Anadolu Agency’s Morning Briefing - April 8, 2023

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

The Israeli military launched airstrikes in Lebanon hours after it struck the Gaza Strip.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart that the Islamic world should be united against Israel's attacks in Palestine.

Russian Foreign Minister Segey Lavrov said the West "is not hiding" that China is the "next target" after Russia, as well as any country that "dares to act independently."

Erdogan received Lavrov in the Turkish capital of Ankara for talks.

China sanctioned two US institutions and their personnel for hosting Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen during her "transit" to Central America.

Türkiye offered condolences to Rwanda on the 29th anniversary of the 1994 genocide, which killed 1 million people in 100 days.

Two female Israeli settlers were killed and a third was seriously injured in an attack in the northern occupied West Bank.

Ankara and Moscow agreed to lift obstacles to Russian fertilizer and grain exports, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Cavusoglu held a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, and condemned the latest attacks and provocations by Israel.

China urged the UN Security Council to hold an “urgent” discussion about Israel’s latest attacks on Palestinian worshippers and subsequent developments.

Thousands of consumers were deprived of electricity in France after a trade union cut power in protest against the government's pension reform, according to media reports.

Israeli settlers vandalized Palestinian properties and closed the entrance to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Russia urged Israel and Palestine to refrain from “confrontational steps” and to end the “escalation” of violence.

Nearly 1 million children in three central Sahel countries will face severe acute malnutrition this year due to rising food prices, conflict and climate change, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned.

Israel’s police commissioner Kobi Shabtai encouraged Israeli settlers who have firearms licenses to carry guns amid tension with Palestinians.

Greece’s far-right The Greek Party is seeking to sidestep an election ban, which was approved by parliament in February, reported local media.

France accused Russia of disinformation about its role in Ukraine and past peace efforts.

US President Joe Biden called the expulsion of two black Democratic members of the Tennessee House of Representatives "undemocratic."

Russian businessman Viktor Bout has sent a wire to former US President Donald Trump, inviting him to Russia, according to media reports.

At least one person was killed and many injured in an attack on a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, according to so-called officials appointed by Moscow.

North Korea carried out another test of an underwater nuclear attack drone earlier this week, according to a report.

US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas defended himself for not disclosing that he had accepted luxury trips from a Republican megadonor, stating that he was advised at the time that he did not have to report it.