Anadolu Agency’s Morning Briefing - March 2, 2023

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

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to heal the wounds of the victims of the powerful earthquakes that hit the country's southern region last month, claiming more than 45,000 lives.

Authorities in Australia’s Northern Territory state ordered the evacuation of hundreds of people in the remote community of Daguragu after flooding in the region, local media reported.

A wanted Daesh/ISIS terror suspect, identified only by the initials M.M.B. and codenamed Abu Huzeyfe, was arrested in an operation in Istanbul, security sources said.

The UN is confident that Iraq and its people will overcome all challenges, its chief Antonio Guterres said.

Tunisian singer Lotfi Bouchnak held a benefit concert for the victims of the deadly earthquakes that jolted Türkiye and Syria on Feb. 6.

Russia accused Ukraine of preparing "nuclear provocations," claiming radioactive material was delivered to the Ukrainian ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk.

Reacting to the European Union’s ban on the popular social media platform TikTok, China urged the EU to “provide a non-discriminatory business environment for companies of all countries.”

Thousands of Israelis rallied against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu over plans to pass controversial judicial reforms.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is celebrating the 31st anniversary of its independence from former Yugoslavia with a referendum held on Feb. 29-March 1, 1992.

The number of households in Britain experiencing food insecurity has nearly doubled in the past year, affecting 3.7 million children, according to a new survey.

The Danish government has rejected a far-right political party's demand for a parliamentary debate on imposing a ban on headscarves in schools.

Türkiye's flag carrier Turkish Airlines has so far evacuated 417,199 earthquake victims from quake-hit provinces, its general manager said.

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the Group of 20 foreign ministers’ meeting in the capital New Delhi.

Türkiye denounced Iraq's Council of Ministers' recent decision to limit the use of Turkmen language in northern Kirkuk province.

The Finnish parliament ratified legislation approving the Nordic country’s accession to NATO.

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed bilateral relations and regional cooperation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the capital Tashkent.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggested a “multilateral” approach at the level of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a way forward in dealing with the disputed South China Sea.

Russia and India consistently reject neo-colonial practices such as unilateral sanctions, threats and blackmail towards sovereign states, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

Germany's Foreign Ministry lambasted Iran's decision to expel two German diplomats from Iran in a tit-for-tat move.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia and the US discussed the implementation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) via closed channels.

The number of Ukrainian refugees entering Poland surpassed 10 million since the start of the war, the Polish border guard said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his condolences to Greece over a fatal train crash that has claimed the lives of dozens.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said that “it’s high time” to confront Israeli settler attacks in the occupied West Bank via popular resistance.

UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Cali Tzay began a 10-day probe into Canadian Indigenous issues, including missing and murdered females and former Indian residential schools.

US President Joe Biden nominated Julie Su to serve as Secretary of Labor, replacing Marty Walsh.

The first meeting of a special House of Representatives committee to address challenges posed by China was filled with a bipartisan chorus of warnings from lawmakers about the "existential struggle" posed by Beijing.

Nigeria's President-elect Bola Tinubu appealed for unity in the country after hotly contested elections that have been disputed by opposition parties.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Washington cannot change the “five permanent members” of the UN Security Council but can add “additional permanent members.”

The number of children without access to social protection is increasing year-on-year, leaving them at risk of poverty, hunger and discrimination, a report released by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNICEF said.

Mexican drug cartels have intentionally unleashed a "horrible epidemic" of fentanyl overdose deaths on the US, Attorney General Merrick Garland told senators.

The US slammed the Israeli finance minister’s call to wipe out the Palestinian village of Huwara, saying it was “irresponsible,” “repugnant” and “disgusting.”

NASA and SpaceX are planning to launch the Arab world's first long-term space mission Thursday after it was scratched last month.

A panel in California denied parole to Sirhan Sirhan, who was convicted of killing a US senator and presidential candidate in 1968.