Category: 3. Business

Press release no 18/2025
PDF version

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) played an important coordination role in a large-scale joint operation that dismantled a cross-border criminal network involved in the illicit production and smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes, with estimated evaded duties totalling approximately €9.8 million.

The network, coordinated by Romanian, Moldovan, and Italian nationals, operated illegal production facilities in both Romania and Italy, with significant quantities of counterfeit tobacco products destined for distribution across the European Union.

The operation, carried out on 3 June 2025, was the result of extensive intelligence sharing between OLAF, Romanian authorities—including the Economic Crime Investigation Directorate of the General Police Inspectorate (I.G.P.R.), Caraș-Severin County Police (I.P.J. Caraș-Severin), and the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (D.I.I.C.O.T.)—and the Italian Guardia di Finanza and Bologna Economic Police Unit.

In Romania, coordinated searches in Timiș and Arad counties led to the seizure of approximately 25 million cigarettes stored in 2,500 boxes. Four individuals were arrested in Timiș County while handling smuggled goods. Two other suspects were detained by D.I.I.C.O.T. on 4 June.These actions were supported by the Romanian Customs Authority.

Simultaneously, in Italy, a clandestine cigarette factory was discovered in an industrial area in the Emilia-Romagna region. The site was equipped with high-end machinery for replicating branded packaging. Investigators seized 14 tonnes of counterfeit cigarettes, more than 10 tonnes of unprocessed tobacco, and a large quantity of packaging materials.

The scale of the illicit operation underscores the financial threat posed to the EU’s budget and legitimate trade. OLAF’s role was instrumental in ensuring swift cross-border cooperation, highlighting its mandate to protect the EU’s financial interests and combat organised fraud. 

 

OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.    

OLAF fulfils its mission by:
•    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
•    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
•    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.

In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
•    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
•    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
•    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.

For further details:

Pierluigi CATERINO
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
Email: olaf-mediaec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
X: x.com/EUAntiFraud
Bluesky: euantifraud.bsky.social

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Over $100,000 in financial and technology grants awarded globally to support educators and innovation

NEW YORK, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Echo360, the global leader in transformative learning and AI-powered education technology, today announced the recipients of its 2025 e³ Tech Grants Program, awarding more than $100,000 in combined financial and technology support to educators and researchers worldwide. Now in its fifth year, the e³ Tech Grants Program reinforces Echo360’s ongoing commitment to advancing transformative teaching and learning through targeted investment and hands-on resources.

“As educational institutions face mounting financial stress, from flat or declining funding to enrollment volatility, every dollar counts,” said Murad Velani, President and CEO of Echo360. “Our 2025 grant awards demonstrate how Echo360 stands shoulder to shoulder with educators, equipping them not only with needed funding, but with technologies and training that amplifies instructional innovation around the world.”

Echo360 Grantmaking: Legacy of Support
Since 2021, Echo360 e³ Tech Grants have advanced edtech learning equity, engagement, and evidence through two types of awards:

1. Impact Grants: Financial support for empirical pedagogical research and proof–of–concept projects
2. Innovation Grants: Technology access grants, offering the EchoSystem AI enriched platform, including GoReact, the market leading AI Video Assessment tool.

This reflects a long-standing commitment by Echo360 to fund innovation and supply tools that scale across classrooms, labs, and corporate training environments globally.

Higher Ed Under Pressure
Colleges and universities around the world continue to grapple with daunting financial headwinds. A 2025 Fitch Ratings report warns many U.S. institutions face “deteriorating” finances due to enrollment declines and rising costs. In the U.K., the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) notes one in three schools operates at a deficit. Meanwhile, Australia’s Universities Accord highlights financial sustainability as a sector-wide concern.

“The Echo360 grant is enabling us to create high-quality, multi-angle videos that we anticipate will transform how physiotherapy students engage with complex manual techniques,” said Julie Bayliss, Lecturer in the Curtin School of Allied Health and 2025 grant recipient. “We believe that this technology will give students the flexibility to learn at their own pace while ensuring equitable access to expert demonstrations; something we couldn’t have achieved without this support.”

