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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• The United States and Six Member States of TFTC Target ISIS-Linked Financial Network US Dept. of State 15 Jul 2020 -- The United States works closely with its allies in the Middle East and around the world to combat the scourge of terrorism.
• Terrorist Financing Targeting Center Sanctions Network of ISIS-Linked Financial Facilitators and Money Services Businesses US Treasury 15 Jul 2020 -- Today, the seven member nations of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) jointly designated six targets affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Three entities and one individual located in Turkey and Syria have provided a critical financial and logistical lifeline to ISIS, its branches, and its global facilitation networks. Additionally, an Afghanistan-based organization, Nejaat Social Welfare Organization, and the organization's director, Sayed Habib Ahmad Khan, abused the goodwill of the international community under the auspices of charitable giving to facilitate the transfer of funds for and to support the activities of ISIS's branch in Afghanistan, ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K).
• 'A Vehicle to Strike Back': Secret Trump Orders Gave CIA Wide Authority to Wage Cyberwar - Report Sputnik 15 Jul 2020 -- A new report by Yahoo News claims the Trump administration has given almost unprecedented leeway to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to wage cyberwar against US adversaries like Russia, Iran, China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The powers came via a secret 2018 order that has now come to light.
• US military networks vulnerable to cyberattacks: Top commander Press TV 15 Jul 2020 -- A top US military official says that American computer networks, including Pentagon communications, are prone to cyberattacks as their outmoded architecture cannot provide enough visibility and control options.
• Report: IS Supporters Continue to Evade Facebook Detection VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- The Islamic State (IS) terror group is still capable of finding ways to avoid detection on social media platforms such as Facebook, a new report said.
• Remarks by President Trump in Briefing on Keeping American Communities Safe: The Takedown of Key MS-13 Criminal Leaders The White House 15 Jul 2020
• The Department of Justice Announces Takedown of Key MS-13 Criminal Leadership US Dept. of Justice 15 Jul 2020 -- Joint Task Force Vulcan is a Coordinated Effort to Dismantle and Destroy MS-13
• Trump Administration Announces MS-13 Gang Arrests VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- More than two dozen alleged leaders and members of the violent gang MS-13 have been arrested and charged, officials announced Wednesday, part of a federal law enforcement operation aimed at disrupting the criminal group's leadership.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 177 WHO 15 Jul 2020
• Pandemic putting immunization gains at risk, UN agencies warn UN News 15 Jul 2020 -- Disruptions in the delivery of immunization services resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic threaten to unravel global gains in reaching more children and young people with a wider range of vaccines, two UN agencies warned on Wednesday
• Vaccinations Against Preventable Childhood Diseases in 'Alarming Decline,' UN Says VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- There has been an alarming decline in the number of children getting vaccinated for such preventable diseases as diphtheria, tetanus and measles, the United Nations warned Wednesday.

United States

• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 15 Jul 2020
• US Again Breaks World Record for Most Reported COVID-19 Cases in a Day VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- The United States shattered its own record Wednesday for the most reported COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour period – 67,600 according to Johns Hopkins University.
• White House Distances Itself From Latest Attack on Fauci VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- The White House distanced itself Wednesday from a new attack on the handling of the coronavirus pandemic by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, even though a newspaper opinion article mirrored some of the same thoughts as those of President Donald Trump.
• DISA Boosts Telework Connections in Response to Pandemic DoD News 15 Jul 2020 -- The Defense Information Systems Agency plans for a lot of different situations to provide network capability to the joint force and to protect that capability. A pandemic was not in DISA's strategic plan, but the coronavirus hasn't stopped the agency from carrying out its mission or doing additional work to keep the rest of the department working, DISA's director said.
• U.S. CDC urges all Americans to wear masks People's Daily 15 Jul 2020 -- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday urged all Americans to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• U.S. Fed official warns of deep uncertainty amid resurgence in COVID-19 cases People's Daily 15 Jul 2020 -- Amid a recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases, a U.S. Federal Reserve official on Tuesday warned of "a thick fog of uncertainty," noting that the economic recovery is likely to face headwinds.
• Canada, U.S. agree to extend border closure for another month: report People's Daily 15 Jul 2020 -- Canada and the United States have agreed to keep the border between the two countries closed to non-essential travel until Aug. 21, CTV News reported Tuesday.
• US Sets New Single-Day Record With More Than 64,000 COVID-19 Cases Sputnik 15 Jul 2020 -- The United States on Tuesday reported 64,417 cases of COVID-19, setting another new record for cases reported in a single day.
• US Top Health Specialist Fauci Says Coronavirus Has Potential to Reach Levels of 1918 Spanish Flu Sputnik 15 Jul 2020 -- The 1918 influenza pandemic infected around 500 million people worldwide and killed tens of millions, according to estimates. With only 13.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus, the current health crisis is far from being the "mother of all pandemics", but some now warn this could change.
• Coronavirus Updates: US COVID-19 Death Toll May Top 224,000 by November, Report Says Sputnik 15 Jul 2020 -- The Tokyo authorities have decided to put the highest level COVID-19 alert in the city in light of an increasing infection rate and a double rise in the number of untraceable coronavirus cases, Governor Koike Yuriko said on Wednesday.
• New Humanitarian and Health Assistance Bolsters U.S. Leadership in Response to COVID-19 US Dept. of State 15 Jul 2020 -- The American people's generosity remains unmatched in the global fight against COVID-19.

