Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI: Ready Capital Corporation Declares First Quarter 2025 Dividends

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE:RC) (the “Company”) announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share of common stock and Operating Partnership unit for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. This dividend is payable on July 31, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2025.

    Additionally, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends on its 6.25% Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), and its 6.50% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series E Preferred Stock”).

    The Company declared a dividend of $0.390625 per share of Series C Preferred Stock payable on July 15, 2025, to Series C Preferred stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2025.

    The Company declared a dividend of $0.40625 per share of Series E Preferred Stock payable on July 31, 2025, to Series E Preferred stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2025.

    About Ready Capital Corporation

    Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) is a multi-strategy real estate finance company that originates, acquires, finances and services lower-to-middle-market investor and owner occupied commercial real estate loans. The Company specializes in loans backed by commercial real estate, including agency multifamily, investor, construction, and bridge as well as U.S. Small Business Administration loans under its Section 7(a) program. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company employs approximately 500 professionals nationwide.

    Contact

    Investor Relations
    212-257-4666
    InvestorRelations@readycapital.com 

    Media Relations
    PR@readycapital.com 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Franklin Electric Announces Repurchase of Company Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT WAYNE, Ind., June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: FELE) is pleased to announce the successful completion of a stock purchase transaction involving shares held within the Patricia Schaefer Settlement Trust, a trust established by the late Patricia Schaefer. The purchase transaction involved the acquisition of 1,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price equal to $86.78 per share, which was the volume-weighted average price of the stock on NASDAQ for the five trading days preceding today’s closing.

    Joe Ruzynski, Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Electric, commented on the transaction, stating, “We were saddened to learn of the passing of Patricia Schaefer, a pillar of her community and the daughter of our founder. As we had the option to repurchase shares, we were pleased to be able to provide a source of liquidity for Ms. Schaefer’s estate to satisfy its tax obligations. This purchase also reflects our confidence in Franklin Electric’s strong balance sheet, cash flow generation, our strategic plans, and our future. We are proud to demonstrate our belief in the company’s enduring prospects while simultaneously supporting the needs of the Schaefer estate.”

    In connection with the purchase transaction, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase to the Company’s share repurchase authorization of 1,200,000 shares of common stock, such that after the transaction described herein, the Company will continue to be authorized to repurchase up to an aggregate 1,126,635 shares of its common stock.

    About Franklin Electric
    Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers worldwide in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be recognized in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024, Most Trustworthy Companies 2024, and Greenest Companies 2025; Best Places to Work in Indiana 2024; and America’s Climate Leaders 2024 by USA Today.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases, raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    Contact: Russ Fleeger
      Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
      260.824.2900

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Orezone Announces Results of Meeting of Shareholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE, OTCQX: ORZCF) (the “Company” or “Orezone”) reports that all resolutions from the Company’s annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on June 12, 2025 (the “Meeting”) were approved with 62.76% of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company represented at the Meeting.

    Detailed voting results for the election of directors are as follows:

    Nominee For % For Against % Against
    Julian Babarczy 311,422,274 99.63% 1,143,461 0.37%
    Joe Conway 307,958,117 98.53% 4,607,618 1.47%
    Patrick Downey 311,751,459 99.74% 814,276 0.26%
    Rob Doyle 312,507,445 99.98% 58,290 0.02%
    Kate Harcourt 312,332,268 99.93% 233,467 0.07%
    Sean Harvey 312,155,498 99.87% 410,237 0.13%
    Tara Hassan 312,008,591 99.82% 557,144 0.18%
             

    Additional matters approved at the Meeting are as follows:

    • The number of directors was fixed at seven.
    • The Company’s stock option plan, as required by the TSX every three years, was reapproved.
    • Deloitte LLP was appointed as auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, and the board of directors was authorized to fix their remuneration.

    The “Report of Voting Results”, which is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ and on the Company’s website, discloses the detailed voting results for the above resolutions. For additional details, please also see the Management Information Circular of the Company dated May 9, 2025.

    About Orezone Gold Corporation

    Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE OTCQX: ORZCF) is a West African gold producer engaged in mining, developing, and exploring its 90%-owned flagship Bomboré Gold Mine in Burkina Faso. The Bomboré mine achieved commercial production on its oxide operations on December 1, 2022, and is now focused on its staged hard rock expansion that is expected to materially increase annual and life-of-mine gold production from the processing of hard rock mineral reserves. Orezone is led by an experienced team focused on social responsibility and sustainability with a proven track record in project construction and operations, financings, capital markets, and M&A.  

    The technical report entitled Bomboré Phase II Expansion, Definitive Feasibility Study is available on SEDAR+ and the Company’s website.

    Contact Information

    Patrick Downey
    President and Chief Executive Officer

    Kevin MacKenzie
    Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

    Tel: 1 778 945 8977
    info@orezone.com / www.orezone.com

    For further information please contact Orezone at +1 (778) 945 8977 or visit the Company’s website at www.orezone.com.

    The Toronto Stock Exchange neither approves nor disapproves the information contained in this news release.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Monolithic Power Systems Announces Second Quarter 2025 Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KIRKLAND, Wash., June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: MPWR), a global company that provides high-performance, semiconductor-based power electronics solutions, announced today its second quarter dividend of $1.56 per common share to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2025. The dividend will be paid on July 15, 2025.

    Safe Harbor Statement 
    This news release includes “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and industry, management’s beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “believes,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” or “continue,” and similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words. All such statements are subject to certain risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including those described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Qs, and in other documents that we file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially and adversely from those projected, and may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, MPS does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the initial distribution of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

    About Monolithic Power Systems
    Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. (“MPS”) is a fabless global company that provides high-performance, semiconductor-based power electronics solutions. MPS’s mission is to reduce energy and material consumption to improve all aspects of quality of life and create a sustainable future. Founded in 1997 by our CEO Michael Hsing, MPS has three core strengths: deep system-level knowledge, strong semiconductor design expertise, and innovative proprietary technologies in the areas of semiconductor processes, system integration, and packaging. These combined advantages enable MPS to deliver reliable, compact, and monolithic solutions that are highly energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible while providing a consistent return on investment to our stockholders. MPS can be contacted through its website at www.monolithicpower.com or its support offices around the world.

    ###

    Monolithic Power Systems, MPS, and the MPS logo are registered trademarks of Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and trademarked in certain other countries.

    Contact:
    Bernie Blegen
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    408-826-0777
    MPSInvestor.Relations@monolithicpower.com 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Safe Harbor Financial CEO Terry Mendez to Serve as “Shark” during Conscious Capitalist Sessions at Psychedelic Science 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHF Holdings, Inc., d/b/a Safe Harbor Financial (Nasdaq: SHFS) (“Safe Harbor” or the “Company”), a fintech leader facilitating financial services and credit facilities for the regulated cannabis industry, announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Terry Mendez, will serve as a featured “Conscious Capitalist” at Psychedelic Science 2025 (PS2025). The Conscious Capitalism Workshop will be held on Monday, June 16, 2025, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

    Hosted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), PS2025 is the world’s largest psychedelic conference, convening entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, healers, policymakers, and Indigenous knowledge-keepers from around the globe.

    The Conscious Capitalism Workshop—informally dubbed the “Shark Tank” of PS2025—prioritizes mentorship over competition, offering an interactive platform where mission-driven startups pitch visionary ideas to a panel of impact investors and advisors. As one of the featured “Sharks,” Mendez will offer real-time feedback to participants, sharing insight on values-based business building in complex, regulated sectors.

    “As someone who’s spent a career working to build trust-based financial systems in challenging markets, I’m honored to participate in this movement,” said Mendez. “This event isn’t about judging ideas—it’s about uplifting bold entrepreneurs and giving them an opportunity to turn transformative visions into sustainable business models.”

    Mendez became CEO in early 2025, bringing deep experience in cannabis, finance, and business transformation. Since then, Safe Harbor has started to evolve beyond banking to provide cannabis businesses nationwide with the financial guidance, services, and support they need to succeed.

    Mendez added, “Our goal is simple: to give operators access to focused expertise and solutions at a cost they can afford — eliminating unnecessary overhead while improving clarity, cost control, and operational efficiency.”

    About Safe Harbor: 
    Safe Harbor is among the first service providers to offer compliance, monitoring and validation services to financial institutions that provide traditional banking services to cannabis, hemp, CBD and ancillary operators, making communities safer, driving growth in local economies and fostering long-term partnerships. Safe Harbor, through its financial institution clients, implements high standards of accountability, transparency, monitoring, reporting and risk mitigation measures while meeting Bank Secrecy Act obligations in line with FinCEN guidance on cannabis-related businesses. Over the past decade, Safe Harbor has facilitated more than $25 billion in deposit transactions for businesses with operations spanning more than 41 states and US territories with regulated cannabis markets. For more information, visit https://shfinancial.org/.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
    Certain information contained in this press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included herein may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to trends in the cannabis industry, including proposed changes in U.S and state laws, rules, regulations and guidance relating to Safe Harbor’s services; Safe Harbor’s growth prospects and Safe Harbor’s market size; Safe Harbor’s projected financial and operational performance, including relative to its competitors and historical performance; success or viability of new product and service offerings Safe Harbor may introduce in the future; the impact volatility in the capital markets, which may adversely affect the price of Safe Harbor’s securities; the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may be brought by or against Safe Harbor; and other statements regarding Safe Harbor’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “outlook,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Safe Harbor’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Safe Harbor undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

    Safe Harbor Investor Relations Contact: 
    ir@SHFinancial.org

    Safe Harbor Media Relations Contact:
    Ellen Mellody
    570-209-2947
    safeharbor@kcsa.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Wintrust Financial Corporation Announces Redemption of All Outstanding Series D and Series E Preferred Stock and Related Depositary Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROSEMONT, Ill., June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wintrust Financial Corporation (“Wintrust”) (Nasdaq: WTFC) today announced that on July 15, 2025 it will redeem (i) all of the 5,000,000 issued and outstanding shares of its Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D (the “Series D Preferred Stock”) (Nasdaq: WTFCM), for a redemption price of $25.00 per share, and (ii) all of the 11,500 issued and outstanding shares of its 6.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E (the “Series E Preferred Stock”), and all of the related 11,500,000 issued and outstanding depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”) (Nasdaq: WTFCP), each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of Series E Preferred Stock, for a redemption price of $25,000 per share of Series E Preferred Stock (or $25.00 per Depositary Share). The redemptions will be funded with a portion of the net proceeds from Wintrust’s previously disclosed public offering of depositary shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of its 7.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series F, which was completed on May 22, 2025.

