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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Department of State Offers Reward for Information to Bring Mexican Drug Trafficking Cartel Member to Justice US Dept. of State 01 Dec 2021 -- Today, the U.S. Department of State is announcing a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Juan Carlos Valencia Gonzalez, an alleged high-level member of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG - Jalisco New Generation Cartel).
• Russian Man Sentenced for Providing 'Bulletproof Hosting' for Cybercriminals US Dept. of Justice 01 Dec 2021 -- A Russian man was sentenced today for providing "bulletproof hosting" services, which were used by cybercriminals between 2009 to 2015 to distribute malware and attack financial institutions and victims throughout the United States.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• UN Chief Denounces COVID 'Travel Apartheid' Against Southern Africa VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that southern African nations that first detected the omicron COVID-19 variant are being collectively punished with travel restrictions, and he urged "common sense" to respond to the new variant.
• WHO Works Toward International Pact on Pandemic Prevention VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday began a lengthy process to develop an international agreement on the prevention and control of future pandemics.
• Despite COVID-19 connectivity boost, world's poorest left far behind UN News 01 Dec 2021 -- Some 2.9 billion people still have never used the internet, and 96 per cent live in developing countries, a new UN report has found. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the estimated number of people who have gone online this year actually went up, to 4.9 billion, partially because of a "COVID connectivity boost".
• Landmark decision to negotiate new accord on pandemics 'cause for hope' UN News 01 Dec 2021 -- Agreement by countries to launch a process to develop a new global accord on pandemic prevention and response is cause for hope, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday in Geneva.
• Blanket travel bans will not prevent int'l spread of Omicron variant: WHO People's Daily 01 Dec 2021 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, even as dozens of countries have already introduced such restrictions.
• Global vaccination plan only way to stop pandemic, says UN chief People's Daily 01 Dec 2021 -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres argued on Tuesday that "the only way out of a global pandemic and out of this unjust and immoral situation is through a global vaccination campaign."
• Omicron: The Case for Optimism VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- The emergence of the Omicron variant has caused financial markets to swoon and national leaders to order or threaten fresh pandemic measures aimed at preventing the strain's spread. The world appears caught in a guessing game with everyone wanting to know whether Omicron can beat the world's current vaccines.

United States

• Statement from White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients on First Case of the Omicron COVID-19 Variant in the United States The White House 01 Dec 2021
• Pentagon Chief Issues COVID Vaccination Order for National Guard VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered all National Guard and Reserve service members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face the loss of pay and other consequences, according to a memo released Tuesday.
• First Case of Omicron Variant Reported in US VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- The first confirmed U.S. case of someone infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus has been discovered in the Western state of California, U.S. health officials said Wednesday.

China

• Manzhouli port hit by imported virus, 'to be contained within 14 days' Global Times 01 Dec 2021 -- Manzhouli, China's largest land port city in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is in the spotlight as the latest coronavirus flare-up has seen 142 new infections as of Wednesday, which was caused by contaminated imported goods. As a city bordering Mongolia and Russia where many China-Europe freight trains passing through every year, Manzhouli, like some other Chinese port cities, has been standing at the frontline in fighting against imported virus cases. Epidemiologists and insiders warned that loopholes in port management challenge China's dynamic zero-COVID policy.
• North China city adds 5 risk areas as 91 new COVID-19 cases emerge People's Daily 01 Dec 2021 -- The border city of Manzhouli and a county-level district administered by the city in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region reported 91 new local COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and added five areas to the city's medium-risk area list.
• Over 2.5 bln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on Chinese mainland People's Daily 01 Dec 2021 -- Over 2.5 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered on the Chinese mainland as of Tuesday, data from the National Health Commission showed Wednesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 91 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 01 Dec 2021 -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 91 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, all in Inner Mongolia, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Wednesday.
• No Omicron cases reported on Chinese mainland so far People's Daily 01 Dec 2021 -- The Chinese mainland has not detected Omicron COVID-19 variant cases so far, a health official said on Tuesday.
• Official says China's prevention, control strategies effective against Omicron variant People's Daily 01 Dec 2021 -- China's current prevention and control strategies are effective against the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Tuesday.

