Category: Economy

MIL-OSI: Urbana Corporation Congratulates the Canadian Securities Exchange on its Acquisition of the National Stock Exchange of Australia

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES
OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S./

TORONTO, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Urbana Corporation (“Urbana” or the “Corporation”) (TSX and CSE: URB, URB.A) congratulates CSNX Markets Inc. (“CSE”) on its entering into an agreement with the NSX Limited (“NSX”) to acquire the NSX, owner of the National Stock Exchange of Australia (“NSXA”) in an all-cash transaction (the “Transaction”).

This acquisition will enable the CSE to expand its geographic footprint by partnering with an exchange that has a similar focus and culture. Like the CSE, the NSXA is primarily focused on early stage, entrepreneurial companies, with particular strength in the resource sector. The NSXA is positioned to disrupt a market currently dominated by an incumbent, legacy exchange, as the CSE was over 20 years ago.

“This transaction enables the CSE to expand its reach and builds on our success in attracting global listings,” said Richard Carleton, CEO of the CSE. “Through our 21-year history, the CSE has grown to more than 750 listings by focusing on and supporting entrepreneurial companies. The NSXA, working with us, is poised to execute a similar plan in Australia.”

The transaction is subject to the approval of the CSE shareholders, the NSX shareholders, the Australian court, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. On the assumption that the transaction is approved, it is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.

Urbana is a major shareholder of CNSX Markets Inc., which operates the CSE.

About Urbana

Urbana Corporation is a diversified corporation with a focus on financial services, information services and innovative technologies. The long-term goal of Urbana is to seek and acquire investments for income and capital appreciation through a combination of public and private investments. The portfolio mix of actively managed publicly traded securities with private equity investments has generated significant long-term investment results. For more information, visit www.urbanacorp.com.

For further information contact:
Elizabeth Naumovski
Investor Relations
(416) 595-9106 enaumovski@urbanacorp.com

Certain statements in this news release constitute “forward-looking” statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Urbana to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Unless required by applicable securities law, Urbana does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

The MIL Network –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hageman Votes for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Hageman voted for, and the House passed, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This bill fulfills the mandate issued by the American people in November and delivers on President Trump’s agenda by cutting taxes, securing the border, and unleashing American energy.

“In November, commonsense was restored and the American people spoke with a clear voice – unleash American energy, secure the southern border, and restore the economy. Today, the House passed legislation to deliver on President Trump’s promise. I worked diligently to ensure Wyoming’s voice was reflected in this historic legislation, including: unleashing our coal industry, accessing more of our oil and gas, increasing timber production, repealing IRA green spending, eliminating costly Biden regulations, rescinding the taxation, regulation and registration of suppressors, and more,” stated Rep. Hageman. “We also voted to prevent tax hikes on Wyomingites and our businesses, provided the resources needed to secure our border and stop the flow of illegal immigrants and deadly drugs into our country, and enacted critical spending reforms.”

Background

Budget reconciliation allows for expedited consideration of certain tax, spending, and debt limit legislation and is the primary opportunity for this Republican majority to deliver for the American people. Key provisions of the bill which raise revenue and achieve budgetary savings include:

– Enacts $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings

– Ends the coal moratorium, reduces coal royalty rates, and mandates the Secretary of Interior to lease federal coal resources

– Resumes quarterly oil and gas leases, reversing Biden’s anti-energy policies

– Requires BLM and USFS to increase timber production by 25% and to offer a certain number of 20-year contracts to better manage our forests

– Establishes a fee structure for aliens who seek to file immigration-related applications and processes, ensuring the cost of immigration benefits are not subsidized by American taxpayers

– Provides funding for at least one million annual removals, 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, and detention capacity sufficient to maintain an average daily population of at least 100,000 aliens

– Builds 701 miles of the border wall

– Permanently extends of the 2017 Trump tax cuts, avoiding a 24% tax hike

– Eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid through work requirements and tightening eligibility, helping remove 1.4 million illegal aliens from the program

– Increases Medicaid State Directed Payments for states like Wyoming that have not expanded Medicaid

– Repeals and rescinds Inflation Reduction Act climate change spending programs

– Funds President Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense of our country

– Ends blue state use of Medicaid to provide healthcare to illegal aliens

– Increases the Death Tax exemption and makes such changes permanent

– Eliminates funding for Planned Parenthood

– Prohibits Medicaid from funding transgender surgeries for minors and adults

– Makes permanent the doubled child tax credit and closes loopholes allowing illegal aliens to receive the credit

– Imposes a registration fee on electric vehicles and hybrid cars to deposit into the Highway Trust Fund to create parity with gas powered cars

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China to deepen cooperation with CEE countries – State Councilor

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

NINGBO, May 22 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin said Thursday that China will continue to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, calling it a model of trans-regional multilateral cooperation.

Speaking at the 4th China-Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia International Consumer Goods Expo and Fair in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Shen Yiqin promised that China will continue to increase imports from Central and Eastern Europe countries, expand bilateral trade, and strive to achieve new high-quality cooperation results in the joint construction of the Belt and Road and other fields.

According to the State Councilor, the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe countries has become a model of trans-regional multilateral cooperation, and bilateral trade, investment and connectivity are deepening day by day.

Shen Yiqin stressed that China, committed to building an open world economy, is willing to work with all countries in the world, including Central and Eastern Europe, to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system, the stability of global supply chains and the international environment for open cooperation.

The 4th China-CEEC EXPO will run until May 25. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping Calls on China, France to Be Reliable Forces to Maintain International Order /detailed version-1/

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and France to be reliable forces for maintaining the international order, open forces for promoting global growth and progressive forces for advancing multilateral cooperation in a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Xi Jinping called on the two countries to jointly safeguard the authority and status of the UN, uphold the rules of international trade and the world economic order, and adhere to genuine multilateralism.

The Chinese leader recalled that during his visit to France last May, the two sides agreed to carry forward the spirit of establishing Chinese-French diplomatic relations, which is characterized by independence and self-sufficiency, mutual understanding, strategic vision, mutual benefit and common gain, and to infuse this spirit with new and modern content. Over the past period, Chinese-French cooperation has made significant progress, the Chinese leader noted.

The two sides should strengthen strategic communication and seek consensus, seize opportunities to deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as investment, aviation, space and nuclear energy, while expanding cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, green development, biomedicine and the “silver economy” (economic activities related to the needs and interests of the elderly), Xi said.

The Chinese leader also stressed the need to expand cultural and humanitarian exchanges and strengthen friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

Xi Jinping stressed that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. He said that as permanent members of the UN Security Council and independent powers, China and France are the founders and builders of the post-war international order, and the two countries should strengthen unity and cooperation.

The more complex the international situation becomes, he added, the more China and France need to make the right strategic choices.

The Chinese President said that China always regards Europe as an independent pole in a multipolar world and supports the European Union in strengthening its strategic independence and enhancing its important role in international affairs.

China is ready to work with the EU to address global challenges and achieve results that will benefit both sides and the world, Xi Jinping said. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission File Statement of Interest on Anticompetitive Uses of Common Shareholdings to Discourage Coal Production

Source: US State Government of Utah

Today, the Justice Department, joined by the Federal Trade Commission (the “Agencies”) filed a statement of interest in the Eastern District of Texas in the case of Texas et al. v. BlackRock, Inc. The States’ lawsuit—led by the Texas Attorney General—alleges that BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard used their management of stock in competing coal companies to induce reductions in output, resulting in higher energy prices for American consumers. This is the first formal statement by the Agencies in federal court on the antitrust implications of common shareholdings.

On Jan. 29, President Trump issued Executive Order 14156, declaring a national energy emergency. On April 8, Executive Order 14261 called for “increase[d] domestic energy production, including coal.” As the Agencies’ statement makes clear, protecting competition for coal furthers these policies by enabling the free market to unleash America’s energy security and economic dynamism.

“The President has declared a national energy emergency, and we need competition in coal production now more than ever to help fuel American energy dominance,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail A. Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “American consumers suffer when institutional asset managers use shareholdings in competing companies to orchestrate output reductions. As the Supreme Court has held, ‘social justifications’ for anticompetitive conduct ‘do not make it any less unlawful.’ We will not hesitate to stand up against powerful financial firms that use Americans’ retirement savings to harm competition under the guise of ESG.”

Today’s statement of interest explains that while antitrust safe harbors for passive investment protect most index fund investing and beneficial corporate governance advocacy, they do not protect the use of commonly managed stock in competitors to encourage market-wide reductions in output. The statement explains how the law protects typical shareholder behavior, how the States’ complaint alleges an anticompetitive campaign, and how the law should properly be applied to the States’ claims.

The Antitrust Division routinely files statements of interest and amicus briefs in federal court where doing so helps protect competition and consumers, including by encouraging the sound development of the antitrust laws. A collection of these statements of antitrust and amicus filings is publicly available on the Division’s website.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Texas Doctor Who Falsely Diagnosed Patients Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment in Connection with $118 Million in Fraudulent Health Care Claims

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

A Texas rheumatologist was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for perpetrating a health care fraud scheme involving over $118 million in false claims and the payment of over $28 million by insurers as a result of him falsely diagnosing patients with chronic illnesses to bill for tests and treatments that the patients did not need. Jorge Zamora-Quezada M.D., 68, of Mission, also falsified patient records to support the false diagnoses after receiving a federal grand jury subpoena. Following a 25-day trial, Zamora-Quezada was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. In addition to his prison term, Zamora-Quezada was ordered to forfeit $28,245,454, including 13 real estate properties, a jet, and a Maserati GranTurismo.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed his patients with rheumatoid arthritis and administered toxic medications in order to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. The fraudulent diagnoses made the defendant’s patients believe that they had a life-long, incurable condition that required regular treatment at his offices. After falsely diagnosing his patients, Zamora-Quezada administered unnecessary treatments and ordered unnecessary testing on them, including a variety of injections, infusions, x-rays, MRIs, and other procedures—all with potentially harmful and even deadly side effects. To receive payment for these expensive services, Zamora-Quezada fabricated medical records and lied about the patients’ condition to insurers.

“Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His depraved conduct represents a profound betrayal of trust toward vulnerable patients who depend on care and integrity from their doctors. Today’s sentence is not just a punishment—it’s a warning. Medical professionals who harm Americans for personal enrichment will be aggressively pursued and held accountable to protect our citizens and the public fisc.”

“Through the false diagnoses and excessive false billing, Dr. Zamora-Quezada abused both patient trust and public resources,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “It is imperative to investigate and address this form of fraud — not only to protect vulnerable individuals from harm but to uphold the integrity of the federal health care system and safeguard the use of public funds.”

“The FBI is dedicated to working with all of our partners to address health care fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “This case was not only a concern to us because of the financial loss — the physical and emotional harm suffered by the patients and their families was alarming and profound. We hope this significant sentence will help bring closure to the many victims in this case.”

Evidence at trial established that Dr. Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed patients in order to defraud insurers and enrich himself. Other rheumatologists in the Rio Grande Valley testified at trial that they saw hundreds of patients previously diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis by Zamora-Quezada who did not have the condition, prompting one physician to explain that for “most” it was “obvious that the patient did not have rheumatoid arthritis.” Zamora-Quezada’s false diagnoses and powerful medications caused debilitating side effects on his patients, including strokes, necrosis of the jawbone, hair loss, liver damage, and pain so severe that basic tasks of everyday life, such as bathing, cooking, and driving, became difficult. As one patient testified, “Constantly being in bed and being unable to get up from bed alone, and being pumped with medication, I didn’t feel like my life had any meaning.” One mother described how she felt that her child served as a “lab rat,” and others described abandoning plans for college or feeling like they were “living a life in the body of an elderly person.”

Former employees detailed how Zamora-Quezada imposed strict quotas for procedures, leading to a climate of fear. Zamora-Quezada referred to himself as the “eminencia” — or eminence, threw a paperweight at an employee who failed to generate enough unnecessary procedures, hired employees he could manipulate because they were on J-1 visas and their immigration status could be jeopardized if they lost their jobs, and fired those who challenged him. Testimony also revealed Zamora-Quezada’s obstruction of insurer audits by fabricating missing patient files, including by taking ultrasounds of employees and using those images as documentation in the patient records. Testimony at trial established that Zamora-Quezada told employees to “aparecer” the missing records — “to make them appear.” Former employees also recounted being sent to a dilapidated barn to attempt to retrieve records. There, files were saturated with feces and urine, rodents, and termites that infested not only the records but also the structure.

Zamora-Quezada’s patient file storage facility

Zamora-Quezada used proceeds from his crimes to fund a lavish lifestyle, replete with real estate properties across the country and in Mexico, a jet, and a Maserati.

One of Zamora-Quezada’s luxury properties

Zamora-Quezada’s jet

FBI, HHS-OIG, Texas HHS-OIG, and the Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case, with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

Principal Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Assistant Chiefs Rebecca Yuan and Emily Gurskis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristine Rollinson handled asset forfeiture. Fraud Section Assistant Chief Kevin Lowell initially handled the prosecution. The prosecution team thanks the Fraud Section’s Data Analytics Team, whose work initiated the investigation, Victim Witness Specialist Olga De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, and the Texas Department of Insurance.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

MIL Security OSI –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission File Statement of Interest on Anticompetitive Uses of Common Shareholdings to Discourage Coal Production

Source: United States Attorneys General 13

Today, the Justice Department, joined by the Federal Trade Commission (the “Agencies”) filed a statement of interest in the Eastern District of Texas in the case of Texas et al. v. BlackRock, Inc. The States’ lawsuit—led by the Texas Attorney General—alleges that BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard used their management of stock in competing coal companies to induce reductions in output, resulting in higher energy prices for American consumers. This is the first formal statement by the Agencies in federal court on the antitrust implications of common shareholdings.

On Jan. 29, President Trump issued Executive Order 14156, declaring a national energy emergency. On April 8, Executive Order 14261 called for “increase[d] domestic energy production, including coal.” As the Agencies’ statement makes clear, protecting competition for coal furthers these policies by enabling the free market to unleash America’s energy security and economic dynamism.

“The President has declared a national energy emergency, and we need competition in coal production now more than ever to help fuel American energy dominance,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail A. Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “American consumers suffer when institutional asset managers use shareholdings in competing companies to orchestrate output reductions. As the Supreme Court has held, ‘social justifications’ for anticompetitive conduct ‘do not make it any less unlawful.’ We will not hesitate to stand up against powerful financial firms that use Americans’ retirement savings to harm competition under the guise of ESG.”

Today’s statement of interest explains that while antitrust safe harbors for passive investment protect most index fund investing and beneficial corporate governance advocacy, they do not protect the use of commonly managed stock in competitors to encourage market-wide reductions in output. The statement explains how the law protects typical shareholder behavior, how the States’ complaint alleges an anticompetitive campaign, and how the law should properly be applied to the States’ claims.

