Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Jan. 4, 2023

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

Türkiye and Bulgaria signed an agreement for the transmission of up to 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year.

Israel's new national security minister entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem a day after announcing he had postponed the visit amid warnings of unrest.

Palestine condemned a visit by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem as an “unprecedented provocation.”

The United Arab Emirates and China called for a UN Security Council meeting after Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered Al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards in occupied East Jerusalem amid warnings of unrest.

Russia is planning a prolonged campaign of drone attacks on Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, urging his forces to remain on high alert.

Russia’s war on Ukraine has already caused more than $700 billion in damage to the nation’s economy, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

China blasted various COVID-19 measures taken by several nations against travelers from the world’s largest populated country.

Japan has reported record-high cases of bird flu across 23 provinces, with authorities culling around 7.75 million birds this season, officials said.

Iran's top court has overturned the death sentence of three protesters in connection with the killing of a member of the Basij paramilitary force last month.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he aspires to a "Made in Europe" economic strategy to counter American policies.

Switzerland’s largest health foods chain Muller declared bankruptcy as stores were conducting their last sales during the day.

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan lifted a ban on rallies of opposition parties imposed in 2016 by her predecessor John Magufuli.

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy repeatedly failed to secure enough votes to become the next Speaker of the US House of Representatives, highlighting persistent infighting within his caucus.

US authorities carried out the first execution of an openly transgender woman for the 2003 rape and murder of a former girlfriend in the state of Missouri.

Oil prices rose over investors’ supply jitters as oil markets are awaiting the next round of sanctions on Russian oil products slated for Feb. 5 amid fears of a global recession after the IMF warned of a "tough 2023.”

Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in a New York court related to the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, according to media reports.

Presenting their transfer Cristiano Ronaldo to the media, Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club held a signing ceremony for the Portuguese superstar.