Latest news with #CTF
Fibre2Fashion
3 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Sappi celebrates Petra Fagerstrí¶m's victory at CTF 2025
Sappi proudly congratulates Petra Fagerström, winner of the 2025 Challenge the Fabric (CTF) Award, for her outstanding contribution to sustainable fashion. Originally from Sweden and now based in London, Petra has gained recognition for her innovative approach to design, blending creativity with environmental consciousness. At a time when the global fashion industry faces increasing pressure to embrace sustainability, the CTF Award recognises designers who are leading the charge towards responsible innovation. Petra's winning designs, created in collaboration with her CTF Award Innovation Partner, Sappi Verve, exemplify the importance of conscious material choices in shaping the future of fashion. As part of her victory, she received a cash prize of $10,000. Sappi congratulates Petra Fagerstrí¶m, winner of the 2025 Challenge the Fabric Award, for her innovative, sustainable fashion designs using Verve fibre. Originally from Sweden and now in London, Petra impressed with her creative vision and eco-conscious approach, showing how responsible material choices can shape a more sustainable future for the fashion industry. Reflecting on her experience, Petra shared, 'I enjoyed the challenge of working with fabric made from Verve fibre. As a designer, I draw inspiration from the world around me and enjoy delving deeper into areas that spark my interest.' She embraced the opportunity to work with innovative textile solutions that enhance recyclability and reduce textile waste, and she is eager to further explore advancements in sustainable fashion. Competing against a strong lineup of finalists from the fashion capitals of London, Paris, and New York, Petra stood out for her ability to merge sustainability with creative excellence. The jury of industry professionals praised her work, stating, 'Petra's design demonstrated exceptional strength across all criteria: innovation, creativity, scalability of design culture, and commercial potential. Her approach was authentic and forward-thinking, aligning with emerging trends while maintaining a distinct creative vision. The commercial viability of her work was clear, proving that sustainability and creativity can successfully coexist in modern fashion." The CTF 2025 event in Milan welcomed around 180 industry stakeholders, including designers, retailers, and textile producers, all invested in advancing man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF) as a viable alternative to conventional textiles. With growing scrutiny on fast fashion's environmental footprint, responsible fibre innovation has become a central focus in discussions about the industry's future. As one of the official sponsors of CTF 2025, Sappi reaffirmed its commitment to driving meaningful change through sustainable material development. Sappi Verve dissolving wood pulp continues to play a pivotal role in the evolution of traceable, eco-conscious fabrics, supporting the industry's broader transition towards circularity. Sappi's collaboration with Kara Fiber, which supplied the final Ecocell™ fabric for Petra's designs, further underscores its dedication to fostering innovation in textile production. Bernhard Riegler, VP Marketing, Sappi Dissolving Wood Pulp , expressed his enthusiasm for Petra's achievement, stating, 'We are incredibly proud to see Petra Fagerström embrace the possibilities of Verve fibre and bring her vision to life in such a compelling way. Her commitment to sustainability and innovation is exactly what the industry needs right now. The transformation of the fashion sector depends on responsible material choices, and seeing designers like Petra champion this cause gives us confidence that lasting change is on the horizon.' As the fashion industry accelerates its shift towards environmentally responsible production, initiatives like the CTF Award play a vital role in fostering dialogue and driving meaningful progress. As Petra embarks on her next projects, Sappi remains committed to supporting designers who are redefining fashion for a more sustainable future—where material choices make a lasting impact beyond the runway. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Shafaq News
Brainpower and bytes: Iraq's race for AI supremacy