The Antitrust Division routinely files statements of interest and amicus briefs in federal court where doing so helps protect competition and consumers, including by encouraging the sound development of the antitrust laws. A collection of these statements of antitrust and amicus filings is publicly available on the Division’s website.

MIL Security OSI –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Frank Elderson: Nature’s bell tolls for thee, economy!

Source: European Central Bank

Keynote speech by Frank Elderson, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB and Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB, at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center

Leiden, 22 May 2025

Thank you for inviting me to speak at this annual biodiversity dinner. The wide range of speakers here this evening – on international biodiversity day – is testament to the relevance of biodiversity across disciplines.

Nature isn’t just the roots and shoots of biologists, macroecologists and natural scientists. Beyond its intrinsic value, nature provides vital services that are relevant for all of us – for entrepreneurs, workers, policymakers and bankers, but also for central bankers and financial supervisors.

A thriving natural environment provides vital benefits that sustain our well-being and serve as a crucial driving force for the global economy. Think of fertile soils, pollination, timber, fishing stocks, clean water and clean air.

But we are well aware of the daunting facts that confirm the dire state of ecosystem services. Intensive land use, the climate crisis, pollution, overexploitation and other human pressures are rapidly and severely damaging our natural resources.

75% of land surface ecosystems and 66% of ocean ecosystems have been damaged, degraded or modified.

We are using natural resources 1.7 times faster than ecosystems can regenerate them. Consequently, the contribution that nature can make to our economies – and our way of life – is steadily diminishing every day.

These fateful facts and figures confront us as vividly as Edvard Munch’s iconic scream. Yet, accounting for nature and the services it provides is challenging. What nature provides to the economy is typically not measured directly in statistics like GDP.

We price portfolios instead of pollinators, we monitor markets instead of mangroves and we watch wages instead of water supplies. However, the reality is that while our economies are heavily reliant on ecosystem services, the economic value of those pollinators, mangroves and water supplies is not sufficiently taken into account.

Nature is too often still wrongly seen as a free good, readily available and abundant in supply, without opportunity costs. For such a good, there is no market – and therefore no price.

So, why can’t governments intervene by pricing and creating a market for nature as has been done for emissions?

Unlike for the climate crisis – which can be quantified through carbon emissions and their direct links to rising temperatures – there is no single metric that can be used to quantify the wide range of ecosystem services.

What is the common denominator of clean air, fertile soils and coasts protected by mangrove forests? Nature is beautifully complex, but this complexity makes it harder to establish a market for nature than a market for climate, such as the carbon markets created through emissions trading systems.

For central banks to effectively fulfil their mandates, we need to enhance our capacity to measure the vital services that nature provides to our economy and identify the financial risks caused by the degradation of these services. And while this is admittedly not an easy task, it is encouraging that multiple stakeholders are making progress, including academia, firms and also the ECB. We are enhancing our tools, methodologies and data to assess the economic implications of ecosystems and their degradation. And I am pleased to be able to share some of our latest insights this evening.

I will argue that while nature services may appear to be freely available, they are in fact not abundant at all and there are substantial costs to using and losing them. Costs that we currently overlook when headlines report on GDP growth.

Accounting for nature in monetary policy and banking supervision

Nature being of vital importance for the economy and the financial system is hardly a novel insight. Besides scientists, a number of central banks and prudential supervisors have also been highlighting their interlinkages for several years now.^[1] And while the climate crisis has received most of the attention, it is encouraging that work on nature-related risks has also significantly evolved.

Moreover, the ECB has taken significant steps to account for nature-related risks in the pursuit of its mandate. For instance, we take into account the effects nature degradation can have on banks’ balance sheets. The degradation of nature could damage companies’ production processes and consequently weaken their creditworthiness, which might in turn impair loans granted by banks. In our role as the supervisor of Europe’s largest banks, we therefore aim to ensure that the banks we supervise adequately manage both climate-related and nature-related risks.^[2] Encouragingly, we are seeing a growing set of good practices among the banks we supervise in terms of identifying, quantifying and managing nature-related risks.

But are we fully aware of – and sufficiently alert to – how nature degradation could eventually hit balance sheets?

Advancing our understanding does not mean that economists and supervisors should start studying ants in Aragon, ladybirds in Lombardy or honeybees in Holland (although it is very important that entomologists do!).

Instead, central banks and supervisors need to gain a better understanding of just how vulnerable the economy and the financial system are to nature degradation.^[3]

Capturing the risks related to ecosystem degradation

An ECB study in 2023 found that nearly 75% of banks’ corporate lending goes to firms that are highly dependent on at least one ecosystem service.^[4] This finding underscores just how interconnected nature, the economy and the financial system really are.^[5] But that study does not tell us exactly how much of our economic activity is at risk, or which economic sectors and regions will be most affected.

To better understand this impact, the ECB has teamed up with the Resilient Planet Finance Lab at the University of Oxford.

The interdisciplinary team has developed systemic risk indicators that move beyond dependency analysis to a comprehensive assessment of nature-related financial risks. In essence, this indicator assesses the economic implications of the deteriorating state of ecosystems. It shows how much of the economic value added by a particular industry– what economists call “gross value added” – is at risk when ecosystem services degrade. Tomorrow we will publish a blog post showing some of the preliminary results of our work, but I can already share some findings with you this evening.

Water – the natural currency underwriting purchases, investments and trades

Our preliminary findings indicate two things. First, water – too little, too much or too dirty water that is –has been identified as posing the most significant risk to the euro area economy. Losses related to water scarcity, poor water quality and flood protection emerge as the most critical from a value added perspective. Concretely, surface water scarcity alone puts almost 15% of the euro area’s economic output at risk. This is not surprising because water is not just any resource – it is one of the most essential natural resources we possess. Second, agriculture is the most exposed sector, as it would suffer the largest proportional output losses due to a decline in surface water. But other sectors are also likely to be significantly affected.

Chart 1

Proportion of national gross value added (GVA) at risk due to surface water scarcity in Europe and globally (supply chain risks)

Water is, for instance, an indispensable resource in industry. In the Netherlands, industry alone uses over 2.6 trillion litres of fresh water a year.^[6] This water usage is more than three times the total annual water consumption of all households in the Netherlands. Water is also essential for energy production, not only in hydropower plants but also in thermal power plants – including nuclear – where it is used for cooling and steam generation. It is consumed in vast quantities for mining and mineral processing, which are crucial for the energy transition, as well as in the construction sector for producing concrete, to name just a few examples.

The risk posed by water scarcity is not hypothetical, we are already experiencing the impact today. I am sure that many of you remember when the summers of 2018, 2019 and 2020 brought severe droughts and heatwaves even to the Netherlands. In 2018 alone, economic losses in the Netherlands were up to €1.9 billion for agriculture and €155 million for shipping, with widespread but hard-to-quantify damage to ecosystems. This year’s drought is especially alarming: spring 2025 is on track to become the driest ever recorded in the Netherlands, likely surpassing the previous record set nearly 50 years ago. And droughts are only projected to increase further as the climate crisis continues to develop. Worryingly, in the driest scenario an average summer in the 2040s will be about as dry as an extremely dry summer now.

Effective water management will thus be crucial for sustaining production. However, the risk persists that during periods of drought, production might need to be scaled down. Some industrial processes may become economically unviable and might need to relocate.

For example, some have even gone as far as to point at a risk that more frequent droughts could render traditional tulip-growing regions such as the Bollenstreek unsuitable for bulb cultivation.^[7] This may compel growers to explore better-positioned locations where water is more reliably available to safeguard the iconic Dutch tulip industry.

Hence, as a consequence of water scarcity, our economies could produce less, and production costs are likely to rise during any inevitable transition phase.

Let me also point out that biodiversity is a critical – and often underestimated – factor in ensuring the availability and quality of fresh water. Ecosystems such as forests and wetlands regulate the quantity, timing and purity of water flows by stabilising soils and filtering pollutants. Maintaining healthy and diverse ecosystems will be crucial for resilient water provisioning as climate change intensifies, particularly in regions facing growing water stress.

Beyond these macroeconomic impacts, ecosystem degradation can significantly affect financial stability, for example through the loans that banks grant to households and firms. In essence, the greater the impact on firms, the higher the risk of defaults and the higher the risk on banks’ balance sheets.

For example, in our research with the University of Oxford we found that more than 34% of banks’ total outstanding nominal amount – over €1.3 trillion – is currently extended to sectors exposed to high water scarcity risk.

As the next step in our research, we will examine changes in the probability of default in the sectors most affected by dwindling ecosystems. Think about it as stress-testing the resilience of banks’ credit portfolios to nature degradation. We plan to publish these results later this year, complete with a more in-depth analysis on the topic, so stay tuned.

Multiple stakeholders are taking action

Encouragingly, our work with the University of Oxford is not an isolated case. We are in fact seeing a wide range of stakeholders taking action to better account for ecosystem services.

For instance, I hear that our host this evening – the Naturalis Biodiversity Center – has teamed up with banks to combine insights from science and finance to further develop indicators quantifying ecosystem services.

We are also seeing a growing set of good practices among the banks we supervise in terms of identifying, quantifying and managing nature-related risks. Banks typically conduct materiality assessments to understand where they are most affected. And banks also grapple with the challenge that nature-related risks are difficult to express in a single metric. Once they know where they are exposed, they then typically conduct deep dives on specific topics.

One bank, for example, has conducted a quantitative scenario analysis to understand how the profitability of its customers could be affected if a water pollution tax were to be implemented.

Other banks design customer scorecards and engage with the most vulnerable counterparties, sometimes offering small discounts or other incentives when customers meet key performance indicators that increase their resilience.

It is also encouraging that progress is being made at the international level. The Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) – a network of 145 central banks and supervisors from around the world – has developed a conceptual framework offering central banks and supervisors a common understanding of nature-related financial risks and a principle-based risk assessment approach.^[8]^[9] And the Financial Stability Board recently took stock of supervisory and regulatory initiatives among its members, finding that a growing number of financial authorities are considering the potential implications of nature-related risks for the financial sector.^[10]

So scientists, banks, policymakers and supervisors are in fact taking action. That’s good news. Given the high level of uncertainty regarding impacts, non-linearities, tipping points and irreversibility, continuous scientific input and engagement are essential to determine the transmission channels from nature to our economies.

Reliable and comparable data are key to managing risks and identifying opportunities

Before I conclude, let me stress a vital enabler to better measure ecosystem services: data. Closer cooperation with natural scientists can help us better understand the data they have available on the status of nature and the ecosystem services it provides. The National Hub for Biodiversity Information provided by our host tonight is an excellent example.^[11]

Moreover, continuous engagement with the scientific community can also help improve our understanding of non-linearities, tipping points and the irreversibility of the biodiversity crisis.

Similarly, the availability of reliable and comparable data from companies is essential for us to know where the risks are hiding and where opportunities can be found. Such data can, for example, provide insights into companies’ reliance on fresh water for their production processes. In this context, the reporting requirements in the EU’s sustainable finance framework are not merely a “nice to have”, they are providing indispensable information about financial risks and are a solution to the patchwork of different reporting criteria.

Does that mean that there is no room for simplification? Does it mean that there is no room to ease the reporting burden on smaller firms?

Of course not.

As the ECB noted in its recent opinion^[12] on the Commission’s omnibus package, striking the right balance is crucial – the balance between how much data firms report and how many firms are required to do so. Excluding too many firms from the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive may reduce the availability of vital data needed to assess climate-and nature related financial risks.

So when carefully calibrating a balanced degree of simplification, one should look at what data points we need most and make sure that sufficient companies report on precisely those data. Not only because reliable and comparable data are important for identifying economic impacts and managing financial risks, but also because such data helps identify investment opportunities to unlock a clean, green and competitive European economy.

Conclusion

Let me conclude.

Encouragingly, multiple stakeholders are making progress in better accounting for ecosystem services. That’s good news, and this work must continue. Because dwindling ecosystems are no longer peripheral – they are central to financial stability, the economy and, ultimately, our daily lives.

When you saw the title of my remarks this evening, some of you might have recognised a reference to John Donne’s poem “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Donne beautifully expresses that we are all part of a bigger whole: “No man is an island, Entire of itself.”

Nor is our economy an island – it is not “entire of itself”, it depends on nature.

If nature’s services suffer,
And they do!
Send not to know
For whom the bell tolls.
It tolls for thee, ECOnomy!

Thank you for your attention.

MIL OSI Europe News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Councillors agree ten-year prioritisation programme for the City Mobility Plan
Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

An ambitious prioritisation programme for projects under the City Mobility Plan (CMP), over the next decade, has been agreed today.
This programme effectively manages the resources we have, to continue to deliver on our CMP objectives to:

Reduce the volume of traffic going through the city.

Improve how we move around the city, with more options for sustainable travel, including prioritising public transport.

Provide safer conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling.

Reduce harmful emissions.

Provide better access to local facilities like shops, schools and outdoor spaces.

Improve community and public spaces.

We’ve engaged extensively on the CMP and its objectives over the years with a range of stakeholders.

This reports also outlines the future decision-making process, with an annual update report covering any proposed changes.

Prioritisation was scored against 15 separate criteria points across three key areas: Objectives, Deliverability and Financial. Some examples include impact on road safety, public transport, inequality, and capital raising challenges.

Over 70 projects are set to be taken forward, including:

Walking, wheeling and cycling connection from the Meadows to the Union Canal, including better public space around the King’s Theatre.

Public transport and active travel route between West Shore Road and Waterfront Broadway, complementing the Granton redevelopment.

Major city centre projects, including a trial to reduce vehicle traffic on the Lawnmarket, Cowgate improvements, Meadows to George Street walking and cycling upgrade, and the transformation of George Street.

Over 50 projects are recommended to be paused, the vast majority of which are already on hold or not started. There are also around five projects which are set to be paused for this financial year only. Again, these are all either on hold or not started.

The full list of projects and their statuses can be found in the report on our website.

The report was approved with amendments from the Administration and the SNP group, along with an addendum from the Green group.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said:

I’m really pleased that we’ve agreed this bold programme for our city. Prioritisation allows us to work smarter with the resources we have available – making sure we have a clear and achievable path to achieving our objectives.

This programme follows the successes of major infrastructure projects such as Trams to Newhaven and active travel projects including the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), Roseburn to Union Canal and Leith Connections.

This is an extensive piece of work which allows the City Mobility Plan to be agile, and able to adapt in the future as necessary.

However, one key element in this conversation is the fact that we remain dependent on external funding for many projects, particularly from the Scottish Government and by extension Transport Scotland.

Complex projects which take years to plan and complete but which are subject to annual external funding decisions makes this situation inherently difficult, we need commitment and stability from the Scottish Government if we’re to deliver the changes which our city needs and deserves.

We’ll now take forward these projects which will keep Edinburgh moving and make our city a safer, more sustainable and accessible place for all.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 27, 2025
Fitch Ratings ups India’s growth potential to 6.4 pc over next 5 years

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Global rating agency Fitch Ratings on Thursday raised India’s GDP growth potential by 0.2 percentage points to 6.4 per cent over the next five years, on the back of a sharper rise in the country’s labour force participation rate in recent years.

Fitch highlighted that the revised estimate for India shows a stronger contribution from labour inputs, mainly total employment, rather than labour productivity.

At the same time, the global rating agency has scaled down China’s growth projection by 0.3 percentage points to 4.3 per cent from 4.6 per cent earlier.

The changes are part of Fitch’s revised assessment of potential GDP growth for 10 emerging market economies over the next five years.

Fitch said, “Our estimate of India’s trend growth is slightly higher at 6.4 per cent, compared with 6.2 per cent previously. We think TFP growth will slow from recent years to be in line with its long-run average of 1.5 per cent.”

TFP, which stands for Total-factor productivity (TFP), also called multi-factor productivity, is usually measured as the ratio of aggregate output (GDP) to aggregate inputs. Under some simplifying assumptions about the production technology, growth in TFP becomes the portion of growth in output not explained by growth in traditionally measured inputs of labour and capital used in production.[

Fitch highlighted that the revised estimate for India shows a stronger contribution from labour inputs, mainly total employment, rather than labour productivity.

The rating agency has also made changes to its projections based on a revised assessment of labour force data. It noted that the contribution from the participation rate has been revised upwards, while the projected contribution of capital deepening has been lowered.

“Our revised estimate implies that there is a stronger contribution from labour inputs (total employment) rather than labour productivity. India’s labour force participation rate has increased sharply in recent years; we expect it will continue to increase but at a slower pace,” Fitch Ratings noted.

“Our update of potential growth in emerging markets is now 3.9 per cent, representing a further, albeit marginal drop from the 4 per cent estimate we published in November 2023. This mainly reflects lower potential growth in China,” said Robert Sierra, Director, Fitch Ratings.

China’s lower potential, the global ratings agency, can be attributed to a weaker capital deepening and steeper fall in labour force participation, the rating agency said.

India continues to remain the world’s fastest growing major economy and the only country expected to clock over 6 per cent growth in the next two years, according to an IMF report released last month. The IMF has trimmed the growth forecast for over 120 countries.

(IANS)

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Missouri Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Missouri of the June 23 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning Oct 15, 2024.

The disaster declaration covers the Missouri counties of Barton, Bates, Cedar, St. Clair and Vernon as well as the Kansas counties of Bourbon, Crawford and Linn.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 23.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Private Nonprofits Affected by Wildfires

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation of the June 24 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by wildfires occurring June 22-July 8, 2024.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 24.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Cleveland

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Pawnee County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations, and residents affected by wildfires occurring March 14-15.

Beginning Thursday, May 22, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Cleveland to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

The center’s hours of operation are as follows:

PAWNEE COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Cleveland Fire Department
The Courtroom
201 N. Broadway St.
Cleveland, OK 74020

Opens at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, May 22
Mondays – Fridays, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day

“When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers perform an important role by assisting small businesses and their communities,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the U.S. Small Business Administration. “At these centers, our SBA specialists help business owners and residents apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to support their recovery.”

The following DLOCs are open now:

LINCOLN COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Fire Department
335174 E. 750 Rd.
Perkins, OK 74059

Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Closes permanently at COB Friday, May 23

LOGAN COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Logan County Courthouse Annex
(Across the street north of Courthouse in
the old Girl Scout Room)
312 E. Harrison Ave.
Guthrie, OK 73044

Mondays – Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day

PAYNE COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
City of Stillwater Community Center, Room 102
315 W. Eighth Ave.
Stillwater, OK 74074
Mondays – Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day

Closes permanently at COB Wednesday, June 11

Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.62% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 21, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 20, 2026.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI Banking: ACP Statement: House Passage of Cuts to Clean Energy Tax Credits a Threat to Economic and Energy Security

Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

Headline: ACP Statement: House Passage of Cuts to Clean Energy Tax Credits a Threat to Economic and Energy Security

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) is the leading voice of today’s multi-tech clean energy industry, representing energy storage, wind, utility-scale solar, clean hydrogen, and transmission companies. ACP is committed to meeting America’s energy and national security goals and building our economy with fast-growing, low-cost, and reliable domestic power.
Learn more at cleanpower.org, and follow ACP on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Gary Admans appointed as Non-Executive Director of the UK Debt Management Office Advisory Board
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Gary Admans appointed as Non-Executive Director of the UK Debt Management Office Advisory Board

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds, has appointed Gary Admans as a Non-Executive Director of the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) Advisory Board.
Gary has extensive experience in sterling markets and audit, risk and control matters, including as Vice President Capital Markets and Banking Relations at BP Plc.

In this role Gary will support the DMO’s Chief Executive Officer and senior team and will bring considerable experience, skills and judgement to the full array of Advisory Board issues. Gary will also chair the DMO’s Audit and Risk Committee.

Gary will be appointed for a three-year term. He will replace Dr Paul Fisher OBE whose term on the DMO Advisory Board is coming to an end later this year.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds said:

Delivering economic and fiscal stability lies at the heart of this government’s Plan for Change and is at the forefront of the work the Debt Management Office do. Therefore, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Gary Admans, his extensive knowledge, skills and experience will be invaluable to the organisation in its essential role in delivering economic stability.

I would also like to thank Paul Fisher for his excellent contribution to the work of the DMO over many years.

Dame Sue Owen, Non-Executive Chair, DMO Advisory Board said:

I am thrilled to announce that Gary Admans has been appointed to our Advisory Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Gary’s profound expertise and experience in bond markets and audit, risk and control matters will ensure he is excellently positioned to assist the DMO in achieving its vital objectives, including fulfilling the government’s financing needs to the highest standards.

Gary Admans said:

I am delighted to be appointed to the Advisory Board of the DMO and look forward to helping the organisation deliver its financing mandate and other objectives. The DMO is recognised internationally for its market expertise and I will aim to use my financial and risk experience to allow the DMO to continue to flourish in the future.

About Gary Admans

Gary Admans is an experienced financial markets professional and team leader who, after a derivatives-based career in banking, moved to BP plc where he manages a Capital Markets and Banking Relations team and is a key member of their Treasury Leadership team. On joining BP, he initially worked in the Risk Management team managing BP’s foreign exchange exposures before moving to the Capital Markets team. Gary joined the Board of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing in June 2022 where he is the Chair of the Treasury Committee.

Gary confirmed he has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

About the appointment process

The DMO is an executive agency of HM Treasury which is responsible for debt and cash management for the UK Government, lending to local authorities and managing certain public sector funds.

Gary Admans has been appointed following an open recruitment process run by HM Treasury. A panel comprising Dame Sue Owen (Non-Executive Chair, DMO Advisory Board), Martin Egan (a current Non-Executive Director of the DMO), Azin Roussos (Deputy Director, HM Treasury), and an external panel member Katherine Braddick (Group Head of Strategic Policy at Barclays and senior adviser to the Barclays CEO) interviewed a number of candidates and made recommendations to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, which informed her decision.

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Published 22 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI: Euronext announces the success of its offering of bonds due 2032 convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares (“OCEANEs”) for a nominal amount of €425 million
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Euronext announces the success of its offering of bonds due 2032 convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares (“OCEANEs”) for a nominal amount of €425 million

Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris – 22 May 2025 – Euronext (ISIN Code: NL0006294274) (the “Company”), the leading European capital market infrastructure, announces today the success of its offering of senior unsecured bonds due 2032 convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares of the Company (“OCEANEs”) (the “Bonds”), by way of a placement to qualified investors only (within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below)), for a nominal amount of €425 million (the “Offering”).

On 17 April 2025, the Company entered into a bridge loan facility with, among others, affiliates of the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering, to finance the acquisition of Admincontrol. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for the repayment of a portion of the bridge financing and general corporate purposes.

Main terms of the Bonds

The Bonds will be issued with a denomination of €100,000 each (the “Principal Amount”), will be convertible and/or exchangeable into new and/or existing shares of Euronext (the “Shares”) and will pay a fixed coupon at a rate of 1.50% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrear on 30 May and 30 November of each year (or on the following business day if this date is not a business day), and for the first time on 30 November 2025.

The initial conversion price of the Bonds is set at €191.1654, representing a conversion premium of 35% above the Company’s reference share price on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris (“Euronext Paris”). The reference share price is €141.6040, being equal to the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of the Shares recorded on Euronext Paris from the launch of the Offering today until the determination of the final terms (pricing) of the Bonds. Settlement and delivery of the Bonds is expected to take place in the Euronext Securities Milan system on 30 May 2025 (the “Issue Date”).

Unless previously converted, exchanged, redeemed or purchased and cancelled, the Bonds will be redeemed at par on 30 May 2032 (or on the following business day if such date is not a business day) (the “Maturity Date”).

The Bonds may be redeemed prior to the Maturity Date at the option of the Company, under certain conditions.

In particular, the Bonds may be fully redeemed early at par plus any accrued interest at the Company’s option, subject to a prior notice of at least 30 (but not more than 60) calendar days, (i) at any time from 20 June 2030 (inclusive), if the arithmetic average, calculated over a period of 10 consecutive trading days chosen by the Company from among the 20 consecutive trading days preceding the day of the publication of the early redemption notice, of the daily products on each of such 10 consecutive trading days of the volume weighted average price of the Shares on Euronext Paris over the applicable conversion price on each such trading day, exceeds 130%; or (ii) at any time if 80% or more in principal amount of the Bonds issued (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include any tap issues of the Bonds) have been converted/exchanged and/or redeemed and/or purchased by the Company and cancelled.
Bondholders will be granted the right to convert or exchange the Bonds into new and/or existing Shares (the “Conversion/Exchange Right”) which they may exercise at any time from the 41^st day (inclusive) following the Issue Date up to the 7^th business day (inclusive) preceding the Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the relevant early redemption date.

The conversion ratio of the Bonds is set at the Principal Amount divided by the prevailing initial conversion price, i.e. 523.1072 Shares per Bond, subject to standard adjustments, including anti-dilution and dividend protections, as described in the terms and conditions of the Bonds. Upon exercise of their Conversion/Exchange Right, holders of the Bonds will receive at the option of the Company new and/or existing Shares, carrying in all cases all rights attached to existing Shares as from the date of delivery.

Application will be made for the admission of the Bonds to trading on Euronext Access^TM in Paris to occur within 30 calendar days from the Issue Date.

Legal framework of the Offering and placement

The Bonds will be issued by way of a placement to qualified investors only (within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”)) (excluding the United States of America, Australia, Japan, Canada or South Africa), pursuant to the authorization granted by the Company’s annual general meeting held on 15 May 2025 (15^th and 16^th resolution), without an offer to the public (other than to qualified investors) in any country.

Existing shareholders of the Company shall have no preferential subscription rights, and there will be no priority subscription period in connection with the issuance of the Bonds or any underlying new Shares to be issued upon conversion.

Lock-up undertaking

In the context of the Offering, the Company has agreed to a lock-up undertaking with respect to its Shares and securities giving access to share capital of the Company for a period starting from the announcement of the final terms of the Bonds and ending 90 calendar days after the Issue Date, subject to certain customary exceptions or waiver from the joint global coordinators appointed in the context of the Offering.

Dilution

As a result of the Offering of a €425 million principal amount of Bonds and the initial conversion price of €191.1654, the potential dilution would represent approximately 2.1% of the Company’s outstanding share capital, if the Conversion/Exchange Right was exercised for all the Bonds and the Company decided to deliver new Shares only upon exercise of the Conversion/Exchange Right.

Available information

Neither the offering of the Bonds, nor the admission of the Bonds to trading on Euronext Access^TM is subject to a prospectus approved by the Stichting Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) in Netherlands or the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) in France. No key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation or the UK PRIIPs Regulation (as defined below) has been or will be prepared. Detailed information about Company, including its business, results, prospects and the risk factors to which the Company is exposed are described in the Company’s universal registration document for the financial year ended 31 December 2024, filed with the AFM on 28 March 2025 and the Company’s first quarter 2025 results press release which includes the unaudited financial statements of the Company as at and for the three months ended 31 March 2025, which are all available on the Company’s website (https://www.euronext.com/en/investor-relations).

Important information

This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for or to sell securities to any U.S. person or to any person in the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada or South Africa or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer is unlawful, and the Offering of the Bonds is not an offer to the public in any jurisdiction (other than to qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation) or an offer to retail investors as such term is defined below.

CONTACTS

ANALYSTS & INVESTORS – ir@euronext.com

Investor Relations        Aurélie Cohen

        Judith Stein        +33 6 15 23 91 97

MEDIA – mediateam@euronext.com

Europe        Aurélie Cohen         +33 1 70 48 24 45

        Andrea Monzani         +39 02 72 42 62 13

Belgium        Marianne Aalders         +32 26 20 15 01

France, Corporate        Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella        +33 1 70 48 24 45

Ireland        Catalina Augspach        +33 6 82 09 99 70

Italy         Ester Russom         +39 02 72 42 67 56

The Netherlands        Marianne Aalders         +31 20 721 41 33

Norway         Cathrine Lorvik Segerlund        +47 41 69 59 10

Portugal         Sandra Machado        +351 91 777 68 97

About Euronext

Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody, to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal.

As of March 2025, Euronext’s regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal host nearly 1,800 listed issuers with €6.3 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices.

For the latest news, go to euronext.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

Disclaimer

This press release is for information purposes only: it is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and is provided “as is”, without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext’s subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is available at www.euronext.com/terms-use.

© 2025, Euronext N.V. – All rights reserved.

The Euronext Group processes your personal data in order to provide you with information about Euronext (the “Purpose”). With regard to the processing of this personal data, Euronext will comply with its obligations under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”), and any applicable national laws, rules and regulations implementing the GDPR, as provided in its privacy statement available at: www.euronext.com/privacy-policy. In accordance with the applicable legislation you have rights with regard to the processing of your personal data: for more information on your rights, please refer to: www.euronext.com/data_subjects_rights_request_information. To make a request regarding the processing of your data or to unsubscribe from this press release service, please use our data subject request form at connect2.euronext.com/form/data-subjects-rights-request or email our Data Protection Officer at dpo@euronext.com.

Disclaimer

The contents of this announcement have been prepared by and are the sole responsibility of the Company.

