The total number of coronavirus infections in the UK is now 317,379.
Britain also reported three additional deaths on Saturday, bringing its total number of Covid-19-related deaths to 41,361.
From CNN’s Vasco Cotovio The United Kingdom has reported 1,012 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, marking the fifth consecutive day it has had more than 1,000 daily infections.
The total number of coronavirus infections in the UK is now 317,379. Britain also reported three additional deaths on Saturday, bringing its total number of Covid-19-related deaths to 41,361.
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From CNN’s Claudia Dominguez Workers dig fresh graves in a section of the Municipal Cemetery of Valle de Chalco, which opened three months ago to accommodate the surge in deaths amid the coronavirus pandemic, on the outskirts of Mexico City on August 7. Rebecca Blackwell/AP Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has announced 30 days of national mourning to honor the country's Covid-19 victims, according to a statement released by his office Friday.
Mexico’s government expressed its “most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to those affected by the pandemic” and recognized the efforts made by all health workers to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the statement said. Flags will be flown at half-mast from Aug. 13 until Sept. 11, according the statement. A daily moment of silence will continue at noon every day during this period. From CNN’s Zahra Ullah and journalist Anna Chernova in Moscow Only around 2,000 people are slated to take part in the Phase 3 trials The production of Russia's coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, has started, the Russian health ministry said on Saturday, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Institute, the vaccine was approved by the Russian government on Tuesday before beginning crucial Phase 3 trials. Vaccine production before completed trial: Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), announced earlier this week that Phase 3 trials of the vaccine would start on August 12 in Russia. Only around 2,000 people are slated to take part in that critical stage of the Russian vaccine, according to Sputnik V’s website. No scientific data on the Sputnik V vaccine has been released. As the treatment is only entering crucial Phase 3 clinical trials, it means there are huge unanswered questions over its safety and effectiveness. Members of the Russian elite have reportedly taken doses, including the daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Dmitriev. Speaking to CNN's Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Tuesday, Dmietriev said "safety is at the core of the vaccine." "We know the technology works and we will publish the data in August and September to demonstrate that," Dmietriev said. He added that the vaccine will be gradually rolled out to high-risk people before a mass vaccination of Russians begins in October. The vaccine will be made available to other countries around November. From CNN's Sandee LaMotte and Jacqueline Howard The virus SARS-CoV-2 belongs to a large family of coronaviruses, six of which were previously known to infect humans. CNN It's the question everyone wants answered: How long are we protected from catching Covid-19 after we've recovered from the novel coronavirus -- and what does that really mean?
Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its quarantine guidelines online to say that people who have recovered from Covid-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to three months -- but the agency clarified in a statement to CNN on Friday that does not mean that people are immune to reinfection. "People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again," the CDC guidance stated. A CDC spokesperson said the guidance is "based on the latest science about COVID-19 showing that people can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after diagnosis and not be infectious to others." Yet "this science does not imply a person is immune to reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the 3 months following infection. The latest data simply suggests that retesting someone in the 3 months following initial infection is not necessary unless that person is exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 and the symptoms cannot be associated with another illness," the CDC statement said. "I think this is an incredibly sticky wicket, as the British would say," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, who was not involved in the CDC guidance. "We think antibodies correlate with protection, but we don't really know that yet," Schaffner said. Practical applications, Schaffner added, are still a long way off. Can a person who has antibodies begin to date or stop wearing a mask, for example? Absolutely not, he said emphatically. Read the full story. By Tara John, Melissa Macaya, Zamira Rahim and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN Updated 7:03 a.m. ET, August 15, 2020 What you need to know
From CNN’s Aqeel Najim in Baghdad A health worker in Najaf, Iraq, administers a Covid-19 test on July 15. AFP/Getty Images Iraq’s Ministry of Health reported 4,013 new coronavirus cases on Friday, which is the highest daily case number recorded since the start of the pandemic. The total number of cases in Iraq is now 168,290.
