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6 November 2025, Amsterdam/ Al-Hasakah: People in northeast Syria continue to struggle with access to healthcare, water, and food, according to an assessment conducted earlier this year in Al-Hasakah governorate by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). MSF staff spoke with more than 150 families from both local communities and internally displaced persons.

MSF’s assessment in June confirmed people face severe barriers to accessing basic services. Among respondents, 90 per cent reported postponing or avoiding healthcare due to high costs for consultations and medication, the lack of nearby or functioning facilities, and the burden of transportation.

“We were unable to secure medication for my father’s chronic disease for over four months. His condition worsened and became complicated, eventually requiring urgent surgical intervention. We did everything we could to secure the money for the operation, but we were too late. My father passed away”, says *Khoula, a resident of Al-Hasakah.

Eighty-five per cent of households reported that they or a family member is living with at least one non-communicable disease (NCD).

To address these challenges, MSF is working in collaboration with the local health authority to support clinics specifically designed for the treatment of NCDs in Al-Hasakah and Raqqa governorates.

Water scarcity

In northeast Syria, widespread water scarcity, driven by climate change, the weaponisation of water resources, prolonged droughts, and excessive groundwater extraction have been made worse by frequent damage to water infrastructure, including Allouk and Tishreen water stations.

Since 2019, repeated interruptions to Alouk station, the main source of safe water for nearly one million people, have forced families to rely on unsafe and unregulated water sources. Survey results indicated only 37 per cent of households can consistently access sufficient water to meet basic hygiene and domestic needs.

“We bathe once every five days now. We have to choose between being clean and being hydrated”, says *Khalid, a 26-year-old man who has been displaced to Al-Hasakah during the years of the conflict.

The assessment highlights water insecurity disproportionately affects women, who are primarily responsible for securing household water, often walk long distances, facing physical exhaustion, harassment, and exploitation.

“I was collecting our household’s water allocation from the communal water tank. The man managing the distribution insisted I step inside so he could “help me”. As he leaned in, he touched me inappropriately. I was so shaken that I left without taking the water, since then, I’ve never gone back alone”, says *Fatima, a 27-year-old woman from Al-Hasakah.

Women reported some private vendors have offered water in exchange for sex, which is unacceptable and highlights the intersection of vulnerability, gender, and survival.

MSF teams have recently rehabilitated 12 boreholes in Al-Hasakah and supported the rehabilitation of two water stations (Al Aziziah and Al Hamma) in readiness for any potential startup of Alouk and to ensure access to safe water for local communities.

Economic vulnerability, food insecurity

Economic vulnerability is widespread, with median household incomes reported at $150 US per month, ranging from as low as $15 US to $200 US. Food has become increasingly out of reach for lower-income families, with 77 per cent of households surveyed reporting food shortages multiple times per month.  

“The crisis in northeast Syria is not only about conflict; it’s about the daily erosion of people’s ability to survive with dignity. These figures underscore a deteriorating humanitarian situation”, says Barbara Hessel, MSF head of programm[es in northeast Syria.

*Khadija, a mother of four, shared her struggles: “As a mother, my children are the most important part of my life; I often skip meals so they can have enough to eat. Still, we struggle to provide them with the proper nutrition they need. It breaks me to see them asking for food I cannot always give. I feel hopeless”.

While most families depend on local markets for their food, their purchasing power is insufficient to meet even the most basic dietary needs. In Raqqa, our teams run inpatient and outpatient feeding units to provide care for children suffering from malnutrition.

Barriers to return

Topping these challenges, many internally displaced persons interviewed in Al-Hasakah reported being unable to return to where they’re from due to ongoing security and safety concerns, lack of shelter, and the absence of humanitarian support for returnees.

“Even if we’re willing to return, there’s nothing to return to – no aid, no shelter, no support. Without help, going back isn’t just hard – it’s impossible.”, says *Al’aa, a displaced woman from Ras-Alain/ Serekaniye.

MSF calls for action

MSF is urging donors, humanitarian agencies, and authorities to scale up funding and coordination to prevent further deterioration of essential services. All parties to the ongoing conflict must protect civilian infrastructure, including water stations, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

“People are being forced to make impossible choices, between buying food, medicine, or water,” says Hessel. “Without immediate investment and political will, thousands will continue to face preventable suffering.”