Shafaq News/ Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force shaping global competition, innovation, and governance in the 21st century. Nations around the world are racing to harness AI to strengthen economies, improve public services, and bolster national security. Iraq, though still in the early stages of this journey, has begun to make meaningful strides—particularly through initiatives focused on digital defense and institutional modernization. Early AI Efforts Throughout the early 2000s, Iraq's technological landscape remained underdeveloped. Years of conflict, political instability, and reconstruction diverted attention away from scientific progress. Universities and research institutions, affected by funding shortages and brain drain, were largely isolated from global technological advances—resulting in a delayed start in fields such as artificial intelligence. However, a shift began to take shape in the late 2010s. With the rising frequency and sophistication of cyber threats, Iraqi authorities began exploring AI as a tool for digital defense. These early steps laid the groundwork for Iraq's structured engagement with emerging technologies. Institutional Push into AI A significant milestone came in late 2022 when Iraq's Ministry of Interior launched a Cybersecurity Center that later evolved into a full-fledged Cybersecurity Directorate under direct ministerial supervision. In an exclusive interview with Shafaq News, Brigadier General Dr. Hassan Hadi Lazeez, Director of the Directorate, described the move as 'a strategic response to the shifting digital threat landscape.' 'Establishing this directorate is not just a technical measure; it's a shift in the philosophy of national security,' Lazeez stated. The Directorate now manages specialized units focused on dark web surveillance, digital forensics, AI-driven threat detection, and vulnerability assessment. Since its inception, the Directorate has identified 166 vulnerabilities across government platforms and tracked over 336 cybercriminal incidents. It has also launched Iraq's first nationwide Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity competition and delivered over 200 training courses to more than 9,000 security and civilian personnel. Despite these efforts, challenges remain. As Lazeez warned, 'Technology evolves faster than policy—if we don't keep up, we lose before we begin.' Iraq's Global Standing in AI On the global stage, AI readiness is measured by several factors: national strategies, R&D investment, skilled talent, sector-wide integration, and ethical governance. Countries like the United States and China lead due to vast resources and ecosystem depth. Estonia has emerged as a leader in digital governance, while regionally, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have advanced national AI agendas. Iran and Turkiye continue to develop AI primarily in defense and industrial sectors. Structural Challenges to AI Development According to Dr. Mohamad Awada, an EdTech specialist, Iraq faces a combination of structural, legal, and financial barriers that hinder AI development. 'Digital infrastructure is outdated and fragmented. Many public institutions still rely on legacy or unlicensed software, which limits the integration of AI technologies,' Dr. Awada told Shafaq News. He also emphasized the absence of a legal and ethical framework to govern AI deployment. 'The human capital gap remains a serious concern. Brain drain, combined with limited AI-focused curricula and constrained research funding, hampers talent development. Financial limitations also restrict access to essential tools like high-performance computing.' A National Strategy in Progress In August 2024, Iraq officially announced the development of its first National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (INSAIN). Led by the Iraqi AI Group within the Prime Minister's Office and coordinated with multiple ministries, the initiative adopts an agile, user-centered approach that includes government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders. The strategy—still under development—envisions a knowledge-driven economy in which Iraqi citizens both contribute to and benefit from technology. According to the official website, INSAIN emphasizes the integration of AI into healthcare, education, environmental protection, agriculture, and tourism. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promotes responsible innovation through strong data governance and ethical oversight. Key pillars of the strategy include: -AI-powered diagnostics and energy efficiency in healthcare -Precision farming for improved food security -Smart tourism solutions -Public trust-building through transparency and education According to INSAIN, AI curricula are being developed for technical institutes and universities, with proposals to introduce AI concepts at the primary and secondary school levels. This multi-tiered approach seeks to create a sustainable AI talent pipeline and a vibrant innovation ecosystem. However, despite the formation of committees and initial meetings, the strategy remains incomplete and has yet to be fully enacted. The Way Forward To advance Iraq's AI agenda, Dr. Awada recommends a holistic and urgent policy shift: 'The government must launch a comprehensive national strategy that includes clear ethical, legal, and developmental frameworks. This vision should extend AI integration beyond the security sector into critical areas such as healthcare, education, and the economy.' He further emphasized the importance of building long-term resilience, 'Equally important is fostering strong public-private partnerships and investing in AI education to curb brain drain. Building public trust through transparency, cybersecurity awareness, and citizen engagement is essential for sustainable and responsible adoption.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Justin Trudeau to collect two pensions, $104K in severance