The information contained in this announcement is for information purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed by any person for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness.

This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This announcement is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Prospectus Regulation.

This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, Bonds to any U.S. person or to any person in the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Bonds and the Shares, if any, to be issued upon exercise of the Conversion/Exercise Right (together, the “Securities”) referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons unless registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) or offered in a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

In addition, until 40 days after the commencement of the Offering, an offer or sale of Bonds within the United States by a dealer (whether or not it is participating in the Offering) may violate the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

The offer and sale of Securities referred to herein has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan. Subject to certain exceptions, the Bonds referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan. There will be no public offer of the Securities in the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan or elsewhere.

In member states of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”), this announcement and any offer is directed exclusively at persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). In the United Kingdom this announcement and any offer is directed exclusively at persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”), (ii) who fall within Article 49(2)(A) to (D) of the Order, or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together with Qualified Investors in the EEA being referred to herein as “Relevant Persons”). This document is directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.

This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “will” or “should” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company’s and its group’s business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth or strategies. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Each of the Company, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and their respective affiliates expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Each of the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering is acting exclusively for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Offering. They will not regard any other person as their respective client in relation to the Offering and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offering, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

In connection with the Offering, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates may take up a portion of the Bonds in the Offering as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for their own accounts such Bonds and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Offering or otherwise. Accordingly, references to the Bonds being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for differences) with investors in connection with which the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Bonds and/or Shares. The joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

None of the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available, or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

Information to Distributors: Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements of Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended and supplemented (“MiFID II”) and local implementing measures (together, the “Product Governance Requirements”), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any “manufacturer” (for the purposes of the Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Bonds have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that: (i) the target market for the Bonds is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Bonds to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Bonds (a “distributor”) should take into consideration the manufacturers’ target market assessment; however, a distributor (for the purposes of the Product Governance Requirements) is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Bonds (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers’ target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.

The target market assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual or legal selling restrictions in relation to any offering of the Bonds.

For the avoidance of doubt, the target market assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Bonds.

PRIIPs Regulation / Prospectus Regulation / Prohibition of sales to EEA and UK retail investors – The Bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA or the UK. For these purposes, a “retail investor” means (a) in the EEA, a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 as amended or superseded (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a Qualified Investor as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation and (b) in the UK, a person who is one (or more) of (i) a retail client within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/565 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the UK (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No. 600/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA or (iii) not a Qualified Investor as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “EU PRIIPs Regulation”) or the EU PRIIPS Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPS Regulation”) for offering or selling the Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or the UK may be unlawful under the EU PRIIPs Regulation and/or the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

Attachment
- 20250522_Pricing Press Release_Euronext Bond issuance
The MIL Network –
May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI: AM Best affirms ratings of Coface’s main operating subsidiaries

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

AM Best affirms ratings of Coface’s main operating subsidiaries

Paris, 22 May 2025 – 18.00

The rating agency AM Best affirmed today the Financial Strength Rating (IFS rating) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of ’a+’ (Excellent) of Compagnie française d’assurance pour le commerce extérieur (la Compagnie), Coface North America Insurance Company (CNAIC) and Coface Re. The outlook for these ratings is “stable”.

In its press release, AM Best highlights that this rating reflects, “Coface group’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, favourable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management”.

This strength is underpinned by a consolidated risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest level as measured by the Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) score.

AM Best also believes that “the group’s prospective performance may be subject to volatility, driven by the uncertain global operating environment. However, the group is able to take prompt risk-mitigating actions on non-performing business when required” and AM Best expects “cross-cycle performance metrics to remain supportive of the strong assessment”.

Last, in its release, the rating agency underscores that this note reflects Coface’s “leading position in the global credit insurance market, which is characterised by high barriers to entry”.

CONTACTS

ANALYSTS / INVESTORS
Thomas JACQUET: +33 1 49 02 12 58 – thomas.jacquet@coface.com
Rina ANDRIAMIADANTSOA: +33 1 49 02 15 85 – rina.andriamiadantsoa@coface.com

MEDIA RELATIONS
Saphia GAOUAOUI: +33 1 49 02 14 91 – saphia.gaouaoui@coface.com
Adrien BILLET: +33 1 49 02 23 63 – adrien.billet@coface.com

FINANCIAL CALENDAR 2025
(subject to change)
H1-2025 results: 31 July 2025 (after market close)
9M-2025 results: 3 November 2025 (after market close)

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
This press release, as well as COFACE SA’s integral regulatory information, can be found on the Group’s website: http://www.coface.com/Investors

For regulated information on Alternative Performance Measures (APM), please refer to our Interim Financial Report for H1-2024 and our 2024 Universal Registration Document (see part 3.7 “Key financial performance indicators”).

Regulated documents posted by COFACE SA have been secured and authenticated with the blockchain technology by Wiztrust.
You can check the authenticity on the website www.wiztrust.com.

COFACE: FOR TRADE
As a global leading player in trade credit risk management for more than 75 years, Coface helps companies grow and navigate in an uncertain and volatile environment.
Whatever their size, location or sector, Coface provides 100,000 clients across some 200 markets with a full range of solutions: Trade Credit Insurance, Business Information, Debt Collection, Single Risk insurance, Surety Bonds, Factoring.
Every day, Coface leverages its unique expertise and cutting-edge technology to make trade happen, in both domestic and export markets.
In 2024, Coface employed ~5,236 people and registered a turnover of €1.84 billion.

www.coface.com

COFACE SA is quoted in Compartment A of Euronext Paris
Code ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA

DISCLAIMER – Certain declarations featured in this press release may contain forecasts that notably relate to future events, trends, projects or targets. By nature, these forecasts include identified or unidentified risks and uncertainties, and may be affected by many factors likely to give rise to a significant discrepancy between the real results and those stated in these declarations. Please refer to chapter 5 “Main risk factors and their management within the Group” of the Coface Group’s 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with AMF on 5 April 2024 under the number D.25-0227 in order to obtain a description of certain major factors, risks and uncertainties likely to influence the Coface Group’s businesses. The Coface Group disclaims any intention or obligation to publish an update of these forecasts, or provide new information on future events or any other circumstance.

Attachment

2025 05 22 AM Best affirms ratings of Coface’s main operating subsidiaries

The MIL Network –

May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Welch Announces $30.2 Million from Department of Transportation for 2024 Flood Damage Reimbursements

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today celebrated the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) announcement of $30.2 million in new emergency relief funding to the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help Vermont communities impacted by the July 2024 floods. The funding, allocated through DOT’s Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program, will reimburse the state for costs associated with repairing roads, culverts, headwalls, bridges, and trails.
“The floods in July 2023 and July 2024 were catastrophic—they hammered communities and left the infrastructure we rely on every day—roads, bridges, culverts, and more—in really rough shape. Thankfully, the Vermont Agency of Transportation worked through the storms and long after to repair and replace infrastructure as quickly as possible. This $30.2 million from the Department of Transportation will be a big help here in Vermont. I was proud to help pass and secure this funding and I am thankful for former President Biden’s commitment to our flood recovery,” said Senator Welch.
“Vermont has experienced more than its fair share of flooding in the last two years, leaving many communities without the financial resources needed to repair infrastructure,” said Governor Phil Scott. “This funding will help us build back smarter and more resilient and I’m appreciative of Senator Welch’s work to bring this funding to Vermont.”
Senator Welch was a champion of disaster aid and emergency relief funding for flood-stricken communities across Vermont. Senator Welch helped shape and pass the comprehensive disaster aid package. The disaster aid package was signed by President Biden in December 2024.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The top Democrats leading the fight against Trump’s agenda

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Fernando Pizarro, Lecturer, Department of Journalism, City St. George’s, University of London, City St George’s, University of London

The first five months of Donald Trump’s second presidency have been brutal for the Democratic party, which has been almost completely unable to stop his aggressive agenda. In March, CNN polling showed the favourability rating for the Democrats at just 29% – a record low in CNN polls dating back to 1992.

The problem with the Democratic party “isn’t a lack of talent”, says Federico de Jesús, a Democratic strategist and spokesman for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign who I interviewed for this story. It is a “problem of vision and strategy”, he argues.

“A lot of people, in theory, agree with the Democrats on a lot of issues. But they don’t necessarily feel comfortable with the direction the party is taking.” De Jesús told me that the Democrats allowed themselves to become identified by “woke issues” by many voters who abandoned them in November.

However, the Democrats now have some reasons to celebrate. In early April, a Democratic-backed judge called Susan Crawford secured a seat in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court. This kept liberal control of the state’s highest court intact. And a Reuters/Ipsos poll released a few weeks later showed that only 37% of US voters approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

As a Washington political correspondent for almost two decades, I have witnessed how the parties changed the guard after painful election cycles. This time, in the absence of clear leaders, the challenge is quite high for the Democrats.

But who are the Democrats positioning themselves to lead the struggle against Trump’s policies? The acts of defiance are coming from two fronts: lawmakers in Congress and governors.

Senate minority leader Charles Schumer has predicted that the Democrats will win back control of the Senate after the 2026 midterm elections. “The electorate will desert the Republican candidates who embraced Trump in an overwhelming way”, he said on April 23.

Others, like California senator Adam Schiff and Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin, are using tactics like holding town halls in strong Republican districts to rally the opposition. Michigan congressman Shri Thanedar even filed articles of impeachment against Trump on April 28, but top Democrats shot down the effort as impractical.

At the same time, House of Representatives minority leader Hakeem Jeffries is facing an intra-party effort to unseat many long-time lawmakers in solid Democratic districts. David Hogg, vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee, is pledging US$20 million (£15 million) to end a culture of “seniority politics” which allows “asleep at the wheel” lawmakers to stay in office.

But it is New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who has been stealing the headlines. She is setting fundraising records, preparing for an effort to challenge Schumer in a New York senatorial primary in 2028. Surveys this early are rarely predictive, but an April head-to-head poll has Ocasio-Cortez leading Schumer by double digits.

Three Democrat governors are standing out at present: Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro, Minnesota’s Tim Walz and California’s Gavin Newsom.

Shapiro is very popular with voters in his crucial swing state, and gets good marks even from Republicans on his bipartisan record. Walz was Kamala Harris’s running mate in November’s election, and his campaign performance was well received by his party. Walz is an obvious contender to run for the White House in 2028.

But Newsom is probably the most notable of the three. While he’s been critical of his party, telling the Hill newspaper on April 21 that Democrats haven’t performed a thorough autopsy of what led to the loss in November, he is seen as someone who can address Republican voters well.

A second tier of governors include Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, whose soft criticism of the Trump administration’s tariff regime saw Trump praise her for doing an “excellent job”. She is joined by Maryland’s Wes Moore, who is young and popular in his state, and JB Pritzker of Illinois.

Pritzker called for “mass mobilisations and disruption” against Trump at a Democratic event in New Hampshire in late April. “These governors need to stand out”, said de Jesús, “either by fighting against Trump, or either [by] achieving something memorable.”

Harris had largely kept a low profile since November’s election. But on April 30 she sharply criticised Trump’s first 100 days in office during a speech in San Francisco. She may decide to enter the race for California governor in the summer of 2025.

Dark horse leader

There could also be a dark horse leader waiting in the wings: Rahm Emanuel. As former Chicago mayor, Illinois congressman, Obama and Bill Clinton aide and US ambassador to Japan, he is considered a political heavyweight.

Emanuel has hinted he may again run for public office, while criticising the party’s focus on gender issues and not on “kitchen table” issues as reasons for November’s defeat.

Progressives chafe at the idea of dialling down the talk about certain policies, such as gender and identity issues. But both Newsom and Emanuel are among those suggesting that the focus should instead shift to defending changes that most voters can relate to.

At the moment, the party still lacks a clear leader and direction to recover from the 2024 defeat. Newsom, for instance, told the Hill that he doesn’t “know what the party is”. “I’m still struggling with that,” he added.

According to de Jesús, “people don’t necessarily want someone to just hate Trump, but to identify the issues voters care about and co-opt that populist message.”

Fernando Pizarro does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. The top Democrats leading the fight against Trump’s agenda – https://theconversation.com/the-top-democrats-leading-the-fight-against-trumps-agenda-254869

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Lauren Boebert Secures Wins in One Big Beautiful Bill Passage
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

WASHINGTON, DC– Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) provided the following statement on her YES vote and passage of H.R. 1, President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill:

“Voting YES on President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is a major step towards implementing the America First mandate voters delivered to us last November. This critical legislation makes the Trump tax cuts permanent, unleashes American energy producers, invests billions in support of our farmers and ranchers by responsibly reforming SNAP benefits, strengthens Medicaid to focus on American citizens who truly need help, and delivers a final net deficit reduction of $1.5 trillion. There’s work to be done in the coming months to further codify President Trump’s agenda and executive orders, but The One Big Beautiful Bill puts us on a pathway to American greatness.”

H.R. 1 includes the language of Congresswoman Boebert’s American Energy Act, which streamlines the permitting process for oil & gas producers and protects projects from being slowed down by malicious and frivolous lawsuits.

