Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - Nov. 30, 2021

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

At least four people died Monday when the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul was hit by a fierce storm with gale-force winds, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he will pay a return visit to the UAE in February with a large delegation.

Turkey has administered over 120.26 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January, according to the latest figures released Monday.

Separately, the Health Ministry recorded 24,317 new coronavirus cases, 189 deaths and 23,273 recoveries from the virus over the past day.

World

The omicron variant of the coronavirus poses a "very high" risk globally, the World Health Organization warned as a special session of the global health body began Monday.

BioNTech confirmed Monday that it has started to work on a potential new vaccine against the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

A number of countries have imposed travel bans on African nations amid fears over the new COVID-19 variant omicron.

Southern African leaders have expressed disappointment over decisions taken by several countries to ban travel from half a dozen Southern African Development Community member states (SADC) following the detection of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Following a five-month break, Iran and world powers kicked off talks in Vienna on Monday in a last-ditch attempt to restore the 2015 nuclear accord.

France will halt negotiations if Britain does not make any progress on granting new fishing licenses in the next 10 days, the country's minister for European affairs warned Monday.

The European Union on Monday reaffirmed its willingness to continue talks with the Taliban to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Afghan people following the first round of negotiations with the Afghan interim government over the weekend.

Saudi Arabia on Monday called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Britain and Israel announced a new decade-long agreement Monday covering cybersecurity, defense and trade.

The US Defense Department will investigate a 2019 airstrike in the Syrian town of Baghuz that killed dozens of civilians, spokesman John Kirby announced Monday.

Jack Dorsey confirmed Monday that he has stepped down as Twitter's chief executive officer effective immediately.

India's parliament voted Monday to repeal farm reform laws that had triggered year-long protests by farmers.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas announced Sunday that it will take legal action against the UK, which recently listed it as a terrorist organization. -