Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories):
US-Iran tensions and Strait of Hormuz developments
Developments and reactions amid tensions between Washington and Tehran, with focus on military activity in and around the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security, mutual threats, and diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further escalation.
Military escalation in Yemen
Developments amid intensified fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi group, alongside Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and Saudi military operations, with focus on cross-border attacks, battlefield developments, casualties, displacement, and Red Sea security.
Israeli attacks and ceasefire violations in Gaza
Developments following continued Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire, including casualties, humanitarian conditions, displacement, and regional and international reactions.
Israeli raids, occupier attacks in occupied West Bank
Developments across the occupied West Bank amid Israeli military raids, arrests, and demolitions, as well as attacks by Israeli occupiers, illegal settlement activity, clashes, along with Palestinian and international reactions.
Israeli attacks and ceasefire violations in Lebanon
Developments amid continued Israeli military activity and reported ceasefire violations in southern Lebanon, including airstrikes, cross-border incidents, casualties, Lebanese army activity, and diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
Renewed military escalation in Sudan
Developments amid intensified fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, particularly in Kordofan, Darfur, and Blue Nile, including battlefield developments, drone attacks, civilian casualties, displacement, and the worsening humanitarian situation.
European Parliament gathers in Strasbourg
Members of European Parliament are meeting in Strasbourg, France, on the last day of a plenary sitting after the summer break.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney will deliver a speech at the European Parliament, following the European Commission chief’s announcement of talks with Canada on “associate membership,” which will be a status we are seeing for the first time in the history of the bloc.
EU Commission chief holds presser on new social media rules for minors
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold a press conference with Vice-President Henna Virkkunen in Strasbourg, France, on the EU Kids Act, which aims to protect minors from online harms. The announcement follows her statement on Wednesday that children under 13 should not use social media and that personal accounts should be restricted to those aged 15 and over.
European Council chief travels to Ireland
European Council President Antonio Costa will travel to Dublin, Ireland, where he will meet with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin. The two leaders will hold a joint press conference.
German chancellor joins Berlin campaign
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz is due to appear with his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party's top candidate Stefan Evers at party headquarters, three days before the state parliament election in Berlin. The event focuses on keeping the right-wing AfD from power and pitching CDU solutions for the capital from the political center.
UN human rights briefing
Bernard Duhaime, UN special rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence, will hold a press briefing on transitional justice around the world.
World Meteorological Organization presser
World Meteorological Organization launched its State of Global Water Resources Report 2025 report by Celeste Saulo, WMO secretary-general, on Tuesday, with the report's embargo ending on Thursday.
NATO chief meets UK foreign, defense secretaries
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte meets with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Defense Secretary Wes Streeting in London following his Wednesday's talk with Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Apple, privacy groups challenging UK government data access
The UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal holds case management hearing in two linked claims brought by Apple and privacy groups against the UK Government. Apple launched their claim after the Home Office issued a second notice to the company to try and gain access to its encrypted data, which Apple itself is not able to access.
French president holds meeting with Jordanian, Lebanese officials
French President Emmanuel Macron hosts King Abdullah II of Jordan and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Paris. The trio holds a preparatory meeting ahead of an international conference in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces.
Italian premier visits Norway
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store receives Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the government’s official residence.
Trump to sign executive orders, host White House dinner
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to sign executive orders in the Oval Office, an event currently listed as closed to media. He will later host a dinner event in the White House Rose Garden.
UN chief to speak at anti-hate speech event opening
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will deliver remarks at the High-level Opening Session of the Global Conference on Promoting Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance in Countering Hate Speech at the UN Headquarters in New York.
UN Security Council to discuss Syria, Iran sanctions
The UN Security Council will hold an open briefing on Syria. Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher are expected to brief.
The council is also expected to vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee for another year, until September 2027.
UN General Assembly to vote on Palestinian remote participation
The UN General Assembly is set to vote on a Palestinian draft resolution allowing Palestine to participate by video or pre-recorded statements during the 81st session if its representatives are barred from attending in New York. The move follows a decision by the Trump administration to deny President Mahmoud Abbas a visa for a second consecutive year.
