Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Pentagon's Top General Warns US to Face 'Huge Problems' From Impending Daesh Resurgence Sputnik 13 Aug 2020 -- The Pentagon's top officer for the Middle East warned Wednesday that the US will face "huge problems with a massive [Daesh] resurgence" over the next decade unless Washington establishes a deradicalization initiative in the Middle East.
• DOD Focuses on Minimizing Cyber Threats to Department, Contractors DoD News 13 Aug 2020 -- Cyber threats against the United States and the Defense Department are very real, and efforts related to the department's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, released earlier this year, are underway to mitigate risks as they relate to both the department and contractors.
• Global Disruption of Three Terror Finance Cyber-Enabled Campaigns US Dept. of Justice 13 Aug 2020 -- Largest Ever Seizure of Terrorist Organizations' Cryptocurrency Accounts
• US Announces Disruption of 3 Terror Groups' Cyber Financing Campaigns VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- U.S. authorities have seized millions of dollars and hundreds of virtual currency accounts used to funnel money to al-Qaida, Islamic State (IS) and Hamas's military wing, the Justice Department announced Thursday.
• U.S. Releases Cybersecurity Advisory On New 'Drovorub' Russian Malware RFE/RL 13 Aug 2020 -- The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and FBI released an advisory on cybersecurity on August 13 warning about previously undisclosed Russian malware.
• US Intelligence Accuses Russian Military Hackers of Spreading Malware 'Drovorub' Sputnik 13 Aug 2020 -- The US National Security Agency (NSA) and FBI on Thursday accused Russian military hackers of deploying new malware which they believe poses a threat to the Pentagon and the defense industry.
• Israel claims it foiled N Korea-linked hack, cybersecurity firm says systems penetrated Press TV 13 Aug 2020 -- Israel says it has thwarted a hacking attack by a North Korean-linked group against its military industries, a claim challenged by a cybersecurity firm, which says the hackers penetrated the targeted systems and likely stole a large amount of classified data.
• WHO: Congo Facing Growing Ebola Crisis VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a growing Ebola outbreak in its northwest Equateur province in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 206 WHO 13 Aug 2020
• WHO Emergencies Press Conference on coronavirus disease outbreak - 13 August 2020 WHO 13 Aug 2020
• Young people play important role in helping stop COVID-19 transmission: WHO chief People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- Although most young people are not at high risk of severe disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, they play an important role and share in the collective responsibility to help stop transmission, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
• WHO chief calls for solidarity in financing, ensuring equal access to future COVID-19 vaccine UN News 13 Aug 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that six months after first sounding the international alarm over COVID-19, the UN agency is now intensely focused on shepherding global vaccine candidates through the necessary trials, and guaranteeing rapid, fair and equitable access to them for all countries.
• PPE shortage causes serious health, economic consequences amid COVID-19 pandemic: study People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed shortcomings in California's preparedness for infrequent but catastrophic public health threats, which have caused serious health and financial consequences, according to the research jointly published Wednesday by the Labor Center of the University of California (UC Berkeley) and UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

United States

• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 13 Aug 2020
• Department of Defense Education Activity Press Briefing on the Upcoming School Year DoD 13 Aug 2020 -- Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan Rath Hoffman, Department of Defense Education Activity Director Thomas M. Brady
• Fauci 'Not Pleased' with US Handling of COVID-19 Outbreak VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- After the country reported its deadliest day of the coronavirus outbreak since May, the nation's top infectious disease expert says he is not pleased with the way things are going in the United States.
• Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing | August 13, 2020 The White House 13 Aug 2020
• Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing The White House 13 Aug 2020
• Trump Rejects Biden's Calls for National Mask Mandate VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- Presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden is calling for a national mask mandate to cut the number of future deaths from the coronavirus in the United States.
• US Posts Highest Single-Day Number of COVID-19 Deaths Since May VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- The United States reported nearly 1,500 coronavirus deaths across the nation on Wednesday.
• US COVID-19 Testing Drops as Hard-Hit States Experience Case Spikes Sputnik 13 Aug 2020 -- Testing for COVID-19 in the US has decreased in recent weeks, according to statistics compiled by the COVID Tracking Project, a collaborative volunteer effort to track the pandemic in the US.
• U.S. reports school-related COVID-19 outbreaks, putting world on alert People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- The U.S. state of Louisiana is tracking seven COVID-19 outbreaks tied to schools and colleges, sending an alert to other countries of risks of hasty school resumption.
• U.S. Louisiana reports 7 school related COVID-19 outbreaks People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- U.S. state of Louisiana is tracking seven COVID-19 outbreaks tied to schools and colleges, local media reported Wednesday.

China

• Xinfadi market resumes, closes retail sales after Beijing curbs outbreak Global Times 13 Aug 2020 -- The Xinfadi market in southern Beijing, the largest seafood and agricultural wholesale market in Asia, will shut down its retail business when it resumes operations after 63 days due to a COVID-19 outbreak related to the market, authorities said on Thursday.
• Xi'an reports positive test on frozen shrimp imported from Ecuador Global Times 13 Aug 2020 -- Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has reported that some samples taken from the outer packaging of imported shrimp from Ecuador have tested positive for novel coronavirus in a seafood market, the Shaanxi health authority said on Thursday.
• Cargo train carrying anti-epidemic supplies leaves China's Xi'an for Italy Global Times 13 Aug 2020 -- A cargo train with 45 compartments of anti-epidemic supplies left Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi province, and headed for Italy's Milan Wednesday.
• Chinese envoy warns against unilateralism in responses to COVID-19 People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday warned against unilateralism in responses to COVID-19, branding it as "a one-way train heading to a dead end."
• Cured COVID-19 patient tests positive again in China People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- A man tested positive for COVID-19, months after recovery and discharge from hospital, Shanghai municipal health commission said Thursday.
• Chinese mainland reports 19 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Thursday that it received reports of 19 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Wednesday, including 11 imported cases and eight locally-transmitted ones.
• China's Hubei reports no new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- No new confirmed, asymptomatic or suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported in central China's Hubei Province Wednesday, the provincial health commission said Thursday.
• A glimpse into Hong Kong's inflatable COVID-19 testing lab People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- Sixteen white "cocoons" have been neatly arranged in the large gymnasium at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Centre with protective layers, wires and network cables laid on the wooden floor. Hong Kong's "Fire Eye Laboratory" is about to be put into use.
• Human mobility restrictions effective in controlling COVID-19 spread: research People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- Researchers have found that human mobility restrictions could be an effective strategy to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.
• Third phase of international clinical trials underway for China's COVID-19 vaccine PLA Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- The third phase of international clinical trials is underway for a recombinant COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese researchers, CCTV reported on Wednesday.

Europe

• Spain's new coronavirus cases spike to 2,935, total at 337,334 SPA 13 Aug 2020 -- Spain reported a sharp rise in new coronavirus infections on Thursday as 2,935 cases were diagnosed in the past 24 hours, after 1,690 were reported the previous day, according to health ministry data.
• France Reports New Post-Lockdown Peak in Daily COVID-19 Cases SPA 13 Aug 2020 -- The French health ministry reported 2,669 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours on Thursday, setting a new post-lockdown daily high for the second day in a row and taking the country's cumulative total of cases to 209,365, according to Reuters.
• Mask-wearing becomes compulsory throughout Brussels-Capital Region Global Times 13 Aug 2020 -- The Brussels-Capital Region Minister-President Rudi Vervoort decided to make mask-wearing compulsory in public places throughout the region starting from Wednesday.

Russia

• Moscow Mayor Says Certain About Good Quality of Russian Coronavirus Vaccine Sputnik 13 Aug 2020 -- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Thursday he was sure that Russian vaccine against the coronavirus was of good quality.

India

• India conducts a record high of more than 8.3 lakh tests in a single day India PIB 13 Aug 2020 -- Crossing the 8 lakh/day milestone of tests in a single day, India has registered a record high of 8,30,391 tests conducted in the last 24 hours in India. In pursuance of the "Test, Track and Treat" strategy, India is geared up to reach the testing capacity of 10 lakh tests per day.
• India posts highest ever single day recoveries of 56,383 in a single day India PIB 13 Aug 2020 -- India touched another peak of highest ever single day recoveries of 56,383 in a single day. With this number, the total recovered COVID-19 patients have touched nearly 17 lakh (16,95,982) today.
• Union Govt reaches the landmark of distributing more than 3 Cr N95 Masks to States India PIB 13 Aug 2020 -- In the relentless work of State/UT governments for containment and management of COVID-19, the Union Government's central role has been in strengthening health infrastructure to fight the pandemic and its effective management.

