Military News

14 February 2023 Security News

Kremlin-Linked Leader Of Wagner Mercenary Group Acknowledges Ownership Of 'Troll Factory' RFE/RL 14 Feb 2023 -- The leader and co-founder of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is known to have close ties to President Vladimir Putin, has acknowledged for the first time that he owns the Internet Research Agency -- a so-called "troll factory" in St. Petersburg specialized in creating fake social-media accounts and spreading disinformation and propaganda.

New Al-Qaida Leader Commanding from Iran VOA 14 Feb 2023 -- More than six months after the United States killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan, leadership of the terror group appears to have quietly passed to his heir apparent in Iran.

In drug bust, Lao police seize half a ton of crystal meth in Golden Triangle Radio Free Asia 14 Feb 2023 -- Lao police are searching for the kingpin of an illegal drug smuggling operation in the Golden Triangle area, where authorities seized 500 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and arrested four smugglers in one of the largest hauls of the narcotic in the notorious crime zone, Lao officials said Monday.

WHO supports Equatorial Guinea in combatting country's first-ever deadly Marburg virus outbreak UN News 14 Feb 2023 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) deployed experts to Equatorial Guinea this week following confirmation of the first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the country.

California COVID-19 cases top 12 million: report People's Daily 14 Feb 2023 -- The total number of COVID-19 cases reported in California, the most populous state in the United States, has topped 12 million, the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday.

DPP authorities lift restrictions on individual travels to Taiwan region from HK, Macao residents, urged to open to mainland travelers Global Times 14 Feb 2023 -- Individual travel of Hong Kong and Macao residents to Taiwan region will resume, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the island announced on Tuesday. Tourism businesses on the island of Taiwan welcomed the move, hoping it to be a starting point to further lift travel restrictions on mainland tourists, which could benefit local tourism, among others.

COVID-19 UPDATE India PIB 14 Feb 2023 -- 220.63 cr Total Vaccine doses (95.19 cr Second Dose and 22.85 cr Precaution Dose) have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India lifts COVID-19 testing mandate for some international passengers; Chinese embassy issues reminding notice Global Times 14 Feb 2023 -- The Chinese Embassy in India published a notice on Monday reminding Chinese citizens about the latest entry policies for international travelers arriving in India. The notice states that all travelers should ideally be fully vaccinated in accordance with their country's approved primary schedule for COVID-19 vaccination.

COVID-19 kills 5 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 14 Feb 2023 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 144,788 with five more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.

Taiwan reports 20,511 new COVID-19 cases, 36 deaths CNA 14 Feb 2023 -- Taiwan reported 20,511 new cases of COVID-19 and 36 deaths from the disease on Tuesday, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
Taiwan to reopen to independent travel from HK, Macau from Feb. 20 CNA 14 Feb 2023 -- Taiwan will remove all border restrictions imposed on Hong Kong and Macau residents during the COVID-19 period on Feb. 20, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Tuesday.

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