Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Chinese Scientists Discover New H1N1 Virus Strain That Could Infect Humans VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Scientists in China have identified a new strain of a flu virus in pigs that has the potential to infect humans and lead to a new pandemic.
• Experts reassure public over risk of pandemic caused by swine flu Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- Chinese researchers have issued an early warning over another potential pandemic caused by an influenza virus in pigs, coming after the COVID-19, but disease control experts said the public should not overreact and hog farms have shown no signs of related disease.
• While COVID-19 Rages, Don't Forget About Pandemic Flu VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Don't panic, but there is another virus out there that could cause a pandemic.
• Pakistani PM Blames India for Militant Raid on Stock Exchange VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has directly accused rival India of being behind a deadly terrorist attack on his country's stock exchange building in Karachi.
• Pakistan says India behind attack on Karachi stock exchange building Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has accused India of being responsible for a recent attack on the Pakistani Stock Exchange building in the southern port city of Karachi.
• Bachelet renews call for accountability in Philippines war on illegal drugs UN News 30 Jun 2020 -- The Human Rights Council should consider supporting new accountability measures against perpetrators of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines' so-called war on illegal drugs, the UN's top rights official said on Tuesday.
• UN Slams Extrajudicial Killings in Philippines' So-Called War on Drugs VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- A report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council denounces the so-called war on drugs by the government of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, which has resulted in the killings of thousands of alleged drug suspects.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 162 WHO 30 Jun 2020
• COVID-19 Pandemic Threatens Peace, Development UN Rights Chief Says VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- The U.N. high commissioner for human rights warns that COVID-19 threatens peace and development around the world. Michelle Bachelet called for action to protect the world's most vulnerable people at the opening of the 44th regular session of the U.N. Human Rights Council.
• WHO says living with COVID-19 to be new normal as global cases top 10 mln People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday that all countries living with COVID-19 will be the new normal in the coming months, as the pandemic had already infected more than 10 million people worldwide, including nearly 500,000 deaths.
• Global COVID-19 cases surpass 10.3mn, 505K dead Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- The number of coronavirus infections worldwide has surpassed the 10.3 million mark, and 505,518 related deaths have occurred, according to the latest data tracked by John Hopkins University's COVID-19 resource center.
• Hard times forecast for global job recovery in 2020, warns UN labour agency chief UN News 30 Jun 2020 -- The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on jobs has been much worse than expected initially, the head of the UN labour agency said on Tuesday, in an appeal to Governments, workers and employers, to agree on a sustainable economic recovery plan to reduce inequalities laid bare by the pandemic.

United States

• Governor Cuomo Announces Capital Region Cleared by Global Public Health Experts to Enter Phase 4 of Reopening Tomorrow New York State 30 Jun 2020
• Governor Cuomo Directs State DOH Investigation of Potential COVID-19 Exposure at Religious Service in Essex County New York State 30 Jun 2020
• Governor Cuomo Announces Individuals Traveling to New York From Eight Additional States Will Be Required to Quarantine for 14 Days New York State 30 Jun 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 30 Jun 2020
• U.S. Reports 2,581,229 Coronavirus Cases SPA 30 Jun 2020 -- The United States today reported 2,581,229 cases of new coronavirus, an increase of 35,664 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 370 to 126,739, Reuters quoted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as reporting.
• Press Briefing by Vice President Pence and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force | Rockville, MDxz The White House 30 Jun 2020
• Remarks by Vice President Pence to U.S. Public Health Service Employees | Rockville, MD The White House 30 Jun 2020
• COVID-19 Spreading in US Too Fast to Control, CDC Expert Says VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- The novel coronavirus is spreading too fast and across too many places in the United States to bring it under control, a top expert said Monday as some states set records for new cases every day.
• US COVID Cases Could Reach 100,000 a Day If Surge Continues, Fauci Warns VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- The top U.S. infectious disease expert told lawmakers Tuesday on Capitol Hill he is "quite concerned" about surges of coronavirus cases in America and expressed guarded optimism that a vaccine may be available in the foreseeable future.
• Resurgence in COVID-19 threatens to derail US economic recovery Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- The resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the United States is threatening to derail the nascent economic recovery as many states have either paused or partially reversed their staged re-openings, economists and officials have warned.
• Coronavirus in New York came from Europe instead of China: Fauci People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- In his effort to praise the New York government, head of the U.S. CDC Anthony Fauci said the coronavirus that plagued the NYC came from Europe instead of China.
• U.S. Texas businesses urged to follow orders amid soaring COVID-19 cases People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- U.S. state of Texas added nearly 4,300 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, and officials of Houston, the state's largest city and the epicenter of the pandemic, put three businesses on the "Wall of Shame".
• Trump comes under fire as US virus death toll passes 126,000 Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 2,545,250 cases of new coronavirus and said that the number of deaths had risen to 126,369 as of Monday night.

