Twin Cities Business conducts an annual survey of their readers asking “Which companies exemplify true excellence in their respective industries and would they confidently refer to a family member, friend or colleague?” and published results in its June/July issue and online.
The communities the credit union services have recognized TopLine as one of the most appreciated and trustworthy financial institutions in Minnesota. Several qualities that make TopLine stand out include the credit union’s dedication to our mission of “Connected, We All Do Better” by providing affordable and competitive financial services, commitment of our employees to help consumers achieve their financial goals, positively making a local and global impact through community outreach activities via their TopLine Credit Union Foundation, and helping consumers with homeownership and investments.
“We are honored to receive the distinction in the Financial Services Credit Unions category of the Twin Cities Business ‘Best of Business’ poll,” said Mick Olson, President and CEO of TopLine Financial Credit Union. “This recognition reflects the unwavering commitment, care, and compassion of our TopLine family of employees in supporting our members and communities and helping them achieve their financial dreams. We extend heartfelt gratitude to our members and communities for their trust and support, and congratulate all the esteemed organizations recognized this year.”
Twin Cities Business is Minnesota’s leading provider of business news, insight, and analysis through daily online new stories, e-newsletters, a monthly print magazine and live events. Along with their readers, they get to know the personalities of our region’s most influential leaders, exploring the “how” behind their success, strategies, and solutions. They discuss today’s most pressing issues, examine trends and outlooks, and provide the context, perspective, and information leaders have come to depend on.
TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota’s 9th largest credit union, with assets of over $1.1 billion and serves over 70,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit financial cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its ten branch locations — in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Circle Pines, Coon Rapids, Forest Lake, Maple Grove, Plymouth, St. Francis and in St. Paul’s Como Park — as well as by phone and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Benton, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members, as well as employees and retirees of Anoka Hennepin School District #11, Anoka Technical College, Federal Premium Ammunition, Hoffman Enclosures, Inc., GRACO, Inc., and their subsidiaries. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit union’s foundation, visit www.TopLinecu.com/Foundation.
CONTACT: Vicki Roscoe Erickson Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer TopLine Financial Credit Union verickson@toplinecu.com | 763.391.0872
People going out to enjoy major events around our city deserve a train service that will get them home safely.
More in Culture
Scotrail should organise additional late night train services to ensure festival goers get home safely from TRNSMT at Glasgow Green next month, say the Scottish Greens.
The call comes from the party’s co-leader, spokesperson for culture, and MSP for Glasgow Patrick Harvie, who says that having more train services running would ensure people have the option to get home safely from the festival.
Tens of thousands of revellers are expected to attend the 3-day music event at Glasgow Green in July, with the likes of 50 Cent, Fontaines D.C., Biffy Clyro and Glasgow DJ’s Big Miz and Hayley Zalazzi on the lineup.
“At previous events with such large crowds, the East End of the city becomes totally blocked off for transport and pedestrians, with many waiting hours for taxis or risking walking home in the dark.
“People going out to enjoy festivals, gigs and other events around our city deserve to get home safely and having a reliable late night train service can offer that. I strongly urge them to do so.
“If Scotrail were to run additional train services over that weekend, and later into the night, it would provide a safe, cheaper and climate friendly option to get home from TRNSMT for thousands of people.”
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
June 09, 2025
In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin slammed the Republican reconciliation plan that will kick 16 million Americans off their health care coverage, close rural hospitals, and raise prices for American families in order to pay for tax cuts to billionaires
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor, making clear that Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act will only raise prices and slash Medicaid and Medicare coverage for working Americans in order to pay for significant tax breaks for billionaires. Durbin reiterated in his remarks that the legislation will harm Americans as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an estimate showing that 16 million Americans will lose their health insurance under the Republicans’ reconciliation bill.
“They [congressional Republicans] are considering a tax bill that will eliminate health insurance coverage for 16 million Americans. More people and families will lose health insurance coverage by virtue of this ‘big, beautiful bill’ than any legislation we passed in modern memory,” Durbin began.
Durbin explained how unpopular it would be to cut health insurance coverage for Americans, which has prompted a small number of Republicans to express their discontent with $800 billion in proposed cuts to Medicaid.
