Monthly Archives: May 2024

Washington, DC, 24 May 2024 (PAHO)- As a result of the increase in cases of dengue fever in the southern hemisphere and the beginning of the season of increased transmission in the northern hemisphere, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) urges countries of Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean to strengthen preventive measures against this disease.

In anepidemiological alert issued today, PAHO emphasizes the importance of strengthening surveillance, diagnosis and vector control actions, as well as preparing health services for the proper management of patients. The aim is to prevent complications and avoid possible overcrowding of health services.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that, in most cases, has no symptoms. However, when symptoms do occur, they usually include high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash. Although most people recover within one to two weeks, some can develop severe forms that require hospitalization. These can be fatal when not treated promptly and properly.

As of mid-May 2024, the Americas region has reported more than 8.1 million suspected cases of dengue,marking a 3.3-fold increase compared to the same period last year. The countries with the highest number of reported cases are Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Colombia and Mexico. More than 3,600 dengue-related deaths have been reported throughout the region.

Mexico has reported more than 65,000 cases of dengue, Guatemala over 12,000, Honduras over 20,000 and Panama over 5,800. This is between 2.5 and nearly six times the number of cases reported during the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, countries and territories in the Caribbean have reported over 21,000 cases, representing a 5.7-fold increase compared to the corresponding period last year.

Faced with this unprecedented regional increase in dengue cases, PAHO urges countries to intensify efforts to combat the mosquito vector and the disease, for which there is no specific treatment.

In the epidemiological alert, PAHO emphasizes the importance of timely clinical diagnosis, early identification of warning signs, and proper management of patients to avoid serious cases and deaths. The Organization also calls on health care workers to provide clear guidance to patients and their families to monitor warning signs and seek immediate medical attention in the event of any of these signs.

PAHO offers resources and training through itsvirtual course on dengue, available free of charge on its Virtual Campus for Public Health.

PAHO also recommends that Member States make effective use of available resources to prevent and/or control vector infestations in affected areas and health services.

It reminds the population of the importance of eliminating mosquito breeding sites in their homes and surroundings, and to take precautions to avoid bites, such as the use of repellent and clothing that covers the arms and legs.

PAHO reiterates its commitment to support countries in the implementation of effective measures in the fight against dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, and will continue to monitor the situation and provide technical guidance to affected countries.

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PAHO urges countries to strengthen dengue prevention in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean - Pan American Health Organization

This was the first political level meeting between the Caribbean and the European Union since the signature of the Samoa Agreement in November 2023, which provides a framework for the EUs cooperation with 79 countries of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States.

PRESS RELEASE

Bridgetown, 27 May 2024

The EU and Caribbean strengthen their partnership and exchange on investment opportunities at the SIDS Conference

On 27 May, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen and representatives of European Union Member States met with Caribbean countries in the sidelines of the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Antigua and Barbuda. It was the first political level meeting between the Caribbean and the European Union since the signature of the Samoa Agreement in November 2023, which provides a framework for the EUs cooperation with 79 countries of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States.

Commissioner Urpilainen said: In this period of geopolitical tension and instability, the EU-Caribbean partnership stands as a beacon of hope: natural partners united by a common vision for a fairer, greener, and more sustainable future. Today, we become partners of choice, as we celebrate the Caribbean protocol of the Samoa agreement, which underpinned by the Global Gateway Investment Agenda enables us to deepen the cooperation between Caribbean states and the EU.

Key EU investors and private sector stakeholders travelled to Antigua to present concrete investment opportunities, under the Global Gateway Investment Agenda, in areas such as the fight against sargassum, digital transition, maritime connectivity, water, and energy. Caribbean countries were able to present their priorities and engage with EU investors.

We have over 130 projects aimed at advancing the green, digital, and fair triple transition in Latin America and the Caribbean. One of the novelties of Global Gateway is that to mobilise the level of investment needed to make a difference, we are bringing together public and private finance. I am happy to exchange with European companies and Caribbean partners to identify obstacles and opportunities for increased European investments in the region, Commissioner Urpilainen added.

The meeting demonstrated the commitment of the European Union and the Caribbean to work together in the face of global challenges, based on shared values and a common vision for inclusive and equitable societies. It will be followed by an inaugural CaribbeanEU Council of Ministers.

Continued here:

EU Commissioner Urpilainen Meets With Caribbean Counterparts At SIDS Conference in Antigua & Barbuda - EEAS

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Royal Caribbean Sailing the Seas of Success - FX Empire

Key Findings

Since 2021, Check Point Research has been closely monitoring the activities of Sharp Dragon (Formerly referred to as Sharp Panda*), a Chinese threat actor. Historical activities mostly consist of highly-targeted phishing emails, previously leading to the deployment ofVictoryDLLorSoulframework.