    The Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock (and related Depositary Shares) will be redeemed on the upcoming dividend payment date of July 15, 2025 (the “Redemption Date”). On and after the Redemption Date, no shares of Series D Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares will remain outstanding, and trading of the Series D Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares on the NASDAQ Stock Market will also cease.

    The regular quarterly dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock and the Series E Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares will be paid separately on the Redemption Date to holders of record on July 1, 2025 for such dividend payment in the customary manner. Accordingly, the redemption price will not include any accrued and unpaid dividends. On and after the Redemption Date, all dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock (and related Depositary Shares) will cease to accrue.

    The Series D Preferred Stock and the Depositary Shares are held only in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and will be redeemed in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. Payment to DTC for the Series D Preferred Stock will be made by Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as redemption agent for the Series D Preferred Stock (the “Redemption Agent”). The address for the Redemption Agent is as follows:

    Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
    28 Liberty Street, 53rd Floor
    New York, NY 10005

    Payment to DTC for the Depositary Shares will be made by U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as depositary (the “Depositary”), in accordance with the deposit agreement governing the Depositary Shares. The address for the Depositary is as follows:

    U.S. Bank Global Corporate Trust
    111 Fillmore Ave E
    St. Paul, MN 55107

    Investors in the Series D Preferred Stock and the Depositary Shares should contact the bank or broker through which they hold a beneficial interest in the Series D Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares, as applicable, for information about obtaining the redemption price payment for the shares of Series D Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares, as applicable, in which they have a beneficial interest.

    About Wintrust

    Wintrust is a financial holding company whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Guided by its “Different Approach, Better Results” philosophy, Wintrust offers the sophisticated resources of a large bank while providing a community banking experience to each customer. Wintrust operates more than 200 retail banking locations through 16 community bank subsidiaries in the greater Chicago, southern Wisconsin, west Michigan, northwest Indiana, and southwest Florida market areas. In addition, Wintrust operates various non-bank business units, providing residential mortgage origination, wealth management, commercial and life insurance premium financing, short-term accounts receivable financing/outsourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, and qualified intermediary services for tax-deferred exchanges.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and certain assumptions made by our management. Investors are cautioned that such statements are predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. Wintrust’s expected financial results or other plans, including Wintrust’s intention to redeem the outstanding shares of the Series D Preferred Stock, the Series E Preferred Stock and the Depositary Shares, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Wintrust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and any of Wintrust’s subsequent SEC filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and, except as required by law, Wintrust undertakes no duty to update the information.

    For more information contact:
    Timothy S. Crane, President & Chief Executive Officer
    David A. Dykstra, Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer
    (847) 939-9000

    Source: Wintrust Financial Corporation

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Massachusetts Attorney Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

    Source: US State of California

    A Massachusetts man and a former attorney pleaded guilty today to evading his taxes.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: until 2020, Paul Anthony Conte, of Upton, Massachusetts, was an attorney and member of the Massachusetts Bar.  From approximately January 2003 through at least 2020, through several companies, Conte earned income by offering services as a taxation, investments, and real estate specialist.

    Yet, from at least 2016 through 2020, Conte did not file any tax returns either for himself or his companies. Conte also attempted to conceal his income from the IRS by using his business bank accounts to pay for his personal expenses, including purchasing auto parts, guns, jewelry, and powersports vehicles. Conte further concealed his income by transferring funds from his business entities to his wife, and then using his wife’s bank accounts, in which Conte was not a signatory until 2020, to pay his personal expenses. 

    Conte is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney for Criminal Matters Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Catriona Coppler and Assistant Chief Jorge Almonte of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni chairs video conference meeting on military escalation in the Middle East

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, chaired a video conference meeting earlier today to assess the consequences of the military escalation in the Middle East. The meeting was also attended by Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers Matteo Salvini, Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, Undersecretaries of State Alfredo Mantovano and Giovanbattista Fazzolari, and the heads of Italy’s intelligence services. 

    During the meeting, the IAEA reports finding Iran in violation of its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons were noted with concern.

    In this context, full support was reaffirmed for the negotiations between the United States and Iran regarding an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, as shown by the two rounds of negotiations held in Rome, and it was stressed that a diplomatic solution must remain the top priority. 

    The Italian Government will continue to work with all partners to support a de-escalation and to best ensure the safety of Italian citizens and military personnel in the region.

    Constant coordination is to be carried out to ensure continuous monitoring of the situation, allowing for the necessary measures to be adopted at any time.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Massachusetts Attorney Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Massachusetts man and a former attorney pleaded guilty today to evading his taxes.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: until 2020, Paul Anthony Conte, of Upton, Massachusetts, was an attorney and member of the Massachusetts Bar.  From approximately January 2003 through at least 2020, through several companies, Conte earned income by offering services as a taxation, investments, and real estate specialist.

    Yet, from at least 2016 through 2020, Conte did not file any tax returns either for himself or his companies. Conte also attempted to conceal his income from the IRS by using his business bank accounts to pay for his personal expenses, including purchasing auto parts, guns, jewelry, and powersports vehicles. Conte further concealed his income by transferring funds from his business entities to his wife, and then using his wife’s bank accounts, in which Conte was not a signatory until 2020, to pay his personal expenses. 

    Conte is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney for Criminal Matters Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Catriona Coppler and Assistant Chief Jorge Almonte of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Houston American Energy Corp. Provides Response to Unusual Market Action

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, TX, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Houston American Energy Corp. (NYSE American: HUSA) (“HUSA” or the “Company”) announced today that the Company had become aware of unusual trading activity in its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange American (the “NYSE”) on June 12 and June 13, 2025. The Company is issuing this press release pursuant to Section 401(d) of the NYSE Company Guide. The Company has made inquiries and has been unable to determine whether corrective actions are appropriate at this time. The Company is further announcing that there has been no material development in its business and affairs not previously disclosed or, to its knowledge, any other reason to account for the unusual market action.

    About HUSA

    HUSA is an independent oil and gas company focused on the development, exploration, exploitation, acquisition, and production of natural gas and crude oil properties. Our principal properties and operations are in the U.S. Permian Basin. Additionally, we have properties in the Louisiana U.S. Gulf Coast region. For more information, please visit: https://houstonamerican.com/

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of, and subject to the safe harbor created by, Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are referred to as the “safe harbor provisions.” Statements contained or incorporated by reference in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding HUSA’s or AGIG’s business and future financial and operating results, and other aspects of HUSA’s or AGIG’s operations or operating results. Words such as “may,” “should,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “project,” and similar phrases that denote future expectations or intent regarding HUSA’s or AGIG’s financial results, operations, and other matters are intended to identify forward-looking statements that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions. Investors are cautioned not to rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release including:

      risks relating to fluctuations of the market value of common stock, including as a result of uncertainty as to the long-term value of the common stock of HUSA or as a result of broader stock market movements;
      the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Share Exchange Agreement;
      failure to attract, motivate and retain executives and other key employees;
      disruptions in the business of HUSA or AGIG, which could have an adverse effect on their respective businesses and financial results;
      the unaudited pro forma combined consolidated financial information in the proxy statement is presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be reflective of the operating results and financial condition of the combination of HUSA and AGIG; and
      other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the proxy statement, as well as HUSA’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents filed by HUSA from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

    The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. HUSA does not undertake to update, alter, or revise any forward-looking statements made in this report to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

    For additional information, view the company’s website at www.houstonamerican.com or contact Houston American Energy Corp. at (713) 222-6966. 

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor, Trade Representative seek review of alleged denial of rights at steel pipe manufacturer in Mexico

    Source: US Department of Labor

    WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement requested that the government of Mexico review an alleged denial of workers’ rights at Tubos de Acero de Mexico S.A., a manufacturer of seamless steel pipe located in Veracruz, Mexico.

    The U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Trade Representative co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee. 

    The request follows a May 14, 2025, petition filed by SINAIN, a Mexican union.

    Filed under the USMCA’s Rapid Response Mechanism, the petition alleges that the company is systematically denying SINAIN members their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining through acts of anti-union discrimination and interference with union activity.

    After the Interagency Labor Committee found sufficient and credible evidence supporting the petition’s allegations, the U.S. government submitted a request for Mexico to review the case using the RRM.

    The Mexican government has 10 days to decide whether to conduct a review and 45 days from today to investigate the claims and present its findings. 

    TAMSA is one of the world’s leading producers of seamless steel tubes for the oil and gas, automobile, and construction industries. It exports to more than 50 countries, including the U.S.

    Learn more about the department’s international work.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia Couple Arrested For Stealing More Than $1.7 Million Dollars In COVID Relief Funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the indictment and arrests of Earlisha Louis (44, Newnan, Georgia) and Somoza Louis (44, Newnan, Georgia) for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. If convicted, each faces up to 30 years in federal prison on each count. Earlisha Louis is also charged with two counts of illegal monetary transactions. Each of those counts carry a maximum penalty of 3 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the pair that the United States intends to forfeit a residence and $1,705,553.80, which are alleged to be traceable to the proceeds of the offense.

    According to the indictment, between April 2020 and June 2021, Earlisha and Somoza Louis devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting multiple false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. These programs were some of the sources of economic relief provided for by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. After receiving one of the loans, Earlisha Louis transferred more than $10,000 of the fraud proceeds between her accounts. 

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn E. Hoenemeyer.         

