Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing

ANKARA

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic and other news in Turkey and around the world.

Coronavirus and other developments in Turkey

Turkey registered over 7,200 new infections and 7,217 recoveries.

According to Health Ministry data, the country's case tally passed 2.61 million, with recoveries totaling over 2.5 million.

The death toll from the virus reached 27,821 with 83 additional fatalities.

According to the Health Ministry's official figures, Turkey has so far administered over 6.15 million coronavirus vaccine jabs across the country.

Over 5.24 million people have received their first doses of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus while second vaccine doses were administered to over 914,000.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone about bilateral ties and regional matters including the Upper Karabakh region.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay met with Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov in Ankara.

Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar at a NATO meeting of defense ministers underlined the importance of unity and solidarity among allies in the fight against terrorism and cautioned that license restrictions, sanctioning attempts and threats against Turkey would weaken the alliance.

Omer Celik, the spokesman for the Justice and Development (AK) Party, said Turkey expects complete support from its allies in its fight against terrorism. Celik's remarks came after the recent killing of 13 Turkish nationals by PKK terrorists in northern Iraq.

Turkey nabbed a Daesh/IS terrorist, a Kazakh national who was being sought on a red notice, while he was trying to cross the Syrian-Turkish border.

COVID-19 updates worldwide

The global tally for infections surpassed 110 million, according to US-based Johns Hopkins University.

Brazil, which already has the third highest number of infections after the US and India, surpassed 10 million confirmed coronavirus cases.

A study conducted by Imperial College London has shown that despite the discovery and emergence of various coronavirus mutations, the UK's third lockdown has had a significant impact in reducing the spread of the virus.

Zimbabwe started a COVID-19 vaccination campaign with Sinopharm vaccines donated by China.

Other global developments

Russia called a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that demanded the immediate release of opposition figure Alexei Navalny “illegal.”

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call.

NASA’s Perseverance rover landed safely on Mars, beginning what is slated to be an almost two-year search for ancient life on the red planet.

Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced the dissolution of the country's lower chamber of parliament, the National People's Assembly, and that early parliamentary elections would be held.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need to set up a regional forum to address the novel coronavirus pandemic.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths urged the Houthi rebel group to stop their assaults, which put millions of civilians at risk.

Libyan Airlines resumed its flights to Egypt after a 16-month hiatus.