Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Department of State Offers Reward for Information to Bring Guatemalan Drug Trafficker to Justice US Dept. of State 18 Mar 2022 -- The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Eugenio Darío Molina-López ("Molina"), a Guatemalan international drug trafficker. Molina is a leader of a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) known as Los Huistas. Los Huistas is primarily based in the Huehuetenango region of Northwest Guatemala that borders Mexico.
• Treasury Sanctions Guatemala's Los Huistas Drug Trafficking Organization with Ties to Mexican Cartels US Treasury 18 Mar 2022 -- Today, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Los Huistas Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) and its leaders pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 for drug trafficking that threatens the people and security of the United States and Guatemala.
• Leader of Guatemalan Drug Trafficking Organization and Guatemalan Politician Indicted for International Cocaine Trafficking US Dept. of Justice 18 Mar 2022 -- A federal court in the District of Columbia today unsealed two separate indictments charging Aler Baldomero Samayoa-Recinos, aka Chicharra, and his son-in-law Freddy Arnoldo Salazar Flores, aka Fredy, Freshco, Boyca, Boyka, Torojo, Flaquillo, and Flaco, with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms of cocaine for importation to the United States. Salazar Flores is a representative of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN).

COVID-19 Pandemic News

United States

• US Has No Funds for Its Global COVID-19 Response VOA 18 Mar 2022 -- The Biden administration is in danger of cutting short its efforts to help vaccinate the world because U.S. lawmakers had slashed global pandemic response funds from the omnibus spending bill that President Joe Biden signed into law earlier this week.

China

• GT Investigates: China's zero-COVID policy, flexible measures ensure minimum impact on supply chains Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- Concerns by some US media outlets over potential supply chain hiccups as a round of Omicron cases hit some of China's major manufacturing and commercial cities are a testament to China's prominence in the global supply chain, analysts and industry insiders said on Friday. While some sectors are inevitably affected during the current fight to contain the virus, the overall health of the supply chain in China remains sound, thanks to the effective dynamic zero-COVID strategy, and as cities swiftly resume production, the impact of this round of epidemic flare-ups will be very limited, they said.
• China reiterates unshakable stand on dynamic zero COVID-19 policy Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- China's National Health Commission on Friday reiterated the significance of China firmly sticking to the dynamic zero COVID-19 policy, saying the defensive line must be guarded against the epidemic for the country of 1.4 billion people.
• Jilin COVID-19 cases surge after 2-day drop; avoiding infection risk at testing sites key to week-long clearance plan Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- After a two-day drop in the number of infections since Tuesday, locally transmitted cases in Northeast China's Jilin Province surged sharply on Thursday, casting a shadow on the provincial government which has vowed to crush the outbreak within a week.
• Quanzhou in E.China starts mass nucleic acid testing to combat Omicron; authorities clarify no 'lockdown' Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- Quanzhou in East China's Fujian Province started city-wide mass nucleic acid testing from 7 am on Friday including foreigners as the city has reported 492 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases including 181 asymptomatic cases from March 13 to 10 am Friday.
• Eight officials dismissed in S.China's Shenzhen for failure of duty in Omicron outbreak Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- The government of Omicron-hit Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province said Friday that they had dismissed eight officials in public security and health departments from their posts for dereliction of duty. Before the move, more than 60 officials were reportedly punished for dereliction of duty during recent nationwide outbreaks.
• China vows adherence to dynamic zero-COVID approach People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- China will stick to the dynamic zero-COVID approach as the line of defense against the epidemic at the moment, a Chinese health official said Friday.
• The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee convenes a meeting on COVID-19 situation and better and more stringent epidemic prevention and control People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee convened a meeting on March 17 to analyze the new development of COVID-19 and arrange for better and more stringent epidemic control. General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech.
• COVID-19 antigen self-testing kits appear at pharmacies, online platforms People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- COVID-19 antigen home-testing kits have started to mushroom at drug stores and e-commerce platforms in China, as the country is resolute in taking stricter and swifter measures to stem new infections.
• Chinese mainland reports 2,388 new local COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 2,388 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, up from 1,226 on Wednesday, the National Health Commission said Friday.
• Various sectors in Hong Kong slam smearing on mainland aid against COVID-19 People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- Various sectors in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have voiced their strong opposition to the sinister and despicable vilification by Western forces and anti-China disruptors against Chinese mainland support on the local fight against COVID-19.
• Xi orders swift containment of virus, sticking to dynamic zero-COVID Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday chaired a leadership meeting on fighting COVID-19, in which he stressed science-based and accurate measures and the adherence to the dynamic zero-COVID policy to curb the spread of the epidemic soonest.
• Beijing reports 60 local COVID-19 cases in latest outbreak with 9 transmission chains Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- Beijing has reported 60 local COVID-19 cases as of Thursday amid the latest outbreak since March 7 with nine transmission chains, including family and school cluster infections. The source of infection of two of the transmission chains is still undetermined.
• Standing Committee of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee convenes meeting on COVID-19 situation and better and more stringent epidemic prevention and control People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee convened a meeting on March 17 to analyze the new development of COVID-19 and arrange for better and more stringent epidemic control. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech.
• 16 officials in China's Jilin disciplined over COVID-19 outbreak People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- Sixteen officials in northeast China's Jilin Province have been held responsible for the latest COVID-19 resurgence in the province, said the provincial discipline inspection and supervisory authorities on Thursday.
• Xi requires swift containment of latest COVID-19 outbreaks People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday urged swift containment of the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Russia

• Russian Health Ministry Registers FMBA-Developed COVID-19 Vaccine Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- While other vaccines prompt an immune response against the coronavirus' S-protein, the new compound was said to develop antibodies against the N-protein. They usually appear in the natural immune response and provide better protection. The N-protein has less mutagen than the S-protein, which may increase the effectiveness of the new vaccine.
• Russia's Gamaleya Centre Applies for Registration of Nasal Vaccine Against COVID-19 Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- Russia's Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology has filed documents for the registration of a nasal version of its Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, the Russian Health Ministry said on Friday.

India

• India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 180.97 Cr India PIB 18 Mar 2022 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 180.97Cr (1,80,97,94,588) as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,12,97,331sessions.
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs India PIB 18 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 UPDATE India PIB 18 Mar 2022

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 91 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 18 Mar 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 139,478 with 91 more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Thursday.

Taiwan

• Taiwan records 75 new COVID-19 cases, including one domestic CNA 18 Mar 2022 -- Taiwan reported 75 new COVID-19 cases on Friday -- one domestically transmitted and 74 that originated abroad -- and no new deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Other Countries

• WHO Says Africa's COVID Vaccinations Rose by 15% in February VOA 18 Mar 2022 -- The World Health Organization says Africa's COVID-19 vaccinations rose by 15% between January and February, as several countries embarked on mass inoculation drives to expand coverage and protect populations from the pandemic.