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by contacting the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: KGNCLOUD Introduces Zero Threshold Gold Mining for Crypto’s New Era

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NJ, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    The cryptocurrency market is undergoing a new round of explosive changes—Bitcoin has broken through the $100,000 mark, the US has relaxed regulations, and Russia has fully legalised mining. These monumental shifts are reshaping the global financial landscape. In response, cloud mining is increasingly recognized as a pivotal pathway for ordinary investors seeking entry into the market, offering compelling advantages such as zero hardware investment and freedom from ongoing operation and maintenance costs. The following key trends and strategies will help you seize the unique opportunities presented by this evolving digital economy.

    This period of explosive growth is not merely a fleeting surge but signals a profound maturation of the cryptocurrency sector, driven by emerging global forces. A “Global Vision: New Mining Forces in 2025” highlights critical developments:

    • Political Capital Entry: The Trump family and Hut 8 have jointly established American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC), with a Nasdaq listing countdown approaching. This strategic alignment predicts Bitcoin will exceed $170,000 in 2026, signaling significant mainstream validation.
    • Game Between Energy Countries: Russia is strategically leveraging the US mining machine tariff war to absorb global computing power, while Canada and Kazakhstan, with their low-electricity price areas, are becoming the primary power sources for the migration of mining sites, creating new hubs of digital asset production.

    At the heart of KGNCLOUD’s offering is its revolutionary Zero Threshold Digital Gold Mining initiative, embodying an inclusive solution designed to dismantle barriers to entry. This groundbreaking feature empowers users with:

    • Free Trial Mining: Register today to receive $100 in experience money, allowing users to verify KGNCLOUD’s profit model without any initial risk.
    • No Hardware/Electricity Pressure: The platform fully bears all operation and maintenance costs, ensuring users enjoy pure profit sharing, free from the burdens of significant hardware investment, energy consumption, or technical upkeep.
    • Flexible Withdrawal in Multiple Currencies: KGNCLOUD supports rapid withdrawals of 11 major cryptocurrencies, including USDT, BTC, and ETH, with funds credited to user accounts within a swift 5 minutes.

    “This is a transformative period for digital assets,” commented Joy Bennett, “The shift in market dynamics and regulatory landscapes creates unprecedented opportunities, making accessible solutions like cloud mining increasingly vital for broader participation. We are witnessing a convergence of mainstream finance and decentralized technology, opening doors that were previously unimaginable for stable digital asset accumulation.”

    The benefits of KGNCLOUD’s platform extend far beyond just eliminating hardware and operational costs. It significantly reduces investment risk, broadens accessibility to diverse demographics—from students and busy professionals to retirees—and offers a truly global reach. KGNCLOUD leverages secure, state-of-the-art infrastructure across geographically distributed data centers, ensuring operational resilience and transparent reporting. This robust framework guarantees reliable service and empowers users with real-time insights into their mining performance.

    Take the leading platform KGNCLOUD Mining as an example (the first user growth rate in 2025):

    Contract type Investment amount Cycle (days) Expected income
    Free experience $100 1 $100+$1
    Classic computing power (primary) $500 4 $500+$100
    Classic computing power (advanced) $1200 5 $1200+$240
    Smart miner $2800 6 $2800+$660
    Innovative mining machine $5580 7 $5580+$2506

    For more miner plans, please open the KGNCLOUD website to view.

    KGNCLOUD defines this as a “New Era of Cryptocurrency”—one focused on sustainability, mainstream adoption, and true financial inclusion, moving beyond mere speculative trading towards long-term wealth building. KGNCLOUD’s role in this era is not just as a service provider but as an educator and a trusted partner, committed to fostering an informed and confident community of digital asset holders, aligning with the evolving global forces.

    To empower investors with practical guidance in this dynamic landscape, KGNCLOUD offers a straightforward Action Guide: Start Cloud Mining in Three Steps:

    1. Registration: Simply visit the KGNCLOUD Mining official website to register and immediately receive your $100 trial mining gold.
    2. Choose Contract: Select an investment level that matches your goals, with options starting from just $100.
    3. Income: Monitor your panel data daily and initiate immediate cash withdrawals once your target profit is met.

    A Critical Policy Window Period Reminder: The looming Federal Reserve debt crisis, which stands at an staggering $37 trillion, may significantly accelerate the monetization process of Bitcoin reserves. This scenario positions early computing power layouters to capture substantial excess dividends, making informed and timely entry into cloud mining crucial for maximizing potential returns in this unprecedented economic climate.

    About KGNCLOUD

    KGNCLOUD is a visionary leader in global cloud mining services, dedicated to fostering a transparent, accessible, and secure environment for digital asset accumulation. Committed to innovation and user empowerment, KGNCLOUD provides state-of-the-art cloud mining solutions that enable individuals worldwide to participate confidently in the burgeoning cryptocurrency market, driving a new era of financial inclusion and digital wealth creation.

    Act now → KGNCLOUD Mining official website entry channel

    Name: Joy Bennett
    Email: info@kgncloud.com
    Website: http://www.kgncloud.com
    Address: Copper House 150 Neath Road, Landore, Swansea, Abertawe, Wales, SA1 2BD

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Payday Ventures is Leading as the Best No Credit Check Loans Platform with No Credit Check Loans Guaranteed Approval in 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Searching for the best no credit check loans online in 2025? You’re in the right place. When urgent expenses strike and your credit score isn’t where it should be, traditional banks often shut the door. That’s why more Americans are turning to no credit check loans with guaranteed approval alternatives — fast, flexible, and tailored for those with poor or limited credit history.

    Payday Ventures acts as a reliable online platform that connects borrowers with trusted lending partners across the U.S. With a simple, secure process, Payday Ventures helps you find loan offers that require no hard credit checks, offering quick access to funds when you need them most.

    We’ve done the digging and rounded up the top 5 no credit check loans online for 2025 — all accessible through trusted platforms like Payday Ventures. Let’s break them down.

    How Payday Ventures Stands Out As a Leading Marketplace in Providing Emergency Loans Guaranteed Approval & No Credit Check Required

    When bills stack up and traditional lenders shut the door, getting fast cash can seem impossible—especially if your credit score isn’t perfect. That’s why no credit check loans online in 2025 are gaining popularity, offering quick, hassle-free access to funds. Payday Ventures plays a crucial role as a trusted loan marketplace, connecting borrowers across the U.S. with reliable lenders who provide emergency loans with guaranteed approval and no credit check required.

    Unlike direct lenders that often reject applicants based on credit history, Payday Ventures doesn’t perform hard credit checks or issue loans themselves. Instead, it offers a streamlined way to compare multiple loan offers through a secure platform, making it easier to find no credit check loans with fast approval and minimal paperwork.

    Here’s why Payday Ventures stands out:

    • No hard credit checks – Soft inquiries only, so your credit score stays protected 
    • High approval rates – Even borrowers with poor or no credit can receive real offers 
    • Fast application process – Complete the online form in minutes and get matched instantly
    • Trusted network of lenders – Access a broad range of options in one place 
    • 24/7 availability – Apply anytime, from anywhere in the U.S. 

    From urgent car repairs to unexpected medical bills, Payday Ventures connects you to emergency loans that cut through the usual red tape. In 2025, it remains one of the best platforms for fast, flexible funding without credit score barriers.

    Skip the credit check, snag your cash quick>>

    Best Emergency Loans for Bad Credit with Guaranteed Approval in 2025

    Big Buck LoansBest for No Credit Check Loans Alternatives for Bad Credit Borrowers

    Why is It Tough to Get a Loan with Bad Credit?

    Getting approved for a loan when you have bad credit can feel like an uphill battle. This is because lenders use your credit score as a primary measure of your creditworthiness. A low credit score or negative credit history signals higher risk, making lenders cautious about approving your loan application.
    Traditional banks and direct lenders typically prefer borrowers with strong credit histories because they indicate a higher likelihood of timely repayments. If your credit report shows missed payments, defaults, or a high debt-to-income ratio, lenders often view you as a high-risk borrower. Consequently, they may reject your application outright or offer loans with steep interest rates and unfavorable terms.

    Moreover, many lenders rely on automated credit scoring systems that automatically filter out applications below a specific credit score threshold. This limits access to conventional loans for people with bad credit, forcing them to look for alternatives.

    That’s where bad credit loans and no credit check loans come into play. These loan options often don’t require a detailed credit check, allowing borrowers with poor credit histories to secure fast funding. Many lenders offering emergency loans with guaranteed approval focus more on your current income and ability to repay rather than your past credit mistakes.

    Platforms like Payday Ventures help borrowers explore these alternatives by connecting them with lenders specializing in loans for bad credit. This increases the chance of quick loan approval without the usual credit score barriers.

    Bad credit? No stress — get your loan fast>>

    Best No Credit Check Loan Lender that Provides Loan to Applicants with Bad Credit Scores by Payday Ventures

    Big Buck Loans

    Big Buck Loans is an online loan-matching service designed to help individuals quickly access short-term loans ranging from $100 to $5000, even with less-than-perfect credit. The platform offers a simple, 100% online application process with no paperwork, allowing users to receive funds in as little as 15 minutes to 24 hours after approval. With interest rates between 5.99% and 35.99% and repayment terms from 3 to 24 months, Big Buck Loans provides flexible options tailored to various financial needs. 
    The service is free to use, with no fees for applying or matching with lenders. Borrowers must be U.S. citizens or residents, at least 18 years old, have a bank account, earn a minimum of $1000 per month, and be able to afford the loan. The site emphasizes transparency, quick processing, and accessibility, positioning itself as a viable alternative to limited lending apps like Cash App. Additionally, Viva Payday Loans is mentioned as an alternative for those seeking payday or personal loans with similar loan ranges and terms.
    Pros:

    • Loans from $100 to $5,000
    • Fast online application with same-day approvals
    • Accepts applicants with poor credit
    • Funds can be deposited within 24 hours
    • No collateral required
    • Operates 24/7 for urgent financial needs

    Cons:

    • Only available in select states
    • Loan terms vary by lender, not standardized

    How is Payday Ventures Making it Possible to Provide Instant Payday Loans Online Guaranteed Approval Alternatives?

    When urgent cash needs arise, access to quick funds becomes crucial. However, traditional lenders often impose strict credit requirements and lengthy approval processes, leaving many borrowers stranded—especially those with poor credit. This is where Payday Ventures steps in, revolutionizing the way borrowers find instant payday loans online with guaranteed approval alternatives.

