• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence

• Security Menu                     

• Systems
• Industry
• Operations
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Space

Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• The Return Of Cozy Bear: Russian Hackers In The Crosshairs Of Western Intelligence Agencies - Again RFE/RL 18 Jul 2020 -- Six years ago, Dutch intelligence agents reportedly infiltrated a malicious group of hackers working out an office building not far from the Kremlin. Dutch agents hacked into a security camera that monitored people entering the Moscow building, according to the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant; they also reportedly monitored in 2016 as the hackers broke into the servers of the U.S. Democratic Party.
• Biden Briefed On U.S. Intelligence, Says Russia Still Meddling In Electoral Process RFE/RL 18 Jul 2020 -- U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden says he is now getting regular intelligence briefings and has been told that Russia is continuing in its attempts to meddle in the upcoming U.S. election.
• US Attorney Calls for DHS Probe Into 'Unmarked' Federal Agents Arresting Protesters in Portland Sputnik 18 Jul 2020 -- On Friday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called on US President Donald Trump to remove federal troops deployed to the city by the White House to quell ongoing protests, as the agents have reportedly used heavy-handed tactics against protesters, reporters, and legal observers, with some refusing to identify themselves and wearing no identification.
• Portland Mayor Tells Trump to Keep Fed Troops in His 'Own Buildings, or Have Them Leave Our City' Sputnik 18 Jul 2020 -- Portland has been dealing with ongoing protests and riots since the 25 May death of African American George Floyd while in police custody. President Donald Trump sent federal law enforcement to quell the demonstrations taking over the city, saying, "It was out of control. The locals couldn't handle it".
• Federal Officers Use Tear Gas on Protesters in Portland VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- Federal agents in riot gear again used tear gas to disperse protesters in Portland, Oregon, early Saturday, local media reported. Portland police have been banned by a federal judge from using tear gas to disperse crowds.
• COVID-19 and Funding Shortfall Hamper Ebola Operation in DR Congo's Equateur Province VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- The World Health Organization reports the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of money are hampering efforts to bring a speedy end to the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo's Equateur Province. Since the outbreak was declared June 1, 56 cases, including 20 deaths have been recorded.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 180 WHO 18 Jul 2020
• WHO: World Records Nearly 260,000 New Coronavirus Cases VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- For the second day in a row, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday reported a record increase in coronavirus cases worldwide, with nearly 260,000 new cases in 24 hours.
• Worldwide COVID-19 Cases Top 14 Million VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- The U.S. has 3.6 million of the world's 14.1 million COVID-19 infections. Brazil follows with two million cases and India comes in third with one million infections, according to Johns Hopkins University statistics.
• COVID-19-Related Hunger, Disease Stalk World's Poorest VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- U.N. agencies say a lack of money is threatening the lives of millions of people in developing countries from COVID-19-related hunger and disease.
• WHO reports record daily increase in global coronavirus cases, up nearly 260,000 SPA 18 Jul 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases on Saturday, with the total rising by 259,848 in 24 hours, according to Reuters.

United States

• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 18 Jul 2020
• Trump rejects national mask mandate, denies mask's effectiveness in fighting COVID-19 People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he won't issue an order at the national level mandating the use of masks, even as the United States continued to break its single-day coronavirus case record amid a pandemic far from being contained, and whether to wear masks has become a source of heated debate.
• US Continues to Set Daily COVID-19 Infection Records VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- The United States, the world leader in COVID-19 infections and deaths, continues to set new daily records for coronavirus infections.
• White House Blocks CDC Officials' Testimony on School Openings VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- The White House will not allow any Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials, including Director Robert Redfield, to testify before a House Education and Labor Committee hearing next week on reopening schools during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Trump not to issue national mask mandate Global Times 18 Jul 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he won't issue an order at the national level mandating the use of masks, even as the United States continued to break its single-day coronavirus case record amid a pandemic far from being contained.
• 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of coronavirus pandemic: poll Global Times 18 Jul 2020 -- Three in five Americans now disapprove of their president's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, a new poll released Friday showed, one day after the nation shattered the previous record as over 70,000 cases were reported in a single day.