Notes: MSF has operated in northeast Syria for over a decade, delivering healthcare, nutrition, and water programs across Al-Hasakah, Raqqa, and Al-Hol camp.

*Names have been changed at the request of those interviewed to protect their privacy.

About MSF

The KOF Business Situation Indicator for the Swiss private sector rose significantly in October, returning to its July level, i.e. prior to the increase in US tariffs on Swiss imports.

Stockholm, November 4, 2025. Vermiculus has partnered with Truesec, the leading independent provider of a full-service offering within cybersecurity. This collaboration further reinforces Vermiculus’ strong commitment to cybersecurity and complements the company’s existing routines, frameworks, and controls designed to safeguard its IT solutions for the financial markets.

In today’s changing global landscape, where digital threats are increasingly complex, it is essential to be prepared. Cyber resilience has always been a cornerstone of Vermiculus’ operations. By working with Truesec, Vermiculus adds an extra layer of assurance, ensuring that its IT solutions remain secure, reliable, and fully aligned with international standards and certifications.

“Cyber resilience is fundamental to what we do. Our customers trust us to provide safe and resilient IT solutions,” said Taraneh Derayati, CEO of Vermiculus. “By partnering with Truesec, we strengthen our preparedness and ensure that our technology continues to meet highest standards of reliability and compliance.”

Through this partnership, Vermiculus combines its established and world-leading cybersecurity practices with Truesec’s deep expertise, ensuring that customers can continue to rely on Vermiculus solutions with full confidence in their security and resilience.

About Vermiculus Financial Technology

Vermiculus Financial Technology AB provides cutting-edge trading, clearing, and CSD solutions to market participants around the world. Vermiculus’ solutions are the first to bring state-of-the-art advances in dynamic microservice architecture together with vast experience in clearing house, exchange, and CSD business requirements.

The company started its operation in 2020 and is founded by industry experts with the incentive to revolutionize the technology of exchanges, clearing houses, and CSDs. With its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Vermiculus consists of hand-picked teams, trained to deliver mission-critical solutions. With decades of accumulated knowledge and expertise, the team has previously completed 80+ projects for the world’s largest exchanges, clearing houses, and CSDs.

ONEKEY is expanding its security platform from detection to the holistic management of software vulnerabilities in smart products.

Extended Software Bills of Materials become “security passports,” with integrated risk assessment and complete regulatory compliance documentation.

Düsseldorf, November 4, 2025 – The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) stipulates that, in future, manufacturers and distributors of digital products with an internet connection must provide a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). This will help to identify potential software vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers so that they can be remedied in a timely manner.

The CRA therefore requires a detailed list of all programs, libraries, frameworks, and dependencies for networked devices, machines, and systems, without exception, including the exact version numbers of the individual components, information on the respective licenses, details of the authors, and an overview of all known vulnerabilities and security gaps. Many manufacturers struggle to meet these requirements, mainly because they do not receive complete information from their suppliers.

For this reason, many SBOMS are incomplete, outdated, or lack context regarding vulnerabilities. These incomplete and sometimes outdated Software Bills Of Materials are unusable for the mandatory documentation requirements imposed on manufacturers by EU regulations.

SBOM as the New Security Passport

The Düsseldorf-based cybersecurity company ONEKEY has now added a new feature to its platform that checks device software (firmware) for security vulnerabilities and enables the generation of so-called enriched SBOMs. These expanded Software Bills Of Materials contain all relevant information about vulnerabilities. The SBOMs generated in this way fully meet all industry requirements. As well as containing the vulnerabilities with risk classification, they also provide evidence and justifications in a single, easy-to-use file.

“This transforms the SBOM from a mere bill of materials into a kind of security passport with integrated risk assessment,” explained Jan Wendenburg, CEO of ONEKEY. He knows from many discussions with manufacturers: “The often complex supply chains and the frequent lack of understanding of EU-specific regulations among suppliers outside the European Union make it difficult to comply with the requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act.” According to ONEKEY, the new functionality is a significant step towards overcoming this hurdle.

Beyond Detection: Comprehensive Vulnerability Management

This latest feature forms part of an initiative to expand the ONEKEY platform, providing even better support for comprehensive software security vulnerability management. Until now, the platform has primarily focused on the detection of software vulnerabilities. “Identifying deficiencies is only the first step,” says Jan Wendenburg, “now we are taking further steps to relieve manufacturers as much as possible of time-consuming manual tasks and help them achieve CRA compliance.”

