Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - Dec. 16, 2021

ANKARA (AA) – Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments in Turkey, around the world, and the coronavirus pandemic.

- World

EU leaders will hold a year-end summit Thursday to discuss the most pressing topics on the continent such as the Russian military buildup threatening Ukraine, the future of the bloc’s defense policy, and the fight against COVID-19.

A German court sentenced a Russian citizen to life in prison over the “state-contracted killing” of a Chechen asylum seeker in 2019.

Stephen Curry made two 3-pointers in the first quarter of the Golden State Warriors - New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden to become the NBA's all-time record holder for 3-pointers made in the regular season.

The US is “very actively” looking to designate the ongoing repression of Myanmar’s Rohingya population as a “genocide,” the top US diplomat said.

Firefighters managed to extinguish a fire that broke out at Hong Kong’s World Trade Centre on Wednesday, the government's information department said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Russia on Wednesday that it would pay a “high price” if it attempts to invade Ukraine.

Spain extended entry limitations from nine southern African countries until Dec. 29 to contain a surge of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus.

A NASA spacecraft has entered the solar atmosphere, marking the first time in history that a spacecraft has “touched” the sun.

- Developments in Turkey

Turkey's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita index based on purchasing power parity (PPP) last year was 62, while the average for EU countries was 100, Turkey’s statistical authority announced.

Turkey’s foreign minister was received in Dubai by the vice president of the United Arab Emirates.

Turkey has appointed Serdar Kilic, a former ambassador to the US, as a special envoy to discuss steps for the normalization of ties with Armenia, the Turkish foreign minister said.