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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Biden Calls Cyberattack A 'Great Concern,' Promises To Impose 'Substantial Costs' On Perpetrators RFE/RL 17 Dec 2020 -- President-elect Joe Biden on December 17 called a recent, large-scale, and ongoing cyberattack against U.S. government agencies and companies a "great concern," and promised to impose "substantial costs" on the perpetrators.
• Trump Administration, Biden Voice New Alarm About Latest Cyberattack VOA 17 Dec 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and President-elect Joe Biden both voiced new alarm Thursday about a wide intrusion into computer systems around the world that officials suspect was carried out by Russia.
• U.S. Confirms Cyberattack Hit Government Networks, Says It's Ongoing RFE/RL 17 Dec 2020 -- The U.S. government has confirmed that a recent cyberattack affected its networks and said the attack was "significant and ongoing."
• DOD, DHS Collaborating on Innovative Cybersecurity Solutions DoD News 17 Dec 2020 -- Last month, the Defense Department, Defense Innovation Unit and the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on a range of cybersecurity initiatives.
• Six Men Indicted in Alleged Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor VOA 17 Dec 2020 -- Six men were charged Thursday with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in an alleged plot by right-wing extremists who were angry over her coronavirus containment policies.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• COVID-19 vaccines "not a silver bullet": WHO People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for the Western Pacific on Thursday called for greater vigilance amid the roll-out of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, saying the vaccine is not a "silver bullet" that will end the nearly year-long pandemic which have already killed over 1.6 million.
• Global COVID-19 cases surpass 74 mln: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- Global COVID-19 cases amounted to 74,087,090 with 1,646,687 deaths worldwide as of 6:28 p.m. local time (2328 GMT) on Wednesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
• ECOSOC president says COVID-19 vaccines must be accessible to everyone, everywhere People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- COVID-19 vaccines must be viewed as "a global public good" and accessible to everyone and everywhere, the president of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) told journalists on Wednesday.
• COVID-19 patients at higher risk of death, health problems than those with flu: study People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- New research into federal data by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveals that among hospitalized patients, COVID-19 was associated with an increased need for ventilators, more admissions into intensive care units (ICUs), longer hospital stays and nearly five times the risk of death than faced by those with the flu.
• Worldwide Coronavirus Cases Cross 72.92 Million, Death Toll at 1,641,733 SPA 17 Dec 2020 -- More than 72.92 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1,641,733 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

United States

• U.S. continues to see soaring COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations as vaccine campaign underway People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- While the start of U.S. COVID-19 vaccination campaign this week has brought hope to the public, cases and hospitalizations continue to soar across the country.
• National Guard Supports Vaccination Efforts for Michigan DoD News 17 Dec 2020 -- The Michigan National Guard received a request from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to support community health care organizations with logistical and medical assets for COVID-19 vaccinations across the state. Guard leadership has analyzed its medical assets and logistical requirements and plans to augment health care providers across the state, where requested, in the administration of the vaccine.
• DOD Logistics Leader Ready to Ship Vaccine to Overseas Locations, Navy Fleet DoD News 17 Dec 2020 -- With the first COVID-19 vaccine already in the arms of some health care workers, the Defense Logistics Agency is ready to ship doses for Defense Department employees outside the continental U.S. and the deployed U.S. Navy Fleet.
• US Panel Endorses Second COVID-19 Vaccine VOA 17 Dec 2020 -- A U.S. panel endorsed emergency use of a second COVID-19 vaccine Thursday.
• U.S. continues to see soaring COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations as vaccine campaign underway People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- While the start of U.S. COVID-19 vaccination campaign this week has brought hope to the public, cases and hospitalizations continue to soar across the country.
• California hits new daily record in COVID-19 cases People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- California reported 53,711 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, a record for the most populous U.S. state.
• 5 U.S. soldiers, 2 civilians in S.Korea test positive for COVID-19 People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- Five more U.S. soldiers and two individuals in South Korea tested positive for COVID-19, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday.
• COVID-19 mortality rates among Native Americans 1.8 times higher than whites: CDC People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- COVID-19 mortality rates among Native Americans were 1.8 times higher than non-Hispanic whites, according to a report of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• NYC mayor warns of possible 'full shutdown' amid high COVID-19 infections People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned early this week that the city could face "a full shutdown" in the coming weeks, as the COVID-19 surge may threaten the hospital system.
• ICUs in California drowning by coronavirus surge People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- Unchecked Thanksgiving gatherings of friends and families across the Golden State result in an unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases, with more to come, California health officials noted Tuesday, warning statewide intensive care units (ICUs) capacity is at only 5.7 percent.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 17 Dec 2020

