Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Four Defendants Charged with Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS US Dept. of Justice 15 Dec 2022 -- A criminal complaint was unsealed yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn charging Mohammad David Hashimi, 35, of Potomac Falls, Virginia; Abdullah At Taqi, 23, of East Elmhurst, Queens, New York; Khalilullah Yousuf, 34, of Ontario, sda; and Seema Rahman, 25, of Edison, New Jersey, with conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
• Tenth Meeting of the Law Enforcement Coordination Group Focuses on Countering Hizballah in Africa US Dept. of State 15 Dec 2022 -- The U.S. Department of State led the Law Enforcement Coordination Group (LECG), which convened in Europe December 14-15, for its first-ever regional meeting focusing on Hizballah's activities in Africa.
• Security Council examines rising terrorism threat globally UN News 15 Dec 2022 -- A UN Security Council meeting on Thursday focused on terrorism began with a sobering reminder of the danger posed by this persistent threat to international peace.
• Evolving our collective approach to counter-terrorism: Lord Ahmad statement at UN Security Council UK FCDO 15 Dec 2022 -- Statement by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon at the Security Council open debate on counter terrorism

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• COVID-19 global health emergency hopefully ends next year: WHO chief People's Daily 15 Dec 2022 -- The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday he hopes that COVID-19 will no longer be a global health emergency sometime next year.

United States

• US Monitors New Variants from China as Beijing Relaxes Zero-COVID Approach VOA 15 Dec 2022 -- The United States is monitoring for new coronavirus variants as it braces for a potential outbreak of COVID-19 infections following Beijing's easing of strict controls that kept the pandemic at bay in China.
• White House Issues Winter COVID-19 'Preparedness Plan' VOA 15 Dec 2022 -- The White House Thursday issued what it is calling its COVID-⁠19 Winter Preparedness Plan, making free home tests and vaccinations readily available throughout the country.
• U.S. reports 50 pct increase of weekly child COVID-19 cases People's Daily 15 Dec 2022 -- About 41,000 child COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States in the week ending Dec. 8, an increase of about 50 percent over the weekly average in the previous eight weeks, according to the latest report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children's Hospital Association.

China

• Companies set to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine production following plan for second booster shots Global Times 15 Dec 2022 -- COVID-19 vaccine producers have started to prepare for increased vaccine production after China issued a plan to roll out second booster shots on Wednesday, with nine vaccine booster combinations included in the plan.
• China's production capacity for antigen detection reagents, vaccines, masks sufficient: MIIT Global Times 15 Dec 2022 -- The production capacity for key medical supplies such as antigen detection reagents, vaccines and masks is sufficient in China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) told a press conference on Wednesday.
• China steps up protecting vulnerable groups amid COVID-19 response optimization People's Daily 15 Dec 2022 -- China is continuing its optimization of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control measures as it shifts the focus of its response strategy from curbing new infections to preventing and treating severe cases.
• Second COVID booster available for eligible people People's Daily 15 Dec 2022 -- Seniors and people identified as being at higher risk from COVID-19 are now eligible for a second vaccine booster shot, according to a notice issued on Wednesday.

Iran

• Iran posts one COVID death in 24 hours IRNA 15 Dec 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 144,659 with one more Iranian killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Thursday.

Taiwan

• Taiwan report 16,080 new COVID-19 cases, 37 deaths CNA 15 Dec 2022 -- Taiwan reported 16,080 new COVID-19 infections and 37 deaths from the disease on Thursday, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).