China

• CAAC halts two more flights of foreign airlines over imported COVID-19 cases Global Times 15 Jul 2020 -- China's civil aviation regulator said on Wednesday that it will halt two foreign carriers' flights for a week, after their flight passengers were tested positive for COVID-19.
• Hong Kong visitors almost vanish in June, recovery uncertain Global Times 15 Jul 2020 -- The woes of Hong Kong's tourism industry worsened in June, with visitor arrivals slumping 99.7 percent year-on-year to 14,600, reflecting the heavy impact of the global coronavirus pandemic on the local economy.
• Coronavirus found on imported frozen shrimp in Chongqing Global Times 15 Jul 2020 -- The outer packaging of imported frozen shrimps in a logistics park in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.
• China's Pingxiang launches testing after residents buy shrimp possibly carrying COVID-19 Global Times 15 Jul 2020 -- Pingxiang in East China's Jiangxi Province released a statement which stressed that some locals had purchased Ecuadorian white shrimp imported in the same batch with those that tested positive for coronavirus earlier.Argentina is preparing for the return of face-to-face classes in August in nine of the country's 24 provinces, Education Minister Nicolas Trotta announced on Tuesday.
• Shanghai reports 3 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 15 Jul 2020 -- Shanghai reported three new imported COVID-19 cases and no increase in domestically transmitted cases on Tuesday, the municipal health commission said Wednesday.
• Chinese mainland reports no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 15 Jul 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Wednesday that it received reports of six new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Tuesday, and all of them were imported.
• Beijing reports no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases for 9th day People's Daily 15 Jul 2020 -- Beijing reported no new confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases Tuesday, the municipal health commission said Wednesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 6 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 15 Jul 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported six new imported COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,988, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.
• Chinese mainland reports no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 15 Jul 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Wednesday that it received reports of six new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Tuesday, and all of them were imported.

Europe

• EU Leaders Seek Agreement on COVID-19 Recovery Fund VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- European heads of state will seek agreement over a proposed $856 billion pandemic recovery fund – and to discuss the bloc's next multiyear budget – when they meet Friday in Brussels. Neither issue promises to be easily resolved.
• Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey MP: The Ministry of Defence Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic UK MOD 15 Jul 2020 -- The Minister for the Armed Forces discusses the role of the Ministry of Defence in mitigating the Covid-19 crisis and how the pandemic will shape the Armed Forces of the future.
• Scotland begins lockdown exit Press TV 15 Jul 2020 -- Scotland has begun to exit the lockdown in earnest nearly two weeks after England took similar steps.
• Nicola Sturgeon Admits She is 'More Nervous' Than Ever as Pubs and Restaurants Reopen in Scotland Sputnik 15 Jul 2020 -- As the coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom begins to slow down, authorities are looking to end lockdown measures first introduced to combat the virus' spread. Scotland has adopted a more cautious approach, unlocking more than a week after businesses were allowed to reopen in England.
• British Home Secretary Admits She is Unaware How Many UK Arrivals Have Coronavirus as Flights Resume Sputnik 15 Jul 2020 -- The United Kingdom has quickly begun to lift many of the travel restrictions introduced to prevent new cases of coronavirus arriving in the country. Arrivals from a number of countries will no longer have to self-isolate for 2-weeks.
• Boris Johnson Commits to Inquiry Into Coronavirus That Left UK With 'Europe's Worst Death Rate' Sputnik 15 Jul 2020 -- Westminster needs to "keep up the pressure" to ensure Boris Johnson stands by his promise to hold a judge-led inquiry into the government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, said the acting leader of the Liberal Democrats on Twitter.
• British PM Defends COVID-19 Response to Opposition VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Wednesday defended his government's COVID-19 response and preparations for a potential second wave of the pandemic as he fielded pointed questions from opposition lawmakers in parliament.

Russia

• Russia Reports More Than 6,400 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 15 Jul 2020 -- Russia on Wednesday reported 6,422 new coronavirus cases, pushing its confirmed national tally to 746,369, the fourth highest in the world, Reuters reported.