Automated workflows, contextual assessments, and audit-ready documentation will enable security and compliance teams to respond more quickly and act in a regulatory-compliant manner. “By enabling the platform to take on more and more routine tasks, we are giving specialists more time to focus on their most important task: maximizing the security of their devices, machines, and systems,” says Jan Wendenburg, says Jan Wendenburg, outlining the company's strategy.

ONEKEY is the leading European specialist in Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Management and part of the investment portfolio of PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany (PwC). The unique combination of the automated ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) with expert knowledge and consulting services provides fast and comprehensive analysis, support, and management to improve product cybersecurity and compliance from product purchasing, design, development, production to end-of-life.

Critical vulnerabilities and compliance violations in device firmware are automatically identified in binary code by AI-based technology in minutes – without source code, device, or network access. Proactively audit software supply chains with integrated Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) generation. “Digital Cyber Twins” enable automated 24/7 post-release cybersecurity monitoring throughout the product lifecycle.

The patent-pending, integrated ONEKEY Compliance Wizard already covers the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and requirements according to IEC 62443-4-2, ETSI EN 303 645, UNECE R 155 and many others.

The Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is effectively supported by the integrated automatic prioritisation of vulnerabilities, significantly reducing the time to remediation.

Leading international companies in Asia, Europe and the Americas already benefit from the ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) and ONEKEY Cybersecurity Experts.

Six senior officers from the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) have successfully completed a bilateral training seminar on ‘Rural Development’ in China last Friday.  

The program was held from October 9th to 31st, 2025, at the Institute of Administration and Management (AMI) in Beijing, a training and research institution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of China.  

The government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), through its Ministry of Commerce, funded the program with the aim of enhancing communication and cooperation between the two nations.  

It focused on key areas of rural development, including agricultural production, processing, and distribution; climate-smart agriculture; e-commerce; and the critical role of infrastructure in economic growth.  

The officers’ participation was coordinated through the Chinese Embassy in Honiara and the Solomon Islands Government via the Ministry of Agriculture. Other participating ministries included the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Traditional Governance, the Ministry of Provincial Government, and representatives from the private sector.  

The training seminar featured intensive training sessions and field visits to major high-tech agricultural companies and enterprises in Beijing and other provinces of China.  

The MRD senior officers include:

• Charles Laua, Constituency Development Officer for Fataleka Constituency

• George Stuart Baiabe, Constituency Development Officer for Rennell/Bellona Constituency

• Bobby Siarani, Constituency Development Officer for West Kwaio Constituency

• John Kinnie Ngili, Constituency Development Officer for South Choiseul Constituency

• Timan Tiks Tauni, Constituency Development Officer for East Makira Constituency

• George Balairamo, Deputy Secretary of Technical  

The participation of MRD officers is part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to capacitate and equip its officers with the technical skills needed to implement constituency development programs and initiatives nationwide effectively.  

The training provided opportunities for participants to gain a better and deeper understanding of China’s achievements, policies, and experiences in poverty alleviation and rural agricultural revitalization.  

“Having lifted over 800 million people out of poverty in the past four decades, China offers a valuable model for the Solomon Islands.  

“Lessons learned will be crucial for informing and advancing rural development priorities and the Solomon Islands Government's policies for National Unity and Transformation,” the MRD Deputy Secretary Technical (DST) George Balairamo said.  

The program also offered an invaluable opportunity for officers to learn about China's approaches to rural construction, infrastructure, and technological innovation. It also strengthened exchanges with Chinese experts and scholars, laying a foundation for future pragmatic cooperation.  

“As part of the training, delegates undertook field visits to observe China's rural modernization initiatives firsthand. These included an automated layer farm and various eco-tourism sites in Beijing. The delegation also traveled to Nanjing City in Jiangsu Province, where they met with officials from the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the China-Pacific Islands Countries Agricultural Cooperation Demonstration Centre.  

“In Jiangsu, visits included demonstration farms, a tea culture village, rural tourism sites, a tropical fruit cultivation eco-park, a brine duck production company, and a modern agricultural enterprise. Further visits to key agricultural production companies took place in Hefei City, Anhui Province.  

“These field trips facilitated the exchange of ideas with local officials, agribusiness managers, and tourism operators, while also allowing participants to experience China's rich culture and history,” Mr. Balairamo stated.  

