Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Aug. 28, 2021

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (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 has administered more than 92.4 million coronavirus vaccine doses vaccines since launching a mass immunization campaign in January, according to official figures.

More than 47.54 million people have received their first dose, while an excess of 36.4 million are fully vaccinated, according to the Health Ministry.

High numbers of coronavirus-like flu cases in Turkey have not fell since mid-August because people have become less careful with mask wearing and hygiene, according to a Turkish physician.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the death toll in terror attacks in Kabul reached 170.

A second batch of Turkish troops evacuated from the Afghan capital landed in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Erdogan said, at the Taliban's proposal, Turkey may end up running the airport in Kabul, with the Taliban providing security, but a decision is still pending.

The national defense minister conveyed condolences to his US counterpart for deadly blasts outside the Kabul airport that killed at least 170 people, including 13 US soldiers, and wounded dozens of others.

Turkey remembered Col. Atilla Altikat, a military attache to Canada, who was assassinated by an Armenian terror group in 1982.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is set to attend the Baghdad Cooperation and Partnership Conference on Saturday.

- Worldwide developments related to COVID-19

The coronavirus was not been developed as a "biological weapon," according to a report by the US intelligence community (IC).

The Guinea-Bissau government said it extended a state of calamity for 15 days with a curfew throughout the West African country effective midnight Saturday as it battles a third wave of the pandemic.

India administered a record 10 million vaccine doses in a single day, according to its Health Ministry.

Uzbekistan scientists are testing "an edible transgenic tomato vaccine" as part of the fight against the virus.

Japan decided to put in use $13 billion from reserve funds in its fight against COVID-19, local media reported.

New Zealand extended a nationwide lockdown for the next four days as it battles a new outbreak, said state-run media.

- Developments across world

The US carried out a drone strike early Saturday on an "ISIS-K planner" in eastern Afghanistan, according to a US Central Command (CENTCOM) official.

The State Department said the US expects "follow through" on pledges by the Taliban for Washington to recognize the group diplomatically.

The Pentagon dismissed reports of a second explosion on Thursday "at or near the Baron Hotel," which is a short distance from the Abbey Gate in Kabul.

US President Joe Biden welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to the White House to discuss bilateral and regional developments.

Uganda’s recent move to ban 54 NGOs is the latest government action to undermine and harass the country’s civil society Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Friday.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's leaders stressed that Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are important elements of stability in the Western Balkans.

The World Health Organization is monitoring 2,200 health facilities in Afghanistan's 34 provinces but they look to have only a few days of supplies left, with the airport in Kabul not looking safe as a gateway after terror attacks, according to a WHO official.

Extinction Rebellion protesters continued demonstrations on Friday in London that targeted the city’s financial heart.

The UN Security Council strongly condemned recent "deplorable" terror attacks near the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

Following the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan with the country's Security Council, according to the Kremlin.

The president of Uzbekistan said his country temporarily opened the Friendship Bridge on the border with Afghanistan to support Afghans.

Around 300 German citizens remain in Afghanistan after Germany ended evacuation flights from Kabul, the Foreign Ministry confirmed.

Italy evacuated all its citizens and about 4,900 Afghan nationals who wanted to leave Afghanistan, according to the Italian foreign minister.

British nationals are confirmed among the dead following’s twin bombings at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State confirmed to Anadolu Agency the release of 32 Baptist students who were abducted by bandits last month.

A Russian Su-24 fighter jet crashed in forestland near Perm in Russia, according to the country's Defense Ministry.