Military News

21 May 2021 Security News

USS Wichita Busts $12 Million Drugs in Caribbean Sea US Navy 21 May 2021 -- The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 402 seized an estimated $12 million in suspected drugs, May 1.

COVID-19: UN chief calls for G20 vaccine task force, in 'war' against the virus UN News 21 May 2021 -- UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday urged the world's richest economies to take a central role in ending the COVID-19 pandemic by stepping up support for vaccines for all people, everywhere.
Pfizer-BioNTech Pledges 2 Billion Doses to Poor Nations VOA 21 May 2021 -- U.S. and German vaccine partners Pfizer-BioNTech on Friday pledged a total of 2 billion doses of their vaccine to low- and middle-income nations as part of a global effort to close the vaccine gap between rich and poor nations.
WHO Report: Life Expectancy Falls During COVID Pandemic VOA 21 May 2021 -- The true number of global deaths attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic is probably two to three times higher than those officially documented, findings in this year's World Health Statistics Report suggest.

Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials The White House 21 May 2021

China to offer $3b to developing countries for COVID-19 response: Xi at Global Health Summit Global Times 21 May 2021 -- China will provide an additional $3 billion in international aid over the next three years to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.
Over 466 mln doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in China People's Daily 21 May 2021 -- Nearly 466.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in China as of Thursday, the National Health Commission said on Friday.

German Health Minister Says 3rd COVID Wave Broken VOA 21 May 2021 -- German health officials said Friday the nation has broken the third wave of COVID-19 infections, but cautioned the pandemic is far from over.
WHO Europe says current vaccines appear protective against COVID-19 variants People's Daily 21 May 2021 -- The World Health Organization's regional director for Europe on Thursday said COVID-19 vaccines currently being employed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic across the continent appear able to protect against all variants that are circulating and causing concern.
Orban Says Hungary To Scrap Most COVID Curbs RFE/RL 21 May 2021 -- Hungary will lift most remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including a night-time curfew, as soon as the number of those vaccinated reaches 5 million this weekend, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on May 21.

India Reports Nearly 260K New COVID Cases in 24 Hours VOA 21 May 2021 -- India's health ministry reported 259,591 new COVID-19 cases Friday in the previous 24 hours. The South Asian nation also reported more than 4,000 deaths.
Nationwide Cumulative Vaccination Coverage exceeds 19 Crore India PIB 21 May 2021 -- India has achieved a new milestone in its vaccination drive as the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 19 Cr (19,18,79,503) today under the Phase-3 of the nationwide Vaccination Drive.
Update on COVID Relief Aid India PIB 21 May 2021 -- Government of India has been receiving international cooperation of COVID-19 relief medical supplies and equipment since 27th April 2021 from different countries/organisations
COVID-19 Vaccination Update- Day 126 India PIB 21 May 2021 -- The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 19.32 Cr (19,32,97,222) as per the 8 pm provisional report today.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews Public Health Response to COVID-19 and Progress of Vaccination with 9 States/UTs India PIB 21 May 2021 -- Dr
Oxygen Expresses deliver record 1118 MT of Oxygen in a day India PIB 21 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

COVID-19 kills 200 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 21 May 2021 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran exceeded 78,194 with 200 more Iranians who died from the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Friday.

Biden, Moon Announce US-South Korea Vaccine Partnership VOA 21 May 2021 -- President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced at a White House meeting Friday a U.S.-South Korea vaccine partnership to expand the manufacture of vaccines and scale up global vaccine supplies.

Japan's Top COVID-19 Adviser Says Olympics Needs Reconsideration, Reports Suggest Sputnik 21 May 2021 -- The Japanese government's top COVID-19 adviser, Shigeru Omi, on Friday made an urgent call to the organisers of the Tokyo Summer Olympics to consider whether to continue with the global event after evaluating its effect on the national medical system amid the pandemic, the Kyodo news agency reported.

Taiwan confirms 312 new domestic COVID-19 cases (update) CNA 21 May 2021 -- Taiwan on Friday reported 315 new cases of COVID-19, of which 312 were confirmed as domestic infections, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
More COVID-19 cases found at Taichung university CNA 21 May 2021 -- Rapid COVID-19 tests carried out at Chaoyang University of Technology (CYUT) in Taichung on Thursday and Friday have found 19 more possible cases of COVID-19 in the wake of several students at the school coming down with the diseases after visiting a KTV.
Taiwan yet to meet lockdown criteria: Cabinet CNA 21 May 2021 -- Facing rising public concerns over the possibility of a lockdown, or an upgrade of the national COVID-19 alert to the most serious Level 4, the Cabinet has given its assurance that Taiwan has not yet met the criteria to merit a lockdown.
U.S. supports Taiwan's access to COVID-19 vaccines CNA 21 May 2021 -- U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra voiced his support on Thursday for Taiwan to access COVID-19 vaccines at a time when Taipei is fighting an escalation of domestically transmitted cases.

WHO says under-funding, supply hitches derailing Africa's COVID-19 vaccine roll-out People's Daily 21 May 2021 -- Massive inoculation against the COVID-19 disease in Africa is almost grinding to a halt amid limited finances and inability to acquire additional vaccine doses linked to the crisis in India, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said Thursday.
UN agencies appeal for funds as COVID-19 surge eclipses South Asia UN News 21 May 2021 -- The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Friday launched a $164 million appeal for personal protective gear, together with COVID-19 testing and control equipment, to save lives amidst the deadly wave of infections which continues to sweep across South Asia.
Australia Urged to Ease COVID-19 Border Controls VOA 21 May 2021 -- More than 70,000 people have signed a petition urging the Australian government to ease COVID-19 entry restrictions on foreign-born parents of Australian citizens, who are allowed into the country only on compassionate grounds. Campaigners argue the rules are having a "profound impact" on family relations and mental health.

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list