Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• New Delhi Brushes Off Pakistan's Claims Indian Spy Agency Behind Karachi Attack as 'Absurd' Sputnik 29 Jun 2020 -- Earlier in the day, four terrorists attacked the Karachi Stock Exchange - also known as Pakistan's Wall Street - killing two security guards and one police officer. All the terrorists were gunned down by security personnel within eight minutes.
• Four Militants Killed As Pakistani Security Forces Thwart Attack On Karachi Stock Exchange RFE/RL 29 Jun 2020 -- Four militants have been killed in an attack on Pakistan's stock-exchange building in the southern port city of Karachi.
• Gunmen stage deadly attack on Pakistan stock exchange Press TV 29 Jun 2020 -- Heavily armed gunmen have staged a deadly attack on the Pakistani Stock Exchange building located in a high security zone in the city of Karachi.
• Who Exactly is a Communist Rebel? Philippine Anti-Terrorism Act Has Answers VOA 29 Jun 2020 -- Legislators in the Philippines have passed an anti-terrorism law that broadens President Rodrigo Duterte's power to squelch armed rebels along with backers of the Communist party linked to a widespread violent struggle.
• Chinese National Guilty of Laundering Millions for Mexican Drug Cartels US Dept. of Justice 29 Jun 2020 -- A Chinese national pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with laundering more than $4 million in drug proceeds generated by large-scale cocaine trafficking in the United States.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 161 WHO 29 Jun 2020
• WHO Emergencies Press Conference on coronavirus disease outbreak - 29 June 2020 WHO 29 Jun 2020
• COVID-19 Disinformation From Russia, China More Influential Than Domestic News Sources, Study Finds RFE/RL 29 Jun 2020 -- Coronavirus disinformation published by Chinese and Russian state media outlets in France, Spain, and Germany is in some cases reaching a greater audience on social media than news coverage of the global pandemic produced by major domestic media outlets in those countries, according to a study by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII).
• Surge in COVID-19 Cases Prompts Renewed Lockdowns VOA 29 Jun 2020 -- A rise in coronavirus cases around the world is prompting authorities in some countries, including India and the United States, to reimpose lockdown restrictions, as the head of the World Health Organization said the pandemic "is not even close to being over."
• Repurposed HIV Drug Ineffective in Treating COVID-19, Say Oxford Researchers VOA 29 Jun 2020 -- An antiviral drug combination touted as a potential COVID-19 treatment did not improve patients' chances of survival, researchers at the University of Oxford announced Monday.
• COVID-19 pandemic 'not even close to being over', WHO chief warns UN News 29 Jun 2020 -- Nearly six months after the new coronavirus first emerged, the COVID-19 pandemic is "not even close to being over", the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday.
• WHO Chief: COVID Pandemic Accelerating, 'Not Even Close to Being Over' VOA 29 Jun 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) director general says the coronavirus pandemic is "not even close to being over" and that the outbreak is accelerating globally.
• Food is best vaccine against chaos, insists UN World Food Programme head UN News 29 Jun 2020 -- Tens of millions more people are likely to go hungry this year because of the COVID-19 crisis, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday, as it announced plans for a massive boost to its global aid operation so it can reach them.
• UN Declares 'Massive Rise' in Hunger Spikes as WHO Warns Pandemic 'Not Close to Being Over' Sputnik 29 Jun 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a "massive rise" in food insecurity around the world, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) announced Monday, and yet, the pandemic is "not close to being over," the World Health Organization (WHO) also warned this week.
• COVID-19 updates: More than half a million now dead from pandemic globally Press TV 29 Jun 2020 -- The number of coronavirus cases around the world has now surged past the 10 million mark, while more than 500 people have so far lost their lives to the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
• Global COVID-19 deaths surpass 500,000 - Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- Global COVID-19 deaths surpassed 500,000 on Sunday, reaching 500,108 as of 4:33 p.m. (2033 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