Iran

• Coronavirus Restrictions In Iranian Capital Extended Again As Total Deaths Tops 19,000 Radio Farda 13 Aug 2020 -- The Iranian capital of Tehran will remain on partial lockdown for an additional week, the city's Coronavirus Combat Taskforce announced on Thursday, following the reinstatement of COVID-19 restrictions on July 23 after a surge in cases impacted the city.
• Official: COVID-19 kills 174 more in Iran IRNA 13 Aug 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Thursday that some 174 more Iranians have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 19,162.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 3,124 Recoveries from COVID-19 Reported in Saudi Arabia, Tally at 260,393 SPA 13 Aug 2020 -- The Ministry of Health said in a statement today that 1,482 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 294,519 cases, including 30,823 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 1,805 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.
• MoH: ICU beds increased by 81% in Makkah hospitals SPA 13 Aug 2020 -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced that the intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity in Makkah Region hospitals has been increased by 81%, as a part of the Ministry's efforts to upgrade and improve health services in the region to meet the health needs of citizens and residents.

Taiwan

• Public health experts debate universal COVID-19 testing CNA 13 Aug 2020 -- Public health experts on Wednesday offered differing views on whether Taiwan should test all incoming arrivals for COVID-19, at a press conference held by National Taiwan University (NTU) as part of a broader effort to engage with the public on the issue.
• Public warned against buying masks falsely advertised as made in Taiwan CNA 13 Aug 2020 -- A pharmaceutical association in Taipei said Thursday that people should be on the alert against false labeling of surgical masks sold in some online stores, which are advertising the products as made in Taiwan.

North Korea

• Nationwide and All-people Anti-epidemic Campaign Intensified KCNA 13 Aug 2020 -- A nationwide and all-people anti-epidemic campaign has been further intensified, true to the spirit of the emergency enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

NATO

• Coronavirus response: Spain completes delivery of medical assistance to Iraq NATO 13 Aug 2020 -- On Thursday 13 August 2020, the Spanish Ministry of Defence delivered disinfectants to the Iraqi authorities, in response to the global Coronavirus pandemic. A ceremony to this effect was held at the Iraqi air base of Al-Muthana, at the presence of several officials, including Brigadier General Salah from the Prime Minister National Operation Command and the Spanish Chargée d'Affaires Mrs Mariana Figueroa Sánchez.

New Zealand

• New Zealand Scrambles to Trace COVID-19 Cases as Numbers Grow VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- Officials in New Zealand say they have now identified 13 new cases of COVID-19 in Auckland, the nation's largest city, all directly related to the four cases from the same household reported Tuesday.
• New COVID-19 Outbreak in New Zealand Rises to 17 Confirmed Cases VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- A new coronavirus outbreak that prompted New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to put the city of Auckland under a new lockdown is growing.

Other Countries

• Africa CDC director urges strong collaboration to contain COVID-19 in Africa People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- Director of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), John Nkengasong, on Wednesday called for strong continental and global collaboration to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Africa.
• WHO Official Urges Equitable Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine in Africa VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- A senior World Health Organization official is calling for the equitable distribution of a future COVID-19 vaccine in Africa, warning that the virus will continue to spread if some countries are left behind.
• S. Africa's COVID-19 recovery rate reaches 75.9 pct People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- South Africa's COVID-19 recovery rate has reached 75.9 percent, with the number of recoveries currently standing at 432,029, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday.
• Rwanda Turns to Mathematical Approach to Enhance Coronavirus Testing VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- Rwanda is turning to mathematics to compensate for shortages of supplies needed to test citizens for the coronavirus.
• Kazakhstan to discuss purchase of Russian COVID-19 vaccines People's Daily 13 Aug 2020 -- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Wednesday that a Kazakh delegation will be sent to Moscow in the second half of August to discuss the purchase of Russian-made COVID-19 vaccines, the presidential service announced.
• Mexico and Argentina Prepare to Produce 400 m Doses of Vaccine SPA 13 Aug 2020 -- Mexico and Argentina have the capacity to produce more than 400 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine being developed by Britain's University of Oxford, dpa quoted Sylvia Varela from AstraZeneca as saying on Thursday.
• Peru President Reimpose Sunday Curfew to Curb COVID-19 Spike VOA 13 Aug 2020 -- Peru is reimposing Sunday curfews and banning family gatherings in response to a new surge in coronavirus infections.
• Kolomoyskiy's U.S. Companies Were Approved For COVID Relief Loans, Records Show RFE/RL 13 Aug 2020 -- Five American companies owned by Ukrainian tycoons who are accused of laundering money and using the misappropriated funds to help buy U.S. assets were approved for as much as $13.3 million in loans through a federal program aimed at saving jobs during the pandemic, according to U.S. government records.