Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• CISA Hosts Eighth Cyber Storm Exercise with More than 200 Organizations CISA 14 Mar 2022 -- Last week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) hosted a three-day cyber exercise, Cyber Storm VIII, which included more than 2,000 private sector, government, and international participants from approximately 200 organizations.
• Seattle Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization US Dept. of Justice 14 Mar 2022 -- A Seattle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
• Statement of the head of the delegation of the Russian Federation at the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Oleg Syromolotov, Vienna, 14 March 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 14 Mar 2022
• Exclusive: China captures powerful US NSA cyberspy tool Global Times 14 Mar 2022 -- China captured a spy tool deployed by the US National Security Agency, which is capable of lurking in a victim's computer to access sensitive information and was found to have controlled global internet equipment and stole large amounts of users' information, according to a report the Global Times obtained from the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center exclusively on Monday.
• China Reportedly Detects Cyberattack Tool Used by US Intelligence Sputnik 14 Mar 2022 -- China has discovered a cyberespionage tool used by the US National Security Agency (NSA) that can lurk in a computer and enable remote access to sensitive data stored on the device, Chinese newspaper Global Times reported on Monday, citing a report by China's state-run National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre.
• US Must Immediately Stop Cyberattacks Against China - Chinese Foreign Ministry Sputnik 14 Mar 2022 -- The United States must take a more responsible position on cyberspace and immediately stop cyberattacks against China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Delta-Omicron hybrid variant 'Deltacron' identified People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- Hybrid versions of the coronavirus that combine genes from the Delta and Omicron variants, dubbed "Deltacron," have been identified in at least 17 patients in the U.S. and Europe, researchers said.

United States

• Department of Defense (DoD) Announces Supplemental Grant Awards DoD 14 Mar 2022 -- The Department of Defense announced $3.6 million in Supplemental Support for Research Trainees (SSRT) awards to 34 early career researchers pursuing basic research across multiple scientific disciplines.

China

• Omicron Outbreak in Jilin, Hong Kong, is China's Largest Since Spring 2020 Sputnik 14 Mar 2022 -- Instead of learning to "live with the virus," Beijing has for three years maintained a "Zero Covid" policy of social lockdowns and mass testing to curb COVID-19 outbreaks, sparing the country the massive outbreaks and deaths seen elsewhere.
• COVID Shuts Down China's Shenzhen, Home to Apple Suppliers VOA 14 Mar 2022 -- The Chinese city of Shenzhen is in lockdown, following an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Shenzhen, often described as China's Silicon Valley, is home to several Apple suppliers, including Foxconn.
• Pre-orders soar for antigen tests as China adapts COVID-19 response to Omicron Global Times 14 Mar 2022 -- Three days after Chinese authorities allowed antigen self-test kits for public use as a dynamic adjustment of the epidemic prevention measures amid the biggest infection surge in two years, many online sales platforms witnessed a rapid increase in pre-orders of related products.
• China likely to control new wave of local COVID-19 infections by early April: Lanzhou-based epidemic prediction team Global Times 14 Mar 2022 -- China should stick to the dynamic zero-case policy and is likely to control this wave of domestic outbreaks by early April with current anti-epidemic measures, a Lanzhou-based epidemic prediction team told the Global Times on Monday.
• Jilin records over 1,000 daily infections two days in a row, worst local outbreak since Wuhan Global Times 14 Mar 2022 -- Northeast China's Jilin Province has witnessed over 1,000 daily infections for two days in a row, reaching a peak of daily numbers among Chinese mainland cities since the Wuhan outbreak in 2020. Experts predict that the number of infections in Jilin is likely to exceed 10,000 in the latest outbreak due to insufficient medical resources and previous poor responses, which can serve as a tough lesson for other areas of the country in dealing with the Omicron variant.
• Chinese tech hub Shenzhen to report more positive COVID-19 cases as city-wide mass testing rolls out Global Times 14 Mar 2022 -- Chinese tech hub Shenzhen, a coastal city bordering Hong Kong with 17 million residents, pressed the pause button on Monday, the first day authorities instituted a stay-at-home order to facilitate mass testing. The authorities also warned more positive cases among communities are likely to be detected in the coming days.
• Beijing orders some students to stay home, close parts of several hospitals amid COVID-19 surge Global Times 14 Mar 2022 -- Several schools in Beijing have ordered some students at high risk of infection to stay at home and parts of several hospitals have been closed as pressure on the capital to contain the coronavirus is increasing. This comes as the situation worsens in neighboring provinces and municipalities.
• Shanghai reports record daily COVID-19 infections of 169, with more areas placed under control Global Times 14 Mar 2022 -- Shanghai updated its number of confirmed local infections of COVID-19 with four and the number of asymptomatic carriers with 34 as of 2 pm on Monday. Two areas in its downtown Huangpu district and suburban Jiading district were changed to medium-risk areas.
• Chinese vice premier urges thorough measures to curb virus as Jilin continues reporting 1,000 daily cases Global Times 14 Mar 2022 -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan urged Northeast China's Jilin Province to take thorough measures to curb the virus spread, noting that epidemic prevention in Jilin has entered a crucial stage given the severe and complex situation. Sun said this during her visit to the province, which has seen over 1,000 daily infections for two days in a roll, a peak since the Wuhan outbreak in 2020.
• Chinese vice premier in Jilin, ordering "most thorough" COVID control measures to curb outbreaks People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Sunday stressed taking the most thorough epidemic response measures to stem the COVID-19 outbreaks in northeast China's Jilin Province.
• Chinese mainland reports 1,337 new local COVID-19 cases People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- The Chinese mainland on Sunday reported 1,337 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Monday.
• China scrambles to contain 'stealth' omicron as outbreak spreads through country Radio Free Asia 14 Mar 2022 -- Authorities in China locked down most of the northeastern province of Jilin on Monday in a scramble to contain a highly transmissible variant of COVID-19, deploying troops to the region to keep order and aid in a mass testing and quarantine operation.
• Chinese vice premier in Jilin, ordering "most thorough" COVID control measures to curb outbreaks People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Sunday stressed taking the most thorough epidemic response measures to stem the COVID-19 outbreaks in northeast China's Jilin Province.
• HK strives for sustained daily infection decline People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government－with the nation's help－will boost the number of medical workers and other anti-pandemic measures, as it strives for a sustained decline in daily COVID-19 infections.
• 4th mainland-aided COVID-19 isolation facility starts operation in Hong Kong People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- The fourth community isolation facility (CIF) in Hong Kong constructed with the support from the China mainland has been put into operation after it was handed over to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.
• HKSAR government enhances support for people under home quarantine People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will continue to enhance the support for people under home quarantine due to COVID-19, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam said on Sunday.
• Chinese vice premier in Jilin, ordering "most thorough" COVID control measures to curb outbreaks People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Sunday stressed taking the most thorough epidemic response measures to stem the COVID-19 outbreaks in northeast China's Jilin Province.

