Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• US: Africa Needs Tailored Strategies to Fight ISIS Groups VOA 18 May 2022 -- African countries are being encouraged to use both soft and hard power to counter the growing threat posed by Islamic State on the continent. The U.S. government is giving more than $100 million to African states to overcome terrorism. Top U.S. security officials say African leadership and voices are needed to ensure security assistance is targeted to where it's needed most.
• First meeting of NATO national cyber coordinators NATO 18 May 2022 -- Senior cyber coordinators from all NATO Allies met in Brussels today (18 May 2022) for the first time.
• U.S. Fleet Cyber Command Executes Operation Cyber Dragon US Navy 18 May 2022 -- The U.S. Navy's unclassified computer networks are better protected from outside threats. U.S. Fleet Cyber Command just completed the first phase of operation Cyber Dragon where nearly 30 active and reserve Sailors resolved thousands of vulnerabilities.
• Remarks by President Biden Before Briefing on Interagency Efforts to Prepare for and Respond to Hurricanes The White House 18 May 2022

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 18 May 2022

United States

• Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials | May 18, 2022 The White House 18 May 2022
• U.S. COVID-19 death toll tops 1 mln: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- The United States reached the grim milestone of 1 million novel coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
• Almost 13.2 mln U.S. children infected with COVID-19 People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- Almost 13.2 million children in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, according to the latest report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children's Hospital Association.
• New York City lifts COVID-19 alert level to "high" People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- New York City, the largest city of the United States, raised its COVID-19 alert level from "medium" to "high" on Tuesday, as infections continue to go up in recent weeks.
• Americas: Rising COVID-19 caseload should be a 'wake-up call' UN News 18 May 2022 -- COVID-19 rates are on the rise in the Americas, where new infections and fatalities have been steadily increasing over the past four weeks, the regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.

China

• Shanghai allows people with urgent needs to leave, with conditions Global Times 18 May 2022 -- Shanghai has witnessed mass departures as the city gradually eases COVID-19 restrictions after a six-week lockdown, allowing people to leave with approval, and increased trains to other cities. Yet for many travelers leaving the city, the journey was not as easy as hopping on and off trains or planes.
• Shanghai allows residents to leave with travel permit valid within six hours Global Times 18 May 2022 -- Shanghai police announced on Wednesday that residents who need to leave the city for work, study, moving to other places can apply for a permit to leave the city by car, with the premise to meet the epidemic prevention and control requirements.
• Chinese mainland reports 227 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 227 confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, of which 96 were in Shanghai, according to the National Health Commission's report Wednesday.
• Beijing reports 56 new local COVID-19 infections People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- Beijing reported 56 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections between 3 p.m. Monday and 3 p.m. Tuesday, Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing municipal disease prevention and control center, told a press briefing on Tuesday.
• HKSAR gov't urges public to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in accordance with vaccine pass requirements People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Tuesday urged the public to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in accordance with vaccine pass requirements as the third stage of the scheme commences on May 31.
• Shanghai reports 96 confirmed, 759 asymptomatic local COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 May 2022 -- China's Shanghai reported 96 confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 759 local asymptomatic cases on Tuesday, the municipal health commission said Wednesday.
• Shanghai residents take issue with 'fake' propaganda claims about reopening Radio Free Asia 18 May 2022 -- Residents of Shanghai have been reporting their city government to a national fraud hotline after claims of fully stocked, open supermarkets and eateries were posted by a ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) newspaper.
• Chinese cities train and hire large numbers of nucleic acid testers Global Times 18 May 2022 -- Central China's Henan Province will train 50,000 nucleic acid testers in a year in response to the current surge in demand for personnel for nucleic acid testing, according to a recently released document.
• Shanghai's crackdown on rumors about COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control starts to take effect Global Times 18 May 2022 -- A total of 78 WeChat groups that spread rumors about COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control have been suspended and 46 users who first release the false information were punished in accordance with the law by local authorities in East China's Shanghai, since the announcement of the investigation against rumor-mongering on social media on April 8.

India

• India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 191.65 Cr India PIB 18 May 2022 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 191.65 Cr (1,91,65,00,770) as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,40,27,137 sessions.
• COVID - 19 Vaccination Update - Day 488 India PIB 18 May 2022 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 191.78 Crore (1,91,78,14,826) today. More than nearly 12 lakh (11,91,074) Vaccine Doses have been administered till 7 pm today. 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 18 May 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 May 2022

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 8 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 18 May 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 141,244 with four more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Taiwan

• Taiwan's daily COVID-19 cases top 80,000 for first time CNA 18 May 2022 -- Taiwan recorded 85,356 new COVID-19 infections and 41 deaths from the disease on Wednesday, topping 80,000 daily cases for the first time, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan COVID-19 News Brief: May 18 CNA 18 May 2022 -- Taiwan reported 85,356 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday -- 85,310 domestically transmitted and 46 contracted abroad -- and 41 deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

North Korea

• Experts: North Korea Likely to Dismiss International Anti-COVID Aid VOA 18 May 2022 -- Experts say North Korea is likely to dismiss almost all international anti-virus help, at least for now, despite its first acknowledged outbreak of suspected COVID-19 cases surging across the country.
• North Korea Opts for Its Own COVID Response, Shunning Outside Help VOA 18 May 2022 -- North Korea is organizing its own systemized response to a growing COVID-19 outbreak, with at least 1.7 million people coming down with fever since the "explosive" trend was noticed in late April.
• Material and Technological Foundations Consolidated in Epidemic Prevention Sector KCNA 18 May 2022 -- Works for strengthening the material and technological foundations in the epidemic prevention sector are being propelled across the country to cope with the current health crisis.
• Advantages of Socialist System Displayed in DPRK KCNA 18 May 2022 -- Several days have passed since the state epidemic prevention work was switched over to the maximum emergency epidemic prevention system in the DPRK.
• Guide for Treating COVID-19 Issued in DPRK KCNA 18 May 2022 -- A guide for treating COVID-19 was worked out and issued to curative and preventive organs at all levels and relevant units in Pyongyang and local areas amid the state emergency measures taken to swiftly curb the spread of epidemic.
• Medicines Conveyed to Families in Difficulty KCNA 18 May 2022 -- Reaching every anti-epidemic combat field in the DPRK are the warm love and care of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee which has protected the health and life of the citizens with boundless devotion and sincerity, always sharing weal and woe with them.
• Epidemic Prevention Work Brisk in DPRK KCNA 18 May 2022 -- North Phyongan Province of the DPRK has rapidly and correctly organized the overall work in keeping with the maximum emergency epidemic prevention situation.
• Epidemic Prevention Measures Implemented in DPRK KCNA 18 May 2022 -- All the people in the DPRK are involved in the epidemic prevention campaign to defuse the current severe health crisis, true to the determination, will, strategy and tactics of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee.
• Spread of Epidemic and Result of Treatment Informed KCNA 18 May 2022 -- According to information of the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters, over 232 880 persons with fever, some 205 630 recoveries and 6 deaths were reported from 18:00 of May 16 to 18:00 of May 17 throughout the country.

Other Countries

• Americas: Rising COVID-19 caseload should be a 'wake-up call' UN News 18 May 2022 -- COVID-19 rates are on the rise in the Americas, where new infections and fatalities have been steadily increasing over the past four weeks, the regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.