Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• US Senate Republicans Set to Block Capitol Riot Inquiry Panel VOA 27 May 2021 -- Republicans in the U.S. Senate are expected Thursday to block legislation calling for the creation of a panel to investigate the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol aimed at preventing the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's presidential victory over Donald Trump.
• DHS Announces New Cybersecurity Requirements for Critical Pipeline Owners and Operators DHS 27 May 2021 -- Today, the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a Security Directive that will enable the Department to better identify, protect against, and respond to threats to critical companies in the pipeline sector.
• Washington National Guard prepares for wildfire season Army News 27 May 2021 -- Washington National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are transitioning from COVID-19 response and civil disturbance missions to prepare for what could be another catastrophic wildfire season.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• UN chief appeals to business leaders to help quell 'a tsunami of suffering' caused by COVID UN News 27 May 2021 -- The COVID-19 pandemic has brought "a tsunami of suffering", taken over 3.4 million lives and 500 million jobs, while wiping trillions of dollars from global balance sheets, Secretary-General António Guterres told business leaders on Thursday, appealing for equitable vaccine distribution worldwide.

United States

• ODNI Statement on COVID-19 Origins Director of National Intelligence 27 May 2021 -- Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Strategic Communications Amanda Schoch today issued the following statement on COVID-19 Origins:
• US to Make Intelligence on COVID-19 Origins Public VOA 27 May 2021 -- The United States will share the results of a new deep-dive by its top intelligence agencies into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed millions of people across the globe.
• Biden gives intel agencies 90 days to pinpoint COVID origins as lab leak theory debated Press TV 27 May 2021 -- President Joe Biden has tasked the US intelligence community with reporting on the origin of COVID-19 within 90 days, saying rival theories including the possibility of a laboratory accident in China are being pursued.

China

• Biden 'does not care about facts and truth' about coronavirus: China Press TV 27 May 2021 -- US President Joe Biden is playing politics by calling for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, the Chinese government has said.
• Macao reports first case of coronavirus variant initially detected in India Global Times 27 May 2021 -- The Macao Special Administrative Region on Wednesday reported its first infection involving a coronavirus variant that was first detected in India, with the patient traveling abroad three days after getting the second dose of Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine.
• Over 560 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across China People's Daily 27 May 2021 -- More than 566.72 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China as of Wednesday, the National Health Commission said Thursday.
• Chinese mainland reports 2 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 27 May 2021 -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported two new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Guangdong Province, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Thursday.

Europe

• Britain's Health Minister Denies He Lied About Pandemic VOA 27 May 2021 -- British Health Minister Matt Hancock rejected allegations Thursday he had repeatedly lied during his response to the COVID-19 pandemic made by Dominic Cummings, a former top aide of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Russia

• Exclusive: Meet The Murky Russian Network Behind An Anti-Pfizer Disinformation Drive In Europe RFE/RL 27 May 2021 -- A network of Russian marketing companies known for selling dubious nutritional supplements and pushing malware is behind a disinformation campaign to denigrate Western coronavirus vaccines, according to a new RFE/RL investigation.
• Russian Supreme Court Backs Government In Patent Dispute Over Remdesivir COVID Treatment RFE/RL 27 May 2021 -- Russia's Supreme Court has rejected a lawsuit by U.S. biotech company Gilead Sciences that challenged the right of a Russian government decree to allow a domestic pharmaceutical company to produce a generic version of Gilead's antiviral drug remdesivir without consent.

India

• COVID-19 UPDATE India PIB 27 May 2021
• Update on COVID Relief Aid India PIB 27 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 132 India PIB 27 May 2021 -- The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 20.54 Cr (20,54,51,902) as per the 7 pm provisional report today
• More than 22crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs India PIB 27 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
• Highest single day load of 1195 MT Oxygen relief to the Nation delivered by Oxygen Expresses, surpassing its previous high of 1142 MT India PIB 27 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

Pakistan

Iran

South Korea

Japan

Saudi Arabia

Taiwan

• Taiwan Hospitals at 'Breaking Point' With Surge in COVID-19 Cases Radio Free Asia 27 May 2021 -- Doctors in the democratic island of Taiwan have warned that hospitals in the capital are already overwhelmed by the rapid growth in COVID-19 cases, as the country's government scrambles to procure jabs for an under-vaccinated population.
• Taiwan reports 667 domestic COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths (update) CNA 27 May 2021 -- Taiwan on Thursday reported 667 domestic COVID-19 cases, four imported cases, and 13 deaths, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan reports 13 COVID-19 deaths, including woman in her 40s CNA 27 May 2021 -- Taiwan confirmed another 13 deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday, including a Taiwanese woman in her 40s, who passed away a week after she tested positive for the disease.
• Taiwan's 34 COVID deaths since May 11 all in Taipei, New Taipei: CECC CNA 27 May 2021 -- Taiwan has reported 34 of its total 46 COVID-19 deaths since May 11, all involving patients in Taipei and New Taipei cities, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.
• First batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to arrive Friday CNA 27 May 2021 -- The first batch of 150,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Taiwan purchased from American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna is expected to arrive in the country on Friday, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) told reporters Thursday.
• CECC allowing quicker discharge of COVID patients to ease hospital strain CNA 27 May 2021 -- The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) amended its guidelines Thursday for the hospitalization of COVID-19 patients, saying earlier discharge may be allowed under certain conditions, in an effort to free up hospital rooms amid a surge in domestic cases.
• NDC plans extra NT$210 billion budget for COVID-19 relief CNA 27 May 2021 -- The National Development Council (NDC) detailed a plan on Thursday to allocate an additional NT$210 billion (US$7.13 billion) budget to the government's COVID-19 relief fund in the wake of the escalating community spread of the coronavirus in Taiwan.
• Taiwan reports 633 local COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths People's Daily 27 May 2021 -- Taiwan on Wednesday reported 302 new local COVID-19 infections, 331 backlogged local cases and 11 deaths, the local disease-monitoring agency said.

North Korea

NATO

Other Countries

• Spike in Global Debt During Pandemic Leaves Some Countries on Shaky Ground VOA 27 May 2021 -- In the year since the COVID-19 pandemic threw the global economy into a tailspin, the level of global debt — money owed by governments, businesses and households — has jumped by 12% to $289 trillion. And while some countries appear to have begun the task of reducing overall indebtedness, many governments in countries transitioning to full market economies are finding it difficult to do so.
• New COVID-19 Outbreak Sends Australia's Victoria State into 4th Lockdown VOA 27 May 2021 -- Australia's southern state of Victoria will enter into a one-week "circuit breaker" lockdown beginning Thursday as it deals with a new and growing outbreak of COVID-19 cases.
• Uganda Sees Sharp Rise in COVID-19 Cases VOA 27 May 2021 -- Uganda is seeing a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, forcing its health officials to take stern emergency measures. From 200 cases per day in April, the East African country is now recording over 1,000 cases per day amid a looming vaccine shortage.