Diary

ISTANBUL

Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

Humanitarian conditions in Gaza amid expected 2nd phase ceasefire progress

Gaza faces a worsening humanitarian situation, while the Rafah border crossing is expected to reopen following Israel’s recovery of the body of its last captive.

Security situation in northern Syria amid SDF ceasefire breaches

Implementation of the Syrian government-SDF ceasefire, extended for 15 days until Feb. 8, amid ongoing violations by the terror group.

Macron to receive premiers of Greenland, Denmark

French President Emmanuel Macron will receive the prime ministers of Greenland and Denmark at the Elysee.

German chancellor to meet Romanian PM

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will receive Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan for his inaugural visit at the chancellery. The discussions will cover bilateral relations, European policy issues, Ukraine, and Euro-Atlantic security. A joint press conference will follow the meeting.

Turkish president to chair National Security Council meeting

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will chair the National Security Council meeting at the presidential complex in Ankara. An announcement is expected following the meeting.

US secretary of state to brief Senate committee on Venezuela policy

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will address the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss US policy towards Venezuela. Rubio will later hold a closed meeting with Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado.

UN Security Council to hold open debate on Palestine

The UN Security Council will hold an open debate about Palestine, with a particular focus on the ceasefire in Gaza and the enclave’s reconstruction.

US president to deliver speech on ‘Trump Accounts’

US President Donald Trump will deliver remarks in Washington, DC, on his administration’s 530A program, also known as “Trump Accounts,” which passed last year as part of his “big beautiful bill.”

Tensions in Minnesota

Protests are expected to continue in the US state of Minnesota after a second American citizen in a month was killed by federal immigration enforcement forces in the city of Minneapolis.

Putin to meet Syrian counterpart al-Sharra in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa, who will arrive in Moscow on a working visit. The talks will cover the current state and prospects for bilateral relations in various areas, as well as the current situation in the Middle East, according to the Kremlin.

Ukraine's energy sector

Ukraine continues to battle a state of emergency declared in its energy sector earlier this month. In the capital Kyiv, where Russian strikes have left over hundreds of thousands without heating amid freezing temperatures, 926 buildings remain without access.

Russian delegation to visit Turkmenistan to discuss regional security

A Russian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin will hold bilateral consultations with Turkmen counterparts in Ashgabat to discuss regional security issues.

UK Premier Starmer begins China trip

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pays a four-day official visit to China, in a first since 2018 by any British chief executive. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang will host Starmer for talks and he will also visit Shanghai.

Top Azerbaijani diplomat visits China

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov pays a two-day visit to China for a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

EU’s Costa visits Vietnam

EU Council President Costa pays a two-day visit to Vietnam to elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership.

Philippines hosts top diplomats of Southeast Asian bloc

Philippines hosts maiden meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Manila is current chair of the 11-member bloc.

THE ECONOMY

Fed interest rate decision

US Federal Reserve to announce its interest rate decision. In the previous meeting, the central bank cut the policy rate by 25 basis points to the range of 3.5% to 3.75%. Markets expect no change in the rate for this meeting.

SPECIAL REPORTS

EXPLAINER - US ‘armada’ in the Middle East: What assets is Washington deploying against Iran?

Report outlining the US military buildup in the Middle East as speculation grows over a potential American strike on Iran, focusing on the scale, scope and purpose of Washington’s expanding presence.

The report provides an overview of key US naval and air assets moving into the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, accompanying destroyers, advanced fighter aircraft and thousands of additional personnel.

The story explores how the shift from a largely defensive posture to a more offensive footing following Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025 has given the White House immediate military options, while also aiming to deter against potential Iranian retaliation.

‘Watershed moment’: Why is Canada recalibrating ties with China?

Report on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China – the first by a Canadian leader in eight years – seen as a turning point in bilateral relations and a signal of Ottawa’s effort to diversify trade ties amid tensions with the US following President Trump’s tariff measures.

The report outlines the political and economic drivers behind the visit, including six initial cooperation agreements covering tariff adjustments on electric vehicles and agricultural products, and examines their potential impact on future China-Canada relations.

The story includes comments from Farhan Chak, a political science professor at MacEwan University, and Beijing-based analyst Einar Tangen.

‘Under a dome of smog’: Why are Central Asian cities among the world’s most polluted?

Report on the deepening air pollution crisis across Central Asian cities, where rapid economic growth, rising car ownership and weak environmental safeguards are driving some of the world’s worst urban air quality.

The story examines how cities such as Bishkek, Almaty and Tashkent rank among the world’s most polluted as geography, winter weather and fossil fuel use trap smog, worsened by coal heating, aging vehicles and unplanned urban growth.

The report includes comments from Vladislav Ushakov, an expert at the Kyrgyzstan-based environmental platform Ekostan, and Azamat Kuazov, manager of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Program at the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia.