ANKARA

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

The Turkish Health Ministry reported over 108,000 new coronavirus cases Wednesday.

The ministry confirmed 108,563 infections, 266 related deaths and 88,647 recoveries over the past day, while 452,363 virus tests were also conducted across the country.

To counter the spread of the virus, Turkiye has administered over 143.47 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021.

Continuing its war on terror, Turkiye neutralized 14 terrorists in northern Syria affiliated with the YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terror group.

Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had a phone call with Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, during which he stressed the significance of the establishment of a government with broad participation for stability and peace in Afghanistan.

A workshop organized by the Turkish Presidency’s Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the capital Ankara addressed the current state of relations between Turkiye and Germany, the future of bilateral ties, migration, the fight against terrorism, Turkiye’s EU membership process, the Eastern Mediterranean issue, the Ukraine crisis and relations with Russia.

Turkiye’s Ambassador to China Abdulkadir Onen said the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) reflects Ankara’s wishes to broaden its relations in Asia in an op-ed published in the South China Morning Post.

As part of Quit Smoking Day, Turkiye launched a campaign to raise awareness about the hazards of tobacco use

Other developments worldwide

Journalists sacked by Germany’s public broadcaster dismissed antisemitism allegations and said Deutsche Welle is acting against freedom of expression.

New York City Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the city will end its mask-or-vaccine mandate for indoor businesses from Thursday.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced that the country appointed Greenpeace International Executive Director Jennifer Morgan as the country’s first special climate envoy.

A mosque in Germany’s northern city of Dortmund was vandalized when unknown attackers painted a swastika on one of its doors.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that the country’s terrorism threat level has been reduced from “severe” to “substantial.”

As part of Turkiye’s 6th Antarctic expedition, a Turkish research team set foot in Antarctica.

The Palestinian Central Council suspended its recognition of Israel until Tel Aviv recognizes a Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders.

Four YPG/PKK terrorists have been caught in the northwestern Syrian town of Afrin along with suicide vests and kilos of C4 explosives.

Ali Shamkhani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, criticized the US government for lacking “coherence” for making political decisions at ongoing nuclear talks in Vienna.

Japan announced that it has “consistently” supported the Iran nuclear deal and hopes for the “early return to compliance…by relevant countries.”

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Somali Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range launched a national livestock treatment campaign to respond to the current drought in Somalia.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has ordered further examinations into the use of Pegasus spyware to hack the phones of Israeli citizens.

US President Joe Biden had a telephone call with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud in which they discussed a range of issues, including Houthi attacks on the kingdom.

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