REvil Ransomware Ground Down JBS: Sources

Author:Lisa Vaas
June 2, 2021 

Responsible nations don’t harbor cybercrooks, the Biden administration admonished Russia, home to the gang that reportedly froze the global food distributor’s systems.

The cyberattack that flattened operations at JBS Foods over the weekend was indeed a ransomware strike, the global food distributor has confirmed, with sources pointing to the REvil Group as the responsible gang.

Four people familiar with the matter who weren’t authorized to speak publicly told Bloomberg that the notorious Russia-linked hacking group is behind the attack against JBS SA. The REvil cyber gang also goes by the name Sodinokibi.

REvil is known for both audacious attacks on the world’s biggest organizations and suitably astronomical ransoms. In April, it put the squeeze on Apple just hours before its splashy new product launch, demanding a whopping $50 million extortion fee: a bold move, even for the notorious ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) gang. The original attack was launched against Quanta, a Global Fortune 500 manufacturer of electronics, which claims Apple among its customers. The Taiwanese-based company was contracted to assemble Apple products, including Apple Watch, Apple Macbook Air and Pro, and ThinkPad, from an Apple-provided set of design schematics.

The JBS attackers targeted several servers supporting North American and Australian IT systems of JBS Foods on Sunday, according to a statement by JBS USA. JBS is a global provider of beef, chicken and pork with 245,000 employees operating on several continents and serving brands such as Country Pride, Swift, Certified Angus Beef, Clear River Farms and Pilgrim’s.

The “vast majority” of JBS Foods’ beef, pork, poultry and prepared foods plants will be operational by today, the company said on Tuesday.

Andre Nogueira, JBS USA CEO, said in a statement that the company’s systems are coming back online and that it’s “not sparing any resources to fight this threat.” JBS has cybersecurity plans in place for these types of incidents and is successfully executing them, he said. In the case of a ransomware attack, that means relying on backups. Fortunately, JBS’ backup servers weren’t affected, and it’s been working with a third-party incident-response firm to restore operations as soon as possible.

It lucked out in that regard: Security experts have noted that attacks are getting more vicious and more destructive, with attackers taking the extra time and effort to remove backups prior to deploying ransomware.

As of Tuesday, JBS USA and Pilgrim’s were able to ship food from nearly all of its U.S. facilities, Nogueira noted, and were still making progress in resuming plant operations in the U.S. and Australia. “Several of the company’s pork, poultry and prepared foods plants were operational today and its Canada beef facility resumed production,” he said.

To date, JBS hasn’t found evidence that any customer, supplier or employee data was compromised.

White House Chides Russia

According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, JBS told the administration on Sunday that it believes the ransomware attack was launched from a criminal organization, likely based in Russia.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday aboard Air Force One, Jean-Pierre said that the Biden administration told the Russian government that it’s not nice to harbor cybercrooks. “The White House is engaging directly with the Russian government on this matter and delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals,” she said, according to a transcript of her remarks.

The White House has offered assistance to JBS: Its team and the Department of Agriculture have spoken to the company’s leadership several times since Sunday’s attack, Jean-Pierre said. As well, the FBI is investigating the incident in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to offer technical support to the company as it pulls itself back into production.

“Combating ransomware is a priority for the administration,” the press secretary went on. “President Biden has already launched a rapid strategic review to address the increased threat of ransomware to include four lines of effort: one, distribution of ransomware infrastructure and actors working closely with the private sector; two, building an international coalition to hold countries who harbor ransom actors accountable; expanding cryptocurrency analysis to find and pursue criminal transaction; and reviewing the USG’s ransomware policies.”

The government’s reaction to the JBS hit is an echo of the reaction to last month’s attack on a major U.S. oil pipeline, when ransomware group DarkSide targeted operator Colonial Pipeline Co., disrupting fuel supply in the Eastern part of the U.S.

That attack prompted President Joe Biden to declare a state of emergency and caused substantial pain at gas pumps in the Southeast. DarkSide made off with a $5 million ransomware payout from Colonial to decrypt its frozen systems but published a mea culpa over the uproar, emphasizing that it was in it for the cash, not to disrupt people’s lives. Somebody or somebodies weren’t convinced: The ransomware-as-a-server (RaaS) gang’s servers were subsequently shuttered. A week later, DarkSide got hauled into the underground’s “Hacker’s Court” for failing to pay its affiliates.

Biden’s executive order asked for “bold and significant changes” to tight deadlines on complex systems — tethered to a significant shift in technology. It does raise question, however, as noted by David Wolpoff, CTO and co-founder of Randori. Writing for Threatpost’s Infosec Insider, he questioned the EO’s “Heavy emphasis on migrating traditionally on-premises systems to the cloud” and call for rapid change in the name of cybersecurity. “It does not address the issue of the interconnectedness of a cloud migration,” Wolpoff noted. “If we move too fast, while attempting to shift to the cloud, we will create more issues.”

The Meat Industry’s Full of Sitting Ducks

Security ratings provider BitSight has been tracking the ransomware risk to the food production industry and says that the industry is setting itself up, with 40 percent of companies at increased risk due to poor patching practices. On Tuesday, the company told Threatpost in an email that food companies “are taking longer to patch vulnerabilities than the recommended industry standard, leaving them at higher risk.”

In fact, BitSight said, more than 70 percent of food companies are at increased risk of ransomware due to “less-than-ideal” security practices. ” Compared to other sectors, food production is in the 60th percentile of security performance, making it markedly more at-risk to ransomware than other sectors like Credit Unions (52 percent), Insurance (62 percent) and Finance (60 percent), which lead all sectors in security performance excellence,” it said.