China

• National medical team dispatched to Xinjiang responding to epidemic: China CDC official Global Times 18 Jul 2020 -- The National Health Commission (NHC) dispatched a medical expert team on Saturday to Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to investigate the epidemic amid a spike of domestic COVID-19 cases, the deputy director general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) told the Global Times.
• UPDATE: Urumqi in Xinjiang vows to conduct mass testing as city fights COVID-19 resurgence Global Times 18 Jul 2020 -- Urumqi, the regional capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with 3.5 million residents, vows to accelerate nucleic acid testing in the entire city, with local hospitals fully deploying testing capabilities in recent days as reported by media on Saturday.
• Epidemic in Xinjiang's Urumqi 'overall controllable,' residents adapt to 'new normal' Global Times 18 Jul 2020 -- Despite public concerns over Xinjiang's newly reported COVID-19 cases which led to the cancellation of nearly 90 percent of flights from Urumqi on Friday, local residents say they have adapted to the "new normal."
• Xinjiang reports 16 new confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reported 16 new confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases on Friday, the regional health commission said Saturday.
• Chinese mainland reports 22 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Saturday that it received reports of 22 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Friday, of which 16 were domestically transmitted.
• 21 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals on Chinese mainland People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- The National Health Commission said Saturday that 21 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on the Chinese mainland Friday.
• Chinese mainland reports 6 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported six new imported COVID-19 cases Friday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 2,004, the National Health Commission said Saturday.
• Beijing lowers COVID-19 risk level of one more area People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- Beijing on Friday saw one more area lower its risk level of the COVID-19 disease after no new confirmed domestically transmitted cases had been reported in the capital for 11 consecutive days.
• Hong Kong reports 58 new COVID-19 cases, mostly local infections People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 58 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, including 50 local infections.
• Chinese FM slams US accusation of cyber attacks by China to 'steal' US vaccines Global Times 18 Jul 2020 -- China's Foreign Ministry has slammed US accusations that China and Russia launched "cyber attacks" to "steal" US vaccines and COVID-19 treatments, and pointed out that China is a global leader in COVID-19 vaccine research and development.

Europe

• Brussels Summit Struggles as EU Leaders Haggle Over Pandemic Recovery Plan VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- European Union leaders met face-to-face Friday in Brussels for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic emerged on the continent five months ago, but they didn't see eye to eye, and most seasoned observers don't think they will, as they ended their second day of talks, with plans to resume Sunday.
• Government threatens to over-rule local authorities by imposing lockdowns Press TV 18 Jul 2020 -- There is growing confusion and concern over the government's threat to over-rule local authorities by imposing local lockdowns in England the event of sharp rises in coronavirus infections.

India

• Virus Is Emerging in New Hotspots as India Races Past 1 Million Mark VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- As India races past the 1 million mark of COVID 19 cases, public health experts warn that the pandemic is set to accelerate with the emergence of new hotspots in places that so far had escaped the ravages of the virus, including its vast countryside.
• Actual case load of COVID in the country only 3,58,692 India PIB 18 Jul 2020 -- Timely, proactive, and graded strategy initiatives for effective COVID-19 management in the country, led by the Center and implemented by the State/UT governments, have ensured that actual case load of COVID patients remains manageable. The actual case load of COVID in the country is only 3,58,692 today. The number of recovered cases has further increased to 6,53,750.

