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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Designation of Lucio Rodriguez Serrano under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act US Dept. of State 02 Dec 2020 -- The Department of State joins the Department of the Treasury in announcing the designation of Mexican national Lucio Rodriguez Serrano pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for engaging in various illicit activities on behalf of Rafael Caro Quintero, a notorious Mexican narcotics trafficker and the mastermind behind the murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985.
• Treasury Sanctions Close Associate of Notorious Drug Trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero US Treasury 02 Dec 2020 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Mexican national Lucio Rodriguez Serrano ("Rodriguez Serrano") as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). Rodriguez Serrano engages in various activities on behalf of Rafael Caro Quintero, a major Mexican narcotics trafficker and the mastermind behind the murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985. Caro Quintero remains a fugitive from U.S. justice.
• U.S. Law Enforcement Takes Action Against Approximately 2,300 Money Mules In Global Crackdown On Money Laundering US Dept. of Justice 02 Dec 2020 -- The U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and six other federal law enforcement agencies announced the completion of the third annual Money Mule Initiative, a coordinated operation to disrupt the networks through which transnational fraudsters move the proceeds of their crimes.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Mass COVID-19 Immunization Plans Raise Huge Challenges VOA 02 Dec 2020 -- Britain's prime minister, Boris Johnson, has likened the scientists who have developed coronavirus vaccines to the cavalry arriving just in the nick of time. "The toot of the bugle is louder," he reassured Britons during a recent news conference.
• Worldwide Coronavirus Cases Cross 63.37 Million, Death Toll at 1,475,392 SPA 02 Dec 2020 -- More than 63.37 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1,475,392 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
• COVID-19's impact on wages is only just getting started, ILO warns UN News 02 Dec 2020 -- Global pressure on wages from COVID-19 will not stop with the arrival of a vaccine, the head of the International Labour Organization (ILO) warned on Wednesday, coinciding with a major report showing how the pandemic had slowed or reversed a trend of rising wages across the world, hitting women workers and the low-paid hardest.

United States

• CDC Warns of 'Most Difficult Time' for US Public Health VOA 02 Dec 2020 -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned Wednesday of a bleak winter ahead as the country continues to see nationwide surges of COVID-19 cases.
• US Ambulance System Says 'Likely to Break' Without Extra COVID-19 Aid, Report Says Sputnik 02 Dec 2020 -- The American Ambulance Association has told the Department of Health and Human Services in a letter that the 911 system nationwide has reached a "breaking point" amid the lack of COVID-19 relief aid from the government, NBC News reported on Wednesday, citing the correspondence.
• US Shortens COVID-19 Quarantine to 10 Days VOA 02 Dec 2020 -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that Americans potentially exposed to COVID-19 could quarantine for 10 days, shortening the previous recommendation of 14 days.
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces State to Receive Initial Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses for 170,000 New Yorkers New York State 02 Dec 2020
• U.S. LA County shatters daily record of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- Los Angeles County hit another grim COVID-19 milestone on Tuesday, with the highest single-day number of new cases and hospitalized people since the outbreak of the pandemic.
• COVID-19 vaccines to be offered to healthcare staff, long-term care residents 1st in US People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- Health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities will be the first groups to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, according to a panel meeting of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday.
• U.S. COVID-19 deaths top 270,000: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 270,000 on Tuesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• U.S. economy "plateauing" due to COVID-19 resurgence, lack of fiscal support: Fed official People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- The U.S. economy is "plateauing" due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases across the country and the lack of fiscal support, a senior Federal Reserve official said on Wednesday.
• U.S. Coronavirus Hospitalizations Hit All-Time High SPA 02 Dec 2020 -- The number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 in the United States of America is nearing 100,000 - an all-time high - as the pandemic rages on and strains health care systems, dpa reported.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 02 Dec 2020