“Some Republican Senators, like Josh Hawley in my neighboring state of Missouri, have criticized this because he realizes how many people he represents count on Medicaid, the basic health insurance program. Senator Hawley says even as a Republican, he can’t support that provision,” Durbin said. “No one should support that provision. If you ever lived at a moment in your life with a seriously sick child and no health insurance, you’ll never forget it. I know. I’ve been there.”
“With this analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, we have new estimates on how this bill impacts each and every state. 210,000 people in my neighboring state of Missouri, Senator Hawley’s state, could lose their health insurance coverage. In Iowa, nearly 100,000 people could lose their health plans, and for our neighbor in Indiana, 250,000 Hoosiers could lose the peace of mind that comes with having health insurance,” Durbin said.
“What is it that is so compelling that the Republicans feel they can stand up and tell 16 million people in America, ‘you’ll lose your health insurance.’ What will they use that money for? What will they take it to the bank for? For something very basic. Tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America,” Durbin continued.
Durbin spoke about his recent visit to a children’s hospital in Chicago, emphasizing that patients, including his constituent Layoni, rely on Medicaid in order to receive life-saving care.
“Friday, I visited a hospital in Chicago… It’s La Rabida, a children’s hospital… Ninety percent of the families that bring their children to La Rabida Hospital qualify for Medicaid. These are families of limited means, and they turn to a highly professional hospital which has a reputation of caring for the poorest kids, as well as the richest kids. They treat them all the same, and they treat them well,” Durbin said.
“When I visited the hospital, they told me the story of one of their patients. Her name is Layoni. She was born prematurely at 26 weeks. When she was born she was only the size of the palm of your hand. She was given just days to survive. She needed a ventilator, tracheotomy tube, central line, an IV-like device that brought medicine to her heart, and much, much more. Today, Layoni is four years old. It’s a miracle. Thanks to want incredible cared provided by La Rabida and the love of so many people, she’s there,” Durbin continued. “Layoni’s family was covered by Medicaid, the most highly targeted program for cuts in this ‘big, beautiful bill.’”
Durbin explained the impact the Republicans’ reconciliation bill will have on hospitals across the country, many of which rely on Medicaid reimbursements to stay open. If critical Medicaid funding is cut, hospitals across the country, especially those in rural areas, will be at serious risk of closure. According to America’s Essential Hospitals, uncompensated care costs for hospitals will increase by $42 billion in a single year under this Republican proposal. For rural hospitals that are already struggling financially, this bill could lead to them permanently closing their doors.
“They [20 hospital administrators from downstate and urban Illinois] came out to see me three weeks ago… On their own, they wanted to tell me the story, that the bill that passed the House of Representatives… will be devastating to these hospitals. Some of them won’t survive,” Durbin said.
“What does it mean to a small or medium-size city that’s lucky enough to have a good hospital and lose it? Well, the obvious. If you need emergency medical care, it’s a longer drive. If that baby is about to be born, it’s a longer drive. When it comes down to treatment, these hospitals provide the first in urgent care. And if that hospital closes, what happens? It takes longer to get that care, but in addition to that, it also means a major part of the local economy is gone,” Durbin said. “How will you attract a business or keep a business when you lose your hospital? That’s what’s at stake here because it cuts into the Medicaid program.”
Despite Republican claims that the reconciliation bill will not impact Medicare, the bill also includes a $500 billion cut to Medicare.
“The Trump ‘big, beautiful bill’ is designed to cut the program that these hospitals rely on most, the Medicaid program. Now it turns out because they add trillions of dollars to the deficit for this tax cut, you’re also facing the possibility of something called sequestration, what that means is there will be less coverage for Medicare,” Durbin said. “This would be devastating to many people who count on it. It’s not just La Rabida that would face consequences. Red and blue states would suffer.”
Durbin continued on, stressing that this legislation will also increase the cost of living for Americans while billionaires will enjoy an additional $400,000 in tax cuts.
“As if an increase in the health care premiums isn’t enough, the costs of basic goods will skyrocket under this Republican plan. The ‘big, beautiful betrayal’ will raise energy bills up to $400 a year for families and ten percent for businesses,” Durbin said.