But all industries are vulnerable, according to cyber threat intelligence firm Cyber Security Cloud Inc. “The recent cyberattacks on the Colonial Pipeline and now JBS USA show us that all infrastructures are vulnerable,” CEO Toshihiro Koike told Threatpost via email on Tuesday. “If organizations don’t start taking cybersecurity seriously, these attacks will continue to happen. Preventing a cyberattack is like preventing a home invasion: You must continuously update your security and educate the persons behind the walls.”

Threatpost has asked JBS Foods to comment on the attribution of the attack to REvil/Sodinokibi.    REvil Ransomware Ground Down JBS: Sources | Threatpost

Russia-linked cybercriminal group REvil behind meatpacker JBS attack

PUBLISHED WED, JUN 2 2021
CNBC
MacKenzie Sigalos@KENZIESIGALOS

KEY POINTS

Well-known hacker collective REvil Group is behind the cyberattack on Brazil’s JBS, according to a source speaking to CNBC on the condition of anonymity.

The assault on the world’s largest meatpacker disrupted meat production in North America and Australia.

In this article
JBSS-BR-0.55 (-1.78%)

VIDEO02:41
JBS to have most of meat plants online soon after suspected Russia cyberattack

Well-known hacker collective REvil Group is behind the cyberattack on JBS, according to a source speaking to CNBC on the condition of anonymity. It caused JBS, the world’s largest meatpacking company to shut down operations.

The assault on the world’s largest meatpacker disrupted meat production in North America and Australia, at one point stoking concerns over the potential for rising prices and inadequate supply during the busy summer grilling season.

REvil — pronounced like the letter “R” followed by the word “evil” — is mostly comprised of native Russian speakers. It is also believed to be based in a former Soviet state.

The organization runs a site on the dark web, anachronistically known as the “Happy Blog.” If victims don’t comply with demands, the group posts stolen documents on its blog.

“We know that they are protected most likely by Russian intelligence or the Russian government, as are most ransomware groups, which has allowed them to flourish over the last 18 months,” Marc Bleicher of Arete Incident Response, a cybersecurity firm that specializes in negotiations with criminal hackers, previously told CNBC.

Packages of beef cuts are displayed at a Costco store on May 24, 2021 in Novato, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

By Tuesday night, the company said that it had made “significant progress in resolving the cyberattack” and that the “vast majority” of the company’s beef, pork, poultry and prepared food plants will be operational Wednesday.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the Biden administration is engaging directly with the Russian government on this matter, “delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals.”

-- CNBC’s Eamon Javers contributed to this report.

Cyber-Insurance Fuels Ransomware Payment Surge

Author:Lindsey O'Donnell
June 1, 2021 

Cyber-Insurance Fuels Ransomware Payment Surge | Threatpost

Companies relying on their cyber-insurance policies to pay off ransomware criminals are being blamed for a recent uptick in ransomware attacks.

Ransomware victims are increasingly falling back on their cyber-insurance
providers to pay the ransom when they’re hit with an extortion cyberattack. But
security researchers warn that this approach can quickly become problematic.

In the first half of 2020, ransomware attacks accounted for 41 percent of the
total number of filed cyber-insurance claims, according to a Cyber Claims
Insurance Report released last year by Coalition.

And indeed, in real-world attacks over the past two years, many companies
afflicted by ransomware acknowledged that they had utilized cyber-insurance
to deal with either the ransom itself or the ensuing cost of remediation.

For instance, weeks after Riviera Beach, Fla. was hit by ransomware in June
2019, the city council held an emergency meeting. It voted unanimously to
authorize the city’s insurer to pay off a $600,000 ransom demand, after the
malware had frozen crucial data. Adversaries also took systems that control
city finances and utilities offline.

That same month, Lake City, Fla. paid ransomware attackers almost $500,000,
which the city announced would be mostly covered by insurance.

More recently, in August 2020, the University of Utah coughed up a $457,000 ransom payment, working with its cyber-insurance provider, after an attack
targeted the university’s servers, and student and faculty data.

Ransomware victim Colonial Pipeline also reportedly had cyber-insurance protection through broker Aon and Lloyd’s of London. The energy firm did pay $4.4 million to attackers. However, it unclear whether the firm utilized its policy to pay. According to a Routers news report, Colonial Pipeline had a policy that covered it for at least $15 million.

Cyber-Insurance: A Financial Cushion for Attack

For those companies impacted by a ransomware attack, cyber-insurance
is supposed to offer a buffer for companies struggling with the fallout. For
instance, after its severe 2019 cyberattack, aluminum giant Norsk Hydro
received around $20.2 million in cyber-insurance from its provider, AIG. The
total cost for damage from the attack was estimated to range between $60 and
$71 million.

(Editor’s Note: This article is based on an in-depth piece, available in the free Threatpost Insider eBook, entitled “2021: The Evolution of Ransomware.” Download it today for much more on the ransomware underground economy!)

“The financial impact of a ransomware attack is multifaceted, and goes wellbeyond the ransom payment,” said Jack Kudale, founder and CEO of Cowbell
Cyber. “Business interruption, revenue loss, potential exposure of sensitive
data and related third-party liability, forensics and restoration expertise, and
finally breach coaching and ransomware negotiations, can all be covered in a
cyber-insurance policy.”

The use of cyber-insurance specifically to cover negotiations, and the ransoms
themselves doesn’t sit well with some security researchers.

“Not only does making a ransomware payment also place an organization in a
potentially questionable legal situation, it is proving to the cybercriminals you
have funded their recent expedition,” said Brandon Hoffman, CISO at Netenrich.
Costs, Premiums and Sub-Limits

In January 2021, a study from AdvisorSmith Solutions found that the average
cost of cyber-insurance is $1,485 per year in the United States. Premiums for
cyber-insurance range from $650 to $2,357, for companies with “moderate
risks” and $1 million in company revenue, the study found. These premiums are
based on liability limits of $1 million, with a $10,000 deductible.

