Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Jan. 11, 2022

By Burak Dag

ANKARA (AA) – Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic and other news in Turkiye and around the world.

- Coronavirus and other developments in Turkiye

Turkiye confirmed 65,236 COVID-19 cases, 141 deaths and 38,242 recoveries in the last 24 hours. To stem the spread of the infection, the country has administered more than 136.89 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021.

At least five PKK suspects were arrested in Istanbul in simultaneous counter-terror operations, according to Turkish security sources Monday.

Turkish police seized over 16,000 historical artifacts in the capital Ankara, according to security sources.

- Other developments worldwide

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the recent protests in the country triggered by a rise in fuel prices were "an attempted coup d’état."

Nearly 8,000 people have been detained in Kazakhstan since mass protests began early this month, said the country's Interior Ministry.

The NATO chief said the military bloc aimed at agreeing with Russia on a series of negotiations as it was "not realistic" to expect all conflicts to be solved at once during this week’s talks with Moscow.

A high-ranking Taliban delegation led by the group’s top diplomat, Amir Khan Muttaqi, reportedly met with two prominent Iran-based Afghan opposition leaders in Tehran, said official sources.

Iran said that Iraq-mediated talks with Saudi Arabia will continue amid efforts to normalize relations between the two arch rivals.

US President Joe Biden raised concerns over Ethiopia's continued airstrikes in the country's north during a phone call with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, said the White House.

Palestine's veteran President Mahmoud Abbas is starting his 17th year in office amid political difficulties and waning prospects for Palestinian reconciliation.

Stringent measures in virus-hit areas have led to a slowdown in domestic COVID-19 transmission in China, according to the latest data.

EU countries agreed to end travel restrictions from the southern African region.

Myanmar's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to four more years in jail.

Thousands of Rohingya men, women and children in Bangladesh spent the night without a roof over their heads after Sunday's fire in their refugee camp gutted whatever meager belongings they had.

An indigenous Lenca group leader was assassinated in western Honduras late Sunday.

World no. 1 in men's tennis Novak Djokovic won a court battle against the Australian government which had canceled his visa ahead of the 2022 Australian Open.