Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – Dec. 11, 2022

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments around the world.

Türkiye and Russia held political consultations in Istanbul this week and addressed regional issues as Ankara reiterated its expectation from Moscow on pledges regarding the withdrawal of PKK/YPG terrorists from Syria, according to an official statement.

Turkish security forces “neutralized” at least 16 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq and Syria, including a senior YPG/PKK terrorist, said the National Defense Ministry.

Türkiye marked the 74th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted the importance of basic rights and freedoms.

A woman and child taken hostage at a supermarket in Dresden have been freed unharmed following a German police operation, said authorities.

The "only way" to end Russia's war against Ukraine is some kind of defeat of Moscow, Portugal’s former minister of Europe told Anadolu Agency.

Tens of thousands of Bangladeshis gathered in Dhaka to support the main opposition party's demand that the government stand down and elections are held under an apolitical interim framework.

Iran summoned the British and German ambassadors to protest “meddling” amid monthslong protests in the country.

Kosovo postponed local elections in four northern municipalities, which were due later this month, because of security concerns, according to the president.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Belgrade will officially request NATO's peacekeepers, known as KFOR, to let it deploy the Serbian army and police in Kosovo, in accordance with a UN resolution.

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, discussed regional and international issues ranging from Islamophobia to Kashmir and from Palestine to Afghanistan.

At least three people have died following an explosion and fire at a block of flats in St. Helier, the capital of the self-governing British dependency on the island of Jersey, according to media reports.

Türkiye vowed to further develop multi-faceted relations with Algeria.

At least four people died after Cyclone Mandous made landfall in Mamallapuram in India's Tamil Nadu state.

Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 and became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal match.

France edged England 2-1 to make it into the other semifinal.