Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Political Consultant Convicted for Scheme Involving Illegal Foreign Campaign Contribution to 2016 Presidential Campaign US Dept. of Justice 17 Nov 2022 -- A federal jury today convicted a political consultant for his role in funneling illegal foreign campaign contributions from a Russian foreign national to a 2016 presidential campaign.
• Treasury Sanctions Illicit Fentanyl-Trafficking La Nueva Familia Michoacana and its Leaders US Treasury 17 Nov 2022 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated La Nueva Familia Michoacana and its co-leaders, Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga (Johnny Hurtado) and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga (Jose Hurtado), pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. La Nueva Familia Michoacana smuggles illicit drugs into and throughout the United States.
• Afghan Terror Groups Pose Limited Threat to US, Assessments Find VOA 17 Nov 2022 -- Some of the more dire predictions about the boost terror groups in Afghanistan would get from the sudden U.S. withdrawal have not come to pass, with recent assessments suggesting organizations such as al-Qaida and Islamic State have yet to regenerate formidable external attack capabilities.
• Sweden to Strengthen Anti-Terror Law as Required by Turkey for NATO Bid Sputnik 17 Nov 2022 -- Barely a week ago, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson vowed that his country will take "big steps" that will give its legal authorities "more muscle to fight terrorism". Experts have stressed that the new legislation would make it easier to prosecute members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and other organizations blacklisted by Ankara.
• Government resolution guides Finland's counter-terrorism activities Finnish Government 17 Nov 2022 -- The Government has adopted a resolution on the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy for 2022-2025. The Strategy sets out the strategic counter-terrorism objectives and actions and supports sustained and broad cooperation among all those involved in counter-terrorism. This is an update to the previous strategy and it does not contain any significant new strategic guidelines.
• Tourists Canceling Trips to Uganda Over Ebola Fears VOA 17 Nov 2022 -- Uganda's tourism sector is once again being hit by effects from a deadly disease.
• U.S.-ROK Joint Symposium on Countering DPRK Cyber Threats to Cryptocurrency Exchanges US Dept. of State 17 Nov 2022 -- "Today, the United States and the Republic of Korea convened a symposium in Seoul, Republic of Korea (ROK) to discuss steps partner governments and private sector stakeholders can take to defend against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) malicious cyber operations that steal funds from cryptocurrency exchanges and other virtual asset service providers to support its unlawful weapons of mass destruction programs."

COVID-19 Pandemic News

China

• Guangzhou plans to add over 240,000 beds in makeshift hospitals, quarantine zones Global Times 17 Nov 2022 -- The city of Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province plans to add more than 240,000 beds in makeshift hospitals and centralized quarantine zones to prepare for COVID-19 patients' accommodation as it has reported more than 46,000 cases since November.
• Health officials double down on strengthening hospital network, vow to speed vaccination rate Global Times 17 Nov 2022 -- China's top health officials on Thursday stressed enhancing medical resources to upgrade the country's ability to fight COVID-19 flare-ups, and vowed to push forward the vaccination campaign, two steps epidemiologists believe are needed for further adjustment of anti-epidemic policies.
• 28 Chinese provinces adopt optimized measures to COVID-19 response; six cities cancel mass testing: report Global Times 17 Nov 2022 -- A total of 28 provinces, including South China's Guangdong Province which is hit hardest in the latest COVID-19 flare-up, announced adoption of newly optimized measures to COVID-19 response in the past five days. Moreover, six cities, including Shanghai and Sanya scrapped mass nucleic acid testing, in an effort to implement the new measures, media reported.
• Beijing encourages flexible working mode as epidemic situation 'remains grim and complex' Global Times 17 Nov 2022 -- As the latest COVID flare-up in Beijing worsens, officials from the hardest-hit Chaoyang district suggested flexible working arrangements such as teleconferencing and meeting via video link for local workers to keep social distance.
• Some Chinese cities no longer check 48h COVID test results, which experts say cannot be seen as relaxation Global Times 17 Nov 2022 -- Some Chinese cities no longer require 48-hour negative test results following the release of 20 measures to optimize COVID-19 response, which include shortened quarantine periods for international arrivals and cancelation of circuit breakers for inbound flights.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 2 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 17 Nov 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 144,617 with two more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Thursday.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 20,127 new COVID-19 cases, 77 deaths CNA 17 Nov 2022 -- Taiwan reported 20,127 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, all but 49 of which were locally transmitted, and 77 deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).