A RUSSIA-BASED HACKING RAMPAGE HITS US AGENCIES AND EXPOSES MILLIONS

US cybersecurity officials on Friday, have revealed that a "small number" of government agencies have been victims of a widespread hacking campaign, likely carried out by the Russian ransomware group known as Clop. Exploiting a vulnerability in the file transfer service MOVEit, Clop has targeted various organizations, including Shell, British Airways, and the BBC, to obtain valuable data. Targeting US government entities will intensify international law enforcement's scrutiny of the cybercriminals involved in this highly publicized hacking spree.

Progress Software, the owner of MOVEit, patched the vulnerability in late May, and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an advisory with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on June 7, urging all public and private organizations to promptly address the flaw. A senior CISA official confirmed that all US government instances of MOVEit have been updated.

Although CISA officials did not disclose the names of the affected agencies, they confirmed that the Department of Energy informed CISA about its involvement. CNN reported that the hacking spree also impacted the driver's license and identification data of millions of residents in Louisiana and Oregon. Clop has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on the state governments of Minnesota and Illinois.

CISA director Jen Easterly stated that CISA is assisting several federal agencies affected by the intrusions in their MOVEit applications. Based on discussions with industry partners, Easterly clarified that the intrusions were not leveraged to gain broader access, establish persistence in targeted systems, or steal specific high-value information. Easterly added that CISA has not observed any threats from Clop to release stolen US government data. The senior CISA official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that there is currently no evidence of coordination between Clop and the Russian government. Clop itself maintains a focus on targeting businesses and asserts that it will delete any data obtained from governments or law enforcement.

Initially known as a standard ransomware group in 2018, Clop evolved from encryption-based ransomware to its current strategy of exploiting vulnerabilities in enterprise software to carry out mass data theft and launch data extortion campaigns against a wide range of organizations.

While direct coordination between the Kremlin and Clop is unclear, research has consistently shown connections between the Russian government and ransomware groups. Under this arrangement, these syndicates can operate with impunity from Russia as long as they avoid targeting domestic victims and defer to the Kremlin's influence. Hence, it is highly likely that any data collected by Clop from the US government or other significant targets would be shared with the Kremlin, even if obtained incidentally.

PAKISTAN FM BLAMES 'GEOPOLITICS' FOR STALLED IMF LOAN PACKAGE AS ECONOMIC CRISIS WORSENS

Pakistan's Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, has attributed the delay in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan package to geopolitics, claiming that global institutions wanted Pakistan to default like Sri Lanka before engaging in negotiations. Dar stated that no reason had been provided for the unnecessary delay in the ninth review, pending since November. He emphasized that regardless of the IMF bailout package, Pakistan would not default on its obligations. Dar alleged that geopolitical factors were behind the stalled loan program as global institutions sought a scenario where Pakistan would default before entering negotiations. Nevertheless, he affirmed that ongoing negotiations with the IMF would be completed this month.

In 2019, the IMF signed a deal to provide USD 6 billion to Pakistan based on certain conditions, but the plan has faced multiple setbacks, and full reimbursement is still pending due to the donor's insistence on Pakistan fulfilling all formalities. Dar noted that guarantees for USD 3 billion from friendly bilateral partners had been arranged, as promised, and the remaining USD 3 billion had been assured by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Additionally, China's commercial banks agreed to roll over loans to Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the World Bank RISE project, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank also pledged financial support.

Recently, the IMF raised concerns about Pakistan's budget for the fiscal year 2023-24, referring to it as a "missed opportunity." Despite IMF reservations, Dar argued that exemptions provided to the IT, agriculture, and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sectors were necessary for economic growth, as these sectors were drivers of growth. Dar highlighted the potential return of USD 2.5 billion from the IT industry this year, which is expected to increase to USD 4.5 billion next year.

NATO TO TIGHTEN UKRAINE TIES, BUT NO MEMBERSHIP INVITE AT SUMMIT

Brussels : Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said Friday the alliance will tighten political ties with Ukraine at a summit next month, but there will be no talk of a membership invite for Kyiv. “We’re not going to discuss an invitation at the Vilnius Summit, but how we can move Ukraine closer to Nato,” Stoltenberg said. “I’m confident that we will find a good solution and consensus. ” In a symbolic step alliance leaders are aiming to hold a first session of a Nato-Ukraine Council with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Lithuanian capital, Stoltenberg said. The move represents an upgrade in political ties and will give Kyiv a more equal seat at the table “to consult and decide on security issues”, Stoltenberg said. But it is seen as little compensation for any failure to make headway on Ukraine’s push to join the US-led military alliance’s protective umbrella.

