Morning Briefing for Feb. 26

ANKARA

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

The death toll from the Feb. 6 earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye stands at more than 44,200 as relief efforts continue to assist those affected as it was reported by the disaster management agency that the massive quakes have been followed by 9,136 aftershocks.

The executive director of the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), Maimunah Mohd Sharif, accompanied by Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan, Environment Minister Murat Kurum and Minister of Family and Social Services Derya Yanik visited the Turkish province of Gaziantep following the quakes that hit the southern region of the country.

President Joe Biden announced the US will provide up to $50 million in aid to refugees affected by the twin earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. Biden authorized Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide the funds to meet the urgent needs of refugees affected by earthquakes.

Thousands of Ukrainians in Belgium, Italy and Türkiye demonstrated against Russia as the war entered its second year.

Meanwhile, Russia suspended oil deliveries to Poland via the Druzhba pipeline, according to Poland’s leading oil and gas conglomerate, PKN Orlen.

The EU announced additional sanctions against individuals from Russia's Wagner paramilitary group for “human rights abuses” in three African countries. Eight individuals and seven entities tied to the group were added to the bloc's sanctions list for asset freezes and travel bans in the Central African Republic, Mali and Sudan, according to a statement from the European Council.

Moreover, the First G20 Finance Ministers meeting in India ended with a difference of opinions about the Ukraine war. India had to release a chair summary and outcome document instead of a joint statement after the meeting in Bengaluru. Most member countries strongly deplored the aggression by Russia against Ukraine and demanded a complete and unconditional withdrawal, according to the summary that said those conditions were not agreed to by Russia and China.

The EU also shared details of the 10th package of sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Biden ruled out sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine “for now.” In an interview with ABC News, Biden said: “Look, we're sending him what our seasoned military thinks he needs now. He needs tanks, he needs artillery, he needs air defense, including another HIMARS.”