Anadolu Agency’s Morning Briefing - March. 4, 2023

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

The trade volume between Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates will reach $25 billion in five years thanks to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, according to the Turkish president.

Türkiye rejected a new US State Department report mentioning the PKK terror group’s Syria extension, SDF, as a partner in the fight against Daesh terrorism, saying it "deliberately distorts" Ankara's fight against the terror group.

Türkiye and its surroundings have been jolted by 231 major earthquakes since 1900 when earthquake-recording instruments were first introduced in the country.

Tent cities in Türkiye’s quake-hit Hatay province have become pet sanctuaries.

US President Joe Biden hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House for closed-door talks as the NATO allies seek to maintain unity on a host of global challenges, particularly Ukraine.

Sweden's defense budget is at risk of not reaching its NATO target due to a shortfall as it needs an additional 177 billion Swedish krona ($16.9 billion) over the next few years.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denied that top Russian and US diplomats discussed an exchange for US national Paul Whelan who is serving a prison sentence in Russia for espionage.

Evgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner paramilitary group involved in Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine claimed his fighters have almost encircled the city of Bakhmut.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in which they discussed a range of issues, including normalization with Azerbaijan and bilateral ties.

Beijing expressed “strong dissatisfaction” with the latest US move to sanction more Chinese companies.

A German government spokesman condemned the poisoning of Iranian school girls which reportedly left hundreds sick and many hospitalized.

French President Emmanuel Macron said France will build a memorial site in the capital of the Republic of Congo to honor the memory of African women and men who sacrificed their lives to free France.

Athens saw protests as citizens gathered to mourn and demand accountability for this week's deadly train accident that killed at least 57 people.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley vowed to stop giving money to the “countries that hate America.”

A Belarusian court sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner Aleks Byalyatsky to 10 years in prison.