Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, June 5, 2025 (coverage may change depending on developing/ breaking stories):

Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens as aid operations halt amid deadly Israeli attacks

Developments as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens after Israeli strikes on aid distribution zones since May 27 that have killed 102 Palestinians and injured 490.

The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation suspended its distribution activity on Wednesday. However, the organization reported it is currently preparing its field site to improve organization and facilitate aid delivery.

The suspension worsens humanitarian conditions as over 2 million Gazans face severe shortages. Aid agencies and the UN are calling for independent investigations and safe humanitarian access.

Israeli ultra-orthodox parties threaten Netanyahu's coalition amid military draft dispute

Israel's political landscape is in turmoil as ultra-Orthodox parties threaten to withdraw support over the failure to pass legislation exempting yeshiva (Haredi) students from mandatory military service.

Both Shas and United Torah Judaism have now declared support for dissolving the Knesset, intensifying pressure on the coalition. Meanwhile, opposition parties are uniting behind the dissolution initiative in hopes of triggering early elections.

The proposed bill to dissolve the Knesset is set for a preliminary vote next week, requiring a majority of 61 out of 120 members to pass. While Netanyahu's coalition holds a slim majority, internal divisions, especially over the draft exemption issue, cast doubt on its stability to survive.

Muslims to ascend Mount Arafat amid Hajj pilgrimage

Nearly two million Muslim pilgrims are set to ascend Mount Arafat on Thursday, marking the most significant rite of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Hajj is expected to proceed smoothly as Saudi Arabia has deployed AI-powered surveillance, drones, and thermal monitoring systems to manage crowds and ensure safety. The government has also activated the world’s largest mosque cooling network and issued heat advisories to protect pilgrims from soaring temperatures.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II begins European working visit in Spain

Jordan’s King Abdullah II began his European tour as he departed for Spain. The visit includes stops in the UK and France.

Talks are expected to focus on regional stability, the Israeli war on Gaza, and bilateral cooperation, with the king also attending the UN Ocean Conference in France.

NATO defense ministers Brussels meeting

NATO defense ministers will meet at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The meeting will be chaired by Secretary General Mark Rutte and will bring together defense ministers from all Allied countries to discuss ongoing and future security efforts.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva's France visit

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pays official visit to France and meets with President Emmanuel Macron.

EU drugs agency to release European Drug Report

European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) will launch the European Drug Report 2025. A press conference will be held by Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, EUDA Management Board Chair Franz Pietsch, and EUDA Executive Director Alexis Goosdeel.

Meeting of heads of governments of Commonwealth of Independent States

Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe to host a meeting of the heads of the governments of member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). According to the CIS' Secretary General Sergey Lebedev, the meeting is expected to discuss prospects of strengthening economic and trade ties among members of the organization.

Head of Russia’s parliament to visit Armenia

Chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, Valentina Matviyenko to conduct a two-day visit to Yerevan. During her visit, Matviyenko is expected to meet National Assembly chairman Alen Simonyan to discuss bilateral issues and inter-parliamentary matters.

Trump hosts German leader

US President Donald Trump to host German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House for bilateral talks and lunch. Discussions are expected to address Russia’s war on Ukraine, regional developments in the Middle East and Trump’s global tariff war.

Trump police roundtable

President Donald Trump to host roundtable discussion with the Fraternal Order of Police in the State Dining Room. The meeting comes after the law enforcement officer organization endorsed Trump during his 2024 White House race. The US president may take questions from reporters.

UN chief to brief reporters on UN staffers killed in Gaza

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will address reporters on the deaths of UN personnel during 2024. The UN chief’s remarks come as the world body faces a historically grim death toll in the besieged Gaza Strip where Israel has repeatedly targeted UN facilities and operations.

Hearing for Boulder attack suspect

Hearing to take place for Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect facing charges over the June 1 attack on a Jewish community event in Boulder, Colorado. On Tuesday, Soliman was charged with state charges including 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder.

UN Security Council to meet on Syrian chemical weapons

UN Security Council will meet for a briefing on the Syria chemical weapons file. The UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs (HRDA) Izumi Nakamitsu will brief the council.

Burundi to hold legislative elections

Burundians to head to polls for the country’s parliamentary and district elections. The East African nation’s 123-seat parliament includes 100 directly elected members and co-opted representatives. The ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD–FDD) party, led by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, won a supermajority in the 2020 election.

Pakistani Premier Sharif visits Saudi Arabia

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit Saudi Arabia to express gratitude for the kingdom’s solidarity during recent hostilities with India. Sharif is expected to meet with top Saudi leadership to discuss bilateral ties, regional security, and continued cooperation.

US delegation to visit India for trade talks

A high-level US delegation is scheduled to visit India for trade talks aimed at advancing discussions on a potential bilateral trade agreement. The meetings to focus on reducing trade barriers, enhancing market access, and strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries. It comes as US has imposed 27% additional tariffs on India with a 90-day waiver.

India hosts top diplomats from Central Asia

India hosts top diplomats from Central Asian republics for 4th bilateral dialogue. At the end of their 2-day meetings hosted by Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, the visiting top diplomats are expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

South Korea’ President Lee expected to pick more Cabinet members

South Korea’s newly elected President Lee Jae-myung is expected to pick more Cabinet members. Lee has named his campaign aide Kim Min-seok as premier as the new administration has vowed to revive sluggish economy, peace with North Korea.

THE ECONOMY

Germany factory orders

Destatis will share monthly factory orders figures for April. Orders rose 3.6% on a monthly basis in March. Market expects them to fall by 1.1% in April.

ECB interest rate decision

The European Central Bank to release its interest rate decision. The rates were cut by 25 basis points in the last meeting. Market expects a cut of 25 basis points for this meeting as well.

US initial jobless claims

US will share initial jobless claims figure for last week. In the previous week, the claims rose. Market expects a fall of 5,000 for last week.

Economic Security Forum

European Policy Centre to organize the Economic Security Forum in Brussels in response to global policy shifts. Promoting international economic collaboration and free trade to achieve economic security will be the main theme of the forum. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds are expected to participate.

SPECIAL REPORTS

INTERVIEW – ‘A facade’: UNICEF warns of deadly deception at Gaza aid ‘massacre zones’

Interview with James Elder, the spokesperson for UNICEF who is currently on the ground in Gaza, focusing on the worsening starvation and child malnutrition crisis, and the deadly aid operations of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Elder says Israel is “baiting a population with food to try and forcibly displace them,” calling the sites “massacre zones.” He warns that the GHF is not a legitimate humanitarian actor, terming the entire operation “a facade … a distraction from the ongoing carnage of children.”

He emphasizes that only a consistent flow of 500-600 humanitarian and commercial trucks daily could bring about some relief, calling for an immediate ceasefire and respect for international humanitarian law.

‘Appealing to all’: How President Lee plans to lead South Korea

Report presenting an outlook on Lee Jae-myung’s election as South Korea’s new president, which marks a return to political normalcy months after former President Yoon’s impeachment for trying to impose martial law.

The story explores Lee’s immediate priorities, such as reviving the economy, which has suffered under political chaos and new US tariffs imposed by President Trump. It also looks at Lee’s promises of a balanced foreign policy, upholding ties with the US and Japan while seeking dialogue with North Korea and improving relations with China.

The report includes comments from Cho Hee-kyoung, a professor at Hongik University in Seoul; South Korea analyst Don Kirk; and Chien-Yu Shih, a Taiwan-based academic and analyst.

NEW MEDIA

VIDEO – Interview with UNICEF spokesperson James Elder in Gaza about the worsening starvation and child malnutrition, and the deadly distribution operations of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.