2025 e3 Tech Grant Highlights
Recipients of the 2025 awards span three regions:

APAC:

• Murdoch University
• RMIT University
• La Trobe University
• University of Queensland
• Queensland University of Technology
• Curtin University
• Australian Catholic University
• Australian National University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• Unitec
• Box Hill Institute

EMEA:

• St. George’s University of London
• Queen Mary University
• University of Nottingham

NORTH AMERICA:

• Allen University
• Gallaudet University
• Loyola Marymount University
• Colorado State University
• Schreiner University
• University of Houston–Clear Lake
• Saint Michael’s College
• Northampton Community College
• Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine
• Capital University
• Wilkes Community College
• University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing
• Forsyth Technical Community College

Full grant details and application information available at www.echo360.com/company/grants.

About Echo360
Echo360 is the global edtech leader enabling transformative learning experiences for education and business through the Echosystem™, the world’s first and only enterprise Learning Transformation Platform™ (LTP™). Serving over 2,000 customers and 5 million learners, instructors, trainers, and frontline workers across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, Echo360 integrates content creation (EchoInk™), video management (EchoVideo™), engagement (EchoEngage™), and assessment (EchoExam™)—now extended by GoReact’s AI-powered video-based skill assessment and feedback. Echo360; Transforming Learning.

About e3 Tech Grants: The e³ Formula
Echo360’s global commitment is embodied in these core values:
– Equity – Ensuring every learner is supported regardless of environment or access
– Engagement – Promoting active, immersive learning experiences
– Evidence – Driving innovation through measurable outcomes

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jeff Peterson
Echo360
612-859-0488
[email protected]

SOURCE echo360

AI agents and trusted AI-enabled human experts available in Intuit QuickBooks assist businesses with saving time, making smarter decisions, and driving better money outcomes

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, today announced a transformative set of proactive Intuit AI agents that will dramatically improve how businesses run and grow. These agents will automate workflows and when combined with human experts will deliver real-time insights and improve cash flow for businesses.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250701338560/en/

The new AI agents, embedded in the Intuit platform, create a more powerful QuickBooks that provides businesses with a virtual team working on their behalf while the customer is always in control. The agents transform how work is done and help customers grow, completing workflows across customer relationship management, financial analysis, payments, accounting, and more, saving businesses up to 12 hours a month.¹ Their ability to seamlessly connect data across multiple applications proactively gives customers a 360-view of their business metrics and overall performance – all in one place. The result: 78% of customers say Intuit’s AI makes it easier for them to run their business; and 68% state it allows them to spend more time growing their business.² These AI agents are also able to work along-side trusted AI-enabled human experts to provide businesses with additional expertise and support.

“Intuit’s AI-driven expert platform is transforming how businesses run and grow with first-of-its-kind agentic AI experiences,” said Sasan Goodarzi, Intuit CEO. “When our vast amounts of data and AI capabilities are combined with the power of trusted human experts, Intuit’s uniquely designed, integrated platform unlocks next-level efficiencies, profitability, and growth for businesses.”

These new, done-for-you experiences are part of a completely redesigned and personalized QuickBooks web layout. The homepage is transformed into a striking display of customizable widgets with a powerful business feed that shows real-time intelligent insights, recommendations, and summarizes the workflows and tasks completed by the AI agents. Customers can seamlessly collaborate with human experts and connect to additional Intuit products, services, and third-party apps to truly realize the benefits and power of one integrated platform that drives next-level business efficiencies and growth, all in one place. In addition to the new web experience, the QuickBooks mobile app also has a new, modern interface that delivers the benefits of AI agents on the go.

Introducing Intuit AI agents: A virtual team that does virtually everything

Intuit’s new AI agents will help businesses – at every stage – scale, enabling them to grow on a platform they know and trust. The AI agents complete day-to-day tasks, including managing customer leads, tracking payments, sending invoices, and reconciling a business’s books. In addition, new, integrated collaboration tools allow a business owner and their accountant to seamlessly communicate and work together in QuickBooks. With the automation of workflows, collaboration with trusted experts, and the ability to deliver real-time, personalized, and actionable insights, businesses move faster, operate smarter, and uncover greater efficiencies and growth.

• Payments Agent: Optimizes and grows cash flow by getting businesses paid an average of 5 days faster³ with tailored acceleration strategies that predict late payments, automate invoice tracking, and create and send invoices and reminders.

• Accounting Agent: Automates bookkeeping and transaction categorization, and assists in reconciliation, delivering cleaner, more accurate books.

• Finance Agent: Provides a comprehensive approach to the financial management of growing, mid-market businesses with robust reporting, KPI analysis, and scenario planning and forecasting based on performance and peer benchmarking, helping finance teams make smart decisions to achieve financial goals.

