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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• USS Gabrielle Giffords Interdicts Over $100 Million in Drugs US Navy 11 Dec 2020 -- The Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 407 seized an estimated 2,810 kilograms of suspected cocaine, Dec. 5.
• Six Russian Law Enforcement Agents Wounded as Criminal Blows Himself Up During Detention Sputnik 11 Dec 2020 -- A criminal set off an explosion in Russia's Karachay-Cherkess Republic while being detained, and was subsequently killed by the blast. He also left six security staffers injured in the wake of the incident, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee said on Friday.
• Suicide Bomber Injures Six People In Russia's North Caucasus RFE/RL 11 Dec 2020 -- Officials say a suicide bomber has set off a device in the North Caucasus region of Karachai-Cherkessia, killing himself and injuring six police officers.
• Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on Mexico's Proposed Legislation US Dept. of Justice 11 Dec 2020 -- Attorney General William P. Barr gave the following statement in response to Mexico's proposed legislation.
• State Department Terrorist Designation of Ashraf al-Qizani US Dept. of State 11 Dec 2020 -- The Department of State has designated Ashraf al-Qizani as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under section 1(a)(ii)(B) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• COVID-19 vaccines: Donors urged to step up funding for needy countries UN News 11 Dec 2020 -- Addressing the financing gap to provide COVID-19 vaccines for everyone, everywhere, is an urgent priority, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday, in an appeal for stepped-up funding to support poorer countries.
• WHO expects decisions on Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca vaccines, in weeks SPA 11 Dec 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) expects to make decisions on whether to give emergency use approval to COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, in coming weeks, Reuters cited its chief scientist as saying on Friday.
• WHO Seeks Global Access to Approved Coronavirus Vaccines VOA 11 Dec 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) says action and money are needed to ensure coronavirus vaccines are available around the world as Western nations approve them.
• WHO Accused of Colluding With Italy to Hide Report Criticizing Pandemic Readiness, Report Says Sputnik 11 Dec 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has been accused of colluding with high-ranking public health officials in Italy to remove a report criticizing the European country's pandemic preparedness, The Guardian newspaper reported on Friday, citing one of the authors of the report.

United States

• Pro Rata Vaccine Distribution is Fair, Equitable DoD News 11 Dec 2020 -- While COVID-19 vaccines roll out in limited supply, distribution is determined in direct proportion to the nation's adult population 18 years and older. The pro rata method was approved Nov. 6, 2020, by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.
• Connecticut Guard delivers more than 102,000 test kits Army News 11 Dec 2020 -- The Connecticut National Guard delivered 102,280 COVID-19 antigen tests to 212 locations throughout the state this week.
• 24/7 Guard coordination center key for domestic ops success Army News 11 Dec 2020 -- Large television screens illuminate an otherwise darkened, underground facility, as National Guard members and civilians assess and monitor homeland response developments and provide up-to-date information for decision-makers.
• Statement From HHS and DOD on FDA Emergency Use Authorization of a COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate DoD 11 Dec 2020 -- "Today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Pfizer for its COVID-19 vaccine, the first authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States."
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic New York State 11 Dec 2020
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Provides Vaccine Update and Joins with Congressional Leaders to Call for Fair and Equitable Federal Vaccine Distribution Plan New York State 11 Dec 2020
• Americans Await Final Approval of First COVID-19 Vaccine as Deaths Reach Record High VOA 11 Dec 2020 -- The countdown has begun for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's anticipated final approval of a coronavirus vaccine developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech, shown to be 95% effective in preventing COVID-19.
• US On Verge of Launching COVID Vaccinations VOA 11 Dec 2020 -- The United States could be hours away from starting its COVID-19 vaccination program.
• U.S. COVID-19 deaths top 290,000: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 11 Dec 2020 -- U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 290,000 on Thursday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• U.S. administration accused of politically meddling with response to COVID-19 pandemic People's Daily 11 Dec 2020 -- A U.S. House panel on the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday accused the U.S. current administration of politically meddling with the country's response to the public health crisis.
• FDA advisory panel gives green light to Pfizer vaccine Press TV 11 Dec 2020 -- A panel of experts has formally recommended that the US Food and Drug Administration endorse emergency use of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine.
• New York Could Remain In COVID Danger Until June Even With Vaccinations Sputnik 11 Dec 2020 -- New York could remain in danger from COVID-19 at least until June, even with vaccinations available for the coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference.
• New York City to Close Indoor Dining as Coronavirus Spike Continues Sputnik 11 Dec 2020 -- New York City will close indoor-dining beginning on Monday in an effort to clamp down on the spike in coronavirus hospitalizations that could overwhelm the health system, Governor Andrew Cuomo said during a press conference on Friday.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 11 Dec 2020

