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Tel Aviv-Based Cybersecurity Firm Dream Secures $100 Million in Funding, Valuation Hits $1.1 Billion
Israeli cybersecurity firm Dream has raised $100 million (€105 million) in a Series B funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.1 billion (€1.05 billion). The company, which specializes in AI-driven cyber defense solutions for governments, aims to detect and neutralize cyber threats before they materialize.
The funding round, announced on Monday, was led by Bain Capital Ventures, with additional backing from Group 11, Tru Arrow, Tau Capital, and Aleph. The fresh capital injection will accelerate the company’s expansion into new markets and enhance the development of its Cyber Language Model (CLM), a next-generation AI tool designed to counter evolving cyber threats.
Cybersecurity in an Age of Increasing Threats
Founded in January 2023, Dream has quickly established itself as a key player in the cybersecurity sector, particularly in government and national security contracts. In 2024 alone, the company generated more than $130 million (€124 million) in sales to governments and national cybersecurity organizations.
Sebastian Kurz, co-founder and President of Dream, emphasized the urgency of robust cyber defense strategies.
“Sophisticated cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure are increasing in both prevalence and complexity,” Kurz said in a statement.
“During my time as Prime Minister, I saw firsthand how these attacks can cause real human damage and have the potential to disrupt entire societies. By founding Dream, we are on a mission to empower nations against what I believe is the defining national security threat of our era.”
Kurz, the former Austrian Chancellor, founded Dream alongside entrepreneur Shalev Hulio and cyber expert Gil Dolev. The venture marks a major shift in Kurz’s career, following his resignation from government in 2021 amid corruption allegations.
A New Chapter for Sebastian Kurz
Kurz stepped down as Austria’s Chancellor in 2021 after facing accusations of misusing public funds for favorable media coverage. In February 2024, he was found guilty of lying under oath to parliament and received an eight-month suspended sentence. Kurz has called the ruling “very unfair” and has since launched an appeal.
Despite his controversial political exit, Kurz has rebranded himself in the tech and cybersecurity industry, leveraging his experience in governance to address national security threats in the digital age.
The Growing Demand for AI-Driven Cyber Defense
With cybercriminals increasingly deploying AI-powered attacks, experts stress that AI-based defenses are essential to counter deepfake scams, phishing campaigns, and sophisticated cyber espionage.
According to industry data cited by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the total cost of cybercrime has skyrocketed from $3 trillion (€2.9 trillion) in 2015 to $6 trillion (€5.7 trillion) in 2021. Analysts predict this figure will soar to $15.6 trillion (€14.9 trillion) by 2029.
The cybersecurity market is expanding in response. A McKinsey report estimates that global spending on cybersecurity products and services reached approximately $200 billion (€191 billion) in 2024.
Dream’s latest funding round will also bring in new board members, including Enrique Salem of Bain Capital Ventures and Shlomo Yanai, a board member at Philip Morris. They will join existing board members Dovi Frances, Michael Eisenberg, and Dream’s founding team.
As the AI arms race in cyber warfare intensifies, Dream aims to position itself as a key player in protecting national security interests worldwide.
News
Putin Announces Temporary Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to mark the Easter holiday, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin on Saturday. The truce, described as a humanitarian gesture, will be in effect from 6:00 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight on Sunday (2100 GMT), following Orthodox Easter celebrations.
“Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order that all military actions be stopped for this period,” President Putin was quoted as saying during a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The announcement was made through the Kremlin’s official press service.
Putin expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate the gesture. “We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example,” he said, while also instructing Russian troops to remain vigilant. “At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions.”
So far, there has been no official response from Kyiv regarding the proposed ceasefire. Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm whether they will observe the temporary truce.
The ceasefire announcement came on the same day Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed a military gain near the Ukraine border. Russian forces reportedly captured the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region — one of the last Ukrainian footholds in that area, according to the ministry. However, the Associated Press noted that it could not independently verify the claim, and Ukrainian authorities have not issued a statement in response.
The announcement of the truce arrives amid continued hostilities in eastern and southern Ukraine, with both sides engaged in intense fighting despite periodic calls for peace. Previous attempts at temporary ceasefires, including those tied to religious holidays, have often failed to hold due to mutual accusations of violations.
The Kremlin’s move appears to be an attempt to frame Russia’s actions as being guided by humanitarian motives, possibly aimed at improving its international image during a deeply entrenched conflict. Nonetheless, observers remain skeptical about the effectiveness or sincerity of such temporary measures without a broader agreement in place.
The Orthodox Easter, a significant religious holiday in both Russia and Ukraine, is often seen as an opportunity for brief moments of reflection and reprieve from conflict. Whether this latest ceasefire will bring any tangible pause to the violence remains uncertain.
