Day: December 18, 2023

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BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions sets the standard for 100% recycled platinum group metal (PGM) offering with Verdium™

  • With Verdium, customers can verify carbon reduction for recycled PGM purchases, including PGMs attributed to select end products
  • One kilogram of Verdium recycled metal saves over thirty metric tons of carbon1
  • UL Solutions provides independent, third-party validation of the physical chain of custody and mass balance accounting

ISELIN, N.J., Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS), a global leader in precious metal services and catalysis, today launched Verdium™, a new approach to recycled metal based on mass balance. Recycled (secondary) PGMs are essential to the supply of platinum, palladium and rhodium, critical minerals used in catalysts, and can lower carbon emissions by up to 97 percent in comparison to mined (primary) materials. One kilogram of Verdium saves over thirty metric tons of carbon, enabling customers to verify their carbon reduction, track progress to their sustainability goals and help lower their Scope 3 emissions.

Verdium has been independently validated by UL Solutions, a leading global safety science company acting as an independent third party, to its mass balance chain of custody (CoC) standard UL 2809-1, the Environmental Claim Validation Procedure for Defined Source Content, which is in accordance with CoC design and models specified in ISO 22095. The validation process includes annual CoC audits and site visits by UL Solutions.

“Independent validation by UL Solutions is a testament to our recycled metal approach that sets the standard in the PGM space,” said Tim Ingle, Senior Vice President, Precious Metal Services and Recycling, ECMS. “It also brings transparency to the PGM value chain, enabling customers to track carbon reduction with accuracy and confidence.”

Verdium will be available to Europe and U.S.-based PGM customers starting in January 2024. Customers will receive the same quality recycled metal from ECMS, but with Verdium, they can verify their carbon reduction. Documented verification will confirm the amount of recycled metals purchased and applied to select end products, which can be traced to a concrete carbon metric.

“We have long been a leader in advancing circularity and sustainability through our metals expertise,” said Dirk Bremm, President and CEO, ECMS. “Recognizing the pressing demand for tangible sustainability progress, we worked in close consultation with our customers to design Verdium as a traceable, audited solution that helps customers make measurable strides toward their goals.”

“We commend ECMS for their carbon reduction efforts. We hope the UL certification of Verdium will help pave the way for ECMS and its customers to achieve their environmental goals and a more sustainable future for all,” said Josh Warren, Vice President and General Manager of the Retail and Consumer Product group at UL Solutions.

1Sphera Solutions GmbH (2022): GaBi Database Edition 2022, SP37

About BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions
Leveraging its deep expertise as a global leader in catalysis and precious metals, BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) serves customers in many industries including automotive, aerospace, indoor air quality, semiconductors and hydrogen economy, and provides full loop services with its precious metals trading and recycling offering. With a focus on circular solutions and sustainability, ECMS is committed to helping our customers create a cleaner, more sustainable world. Protecting the elements of life is our purpose and this inspires us to ever-new solutions. ECMS operates globally in 15 countries with over 4,500 employees and 20 production sites.

Media Relations contact
Betsy Arnone
Phone: 973-519-9808
Betsy.arnone@basf-catalystsmetals.com		 BASF ECMS
25 Middlesex Essex Turnpike
Iselin, NJ 08830
www.basf.com/ecms

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9006577

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Fortinet Advances the Industry’s Most Comprehensive Operational Technology Security Platform

New FortiSwitch 424F, FortiExtender Vehicle 211F, and enhanced FortiGuard OT Security Service were designed specifically to connect and protect OT environments

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced the latest release of new, integrated operational technology (OT) security solutions and services. These additions further distance Fortinet’s industry-leading OT Security Platform from the rest of the market.

“We understand that OT differs significantly from traditional IT systems, and that’s why our OT Security Platform was purpose-built to provide integrated protection and risk management specific to industrial environments,” said John Maddison, Chief Marketing Officer and EVP, Product Strategy at Fortinet. “Rising attacks on critical infrastructure have made OT security more important than ever before. With today’s news, Fortinet continues to empower customers with the most sophisticated OT solutions and intelligence in the industry.”

The Need for Integrated OT-Specific Security
The number of industrial devices connected beyond their network boundaries is rapidly increasing, and CISOs now face skyrocketing risks across their OT environments. In fact, Fortinet found that three-fourths of OT organizations reported at least one intrusion in the last year, and nearly one-third reported being victims of a ransomware attack. To solve this challenge, organizations need an integrated security approach designed specifically for industrial solutions that enables policy enforcement across the entire attack surface, consolidates point products, and reduces operational overhead.

Bolstering the Fortinet OT Security Platform with New and Enhanced Offerings
The Fortinet OT Security Platform is an integrated portfolio of cybersecurity products, solutions, and security services designed specifically for industrial networks and powered by real-time OT threat intelligence. Because the OT Security Platform is a part of the Fortinet Security Fabric, it empowers customers with deep visibility across their entire environment and securely facilitates IT/OT convergence. The platform also gives organizations the ability to implement a zero-trust model within OT environments, including secure remote access to OT assets and systems for remote employees and contractors.

OT Security Platform updates announced today, which build on improvements unveiled earlier this year, span two key pillars of the Security Fabric:

Secure Networking for OT

  • The new FortiSwitch Rugged 424F is an industrial-class ethernet switch (IES) designed to address the requirements of digital substations and the power utility industry. The switch supports real-time OT networking protocols and integrates with FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) for comprehensive security and access control.
  • The new FortiAP 432F access point meets Class 1, Division 2 requirements for use in hazardous OT environments. It can segment industrial Wi-Fi networks to prevent attacks from spreading across unprotected devices and systems. This expansion of the IP67-rated access-point line now enables the deployment of additional OT applications in industries such as oil and gas.
  • The new FortiExtender Vehicle 211F wireless gateway is a semi-ruggedized mobility solution for connected fleets, mobile systems, and OT deployments. It was also designed to meet the requirements of the AT&T FirstNet wireless communications network for first responders.
  • FortiOS, Fortinet’s operating system, has been updated with the OT View dashboard, which correlates and displays important OT data. This dashboard makes it easy for organizations to understand their entire attack surface—both IT and OT—and take action from a single console.

Security Operations and Services for OT

  • FortiAnalyzer now includes OT-specific analytics, risk, and compliance reports, providing security operations teams with faster threat detection, asset and vulnerability correlation, and reporting.
  • FortiNDR, which supports on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployments, can now analyze more than 15 different OT-network protocols. It also includes AI-powered OT-network behavior analysis to identify malicious network activity and files.
  • FortiDeceptor, Fortinet’s deception technology for early breach and attack isolation, now supports 30 OT protocols and additional OT decoys to protect diverse industrial environments.
  • The FortiGuard OT Security Service boasts the industry’s deepest OT threat intelligence database and now covers more than 70 OT protocols and more than 4,000 OT application and device vulnerability signatures. These signatures enable strict access control policies on network traffic and provide virtual patching for vulnerable OT assets.
  • FortiGuard Outbreak Alerts, an industry-leading cybersecurity resource, now includes critical information about OT-specific threats. This empowers customers with the information they need to harden their systems against new and emerging attacks following the NIST Cyber Security Framework.

“IT and OT are converging and these colliding environments are increasing overall risk. Our clients require robust OT solutions and services without extensive deployments that complicate administration and place additional strain on IT and security teams. Through the Fortinet OT Security Platform, we can provide clients with a unified approach of safeguarding both the carpeted side of a business as well as the concrete side of the business. We eagerly anticipate introducing these updated and novel offerings to our customer community.” – Dan Sanderson, VP of Strategy, Cyber Advisors

Additional Resources

About Fortinet

Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere you need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs.

FTNT-O

Copyright © 2023 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and common law trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet’s trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, the Fortinet logo, FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiASIC, FortiClient, FortiCloud, FortiMail, FortiSandbox, FortiADC, FortiAI, FortiAIOps, FortiAntenna, FortiAP, FortiAPCam, FortiAuthenticator, FortiCache, FortiCall, FortiCam, FortiCamera, FortiCarrier, FortiCASB, FortiCentral, FortiConnect, FortiController, FortiConverter, FortiCWP, FortiDB, FortiDDoS, FortiDeceptor, FortiDeploy, FortiDevSec, FortiEdge, FortiEDR, FortiExplorer, FortiExtender, FortiFirewall, FortiFone, FortiGSLB, FortiHypervisor, FortiInsight, FortiIsolator, FortiLAN, FortiLink, FortiMoM, FortiMonitor, FortiNAC, FortiNDR, FortiPenTest, FortiPhish, FortiPlanner, FortiPolicy, FortiPortal, FortiPresence, FortiProxy, FortiRecon, FortiRecorder, FortiSASE, FortiSDNConnector, FortiSIEM, FortiSMS, FortiSOAR, FortiSwitch, FortiTester, FortiToken, FortiTrust, FortiVoice, FortiWAN, FortiWeb, FortiWiFi, FortiWLC, FortiWLM and FortiXDR. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, contract, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet or any indication of intent related to a binding commitment, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments.

