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 reported 26,410 more coronavirus infections, including 4,103 symptomatic patients, over the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry data released Friday.

A Turkey-wide weekend curfew became effective on Friday as part of measures to stem a new coronavirus wave.

As part of Istanbul-based counter-terrorism operations across five provinces of Turkey, at least 16 people on Friday were arrested for their suspected links to the far-left DHKP-C terror group.

Police arrested 28 foreign nationals in the central Turkish province of Eskisehir, a security source said on Friday.

Applications for Istanbul Photo Awards 2021, Anadolu Agency’s international news photography contest, opened.

Turkey and Ukraine on Friday issued a joint declaration expressing common intention to continue to develop and strengthen the strategic partnership.

As dozens of families continue their sit-in protest in southeastern Diyarbakir province of Turkey, new families continue to join their cause to bring back children abducted by the PKK terror group.

Turkey condemned the arrest of a staff member at one of its diplomatic missions in Greece on Friday.

Security forces arrested five people in southern Turkey over their suspected links to the PKK terror group, security sources said on Friday.

The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 38 asylum seekers who were pushed back by Greek coastal authorities into Turkish waters off the Aegean coast, a security source said on Friday.

Turkish police on Friday seized over six tons of bootleg alcohol and arrested 51 people for alleged involvement in its distillation and distribution.    

World Migrants Day   

The Turkish interior minister marked International Migrants Day on Friday saying that four million migrants were saved from persecution and death by taking refuge in Turkey.

Over 113,000 irregular migrants have been held in Turkey in 2020, way too low a number than what was expected, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, said Turkey’s interior minister on Friday.

Turkish wrestler Muhammet Nuri Kotanoglu claimed silver in the men’s 79 kg freestyle in the Individual World Cup on Friday.   

COVID-19 updates worldwide  

Germany on Friday reported 33,777 COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day rise since the start of the pandemic.

US drugmaker Pfizer on Friday requested Japanese government approval of its vaccine to treat the deadly coronavirus, local media reported.

South Korea on Friday said the country will sign contracts with two pharmaceutical companies later this month to acquire COVID-19 vaccines as virus cases spike in the country, according to local media.

Qatar celebrates on Friday its national day with a range of events, including a military parade, amid strict coronavirus measures.

Adults over 80 will get the COVID-19 vaccine first in Germany, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Friday.

Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic tested positive for COVID-19, he announced on social media Friday.

US Vice President Mike Pence, his wife Karen, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams got vaccinated against COVID-19 on live television Friday.

While some wealthy nations have already started COVID-19 vaccination, poorer countries will only get theirs in the first half of next year, the World Health Organization's chief said Friday.   

Biden to receive vaccine   

US President-elect Joe Biden and first lady-elect Jill Biden will publicly receive Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine next week, the transition team announced Friday.

The death toll in the UK from COVID-19 has risen by 4.4% in the past week, according to data released by health authorities Friday.

The US called upon China Friday to be transparent in its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing Beijing of continuing to stymie international efforts while pushing questionable vaccines one year after the pandemic began in Wuhan.    

Other developments 

At least 15 crew members are missing as a Panama-flagged cargo ship capsized in rough seas off Vietnam, local media reported on Friday.

UNESCO on Friday added traditional Japanese architectural craftsmanship used in wooden skeleton structures to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced a major reshuffle in his Cabinet, appointing a former diplomat as new trade minister amid increasingly strained relations with China.

The UN mission in Libya announced the formation of a legal committee consisting of members of the Libyan Forum for Political Dialogue, which will work on the necessary arrangements for the elections in the country.

China on Friday said it will “take all necessary measures” to protect its companies amid the US' move to blacklist several of them.

At least 15 civilians were killed and 20 others injured in an explosion in central Afghanistan, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Friday.

The US government is preparing to blacklist dozens of Chinese companies, including China's top chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), according to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Friday.

Pakistan on Friday urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to end violence and agree on a cease-fire.

Iran on Friday ruled out renegotiations or a new agreement on its nuclear program, rejecting the UN atomic watchdog chief’s suggestion that reviving the deal would require a new document.

Despite lockdowns to stem the resurgence of coronavirus, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday that it has recorded 3,174 deaths on migratory routes worldwide, but the toll is likely higher due to “invisible shipwrecks.” ​​​​​​​

A Jewish settler on Friday opened fire on Palestinians protesting against illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, footage shot by Anadolu Agency shows.