By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies
MIDDLE EAST
PALESTINE
Gaza City – Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza persists, resulting in a reported 29,954 casualties and 70,325 injuries, according to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). A 50% drop in aid flow this month has triggered conditions resembling a famine.
Ramallah – Daily military incursions by the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank have led to the death of at least 410 Palestinians and injuries to over 4,600 others since Oct. 7. The number of arrests has surged to nearly 7,305, marking record highs over the past four months.
Israeli forces conducted raids in Al-Walaja, south of East Jerusalem, demolishing three houses under the pretext of lacking building permits, as reported by municipal chief Hadir al-Araj.
QATAR
Doha – Mediation efforts are underway to secure a cease-fire deal and hostage swap between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip. Reports suggest a possible agreement ahead of the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan next week.
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv – Insights into the battlefield situation of the Israeli army in the war on Gaza. Israeli military analyst Yossi Yehoshua revealed significant losses among soldiers and commanders, with thousands injured. The ongoing conflict is anticipated to leave 12,000 Israeli soldiers with disabilities by the end of the year.
LEBANON
Beirut – Cross-border clashes between the Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel continue. Appeals for both parties to halt hostilities intensify, marking the most severe clashes since the full-scale war in 2006.
YEMEN
Sanaa – Escalating tensions in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel. US retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen raise concerns about a deadly impact on shipping traffic.
EUROPE
SWITZERLAND
Geneva – UN Human Rights Council continues its session, featuring an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice.
UK
London – The Home Office is set to publish quarterly statistics on irregular migration to the UK.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Sarajevo – Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler’s visit to the Turkish Representation Team of the European Union Peacekeeping Mission (EUFOR). Meetings with EUFOR Commander Major General Laszlo Sticz and NATO’s Sarajevo Commander Brigadier General Pamela McGaha are planned.
US
Washington – President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are scheduled to visit the US-Mexico border on the same day. Biden’s visit to Brownsville includes meetings with Border Patrol agents, law enforcement, and local leaders, while Trump will visit Eagle Pass.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to appear before the US House Armed Services Committee to discuss issues related to his hospitalization at the start of the year. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib will host a press conference on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza City, joined by colleagues including Ilhan Omar and Cory Bush, at Capitol Hill.
TÜRKİYE
Antalya – Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan is set to hold bilateral meetings a day ahead of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
EURASIA
RUSSIA
Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the Russian parliament and Federal Assembly. Representatives of different Palestinian political forces will gather for a three-day meeting in Moscow, attempting to reconcile their positions in the face of the situation in Gaza.
AFRICA
NIGERIA
Abuja – Nigeria’s national assembly opens debate on the amendment of the country’s constitution, following increasing condemnation of the current law.
KENYA
Nairobi – A high-level segment of the United Nations Environment Assembly kicks off in Kenya, with heads of state expected to issue national statements.
CHAD
N’Djamena – Coverage of the latest on the security situation in Chad after several people were killed in an attack on the headquarters of the National Security Agency. Many people have been arrested.
ASIA – PACIFIC
PAKISTAN
Islamabad – The maiden sitting of the newly-elected parliament will begin to elect a new speaker, deputy speaker, and leader of the house for a five-year term.
CHINA
Beijing – The Foreign Ministry is set to hold a routine news conference.
SOUTH KOREA
Seoul – Protesting medics have the last day to resume work, or the government will take action, including canceling their licenses from March 1. Thousands of junior doctors have walked off work to protest the government’s move to increase medical seats.
THE ECONOMY
Berlin – Destatis will reveal retail sales figures for January and inflation figures for February.
SPORTS
BILBAO, Spain – Athletic Bilbao is set to play against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) semifinal 2nd leg. Athletic Bilbao won the 1st leg 1-0 in February. The winning club of this tie will face Mallorca in the final in Seville on April 6.
Madrid – After a 2-week break, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is set to return. Leaders Real Madrid will meet third-place Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in a Round 27 game in Spain. Meanwhile, Turkey’s Anadolu Efes, in 14th spot, is set to visit Serbia’s Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.