N-WARHEADS SENT TO BELARUS, SAYS PUTIN

President Putin on Friday confirmed Russia had sent nuclear arms to its ally Belarus which borders Ukraine. “The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus. . . This is the first part,” Putin told an annual economic forum. He had announced the plans to send tactical nuclear weapons in March. “By the end of summer, the end of the year, we will complete the process,” he said.

PUTIN TO VISIT TURKIYE, ANATO NATION, ‘SOON’

President Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed that the Russian leader will visit Turkiye “soon”, a Kremlin aide said on Friday. The visit would be Putin’s first to a Nato nation since he ordered troops into Ukraine. Putin has only rarely travelled outside Russia since the hostilities began.

U.S. EASES NORMS ON ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR GREEN CARD

The Biden administration in the U.S. has eased norms by releasing policy guidance on the eligibility criteria for those waiting for green cards to work and stay in America, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States from June 21-24.

The guidance issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the eligibility criteria for initial and renewal applications for Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) in compelling circumstances is expected to help thousands of Indian technology professionals who are in the agonisingly long wait for a Green Card or permanent residency.

The USCIS guidance outlines specific requirements that the applicants must meet to be eligible for an initial EAD based on compelling circumstances.

These include being the principal beneficiary of an approved Form I-140, being in valid non-immigrant status or authorised grace period, not having filed an adjustment of status application, and meeting certain biometrics and criminal background requirements.

GREECE BOAT DISASTER: UP TO 500 PEOPLE STILL MISSING SAYS UN

Up to 500 people are still missing from a migrant boat that sank off Greece, the UN human rights office says.

Large numbers of women and children were among those missing in the "horrific tragedy" that left 78 people dead, said spokesman Jeremy Laurence.

The appalling loss of life underscored the need to bring people smugglers to justice, he added.

But it also made clear that search and rescue at sea was a "legal and humanitarian imperative".

In a joint statement with the International Organization for Migration, the refugee agency said any search and rescue action had to be conducted to prevent loss of life..

Since the fishing boat carrying up to 750 people went down 50 nautical miles off Pylos in southern Greece, the role of the coastguard has come under increasing scrutiny.

Greece's caretaker prime minister, Ioannis Sarmas, said a "thorough investigation of the real facts and technical judgements" would take place to determine what had caused the boat to sink.

JAPAN REDEFINES RAPE, RAISES CONSENT AGE

Tokyo : Japan changed its definition of rape and raised the age of consent to 16, from 13, on Friday, bringing the country’s sex crimes laws closer in line with those in the US and Europe. The new law, passed unanimously by the Upper House of Parliament, defines rape as “nonconsensual sexual intercourse” and removes a previous requirement that the crime include physical force. Until now, Japan’s laws on sexual assault did not mention consent. Japan previously had one of the lowest ages of consent, leaving children vulnerable to sexual abuse. Still, under the new law, for victims between the ages of 13 and 15, sex would be considered crime only if the partner is five or more years older. The new lawis the first time Japan has changed age of consent in over 100 years.

The new law outlines various conditions under whichaperson might be afraid to say no to sex, even if not directly threatened with violence. Those situations include when a victim has consumed alcohol or drugs or when an offender “frightens or startles” them. Until now, because of the high bar for a sexual assault to be officially classified as rape in Japan, few victims have brought criminal charges. Activists for victims of sexual abuse had long argued that Japan’s rape laws were antiquated because of the absence of any mention of consent and the low age of consent. The new law also addresses acts of groping or incidents where adults “psychologically control” children on social media site s.

FRANCE’S MACRON SEEKS TO SWAY SAUDI PRINCE ON UKRAINE WAR

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , seeking to nudge him into more vocal support of Ukraine. The visit underlines the warm relationship between Paris and Riyadh that has irked rights activists in the wake of the 2018 killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi.