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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Analyst: Sudan Has No Cash to Pay Damages for 1998 Embassy Bombings VOA 20 May 2020 -- A Sudanese political analyst says Sudan will have a hard time finding the cash to pay the punitive damages imposed by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in connection with the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
• Convicted 9/11 Terrorist Renounces al-Qaida, bin Laden VOA 20 May 2020 -- The only person convicted in a U.S. court in the September 11, 2001, attack on the United States claims he is renouncing terrorism, al-Qaida and its dead leader, Osama bin Laden.
• 9/11 Convict Zacarias Moussaoui Renounces Terrorism, 'Useful Idiot' Osama bin Laden Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- Zacarias Moussaoui, a French citizen who pleaded guilty for his role in the September 11 attacks, recently revealed that he has renounced terrorism, al-Qaeda and Daesh.
• White House Took Money Intended for New Aircraft Carrier to Build Border Wall Instead - Report Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- A new congressional audit report has revealed that funds needed to begin construction of a new amphibious assault ship for the US Navy later this year were instead redirected to fund construction of the US-Mexico border wall. The move could have long-lasting implications for the governmental balance of powers as laid out in the US Constitution.
• US Extends Policy to Immediately Reject Migrants at Southern Border Indefinitely – DHS Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- The United States has extended a policy indefinitely that permits US immigration enforcement to immediately return immigrants back to Mexico after being apprehended on the southern border, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 121 WHO 20 May 2020
• WHO Emergencies Press Conference on coronavirus disease outbreak - 20 May 2020 WHO 20 May 2020
• Counting The Dead: Different Countries Have Different Ways Of Tallying Coronavirus Deaths RFE/RL 20 May 2020 -- The United States and Russia have the two highest numbers of cumulative, confirmed coronavirus cases in the world.
• Latest on pandemic: 4.9mn people infected, 323K dead Press TV 20 May 2020 -- There have now been some 4,900,356 confirmed cases of infection with the new coronavirus globally, and 323,345 people have lost their lives, according to Johns Hopkins University.
• Tedros hails WHO 'landmark resolution' to accelerate COVID-19 response UN News 20 May 2020 -- With "unprecedented solidarity", the World Health Assembly adopted a "landmark resolution" on Tuesday, which sets out a "clear roadmap" of the actions needed to sustain and accelerate the COVID-19 response at both national and international levels, the UN health agency chief told a press briefing on Wednesday, the day after the meeting concluded.
• Just hoping coronavirus will bypass Africa, would be a deadly mistake: Bachelet UN News 20 May 2020 -- Tens of millions of people in Africa could become destitute as a result of COVID-19 and its catastrophic impact on fragile economies and health systems across the continent, human rights chiefs from the United Nations and the African Commission warned on Wednesday.
• WHO Chief Alarmed Over New COVID-19 Cases in Poorer Countries VOA 20 May 2020 -- World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus voiced alarm Wednesday about increases in new coronavirus infections in poorer countries.
• WHO adopts draft resolution Global Times 20 May 2020 -- A resolution on identifying the zoonotic source of the coronavirus and evaluating the World Health Organization's (WHO) COVID-19 response have been agreed by all the member states, including China, the US and Australia, at the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting on Tuesday.