News
US and Ukraine Sign Memorandum Paving Way for Controversial Mineral Deal
Ukraine and the United States have signed a preliminary memorandum of intent aimed at finalizing a far-reaching economic partnership and reconstruction investment fund focused on mineral exploitation. The document, seen by Euronews, marks a significant step toward what could be a landmark agreement shaping Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery.
The memorandum, signed on Thursday by Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, sets the stage for high-level negotiations in Washington between April 21 and 26. According to the document, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will travel to Washington during that week to lend political backing to the final round of technical discussions.
The goal is to conclude talks by April 26 and sign the agreement shortly afterward. “Negotiating teams are expected to report on progress by April 26, 2025, with the aim of completing discussions by that date and signing as soon as possible,” the document reads.
The proposed agreement is not without controversy. It outlines the creation of a joint investment fund that would give the US considerable influence over Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and natural resources. The fund’s board would be made up of five members—three appointed by the US and two by Ukraine—effectively granting Washington veto power over major decisions.
Under the deal, Ukraine would be required to submit all major infrastructure and resource projects—including those involving roads, ports, railways, and mineral extraction—to the fund for approval. If rejected, Kyiv would be barred from offering the same projects to other countries under more favorable terms.
Furthermore, the US would receive all profits generated by the fund and a 4% annual return until the total military and financial assistance—estimated at €114 billion by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy—is repaid. This “payback” structure has been championed by former President Donald Trump, who remains a key figure in ongoing US foreign policy despite current tensions with Ukrainian leadership.
The agreement also notes potential legal conflicts with Ukraine’s EU accession obligations and international financial commitments. However, the US pledged not to interfere in those matters. “The United States respects Ukraine’s intention to avoid conflicts in the drafting of the agreement with Ukraine’s obligations under European Union accession,” the document states.
The deal comes amid growing tensions between the US and Ukraine. Relations have deteriorated since Trump initiated backchannel talks with Russian officials to end the war, reportedly excluding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the process. A heated Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in February only deepened the rift.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Paris this week to consult with European allies. Speaking to reporters Friday, Rubio warned that Washington could pull out of peace negotiations if no meaningful progress is achieved soon.
As talks in Washington approach, the proposed investment fund is expected to dominate headlines—and draw scrutiny over its implications for Ukraine’s sovereignty and economic independence.
News
Biden Blasts Trump Over Social Security Cuts in First Major Post-Presidency Speech
In his first major public address since leaving office, former U.S. President Joe Biden launched a scathing critique of his successor, accusing President Donald Trump of dismantling the nation’s welfare system and putting millions of Americans at risk.
Speaking at a disability rights event in Chicago on Tuesday, Biden, 82, took aim at recent developments within the Social Security Administration (SSA), which provides vital benefits to over 70 million Americans. He warned that job cuts and funding reductions under Trump’s leadership could severely disrupt the delivery of services to some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
“In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It’s kind of breathtaking,” Biden told the audience. “Social Security deserves to be protected for the good of the nation as a whole.”
Biden accused Trump of taking “a hatchet” to the country’s welfare safety net in a bid to slash federal spending. Though Trump has repeatedly vowed not to cut Social Security benefits, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unofficial agency aligned with the administration, plans to eliminate 7,000 jobs from the SSA.
The plan is being overseen by DOGE head and Trump ally Elon Musk, who has controversially called Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” The proposed staffing cuts have sparked widespread concern that benefit payments may be delayed or disrupted due to reduced agency capacity.
Already, thousands of SSA employees have departed the agency, leading to reports of website crashes and unresponsive customer service lines. Biden said such dysfunction could lead to “a calamity for millions of families” who rely on timely benefits.
Criticizing the speed and aggression of Trump’s budget cuts, Biden remarked that the administration is “shooting first and aiming later.” He emphasized the long-standing bipartisan consensus that Social Security should remain untouched, calling its preservation a moral obligation.
In response to Biden’s remarks, the Trump administration accused the former president of spreading misinformation. “He’s lying to Americans,” a White House spokesperson said.
Jason Turkish, a prominent disability lawyer based in Michigan who represents 32,000 clients, echoed Biden’s concerns. “There’s always been a belief that Social Security is just something we do not touch,” he said. “But now, people are genuinely worried.”
Since leaving office earlier this year, Biden has largely remained out of the political spotlight, aside from occasional public appearances. He was recently seen attending the opening night of Othello on Broadway and frequently commutes between his Delaware home and his Washington, D.C., office.
Tuesday’s address marks a return to the national stage for Biden and signals his growing concern over the direction of domestic policy under the Trump administration.
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