“If housing wasn’t already expensive enough, many Americans will see their mortgages increase by $600 a year. Want to follow your passion and start a business? Small business loans are estimated to increase under the ‘big, beautiful bill’ by $1,000 a year. Tariffs are estimated to raise costs for American households by around $2,500,” Durbin said. “If this last election was about the cost of living and giving families a fighting chance to survive paycheck to paycheck, this bill is devastating for those who aren’t the wealthiest in America.”
Durbin concluded his remarks by calling on his Republican colleagues to push back against this legislation that will eliminate health care for 16 million Americans and raise prices even further.
“This year, for the Fourth of July, the most American thing we can do is, on a bipartisan basis, stop this disaster. What does it take to say, ‘Pause, stop. We don’t want to cut Medicaid. We don’t want to take health insurance away from 16 million people. We don’t want to see the expenses of families going up.’ What will it take? Four Republican Senators who will step up and say this is a mistake,” Durbin said.
“Donald Trump is trying to rush us into something which is not good for American families. [The bill is] good for billionaires… but for ordinary families struggling with their regular bills that they have to pay, the ‘big, beautiful bill’ is a big, beautiful betrayal,” Durbin concluded.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
June 10, 2025
In his speech, Durbin also pointed out the hypocrisy of Trump Administration officials, who supported pardons for January 6 rioters, as they call for the arrest of any protestor that commits violent acts against law enforcement
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor in response to President Trump’s abuse of power in deploying National Guard troops to California without the request or consent of California state leaders. Durbin began by condemning political violence of all kinds while reiterating that Americans have a right to peacefully protest.
“I condemn violence, vandalism, including violence against law enforcement. There is no place in legitimate protests for that to occur,” Durbin began. “What is happening in Los Angeles, as brought to my attention over the weekend, is something we need to address. However, addressing it effectively means not grandstanding, but giving law enforcement the resources they need to control the situation. Neither the Governor of California nor the Mayor of Los Angeles asked for the National Guard troops that President Trump is sending.”
“Governor Newsom said the decision to deploy the National Guard, without appropriate training or orders, risked seriously escalating the situation,” Durbin continued. “What is clear is that President Trump manipulated these protests as an excuse to politicize the military and divert resources from pressing national security and disaster relief responsibilities.”
Durbin explained that it’s been 60 years since a president has sent in the National Guard for a domestic operation without a request from the governor. Durbin then noted that while President Trump has made strong statements about his Administration’s intolerance of violence toward law enforcement during these protests, he provided clemency to more than 1,500 individuals who participated in the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The violence at the Capitol that day led to the death of five police officers and the injuries of more than 140 others.
“This weekend, the President wrote on social media that Los Angeles was ‘invaded and occupied’ by ‘violent, insurrectionist mobs,’ and directed three of his top cabinet officials to take any actions necessary to ‘liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion,’” Durbin said. “His FBI Director, Kash Patel, also wrote on X, ‘Hit a cop, you’re going to jail… doesn’t matter where you came from, how you got here, or what movement speaks to you.’”
“It seems President Trump and Mr. Patel forgot what happened on January 6th at the U.S. Capitol when a violent mob—summoned by a bitter, defeated former President—ransacked the Capitol Complex… The insurrectionist mob, the rioters who came into the Capitol on January 6th looked through my desk. You can see it on CSPAN,” Durbin said. “On his first day back in office in his second term, what did President Trump do to these cop haters? He issued a blanket pardon to [nearly] 1,500 of them despite their conviction… for that riot that took place in this building, including those who violently assaulted law enforcement officers.”
“It appears FBI Director Patel’s comment [that] if you, ‘hit a cop, you’re going to jail,’ only applies to people who President Trump doesn’t agree with,” Durbin concluded.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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New York City, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In times of unexpected economic turmoil, individuals will tend to look for emergency loans as a potential means of respite. Emergency loans are typically designed to provide speedy access to funds for urgent expenditures such as medical bills, emergency work, or unavoidable travel. With the surge of online lending sites, the term “emergency loans online guaranteed approval” has gained much more visibility.
Wizzay Loan is an online platform in the nature of a loan referral network that brings together borrowers and lenders who might provide financial support regardless of credit issues. Wizzay Loan does not lend funds directly but provides access to a pool of third-party lenders.