China

• China sets up traceability web, covers 90% of cold-chain food imports Global Times 02 Dec 2020 -- China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) vowed to comprehensively promote the establishment of a traceability platform on imported cold-chain food in light of rising imported COVID-19 infections.
• Manzhouli to start third round of complete COVID-19 testing after cluster of infections found Global Times 02 Dec 2020 -- North China's port city of Manzhouli, China's largest land port bordering Russia, announced on Wednesday it will undergo a third round of nucleic acid COVID-19 testing for all its 30,000 residents, after the city had suffered from local COVID-19 cases since late November.
• E.China's Qingdao to test, disinfect all imported cold-chain food in wake of COVID-19 cases Global Times 02 Dec 2020 -- Qingdao, a coastal city in East China's Shandong Province, will test and disinfect every batch and piece of imported cold-chain food after people working in the industry have been continuously found to be infected with the novel coronavirus.
• China, Pacific Island nations agree to deepen anti-coronavirus cooperation: FM Global Times 02 Dec 2020 -- China and Pacific Island nations have agreed to deepen cooperation and strengthen multilateral coordination in combating the coronavirus pandemic during the second Vice Ministers' Special Meeting on COVID-19, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.
• Tianjin finds no new COVID-19 cases from new tests People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- North China's Tianjin Municipality found no new cases of COVID-19 from its latest round of nucleic acid testing involving six groups of people in the Binhai New Area, local authorities said Tuesday.
• China's Qingdao reports one new COVID-19 asymptomatic case People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- One new asymptomatic case of COVID-19 was found Tuesday in the city of Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province, local authorities said Wednesday.
• China's border city to launch new round of citywide nucleic acid testing People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- This border city of Manzhouli in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region will launch the third round of citywide nucleic acid testing starting Thursday, local authorities said Wednesday.
• China's border city reports 2 new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- China's border city of Manzhouli reported two new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past day, local health authorities said Wednesday.

Europe

• Pfizer, BioNTech seek EU approval for COVID-19 vaccines Global Times 02 Dec 2020 -- Pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and BioNTech, as well as their competitor Moderna, have filed applications for approval of their COVID-19 vaccines, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Tuesday.
• Spain records 8,257 new COVID-19 cases, more than 16.5 mln in total People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- Spain reported 8,257 new coronavirus cases, bringing the national tally to 1,656,444, the country's health ministry said on Tuesday.
• UK lawmakers OK new coronavirus tier system to replace national lockdown People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- British MPs on Tuesday approved the new tier system of coronavirus restrictions designed to replace the month-long national lockdown that ends on Wednesday.
• London Mayor Urges People to Follow Rules as UK Capital Enters COVID-19 Tiered System Sputnik 02 Dec 2020 -- The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on Wednesday urged people to continue to follow the rules as a national lockdown ended, and the UK capital entered into a new toughened system of tiered COVID-19 restrictions.
• Britain Approves Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine, Raising Hopes of Return to Normality VOA 02 Dec 2020 -- Britain says it plans to start injecting people with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as early as Monday after becoming the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine following large-scale clinical trials.
• European Alpine Nations Split on Opening Ski Resorts During Pandemic VOA 02 Dec 2020 -- Europe's alpine nations are split regarding how to handle the ski season at their respective resorts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Germany May Receive 7Mln Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine in Q1 2021, Merkel Says Sputnik 02 Dec 2020 -- Germany may receive 7 million doses of vaccines from BioNTech and Moderna in the first quarter of 2021, but the prospects for the supply of vaccines from AstraZeneca are not yet clear, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.

Russia

• Russian President Orders 'Large-Scale' Coronavirus Vaccinations Beginning Next Week RFE/RL 02 Dec 2020 -- President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to start "large-scale" coronavirus vaccinations next week, as Russia tries to ramp up availability, and attention, for its Sputnik-V vaccine.
• Putin Asks Russian Government to Start Mass Vaccination Against COVID Next Week Sputnik 02 Dec 2020 -- Moscow previously planned to start mass vaccinations against COVID-19 in 2021 and make it voluntary. Last week, Russia began mass coronavirus vaccinations among its armed forces personnel, planning to vaccinate over 400,000 servicemen in total.

