Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – June 6, 2022

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments around the world.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Türkiye continues to act to prevent the destruction of nature. He went on to say: "We accelerated our structural transformations both with legislative changes and concrete projects in line with the Green Development Revolution."

Referring to the Agapinor 2022 drills by Israel and the Greek Cypriot administration (GCA), the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the GCA destabilizes the region. “We call on countries which take part in such actions by GCA not to be means of provocations and propaganda,” the ministry added.

The Turkish National Defense Ministry announced that security forces have "neutralized" at least 16 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the public broadcaster of the Republika Srpska, RTRS, that the West does not allow Ukraine to conduct talks with Russia. He went on to accuse the West, led by the UK and the US, of turning Ukraine into an instrument of restraining and exhausting Russia.

Meanwhile, Lavrov has been forced to cancel a two-day visit to Serbia after Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bulgaria closed their airspace to his plane, according to reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow would order strikes on new targets if the US supplies long-range rocket systems to Ukraine.

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it has suspended the party’s spokeswoman Nupur Sharma in response to insulting remarks she made against Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

In a related development, Qatar, Kuwait and Iran summoned Indian envoys Sunday over insulting remarks against Islam's Prophet Muhammad by the spokeswoman for India’s ruling party.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) as well as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan also condemned the derogatory remarks.

North Korea launched at least eight short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said his country is engaged in talks with the Gulf countries in order to find an alternative to Russian oil supplies and reduce the country’s energy dependency on Moscow.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned against Israel's attempts to encroach on the country's energy wealth. He also called on the United Nations and all concerned parties to "compel Israel to stop its provocation.”

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal won the 2022 French Open in men's singles, which is his 22nd Grand Slam title. The fifth-seed Nadal, 36, beat world No. 8 Casper Ruud from Norway 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in the final held at Paris' Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The Turkish national football team hammered underdogs Faroe Islands 4-0 in a 2022-23 UEFA Nations League opener.

The Turkish women's national volleyball team defeated Belgium in a 2022 Volleyball Nations League match.