Wizzay Loan – Now Offering Emergency Loans Online With Guaranteed Approval
Emergency loans are temporary borrowing options that are meant to help pay for surprise or immediate expenses like medical charges, car repairs, or utility bills. When made available online, they offer a guarantee of convenience and speed when applying and being approved.
The word “guaranteed approval” is often placed in advertisements but needs to be interpreted cautiously. Practically, no serious lender can guarantee approval without reviewing important eligibility factors like income, identification, and credit worthiness. Rather, sites that employ this terminology often tend to offer loan matching services or platforms in which approval chances are more feasible because there are various lenders available.
Emergency loans online generally range from moderate to small sizes with short loan terms. Interest rates and charges are quite diverse, based on lender type and borrower credit profile. Borrowers need to use caution with guaranteed approval promises and ask for full disclosure of loan terms prior to commitment.
Why Wizzay Loan Stands Out in a Crowded Direct Lender Marketplace
Wizzay Loan is mostly a loan matching website, allowing clients to get access to a network of lenders that have expertise in personal and emergency loans. It does not directly offer loans like direct lenders but makes connections based on the information of the applicants.
The site addresses people who might find it challenging to get credit from conventional financial institutions, such as individuals with poor or limited credit scores. Through the use of various lender relationships, Wizzay Loan provides users the potential of loan matches that can accommodate diverse financial circumstances.
Its prominence in the online lending market stems from the volume of lender partners and the streamlined application process it provides. While it markets itself as offering “guaranteed approval,” this claim refers more to the broad reach of its lender network rather than an unconditional loan guarantee.
How Wizzay Loan Helps Access Personal Loans Without Delay
The urgency of emergency expenses requires fast access to funds. Wizzay Loan aims to expedite the loan search and application process by centralizing borrower information and submitting it to multiple lenders simultaneously.
Key aspects of its approach include:
Single Application Process: Borrowers complete one form, reducing repetitive submissions.
Network Matching: Information is sent to several lenders within the network to identify potential matches quickly.
Speed of Decision: Numerous lenders who participate use automated underwriting, allowing quick decisions, even in minutes.
Diverse Loan Options: The platform offers different types of loans, such as payday loans, installment loans, and other short-term credit offerings.
But applicants should realize that though the platform makes the search easier, actual loan approval periods and funding are subject to the policies of individual lenders and borrower eligibility.
Finding Instant Payday Loans Online Guaranteed Approval Through Wizzay Loan
Online payday loans guaranteed approval instantly are often marketed as a quick and convenient financial answer. Payday loans are short-term, usually small-dollar loans that are to be repaid at the borrower’s next payday.
While a few lenders offer quick approval and same-day funding, the term guaranteed approval needs to be carefully examined. Legitimate lenders need to consider risk factors before approving credit, so not all applicants are approved instantly or without stipulation.
Criteria that influence immediate approval are:
Income and Employment Verification: Income proof is usually necessary.
Identity Verification: To avoid fraud and meet regulations.
Debt-to-Income Ratio: To assess ability to pay back.
Credit History: While there are payday lenders who advance cash to those with poor credit, very negative histories or recent bankruptcies could restrict the possibility of approval.
Payday Loans Online via Wizzay Loan – Risks, Terms, and Availability
Payday loans online are easily accessible via lender networks and referral services, such as platforms like Wizzay Loan. The loans are defined by brief repayment terms (typically two to four weeks) and comparatively high interest rates versus conventional loans.
The following are key things to consider:
High Cost of Borrowing: Rates and charges can be extremely high, reaching more than 300% annual percentage rate (APR).
Short Repayment Period: Repayment is usually due in one lump sum on the next paycheck of the borrower, which can be stressful on finances.
Risk of Debt Cycle: Borrowers who cannot repay soon might roll over or renew loans, causing debt accumulation.
Availability: Payday loans are governed differently by state or nation; they are restricted or banned in some jurisdictions, impacting availability.
Borrowers must consider these factors thoughtfully and use alternative forms of finance whenever possible.