The health ministry also reported 68 new Covid-19 related deaths. This brings the total number of deaths in Iraq to 5,709 . By Helen Regan, Brad Lendon, Melissa Macaya, Zamira Rahim and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN Updated 11:32 AM ET, Fri August 14, 2020 What you need to know
'They’re trying to silence Americans and anyone else who doesn’t toe the party line' Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News on Wednesday that China's raid of Apple Daily's Hong Kong newsroom should serve as a "wakeup call" to the entire free world about the intentions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, 71, was arrested and his newsroom raided by police Monday, in the semi-autonomous nation’s latest enforcement of China’s new national security law. Lai has been an outspoken, pro-democracy figure and regularly criticizes China’s authoritarian rule and Hong Kong’s government. He was released on bail on Wednesday. “The Chinese Communist Party fears Jimmy Lai because he dares to speak truth to power," Hawley told Fox. "That’s why they’re trying to silence him, just like they’re trying to silence Americans and anyone else who doesn’t toe the party line. Jimmy Lai’s arrest should be a wakeup call for everyone." He added: "It is time for free nations to stand together with Jimmy Lai, with Hong Kong, and against the CCP’s tyranny.” The Missouri Republican also spoke out about being sanctioned by China and said such measures will not deter him from continuing to stand up for America. "#China announces it is sanctioning me in retaliation for speaking out against #ChineseCommunistParty and defending America’s interests," he tweeted on Monday. "Retaliate all you want. I’m not backing down." China's national security law triggering radical transformation of Hong Kong's human rights8/14/2020 It has been 'hard to keep track of all the flagrant violations of rights,' one expert says Despite pledges from top Hong Kong officials that China's draconian national security law, which contains 66 articles and criminalizes succession and subversion, to terrorism and collusion, would only impact a small fraction of its 7 million residents, almost every facet of the once independent enclave – from education to civil society to technology – has been radically transformed in just over a month. Annie Boyajian, director of advocacy at Freedom House, told Fox News that things in Hong Kong have been developing so rapidly that it is "hard to keep track of all the flagrant violations of rights. "And things have gotten worse by the day," she said. "Authorities are undertaking an intense and widespread crackdown on pro-democracy voices and expressions of dissent, and there is also widespread self-censorship. As time progresses and Beijing further tightens its grip in Hong Kong, we will see Hong Kong look much more like the mainland, with a greater number of arrests for anything that offends the government or – in the minds of Chinese officials – jeopardizes their grip on power." HAWLEY RESPONDS TO CHINESE SANCTION, SAYS HONG KONG RAID SHOULD SERVE AS 'WAKEUP CALL' FOR THE FREE WORLD The arrests for "colluding with foreign forces" have been swift. Prominent rights activist advocates Agnes Chow was apprehended earlier this week, along with pro-democracy media baron Jimmy Lai – as well as two of his sons and four employees. Chow and Lai have since been released on bail, and join the ranks of dozens of others who have been arrested since the law went into effect. Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, center, who founded local newspaper Apple Daily, is arrested by police officers at his home in Hong Kong, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. (AP Photo) In a subversion to Beijing's seeming squashing of a free press, hundreds in Hong Kong hurriedly rushed out to purchase copies of his Apple Daily newspaper while protesting his arrest, sending shares for parent company Next Digital temporarily soaring, as per the Wall Street Journal. The crackdown on Lai and his publication – which were also subjected to an office raid – have prompted critics to decry that this marks the very beginning of a news media suppression.
