Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Former FBI Lawyer Involved in Russia Investigation Pleads Guilty VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- A former FBI lawyer charged with altering a key document used in connection with the FBI's surveillance of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page has agreed to plead guilty on Friday to making a false statement.
• Operation Legend Expanded to Indianapolis US Dept. of Justice 14 Aug 2020 -- Today, the expansion of Operation Legend was announced in Indianapolis. Operation Legend is a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime.
• Victims' Families Await Compensation From Sudan 22 Years After US Embassy Bombings VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- For Edith Bartley, the terror attacks that struck U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania 22 years ago will never fade away. She lost her father and her brother in the bombing of the embassy in Nairobi, and she continues to speak out on behalf of the families of victims.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 207 WHO 14 Aug 2020
• WHO-sponsored plan for new COVID-19 tools has shown results: Tedros People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday said that the WHO-sponsored plan for new COVID-19 tools has shown results.
• COVID-19 re-infection not confirmed: WHO expert People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- A senior expert of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that although there are some cases suggesting that an individual may have been re-infected with COVID-19, it's still not confirmed.

United States

• U.S. donates COVID-19 protective gear to South African Health Services AFRICOM 14 Aug 2020 -- The U.S. government and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) delivered approximately $340,000 in personal protective equipment to the South African National Department of Health (NDoH), August 15.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 14 Aug 2020
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic New York State 14 Aug 2020
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo on Federal Government's COVID-19 Response: 'This Has Been a Total Disgrace' New York State 14 Aug 2020
• 'Every Single American Should Be Wearing a Mask', Biden Says VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- There are more than 20 million COVID-19 cases around the world and with more than 759,000 deaths, the global community will likely soon reach the one million death tally.
• Trump Administration Collaborates With McKesson for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution DoD 14 Aug 2020 -- Under the leadership of President Trump, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DOD), in support of Operation Warp Speed (OWS) announced today that McKesson Corporation will be a central distributor of future COVID-19 vaccines and related supplies needed to administer the pandemic vaccinations.
• DOD Official Discusses Conditions-Based Reopenings, Future of Telework DoD News 14 Aug 2020 -- Conditions-based reopenings have worked well for the Defense Department to date, and the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness anticipates the same stringent requirements will remain in place.
• U.S. COVID-19 cases surpass 5.2 mln: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 5.2 million on Thursday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing | August 14, 2020 The White House 14 Aug 2020

China

• Experts urge HK residents to be tested for COVID-19 amid community transmissions Global Times 14 Aug 2020 -- Given fluctuating daily numbers of coronavirus cases and a rising death toll in Hong Kong, experts on Friday encouraged more residents to undergo free nucleic acid testing and said key groups should be tested repeatedly to identify silent carriers and cut community transmissions.
• More imported cases of COVID-19 in Shanghai trigger new circuit break concerns Global Times 14 Aug 2020 -- Shanghai on Friday reported 16 new imported cases of COVID-19, triggering concerns of a new round of "circuit breakers" concerning inbound international flights. Although the city has now reported new imported cases of COVID-19 for 11 consecutive days, Shanghai health commission claimed that the city has the ability to handle the current imported cases and the public needn't panic.
• Chinese mainland reports 30 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Friday that it received reports of 30 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Thursday, including 22 imported cases and eight locally transmitted ones.
• Beijing's main wholesale market to reopen after COVID-19 epidemic wanes People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- Xinfadi, the largest wholesale market for fruit, vegetable and meat supplies in Beijing, is to reopen starting Saturday, around two months after its business was suspended for causing a COVID-19 epidemic resurgence, a local official said Thursday.

Europe

• France New COVID-19 Cases above 2,500 for 3rd Day in Row SPA 14 Aug 2020 -- France declared its capital Paris and the port city of Marseille high-risk zones for coronavirus today, on Friday as the government reported more than 2,500 new infections for the third day in a row, according to Reuters.
• Balkans in Eye of Viral Storm VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- The Balkan countries were quick to impose tough restrictions and lockdowns when the coronavirus first appeared on the European continent, prompted by alarm at the impact of the pandemic on their richer Western European neighbors, notably Italy.
• Spain Announces Nationwide Restrictions as COVID-19 Cases Surge VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- Spain announced new nationwide restrictions, largely focused on nightlife, as COVID-19 cases have surged in the country.
• Norway Makes First Face Mask Recommendation Since Pandemic Began VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- Norwegian health officials on Friday recommended people wear face masks while using public transportation in and around the capital, Oslo, amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, its first recommendation for face coverings since the pandemic began.
• Social distancing reduces COVID-19 infection rates up to 45 pct in Europe: study People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- A new study revealed that social distancing during the six weeks of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced infection rates by up to 45 percent in Europe, according to a press release from the University of Southern Denmark on Thursday.

Russia

• WHO in conversation with Russia for more vaccine information: expert People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- A senior expert of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that it is currently in conversation with Russia to get additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine that Russia will start production soon.
• Over 20 countries want Russian COVID-19 vaccine: spokesperson People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- More than 20 countries are interested in getting Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday.

India

• India conducts record high of nearly 8.5 lakh tests in a single day India PIB 14 Aug 2020 -- As a result of ramping up its testing facilities on a sustained basis, with the aim of touching 10 lakh tests/day, India has touched a new high of the highest number of tests in a single day, so far. A record high of 8,48,728 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. This has taken the cumulative tests to 2,76,94,416.
• India marches ahead with "Atmanirbhar Bharat" India PIB 14 Aug 2020 -- The Centre has been leading the graded, pre-emptive, proactive and collaborative response and management of COVID-19, along with the State/UT governments. As part of its continued efforts towards progressively augmenting and strengthening the medical infrastructure across the country, various policy decisions have been taken on a regular basis.