    Payday Ventures acts as a trusted loan marketplace rather than a direct lender. By partnering with a broad network of vetted lenders, it connects borrowers with multiple lending options tailored to their financial needs. This unique approach enables borrowers to bypass traditional credit checks and complicated paperwork, which are common roadblocks in securing fast loans.

    Here’s how Payday Ventures makes it possible:

    • Access to No Credit Check Loans: Payday Ventures specializes in linking borrowers to lenders who offer no credit check payday loans. This means applicants don’t have to worry about their credit history impacting approval, making it an ideal solution for people with bad or no credit.
    • Guaranteed Approval Alternatives: While no lender can guarantee approval outright, Payday Ventures improves your chances by presenting multiple loan offers instantly. This competitive selection increases the likelihood of finding a loan that fits your situation without the usual credit score barriers.
    • Instant Online Application: The platform’s streamlined online application process can be completed in minutes from any device, offering borrowers immediate access to loan offers without lengthy waits or in-person visits.
    • Wide Range of Loan Options: Whether you need a small payday advance or a larger emergency loan, Payday Ventures connects you with lenders offering flexible loan amounts, repayment terms, and competitive rates—all designed to meet diverse borrower needs.
    • Secure & Confidential Platform: Payday Ventures prioritizes user security and privacy, ensuring that your personal information is protected throughout the loan matching process.

    By focusing on speed, convenience, and inclusivity, Payday Ventures empowers borrowers across the U.S. to access instant payday loans online and other guaranteed approval loan alternatives—even when traditional banks say no.

    In 2025, Payday Ventures continues to be a leading marketplace for fast, reliable, and accessible payday loan solutions, making financial emergencies easier to manage with minimal hassle.

    No credit check required! Whether your credit’s good, bad, or somewhere in between, grab your loan today and breathe easy knowing cash is on the way!

    How to Apply for No Credit Check Loans Online for Bad Credit with Payday Ventures?

    Applying for no credit check loans online when you have bad credit can feel overwhelming—but Payday Ventures makes the process simple, fast, and secure. Here’s how you can get started and increase your chances of quick approval for loans designed for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit.

    Step 1: Visit Payday Ventures’ Website

    Start by heading to the Payday Ventures platform, a trusted marketplace that connects you with multiple lenders offering no credit check loans and loans for bad credit. The site is user-friendly and available 24/7, so you can apply whenever it’s convenient.

    Step 2: Complete the Online Application Form

    Fill out the short application form with basic personal and financial information. Payday Ventures uses this data to match you with lenders who specialize in bad credit loans and emergency loans with guaranteed approval. The process is quick—usually taking just a few minutes.

    Step 3: Review Loan Offers

    Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive multiple loan offers tailored to your profile. These offers often include instant payday loans online with flexible terms and no credit check requirements. Take your time to review interest rates, repayment periods, and loan amounts before making a decision.

    Step 4: Select the Best Loan Option

    Choose the loan that best fits your financial needs. Payday Ventures connects you directly to the lender, so you can finalize the loan agreement with confidence. Because the platform partners with a wide network of lenders, your chances of finding a suitable loan increase significantly—even with bad credit.

    Step 5: Get Funds Quickly

    After approval, funds are typically deposited into your bank account within 24 hours or less, depending on the lender. This fast turnaround makes Payday Ventures a reliable solution for urgent cash needs.

    Bad credit dragging you down? Forget the hassle of credit checks and get approved fast with funds sent right to your account>>

    Benefits of Using Payday Ventures for No Credit Check Loans Same Day Guaranteed Approval in 2025

    When fast cash is a must, finding reliable no credit check loans with same day guaranteed approval can make all the difference. Payday Ventures stands out as a premier online loan marketplace, helping borrowers across the U.S. access quick funding without the hassle of traditional credit checks. Here are the key benefits of using Payday Ventures in 2025:

    Fast Access to Emergency Cash

    Payday Ventures connects you to lenders offering same day payday loans online, so you can receive funds quickly—often within 24 hours. This speed is crucial when facing urgent expenses or financial emergencies.

    No Credit Check Required

    Unlike banks and direct lenders that perform hard credit inquiries, Payday Ventures specializes in linking you with lenders who offer no credit check loans. This means your credit history won’t hold you back, making it easier for borrowers with bad or no credit to get approved.

    Guaranteed Approval Alternatives

    While no lender can promise 100% approval, Payday Ventures increases your chances by presenting multiple loan options tailored to your financial profile. This marketplace approach offers guaranteed approval alternatives by matching you with lenders most likely to approve your application.

    Variety of Loan Options

    Whether you need a small payday loan or a larger emergency cash advance, Payday Ventures provides access to a broad range of loan amounts and terms. This flexibility lets you choose the best loan suited to your immediate financial needs.

    Simple and Secure Online Process

    Applying through Payday Ventures is quick, with a streamlined online application that takes just minutes to complete. The platform uses advanced security measures to keep your personal and financial information safe throughout the process.

    No Hidden Fees or Surprises

    Transparency is a priority—Payday Ventures ensures you can review loan terms clearly before accepting any offer. This helps avoid unexpected fees and gives you peace of mind.

    24/7 Availability

    Financial emergencies don’t follow a schedule. Payday Ventures allows you to apply for no credit check loans same day anytime, anywhere in the U.S., making it convenient and accessible.

    Don’t let bad credit stand between you and your goals. No credit checks here — just quick, easy loans ready when you are>>

    Eligibility Criteria for No Credit Check loans Same day Guaranteed Approval 

    Getting approved for no credit check loans same day guaranteed approval requires meeting certain basic eligibility criteria. While these loans are designed to be accessible—even for borrowers with bad or no credit—lenders and loan marketplaces like Payday Ventures still set minimum standards to ensure responsible lending. Here’s what you typically need to qualify in 2025:

    1. Age Requirement

    You must be at least 18 years old to apply for no credit check payday loans or any form of instant emergency loans online. Some lenders may require applicants to be 21 or older depending on state laws.

    2. Proof of Income

    Lenders need to verify that you have a stable source of income to ensure you can repay the loan. This can include regular employment, self-employment, government benefits, or other consistent income sources.

    3. Active Bank Account

    An active checking or savings account in your name is essential. Funds for your loan will typically be deposited directly into this account, and repayments are usually withdrawn automatically.

    4. U.S. Residency

    Most lenders require applicants to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Some may also accept those with valid work permits or other legal documentation.

    5. Valid Contact Information

    You must provide a working phone number and email address to facilitate communication during the application and loan approval process.

    6. Minimal Documentation

    Unlike traditional loans, no credit check loans usually require minimal paperwork. Basic identification (like a driver’s license or state ID) and proof of income are generally sufficient.

    Forget credit checks and long waits. Apply now, even with bad credit, and get a fast loan tailored to your budget and timeline>>

    Real Borrower Stories: How Payday Ventures Helped People Get No Credit Check Loans in 2025

    Payday Ventures isn’t just another online loan marketplace—it’s a platform that has helped thousands of real people across the U.S. secure emergency funding when traditional options failed them. Below are a few real-world examples and user testimonials that highlight how no credit check loans with same day approval through Payday Ventures made a difference.

    Case Study 1: Sarah – Freelance Designer from Arizona

    Sarah had just wrapped up a slow month with freelance clients when her car suddenly broke down. With bad credit and no savings to spare, she turned to Payday Ventures for help. Within minutes of submitting the simple online form, she was matched with multiple lenders offering instant payday loan alternatives with no credit check required.

    Loan Amount: $600
    Approval Time: Under 2 hours
    Credit Score: 510
    Outcome: Funds deposited same day

    “I didn’t think I’d qualify for anything with my credit, but Payday Ventures helped me find a lender fast—and no one even asked about my score.” – Sarah

    Case Study 2: Jason – Warehouse Worker in Georgia

    Jason was hit with an unexpected utility bill just days before payday. His credit history had taken a hit during the pandemic, so traditional loans were off the table. After searching online, he landed on Payday Ventures, known for connecting users with no credit check same-day loans. He completed the application on his phone during a break and had approval by the time he got home.

    Loan Amount: $350
    Approval Time: 1 hour
    Credit Score: 476
    Outcome: Bills paid, lights stayed on

    “It was easier than ordering pizza. Zero paperwork, no calls, just fast help when I needed it.” – Jason, GA

    Case Study 3: Mia – Part-Time Student in Illinois

    Mia needed to cover textbook costs and rent for the month. With limited income and no credit history, she struggled to find any loan options. A friend recommended Payday Ventures, which specializes in bad credit and no credit loan options with guaranteed approval alternatives. She was matched with a lender offering flexible repayment and a quick turnaround.

    Loan Amount: $500
    Approval Time: Same day
    Credit History: None
    Outcome: Covered expenses without parental help

    “It was my first time applying for a loan, and I was nervous. But it was simple and quick. No pressure, no surprises.” – Mia, IL

    Who needs credit checks when you’ve got No credit check loans? Bad credit is no barrier here — just quick, easy cash to keep you moving forward>>

    Important Considerations: Risks, Legal Notes & Responsible Borrowing Practices

    While no credit check loans with guaranteed approval can offer fast financial relief, it’s important to understand the risks and responsibilities involved before applying through platforms

    Risk Factors to Be Aware Of

    • Higher Interest Rates: Many bad credit loan alternatives come with higher APRs due to the lack of credit checks. Always review the total repayment amount before agreeing to any terms.
    • Short Repayment Windows: Most same day payday loan alternatives have shorter repayment periods, which can create additional stress if not managed properly.
    • Debt Cycle Risk: Repeated borrowing can lead to a cycle of debt. These loans are best used for genuine emergencies, not ongoing expenses.

    Legal Disclaimers You Should Know

    • Payday Ventures is not a lender: It does not issue loans or perform credit decisions. It simply connects users with a network of vetted third-party lenders.
    • Loan terms vary: Lenders in the Payday Ventures network may operate under different state regulations. Always read their terms, privacy policies, and legal notices before accepting an offer.
    • Availability may differ by state: Not all loan types or features are available in every U.S. state due to lending laws and caps on interest rates.