Some of these policies have specific constraints – known as “sub-limits” – on
ransomware-related costs.

“Many cyber-liability policies provide very limited coverage for ransomware
or cyber-extortion attacks, with coverage sub-limits as low as $25,000, even
when the cyber-liability policy has a much higher total limit,” said the report.

The sub-limits have become more common as cyber-insurance has drawn
concern from security experts about how it will change the overall security
landscape. For instance, many argue that falling back on cyber-insurance
policies during a ransomware attack could dissuade companies from adopting
the security measures that could prevent such an attack in the first place.

“From a broad perspective, building in ransomware payments to insurance
policies will only promote the use of ransomware further and simultaneously
disincentivize organizations from taking the proper steps to avoid ransomware
fallout,” Hoffman said.

Regulatory Moves Hamper Cyber-Insurance’s Role

Cyber-insurance companies often tout their ability to mediate payments
between a ransomware victim and cybercriminals. But governments are
looking at potential regulatory action when it comes to ransomware –
including a ban proposed by New York in 2020, preventing municipalities from
giving in to ransomware demands.

This ban, introduced in response to the rising tide of cyberattacks targeting
government agencies across the country, would limit municipal entities’ ability
to pay a ransom if hit by an attack. It instead suggested the creation of a

“Cyber Security Enhancement Fund” aimed at helping municipalities to upgrade
their security postures. A similar bill, proposed in the New York State Senate
in 2020, would also ban municipalities from paying ransoms – but Senate Bill
S7289 would omit the creation of a security fund.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has added multiple crimeware
gangs to its sanctions program, prohibiting U.S. entities or citizens from doing
business with them (including paying a ransom). These include the developer of
CryptoLocker (Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev); the SamSam ransomware group;
North Korea-linked Lazarus Group; and Evil Corp and its leader, Maksim Yakubets.



The Department in October 2020 expanded the sanctions’ applicability,
saying that in general, companies that facilitate ransomware payments to
cyber-actors on behalf of clients (so-called “ransom negotiators”) may face
sanctions for encouraging crime and future ransomware payment demands.
Nation-State Exclusions

Cyber-insurers for their part have also added in their own loopholes when it
comes to certain nation-state attacks.

In 2017, when the NotPetya malware infected hundreds of organizations across
the world, some insurers invoked their war exclusions to avoid paying out
NotPetya-related claims. These types of war exclusions deny coverage for
“hostile or warlike action in time of peace and war.” However, this caused
some to criticize the ambiguity of how this clause could be applied.

How can cyber-insurance policies be improved to address these concerns?
Netenrich’s Hoffman argued that insurance companies should refuse to
pay premiums – let alone ransoms – unless basic prevention and recovery
measures are performed by the insured organization on an ongoing basis.

“I know this sounds harsh, but there’s a reason why governments and law
enforcement do not negotiate with terrorists in hostage situations, and
ransomware should be treated the same way,” said Hoffman. “Building a
resilience plan and a recovery plan for ransomware is the proper path, and
creating awareness of the likelihood that this can happen to your organization
will pay off in a big way.”

Herd of elephants escape their nature reserve in China, leaving 500km ‘trail of destruction’

The herd has damaged 56 hectares of crops and caused an estimated loss of about £778,068, state media said

Akshita Jain


A herd of 15 wild elephants has wandered 500km from a nature reserve in southwestern China, leaving a trail of destruction, damaged forests and ruined crops in its wake.

Local authorities said the elephants left Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in Yunnan province last year and have passed through several counties. They have strayed into villages and in some cases clashed with humans, China’s state media reported, though no casualties have been reported so far.

It is not yet clear why the elephants, which are under state protection in China, left the nature reserve and are moving north. The herd was approaching the city of Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, on Wednesday.

China’s official Xinhua news agency said precautions have been taken and the provincial bureau of forestry and grassland has told the government of Kunming, which has a population of 7 million, to issue timely warnings to citizens.

The herd has damaged 56 hectares of crops in just the two counties of Yuanjiang and Shiping, and caused a loss of about $1.1 million (£778,068), according to Xinhua.

The animals have also drained a water tank and broken into barns, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Authorities said the group initially included 16 animals when they left the reserve near the city of Pu’er, but two returned home and a baby was born during the walk.

The elephants were seen in Yuxi on Monday. The authorities said they have established a command centre to track their movement and prevent them from entering densely populated areas.

The command centre said more than 360 people, 76 police cars and nine drones were mobilised, according to Xinhua. Images taken by drones show six female and three male adults, three juveniles and three calves.

Ecologists told state media that the reduction of suitable habitat inside their reserve is likely to have caused the herd to seek pastures new.

“The shrinking of rainforests in the elephants' home in Xishuangbanna may be a reason that led to the migration,” Zhang Li, a professor of ecology at Beijing Normal University, told state-run Global Times.

Chen Mingyong, an Asian elephant expert cited by Xinhua, said that it was the first time China recorded such long-distance northward migration of wild elephants. Chen said it was possible their leader “lacks experience and led the whole group astray”.

Wildlife under threat from climate change - WWF
Updated / Wednesday, 2 Jun 2021 

Atlantic puffins are being hit by a reduction in their seafood diet due to warming seas

Wildlife ranging from bluebells and bumblebees to snow leopards and emperor penguins are under threat from climate change, according to a new report.

Even the coffee plants that produce one of the world's favourite brews are at risk from rising temperatures, WWF has warned.

