Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Aug. 16, 2021

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) - 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

The death toll from floods in Turkey's Black Sea region has risen to 66, authorities said Sunday.

One more PKK terrorist has surrendered to Turkish security forces, security sources told Anadolu Agency on Sunday.

Turkey’s foreign minister on Sunday applauded his country’s relations with Algeria, saying the two countries share similar views on issues related to Libya, Tunisia and Palestine.

The Turkish Embassy in Kabul continues operations, the Turkish foreign minister said Sunday.

Turkish security forces “neutralized” four YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said Sunday.

- Worldwide developments related to COVID-19

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Sunday that most coronavirus cases in the West Bank were caused by the highly infectious Delta variant.

- Developments across world

Around 1.42 million households in Japan were called to evacuate Sunday after heavy rains hit the western and southern regions of the country, according to local media.

Afghanistan's major eastern city of Jalalabad, next to Pakistan, fell Sunday to the Taliban with the local governor's surrender.

The Taliban began to enter the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Sunday as it surrounded the city from all sides, according to the country's Interior Ministry.

Afghanistan's government will enter into talks with the Taliban for the peaceful transition of power after the insurgents closed in on the capital Kabul on Sunday, the country's interior minister announced.

At least 28 people were killed when a fuel tanker exploded in northern Lebanon, a medical source told Anadolu Agency on Sunday.

The United States is seeking to build confidence between Palestine and Israel, a Palestinian official said Sunday.

The UN on Sunday called on the Taliban and other parties in Afghanistan to protect civilians and UN humanitarian workers.

The Taliban on Sunday said they are "awaiting a peaceful transfer of power" in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani left the country on Sunday as the Taliban marched on the capital Kabul, officials confirmed.

Canada will hold an early federal election on Sept. 20, the country’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Sunday.

At least 724 people are dead and more than 2,800 injured after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Saturday, the country’s civil defense agency said Sunday.

Britain’s foreign secretary and his Pakistani counterpart agreed Sunday that it was critical that the international community tell the advancing Taliban that violence in Afghanistan must end and human rights must be protected.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that personnel are being relocated from the US Embassy in Kabul to Kabul airport "to ensure they can operate safely and securely" as Taliban fighters move deeper into the Afghan capital.

Pakistan is one of the largest markets for Turkish defense products, Pakistan's president said Sunday.

Albania has accepted a request from Washington to temporarily take in Afghan refugees seeking visas to enter the US, the Albanian prime minister said Sunday.

As the Taliban entered Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Sunday, the French Foreign Ministry announced that it was relocating its embassy and ambassador to Kabul airport.

The time to recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate authority has not come yet, Russia’s presidential envoy for Afghanistan said Sunday.

Germany will begin to fly out its embassy staff and former Afghan helpers out of Kabul, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Sunday.

The Taliban have taken control of the presidential palace in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, a Taliban spokesman said Sunday.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday said he left the country to "prevent a flood of bloodshed."