    Ethical Borrowing Guidelines

    • Borrow only what you need: Just because you qualify for a loan doesn’t mean you should take the full amount. Keep repayment manageable.
    • Be honest on your application: Providing accurate information ensures a smoother experience and helps avoid delays or denials.
    • Understand the full cost: Before accepting a loan offer, make sure you understand the APR, fees, and payment schedule.
    • Explore alternatives if possible: If you have access to community support, side gigs, or budget adjustments, consider those options before taking out a high-interest loan.

    Need cash but hate credit checks? Same here. That’s why we made loans that skip the fuss and deliver the funds fast>>

    Payday Ventures vs. Traditional Lenders: Why Same-Day No Credit Check Loans Are a Smarter Choice in 2025

    When comparing Payday Ventures to traditional banks or credit unions, the differences are clear—especially for borrowers with bad credit or no credit history who need fast, same-day loan alternatives without going through a credit check.

    1. Credit Check Requirements

    • Traditional Lenders: Always perform hard credit checks, which can impact your score and lead to rejections if you have poor credit.
    • Payday Ventures: Connects you with lenders who don’t require hard credit checks. Only soft inquiries are made, which do not affect your credit score.

    2. Speed & Accessibility

    • Traditional Lenders: Long application processes, in-person paperwork, and days of waiting.
    • Payday Ventures: Entirely online with a fast, secure form. Get matched with offers and funds deposited as soon as the same day.

    3. Approval Rates

    • Traditional Lenders: Strict approval criteria focused on credit score, employment history, and banking relationships.
    • Payday Ventures: Designed for high approval odds, even for those with bad credit or limited credit background.

    4. Application Process

    • Traditional Lenders: Involve multiple steps—appointments, documentation, and credit reports.
    • Payday Ventures: Just a few minutes to complete one form. No faxing, no paperwork, 100% online.

    5. Flexibility & Loan Variety

    • Traditional Lenders: May not offer small-dollar or short-term loans, especially to riskier applicants.
    • Payday Ventures: Gives you access to a network of lenders offering no credit check, same-day payday loan alternatives in various amounts and terms.

    Credit hurdles? Forget them! Step up, apply now, and watch your cash worries disappear — no credit check, no stress. Your loan, your way>>

    Conclusion: Why Payday Ventures is the Top Choice for No Credit Check, Same Day Loans in 2025

    In 2025, when fast access to cash matters more than ever and credit scores can still hold borrowers back, Payday Ventures stands out as a trusted solution for no credit check loans with same-day guaranteed approval alternatives.

    Unlike traditional lenders that rely heavily on rigid credit assessments, Payday Ventures connects users with a broad network of vetted lenders willing to offer emergency loans without requiring hard credit checks. Its 100% online platform is fast, secure, and built for convenience, allowing borrowers to submit one quick form and receive multiple loan offers, often within minutes.

    Whether you’re dealing with an unexpected expense, temporary cash shortfall, or simply need bad credit payday loan alternatives, Payday Ventures makes the process simple, transparent, and judgment-free. With high approval odds, flexible loan options, and same-day funding possibilities, it remains one of the most reliable choices for no credit check loans online in the U.S. today.

    If you’re looking for fast, flexible, and credit-friendly financing, Payday Ventures is the go-to marketplace to explore your options — without the wait, stress, or score penalties.

    FAQs Regarding No Credit Check Loans with Same-Day Guaranteed Approval in 2025

    Does it cost anything to apply through Payday Ventures?

    No, applying through Payday Ventures is completely free. There are no hidden fees or application charges to use the platform. You simply fill out one secure online form, and Payday Ventures connects you with multiple no credit check loan options instantly.

    How fast can I get money from a no-credit-check loan?

    With Payday Ventures, borrowers can receive funds as soon as the same day if approved. The application process is quick—usually under 5 minutes—and once you accept an offer from a lender, the money is typically deposited within 24 hours.

    What are the best loan providers for bad credit with guaranteed approval?

    Payday Ventures works with a trusted network of lenders (Big Buck Loans) who specialize in bad credit loans, no credit check payday loan alternatives, and guaranteed approval options. Instead of searching lender by lender, Payday Ventures lets you compare multiple offers in one place—increasing your chances of getting approved quickly.

    How fast can I get a bad credit loan through Payday Ventures?

    Very fast. Most users receive loan offers within minutes of submitting their application. Once approved, funds are commonly transferred on the same business day, depending on the lender and your bank’s processing speed.

    Are these no credit check loans safe and legitimate?

    Yes. Payday Ventures partners only with vetted, reputable lenders in the U.S like Big Buck Loans. The site uses bank-level encryption to keep your personal information secure and ensures that you are only connected with legal and compliant lenders offering no credit check loan alternatives.

    Can I use a loan from Payday Ventures to pay off other debt?

    Absolutely. Borrowers often use these loans for debt consolidation, overdue bills, or other personal expenses. While Payday Ventures doesn’t dictate how you use the funds, many choose it to bridge gaps in cash flow or reduce high-interest debt.

    What’s the typical APR on bad-credit personal loans?

    APR can vary based on the lender, loan amount, and repayment term. However, by using Payday Ventures, you can easily compare multiple loan offers side-by-side and choose the one with the most favorable rates—even if you have bad or no credit.

    Who qualifies for no-credit-check loans?

    Most U.S. adults qualify as long as they are 18+, have a steady income, and possess an active checking account. Payday Ventures doesn’t require a credit score, making it one of the best platforms for those seeking no credit check loans online in 2025.

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Qatar Warns of Dangers of Israeli Violations on International Peace and Security

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Vienna, June 13

    The State of Qatar has reiterated its strong condemnation and deep denunciation of the Israeli attack that targeted the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing it as a blatant violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security at a time when countries around the world are striving to reach diplomatic solutions to restore peace to the Middle East.

    This came in Qatar’s statement delivered by HE Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna Jassim Yaqoub Al Hammadi before the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), during discussions on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Israeli nuclear file.

    His Excellency called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities to urgently stop Israeli violations before it is too late, warning of their grave consequences for the region, particularly the destruction of prospects for peace and the endangerment of the people of the region as well as regional and global security.

    He further urged the international community and its organizations to pressure Israel, the occupying power, to immediately end its campaign of genocide against unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip, its use of food as a weapon, and its ongoing military operations and settlement projects in the occupied West Bank.

    His Excellency reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s firm and unwavering position in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the right to establish an independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also noted that Qatar continues its mediation efforts alongside the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America to reach a permanent ceasefire and create conditions conducive to launching serious negotiations toward achieving a two-state solution.

    Regarding Israel’s nuclear capabilities, His Excellency emphasized the need for the international community and its institutions to fulfill their commitments under United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, as well as IAEA decisions and the 1995 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference resolution, all of which call on Israel to subject its entire nuclear program to the Agency’s comprehensive safeguards system and to join the NPT as a non-nuclear state.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Finland commits EUR 2.5 million to new phase of EIF support for sustainable trade in LDCs

    Source: World Trade Organization

    In May, the EIF Steering Committee endorsed a recommendation by the EIF Taskforce for a third phase of the initiative, to run up to 2031 in support of the UN Doha Programme of Action for LDCs.

    Designed to provide catalytic and transformative support to LDCs, the EIF’s Phase Three will also be presented at a high-level side event on 30 June co-organized by Finland, Djibouti and the EIF Executive Secretariat as part of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, Spain.

    H.E. Mr Ville Tavio, Finland`s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, said: “Finland sees the next phase of the EIF as an investment in the potential of the world’s least-developed countries to harness trade for sustainable growth. As preparations for Phase Three advance, we hope this contribution will help generate momentum and encourage continued international support for this important initiative — by old and new donors. We look forward to co-hosting discussions in Seville that will help shape a more inclusive and resilient global trading system.”

    WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the announcement, saying: “Finland`s early support for Phase Three of the EIF comes at a critical juncture for trade, aid, and development. LDCs need stable and predictable support to strengthen their trade capacities and navigate today`s uncertainties and opportunities. Finland’s leadership will help lay the foundation for an even more impactful phase of EIF work. We deeply value Finland`s continued commitment to inclusive development through trade and encourage other partners to join this initiative.”

    EIF Executive Director Ratnakar Adhikari said: “Finland’s generous and timely pledge of EUR 2.5 million marks an important step toward launching the next phase of the EIF. This contribution reflects Finland’s continued engagement with the EIF and underscores the kind of partnership that has been central to the programme’s success. It strengthens our ability to deliver targeted support as we move into Phase Three.”

    Since its inception, the EIF has been the only global Aid for Trade programme exclusively dedicated to helping least-developed countries use trade as a tool for economic transformation. Phase Three will build on the previous phases, continuing efforts to support LDCs in their integration into the global trading system.

    More information on the EIF is available here.

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    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Banking: The WTO welcomes students to 23rd John H. Jackson Moot Court Finals

    Source: World Trade Organization

    The John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition is a simulated hearing under the rules of the WTO dispute settlement system involving exchanges of written submissions and adversarial hearings before panelists on international trade law issues. The competition is organized by the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA). The WTO has been a technical supporter of the competition since its inception in 2002.

    This year, 65 student teams from 35 WTO members competed in the Regional Rounds, including South and West Asia, East Asia and Oceania, Africa, the Americas (North, South, and the Caribbean), and Europe. Nineteen teams competed in the South and West Asia Round, 12 teams were represented in the East Asia and Oceania Round, 11 teams participated in the African Round, eight teams competed in the All-American Round, and 18 teams took part in the two European Regional Rounds. From these 65 teams, 24 qualified for the Final Oral Round, representing a wide global participation from 15 WTO members: Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Kenya, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  

    DDG Ellard opened the Final Oral Round and welcomed the students to the WTO on 10 June. In her opening remarks, DDG Ellard emphasized the importance of the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition to capacity building by training students in international trade law, legal writing, and oral advocacy skills. DDG Ellard noted that her own experience participating in moot court as a law student showed her “the immense value of the experience you have embarked on in the development of knowledge, skills, and life-long friendships and connections.” DDG Ellard noted that Jackson Moot alumni can be found working in governments, academia, think tanks, law firms, and the WTO Secretariat.