Venezuela government, opposition to resume talks
Venezuela’s government and a group of former opposition lawmakers are set to begin a second round of talks in Caracas. Discussions are expected to focus on judicial reform, political and civil guarantees, and freedom of expression.
Rwanda-Congo JSCM meeting
Officials from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue talks in Geneva for the seventh meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) for the implementation of the Washington Accords.
Top Russian diplomat to take part in meeting of International Movement of Russophiles
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to address the opening ceremony of the congress of the International Movement of Russophiles in Moscow.
Russia-Ukraine conflict
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict remains in the focus of the global media community. Both Moscow and Kyiv continue to report frontline updates and information about exchanges of air strikes. The two countries also continue to discuss humanitarian issues, including exchanges of prisoners of war.
Japanese premier reshuffles Cabinet
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reshuffles the Cabinet, the first time since being elected last year. It came a day after she made minor changes in the leadership of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Annual security conference concludes in Beijing
The Beijing Xiangshan Forum concludes in the Chinese capital after bringing together defense leaders, senior scholars, and heads of international and regional organizations.
Hong Kong Chief Executive answers questions on policies
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu holds a question-and-answer session on annual policy address.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry holds briefing
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry holds weekly news briefing and is expected to deliver statements on US-Iran war, conflict between Saudi Arabia and Houthis of Yemen.
THE ECONOMY
UK interest rate decision
Bank of England to release its interest rate decision. Markets expect the central bank to keep the policy rate unchanged at 3.75%.
US housing data
The US to share monthly housing starts and building permits data for August. The country will also release initial jobless claims figures.
Türkiye's short-term debt
Türkiye to release monthly short-term debt statistics for July. The country will also share monthly house sales data.
SPECIAL REPORTS
EXPLAINER – AfD eyes another eastern win in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern vote
Report ahead of Sunday’s election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where the AfD is seeking to extend its surge in eastern Germany after a record win in neighboring Saxony-Anhalt two weeks earlier.
The story gives the latest polling figures that put the AfD narrowly ahead of the governing SPD and examines what is at stake for SPD Premier Manuela Schwesig, whose campaign has focused heavily on preventing the far-right force from taking first place. It sets out the AfD’s main campaign pledges, the issues driving voters and the possible coalition arithmetic around Germany’s 5% parliamentary threshold.
It also looks at the wider national significance of the vote, including pressure on Merz after the CDU’s historic setback in Saxony-Anhalt and the AfD’s growing challenge to the CDU/CSU in nationwide polling.
INTERVIEW – ‘Strategic height’: Why humanity’s new space race is back to the moon
Interview with astrophysicist Fabrizio Pinto, a former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory navigation specialist and founding director of the EKOSPACE Aerospace Research Center, on how the new global space race is shifting from symbolic exploration toward strategic, economic and military competition.
Pinto explains why the Moon – particularly its resource-rich South Pole and surrounding cislunar space – has become the immediate focus for the US, China and other powers, while private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin increasingly shape national space programs.
He also discusses gaps in international space law, growing military competition in orbit and the challenges created by rapidly expanding satellite constellations.
The interview also examines emerging plans for AI data centers in space, their potential environmental costs, and Türkiye’s ambitions to build a larger space industry ahead of the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya in October.
Bangladesh’s 1st female Asian Games surfer chases Olympic dream
Report from Cox’s Bazar on 15-year-old Fatema Akter, a three-time national surfing champion preparing to become Bangladesh’s first female surfer at the Asian Games as the country makes its debut in the sport in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The story traces Fatema’s journey from learning to surf at age eight to competing internationally, despite poverty and social criticism. Her mother, Monowara Begum, who supports the family through domestic work, speaks about backing her daughter despite resistance from the community, while Fatema speaks about balancing school and daily training as she pursues her ultimate goal of representing Bangladesh at the Olympics.
The report also has comments from coach Rashed Alam discussing Fatema’s potential and the need for better training, sponsorship and facilities for Bangladeshi surfers.