Media Contact: Investor Contact: Analyst Contact:
Margaret Reeb
Fortinet, Inc.
408-235-7700
pr@fortinet.com		 Peter Salkowski
Fortinet, Inc.
408-331-4595
psalkowski@fortinet.com		 Brian Greenberg
Fortinet, Inc.
408-235-7700
analystrelations@fortinet.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9005997

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Leonardo: space economy is a European challenge, heading towards an explosion in investments

ROME, Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A European challenge that will become central to global strategic balances in the coming years. The space economy is the new frontier where governments, investors and major industrial entities will be called to confront in an increasingly competitive scenario. An event organised by the Leonardo Foundation in Rome, in the Aula dei Gruppi Parlamentari of Montecitorio, on National Space Day, contributed to outlining the new challenges. Among the participants were the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Luciano Fontana, and the Minister of Business and Made in Italy with delegated responsibility for space, Adolfo Urso, along with key players and experts in the field.

Stefano Pontecorvo, President of Leonardo, is ready to bet on the potential of the Italian space sector. “The challenge of space economy is a challenge that must be won at the European level and will be central in the new global strategic balances,” Pontecorvo emphasised, explaining that “in the next decade, the space economy will reach a total value of at least one and a half trillion dollars.” And Italy, with Leonardo, will be in the game. “Days like today are especially important because they remind us how skilled we are in this sector. Italy is second to none when it comes to technological capabilities, and in this, Leonardo is very well positioned because we are one of the very few companies in the world that can cover all four value segments of space.”

A boost to the development of the sector could also come from government initiatives, and on this point came the assurance of Minister Urso, who announced the drafting of a framework law for the sector by 2024. “If before a law on space was considered useful, today it is increasingly necessary and will strengthen international collaboration in this strategic sector by diversifying Italy’s participation,” he explained. And space, as noted by the President of the Chamber of Deputies Luciano Fontana, can have significant implications for development and innovation. “The great interest in space,” Fontana observed, “offers new market opportunities. From this point of view, Italy boasts advanced skills in the space supply chain. The national sector consists of a vibrant and diverse ecosystem, centred on a global player like Leonardo but comprising about 200 companies.”

For more information:
Press Office LaPresse – ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d3c12fdf-7bc4-463b-ba8c-3f043558dd89

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9006376

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Deriv, an award-winning online broker’s eco pledge: Planting 2,000 saplings for a greener Cyprus

Elevating corporate social responsibility through the ‘You Reforest Cyprus’

Derivians and their family members come together to participate in the planting of trees.

Derivians planting 2,000 Saplings for a Greener Cyprus.

LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On 19 November, Deriv took the lead in donating and contributing to the planting of over 2,000 saplings at Palodia region, Limassol, through the ‘You Reforest Cyprus’ initiative, powered by Green Shield. Participating in this initiative represents a pivotal moment in Deriv’s CSR efforts.

Deriv, a leading online trading company with a global presence spanning 20 offices, announces its intensified commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from its Cyprus office. This commitment is a testament to the company’s dedication to making a tangible impact on society and the environment.

Geo Nicolaidis, Director at Deriv Cyprus, stated, “Tree planting transcends mere conservation; it is a significant investment in the future of our planet and a reflection of our dedication to sustainable growth for the world we all share. I am deeply inspired by the passion of my team and community, who have volunteered their time and efforts. In laying down these roots, we are restoring our forests and sowing hope for generations to come.”

Geo Nicolaidis receiving a plaque in recognition of Deriv’s eco pledge.

Geo Nicolaidis, Director, Deriv Cyprus, receives a commemorative plaque in acknowledgement of Deriv’s eco pledge.

