Diary

ANKARA (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Iran-US tensions

Ongoing political and military tensions between Iran and the US as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that a US strike on Iran would trigger a regional war after Trump’s warmongering threats and US naval buildup in the region.

Ceasefire, integration deal between Syrian government, SDF

Implementation of newly reached comprehensive agreement between Syrian government and terror group YPG/SDF, which includes a ceasefire and a framework for the group’s gradual integration into military and administrative structures. The newly appointed security director for Hasakah will assume duties too. The new deal, reached Friday, follows a broader agreement reached Jan. 18 aimed at restoring full state authority in areas east of the Euphrates.

Movement of people begins through Gaza’s Rafah crossing

Movement of people through Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt will begin, ending nearly two years of near-total closure, after Israeli media described the reopening as a limited “pilot operation” a day earlier. Egyptian media reported that Palestinian patients will start crossing from Gaza into Egypt to receive medical treatment in Egyptian hospitals.

US House to take up government funding package

Seeking to end a partial government shutdown that took effect Saturday, the US House of Representatives will consider a Senate-passed funding package that includes five full-year appropriations bills and a two-week stopgap measure for the Department of Homeland Security.

Rising tensions between US and Iran, Cuba

Washington’s relations with both Tehran and Havana remain tense as President Donald Trump has suggested the US may attack Iran, and that the Cuban government could be on the cusp of collapse. Monitoring further statements on both countries from Trump. The US president is also expected to sign measures behind closed doors in the White House.

Colombian president expected to arrive in Washington

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro is expected to start an official visit to Washington, where he will be meeting with his US counterpart Trump on Tuesday.

Reactions to elections in Costa Rica

Possible regional reactions are being watched as preliminary results from Costa Rica’s general elections on Sunday emerge. With the vast majority of ballots counted, early figures show conservative candidate Laura Fernandez Delgado holding a comfortable lead that could secure an outright victory without the need for a runoff.

German transport workers to strike

Ver.di union has called on approximately 100,000 employees at around 150 municipal transport companies and bus operators to strike. The union is seeking better working conditions, including shorter workweeks and shifts, longer rest periods, and higher pay for night and weekend work.

German chancellor to speak at German Stock Exchange event

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to deliver a policy speech at the German Stock Exchange's annual event in Frankfurt. He is expected to address European competitiveness, his government's reform agenda, and geopolitical challenges.

WHO Executive Board

The 158th session of the WHO Executive Board (EB158) to take place in Geneva until Feb. 7. The main functions of the WHO Executive Board are to implement the decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly and to advise and generally facilitate its work.

EU foreign policy chief visits Norway

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is in Norway for meetings with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and to deliver remarks at the Oslo Security Conference 2026.

European reactions to tensions between US, Iran

Reactions and comments from European states to be followed as the US builds up its military forces in the region following protests across Iran and the threat of a possible US-Iran war escalates.

Türkiye-Kazakhstan Joint Strategic Planning Group

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Kazakh counterpart, Yermek Kosherbayev, will co-chair the eighth meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Group in Ankara.

Meeting of Council of Ministers of the Union State of Russia and Belarus

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to chair a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union State in Moscow, a supranational confederation between Russia and Belarus, established to deepen political, economic, military, and cultural integration.

Developments around Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Statements are expected from Moscow and Kyiv regarding a new round of US-mediated consultations, scheduled for Feb. 3 and 4 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Singaporean foreign minister hosts German counterpart

Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan hosts German top diplomat Johann Wadephul.

Nepalese president kicks off trip to Japan

Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel is visiting Japan for 3 days to mark 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. He is scheduled to meet with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

THE ECONOMY

German retail sales

Destatis to release monthly retail trade data for December. In November, the retail sales rose 1.1% year-on-year.

SPECIAL REPORTS

Sudanese army regains momentum as regional backing shifts war dynamics

Report examining the Sudanese army’s renewed advances in its conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, amid growing political and military support from key regional powers.

The story focuses on recent battlefield gains by the Sudanese Armed Forces, particularly in the strategically important Kordofan region, while assessing the limits of this momentum. It explores how new arms deals, evolving weapons capabilities, and efforts to disrupt RSF supply lines are altering the balance of the war.

The report features analysis from geopolitical risk expert Andreas Krieg and Sudanese journalist and analyst Eiad Husham, who weigh the military, regional and political reasons for the army’s advances and its implications.

Pakistan’s first man-made lake faces ecological crisis

Report on the rapid ecological decline of Haleji Lake, Pakistan’s first man-made reservoir and a once-vital winter refuge for migratory birds arriving from Siberia along the Indus Flyway.

The story charts how the complete halt of freshwater inflow from the Indus River over the past eight years, combined with pollution, stagnant water and climate-driven stress, has severely degraded the lake’s ecosystem.

The report also highlights the lake’s continued ecological significance, with comments from experts including wildlife official Sohail Ahmed Khoso and ecologist Rafiul Haq on the need for urgent restoration of water flows and stronger conservation measures.