Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Minneapolis Woman Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to Al-Qa'ida US Dept. of Justice 26 Aug 2020 -- Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of Tnuza Jamal Hassan, 22, to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (al-Qa'ida). Hassan entered her guilty plea this morning before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• Remarks of Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen on Malign Foreign Influence in U.S. Elections Presented at Center for Strategic and International Studies US Dept. of Justice 26 Aug 2020 -- Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• More COVID-19 reinfection cases likely to emerge as antibody levels wane faster than expected Global Times 26 Aug 2020 -- The immune protective effect gained from previous COVID-19 infections could wane faster than expected, resulting in a second infection, experts warned, after more reinfection cases were reported after one in Hong Kong.
• Boston Superspreading Event Infected 20,000 People, Sent Virus as Far as Australia - Study Sputnik 26 Aug 2020 -- An international meeting of managers from US biotechnology firm Biogen Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts, in February was a COVID-19 superspreading event that led to the virus infecting thousands of people, some as far away as Australia, according to researchers.
• COVID-19: UN urges ramping up social protection programmes to safeguard those most vulnerable UN News 26 Aug 2020 -- The socio-economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted UN agencies on Wednesday to call on countries to increase social protection programmes to protect those most at risk.

United States

• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 26 Aug 2020
• Weekly Update: DHS Response to COVID-19 DHS 26 Aug 2020
• CDC Relaxes COVID Testing Guidelines, Alarming Some Health Providers VOA 26 Aug 2020 -- Health experts are expressing alarm over the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's revision of its coronavirus testing guidelines.
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces COVID-19 Infection Rate Below 1 Percent for 19th Straight Day New York State 26 Aug 2020

China

• Chinese biopharmaceutical producer Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine simple, effective: media People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- An inactivated COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical producer Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd. could be effective in stopping COVID-19, Bloomberg reported.
• COVID-19 vaccine candidate produced from insect cells to enter human trials People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- China has approved human trials for a new COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which was produced by the use of insect cells.
• Chinese mainland reports no new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- No new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported Tuesday across the Chinese mainland, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.
• Beijing hospitals cleared of COVID-19 cases People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- All Beijing hospitals have been cleared of COVID-19 cases, as the last two patients were discharged from hospital on Tuesday, authorities said Wednesday.
• Hong Kong reports reinfected COVID-19 case, researchers say recovered patients not immunized for life People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- Hong Kong reported Tuesday that a 33-year-old man had been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 for a second time after his first infection in late March.

Europe

• French president calls on citizens to learn to live with COVID-19 People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday called on citizens to learn to live with the coronavirus after infections spiraled higher in recent weeks.
• France reports 5,429 new coronavirus infections, new post-lockdown high SPA 26 Aug 2020 -- The French health ministry said it had registered 5,429 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, a new post-lockdown high and a level of new infections not seen since the height of the epidemic in early April.
• Spain's Daily Coronavirus Cases Above 3,500; Total at 419,849 SPA 26 Aug 2020 -- Spain diagnosed 3,594 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, Reuters cited health ministry data as showing today, on Wednesday, after an updated tally of around 4,000 cases the previous day, which marked this week's highest level but off last week's peaks.
• Different standards lead to Sweden's false positive COVID-19 results: Chinese biotech firm Global Times 26 Aug 2020 -- In response to Sweden's concerns over "false positive COVID-19 test kits," the Chinese company in question, BGI Genomics, said on Wednesday that the "high positive rate" was due to the amount of virus inside asymptomatic patients, and different countries and regions define asymptomatic patients differently.
• Germany to End Mandatory COVID-19 Tests for Travelers VOA 26 Aug 2020 -- The German health ministry announced Wednesday the country will end its mandatory virus testing for travelers returning from foreign risk areas and focus its testing strategy on people with symptoms or possible exposure to COVID-19 instead.

Russia

• 27 Countries Seek to Purchase Russian COVID-19 Vaccine, Deputy Prime Minister Says Sputnik 26 Aug 2020 -- On 11 August, Russia registered the world's first vaccine against the COVID-19 infection. It was developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry.
• Russia's Coronavirus Infection Tally Passes 970,000 SPA 26 Aug 2020 -- Russia reported 4,676 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, pushing its confirmed national tally up to 970,865, Reuters reported.
• Russia Ready to Start COVID-19 Vaccine Supplies to Brazil in November, RDIF CEO Says Sputnik 26 Aug 2020 -- Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) CEO Kirill Dmitriev said on Wednesday that Russia is ready to start deliveries of the newly registered COVID-19 vaccine to Brazil in November.