The conservation charity is calling on world leaders meeting for Cop26 climate talks in Glasgow in November to ensure action to cut greenhouse gas emissions to curb global temperature rises to 1.5C and limit the damage to nature and people.

WWF's Feeling The Heat report warns that climate change is warming oceans and landscapes, and increasing the frequency of heatwaves, floods, droughts and wildfires, creating conditions that many species cannot cope with.

In Europe, puffins, mountain hares, bumblebees and bluebells are already feeling the heat, while overseas, species including sea turtles, Amazonian monkeys, frogs, coral and hippos are all under threat.

Mike Barrett, the charity's executive director of science and conservation, said: "This isn't a far-off threat - the impacts of climate change are already being felt, and if we don't act now to keep global warming to 1.5C, we will slide faster and faster towards catastrophe."

The remote habitats of snow leopards in the Himalayas are under threat

The report said temperatures are already 1C above levels before the industrial revolution, and failing to curb global warming to 1.5C could spell catastrophic damage for wildlife - and people, who rely on the services nature provides.

But on current plans and pledges, the world is on track for temperature rises of 2.4C, with severe consequences for coastal communities and crops, as well as plants and animals already under pressure from other human activity.

Global wildlife populations have fallen by an average of 68% since 1970, and the report calls for action to protect and restore habitats from tropical forests to Welsh seagrass meadows, and transform farming and how the land is used.

This will help store carbon, boost wildlife and support communities, tackling both the climate and nature crises, the report argues.

It highlights 12 species at risk from climate change, including in Ireland, where Atlantic puffins are being hit by more extreme storms and bad weather and a reduction in their seafood diet due to warming seas.

The much-loved sight of carpets of woodland bluebells could become rarer as warmer temperatures lead the plants to bloom out of sync with optimum spring conditions, putting them at risk, the report said.



Bumblebees are at risk from overheating and mountain hares in the Scottish Highlands are keeping their white coat camouflage too long as winter snow cover reduces, putting them at higher risk from predators.

Around the world, warming temperatures are putting species at risk, reducing the habitat of creatures ranging from monkeys that live in Amazonian forests and snow leopards that are at home in the remote Himalayas.

Hippos risk losing their wetlands and will struggle in higher temperatures, while the Arabica coffee plant does not cope well with warming temperatures, low or unpredictable rainfall or extreme weather, the report said.

Warm water coral reefs will be badly affected even by a 1.5C rise in temperatures but will all but disappear with global warming of 2C, and emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica face a bleak future in the face of ice loss without action to curb emissions, the report said.



Tanya Steele, chief executive at WWF, said: "If we are to secure a future for some of our most iconic species and habitats, and indeed ourselves, then 2021 must be a turning point.

"World leaders must seize the chance at Cop26 to build a greener, fairer future - one with nature at its heart.

"As hosts, the UK Government needs to show it can deliver on its ambitious climate targets by publishing a credible action plan without delay, outlining the steps it will take to cut harmful emissions and reach net zero.

"At the same time, ministers must recognise nature's vital role in helping to deliver a 1.5C world, and urgently scale up efforts to protect and restore nature at home and overseas, including critical places like the Amazon and the polar regions."

Sri Lanka: Fears of environmental disaster as chemical-laden cargo ship X-Press Pearl sinks

The vessel was carrying 1,486 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid and other chemicals, when it caught fire.

Amar Mehta
News reporter @Amarjournalist_
SKY NEWS
Wednesday 2 June 2021
SRI LANKA

Blazing Sri Lanka cargo ship 'sinking'
A cargo ship that caught fire off the coast of Sri Lanka, leading to a massive chemical leak, is now sinking.

VIDEO

Blazing Sri Lanka cargo ship 'sinking'


A fire-stricken cargo ship carrying tonnes of chemicals has sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka, sparking fears of an environmental disaster.

Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl was anchored and waiting to enter the port in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, when a blaze broke out on 20 May.

The ship was carrying 1,486 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid and other chemicals and cosmetics.

The navy believes the blaze was caused by the chemicals being transported on the vessel

Most of the vessel's cargo was destroyed in the fire, with containers polluting surrounding waters and a long stretch of the island country's beaches.

The navy was preparing to deal with an oil spill after the ship sank.

There are concerns hundreds of tonnes of oil from fuel tanks could leak into the sea, devastating nearby marine life.

Authorities have been tackling the fire for over two weeks and were towing the ship into deep water when it began sinking early on Wednesday, a day after the blaze was extinguished.

A salvage crew tried to tow it to deeper water away from the coast, but the attempt was abandoned after several hours.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship, said salvage experts were able to board the vessel and attach a tow line, but "efforts to move the ship to deeper waters have failed".

"The ship's aft portion is now touching bottom at a depth of 21 metres (70ft)," while the forward area remains afloat with smoke coming out of two cargo holds, the company said in a statement.

The fire and subsequent submergence of the ship could cause severe pollution, navy spokesperson Indika de Silva said.

The government banned fishing along an 80km (50 miles) stretch of coastline, affecting 5,600 fishing boats, while hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to clean beaches.

"The ship has dealt a death blow to our lives," said Joshua Anthony, head of a region fishing union.

"We can't go into the sea which means we can't make a living."

Attempts to tow the ship into deep water failed after it began sinking on Wednesday morning

The MV X-Press Pearl vessel was carrying tonnes of chemical material

The navy believes the fire was caused by the chemicals being transported on the vessel.

Plastic pellets from the ship have also washed up on the coastline.

The ship had left the port of Hazira, India on 15 May and was on its way to Singapore via Colombo.

