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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Federal Aid Dispatched to Dark, Freezing Texas VOA 18 Feb 2021 -- Federal aid moved into Texas and other states Thursday amid a winter storm that left more than 1 million people shivering in the dark after the state's independent power grid failed. Alabama and Louisiana also saw widespread electrical outages.
• WHO Sends Ebola Vaccine to Guinea VOA 18 Feb 2021 -- The World Health Organization said Thursday it is sending 11,000 doses of Ebola vaccine and more than 100 experts to Guinea to address an Ebola outbreak in the West African nation.
• Government of Canada takes next step toward construction of offshore oceanographic science vessel for Canadian Coast Guard Canada 18 Feb 2021 -- Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), the Government of Canada is committed to providing members of the Canadian Coast Guard with the modern vessels they need to safely and effectively do their important work on behalf of all Canadians, while delivering important economic benefits to the regions of the country.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• WHO Launches 2021 Strategic Plan to Fight Pandemic VOA 18 Feb 2021 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Thursday launched its 2021 COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) designed to help all nations fight the pandemic and is seeking nearly $2 billion in donations to fund it.
• WHO seeks $1.96 billion for 2021 Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Response UN News 18 Feb 2021 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking nearly $2 billion to fund its 2021 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for COVID-19 response which, was launched on Thursday in Geneva.
• Coronavirus variants spreading rapidly in Germany, health minister warns Global Times 18 Feb 2021 -- The more contagious variants of coronavirus are spreading rapidly in Germany, Minister of Health Jens Spahn told journalists here on Wednesday.
• Study Reveals Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Less Effective Against South African Variant VOA 18 Feb 2021 -- A new study shows the new Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the South African variant of the virus, although it generates a slightly lower immune response.
• Vaccine for COVID South Africa 'Mutant' Virus Variant May Take Months, Reports Say Sputnik 18 Feb 2021 -- US government infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has warned that it will probably take several months to develop a vaccine for the South African variant of the novel coronavirus, media reports said.

United States

• COVID-19 Shaves 1 Year off US Life Expectancy VOA 18 Feb 2021 -- The COVID-19 pandemic has erased more than a decade of improvements in life expectancy in the United States and widened racial and ethnic inequalities, according to new government data.
• As Vaccine Confidence Grows, So Do Concerns About Doubters VOA 18 Feb 2021 -- As vaccination efforts ramp up in the United States, experts say efforts to deal with doubters need to increase along with them.
• U.S. reports over 3 mln child COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Feb 2021 -- Over 3 million children in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, according to a latest report of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children's Hospital Association.
• One-third of US military refusing Covid vaccine as Pfizer reported less effective against variant Press TV 18 Feb 2021 -- About one-third of the US military have refused to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, despite significant virus infection levels in the forces, Pentagon officials said.
• National Guard vaccinates hundreds of thousands of people Army News 18 Feb 2021 -- National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are vaccinating about 72,000 people a day across the country in the Guard's ongoing, year-long effort to help combat the spread of COVID-19, Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus told members of Congress Feb. 17.

China

• Carrie Lam to take Sinovac vaccine as HK stats inoculations Global Times 18 Feb 2021 -- Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on social media on Thursday that she will take the Chinese mainland-developed Sinovac vaccine as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will receive the first batch of 1 million doses on Friday, and online reservations will open on February 23.
• Beijing kicks off massive vaccination drive, estimated to finish in May Global Times 18 Feb 2021 -- Beijing has launched a massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign after it basically finished the inoculation of key groups around the Spring Festival holidays, with many districts expected to complete the drive in May.
• China attaches no political strings to COVID-19 vaccine cooperation: Chinese FM Global Times 18 Feb 2021 -- China never attaches any political strings in international cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines nor plans to gain any economic benefits from it, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a virtual meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) concerning the COVID-19 vaccine distribution on Wednesday.
• China clears COVID-19 high-risk areas as Spring Festival holiday season wraps up Global Times 18 Feb 2021 -- With Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province downgrading COVID-19 risk levels in two areas from high to low, China cleared all high-risk areas on Thursday as Spring Festival holidays came to an end. The country did not see a surge in infections during the seven-day holidays, when people usually go back home for family reunions.
• Chinese manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines open to all potential users, says ambassador Global Times 18 Feb 2021 -- Chinese manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines are open to all potential users, said Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Liu Yantao on Tuesday.
• China rejects claims WHO experts not given full access in COVID-19 origin probe Global Times 18 Feb 2021 -- Can the US provide all the raw data of its COVID-19 cases? Can it conduct full scale collaboration with the WHO, and can it invite WHO experts to probe virus origins in the country? These were questions asked by FM spokesperson Hua Chunying in response to recent suspicions voiced by Western politicians and media over WHO experts' work in China.
• Wang Yi: World should reject vaccine nationalism, promote equitable distribution of vaccines People's Daily 18 Feb 2021 -- The world should come together to reject vaccine nationalism, promote fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, and in particular, make them accessible and affordable for developing countries, including those in conflicts, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.
• Chinese state councilor makes four proposals for combating pandemic People's Daily 18 Feb 2021 -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday made four proposals for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and making new contributions to safeguarding peace.
• Hong Kong approves Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use People's Daily 18 Feb 2021 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday gave nod to the emergency use of the inactivated vaccine produced by Sinovac Biotech, two days after a panel of experts recommended the vaccine to the authorities.
• Chinese mainland reports no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Feb 2021 -- The Chinese mainland reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the National Health Commission said Thursday.

