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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• U.S. House speaker plans to set up "9/11-type commission" to probe Capitol riot People's Daily 16 Feb 2021 -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday announced plans for establishing an independent "9/11-type commission" to investigate the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, two days after former President Donald Trump was acquitted in his second impeachment trial by the evenly split Senate.
• The MPP Program and Border Security Joint Statement by Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall The White House 16 Feb 2021
• Kremlin Calls French Allegations Of Hacking Campaign 'Absurd' RFE/RL 16 Feb 2021 -- The Kremlin on February 16 dismissed French allegations that hackers linked to Russian intelligence have breached several French organizations as absurd.
• Clubhouse Security Issues Could Pose Risks For China-Based Users: Report Radio Free Asia 16 Feb 2021 -- The hugely popular audio chat app Clubhouse, which was recently blocked by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), could pose a security threat to users, particularly those based in China, according to U.S.-based security researchers.
• Statement by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Cases of Ebola The White House 16 Feb 2021
• Aid Agencies Respond to New Ebola Outbreak in Guinea VOA 16 Feb 2021 -- The World Health Organization and other aid agencies are moving quickly to try to gain control over a new outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Guinea. Guinea is one of three countries that was affected by the 2014 West African outbreak, the largest in history.
• Winston S. Churchill Seizes Illicit Weapons from Two Dhows off Somalia CENTCOM 16 Feb 2021 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) seized illicit shipments of weapons and weapons components from two stateless dhows during a maritime security operation in international waters off the coast of Somalia, Feb. 11-12.
• Army National Guard transitions cyber task force mission Army News 16 Feb 2021 -- The transition of authority between two Army National Guard battalions was quiet and seamless, without the traditional pomp and circumstance associated with significant Army events.
• Idaho, California, Oregon, Nevada CST units train together Army News 16 Feb 2021 -- The Idaho National Guard's 101st Civil Support Team was among several National Guard CSTs that participated in a large-scale exercise in Northern California Feb. 1-5.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Weekly Epidemiological Update WHO 16 Feb 2021
• Major airlines join forces with UNICEF to support 'monumental' COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan UN News 16 Feb 2021 -- The world's leading airlines are backing a landmark UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) initiative to prioritize delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, essential medicines and other critical supplies across the globe.

United States

• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 16 Feb 2021
• Moderna to Supply 2nd Round of 100 Million US Vaccine Doses by May VOA 16 Feb 2021 -- U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna said it will supply the second batch of 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the United States by the end of May, instead of the original delivery date of June, a company press release stated Tuesday.
• FEMA Acting Administrator Robert J. Fenton Jr. and Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, Commander, U.S. Northern Command, Brief the Media on DOD's Support to COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution DoD 16 Feb 2021 -- FEMA Acting Administrator Robert J. Fenton Jr.; Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander, U.S. Northern Command

China

• Coronavirus origin-tracing mission in Wuhan is independent: WHO Global Times 16 Feb 2021 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday that the international expert team on the COVID-19 origin-tracing mission in Wuhan was "independent" and had no affiliation.
• Chinese global vaccine deals grow as do crackdowns on counterfeits Global Times 16 Feb 2021 -- Pakistan became the first country to receive the third batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, as it approved on Monday the final phase of clinical trials of the Chinese vaccines, co-developed by the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Zhifei Longcom in East China's Anhui Province, diversifying China's vaccine exports.
• Chinese mainland reports no new locally transmitted COVID-19 case People's Daily 16 Feb 2021 -- The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 16 new COVID-19 cases, all imported, the National Health Commission said Tuesday.
• Hong Kong leverages technology to achieve better results in fighting COVID-19 People's Daily 16 Feb 2021 -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Monday that Hong Kong will continue to leverage technology to achieve even better results in the anti-epidemic work.
• China Orders Crackdown on Fake COVID-19 Vaccines Amid Concerns Over Exported Doses Radio Free Asia 16 Feb 2021 -- China's state prosecutor has ordered a nationwide crackdown on profiteering and fake vaccines amid a mounting wave of fake COVID-19 vaccine cases, state media reported.
• China's Strategic Vaccine Diplomacy Gains A Foothold In The Balkans RFE/RL 16 Feb 2021 -- As countries in Europe struggle with shortages of COVID-19 vaccines, China has stepped up its efforts in the Western Balkans, supplying injections and collecting diplomatic wins in the region.
• China Reports 16 New COVID-19 Cases SPA 16 Feb 2021 -- China reported 16 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for Feb. 15, the health commission said on Tuesday.

Europe

• Vaccine Passports Inch Closer in Europe, But Backlash Mounting VOA 16 Feb 2021 -- The prospect of vaccine passports is getting closer in Europe — with more governments considering introducing them not only for travelers, but also to help reopen bars, restaurants and concert halls.
• Court Orders Dutch Government to Lift COVID-19 Curfew VOA 16 Feb 2021 -- The Dutch government's COVID-19 policy suffered a major blow Tuesday when a judge ordered the curfew it imposed lifted immediately, saying the government misused its emergency powers. The government immediately appealed the ruling.
• Covid-19: New variant with potentially worrying mutations found in UK Press TV 16 Feb 2021 -- A new coronavirus variant with a potentially worrying set of mutations has been identified in the UK with at least 32 cases so far, experts have said.
• Nicola Sturgeon Outlines Easing of Lockdown Restrictions in Scotland, Schools to Reopen Sputnik 16 Feb 2021 -- The United Kingdom has been in full lockdown since the discovery of the fast-spreading coronavirus variant in December. As the constituent nations begin to roll out the vaccine, authorities are outlining their roadmap for the slow ending of restrictions.
• Montenegro Negotiates Supply of Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine With Moscow, Health Ministry Says Sputnik 16 Feb 2021 -- Montenegro is negotiating delivery of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine with the Russian government and Moscow's Gamaleya Epidemiology and Microbiology Center, the country's health ministry told Sputnik on Tuesday.