“I need more time to be able to invest back into my business,” said Kurtis Graham, founder, COSIGN Enterprises, LLC. “Intuit’s AI can help me save several hours a month and drive revenue for my business. That’s a win-win for my business.”

Customer Hub: AI agents that strengthen relationships and fuel business growth

The Customer Hub, included in most QuickBooks Online plans, will provide two new virtual agents that automate and streamline the sales and customer relationship management (CRM) process, managing new leads and existing customers in one place to deliver delightful customer experiences and stronger relationships.

• Customer Agent: Sources leads, drafts personalized email responses, suggests and schedules meetings based on engagement data, and tracks every customer opportunity in the sales cycle.

• Marketing Agent: Coming later this year, it will automate audience management, campaign execution, and content creation to deliver impactful acquisition and retention marketing campaigns via Mailchimp.

Intuit AI agents for growing businesses

In the coming months, Intuit AI agents will be available for larger and growing businesses to tackle more complex tasks and boost productivity even further, enabling these businesses to scale with speed.

• Payroll Agent: Proactively collects time and attendance data from your employees and runs payroll when you say so.

• Project Management Agent: Manages project quotes, milestones, and budgets so businesses stay on track.

For more than 40 years, Intuit has been leading the industry in delivering impactful customer experiences that help millions of consumers and businesses put more money in their pockets, helping them achieve their business and financial goals with less effort and complete confidence. The launch of Intuit’s transformational AI agents is the latest innovation powered by Intuit’s platform, bringing artificial intelligence and human intelligence together to power prosperity for its customers. Now, businesses and their accountants have access to a virtual team that saves them time, simplifies the day-to-day running of a business, and helps accountants more confidently and quickly advise clients on key decisions.

Availability

The new web and mobile interfaces, integrated AI agents and human experts, and Customer Hub will start rolling out on July 1 to a range of QuickBooks Online products and customers in the US.

About Intuit

Intuit is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. With approximately 100 million customers worldwide using products such as TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us at Intuit.com and find us on social for the latest information about Intuit and our products and services.

Money movement services are provided by Intuit Payments Inc., licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. For more information about Intuit Payments’ money transmission licenses, please visit https://www.intuit.com/legal/licenses/payment-licenses/.

Feature availability varies by product.

Experts only available with QuickBooks Live.

1. 45% of customers save 12 hours each month on monthly bookkeeping with the new AI-powered bank feed. Based on a survey commissioned by Intuit of QuickBooks Online customers using the new AI-powered bank feed features as of April 2025.

2. Based on a survey commissioned by Intuit of QuickBooks Online customers using Intuit Assist as of November 2024.

3. Based on U.S. Intuit Assist Beta customers using outstanding invoice notifications and AI-drafted invoice reminder features, compared to customers sending standard invoice reminders to the same customers, from January 2024 to August 2024. Not available in QuickBooks Online Advanced.

This information is intended to outline our general product direction, but represents no obligation and should not be relied on when making a purchasing decision. Additional terms, conditions and fees may apply with certain features and functionality. Eligibility criteria may apply. Product offers, features, and functionality are subject to change without notice.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250701338560/en/

Jen Garcia, Intuit

Jennifer_garcia@intuit.com

Source: Intuit Inc.

Released July 1, 2025

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has entered into an agreement to acquire 45 Embraer (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3) E195-E2 aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional 10 aircraft — the largest SAS jet order direct from a manufacturer since 1996. This milestone agreement supports SAS’ long-term fleet renewal strategy, which is focused on increasing efficiency, reducing emissions, and unlocking future growth opportunities from its global hub in Copenhagen as well as across its Scandinavian and international network.

The first aircraft deliveries from Embraer are scheduled to begin in late 2027, with further deliveries extending over approximately four years. Excluding purchase rights, the value for the order is approximately US$4 billion.

“This is a defining moment for SAS,” says Anko van der Werff, President & CEO, SAS. “The Embraer E195-E2 is a world-class aircraft, combining outstanding performance with excellent fuel efficiency and comfort. This aircraft is key to enabling future growth and improved connectivity across Scandinavia and beyond. We’ve taken the time to make the right decision — and this major investment reflects our confidence in the future and the strength of the agreement we’ve secured.”