While the final payloads Sharp Dragon operators have deployed overtime changed, their modus operandi has been persistent, and more so, their targets, who have remained within the confines of South-East Asia in the years we were tracking them, up until recently.

In recent months, we have observed a significant shift in Sharp Dragons activities and lures, now targeting governmental organizations in Africa and the Caribbean. Those activities very much align with known Sharp Dragon modus operandi, and were characterized by compromising a high-profile email account to spread a phishing word document that leverages a remote template weaponized usingRoyalRoad. Unlike previous activities, those lures were used to deploy Cobalt Strike Beacon.

* As part of an ongoing effort to avoid confusion with other vendors naming conventions, the name was changed.

Starting November 2023, we observed Sharp Dragons increased interest in governmental entities in Africa and the Caribbean. This interest manifested by directly targeting government organizations within the two regions, by exploiting previously compromised entities in Southeast Asia. Utilizing highly-tailored lures that deal with relations between countries in South-East Asia and the two regions, Sharp Dragon threat actors have established their first footholds in two new territories.

The first identified phishing attack targeting Africa was sent out fromCountry A (South-East Asia) toCountry B(Africa) in November of 2023, using a lure about industrial relations between countries in South-East Asia and Africa. The document is very thorough, and its contents were likely taken from an authentic correspondence between the two countries.

Figure 2 Lure document targeting Country B in Africa

Following those lures, weve also observed direct targeting within Africa in January of 2024, originating fromCountry B, originally targeted in November, likely indicating some of the phishing attacks were successful.

Sharp Dragons interest in Africa does not come in a vacuum, as weve observed a set of Chinese affiliated threat actors targeting the region lately. This is also correlated withobservationsmade by other vendors, who observe sustained tasking toward targeting in the region. It appears that Sharp Dragons activities are part of a larger effort carried out by Chinese threat actors.

In a similar manner to Africa, Sharp Dragons operators have utilized their previous access to compromised governmental entities in South-East AsiaCountry Ato target governmental organizations inCountry C,which is in the Caribbean. The first set of identified malicious documents sent out from the compromised network was sent out in December of 2023 and used a Caribbean Commonwealth meeting lure, named Caribbean Clerks Programme. This lure was sent out to a Foreign Affairs ministry ofCountry C.

Figure 3 Caribbean-themed lure sent to a Southeast Asian government.

Not long afterwards, in January of 2024, much like in Africa,Country Ccompromised governmental email infrastructure was used to send out a large-scale phishing campaign targeting a wide set of governments in the Caribbean, this time, using a lure of a legitimate looking survey around the Opioid threat in the Eastern Caribbean.

In our ongoing efforts to track Sharp Dragon activities, weve identified various minor changes in their Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), while the core functionality remains consistent. Those changes reflect a more careful target selection and operational security (OPSEC) awareness. Among those changes are:

The 5.t downloader now conducts more thorough reconnaissance on target systems, this includes examining process lists and enumerating folders, leading to a more discerning selection of potential victims.

Additionally, we observed a change in the delivered payload: if the machine is deemed attractive by the attackers, a payload is sent. When Check Point Research firstexposedthis operation in 2021, the payload was VictoryDll, a custom and unique malware enabling remote access and data collection from infected devices. Subsequently, as we continued tracking Sharp Dragons operations, we observed the adoption of the SoulSearcher framework.

Presently, we are witnessing the use of Cobalt Strike Beacon as the payload of the 5.t downloader. This choice provides backdoor functionalities, such as C2 communication and command execution, without the risk of exposing their custom tools. However, we assume that the Cobalt Strike beacon serves as their primary tool for assessing the attacked environment, while their custom tools come into play at a later stage, which we have yet to witness. This refined approach indicates a deeper understanding of their targets and a desire to minimize exposure, likely resulting from public disclosures of their activities.

Cobalt Strike Configuration:

Another notable change is observed in the 5.t downloaders: some of the latest samples deviate from the usual DLL-based loaders, incorporating EXE-based 5.t loader samples. While not all the latest samples have shifted to DLLs, this change underscores the dynamic nature of their evolving strategies.

Recently Sharp Dragon has also introduced another executable, altering the initial phase of the infection chain. Instead of relying on a Word document utilizing remote template to download an RTF file weaponized with RoyalRoad, they started using executables disguised as documents. This new method closely resembles the previous infection chain, as the executable writes 5.t DLL loader and executes it, while also creating a scheduled task for persistence.