Congresswoman Boebert also fought for specific policy victories in The One Big Beautiful Bill including:
- Removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA). This would remove the unconstitutional excise tax currently levied on suppressors as well as remove the onerous governmental restrictions including government registry, fingerprinting, extensive wait times, and the requirement of carrying proof of tax paid while visiting a gun range.
- Ensuring all illegal aliens including parolees are not receiving federal benefits.
- Continuing to remove the waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid by preventing reimbursements for transgender surgeries.
- Putting in work requirements for Medicaid by 2026 to ensure these dollars will be used to help our most vulnerable populations.
- Ensuring taxpayer dollars will not fund abortion providers.
- Phasing out Joe Biden’s Green New Scam by 2028 and putting American Energy producers back in business.
- Incentivizing states not to expand the welfare state and instead prioritize taking care of our seniors.
BACKGROUND:

The One Big Beautiful Bill includes the following key highlights:
- Delivers an economy that is pro-growth, pro-worker, pro-family, and pro-business:
  - Makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, preventing the average taxpayer from seeing a 22% tax hike.
  - Delivers on President Trump’s priorities of no tax on tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest, and providing additional tax relief for seniors.
  - Supports small businesses and Made-in-America investments through immediate 100% expensing, incentives for new manufacturing facilities, R&D immediate amortization, and interest expense deductions.
- Provides over $140 billion – the largest border security investment in history – to secure our borders and keep Americans safe:
  - Allows for the completion of 701 miles of primary wall and construction of 900 miles of river barriers.
  - Funds at least one million annual removals, 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, and detention capacity sufficient to maintain an average daily population of at least 100,000 aliens.
  - Supports the hiring and training of 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, 5,000 new Office of Field Operations customs officers, and other urgently needed personnel.
- Restores integrity to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by requiring states to shoulder a share of the benefit costs, preventing states from manipulating SNAP eligibility and benefit calculations, and restoring SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults without young dependents.
- Strengthens Medicaid for Americans who truly need it, while rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse:
  - Establishes commonsense work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and stops new money laundering gimmicks like provider taxes and State Directed Payments.
  - Strengthens program integrity measures that protect Medicaid resources for the most vulnerable.
  - Closes loopholes that let illegal immigrants enroll in Medicaid and reduces funding to states that prioritize Medicaid coverage of illegal immigrants. In total, 1.4 million illegal immigrants who are gaming the system will be kicked off Medicaid as a result of this bill.
- Reverses Biden’s radical Green New Deal agenda:
  - Repeals Biden’s EV mandates and CAFE standards for passenger cars and light trucks.
  - Rescinding wasteful environmental slush funds.
  - Repeals and phases out Inflation Reduction Act subsidies.
- Unleashes American energy dominance, ensuring affordable energy for families and creating jobs across the country:
  - Reinstates quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales and mandates at least 30 lease sales in the Gulf of America over the next 15 years and six in the Cook Inlet in south-central Alaska.
  - Resumes leasing for energy production in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and coal leasing on federal lands.
  - Streamlines the permitting process for energy infrastructure.
- Makes major reforms to streamline student loan options, support student success, and save taxpayer money.
- Invests nearly $144 billion to modernize our military and strengthen national defense.
MIL OSI USA News –
May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kelly applauds House passage of One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax, released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

“Today, House Republicans fulfilled a promise to deliver tax relief to the American people. This legislation will strengthen working families and small businesses in Pennsylvania and across the United States. Parents will benefit from an expanded Child Tax Credit. We have delivered President Trump’s promise of no tax on tips, overtime, auto loan interest, and tax relief for seniors. And, we are putting more money in the pockets of millions of Americans. We are building on the success of the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act and we are making sure these pro-growth tax policies will benefit generations to come,” said Rep. Kelly.

BACKGROUND

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes permanent the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts and includes critical pro-growth policies that will cut taxes by an additional $1,300 for a family of four and deliver higher wages and incomes for millions of Americans. A recent report from the Council of Economic Advisers shows the legislation will produce up to $13,300 more in take-home pay for a typical family and up to $11,600 more in wages for American workers.

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Is Pro-Growth Tax Policy
Permanent extension of the Trump tax cuts, alongside additional pro-growth policies, will fuel a resurgence in economic growth:
- America’s real gross domestic product (GDP) to increase by an estimated 5.2 percent over the next four years and 3.5 percent in the long term.
- 9.8 to 14.5 percent boost in investment in the next four years and a 4.9 to 7.5 percent boost in long-term investment.
- 6.6 to 7.4 million full-time jobs saved or created in the next four years and 4.2 million saved or created in the long term.
FACT SHEET: The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Fuels America’s Economic Growth

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Makes Families & Workers Thrive Again
- Makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent – protecting the average taxpayer from a 22 percent tax hike.
- Saves the average American family from a $1,700 tax hike – the equivalent of 9 weeks of groceries.
- Delivers an additional $1,300 tax cut for the average American family.
  — Delivers up to $11,600 in higher wages per worker.
  — Delivers up to $13,300 more in take-home pay for a family with two children.
- Delivers on President Trump’s priorities of no tax on tips, overtime pay, car loan interest, and tax relief for seniors that will put more money annually in the pockets of millions of Americans:
  — Up to $1,750 for overtime workers.
  — $1,700 for tipped workers.
  -= Up to $450 for seniors.
- Locks in and boosts the doubled Child Tax Credit for more than 40 million families and provides additional tax relief for American families.
- Preserves and increases the doubled guaranteed deduction for 91 percent of all taxpayers.
- Expands 529 education savings accounts to empower American families and students to choose the education that best fits their needs, whether it is K-12 materials or obtaining a postsecondary trades credential.
- Supports working families by expanding access to childcare and making permanent the paid leave tax credit.
- Puts American families in control of their health care by expanding health savings accounts and cementing into law a Trump Administration policy that offers more choice and flexibility for health coverage options.
- Starts building financial security for America’s children at birth with the creation of new savings accounts.
MIL OSI USA News –
May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ‘The Ultimate Betrayal’: Pingree Condemns House Passage of Reconciliation Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Following House passage of the Republican reconciliation bill, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement:

With the narrow passage of this reckless bill, Republicans have brazenly chosen to sacrifice the health and economic security of working Americans to give massive handouts to billionaires and corporate interests. This legislation represents the ultimate betrayal of hardworking families across our nation.

This week, a nonpartisan analysis from the Congressional Budget Office confirmed what we’ve known all along: This GOP tax scam robs from those with the least to line the pockets of the wealthy. Billionaires and corporations reap substantial tax breaks, while everyday Americans foot the bill. The richest 10% will see their wealth grow, while the poorest 10% will see their budgets shrink even further. If it’s signed into law, it will represent the single largest transfer of wealth in U.S. history.

In Maine alone, around 400,000 people—including seniors in nursing homes, children, and working families without job-based health coverage—depend on Medicaid. This bill cruelly strips coverage from an estimated 50,000 Mainers, threatens the survival of health care providers like hospitals and nursing homes, and transfers enormous financial burdens onto our already strained state budget. Additionally, SNAP benefits—which provide a modest $2-per-meal lifeline to our veterans, seniors, and children—will be drastically gutted.

Republicans love to talk about reducing the deficit, yet this bill recklessly adds nearly $4 trillion to our national debt, jeopardizing bond markets, destabilizing our economy, and potentially triggering billions in cuts to Medicare.

My Democratic colleagues and I fought tirelessly to expose and oppose this bill at every turn, demanding transparency and accountability. The American people deserve to understand exactly what happened today: House Republicans deliberately chose their ultra-rich donors over the well-being and financial security of everyday Americans.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Casten, Smith Demand DOJ Investigation Into Trump Crypto Dinner

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

May 22, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Adam Smith (WA-09) led 35 House Democrats in a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Public Integrity Section demanding DOJ immediately launch an investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s offer for top investors in his cryptocurrency token, $TRUMP, to join him at a private dinner violates federal bribery laws or the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution.

“We write to request an immediate investigation into President Trump’s offer for the top investors in his $TRUMP memecoin to attend a private dinner with him on May 22, 2025,” the lawmakers wrote. “This invites foreign influence over U.S. policy decisions and raises potential corruption and emoluments clause violations. It is just the latest example of President Trump disregarding ethics norms, introducing further conflicts of interest, and using his office for self-enrichment.”

Days before the start of his second term, President Trump launched the $TRUMP memecoin. Its price quickly peaked at $75, before crashing and causing $2 billion in investor losses. In April, President Trump announced plans to invite $TRUMP’s top 220 investors to a private dinner, resulting in a 60% surge in price as investors rushed to accumulate enough value to qualify for a seat at the dinner.

The Trump family and its partners have earned more than $320 million in trading fees since $TRUMP was launched in January, including at least $1.35 million following the dinner announcement. Multiple investors have explicitly stated that they hoped to purchase influence with the president.

In addition, a Bloomberg investigation found that the majority of the top 25 memecoin holders are likely foreign nationals. The top spot is held by Justin Sun, a Chinese crypto entrepreneur who faced an SEC lawsuit alleging fraudulent market manipulation on his blockchain platform. The Trump Administration notably paused the legal action after Sun invested $30 million in one of President Trump’s other cryptocurrency ventures, the World Liberty Project.

“U.S. law prohibits foreign persons from contributing to U.S. political campaigns,” the lawmakers continued. “However, the $TRUMP memecoin, including the promotion of a dinner promising exclusive access to the President, opens the door for foreign governments to buy influence with the President, all without disclosing their identities.”

The Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) prohibits any federal government official, including the President, from accepting any benefit from a foreign government without the consent of Congress. It is critical that the DOJ conducts a nonpartisan investigation of President Trump’s private dinner.

In addition to Reps. Casten and Smith, the letter was signed by Reps. Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Greg Casar, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, Cleo Fields, Bill Foster, Maxwell Frost, John Garamendi, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Dan Goldman, Al Green, Jim Himes, Glenn Ivey, Marcy Kaptur, Sam Liccardo, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, April McClain Delaney, Betty McCollum, Gregory Meeks, Dave Min, Brittany Pettersen, Brad Sherman, Shri Thanedar, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, Juan Vargas, Nydia Velázquez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Nikema Williams.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Acting Chief Sullivan:

We write to request an immediate investigation into President Trump’s offer for the top investors in his $TRUMP memecoin to attend a private dinner with him on May 22, 2025. This invites foreign influence over U.S. policy decisions and raises potential corruption and emoluments clause violations. It is just the latest example of President Trump disregarding ethics norms, introducing further conflicts of interest, and using his office for self-enrichment.

On April 23, 2025, a website connected to the Trump family, gettrumpmemes.com, announced that the top 220 investors in the $TRUMP memecoin would be invited to a gala dinner with President Trump on May 22, 2025, located at his golf course outside of Washington D.C. The top 25 buyers would get face time with the President at “an ultra-exclusive private VIP” reception before the dinner, as well as a “special” V.I.P. tour of the White House. And the top four investors would receive a limited-edition Trump-branded watch.

President Trump promoted the event on social media as the “most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the world,” causing the price of the memecoin to surge more than 60 percent as investors rushed to accumulate enough coins to qualify for a dinner seat. Overall, the Trump family and its partners have earned more than $320 million in trading fees since the memecoin was launched in January, including at least $1.35 million following the dinner announcement, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

Investors spent more than $145 million on $TRUMP tokens over the duration of this contest, with some stating explicitly that they hoped to purchase influence with President Trump. For example, GD Culture Group, a small technology company that facilitates e-commerce for other businesses and brands on TikTok, recently announced plans to purchase $300 million worth of $TRUMP coins. And in the company’s own words, its Chinese subsidiary may be subject to “[intervention] or influence” by the Chinese government. GD Culture Group’s announcement came just days after President Trump indicated that he’d “be willing” to delay the statutorily required ban on TikTok in the U.S. past its June 19, 2025, deadline. Freight Technologies, a Houston-based company that specializes in U.S.-Mexico-Canada cross-border shipping, was even more direct about why it planned to purchase $20 million worth of President Trump’s memecoin: to help the company “advocate for fair, balanced, and free trade between Mexico and U.S.,” the company’s CEO said in a statement. After the contest closed, at least 34 of the top 220 investors sold most of their memecoin holdings, further confirming that the $TRUMP memecoin is not a worthwhile investment, but rather a vehicle to buy influence with the Trump Administration.

The $TRUMP memecoin website displays a leaderboard of the winners whose identities remain largely unknown due to the anonymity of digital wallets. However, a Bloomberg analysis found that 19 of the top 25 memecoin holders are likely foreign nationals. Notably, Justin Sun, a Chinese billionaire who has privately touted his ties to the Chinese government and founded a blockchain network often used to finance illicit activities, confirmed that he held the top spot. He owned more than $18 million worth of the memecoin on May 12, 2025, when the contest ended. Since March 2023, Sun has been facing a lawsuit from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), alleging fraudulent market manipulation on his platform. This legal action was notably paused by the Trump administration after he invested $30 million in one of President Trump’s other cryptocurrency ventures. In what appears to be a quid pro quo move, Sun then invested an additional $45 million into President Trump’s World Liberty Project, while simultaneously increasing his holdings of the $TRUMP memecoin.

Former Republican lawmakers, President Trump’s former aides, and cryptocurrency industry leaders recognize these national security risks and the opportunity for corruption. Charles Dent, the former chairman of the House Ethics Committee, recently stated that “ foreign entities and governments obviously want to curry favor with the president. This is completely out of bounds and raises all sorts of ethical, legal and constitutional issues that must be addressed.” Additionally, Anthony Scaramucci, a former official in the Trump administration, characterized President Trump’s memecoin as representing “Idi Amin level corruption.” Furthermore, Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, emphasized that politician-backed coins “are vehicles for unlimited political bribery, including from foreign nation states.”

U.S. law prohibits foreign persons from contributing to U.S. political campaigns. However, the $TRUMP memecoin, including the promotion of a dinner promising exclusive access to the President, opens the door for foreign governments to buy influence with the President, all without disclosing their identities.

The Public Integrity Section was established in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and exists to ensure that the Department of Justice conducts fair and thorough investigations into corruption by government officials at all levels, without regard to those officials’ political views or allegiances.

We therefore urge you to launch an immediate inquiry to determine whether this dinner event violates the federal bribery statute or the foreign emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution. If the Department of Justice concludes that it does, we ask that you set aside political considerations and pursue action to uphold public integrity and the rule of law.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI: Best 5 No Credit Check Loans Same Day Guaranteed Approval In 2025: Top Online Loans Same Day Guaranteed Approval – RadCred

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Glendale, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RadCred, a trusted online financial platform, is being spotlighted as the top choice for Americans seeking no credit check loans with same-day guaranteed approval in 2025. In an era where traditional banks often turn away those with poor credit, RadCred’s innovative lending marketplace offers a lifeline, providing quick, secure access to emergency funds without the usual hurdles.

This comprehensive report explores how RadCred has emerged as the best no credit check loan provider for fast, guaranteed approvals and what borrowers can expect when using this service.

Key Takeways

How to find the best no credit check loans with same-day guaranteed approval in 2025 – and why RadCred stands out as the #1 platform for fast, hassle-free funding.
Why RadCred has become a leading online loan marketplace for urgent borrowing, especially for consumers with bad or no credit.
The specific features that make a no credit check loan safe, fast, and accessible – from instant approvals to flexible terms – and how RadCred delivers on these criteria.
The exact steps to apply for a personal loan through RadCred’s simple, three-step system, including how the platform works and what to expect at each stage.
Real-world scenarios and customer testimonials that highlight how RadCred’s same-day loans have solved urgent financial challenges for everyday people.
A detailed look at RadCred’s eligibility criteria, pros and cons, and commitment to customer safety and data security, including how it protects borrowers from fraud.
A comparison of RadCred vs. traditional lenders, illustrating how RadCred’s no-credit-check, fast approval approach offers a superior alternative for those with less-than-perfect credit.
Important disclaimers on “guaranteed” approvals, interest rates, and responsible borrowing practices to ensure readers make informed financial decisions in 2025.

Best No Credit Check Loans Same Day Guaranteed Approval in 2025 – RadCred Tops the List.