As part of the new law and the guise of national security, Hong Kong police are now permitted to execute search and seizures without a warrant. Moreover, 12 opposition politicians – including former journalist turned freedom advocate Gwyneth Ho – have also been prohibited from participating in legislative elections, which have now been postponed for at least a year. The city's chief executive, Carrie Lam, citied the coronavirus pandemic as the reason to invoke emergency powers. Murky reasons given for their ban entail "obstructing government proceedings." DYSTOPIAN DEEDS: HOW CHINA'S TOP-NOTCH MASS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM THREATENS GLOBAL FREEDOMS The new law also contains abroad extraterritorial reach – meaning that their laws apply to anyone in the world, even those who have never gone near Hong Kong – and authorities have wasted no time in putting the provision to practice. Samuel Chu, a Hong-Kong born U.S. citizen who is based in Washington and lobbies politicians on issues related to Hong Kong immigration to America and the limitation of Beijing's rule, is now wanted – 6,500 miles away – by his homeland government. "The arrest of Jimmy Lai was a big deal, clearly meant to chill media freedom and to show no one is above this new law. But charging Samuel Chu, an American citizen living in the U.S., even though, of course, he will never be tried is a bigger deal," said Walter Lohman, director of The Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center. "It demonstrates an intention to apply the law exterritoriality and thereby force critics to self-censor." The Associated Press Published Thursday, August 13, 2020 10:54PM EDT LODI, Calif. - A police officer in California pulled a man from a wheelchair that was stuck on railroad tracks seconds before the train came past, in a dramatic rescue caught on the officer's body camera. Officer Erika Urrea of the Lodi Police Department was patrolling Wednesday near the tracks when she saw the man and the railroad crossing arms starting to come down, the police department said in a statement. The video shows Urrea rushes from her patrol car and tries to push the man and the wheelchair out of the way as the oncoming locomotive sounds its horn. Unable to move the wheelchair, Urrea is seen dragging the man from it seconds before the train barrels through, striking the wheelchair and the man's leg, the department said. This photo from body camera video carried by Lodi, Calif., Police Officer Erika Urrea as she pulls a man from the path of a passing train on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2020. The man in a wheelchair was stuck on railroad tracks seconds before the train came past, in a dramatic rescue caught on the officer's body camera. ( Lodi Police Department via AP) “Officer Urrea risked her own life to save another and her actions prevented a tragedy,” the statement said.
The 66-year-old man was taken to a hospital to be treated for a leg injury and remained hospitalized Thursday in stable condition, said Lodi Police Department spokesman Sgt. Ricardo Garcia. University graduates. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Darryl Dyck) The Canadian Press Published Thursday, August 13, 2020 2:38PM EDT TORONTO - Four Toronto post-secondary institutions have decided not to hold in-person convocation ceremonies this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
York University says it made the “difficult decision” alongside Ryerson University, the University of Toronto and Seneca College. In a statement, York's president and vice-chancellor says the school will hold a virtual ceremony. Rhonda Lenton says students will receive a package that includes their diploma, cap and tassel, and other celebratory items. She says the school will hold an in-person ceremony for all graduates affected by the pandemic “when it is once again safe and permitted to do so.” Lenton says the other institutions will have their own approach to marking the milestone. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Aug. 13, 2020. Web Staff, CP24.com Published Wednesday, August 5, 2020 10:24PM EDT Toronto’s top doctor says there’s no set amount of COVID-19 cases that will prompt the city to stop loosening or reimplement restrictions, if a rise in cases occurs.
