Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Political tensions in Israel

Political tensions in Israel following Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar accusation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of demanding his personal loyalty and seeking surveillance of anti-government protesters.

These accusations come on the heels of warnings from opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Yair Golan about potential "political murders," with both directly blaming Netanyahu for inciting violence.

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens as summer nears

The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza following the collapse of the Jan. 19 ceasefire and Israel’s halt of all humanitarian aid as the summer approaches with expected spread of epidemics.

Clashes between Sudanese army, paramilitary RSF in El-Fasher

Intensified clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, amid a growing humanitarian crisis.

Personal accounts from civilians, displaced individuals, aid workers and statements from emergency response teams are expected with international reactions.

Pope Francis’ death, reactions, funeral preparations to be followed

The funeral preparations, reactions, and preparatory work into the election of the new pope to be followed a day after Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday at the age of 88. The pontiff suffered a "prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis" associated with thrombocytopenia, according to a previous Vatican statement.​​​​​​​

German SPD members vote on coalition deal

Members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) are voting on a coalition agreement with the center-right CDU/CSU alliance. The vote, which began last week, will conclude on April 29, with results expected April 30. Approximately 358,000 party members are eligible to cast their ballots.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict - select committee session in British parliament

UK Foreign Affairs Committee session on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Witnesses are yet to be announced. Lawmakers, members of the parliamentary committee are expected to press Foreign Office officials on the government’s policy regarding the conflict amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza which have killed more than 51,000 Palestinians since October 2023. The witnesses are expected to be asked by the committee members about the UK’s foreign policy toward the conflict, involvement in ceasefire efforts, as well as the country’s weapon sales to Israel.

UN agencies to hold bi-weekly briefing in Geneva

Agenda to be revealed shortly before the briefing.

Türkiye-Council of Europe talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to receive Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset at the Presidential Complex. Berset became the secretary-general on Sept. 18, 2024.

Türkiye-Australia talks

Erdogan will hold closed-door talks with Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn.

Türkiye-Pakistan talks

Erdogan will host a dinner in honor of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Russian president to meet Oman's sultan in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with visiting Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said in the capital Moscow.

According to the Kremlin, the meeting will focus on further developing bilateral cooperation, including in trade, economy, finance, investment, culture, and humanitarian affairs.

Some current international and regional issues are also expected to be addressed at the meeting, particularly concerning the situation surrounding Iran's nuclear program.

⁠Top Russian diplomat to visit Uzbekistan

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan, where he is expected to meet President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and hold substantive talks with his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov.

Trump's schedule

US President Donald Trump to hold swearing-in ceremony for Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The event is currently listed as closed press, but is subject to change.

US-Qatar talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to meet with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the Department of State.

Turkish finance minister to deliver remarks

Türkiye's Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek to deliver remarks at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, DC on the sidelines of this week’s IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings. The minister is expected to address the key domestic and global risks shaping Türkiye’s path forward.

US hearing on deportations

Hearing to take place in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union challenging the Trump administration’s use of an 18th-century law known as the Alien Enemies Act to deport foreign nationals.

UN nuclear watchdog's head to deliver remarks

International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi delivers remarks at an event hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Grossi will speak amid the ongoing talks between Iran and the US over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Ghana to host 50th-anniversary launch of ECOWAS regional bloc

The 50th anniversary celebrations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to be launched in Ghana's capital Accra. Following the celebrations, the West African bloc will hold a two-day summit of foreign and finance ministers, where the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the bloc will be discussed. Leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are expected to attend the summit.

Azerbaijan’s president pays 3-day state visit to China

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to visit China. Xi Jinping to host Ilham Aliyev for high-level talks in Beijing as Azerbaijan remains China’s top trade partner in the South Caucasus with bilateral trade at $3.7 billion in 2023. The two sides to institutionalize bilateral investment dialogue, with broader strategic focus on cooperation in industry, energy, transport, technology, agriculture, and tourism sectors.

Kenya’s president visits China

Kenyan President William Ruto pays five-day visit to China.

Rutto is expected to meet with China's President Xi Jinping, among others, during the visit. The sides are expected to discuss bilateral ties and trade. Ruto's visit underscores Nairobi’s intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation with China in key areas such as energy, transport, technology, and agriculture.

Taiwan’s opposition parties launch ‘returning democracy to Taiwan’ summit

Taiwan’s main two opposition parties, Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP), to hold a summit on "returning democracy to Taiwan."

Amid crackdown on the main opposition by administration of regional leader William Lai Ching-te over electoral fraud, the two main opposition parties KMT and TPP, which hold majority in the legislature, have closed ranks against the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. The summit looks into impact of US tariffs, judicial and parliamentary reforms, and the recent wave of political recall efforts.

South Korean finance minister visits US for tariff talks

Finance Minister of South Korea Choi Sang-mok departs for the US to hold high-level trade negotiations with the Trump administration. Seoul will focus on getting maximum relaxation in now-paused 25% tariff on exports from South Korea.

Indian premier pays 2-day visit to Saudi Arabia

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay 2-day visit to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to host Modi to discuss bilateral ties, among other issues.

Myanmar ceasefire set to expire

The three-week ceasefire declared by the ruling military junta in Myanmar is set to expire with expectations that warring parties will extend it amid efforts to mitigate the impact of March 28 earthquakes which killed more than 3,700 people in the Southeast Asian nation. The junta is in armed conflict with an alliance of three ethnic groups which mostly control northern parts of the Buddhist-majority nation.

THE ECONOMY

Türkiye's consumer confidence

TurkStat to share consumer confidence figures for April. Consumer confidence in Türkiye rose by 4.6% month-on-month to 85.9 points in March, its highest since May 2023.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Will Trump’s tariffs force Japan to rethink US alliance?

Report on Japan’s mounting trade tensions with the US, as Tokyo resists pressure to compromise on tariffs, underscoring growing rifts in a decades-long alliance.

The story charts the recent developments that have escalated tensions and examine the underlying reasons, with insights from analysts on how President Trump’s actions have unsettled Tokyo and may drive Japan closer to regional economic cooperation with China and South Korea.

The report includes interviews with various experts, including Kazuto Suzuki from University of Tokyo, Chien-Yu Shih from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, and Saul Takahashi from Osaka University.

Rare earths: Why China’s dominance is a trump card in US trade war

Report on China’s new export restrictions on rare earth elements, escalating a critical front in the US-China trade war and raising alarm over the vulnerability of US defense and tech industries reliant on these vital minerals.

The story examines how China’s dominance – controlling 69% of global production and 90% of refining – gives it powerful leverage in the geopolitical standoff, and how the US is scrambling to secure alternative sources.

The report features insights from energy strategist Umud Shokri and mining expert Barbara Arnold, exploring new domestic projects, proposed mineral deals with Ukraine, and the strategic urgency of reducing reliance on Beijing.​​​​​​​