The 25-member crew managed to evacuate when the fire erupted

The rear of the ship has submerged into the water

Sri Lankan police are probing the fire and a court in Colombo on Tuesday imposed a travel ban on the captain, the engineer and the assistant engineer leaving the country.




The government has said it will take legal action against the owners of the ship to claim compensation.

The vessel's 25-member crew, including nationals from the Philippines, China, India and Russian, were evacuated last week after an explosion.

Sri Lanka : Chemical-filled X-Press Pearl ship threatens marine life and beaches

A sinking cargo ship filled with tonnes of chemicals and plastics is threatening marine life off the coast of Sri Lanka.

Efforts to tow the Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl into deeper water to limit its environmental impact failed, officials said.

Hundreds of tonnes of oil could leak into the sea, with some warning it would "destroy the whole bottom of the sea".

Read more: Oil spill fears as ship sinks off Sri Lanka

South & Central Asia

Plastics from Burning Ship Cover Sri Lanka Beach

There are fears ship could break up, spilling its 278 tons of bunker oil

By AFP

Fri, 05/28/2021 - 03:46 AM

Sri Lanka: Fears of oil spill emergency as cargo ship that burnt for 13 days off coast is now sinking

By Helen Regan, Akanksha Sharma and Sophie Jeong, CNN

A stricken container ship that caught fire 13 days ago off the Sri Lankan coast, unleashing one of the worst ecological disasters in the country's history, is now sinking, officials said

.

© Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images A tugboat from the Dutch salvage firm SMIT tows the fire stricken Singapore-registered container ship MV X-Press Pearl away from the coast of Colombo on June 2.

Since May 20, the Sri Lanka Navy and Indian Coast Guard have been working round the clock to try to stop that from happening as the blaze engulfed the container ship, which was laden with chemicals such as nitric acid and carrying 350 metric tons of oil in its tanks.

Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has warned the Singaporean-registered ship, called the MV X-Press Pearl, could create an oil spill emergency. It expects pristine beaches along a 30 kilometer-stretch of coastline from the tourist spot of Negombo to Dikowita to be hit.

The fire, which raged for almost two weeks, has prompted a large-scale clean-up operation along Sri Lanka's western coast, as millions of plastic micro pellets blanketed beaches near the capital Colombo. Fishing in the area was suspended and environmentalists warned birds and marine life could be threatened by the plastic and chemical pollution.

Authorities fear a bigger disaster if the oil leaks into the ocean and nearby lagoons before the vessel can be towed away.

Sri Lanka's State Minister of Fisheries, Kanchana Wijesekera, said on Twitter the X-Press Pearl was "sinking at the current position" and fishing activities and other vessels have been barred from entering the Negombo Lagoon.

"Emergency measures are (being) taken to protect the lagoon and surrounding areas to contain the damage form any debris or in case of an oil leak," Wijesekera added.

Images of the vessel shared by Sri Lanka's Navy showed the charred body of the container ship with its stern appearing to be submerged in the water as smoke continues to billow from its bow.

Wijesekera said the X-Press Pearl was being "towed away to deep waters" by a salvage company and the navy.

In a statement, the cargo ship's operator, X-Press Feeders, said an inspection team had managed to board the ship on Tuesday after dousing the fire and found the engine room had flooded.

"There are now concerns over the amount of water in the hull and its effect on the ship's stability," X-Press Feeders said Wednesday. A previous attempt to tow the ship away was aborted on Tuesday due to a large ocean swell, it said.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, the MEPA said the cause of the sinking was due to a water leak at the back of the ship

.

© High Commission of India in Colo Salvors manage to board the stricken ship to assess the damage after fire had been successfully doused for the first time since May 20.

The X-Press Pearl, was sailing from India's Gujarat to Colombo when a fire broke out on board on May 20, as it was nine nautical miles off the Sri Lankan coast.

It was carrying 1,486 containers when the fire started, 81 of which held "dangerous goods," including 25 metric tons of nitric acid, according to X-Press Feeders. The other chemicals onboard the ship are yet to be confirmed.

Sri Lankan authorities have launched criminal and civil probes into how the fire started.

X-Press Feeders said it was "too early to tell" but had previously reported one of the containers onboard was leaking nitric acid at its previous stops in Hamad Port in Qatar and Hazira Port in India. The company said "the advice given was there were no specialist facilities or expertise immediately available to deal with the leaking unit."

© Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images Members of Sri Lankan Navy remove debris washed ashore from the MV X-Press Pearl on a beach in Colombo on May 30.

Indian court orders COVID-related audit of Renault-Nissan plant

Aditi ShahSudarshan Varadhan

REUTERS MAY 31,2021


A security guard walks past 'Micra' cars lined at the newly-inaugurated Renault-Nissan Alliance auto plant in the southern Indian city of Chennai March 17, 2010. REUTERS/Babu

An Indian court on Monday ordered officials to inspect coronavirus-related safety protocols at Renault-Nissan's Tamil Nadu car plant, where workers are on strike over allegations that social distancing rules are not being followed.

Workers at the southern Indian factory, jointly owned by Renault (RENA.PA) and alliance partner Nissan Motor (7201.T), did not report for duty on Monday over COVID-related safety concerns, the workers' union said.

Nissan, which owns a majority stake in the plant, denied the workers' safety allegations and told an Indian court it followed all guidelines. The company also said it would cooperate with the state government during the inspection and would reopen the factory gradually.

"Nissan continues to hold the safety and wellbeing of employees at the heart of our operations," a spokeswoman said, adding it will continue to add measures to safeguard employees and their families.

The Renault-Nissan plant has been shut since Wednesday.