Iran

• Official: 169 more Iranians die from COVID-19 over past 24 hours IRNA 14 Aug 2020 -- Some 169 people in Iran have died as a result of the coronavirus disease over the past 24 hours, Iranian Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Friday.
• 'Strategic Mistake' Caused Escalation Of COVID-19, Iran Coronavirus Taskforce Official Says Radio Farda 14 Aug 2020 -- Dr. Alireza Zali, the head of the Tehran Coronavirus Combat Taskforce, has admitted for the first time that the escalation of the COVID-19 in Iran over recent months was caused by a "strategic mistake" on the parts of the government and health authorities.

Japan

• Tokyo Reports 389 More Coronavirus Cases, Highest in About A Week SPA 14 Aug 2020 -- Tokyo reported on Friday 389 new cases of the novel coronavirus, the highest figure in about one week, with urban and tourist areas in Japan continuing to see a relatively large number of infections during the peak of the summer holiday season, Kyodo reported.

Saudi Arabia

• MoH: ICU Beds Increased By 43% in Riyadh Hospitals SPA 14 Aug 2020 -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced that the intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity in Riyadh Region hospitals has been increased by 43%, as a part of the Ministry's efforts to upgrade and improve the health services in the region to meet the health needs of the citizens and residents.
• Health Ministry: 1,383 New COVID-19 Cases, 2,566 New Recoveries Reported, in Saudi Arabia SPA 14 Aug 2020 -- The Ministry of Health announced in a statement here today that 1,383 new confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 295,902 cases, including 29,605 active cases undergoing treatment.
• Health Ministry conducts over 4 Million COVID-19 laboratory tests SPA 14 Aug 2020 -- The Ministry of Health stated that it had conducted more than 4 million laboratory tests for COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with advanced testing technologies, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

North Korea

• DPRK won't accept outside flood assistance due to COVID-19 virus risk: official media People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said although his country suffered serious damage from a recent flood, it would not accept outside assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday.

Canada

• Drug shortage in Canada exacerbates due to COVID-19 pandemic People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- In an open letter on Thursday to the government, Canada's doctors and pharmacists called for addressing shortages for critical drugs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Canada Says US Border to Remain Closed to Nonessential Travel VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- Canada announced Friday that the border it shares with the U.S. will remain closed to nonessential travel for another month as the U.S. continues to lead the world in COVID-19 deaths and coronavirus infections.

Philippines

• China donates 130 ventilators to help Philippines battle COVID-19 People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- China, through its Embassy in Manila, has donated 130 ventilators to the Philippines as part of its commitment to helping the country fighting the COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Embassy said on Thursday.
• Philippines confirms 6,216 new coronavirus cases, 16 deaths SPA 14 Aug 2020 -- The Philippines' health ministry on Friday reported 6,216 more novel coronavirus infections, the third-largest daily increase recorded in Southeast Asia up to now, and 16 additional deaths, Reuters reported.

Other Countries

• Will WHO Find The 'Coronavirus' When It Returns To Turkmenistan? RFE/RL 14 Aug 2020 -- It looks as if the World Health Organization (WHO) will send another mission to Turkmenistan after the group's July visit seems to have satisfied no one.
• Jordan reports 17 new COVID-19 cases Global Times 14 Aug 2020 -- Jordan on Thursday reported 17 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the tally of coronavirus infections in the state to 1,320.
• Iraq reports record 3,841 daily COVID-19 cases Global Times 14 Aug 2020 -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Thursday recorded 3,841 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase since the outbreak of the disease, as the health officials warned of a higher number of infections in the coming days.
• Over 27,000 S. African health workers infected with COVID-19: health minister People's Daily 14 Aug 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the South African health sector, having infected 27,360 health workers since its outbreak in early March, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Thursday.
• Vietnam to buy Russian, British COVID-19 vaccine SPA 14 Aug 2020 -- Vietnam has registered to buy a Russian COVID-19 vaccine, state television reported on Friday, as it fights a new outbreak after going several months with no local cases, Reuters reported.
• Indonesia reports 2,307 new coronavirus infections, 53 deaths SPA 14 Aug 2020 -- Indonesia reported 2,307 new coronavirus infections on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the Southeast country to 135,123, data from the Indonesia's COVID-19 task force showed.
• Bahamas Prime Minister, Deputy PM Self-Quarantine After Possible COVID Exposure VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- Bahamian Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis and Deputy Prime Minister K. Peter Turnquest are self-quarantining as a precaution after their offices were exposed to the coronavirus.
• New Zealand PM Extends Auckland Lockdown VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- New Zealand is extending a nationwide lockdown after more COVID-19 infections were detected. Four mystery cases diagnosed in Auckland on Tuesday were the first to have been locally transmitted in more than 100 days. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expects more infections to emerge in the coming days. Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, will be subject to a level 3 coronavirus lockdown, while the rest of the country will remain at level 2.
• Peru Medical Workers Demand Better Pay, Working Conditions as COVID-19 Cases Soar VOA 14 Aug 2020 -- Health care workers in Peru held a demonstration Thursday demanding better pay and working conditions as more of their colleagues become infected with the coronavirus.