Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - Oct. 23, 2021

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

Developments in Turkey, coronavirus pandemic and other news

Turkey administered more than 115.05 million coronavirus vaccine doses since it launched an immunization drive in January, according to official figures.

The Health Ministry recorded 28.192 new cases, 228 fatalities and 30.302 recoveries in the past 24 hours.

Social media platforms with no inspection executed now threaten democracy, social peace and national security of states, according to the Turkish president.

"Just as we do not entirely rely on foreigners in the defense industry and military matters, we cannot leave the communication issue to others," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a video message to the Turkic Council Media Forum held in Istanbul.

Separately, Erdogan said Turkey intends to nearly double its bilateral trade volume with Africa from last year's $25.3 billion to $50 billion, and later raise the figure to $75 billion.

"Sincere ties" between Turkey and African countries will grow stronger, the president stressed at the third edition of the Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met his South Korean counterpart in Seoul and discussed bilateral ties, cooperation in the defense industry and investments.

Coronavirus pandemic, other developments across the world

Turkish-German scientists Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci received the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award in Oviedo from the Spanish royal family.

Germany's coronavirus cases are rising rapidly and putting hospitals under enormous strain, authorities warned.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there was "absolutely nothing" to indicate the country would need a new lockdown as the government's scientific advisers called for the making of preparations for the reintroduction of coronavirus restrictions now so they "can be ready for rapid deployment if required."

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern set a target of fully vaccinating 90% of the population to end strict restrictions.

US actor Alec Baldwin, 68, fatally shot a cinematographer and injured a film director with a prop gun on a movie set, according to media reports.

UN special envoy for Syria ended a week of talks to start discussions on a new constitution for the war-torn country and said the last day was "disappointing."

Russian President Vladimir Putin held his first meeting with Israeli premier Naftali Bennett since the prime minister assumed office in June. The meeting was at Putin's residence, Bocharov Ruchey, in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Israel designated six Palestinian human rights groups "terrorist organizations" and accused them of having links to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a group banned by the Israeli military.

Thousands of pro-military supporters organized a protest against Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok's transitional government in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, further escalating political tension between the civilian administration and the army. -