For U.S. borrowers with poor or no credit history—over 28 million adults carry a FICO® score below 600—getting approved for a bank loan can feel impossible..This article explains why RadCred is the best solution in 2025 for no credit check loans with same-day approval, offering a fast, reliable way to obtain emergency cash when traditional lenders won’t help. We break down how

RadCred connects users with a broad network of third-party lenders for quick loans, often providing near-instant approvals and funds deposited by the next business day.

You’ll learn how RadCred’s easy online application (with no hard credit checks), flexible loan options, and robust security measures make it a standout choice for those in a financial crunch.

We also compare RadCred’s service to conventional loans from banks, outline the platform’s pros and cons, share real customer reviews, and provide tips on safe borrowing. If time is short and credit is low, here’s why RadCred is the go-to platform for fast, guaranteed-approval loans in 2025.

Low credit score holding you back? Click “Apply Now” to unlock instant, no-credit-check approvals up to $5,000.

Why Getting a Loan with Bad Credit Feels Impossible?

For millions of Americans, trying to secure a loan when you have bad credit feels like hitting a brick wall. Many people with less-than-perfect credit find themselves shut out of traditional financing, whether it’s due to unexpected medical bills, a job layoff, or an emergency expense that led to debt. Banks and credit unions typically demand high credit scores, extensive paperwork, and even collateral to approve a loan.

As a result, borrowers with poor credit scores are often left with no options or offered only predatory, high-interest products. It’s not uncommon for a bank to outright reject an application if the applicant’s FICO score doesn’t meet a strict threshold. In short, the conventional lending system hasn’t been kind to those who don’t have excellent credit.

Yet life doesn’t wait for your credit score to catch up. When urgent expenses strike car repairs, medical emergencies, rent due by tomorrow, you name it – people need a quick solution, not a drawn-out loan process.

This is exactly the situation countless Americans faced in recent years, fueling a search for alternatives that don’t rely on the traditional credit check. Enter the rise of no credit check loans, a form of lending designed to serve folks the banks turn away.

Need rent money fast? Start with RadCred and match to lenders ready to deposit cash by tonight—no collateral required.

Rise of No Credit Check Loans in 2025

No credit check loans in 2025 have moved from the fringes to the financial mainstream, thanks to digital platforms that specialize in fast approvals for people with bad credit.

These loans bypass the lengthy credit verification that banks insist upon. Instead, lenders focus on what really matters to desperate borrowers: speed, accessibility, discretion, and control. Here’s why this type of loan has surged in popularity:

Speed: Applications can take mere minutes, and some lenders are able to fund loans within 24 hours of approval. There’s no waiting weeks for an answer – decisions are often made almost instantly.
Accessibility: Most no-credit-check lenders require only basic personal and income information. There are no hard credit inquiries, meaning applying won’t ding your credit score, and even those with a rocky credit history can qualify.
Discretion: Because the process is online, borrowers avoid the embarrassment or judgment that can come with an in-person bank denial. Everything is handled privately through a secure website.
Control: Borrowers can receive multiple offers and choose the one that best fits their needs, with no obligation to accept any particular offer. You’re not at the mercy of a single bank’s decision; you have options.

Online money sites now use smart computer programs to match people with lenders fast. Even if your credit score is low, you can fill out one short form and see loan offers in minutes—no bank visit, no long wait. These sites save you time and keep your information private.

RadCred is the best of these services, giving no-credit-check loans with same-day approval. The next parts show why RadCred shines and how it can put cash in your account quickly.

Overview of RadCred – A Top Platform for Same-Day No Credit Check Loans

RadCred is a relatively new but rapidly growing player in the online lending space, and it has quickly earned a reputation as one of 2025’s best no credit check loan providers. In essence, RadCred operates as an online loan marketplace or intermediary – it is not a direct lender itself, but rather a platform that connects borrowers with a vast network of trusted third-party lenders.

This network is one of RadCred’s greatest strengths. With plenty of lenders in its system, the chances of finding a loan offer for a qualified borrower are very high, even if you have a poor credit score.What RadCred Offers: Quick Bad-Credit

Loans, $300 – $35,000

RadCred’s marketplace lets borrowers request no credit check loans as small as $300 or personal-installment loans up to $35,000—higher than most rivals. One short form reaches dozens of partner lenders, covering payday cash advances and larger debt-consolidation options.

Guaranteed Approval for Low Scores

RadCred’s partners run only a soft inquiry, so your score stays untouched. Because lenders focus on income (≥ $800 / month) instead of FICO, approval rates top 80 percent for applicants with scores under 600—far better than a single bank’s odds.

Same-Day or Next-Day Funding

Speed matters: accept an offer before noon on a weekday, and you could see money in your checking account that evening; later approvals usually fund the following morning. RadCred aims for a < 24-hour turnaround whenever banking hours allow.

Zero Platform Fees, No Hidden Costs

Applying is 100 percent free. RadCred never adds charges; any interest or fees come directly from the lender’s transparent offer. You’re free to decline and walk away.

Trusted, Secure, and Educative

With 2 million+ users and OLA membership, RadCred meets strict ethical-lending standards. The site uses 256-bit SSL encryption and publishes scam-avoidance tips, underscoring its commitment to consumer safety.

Bottom line: RadCred blends speed, access, and trust to deliver fast cash for bad-credit borrowers without the usual headaches.

Emergency medical bill? Tap “Get Started” for a quick, same-day cash advance without hurting your credit.

RadCred vs. Top Competitors

Here’s how RadCred compares to other known lenders in the market.

Platform	Credit Check Type	Approval Time	Max Loan	Funding Speed	APR Range
Radcred	Soft only to match	1–5 min	$5,000	Same day–24 h	6 %–35.99 %
MoneyMutuall	None/Soft	5 min	$5,000	24 h	60 % + (payday)
CashUSA	Soft	3 min	$10,000	24 h	5.99 %–35.99 %
BadCredit Loans	Soft	4 min	$10,000	24 h	5.99 %–35.99 %
Personal Loans	Soft-hard at funding	5 min	$35,000	1–2 days	5.99 %–35.99 %

*APR ranges compiled from lender disclosures and CFPB complaint data (2024–2025).

Self-employed and denied elsewhere? RadCred welcomes 1099 income—apply free and secure fast funding.

No Credit Check Loans: RadCred’s 3-Step Online Application for Instant Approval & Same-Day Funding

Getting money with RadCred is super easy. Forget big bank forms and long lines. Just open the RadCred site, fill out a short five-minute online loan application (no hard credit check), and hit submit. Right away, bad-credit lenders review your info and send offers.

Pick the deal you like, sign online, and cash can land in your bank often the same day. Fast, simple, and perfect when you need an online payday loan alternative without the hassle.

1. Five-Minute Online Application

Visit RadCred, hit “Apply Now,” and complete a brief form containing your name, phone number, state, monthly income, bank details, and desired amount. No uploads, faxing, or collateral. RadCred pulls only a soft inquiry, so your score is untouched while you shop for bad credit personal loan options or small payday loans online.

2. Real-Time Lender Matching

RadCred’s algorithm instantly compares your profile with 60 + lending partners that specialize in fast cash for bad credit. Within 1–3 minutes, you’ll see multiple offers displaying loan limit, APR, fees, and repayment term.

This side-by-side view lets you choose the lowest rate or most comfortable payment—no obligation, no upfront fees.

3. E-Sign & Get Same-Day Funds

Select an offer, sign electronically, and the lender initiates an ACH transfer. Many borrowers receive money the same day; late-day approvals fund the next morning. Use it for car repairs, medical bills, or any quick emergency loan need.

Because everything is digital, no branch visits, no piles of paperwork, RadCred moves you from application to cash in under 24 hours, delivering no credit check loan same day without a hard credit check.

Looking for debt relief? Consolidate high-interest balances today with one easy, no-credit-check application.

Eligibility Criteria for RadCred No Credit Check loans Same day Guaranteed Approval

One reason RadCred has become so popular among people with poor credit is that the eligibility requirements are very accessible. You do not need a perfect credit score, a high income, or any collateral to use the platform.

In fact, RadCred’s basic requirements mirror those of similar reputable bad-credit loan providers and are quite minimal. Essentially, if you meet the following basic criteria, there’s a good chance you can qualify to use RadCred and get matched with a lender:

At Least 18 Years Old: You must be a legal adult (18 or older). This is a standard requirement for any loan contract. RadCred will verify your age by asking for info like your date of birth and possibly requiring a government-issued ID during the lender’s final approval stage
U.S. Residency: RadCred’s services are available only to U.S. residents/citizens. You should be a legal citizen or permanent resident of the United States with a valid U.S. address
Steady Income Source: You don’t need to be traditionally “employed” in a 9-to-5 job, but you do need a regular source of income to show you can repay the loan. This income could be from a job, self-employment, gig work, disability, Social Security benefits, or even a pension.

RadCred’s application will ask you to report your monthly income. Generally, lenders in the network expect at least roughly $800 per month or more in income, but this can include various income types. There’s flexibility here – the key is you have some money coming in that you could use to make loan payments.

Active Checking Account: To receive your funds (and to make automated repayments), you’ll need an active checking account in your name. This is where lenders will deposit the loan money if you’re approved. It also allows for convenient electronic withdrawals for your repayments. You’ll provide your bank routing and account number during the application.
Contact Details: You should have a valid email address and phone number so lenders can reach you if needed and so RadCred can communicate updates. During the process, you may receive an email confirmation or even a phone call if a lender needs to clarify something. Accurate contact info is important to keep things moving quickly.

You don’t need a high credit score, car title, or other collateral to start with RadCred. As long as you’re an adult U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have a checking account in your name, and earn steady income, you unlock the no credit check loan application.

RadCred’s engine then filters out any lender whose rules don’t match your profile, sparing you wasted effort. Borrowers under 18, with no bank account, or without verifiable income are screened out automatically.

This simple checklist makes RadCred the best option for bad credit personal loans, welcoming self-employed workers, freelancers, part-timers, and anyone with past credit problems. Meet the basics, and you’ll see tailored offers that can lead to instant approval, same-day funding, and the fast cash traditional banks won’t provide.

Need a $1,000 boost? Fill out RadCred’s short form and get matched to real lenders—no hard inquiry, no pressure.

Pros and Cons of Using RadCred For No Credit Check Loans Guaranteed Approval

Every financial service has its advantages and drawbacks. As part of an honest review of RadCred as the best no credit check loan platform of 2025, it’s important to consider both the pros and cons. Below, we outline the key benefits that make RadCred stand out, as well as some potential limitations to be aware of.

Pros of RadCred:

High Approval for Bad Credit
This platform focuses on bad-credit personal loans, so approvals come far more often than at banks. Its large lender pool means someone almost always says yes, even with a sub-600 score.
Same-Day Funding
Thanks to an all-digital flow, many borrowers receive instant approval and cash in their accounts within 24 hours, a true lifesaver when emergencies strike.
No Hard Inquiry
The initial request triggers only a soft credit check, protecting your score while you shop multiple no credit check loan offers.
Zero Fees, No Obligation
Submitting a request is free, and you can walk away from any loan quote that doesn’t fit—risk-free comparison shopping.
Flexible Loan Sizes
Choose anything from a $300 online payday loan to a $35,000 installment product for debt consolidation or large expenses.
Transparent, Vetted Lenders
All partners follow Online Lenders Alliance guidelines; APR, fees, and terms are shown upfront—no hidden costs.
Bank-Level Security
Data moves through 256-bit SSL encryption and daily security scans, keeping personal information safe.
Responsive Support
Live agents are available weekdays, 6 a.m.-7 p.m. PT, plus email assistance 24/7, which is valuable when questions arise.
Strong User Ratings
An average 4.3-star score highlights quick approvals, an easy process, and overall customer satisfaction.

Cons of RadCred:

U.S.–Only Availability
The platform serves American borrowers exclusively. In certain states with strict rules on payday or installment products, lender options for no credit check loans may be limited or unavailable.
Intermediary, Not Lender
It acts as a marketplace, connecting you to third-party providers. Questions about APR, repayment dates, or late fees must be directed to the chosen lender, adding an extra communication step.
Higher APR for Bad Credit
Rates on bad credit loans can range roughly 6 %-35.99 %, and short-term online payday loans may cost more. Borrow only what you can comfortably repay.
Short Terms on Small Loans
Amounts under $500 often require payoff by your next payday, making monthly payments steep. Larger installment offers give multi-month terms but still demand discipline.
Possible Follow-Up Calls
Submitting a request can trigger emails or calls from competing lenders. While some welcome the extra offers, others may find the outreach inconvenient.
Bank Account and Income Required
A checking account and verifiable income- salary, gig earnings, or benefits- remain mandatory for instant-approval matching.

Overall, the pros of RadCred far outweigh the cons for the audience it serves. The platform delivers exactly what its target users need: fast and accessible loans when others say no. The drawbacks are mostly inherent to the industry (higher interest for higher-risk borrowers, etc.) or minor inconveniences.

Borrowers should be aware of the terms and only borrow amounts they can reasonably repay. RadCred provides the tools and opportunities, but it’s up to each individual to use them wisely.

Bad credit payday loan alternative. Secure funds privately—apply in minutes, repay flexibly.

Real Customer Case Studies & Testimonials

Case Study 1: Emergency Medical-Bill Loan for a Single Dad

Name: Brian K.
Location: Orlando, FL

Situation: Brian’s young son needed an unexpected outpatient procedure that required a $750 up-front payment the following morning. With a FICO score in the low 500s, Brian’s bank rejected a personal-loan request, and his credit-card cash-advance limit was only $300.

Solution: At 9 p.m. Brian completed RadCred’s five-minute form on his phone. He was matched instantly with a lender that offered an $800 short-term installment loan, no hard credit inquiry required. Funds landed in his checking account by 10 a.m., in time to cover the hospital payment.

“RadCred felt like a lifesaver. They didn’t grill me about my score, just got me the money before the doctor’s office opened.”

Case Study 2: Emergency Utility-Relief Loan for a Single Mom

Name: Jasmine L.
Location: Richmond, VA

Situation: Jasmine, a single mom, fell behind on utilities after a week of unpaid sick leave. Two traditional lenders declined her $500 request because of a 560 credit score and a recent late payment.

Solution: Through RadCred, she received three competing offers within minutes; the winning lender approved $600 without a hard pull and wired the money the next business morning. High approval odds—even after prior denials—spared her a shut-off notice and late-fee penalties.

“I’d started to think nobody would help me. RadCred connected me with a lender who said ‘yes’ when everyone else said ‘no.’”

Case Study 3: Transparent Debt-Consolidation Loan for a Gig-Worker

Name: Marco D.
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Situation: Marco juggles rideshare driving and freelance design. He wanted to consolidate two payday balances totalling $1,200, but was wary of hidden fees after past bad experiences with storefront lenders.