United States

• Trump Touts US Topping Global COVID-19 Cases as 'Badge of Honour' Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- Donald Trump has faced widespread criticism for what was perceived as slow response to the pandemic and delays in efficiently mobilising COVID-19 testing across the country, which was hampered by a lack of availability of crucial equipment and supplies.
• Remarks by President Trump in a Meeting with Governor Hutchinson of Arkansas and Governor Kelly of Kansas The White House 20 May 2020
• Delivering on American Commitments in the COVID-19 Response with Additional Foreign Assistance US Dept. of State 20 May 2020 -- Months into fighting the COVID-19 pandemic at home and abroad, the United States is continuing to lead the global charge against the pandemic, building on decades of leadership in life-saving health and humanitarian assistance.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 20 May 2020
• USS Theodore Roosevelt Returns to Sea NNS 20 May 2020 -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) is underway for the first time since arriving in Guam March 27.
• Dover AFB to Serve as Key Hub in COVID-19 Fight DoD News 20 May 2020 -- Given its strategic location, assets and capabilities, Dover Air Force Base in Delaware will serve as the East Coast hub for Transport Isolation System decontamination in the United States.
• Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Results of State's Antibody Testing Survey at Churches in Lower-income NYC Communities of Color Show 27 Percent of Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 An New York State 20 May 2020
• Biden says Trump's actions are 'absolutely irresponsible' Press TV 20 May 2020 -- The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has criticized US President Donald Trump over his comments about taking an anti-malaria drug, dubbed as hroxychloroquine, to prevent coronavirus despite warnings from the medical community.
• US COVID-19 Death Toll Could Nearly Quadruple by Year's End - Study Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- New research out of the University of Washington (UW) is calling for the US federal government to pursue "sound public health measures" to combat the potential spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus over the next several months, or risk losing between 350,000 and 1.2 million American lives to the disease.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 20 May 2020

China

• Pandemic Exposes Perils of Global Reliance on China for Drug Supplies VOA 20 May 2020 -- In early May, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked during a Fox News virtual town hall when the country would no longer be dependent on foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers for 94% of antibiotics used in this country.
• China's 'Incompetence' is to Blame for 'Mass Worldwide Killing' - Trump Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- The US has repeatedly blamed China for failing to contain the spread of the virus from Wuhan and for reporting the disease to the World Health Organisation too late.
• China not using pandemic to pursue global leadership: CPPCC session spokesperson Global Times 20 May 2020 -- Some US politicians out of political purposes have hyped that the novel coronavirus came from China to shift the blame due to ideological bias, and their attempts are doomed to fail, said Guo Weimin, spokesperson of the third annual session of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee at a press conference on Wednesday.
• China should not be blamed for virus spread: CPPCC session spokesperson Global Times 20 May 2020 -- It is baseless to accuse China of hiding information on COVID-19 and causing the virus to spread to other countries, Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the third annual session of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee said at a press conference on Wednesday.
• NE China COVID-19 cases have longer incubation and show different symptoms to Wuhan cases: expert Global Times 20 May 2020 -- An expert from the National Health Commission (NHC) said that the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Northeast China's Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces have different characteristics from those in Hubei Province.
• Unity, leadership, equity highlighted at COVID-19-dominated WHO meeting People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- The World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), opened its first-ever virtual session here on Monday, calling for unity, a stronger WHO role and equity amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Smearing China for COVID-19 won't succeed: spokesperson People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- Certain politicians from a number of countries including the United States will not succeed in blaming and smearing China over COVID-19 as they did these out of political needs to shift the blame at home, a Chinese spokesperson said on Wednesday.
• China's top political advisory body to hold annual session from May 21 to 27 People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, will open its annual session on Thursday afternoon in Beijing, a spokesperson said Wednesday.
• China brings COVID-19 epidemic under control in short time: spokesperson People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- With concerted efforts of the whole country, China has brought the COVID-19 epidemic under control in a short period of time, a spokesperson with the annual session of the country's top political advisory body said Wednesday.
• China's Heilongjiang reports no new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- No new confirmed COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic cases were reported in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Tuesday, the provincial health commission said Wednesday.
• China's Hubei reports no new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- No new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in central China's Hubei Province on Tuesday, the provincial health commission said Wednesday.
• China's Jilin province reports 4 new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- Northeast China's Jilin Province reported four new confirmed COVID-19 cases Tuesday, local health authorities said Wednesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 1 new imported COVID-19 case People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported one new imported COVID-19 case Tuesday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,708, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.
• 3 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals on Chinese mainland People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- Three COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on the Chinese mainland Tuesday, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 5 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Wednesday that it received reports of five new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Tuesday, of which one was imported and reported in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
• China's Hubei reports no increase in COVID-19 cases People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- No new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in central China's Hubei Province Tuesday, the provincial health commission said Wednesday.
• China promptly shared information at early stage of epidemic: epidemiologist People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- China promptly shared information on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the early stage of the epidemic, a chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.
• Macao's last COVID-19 patient recovers, discharged from hospital People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- Macao's last COVID-19 patient had recovered from the disease and was discharged from hospital, the special administrative region's COVID-19 response center said here on Tuesday.
• China's Guizhou reopens all cinemas, exhibition centers as epidemic wanes People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- Southwest China's Guizhou Province announced Tuesday that all cinemas and exhibition centers are allowed to reopen after being closed for months due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
• China's national legislators, political advisors make over 400 proposals on fighting COVID-19 People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- Deputies to China's National People's Congress (NPC) and advisors of the national political advisory body have made more than 400 suggestions and proposals on COVID-19 prevention and control since the outbreak, the National Health Commission said.
• China Reports 5 New COVID-19 Cases for May 19 VS 6 Day Earlier SPA 20 May 2020 -- China recorded five new coronavirus cases for May 19, down from six a day earlier, the National Health Commission reported on Wednesday.

