Global Guardian | News (60)

COVID-19 Update: Europe Largely Open to American Tourists

on July 14, 2021

Global DEVELOPMENTS

Europe has largely reopened to American tourists. The UK is not far behind, with planned lifting of quarantine restrictions on 19 July for those vaccinated through the NHS arriving from "amber list" countries. Fully vaccinated American tourists will be allowed into the UK later in the summer. See below map for breakdown.
New cases are surging in Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands; however, deaths remain relatively flat, highlighting the power of vaccines in reducing hospitalizations and deaths.
Southeast Asia, which has for the most part managed the pandemic well, is in the midst of a spike in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines may experience shortages of hospital beds and oxygen in the coming weeks. Many countries in the region have imposed new restrictions.
Latin America and southern Africa remain global hotspots for COVID-19 cases and deaths amid presence of variants and low vaccination rates.

European Travel Destinations for Americans This Summer

on June 30, 2021

Ready to get back to travel? The good news is that after a long wait, Europe has finally opened its doors to American tourists. Global Guardian's Intelligence Analysts have created a map for easy reference for those planning a European getaway this summer.

COVID-19 Update: Britain Delays Domestic Reopening over Delta Concern

on June 16, 2021

UNITED STATES LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Maryland-based Novavax recently announced promising Phase 3 trial results for its protein-based vaccine. The two-dose vaccine has an estimated efficacy of 90.4% based on a study of 30,000 volunteers in the U.S. and Mexico. It expects to seek emergency authorization use later this year. It does not require special refrigeration and could be the key to vaccinating the third world.
Only Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, and Michigan have not fully reopened. Michigan and Washington will be open by 1 July while New Mexico and Oregon are waiting for residents to hit key vaccine milestones.
The U.S. announced it will buy 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine for distribution to 100 low-and middle-income countries.

For the latest United States case counts, click here.

Violence Heats Up Amid Mexico’s Midterms

on June 9, 2021

On 06 June 2021, Mexicans went to the polls in the country’s largest ever vote, electing 500 federal legislators, 15 governors, members of around 25 state assemblies, and over 20,000 local politicians. The midterms were marred by a series of political assassinations targeting local and state level officials.

While President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known as AMLO, was not on the ballot, the elections at the state and federal levels were largely a referendum on AMLO and his statist political program that would include amending the constitution to make way for radical political and economic reforms, most importantly, the renationalization of segments of the energy industry.

Global Guardian's Dale Buckner Featured in Business Insider

on May 21, 2021

Security Firms With Wealthy Clients Are Ramping for Surge in Travel

"People are thinking they lost a year of their lives, and in the back of their minds, they're thinking, 'What if this happens again?'"

In a recent Business Insider article, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on the expected surge of summer travel as countries around the globe reopen, and how Global Guardian is preparing to support family clients with their travel safety and security needs.

COVID-19 Update: CDC Provides Welcome Guidance for Vaccinated Individuals

on May 14, 2021

UNITED STATES LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The U.S. CDC announced on 13 May that vaccinated individuals could resume activities that they had stopped doing during the pandemic. Masks are no longer recommended except when flying or taking public transit, when visiting health care facilities, and in congregate settings like prisons and homeless shelters.
Multiple states in the U.S. changed, or announced they were considering changes to mask mandates. Some private businesses will continue to require masks in their stores, likely until state-by-state vaccination rates meet an internal threshold.
The potential lifting of mask mandates following the new CDC guidance raises questions about vaccination verification. It is likely each state will have a different system in place to deal with proof of vaccination. Some states have banned entities from requiring proof of vaccination.
There is optimism that being able to stop using a mask will incentivize those vaccine holdouts. Other states have implemented free food schemes, while Ohio took the extraordinary step of holding $1 million lottery once a week for vaccinated individuals in the state, in an effort to get more people vaccinated.
So far, around 154 million people have received at least one vaccine dose. This will increase as teenagers and adolescents get vaccinated. The CDC recently approved Pfizer's vaccine for use in 12-15 year-old children.

For the latest United States case counts, click here.

Conflict with Gaza Militants and Violence in Jerusalem

on May 12, 2021

After weeks of high tensions and violent clashes in Jerusalem, Gaza-based militants have opened another round of conflict with Israel. Casualties are mounting on both sides with no ceasefire on the horizon. Meanwhile, violent clashes and sectarian violence have broken out in multi-ethnic areas of Israel outside of Jerusalem, in Nazareth, Acre, Ramle, Haifa, and Lod with several casualties reported. With escalating conflict on the domestic and military fronts, it is highly unlikely that the situation will calm down before next week with Nakba Day falling on Saturday (15 May).

TACTICAL UPDATES

Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) has suspended flights & several roads and train lines in southern Israel are closed due to security concerns
State of Emergency declared in Lod, following intense sectarian violence
Gaza militants have launched over 1,100 rockets within 38 hours
500+ Israeli airstrikes reported
50+ Palestinians killed (including militants), 300+ wounded; 6 Israelis killed (including one soldier), 200+ wounded
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Iran’s foremost proxy in Gaza, has introduced its new Sajil missile; Hamas unveiled its new SH85 missile
In the last 24 hours, Israel has assassinated several senior-level militant commanders, including:
- Head of PIJ’s Rocket Forces
- Hamas’ Gaza City Brigadier General
- Head of Hamas’ Anti-Tank Unit
- Head of Hamas’ Cyber Network and Missile Improvement Project
- Head of Hamas’ Rocket Development
- Head of Hamas’ Security Branch of Military Intelligence
- Head of Hamas’ Technical Department for Military Intelligence
- Brother of the leader of Hamas' Political Wing (in Gaza)
Hamas and PIJ are having some success overwhelming Iron Dome with large barrages (100+ rockets in several minutes) and using low trajectories

Nationwide Unrest in Colombia

on May 11, 2021

SITUATION REPORT

What began as anti-tax reform protests on 28 April have morphed and spread to nationwide anti-government unrest in the ensuing days. Protests quickly turned violent as security forces cracked down and clashed with demonstrators across the country. Cali, Bogotá, Medellín, and Barranquilla have been epicenters for violent unrest.

Darkside Responsible for Colonial Pipeline Hack

on May 10, 2021

On May 10, the FBI announced that on Friday, May 7, a group known as DarkSide was responsible for a ransomware attack that effectively shut down the operation of the Colonial Pipeline.

State of Play in the Middle East: Situation Update on the Iranian Nuclear Threat

on May 5, 2021

Tensions in the Middle East remain high amid recent incidents in the region, and any number of triggers could lead to conflict involving Lebanon, Israel, Iran, and the U.S and their proxies. The possible renegotiation of the abandoned nuclear deal sits at the center of the situation, and all eyes are now turned to the key players to see how it plays out.

SITUATION REPORT

Two key deadlines loom large as conflicting reports emerge over the diplomatic progress concerning Iran’s nuclear program. If a compromise between the U.S. and Iran is not reached by 21 May, Iran has threatened to erase the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) monitoring footage of its nuclear activities, possibly upending negotiations. The second upcoming date is 18 June, where hardliners are expected to win Iran’s presidential elections and gain control over the nation’s diplomatic endeavors.

As the clock ticks on the diplomatic track, regional tensions remain high following several significant geopolitical incidents in April. These include a sabotage event at Iran’s primary nuclear facility, the mysterious death of a top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander, the U.S. navy firing warning shots at an IRCC ship in the Gulf (for the first time in four years), and alarms sounding at Israel’s nuclear reactor. Against the backdrop of recent diplomatic initiatives and geopolitical incidents, the region is on edge awaiting what comes next.

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