Deriv’s CSR efforts are a continuous commitment. Following the initial success of planting 2,000 saplings, the company aims to plant an additional 3,000, reaffirming its environmental stewardship. Talent Acquisition Executive Anna Themistokleous remarked, “Each sapling we plant is a step towards a greener future, reflecting our commitment to environmental care and community well-being.”

The company is also personalising its environmental efforts by adopting a tree to celebrate its employees’ special life events, such as birthdays or anniversaries. Jean-Yves Sireau, CEO of Deriv, comments, “Our environmental efforts are intertwined with our team’s milestones. By combining ecological responsibility with employee recognition, we’re nurturing a culture of sustainability that extends beyond our company.”

Over the past year, Deriv’s CSR programme, ‘Deriv Life’, has been responsible for several significant initiatives, including sponsoring a prosthetic limb for Malaysia’s youngest elephant amputee. These actions reinforce Deriv’s dedication to CSR as a core aspect of its identity and mission.

To learn more, visit Deriv Life and the company website.

About Deriv

For over two decades, Deriv has been committed to making online trading accessible to anyone, anywhere. Trusted by over 2.5 million traders worldwide, the company offers an expansive range of trade types and boasts over 200 assets across popular markets on its award-winning, intuitive trading platforms. With a workforce of more than 1,300 people globally, Deriv has cultivated an environment that celebrates achievements, encourages professional growth, and fosters talent development.

PRESS CONTACT
Aleksandra Zuzic
aleksandra@deriv.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/28c41767-86ee-4bbd-967b-e7f203b9d7ab/en
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9c0244fd-7f7e-4bd1-9413-0f88d4f3fb44/en

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000904603

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IdentiFlight Enters French Energy Market as e3 IDF GmbH Announces New Office in Nantes

Yoann Payelleville

Yoann Payelleville, General Manager of e3 IdentiFlight France

NANTES, France, Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — e3 IDF GmbH and IdentiFlight announce the launch of e3 IdentiFlight France in the Nantes area, reinforcing IdentiFlight’s global presence and commitment to the French market. The French office offers expertise in renewable energy project development and the IdentiFlight product – the industry leader in avian species detection technology for wind farm applications.

Recognized in 2023 by French Authorities for its effectiveness in reducing red kite fatalities in wind farms, IdentiFlight combines AI and high-precision optics to identify bird species and prevent collisions with wind turbine blades.

Jens Schoettler, CEO of e3 IDF GmbH, emphasized, “The demand for wind energy is continuously rising. The expansion of e3 offices into France will enable us to meet the increasing need for avian detection and protection across Europe.”

Leading the e3 IdentiFlight France office is Yoann Payelleville, a 20-year veteran in the wind energy sector. His extensive experience in engineering and sales at Enercon equips him with a deep understanding of the French wind energy market.

Don Mills, President and Chief Operating Officer of IdentiFlight, expressed his excitement about the expansion, stating, “We are thrilled that the e3 IdentiFlight France office will provide greater accessibility to technology that offers maximum avian protection while maximizing wind energy generation. This partnership expansion with e3 will enhance our ability to serve the French market.”

The e3 IdentiFlight France office will be recruiting new positions to help meet the growing French market demand for IdentiFlight technology. To learn more about employment opportunities, please visit the e3 website or email contact@e3-identiflight.fr.

About IdentiFlight and How it Works

Developed by Boulder Imaging, Inc., IdentiFlight utilizes cutting-edge machine vision and AI technology to achieve a 99% accuracy rate in identifying avian species within a one-kilometer range in wind farms. Specialized software and neural networks swiftly analyze images, determining 3D position, speed, trajectory, and specific species.

IdentiFlight safeguards birds in operational wind farms by preventing collisions with turbine blades and reduces energy loss through informed curtailment. Additionally, it supports wind energy projects by quantifying bird activity at potential sites. Deployed globally since 2016 and independently validated over multiple years, the IdentiFlight system now protects hundreds of wind turbines worldwide. Independent research underscores its effectiveness, showcasing an over 85% reduction in avian fatalities over previous mitigation methods.

Explore further at www.IdentiFlight.com.