Russia

• Moscow Mayor Cancels Mandatory Masks But Ban On Public Gatherings Remains RFE/RL 14 Mar 2022 -- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin says the mandatory wearing of masks in public places will be lifted in the city as of March 15, while a ban on public gatherings and demonstrations introduced two years ago as part of coronavirus precautions will remain.

India

• India's current Active caseload (36,168) is lowest in 675 days India PIB 14 Mar 2022 -- In a significant development, India reported only 2,503 new cases in the last 24 hours, making it lowest in 680 days so far.
• COVID - 19 Vaccination Update - Day 423 India PIB 14 Mar 2022 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 180.36 Crore (1,80,36,99,367) today. More than 17 lakh (17,11,867) Vaccine Doses have been administered till 7 pm today. More than 2.12 Crore (2,13,53,164) Precaution Doses for the identified categories of beneficiaries (HCWs, FLWs and Over 60 years) for COVID vaccination have been administered so far. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late tonight.
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs India PIB 14 Mar 2022 -- The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
• COVID-19 Vaccination Update India PIB 14 Mar 2022 -- Union Government after due deliberations with scientific bodies has decided to start COVID19 vaccination for 12-13 yr and 13-14 yr age groups (those born in 2008, 2009 and 2010. i.e. those who are already above 12 years of age) of population from 16th March 2022. The COVID19 vaccine to be administered would be Corbevax manufactured by Biological E. Limited, Hyderabad.
• COVID-19 UPDATE India PIB 14 Mar 2022

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 114 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 14 Mar 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 139,063 with 114 more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Monday.
• Iran halts COVID vaccine imports amid rising domestic output Press TV 14 Mar 2022 -- Iranian customs office (IRICA) data shows the country has halted commercial imports of coronvirus vaccines because of a major surge in domestic output reported in recent weeks.

South Korea

• S.Korea to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5-11 People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- South Korea's health authorities said Monday that it will administer COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5-11 later this month to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant.

Taiwan

• CECC to plan for 7-, 5-, 3-day quarantines for arrivals CNA 14 Mar 2022 -- Taiwan's Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said Monday that planning of the country's COVID-19 response is moving in the direction of shorter quarantine periods.
• Taiwan reports 75 new COVID-19 cases, including 2 domestic CNA 14 Mar 2022 -- Taiwan reported 75 new COVID-19 cases -- two domestically transmitted and 73 that originated abroad -- and no new deaths from the disease on Monday, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan reports 75 new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- The Taiwan region of China reported 75 new COVID-19 cases, including two locally transmitted infections and 73 imported ones, the island's disease monitoring agency said Monday.

Other Countries

• Philippines approves emergency use of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for children People's Daily 14 Mar 2022 -- The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the emergency use authorization for China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for children, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said on Monday.