• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence

• Security Menu                     

• Systems
• Industry
• Operations
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Space

Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Statement from Press Secretary Jen Psaki The White House 12 May 2021
• Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on Executive Order Charting a New Course to Improve the Nation's Cybersecurity and Protect Federal Government Networks The White House 12 May 2021
• Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on Executive Order Charting a New Course to Improve the Nation's Cybersecurity and Protect Federal Government Networks The White House 12 May 2021
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Michael Regan, May 12, 2021 The White House 12 May 2021
• Homeland Security Chief Vows Government-wide Response to Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack VOA 12 May 2021 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is leading a governmentwide response to the cyberattack that shuttered the largest fuel pipeline in the United States last week, sparking concerns about gasoline shortages.
• Statement by Secretary Mayorkas on Charting New Course to Improve the Nation's Cybersecurity and Protect Federal Government Networks DHS 12 May 2021 -- Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement in support of President Biden's Executive Order to improve our nation's cybersecurity and protect federal government networks:
• Biden Signs Executive Order Improving Cybersecurity After Recent Hackings Sputnik 12 May 2021 -- President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that is expected to improve cybersecurity and incident response efforts after the recent cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline, the White Hosue said in a release.
• Colonial Pipeline Restarts Operations, Will Take 'Several Days' to Resume Normal Service Sputnik 12 May 2021 -- Earlier, the Colonial Pipeline underwent devastating setbacks after being the focus of a recent cyberattack. The pipeline serves a critical part of the US petroleum infrastructure as it transports nearly half of the US East Coat's fuel supply.
• Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS US Dept. of Justice 12 May 2021 -- Defendant Disseminated ISIS Propaganda and Bomb-Making Instructions in an Effort to Incite Acts of Terrorism and Violence in New York City and Elsewhere
• Treasury Identifies Sinaloa-based Mexican Narcotics Trafficker That Helps Fuel the U.S. Opioid Epidemic US Treasury 12 May 2021 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified Jesus Gonzalez Penuelas and the Gonzalez Penuelas Drug Trafficking Organization (Gonzalez Penuelas DTO) as Significant Foreign Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act).

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Independent Panel Calls Global Health Threats Council VOA 12 May 2021 -- The leaders of independent panel charged with examining the cause and response of the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday called for a better, more cooperative and transparent global system for dealing with future worldwide health emergencies.
• Top COVID probe urges bold overhaul of pandemic prevention measures UN News 12 May 2021 -- A prestigious World Health Organization (WHO) appointed panel on Wednesday urged bold action to end the COVID-19 crisis, while also calling for the UN agency to be given greater authority to respond more quickly to future threats.

United States

• U.S. Records 22,258 New COVID-19 Cases SPA 12 May 2021 -- The United States of America recorded 22,258 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, along with 415 deaths in the past 24 hours.
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces Five New Pop-up Vaccination Sites at NFTA Stations in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Areas New York State 12 May 2021
• CDC recommends Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents amid concerns by families Press TV 12 May 2021 -- A federal advisory panel claimed that children between 12 to 15 years old can receive the COVID-19 vaccine made by the Pfizer and BioNTech.

China

• Sinovac can produce updated COVID-19 vaccines against variants in 10 weeks Global Times 12 May 2021 -- Amid global concerns over the variant found in India that appears to be of high infectiousness and transmissibility, Chinese experts said Chinese vaccine manufacturers will be able to produce suitable vaccines against the variant in about two months.
• China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine safe, efficacious: WHO official People's Daily 12 May 2021 -- China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, very much used globally, have been considered both safe and efficacious, according to Mariangela Simao, World Health Organization (WHO) assistant director general for access to health products.
• Hong Kong reports local case again after 4 days of zero increase People's Daily 12 May 2021 -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported Wednesday two new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 11,814.
• Hong Kong reports no local COVID-19 infection for 4 straight days People's Daily 12 May 2021 -- Hong Kong has seen zero local infection of COVID-19 for four consecutive days.
• Over 332 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across China People's Daily 12 May 2021 -- More than 332.96 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China as of Monday, the National Health Commission said Tuesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 16 new COVID-19 cases, all imported People's Daily 12 May 2021 -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 16 new COVID-19 cases, all of which were imported, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Wednesday.

Europe

• UK Records 2,474 New COVID-19 Cases SPA 12 May 2021 -- The United Kingdom recorded 2,474 new cases of the Coronavirus along with 20 deaths.
• Boris Johnson Says Public Inquiry Into COVID-19 Response Will Likely Begin in Spring 2022 Sputnik 12 May 2021 -- Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that "we should be mindful" of the scale and resources the inquiry requires so that it doesn't inadvertently distract NHS workers "at the peak of our struggle against the disease".
• Germany to Use Digital Immunity Certificate VOA 12 May 2021 -- German Health Minister Jens Spahn said Wednesday the nation is prepared to roll out a digital "immunity app" to show proof of vaccination for Germans by the end of June.

Russia

• Russia Reports 8,217 New COVID-19 Cases, 355 Deaths SPA 12 May 2021 -- Russia reported 8,217 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, including 2,718 in Moscow, taking the national infection tally to 4,905,059, Reuters reported.
• 'Lying As If We Are Morons': Russian Demographer Calls Official COVID-19 Statistics 'Disinformation' RFE/RL 12 May 2021 -- President Vladimir Putin was hopeful in remarks on May 10 about the coronavirus pandemic in Russia.

India

• India COVID Variant Spreads to Nearly 50 Countries VOA 12 May 2021 -- A day after declaring the COVID-19 variant first detected in India as one of global concern, the World Health Organization announced Wednesday that the variant has spread to 49 countries.
• India's Active Caseload Declines for the Second Consecutive day India PIB 12 May 2021 -- India's total Active Caseload has dipped to 37,04,099 today. It now comprises 15.87% of the country's total Positive Cases.
• COVID-19 Vaccination Update- Day 117 India PIB 12 May 2021 -- The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 17,70,85,371 as per the 8 pm provisional report today.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews Public Health Response to COVID-19 and Progress of Vaccination with 8 States/UT India PIB 12 May 2021 -- Dr
• WHO has not associated the term "Indian Variant" with B.1.617, now classified as Variant of Concern India PIB 12 May 2021 -- Several media reports have covered the news of World Health Organisation (WHO) classifying B.1.617 as variant of global concern
• Swift Clearing and Apportioning of Global Aid by Government of India has strengthened Tertiary Medical Care across States and UTs for COVID management India PIB 12 May 2021 -- In the spirit of goodwill, the global community has been helping India through international donations and aid of COVID-19 relief medical supplies and equipment since 27 April 2021 to support India to address the challenges of COVID management.
• OPERATION SAMUDRA SETU II - INS TARKASH BRINGS MEDICAL OXYGEN CONSIGNMENT FROM QATAR India PIB 12 May 2021 -- As part of ongoing COVID relief Operation 'Samudra Setu II' launched by Indian Navy, INS Tarkash, with two Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) filled (20 MT each) cryogenic containers and 230 Oxygen cylinders embarked, arrived at Mumbai on 12 May 21
• Relentless efforts by Indian Air Force & Indian Navy to provide critical COVID-19 medical supplies India PIB 12 May 2021 -- Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy (IN) continue to work round the clock to provide oxygen and other medical supplies to the civil administration to tackle the current COVID-19 situation in the country
• 100th Oxygen Express of Indian Railways delivers relief India PIB 12 May 2021 -- Overcoming all hurdles and finding new solutions, Indian Railways is continuing its journey of bringing relief by delivering Liquid Medical Oxygen(LMO) to various states across the country
• India's COVID-19 death toll surpasses 250,000 People's Daily 12 May 2021 -- India's COVID-19 death toll crossed the 250,000-mark as the total number of cases surpassed 23 million on Wednesday, confirmed the federal health ministry.
• Oxygen shortages hit India amid 2nd wave of COVID-19 People's Daily 12 May 2021 -- At least 11 COVID-19 patients died on Monday evening in a hospital in the southeastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh due to oxygen shortages, local media reported Tuesday.
• India Braces for Third COVID Wave, Allows Vaccine Trials for Children Aged 2-18 Sputnik 12 May 2021 -- India started vaccinating its population in the 18-45 age group earlier this month. Prior to this, only those above the age of 45 were being vaccinated. In order to protect children, federal and state governments ordered the closure of schools last March and most classes are now held online.
• India Sees New Record High of More Than 4,200 COVID-19 Fatalities SPA 12 May 2021 -- India has documented 348,421 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, taking the total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic in the country to 23,340,938, TASS News Agency reported.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 366 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 12 May 2021 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran exceeded 75,934 with 366 more Iranians who died from the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.
• Iran approves Italy-made AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine IRNA 12 May 2021 -- The spokesman for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Kianoush Jahanpour said that Iran has approved AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine made in Italy.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 1,020 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 908 Recoveries Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 12 May 2021 -- The Ministry of Health announced today in a statement that 1,020 new confirmed cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 429,389, including 9,268 active cases.

Taiwan

• New record set for domestic COVID-19 cases in Taiwan (update) CNA 12 May 2021 -- Taiwan on Wednesday confirmed 16 new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases, the highest number of domestic infections reported in a single day in the country since the outbreak began.
• Escalating COVID-19 boosts vaccination numbers to new high CNA 12 May 2021 -- Taiwan saw a record daily high COVID-19 vaccination number on Tuesday, at 11,018, as the disease has spread to communities, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said Wednesday.
• CECC puts forth 6-point plan to halt community spread of COVID-19 CNA 12 May 2021 -- The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday it will implement a six-pronged strategy to curb the recent rise in domestic COVID-19 cases, which will include registration of contact information at all business places.
• Tourism market takes heavy hit amid COVID-19 surge CNA 12 May 2021 -- The escalating COVID-19 numbers in Taiwan this week has caught the local tourism sector off-guard, with some reporting financial losses and expressing pessimism toward the future market outlook on Wednesday.
• Universal testing still unnecessary in Taiwan: CECC officials CNA 12 May 2021 -- Officials from the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) indicated Wednesday that Taiwan will not carry out universal testing for COVID-19, even though the coronavirus disease has spread to local communities, saying such an approach was "useless" and would only make matters worse.
• Taiwan reports 7 new local COVID-19 cases People's Daily 12 May 2021 -- Taiwan reported seven new local COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with the source of infection not yet confirmed for six of them, the local disease monitoring agency said.

Other Countries

• Nepal reports record high one-day COVID-19 death toll, new infections People's Daily 12 May 2021 -- Nepal on Tuesday reported over 200 deaths from COVID-19 for the first time, and the dire situation has led to the extension of the lockdown in the Kathmandu Valley and the suspension of international flight till later this month.
• World Bank Approves $90 Million Loan For Ukraine's COVID-19 Vaccination RFE/RL 12 May 2021 -- The World Bank has approved a $90 million project to help Ukraine's health sector respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.