“I don't think that there is a singular number and it never boils down to one particular number,” Dr. Eileen de Villa said to CP24. “We have to look at the situation and context. Certainly we're going to want to make sure that community activity, the level of COVID-19 activity in our community, is as low as possible.” De Villa joined CP24 to discuss the latest on the pandemic Wednesday evening. She said there’s no specific number of cases the city has to hit to determine if the city should stop easing COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, she said it’s a balancing act of maintaining functional social, health-care and public health systems amid the pandemic. “The idea is, how do we actually try to balance our risks?” said De Villa. “How do we make sure that we're in a position, that we're best positioned, one as a public health system to effectively conduct case management and contact tracing.” De Villa stated that so far Toronto is doing really well in combating the virus in its 21st week of the pandemic. Toronto entered Stage 3 of the province’s reopening plan on July 31. This means that indoor dining and indoor fitness activities can resume after being forced to close down in mid-March. On Wednesday, the province reported 18 new cases of the virus in Toronto. De Villa also answered questions related to COVID-19 from viewers. CP24: Now that masks have been made mandatory for apartment buildings, who is responsible for enforcement? De Villa: I think part of this is adjusting to a new role. So, I think we have to allow a little bit of time for people to understand that yes the new rules are in place and this is around wearing of masks or having policies within apartments and condos so that mask use is required within common spaces in apartments and in condos. So what can you do if you notice that somebody's not following the rules. Well first of all, I think one option is that if we're talking about people that you live with, your neighbors, raising it with them and reminding them that there is a rule, and that this is a new one I think is a reasonable step. And of course getting in touch with us at the City of Toronto if there are challenges around enforcement. CP24: As a retired kindergarten teacher I would like to hear your opinion on kindergarten classrooms opening during this pandemic. Characteristics of this age group are runny noses without blowing, crying easily and difficulty remembering good health protocols (eg. sneezing into your elbow). Many also need physical help with everyday activities. De Villa: We know that we should expect cases to occur in school. The more we see people interact with each other, the more mixing we have, whether we're talking about young or older populations, we should expect to see cases. The question is how do we mitigate the risk as much as possible. And a number of the features of the back-to-school plan are aimed at exactly that. And I think there is still some time for us to fine tune some of those features. So trying to ensure that physical distancing is there as much as possible, ensuring that mask use is maximized as much as possible. So even though masks are only required for those who are in grade four and higher, there is no reason why younger children who are able to wear masks shouldn't be encouraged and strongly encouraged to wear masks. CP24: How can we be told our social group should only be 10 people but it's safe to send our kids to a JK class with 29 other students? De Villa: So within that bubble we're talking about a group for whom you do not need to maintain physical distance, these are people with whom you can have close contact. We are in Stage 3, and now allowed to have larger groups, larger gatherings. You know, 50 people indoors, 100 people outdoors. But it's important to note that when we're talking about those gatherings we're talking about gatherings with physical distancing, and where physical distancing is not possible, the use of a mask. So I appreciate that there are some concerns. I think there's still some details that are being worked out amongst school boards across the province. CP24: The rule of thumb is to sneeze or cough into your arm but what does one do if you have to sneeze or cough with a mask on? And when it comes to kids should you send extra masks to children when they're going back to school? De Villa: Well, on the issue of extra masks I always think it's a good idea for kids to have extra masks and that includes the big kids because sometimes we misplace our masks or lose them or they get dirty so I think having extra masks is always a good thing... The whole purpose of the mask is to actually keep those droplets that come out from your nose and mouth when you talk or you cough or your sneeze to yourself, rather than spreading them through to other people. So, in effect, yes the mask is kind of like your elbow substitute, if you will. CP24: I've had a sore throat for the past few days with no fever or any other symptom of COVID-19. Should I get tested? Also should people get tested with very few symptoms or more than one symptom? De Villa: We know that the symptoms of COVID-19 can run from the fever, sore throat, cough, to abdominal pain and diarrhea, to the loss of the sense of smell or taste. And if you have any of these symptoms of COVID-19 it's quite reasonable to go and get some testing for COVID-19, particularly if you know of exposures to somebody who might have had a COVID-19 infection. So, I think that's a reasonable premise under which to go get COVID-19 testing if you have symptoms that are associated with COVID-19. CP24: Do you see any travel restrictions being lifted by November for some islands in the Caribbean where cases are under control? De Villa: To talk about what might happen in November I think is just a prediction that none of us can make. We've seen what has happened in other jurisdictions that had relatively little or even no activity for quite some time. And then their activity starts to pick up, they start to get COVID-19 cases. So whether that impacts us, or it impacts the destination, you know the places in the Caribbean or places where we may wish to travel, we don't know. So unfortunately, some of these decisions have to be made relatively close to the time of travel itself because the circumstances can change rather quickly. This interview has been edited. Iraq records 3,841 new Covid-19 cases — highest daily case increase since start of pandemic8/13/2020 From CNN’s Aqeel Najim in Baghdad A medic collects drops of blood at a Covid-19 testing station in Najaf, Iraq, on August 9. Ameer Al Mohammedaw/picture alliance/Getty Images On Thursday, Iraq’s Ministry of Health reported 3,841 new confirmed cases of coronavirus cases, the highest daily case number recorded since the start of the pandemic.
