Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• New Ebola case confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo WHO 10 Apr 2020
• Security Companies in South Korea Discover North Korean Cyberattack Radio Free Asia 10 Apr 2020 -- Private security companies in South Korea Friday detected evidence that North Korea attempted to hack into the personal computers of select targets, a spear-phishing effort using documents appearing to be related to former North Korean citizens running for South Korea's April 15 legislative election, RFA has learned.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 81 WHO 10 Apr 2020
• WHO Emergencies Press Conference on coronavirus disease outbreak - 10 April 2020 WHO 10 Apr 2020
• UN health agency working on strategies to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictions UN News 10 Apr 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with countries on strategies to "gradually and safely" ease stay-at-home restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the new coronavirus, agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists on Friday, though he cautioned against any sudden action.
• WHO warns of 'deadly resurgence' of coronavirus if restrictions hastily lifted Press TV 10 Apr 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a "deadly resurgence" of the new coronavirus if countries hurriedly lift the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the pathogen.

United States

• Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing The White House 10 Apr 2020
• Trump Projects Much Lower US Coronavirus Death Toll VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- America's COVID-19 death toll will be substantially lower than the 100,000 to 240,000 people previously projected, President Donald Trump predicted Friday.
• New York Has More Coronavirus Cases Than Any Country in the World Sputnik 10 Apr 2020 -- The number of people who have died of the coronavirus in the United States, has risen by 1,904 to 16,672 within the past 24 hours, according to Johns Hopkins University.
• Briefing With Dr. William Walters, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Operations; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie Chung, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs; and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ian Brownlee, Bureau of Consular Affairs On COVID-19: Updates on Health Impact and Assistance for American Citizens Abroad US Dept. of State 10 Apr 2020
• Military Health System Press Briefing on Unified Response to Coronavirus DoD 10 Apr 2020 -- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Tom McCaffery; Surgeon General of the Army Lieutenant General R. Scott Dingle; Surgeon General of the Navy Rear Admiral Bruce L. Gillingham; Surgeon General of the Air Force Lieutenant General Dorothy A. Hogg; Lieutenant General Ronald J. Place, director, Defense Health Agency; Dr. Richard Thomas, president, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
• Air Force Lt. Gen. Webb Press Briefing on Protecting Air Force Training Pipelines DoD 10 Apr 2020 -- Lieutenant General Marshall B. Webb, commander, Air Education and Training Command
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 10 Apr 2020
• New York Sees Possible Flattening of Coronavirus Curve VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- New York's governor said Friday that he is "cautiously optimistic" that the hardest hit U.S. state is starting to see a flattening in the number of new coronavirus infections, even as the death rate continues to remain dramatically high.
• 25,000 'Soldiers for Life' Respond to Nation's Call DoD News 10 Apr 2020 -- As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, many civilian medical providers' capabilities are being stretched thin. To help fill this gap, the Army has deployed its own medical professionals to the field and is now calling on former soldiers to join the battle.
• Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces New York State is Ramping up Antibody Testing, Critical to Reopening Economy New York State 10 Apr 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 10 Apr 2020
• Death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 90,000 worldwide: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- The death toll from COVID-19 exceeded 90,000 worldwide on Thursday afternoon local time, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
• Trump wants to reopen America by May despite expert concerns Press TV 10 Apr 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has shrugged off the need to significantly expand countrywide coronavirus testing capabilities, saying he wants to reopen the country next month despite concerns from both economists and health experts that the worsening pandemic.
• New York City to Bury COVID-19 Victims in Mass Graves on Hart Island Sputnik 10 Apr 2020 -- Authorities in New York City, the epicentre of the current COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, will begin burying victims of the disease in mass graves on Hart Island in the Long Island Sound, a mayoral spokeswoman told The New York Post.