    DDG Ellard congratulated Mr Marios Tokas of the Geneva Graduate Institute and Mr Panagiotis Kyriakou of the law firm Archipel, authors of this year’s moot problem. She noted that the topic of the case the students have been debating “demonstrates our challenge in addressing modern day problems — such as digital transfer of data, protection of consumer privacy, and regulation of competition (or anti-trust).” She drew the students’ attention to the ongoing work in the WTO on digital technologies and trade and e-commerce-related issues. “These efforts underscore the vision that even as trade evolves the rules-based approach with the WTO at its centre must continue to be the way forward with the economic rule of law,” she said.

    Noting that the international trade community supports the competition, DDG Ellard thanked all the sponsors and WTO staff members who contributed to the organization of the competition and wished teams the best of luck.

    The students also had the opportunity to meet DG Okonjo-Iweala on 13 June and heard from her how much the WTO looks forward to welcoming the students each year not only to the competition, but to the community of international trade law.

    During this week, teams are competing against each other before panels of WTO law experts. The grand final of the competition will take place on Saturday, 14 June, and will be livestreamed here.

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    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Banking: WTO members discuss ways to reinvigorate services negotiations

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Ambassador Abdulhamid said his consultations with delegations and groups of members in April and May showed a “recognition of the growing importance of services in world trade and the need to respond to the call of ministers at MC13 to reinvigorate work in the Special Session.”

    While some members expressed uncertainty on how best to proceed amid current global trade challenges, others put forward specific suggestions, he said. Such suggestions included dedicated discussions on market access achieved  in regional trade agreements (RTAs), on existing levels of market access, and exchanges on sectors and modes of supply of interest to developing economies.  

    Several members also called for an information session to brief new delegates on the special session’s negotiation history.

    At the meeting, members exchanged views on future work in light of the Chair’s report.  The Chair noted that various members expressed support for reinvigoration of work and for some of the suggestions voiced.  He acknowledged that that some members had expressed reservations and said that he would continue consultations to try to bridge these differences. He encouraged members to submit written proposals to lay the groundwork for future discussions.

    “The next step may be (for members) to put those ideas on paper and to try to build an agenda that can reflect the different interests and ideas of the membership, and that is in line with Article XIX (of the GATS),” he concluded.

    More information on services negotiations is available here.

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    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI: Stablecoin USDC Goes Live on XRP Ledger, PFMCrypto Launches XRP Cloud Mining to Secure Daily Stable Returns

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Farington, England, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The integration of USDC and the XRP ecosystem signals a market shift toward low volatility and high certainty. PFMCrypto’s innovative XRP cloud mining emerges as the rational choice for prudent investors.

    In June 2025, USDC, the second-largest stablecoin in the U.S., officially integrated with the high-performance public blockchain XRP Ledger—one of the most closely watched developments in the crypto space this year. This integration marks the convergence of two widely adopted, compliance-oriented ecosystems, signifying a shift in the crypto industry from speculative volatility toward practical utility and stable returns. XRP has long been favored by institutional investors for its strengths in cross-border payments and enterprise use. With USDC now available on the XRP Ledger, this perception is reinforced, ushering in a wave of investment strategies centered around “certainty over speculation.”

    PFMCrypto Seizes the Moment with XRP Cloud Mining to Match Tech Momentum with Market Demand
    At this pivotal moment, leading global crypto mining platform PFMCrypto announced the launch of its XRP cloud mining service, introducing USDC as a supported settlement option. This innovative offering targets users seeking stable and low-barrier passive income through crypto.

    The service leverages PFMCrypto’s global smart mining infrastructure and the XRP Ledger’s low-cost, high-speed network to maximize mining efficiency and yield. Users can receive payouts in USDC or XRP and optionally choose from 11 major cryptocurrencies—including BTC, BCH, SOL, DOGE, and ETH—for their mining rewards.

    Why Are Prudent Investors Turning to PFMCrypto’s XRP Mining?
    – XRP is increasingly viewed as a “crypto bond”—stable, regulated, and utility-driven
    – USDC provides a volatility-resistant settlement anchor, ideal for conservative strategies
    – Beginner-friendly onboarding: No technical experience required. New users get a $10 signup bonus
    – Daily stable returns: Profits withdrawable daily; principal is fully refunded at contract maturity
    – One-stop solution: PFMCrypto covers all electricity, maintenance and operation needs. Institutional-grade mining for individual users—without the complexity, so that individual users can also enjoy professional cloud mining dividends like institutions;

    This model greatly reduces the technical threshold and is particularly suitable for the “first step” of traditional financial management users to enter the encryption field. ——Even novices can start mining in a few minutes.

    Five Key Advantages of PFMCrypto XRP Cloud Mining
    Strong Mining Power: PFMCrypto operates 20 green, low-energy mining farms worldwide with highly efficient power allocation
    Transparent Earnings: Daily profits are publicly verifiable and instantly credited to user accounts via mobile or desktop
    Flexible Settlements: Deposits and withdrawals are supported in 11 major cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins
    Flexible Contracts: Multiple durations available (1-day, 2-day, 5-day, 9-day, etc.) to suit different investment strategies
    Top-tier Fund Security: Robust architecture with hot/cold wallet separation and multilayer asset protection

    Sample Investment Plans:
    Trial Contract: Investment: $100 | Net Profit: $106.6
    Classic Contract: Investment: $500 | Net Profit: $530.75
    Classic Contract: Investment: $3,000 | Net Profit: $3,888
    Prepaid Contract: Investment: $5,000 | Net Profit: $7,370
    Advanced Contract: Investment: $10,000 | Net Profit: $17,240

    How to Start XRP Cloud Mining in 3 Simple Steps?
    1. Create an account at https://pfmcrypto.net 
    2. Choose a mining plan: Flexible packages available; all support 11 major cryptocurrencies
    3. Make a payment and start earning: Daily automated mining returns, viewable in real-time via your dashboard

    Even users new to crypto or mining can start generating stable mining income in under 10 minutes.
    About PFMCrypto
    PFMCrypto is a global leader in crypto mining and passive income infrastructure, serving both retail and institutional clients with transparent, efficient, and stable cloud mining solutions. To date, PFMCrypto has served more than 9.2 million users worldwide and processed over $1 billion in mining payouts. With operational hubs across Asia, Europe, and North America, and partnerships with leading mining farms and data centers, PFMCrypto is committed to reshaping how users interact with crypto investments.

    PFMCrypto’s mission: “Make crypto earnings as simple and reliable as a savings account.”
    Visit https://pfmcrypto.net now and claim your $10 crypto bonus to get started.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Markey, Schumer Release Data Detailing Hundreds of Rural Hospitals Across U.S. at Risk Due to Republican Health Care Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    June 13, 2025
    Data shows Oregon hospitals in Silverton, Seaside, Madras, and Hermiston among more than 300 rural hospitals nationwide at disproportionate risk of closure, conversion, or service reductions
    Washington (June 12, 2025) – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore.) today joined with U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) to release new data concluding that health care cuts in the Republican budget bill could place more than 300 rural hospitals across the U.S. at disproportionate risk of closure, conversion, or service reductions.
    The data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill follows House Republicans’ passage of a budget bill that would impose the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history, slashing funding for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by more than $1 trillion and triggering more than $500 billion in Medicare cuts. The analysis released today is based on financial indicators including: share of Medicaid patients served, previous years of negative total margins, and data modeling on future financial distress.
    “Hospitals are often the backbone of rural communities in Oregon and across the nation. They are often the largest employer in a rural community, and more often than not, many of the families they serve count on Medicaid for health care,” said Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. “The Republican bill would hit rural Oregon like a wrecking ball, and among the first to suffer would be the rural hospitals and those they serve and employ who are already walking on an economic tightrope.”
    “As I hold town hall meetings in each of Oregon’s 36 counties, I frequently hear about struggles folks have in accessing health care in their communities. This isn’t a red state or blue state issue. Medicaid helps every state – especially rural communities,” said Merkley, Ranking Member of the Budget Committee. “More than 300 rural hospitals will be at risk of shutting down – in Oregon and across the country – if Republicans betray middle class families and make these drastic cuts to Medicaid, all so that billionaires can pay less in taxes. This is the Republican plan: families lose, and billionaires win.”
    The lawmakers also sent the data in a letter to President Trump, Leader John Thune, and Speaker Mike Johnson, writing, “Addressing the crisis in rural health care access is a national, bipartisan priority, and it should be bipartisan to not worsen that crisis. However, if your party passes these health care cuts into law, Americans in rural communities across the country risk losing health care services and jobs supported by their local hospitals. We urge you to read the attached report and reconsider your position. It is not too late to stop these cuts. Billionaire tax breaks are not worth the cost to American lives and livelihoods.”
    The response from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research states, “Substantial cuts to Medicaid or Medicare payments could increase the number of unprofitable rural hospitals and elevate their risk of financial distress. In response, hospitals may be forced to reduce service lines, convert to a different type of health care facility, or close altogether.”
    The data shows 338 rural hospitals at particular risk of closure, conversion, or service reduction from substantial health care cuts because the hospitals either take a high relative share of Medicaid patients, or have experienced three consecutive years of negative total margins, or both. This includes four hospitals in Oregon: Silverton Hospital, Providence Seaside Hospital, St. Charles Madras, and Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston.
    In the face of these Republican cuts, a majority of adults living in rural areas are concerned that health care cuts will “negatively impact hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers in [their] community,” the senators wrote in their letter to Trump, noting that rural hospitals are struggling. In 2023, there were 50 fewer rural hospitals than in 2017, and a lack of health care access in rural America is contributing to worse health outcomes. Faced with additional cuts to their revenue, many rural hospitals may be forced to stop providing certain services, including obstetric, mental health, and emergency room care, convert to clinics or standalone emergency centers, or close altogether. Rural hospitals are often the largest employers in rural communities, and when a rural hospital closes or scales back its services, communities are not only forced to grapple with losing access to health care, but also with job loss and the resulting financial insecurity.
    The lawmakers sent a letter to the Sheps Center director on June 4, 2025, requesting the Center’s expert analysis of how this bill will impact rural hospitals and the communities they serve, particularly inquiring about which rural hospitals in the country treat the highest share of Medicaid recipients; how many rural hospitals are currently in financial distress or at risk of closure; and if the health care cuts in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill were to become law, would the rural hospitals with the highest share of Medicaid recipients or that are currently in financial distress face risk of closure or have to reduce services.
    The senators’ letter and data are here. The Sheps Center response is here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Loans Are a Meaningful Option for Texas Storm Survivors

