Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – March 4, 2022

ANKARA 

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments in Turkiye and around the world.

Turkiye's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke by phone Thursday with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and discussed the latest situation in Ukraine, said diplomatic sources.

Turkiye reported 49,424 new coronavirus cases Thursday. According to the Health Ministry, 188 deaths and 66,873 recoveries were recorded over the past day and some 398,242 virus tests were done.

To counter the spread of the virus, Turkiye has administered over 145.87 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021. More than 57.7 million people have received their first vaccine jab, while over 52.84 million have gotten two doses. Third booster shots have been given to more than 27.21 million people.​​​​​​​

Other developments worldwide

Russia is firing on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, Ukraine’s foreign minister said early Friday.

“Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out,” said Dmytro Kuleba, adding, “If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chernobyl!”

“Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!”

A huge explosion was heard early Friday in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv as the war launched by Russia entered its ninth day.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that he will run for re-election.

The British government said Thursday that it has imposed sanctions on two more Russian oligarchs for their close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The US announced sweeping sanctions on eight of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "cronies," including Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, and imposed visa restrictions on 19 other individuals in retaliation for Moscow's war on Ukraine.

The White House said Thursday that the US does not see Russia being removed from the UN Security Council because of its war in Ukraine.

Russian tanks have entered a town near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry on Thursday.

Russia’s president on Thursday accused Ukraine of not allowing foreign nationals to leave the country.

Russia and Ukraine agreed to create humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and for food and medicine deliveries, a member of Ukraine's negotiating team said Thursday.

The war staged by Russia in Ukraine might force more than 10 million people to leave their homes, the UN warned Thursday.

Ukraine’s president on Thursday asked for the closure of airspace 'completely,' saying missiles are launched not only from Russia but also from Belarus.

Former Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha was sworn in on Thursday as the country's new prime minister at the House of Representatives in the eastern city of Tobruk.

In a phone call, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that the objectives of Russia’s “military operation” in Ukraine will be “achieved in any case,” a Kremlin statement said.

Russia's foreign minister said Thursday that his country will pursue the goals of its "military operation" even in case of achieving a peace agreement with Ukraine.

The West needs to cripple Russia’s economy to make sure that President Vladimir Putin fails in Ukraine, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Thursday.

One million people have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its war on the country, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said early Thursday.