This brings the total number of cases in Iraq to 164,277 . The health ministry also reported 53 Covid-19 related deaths. This brings the total number of deaths in Iraq to 5,641. From CNN A health worker prepares to check a Covid-19 patient at the 32nd Zone General Hospital in Mexico City, on July 20. Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images Mexico has reported 498,380 cases of Covid-19, the sixth-highest tally globally according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The country has recorded 54,666 deaths related to coronavirus overall, the third-highest fatality toll in the world. Parts of Mexico began reopening certain sectors of its economy, including tourist offerings, in late June, as officials tried to rescue the country's struggling economy. But while Mexico's resorts may be open, its case count remains high. The country's high level of infection has also drawn companies looking to conduct Covid-19 vaccine trials, which require tens of thousands of participants. Mexico has struck deals with two Chinese companies and one American company for vaccine trials, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Tuesday. From CNN Tourists wear protective masks while visiting the Eiffel Tower on August 2 in Paris, France. Mehdi Taamallah/NurPhoto/AP Coronavirus cases are spiking once again in multiple European countries as governments attempt to reopen nations while containing outbreaks. Here are some of the nations most affected.
Spain Spain has recorded one of the highest increases in coronavirus cases in Europe, with 100.4 cases per 100,000 people recorded over the last 14 days, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Its Aragon region has been particularly hard hit by the resurgence, with 7,139 cases diagnosed in the 14 days up to August 11. That rate is higher than anywhere else in Spain and one of the worst in Europe, according to the Spanish Ministry of Health and the ECDC. France On Wednesday France recorded its biggest spike in cases since officials eased its pandemic lockdown, reporting an increase of 2,524 cases in 24 hours. French Prime Minister Jean Castex said Tuesday that the coronavirus situation in the country was "trending in the wrong direction." Despite a clear increase in cases, the number of ICU admissions and deaths remains down according to French Minister for Health Olivier Véran. Germany Germany’s daily new infection tally soared above 1,000 again on Wednesday, after several days with lower numbers, according to data from the country’s center for disease prevention, the Robert Koch Institute, which said the trend was concerning. The government is now offering free tests for anyone entering the country. Greece Greece registered its highest daily increase of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began on Wednesday, with 262 new cases recorded, according to the country's National Public Health Organization. The majority of new cases were registered in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece’s two largest cities. From CNN's Claudia Rebaza in London President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez speaks during a press conference on August 12 in Olivos, Argentina. Juan Mabromata/Pool/Getty Images Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has signed an agreement with Mexico-based Slim Foundation to produce its coronavirus vaccine for the entirety of Latin America, with the exception of Brazil.
