayed, according to unofficial Jordanian media reports.
Military, humanitarian situation in war-torn Sudan
The security and humanitarian situation in the northern African country as the Sudanese army continues to expand its control in central Khartoum, advancing east and south to eliminate remaining of the RSF in the capital.
On Monday, the International Organization for Migration reported that 15,000 families have been displaced from the town of Al-Malha in North Darfur due to clashes between the army and RSF.
New German parliament meets for first time
Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, holds its inaugural meeting following last month's snap elections, where Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats defeated Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats. The agenda includes the election of the Bundestag President, for which the Christian Democrats have nominated Julia Klockner as their candidate.
Serbian president visits Brussels
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is expected to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to discuss Serbia's EU membership bid, along with regional and international matters.
UN briefing in Geneva
The UN Information Service will hold its bi-weekly briefing for journalists in Geneva.
Swearing-in ceremony of Belarusian president
The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to be held on March 25 in Minsk. Lukashenko's inauguration comes as the incumbent head of state won a seventh term in office following a presidential election held in January.
Rubio-Fidan meeting at US State Department
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the Department of State.
Mike Johnson and House Republicans - press conference
House Speaker Mike Johnson will lead a press conference alongside Republican leaders following their conference meeting.
Nominees to be US ambassadors to Israel and Panama - confirmation hearing
Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold hearing to consider the nominations Mike Huckabee to be Ambassador to Israel and Kevin Cabrera to be Ambassador to Panama.
US-Russia Riyadh talks - statement expected
Joint statement expected Tuesday following Monday's talks between US and Russian officials on Ukraine in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Worldwide threats - US Senate committee hearing; intelligence chiefs testify
Senate Intelligence Committee will hold open hearing on worldwide threats. Witnesses include: CIA Director John Ratcliffe, DNI Director Tulsi Gabbard, NSA Director General Timothy Haugh, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse.
Mahmoud Khalil suing Columbia University over disciplinary records - hearing
Hearing that will take place regarding Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil's attempt to block the university and Barnard College from sharing his disciplinary records with House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist, was detained on March 8 despite being a lawful permanent resident.
UN Security Council - Syria discussed
UN Security Council will meet for a briefing on the Middle East followed by consultations on the political and humanitarian situation in Syria.
Brazilian president pays state visit to Japan
Brazilian President Lula da Silva is on a state visit to Japan. Ahead of his official bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Lula was received by Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. This is first time in six years that Japanese imperial family has received state guests.
Brazilian Supreme Court - case against former President Jair Bolsonaro considered
Brazil's top court, the Supremo Tribunal Federal, is expected to consider whether to proceed with the case against former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven others accused of attempting to orchestrate a coup d'etat after losing the 2022 elections. If the court decides to proceed, the accused may be taken into custody.
Developments on 'Izaguirre Ranch' in Mexico
Developments after Mexican authorities arrested a suspected high-ranking Jalisco Cartel New Generation member Jose Gregorio Lastra Hermida, who ran the "Izaguirre Ranch," a forced recruitment site labeled an extermination camp. Human remains and victims' clothing were found there.
Australian government proposes last budget before May polls
The government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presents its last budget before Australia goes to general elections in May.
Wildfires spread to more areas in South Korea
One of the worst wildfires have spread to more areas in South Korea. The affected areas in the country's southeastern region were designated as special disaster zones amid continued efforts to put out the fires for fourth consecutive day. Several people have died while hundreds have been displaced.
Western Japan wildfires trigger mass evacuation
Japan is battling mountainous wildfire in two western provinces from where many people have been evacuated. Authorities deployed aerial firefighting vehicles to extinguish the blaze.
Chinese Foreign Ministry to hold briefing in Beijing
China’s Foreign Ministry to hold briefing in Beijing. The ministry is expected to deliver statements on recent developments such as ongoing peace efforts in Ukraine by the US and Russia as well as trip to Beijing by dozens of global CEOs.
Boao Forum for Asia kicks off in China
Annual Boao Forum for Asia kicks off in China’s southern island province of Hainan. With a theme of Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future, the forum will run through March 28 with participants expected to discuss globalization, political and economic uncertainties. Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, are expected to participate in the forum.
Pakistani court hears corruption conviction annulment plea of ex-Premier Khan
After many delays, Islamabad High Court hears plea by former Prime Minister Imran Khan to annul his, and his wife’s, conviction in a corruption case, involving €190 million ($205.2 million). This is the last case in which former cricket star is convicted and is behind bars.
THE ECONOMY
Türkiye's capacity utilization
TurkStat to release capacity utilization rates for Türkiye's manufacturing sector for March. It stood at 74.5% in February.
German business climate
Germany's ifo institute will share business sentiment index for March. It stood at 85.2 in February. A similar figure is expected for this month.
European car sales
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association will release car sales figures for February.
US home sales
US to share new home sales figures for February. The figure decreased 10.5% in January with a total of 647,000 new houses sold in the US. Country will also share house price index.
SPECIAL REPORTS
What next for Ethiopia as tensions resurface in Tigray?
Report on rising tensions in Ethiopia and fears of another devastating war in the Horn of Africa amid growing instability in the Tigray region due to internal power struggles within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The story details the fallout from TPLF’s factional split between interim leader Getachew Reda and former chairman Debretsion Gebremichael, and looks at the potential humanitarian consequences and wider geopolitical risks of renewed conflict.
It includes comments from Ethiopian analyst Mohammedawel Hagos and Ibrahim Mulushewa, head of the Center for Integrated Regional Studies think tank, who warn about the risk of deepened internal divisions and a renewed spell of violence that could destabilize the wider region.
Monsoon dread in India as US funding cuts dent weather monitoring
Report on the impact of the Trump administration’s drastic budget cuts to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which has raised concerns in India over its ability to track extreme weather events and predict monsoons.
The report explains how the NOAA’s data plays a crucial role in forecasting monsoons and cyclones, with its observational network providing up to 50% of data in the Indian Ocean. It has insights from Indian experts about how the disruptions could weaken forecast accuracy, affecting agriculture, economic stability, and disaster preparedness.
The report includes comments from Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology; Raghu Murtugudde, an Earth scientist and emeritus professor at the University of Maryland; and Ruhie Kumar, an Indian climate change campaigner.