Europe

• ECDC Director Warns Europe Will See a Second COVID-19 Wave as Public 'Resolve' Weakens Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- Fears of a second wave of COVID-19 have risen as governments across Europe claim to have passed the peak rate of infection, and lockdown measures begin to slowly be lifted while social distancing measures become less observed.
• Facemask use to be obligatory in Spain from Thursday Global Times 20 May 2020 -- The use of facemasks will be obligatory in Spain from Thursday, the Spanish government has confirmed.
• COVID-19 cases fall as Italy struggles to reopen Global Times 20 May 2020 -- A further 162 COVID-19 patients had died in the past 24 hours in Italy, bringing the country's toll to 32,169, out of total infection cases of 226,699, according to fresh figures on Tuesday.
• France revises down COVID-19 death toll due to counting error People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- France's Health Ministry on Tuesday revised down the country's death toll from the novel coronavirus by 217 from 28,239 on Monday, citing "an error of double counting in several nursing homes."
• UK deaths top 35,000, Italy struggles to reopen as cases fall People's Daily 20 May 2020 -- UK COVID-19 deaths top 35,000 as Britain faces "severe recession";
• UK military finally winds down coronavirus campaign Press TV 20 May 2020 -- After months of grandstanding over the coronavirus pandemic, the UK military has finally been forced to officially wind down its campaign.
• Critics Knock Britain's Handling of COVID Pandemic VOA 20 May 2020 -- For most of the coronavirus pandemic, the daily Downing Street briefing by ministers of the ruling Conservative party has been accompanied by a chart showing Britain's death toll trailing comfortably behind tallies in other Western countries, notably Italy and Spain. But earlier this month, when Britain's toll surged past continental neighbors, the chart unceremoniously disappeared.
• British PM Johnson Pledges Track & Trace by June 1 VOA 20 May 2020 -- Britain's prime minister told parliament on Wednesday that a COVID-19 test, track and tracing system would be in place by June 1.
• Germany's Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Rise by 797 to Over 176,000 SPA 20 May 2020 -- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 797 to 176,007, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
• More Than Just Health, COVID-19 Presents a Political Crisis for French Leader VOA 20 May 2020 -- The sky-high ratings and talk of a start-up nation are long gone. So is the reformist agenda, pushed through over strikes and demonstrations.

Russia

• PM Mishustin says Russia's coronavirus outbreak reaching stabler phase SPA 20 May 2020 -- Russia's coronavirus outbreak is entering a more stable phase, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Wednesday, while warning that restrictions should be lifted carefully in the 17 regions where such moves have been authorised, according to Reuters.
• Russia's coronavirus infections pass 300,000, deaths near 3,000 SPA 20 May 2020 -- Russia reported 8,764 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, its lowest daily rise since May 2, taking the total number of documented infections to 308,705, Reuters reported.

India

• Updates on COVID-19 India PIB 20 May 2020
• Dr Harsh Vardhan participates in NAM Health Ministers' meeting through VC India PIB 20 May 2020 -- Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare participated in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Health Ministers' meeting through video conference, here today.