The E195-E2 will play a vital role in optimizing SAS’ operations and enhancing connectivity across Scandinavia and Europe. Its size and range are ideally suited to complement SAS’ existing fleet and route structure, allowing for more frequencies, better network flexibility, and lower trip costs.

Built for the future of sustainable aviation
“The E2 is central to our strategy to build a modern, efficient fleet with strong performance. It enables us to serve more routes with lower emissions, better economics, and a premium experience for our passengers,” adds Van der Werff. “Together with Embraer, we are setting the course for the next chapter of SAS.”

The E2 family of aircraft has already been tested with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and is in the process of being fully certified to fly on 100% SAF in the foreseeable future. Today blends of up to 50% SAF are already achievable.

Arjan Meijer, President and CEO Embraer Commercial Aviation, says: “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with SAS through this landmark deal. The E2 is the quietest single aisle jet available today – 29% more fuel efficient and with a 62% reduction in noise footprint over the previous generation jet, the E195-E2 is a game-changer in terms of efficiency, performance, and passenger comfort. We are confident that these aircraft will play a crucial role in SAS’ fleet renewal and expansion strategy, supporting their ambitious growth plans and enhancing their operational capabilities.”

Powered by Pratt & Whitney’s advanced PW1900G GTF engines, the E195-E2 delivers double-digit reductions in fuel burn, emissions, and noise compared to previous-generation aircraft. The new fleet will help lower SAS’ environmental footprint and reinforce its position as a driving force in reducing aviation’s climate impact.

This order marks another step in SAS’ future-focused transformation, supporting a modernized fleet and improved travel experience. SAS continues to strengthen its overall network and international reach while enhancing connectivity between regional cities and global destinations through more seamless and sustainable operations.

This order was facilitated by the support of Skyworks Holding.

SAS was recently ranked as the world’s most punctual airline*, a testament to the company’s commitment to operational excellence and reliability.

*SAS ranked No. 1 out of 660 airlines globally for on-time performance in April and May 2025 (source: Cirium).

The combination of the oral histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor bocodepsin (OKI-179) and binimetinib (Mektovi) had a manageable safety profile and produced initial responses in patients with NRAS-mutant metastatic melanoma, according to data from the phase 2 portion of the phase 1b/2 NAUTILUS trial (NCT05340621) presented during the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.¹

Findings from the primary analysis showed that patients treated with the combination achieved a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 6.7 months. Among 20 evaluable patients, the overall response rate was 30%.

Regarding safety, the combination was found to be tolerable. The most common toxicities occurring in more than 10% of patients were dermatitis acneiform (21%), anemia (17%), and thrombocytopenia (17%). No grade 3/4 toxicities were seen in more than 10% of patients, including no high-grade rash.

“Initial response data in patients with NRAS-mutant melanoma are supportive of potential combinatorial activity of a MEK inhibitor and HDAC inhibitor bocodepsin with longer PFS than what is typically seen with MEK inhibition alone,” lead study author Rodabe N. Amaria, MD, and colleagues wrote in a poster presentation of the data. “MEK inhibition and HDAC inhibition warrant further study in a larger patient cohort.”

Amaria is an assistant professor in the Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Dive Into the Background and Design of the NAUTILUS Trial

Activating NRAS mutations occur in 15% to 20% of metastatic melanoma cases. The MEK inhibitor binimetinib has demonstrated modest single-agent activity in this setting, with an ORR of 15% and a median PFS of 2.8 months. Preclinical studies have shown that HDAC inhibitors can potentiate the efficacy of MEK inhibitors in RAS pathway–driven melanomas by concurrently suppressing 2 DNA repair pathways. Bocodepsin, a novel, oral, Class I–selective HDAC inhibitor, has been associated with low-grade toxicities and demonstrated synergistic activity with binimetinib in NRAS-mutant melanoma models, supporting the inception of the NAUTILUS trial.

NAUTILUS was comprised of a phase 1b dose-escalation and a phase 2 single-arm study.² The phase 1 portion enrolled patients with advanced solid tumors without activating RAS pathway alterations; phase 2 included patients with NRAS-mutant metastatic melanoma who previously received or were ineligible for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

In the dose-escalation study, patients received either 200 mg (cohort 1; n = 8) or 300 mg (cohort 2; n = 6) of bocodepsin administered on a 4-days-on/3-days-off schedule, in combination with binimetinib at 45 mg twice daily.¹ The 300 mg dose of bocodepsin was established as the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) and was subsequently used in all 22 patients enrolled in the single-arm phase 2 portion.

In phase 1b, the primary end points were identification of the maximum tolerated dose and the RP2D.² In phase 2, the primary end point was objective response rate (ORR), with secondary end points including safety and pharmacokinetics.^1,2

The median age of patients in the phase 2 portion of NAUTILUS (n = 24) was 69 (range, 39-82).¹ The majority of patients were female (53%) and had an ECOG performance status of 1 (71%). The median number of prior lines of therapy was 3 (range, 1-9), and lactate dehydrogenase levels were elevated in 41% of patients.

Interim data from NAUTILUS showed that, as of the safety data cutoff of July 6, 2023, no dose-limiting toxicities were observed with the combination in either cohort 1 or cohort 2, and adverse effects (AEs) were generally manageable with supportive care or dose interruptions/ reductions.² The most common treatment-related AEs were as expected based on the agents’ individual safety profiles, and no grade 4/5 TRAEs were observed.

At an efficacy data cutoff of September 26, 2023, the ORR per RECIST 1.1 criteria among all response-evaluable patients with NRAS-mutant metastatic melanoma in phase 1 and phase 2 (n=16) was 38%; this was comprised entirely of partial responses. Stable disease was also achieved by 38% of patients, and 25% experienced disease progression.

References

1. Amaria R, Duvivier H, Tsa K, et al. Nautilus, a phase 1b/2 trial of combining oral HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) with MEK inhibitor (MEKi) in patients with NRAS-mutated metastatic melanoma (MM): Results from the phase 3 ECHELON-3 study. J Clin Oncol. 2025, 43(suppl 16):9552.doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.9552
2. Amaria R, Duvivier H, Tsa K, et al. Novel strategy for RAS-pathway targeting: Initial results from a phase 1b/2 clinical trial of the oral HDAC inhibitor bocodepsin (OKI-179) combined with binimetinib in patients with RAS-pathway mutated solid tumors and NRAS mutated melanoma. Mol Cancer Ther. 2023; 22(suppl 12):PR012. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-23-PR012

Pension funds and institutional investors made a “huge mistake” and exaggerated their role in environmental, social and government (ESG) issues to promote their products, the outgoing chair of Aberdeen Group, Douglas Flint, has said.

Flint, who has chaired the recently rebranded fund manager since 2019, said “ridiculously extravagant claims” had been made by some companies, which were driven by a mindset that their job was “not really about investing money: we’re just jolly good people and we’re saving the world”.

Flint, who also chaired HSBC between 2010 and 2017, told a City of London net zero conference on Monday that those claims may have been over-egged, in a way that put them at legal risk, particularly in the US.

“Our industry then made a kind of huge mistake. It became a marketing thing: let’s tell everyone we’re saving the world, we’re saving the planet,” he said, in comments first reported by the Financial Times.

The legal risks have risen in recent months after a severe drop in support for ESG issues in the US. Rightwing activists and politicians have targeted financial companies for supporting climate policies, having been emboldened by policymakers in Trump’s administration, which pushed for a resurgence in oil and gas production.

The ESG backlash has spooked some companies, worried that they could be targeted by lawsuits and blacklisting that could harm their US business. Even before Trump took office in November, Texas added NatWest to a growing list of companies accused of boycotting its oil industry, in a move that threatened the UK bank’s business with the US state.

For others, the ESG backlash has provided an opportunity to scrap international green initiatives that some bosses claim make their businesses less competitive. High profile investors including BlackRock and State Street have cancelled membership in voluntary schemes such as the Climate Action 100+ group in recent months.

Although US companies have led the charge in dropping ESG commitments, there are growing fears that UK investors could follow suit, meaning there will be less pressure on publicly listed companies, whose shares they hold, to reduce their carbon footprint.

That could be compounded by a potential watering down of the Labour party’s manifesto pledge to ensure that FTSE 100 companies – as well the City’s banks, asset managers, insurers and pension funds – adopt “credible” climate transition plans in line with the Paris agreement’s pledge to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C.

Last week, a consultation on those rules showed the government was exploring less rigorous rules as part of a drive to cut red tape and compliance costs. One of the options being considered would mean the government “will not require an entity to have a discrete transition plan or to set climate targets in line with a particular climate goal”.

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“The focus remains on the impact of the environment and climate on business profits, not the impact of business on the planet,” Mark Cliffe, a visiting fellow at the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, said. “Given the lack of clarity on the government’s own climate plans, let alone the backtracking in the US and elsewhere, this is likely to lead to further backsliding on businesses’ commitments to climate action.”

