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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Hackers target the US agency tasked with securing the nuclear weapons Press TV 18 Dec 2020 -- The US nuclear weapons agency is reportedly targeted by hackers as part of a massive cyber security breach against federal agencies and critical infrastructure.
• Congress To Be Briefed On Massive Cyberattack Suspected To Be Work Of Russian Hackers RFE/RL 18 Dec 2020 -- The FBI and other agencies investigating an extensive cyberattack on U.S. government computer networks will brief members of Congress on December 18 about the intrusion, which officials suspect was carried out by Russian hackers.
• Growing Calls for US to Retaliate for Massive Cyber Hack VOA 18 Dec 2020 -- U.S. lawmakers briefed on the massive cybersecurity breach that has impacted government agencies and the private sector are calling for the country to act, warning that so far, all evidence is pointing to Russia as the culprit.
• Notorious 'Thieves-In-Law' Crime Boss Escapes From Russian Court Building RFE/RL 18 Dec 2020 -- Notorious organized crime boss Levan Abuladze - known in the criminal underworld by the nickname Levan Sukhumsky - has reportedly escaped from a Russian court building where he had been brought for a pretrial hearing.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• HHS and DOD Statements on FDA Authorization of Moderna Vaccine DoD 18 Dec 2020 -- On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it had issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, the second COVID-19 vaccine to receive an EUA. Operation Warp Speed has allocated more than 5.9 million doses of the vaccine for jurisdictions to receive in the coming week. Below are statements from HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller.
• This Week in Operation Warp Speed - Dec. 18, 2020 DoD 18 Dec 2020
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces New York State Clinical Advisory Task Force Approves Moderna Vaccine New York State 18 Dec 2020
• WHO: Equitable, Global Distribution of 2 Billion COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Begin in 2021 VOA 18 Dec 2020 -- Nearly two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been secured for equitable distribution in 2021 to the 190 countries that have signed on to a World Health Organization-led partnership, according to a Friday announcement from the group.
• Two billion COVID vaccine doses secured, WHO says end of pandemic is in sight UN News 18 Dec 2020 -- The end of the pandemic is in sight but we must not let our guard down, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, as he welcomed the news that the global vaccine partnership COVAX has lined up almost two billion doses of existing and candidate vaccines for use worldwide.
• COVID-19: Avoid 'nationalistic footrace' in choosing vaccines UN News 18 Dec 2020 -- As governments move to secure COVID-19 vaccines for their populations, choosing these treatments should not be viewed as "some kind of nationalistic footrace", with some countries winning and others losing, a senior official with the World Health Organization (WHO) told journalists on Friday.
• IOM Chief: Migrants Must Be Included in COVID-19 Vaccination Campaigns VOA 18 Dec 2020 -- The head of the U.N. Migration Agency said the coronavirus pandemic has affected people worldwide, including migrants — many of whom have gotten ill, lost jobs or been stranded in destination countries.

United States

• The Free World's Leadership Will Defeat COVID-19 US Dept. of State 18 Dec 2020 -- "It has now been a year since China first identified a patient in Wuhan stricken with an unknown pneumonia, now known as COVID-19. Since then, the United States and other free nations, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, have led a remarkable and unprecedented vaccine development effort that is delivering hope across the world."
• FDA Approves Emergency Use of Second Coronavirus Vaccine VOA 18 Dec 2020 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Friday approved for emergency use a second COVID-19 vaccine.
• US FDA panel recommends emergency authorization of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine Global Times 18 Dec 2020 -- An advisory committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) met on Thursday and voted in favor of authorizing American drugmaker Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.
• COVID-19 related to increase in all-cause mortality in U.S. younger adults: study People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- Nearly 12,000 more deaths happened than expected among U.S. adults aged between 25 and 44 during March-July period, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on December 16.
• U.S. San Francisco implements mandatory quarantine amid COVID-19 People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Thursday announced a public health order that places a mandatory quarantine of 10 days on anyone traveling, moving, or returning to San Francisco from anywhere outside the Bay Area.
• U.S. COVID-19 cases surpass 17 mln -- Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 17 million on Thursday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• US deaths from COVID top 3,000 for third straight day Press TV 18 Dec 2020 -- US deaths from the new coronavirus have topped 3,000 for a third straight day, with a record number of new infections on Thursday.
• Remarks by Vice President Pence at a Safe and Effective Vaccine Confidence Event The White House 18 Dec 2020
• FDA Panel Recommends Moderna Vaccine for Emergency Use Authorization Sputnik 18 Dec 2020 -- Medical staffers began administering the first dosages of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Monday. With a US Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization, a Moderna vaccine could soon become the second approved for use across the country.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 18 Dec 2020

