Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• US Capitol Riot Panel Urges Trump Be Prosecuted VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- The congressional committee that investigated last year's January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol recommended Monday that the Justice Department criminally prosecute former President Donald Trump for trying to illegally scheme to upend his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden and promote violence to stay in power.
• US Capitol violence: Jan. 6 panel to vote on Trump criminal referrals Press TV 19 Dec 2022 -- The House of Representatives committee probing last year's deadly attack on the US Capitol will wrap up an 18-month investigation and vote on whether to recommend criminal charges against former president Donald Trump and some of his closest aides.
• Jan. 6 Panel Unveils Four Criminal Charges Against Donald Trump, Allies Over Capitol Riot Sputnik 19 Dec 2022 -- The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol was formed on July 1, 2021 to investigate the role former President Donald Trump and his allies played in the attack. The full report is scheduled to release on December 21.
• Three MS-13 Gang Members Convicted of Racketeering Conspiracy US Dept. of Justice 19 Dec 2022 -- A federal jury in the District of Maryland convicted three members of La Mara Salvatrucha - a transnational criminal enterprise also known as MS-13 - on Dec. 16 for racketeering conspiracy.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

China

• China Relaxes COVID Policies Even as Cases May Be Surging VOA 19 Dec 2022 -- China continues to relax its stringent COVID regulations even as reports emerge about a surge in cases and deaths.
• Beijing covered up COVID-19 outbreak that sparked current death wave: official Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2022 -- Beijing is currently facing an extraordinary wave of deaths as COVID-19 rips through the population, amid a widespread lack of data as mass, compulsory testing is abruptly halted across the country, residents and officials told Radio Free Asia.
• Medicines shortage spreads overseas as people buy Panadol to send to China Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2022 -- Officials in Taiwan have called on local residents to avoid buying over-the-counter fever medicines in bulk, as a run on the medicines across the Taiwan Strait in China prompted fears of shortages on the democratic island too.
• Chinese hospitals expand ICUs, boost medical reserves to cope with COVID-19 surge Global Times 19 Dec 2022 -- Chinese cities and medical institutions are ramping up efforts to expand intensive care units (ICUs) and boost their reserves of medical resources and treatment facilities for severe COVID-19 cases in a bid to strengthen medical treatment capabilities to cope with the COVID-19 peak.
• District in Shanghai initiates second booster shot for high-risk groups, the elderly Global Times 19 Dec 2022 -- Jinshan district in Shanghai on Monday initiated a plan to inoculate COVID-19 second booster shot for high-risk groups and the elderly residents, a latest move along with some other regions across China such as Beijing to step up the protection of vulnerable groups amid the anti-virus response optimization.
• Guangzhou strengthens medical capability to address severe cases, prepares for predicted peak in January Global Times 19 Dec 2022 -- Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province is strengthening its medical resource reserves, improving medical capability in an all-round way including increasing the number of ICU beds from 455 to 1,385, to prepare for a predicted epidemic peak in early January in 2023, a local health official said on Monday.
• China's Guangzhou increases fever clinics to brace for COVID-19 peak People's Daily 19 Dec 2022 -- South China's Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, has almost doubled the number of fever clinics as health authorities predicted a peak of COVID-19 cases.
• More elderly get COVID vaccine jabs People's Daily 19 Dec 2022 -- In the Shijingshan District of Beijing, a task force comprising two groups of five or six medics and community work staff is busy offering door-to-door vaccination services to elderly residents in need to help them fend off the virus at a peak of COVID-19 infections.

Iran

• Iran registers another zero COVID-19 death in 24 hours IRNA 19 Dec 2022 -- The number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran stayed unchanged at 144,664 with another zero death day over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Monday.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 10,365 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths CNA 19 Dec 2022 -- Taiwan on Monday reported 10,365 new COVID-19 infections and 23 deaths from the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan drugstores almost run out of Panadol due to mass buying CNA 19 Dec 2022 -- There is currently a shortage of the painkiller Panadol in Taiwan due to unusual bulk purchasing and in response the government has contacted drug stores asking them to accelerate supply and meet market demand, Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) head Victor Wang (王必勝) said Monday.