Solution: Marco applied via RadCred during a ride-share break. Within five minutes, he received an offer for a $1,500 six-month installment loan at a clearly stated 29.9 % APR, with no origination fee and the option to prepay without penalties. The terms he accepted matched exactly what was advertised on the offer page.

“Everything was up front. No surprises at signing or in the repayment schedule. That transparency made me comfortable going ahead.”

Key Takeaways Across Cases

RadCred Promise	Real-World Outcome
Speed	Same-day or next-day funding in all three cases
Ease	Five-minute mobile application; no collateral or paperwork uploads
High Approval Odds	Borrowers previously denied elsewhere received affirmative offers
Transparency & Trust	Loan terms delivered matched online disclosures; no bait-and-switch reports

These stories mirror RadCred’s 4.3-star average rating: borrowers consistently praise the platform for fast approvals, clear terms, and dependable support, qualities that have propelled RadCred to the forefront of no-credit-check loans lending in 2025.

Apply for a bad credit loan online—30-second form, no hard inquiry.

RadCred vs. Traditional Lenders: No Credit Check, Same-Day Loan Advantage

It’s worth comparing RadCred’s approach to lending with more traditional options (like banks or credit unions) and even other online lenders. For a consumer with bad credit, these differences are often what make RadCred such an attractive choice in 2025. Here’s a side-by-side look at how RadCred compares to conventional lenders in several key areas:

Credit Requirements

Traditional banks insist on hard pulls, high scores (600-650+), and often collateral. By contrast, this online loan marketplace uses a soft inquiry only, welcoming applicants with limited or bad credit– even those below 580.

Approval hinges on present income and repayment ability, not past mistakes, and no car title or property is needed. That makes the platform dramatically more accessible than a bank, giving everyday borrowers a realistic shot at fast cash when other doors slam shut.

Speed of Approval & Funding

Bank underwriting takes days; weekend requests stall until Monday. Here, the entire no credit check loan process runs on internet speed. Applications finish in minutes, offers appear almost instantly, and ACH deposits often arrive the same day, or the next morning for late-evening approvals.

This around-the-clock service is crucial when rent or car repairs can’t wait. Some online lenders in the network have funded users within hours, proving lifesaving during tight deadlines.

Convenience & Accessibility

Branch visits, appointments, and paper forms are still common at traditional lenders. In contrast, this platform is fully mobile-friendly: self-employed workers, gig drivers, or part-timers can apply anytime, anywhere. The user interface is straightforward, guiding applicants through each field without jargon.

Because the service operates 24 / 7, customers receive help on their own schedule, not the banker’s. It’s true on-demand financial assistance, replacing legacy bureaucracy with click-to-cash simplicity.

Loan Terms & Flexibility

Bank loans may advertise low APRs, but qualifying is tough, and minimum amounts can be rigid. The marketplace, however, offers a wide menu- small payday loan alternatives for $300 or installment loans up to $35,000 with terms reaching 73 months.

Early repayment is generally allowed, and many lenders will negotiate extensions if you hit a snag. This flexibility lets borrowers tailor the loan size and timeline to their actual needs rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all package.

Cost & Fees

Interest is higher than prime bank rates because lenders assume greater risk on bad credit personal loans. Still, marketplace offers are often cheaper than credit-card cash advances, pawn shops, or storefront payday lenders charging triple-digit APRs.

The platform itself is fee-free, has no application charge, and has no rate-shopping penalty. Competitive pressure among online lenders helps keep rates within the 6 %-35.99 % bracket for installment products, allowing cost-conscious borrowers to choose the best available deal.

Transparency & Choice

A single bank grants one yes-or-no verdict. Here, multiple vetted lenders bid for your business, promoting a competitive environment that can lower rates or fees. All offers show APR, monthly payment, and total cost upfront, no hidden fine print.

Comparative shopping tools let you sort by rate, amount, or funding speed in seconds. The result is a clear, consumer-driven experience that transforms loan hunting from opaque guesswork into an informed, side-by-side decision.

RadCred’s online marketplace beats banks on access, speed, and privacy for subprime borrowers. Their no credit check loans and bad-credit personal loans deliver near-instant approval and same-day funding, eliminating traditional lenders’ paperwork and collateral demands.

Where a bank might dismiss you, the platform matches you to receptive lenders in minutes, quietly and securely, right from your phone. That discreet, user-first model turns a once-impossible task of getting cash with a low score into a fast, dignified, and dependable solution.

Conclusion: Why RadCred is the Best Choice in 2025 for No Credit Check, Same-Day Loans

In conclusion, RadCred has earned its position as the premier destination for no credit check, same-day loans in 2025 by combining technological innovation with a human-centric understanding of borrowers’ challenges. Its platform proves that “bad credit” does not have to mean “no options.” Instead, RadCred flips the script, giving consumers a fast, safe option to obtain cash when it’s needed, all while treating them with respect and dignity.

RadCred has proven that when it comes to helping people weather life’s financial storms, it truly “has your back.” If you’re in a bind and worried that your credit score will hold you back, RadCred may well be the lifeline to get you through quickly, safely, and with your peace of mind intact.

FAQ

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

Most online marketplaces return offers within minutes; accepted loans are often deposited the same or next business day, depending on bank cut-off times and lender policies.

2. Does it cost anything to apply through RadCred?

No. Submitting the online form is free; the platform is paid by participating lenders, so borrowers face no application fees or hidden platform charges.

3. Are no-credit-check loans safe to use?

They’re safe when obtained from vetted, licensed lenders using encrypted websites; avoid advance-fee demands, unsecured pages, or unsolicited offers to steer clear of common personal-loan scams.

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

Installment products on reputable networks range roughly 6 %–35.99 % APR, while short-term payday loans can exceed 200 % in permissive states—compare offers carefully before signing.

5. Who qualifies for no-credit-check loans?

Applicants must be at least 18, possess an active U.S. checking account, and show steady income; hard credit scores are not mandatory for approval.

Disclaimer: RadCred is an online loan marketplace, not a direct lender. Loan approval, terms, APRs, and funding speeds are determined by third-party lenders and state regulations. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval or specific terms. Borrow responsibly and read all lender disclosures before accepting any offer.

The MIL Network –

May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI: WISeKey Updates on the Negotiations to Acquire 100% of IC’ALPS

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WISeKey Updates on the Negotiations to Acquire 100% of IC’ALPS

Geneva, Switzerland – May 22, 2025 – Ad-Hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 of SIX Listing Rules – WISeKey International Holding Ltd (NASDAQ: WKEY / SIX: WIHN) (“WISeKey” or “the Company”), a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT technologies, today shares an update on the exclusive negotiations entered into by its subsidiary, SEALSQ Corp (“SEALSQ”), a leading developer and provider of Semiconductors, PKI, and Post-Quantum technology hardware and software solutions, to acquire 100% of the share capital and voting rights of IC’ALPS SAS (“IC’ALPS”), an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”) design and supply specialist based in Grenoble, France (“the Acquisition”).

These exclusive negotiations result from the execution of a Letter of Intent with IC’ALPS and its shareholders (the “Sellers”). This proposed strategic Acquisition (subject to the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement and satisfaction of closing conditions) is expected to reinforce SEALSQ’s commitment to advancing its ASIC development to meet the growing demand in the sector and would add approximately 100 highly skilled staff based out of IC’ALPS’ current centers in Grenoble and Toulouse.

SEALSQ and the Sellers have reached an agreement in principle to sign a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) based on the following elements:

A fixed purchase price of EUR 12.5 million (subject to a ‘No Leakage’ undertaking clause) comprised of EUR 10 million consideration payable in cash and EUR 2.5 million consideration to be paid to one of the Sellers in fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares of SEALSQ, the number of which would be calculated based on the volume weighted average price of an Ordinary Share of SEALSQ on the Nasdaq Stock Market during the ninety trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the closing of the Acquisition.
An earn-out payment in Ordinary Shares of up to EUR 4 million in value based on IC’ALPS achieving revenue in excess of EUR 11 million in the twelve months ending on December 31, 2025 (revenue to be accounted for in accordance with US GAAP and audited by SEALSQ’s statutory auditors).
The Ordinary Shares of SEALSQ to be issued as part of the equity consideration would be subject to a mandatory holding period of one hundred and eighty days from their date of issuance, during which the relevant Seller would be restricted from selling, transferring, or otherwise disposing of the SEALSQ Ordinary Shares.
Conditions precedent to the closing of the Acquisition include, among others, approval of the Acquisition by the French Ministry of the Economy in accordance with articles L.151-3 and R.151-1 et seq of the French Financial and Monetary Code (code monétaire et financier).

During the year ended December 31, 2024, based solely on the draft unaudited revenue of IC’ALPS provided to SEALSQ using French GAAP was EUR9,756,000 with a net loss of EUR2,016,000. In the previous year, the audited revenue of IC’ALPS, based solely on the audited revenue of IC’ALPS provided to SEALSQ, using French GAAP was EUR 8,465,000 with a net income of EUR318,000. As further detailed below, upon completion of the Acquisition, it is anticipated that SEALSQ would prepare full audited financial statements using US GAAP for both years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and that this might lead to material adjustment to these numbers.

We note that the net loss of IC’ALPS under French GAAP for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 included sales to SEALSQ in an amount of approximately EUR 615,000. Excluding the sales to SEALSQ, the net loss of IC’ALPS under French GAAP for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 would amount to a net loss in the amount of EUR (2,631,000), based on the draft unaudited revenue of IC’ALPS provided to SEALSQ. We note that the net income of IC’ALPS under French GAAP for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 included sales to SEALSQ in an amount of approximately EUR 1,168,000. Excluding the sales to SEALSQ, the net income of IC’ALPS under French GAAP for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 would amount to a net loss in the amount of EUR (850,000) based on the audited revenue of IC’ALPS provided to SEALSQ.

Although the conversion of the financial information of IC’ALPS from French GAAP to US GAAP has not been initiated, we expect that material adjustments may arise upon conversion to US GAAP in relation to French GAAP based net sales, operating expenses and income tax income reflected in the IC’ALPS income statement for twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and in relation to French GAAP based intangible assets, current liabilities, and pension and debt liabilities reflected in the balance sheet as at December 31, 2024 and 2023, as reflected in the numbers provided by IC’ALPS to SEALSQ and disclosed in the preceding paragraphs.

About IC’ALPS:
IC’ALPS is your one-stop-shop ASIC partner. Based in France (HQ in Grenoble, two design centers in Grenoble and Toulouse), the company provides customers with a complete offering for Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Systems on Chip (SoC) development from circuit specification, mastering design in-house, up to the management of the entire production supply chain. Its 100+ engineers’ areas of expertise include analog, digital and mixed-signal circuits (sensor/MEMS interfaces, ultra-low power consumption, power management, high-resolution converters, high voltage, signal processing, ARM and RISC-V based multiprocessors architectures, hardware accelerators) on technologies from 0.18 µm down to 1.8 nm, and from multiple foundries (TSMC, Global Foundries, Tower Semiconductor, X-FAB, STMicroelectronics, Intel Foundry, etc.). The company is active worldwide in medical, industrial, automotive, IoT, IA, mil-aero, and digital identity & security sectors. IC’ALPS is ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, EN 9100:2018, Common Criteria certified, IATF16949-ready, member of TSMC Design Center Alliance (DCA), Intel Foundry Accelerator Design Services Alliance and Value Chain Alliance (DSA & VCA), ams Osram Preferred Partner and X-FAB’s partner network.
More information: www.icalps.com and https://www.linkedin.com/company/ic-alps

About SEALSQ:
SEALSQ is a leading innovator in Post-Quantum Technology hardware and software solutions. Our technology seamlessly integrates Semiconductors, PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), and Provisioning Services, with a strategic emphasis on developing state-of-the-art Quantum Resistant Cryptography and Semiconductors designed to address the urgent security challenges posed by quantum computing. As quantum computers advance, traditional cryptographic methods like RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) are increasingly vulnerable.

SEALSQ is pioneering the development of Post-Quantum Semiconductors that provide robust, future-proof protection for sensitive data across a wide range of applications, including Multi-Factor Authentication tokens, Smart Energy, Medical and Healthcare Systems, Defense, IT Network Infrastructure, Automotive, and Industrial Automation and Control Systems. By embedding Post-Quantum Cryptography into our semiconductor solutions, SEALSQ ensures that organizations stay protected against quantum threats. Our products are engineered to safeguard critical systems, enhancing resilience and security across diverse industries.

For more information on our Post-Quantum Semiconductors and security solutions, please visit www.sealsq.com.

About WISeKey
WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.

Disclaimer

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our business strategy, financial performance, results of operations, market data, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts and can be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will” and “would” or similar words. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the actual adjustments that arise upon conversion of the financial information of IC’ALPS to US GAAP in relation to net sales, operating expenses and income tax income in the income statement for twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and in relation to intangible assets, current liabilities, and pension and debt liabilities in the balance sheet as at December 31, 2024 and 2023, in comparison with the French GAAP ; the entering into of definitive documents, the authorization by French regulatory authorities and the successful closing of the Acquisition; ; and the risks discussed in WISeKey’s filings with the SEC. Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by WISeKey with the SEC.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

Press and Investor Contacts

WISeKey International Holding Ltd
Company Contact: Carlos Moreira
Chairman & CEO
Tel: +41 22 594 3000
info@wisekey.com

WISeKey Investor Relations (US)
The Equity Group Inc.
Lena Cati
Tel: +1 212 836-9611
lcati@theequitygroup.com

The MIL Network –

May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s skills crisis is growing — here’s how we can fix it

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Stephen Murgatroyd, Instructor, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta

Canada needs to rethink how to prepare Canadians for the workforce. (Shutterstock)

Canada is facing a significant skills shortage. According to recent data, 77 per cent of Canadian businesses surveyed say they are unable to find suitably skilled candidates for the jobs they have available.

Even among those who apply with relevant skills, 44 per cent don’t have the required level of proficiency to secure employment. At present, there are about 700,000 job vacancies across the country.

This mismatch persists despite Canada having one of its largest-ever graduating classes — nearly 360,000 students from colleges, universities and trade schools.

As labour shortages deepen across sectors, the disconnect between formal education and real-world job requirements is becoming harder to ignore.

Skills shortage will likely worsen

Canada’s skills shortage is expected to worsen in the coming years. Between now and 2028, 700,000 workers in the skilled trades are due to retire.

Canada’s antiquated apprenticeship system is struggling to produce enough workers to fill this gap. It is slow, outdated and has low completion rates: just 32 per cent of male and 35 per cent of female candidates complete their training.

Some employers are losing confidence in using qualifications as a basis for hiring.
(Shutterstock)

Completing an apprenticeship can take up to four years in Canada, while many other nations have much higher completion rates in two years or less.