Getting Quick Cash Loans Through Wizzay Loan’s Lender Network
Lender networks make it easier to get different quick cash loan products by sending borrower applications to a network of lenders. Networks help to bring approval opportunities, especially for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit.
Different Types of Loans: Networks could offer payday loans, installment loans, title loans, and personal loans.
Multiple Lending Criteria: Different lenders have different criteria for approval.
Data Sharing: Personal and financial details are shared with several parties, which brings privacy issues to the fore.
Potential Multiple Offers: Candidates may be offered several loans to shop around.
Fees and Terms: Both very different between lenders, stressing the importance of careful examination.
Knowledge of these factors may assist borrowers in making well-informed choices regarding which type of loan best meets their requirements.
Navigating the Credit Check Landscape with Wizzay Loan
Credit checks are an integral part of most loan determinations. Sites such as Wizzay Loan work around credit checks by providing loan choices along a range of credit profiles.
Credit check types include:
Soft Credit Checks: Do not impact credit scores and tend to be employed in prequalification processes.
Hard Credit Checks: Conducted by lenders to evaluate risk in a formal manner; will temporarily impact credit scores.
Wizzay Loan’s network can consist of lenders who would be prepared to deal with borrowers who have:
Low credit scores.
Poor credit histories.
Recent financial problems.
Applicants need to note that even though there might be some lenders providing “no credit check” loans, these normally come at a higher price or with tighter conditions.
Wizzay Loan Facilitates Same Day and Instant Approval for Emergency Lending
Same day or immediate approval conditions describe quick underwriting decisions and quick funding practices. It can be imperative for emergency loans where speed is most important.
The main influencers of speed are:
Automated Underwriting Systems: Technology is used by many lenders to quickly assess applications.
Prequalification Processes: Soft inquiries and initial reviews accelerate decisions.
Funding Methods: Electronic fund transfers and direct deposit enable quick disbursement.
Verification Requirements: Extra documentation requests can slow funding.
While some borrowers receive approval and funds on the same day, others may experience delays depending on lender procedures and individual circumstances.
Wizzay Loan Eligibility: Who Qualifies for Emergency Loans with Bad Credit?
Eligibility for emergency loans with bad credit varies by lender but generally depends on several factors beyond credit scores:
Minimum age of 18
Proof of income or employment
U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
Valid bank account
Subprime borrowers with poor credit need to thoroughly examine lender requirements and the cost of subprime emergency loans.
The Application Process at Wizzay Loan
Getting emergency loans from Wizzay Loan consists of a few stages meant to make borrowing easy:
Single Online Application Completion: The applicant supplies personal, financial, and employment data.
Review of Information: Submitted information is reviewed for completeness by the platform.
Submission to Lender Network: The application is submitted to several lending partners.
Loan Matches and Offers: Borrowers receive possible loan offers based on qualification.
Selection and Finalization: Applicants select a loan offer and fulfill lender-specific requirements, including identity confirmation and agreement signing.
This streamlined process seeks to simplify application complexity while enhancing access to loan alternatives.
Wizzay Loan Maintains Transparency and Compliance Standards in Emergency Lending
Transparency and regulatory compliance are paramount in the emergency lending industry given the susceptibility of the borrowers and predatory behavior potentials.
Regulatory aspects encompass:
Disclosure of Terms: Interest rates, charges, payment terms, and penalties shall be clearly disclosed by lenders.
Consumer Protections: Such regulations frequently involve caps on interest rates, amounts to be loaned, and rollover practices.
Privacy Policies: Safeguarding personal information according to legal requirements.
Licensing Requirements: Lenders and referral services must comply with applicable state or national licensing laws.
Platforms like Wizzay Loan are subject to these regulatory frameworks, and borrowers are encouraged to review terms carefully and verify lender credentials.
Wizzay Loan Expands Access to Alternative Lending Options for Bad Credit Borrowers
Beyond payday and emergency loans, several alternative financing options exist for consumers facing urgent financial needs:
Credit Union Loans: Often offer lower rates and more flexible terms.
Installment Loans: Longer terms with regular monthly payments.
Peer-to-Peer Lending: Individual investors finance loans through online sites.
Credit Card Advances: Ready money through credit cards but at exorbitant interest charges.