OTTAWA – Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's recent departure from politics will net him over $8 million across two pensions, plus a large severance cheque. That's according to calculations made public Wednesday by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who released a chart of estimated pension and severance payouts to departing MPs. 'Pensions for former MPs depend on length of service and the rules at the time,' said CTF National Director Franco Terrazzano. 'When Canadians see some of these numbers, the clear takeaway is that these political pensions are costing taxpayers too much money.' The former PM is entitled to two pensions – one for his nearly 17 years as a member of parliament, and a second for his decade as prime minister. Combined, both pensions are worth around $8.4 million, with his MP pension entitling him annual payouts of $141,000 per year when he turns 55 in two years, and an additional $73,000 annually upon turning 67. 'Trudeau is also going to be getting a severance just shy of $105,000,' Terrazzano added. 'When we speak of leadership at the top, the first place for politicians to reign in the perks is to end the second pension for future prime ministers. The prime minister is already taking millions through their MP pension, they shouldn't be billing taxpayers more for their second pension.' A total of 110 former MPs are entitled to either severance or pension. MPs who don't meet the six years of service for pension entitlement will receive a severance payout of one-half their regular salary, or $104,900. In some cases, departing MPs are entitled to both. Former MPs eligible for a pension and at least $104,900 in severance include Niki Ashton, Rachel Blaney, Pam Damoff, Francis Drouin, Jagmeet Singh, Mark Holland, Kamal Khera, Bryan May, Seamus O'Regan and Alain Rayes. Taxpayers group calls on PM Carney to table 2025 budget Two-thirds of Canadians support suspending carbon tax: Poll Despite being eligible after losing his seat on election night, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stated earlier this month that he won't accept any severance. Politician pay, Terrazzano said, needs to be more affordable for taxpayers. 'There are 13 former MPs who will get an annual starting pension of more than $100,000, while the vast majority of private sector workers don't even get a workplace pension,' he said. 'There definitely needs to be a culture change in Ottawa, and that has to start with our elected representatives.' bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
What The SEC's Crypto Roundtable Series Mean For Digital Assets
The SEC Crypto Task Force (CTF) is hosting a five-part roundtable series on digital assets, decentralized finance (DeFi), and the evolving role of AI in these industries. While the initiative may appear procedural, it signals a subtle but important shift: the SEC may finally be open to more transparent engagement, rather than relying almost exclusively on enforcement. For over a decade, U.S. digital asset regulation has been driven primarily through enforcement actions. The SEC has consistently asserted that most tokens fall under its jurisdiction as securities—but has done so mostly through enforcement, not formal rulemaking. This approach has created legal uncertainty, market fragmentation, and increasing frustration among innovators and investors alike. Meanwhile, other jurisdictions—such as the EU and Hong Kong—have introduced comprehensive regulatory frameworks for crypto. The EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and Hong Kong's Virtual Asset Trading Platforms (VASP) regime provide relatively clear rules, even if not everyone agrees with their substance. Against that backdrop, the U.S. has begun to look like a laggard, regulating via subpoenas and no-action letters rather than well-defined rules. The SEC's roundtable series appears to acknowledge that status quo may not be sustainable. WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: The Securities and Exchange Commission headquarters is seen on April 25, ... More 2025 in Washington, DC. SEC held a roundtable with the SEC's Crypto Task Force that was titled 'Know Your Custodian: Key Considerations for Crypto Custody' in which they heard from officials working in Crypto. (Photo by) Led by Commissioner Hester Peirce, the CTF's mission is to 'help the Commission draw clear regulatory lines, provide realistic paths to registration, craft sensible disclosure frameworks, and deploy enforcement resources judiciously.' So far, the sessions have examined topics including securities classifications for digital assets, broker-dealer registration for crypto platforms, crypto custody, tokenization and DeFi. The format of the roundtables—public, agenda-driven, and inclusive of industry, academic, and regulatory voices—does represent a marked shift in tone. Historically, the crypto projects have received little practical guidance for novel technologies that don't fit into the traditional securities framework. That