Meanwhile, Mr. Balairamo, on behalf of the ministry’s management, expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in Honiara, the Chinese government, and the Institute of Administration and Management (AMI) in Beijing for making the training possible, enabling officers to acquire the necessary technical skills and knowledge to advance rural development priorities in their respective constituencies for the betterment of the country.  

The contributions from the PRC Embassy underscore the growing partnership between the two nations, rooted in mutual respect and a shared vision for inclusive development.

The price of stolen banking data is soaring worldwide — and Japan tops the chart as one of the most expensive markets for cybercriminals

According to recent research from NordVPN, prices for stolen payment cards on dark-web marketplaces rose in most countries. While the global average still sits around $8, some markets jumped by as much as 444%.

Many assume cybercrime happens to someone else, yet stolen payment card details change hands on these markets every day. It’s rarely just a card number: listings often include names, addresses, emails, and other details that help criminals pass fraud checks and impersonate real customers.

“Even with prices rising, card data remains cheap enough for entry-level criminals,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven, cybersecurity expert at NordVPN.

“On major marketplaces, a single stolen card often costs about the price of a movie ticket. Cards are frequently sold in bulk, stay valid for long periods, and can be cashed out locally — so for a few dollars criminals choose between a night at the cinema or a ready-made route to fraud, account takeovers, and outright cashing of someone else’s money.”

From $1 to $23: the forces behind dark-web card pricing

Compared with other countries, Americans are the most affected by payment-card scammers. More than 60% of payment cards belonged to U.S. users. Singapore is second at about 11%, and Spain is third at around 10%.

However, high prevalence doesn’t equal low price. Stolen U.S. cards sit near the middle of the dark-web range at $11.51. While the most expensive listings come from Japan at roughly $23. Cards from Kazakhstan, Guam, and Mozambique go for roughly $16. At the low end, cards from the Republic of the Congo, Barbados and Georgia can sell for around $1.

Globally, most stolen payment cards cluster around $9. In Europe, Spain tops the list at $11.68, followed by France ($11.07) and Switzerland ($11.96). In Asia, Japan leads by far with cards averaging $22.80, followed by Kazakhstan ($16.87) and Thailand ($15.08). In North and Central America, El Salvador stands out with $15.80, followed by the United States ($11.51) and Canada ($5.88). In South America, Colombia’s cards reach $14.52, followed closely by Chile ($12.52). In Africa, Mozambique leads with $16.38, while Morocco follows at $11.95. In Oceania, New Zealand tops the region at $13.39, outpacing Australia ($9.11).

Why prices spiked: supply, demand, and stricter anti-fraud controls

Our analysis shows that over the past two years, prices for stolen data have risen significantly. The largest increase was in New Zealand (more than 444%), followed by Argentina (368%) and Poland (221%), while France saw a modest rise of just 18%.

Pricing on the dark web mostly follows simple supply and demand. Criminals pay more for cards from countries where supply is low and anti-fraud controls are strict, such as Japan. In markets with abundant data like the U.S. or Spain, cards are cheaper and often sold in bundles, which lowers the price per card.

“The strength of law enforcement and political stability also shape risk and price — where ‘risk’ refers to how advanced issuers are at detecting fraud and how quickly they respond,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven. “Cards with longer expiration dates command a premium: about 87% of the cards we observed remain usable for more than 12 months, which makes them easier to resell.”

Carding: How criminals turn stolen cards into cash

Millions of cards are listed on the dark web, but the money is made in what happens next — the cash-out, a process usually called carding. Stealing or buying card data is just the start; the real skill is validating, monetizing, and laundering that data so that it turns into actual profit.

Carding runs like an industrial supply chain. Different actors play specific roles: “harvesters” source or steal data, “validators” run bots that check thousands of cards per hour, and “cash-outers” convert validated cards into gift codes, goods, crypto, or cold cash.

“The crucial step in carding is validation,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven. “Cybercriminals use bots to run tiny test charges or authorization attempts to see which cards work. Sometimes they use small payment providers or merchant sites they control to spread attempts and hide failures. Once a card is validated, it can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs, buy gift cards or vouchers, or purchase travel and accommodation that can later be resold. Monetization and laundering are tightly coupled — multiple steps are used to obscure the origin of funds.”

Easy tips on how to stay safe:

Adrianus Warmenhowen from NordVPN shares a series of steps people can take to protect themselves:

●        Monitor your statements regularly. Review your bank and card activity at least weekly and turn on real-time transaction alerts to catch unfamiliar charges early and dispute them quickly.

