Diary

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Iran-US tensions

Tensions between Iran and the US rose further after Tehran announced plans to conduct live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz next week in response to fears of a US strike on Iran. This atmosphere has arisen in response to US President Donald Trump's recent statement that a "massive armada" is on its way to Iran.

The EU's decision to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a "terrorist" organization will be met with more Iranian reactions.

Expected reopening of Rafah border crossing

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza is expected to reopen for the first time since Israel took control of it in May 2024, following Israel’s recovery of the body of its last captive days ago. The reopening is part of the commitments of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza.

Trump to announce new Federal Reserve chair

US President Donald Trump is expected to name his pick for the new Federal Reserve chair. He is scheduled to sign executive orders and attend policy meetings.

Senate to convene after lawmakers strike funding deal as shutdown looms

The US Senate is scheduled to convene after lawmakers reportedly reached a deal to fund a large portion of the government. If a spending package is not passed by the end of the day, the federal government will go into a partial shutdown.

Protests planned in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Protesters are slated to gather in downtown Minneapolis for a national strike amid ongoing unrest following a surge of federal immigration enforcement agents into the Twin Cities area and the killing of two American citizens within the span of a month.

Saudi defense minister visiting Washington

Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman is expected to continue holding talks with senior US officials in Washington, DC. Bin Salman held discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday.

European reactions to US-Iran tensions

The US builds up its military forces in the Middle East following protests across Iran, and the threat of a possible US-Iran war escalates.

Türkiye-Iran diplomatic meeting

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Istanbul.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman to hold weekly press briefing

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to hold a weekly press briefing in Moscow.

Russian Foreign Ministry special envoy to hold press briefing

Russian Foreign Ministry Special Envoy Rodion Miroshnik to hold a news conference at the ministry regarding developments in the Russia–Ukraine conflict. He will present an annual report on the humanitarian situation and may touch upon upcoming trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi.

UK Premier Starmer visits Shanghai

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Shanghai after holding high-level talks in Beijing. He is accompanied by some 60 leaders from the business, academia, and cultural sectors.

Japanese defense chief hosts South Korean counterpart

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi hosts his South Korean counterpart, Ahn Gyu Back, in his hometown of Yokosuka near the capital, Tokyo. The meeting comes as ties warm between the two Asian neighbors.

South Korean police question US firm's CEO

South Korean police question CEO Harold Rogers of US e-commerce firm Coupang over allegations related to a massive data breach.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye's foreign trade

TurkStat to release monthly foreign trade statistics for December. In November, the country posted a deficit of $9.42B. The country will also release tourism data for December.

Germany's GDP

Destatis to share quarterly economic growth data for the last quarter of 2025. In the third quarter of last year, the German gross domestic product (GDP) was stagnant compared to the previous quarter. Markets expect the economy to grow 0.2% in the last quarter. Destatis will also release inflation data.

SPECIAL REPORTS

‘Shotgun marriage’: How Trump accelerated EU-India ‘mother of all deals’

Report on how US President Donald Trump’s tariff and trade policies helped push the EU and India to finalize a long-delayed free trade agreement, reshaping global trade alignments.

The story details how the agreement will reshape global trade flows and examines how nearly two decades of stalled negotiations were rapidly concluded as both sides sought to hedge against US trade pressure, turning the pact into what analysts describe as a geopolitical “shotgun marriage.”

The report includes comments from Heribert Dieter, a senior fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, and Amitendu Palit, research lead of trade and economics at the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.

UK has ‘nuclear option’ to ban X, but it would be difficult process: Expert

Report on whether the UK could legally block access to X under the country’s online safety framework, examining the powers of Ofcom and the scope of the Online Safety Act amid an ongoing investigation into sexualized AI-generated content.

The story outlines the formal enforcement pathway available to regulators, including the possibility of seeking court approval to impose the most severe penalties, while assessing the legal and political barriers to a full platform ban.

The report draws on analysis from Alexandros Antoniou of the University of Essex, who says the UK theoretically has a “nuclear option” to block the platform but would face a slow and complex legal process requiring proof of serious and ongoing harm to users.

Why are divisions fueling violence as Bangladesh nears crucial elections?

Report on ongoing political violence in Bangladesh as the country approaches the Feb. 12 general election under an interim administration, with deep polarization and security concerns heightening fears of unrest during the campaign and on polling day.

The story examines how the former allies that ousted the Hasina government in the 2024 mass uprising have splintered into rival camps, turning the election into a high-stakes contest between pro-reform forces and status-quo interests amid persistent political killings, ideological rivalries, and concerns over a politicized judiciary, administrative fragility, media partisanship, and regional interference.

The report includes comments from Thomas Kean, senior consultant on Myanmar and Bangladesh at the International Crisis Group; Zakaria Polash, Bangladesh-based political analyst and author; and Salman al-Azami, senior academic in media and communication at Liverpool Hope University.