Europe

• EU Leaders Consider Mandatory Vaccinations to Fight Omicron Variant VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- European Union leaders said Wednesday they are considering a number of public health options, including vaccine mandates, to address the growing threat posed by the omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19.
• UK to offer booster vaccines to all adults by end of January People's Daily 01 Dec 2021 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday that everyone over the age of 18 will be offered a booster vaccine by the end of January and another lockdown "extremely unlikely".
• French minister warns worsening epidemical situation People's Daily 01 Dec 2021 -- The epidemical situation in France is worsening, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Tuesday.
• Greece Orders Seniors to Vaccinate or Pay Fines VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- Greece Is introducing steep fines for unvaccinated people aged 60 and over as infections surge, straining the Greek state healthcare system. The decision is generating debate about civil liberties and freedom in the land that gave birth to western-style democracy.

Russia

• Russia Records 32,837 New Cases of COVID-19, 1,226 Deaths SPA 01 Dec 2021 -- Russia recorded 32,837 new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 1,226 deaths in the last 24 hours.

India

• India Issues Precautionary Guidelines as Omicron Variant Spreads Worldwide VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- India has announced precautionary measures to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19 amid the emergence of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which has now appeared in nearly 25 countries, including the United States.
• India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 124.10 Cr India PIB 01 Dec 2021 -- With the administration of 80,98,716vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 124.10 Cr (1,24,10,86,850) as per provisional reports till 7 am today
• COVID-19 Vaccination Update - Day 320 India PIB 01 Dec 2021 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has achievednearly 125 Crore (124,86,09,652) today
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs India PIB 01 Dec 2021 -- The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country
• COVID-19 UPDATE India PIB 01 Dec 2021
• Update on Omicron variant of COVID India PIB 01 Dec 2021 -- On the first day of operation of the Guidelines for International Travelers issued by the Centre as public health response measures for control and management of the new reported variant of COVID-19, which has been designated as a Variant of Concern (VOC) by WHO, six passengers were reported to be COVID positive.

  Total of 11 international flights landed at various airports of the country except Lucknow, from midnight to 4 pm today, from "at risk" countries

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 82 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 01 Dec 2021 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 129,912 with 82 more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia

• Ministry of Health Reports 34 New COVID-19 Cases, 26 Recoveries in Saudi Arabia SPA 01 Dec 2021 -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the registration of 34 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 26 recoveries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the past 24 hours.
• Health Ministry: Detecting Omicron Variant Case of Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia for Citizen Coming Back from North African Country SPA 01 Dec 2021 -- An official source at the Ministry of Health, with reference to what has already been announced on the emergence of a new variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in some countries, and detecting movement of those infected to other countries, said that a case of the omicron variant was detected in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a citizen arriving back from a North African country. The source added that an epidemiological investigation has started and the case was sent to quarantine, where accredited health procedures were followed.
• Saudi Press: Saudi Arabia achieves a significant decrease in epidemic curves of COVID-19 pandemic SPA 01 Dec 2021 -- Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports eight new cases of COVID-19, zero deaths CNA 01 Dec 2021 -- Taiwan reported eight new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, all contracted overseas, and zero deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Other Countries

• Nigeria Confirms 3 Cases of Coronavirus Omicron Variant VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- Nigeria has confirmed its first cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in two travelers from South Africa. But Canada had already reported cases of the variant in Canadians who had recently returned there from Nigeria. The infections raise concerns that the easily spread variant could be taking hold in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country.
• Zimbabwe Announces 14-Day Quarantine, 9-Hour Curfew to Contain Omicron VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- Zimbabwe has announced a nine-hour curfew and compulsory 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving in the country, to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Zimbabwe is the first country in southern Africa to enact such restrictions since the emergence of the variant, which spreads more easily. The rules come just ahead of the holiday season, when many Zimbabweans living abroad hope to return home to visit family.
• Africans Will Get Wider Access to Vaccines in New Distribution Deal VOA 01 Dec 2021 -- Vaccine-short Africa is hopeful of getting more COVID-19 doses, as a South African pharmaceutical firm is close to being the first in Africa to distribute them for sale across the continent.
• UAE Detects First Case of COVID-19 Omicron Variant SPA 01 Dec 2021 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced today the detection of the first case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant coming from abroad.
• Mexico Registers 296 More COVID-19 Deaths and 3,307 New Cases SPA 01 Dec 2021 -- Mexico's health ministry on Tuesday reported 296 more deaths from COVID-19 in the country and 3,307 additional cases, bringing the overall death toll since the pandemic began to 294,246 and the number of infections to 3,887,873, Reuters reported.
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• Brazil registers 305 new COVID-19 deaths SPA 01 Dec 2021 -- Brazil registered 305 new COVID-19 deaths and 9,710 additional confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to data released on Tuesday by the Health Ministry.