United States

• Weekly Update: DHS Response to COVID-19 DHS 29 Jun 2020
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces State to Decide Wednesday Whether to Slow Reopening of Indoor Dining in New York City New York State 29 Jun 2020
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo to President Trump: 'Lead by Example' and 'Put A Mask On It' New York State 29 Jun 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 29 Jun 2020
• US Procures Almost Entire Supply of COVID-19 Drug VOA 29 Jun 2020 -- The Trump administration says it has locked down nearly the entire supply of one of the only available anti-COVID-19 drugs from the manufacturer for the next several months.
• US Secures Drug Believed Effective for COVID-19 Treatment VOA 29 Jun 2020 -- The U.S. government has secured a supply of the drug remdesivir, which may reduce the recovery period for patients with COVID-19, the Health and Human Services (HHS) department announced Monday.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 29 Jun 2020
• U.S. senior health official says "window is closing" to curb coronavirus surge People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said on Sunday the "window is closing" for the country to curb the surge of coronavirus cases.
• Readout from the Vice President's Governors Briefing on COVID-19 Response & Recovery The White House 29 Jun 2020

China

• Beijing doubles quarantine period to 28 days as scientists fear virus may be more contagious than the one in Wuhan Global Times 29 Jun 2020 -- Beijing has doubled the COVID-19 quarantine period from 14 days to 28 as scientists fear that the type of coronavirus that set off Beijing's recent outbreak in the Xinfadi market may be more contagious than the one in Wuhan.
• CanSino's recombinant COVID-19 vaccine approved as special military drug Global Times 29 Jun 2020 -- Chinese biopharmaceutical firm CanSino Biologics Inc announced on Monday that a recombinant novel coronavirus vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) the company developed with a military research team has received special one-year military drug approval.
• Tougher COVID-19 checks mean longer commute for Beijing's satellite town residents Global Times 29 Jun 2020 -- Strict COVID-19 prevention rules in Beijing and Hebei Province have meant that the checking of paperwork, including valid nucleic acid tests, has brought great inconvenience to Beijing employees who live in Yanjiao, a commuter town in Hebei, prolonging their already grueling commute to work.
• Get used to COVID-19 being around for long term, warns virologist Global Times 29 Jun 2020 -- A community health expert and virologist has said that people should be prepared for long-term coexistence with COVID-19, and Beijing's precise prevention and control measures represent a trending strategy in the future, as the virus might be with people for decades to come.
• Beijing adopts mobile sampling vehicles to test residents for COVID-19 Global Times 29 Jun 2020 -- Beijing has adopted mobile sampling vehicles to facilitate COVID-19 nucleic acid testing for residents, as the capital city is demanding large-scale sampling after more than 300 people were confirmed infected with COVID-19.
• Some COVID-19 patients found to have lost sense of smell, taste Global Times 29 Jun 2020 -- Some Chinese COVID-19 patients from Beijing's recent coronavirus outbreak were found to have lost or partially lost their sense of smell and taste, leaving many wondering whether they could ever regain these senses.
• Beijing bus driver released from hospital, first to recover from latest Xinfadi outbreak Global Times 29 Jun 2020 -- The first COVID-19 patient to recover from the latest outbreak in Beijing's Xinfadi wholesale market was discharged from Beijing Ditan Hospital on Monday, after testing negative for coronavirus two times.
• Beijing steps up efforts to identify potential risks of COVID-19 spreading People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- Beijing is further expanding its scope of nucleic acid testing for COVID-19 in the second wave of the virus to enhance hazard screening. In addition, it is also taking multiple approaches to ensure that all citizens consciously obey the epidemic prevention and control measures.
• First COVID-19 patient in Beijing's new cluster infections discharged from hospital People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- The first COVID-19 patient in Beijing's latest cluster infections related to the Xinfadi market was discharged from hospital on Monday morning after recovery, according to Beijing Ditan Hospital.
• China's Hubei reports no new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- No newly confirmed, asymptomatic or suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported in central China's Hubei Province Sunday, the provincial health commission said Monday.
• Chinese mainland reports 12 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Monday it received reports of 12 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Sunday, including seven domestically transmitted and five imported ones.
• Chinese mainland reports 5 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported five new imported COVID-19 cases Sunday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,907, the National Health Commission said Monday.
• Beijing reports 7 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- Beijing reported seven new confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases and one asymptomatic case on Sunday, the municipal health commission said Monday.
• Chinese mainland reports 12 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Monday it received reports of 12 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Sunday, including seven domestically transmitted and five imported ones.
• Over eight million in Beijing receive COVID-19 tests People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- Nearly 8.3 million residents of Beijing have received nucleic acid tests as of Sunday noon since the resurgence of domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases, local authorities said on Sunday.
• Chinese COVID-19 Vaccine Receives Approval for Military Use Sputnik 29 Jun 2020 -- A COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese biotech company CanSino has been approved to be used exclusively by the Chinese military, the company said in a public statement issued to investors through the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Monday.

