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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Iranian Diplomat Sentenced To 20 Years For Role In Foiled Bomb Attack RFE/RL 04 Feb 2021 -- A diplomat has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a court in Belgium over a foiled bombing in the first trial of an Iranian official for suspected terrorism in the European Union since Iran's 1979 revolution.
• Belgian Court Hands Iranian Diplomat 20 Years for Terrorism Plot VOA 04 Feb 2021 -- An Iranian who claimed diplomatic immunity from prosecution was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Belgian court on Thursday for an attempted 2018 bombing in Paris.
• US far-right Proud Boys declared as terrorist group in Canada Press TV 04 Feb 2021 -- US white supremacist group, Proud Boys – one of the staunch supporters of former president Donald Trump – has officially been declared as a terrorist group in Canada.
• Meth Production in Golden Triangle Surges, UN Official Says Radio Free Asia 04 Feb 2021 -- Methamphetamine production has quadrupled in Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle region in recent years, the head of the U.N.'s counter-narcotics office in Bangkok told BenarNews on Thursday, saying illegal manufacturers of synthetic drugs have changed ingredients used to start the process.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• WHO Says COVID-19 Hurting Efforts to Control Cancer VOA 04 Feb 2021 -- In a report marking World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization says COVID-19 is having a negative impact on cancer control efforts at a time when cases and deaths from this deadly disease are rising significantly.

United States

• Johnson & Johnson Seeks US Vaccine Approval for Emergency Use VOA 04 Feb 2021 -- Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson said Thursday it is seeking approval for its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• US Will Support Program to Share COVID Vaccine with Poor Countries, But Offers Few Details VOA 04 Feb 2021 -- The Biden administration on Thursday underscored the importance of supporting COVAX, the global mechanism that aims to deliver coronavirus vaccines to poor countries, but it acknowledged it has not increased funding beyond the $4 billion approved in December for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, one of the co-leaders of COVAX.
• DOD Announces Use of Masks and Other Public Health Measures DoD 04 Feb 2021 -- Today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III signed a memo that, effective immediately, directs all individuals on military installations and all individuals performing official duties on behalf of the Department from any location other than the individual's home, including outdoor shared spaces, to wear masks in accordance with the most current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
• New COVID-19 cases in U.S. decline while variants spread draws concern People's Daily 04 Feb 2021 -- COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have declined from recent surges across the United States, but health experts warn more contagious coronavirus strains may threaten to undo progress and lead to a resurgence.

China

• Exclusive: mRNA vaccine to complete phase II data gathering in China, on track to seek regulatory approval: co-developer Global Times 04 Feb 2021 -- Chinese pharmaceutical company Fosun Pharma, a partner of German Biotech company BioNTech, is on track to seek approval from the Chinese regulator for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in the Chinese mainland, Hui Aimin, PhD, President of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer of Fosun Pharma, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, noting that he is "very optimistic" about the mRNA vaccine development in China.
• China to offer COVID-19 vaccines at fair, reasonable price: Chinese FM Global Times 04 Feb 2021 -- China will offer the world its COVID-19 vaccines at fair, reasonable prices, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
• Sinovac publishes 'promising' interim trial data for elderly Global Times 04 Feb 2021 -- Promising interim data released by China's COVID-19 developer Sinovac regarding its vaccines on elderly people will push forward China's efforts to streamline its vaccine rollout for seniors and consolidate the country's plan to establish herd immunity. Yet scientists urged caution and incremental administration of inoculations on this vulnerable group, after having witnessed adverse reactions and deaths in Western countries suspected to be caused by vaccinations.
• Shanghai reports 3 new local COVID-19 cases; all 21 local patients related to each other Global Times 04 Feb 2021 -- Shanghai reported three new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Wednesday after four consecutive days with only imported cases, taking the number of local cases up to 21 since January 21, Shanghai authorities announced on Thursday.
• More than half of arrivals from April to October 2020 were silent carriers of COVID-19: report Global Times 04 Feb 2021 -- A report led by China's CDC chief showed that from April to mid-October 2020, half of the arrivals in China who tested positive for the novel coronavirus were silent carriers, and as the time went on, the proportion of the asymptomatic patients has grown higher, with those from the Philippines, Russia, Singapore and the US topping the list.
• China to provide 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to COVAX People's Daily 04 Feb 2021 -- China has decided to provide 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to COVAX to meet the urgent needs of developing countries, at the request of the World Health Organization (WHO), a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 17 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 04 Feb 2021 -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 30 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 17 locally transmitted, the National Health Commission said Thursday.

