Anadolu's Morning Briefing - March 25, 2023

ANKARA

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments around the world.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to heal the wounds of victims of powerful earthquakes that hit the country's southern region last month that claimed more than 50,000 lives.

Türkiye will switch off lights for Earth Hour to commemorate the victims of the powerful earthquakes.

North Korea claimed its military tested a new underwater nuclear weapon capable of creating a super-scale radioactive tsunami during three days of military exercises.

China said a US warship had "again trespassed" into South China Sea waters and warned Washington that such provocative actions would have "serious consequences."

Turkmen voters will go to the polls to elect deputies to the national assembly, or Mejlis, as well as members of national and local people’s councils and local government bodies.

A total of 1.87 million tourists visited Türkiye in February, a rise of 21.35% from last year, according to official data.

Strike action forced Germany’s Munich Airport to cancel regular flights.

The Indian parliament disqualified Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader from India's main opposition Congress party, a day after a court in the western Indian state of Gujarat convicted Gandhi in a criminal defamation case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country will be victorious in its war with Russia if there are no "delays" or "stagnation" in cooperation between Kyiv and the EU.

The Secretary of the Islamic Commission of Spain said the Muslim population living in Spain has increased 10 times in the last 30 years, exceeding 2.5 million.

Lionel Messi scored his 800th career goal in Argentina's 2-0 international friendly victory against Panama in Buenos Aires.

Attempts to retake Crimea will be seen by Russia as a threat to the existence of the state which gives it the right to use any kind of weapon, including its nuclear arsenal, according to the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev.

Tuberculosis was recorded as the world's deadliest infectious disease after the coronavirus in 2021, as 1.6 million people died from the illness, according to the World Health Organization.

Former US President Donald Trump raised the specter Friday of potential "death & destruction" if he is indicted in New York City on charges related to a hush money payment made to an adult film star.

Media reports in Western media claiming Russia has plans to interfere in Moldova's affairs are part of a campaign aimed at artificially creating tensions between Moscow and Chisinau, said a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.

China said it will follow its own laws and “firmly oppose” any “forced” sale of TikTok in the US.

The US announced new sanctions against Myanmar, targeting aviation fuel suppliers of the military junta which seized power in 2021.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's office said he was diagnosed with mild pneumonia and he has postponed an official visit to China.

The Council of Europe slammed the “excessive use of force” by French police in demonstrations against a controversial pension reform.

US jets carried out airstrikes on military bases belonging to Iranian-backed terror groups in the province of Deir ez-Zor and its Al-Bukamal and Al-Mayadin districts in eastern Syria, according to sources.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who left the country days before the inauguration of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is expected to return March 30, said his Liberal Party.

President Joe Biden said the US "does not seek conflict with Iran" but is prepared to “act forcefully” to protect American personnel in Syria.