China

• WHO: China Welcoming COVID-19 Investigators VOA 17 Dec 2020 -- World Health Organization regional officials said Thursday China will welcome an international team of WHO experts to investigate the origins of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
• Irradiation technology could be used in killing coronavirus on cold chain food packaging: China National Nuclear Corporation Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- China National Nuclear Corporation and other institutions are researching irradiation technology to kill the coronavirus.
• Sichuan to vaccinate all high-risk groups by Feb 5 Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- A total of 118,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Southwest China's Sichuan Province and the province plans to vaccinate all high-risk groups by February 5, local health officials said Thursday.
• Regulator extends suspension time for carriers taking in 5-10 infection cases Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- China's civil aviation regulator has decided to extend the suspension time for air flights if five or more on-board passengers test positive for the coronavirus, always putting safety as its top concern.
• WHO intl team studying coronavirus origin to visit China in Jan, may also visit other countries: team member Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- Wuhan may not be the location where the coronavirus made the zoonotic jump from animals to humans, with the transmission chain in the city potentially originating from humans, Chinese analysts said regarding the World Health Organization (WHO) international team's scheduled visit to Wuhan, noting that the team needs to investigate visitors, both Chinese and foreign, who came to Wuhan before the outbreak began, including foreign athletes attending the Military World Games held in Wuhan in October 2019.
• GT investigates: Review of 40-day response Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- December 27, 2019 marks the starting point for China's battle against the novel coronavirus.
• China is preparing for COVID-19 vaccine mass production: official Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- China is preparing for mass production of COVID-19 vaccine, said national health authority on Wednesday.

Europe

• French President Macron Tests Positive for Coronavirus VOA 17 Dec 2020 -- The French government says President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
• French President Macron Tests Positive for COVID-19 Sputnik 17 Dec 2020 -- With a second wave of the coronavirus currently ongoing in France, the COVID-19 lockdown in the country was replaced with a dusk-to-dawn curfew from 8.00 pm to 6.00 am (19:00 to 05:00 GMT) starting from 15 December.
• UK records another 25,161 coronavirus cases, 612 deaths People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- Another 25,161 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,913,277, according to official figures released Wednesday.
• German vaccine enters late-stage testing People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- German biotechnology company CureVac has begun enrolling participants into late-stage trials for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate that remains stable at standard refrigeration temperature for three months.
• Sweden's King Says His Country 'Has Failed' Handling COVID VOA 17 Dec 2020 -- Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf says his country has "failed" in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Swedish people have suffered "enormously" as a result.

Russia

• Russia Running Trials of Sputnik V on People Over 60 to Enable Vaccination of Most Vulnerable Group Sputnik 17 Dec 2020 -- The elderly are one of the groups at increased risks of suffering from severe symptoms or dying from contracting the coronavirus. While a vaccine could save them, one needs to be tested first, since its efficacy might be impaired due to seniors' weaker immune system.