Employer Pay Advances: Paycheck advances are provided by some employers as an employee benefit.
All alternatives have unique strengths and weaknesses, stressing the need to compare several alternatives before taking a loan.
Wizzay Loan Helps Borrowers Cover Emergency Expenses Beyond Traditional Credit
For those who cannot or will not go through traditional credit, alternative strategies can cover emergency costs:
Personal Savings: Employing emergency savings targeted for unexpected expenses.
Assistance Programs: Government or non-profit organizations can provide grants or assistance.
Negotiating Payment Plans: Working with creditors or service providers to make payments in the future.
Borrowing from Friends or Family: Unofficial loans without interest, but with personal factors.
These methods sometimes reduce the necessity of high-cost emergency loans.
Wizzay Loan’s Referral Network Model Connects Borrowers with Multiple Direct Lenders
Direct lenders and loan referral networks play different roles in the online lending economy:
Direct Lenders: Banks or institutions that give loans and handle the entire loan process.
Loan Referral Networks: Sites that gather borrower data and match borrowers with several lenders without directly funding loans.
Referral networks increase access to loan options but entail sharing information with multiple entities. Direct lenders create a more immediate relationship but could have more stringent eligibility requirements.
Knowing these distinctions assists borrowers in making effective choices.
What Makes Wizzay Loan’s Network Unique Among Online Lenders
Wizzay Loan is unique in providing access to a wide array of lenders for different credit profiles. Its efficient application process and extensive network of lender relationships offer a convenient platform for consumers who need funds immediately.
Key features are:
Single application to several lenders at the same time.
Access to lenders who provide subprime and no-credit-check loans.
Multiple loan products such as payday and installment loans available.
Rapid matching and initial approvals enabled by technology.
This model differs from single-lender sites by maximizing potential loan matches without the need for numerous individual applications.
Final Thoughts: When Wizzay Loan Emergency Loans Are Your Best Option
Emergency loans online with guaranteed approval promises may provide relief for unexpected financial needs, particularly among borrowers with credit issues. Nonetheless, borrowers should proceed with such loans with extreme caution considering terms, charges, and options.
It is important to understand the terms of loan referral websites such as Wizzay Loan, realities of approval procedures, and consequences of borrowing. Responsible borrowing with knowledge about consumer safeguards and other available choices can assist individuals in managing emergency financial crises in a better way.
The above press release has tried to provide a balanced overview to help readers make knowledgeable choices regarding emergency loans and other allied financial products.
Gurugram, Haryana, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
Chicken Road is a fun arcade-style casino game made by InOut Games in 2024. In this exciting adventure, you help a brave little chicken walk across dangerous paths to grab a golden egg. But be careful there are hidden dangers along the way!
With a high return-to-player (RTP) rate of 98% and bets starting at just INR 90, Chicken Road is perfect for both new and experienced players.
This page will tell you everything you need to know about the Chicken Road game online, along with smart tips to help you win more. Ready to play? Let’s go!
Chicken Road is a simple yet thrilling game where you guide a chicken across a line of manholes. Some manholes are safe, while others hide dangerous fires. If the chicken steps on a safe manhole, your prize gets bigger. But if it hits a fire trap, the game ends and you lose your bet.
You get to decide when to stop and cash out your winnings. That’s what makes the game fun—you’re in control! The farther your chicken walks, the higher your reward. But the risk also grows with each step.
How to Play Chicken Road Game In India
In India, the game is easy to learn and quick to play. Here’s how it works:
Click the green “Go” button to start.
Your chicken walks forward. If the first step is safe, you earn a multiplier.
Each safe step earns you more money.
If your chicken lands on a fire trap, you lose your bet, and the game ends.
You can press the yellow “Cash Out” button at any time to take your winnings.
You can keep going to try for bigger rewards, but remember, one wrong step and it’s game over.
Why Chicken Road Game Is So Popular In India
1. Easy Controls
The game screen is easy to understand. You don’t need to read long rules or guides to start playing. Everything is simple and clear.
2. Choose Your Difficulty
You can pick from four levels depending on how risky you want to play:
Easy: 24 steps. Best for beginners who want small, steady wins.
Medium: 22 steps. A balanced level with good rewards and some risk.