Last week, a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said the government was “committed to making the UK the sustainable finance capital of the world.

“The consultation we have launched seeks stakeholder views on a range of approaches to transition plans, including on climate alignment, as part of our commitment to take forward the manifesto commitment in full.”

Francesco Ruisi – the journey so far

After finishing school in his hometown of Palermo, Italy, Ruisi joined a local Ro-Pax company as a cadet engineer.   

A pivotal moment in Ruisi’s career came when, his vessel docked in Palermo and he noticed a nearby cruise ship, the Costa Marina, and was struck by the contrast between the clean, white uniforms of the engineers aboard the cruise ship and his own oil-stained coveralls. Motivated to pursue new opportunities, he applied to work for Costa Cruises and, within two months, found himself aboard the Costa Marina as a third engineer.

After 12 years at sea, Ruisi moved ashore to work in cruise ship construction. He then joined a class society as a surveyor, further broadening his technical and regulatory expertise. His diverse career also included roles such as superintendent for a chemical tanker company and technical manager for Greenpeace International, where he spent two years. These roles gave Ruisi a comprehensive understanding of different ship types and operational contexts.

Ruisi joined LR in Amsterdam in 2006 as a senior surveyor. His leadership capabilities were quickly spotted, and he was promoted to Senior Surveyor in charge of the Amsterdam office within two years.

In 2009 he took on new challenges in Asia, moving to China to oversee various projects for LR. Over the next decade, he held multiple roles, including Project Manager, Surveyor in Charge for Shanghai Port, and Area Manager overseeing operations in South China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

In 2019 Ruisi moved to Dubai to serve as Operations Manager for the Middle East and Africa, managing LR’s operations the region.

Ruisi moved to the Netherlands in 2022 and now considers it home. There he assumed the role of Commercial Manager for the Benelux region, overseeing a wide range of vessel types.

In August 2024, Ruisi was appointed LR’s VP Global Segment Director for Passenger Ships.

In his spare time, he enjoys travel, reading technical books and cooking for friends.

Natilus’s BWB design offers 40% more interior capacity, which the HORIZON utilizes to make air travel more comfortable and enjoyable. Intended to have a largely customizable layout to meet the needs of each individual airline and its customer base, the HORIZON is reimagining what air travel can be with the introduction of innovative spaces for business travelers to families.

Work from the Sky in HORIZON’s Video Conference Pods

For the first time on commercial aircraft, the HORIZON will be equipped with three video conference pods that act as conference rooms for the business-oriented passengers. The pods will be compatible with both video and phone calls and will be Wi-Fi-enabled, so that passengers can continue to collaborate and be productive during flight.

Families Take Center Stage with Club Seating

The HORIZON will also include Deluxe Club Seating, where a family of four can comfortably sit two-by-two facing each other, making it easy to communicate, play, and share experiences throughout the flight. No longer limited by the dreaded middle seat, the club seating is attractive for airlines looking to cater to family units with small children.

Intelligent Lighting Connected to Infotainment

The HORIZON will be equipped with an intelligent lighting system with simulated skylights and windows that can be customized to a seating zone, mimicking natural light or ambient lighting to ease the impact of jetlag. The lighting can also be coordinated with the infotainment screens to create an immersive entertainment experience.

HORIZON: Benefits of 40% More Capacity

With its unique blended-wing body design, the dramatic gains in interior cabin space translate to an entirely new experience for passengers. In this new design, the HORIZON boasts:

• Luxe, lie-flat first class seats that allow travelers to rest during long-haul flights, evoking a sense of a private retreat;
• Economy seats where every passenger enjoys their own dedicated seat with back-of-seat infotainment systems, featuring a wide selection of movies, music, and connectivity options to make the journey as enjoyable as it is efficient;
• Tall ceiling heights at 7.5 feet to make the cabin feel even more spacious; and
• Eight exit doors for ease of egress, with the possibility for carriers to opt for double doors.

“The HORIZON is an innovative aircraft that ushers in a new era of air travel, offering significantly more interior space—which we’ve used to create a more comfortable and enjoyable cabin,” said Aleksey Matyushev, CEO and Co-founder of Natilus. “This aircraft will provide our commercial airline customers with the ultimate platform to elevate the passenger experience.”