Sharp Dragon not only utilized compromised government infrastructure to target other governments but also shifted from dedicated servers to using compromised servers as C&C servers. During acampaignconducted in May 2023, our team observed that certain servers used by Sharp Dragon as C2 were likely legitimate servers that were compromised. Our suspicion is thatSharp Dragonexploited theCVE-2023-0669 vulnerability, which is a flaw in theGoAnywhere platformallowing for pre-authentication command injection, this vulnerability was disclosed shortly before the incidents occurred.

The data collected from the affected machine was subsequently sent to the following address:https://:/G0AnyWhere_up.jsp?Data=. This address masquerades as belonging to theGoAnywhere service, a file transfer software.

This research highlights Sharp Dragons strategic shift towards Africa and the Caribbean, suggesting its part in a broader effort carried out by Chinese cyber actors to enhance their presence and influence in these two regions. This move comes after a considerable period of activity in South-East Asia, which was leveraged by Sharp Dragon actors, to establish initial footholds in countries in Africa and the Caribbean.

These changes in Sharp Dragons tactics, showing more careful selection of targets and the use of publicy and readily available tools, is an indication of a refined approach by this threat actor to target high-profile organizations. These findings bring attention to the evolving nature of Chinese threat actors, especially towards regions that have been somewhat overlooked in global cybersecurity and by the threat intelligence community.

Check Point Customers Remain Protected Against the Threats Described in this Report.

Harmony Endpoint provides comprehensive endpoint protection at the highest security level and protects with the following:

Threat Emulation:

Hashes:

Archives

Docx

RTF

5.t loader DLL

5.t loader EXE

New EXE Loader

Cobalt-Strike

C&C servers

Cobalt-Strike path

Mutex

PDB

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Sharp Dragon Expands Towards Africa and The Caribbean - Check Point Research - Check Point Research

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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

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Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Gwinnettdailypost.com

An American quarry company on Monday rejected the Mexican presidentscampaign of criticisms and closures,as well as his offer to buy its property on the Caribbean coast.

In July, President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador offered to buy the American companysCaribbean coast propertyfor about $385 million amid a bitter, years-long dispute.

Alabama-based Vulcan Materials said in a statement Monday that offer substantially undervalues our assets.

In papers filed on the case in an international arbitration panel, Vulcan Materials valued the almost 6,000-acre (2,400 hectare) property, located just south of the resort town of Playa del Carmen, at $1.9 billion.

The Mexican president has in the past threatened to expropriate the extensive property, claiming the pits it has dug to extract crushed limestone have damaged the fragile system of underground rivers and caves in the area.

But Vulcan Materials rejected the charge. Our operations have not adversely affected underground caves, cenotes or archaeological sites. In fact, we have mapped, protected and preserved these valuable resources, the company said in a statement.

Instead, the company alleged that some other quarries in the area have been operating unlawfully. Unlike other quarrying sites that have been operating unlawfully to supply the Mayan Train, our operations were duly permitted, the company said.

The Mayan Train is a pet project of Lpez Obrador to build a tourist train around the Yucatan peninsula. Activists, cave divers and archeologist saythe project has damaged the caves, which holdsome of the oldest human remains in North America.

The presidents office had no immediate reaction to Vulcans allegations.

Lpez Obrador has said in the past that the most attractive part of the property was the companys freight shipping dock the only deep port on the coasts mainland which he plans to turn into a dock for cruise ships. He says he wants to turn the rest of the property into a natural reserve.

The Mexican government is using these political threats and false allegations to try to justify converting our property into a naturally protected area, which could ironically be used not to protect the environment but for commercial tourism purposes and naval operations, including cruise ship activity, the company said.

Lpez Obrador said he also wants to use the flooded pits that the company dug out of hundreds of acres of the limestone soil as swimming pools or an ecotourism area that would be operated as a concession by a private operator.

The huge pits are inhabited by crocodiles, which are a protected species in Mexico.

The companys dock at Punta Venado is the only one in the area that can handle cement, crushed stone and other shipments for the Maya Train. The 950-mile (1,500-kilometer) Maya Train line is meant to run in a rough loop around the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting beach resorts and archaeological sites.

Lpez Obrador touts the train as a way to bring some of Cancuns tourism income to inland communities that havent shared in the wealth. But there are no credible feasibility studies showing tourists would want to use the train.