China

• Xi says China ready to continue helping Argentina with COVID-19 prevention, aid Global Times 10 Apr 2020-- Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Chinese side is ready to continue sharing COVID-19 prevention and control experience with Argentina and offering assistance within its capacity.
• China, France support WHO in playing due role in COVID-19 fight: FMs Global Times 10 Apr 2020-- China and France support the World Health Organization (WHO) in playing its due role in combating COVID-19, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian over phone on Thursday.
• Beijing to require all hotel guests to have negative COVID-19 test reports before check-in Global Times 10 Apr 2020-- Beijing will require all arrivals to provide a negative nucleic acid report and green health code before checking in to hotels starting Sunday as the city remains on the alert and continues with its highest-level response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• China's Heilongjiang reports 29 new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Thursday reported one new confirmed COVID-19 case transmitted locally and 28 new confirmed cases from overseas, the provincial health commission said Friday.
• Shanghai reports 3 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- Shanghai reported three newly confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from overseas Thursday, the local health authority said Friday.
• China to strengthen epidemic control in border regions People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- A leading group of China's COVID-19 response on Thursday stressed measures to strengthen the test and treatment capacity of the disease in border regions.
• China's Hubei reports no increase in COVID-19 cases People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported Thursday in central China's Hubei Province, the provincial health commission said Friday.
• China strengthens epidemic control along border, expands coronavirus infection testing in key regions People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- Chinese authorities Thursday urged efforts to beef up COVID-19 prevention and control in border regions and expand coronavirus infection testing in key areas with risks of COVID-19 outbreak.
• Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei to remain at highest level of response to outbreak People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- Beijing will stay vigilant to the novel coronavirus epidemic by maintaining a first-level emergency response mechanism against the virus, a senior city official said on Thursday.
• Chinese mainland reports 38 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported 38 new imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Thursday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,141, the National Health Commission said Friday.
• Chinese mainland reports 42 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Friday that it received reports of 42 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Thursday, of which 38 were imported.
• Wuhan Lockdown Diary Author Says She is Being Abused by China's 'Extreme Left' Radio Free Asia 10 Apr 2020 -- An author who is due to publish her diary of her time under coronavirus lockdown in the central Chinese city of Wuhan has been subjected to widespread online abuse and criticism from key media figures.
• Chinese Lawyer Withdraws Appeal Against Disciplinary Sanction Radio Free Asia 10 Apr 2020 -- A lawyer in the central Chinese province of Henan who was disciplined for writing on social media about the number of dead bodies being cremated in the central city of Wuhan has abandoned her appeal against the sanction.
• HK anti-mask ruled as 'constitutional' reveals practical judicial thinking: experts Global Times 10 Apr 2020-- A Hong Kong appeals court on Thursday overturned part of an earlier ruling that found the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's ban on wearing masks at unauthorized protests "unconstitutional," declaring the measure imposed during the turmoil last year valid, with observers noting that this is a "demonstration of justice" and will help the HKSAR government quell the turmoil eventually.

Europe

• 50 test positive for COVID-19 aboard French aircraft carrier Press TV 10 Apr 2020 -- France's armed forces ministry has announced that 50 coronavirus cases have been recorded among the crew of the country's sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle.
• Fifty COVID-19 Cases Confirmed on Board France's Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier Sputnik 10 Apr 2020 -- This comes as France's death toll from the new coronavirus infection has exceeded 12,000, according to the country's health ministry.
• Bulgaria Rushes To Join Eurozone To Tap Coronavirus Funds RFE/RL 10 Apr 2020 -- Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov says his country plans speed up its efforts to join the eurozone and apply for membership by the end of April to help the Balkan country recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
• UK Cabinet Wound Up Without Leadership Vacuum Plan as Boris Johnson is Fighting Coronavirus – Report Sputnik 10 Apr 2020 -- Britain's prime minister spent three days in intensive care, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab officially deputising for him while the government was due to make a crucial decision on whether to lift the crippling national lockdown.
• How the coronavirus is testing the limits of European integration People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic raging throughout Europe has challenged European integration and its ability to coordinate during times of crisis, analysts say.
• Coronavirus cases reach 143,626 in Italy, pressure on hospitals decrease People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 18,279 lives in locked-down Italy, bringing the total number of infections, fatalities and recoveries to 143,626 by Thursday, according to the latest data released by the country's Civil Protection Department.
• Eurogroup Strikes Half-Trillion Euro Deal to Help Members Cope with COVID-19 VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Finance ministers from the 19 eurozone countries Thursday agreed on a package worth more than half a trillion euros to help companies, workers and health care systems mitigate the economic consequences of the coronavirus outbreak.

Russia

• Moscow still at foothills of coronavirus epidemic, far from peak: Mayor Press TV 10 Apr 2020 -- The mayor of Moscow says the Russian capital is still "at the foothills" of its coronavirus epidemic and far from the peak of the outbreak.
• 'It All Depends On The Body Count': Pandemic Threatens Putin's Spring Of Political Pageantry RFE/RL 10 Apr 2020 -- Aleksandr Kolotushkin is accustomed to being feted. As one of the few remaining World War II veterans in a country that reveres them, he regularly dons his Red Army uniform to visit schools and reminisce about his past before crowds of children.

