Globalsecurity.org

The State Council joint prevention and control mechanism against COVID-19 issued the 10th edition of the COVID-19 prevention and control protocol on Saturday in accordance to the decision of downgrading the epidemic management from Class A to Class B, highlighting the monitoring of mutated variants and early warning as well as protection of key groups by preventing severe cases.

Starting from January 8, people who violate COVID-19 prevention measures will not be convicted or punished for obstructing the control of an infectious disease based on current regulations, according to a notification jointly issued by judiciary and law-enforcement authorities, as well as other relevant departments on Saturday.

Hong Kongers, worried about the possible influx of mutant strains of COVID-19 when the border with China reopens this weekend, have laid bare pharmacy shelves once stocked with nonprescription drugs for alleviating symptoms.

Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 24,422 new COVID-19 infections Saturday -- all but 290 domestic cases -- and 61 deaths from the disease. all but 290 domestic cases -- and 61 deaths from the disease. and 61 deaths from the disease.

Ovidio Guzmán López, aka "El Raton", alleged drug cartel leader and son of the notorious Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán, was arrested on January 5 by Mexican authorities in Culiacan, Sinaloa state.

In December 2022, the World Health Organization reported that almost three years since the first COVID-19 case in Africa was registered in February 2020, the number of infection cases detected on the continent was around 9.5 million.

Russian consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said on Saturday that the Kraken new Omicron strain has not been detected in Russia, with the situation being closely monitored by the country's health care authorities.

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy has praised the United States for including tank-killing armored vehicles and antiaircraft missiles in its January 6 package of military aid, saying that they will strengthen Ukraine's army on the battlefield.

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi continues to discuss the situation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) with Russia and Ukraine, the IAEA informs.

Ukraine has imposed sanctions on more than 100 Russian actors, musicians, and television personalities who Kyiv says are "propagandists of death" for supporting the war in Ukraine.

The Russian armed forces will continue to comply with the Christmas ceasefire regime despite continued shelling by Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

The new military assistance package for Ukraine includes 50 Bradley fighting vehicles with 500 TOW anti-tank missiles and 250,000 rounds of 25mm ammunition, among other items, the US Defense Department stated.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been shot down by air defense systems over the Russian city of Sevastopol in Crimea, Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said.

Ukrainians and Russians have celebrated Orthodox Christmas as fighting persisted despite Russia's unilateral call for a 36-hour cease-fire that Ukraine said was only a ploy by Russian President Vladimir Putin to reposition and reinforce his troops.

Russia says its forces continue to implement a ceasefire in Ukraine, despite artillery attacks by Kiev's forces in eastern Ukraine.

Back up power to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was restored yesterday evening after repairs to the 330 kilovolt (kV) line, which was disconnected last week due to damage caused by shelling, were completed, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team currently present at the plant confirmed.

The Russian-backed governor of the Crimean city of Sevastopol posted on the Telegram message service that air defenses shot down a drone on Saturday, Orthodox Christmas. In a Reuters report about the incident, Mikhail Razvozhaev suggested that the drone was deployed by Ukraine.

Shelling rocked the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut on Saturday, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of a 36-hour cease-fire to observe eastern Orthodox Christmas.

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