China

• Beijing tightens quarantine rules for overseas travelers after reporting 4 new cases this week Global Times 18 Dec 2020 -- Travelers from overseas have to undergo a 14-day quarantine and health monitoring for another seven days after they arrive in Beijing, the Beijing government said on Friday, after the capital reported four confirmed COVID-19 cases and one new asymptomatic case this week.

Europe

• Europe's virus control on fire amid rising risk Global Times 18 Dec 2020 -- Experts believe that Europe is at risk of spinning out of control on Christmas despite recent strict measures against COVID-19, and immunologists said a 70 percent vaccination rate is needed to achieve herd immunity, which takes at least 1 to 2 years.
• European leaders in self-quarantine after Macron tests positive for COVID-19 Global Times 18 Dec 2020 -- A host of European leaders are self-isolating after contact with French President Emmanuel Macron, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
• EU Executive Orders Another 80 Million Doses of Moderna Vaccine SPA 18 Dec 2020 -- The European Commission has doubled its order for the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 by ordering another 80 million doses, dpa cited Moderna as announcing today, on Friday.
• EU to start vaccination for COVID-19 on Dec. 27 People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- The European Union (EU) will start vaccination for COVID-19 after Christmas, the bloc's executive chief Ursula von der Leyen announced on Thursday.
• France Arrests Four Linked to Meat Cleaver Attack VOA 18 Dec 2020 -- France says it arrested four people linked to a September 25 meat cleaver attack in Paris, outside the former offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
• France reports 18,254 new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- Two days after France lifted a nationwide lockdown, coronavirus indicators showed "worrying" acceleration of circulation ahead of the Christmas holiday period, Health General Director Jerome Salomon said on Thursday.
• France's President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for COVID-19 People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- France's President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19 and will self-isolate for the next week.
• UK records another 35,383 coronavirus cases, 532 deaths People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- Another 35,383 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,948,660, according to official figures released Thursday.
• UK PM's refusal of tightening restrictions during Christmas receives mixed reactions People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on December 16 refused to tighten restrictions over the festive period despite a significant rise in COVID-19 infections across the nation, though admitted that British families should "have a smaller Christmas."
• German Health Ministry Sets COVID-19 Vaccine Priorities VOA 18 Dec 2020 -- German Health Minister Jens Spahn announced Friday the order in which COVID-19 vaccinations will be carried out, starting with the most vulnerable, more than a week before any vaccine is expected to be approved for use.
• Portuguese PM in self-quarantine after contact with Macron Global Times 18 Dec 2020 -- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa has been in self-quarantine following close contact with French President Emmanuel Macron, who had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier on Thursday.
• Swedish king criticizes country's COVID-19 pandemic strategy in speech People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf has criticized the Swedish government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Swedish Television reported on Thursday.
• Spanish PM under self-quarantine after France's Macron tests positive for COVID-19 People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will be under self-quarantine until Dec. 24, after French President Emmanuel Macron, whom Sanchez had met on Monday, tested positive for COVID-19, the Prime Minister's Office informed in a communique on Thursday.
• Switzerland Imposes COVID-19 Restrictions as Infections Surge VOA 18 Dec 2020 -- The Swiss government Friday ordered all bars, restaurants, cultural venues and sports facilities to close next week because of a surging number of coronavirus cases.

