Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):
Continuing uncertainty over another round of US-Iran talks amid ongoing ceasefire
Uncertainty continues over a possible second round of talks between Washington and Tehran amid an ongoing ceasefire. Developments and reactions from regional and international parties regarding the tensions, including issues related to the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli army ceasefire violations in Lebanon
Continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, despite US President Donald Trump announcing a three-week truce extension. Israel’s attacks have killed at least 2,534 people and wounded 7,863 others since March 2. The Lebanese group Hezbollah’s retaliatory responses will also be followed.
German chancellor attends maritime conference
Chancellor Friedrich Merz opens the 14th National Maritime Conference in Emden city, highlighting the maritime sector’s role in competitiveness, trade, and security. He is also expected to address international security issues, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, in his remarks.
Final interrogation of former French president’s appeal trial in Libyan financing case
France's former President Nicolas Sarkozy is scheduled to deliver his final interrogation before close of proceedings in appeal trial over alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign.
European Parliament holds debates on Middle East
European Commission and the European Council address lawmakers during the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, France, to discuss the EU’s strategy in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis, including its impact on energy prices, as well as the situation in Lebanon.
Launch of European State of Climate 2025 report
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and World Meteorological Organization launches its European State of the Climate 2025 report, which recorded heatwaves from the Mediterranean to the Arctic, while glaciers shrink and snow cover declines.
WHO chief’s briefing on global health issues
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus briefs UN accredited journalists association, ACANU, regarding the global health issues and latest updates on the agency’s work and situation.
G7 development ministers’ meeting in Paris
G7 development ministers meeting in Paris for two-day talks on global development priorities. The meeting will bring together G7 members, along with partner countries, including Brazil, South Korea, the Ivory Coast, India, Kenya, and Morocco.
EU Commission chief meets incoming Hungarian premier
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets with Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar as he visits Brussels for the first time since defeating Viktor Orban in elections earlier this month.
Türkiye-Austria talks
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to pay an official visit to Austria to meet with senior officials to discuss bilateral ties and key regional and global developments.
Fidan is scheduled to meet with Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger to discuss relations between the two countries.
He is also expected to be received by Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker and hold talks with Feridun Sinirlioglu, secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Putin to meet with president of Republic of Congo
Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with the president of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou-Nguesso. The meeting will be focused on the construction of an oil pipeline in Congo, a joint project that Russia and the African country has been recently negotiating.
Lavrov to visit Kazakhstan’s capital Astana
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to pay a two-day visit to Kazakhstan's capital Astana. He is scheduled to meet with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev. Lavrov's visit to Kazakhstan comes amid a global energy crisis and controversies over deliveries of Kazakh oil to Europe via Russia's Druzhba oil pipeline, which passes through Ukraine. Kyiv earlier halted Druzhba operations, and media reports claim Kazakhstan will not be able to resume deliveries.
Briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to present Moscow’s assessments of the international events at a press briefing in Moscow. The press briefing is expected to touch on Russia's stance regarding developments in the Middle East and the Ukraine war, among other topics.
Trump’s 60-day Iran war powers deadline expires
As it has been 60 days since the US-Israeli war with Iran began, the Trump administration is required to either cease military operations or receive congressional authorization to continue legally under the 1973 War Powers Act.
US Pentagon chief, top general to testify on 2027 budget request
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine will testify before the House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee on the Pentagon's 2027 budget request.
Trump to host crew of Artemis II Moon mission
US President Trump will host the four astronauts from the Artemis II lunar flyby mission at the White House. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are expected to attend.
US secretary of state to meet with British foreign secretary
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the Department of State. The meeting coincides with an ongoing official visit by British King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the US.
Canadian premier to attend National Caucus meeting
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend a National Caucus meeting on Parliament Hill before answering lawmakers’ questions at the House of Commons. He will later deliver remarks on trade union workers.
UN Security Council to vote on extending South Sudan mission
The UN Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) prior to its expiration on Thursday. The mission was last extended in May 2025 for a period of a year.
UN news briefings on nuclear non-proliferation
Robert Floyd, the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi will deliver separate hybrid news briefings at the UN on the 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference.
High-level operator arrested in Mexico cartel bust
Developments after Audias Flores Silva, “El Jardinero,” was arrested in the western Mexican state of Nayarit. Silva is alleged to be a top figure in the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The arrest triggered a violent response, including vehicle and business burnings in cartel strongholds.
UN General Assembly president visits China
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock pays a two-day visit to China at the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Baerbock this year leads the 80th session of the General Assembly amid conflicts wreaking the international systems, including the UN.
Australia's top diplomat on China trip
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is paying a three-day official trip to China amid energy shock caused by the US-Iran war. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will host Wong for bilateral talks.
Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing
China’s Foreign Ministry holds its regular news conference.
Thailand hosts MICE Exchange
Thailand hosts MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) Exchange 2026, which focuses on innovation and sustainability in the industry. It is a strategic platform, uniting stakeholders, including government, private sector, and academia.
THE ECONOMY
US interest rate decision
The US Federal Reserve to announce its interest rate decision. In the previous meeting, the Fed kept its policy rate unchanged at the range of 3.5%-3.75%. The US will also release durable goods orders, housing data, and foreign trade figures.
Türkiye unemployment
TurkStat to release monthly unemployment statistics for March. In February, the unemployment rate was at 8.5%. Türkiye will also announce its monthly economic confidence index data for April.
Germany inflation
Germany's Destatis to release monthly inflation data for April. In March, the annual inflation jumped to 2.7%.
Inflation figures
Spain, Iceland, and Belgium to also release inflation figures for April.
IMF inflation and GDP
The IMF to release inflation and gross domestic product (GDP) growth data.
SPECIAL REPORTS
INTERVIEW – ‘Worth going to the top of the world’: Climber takes Gazan children’s dreams to Everest
Interview with Palestinian-Jordanian mountaineer Mostafa Salameh about his effort to carry the handwritten dreams of Gaza’s children to the summit of Mount Everest.
Salameh explains how he is using the climb as a symbolic campaign to draw attention to the human cost of Israel’s war on Gaza, raising funds for humanitarian aid while flying a kite inscribed with children’s hopes and losses at the “top of the world.”
He also highlights the personal stories behind the messages, as well as his own refugee background and his goal of raising $10 million for Gazans.
FACTBOX – 2 months of Iran war: Commodity shock deepens as Hormuz disruption lifts costs
Report on how global commodity markets have been reshaped by two months of the Iran war, with disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz driving sharp increases in energy, fertilizer and key industrial inputs.
The factbox compiles price movements across major commodities, showing crude oil benchmarks up more than 40%, natural gas and LNG surging, and fertilizers such as urea and ammonia rising amid higher feedstock and shipping costs.
It also highlights uneven trends in metals, with aluminum gaining while gold, silver and palladium decline, reflecting shifting demand and monetary pressures.