India

• India Coronavirus Cases Stay Below 50k for 25th Straight Day SPA 02 Dec 2020 -- India's daily coronavirus cases continued to stay below the 50,000 mark for the 25th straight day, with 36,604 new infections reported, data from the health ministry showed on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
• India's COVID-19 tally reaches 9,499,413 Global Times 02 Dec 2020 -- India's COVID-19 tally reached 9,499,413 on Wednesday as 36,604 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry.
• India's Active Caseload drops to 4.28 Lakh after 132 days India PIB 02 Dec 2020 -- India's total Active Caseload had significantly dropped to 4.28 lakh (4,28,644) today. This is the lowest after 132 days. The total active cases were 4,26,167 on 23rd July, 2020.
• Health Ministry releases SOP on Preventive Measures in Markets to contain spread of COVID-19 India PIB 02 Dec 2020 -- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued Standard operating Procedures (SOPs) on the preventive and precautionary measures to be followed to contain the spread of COVID19 in the country. These are as follows:

Iran

• COVID-19 situation improving in Iran due to observing restrictions IRNA 02 Dec 2020 -- Iranian Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education Saeed Namaki on Wednesday said that the situation of COVID-19 has been improved because of observing restrictions in the country.
• COVID-19 kills 362 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 02 Dec 2020 -- Some 362 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 Wednesday.
• Iran urges world community to stand up to US' illegal sanctions amid battle against deadly virus Press TV 02 Dec 2020 -- Iran's permanent representative to Vienna-based international organizations has called on the international community to stand up to the US' coercive measures to force Washington to halt its illegal sanctions against countries amid the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the entire world.

Japan

• Japan's COVID-19 cases top 150,000 People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- The confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan increased by 1,463 to reach 150,464 as of Tuesday evening, according to the latest figures from the health ministry and local authorities.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 249 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 02 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Health said in a statement today that 249 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 357,872 cases, including 4,440 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 632 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.

Taiwan

• CECC announces new exemptions, fines to compulsory COVID-19 test rule CNA 02 Dec 2020 -- The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Wednesday announced new categories of travelers that are exempt from a new rule that requires all arrivals to present proof of a recent COVID-19 test, as well as details of the amount of fines for those who violate the rule.
• Taiwan records six new imported cases of COVID-19 CNA 02 Dec 2020 -- Taiwan recorded six new imported cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, five of whom had proof of a negative COVID-19 test result issued within three days of their flight, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Hong Kong removed from COVID-19 'low-to-moderate' risk list CNA 02 Dec 2020 -- The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Wednesday removed Hong Kong from its list of countries and regions from which business travelers can apply for shorter quarantine periods upon arrival in Taiwan, citing a recent surge in cases there.

North Korea

• Top-class Emergency Anti-epidemic Measures Taken across DPRK KCNA 02 Dec 2020 -- The emergency anti-epidemic units in the DPRK are now toughening the top-class emergency measures to thoroughly check the inroad of COVID-19.
• North Korean Hackers Reportedly Conduct Attacks on COVID-19 Vaccine Makers Across the World Sputnik 02 Dec 2020 -- Stories of North Korea-affiliated hacker groups attacking firms and laboratories involved in the development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments for the disease have been circulating for months. Pyongyang always dismisses the allegations, claiming that no evidence of malign cyber activity has been produced.

Other Countries

• Canada's COVID-19 cases surpass 380,000 People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- Canada continued seeing sharply increased COVID-19 cases, with a total of 382,812 COVID-19 cases and 12,95 fatalities as of Tuesday evening, according to CTV.
• UAE Announces 1,285 New COVID-19 Cases SPA 02 Dec 2020 -- The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, announced that it conducted 136,483 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.