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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Former Security Officials Cite Intelligence Failure on Capitol Riot VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- Former officials responsible for securing the U.S. Capitol testified Tuesday before Congress for the first time since the January 6 attack on the complex, blaming deficient intelligence for the failure to prevent what they characterized as a "planned and coordinated" insurrection by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
• US Security Officials Blame Intelligence for Failure to Prepare for Capitol Assault Sputnik 23 Feb 2021 -- US security officials told a Senate panel on Tuesday that an assault on the Capitol caught them off guard as there was no intelligence to predict it and all preparations were made for a different scenario.
• US security officials blame 'poor intelligence' for deadly Capitol riot Press TV 23 Feb 2021 -- Senior law enforcement officials in charge of security for the US Capitol, testifying publicly for the first time since the January 6 insurrection, have blamed poor intelligence and each other for failing to pre-empt the deadly riot.
• US Tech Executives Warn SolarWinds Hack Bigger, More Reckless Than Previously Disclosed VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- Executives with technology companies impacted by the massive cybersecurity breach known as the SolarWinds hack are giving U.S. lawmakers more reason to worry, warning the intrusion is both bigger and more dangerous than first realized.
• Microsoft President Blames Russia Intelligence Agency for SolarWinds Hack Sputnik 23 Feb 2021 -- Microsoft President Brad Smith told a US Senate panel there is substantial evidence that a Russian intelligence agency was involved in the massive SolarWinds hacking attack and there are no leads that would incriminate other suspects.
• UN rights experts call for US to address ongoing violations at 'Kafkaesque' Guantánamo military prison UN News 23 Feb 2021 -- In response to the Biden Administration's announced review into closing the infamous Guantánamo Bay detention centre in Cuba, independent UN human rights experts on Tuesday said it was vital to also address ongoing violations being committed against the 40 or so inmates still incarcerated there.
• Readout of Secretary Mayorkas' Call with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson DHS 23 Feb 2021
• CISA Announces New Enhanced Cybersecurity Services Provider CISA 23 Feb 2021 -- Today, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced that Viasat, a global communications company, will join CISA's Enhanced Cybersecurity Services (ECS) program as a new service provider (SP).
• CISA and AVANGRID Conduct Virtual Exercise to Improve Emergency Response and Recovery Plans CISA 23 Feb 2021 -- Today, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and AVANGRID, a sustainable energy company providing services in 24 states, conducted a virtual tabletop exercise to test and identify the safety procedures AVANGRID has implemented since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify additional procedures necessary to ensure employee safety operations and business continuity in the out years.
• Cyber Workforce Vital to Protecting National Security DoD News 23 Feb 2021 -- During Engineers Week, the Defense Department is highlighting its efforts to develop a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce and to increase understanding of and interest in engineering and technology.
• Guinea Receives Ebola Vaccine, Neighbors Prepare VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- West African countries are taking steps to prevent a regional outbreak of Ebola after the deadly virus killed at least five people in Guinea.
• Ebola infects 14 people, kills 9 in Guinea, DRC: Africa CDC People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Two African countries of Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have reported 14 Ebola virus cases and nine deaths so far, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Monday.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Weekly Epidemiological Update WHO 23 Feb 2021
• World Leaders Lead Discussion on Global COVID-19 Recovery VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- The European Union and the World Health Organization teamed with the international advocacy organization Global Citizen on Tuesday to host a virtual panel discussion on global recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• High-income countries' vaccine deals undermine COVAX: WHO chief People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- World Health Organization (WHO) chief said on Monday that deals between some high-income countries and manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines are undermining the WHO-led COVAX initiative by reducing the number of doses it can purchase.
• Two-thirds of poorer countries cut education budgets due to COVID-19: report People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Despite additional funding needs, two-thirds of low- and lower-middle-income countries have cut their public education budgets since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report released Monday.
• WHO, UNITAID Form Task Force to Secure Oxygen for COVID Patients VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- The World Health Organization, the global health initiative UNITAID and a consortium of partners Tuesday announced a new task force to secure oxygen supplies for COVID-19 patients in low and middle-income nations.

United States

• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 23 Feb 2021
• Defense Department Has Multiple Priorities in COVID-19 Battle DoD News 23 Feb 2021 -- BY When the COVID-19 virus spread to the United States, the Defense Department took on many roles: protecting its people, supporting the national pandemic response, and ensuring the armed forces were ready to meet DOD's national security mission, a department official said today.
• U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpass 500,000 as virus variants pose new threats People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- The U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed the grim milestone of 500,000 on Monday as key indicators of virus transmission in the country have continued to fall, while emerging variants are causing fresh concerns.
• NYC COVID-19 test positivity rate down to 7.20 pct, new cases up to 3,116: mayor People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- New York City's latest COVID-19 test positivity rate on a seven-day average went down to 7.20 percent, compared with 7.31 percent one day earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted on Monday.
• U.S. COVID-19 deaths top 500,000 -- Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- The United States reached the grim milestone of half a million coronavirus deaths on Monday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• Bells toll as US passes 500,000 COVID deaths; Fauci blames political divisions Press TV 23 Feb 2021 -- The United States COVID-19 death toll has passed half a million as US experts blame political divisions for the "stunning" milestone.
• US Drug Regulator Removes Key Requirement for Future COVID Vaccine Approvals VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- As the United States races against time and devastating winter weather to vaccinate more than 300 million people against COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a new set of guidelines that removes a key requirement for vaccine approval.

