Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – March 26, 2021
Daily briefing on novel coronavirus pandemic worldwide, Turkey, other developments
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
A total of 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in Turkey by the end of May, the country's health minister said Thursday.
Turkish researchers have developed an active substance proven to inhibit COVID-19 replication in the human body which can be used in drugs to help infected people, the chemist who led the research said Thursday.
Turkey is following future technologies closely, with roadmaps for areas such as artificial intelligence, health and 5G now ready, the industry and technology minister said Thursday.
A hybrid model for in-person education will complement learning in Turkey, the country's education minister said Thursday.
Turkish forces have destroyed 29 terrorist hideouts in eastern Turkey.
Turkey's opposition figures joined Uyghur families Thursday in a protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Ankara just as the Chinese foreign minister was in the country on an official visit.
Turkey's minister of national defense called on his Russian counterpart Thursday to look into recent events in Idlib, a northwestern province of Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Thursday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara.
Turkey's first lady received the Global Action Award from the UN Development Project (UNDP) Thursday for the country's zero waste project that she led.
COVID-19 updates worldwide
Health workers and the elderly are first in line for immunization after South Sudan received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines Thursday.
Kalbe Farma, Indonesia’s largest pharmaceutical company, on Thursday announced the launch of a saliva-based COVID-19 test kit.
Latin American countries are having a hard time accessing coronavirus vaccines and the vaccination drive is progressing slowly.
The daily COVID-19 count in the Philippines hit a new record Thursday.
The Bangsamoro autonomous region in the southern Philippines has so far reported over 4,000 COVID-19 cases and 158 related deaths, according to its chief minister.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday conveyed his best wishes for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's recovery from COVID-19.
Poland on Thursday reported 34,151 new coronavirus cases, the biggest single-day jump since the beginning of the pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Africa office made a call Thursday for equitable COVID-19 vaccine access to widen the reach in Africa.
COVAX has notified participating economies that deliveries of doses from the Serum Institute of India (SII) will face delays in March and April, GAVI, the vaccine alliance, said Thursday.
Spain’s parliament passed an €11 billion ($13 billion) relief package on Thursday as new coronavirus infections rose slightly.
Health officials in Jordan confirmed 96 new fatalities and 8,433 additional infections from the coronavirus Thursday.
France banned outdoor gatherings of more than six people as the third wave of coronavirus infections peaked with a record 45,000 new cases Thursday.
Other global developments
Just four days after testing cruise missiles, North Korea on Thursday fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan), according to the South Korean military.
More than 347,000 people in Eswatini, including 180,000 children, are now facing acute food shortages due to COVID-19-related job losses and high food prices, Save the Children warned in a statement Thursday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday called for closer cooperation between the EU and Turkey, underlining Ankara’s strategic importance for regional stability and its key role in addressing the refugee crisis.
The EU is ready to engage with Turkey in a “phased, proportionate, reversible manner,” to enhance cooperation in areas of common interests, according to a European Council conclusion adopted by EU leaders on Thursday.
President Joe Biden addressed a litany of foreign and domestic crises facing the US during his first news conference, warning North Korea against conducting further ballistic missile tests.
Emmy-winning American actress Jessica Walter died on Wednesday at her home in New York, according to her publicist Thursday. She was 80.