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: SBA Loans Are a Meaningful Option for Texas Storm Survivors

    SBA Loans Are a Meaningful Option for Texas Storm Survivors

    AUSTIN – Low-interest disaster loans from the U

    S

    Small Business Administration are available to Texas residents, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations that are recovering from the severe storms and flooding that occurred March 26-28, 2025

     Residents and businesses in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties may now apply if they had damage in the March storms

     FEMA partners with other agencies to help meet the needs of disaster survivors

    Disaster loans are the largest source of federal recovery funds for storm survivors

    They help private property owners pay for disaster losses not covered by insurance, local or state programs

    SBA loans also cover deductibles and increased cost of compliance after a disaster

    Survivors should not wait for an insurance settlement before submitting an SBA loan application

    Interest rates on disaster loans can be as low as 2

    75% for homeowners and renters, 3

    62% for private nonprofit organizations and 4% for businesses, with terms up to 30 years for physical damage to real estate, inventory, supplies, machinery and equipment

    Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition

    Survivors are not required to begin repaying the loan and the interest does not begin to accumulate for 12 months from the date the first disaster loan disbursement is awarded

    Homeowners may be eligible for a disaster loan of up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs or rebuilding

    SBA may also be able to help homeowners and renters with up to $100,000 to replace important personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the storms

    Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged property, destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes

     Businesses of any size and private nonprofit organizations may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) in the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy and the contiguous counties of Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy and Zapata

      Businesses can apply for up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster

    Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact

    Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage

    In partnership with FEMA and the state, SBA representatives are available to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at sites throughout the affected areas

     SBA’s Business Recovery Centers are open at the following locations:CAMERON COUNTYBusiness Recovery CenterHarlingen Chamber of Commerce311 E

    Tyler Ave

    Harlingen, TX 78559Mondays – Thursdays, 8 a

    m

    – 5 p

    m

    Friday, 8 a

    m

    – 4 p

    m

     HIDALGO COUNTYBusiness Recovery CenterValley Metro Transit Center510 S

    Pleasantview Dr

    BoardroomWeslaco, TX 78596Monday – Friday 8 a

    m

    to 5 p

    m

      To apply online or to download an application, go to SBA

    gov/disaster

    You may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email DisasterCustomerService@sba

    gov

     The deadline to apply for an SBA physical disaster loan for the March storms is July 22, 2025

    The last day for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations to apply for an SBA economic injury loan for the March storms is Feb

    23, 2026

    For the latest information about Texas’ recovery, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4871 Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/
    toan

    nguyen
    Fri, 06/13/2025 – 12:08

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Centers in Clark, Lincoln, Mercer, Owen Counties To Close Permanently; Some Centers Close on Sundays

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Centers in Clark, Lincoln, Mercer, Owen Counties To Close Permanently; Some Centers Close on Sundays

    Disaster Recovery Centers in Clark, Lincoln, Mercer, Owen Counties To Close Permanently; Some Centers Close on Sundays

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    –Disaster Recovery Centers in Clark, Lincoln, Mercer and Owen counties are scheduled to close permanently June 14 at 7 p

    m

    , but help is still available as survivors can go to any open center to get in-personal assistance, and there are other ways to apply

      The centers closing permanently are located at: Clark County: Clark County Emergency Operations Center, 200 Maryland Ave

    , Winchester, KY 40391 Lincoln County: Lincoln County Fire Department Training Center, 309 KY Hwy 590, Stanford, KY 40484 Mercer County: Mercer County Health Department, 900 N

    College St

    , Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Owen County: Three Rivers District Health Department, 60 Old Monterey Road, Owenton, KY 40359 From June12-14, working hours for these centers are 9 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    Eastern Time

    Also, 35 centers in Kentucky counties designated for FEMA assistance as the result of the April severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides will be closed on Sundays

       Centers in Laurel, Pulaski and Trigg counties remain open on Sundays

    You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center to get in-person assistance

    No appointment is needed

    To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema

    gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362

     Check this DR-4864 DRC locator for specific hours of operation

    Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops where you can get information and advice on available assistance from commonwealth, federal and community organizations

     You can get help to apply for FEMA assistance, learn the status of your FEMA application, understand the letters you get from FEMA and get referrals to agencies that may offer other assistance

     FEMA is encouraging Kentuckians affected by the April storms to apply for federal disaster assistance as soon as possible

    The deadline to apply is July 25

    You don’t have to visit a center to apply for FEMA assistance

    There are other ways to apply: online at DisasterAssistance

    gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call 800-621-3362

    If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    When you apply, you will need to provide:A current phone number where you can be contacted

    Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

    Your Social Security Number

    A general list of damage and losses

    Banking information if you choose direct deposit

    If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

    For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4860 and www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4864

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

     
    martyce

    allenjr
    Fri, 06/13/2025 – 12:04

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Brown sues five apartment complexes and their property management firm for deceiving low-income senior tenants

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE – Attorney General Nick Brown today filed a complaint in Snohomish County Superior Court against California-based property management company FPI Management and the owners of five apartment complexes in Western Washington, alleging that they engaged in unfair and deceptive practices impacting hundreds of vulnerable senior tenants at the properties.

    FPI and the property owners market their apartment complexes as “low-income” units to tenants who are 55 and older.

    Over a period of several years, FPI and the property owners failed to disclose to their low-income senior tenants how their rent would be calculated and increased in the future, and misrepresented the quality of their apartment units, the availability and quality of building amenities like pools or fitness areas, and safety at the properties. These are all violations of the Consumer Protection Act.

    “Housing is particularly important for older Washingtonians, and it’s hard for them to move once they’ve signed a lease,” Brown said. “It’s egregious to convince vulnerable populations they’re getting quality living when in reality they are stuck with properties in disrepair that also end up costing more than they expected over time.”

    The property owners participate in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC), through which they receive valuable tax credits in exchange for setting aside a certain number of apartment units in their buildings for tenants below a certain income threshold. The maximum rental rates under this program are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, based on the rise or fall of the area median income (AMI) in the county where the property is located. This is unlike other forms of housing assistance, in which the amount of rent a tenant will pay is based on their own income, and not the income of other people in the area.

    FPI and the property owners do not explain or adequately disclose to prospective tenants that their monthly rent will be calculated based on AMI, which is often significantly more than the fixed Social Security or pension incomes many senior LIHTC tenants must live on. As a result, these tenants often end up paying an unsustainable portion of their fixed income as rent, leaving little for other expenses like food, transportation, or medical expenses.

    This failure to disclose key details about rent calculations and increases surprised and harmed seniors, who are less likely to move units once they’re in, even if costs become unmanageable, due to the cost and physical demands of moving.

    The defendants in this case also misrepresent the quality of their buildings, marketing them as “luxury” and “resort style,” when in reality many tenants move in only to find their units dirty with broken appliances, leaks, mold, worn carpets, torn flooring, and more issues. Despite the promise of quality amenities like pools, fitness centers, and computer rooms, tenants found such amenities either did not exist, were inoperable, or were permanently closed and shut down.

    The apartment complexes were also not safe and secure as defendants represented. Many have no one monitoring who is entering, which has led to trespassing and other crimes on site. Their parking lots also experience frequent prowling, theft and vandalism.

    The complaint seeks an injunction preventing the defendants from continuing to engage in the unlawful conduct alleged, restitution to impacted tenants, an enhanced civil penalty of $12,500 for each Consumer Protection Act violation due to the vulnerable nature of the seniors who were targeted and impacted, and an award to the state for the costs of pursuing litigation.

    Attorney General’s Office staff handling the case include Assistant Attorneys General Anthony Thach and Emily Nelson, Senior Investigator Jennifer Treppa, and Paralegal Logan Young.

    A copy of the complaint is available here.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties.

    Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Leads Coalition to Support SNAP for Coloradans, Urges Congress Not to Cut Food Access for Coloradans

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Governor Polis led a coalition of organizations committed to food access and security to urge Congress not to cut Coloradans off from critical SNAP support. The coalition urging Congress not to cut food access includes farming, local government, state agencies, and hunger groups: Hunger Free Colorado, Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Colorado Human Services Directors Association, Colorado Counties, Inc., Feeding Colorado, Nourish Colorado, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, Mile High United Way, the Colorado School Nutrition Association, UFCW Local 7, Community Foodshare, Food Bank of the Rockies, Food Bank for Larimer County, Weld Food Bank, Care & Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Department of Human Services. 

    “SNAP is a longstanding lifeline providing basic food assistance for the most vulnerable Americans and supporting our agricultural producers, and the proposals included in H.R. 1 would both erode the fundamental infrastructure of our food safety net and transfer an unanticipated and severe financial burden to states at a time of extreme budgetary constraints,” Governor Polis and the groups wrote. 

    Monthly, approximately 617,000 Coloradans receive at least $120 million in SNAP benefits–enough to provide about 48 meals per person per month. In 2024, almost one million individual Coloradans received SNAP, half of whom were children, ten percent of whom were older Americans, and 15 percent of whom were Americans with disabilities. 

    SNAP injects over $486 million into the economy in wages for over ten thousand Colorado jobs, including farmers, grocers, manufacturers, delivery drivers, and other positions throughout the food supply chain. Over 21,000 Colorado grocery stores use SNAP, and almost $70 million is in turn generated in state tax revenue from enhanced local economic activity. 