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American company tells Mexico president that his $385m offer to buy its Caribbean property for ecotourism ... - Fortune

The last cruise I took was in 2019, and it wasnt the best experience. But seeing all that Royal Caribbeans new ship, Icon of the Seas, had to offer, it was hard not to get on board. Also, as a New Yorker, I was happy to escape the cold. As soon as I accepted to go onto Icon of the Seas, my For You Page on TikTok started showing me staff members, influencers, and other media folks who have already been on the ship, and let me say their content didnt do it justice.

When you first walk onto the ship, youre welcomed by friendly staff and a ray of lights that make you feel like youre stepping onto the red carpet of an award show. Plus, the amenities are endless: entertainment, food, and fun.

Icon of the Seas has it all: a place for you to relax, a variety of cuisines, a space for those with kids to leave them in great care while theyre having a night out, and multiple activities like water slides, rock climbing, mini golf, and more. With over 18 floors, the ship has a name for each section, including AquaDome, Central Park, Chill Island, Royal Promenade, Surfside, Suite Neighborhood, The Hideaway, and Thrill Island.

The fun doesnt stop on the cruise. Considered the Perfect Day at CocoCay, you can enjoy a day at the Thrill Waterpark with 14 water slides, soar up to 450 feet high in a helium balloon for island views, or zipline in the Bahamas. Also, one of my favorites, Hideaway Beach, is at CocoCay a beachfront paradise just for adults. Hideaway Beach has music, drinks, and great food. The Hideout cabanas are a mini paradise, with a speaker to play your tunes, a mini fridge at your disposal with whatever you want, and the best part, you can escape the heat and cool down with AC.

Aside from all the fun you can have on the worlds largest cruise line, tradition has it a new cruise has to have a padrino. The Icon of the Seas godfather is renowned Argentine ftbol player Lionel Messi. Family is everything to me, and it was exciting to participate in welcoming what is the worlds best family vacation to Miami, Messi said on a press statement. Everything Ive seen on Icon of the Seas is next level. There are experiences for the whole family to make memories that theyll remember forever.

While the ship may be sold out for the rest of the year, you can start planning for a stay for 2025 and 2026. Learn more about Icon of the Seas and book your stay here you wont regret it.

Travel and accommodations were provided to the author by Royal Caribbean for the purpose of writing this story.

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Heres What It's Like to Travel on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas - Remezcla

Caribbean culture will take center stage on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25 In Mount Vernon.

The Antigua and Barbuda International Cultural Association, based in Mount Vernon, kicked off the festivities on Friday night with an event at the Doles Center. The evening featured captivating steel drum music, a beloved staple in Antigua, and a panel discussion delving into the rich history of Antigua and Barbuda.

This kickoff event was a prelude to the International Food Festival, set to take place on Saturday. The festival will host over 30 vendors offering a diverse array of global cuisines, with a special emphasis on Caribbean dishes.

"We really want to promote our culture," said Dwight Christian, president of the Antigua and Barbuda International Cultural Association. "It's going to be lots of food, lots of fun, lots of music. Just come with a healthy appetite and you'll be content."

One of the festival's vendors is Patricia Simpson, co-founder of Completely Natural. Healing others is a passion for Simpson. "For me, it was a dream I had when I was much younger," she shared.

That dream became a reality when she launched Completely Natural in 2016, though the company truly took off in 2022. They offer healthy drinks made with healing herbs, fruits and vegetables.

"Coming from Jamaica, we know about a lot of these herbs and these herbs we have used over the years to help the body and it has helped in many ways for many different ailments," explained Simpson.

Now, Simpson is bringing this generational knowledge to Mount Vernon at 268 E 3rd St. She mentioned that they are currently working on their website.

The International Food Festival will be held at Hartley Park in Mount Vernon from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 25.

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Caribbean foods and culture highlighted at International Food Festival in Mount Vernon - News 12 Westchester

There are 26 Caribbean islands, 13 of which are independent countries.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. Prince Georges County Parks & Recreation is holding multiple events in celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month.

In 2006, former President George W. Bush declared June to be Caribbean Heritage Month. There are 26 Caribbean islands, 13 of which are independent countries.

To celebrate, PGParks is hosting two free events for families to enjoy. The events will feature live music, food vendors, and kid-friendly activities.

Caribbean Heritage Festival, supporting the Caribbean Council of Prince Georges County

Bladensburg Waterfront Park, Noon-7 p.m.

Appearances and remarks from: Sen. Malcolm Augustine and County Council Chair Jolene Ivey

Fairwood Community Park, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

12390 Fairwood Parkway in Bowie

Live music from Eclipse International and I&I Riddim

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and join us for some fun in the sun.

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Caribbean Heritage Month events hosted by PGParks & Recs - WUSA9.com

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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

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Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - mycouriertribune.com