Iran

• Official: COVID-19 kills 188 more in Iran IRNA 18 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Saturday that some 188 more Iranians have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 13,979.
• Rouhani urges massive efforts to break chain of COVID-19 spread IRNA 18 Jul 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday urged massive efforts by both the public and the Government to break the chain of COVID-19 spread by observing precautionary measures and personal care.
• 30-35 million Iranians likely to be exposed to coronavirus in coming months: President Rouhani ISNA 18 Jul 2020 -- Iran's President described using masks, observing physical distancing and avoiding gatherings along with strict observance of health protocols as a great contribution to the health of the society and the process of fighting coronavirus, and stressed that we will undoubtedly win this battle.
• Iranians can break outbreak chain by observing health guidelines Press TV 18 Jul 2020 -- President Hassan Rouhani says has called on all Iranians to join hands and break the chain of the outbreak by observing health guidelines.
• Rouhani Says 35 Million More People In Iran Could Become Infected With Coronavirus Radio Farda 18 Jul 2020 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani citing a health ministry report said on Saturday that 30-35 million more Iranians, out of a population of 82 million, could become infected with the coronavirus.
• Rohani Says An Estimated 25 Million Iranians Infected With Coronavirus RFE/RL 18 Jul 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani on July 18 estimated that as many as 25 million Iranians could have been infected with the coronavirus since the beginning of the outbreak, as he urged the public to take the pandemic seriously.

Japan

• Japan rethinks easing crowd limits at events as infections rise SPA 18 Jul 2020 -- Japan is having second thoughts about relaxing the current restrictions on the number of spectators allowed to enter sporting and other major events, Kyodo cited a senior government official as saying Saturday.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 2,565 New COVID-19 Cases, 3,057 New Recoveries Reported, in Saudi Arabia SPA 18 Jul 2020 -- The Ministry of Health said in a statement here today that 2,565 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 248,416 cases, including 51,751 active cases undergoing treatment.

Taiwan

• Taiwan donates 100,000 face masks to Brazil to fight COVID-19 CNA 18 Jul 2020 -- Taiwan earlier this week donated 100,000 surgical face masks to Manaus, a city in Brazil which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other Countries

• Algeria extends lockdown measures to contain COVID-19 Global Times 18 Jul 2020 -- Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad on Thursday announced the extension of partial lockdown measures in 29 provinces to contain the spread of COVID-19, the official APS news agency reported.
• Turkish health minister warns of growing intensive care, intubated COVID-19 patients Global Times 18 Jul 2020 -- Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Friday warned of the increasing number of intensive care and intubated COVID-19 patients in the country.
• China provides medical supplies to Libya to fight COVID-19 People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- The Chinese Embassy in Libya on Friday handed over a batch of medical supplies to the Libyan Embassy in Tunisia to help the northern African country fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese embassy said in a statement.
• China donates 58 oxygen concentrators for COVID-19 response in South Sudan People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- The Chinese embassy in South Sudan on Friday handed over 58 oxygen concentrators to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in the east African country.
• China's Ningxia donates medical supplies to Kyrgyzstan People's Daily 18 Jul 2020 -- Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region donated 30,000 disposable medical masks to help Kyrgyzstan combat COVID-19, according to local authorities.
• Philippines Confirms 113 More Novel Coronavirus Deaths, 2,357 More Cases SPA 18 Jul 2020 -- The Philippines' health ministry on Saturday reported 113 more new coronavirus deaths and 2,357 additional infections, Reuters reported.
• Mexico reports 7,257 new cases of coronavirus, 736 more deaths SPA 18 Jul 2020 -- Mexico's Health Ministry today reported 7,257 new confirmed coronavirus infections and 736 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 331,298 cases and 38,310 deaths, according to Reuters.
• Australia Battles New COVID-19 Outbreak VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- The locked down Australian city of Melbourne is facing even tougher restrictions as a surge in coronavirus cases continues. Residents were placed back into lockdown earlier this month and the authorities warn the pandemic is far from over. Australia has recorded more than 11,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections. 116 people have died.
• Argentina Gradually Lifting COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions VOA 18 Jul 2020 -- Argentine President Alberto Fernández announced Friday that COVID-19 lockdown restrictions will be gradually lift starting Saturday.