China

• HK's vaccine slots booked in one day as city opens reservations Global Times 23 Feb 2021 -- On Tuesday, the first day that reservations opened for Hong Kong residents to get their COVID-19 vaccines, all slots in the following two week were immediately booked. Observers believe that the city may achieve an immunity barrier by year-end.
• China's 2nd protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine to enter clinical trials, easy to mass produce Global Times 23 Feb 2021 -- China's COVID-19 protein subunit vaccines have reported encouraging progress as a leading Chinese vaccine producer, Sinopharm, plans to bring its newly developed recombinant subunit vaccine candidate into clinical trials.
• 42,000 people book for COVID-19 vaccination in Hong Kong People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- A total of 42,000 people have booked COVID-19 vaccine appointments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as of 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, said Chief Executive Carrie Lam at a press conference.
• Chinese mainland reports no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- No new locally transmitted confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported Monday across the Chinese mainland, the National Health Commission said Tuesday.
• Macao starts inoculating non-prioritized local residents with COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Monday started inoculating local residents who are not in prioritized groups with COVID-19 vaccines produced by the mainland.
• China Tightens Restrictions on Tibetan New Year Events, Citing COVID-19 Concerns Radio Free Asia 23 Feb 2021 -- Authorities in Tibetan areas of China have further tightened restrictions on public gatherings at Buddhist monasteries during the Lunar New Year period, limiting attendance at previously widely attended religious ceremonies in one case to the resident monks, Tibetan sources say.

Europe

• British Leader Optimistic England's COVID-19 Restrictions Could End June 21 VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday he is very optimistic that all COVID-19 restrictions in England could end June 21.
• UK records another 10,641 coronavirus cases, 178 deaths People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Another 10,641 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,126,150, according to official figures released Monday.
• Italy keeps regional travel ban in place amid concerns for COVID-19 variants People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Italy extended an inter-regional travel ban for another month on Monday, as health authorities were increasingly concerned for the circulation of coronavirus variants despite a relatively stable pandemic scenario.
• France records 333 coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- France on Monday registered 333 new deaths caused by the coronavirus, and the number of hospitalized patients also increased further, official figures showed.

Russia

• Russia Reports 11,823 New COVID-19 Cases, 417 Deaths SPA 23 Feb 2021 -- Russia on Tuesday reported 11,823 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, including 1,198 in Moscow, taking the national tally to 4,189,153 since the pandemic began, according to Reuters.
• Guyana Becomes 33rd Country to Approve Russia's COVID-19 Vaccine Sputnik V Sputnik 23 Feb 2021 -- Guyana's health ministry has authorized Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced on Tuesday.

India

• India's Active Caseload below 1.5 lakh; stands at 1.47 lakh today India PIB 23 Feb 2021 -- The country's Active Caseload has fallen below 1.50 lakh. It stands at 1,47,306 today. The present active caseload now consists of 1.34% of India's total Positive Cases.
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccination- Day 39 India PIB 23 Feb 2021 -- The cumulative number of COVID19 vaccine doses administered to healthcare and frontline workers has crossed 1.19 Crore today in the country.
• COVID19 Update India PIB 23 Feb 2021 -- There is no direct relation between the recent surge in COVID19 cases in Maharashtra and some other States with the mutant virus strains N440K and E484Q of COVID19. This was clarified by Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR at the weekly Press Conference on COVID19, here today.

Iran

• COVID-19 claims 91 lives in past 24 hours in Iran: Official IRNA 23 Feb 2021 -- Some 91 more Iranians have died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 59,663, Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia

• 335 New Confirmed Covid-19 Cases, 323 Recoveries Reported, in Saudi Arabia SPA 23 Feb 2021 -- Official Spokesman of the Ministry of Health Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdulaali said in a press conference today that 335 new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 375,668, including 2,463 active cases undergoing treatment.

Taiwan

• AstraZeneca vaccine doses to be administered at least 8 weeks apart CNA 23 Feb 2021 -- People in Taiwan who accept the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will receive their first and second doses at least eight weeks apart, in accord with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and a new study, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Tuesday.
• Taiwanese team identifies 4 potential antiviral drugs for COVID-19 CNA 23 Feb 2021 -- A research team from a domestic university has identified four promising antiviral drug candidates that can inhibit the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the team leader said Tuesday.
• Taiwan continues strict COVID-19 control measures People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Taiwan will continue to impose strict epidemic control measures from March 1 as the COVID-19 pandemic remained severe across the world, the local epidemic monitoring agency said Monday.

NATO

• Coronavirus response: NATO support to Tunisia NATO 23 Feb 2021 -- On February 22, Tunisia received 100,000 FFP2 masks disposable and 15,000 disposable suits for biological protection, from the Pandemic Response Trust Fund. The donation was coordinated by NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) in response to Tunisia's request for international assistance. It was made possible with financial contributions by Belgium, Germany and Norway.

Cambodia

• Cambodian troops inoculated with Chinese COVID-19 vaccines People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- The 16th batch of Chinese military medical experts to Cambodia, led by the Military Attache's Office of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, went to Koh Kong Province to assist the Cambodian medical personnel.
• Cambodia to deport foreigners for COVID-19 quarantine rules violation People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has approved the deportation of any foreigners who violate the COVID-19 quarantine rules, escape treatment and refuse cooperation with authorities.
• Cambodia confirms 25 new COVID-19 cases, tally at 593 People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Cambodia on Tuesday reported 25 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections in the kingdom to 593, said a Ministry of Health (MoH) statement.

Mexico

• Mexico begins application of Chinese Sinovac vaccine People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Mexican health authorities on Monday began to vaccinate older adults with a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac, after a shipment of doses arrived on Saturday.
• Mexico Posts 2,252 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 23 Feb 2021 -- Mexico on Monday registered 429 additional fatalities due to the coronavirus, bringing the total in the country to 180,536 deaths.
• Mexican President Calls for UN Intervention on Global Vaccine Rollout VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called on the United Nations on Tuesday to guarantee equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.
• First Batch of Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine Arrives in Mexico Sputnik 23 Feb 2021 -- Mexico has become the first country in North America to approve Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), responsible for global production and distribution of the Sputnik V vaccine, said earier.
• Mexico Receives First Shipment of Russian Vaccine to Fight COVID-19 VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- Mexico received its first batch of Russia's COVID-19 Sputnik V vaccine, with 200 thousand doses arriving late Monday night.

Other Countries

• Mongolia's Defense Ministry receives China-donated COVID-19 vaccine PLA Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Mongolia's Ministry of Defense on Tuesday held a handover ceremony to receive 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine donated by China.
• Afghanistan Kicks Off COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Amid Rising Violence RFE/RL Gandhara 23 Feb 2021 -- Afghanistan has begun its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, initially inoculating security force members, healthcare workers, and journalists as the country tries to navigate the coronavirus pandemic amid a sharp rise in violence.
• US anxious over Chinese LatAm vaccine deals Global Times 23 Feb 2021 -- The US is getting anxious amid news that Chinese COVID-19 vaccines are being delivered to more Latin American countries, including Uruguay that will receive its first batch from Sinovac on Thursday, while Pfizer deals with the region appear slow.
• Brazil applies new restrictions as COVID-19 deaths surpass 247,000 People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- The Brazilian states of Sao Paulo and Bahia on Monday decided to strengthen mobility restrictions on residents to reduce COVID-19 infection rates and the pressure on the hospital system as the country's total cases surpassed 247,000.
• Africa's COVID-19 cases exceed 3.83 mln People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent has reached 3,830,631 as of Monday evening, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.
• Argentina reports 5,417 new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Argentina registered 5,417 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the national tally to 2,069,751, the health ministry said.
• Ethiopia reports 735 new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Ethiopia registered 735 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 153,541 as of Monday evening, the country's Ministry of Health said.
• Turkey reports 8,104 new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Turkey on Monday confirmed 8,104 new COVID-19 cases, including 623 symptomatic patients, taking the total number of positive cases in the country to 2,646,526.
• Israel registers 6,516 new COVID-19 cases, 754,481 in total People's Daily 23 Feb 2021 -- Israel's Ministry of Health reported 6,516 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the total confirmed tally in the country to 754,481.
• Ukraine Takes First Delivery of AstraZeneca Vaccine For COVID-19 RFE/RL 23 Feb 2021 -- The first batch of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Ukraine.
• Lebanon Reports 2,723 New Cases of Covid-19 SPA 23 Feb 2021 -- Lebanon reported 2,723 new cases of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) as well as 59 deaths during the past 24 hours due to Covid-19 complications.
• Oman's Total Covid-19 Cases Stand at 139362 SPA 23 Feb 2021 -- The total number of positive Covid-19 cases in the Sultanate of Oman reached 139362 while the number of recoveries stood at 130653, comprising 94 percent, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.
• First wave of COVID-19 vaccine syringes start journey to Maldives UN News 23 Feb 2021 -- The critical task of ensuring that all countries have enough medical equipment to vaccinate people safely against COVID-19 gathered pace on Tuesday, with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) announcing that 100,000 syringes have been sent to the Maldives, ahead of an inoculation drive there.
• Cuba Imposes New Restrictions in Havana to Slow COVID-19 Spread VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- Cuba's capital city of Havana is imposing a series of streets closures in densely populated areas of the city in an effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19.