India

• Daily Recoveries outnumbering daily New Cases ensure steep upward trajectory of the Recovery Rate India PIB 17 Dec 2020 -- With focussed strategy and proactive as well as calibrated measures of the Union Government along with the States and UTs, India has sustained a very high Recovery Rate along with rapidlydecliningActive Cases and low mortality rate.
• India's COVID-19 tally nears 10 mln People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- India's COVID-19 tally reached 9,956,557 on Thursday, as 24,010 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 212 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 17 Dec 2020 -- Some 212 more Iranians have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Thursday.

Japan

• New daily cases of COVID-19 top 800-mark for 1st time in Tokyo People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday confirmed a record number of 822 new daily COVID-19 cases, marking the first time infections have topped the 800-mark in Tokyo.
• Tokyo Logs Record 822 Infections As Strain on Medical System Grows SPA 17 Dec 2020 -- The Japanese capital, Tokyo reported a record 822 new coronavirus infections today, on Thursday, topping the 800 mark for the first time and heightening concerns about the strain on the nation's medical system, Kyodo reported.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 181 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 17 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Health said in a statement today that 181 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 360,516 cases, including 3,060 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 453 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.

Taiwan

• Peru permits phase II trials of Taiwan-developed COVID-19 drug CNA 17 Dec 2020 -- Antroquinonol (Hocena), an anti-cancer and anti-hyperlipidemia drug developed by a Taiwanese firm as a potential medicine to treat COVID-19, was approved by Peru's authorities to begin phase II trials, according to its developer.
• Taiwan health officials question COVID-19 antibody study CNA 17 Dec 2020 -- The results of a study that estimates 0.05 percent of adults in Taiwan have COVID-19 antibodies was questioned by Taiwanese health officials on Wednesday, on the grounds that the people enrolled in the study might not accurately represent Taiwan's population.

North Korea

• Emergency Anti-Epidemic Work Further Intensified in DPRK KCNA 17 Dec 2020 -- Officials and working people across the country are further intensifying the all-people anti-epidemic campaign to cope with the worldwide spread of COVID-19 while strictly observing the measures taken by the state.

New Zealand

• New Zealand, Niue announce next steps towards quarantine-free travel Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- Negotiations have concluded on the agreement to facilitate quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Niue, which has remained COVID-19 free throughout 2020.
• New Zealand to financially support Pacific nations' COVID-19 vaccination People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- New Zealand is preparing to support Pacific nations to access safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at the earliest opportunity, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Thursday.

Other Countries

• Australian COVID-19 cluster threatens past success People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- A cluster of five new COVID-19 cases in Sydney's north threatened to unravel the city's success in containing the virus, with authorities warning anyone in the area with even the mildest of symptoms to get tested.
• In 'COVID-Free' Turkmenistan, Britain's (Singing) Ambassador Now Has COVID RFE/RL 17 Dec 2020 -- Britain's ambassador to Turkmenistan, where an authoritarian post-Soviet government has never officially registered a single coronavirus infection, has said he "need[s] to recuperate from covid."
• Influential Eastern Ukrainian Mayor Dies In Germany After COVID Battle RFE/RL 17 Dec 2020 -- One of Ukraine's most influential and outspoken politicians, Hennadiy Kernes, the mayor of the eastern city of Kharkiv, has died of complications from COVID-19.
• More Than 7 Million Coronavirus Infections in Brazil SPA 17 Dec 2020 -- Some 7.04 million people have been infected with the coronavirus in Brazil, dpa cited the country's Health Ministry as announcing.
• Argentina to Get Russian Coronavirus Vaccine by Christmas Sputnik 17 Dec 2020 -- Argentina will get its first batch of the Russian two-component vaccine against the COVID-19 coronavirus by Christmas, an adviser to the Latin American nation's president told Sputnik on Thursday.
• Myanmar Ethnic Regions Keep Schools Open Amid National Closures for Pandemic Radio Free Asia 17 Dec 2020 -- Schools in ethnic army-controlled areas near Myanmar's borders with Thailand and China have been operating regularly throughout 2020, even as most schools have been closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which is surging in the Southeast Asian country.