India

• PMO reviews efforts of eleven Empowered Groups towards tackling COVID-19 India PIB 10 Apr 2020 -- A meeting of the Empowered Groups of Officers, to tackle the challenges emerging as a result of spread of COVID-19, was held today under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary to Prime Minister. The meeting was the latest in a series of periodic reviews at various levels by the Prime Minister's Office to monitor the ongoing efforts to counter the impact of the pandemic.
• Updates on COVID-19 India PIB 10 Apr 2020
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan chairs a video conference with States regarding the steps taken on COVID-19 India PIB 10 Apr 2020 -- Urges States to promote mobile app ArogyaSetu to bring the people of India together in a resolute fight against COVID-19
• India Denies Shortage of 'Wonder Drug' to Treat COVID-19 Sputnik 10 Apr 2020 -- India has received requests from several countries to lift the ban on the export of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, considered "game changer" in the fight against COVID-19. New Delhi had imposed the ban on the drug and its raw materials, in view of the mounting cases of infection in the country.
• India's Opposition Party Wants Narendra Modi to Arrange COVID-19 Trains For Stranded Labourers Sputnik 10 Apr 2020 -- Thousands of labourers in Delhi recently flouted the 21-day lockdown announced by the prime minister on 24 March. Fearing unemployment in the days ahead, they set off for their home communities in neighbouring states on foot. While some succeeded, others have been stationed in camps.

Pakistan

• Pakistan Launches Relief Program for Families Suffering From COVID-19 Shutdown VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Pakistan has begun delivering one-off cash payments of about $70 each to its 12 million poverty-stricken families, or roughly 80 million individuals, to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus-related economic shutdown in the country.

Iran

• Official: 35,465 COVID19-infected patients recover in Iran ISNA 10 Apr 2020 -- Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Friday that 35,465 people out of a total of 68,192 infected with the coronavirus have survived whereas 4,232 have unfortunately succumbed to death.
• COVID-19: Iran Reports 122 New Deaths; Turkmenistan To Resume Pro Soccer Games RFE/RL 10 Apr 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 98,000 with more than 1.6 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• South Korea wins US approval for humanitarian trade with Iran: Report Press TV 10 Apr 2020 -- South Korean officials say authorities have received a special permit from the United States to resume humanitarian trade with Iran amid claims of support for the Islamic Republic in its fight against the new coronavirus pandemic.
• South Korea Cuts Deal With US to Resume Deliveries of Humanitarian Exports to Iran – Reports Sputnik 10 Apr 2020 -- Tehran has repeatedly called on Washington to abandon its "illegal" sanctions against the Islamic Republic, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing America of threatening the lives and wellbeing of millions of Iranians.

Saudi Arabia

• COVID-19 Follow-up Committee Calls on Everyone to Stay at Home and Adhere to Instructions SPA 10 Apr 2020 -- Under the chairmanship of Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, the COVID-19 Follow-up Committee held its 51st meeting today.
• Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Steering Committee on Health on COVID-19 Pandemic Issues Final Communique SPA 10 Apr 2020 -- The Steering Committee on Health (SCH) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which was held at the OIC General Secretariat via video conference issued today the final communique on COVID-19 pandemic.

