Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):

Limited reopening of Rafah border crossing amid Israeli restrictions

The anticipated crossing of another batch of Palestinian patients into Egypt, alongside the return of residents to Gaza via the Rafah crossing, follows its limited reopening on Monday amid continued Israeli obstacles.

Situation in NE Syria amid integration deals with SDF

Security developments and impact of integration agreements between the Syrian government and the SDF, alongside the government’s regained control of oil and gas fields in northeastern Syria, and its implications for the investment climate in the country.

Amman hosts Yemeni-Houthi prisoner exchange negotiations

The Yemeni government’s negotiating delegation is set to travel to Amman, Jordan, for talks with the Houthi group on a prisoner exchange, with the meetings to be held under UN auspices.

Developments across Europe related to Epstein revelations

Statements and political developments in European nations after the latest documents released in relation to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The US Justice Department recently released more than 3 million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by US President Donald Trump last November.

EU foreign policy chief visits Finland

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas travels to Finland to meet with President Alexander Stubb, Premier Petteri Orpo, and Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.

Trump to attend National Prayer Breakfast event

US President Trump will attend the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, where he will deliver remarks.

Trump will later make an announcement at the White House campus in the evening on an unspecified subject.

UN Security Council to be briefed by UN peace operations police components

The UN Security Council will receive its annual briefing from the heads of police components of UN peace operations. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar, Police Commissioner of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo Mamouna Ouedraogo, and Police Commissioner of the UN Mission in South Sudan Meinolf Schlotmann are expected to brief the council.

Gustavo Petro to speak at Georgetown University

Colombian President Gustavo Petro will speak at Georgetown University on the last day of his visit to Washington, DC. His remarks are expected to focus on climate change.

Russia and Ukraine to continue US-mediated talks on peace settlement

Russian and Ukrainian delegations to continue the US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi, UAE, aimed at ending the war that began in 2022.

Lavrov to meet with chairman of Armenian parliament

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to meet with the chairman of the Armenian parliament, Alen Simonyan, who will pay an official visit to Moscow.

Uzbek president kicks off 2-day visit to Pakistan

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev begins a two-day visit to Pakistan. Mirziyoyev's talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are expected to boost bilateral ties.

THE ECONOMY

German factory orders

Destatis to release monthly factory orders data for December. In November, the orders rose 5.6% month-on-month. Markets expect a 1.3% decline for December.

ECB interest rate decision

The European Central Bank (ECB) will release its interest rate decision. In the previous meeting, the bank kept the policy rate at 2%. Markets expect a similar decision for this meeting.

British interest rate decision

The Bank of England will announce its interest rate decision. In its previous meeting, the bank cut the rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%. Markets expect the central bank to hold the rate at 3.75%.

SPECIAL REPORTS

TIMELINE – US-Iran tensions: From 12-day war to today’s standoff

Report charting the trajectory of US-Iran tensions since last year’s 12-day Iran-Israel war, which brought Washington into direct military confrontation with Tehran.

The timeline traces key developments since Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire in June 2024, including escalating rhetoric from Washington and Tel Aviv, internal protests across Iran, intensified US political pressure on Tehran, and Washington’s military buildup in the Middle East.

The report also covers diplomatic signals and de-escalation efforts amid heightened tensions, including several rounds of US-Iran talks held over the past year.

INTERVIEW – ‘Worrying precedent’: Human Rights Watch Israel-Palestine director speaks out after resignation

Interview with Omar Shakir, former director of Human Rights Watch’s Israel-Palestine program, on his decision to resign after the organization’s leadership halted publication of a report examining Israel’s denial of Palestinian refugees’ right of return.

Shakir explains that the report – which concluded that the Israeli policy amounts to a crime against humanity – had already cleared HRW’s internal research standards, legal review, and translation process before being pulled, and raises concerns about what the decision means for the organization’s independence, credibility, and future human rights reporting.

He also discusses the international legal framework surrounding the right of return and warns that blocking the report sets a troubling precedent that could constrain rights advocacy at a time of mounting political pressure on human rights organizations.

Revelry and caution: Pakistan’s Basant kite festival returns with tighter safety measures

Report on the return of Pakistan’s historic Basant festival after a years-long ban, exploring how authorities are attempting to balance cultural revival with public safety concerns.

The story describes preparations in Pakistan’s cultural capital Lahore, as kite enthusiasts gear up for the three-day event starting on Feb. 6 to mark the arrival of spring. It also explains why the festival was banned in the past due to deaths and injuries caused by sharp metal-coated strings, and outlines the new regulations introduced to prevent casualties.

The report also looks at the economic boost Basant brings to local businesses, hotels, and vendors, with comments from citizens, cultural commentator Zohaib Saleem Butt, and critics such as writer Qaiser Sharif.