Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - Nov. 19, 2021
Daily briefing on novel coronavirus pandemic worldwide, Turkey, other developments
ANKARA
Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments in Turkey, around the world, and the coronavirus pandemic.
Developments in Turkey, coronavirus pandemic and other news
Turkey has administered over 119.03 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January, according to official figures released Thursday.
More than 55.97 million people have been given a first vaccine dose and over 49.9 million have been fully vaccinated, the Health Ministry said.
Turkey has also given third booster shots to over 11.81 million people.
The ministry recorded 22,234 new COVID-19 cases, 226 deaths and 29,538 recoveries over the past day.
Turkey’s president held a phone call Thursday with his Israeli counterpart, discussing bilateral ties and regional issues.
In a phone call Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed regional developments with Mohamed Bazoum, his counterpart from Niger.
Turkey summoned the Bulgarian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry late Thursday over allegations that Turkey interfered in Bulgaria’s presidential and parliamentary elections and internal affairs
Turkey stands behind the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Eastern European country of Moldova, the Turkish foreign minister said Thursday.
One of the founding figures of the PKK terror group, Ali Haydar Kaytan, was among those neutralized in Turkish anti-terror operations in northern Iraq, according to security sources.
The Turkish Central Bank cut its benchmark one-week repo rate Thursday by 100 basis points from 16% to 15% in line with market expectations.
An explosion early Friday in an apartment building in Turkey’s capital has left two people dead and four others wounded, an official said.
Other global developments
Armenian forces fired on Azerbaijani army positions in the northwestern Tovuz region, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Thursday.
The European Parliament’s budgetary committee on Thursday approved €149.6 million ($170 million) in additional funding for assisting Syrian refugees in Turkey, the EP announced.
Foreign ministers of G7 countries on Thursday condemned the Belarus regime’s orchestration of irregular migration across its borders.
Polish security forces detained at least 100 irregular migrants after they crossed the border from Belarus, the Polish Defense Ministry said Thursday.
US President Joe Biden's approval rating dipped to an all-time low of 36%, according to a poll released Thursday.
A Greek F-16 warplane crashed Thursday afternoon while attempting to land, the Greek Air Force announced.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) started to evaluate whether the COVID-19 antibody therapy Xevudy can be authorized in the EU, the institution announced Thursday.Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, adopted tougher coronavirus measures Thursday as new infections reached the highest level since the beginning of the pandemic.