Europe

• EU open to use of approved COVID-19 vaccines People's Daily 04 Feb 2021 -- European leaders have shown an openness to the use of COVID-19 vaccines developed by any supplier once they pass the European Union's (EU) tests.
• French PM Says No Need for COVID-19 Lockdown for Now VOA 04 Feb 2021 -- French Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday that while the COVID-19 pandemic remains serious, he does not think another nationwide lockdown is necessary. But he urged people to take all necessary precautions to avoid contracting the coronavirus.
• UK Examines Whether Different COVID-19 Vaccines Can Be Used in 2-Shot Regimen VOA 04 Feb 2021 -- Testing began in Britain on Thursday to determine if different COVID-19 vaccines can be used together in a two-shot regimen.

Russia

• Exclusive: EU Staff In Moscow Given Green Light For Sputnik Vaccination RFE/RL 04 Feb 2021 -- The European Union is allowing its diplomats in Moscow to be vaccinated with the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine if they choose, even though it hasn't been approved by the bloc's regulators, according to an internal email seen by RFE/RL.

India

• Nearly 4.5 million beneficiaries vaccinated against COVID19 in 19 days India PIB 04 Feb 2021 -- India has achieved a significant achievement in its fight against the global pandemic.
• Number of COVID-19 Cases in India Rises by 12,899 Over Past 24 Hours SPA 04 Feb 2021 -- India has confirmed 12,899 new cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, with the total number of those infected having reached 10,790,183, the country's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Thursday, according to Sputnik.

Pakistan

• Pakistan administers Chinese COVID-19 vaccines to health workers People's Daily 04 Feb 2021 -- Pakistan formally started the drive to administer the China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to its frontline healthcare workers on Wednesday, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said.

Iran

• First COVID-19 vaccine shipment from Russia arrives in Iran IRNA 04 Feb 2021 -- The first cargo of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine delivered to Iran by Russia arrived in Tehran by Iranian airline less than an hour ago.
• Some 67 deaths caused by COVID-19 in Iran IRNA 04 Feb 2021 -- Some 67 deaths were caused by COVID-19 in Iran over the past 24 hours, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education Sima Sadat Lari said on Thursday.
• Iran receives first batch of Russian-made COVID-19 vaccines Press TV 04 Feb 2021 -- Iran has imported the first consignment of Russian COVID-19 vaccines from Moscow after the cure's remarkable rate of efficacy was verified by domestic authorities.
• Iran Gets First Batch Of Russia's COVID-19 Vaccine As It Shuns West RFE/RL 04 Feb 2021 -- The first batch of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has arrived in Iran as the country prepares to launch a COVID-19 inoculation campaign aimed at curbing the usage of Western medicines.

South Korea

• S. Korea Reports 451 COVID-19 Cases SPA 04 Feb 2021 -- South Korea reported 451 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Wednesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 79,762.
• S. Korea to Receive 2.71 Mln Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines via COVAX in H1 SPA 04 Feb 2021 -- At least 2.71 million doses of coronavirus vaccines are expected to arrive in South Korea in the first half through an international vaccine procurement program, health authorities said Thursday, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 303 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 04 Feb 2021 -- The Ministry of Health said in a statement today that 303 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; thus bringing the total number to 369,248 confirmed cases, including 2,162 active cases, receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 395 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports ninth COVID-19 death, two new imported cases CNA 04 Feb 2021 -- A British man in his 70s has become the ninth patient in Taiwan to die of COVID-19, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Thursday.
• Taiwan could receive COVID-19 vaccine in February at the earliest CNA 04 Feb 2021 -- Taiwan and other countries that are not United Nations members will be allotted 1.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the first round of vaccine distribution by the global vaccine-sharing initiative COVAX, with the earliest delivery date being February, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Thursday.

Other Countries

• Appeal Grows For Russian, Chinese Serums As Western Vaccine Efforts Get Bogged Down RFE/RL 04 Feb 2021 -- A new study has helped Russia's leading coronavirus vaccine bounce back from criticism of a premature rollout just as many countries are confronting a growing array of logistical and political challenges to delivering vaccines.
• COVID-19 vaccination should take place in all countries: AU People's Daily 04 Feb 2021 -- COVID-19 vaccination should take place "in all countries and among all populations" to realize global containment of the pandemic, said Naledi Pandor, chairperson of the African Union (AU) Executive Council, on Wednesday.
• Africa's 2nd Pandemic Wave Sees Higher Death Rates, Vaccine Delays VOA 04 Feb 2021 -- As African nations wait for hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses to arrive, health officials are concerned about a general rise in coronavirus cases and deaths, especially in Southern Africa.
• South Sudan Declares Partial Lockdown on COVID Surge VOA 04 Feb 2021 -- South Sudan has imposed a one-month, partial lockdown after a jump in coronavirus cases. Africa's youngest nation has confirmed more than 4,000 cases and 65 deaths but, some residents worry this first lockdown since June could hurt people's livelihoods.
• Turkey's immunization drive at full speed with Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines People's Daily 04 Feb 2021 -- The mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 continues uninterrupted across Turkey with the inactivated vaccines produced by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech Ltd.