India

• India Races to Build up Health Facilities as Pandemic Rages VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- After rushing to take care of her parents when they were infected with COVID 19 last month, Suhasini Sood began making frantic calls to hospitals. Her parents are more than 70 years old.
• Recovery of more than 20,000 cases in the last 24 hours pushes the Recovery Rate to 63.24% India PIB 15 Jul 2020 -- The last 24 hours have seen a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 patients recovering. 20,572 people were cured which has taken the total number of recovered cases among COVID-19 patients to 5,92,031. The recovery rate has climbed up to 63.24% today.
• WHO advises 140 tests/day/million population India PIB 15 Jul 2020 -- WHO in its Guidance Note on "Public Health Criteria to Adjust Public Health and Social Measures in the Context of COVID-19" has advised comprehensive surveillance for suspected cases. While explaining the concept of comprehensive surveillance and testing of suspect cases, WHO advises that a country needs 140 tests per day per million population.
• India Begins Human Trial of its Second COVID-19 Vaccine as Domestic Cases Surge Towards a Million Sputnik 15 Jul 2020 -- India's COVID-19 tally is close to hitting the one million mark, with new cases pushing the total number to 93,6181 on Wednesday. However, the South Asian nation has fast-tracked its efforts in producing a vaccine against COVID-19, with two of its candidates Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila, getting the nod for human trials.

Iran

• Official: COVID-19 kills 199 more in Iran IRNA 15 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Wednesday that some 199 more Iranians have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 13,410.
• Mosques, Sports Shutting Down Again In Iran's Capital As Pandemic Crisis Deepens Radio Farda 15 Jul 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic in the Iranian capital Tehran has reached critical levels, spurring health authorities to call for reintroduction of restrictions including a halt in religious gatherings. Iran's daily death toll is now hovering around 200.

Japan

• Tokyo on Top Virus Alert as COVID Cases Continue to Surge VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike Wednesday issued the highest possible warning about the escalating spread of COVID-19 infections in the Japanese capital, requesting residents and business owners step up preventive measures, but not calling for any business closures.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 2,671 New COVID-19 Cases Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 15 Jul 2020 -- The Ministry of Health said in a statement today that 2,671 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 240,474 cases, including 55,101 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 2,221 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.

Taiwan

• Taiwan-EU Disagreement Reflects 'Mess' in Reopening Borders after COVID-19 VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- Analysts say a dispute between Taiwan and the European Union for its ban on Taiwanese travelers may typify future diplomatic squabbles among governments around the world as they seek consensus on allowing international travel amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
• Taiwan sees no new COVID-19 cases, mulling easing test rules CNA 15 Jul 2020 -- Taiwan reported no new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, keeping the total at 451 since the pandemic began late last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan to allow return of young Chinese children with residence permits CNA 15 Jul 2020 -- Chinese children under the age of 2, who hold long-term Taiwan residence permits, will be allowed to return to the country from Thursday, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Other Countries

• Lao Migrants Returning from Thailand Stuck in Overflowing Quarantine Camps Radio Free Asia 15 Jul 2020 -- Thousands of Lao migrant workers who recently returned from Thailand after losing their jobs to COVID-19 have been facing fresh hardships in crowded, undersupplied quarantine camps,, Lao officials and migrants told RFA.
• Argentina prepares for return of face-to-face classes after COVID-19 suspension Global Times 15 Jul 2020 -- Argentina is preparing for the return of face-to-face classes in August in nine of the country's 24 provinces, Education Minister Nicolas Trotta announced on Tuesday.
• COVID-19: WHO Urges Turkmenistan To Activate 'Critical Public Health Measures' RFE/RL 15 Jul 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is over 580,000, with more than 13.3 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.
• COVID-19 Dampens Vietnam Employment Figures VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- Communist Vietnam is one of the only nations in the world run by a workers' party, but even its eye-popping success at crushing COVID-19 did not stop the pandemic from leaving nearly a million citizens out of work.
• Chile's President Seeking Full Congressional Support for Coronavirus Stimulus Package VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- Chilean President Sebastian Piñera is hoping his second economic stimulus package proposal to help middle-class citizens impacted by the coronavirus lockdown gets the full backing of the Congress.
• South Africa Lockdown Deprives Needy Children of Food VOA 15 Jul 2020 -- The COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa, the country worst hit by the virus on the continent, is raising worries about children getting adequate nutrition. The malnutrition of children has long been a problem in South Africa, but measures to control the pandemic have cut off some of the vulnerable from government meals programs.
• Virus-Hit North Macedonia Votes In Poll Seen As Crucial To EU Hopes RFE/RL 15 Jul 2020 -- Voting took place in North Macedonia on July 15 in parliamentary elections that may determine the pace of the Balkan state's Euro-Atlantic trajectory.