Iran

• Official: Some 64 more Iranians die from COVID19 over past 24 hours IRNA 20 May 2020 -- Head of Iranian Health Ministry's Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Wednesday that some 64 more Iranians died from coronavirus over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 7,183.
• Pandemic Situation Is Alarming In Iran's Oil-Producing Region Radio Farda 20 May 2020 -- Reports from the province of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran say the situation with COVID-19 epidemic is "serious", particularly as people appear to ignore public health warnings and medical staff are affected by fatigue after weeks of hard work.

South Korea

• South Korea sees slight uptick in virus cases SPA 20 May 2020 -- South Korean health authorities have expressed concern as the country reported the highest daily increase in novel coronavirus infections in nine days on Wednesday, dpa cited agency Yonhap.

Saudi Arabia

• Third stage of expanded examination to assess prevalence of corona announced SPA 20 May 2020 -- The Ministry of Health announced its intention to launch the third phase of the expanded examination to assess the general prevalence of the novel Coronavirus (Covid 19) in the Kingdom, in order to continue the precautionary and preventive measures it is taking to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus in order to preserve the health and safety of citizens and expatriates.
• Health Spokesperson: Total COVID-19 Tests Surpass 636,000 SPA 20 May 2020 -- Under the chairmanship of Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, the COVID-19 Follow-up Committee held its 91st meeting today, in the presence of the members of the Committee representing a number of the relevant governmental entities.
• Saudi Press: COVID-19 Recovery Rate in Saudi Arabia is More than 50% SPA 20 May 2020 -- Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas.

Taiwan

• No new COVID-19 cases in Taiwan for 13th straight day CNA 20 May 2020 -- Taiwan confirmed no new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus for the 13th consecutive day on Wednesday, keeping the total at 440 since the pandemic began late last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan to revise quarantine rules for business travelers CNA 20 May 2020 -- Taiwan is planning to reduce the quarantine period for visitors arriving on short-term business trips, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday, as it reported no new COVID-19 cases in the country for the 13th straight day.
• Praising people's resilience, Tsai pledges to meet COVID-19 challenges CNA 20 May 2020 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Wednesday praised the unity and resilience of Taiwan's people in dealing with COVID-19 and pledged strong responses to the future challenges the global pandemic has created for the world economy.

North Korea

• North Korea Conscripts Citizens for 'Farming Battles' During COVID-19 Crisis Radio Free Asia 20 May 2020 -- North Korea is moving forward with its annual "farming battle" labor-mobilization campaign despite the coronavirus crisis, raising health concerns as it is not providing facemasks to citizens conscripted to plant crops, sources in the country told RFA.

Brazil

• Trump Weighs Travel Ban on Brazil After Record Spike in Coronavirus Cases Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- Brazil's coronavirus count has grown rapidly in recent weeks, making it the third-largest in the world, overtaking the UK, Italy and Spain. The Trump administration had earlier restricted travel from dozens of countries including China, the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

Philippines

• Philippine Police Raid Alleged Chinese COVID-19 Treatment Facility Radio Free Asia 20 May 2020 -- Authorities in the northern Philippines raided a villa housing an unauthorized COVID-19 clinic and arrested two Chinese nationals who were operating it, police said Wednesday.
• Philippines reports 279 new COVID-19 cases, total cases cross 13,000 Global Times 20 May 2020 -- The Philippine health department on Wednesday reported that 279 more people have contracted the COVID-19, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 13,221.
• Philippines Reports 279 Additional New Coronavirus Cases, Five Deaths SPA 20 May 2020 -- The Philippines' health ministry on Wednesday recorded 279 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, the highest daily increase in nine days, and five additional deaths, according to Reuters.

