Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Czechs See Signs Of Russian Role In Cyberattacks As Tensions Remain High RFE/RL 24 Apr 2020 -- A recent wave of coordinated cyberattacks in the Czech Republic is likely tied to malware linked to Russia, Czech Internet security experts say.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 95 WHO 24 Apr 2020
• WHO Emergencies Press Conference on coronavirus disease outbreak - 24 April 2020 WHO 24 Apr 2020
• "Immunity passports" in the context of COVID-19 WHO 24 Apr 2020
• 'Landmark collaboration' to make COVID-19 testing and treatment available to all UN News 24 Apr 2020 -- World leaders, scientists, humanitarians and private sector partners united on Friday in "a landmark collaboration" to make new tools and medicines to diagnose and treat COVID-19, accessible to people everywhere.
• 'No time to blame the messenger' warns UN rights chief, amidst media clampdowns surrounding COVID-19 UN News 24 Apr 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic has spawned new threats to press freedom in some countries, according to the UN human rights chief, who declared on Friday that "credible, accurate reporting is a lifeline for all of us".
• WHO Announces Broad Collaborative Effort to Tackle COVID-19 VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Friday announced a collaborative effort with world leaders and private industry to ensure equitable distribution of any viable vaccines or treatments for COVID-19.
• WHO says novel coronavirus not manipulated or constructed People's Daily 24 Apr 2020 -- All available evidence to date suggests that the novel coronavirus, which has caused the ongoing pandemic, has a natural animal origin and is not a manipulated or constructed virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a daily situation report on Thursday.
• WHO reports fivefold increase in cyber attacks People's Daily 24 Apr 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday warned that the number of cyber attacks against it is now more than five times of that directed at the organization in the same period last year.
• WHO launches "landmark" int'l collaboration on developing COVID-19 technologies Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday launched a "landmark" international collaboration to accelerate the development of COVID-19 health technologies.

United States

• PA Guard prioritizing safety at Wilkes-Barre COVID-19 test site Army News 24 Apr 2020 -- While the goal of the COVID-19 testing site at Mohegan Sun Arena is to test members of the Luzerne County community, the safety of those operating the testing site is a high priority.
• West Virginia Guard conducts testing at state hospitals Army News 24 Apr 2020 -- The West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) tested about 500 patients and staff at four state hospitals for COVID-19 April 23.
• Michigan National Guard supports COVID detection effort Army News 24 Apr 2020 -- While almost 750 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen continue to distribute food, manage supplies and support alternate care facilities to fight COVID-19, two specially trained Guard members are assisting the state's Bureau of Laboratories.
• Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Hoffman Updates Reporters on DOD Operations DoD 24 Apr 2020 -- Jonathan Rath Hoffman, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
• Trump Says Disinfectant Suggestion for COVID-19 Was 'Sarcastic' VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he was being sarcastic when he suggested that disinfectants could be used to treat coronavirus patients. He comments followed expressions of alarm from health experts and warnings from a maker of the sanitizing solutions.
• Navy Statement on Status of Preliminary Inquiry NNS 24 Apr 2020 -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday has presented recommendations to the Acting Secretary of the Navy James McPherson. Secretary McPherson is continuing discussions with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. No final decisions have been made.
• USS Kidd Evacuates Sailor, Embarks COVID-19 Medical Response Team NNS 24 Apr 2020 -- A Sailor assigned to USS Kidd (DDG 100) tested positive for COVID-19 after being medically evacuated to the United States from operations at sea, April 23.
• 840 sailors on USS Theodore Roosevelt test positive for COVID-19: US Navy Press TV 24 Apr 2020 -- A total of 840 US sailors have tested positive for the coronavirus on the virus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to the United States Navy.
• Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Issues Executive Order to Make Sure Every New Yorker Automatically Receives a Postage-paid Absentee Ballot Application New York State 24 Apr 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 24 Apr 2020
• Dr. Fauci refutes conspiracy theory of lab-made coronavirus People's Daily 24 Apr 2020 -- In recent days, a number of US media outlets and Republican allies of President Donald Trump have been floating the conspiracy theory that the novel coronavirus "was manufactured in a Chinese lab". However, as more evidence is collected, this groundless theory has been rejected by an increasing number of scientists, including US top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci.
• Trump's Suggestion to Use Disinfectants for COVID-19 Alarms Experts VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion that disinfectants could be used to treat coronavirus patients is triggering alarm among health experts, and warnings from a maker of the sanitizing solutions.
• Trump suggests injecting disinfectant to treat coronavirus Press TV 24 Apr 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has hinted that "disinfectant" can be used to cure people infected with the coronavirus after previously suggesting chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as treatment, which the EU said could kill patients.