The standoff is a sign of the challenges companies face in resuming operations when new infections in India are rising. Tamil Nadu state is one of the worst affected, with more than 30,000 new cases a day.

Hundreds of workers near the auto manufacturing hub of Chennai have fallen ill with COVID-19 and dozens have died, labour unions say.

Renault-Nissan, Ford (F.N) and Hyundai (005380.KS) halted work at their plants last week after workers protested and some went on strike. read more

Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) suspended one of its three shifts at a plant near Chennai for three weeks due to the coronavirus, according to an internal note to employees seen by Reuters and two sources familiar with the matter.

A spokesman confirmed Hyundai would operate two shifts from Monday, adding it was "closely monitoring the pandemic situation in the state" and adhering to safety guidelines.

Renault-Nissan workers refused to resume work on Monday saying in a letter to the companies that their demands - including social distancing, rehabilitation of families of dead workers and medical treatment of those affected by COVID-19 - had not been met.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

A two-judge bench ordered a senior government official in charge of industrial safety to visit the plant on Tuesday for an inspection, while also asking workers to resume their duties.

Distancing norms have to be maintained without exception, the court said, directing the management and workers to arrive at an amicable solution.

The Tamil Nadu state government on Saturday allowed carmakers near Chennai to keep operating, but asked them to ensure adherence to social distancing protocols.

One of the judges noted that one factory inspected by the state's industrial safety departments was served a notice asking to "show cause" for purported discrepancies with standard operating procedures.

A report by the Office of Director of Industrial Safety on Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, seen by Reuters, noted social distancing was not fully followed.

The report also said sanitization facilities were unavailable at many places within the factory and there was no full-time medical officer.

Reuters was unable to reach Wipro Infrastructure for comment.

Renault-Nissan said it had reduced production at the Tamil Nadu plant, its only manufacturing base in India, to 7,129 cars during the 13 working days in May against a target of 18,852. In April, it manufactured 17,207 cars.

"They are disrupting the work which will impact the business and lives of thousands of people including the workmen's own dependents," Renault-Nissan said in a filing dated May 31.

The case will next be heard on Friday.

WHO authorizes Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

January 31, 2020National Institutes of Health official Dr. Anthony Fauci (C) speaks about the coronavirus during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Alexander Azar (L) announced that the United States is declaring the virus a public health emergency and issued a federal quarantine order of 14 days for 195 Americans. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo

June 2 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization has granted emergency use authorization of the Chinese manufactured Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for those 18 years of age and older.

The WHO announced its validation of the two-shot regimen by Beijing-based pharmaceutical Sinovac in a statement Tuesday, informing countries, procuring agencies and communities that the drug is safe and meets international standards.

The WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization said following a review of the vaccine that it has recommended it for use in adults 18 years and older, with the two doses to be administered between two and four weeks apart.

"The world desperately needs multiple COVID-19 vaccines to address the huge access inequity across the globe," said Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO's assistant-director general for access to health products.

The emergency use listing also makes the drug available to the WHO-led COVAX facility, which seeks equitable access to vaccines, for supply and international procurement while signaling other countries to consider giving it national approval for use.

The Sinovac drug has shown an efficacy rate of 51% in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 illness but a 100% efficacy at preventing severe illness and hospitalization, according to clinical trial results.

However, few adults over the age of 60 years old were enrolled in trials making it difficult to estimate the efficacy for this demographic, but the WHO said it is not enforcing a upper age limit on its use as data collected from countries that have administered the drug suggest it is "likely to have a protective effect in older persons."

"There is no reason to believe that the vaccine has a different safety profile in older and younger populations," the U.N. health body said. "WHO recommends that countries using the vaccine in older age groups conduct safety and effectiveness monitoring to verify the expected impact and contribute to making the recommendation more robust for all countries."

The WHO also said that since it is an inactive vaccine it is easy to store, making it suitable for low-resource setting.

During a press conference Tuesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters it was the eighth vaccine to get emergency use listing by the WHO.

RELATED U.S. blood supply safe from coronavirus, study says

"It's now crucial to get these life-saving tools to the people who need them quickly," he said.

The Sinovac vaccine becomes the second Chinese made drug and eighth total recommended for emergency use by the WHO since Jan. 8 when it signed off on Pfizer.

Sinovac coronavirus vaccines create 'immunity barrier' in Brazilian town: Study
JUNE 01, 2021

By ZHUANG PINGHUI SIMONE MCCARTHYSOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

Almost all the adults of a small town in Brazil were inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine, creating an in immunity barrier for the community, according to preliminary results.

Reuters

A Brazilian research institute said preliminary results from a small town in the country indicated a big reduction in coronavirus hospitalisations and deaths after almost all the adults in the community were given vaccines by Chinese partner Sinovac Biotech.

Releasing the interim data on Monday (May 31), the Butantan Institute said the vaccines created an immunity barrier in the town of 45,000 people.More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite.

In the Brazil study, some 27,000 adults, or 96 per cent of the adult population of Serrana outside Sao Paulo, were given two doses of the inactivated vaccines at a 28-day interval starting in mid-February.

The town has 45,000 residents and the regimen was completed on April 11.

Five weeks after full inoculation, the town saw an 80 per cent of drop in symptomatic cases and an 86 per cent decrease in hospitalisations, the institute said.

The announcement came days after a study involving 128,290 vaccinated health workers in Jakarta , Indonesia, indicated that the two-dose Sinovac regimen rolled out between January and March protected 98 per cent of the recipients from death and 96 per cent from hospitalisation.

In addition, 94 per cent were protected against symptomatic infection seven days after completing the doses.

Read AlsoAstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial Brazil volunteer dies, trial to continue


The rates are higher than the phase 3 trial data for a broader study among health care workers with high risk of infection in Brazil last year.