Taiwan

• Taiwan confirms 2 new cases of COVID-19 and one death CNA 10 Apr 2020 -- Two new cases of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and one death were confirmed in Taiwan on Friday, bringing the total to 382 since the pandemic began late last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Mask donation from Taiwan reaches Central America CNA 10 Apr 2020 -- Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) on Friday announced that face masks from Taiwan have arrived in the nation's diplomatic allies in Central America, emphasizing the Taiwanese people are "proud" to extend a helping hand at this difficult time.
• Crowd management enforced at scenic and popular areas: CECC CNA 10 Apr 2020 -- Crowd measurement measures are to be introduced at scenic and popular areas around Taiwan starting Friday, in an effort to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan Finds Fake Twitter Accounts Tweeting Apologies From 'Taiwanese' to WHO Chief Radio Free Asia 10 Apr 2020 -- Investigators in Taiwan say they have found a number of fake Twitter accounts linked to China posting fake apologies to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has accused the democratic island of involvement in a series of personal and racist attacks against him.
• Chinese netizens pose as Taiwanese to 'apologize' to WHO chief CNA 10 Apr 2020 -- Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau said Friday that Chinese posing online as Taiwanese are behind an online campaign to apologize to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who on Wednesday accused Taiwan of involvement in a series of personal attacks against him.
• US politically motivated to criticize WHO ignoring Taiwan: Chinese FM Global Times 10 Apr 2020-- The US State Department's claim that the US is "deeply disturbed Taiwan's information was withheld from the global health community" is not fact and is politically motivated to shift focus and blame, which does nothing to ease the COVID-19 outbreak in the US and only undermines its credibility, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
• DPP cannot contain COVID-19 in Taiwan by slandering mainland: spokesperson Global Times 10 Apr 2020-- The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Friday denounced Taiwan's separatist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for attacking and slandering the Chinese mainland and Taiwan firms and compatriots in the mainland instead of focusing on its burning issues: containing the spread of COVID-19 in the island and tackling local people's practical needs.
• Chinese mainland condemns Taiwan for racist attack aimed at WHO leader Global Times 10 Apr 2020-- Chinese mainland condemned Taiwan's separatist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for making racist comments online against the World Health Organization's (WHO) director-general. The Taiwan party was also accused of using COVID-19 as a political trick to undermine the one-China principle and join the WHO, which is doomed to fail, according to a spokesperson with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
• Chinese mainland condemns DPP's "malicious" verbal attacks on WHO People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson Thursday strongly condemned the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority in Taiwan for its "malicious" verbal attacks on the World Health Organization (WHO) and its director-general.
• China slams Taiwan 'venomous' attack on WHO as US takes side with Taipei in coronavirus row Press TV 10 Apr 2020 -- China and the United State have clashed again over Taiwan as Beijing joined the World Health Organization (WHO) in a row over the coronavirus outbreak, but Washington took sides with the self-ruled island.

Yemen

• War-torn Yemen reports first new coronavirus case amid poor medical sector Press TV 10 Apr 2020 -- Yemen has reported its first case of infection with the novel coronavirus in a southern province under the control of Saudi-sponsored militiamen loyal to the country's former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.
• Yemen Reports First Coronavirus Case VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Yemen confirmed its first coronavirus case Friday, in the southern oil-rich region of Hadhramout.

Malaysia

• Malaysia Loosens Lockdown Rules to Meet Soaring Global Glove Demand VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Malaysia, the world's top rubber glove maker, is apparently relaxing a partial lockdown of the country so that factories can return to full staffing and help fend off a global shortage of the critical protective gear for health care workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.
• Malaysia PM Extends Coronavirus Travel Restrictions VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Malaysia's prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, announced Friday the government will extend travel restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, to April 28.
• Malaysia extends movement curbs until April 28 to contain coronavirus outbreak SPA 10 Apr 2020 -- Malaysia extended movement and travel restrictions on Friday for another two weeks, until April 28, as it tries to contain a coronavirus outbreak which has left it with the most infections in Southeast Asia, Reuters reported.

NATO

• NATO helps expedite delivery of COVID-19 supplies between Allies. NATO 10 Apr 2020 -- SHAPE, Belgium -- NATO's Rapid Air Mobility initiative facilitated the delivery of essential equipment between Allies, in support of COVID-19 relief efforts, April 10, 2020.
• Coronavirus response: Czech Republic delivers assistance to North Macedonia NATO 10 Apr 2020 -- Today (10 April 2020), a military transport aircraft CASA of the Czech Army transported 1,000,000 masks to North Macedonia, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Coronavirus response: airlift brings urgent medical supplies to Poland NATO 10 Apr 2020 -- An AN-124 cargo plane carrying several tons of urgent medical supplies from China, including 190,000 masks and 180,000 protective suits, landed in Wrocław, Poland on Thursday (9 April 2020) to help the country's fight against COVID-19.

