Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - Jan. 17, 2021

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

Coronavirus and other developments in Turkey

Turkey reported more than 7,500 new coronavirus cases, down from 8,314 registered the previous day, according to health ministry's data.

A total of 7,550 infections, including 902 symptomatic patients, were confirmed. Turkey's overall case tally has crossed 2.38 million. The nationwide death toll hit 23,832, with 168 additional fatalities.

As many as 8,005 additional patients recovered, bringing that total past 2.25 million. More than 27.2 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Turkey, with 156,792 performed in the past 24 hours.

More than 650,000 health care workers have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the first three days of a vaccination campaign.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev discussed regional issues during a telephone call.

Turkey hailed Palestine's decision to hold general and presidential elections for the first time in 14 years.

Vice President Fuat Oktay received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Ankara City Hospital.

Turkey invested 27 billion Turkish liras ($3.6 billion) on natural gas distribution since 2002, said Erdogan.

An overnight curfew in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will begin Sunday to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

COVID-19 updates worldwide

A total of 191,181 people were vaccinated in India on the first day of the world's largest vaccination drive against the virus

Pakistan's drug regulator approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, according to a top health official.

Other developments

A UN peacekeeper was killed in an attack in the Kidal region of Mali, said the group's mission in the West African nation.

Germany's ruling Christian Democrat Union (CDU) elected Armin Laschet as its new party leader.

France's president said in a letter to his Turkish counterpart that he hoped stability would return to the European continent in 2021 with Ankara's help, according to the L'Opinion daily.

Saudi Arabia will reopen its embassy in Qatar within days, following last week's agreement to end a dispute.

Yoweri Museveni was declared winner of Uganda's presidential election with 58.6% of the vote.

Protests in France against a controversial security bill resumed as demonstrators gathered in multiple cities and towns amidst snowfall with police clashing with protesters in at least one city. -