At the time, the institute said the vaccine was 78 per cent effective in preventing mild cases of Covid-19, and 100 per cent effective against severe and moderate infections.

The overall efficacy rate, which also includes very mild cases that did not require medical help, was 50.38 per cent , it said.

Meng Weining, Sinovac’s vice-president of international affairs, said efficacy data could be affected by different factors and even when trials are designed the same way.

“Trial results of the same protocol but at different times will have different results, depending on how the epidemic is. A higher attack rate will result in a lower efficacy rate,” Meng said.

“There is also a factor of coronavirus variants, so the trial results in Brazil might be different from another country.”

Jin Dong Yan, a professor with the University of Hong Kong’s medical school, said the Serrana study could indicate the potential for Sinovac to make an impact on the disease at a community level, but more information was needed.

“It’s a positive sign, but for this positive sign to have a bigger impact, they should present the raw data so everybody can be convinced,” he said, referring to the underlying data used to calculate the statistics, as well as information about the number of adults and children who were infected but not showing symptoms.

“For example, what is the ratio of asymptomatic infection and are those carriers spreading the virus to others? If they are not transmitting the virus to any family member or close contact, it’s a good sign, but we need better data.”

Jin said that overall it was not surprising that Sinovac had an impact on disease outcomes.

Read AlsoBrazil's P1 coronavirus variant mutating, may become more dangerous, say scientists


Sinovac said the data was preliminary and a more detailed report was expected to be released later.

By Monday, Sinovac had delivered 600 million doses in China and around the world and of those, 430 million had been administered. The company has an annual capacity of 2 billion doses of finished and packaged products and is aiming to expand production capacity this year, according to Meng.

More than 315.8 million doses of Sinovac vaccine have been administered in China from mid-December, when China started to mass inoculation drive, though last Sunday.

The company’s vaccine output has been growing steadily since the end of February, reaching a record 36.8 million doses on Monday.

The Brazil study, called Project Serrana, also indicated that the high inoculation rate among adults protected unvaccinated minors.

Ricardo Palacios, the institute’s medical director of clinical research, who directed the study, said the researchers divided the town’s residents into four groups with similar populations for comparison.

Read AlsoChina's Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine proves effective in Brazil trials: Media


“We understood that the [immunity barrier] phenomena observed did not happen randomly, but it repeats in the four groups,” Palacios said.

“The most important result was understanding that we can control the pandemics even without vaccinating all the population.”

The study also shows the vaccine is effective in protecting against the P1 coronavirus variant, which was behind the surging cases in Brazil in April, according to Meng.

“Most of the strain of the coronavirus that was prevalent between February and April was the P1 variant. The results show the vaccine can offer excellent protection against such variants,” he said.

Meng said about 10,000 Serrana residents worked in neighbouring cities where there were high numbers of Covid-19 cases, and the vaccines appeared to be effective in these cases too.

“Serrana is a commuters’ town. Many people travel to other cities to work and come back home in the evening. Even so, the vaccine has offered excellent protection,” Meng said.

This article was first published in South China Morning Post.

 #NOTOKYOOLYMPICS

10,000 Tokyo Olympic volunteers have now pulled out: organizers

June 2, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)

Tokyo Olympic volunteers are seen on screen during an online training session on April 10, 2021, in Tokyo. (Kyodo)

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Roughly 10,000 of the 80,000 volunteers originally scheduled to help at this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have quit, the Japanese organizing committee said Wednesday, reflecting the difficulty of staging a major sporting event amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I think there is no doubt that one of the reasons is concern over coronavirus infections," Toshiro Muto, CEO of the organizing committee, told reporters, but said it would not seriously affect operations because the games are expected to be scaled down from their original plans.

The organizing committee said that about 1,000 volunteers had quit as of late February. As the Tokyo Games were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Muto said some of the volunteers may have dropped out due to scheduling conflicts or because they had to move.

Many volunteers also withdrew following sexist remarks by Yoshiro Mori, former president of the organizing committee, that drew global outrage.

"Field Cast" volunteers, who were recruited by the organizing committee from over 200,000 applications, were expected to take various roles, such as serving as guides at venues and helping out at the athletes' village.

As part of measures to ensure the games' safety, the organizers have barred spectators from overseas. While there will be about 15,000 athletes, they will be kept in a bubble environment with their movements primarily restricted to transit to and from their venues.

The organizers have been struggling to build support and convince the public that the Olympics can be held safely in just over a month. The country has not been able to successfully control infections, driven by highly contagious variants of the virus.

Muto also said about 190,000 officials and workers from Japan, including members of the organizing committee, volunteers, security personnel, sponsors and press will be involved in the Olympics, and 110,000 in the Paralympics.

The committee said last month that the number of overseas officials and workers will be reduced to 78,000, less than half the initial figure

  #NOTOKYOOLYMPICS

Japan's top COVID adviser says "not normal" for Olympics to be held

June 2, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)

Shigeru Omi, an infectious disease expert who heads a government subcommittee on the coronavirus response, speaks during a House of Representatives committee session in Tokyo on June 2, 2021. (Kyodo)

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's top coronavirus adviser said Wednesday it is "not normal" to host this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Shigeru Omi, an infectious disease expert who heads a government subcommittee on the coronavirus, also said the Tokyo Games organizing committee is responsible for drawing up sufficient anti-virus measures to ensure the safety of the participants.

"It is not normal to (host the games) under the current situation," Omi told a parliament committee, a day before the 50-day countdown to the opening of the Olympics.

"If they were to be held during a pandemic, it is the organizers' responsibility to scale them down as much as possible and strengthen the management system," he said.