Europe

• Italy's coronavirus data still positive despite cluster outbreaks in 11 hotspots Global Times 29 Jun 2020 -- Data related to Italy's coronavirus outbreak remained largely positive on Sunday, even as local health officials in 11 parts of the country reported small, isolated outbreaks of the virus.
• Leicester poses serious challenge to Johnson's lockdown exit model Press TV 29 Jun 2020 -- Boris Johnson's plan to celebrate an England-wide lockdown exit early next month has been thrown into disarray following reports that the city of Leicester may have to stay in lockdown for an additional two weeks.
• Boris Johnson: UK Economy Saw a 'Big Fall' Due to Coronavirus Pandemic Sputnik 29 Jun 2020 -- According to government data, the British economy shrank by an unprecedented 10.4 percent in the three months up to the end of April; that number included the nation's biggest-ever monthly fall in GDP in April, weeks before the gradual reopening of the economy.

Russia

• Russia reports lowest number of coronavirus infections since April 29 SPA 29 Jun 2020 -- Russia on Monday reported 6,719 new cases of the novel coronavirus, the lowest one-day reported increase since April 29, pushing its nationwide tally to 641,156, Reuters reported.
• Despairing Russian Doctors Cast Doubt on Coronavirus Tally VOA 29 Jun 2020 -- President Vladimir Putin has compared Russian doctors to heroic Red Army soldiers battling the Nazis during World War II. Last week, the Russian leader signed decrees honoring doctors with special awards for their coronavirus efforts.

India

• UPDATES ON COVID-19 India PIB 29 Jun 2020
• India's first human space mission "Gaganyaan" will not be affected by COVID pandemic: Dr.Jitendra Singh India PIB 29 Jun 2020 -- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that the launch of India's first human space mission "Gaganyaan" will not be affected by COVID pandemic and preparation are carrying on in the right direction.

Iran

• Iranian COVID-19 vaccine to be produced by March 2021 IRNA 29 Jun 2020 -- Director-General of Health Technology Development Office of Iran's Health Ministry said on Monday that some Iranian knowledge-based companies, in a parallel attempt, were trying to produce the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of this Iranian year (will end March 20, 2021).
• COVID-19 kills another 162 Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 29 Jun 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Monday that some 162 more Iranians have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 10,670.

South Korea

• South Korea Will Introduce 3-Level Social Distancing Due to Spike in COVID-19 Cases - Reports Sputnik 29 Jun 2020 -- The South Korean authorities are planning to introduce a three-level system of social distancing in the country due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the state-run Yonhap News agency reported, citing the Health Ministry's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 3,943 New COVID-19 Cases Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 29 Jun 2020 -- The Ministry of Health said in a statement today that 3,9433 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 186,436 cases, including 57,719 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 2,285 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.

Taiwan

• Public health experts suggest COVID-19 testing of all arrivals CNA 29 Jun 2020 -- Taiwanese public health experts on Monday called for all travelers entering Taiwan from overseas to be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival, following a model used in Iceland to kick start its economy amid the pandemic.
• COVID-19 patient recovers with help of rheumatoid arthritis drug CNA 29 Jun 2020 -- Doctors at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on Monday reported success in their treatment of a high-risk COVID-19 patient, with a drug commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis.
• Taiwan to continue requisitioning face masks until end of July CNA 29 Jun 2020 -- Despite the COVID-19 situation subsiding in Taiwan, the government will continue to requisition 8 million surgical face masks per day until the end of July, an economic ministry official said on Monday.

Other Countries

• Peru's COVID-19 cases nears 280,000, deaths climb to 9,317 Global Times 29 Jun 2020 -- The Peruvian Health Ministry reported Sunday 3,430 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the national tally to 279,419 with a total of 9,317 deaths.
• With increasing infections, Mideast states strive to stave off COVID-19 resurgence People's Daily 29 Jun 2020 -- The death toll from the novel coronavirus in Iran hit 10,508 on Sunday after the registration of 144 more fatalities, while Saudi Arabia reported 3,989 new infections, raising the total number in the kingdom to 182,493.
• COVID-19: Kazakh President Orders New Restrictions After Surge In Cases RFE/RL 29 Jun 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is over 500,000, with more than 10.1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.
• Australian Victoria state's coronavirus cases hit three-month high SPA 29 Jun 2020 -- The Australian State of Victoria recorded 49 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.