Europe

• EU launches bio-defense preparedness plan against COVID-19 variants People's Daily 18 Feb 2021 -- The European Union (EU) on Wednesday stepped up its efforts to detect and fight COVID-19 variants by bringing together various stakeholders to develop new and adapted vaccines.
• UK to launch world's first COVID-19 human challenge study Global Times 18 Feb 2021 -- Britain will be the first country to run a COVID-19 human challenge study, on which the country's clinical trials ethics body has given a favorable opinion, the Imperial College London announced on Wednesday.
• Hungary receives first shipment of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines People's Daily 18 Feb 2021 -- The first batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine purchased by Hungary arrived at Budapest on Tuesday.
• Visegrad Leaders Push For Quicker Deliveries Of COVID-19 Vaccines To Central Europe RFE/RL 18 Feb 2021 -- Leaders of the Visegrad Group of nations pushed for faster deliveries of vaccines to their Central European countries to help fight the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in the region.

Russia

• Russia Expected to Register New Coronavirus Vaccine CoviVac on February 20, Officials Say Sputnik 18 Feb 2021 -- The CoviVac vaccine, which was developed by Chumakov research center, is expected to be registered on February 20, the official Russian website with COVID-19 data and advice said Thursday.

India

• Third Topmost globally, India's cumulative vaccination coverage has crossed 94 lakhs India PIB 18 Feb 2021 -- India is the third topmost country globally with the highest cumulative vaccination numbers, after USA and the UK.
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccination- Day 34 India PIB 18 Feb 2021 -- The cumulative number of COVID19 vaccine doses administered to healthcare and frontline workers has reached nearly 98.5 lakhs today.
• Number of COVID-19 Cases in India Rises by 12,881 Over Past 24 Hours SPA 18 Feb 2021 -- India has confirmed 12,881 new cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, with the total number of those infected having reached 10,950,201, the country's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Thursday, according to Sputnik News Agency.

Iran

• Official: Iran identifies 21 cases of UK mutation coronavirus IRNA 18 Feb 2021 -- Spokesman for Iran's Coronavirus Headquarters Alireza Raeisi on Thursday said that some 21 patients infected with the new mutation coronavirus rapidly spreading in the UK have been detected in the country.
• COVID-19 claims 80 more lives in Iran: Official IRNA 18 Feb 2021 -- Some 80 more Iranians have died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 59,264, Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Thursday.
• Iran calls for equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccine IRNA 18 Feb 2021 -- Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi said that a successful fight against COVID-19 requires providing assistance to developing countries, equitable distribution of vaccines among world nations, and the removal of sanctions.
• Iran at UN: Fair vaccine distribution, lifting of sanctions key to global fight against COVID-19 Press TV 18 Feb 2021 -- Iran's envoy to the United Nations says a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines among all nations and removal of sanctions are among the important requisites for a successful battle against the deadly disease.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 327 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 18 Feb 2021 -- The Ministry of Health said in a statement today that 327 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; thus bringing the total number to 374,029 confirmed cases, including 2,562 active cases, receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 493 critical cases.
• SFDA Approves Importing, Using Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine SPA 18 Feb 2021 -- Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has approved importing and using the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine.

Taiwan

• Health minister certain that BioNTech will sign COVID-19 vaccine deal CNA 18 Feb 2021 -- Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih- chung (陳時中) said Thursday that he was "certain" that BioNTech (BNT) will sign a deal to supply COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan, just one day after he announced that such a deal fell through in December due to "outside interference."
• Taiwan Affairs Office slams DPP authorities' conspiracy on failure to buy COVID-19 vaccines from BNT Global Times 18 Feb 2021 -- The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council slammed rumors that the Chinese mainland pressured German Biotech company BioNTech (BNT) not to sell COVID-19 vaccines to the island, saying that the Taiwan authorities' complaint of a so-called difficult situation is untenable and results from its own anti-mainland political maneuvers.

Other Countries

• WHO roots for training of African health workers to boost COVID-19 vaccine roll-out People's Daily 18 Feb 2021 -- A seamless roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine in Africa hinges on improving the knowledge of the continent's frontline health care workers in critical areas like storage, supply chains management and effective communication to the public, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
• Senegal receives first batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 18 Feb 2021 -- Senegal on Wednesday night received the first batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine.
• UAE Announces 3,294 New COVID-19 Cases, 18 Deaths SPA 18 Feb 2021 -- The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced that it conducted 171,667 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
• First Batch of Sputnik V Vaccine Against Coronavirus Arrives in Paraguay, Reports Say Sputnik 18 Feb 2021 -- The first batch of doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus has arrived in Paraguay, media reported.
• Guinea Negotiating With Russia for 400,000 Doses of Sputnik V, Health Minister Assistant Says Sputnik 18 Feb 2021 -- Guinea is negotiating with Russia to obtain 400,000 doses of Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, Mohamed Lamine Yansane, an assistant to the country's health minister, said on Thursday.
• Zimbabwe Rolls Out Coronavirus Vaccination Program VOA 18 Feb 2021 -- Zimbabwe rolled out its COVID-19 vaccine program Thursday, with health workers getting the first of 200,000 Sinopharm vaccines donated by China.
• Malawi Ends COVID-19 School Restrictions After Infections Drop VOA 18 Feb 2021 -- Malawi will reopen schools on Monday (Feb 22), five weeks after President Lazarus Chakwera suspended classes due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. Malawi's Presidential Task-Force on COVID-19 determined it is safe to resume classes after a drop in the rate of infection.