Hard: 20 steps. For more experienced players who want higher multipliers.
Hardcore: 15 steps. Very risky but comes with the biggest prizes.
You can change the level anytime between rounds.
3. High RTP and Risk Options
Chicken Road has an overall RTP of 98%, which means it’s designed to be fair to players. But your chance of winning on each step depends on the difficulty:
In Easy mode, each step has about a 96% chance of success.
In Hardcore mode, the risk is much higher. The RTP here can drop to 60%, but the rewards are also much bigger.
Choose the level that fits your playing style.
4. Bet Your Way
Chicken Road works for all kinds of players. You may wager anything from INR 90 to INR 19,000 in a single round of play. It’s your choice to play with safety in mind or take more risky moves. A few players, in the beginning, make low bets and then increase their wagers as they get used to playing. Others wait for a winning streak before raising their bet.
The Cash Out Feature
One of the best parts of Chicken Road is the Cash Out option. At any point in the game, you can click this button and take home your winnings. You don’t have to finish the full path. This gives you control over how much risk you want to take.
Try the Chicken Road Game Demo
If you are new to Chicken Road, don’t worry. You can try the demo version of the game first. It works just like the real version but uses fake money. This is a great way to learn without taking any risks.
Why Try the Demo?
No money needed
Learn the game rules
See how betting works
Practice using the Cash Out feature
Get familiar with the game layout
The demo includes all the same features as the full game, so you get the full experience before betting real money.
How to Sign Up to Play Chicken Road Game
To play Chicken Road Game for real money, you need to register at an online casino that offers the game. Here’s how to do it:
Choose a trusted online casino.
Visit their website and click the “Register” button.
Fill in your details, like your name, email, phone number, and address.
Enter the verification code sent to your phone or email.
Once you’re done, your account will be ready. You can now deposit money and start playing.
Can I Play Chicken Road on My Phone?
Yes! Let’s see how to get started:
Pick a casino that offers the Chicken Road game.
Go to their website on your phone.
Find the Apps section and choose your device type.
Download and install the casino app.
Log in and start playing Chicken Road anytime, anywhere.
How to Start Betting on Chicken Road
Want to place your first real-money bet? Here’s a simple guide:
Log in to your casino account (or create one if you haven’t yet).
Click the “Deposit” button and add funds to your account.
Open the Chicken Road game from the casino menu.
Enter the amount you want to bet.
Click the “Start” button to begin the game.
Watch your chicken walk the path. Decide when to Cash Out based on your winnings.
Your final prize depends on how far the chicken goes and the multiplier at the time you cash out.
Best Strategies for Chicken Road
You place a bet, help the chicken move forward, and decide when to cash out. But if you want to win more often, you need a plan.
Many players use smart strategies to improve their chances. Below, you will find the most popular ones that can help you stay in the game longer and possibly earn bigger rewards.
1. Safe Multiplier Strategy
If you like playing it safe, this strategy is for you. It’s simple—cash out early, usually when the multiplier hits between 1.5x and 3x. Your wins won’t be huge, but you will win more often. Over time, these small wins can really add up, and you will lose less.
2. Martingale Strategy
This one is for players who don’t mind taking a little more risk. If you lose a round, you double your next bet. The idea is that when you finally win, you will cover all your past losses and still make a profit. But be careful—this strategy needs a good-sized balance and a bit of patience.
3. Balanced Risk Strategy
With this method, you adjust your bet size based on the difficulty level you choose. If you are playing on a harder level, place lower bets because the risk is higher. On easier levels, you can bet more since the chances of winning are better. This keeps your gameplay steady and balanced.
4. The Lagom Approach – Balanced Play Style
Inspired by the Swedish word “lagom,” which means “not too much, not too little,” this betting style helps you stay in control.
Here’s how the Lagom Strategy works:
Start with a ₹500 bet.
If you win, lower your next bet to ₹300. This locks in some profit.
If you lose, raise your next bet slightly to ₹700 to try and recover.
Keep your bets in a safe range so you don’t risk too much.
This approach keeps the game exciting but helps avoid the stress of big losses. It’s a great choice for players who want to stay consistent and in control.
