Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – July 22, 2022

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments around the world.

Türkiye called on its NATO allies to extend their support in its fight against terrorist organizations, including the PKK and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), until they are completely eliminated.

Türkiye "has fully and sincerely" fulfilled its obligations in the alliance and it expects the same from other members, said a statement released after a three-hour meeting of the country’s National Security Council which convened in the capital Ankara under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated that Türkiye did not carry out the recent attack against civilians in northern Iraq's Duhok province.

Cavusoglu also met with Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to discuss regional conflicts, drought and food insecurity in the Horn of Africa.

Türkiye's Central Bank kept its interest rate unchanged at 14%. The bank vowed to "continue to use all available instruments decisively" in its strategy of "liraization" until "strong indicators point to a permanent fall in inflation and the medium-term 5% target is achieved in pursuit of the primary objective of price stability."

Türkiye started work on the fourth reactor of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Mersin on the Mediterranean coast. Work on the fourth reactor means that the country’s first nuclear plant is one step closer to the official start of electricity generation set for 2023.

Following Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s resignation, President Sergio Mattarella dissolved parliament and called early elections for Sept. 25.

The US House of Representatives voted to approve nationwide protections for contraception access after the Supreme Court overturned abortion rights. The 228-195 vote was largely along party lines, with Democrats widely lending their support to the Right to Contraction Act. Just eight Republicans lent their support, while two others voted "present."

Sri Lanka’s acting president and prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was sworn in as the new president of the country, which is grappling with its worst financial crisis.

Uzbekistan lifted the state of emergency in the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan, which had been rocked by deadly clashes earlier this month.

Ukraine's central bank devalued the national currency by 25% against the US dollar in order to protect its foreign exchange reserves as the ongoing war continues to batter its economy.

South Korea's opposition Democratic Party rejected a government lawmaker’s claim that former President Moon Jae-in’s administration falsely accused North Korean fishermen of killing 16 people.