●        Use strong passwords. Secure accounts with complex and unique passwords, especially in e-shops where you save personal data, such as your home address and payment details.

●        Don’t save passwords and payment data in your browser. If malware infects your computer, it can access your browser’s local password storage and steal autofill information, such as passwords, addresses, and payment card details.

●        Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Add an extra layer of security with codes, devices, or biometrics.

●        Monitor the dark web. Tools like NordVPN's Dark Web Monitor can alert you if information associated with your email addresses are found on the dark web, while Dark Web Monitor Pro™ allows you to add credit card numbers for continuous monitoring and instant alerts too.

Methodology: The research was conducted by NordStellar, a threat exposure management platform created by the team behind NordVPN. NordStellar researchers analyzed stolen payment card data being sold on dark web marketplaces. The dataset, collected in May 2025, included a total of 50,705 card records.

Please note: No individual payment card details or user credentials were accessed or purchased during this study. The researchers analyzed only the metadata provided in stolen data listings on dark web marketplaces.

ABOUT NORDVPN

NordVPN is the world’s most advanced VPN service provider, chosen by millions of internet users worldwide. The service offers features such as dedicated IP, Double VPN, and Onion Over VPN servers, which help to enhance online privacy with zero tracking. One of NordVPN’s key features is Threat Protection Pro™, a tool that blocks malicious websites, trackers, and ads and scans downloads for malware. NordVPN is part of Nord Security, whose latest product is Saily, a travel eSIM app. Known for its user-friendly design, NordVPN offers some of the best prices on the market and covers 165 locations across 127 countries worldwide. For more information, visit nordvpn.com.

Following a lengthy period of declining values, the KOF Employment Indicator is pointing to a slight improvement in the employment outlook for the first time in three years. 

New CommBank data shows more Australians are starting their home buying journey online, signalling a shift in consumer behaviour.

3 November 2025

By the numbers:

• CommBank online home loan application submissions are five times higher year-on-year.
• Online application submissions by first home buyers have increased fourfold year-on-year.
• Customers aged 31-40 make up 34 per cent of all online application submissions, while customers aged 21-30 are the fastest growing cohort.

More people starting their home loan journey online

Just as Australians have gone digital for dating, shopping and job hunting, they’re now turning online for one of life’s biggest milestones – buying a home.

CBA’s digital home loan channel, the newest way to apply, has become the bank’s fastest growing with the number of people submitting online home loan applications increasing five times compared to a year ago.

Executive General Manager of Home Buying, Marcos Meneguzzi said: “We’ve seen strong growth in the digital channel because customers want more flexibility over how they start the process.”

“As Australia’s largest lender, we can see this trend across all types of customers. People are blending digital and personal support to get the experience that suits them best.”

The data shows a broader shift in behaviour, with more people comfortable researching their options, checking their borrowing power and learning what’s achievable before applying for their home loan online.

Younger Australians are leading the shift, with online home loan applications from people in their twenties now six times higher than a year ago, and those in their thirties now making up the largest share of digital applicants (34 per cent). But it’s not just younger buyers embracing the change, more experienced customers are joining them, with applications from people in their fifties roughly quadrupling in the same period.

First home buyers’ behavioural shift

First home buyers are showing one of the most striking behavioural shifts in CBA’s digital home loan channel, with online applications more than quadrupling year-on-year. Despite having never been through the process before, many are now choosing to start their home buying journey online before being connected with a lender.  

“Traditionally, first home buyers have preferred a face-to-face experience, but that’s starting to change,” Marcos said.

“Just as they’re comfortable researching and shopping online for everyday purchases, they’re now applying the same habits to bigger decisions like buying a home.”

When it comes to people who have bought a home before, online applications have increased six times, year-on-year.

“This isn’t about moving away from our existing channels – it’s about providing choice and additional support through lenders once an application is submitted.” Marcos said.

“Some customers prefer to begin online, others want to talk in person. What matters is that they can choose what works best for them.”

CBA’s digital channel allows customers to apply online for a range of products, including the Standard Variable Rate, Fixed Rate, Simple, and Digi Home Loans. Tools like the borrowing power and stamp duty calculators are also helping people estimate costs and feel more confident when applying online.

About the data: Data compares the number of home loan applications submitted online in September 2025 with the same period in 2024.