China

• Coronavirus has not mutated, good for vaccine development: China's chief epidemiologist Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- Global monitoring of the novel coronavirus shows that the virus has not mutated, which is a good sign for the research and development ofvaccines, according to Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
• All deliverymen in Beijing test negative for coronavirus Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- All deliverymen in Beijing have undergone nucleic acid tests and the results show they are clear of coronavirus, according to the State Post Bureau.
• China's Hubei reports no new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- No newly confirmed, asymptomatic or suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported in central China's Hubei Province Monday, the provincial health commission said Tuesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 19 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Tuesday it received reports of 19 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Monday, including eight domestically transmitted and 11 imported ones.
• Chinese mainland reports 11 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported 11 new imported COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,918, the National Health Commission said Tuesday.
• Over one million service workers in Beijing receive COVID-19 tests People's Daily 30 Jun 2020 -- A total of 1.18 million service practitioners from wet markets, restaurants, supermarkets, stores, hair and beauty salons as well as couriers and food delivery personnel in Beijing have received nucleic acid tests for COVID-19, local authorities said on Monday.

Europe

• EU Lifts Travel Restrictions on 14 Nations - US Not Included VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- The European Union has lifted COVID-19 related travel restrictions on visitors from 14 nations, but its list excludes American travelers.
• Britain's PM Discusses Post-COVID-19 Economy VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Saying it is not too soon to begin planning for the post-COVID-19 economy, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Tuesday pledged to invest more than $17 billion in the country's education system and $6.13 billion for infrastructure investment.
• Fears of disorder ahead of imminent pub reopenings in England Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Police forces across England are on alert as the country prepares to reopen pubs after 104 days of closing them down as part of the coronavirus lockdown.
• Nicola Sturgeon vows tough action to prevent coronavirus resurgence Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Against the backdrop of growing fears about a resurgence of coronavirus infections on the British Isles, Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has indicated she is prepared to take preemptive action.
• UK COVID-19 death toll nears 55,000 cases SPA 30 Jun 2020 -- The United Kingdom's suspected COVID-19 death toll has hit 54,852, according to a Reuters tally of official data sources that underline the country's status as one of the worst hit in the world.

India

• UPDATES ON COVID-19 India PIB 30 Jun 2020
• COVID warrior: ASHAs at the forefront of COVID war in Uttar Pradesh India PIB 30 Jun 2020 -- With the surge in the cases of COVID-19 in the country and the influx of migrant population from hotspot areas, one of the major challenges in Uttar Pradesh (UP) was to cater to the healthcare needs of returnees and arrest the spread in its rural population. ASHAs have played a critical role in supporting the state's COVID-19 management during this crisis.
• PM chairs meeting to review planning and preparations for vaccination against Covid-19 India PIB 30 Jun 2020 -- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting to review the planning and preparations for vaccination against Covid-19, as and when the vaccine is available.
• Indian capital to create plasma bank for treatment of COVID-19 patients Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- The local government in Indian capital city - Delhi Monday said it will create a plasma bank for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Pakistan

