Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Statement by Secretary Mayorkas on the President's Fiscal Year 2023 Budget DHS 28 Mar 2022 -- The Biden-Harris Administration today submitted to Congress the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2023. The President's Budget details his vision to expand on the historic progress our country has made over the last year and delivers the agenda he laid out in his State of the Union address—to build a better America, reduce the deficit, reduce costs for families, and grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out.
• US Judge Says Trump Likely Committed Obstruction of Congress on 6 January 2021 Sputnik 28 Mar 2022 -- US District Judge David Carter said on Monday that former President Donald Trump likely committed obstruction of Congress on 6 January 2021, according to a court ruling.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

United States

• U.S. to approve 2nd vaccine booster amid mixed pandemic scenario People's Daily 28 Mar 2022 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is poised to authorize a second COVID-19 vaccine booster for anyone 50 and older amid concerns that a new Omicron subvariant could hit the United States.

China

• NE China's Jilin builds 19 makeshift hospitals amid surging COVID-19 infections Global Times 28 Mar 2022 -- Northeast Chinas Jilin Province has built 19 makeshift hospitals in a bid to admit surging COVID-19 patients as of Monday.
• Shanghai carries out staggered lockdown, vows to ensure sufficient daily commodities in closed-loop management Global Times 28 Mar 2022 -- Shanghai carried out a staggered lockdown starting on Monday in Pudong and Puxi (divided by the Huangpu River) in turn and mass nucleic acid tests will be conducted in the city covering over 6,340 square kilometers and with a population of over 24 million to cut out hidden transmission routes in communities to curb the rapid spread of Omicron.
• China's quest for new ways to handle Omicron Global Times 28 Mar 2022 -- As the highly transmissible Omicron variant continues to pose risks and concerns over the social and economic costs of the protracted epidemic grow, several major Chinese cities have embarked on a quest for an improved anti-epidemic approach that can both ensure dynamic zero-COVID targets and minimize disruptions to social and economic activities, with the latest approach of phased closed-off management - instead of citywide measures - imposed by Shanghai, the country' financial hub, starting on Monday.
• Shanghai enters partial 'pause', vows sufficient daily supplies Global Times 28 Mar 2022 -- Chinese financial hub Shanghai is now under the city's most stringent antivirus measures ever in a bid to stamp out the surging number of COVID-19 infections, as the ordered two-phase mass testing and sealing-off plans press the "pause" button on the usually bustling metropolis. Public transport, taxis and car hailing services have been suspended in targeted areas, while cross-river bridges and tunnels have been closed. Meanwhile, the government is ratcheting up the building of isolation sites, conducting nucleic acid tests on the city's 24 million people while guaranteeing food supplies and smooth medical channels for its residents.
• China's largest COVID-19 lockdown in two years begins in Shanghai Press TV 28 Mar 2022 -- After days of uncertainty, China began its largest lockdown in two years to conduct mass testing in a bid to contain the fresh COVID-19 outbreak in its largest city of Shanghai.
• Shanghai begins two-phase lockdown as residents complain of food shortages Radio Free Asia 28 Mar 2022 -- Shanghai's glitzy financial district on Monday entered the first part of a two-phase, citywide lockdown that will eventually affect most of the city's 26 million residents, as the municipal government struggles to implement the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s zero-COVID strategy.
• China's Largest City Put on Lockdown Due to Coronavirus Outbreak Sputnik 28 Mar 2022 -- Shanghai, with a population of 25 million, has been battling a new coronavirus outbreak for almost a month. Over the past 24 hours, China has reported more than 1,200 COVID-19 cases, its highest daily number since the start of the pandemic.
• Shanghai tightens COVID-19 control measures amid resurgence People's Daily 28 Mar 2022 -- China's economic hub Shanghai will launch a new round of nucleic acid testing across the city starting from 5 a.m. on Monday, local authorities said Sunday night.
• Chinese mainland reports 1,219 new local COVID-19 cases People's Daily 28 Mar 2022 -- The Chinese mainland on Sunday reported 1,219 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission's Monday report showed.
• Hong Kong has inevitably fallen into contraction in Q1 but confident in economic outlook: HK financial secretary Global Times 28 Mar 2022 -- Hong Kong's economy is on course to contract in the first quarter of 2022, breaking a four-quarter run of recovery, but confidence in the economy remains, said Paul Chan Mo-po, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Financial Secretary, on Sunday.

India

• India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 183.26 Cr India PIB 28 Mar 2022 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 183.26 Cr (1,83,26,35,673) as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,17,89,216 sessions.
• COVID - 19 Vaccination Update - Day 437 India PIB 28 Mar 2022 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 183.49 Crore (1,83,49,72,675) today. More than 22 lakh (22,89,185) Vaccine Doses have been administered till 7 pm today. More than 1.35 Crore (1,35,00,862) vaccine doses have been administered to 12-14 years age group so far. More than 2.27 Crore (2,27,18,612) 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 28 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 28 Mar 2022

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 42 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 28 Mar 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 140,063 with 42 more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Monday.
• Iran starts COVID vaccine exports, first cargo shipped to Nicaragua Press TV 28 Mar 2022 -- Iran has started exports of coronavirus vaccines just six months after it was forced to import foreign-made shots in large quantities to contain a rapidly spreading disease.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 127 new COVID-19 cases, including 34 domestic CNA 28 Mar 2022 -- Taiwan reported 127 new COVID-19 cases on Monday -- 34 domestically transmitted and 93 that originated abroad -- and no new deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Other Countries

• Ghana Reopens Borders to Bolster Economy VOA 28 Mar 2022 -- Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has lifted more COVID-19 prevention measures, such as wearing masks, and re-opened land and sea borders that were for the past two years closed to foot traffic. The loosening of pandemic restrictions has been welcomed as a step forward for Ghana's economic recovery.