It is not just trades that Canada has challenges with. If current trends continue, Canada is projected to face a shortage of 100,000 nurses by 2030. Significant shortages are also expected in technology-related positions, construction engineering and K-12 education, where demand for teachers and school administrators is rising.

Meanwhile, rising demand is expected for jobs related to artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing and supply chain management.

Rethinking how to prepare people for work

Some employers are losing confidence in using qualifications as a basis for hiring. Increasingly, they feel degrees and diplomas don’t adequately prepare people for work.

As a result, some organizations have moved to skills-based or competency-based hiring where candidates share skills portfolios and work testimonials to secure a position. As of 2024, approximately 80 per cent of Canadian companies have implemented some form of skills-based hiring practices, up from 74 per cent in 2023.

Read more:
Employers should use skill-based hiring to find hidden talent and address labour challenges

Other companies, like Shopify, take candidates from high school and put them through custom programs designed to ensure they have the skills needed to work in a particular organization or industry.

Colleges and universities have long been seen as the primary pipelines for skilled labour. But as employer expectations evolve, Canada needs to reconsider the role these institutions play in producing skilled workers.

Simply expanding existing programs or opening new programs will not solve the underlying problem. What’s needed is a fundamental rethinking of how we prepare Canadians for the workforce.

5 steps Canada should take

Canada’s new government, in collaboration with provinces, territories and industry, needs to pursue a five-pronged strategy to address the country’s deepening skills crisis:

1. Modernize the apprenticeship system.

Canada must transition from a traditional, time-based apprenticeship model to a flexible, competency-based system. Instead of being tied to rigid journeyperson-to-apprentice ratios and multi-year timelines, learners should be able to demonstrate their skills on demand anywhere, anytime. The goal should be to reduce completion times to two years or less.

Learning should be accessible through multiple formats, including workplace mentorship, YouTube tutorials, boot camps, micro-credentials and virtual labs. What matters is not where learning takes place, but whether a learner can demonstrate competence.

Learners should be able to demonstrate their skills on demand anywhere, anytime.
(Shutterstock)

2. Accelerate skills recognition through micro-credentials.

Canada should fast-track the adoption of micro-learning, stackable micro-credentials and competency-based certification. Micro-credentials are short, focused learning experiences that recognize specific skills or knowledge.

In fields like IT, project management and supply chain management, many professionals succeed without formal academic degrees, instead relying on industry-recognized certifications.

This model must expand into other sectors, especially health care, manufacturing and finance, where skills-based hiring could address labour shortages.

3. Recognize informal and experiential learning.

Millions of Canadians develop valuable skills through informal, self-directed and work-based learning.

Yet Canada’s prior learning assessment and recognition systems, which convert informal learning into certified learning, remains fragmented, under-utilized and overly bureaucratic.

Canada needs a nationally coherent, on-demand competency-based assessment system. Certified assessors should be able to validate individuals’ skills and link them to job profiles, occupational standards and credentials. This is not just an equity issue, but is an economic imperative. Other countries are much better at this than Canada is.

4. Shorten and re-design post-secondary programs.

The misalignment between program outcomes and labour market demands is well-documented. Closing this gap should be a top priority for post-secondary reform.

Many college and university programs could be made shorter, more agile and more aligned with workforce needs — especially programs linked to workforce needs and skills in demand.

Competency-based, work-integrated learning models that are designed with industry and delivered in two- or three-year formats could dramatically increase job readiness.

5. Incentivize employer investment in upskilling and reskilling.

Canada needs a stronger incentive framework for continuous learning. Canada’s training credit — a refundable tax credit that helps offset the cost of eligible training fees — helps some individuals, but employers still view training as a cost rather than a driver of productivity, retention and competitiveness.

A new approach should include tax incentives for employers and employees investing in learning; co-funded, industry-led training partnerships; industry-sponsored micro-credentials; and public recognition for employers who demonstrate leadership in workforce development.

Canada cannot meet today’s workforce challenges with outdated systems and thinking. Doing more of the same and expecting different results is no longer an option. What is needed is evidence-informed and future-focused reforms that prioritize skills, flexibility and inclusion.

Stephen Murgatroyd does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Canada’s skills crisis is growing — here’s how we can fix it – https://theconversation.com/canadas-skills-crisis-is-growing-heres-how-we-can-fix-it-256864

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Nadler Statement Following Vote on Republican’s Dangerous Reconciliation Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) released the following statement after voting against Donald Trump’s dangerous reconciliation bill that slashes health care and food assistance in order to pay for massive tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy:

“While American families slept last night and early this morning, House Republicans rushed through and passed a devastating bill that kicks more than 10 million Americans off their health coverage, strips food assistance from millions, and drives up premiums, deductibles, and copays for working families.

In New York alone, 1.4 million people would lose coverage, including 730,000 who would be pushed off the Essential Plan. Hospitals would face more than $1.3 billion in new uncompensated care, and Medicaid would be gutted by punitive work requirements that disproportionately impact seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income caregivers. All of this to finance massive tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations.

To be clear, Republicans didn’t have to cruelly attacking working families to extended middle-class tax relief. Simply making the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share would have paid for extending middle-class tax cuts without harming millions of Americans and drastically increasing the deficit by trillions.

I am proud that every House Democrat stood united in opposing this disastrous bill. The fight is far from over, and I will continue using every tool at my disposal to stop this cruel legislation from becoming law.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Smith, Casten Demand DOJ Investigation Into Trump Crypto Dinner

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressmen Adam Smith (WA-09) and Sean Casten (IL-06) led 35 House Democrats in a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Public Integrity Section demanding DOJ immediately launch an investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s offer for top investors in his cryptocurrency token, $TRUMP, to join him at a private dinner violates federal bribery laws or the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution.

“We write to request an immediate investigation into President Trump’s offer for the top investors in his $TRUMP memecoin to attend a private dinner with him on May 22, 2025,” the lawmakers wrote. “This invites foreign influence over U.S. policy decisions and raises potential corruption and emoluments clause violations. It is just the latest example of President Trump disregarding ethics norms, introducing further conflicts of interest, and using his office for self-enrichment.”

Days before the start of his second term, President Trump launched the $TRUMP memecoin. Its price quickly peaked at $75, before crashing and causing $2 billion in investor losses. In April, President Trump announced plans to invite $TRUMP’s top 220 investors to a private dinner, resulting in a 60% surge in price as investors rushed to accumulate enough value to qualify for a seat at the dinner.

The Trump family and its partners have earned more than $320 million in trading fees since $TRUMP was launched in January, including at least $1.35 million following the dinner announcement. Multiple investors have explicitly stated that they hoped to purchase influence with the president.

“U.S. law prohibits foreign persons from contributing to U.S. political campaigns,” the lawmakers continued. “However, the $TRUMP memecoin, including the promotion of a dinner promising exclusive access to the President, opens the door for foreign governments to buy influence with the President, all without disclosing their identities.”

In addition, a Bloomberg investigation found that the majority of the top 25 memecoin holders are likely foreign nationals. The top spot is held by Justin Sun, a Chinese crypto entrepreneur who faced an SEC lawsuit alleging fraudulent market manipulation on his blockchain platform. This Trump Administration notably paused the legal action after Sun invested $30 million in one of President Trump’s other cryptocurrency ventures, the World Liberty Project.

The Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) prohibits any federal government official, including the President, from accepting any benefit from a foreign government without the consent of Congress. It is critical that the DOJ conducts a nonpartisan investigation of President Trump’s private dinner.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Acting Chief Sullivan:

We write to request an immediate investigation into President Trump’s offer for the top investors in his $TRUMP memecoin to attend a private dinner with him on May 22, 2025. This invites foreign influence over U.S. policy decisions and raises potential corruption and emoluments clause violations. It is just the latest example of President Trump disregarding ethics norms, introducing further conflicts of interest, and using his office for self-enrichment.

On April 23, 2025, a website connected to the Trump family, gettrumpmemes.com, announced that the top 220 investors in the $TRUMP memecoin would be invited to a gala dinner with President Trump on May 22, 2025, located at his golf course outside of Washington D.C. The top 25 buyers would get face time with the President at “an ultra-exclusive private VIP” reception before the dinner, as well as a “special” V.I.P. tour of the White House. And the top four investors would receive a limited-edition Trump-branded watch.

President Trump promoted the event on social media as the “most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the world,” causing the price of the memecoin to surge more than 60 percent as investors rushed to accumulate enough coins to qualify for a dinner seat. Overall, the Trump family and its partners have earned more than $320 million in trading fees since the memecoin was launched in January, including at least $1.35 million following the dinner announcement, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

Investors spent more than $145 million on $TRUMP tokens over the duration of this contest, with some stating explicitly that they hoped to purchase influence with President Trump. For example, GD Culture Group, a small technology company that facilitates e-commerce for other businesses and brands on TikTok, recently announced plans to purchase $300 million worth of $TRUMP coins. And in the company’s own words, its Chinese subsidiary may be subject to “[intervention] or influence” by the Chinese government. GD Culture Group’s announcement came just days after President Trump indicated that he’d “be willing” to delay the statutorily required ban on TikTok in the U.S. past its June 19, 2025, deadline. Freight Technologies, a Houston-based company that specializes in U.S.-Mexico-Canada cross-border shipping, was even more direct about why it planned to purchase $20 million worth of President Trump’s memecoin: to help the company “advocate for fair, balanced, and free trade between Mexico and U.S.,” the company’s CEO said in a statement. After the contest closed, at least 34 of the top 220 investors sold most of their memecoin holdings, further confirming that the $TRUMP memecoin is not a worthwhile investment, but rather a vehicle to buy influence with the Trump Administration.

The $TRUMP memecoin website displays a leaderboard of the winners whose identities remain largely unknown due to the anonymity of digital wallets. However, a Bloomberg analysis found that 19 of the top 25 memecoin holders are likely foreign nationals. Notably, an account named “Sun” held the top spot and owned more than $18 million worth of the memecoin on May 12, 2025, when the contest ended. Investigations into this account have traced it back to Justin Sun, a Chinese billionaire who has privately touted his ties to the Chinese government and founded a blockchain network often used to finance illicit activities. Since March 2023, Sun has been facing a lawsuit from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), alleging fraudulent market manipulation on his platform. This legal action was notably paused by the Trump administration after he invested $30 million in one of President Trump’s other cryptocurrency ventures. In what appears to be a quid pro quo move, Sun then invested an additional $45 million into President Trump’s World Liberty Project, while simultaneously increasing his holdings of the $TRUMP memecoin.

Former Republican lawmakers, President Trump’s former aides, and cryptocurrency industry leaders recognize these national security risks and the opportunity for corruption. Charles Dent, the former chairman of the House Ethics Committee, recently stated that “ foreign entities and governments obviously want to curry favor with the president. This is completely out of bounds and raises all sorts of ethical, legal and constitutional issues that must be addressed.” Additionally, Anthony Scaramucci, a former official in the Trump administration, characterized President Trump’s memecoin as representing “Idi Amin level corruption.” Furthermore, Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, emphasized that politician-backed coins “are vehicles for unlimited political bribery, including from foreign nation states.”

U.S. law prohibits foreign persons from contributing to U.S. political campaigns. However, the $TRUMP memecoin, including the promotion of a dinner promising exclusive access to the President, opens the door for foreign governments to buy influence with the President, all without disclosing their identities.

The Public Integrity Section was established in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and exists to ensure that the Department of Justice conducts fair and thorough investigations into corruption by government officials at all levels, without regard to those officials’ political views or allegiances.

We therefore urge you to launch an immediate inquiry to determine whether this dinner event violates the federal bribery statute or the foreign emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution. If the Department of Justice concludes that it does, we ask that you set aside political considerations and pursue action to uphold public integrity and the rule of law.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Statement on House Passage of the Republican Tax Scam

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement following House passage of H.R. 1, Republicans’ sweeping tax reconciliation bill, which includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in American history.

“Under the cover of night, House Republicans jammed their egregious tax scam through Congress. Instead of providing leadership when it mattered most, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans shamefully bowed down to Donald Trump, shirking their responsibility to the people they were elected to represent and selling out hard-working Americans to benefit billionaires.

“The Republican budget will make America hungrier, poorer, and sicker. For more than 29 hours, House Democrats stood united to expose this bill for what it is: a tax scam that redistributes wealth to the ultra-rich while imposing the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in American history. It kicks an estimated 14 million Americans off their health care and slashes critical food assistance programs relied on by more than 42 million people, literally taking health care from the sick and food away from the hungry. All while adding trillions to the national debt to line the pockets of the wealthiest Americans, leaving future generations to bear the financial burden of their greed and irresponsibility.

“In their relentless attacks on basic health care, Republicans are also pushing to defund Planned Parenthood, which would close nearly 200 health centers, cut off care for more than a million people, and restrict access to life-saving services including reproductive and sexual health care, birth control, maternity care, cancer screenings, behavioral health, and abortion care.

“From day one, Republicans refused to meaningfully engage with Democrats or the American people. They shut us out of the process, schemed its passage behind closed doors, and held votes and committee meetings in the dead of night to hide the harm this bill would inflict on millions of Americans. Now, their tax scheme is one step closer to upending the lives of working families, piling new burdens onto Americans already struggling in an unstable economy made worse by Trump’s reckless tax and trade policies. Republicans have shown no interest in lowering costs or making the American Dream more attainable. Their only interest lies in a blind loyalty to Trump and a callous indifference to the people they were elected to serve.

“But let me be clear: this is not the end. Every single House Democrat voted no on this cruel and despicable bill, and we will continue to fight it every step of the way. We are united in our opposition, and as this bill moves through the legislative process, we will use every tool at our disposal to stop it in its tracks. The American people deserve better, and we are not backing down.”

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Issues: 119th Congress, Budget

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Kansas Private Nonprofits Affected by Summer Storms

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Kansas of the June 24 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by severe storms, straight‑line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring June 26–July 7, 2024.

The disaster declaration covers the Kansas counties of Chase, Clark, Comanche, Doniphan, Finney, Geary, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Logan, Meade, Pawnee, Scott, Thomas, Wabaunsee and Wallace.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25 and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than June 24.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025

Category: Economy

Keynote speech by Frank Elderson, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB and Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB, at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center

Accounting for nature in monetary policy and banking supervision

Capturing the risks related to ecosystem degradation

Water – the natural currency underwriting purchases, investments and trades

Chart 1

Multiple stakeholders are taking action

Reliable and comparable data are key to managing risks and identifying opportunities

Conclusion

Gary Admans appointed as Non-Executive Director of the UK Debt Management Office Advisory Board

About Gary Admans

About the appointment process

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Updates to this page

Dark horse leader

Skills shortage will likely worsen

Rethinking how to prepare people for work

5 steps Canada should take