point came into sharp focus during the April 11 session, which asked whether crypto trading platforms—especially decentralized ones—can realistically comply with existing rules without fundamentally altering their structure. If regulation continues to demand conformity to outdated models, industry participants argue it could stifle innovation or drive platforms offshore. Participants in the CTF Roundtables noted more listening and a willingness from the SEC to engage on operational complexity—something that has been lacking in previous years. Adding to the urgency is the global regulatory landscape. Clearer frameworks abroad are drawing talent, capital, and innovation away from the U.S., while increasing pressure on domestic regulators to catch up. Meanwhile, digital assets are becoming more intertwined with AI infrastructure. AI is being used to automate governance, monitor compliance, and power data analysis across decentralized systems. This convergence creates new layers of risk and complexity that the SEC has not yet meaningfully addressed. Adapting rules for blockchain has been challenging enough—adding AI into the mix will demand even more sophistication. While these roundtables won't themselves resolve the key legal questions facing the crypto industry, they do serve a critical function: they publicly acknowledge the need for regulatory nuance and invite industry feedback on how to craft smarter frameworks. They offer the SEC a platform to hear directly from builders and operators—not just litigants—and allow for more open discussion of the friction between innovation and compliance. The next roundtable, set for June, will focus on DeFi and the American spirit—a topic that has attracted interest from both DeFi pioneers and traditional finance (TradFi) institutions. For industry participants, the roundtables offer more than just lip service. They may be the first step toward a regulatory environment that is more predictable, more transparent, and more compatible with the technologies shaping the future of finance.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nokod Security to Host Capture the Flag Competition and Demonstrate Microsoft Power BI Vulnerability at OWASP Global AppSec EU 2025
Live hacking challenge and groundbreaking security session to highlight hidden risks in no-code apps and automations NEW YORK & TEL AVIV, Israel, May 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nokod Security, the security company for no-code application development, today announced it will host a no-code Capture the Flag (CTF) hacking competition in collaboration with OWASP at Global AppSec EU 2025 in Barcelona. In addition, Nokod Senior Security Researcher Uriya Elkayam will present a session that exposes data leakage vulnerabilities affecting Power BI reports. WHO: Nokod Security helps enterprises secure their no-code application development environments. WHAT: No-Code Capture the Flag (CTF) CompetitionSecurity researchers will compete in a live event to uncover vulnerabilities in no-code apps that expose sensitive data. All players who successfully complete the challenge will be entered to win prizes, including a DJI NEO Mini Drone and 9 JBL GO 4 speakers. Conference Session: To BI or Not to BI? Data Leakage Tragedies with Power BI ReportsIn this session, Uriya Elkayam will demonstrate how a vulnerability in Microsoft Fabric (Power BI) can allow unauthorized data access via API manipulation, especially in publicly shared reports. He will present PBAnalyzer, an open-source tool developed by Nokod Security, which helps organizations identify data oversharing in widely shared Power BI reports. He will also unveil a new attack technique called DAX Injection, which exploits Power BI queries through Power Automate flows. This attack could potentially lead to external data leakage. The session will conclude with actionable steps for securing Power BI environments. WHEN & WHERE: No-Code CTF Competition Live Event: Friday, May 30 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Room: 118 Location: OWASP 2025 Global AppSec, Fira Barcelona Conference Center Conference Session To BI or Not to BI? Data Leakage Tragedies with Power BI Reports Thursday, May 29, 2025, 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm CET Room 113, Fira Barcelona Conference Center HOW: To schedule a conversation with Nokod Security about no-code and BI platform security contact Marc Gendron at marc@ or +1 617.877.7480. About Nokod SecurityNokod Security is the security company for no-code application development. The Nokod Security Platform protects enterprises from risks introduced by no-code applications across Microsoft Power Platform, UiPath, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and more. Founded by cybersecurity veterans from Imperva and SecuredTouch (now Ping Identity), Nokod is backed by Acrew Capital, Meron Capital, and Flint Capital. Learn more at or follow us on X and LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Marc GendronMarc Gendron PR for Nokod Securitymarc@ +1 617-877-7480 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