China

• Chinese military sends medical teams, aid to Myanmar, Pakistan and Laos to fight COVID-19 Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- China sent military medical teams to Pakistan, Myanmar and Laos to fight COVID-19 on Friday. Analysts say this shows the high-level of mutual trust and friendly relations between China and these countries, and that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) medical teams are the most experienced force in China in handling public health crises.
• COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use may be ready by September: China CDC director Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- A COVID-19 vaccine could be developed by September, and could be ready for emergency use on medical workers and on a larger group of people early next year, said Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Gao Fu on Thursday.
• Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hubei drops below 50 for first time: official Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hubei, the central China province hardest hit by the epidemic, dropped to below 50 Thursday for the first time, a health official said Friday.
• Border cities in SW China conduct drills to strengthen country's defenses against imported COVID-19 cases Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- Several border cities in Southwest China have conducted drills featuring simulated illegal border crossings in order to further enhance efforts to prevent imported cases of COVID-19.
• Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hubei drops below 50 for first time: official People's Daily 24 Apr 2020 -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hubei, the central China province hardest hit by the epidemic, dropped to below 50 Thursday for the first time, a health official said Friday.
• China's Hubei reports no increase in COVID-19 cases People's Daily 24 Apr 2020 -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported in central China's Hubei Province Thursday, local health authority said Friday.
• Chinese mainland reports 6 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 24 Apr 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Friday that it received reports of six new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland Thursday, of which two were imported.
• China's Guangzhou conducts coronavirus tests on teachers, students People's Daily 24 Apr 2020 -- Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong Province, has started novel coronavirus tests on 208,000 teachers, staff, and students in their final year of junior and senior high schools, local authorities said.
• Chinese Authorities Say Wuhan Has No COVID-19 Patients in Critical Condition Any More Sputnik 24 Apr 2020 -- Doctors of China's Wuhan city that had become an initial epicenter of the coronavirus infection have cured the last patient, who was in critical condition, and thus there are currently only patients with mild symptoms of the disease in the city, Mi Feng, the spokesman for the Chinese National Health Commission, said on Friday.
• Mass COVID-19 testing 'not yield to' herd immunity Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- As China is starting large-scale nucleic acid and antibody tests in a post-COVID-19 era with the epidemic appearing to have been brought under control, Chinese experts said that such a move cannot and should not be interpreted as the country's compromise to achieve "herd immunity," considering some Western countries have taken antibody tests as a major way of finding out how many people are immune to the coronavirus - something some politicians support as they struggle to strike a balance between abandoning the economy and giving up on lives, which is also why some of them are reluctant to take decisive action.
• Chinese firms mull suing foreign govts over COVID-19 losses Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- As more foreign officials, most notably in the US, sue the Chinese government over the coronavirus pandemic, many in China, while dismissing the lawsuits as absurd, are also mulling potential countermeasures in case these lawsuits bring damage to Chinese businesses.

Europe

• EU Approves $580 Billion to Mitigate COVID-19 Consequences VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- The European Union approved a $580 billion aid package to help mitigate the consequences of coronavirus pandemic lockdowns in member countries.
• France's coronavirus death toll rises by 389 to 22,245 SPA 24 Apr 2020 -- The death toll in France from the coronavirus rose by 389 to 22,245 on Friday, the country's top health official Jerome Salomon said.
• UK leads way as nations endorse landmark pledge to make coronavirus vaccines and treatments available to all UK FCO 24 Apr 2020 -- Countries from around the world today joined the UK in pledging to give everyone equal access to new coronavirus vaccines and treatments around the world.
• Italy's hard-hit region of Lombardy begins COVID-19 antibody testing Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- The Italian region of Lombardy, the part of the country hardest hit by the global coronavirus outbreak, began antibody testing on Thursday as part of a strategy to set the table for the gradual reopening of its economy.
• Coronavirus response: Estonia delivers medical supplies to Spain and Italy NATO 24 Apr 2020 -- As part of continued Allied efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, Estonia has donated medical supplies to Italy and Spain, including 30,000 face masks and 2,000 units of disinfectant manufactured by the local producer Nordic Group OÜ, to each ally.
• Europe Coronavirus Updates: Italy's daily recoveries surpass infections, Spain sees continuous rise in new deaths People's Daily 24 Apr 2020 -- Death toll rises to 25,549 in Italy, daily recoveries surpass infections;
• Coronavirus hits German businesses with 'full fury' Press TV 24 Apr 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic, which continues to take its toll on the world's population and the economy, has hit businesses in Germany "with full fury," according to a survey.
• Coronavirus In Court: Bosnia's Age-Based Lockdowns Are Ruled Discriminatory RFE/RL 24 Apr 2020 -- Bosnia-Herzegovina's Constitutional Court has ruled that coronavirus restrictions requiring the elderly and minors to stay under lockdown are discriminatory.

Russia

• The Week In Russia: How COVID-19 Is Changing The Landscape RFE/RL 24 Apr 2020 -- One of the questions people living in lockdown around the world are asking is this: Will anything ever be the same again?

India

• Updates on COVID-19 India PIB 24 Apr 2020
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan chairs a video conference with States/UTs Health Ministers regarding the steps taken on COVID-19 India PIB 24 Apr 2020
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan chairs a video conference with States/UTs Health Ministers regarding the steps taken on COVID-19 India PIB 24 Apr 2020 -- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today reviewed the operational preparedness as well as measures to fight COVID-19 with all the Commanders in Chief through a video conference.
• Harassment of Indian Muslims rises over COVID-19 rumors Press TV 24 Apr 2020 -- Indians are apparently looking for a coronavirus scapegoat as the country's Muslim population is widely reporting that they are being harassed over rumors of spreading the new virus.

Pakistan

• Pakistan Extends Lockdown; Chinese Army Doctors Arrive to Help Combat Virus VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- Pakistan extended a partial lockdown for two more weeks Friday to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country, though the number of confirmed cases is relatively very low.
• Pakistan using security technology to trace COVID19 patients IRNA 24 Apr 2020 -- The government of Pakistan is using the technology of top intelligence agency to trace the suspected coronavirus patients as the number of Covid-19 patients is increasing in the country with each passing day.

Iran

• As Social Distancing Rules Diminish In Iran, Signs Of A Covid-19 Rebound Radio Farda 24 Apr 2020 -- Amid concerns about a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak in Iran as a result of an early end to social distancing, officials are considering the re-opening of cinemas and religious centers.
• Coronavirus Crisis Will Drastically Reduce Government Tax Revenues, Iran Official Says Radio Farda 24 Apr 2020 -- The Head of Iran's Tax Organization on Friday said the government's tax revenues will drastically shrink in the current Iranian year as a result of the coronavirus epidemic and closure of businesses.
• 93 more succumb to COVID-19 in Iran IRNA 24 Apr 2020 -- Head of Public Relations and Information Center of the Ministry of Health announced that so far, 88,194 people in the country have definitely been infected with the Coronavirus, 5,574 people have died due to the virus and 66,596 or 75% of total infected people have recovered.

Saudi Arabia

• COVID-19 Pandemic Follow-up Committee Holds its 65th Meeting SPA 24 Apr 2020 -- Under the chairmanship of Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, COVID-19 Pandemic Follow-up Committee held its 65th meeting today, with participation of members of all governmental relevant departments.
• Health Ministry Spokesperson: 1158 New COVID-19 Cases Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 24 Apr 2020 -- Assistant Minister of Health and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdulaali said that 1158 new cases were reported today in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 1 new case of COVID-19 in Navy cluster CNA 24 Apr 2020 -- Taiwan confirmed one new case of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Friday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 428 since the pandemic began late last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Tsai discusses lessons learned from 2003 SARS hospital lockdown CNA 24 Apr 2020 -- On the 17th anniversary of a lockdown imposed on a Taipei hospital amid a severe SARS outbreak, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Friday urged unity between the government and society to combat the spread of the COVID-19 conoravirus, which first appeared in Wuhan, China in December.

