Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, April 16, 2026 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):
The eighth day of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other. The latest developments were developed after a high-ranking Pakistani delegation, led by the army chief, arrived in Iran on Wednesday to lay out plans for a possible second round of talks with the US. The delegation's visit follows rare direct talks between Washington and Tehran in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, on Saturday. The negotiations ended early Sunday with no agreement. The impact of the US naval blockade on ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports is expected to be discussed in Tehran with the Pakistani delegation.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif continues his Gulf visit, during which he is scheduled to hold talks in Saudi Arabia and Qatar before traveling to Türkiye for the fifth edition of Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Israeli airstrikes continue across Lebanon, causing casualties and destruction. The attacks come despite Washington-brokered talks on Tuesday that were aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement and starting direct negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, where they are expected to discuss tensions between Europe and the US over the Strait of Hormuz, as well as deeper EU-NATO cooperation. No media opportunity is foreseen; any statements will follow.
French lawmakers are set to examine a controversial draft law proposed by lawmaker Caroline Yadan in the National Assembly, aimed at tackling what officials describe as “new forms of antisemitism.” The bill, backed by the government and supported by some other parties, seeks to expand offenses related to terrorism apology and criminalize calls for the destruction of a state, widely seen as targeting rhetoric about Israel.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomes Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Berlin for talks on bilateral cooperation, EU policy issues, and international developments. The visit comes ahead of Ireland taking over the EU’s rotating term presidency on July 1.
President Emmanuel Macron chairs a virtual meeting to discuss imposing a social media ban on children under 15. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is among the confirmed participants.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte travels to the Czech Republic, where he meets with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis. Both are expected to discuss Euro-Atlantic security, defense spending, and related issues.
Pope Leo XIV continues his African tour by visiting Cameroon. He will travel to Bamenda, where he will address a "meeting for peace" and hold a Holy Mass at Bamenda International Airport before returning to the capital, Yaounde.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the dinner at Dolmabahce Palace in honor of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
As the Russia-Ukraine war continues unabated, Moscow and Kyiv are expected to issue statements on recent events, as well as follow developments in the Middle East, following a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will present Moscow’s assessments of the international events at a press briefing in the capital, Moscow. The press briefing is anticipated to cover Russia's position on developments in the Middle East and the Ukraine war, among other topics.
Latest developments on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visits to Germany, Norway, and Italy, which began on Tuesday.
Pakistan increases its mediation efforts to extend the two-week US-Iran ceasefire beyond April 22. Islamabad is also preparing to host the likely second round of talks, following the high-level negotiations between Washington and Tehran last weekend. Islamabad's efforts are being carried out in consultation and coordination with Türkiye, China, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine will hold a news briefing at the Pentagon. The event follows the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.
US President Donald Trump will travel to Las Vegas to attend a roundtable meeting on his “No tax on tips” policy. Trump is likely to talk to reporters on current events during the trip.
Ted Waitt, a former boyfriend of Ghislaine Maxwell, has been asked to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interview as part of the investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The UN General Assembly will convene to discuss the Iran war following the April 7 Security Council veto of a draft resolution addressing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict.
The United Nations will hold a press briefing at 12 pm.
More than 92% of ballots have been tallied in Peru’s April 12 presidential election. Candidate Roberto Sanchez has moved into second place. If the trend holds, he will run against Keiko Fujimori in the June 7 runoff presidential election.
China’s Foreign Ministry will hold a press conference. Beijing likely reacts to US President Donald Trump’s claims that China agreed not to supply weapons to Iran. Trump has threatened to impose 50% tariffs on those nations helping Tehran with arms.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, hold talks in Kuala Lumpur as Canberra seeks to secure energy supplies amid the Middle East conflict, which has hit global oil supplies.
Australia releases National Defense Strategy to map the strategic landscape the Pacific nation is facing, as well as the capabilities defense will require to meet those future challenges. Canberra is boosting defense spending by $37 billion over the next decade.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two sides are expected to announce new avenues to boost bilateral cooperation across various domains.
The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) to share monthly GDP growth statistics for February. The UK will also release industrial production and foreign trade data.
Eurostat to release final inflation data for March. The preliminary estimates showed that the annual inflation rose to 2.5% in March.
The US to announce monthly industrial production figures for March. The country will also release initial jobless claims data for last week.
Austria and Italy to release inflation figures for the month of March.
Interview with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza, who warns that Israel’s ongoing military operations have displaced more than 1.2 million people -- over 20% of the country’s population -- pushing Lebanon into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
The story details how repeated displacement, economic collapse, and limited humanitarian funding are straining Lebanon’s already fragile institutions, with around one million displaced people currently staying outside formal shelters.
Riza highlights mounting civilian casualties, damage to health care and water infrastructure, and increasing violations of international humanitarian law, while stressing the urgent need for humanitarian aid and a ceasefire to prevent further deterioration.
Interview with Catarina Martins, co-chair of the European Left Alliance, and Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament from the Left Group, after a European Citizens’ Initiative calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement surpassed one million signatures.
The story explains how the campaign, launched in early 2026 under the banner “Justice for Palestine,” calls for the EU to suspend the agreement over alleged Israeli violations of international law and human rights.
Martins says the initiative reflects growing public pressure in Europe for the EU to use its economic leverage over Israel, while Hassan argues the petition highlights what she sees as a widening gap between European public opinion and the bloc’s current policy toward Israel.
Report on a French draft law that has sparked debate over the line between fighting antisemitism and protecting freedom of expression.
The story breaks down the key provisions of the bill proposed by lawmaker Caroline Yadan. It explains how the bill links hostility toward Israel with antisemitism, and how that could affect public debate in France, especially on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The report also examines concerns that the law could widen hate speech rules too far and risks limiting criticism or dissent, while supporters say it is needed to address new forms of antisemitism.