Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - Feb. 21, 2022

By Busra Nur Cakmak

ANKARA (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

Turkiye reported 70,355 new coronavirus cases on Sunday.

According to a chart shared by the Health Ministry, 263 people lost their lives and 91,164 others recovered from the disease over the past day.

Also, as many as 440,183 virus tests were done nationwide in the past 24 hours.

To counter the spread of the virus, Turkiye has administered over 144.85 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021.

More than 57.62 million people have received a first vaccine jab, while over 52.71 million have been fully vaccinated. Third booster shots have been given to more than 26.67 million people.

Turkiye's president delivered 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines during his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday, pledging to donate 1.1 million more jabs.

Turkish security forces "neutralized" 14 YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, across Turkiye's border, the National Defense Ministry said.

- Other developments worldwide

Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19, Buckingham Palace announced on Sunday.

US President Joe Biden accepted a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "in principle," in the event that Russia does not invade Ukraine, the White House announced Sunday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that Russia is planning the largest conflict in Europe since the end of the Second World War in 1945.

The European Union cannot offer an “olive branch” while Russia continues to amass troops along the Ukrainian border, the president of the European Council said.

A war would have terrible and devastating consequences for Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned, amid escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine.