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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

United States

• Memorandum of Understanding for Acquisition Support Signed Between the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services DoD 26 May 2021 -- On May 20, 2021, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Andrea Palm signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to continue the agencies' partnership in defeating COVID-19 and preparing for future public health emergencies.
• Statement by President Joe Biden on the Investigation into the Origins of COVID-19 The White House 26 May 2021
• Biden Orders Fresh Intelligence Report on COVID-19 Origin VOA 26 May 2021 -- Amid growing speculation that COVID-19 might have leaked from a Chinese laboratory, U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday instructed federal agencies "to redouble their efforts to collect and analyze information that could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion."
• DOD Awards $13.1 Million Contract to Renco Corporation to Increase Domestic Production Capacity of Nitrile Gloves DoD 26 May 2021 -- On May 26, 2021, the Department of Defense (DOD), on behalf of and in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awarded a $13.1 million contract to Renco Corporation to increase domestic production capacity of nitrile gloves.

China

• China slams latest deceptive US push to wage new COVID-19 probe Press TV 26 May 2021 -- China has slammed the US for "spreading conspiracy theories and disinformation" following Washington's latest push to wage a new probe into the origins of the coronavirus, even after a recent World Health Organization (WHO) mission to China proved inconclusive.
• Battling behind the scenes: US pressuring WHO on coronavirus origins tracing Global Times 26 May 2021 -- Upholding the true spirit of science, valuing facts and advocating for solidarity rather than confrontation in face of the pandemic should be a major lesson learned from the past year and shared at the ongoing 74th World Health Assembly (WHA), however, the US, exploiting its return to the WHO under the Biden administration, is turning the pivotal meeting, supposed to summarize the virus-fight experiences, into a battleground between science and politics.
• Shenzhen registers 7 asymptomatic COVID-19 cases related to infections from abroad Global Times 26 May 2021 -- Seven asymptomatic cases have been reported in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province in recent days.
• WHA delegates highlight China's support in fighting COVID-19 pandemic People's Daily 26 May 2021 -- Delegates from countries such as Egypt, Mexico, Niger and Gabon on Tuesday highlighted China's support in their fight against COVID-19 at the ongoing virtual World Health Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization.
• Hong Kong reports 1 new COVID-19 case People's Daily 26 May 2021 -- Hong Kong reported one additional case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, taking the tally in the financial hub to 11,836.
• Chinese mainland reports one new locally transmitted COVID-19 case People's Daily 26 May 2021 -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported one new locally transmitted COVID-19 case in Guangdong Province, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Wednesday.

Europe

• Dominic Cummings launches vicious attack on Johnson Covid-19 strategy Press TV 26 May 2021 -- Boris Johnson's former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, has launched an unprecedented political assault on his former boss, effectively attacking every aspect of the Prime Minister's coronavirus management strategy.
• Former Aide to British Leader Says Government Failed Public in COVID-19 Response VOA 26 May 2021 -- A former chief aide to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a parliamentary committee Wednesday the government failed the British people in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement Johnson rejects.
• EU Takes AstraZeneca to Court Over Vaccine Delays VOA 26 May 2021 -- The European Union took AstraZeneca to a Belgian court Wednesday over the drug company's failure to deliver tens of millions of COVID-19 doses it promised — slowing the EU's efforts to kickstart its vaccine campaign.
• EU infrastructure for COVID certificate to be ready from June People's Daily 26 May 2021 -- The infrastructure for a digital vaccination certificate allowing the free movement of people around the European Union (EU) will be ready from June 1, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.

India

• India's Active Caseload further declines to 24,95,591 India PIB 26 May 2021 -- India has recorded less than 3 lakh Daily New Cases for ten consecutive days now.
• COVID-19 Vaccination Update- Day 131 India PIB 26 May 2021 -- The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 20.25 Cr (20,25,29,884) as per the 7 pm provisional report today
• More than 22 crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs India PIB 26 May 2021 -- As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost
• Update on COVID Relief Aid India PIB 26 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 UPDATE India PIB 26 May 2021 -- Active Caseload further declines to 24,95,591

  A decrease of 91,191 in Active Cases in last 24 hours

  At 2.08 Lakh Cases, declining trend in new cases is maintained

  2,43,50,816 total Recoveries across the country so far

• 12 Oxygen Expresses with 969 MT of LMO beat tough weather & cyclone to take relief to the Nation from the Eastern States India PIB 26 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

Iran

• Iran's daily COVID-19 deaths decrease to 163 IRNA 26 May 2021 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus in Iran increased to 79,219 while the nation experienced a significant decrease in deaths from 251 and 208 in the past two days to 163 death in the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Japan

• Major Japanese Newspaper Calls for Cancellation of Tokyo Olympics VOA 26 May 2021 -- A major Japanese newspaper has called for the Tokyo Olympic Games to be cancelled due to the worsening COVID-19 crisis in the country.
• US issues travel warning to Japan, threatens Tokyo Olympics viability Global Times 26 May 2021 -- With the Tokyo Olympic Games weeks away, Japan faces a double whammy over the escalating epidemic and mounting challenges to hold the sports event especially after the US warned Americans not to travel to the country.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 633 domestic COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths (update) CNA 26 May 2021 -- Taiwan on Wednesday reported 633 domestic COVID-19 cases, two imported ones and 11 deaths, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• COVID-19 cases in Keelung diner cluster increase to 13 CNA 26 May 2021 -- A COVID-19 cluster involving a small restaurant in Keelung had reported 13 cases as of Wednesday, with the northern Taiwan port city stepping up contact tracing in fear that the outbreak will escalate.
• Taiwan drops out of top 10 COVID-19 resilience ranking CNA 26 May 2021 -- Following a surge in domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases, Taiwan dropped out of the top 10 resilience list released by Bloomberg on Tuesday.
• Taiwan to allow vaccine mixing if first dose triggers severe reaction CNA 26 May 2021 -- Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) will update its COVID-19 vaccination guidelines to allow people to receive a second dose of a different vaccine if they have a severe allergic reaction to the first dose.
• Greater Taipei COVID patients may be transferred to ease hospital load CNA 26 May 2021 -- COVID-19 patients in Taipei and New Taipei, the epicenter of the current domestic outbreak, may be sent to other parts of Taiwan for treatment, to reduce the load on the hospitals in the two northern cities, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.
• CECC rejects local governments' call to procure vaccines on their own CNA 26 May 2021 -- Taiwan's procurement of COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be handled by the central government, following due process, the Central Epidemic Control Center (CECC) said Wednesday, quashing an appeal by some local governments that are seeking to source their own vaccines from abroad.

Other Countries

• UN chief calls for solidarity with Africa in fight against COVID-19 People's Daily 26 May 2021 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called on developed countries to show solidarity with Africa in the fight against COVID-19.
• Kenya's Kisumu Emerges as New COVID-19 Hotspot VOA 26 May 2021 -- Kenya's western city of Kisumu has surpassed the capital, Nairobi, as having the country's highest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections. The jump in cases comes a day after an opposition leader addressed large crowds in Kisumu, which also reported Kenya's first case of the variant first spotted in India.
• UNICEF Warns South Asian Children's Lives at Risk as COVID Ravages Region VOA 26 May 2021 -- The U.N. Children's Fund is calling for urgent action to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in South Asia who are missing out on routine life-saving vaccinations because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Cambodian Prisons See New Spread of COVID-19, While Cases Climb in Vietnam and Laos Radio Free Asia 26 May 2021 -- The latest in a series of COVID-19 outbreaks in Cambodia's detention centers has infected more than 100 inmates and three guards in Kandal province, officials said Wednesday, prompting calls for authorities to reduce prison overcrowding in a bid to prevent further spread of the disease.