Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Jan. 29, 2022

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (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

The Turkish Health Ministry reported more than 93,500 coronavirus cases.

The ministry reported 93,586 new cases, 210 deaths and 85,503 recoveries in the last day. Also, some 438,252 virus tests were done in the past 24 hours.

To stem the virus’ spread, the country has also administered more than 141.6 million COVID-19 vaccines doses since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021, according to ministry figures.

Nearly 57.4 million people have gotten the first jab, while more than 52.3 million have been fully vaccinated, the ministry added. Turkiye has also given third booster shots to nearly 24.8 million people.

Turkiye’s National Intelligence Organization “neutralized” a senior PKK/YBS terrorist in northern Iraq, according to a security source.

- Other developments worldwide

Russia's principal concerns regarding security guarantees were not taken into account in the US response to Moscow’s proposals this week, President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a telephone call.

Putin has now "clearly" developed the capacity to attack Ukraine, the US military said while maintaining he has yet to make a final decision on a potential invasion of the former Soviet republic.

Amid heightened tensions, the Russian foreign minister said Moscow does not want a war with Ukraine but will not allow its interests to be hurt.

“If it depends on the Russian Federation, there will be no war. We do not want wars, but we will not allow our interests to be rudely attacked, we will not allow our interests to be ignored,” Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with four Russian radio stations.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in case of a possible attack against its ally Russia, Belarus would also get involved in the war, siding with Russia.

Six Katyusha rockets hit the Baghdad International Airport, according to an Iraqi police officer.

Kazakhstan’s president was elected head of the ruling Nur Otan party.

An influential West African regional bloc suspended Burkina Faso from its governing bodies in the wake of a coup on Monday, sources confirmed.