Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Aug 3, 2021

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 nearly 73.82 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched a mass vaccination campaign in January, according to figures released Monday. The Health Ministry also confirmed 22,898 new infections and 91 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, while as many as 5,947 more patients recovered.

Turkey’s agriculture and forestry minister announced that 125 of 132 forest fires in the country are under control. At least eight people have lost their lives in the wildfires, which started on July 28 and were fanned by strong winds.

In a phone call Monday, the Turkish and Croatian presidents discussed the challenges of wildfires in addition to bilateral relations, according to Turkey’s Communications Directorate.

Speaking to his Tunisian counterpart Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of peace and stability in the North African country, said Turkish diplomatic sources.

A total of 137 PKK and YPG/PKK terrorists were neutralized in July by Turkish security forces in both domestic and cross-border operations, based on official reports and data.

Worldwide developments related to COVID-19

The number of COVID-19 vaccine shots administered worldwide crossed 4.18 billion Monday, according to Our World in Data, a tracking website affiliated with Oxford University.

The number of COVID-19 cases has passed the milestone of 60 million in the WHO European region since the pandemic began, the health body's regional office said Monday, along with a warning that "travel is not risk free."

"The end of the pandemic is still over the horizon, and sadly, so far in the European region, there have been more than 1.2 million COVID-19 deaths," said Dr. Dorit Nitzan, WHO regional emergency director for Europe.

Developments across the world

A week after dismissing the government, Tunisia’s president on Monday issued presidential orders to sack and replace two more ministers. According to a presidential statement, the orders dismissed Ali al-Kaali, the minister of economy, finance and investment support, and appointed Siham al-Boughdiri as his successor. Mohamed El-Fadil Karim, the minister of communication technologies and also acting minister of agriculture, fisheries and water resources, was also relieved of his duties and replaced by Nizar Bennaji.

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati said he hoped a new government is formed before this Wednesday, the first anniversary of the devastating Beirut port blast.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told local media Monday that Iran “should face up to the consequences” of its actions after an attack on an oil tanker led to the death of a British national.

The Israeli Supreme Court on Monday delayed a final verdict on the appeal by four Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem who are facing imminent expulsion to make way for Jewish settlers.

Continuing with armed provocations, Armenian forces fired on Azerbaijani army positions in two locations Monday, said the latter's Defense Ministry.

Tunisia’s Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi is in good health after being discharged from the hospital, his political adviser said Monday.

In a violation of longstanding treaties, Greece on Monday decided to close 12 more schools serving the country's Muslim Turkish minority, claiming there are too few students.

Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian on Monday appointed Nikol Pashinyan for a second spell as prime minister following his party’s win in June elections.