Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• DHS Announces Extension of REAL ID Full Enforcement Deadline DHS 05 Dec 2022 -- Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its intent to extend the REAL ID full enforcement date by 24 months, from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025.
• Remarks by Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Elizabeth Rosenberg ABA-ABA Financial Crimes Enforcement Conference US Treasury 05 Dec 2022
• US Homeland Security Chief Warns Borders Being Rendered Meaningless VOA 05 Dec 2022 -- America's borders - and borders in general - are no longer sufficient to help protect the United States from a variety of evolving threats, including foreign wars, according to a grim assessment by the country's top Homeland Security official.
• Brussels Reopens Painful Page With Start of Trial Over 2016 Terror Attacks VOA 05 Dec 2022 -- Belgium reopened a painful chapter in its recent history Monday, as the trial opened for alleged conspirators in the 2016 terror attacks around Brussels that killed 32 people and wounded hundreds more.
• Iraq: Investigative team reaches 'next level' in bid to bring ISIL terrorists to justice UN News 05 Dec 2022 -- Providing justice for the communities impacted by the ISIL terror network in Iraq remains the key focus of the UN investigative team there, Special Adviser Christian Ritscher told the Security Council on Monday.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

China

• Is China's Health Care System Ready for the End of Zero-COVID? VOA 05 Dec 2022 -- More Chinese cities have been announcing an easing of curbs following unprecedented protests against the harsh "zero-COVID" policies in China last weekend.
• Urumqi relaxes COVID-19 testing requirements for public transport, venues Global Times 05 Dec 2022 -- Urumqi in Northwest China's Xinjiang announced on Monday that the city has adjusted its policy away from an emergency setting toward regular epidemic prevention measures. Residents will no longer be required to present a negative nucleic acid or report their information before entering residential communities, public venues or when taking public transportation.
• Chinese cities move to loosen anti-COVID restrictions; riders no long need test results to take public transit system Global Times 05 Dec 2022 -- Multiple provinces and cities across China have moved to gradually loosen anti-COVID restrictions, as local residents no longer need to present negative nucleic acid test results and scan health code when entering public venues and taking public transit systems.
• At least 19 cities scrap tests to use public transit; experts explore necessity of downgrading COVID management Global Times 05 Dec 2022 -- At least 19 cities across China scrapped negative nucleic acid test results as a requirement for riding public transport as of Monday, part of the country's broader efforts to further optimize COVID-19 response in order to gradually resume social and economic activities.
• Hospitals in many provinces no longer offer nucleic testing to general public Global Times 05 Dec 2022 -- Hospitals in many provinces in China have announced that their nucleic acid testing services will no longer be available to the general public without a medical need, which is seen as another step in a recent series of epidemic prevention and control policy optimization.
• More cities in E China's Zhejiang end mass COVID-19 tests, health codes for public transportation since Monday Global Times 05 Dec 2022 -- Following many places across the country, including neighboring Shanghai, local authorities in several cities in East China's Zhejiang Province announced on Sunday that negative nucleic acid testing results and green health codes are no longer required for taking public transportation and entering public venues since Monday.
• Chinese mainland reports 4,247 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 05 Dec 2022 -- The Chinese mainland on Sunday reported 4,247 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Monday.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 5 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 05 Dec 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 144,645 with five more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Monday.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 10,244 new COVID-19 cases, 22 deaths CNA 05 Dec 2022 -- Taiwan on Monday reported 10,244 new COVID-19 infections and 22 deaths, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Other Countries

• Australian PM tests positive for COVID-19 People's Daily 05 Dec 2022 -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
• New Zealand to Launch Inquiry into Handling of COVID Pandemic VOA 05 Dec 2022 -- New Zealand is launching a royal commission of inquiry into its handling of the COVID pandemic.
• New Zealand logs 34,528 new COVID-19 community cases over past week People's Daily 05 Dec 2022 -- New Zealand recorded 34,528 new community cases of COVID-19 and 40 more deaths from the pandemic over the past week, the country's Ministry of Health said on Monday.
• Spike in COVID-19 Cases Observed in Argentina According to Ministry of Health Sputnik 05 Dec 2022 -- The number of coronavirus cases has increased sharply over the past week in Argentina, according to data from the country's Ministry of Health.