Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Aug. 30, 2021

By Ahmet Gencturk

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

Over 47.8 million people have received their first vaccine dose, while more than 36.64 million are fully vaccinated, the Health Ministry said.

Attending the delivery ceremony in Istanbul for the Bayraktar Akinci Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Akinci will strengthen Turkey’s “sincere efforts” to establish trust, peace and justice in both the region and the world.

He also underlined that Turkey is determined to become the leading country in combat drone technology.

Speaking to the press on his way back to Istanbul from Montenegro, where he paid an official visit, Erdogan said Turkey is willing to contribute to Afghanistan’s recovery as it has done to this day.

Meanwhile, Turkey's National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met virtually Sunday with Qatar's Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan, according to the National Defense Ministry.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also met Sunday with German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass in the Mediterranean province of Antalya. Cavusoglu rejected allegations that it will keep evacuated Afghans in its territories.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed “deep sorrow” Sunday over a ballistic missile strike in southern Yemen that killed at least 40 soldiers and wounded dozens.

- Worldwide developments related to COVID-19

Bangladesh has signed an agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) to get 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the global COVAX Facility, said Zahid Maleque, the health and family welfare minister.

- Developments across World

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar criticized the Greek side for trying to shoot down the proposed solution that was discussed for the first time during the 5+UN Geneva conference this April and urged it to work on ways to realize a two-state solution and institutional cooperation on the island.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday that his visit to Washington was successful and achieved its goals. The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden stressed on Israel to take further steps to improve Palestinians' living conditions and to support economic opportunities for them.

Afghanistan’s Ariana News reported that Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada has been in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan for four days.

The US on Sunday took responsibility for a blast in Kabul, saying an airstrike targeted a vehicle that posed an “imminent” threat to Hamid Karzai International Airport from ISIS-K, the Deash/ISIS terror affiliate behind an attack last Thursday which killed 170 people, including 13 US soldiers.

Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree setting the date for elections of deputies to the country’s parliament on Nov. 28, the Presidency Press Center said Sunday in a statement.

At least 40 government soldiers were killed in a Houthi missile attack Sunday on al-Anad military base in southern Lahij province, according to Mohamed al-Naqeeb, a spokesman for Yemen’s southern forces.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday and discussed “ all aspects” of Israeli-Palestinian relations.