• Pakistan Registers 2846 New Coronavirus Cases, 118 Deaths SPA 30 Jun 2020 -- Pakistan recorded 118 new deaths from the Coronavirus, bringing the total death toll to 4304.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills another 147 Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 30 Jun 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Tuesday that some 147 more Iranians have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 10,817.
• Minister: Iran starting manufacturing phase of COVID-19 vaccine IRNA 30 Jun 2020 -- Minister of Health and Medical Education Saeed Namaki announced on Tuesday that Iran has taken effective steps towards manufacturing coronavirus vaccine.
• Iran to begin human COVID-19 vaccine trial soon: Minister Press TV 30 Jun 2020 -- Iranian Health Minister Saeid Namaki has announced that the country is nearing a phase of human trial for coronavirus vaccine as the country fights to contain the spread of the virus.
• Higher Mortality Rate In Iran This Year Raises Doubt Over Official COVID Numbers Radio Farda 30 Jun 2020 -- While Iran's official COVID-19 death toll stands at about 11,000, the country's Civil Registration Organization (CRO) says the total number of deaths in the spring of 2020 is about 19,000 more than in the same period last year.

South Korea

• S. Korea Begins Coronavirus Antibody Tests SPA 30 Jun 2020 -- South Korea has started full-fledged coronavirus antibody tests to determine the true extent of infections in the country, a senior health official said Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Saudi Arabia

• Spokesperson of Health Ministry: 4,387 New COVID-19 Cases Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 30 Jun 2020 -- Assistant Minister of Health and Spokesperson of the Health Ministry Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdulaali said in a statement today that 4,387 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 190,823 cases, including 58,408 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 2,278 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.

Taiwan

• Taiwan excluded from EU's 'safe' travel list CNA 30 Jun 2020 -- Despite Taiwan's success in controlling the spread of the new coronavirus, it has not been included among the countries that will be exempted from the European Union's (EU) COVID-19 travel ban starting Wednesday.
• Government to continue requisitioning masks until year-end: CECC CNA 30 Jun 2020 -- The Taiwan government will maintain its program to requisition surgical face masks until the end of the year to ensure a stockpile to meet domestic needs, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Tuesday.

North Korea

• North Korean Workers Stranded in China After Being Idled by COVID-19 Radio Free Asia 29 Jun 2020 -- Large numbers of North Korean workers are stranded in China–made jobless by the coronavirus, but unable to return home until they meet hard currency quotas set by the government in Pyongyang that exports their labor and takes more than 90 percent of their wages.

NATO

• Deputy Secretary General at Brussels Forum: NATO is responding in unity to the pandemic NATO 30 Jun 2020 -- NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana spoke at the German Marshall Fund's Brussels Forum on Monday (29 June 2020). Together with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, they discussed security challenges in the COVID-19 context.

Other Countries

• Brazil's Sao Paulo state to fine people, businesses for failing to use face masks Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- Brazil's southeast state of Sao Paulo, which is hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, on Monday announced fines for failing to wear a face mask in public.
• China donates medical equipment to Thailand to stem COVID-19 Global Times 30 Jun 2020 -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday expressed his gratitude via the Thai media for China's donation of a batch of medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand.
• COVID-19: Spike In Central Asia Prompts Renewed Restrictions RFE/RL 30 Jun 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is over 500,000, with more than 10.4 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.
• Senegal Reports 4 New Deaths of COVID-19 SPA 30 Jun 2020 -- The Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action today reported four new deaths from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of fatalities to 112.
• Bahamian PM Urges Citizens Not to Travel to Coronavirus Hot Spots VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Bahamas Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis strongly urged citizens against non-essential travel to countries where COVID-19 cases are spiking, including the United States, which is a primary tourism market for the Bahamas.
• Argentina Reversing Rollbacks on Some COVID-19 Restrictions VOA 30 Jun 2020 -- Argentina is rolling back its easing of coronavirus restrictions Wednesday, forcing thousands of businesses, including clothing and electrical appliances stores and other retailers already reeling from the initial shutdown to close again.