Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Sept. 2, 2021

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

Over 48.56 million people have gotten their first vaccine dose, while more than 37.36 million are fully vaccinated, the Health Ministry said. The ministry also reported 23,946 new coronavirus cases, while as many as 290 more people have died of the disease in the past 24 hours.

The Turkish president on Wednesday pledged to step up the country’s judicial reform efforts. "In the new judicial year, we'll accelerate our judicial reform efforts that will relieve both our justiciary organization and our nation," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a ceremony in the capital Ankara.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths on Wednesday discussed current developments in Syria and Afghanistan in a meeting at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara, as Turkey stressed that it cannot handle a new wave of migration.

Turkey on Wednesday opened a consulate general in Serbia’s southwestern city of Novi Pazar. The opening ceremony in front of the consulate building was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, his Serbian counterpart Nikola Selakovic and other officials.

The Turkish economy expanded 21.7% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2021, in line with expectations, official data revealed Wednesday. It has been the highest annual growth rate since 1999.

- Worldwide developments related to COVID-19

The UK recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus-related deaths Wednesday since March as cases continued to rise amid fears of a surge as the new school year begins. A total of 207 deaths were reported, the highest since March 9, when 231 fatalities were registered.

New Zealand on Wednesday reported 75 new coronavirus cases as infections have spiked again since the country was hit by the Delta variant of the virus last month, according to state-run media.

The first consignment of one million doses of the Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Wednesday, the country’s Health Ministry said.

South Sudan began operating the country’s first oxygen plant Wednesday, ending a crisis over a shortage of medical oxygen as the country battles COVID-19.

Some 10,000 doses of an unauthorized COVID-19 vaccine have been seized and destroyed in Zambia, authorities said Wednesday.

- Developments across World

The US is moving ahead with plans to reopen its de facto Palestine mission, the State Department announced Wednesday, despite very public opposition from Israel's top diplomat.

The US on Wednesday did not rule out working with the Taliban against Daesh/ISIS's Afghanistan affiliate after withdrawing from the war-torn nation.

The World Food Program’s food stocks in Afghanistan could run out by the end of September without additional funding, according to the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, Ramiz Alakbarov.

Gunmen have abducted dozens of students from a school in northwestern Nigeria's Zamfara state, police said Wednesday. A large number of gunmen stormed the Government Day Secondary School in Kaya, a remote town, and whisked away scores of students, said police spokesman Mohammed Shehu.

The EU is concerned over the potentially serious environmental effects of a massive oil slick in the Mediterranean originating from Syria, Tim McPhie, spokesman for Climate Action and Energy at the European Commission, told a news conference Wednesday.

Nearly 1 million people remain without power in Louisiana on Wednesday, three days after Hurricane Ida tore through the Gulf coast state.