North Korea

• Broad-spectrum Sterilant Widely Used in DPRK KCNA 24 Apr 2020 -- In the DPRK, stable solution of chlorine peroxide manufactured by its scientists has been widely used in the anti-epidemic work.

Cameroon

• Cameroon Police Clash With Muslims at Ramadan VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- Cameroonian police used force to disperse Muslims praying at mosques at the start of the holy month of Ramadan Friday for violating government orders not to gather because of the coronavirus. Cameroon has confirmed at least 1,300 COVID-19 infections and 43 deaths, the hardest-hit country in central Africa.
• Cameroon Police Force Muslims to Follow COVID-19 Restrictions at Ramadan VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- Police in Cameroon used force on Friday to disperse Muslims praying at mosques at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, saying they were violating government orders not to gather because of the coronavirus.

Australia

• Australia Advocates Changing World Health Organization VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday his country will cooperate with "like-minded countries" to change the World Health Organization.
• Ill-Fated Cruise Liner Leaves Australia as Authorities Probe COVID-19 Infections VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- A cruise ship that is the single biggest source of COVID-19 infections in Australia has left a port south of Sydney after being ordered to leave by Border Force officials.

Other Countries

• G-20 Raising $8 Billion to Fight Coronavirus VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- The G-20 is calling on "all countries, international organizations, the private sector, philanthropic institutions, and individuals" to contribute to its funding efforts to fight COVID-19, setting an $8 billion goal.
• As Militaries Enforce Coronavirus Quarantine, Experts Warn of Escalating Violence VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the deployment of 73,000 soldiers to enforce a lockdown in the country's fight against the coronavirus. The move is unprecedented in the modern history of the country and includes active duty soldiers, reservists and auxiliary troops.
• Liberia: Ebola contact tracing lessons inform COVID-19 response UN News 24 Apr 2020 -- Lessons learned during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia six years ago are helping the West African country to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) which is working alongside the World Health Organization (WHO) on surveillance and the coordination of contact tracing.
• COVID-19 Restrictions Hurt East Africa's Fight Against Locusts VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- Travel restrictions meant to slow down the coronavirus are hurting efforts to combat swarms of locusts that are ravaging crops in East Africa, posing a serious threat to regional food security.
• China makes further donation to boost Zimbabwe's fight against COVID-19 pandemic Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- China on Thursday handed over medical supplies and equipment to Zimbabwe, the latest boost among a series of donations it has made to the southern African country to help it fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Brunei receives medical material donations from China Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- Brunei received medical material donations from China on Thursday in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Sri Lanka shuts navy camp after confirming 30 COVID-19 infections Global Times 24 Apr 2020 -- A navy camp on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo was declared as an isolated zone after 30 navy personnel tested positive for COVID-19, raising the country's total cases to 373, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said on Friday.
• COVID-19: Uzbekistan May Take Billions In Loans To Tackle Pandemic RFE/RL 24 Apr 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 191,000 with over 2.7 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• Malawi Police Clash With Prison Guards Demanding COVID-19 Protection Equipment VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- Police in Malawi clashed with prison guards who are demanding personal protective equipment against the coronavirus as well as hazard pay. The guards went on strike Thursday, saying working without PPE in the crowded prisons puts them at risk.
• Botswana President, Lawmakers End Quarantine After Testing Negative for Coronavirus VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and all the country's lawmakers completed a two-week quarantine Thursday after testing negative for the new coronavirus.
• Brazil Hit With Its Deadliest Day of Coronavirus Outbreak VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- Brazil's health minister confirmed 407 new coronavirus deaths Thursday, the country's largest single-day increase since the virus struck the South American country.
• UAE Reports 525 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 24 Apr 2020 -- The UAE Ministry of Health and Community Protection reported here today 525 new cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 9,281.
• Algeria Reports 120 Cases of COVID-19 SPA 24 Apr 2020 -- Algeria has reported here, during the last 24 hours, 120 new laboratory-confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as 8 additional deaths.
• Vietnam Among First Nations to Reopen After Week Without Virus VOA 24 Apr 2020 -- People in Vietnam are beginning to resume activities that were banned for more than three weeks following an outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.