    “These initiatives ensure our children have appropriate nutrition to support healthy growth and development, and also support the physical and mental health of our most vulnerable adults. States like Colorado are focused on improving public safety and investments in SNAP also yield public safety dividends, including decreases in theft, rates of relationship violence, and rates of recidivism,” the letter states. 

    “The severe impact of Congressional proposals to fundamentally alter cost-sharing cannot be overstated. The new match requirement and changes contained in H.R. 1 would cost Colorado hundreds of millions of dollars in state funds annually – up to $360 million in the House-passed version and up to $200 million in the currently proposed Senate version – a cost that represents both an abrupt reversal of the federal-state compact and an unmitigated financial burden that would likely require cuts to SNAP, extreme reductions to other critical state-funded initiatives, or likely both,” the group continued. 

    “As Governor Polis noted, these proposed SNAP cuts would be nothing short of devastating for communities across Colorado, especially in rural areas,” shared Joël McClurg, executive director of systems for the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger. “Shifting benefit costs and further increasing administrative shares would saddle our state with new obligations that rural and poorer counties simply cannot meet. Already operating on shoestring budgets, many of our counties would be forced to choose between absorbing new crushing costs or slashing critical services — and either path disproportionately punishes the very people who need support the most.” 

    “Not only is SNAP a valuable program for our communities, both rural and urban, it also provides a vital market for many of our farmers and ranchers,” said Chad Franke, President of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. “The family farmers and ranchers we represent know the value of providing local food to local communities. That’s why we are urging Congress to protect the local foods components of SNAP, such as Double Up Food Bucks,” Franke continued. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Solomon concludes a successful visit to VivaTech 2025 in Paris

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Canada’s participation as Country of the Year is a testament to the strength of its AI ecosystem

    June 13, 2025 – Paris, France

    Today, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, concluded a successful visit to Paris, France, where he met with key industry and political leaders to advance Canada’s growth agenda.

    Minister Solomon led the Canadian delegation for the opening of the 9th edition of VivaTech. He welcomed President Emmanuel Macron to the Canada Pavilion on the first day of the conference and showcased some of Canada’s leading innovators to the French delegation. At President Macron’s invitation, Minister Solomon later participated in a working dinner with French business leaders at the Élysée Palace. 

    Minister Solomon participated in Montréal-based company Hypertec’s announcement of a $5 billion initiative to build one of Europe’s largest sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure networks, with over 2 gigawatts of data centre capacity and nearly 100,000 NVIDIA graphics processing units planned in France, Italy, Portugal and the U.K. This initiative demonstrates Canadian leadership on the world stage and will translate to a $250 million investment by the company in Quebec to build next-generation server facilities and create over 100 specialized jobs in AI-related fields.

    Over the course of his visit, Minister Solomon held bilateral discussions with Clara Chappaz, Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies from France; Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism from Luxembourg; and His Excellency Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of the Economy from the United Arab Emirates. Their discussions reflected Canada’s commitment to develop collaborative research and development initiatives, to facilitate and accelerate the commercialization of Canadian products and services, and to build additional compute infrastructure in Canada.

    In focused discussions with political and business leaders, including with Jay Puri, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Field Operations at NVIDIA, Minister Solomon advanced key Canadian AI and digital priorities, including scaling our companies and ecosystems, unlocking productivity through technology adoption, fueling trust in a digital economy, and pursuing Canadian digital sovereign capabilities.

    As the Country of the Year, Canada greatly expanded its footprint at VivaTech with a Canada Pavilion of 500 square metres and a business delegation of over 230 Canadian companies. This showcase highlighted the innovation of Canadian companies and the maturity of Canada’s AI ecosystem and reinforced its reputation as a world leader in AI. The 2025 Canadian presence and business delegation was spearheaded by Scale AI, one of Canada’s global innovation clusters.

    The Canada Pavilion offered a nexus for Canadian companies to feature their technology and success and to pursue the trade diversification Canada needs for its products and companies. The world was introduced to Canadian innovators like Airudi, CGI, Cohere, Farpoint Technologies, IVADO Labs, Mappedin, Pontosense, Trusting Pixels, Videns and Vooban.

    As AI continues to shape our world in new and unexpected ways, the Government of Canada seeks to harness AI’s opportunities, mitigate its risks and foster trust. With strategic government investments and support for responsible AI adoption, Canada will grow its AI ecosystem and enhance productivity across the country.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Risks linked to hidden communication modules in solar inverters – E-002219/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002219/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Beatrice Timgren (ECR)

    A recent investigation has revealed that solar inverters manufactured by Chinese companies and deployed across Western markets may contain communication modules capable of transmitting data without the knowledge of the user[1]. These hidden modules, thus far only discovered in models exported to US markets, raise serious cybersecurity and sovereignty concerns. Such devices are reportedly installed in the products without being listed in the product documentation. This could potentially enable remote shutdowns and data exfiltration.

    Given the above:

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of these findings, and has it initiated an investigation into the security implications of Chinese-made inverters installed within the EU?
    • 2.What steps is the Commission taking to assess and mitigate risks to energy infrastructure from Chinese-controlled hardware and software?
    • 3.Will the Commission consider adjusting existing EU security standards or certification procedures to ensure that solar inverters and related components are subject to checks for hidden communication capabilities?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    • [1] Reuters, ‘Rogue communication devices found in Chinese solar power inverters’, 14 May 2025, https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/ghost-machine-rogue-communication-devices-found-chinese-inverters-2025-05-14.
    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Reserving strategic public procurement of European software for European companies – E-002666/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Since 12 July 2023, the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR)[1] enables the Commission to address the distortive effect on competition of foreign subsidies.

    In particular, it introduced a notification obligation for bidders in public procurement procedures falling within the scope of application of the regulation with an estimated value equal or greater than EUR 250 million.

    In so far as the Commission’s own funding activities are concerned, the recast of the Financial Regulation[2] has introduced a horizontal legal basis in its Article 136 in order to identify sensitive award procedures, e.g. concerning strategic assets and interests such as satellite infrastructure.

    This allows for the introduction of participation restrictions, including for third country ownership and control of applicants and tenderers, where necessary, to protect security and public order of the EU and its Member States.

    Furthermore, with the Single Market Strategy[3] presented on 21 May 2025, the Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to review the EU public procurement framework in 2026 also with a view to introducing European preference criteria in EU public procurement for certain strategic technologies and sectors, while ensuring the competitiveness of tenders.

    The development of the platform as referred to by the Honourable Member has not been supported with EU funds.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022R2560.
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:L_202402509.
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0500.
    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Digitisation of public administration and protection of European citizens’ data – E-000997/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Interoperable Europe Act[1] mandates EU and public bodies to conduct interoperability assessments (since 2025) and promotes cross-border collaboration via a share-and-reuse mechanism for solutions.

    This addresses interoperability gaps in states like Romania. To strengthen cybersecurity, the EU equipped itself with an extensive and solid legal framework, which includes the NIS2 Directive[2], the Cyber Resilience Act[3], the Cyber Solidarity Act[4] and the Cybersecurity Act[5] establishing the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), while the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) and Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) fund IT infrastructure upgrades.

    For example, the Romanian recovery and resilience plan contains several reforms and investments to bolster cybersecurity of public and private entities for a budget of approximately EUR 138 million.

    The European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet and upcoming EU Business Wallet provide secure, harmonised digital identification for citizens, businesses, and public administrations to authenticate, receive notifications, and share verified credentials.

    For data protection, the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS) enables secure cross-border data sharing (e.g. birth certificates), identification through eIDAS/EUDI Wallets, with user consent and data previews.

    The Digital-Ready Policymaking (DRPM) framework ensures EU policies embed interoperability safeguards, including a mandatory ‘digital statement’ during policy design.

    Together, these initiatives streamline access to digital services (e.g. a Romanian citizen sharing data with a German institution) while ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)[6] and cybersecurity standards.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/903 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2024 laying down measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union; OJ L, 2024/903, 22.3.2024.
    • [2] Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148; OJ L 333, 27.12.2022, p. 80-152.
    • [3] Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013 and (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2020/1828; OJ L, 2024/2847, 20.11.2024.
    • [4] Regulation (EU) 2025/38 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 laying down measures to strengthen solidarity and capacities in the Union to detect, prepare for and respond to cyber threats and incidents and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/694; OJ L, 2025/38, 15.1.2025.
    • [5] Regulation (EU) 2019/881 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on ENISA and on information and communications technology cybersecurity certification and repealing Regulation (EU) No 526/2013; OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 15-69.
    • [6] Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC; OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1-88.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Authorisation and regulation of trade in brown bear meat in Slovakia and its impact on the conservation of the species – E-002224/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002224/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    César Luena (S&D)

    The Slovak Government has recently announced that restaurants will be authorised to serve meat from brown bears culled under a law that is legally questionable. The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a threatened species in Europe and is strictly protected. Before the meat is put on the market, companies will have to obtain a certificate of derogation attesting to the ‘legality’ of the cull and the safety of the meat. The decision has led to concerns about its impact on the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of this species.

    • 1.What is the Commission’s official position on the authorisation to sell meat from brown bears, which are protected in the EU, and Slovakia’s criteria for granting certificates of derogation for this trade?
    • 2.What mechanisms and controls are in place at EU level for the marketing of meat from a species that is strictly protected by the Habitats Directive?
    • 3.What are the Commission’s recommendations for managing the brown bear population where it poses a threat to humans, taking into account non-lethal alternatives and protection of the bears’ natural habitat?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Plan for preventing unfair competition – E-002222/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002222/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Maria Grapini (S&D)

    The previous Commission proposed a reindustrialisation programme.

    Sadly, European industry is being seriously affected by competition from third countries, which are selling products from all sectors onto the EU market at dumping prices.

    One example is the ceramics industry. Ceramics production is in peril in my country, Romania, as well as in other Member States, after companies invested hundreds of millions of euro in modernisation because of the different conditions imposed on European producers as compared to those in Asia (who do not have to pay to meet CO2 certification or water purification requirements, and where workers do not enjoy working conditions based on social standards, etc.).

    My question is: Does the Commission have a plan for preventing unfair competition, to save the ceramics industry?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News