India

• India continues to follow trajectory of Steady Decline in Active Cases India PIB 16 Feb 2021 -- The Active Cases in the country are showing a consistent decline. India's total Active Caseload has dropped to 1.36 lakh (1,36,872) today.
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccination- Day 32 India PIB 16 Feb 2021 -- The COVID19 vaccination coverage to healthcare and frontline workers has crossed 88.5 lakhs doses today.
• Number of COVID-19 Cases in India Rises by 9,121 SPA 16 Feb 2021 -- India has confirmed 9,121 new cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, with the total number of those infected having reached 10,925,710, the country's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
• Mumbai Mayor Hints at Possibility of New Lockdown as COVID Cases Rise Sputnik 16 Feb 2021 -- On Sunday, Maharashtra recorded 4,000 new COVID cases while Mumbai reported 600. As the Indian government is claiming the highest recovery rate in the world, the rising cases in some parts of the country have triggered fear among citizens and the authorities.

Iran

• Official: COVID-19 claims 89 more lives in Iran IRNA 16 Feb 2021 -- Some 89 more Iranians have died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 59,117, Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Tuesday.

South Korea

• S. Korea Signs Deals with Novavax, Pfizer to Secure Additional Vaccines for 23 Mln People SPA 16 Feb 2021 -- South Korea has secured additional new coronavirus vaccines for 23 million people by signing contracts with U.S. drugmakers Novavax and Pfizer, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Japan

• Japan to Begin Vaccine Rollout Wednesday VOA 16 Feb 2021 -- Japan's vaccine minister announced Tuesday the country plans to start its coronavirus vaccine program Wednesday, focused initially on inoculating 40,000 health care workers.
• Japan's Daily Coronavirus Cases below 1,000 SPA 16 Feb 2021 -- A total of 965 daily coronavirus infections were reported in Japan on Monday, coming in below the 1,000 mark for the first time in three months, while the number of deaths related to COVID-19 topped 7,000, a Kyodo News tally showed.

North Korea

• S Korea's Intelligence Agency Claims Pyongyang Tried to Steal Pfizer Vaccine Technology, Reports Say Sputnik 16 Feb 2021 -- It is unknown whether the alleged hackers succeeded in getting useful information from the pharmaceutical company.
• North Korea Hacked Pfizer to Steal COVID-19 Vaccine Data, South Korea Says VOA 16 Feb 2021 -- North Korea launched a cyberattack on U.S. drugmaker Pfizer to steal the company's COVID-19 vaccine data, according to South Korea's intelligence agency.

Peru

• Nearly 500 Peruvian Officials Got Vaccinated Against COVID-19 in Secret, President Says Sputnik 16 Feb 2021 -- Over 480 officials in Peru, both from the current and former government, received coronavirus vaccine shots in secret, taking advantage of their positions, President Francisco Sagasti has announced.
• Peru President Blasts Gov't Officials for Getting COVID Vaccinations Outside Clinical Trials VOA 16 Feb 2021 -- Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti said late Monday he is angry and disappointed that 487 people, including former ministers Pilar Mazzetti (Health) and Elizabeth Astete (Foreign Affairs) used their government positions to get vaccinated against COVID-19 outside of the clinical trials.

Other Countries

• Vietnamese Top Leaders Ignore COVID-19 Protocol During Lunar New Year Holiday Radio Free Asia 16 Feb 2021 -- After publicly backing a nationwide public health campaign, three of Vietnam's top government officials were caught without facemasks at crowded public events over the Lunar New Year holiday, state media revealed in photos that drew online criticism.
• UAE Announces 3,236 New COVID-19 Cases, 14 Deaths in Last 24 Hours SPA 16 Feb 2021 -- The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced that it conducted 193,163 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).
• Tunisia Reports 305 New COVID-19 Cases SPA 16 Feb 2021 -- Tunisia reported 305 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and 31 new deaths, during the past 24 hours.
• Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine Registration in Togo is 'Ongoing', Foreign Minister Says Sputnik 16 Feb 2021 -- Togo has already launched the necessary procedures to register Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in the country, Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Dussey told Sputnik in an interview.
• South Africa Scraps AstraZeneca; WHO Okays Vaccine's Emergency Use for Other Countries VOA 16 Feb 2021 -- Africa's viral epicenter, South Africa, confirmed Tuesday that it is jettisoning plans to use the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and will switch to a different one. That announcement came a day after the vaccine, which is the leading choice for the developing world, was cleared for emergency use authorization from the World Health Organization.
• Colombia Receives its First Vaccine to Battle COVID-19 VOA 16 Feb 2021 -- Colombia is set to begin immunizations against COVID-19 after receiving its first shipment of vaccines on Monday.