The Japanese capital has been under a COVID-19 state of emergency since late April, and opinion polls have repeatedly shown that the Japanese public is largely against going ahead with the games following a one-year postponement.

"Ordinary people will not consider cooperating unless (the organizers) give a clear story on why they should be held and how to minimize risks as one package," he said.

At a different parliament committee, Omi stressed that it is the duty of medical experts to analyze and express their opinions on possible situations that could lead to an increase in infections.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has insisted the Olympics and Paralympics can be held safely by implementing sufficient countermeasures.

The Olympics and Paralympics are expected to involve about 15,000 athletes from around the world and as many as 78,000 officials and workers from overseas.

#KASHMIR IS #INDIA'S #GAZA

World must exert pressure on India, Israel to end atrocities, says Governor

Sarwar apprises US officials about massacre of human rights in Kashmir and Palestine



THE NATION
PAKISTAN
Our Staff Reporter

June 02, 2021

LAHORE - Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar met 2 members of the US Congress, 1 US Senator and 4 Mayors, discussed Pak-US relations, issue of Palestine and Kashmir, Indian terrorism and other issues.

The attendees appreciated the sacrifices of the Pakistani Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan for regional peace. According to the statement issued from Governor’s House here on Tuesday, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar met with Congressman Lou Correa, Congresswoman Norma J. Toress, California State Senator Josh Newman, Mayor of Anaheim Harry Sindhu, Mayor of Artesia Ali Sajjad Taj, Mayor of Yorba Linda Peggy Huang and others on the occasion. Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar apprised the US officials about the massacre of human rights in Kashmir and Palestine, atrocities on innocent Kashmiri and Palestinian people, Pakistan’s role for peace and Pakistan’s successful handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The American Congressman and Congresswoman appreciated Pakistan’s role in the war on terror and assured support of the United States to Pakistan in matters regarding regional peace.

Matters to further bilateral ties between Pakistan and the USA also came under discussion. Talking to US officials, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said that Pakistan has always stood by peace and today international organisations including the Indian Army Chief are acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts for peace and war on terror and the sacrifices made by Pakistan for the Afghan peace process are unparalleled in the world.

The world should put diplomatic pressure on India and Israel to end the atrocities in Kashmir and Israel and liberate the people there, he added. Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said that Pakistan under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan is striving for regional peace. US President Joe Biden promised to resolve the Kashmir issue before he came to power and we urge the US government to play a constructive role in resolving Kashmir and Palestine conflicts as per the UN resolutions.

World asked to stop Israel, India from massacring Palestinians, Kashmiris

Kashmir, Palestine issues be resolved for peace

OUR STAFF REPORT

May 16, 2021

ISLAMABAD - Political adviser to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday said that Israel is hell-bent on converting the whole of Palestine into a graveyard.

Addressing a meeting Sopori, lamented the criminal silence of the international community especially the Muslim countries over the massacre of the Palestinian people by Israel, Kashmir Media Service reported. “The killing of innocent children, the elderly and women in bombing is the worst example of state terrorism,” he said.

He urged the international community, especially the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to take effective measures to counter the Israeli aggression against unarmed Palestinians.

Khawaja Firdous, APHC leader and chairman of the Democratic Political Movement (DPM), in a statement in Srinagar expressed deep concern over the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israel and the senseless killing of more than 130 Palestinians. He said that the so-called human rights activists of the world are tight-lipped over Israeli terrorism. Khawaja Firdous said that just as Israel has massacred unarmed Palestinians, India is doing the same in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that unless the disputes over Kashmir and Palestine were not resolved, lasting peace and stability could not be established in the world.

Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement Information Secretary Shabbir Ahmed in a statement issued in Srinagar urged the international community to take notice of the ongoing Indian state terrorism in occupied Kashmir. He said that Indian atrocities were continuing against the Kashmiri people who are sacrificing their lives for freedom.

 

Erdogan accuses US of supporting ‘terrorists’ against Turkey

“What is the reason for our tensions (with the US)? The so-called Armenian genocide,” said Erdogan who is to meet the US president June 14.

Wednesday 02/06/2021

A file picture shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) members in Ankara. (AFP)

ISTANBUL--Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday warned that the United States risked “losing a precious friend” if it tries to corner his country, speaking two weeks before his first meeting with US counterpart Joe Biden.

Already tense, relations between the two NATO states have further deteriorated since Biden replaced Erdogan’s ally Donald Trump in January, with the new president making a point of highlighting Turkey’s dire human rights record.

When asked about Ankara-Washington relations, Erdogan said in an interview with Turkish state broadcaster TRT on Tuesday that “those who corner the Republic of Turkey will lose a precious friend”.

Erdogan’s combative stance comes ahead of the first meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels on June 14.

Biden was in no rush to speak with the Turkish leader after taking office, waiting three months before calling Erdogan in April.

That call was also on the eve of Biden’s historic decision to recognise the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman empire during World War I, a move that outraged Turkey which rejects that term.

“What is the reason for our tensions (with the US)? The so-called Armenian genocide,” Erdogan said on Tuesday.

“Don’t you have any other problems to deal with rather than advocating for Armenia?”

He also listed several issues that have strained relations since 2016, including US support for Kurdish militias in Syria that Turkey deems “terrorists”.

“If the United States is indeed our ally, should they side with the terrorists or with us? Unfortunately, they continue to support the terrorists,” he said.

Erdogan had previously indicated he intended to mend ties with Biden, last week saying their meeting will be a “harbinger of a new era” in US-Turkey relations.

On Tuesday Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey since 2003, said he has always managed to work with the person in the White House “whether he is a Republican or a Democract”.