Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - Dec. 8, 2021

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments in Turkey, around the world, and the coronavirus pandemic.

Developments in Turkey

Turkey has administered more than 121 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January, according to the latest official figures released on Tuesday.

More than 56.42 million people have gotten a first vaccine dose, while over 50.74 million have been fully vaccinated, the Health Ministry said.

Turkey and Qatar signed 15 new agreements to boost cooperation between the two countries.

Relations between Turkey and Qatar will deepen further in the years to come, the Turkish president said during his visit to the Gulf state.

The countries of a convention designed to protect the Mediterranean Sea from pollution began their 22nd meeting in Antalya, on the southern Turkish coast.

Turkey's First Lady Emine Erdogan stressed the need for reforms to realize the full potential of women.

Turkey attaches great importance to its relations with Indonesia, said the head of the Turkish parliament's committee on public works, reconstruction, transport, and tourism.




Coronavirus pandemic

The new omicron coronavirus variant has spread to 50 countries and 19 US states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky said on Tuesday.

EU health agencies approved the mixing of traditional and mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines.

At least Spanish 80 healthcare workers tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a hospital Christmas party in the city of Malaga, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The leaders of three Canadian Indigenous groups announced that they have put a trip to the Vatican on hold due to concerns over the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a delay in African countries in eliminating AIDS and difficulties that worsen the situation.

The COVID-19 vaccine stockpile by rich countries has been to the detriment of Africa and continues to push back the continent's recovery, the South African president said.

The World Health Organization's Europe regional chief urged governments not to mandate vaccines before initially reaching out to communities as 120,000 deaths have been reported in the region over the past month.




World

A virtual call between the presidents of the US and Russia on Tuesday ended after two hours and one minute, according to the White House.

US President Joe Biden threatened to respond with "strong economic measures" if Russia escalates military action against Ukraine, the White House said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin asked his US counterpart Biden during a two-hour video call for guarantees that NATO will not expand eastward, the Kremlin announced.

The head of the EU Commission threatened Moscow with new sanctions if Russian forces attack Ukraine.

A suspect linked to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France.

Persistent inflation, supply chain disruptions and energy prices could trigger wage inflation and push the Federal Reserve and other central banks to increase interest rates faster than expected, S&P Global Ratings said.

A Cameroonian migrant, left to die in the Aegean Sea by Greek elements, is seeking justice at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Olaf Scholz is due to become the next German chancellor on Wednesday when the country's parliament votes for his center-left coalition government, ending 16 years of Angela Merkel's rule.

The presidents of Zambia and Malawi vowed to build stronger trade and investment ties between the two Southern African countries.

The leaders of Greece, Israel, and the Greek Cypriot administration met in Jerusalem for trilateral talks on their relations.

More than 30 cases of cholera, including one dozen deaths, have been recorded in less than three days in South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo , a health official said. -