Other Countries

• COVID-19 threatening global peace and security, UN chief warns UN News 10 Apr 2020 -- While the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis, its implications are more far-reaching and could threaten global peace and security, the UN Secretary-General told members of the Security Council in a closed video-conference held on Thursday.
• Former U.S. Ambassador Power Slams Initial Global Response To Coronavirus RFE/RL 10 Apr 2020 -- Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power says a failure to produce a coordinated global response to the coronavirus outbreak has compounded the disaster and as long as the virus rages anywhere in the world no one is safe.
• WHO warns COVID-19 spreading to rural Africa amid weak health systems People's Daily 10 Apr 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday sounded alarm over the rapid spread of COVID-19 to rural parts of Africa hence threatening to put a strain on an already fragile health care infrastructure.
• Bangladesh Imposes COVID-19 Lockdown in District with Rohingya Camps Radio Free Asia 10 Apr 2020 -- Bangladeshi officials have imposed a lockdown in a southeastern district where more than a million Rohingya refugees live in cramped camps, in a move to contain the coronavirus pandemic, as the nation recorded its highest daily spike in confirmed cases.
• Morocco Reports 57 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 10 Apr 2020 -- Moroccan Ministry of Health has reported 57 new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of lab-confirmed infections to 1431, while the number of death toll reached to 105 after reporting 8 more deaths.
• Kuwait Reports 83 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 10 Apr 2020 -- Kuwait has reported 83 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections in Kuwait to 993.
• Kazakhstan to extend coronavirus emergency to end of April SPA 10 Apr 2020 -- Kazakhstan will extend its state of emergency declared over the coronavirus outbreak until the end of April, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's office said on Friday, Reuters reported.
• Indonesia reports 219 new coronavirus cases, total 3,512 SPA 10 Apr 2020 -- Indonesia reported 219 new coronavirus cases and 26 new deaths, a health ministry official Achmad Yurianto told reporters on Friday.
• Oman Reports 27 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 10 Apr 2020 -- Omani Ministry of Health reported today 27 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and the recovery of 109 ones.
• Vietnam Expedites Shipment of Medical Suits to US VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Vietnam has shipped nearly half a million protective suits to the United States, marking a quick turnaround in bilateral talks to deal with the significant U.S. shortage in medical equipment, and resulting in a tweet of thanks from the U.S. president.
• Indonesia Goes Soft on COVID Lockdown to Relieve Stressed Economy VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Indonesia, despite a growing coronavirus caseload, has avoided locking down population centers in favor of softer control measures to sustain an economy already stressed by poverty.
• In Africa, COVID-19 Crisis Puts Squeeze on Millions Who Rely on Remittances VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- When the coronavirus began hitting Western economies, it hurt the economies of African countries, too – not only because of a loss in trade and tourism, but also due to a loss in remittances.
• Kenyan Physicians Cope With ICU Shortages During Coronavirus Pandemic VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Countries struggling to contain the COVID-19 pandemic are scrambling to buy intensive care equipment, especially ventilators, which are needed in the most critical cases. In Africa, the coronavirus is spreading much faster than ICU equipment can be brought in and nurses trained. As a result, physicians in Kenya are drawing on the experience of colleagues overseas to prepare.
• Entire Botswana Parliament Under Quarantine After Health Care Worker Test Positive for COVID-19 VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Botswana said the entire parliament, including the president and speaker, are under a 14-day mandatory quarantine Friday, a day after a health care worker at parliament tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
• In Mexico City, Government Delivers Medical Supplies to COVID-19 Patients' Homes VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Teams of Mexico City government workers are fanning out across the metropolis delivering medical supplies, including thermometers, to people who notified the government they had symptoms associated with COVID-19.
• COVID-19 Fears Prompt Detainees in Australia to Plead to Be Released from Immigration Detention VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Detainees in Australian immigration centers are pleading to be released because of COVID-19 fears. They say it is impossible for them to self-isolate and protect themselves from the disease.
• After Late Start, Central Asia Takes On COVID-19 VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- In February, when COVID-19 began to explode beyond Wuhan and into China's eastern and southern neighbors, the countries across China's western frontier curiously claimed to be unaffected. South Korea, Japan, and Singapore struggled to manage and mitigate new infections, yet governments in Central Asia insisted that all was normal.
• Zimbabwean Sues Government to End Lockdown Over Alleged Abuse VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is petitioning the High Court to have the coronavirus lockdown overturned after police allegedly unleashed a dog on a woman for violating a curfew.
• Tough Chinese COVID-19 Restrictions at Border Worry Myanmar Traders Radio Free Asia 10 Apr 2020 -- Cross-border cargo policies put in place by China to control the spread of the coronavirus are pinching Myanmar traders and truck drivers, who have voiced concern about the safety of their cargo and charges imposed by the Chinese, officials at Myanmar trade associations said Friday.
• In Africa, COVID-19 Crisis Puts Squeeze on Millions Who Rely on Remittances VOA 10 Apr 2020 -- When the coronavirus began hitting Western economies, it hurt the economies of African countries, too – not only because of a loss in trade and tourism, but also due to a loss in remittances.