About Natilus
Natilus is a San Diego-based developer of hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft designed to transport people and cargo more sustainably and efficiently than ever before. Natilus’s BWB aircraft unlocks improved aviation economics by reducing fuel consumption by 30% while increasing payload capability by 40%.The Natilus team is comprised of innovators from General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, Skunkworks, SpaceX, and Piper Aircraft. Learn more at natilus.co.

SOURCE Natilus

  

Sobi® (STO: SOBI), today announced a capped royalty purchase agreement with Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. under which Sobi will reduce its ex-US royalty obligations to Apellis by 90% for Aspaveli® (systemic pegcetacoplan) in exchange for $275 million upfront and up to $25 million in additional milestone payments dependent on regulatory approvals in the European Union for C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and primary immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN).

 

“We are pleased to continue our ongoing partnership with Apellis and share their strong belief in Aspaveli/EMPAVELI’s potential to deliver significant long-term growth,” said Guido Oelkers, Chief Executive Officer at Sobi.  “We look forward to continuing the regulatory process in Europe and are well positioned to bring this novel treatment to patients with C3G and IC-MPGN leveraging our deep rare disease expertise.”

 

Aspaveli/EMPAVELI is approved in the European Union, other countries globally, and the US for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) who have haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood disorder. It is currently under review in the European Union and the U.S. for the treatment of C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and primary immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN), rare kidney diseases. An opinion by the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) is expected before year-end. In the U.S., the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date is July 28, 2025.

 

“Through our collaboration, Sobi has developed a deep understanding of Aspaveli/EMPAVELI’s potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and deliver long-term value as a rare disease franchise,” said Timothy Sullivan, Chief Financial Officer, Apellis. “This transaction reflects our shared conviction in the potential of Aspaveli/EMPAVELI to transform the treatment landscape for patients with rare diseases, including C3G and IC-MPGN.”

 

Transaction Highlights

• Upfront Payment: $275 million in cash.
• Milestone Payments: Up to $25 million upon EMA approval of Aspaveli® for C3G and IC-MPGN.
• Royalty Structure: Sobi will reduce its ex-U.S. royalty obligation to Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by 90% until defined caps are achieved, after which ex-U.S. royalties revert to the original license agreement.
   

 

About the Sobi and Apellis Collaboration
Sobi and Apellis have global co-development rights for systemic pegcetacoplan.

Sobi has exclusive ex-U.S. commercialization rights for systemic pegcetacoplan, and its opt-in rights for future development programs are unchanged, exercisable at any time prior to commercialisation. Apellis has exclusive U.S. commercialization rights for systemic pegcetacoplan and worldwide commercial rights for ophthalmological pegcetacoplan, including for geographic atrophy.
 

About C3 Glomerulopathy (C3G) and Primary Immune Complex Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN)
C3G and primary IC-MPGN are rare and debilitating kidney diseases that can lead to kidney failure. Excessive C3 deposits are a key marker of disease activity, which can lead to kidney inflammation, damage, and failure. Approximately 50% of people living with C3G and primary IC-MPGN suffer from kidney failure within five to 10 years of diagnosis, requiring a burdensome kidney transplant or lifelong dialysis.1 Additionally, approximately 90% of patients who previously received a kidney transplant will experience disease recurrence.2 The diseases are estimated to affect 5,000 people in the United States and up to 8,000 in Europe.3

 

About Sobi®
Sobi is a global biopharma company unlocking the potential of breakthrough innovations, transforming everyday life for people living with rare diseases. Sobi has approximately 1,900 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. In 2024, revenue amounted to SEK 26 billion. Sobi’s share (STO:SOBI) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More about Sobi at sobi.com and LinkedIn.

 

Contacts 
For details on how to contact the Sobi Investor Relations Team, please click here. For Sobi Media, click here. 

 

This information is information that Sobi is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, on 1 July 2025 at 1:00 PM CEST.

 

Gerard Tobin

Head of Investor Relations

 

 

References

1. C3 glomerulopathy. National Institute of Health, Genetics Home Reference. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/c3-glomerulopathy#resources. Accessed November 21, 2019.

2. Tarragón, B, et al. C3 Glomerulopathy Recurs Early after Kidney Transplantation in Serial Biopsies Performed within the First 2 Years after Transplantation. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. August 2024; 19(8)1005-1015. doi: 10.2215/CJN.0000000000000474.

3. Data on file using literature consensus.