Between 150 and 250 million vaccine doses should be available by early 2021, Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez announced on Wednesday evening. "The laboratory (AstraZeneca) has signed an agreement with the Slim Foundation to produce between 150 to 250 million vaccines destined for all of Latin America, with the exception of Brazil," Fernandez said. "They are going to be available for the first semester of 2021. They will be fairly distributed between countries in accordance to demand and the requests by governments from each of these countries." Fernandez added: "Latin American production will be the responsibility of Argentina and Mexico and it will allow a fair access to the vaccine for all countries in the region." The Argentinian leader said the price of the vaccine would be between $3 and $4 per dose, adding that this was "significant for Latin America because it allows all our countries to be able to get [the vaccine.]" AstraZeneca's vaccine candidate is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials. By Julia Hollingsworth, Adam Renton, Melissa Macaya, Ed Upright and Zamira Rahim, CNN Updated 9:10 a.m. ET, August 13, 2020 What you need to know
Flooding has left more than 200 people dead or missing BEIJING – Summer floods in China have left more than 200 people dead or missing and caused $25 billion in direct damage, an emergency management official said Thursday. The floods struck major river systems across the central and southern parts of the country. Major cities have been largely spared by the flooding, but the impact compounds losses to the economy from the coronavirus outbreak that began in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. 'EXCESSIVE' SUMMER MONSOON RAINS IN ASIA DISPLACE MILLIONS, CAUSE AT LEAST 500 DEATHS Vice Minister of Emergency Management Zhou Xuewen told reporters 219 people were listed as dead or missing and 54,000 homes had been destroyed. This July 20, 2020, aerial file photo released by Xinhua News Agency shows the extent of flooding in Guzhen Town of Lu'an City in eastern China's Anhui Province. (Tang Yang/Xinhua via AP, File) Economic losses of 178.9 billion yuan ($25.7 billion) were 15.9% higher than the average from flood damage over the past five years.
China has the world's second-largest economy, but growth has slowed amid rising costs and market saturation at home. While it has largely contained the spread of COVID-19, strong concerns remain over employment and the fate of its export markets amid the continuing trade war with the United States. U.S.-China tensions continue to escalate following Azar’s trip to Taiwan China says the U.S. has turned its back on the American people during the coronavirus, instead choosing “political posturing,” just one day after U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar praised Taiwan’s coronavirus response.
China has condemned any official U.S.-Taiwan interaction, urging the U.S. to adhere to the one-China policy the U.S. previously recognized. The HHS secretary’s trip to the island located off the shores of mainland China was intended to “enhance U.S.-Taiwan cooperation to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic,” Azar said last week – though it was a move the Trump administration knew would cause increased tensions between the U.S. and China. CHINA CONDEMNS US DECISION TO SEND SENIOR OFFICIAL TO TAIWAN Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian pointed to the more than 5.1 million U.S. coronavirus cases and over 165,000 American deaths in a press conference Wednesday, before saying that Azar wanted to use China as a “scapegoat” to “cover up for their [the U.S.’s] competence.” “In the face of such a grave situation, the principal health official, instead of manning the front-line and devoting himself entirely to bringing the virus under control, has walked out on the millions of people suffering at home, all for a political posturing faraway in Taiwan,” Zhao said Wednesday. “I wonder if this official knew that during his three-day visit, more than 150,000 new cases were confirmed in the U.S. and over 2,000 lives lost.” “Their ridiculous stunts this time just make us more convinced that for them, American people's lives are nothing compared with political gain,” he added. U.S.-China relations started to disintegrate following the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Trump, who originally praised China at the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, changed his tune as cases started to spike in the U.S. in March. POMPEO SAYS CHINA IS A GREATER THREAT TO THE GLOBE THAN RUSSIA WAS DURING THE COLD WAR The U.S. has since accused China of trying to cover up the coronavirus after reports immerged of Dr. Li Wenliang’s disappearance, following his discovery of the coronavirus in Wuhan. And Trump started referring to the coronavirus as the Chinese-virus in March, placing blame for the global pandemic squarely on China. The U.S. further withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) in early July after threatening to do so in May, citing pro-China tendencies and bias. The WHO has rejected these accusations. “The Chinese Communist Party had the chance to warn the world and work with the world on battling the virus. But they chose not to, and the costs of that choice mount higher every day,” Azar said from Taipei, the capitol of Taiwan, Tuesday. Azar said that China failed to live up to the “binding obligations” of informing the international community right when the virus broke in China – “betraying” the International Health Regulations communal commitment. “I believe it is no exaggeration to say that if this virus had emerged in a place like Taiwan or the United States, it might have been snuffed out easily: rapidly reported to public health authorities, who would have shared what they knew with health professionals and with the general public,” Azar said. “Instead, Beijing appears to have resisted information sharing, muzzling doctors who spoke out and hobbling the world’s ability to respond.” China has reported 84,737 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 4,634 deaths since the reported outbreak in December, though some have suspected the virus could have started earlier in November. But China is now reporting new daily cases in the single digits as of this week. Health officials believe China successfully defeated the coronavirus through mask mandates, indoor dining requirements and strict quarantine measures at the onslaught of the outbreak. The United States has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world. Trump has faced months of criticism for not taking the virus seriously enough as he has sent mixed signals surrounding the importance of mask wearing, as well as pushing for schools and businesses to reopen despite warnings from health officials. The Associated Press contributed to this report. ‘The CCP is already enmeshed in our economies, in our politics, in our societies in ways the Soviet Union never was’ U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued that the economic power the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) holds over countries worldwide is a greater threat than what Russia posed during the Cold War.
