Anadolu Agency’s Morning Briefing - Feb. 16, 2023

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

At least 35,418 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday.

The Turkish president on Wednesday pledged to first complete search and rescue efforts and then carry out accommodation and subsistence services to earthquake victims "by making sure no one suffers."

Türkiye's new campaign for earthquake victims, named Türkiye One Heart, raised over 115.1 billion Turkish liras ($6.1 billion) as many Turkish television and radio stations joined forces late Wednesday to hold an aid drive to help the survivors of last week’s devastating earthquakes.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a solidarity message Wednesday to Türkiye's new campaign for earthquake victims, named Türkiye One Heart.

A 74-year-old woman was rescued alive from under the rubble Wednesday, 227 hours after twin quakes hit Türkiye.

Armenia extended Türkiye a "hand of friendship" after last week's twin earthquakes, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a news conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in the capital Ankara.

The UK announced a major new aid package Wednesday to address the urgent humanitarian needs of earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Türkiye this weekend to review ongoing US efforts to aid the Turkish government's response to two earthquakes that devastated the country's southeast, the State Department said Wednesday.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will travel to Türkiye on Thursday to express solidarity and discuss further support in the wake of last week's devastating earthquakes.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to announce her resignation from the post, according to British media reports Wednesday.​​​​​​​

American metal band Metallica's foundation has donated $250,000 to assist in relief efforts of the Feb. 6 devastating earthquakes in Türkiye in which over 35,000 people have so far died.