Russia

• No Special Anti-COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Developed for President Putin, Kremlin Says Sputnik 18 Dec 2020 -- During his most recent press conference dedicated to the most burning issues of the outgoing year, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that he has not personally been vaccinated against the highly contagious COVID-19 infection yet, but stressing that he won't hesitate to do so as soon as possible.

India

• India's Total Recovered Cases cross landmark peak of 95 lakhs India PIB 18 Dec 2020 -- India has registered a landmark achievement in the fight against the global pandemic today. The ongoing trend of exponential increment in India's total recoveriescontinues. The total recovered cases of the country have crossed a crucial peak of 95 lakh (95,20,827).
• India's COVID-19 tally almost 10 million People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- India's COVID-19 tally has almost touched 10 million as it reached 9,979,447 on Friday.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 178 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 18 Dec 2020 -- Some 178 more Iranians have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Friday.

South Korea

• S. Korea reports 1,062 more COVID-19 cases, 47,515 in total People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- South Korea reported 1,062 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Thursday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 47,515.

Japan

• COVID-19 cases in Tokyo hit record high as concerns grow about strain on medical system People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday confirmed a record 822 new daily COVID-19 cases, marking the first time infections have topped the 800-mark in Tokyo and raising concerns about the strain on the medical system.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 174 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 208 Recoveries Reported, in Saudi Arabia SPA 18 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Health announced in a statement here today that 174 new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 360,690, including 3,016 active cases undergoing treatment.

Taiwan

• China to deny entry if Taiwan COVID-19 report mentions 'Wuhan virus' CNA 18 Dec 2020 -- Travelers arriving in China from Taiwan will be denied entry if they provide a nucleic acid report misnamed "Wuhan virus" instead of the name officially designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "coronavirus disease 2019," or COVID-19 in abbreviated form.
• Taiwan airlines to ban travelers' use of 'Wuhan pneumonia' in nucleic acid testing certificates Global Times 18 Dec 2020 -- Two Taiwan-based airline companies have confirmed that all Taiwan passengers to the Chinese mainland should use the right name for the pandemic in the nucleic acid testing certificate - COVID-19 rather than "Wuhan pneumonia," a hostile expression that is used by some pro-secession media outlets in Taiwan.
• Taiwan records two new COVID-19 cases CNA 18 Dec 2020 -- Two people who returned to Taiwan from the United States have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country since the start of the pandemic to 759, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Friday.

Other Countries

• Brazil sees nearly 70,000 daily COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- Brazil registered 69,826 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking its national total to 7,110,434, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.
• Turkey's daily COVID-19 deaths hit new record as total infections surpass 1.95 mln People's Daily 18 Dec 2020 -- Turkey reported on Thursday a record high of 243 daily deaths from the COVID-19, as its total number of infections exceeded 1.95 million.
• South Africa's Coronavirus Cases Cross 900,000 - Health Ministry SPA 18 Dec 2020 -- South Africa's total reported coronavirus cases surpassed 900,000 today, on Friday, just a fortnight after it reported crossing 800,000, signaling a rapid rise in infections in the country battling a second wave, Reuters reported.
• Argentina Hopes to Start Producing Russian Sputnik V in Near Future, Presidential Adviser Says Sputnik 18 Dec 2020 -- Argentina hopes to receive Russia's technology for the production of Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, acquiring the capacity to self-produce the vaccine in the near future, Cecilia Nicolini, an adviser to the Argentine president, told Sputnik in an interview.
• Thai Firm Joins with AstraZeneca to Make COVID-19 Vaccine for Southeast Asia VOA 18 Dec 2020 -- Thailand says a local laboratory's pact with Britain's AstraZeneca will make the Southeast Asian country the regional hub for supplies of what's likely to be one of the leading vaccines against COVID-19 as governments scramble to lock in supplies.
• Myanmar's Jade Center Suspends Most Mining Amid Coronavirus Spike Radio Free Asia 18 Dec 2020 -- The Myanmar government has suspended large-scale jade-mining activities in Kachin state, home to the world's largest jade mine and a magnet for poor scavengers, until early next year in the face of surging coronavirus infections, the state's natural resources minister said.