“What’s happening now isn’t Cold War 2.0,” Pompeo said in an address to the Czech Senate Wednesday. “The challenge of resisting the CCP threat is in some ways much more difficult.” “That’s because the CCP is already enmeshed in our economies, in our politics, in our societies in ways the Soviet Union never was.” The comparison of the Cold War to the heightened tensions in the U.S.-China relationship started earlier this summer when U.K. officially reversed its agreement with China to allow Huawei to have a hand in developing the U.K.’s 5G capabilities. POMPEO WARNS TIKTOK USERS' PERSONAL INFO COULD BE GOING 'DIRECTLY TO THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY' China’s ambassador to the U.K., Liu Xiaoming blamed U.S. interference for “seriously poisoning” the U.K.-China relationship and warned London officials against “Cold War” actors – referring to Pompeo who has worked to stop European countries from allowing Huawei to develop their 5G technologies. U.S. security officials have warned against China’s ability to demand access to the China-based telecom company’s database, effectively allowing China a hand in anywhere Huawei is used to develop the next generation of cellular networks, 5G. “The real reason behind Pompeo's animosity towards Chinese companies has nothing to do with national security or democracy, freedoms, fairness or reciprocity,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters late last month. “It's just because they are Chinese companies and also frontrunners in their lines of business.” U.S.-China ties have increasingly deteriorated over the last six months, something Pompeo noted in his address to the Czech Senate as he pointed to China’s “cover up” during the coronavirus outbreak, the new security laws implemented in Hong Kong that have undermined the territory’s autonomy and the human rights abuses against the Uyghurs, a minority ethnic group in western China. “The detention of 1 million Uyghur Muslims living in internment camps in Xijiang…is the human rights stain of the century, sustained by companies like Huawei using technologies the secret police could only have dreamed of in times gone by,” Pompeo said to the Czech Senate. The Czech Republic, along with 32 other nations, joined together under the Prague Proposals in May 2019 to ban Huawei and commit to a “5G Clean Path,” which is a program that safeguards nations’ data from the CCP. Pompeo said that it will take longer for other nations to recognize the threats from China. “China’s world dominance is not inevitable, we’re the authors of our fate. Free societies have always been more attractive – your people know this,” Pompeo said, speaking to the Czech Senate, noting his time in the U.S. Army when he served in Germany as the Berlin Wall came down. The CCP is “paranoid about free societies,” he added. Pompeo’s remarks in the Czech Republic on security in Eastern Europe, mark the first of several stops he will make in the region to address energy and cyber security, and the threats coming largely from Russia and China. His visit to Eastern Europe comes just weeks after the U.S. announced they would be pulling 12,000 troops from longtime ally Germany, some of which will be redistributed in the Black Sea region. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the abrupt withdrawal of troops was a strategic policy shift to “strengthen NATO, [and] enhance the deterrence of Russia.” “The tide has turned, just as I see it turned here in Europe as well. The West is winning, don’t let anyone tell you about the decline of the West,” Pompeo said Wednesday. “It will take all of us…here in Prague, in Poland, in Portugal. We have the obligation to speak clearly and plainly to our people, and without fear. We must confront complex questions... and we must do so together,” he added. |
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