Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - Oct. 29, 2021

ANKARA (AA) - 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 has administered over 116.02 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January, according to official figures released Thursday.

The ministry recorded 25,528 new cases, 229 fatalities and 27,651 recoveries over the past day.

On the eve of Friday, Oct. 29, Republic Day, Turkey’s president sent a congratulatory message to the nation marking the 98th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.

“I congratulate our citizens, living at home and abroad, and all our friends, who share our pride on this day, which is one of the golden links of our glorious history, on the occasion of 29 October Republic Day,” Erdogan said in a video message.

Meanwhile, "De facto terrorist statelets" would have emerged across Turkey's southern borders with Iraq and Syria had Ankara not conducted its anti-terror operations in recent years, the spokesman for Turkey's Justice and Development (AK) Party said.

Turkey "will never allow" any terrorist formation near its borders or tolerate such statelets, Omer Celik said after a meeting of the AK Party's Central Executive Board headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital Ankara. The closed-door meeting lasted for nearly 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Thursday that he expects a meeting between President Joe Biden and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Glasgow, UK, but it has not been confirmed.

"I anticipate he will meet with the president of Turkey in Glasgow. I don't have confirmation, but I think that's the present expectation," Sullivan told reporters on Air Force One.

Both leaders will attend the World Leaders Summit at the start of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP26, on Monday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will head to Italy and the UK to attend the G20 Leaders and COP26 climate summits, Turkey’s Communications Directorate said Thursday.

During the G20 Leaders' Summit, world leaders are expected to discuss issues such as the economic recovery in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, developments in the global economy and health, climate change, the environment, sustainable development, and the refugee crisis, as well as roles the G20 can play on these issues.

- Coronavirus pandemic, other developments across the world

Around 1,300 French nursing students have resigned due to fatigue and exhaustion amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to staff shortages at hospitals in France, the country’s health minister acknowledged Thursday.

Responding to the findings of a report by France’s Scientific Council released earlier in October that 20% or one in five beds at public hospitals remain closed due to staff shortages, Olivier Veran disclosed that many nursing students were leaving training midway.

Meanwhile, the British government announced Thursday that the remaining seven countries on its red travel list would be removed early on Monday.

After the change takes effect at 4 a.m. local time (0400GMT), arrivals in the UK from Colombia, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuela and Ecuador will no longer have to pay to stay in a hotel for quarantine.

Russia uses natural gas as a political weapon against Moldova, the EU’s foreign policy chief said Thursday.

"In global terms, the price increases around the world are not a consequence of weaponization of the gas supply, but in the case of Moldova, yes it is," Josep Borrell said at a joint news conference alongside Moldova's Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita in Brussels.

On Thursday, Britain summoned France’s ambassador to discuss an escalating row over fishing rights between the two countries.

“I have instructed Europe Minister Wendy Morton to summon the French Ambassador to the UK for talks tomorrow to explain the disappointing and disproportionate threats made against the UK and Channel Islands,” tweeted British Foreign Minister Liz Truss.

Facebook announced Thursday that it is changing its name to Meta as it continues to face a growing litany of controversies.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the change at a company tech event, noting Meta will unite Facebook's apps and technologies, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and its Oculus virtual reality division in what he described as a "metaverse."