India

• With more than 8 lakh average tests every day, India scales up COVID-19 testing India PIB 26 Aug 2020 -- Early identification of the COVID-19 infections through timely and aggressive TESTING has played a pivotal role in India's strategy to fight the pandemic.
• As Recoveries in India grow, difference with Active Cases widens India PIB 26 Aug 2020 -- The number of recoveries in India today exceeds the active cases by 3.5 times.

Iran

• Official: COVID-19 kills 119 more in Iran IRNA 26 Aug 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Wednesday that some 119 more Iranians have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 21,020.

South Korea

• S. Korea reports 280 more COVID-19 cases, 17,945 in total Global Times 26 Aug 2020 -- South Korea reported 280 more cases of the COVID-19 as of 0:00 a.m. Tuesday local time compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 17,945.

Japan

• Tokyo Reports 236 New Cases of Coronavirus Infection SPA 26 Aug 2020 -- The Tokyo metropolitan government today, on Wednesday confirmed 236 additional cases of the novel coronavirus, with the number of infections rising after falling to double digits earlier this week, Kyodo reported.
• Japanese firm to start human clinical tests for COVID-19 medicine in 2021 People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- A biotechnology company in southwestern Japan said Tuesday it will start human clinical trials for a drug of treating COVID-19 in 2021.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry Spokesperson: 1,068 COVID-19 Cases Detected and 1,013 New Cases Recovered in the Kingdom SPA 26 Aug 2020 -- Assistant Minister of Health and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdulaali announced in a press conference here today that 1,068 new confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 310,836 cases, including 22,136 active cases undergoing treatment. Of these, there are 1,601 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.

Taiwan

• Filipina tests positive for COVID-19 after leaving Taiwan CNA 26 Aug 2020 -- A woman from the Philippines tested positive for COVID-19 after leaving Taiwan recently, but has shown no symptoms of the disease so far, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.
• Taiwan removes South Korea from COVID-19 'low-to-moderate' risk list CNA 26 Aug 2020 -- The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Wednesday removed South Korea from its list of countries from which business travelers can apply for shorter quarantine periods upon arrival in Taiwan, citing a recent surge in cases there over the past two weeks.

North Korea

• DPRK holds politburo meeting to further intensify anti-epidemic work People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), presided over an enlarged politburo meeting on Tuesday to discuss measures to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for an approaching powerful typhoon, state media reported Wednesday.

Australia

• Australian COVID-19 vaccine yields positive pre-clinical results Global Times 26 Aug 2020 -- An Australian-developed COVID-19 vaccine has shown promising results in pre-clinical testing, raising hopes for its potential effectiveness and manufacturability.
• Australian COVID-19 vaccine yields positive pre-clinical results People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- An Australian-developed COVID-19 vaccine has shown promising results in pre-clinical testing, raising hopes for its potential effectiveness and manufacturability.

Other Countries

• Former president among infected as COVID-19 cases cross 7,000 in Maldives Global Times 26 Aug 2020 -- Former president of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been tested positive for COVID-19 as the country's total case count edged past 7,000, local media reported here Wednesday.
• Mexico to take part in clinical trials of Italian COVID-19 vaccine Global Times 26 Aug 2020 -- Mexico will participate in clinical trials of a vaccine being developed by Italy against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Tuesday.
• Brazil's COVID-19 death toll hits 116,000, with 1,271 daily deaths Global Times 26 Aug 2020 -- Brazil on Tuesday said it registered 1,271 more deaths from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 116,580.
• African businesses shifting towards new technologies in response to COVID-19 pandemic: UN report People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- African businesses are shifting towards new technologies in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
• COVID-19 to increase poverty, inequality in S. Africa: UNDP People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- COVID-19 will lead to major setbacks in addressing poverty, unemployment and inequality and make many South Africans fall off the middle-class to below the poverty datum line, said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a study on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in South Africa.
• ASEAN economic ministers discuss recovery from COVID-19 epidemic People's Daily 26 Aug 2020 -- Economic ministers of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday discussed the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 epidemic and its impacts.
• Angolan Security Forces Accused of Killing at Least 7 While Enforcing COVID-19 Restrictions VOA 26 Aug 2020 -- Amnesty International and the Angolan human rights group OMUNGA are accusing security forces of killing at least seven people while implementing COVID-19 restrictions in the southern African country.
• Lessons and Innovations from Singapore's Approach to Pandemic Aid VOA 26 Aug 2020 -- Dig through the billions of dollars of COVID-19 aid in Singapore, and one finds benefits for not just those living on the island, but also possibly for other nations in need of ideas to recover from the pandemic.
• Facing pandemic, economic and political challenges, Iraq Government 'operating in the eyes of multiple storms at once' UN News 26 Aug 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic is aggravating deep-rooted economic, social and political challenges in Iraq, but elections in 2021 – if credible - could open a new chapter for the Middle East nation after years of conflict and strife, the UN's top official in the country said Wednesday.