Other Countries

• Room for Optimism: UN Releases Executive Summary on COVID-19 Impact on Africa Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- As Secretary General Antonio Guterres explained, the United Nations is calling for international action aimed at helping African countries deal with the fallout from the coronavirus crisis.
• UN chief urges global support for Africa as virus threatens progress SPA 20 May 2020 -- United Nations Secretary General on Wednesday called for global solidarity with Africa, as he warned that the coronavirus pandemic threatens the continent's progress. "It will aggravate long-standing inequalities and heighten hunger, malnutrition and vulnerability to disease," Guterres said in a video message. "Already, demand for Africa's commodities, tourism and remittances are declining. The opening of the trade zone has been pushed back - and millions could be pushed into extreme poverty," he said. The UN chief launched a policy brief, calling for international action to strengthen Africa's health systems, maintain food supplies and avoid a financial crisis, according to dpa.
• US Seeks Creative Solutions to Prepare African Nations Against Viral Threat VOA 20 May 2020 -- Field hospitals, ambulances, ventilators, masks and even personnel are among the hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of assistance the U.S. has recently diverted to African nations in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic. VOA's Anita Powell spoke exclusively with Assistant Secretary of State Clarke Cooper of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs about how U.S. peacekeeping operations are finding creative ways to empower African nations to fight the virus. She reports from Johannesburg.
• Algeria tightens lockdown during fast-breaking feast Global Times 20 May 2020 -- Algerian government on Tuesday said it has tightened restriction measures in a move to contain the spread of COVID-19.
• Myanmar Arrests Canadian Pastor For Violating Coronavirus Ban on Mass Gatherings Radio Free Asia 20 May 2020 -- Authorities in Myanmar arrested a Canadian pastor Wednesday for holding a service in violation of a ban on mass gatherings during the coronavirus outbreak, after which dozens of people became infected.
• Moldova's Orthodox Church Lashes Out At 'Anti-Christ Plot' To Develop Virus Vaccine RFE/RL 20 May 2020 -- The Moscow-affiliated Moldovan Orthodox Church has called on the country's leadership to ensure that a potential future anti-coronavirus vaccine will not be made compulsory, claiming conspiracy by a "world anti-Christ system" that will allegedly insert microchips into humans to control them via 5G technology.
• Kuwait reports 3 new coronavirus deaths, 804 infections SPA 20 May 2020 -- The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announced 804 new coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 17,568, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.
• Oman announces 372 new COVID-19 cases SPA 20 May 2020 -- Omani Ministry of Health announced today 372 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Sultanate of Oman to 6,043.
• Malaysia Reports 31 New Coronavirus Cases; Total Tops 7,000 SPA 20 May 2020 -- Malaysia's health ministry reported 31 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the cumulative total to 7,009 infections, according to Reuters.
• Indonesia Reports Biggest Daily Rise in Coronavirus Infections SPA 20 May 2020 -- Indonesia reported on Wednesday 693 new coronavirus infections, the Southeast Asian nation's biggest daily rise and taking the total number of cases to 19,189, according to the website of Indonesia's COVID-19 task force, Reuters reported.
• Thailand Reports 1 New Coronavirus Case, No New Deaths SPA 20 May 2020 -- Thailand on Wednesday confirmed one new coronavirus case, bringing its total cases to 3,034, Reuters reported.
• Mexico Coronavirus Cases Hit New Daily Record of 2,713 SPA 20 May 2020 -- Mexico registered 2,713 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, the health ministry said, its biggest daily increase yet in infections, bringing its overall tally to 54,346 cases, Reuters reported.
• ASEAN Bloc Fights Impulse to Hoard Medical Goods VOA 20 May 2020 -- More than half the nations of Southeast Asia started this week by taking a donation of protective personal equipment (PPE), such as medical suits and masks, from their neighbor Vietnam to help them in the fight against COVID-19. It is the latest sign the region is resisting the impulse to choke off any shipment of medical supplies out of their borders, an impulse seen globally as supply shortages put health workers' lives at risk.
• COVID-19, Separatist Fighting, Overshadow Cameroon's National Day VOA 20 May 2020 -- Cameroon is marking its national day Wednesday under coronavirus restrictions and amid ongoing clashes between the military and anglophone separatists.  President Paul Biya has spoken publicly for the first time about the pandemic.
• Burundi Holds Presidential Election Amid Coronavirus Outbreak VOA 20 May 2020 -- More than five million eligible voters in the east African nation of Burundi are heading to the polls Wednesday to choose a successor to longtime President Pierre Nkurunziza.