About e3 IdentiFlight France

e3 IdentiFlight France is a subsidiary of e3, a wind energy company, focused on project development in Germany. Situated in the Nantes area in Vertou, e3 IdentiFlight France promotes wind development and wildlife conservation using the IdentiFlight product. Collaborating with its parent company, e3 IDF GmbH, the French office brings over 15 years of expertise in renewable energy project development to address the growing demand for green energy. From project inception to wind farm commissioning, the e3 offices support projects throughout their lifecycle, offering industry insights from site selection to repowering initiatives.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6ae4509-b529-4c77-a8d0-357257ed9cf8

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd44536f-dfea-48f2-a673-92550afa1315

CONTACT INFORMATION
Tawney Eisenbraun
Marketing and Communications Manager
+1.605.863.1232
teisenbraun@boulderimaging.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9005801

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Justice minister mentioned as strong candidate to lead PPP ahead of general elections

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) is expected to decide who should take over as interim party leader ahead of April’s general elections after a key party meeting Monday, with a focus on whether Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon should take the helm.

The PPP was set to hold a joint meeting of the party’s lawmakers and electoral district chiefs Monday afternoon to discuss who should be the party’s new emergency leader after former leader Kim Gi-hyeon resigned under pressure to step down as part of reform efforts.

The PPP floor leader, Rep. Yun Jae-ok, who is serving as acting party chief, is expected to make a decision after listening to various opinions during Monday’s meeting. A final decision is expected to be made sometime around Monday next week.

Mainstream party members closely aligned with President Yoon Suk Yeol have called for bringing in the justice minister as the leader, saying his strong public presence could move the party’s image in a positive direction.

Han’s close ties with Yoon could also help improve the party’s relationship with the presidential office, they said.

“(The PPP) will not be able to salvage this precious opportunity if it appoints the emergency leadership committee head according to the traditional playbook,” said Jang Ye-chan, a senior member of the PPP, in a radio interview. “We can turn this misfortune to our advantage only if we choose the radical change that people and party members want.”

On the other hand, non-mainstream members have opposed naming a political novice like Han to a position that can determine the fate of the party in the parliamentary elections. They also say Han’s career as a prosecutor and his close ties with Yoon could worsen the party’s image, already deemed by some as too obedient to the Yoon administration.

“Bringing in another prosecutor as the chief of the emergency leadership committee is not a good look for the parliamentary elections. I am also concerned whether a person without any election experience could effectively oversee one,” said Rep. Lee Yong-ho in a radio interview.

Taking aim at such concerns, the main opposition Democratic Party has said that appointing Han is like bringing “Yoon’s avatar” to the elections.

With this backdrop, the justice minister reportedly canceled all public events for Monday.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

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(LEAD) Unification minister says human rights violations ‘status quo’ in N. Korea

South Korea’s point man on North Korea called Monday for concerted international efforts to address the North’s dire human rights situation, saying such violations are the “status quo” in the reclusive country.

North Korea has been under pressure from the international community to improve its human rights situation, though no meaningful progress has been reported.

“Despite the long-standing international endeavors, including the North Korean human rights resolutions, human rights violations are still the status quo in North Korea,” Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho said in an international forum that brought together security and human rights officials and experts.

High-profile participants included Lee Shin-wha, the ambassador-at-large for international cooperation on North Korean human rights, and Ambassador Julie Turner, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights.

Lee, the human rights envoy, stressed the importance of tackling the “global fatigue phenomenon” associated with long-standing issues surrounding the North and noted efforts are being undertaken to “ensure that such issues are not overshadowed or forgotten by other global crises.”

While acknowledging realistic difficulties in holding North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his regime accountable for human rights violations, participants still underscored the importance of documenting the North’s rights abuses through all possible means.

“I think it will be very hard to achieve as long as Kim Jong-un is in power, but I think it is extremely important for the future of North Korea and for the well-being of the people in North Korea that we do everything possible to document in great detail the ongoing violation of human rights,” said Larry Diamond, a political science professor at Stanford University.

Turner, the U.S. special envoy, said the voices of the North Korean people should be factored into the process.

“I want to encourage everyone to think about victim-centered accountability, survivor-centered accountability and how we are undertaking these efforts to make sure that the voices of refugees and escapees are factored into what they want to say on the other end of these accountability efforts,” Turner said.

In 2014, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry issued a landmark report after a yearlong probe, saying North Korean leaders are responsible for “widespread, systematic and gross” violations of human rights.

North Korea has long been accused of grave human rights abuses, ranging from holding political prisoners in concentration camps to committing torture and carrying out public executions.

Still, North Korea claimed its people are freely enjoying genuine human rights in a white paper issued earlier this month on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

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