China

• Residents in Hubei fined for buying imported pork that later tested positive for COVID-19 Global Times 11 Dec 2020 -- 24 households in Huanggang city, Central China's Hubei Province, were fined after the pork they purchased from an online platform tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement released by the local authority on Thursday.
• China suspends three beef producers' exports after COVID-19 found Global Times 11 Dec 2020 -- Two beef producers from Brazil and one from Argentina have had their exports to China suspended for one week after packaging of their products tested positive for traces of COVID-19, customs said.
• Hong Kong to receive first batch of COVID-19 vaccine in January 2021 People's Daily 11 Dec 2020 -- Carrie Lam, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said on Friday that Hong Kong will receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine in January 2021 the earliest.
• China's Inner Mongolia reports no new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 11 Dec 2020 -- China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region reported no new confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours to 7 a.m. Friday, local health authorities said.
• Hong Kong reports triple-digit COVID-19 spike for 3 consecutive days People's Daily 11 Dec 2020 -- Hong Kong reported 112 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the third day in a row for the figure to surpass 100.
• China province to have earlier school vacation start to guard against COVID-19 People's Daily 11 Dec 2020 -- Several cities in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province will start school winter vacations earlier than scheduled to prevent a relapse of the COVID-19 epidemic.
• China not likely to resume pork trade with Germany over COVID-19 and swine fever concerns Global Times 11 Dec 2020 -- Germany, one of the biggest pork suppliers in Europe, is reportedly continuing talks with China in hopes to resume pork trade between the two countries, after its products were banned from entry to the Chinese market after the discovery of African swine fever (ASF), according to a report by Reuters.

Europe

• EU Vaccine Agency Victim of Cyberattack VOA 11 Dec 2020 -- The head of the European Union's medical agency confirmed Friday it had been the subject of a cyberattack for the past two weeks but said it will not impact its ongoing evaluation of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Scotland Reduces COVID-19 Isolation Time VOA 11 Dec 2020 -- Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced Friday that beginning Monday, the self-isolation period after contact with confirmed COVID-19 carriers will be shortened from 14 to 10 days in the nation.

Russia

• AstraZeneca to Cooperate With Sputnik V Developer on Vaccine Combinations Sputnik 11 Dec 2020 -- AstraZeneca previously applied for the approval of its vaccine in Britain, however, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is still researching the data on the drug. The company additionally noted that it will be running more clinical trials of the vaccine to validate its high efficacy rate.

India

• India reports landmark achievement: Active Caseload drops to 3.63 Lakh after 146 days India PIB 11 Dec 2020 -- India's total Active Caseload has significantly dropped to 3.63 lakh (3,63,749) today. This is the lowest after 146 days. The total active cases were 3,58,692 on 18th July, 2020.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 232 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 11 Dec 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Friday that some 232 more Iranians have died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours.

South Korea

• S.Korea, China, Japan Agree to Promote Fair Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines SPA 11 Dec 2020 -- South Korea, China and Japan agreed today, on Friday to work together in responding to the coronavirus pandemic and promoting fair international distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, Yonhap cited the S. Korean health and welfare ministry as saying.
• South Korea Reports 689 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 11 Dec 2020 -- South Korea's daily number of new cases neared 700 for the third consecutive day Friday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 168 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 236 Recoveries Reported, in Saudi Arabia SPA 11 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Health announced in a statement here today that 168 new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 359,583, including 3,452 active cases undergoing treatment.

Taiwan

• One new imported case of COVID-19 reported in Taiwan CNA 11 Dec 2020 -- A Taiwanese woman who is a long-term resident of the United States and returned to visit family was the only new COVID-19 patient confirmed in Taiwan on Friday, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Singapore to relax border controls for visitors from Taiwan CNA 11 Dec 2020 -- From Dec. 18, visitors from Taiwan to Singapore will be exempt from quarantine as long as they are given a COVID-19 test upon arrival and the result comes back negative, Singapore's aviation authority said Friday.

Australia

• Australia Terminates Deal to Buy Domestic Vaccine Over False Positive HIV Tests - Reports Sputnik 11 Dec 2020 -- The Australian authorities have terminated a billion-dollar deal to procure over 50 million doses of a domestic vaccine against COVID-19 after several trial participants returned positive HIV test results, media reported on Friday.
• Australia Abandons COVID-19 Vaccine Trials After False Positive HIV Results VOA 11 Dec 2020 -- Clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Australia's University of Queensland in partnership with biotech company CSL have been abandoned after participants returned false positive HIV test results. The treatment was a key part of Australia's response to the pandemic, and the government had signed a deal to buy 51 million doses.

Other Countries

• UN chief warns against vaccine nationalism, appeals funding for Africa People's Daily 11 Dec 2020 -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned against "vaccine nationalism," appealing for greater finance to secure inoculations for Africa.
• Brazil Nears 180,000 Deaths in Second Coronavirus Wave VOA 11 Dec 2020 -- Brazil, which is second to the U.S. in deaths from COVID-19 and third in the world in positive cases, is approaching 180,000 deaths as it suffers through its second wave of the disease caused by the coronavirus.