Anadolu Agency’s Morning Briefing - Feb. 14, 2023

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

More than 31,000 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye last week, said the country's disaster agency.

Türkiye and Greece should not wait for another earthquake to mend the fences, the Turkish foreign minister said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital Sarajevo has been ranked the city with the world's most polluted air, according to figures from air quality technology firm IQAir.

Pope Francis called for prayers and solidarity with the victims of last week’s earthquakes that shook southern Türkiye and affected Syria.

The death toll in Syria from two powerful earthquakes centered in southern Türkiye has risen to 3,574.

Tunisia’s Ennahda movement has condemned what it described as arbitrary arrests of opposition political activists in the North African country.

Saudi Arabia announced that it will send its first female astronaut to the International Space Station during the second quarter of this year.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will not seek another extension of his term, according to his spokesperson.

United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid a visit to quake-hit areas in Türkiye's Kahramanmaras province, according to local media reports.

A Palestinian teenager was killed in an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, according to the Health Ministry.

Some European countries have decided to ease visa procedures for victims of last week's earthquakes in Türkiye to be hosted by relatives living across Europe.

Lionel Messi gave three cheers to the help being given to earthquake victims in Türkiye.

Turkish security forces have arrested at least 64 suspects for allegedly looting damaged buildings after powerful earthquakes shook the region, said the country's justice minister.

Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressed solidarity with Türkiye and Syria during a visit after deadly earthquakes jolted the countries last week.

The US military shot down an unidentified unmanned object flying over the Great Lakes region in the state of Michigan.

Ukraine adopted a decree sanctioning 200 people with links to Russia as Moscow’s “special military operation” against Kyiv nears its first year.

North Macedonia decided to declare a national day of mourning over last week’s devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

At least 17 people died when two boats collided and capsized in Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said.

The National Football League (NFL) encouraged American football fans to contribute to ongoing earthquake relief efforts in Türkiye and Syria ahead of the most heavily-viewed sports event in the US.

Iconic Muslim singer Maher Zain visited Kahramanmaras province, the epicenter of last week’s devastating earthquakes in Türkiye, and distributed food to survivors with the UK-based Salam Charity.

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian teenager during a raid in the occupied West Bank.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi blamed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the ongoing war in Ukraine, local media reported.

Members of an independent committee said at least 4,815 children have been sexually abused by Catholic clergy in Portugal since 1950.

Russia claimed that it took control of the settlement of Krasna Hora, situated in the north of Bakhmut city in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

Greek and US forces are carrying out military exercises in Western Thrace which will continue until Feb. 24.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed the military alliance's "strong solidarity" with Türkiye after two earthquakes killed more than 31,000 people last week.

The gloves of Italian veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon were put on sale to help earthquake victims in Türkiye.

Türkiye has offered to open two border crossings with Syria for the international community to send humanitarian aid to the quake-hit northern regions, said the Turkish foreign minister.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu claimed that Russia plans to destabilize her country, three days after the country's prime minister, Natalia Gavrilita, resigned.

NATO countries must speed up military production to be able to keep supporting Ukraine and maintain stockpiles, the alliance chief said.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned Israel's decision to legalize nine settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi is set to embark on a three-day visit to China on Tuesday, in what will be the first state visit by an Iranian leader to the country in almost two decades.

A Brazilian team in Türkiye who are joining search and rescue efforts, have praised the support of local people and authorities during their mission in Kahramanmaras, the epicenter of the two powerful earthquakes last week that shook the country's southeastern region.

Violations against children in armed conflicts "remain at a shockingly high level," the UN warned as the international community seeks to curtail the tragedies.

The plenary session of the European Parliament started with a minute of silence to honor the earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

The international community must take action to stop Israel's systematic and deliberate demolition of homes, arbitrary displacement and forced expulsion of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, said UN experts.