Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Aug. 23, 2021

By Seda Sevencan

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

- Developments in Turkey, coronavirus pandemic and other news

Turkey administered over 88.68 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since launching a mass immunization campaign in January, according to official figures Sunday.

According to the Health Ministry, over 45.9 million people have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while more than 35 million are now fully vaccinated.

Turkey has also given third booster shots to over 7.6 million people.

The ministry also confirmed 18,622 new infections and 206 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, while 13,263 more patients recovered.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone Sunday with the European Council president, saying Turkey cannot handle an additional migration wave.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday denied claims made by UK media outlets concerning the establishment of an asylum processing center in Turkey for Afghan asylum-seekers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone Sunday with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the latest situation in Afghanistan, saying Turkey’s current priority is to evacuate its citizens.

Some 357 people, including 16 infants, evacuated from Afghanistan’s capital Kabul arrived in Istanbul on Sunday.

- Worldwide developments related to COVID-19

More than 4.93 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered worldwide, according to Our World in Data, a tracking website affiliated with Oxford University.

Iran on Sunday recorded its highest daily number of COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the outbreak, with 684 fatalities.

Seven public hospitals in Israel have threatened to stop admitting new coronavirus patients starting Monday, citing budgetary problems and a shortage of personnel.

- Developments across world

The anti-Taliban resistance movement in Afghanistan claimed to have made inroads in northern Baghlan province as talks to form a new government continue.

Kazakhstan's president said Sunday that the latest situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have taken power, poses "certain risks" for the Central Asian country.

Hundreds of Afghans gathered in Paris on Sunday waving their country’s black, red and green national flag demanding the resettlement of families of asylum seekers and former employees of the French mission in Afghanistan.

The US has increased the size of the security perimeter around Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, President Joe Biden confirmed Sunday.

Canada is doing all it can to evacuate Afghans, despite efforts being hampered by the Taliban, two senior Canadian officials said Sunday.

Qatar has set Oct. 2 as the date for the country’s first elections to elect two-thirds of its advisory Shura Council (parliament).

Iran’s outgoing Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Sunday announced his formal retirement after a checkered career spanning 40 years.

The death toll in Haiti from a powerful earthquake earlier this month has risen to more than 2,000, the country’s civil defense agency said Sunday.
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