Download the Chicken Road Game App (APK)
Want to play Chicken Road on your phone? It’s easy. It’s made to be quick, easy to use, and free from lag on every smartphone and tablet.
Since the APK file is only 26.2 MB, your device will download it fast, and you won’t experience any further slowdown. You can enjoy Vampire Diaries: Struggle for Blood on your mobile browser, but its app has better controls and speed.
How to Download the APK
Go to the official website or a trusted casino partner.
Tap on the download link for the Chicken Road APK.
Open the file and install it on your Android phone.
Once installed, just log in or sign up, and you’re ready to play.
The game runs smoothly on Android and works great even on older phones. For iPhone users, many casinos also offer mobile apps that include Chicken Road.
Chicken Road RTP and Winning Chances
InOut Games is open about how Chicken Road works. The game is based on Provably Fair technology, meaning the results are created using a secure random system that players can trust.
The RTP (Return to Player) for Chicken Road is 98%, which means most of the money bet by players is returned in winnings over time. Only a small 2% margin is used to support game development.
Let’s break it down simply:
If you go for a 1.68x multiplier, your chance of winning is about 58%.
Going for a 2.80x multiplier gives you about a 35% chance.
A big win like 9.08x has around a 10% chance.
Going for something huge like 34.67x gives you a 2.8% chance.
The x1000 jackpot? Your chance is close to 0.1%—super rare, but possible.
These numbers show that InOut Games keeps things fair, with only a small difference between the theoretical and actual win rates. Also, keep in mind that each round is random. Just because you won or lost before doesn’t affect what happens next.
Is Chicken Road Real or Fake?
Chicken Road is 100% real and fair. It’s created by a trusted company called InOut Games, and the game uses Provably Fair technology. This means that the game results are made using a secure system called cryptography. You can even check the fairness of every round.
If you play Chicken Road at a licensed online casino, you’re in good hands. These casinos follow international gaming rules, so your gameplay is safe and your money is protected.
Who Made Chicken Road?
InOut Games is the company behind Chicken Road. They are known for making cool, easy-to-play mini-games that keep players coming back. Their games have:
High return-to-player (RTP) percentages
Simple and fun mechanics
Great design for both mobile and desktop
Chicken Road is one of their most loved games. It’s fun, fast, and lets you use real strategies to win.
Conclusion
Chicken Road is a fast-paced, exciting game where your choices matter. Whether you’re someone who likes safe bets or wants to go all in for big wins, the game gives you options.
You can play it your way:
Try safe steps and cash out early
Use smart betting strategies to stay ahead
Switch between easy and hard levels depending on your mood
And with a high RTP and fun gameplay, you are always just one step away from a big win.
Ready to take your chicken on a winning run? Start playing Chicken Road today and enjoy the thrill of every step!
FAQs
1. Can I play Chicken Road for free?
Yes, many online casinos offer a demo version. You can play it without spending real money and learn how the game works.
2. Where can I play Chicken Road?
You can find Chicken Road on trusted online casinos that offer games from InOut Games.
3. How does the game work?
You place a bet and help the chicken move forward. Each step earns you more money, but you must choose the right time to cash out—before stepping into a trap.
4. Are there any bonuses for Chicken Road?
Yes. Many casinos offer free bets, deposit bonuses, cashback, and special promos for new and regular players.
5. Is Chicken Road legal in India?
Yes, as long as you’re playing on a licensed and legal online casino, Chicken Road is safe and legal in India.
Disclaimer This information is for general and entertainment purposes only—not legal, financial, or gambling advice. Always verify details and follow your local laws. Gambling carries risks; wager responsibly and only what you can afford to lose, and seek help if you feel out of control. Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you, and wild may be unavailable or restricted in certain regions.
Headline: Apple services deliver powerful features and intelligent updates to users this fall
June 10, 2025
UPDATE
Apple services deliver powerful features and intelligent updates to users this fall
New features include AutoMix and updates to Lyrics in Apple Music; preferred routes and Visited Places in Apple Maps; easy-to-track orders with Apple Intelligence in Apple Wallet; the introduction of Digital ID; and more
With the release of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26 this fall, Apple is bringing exciting new features and adding more intelligence across its services, delivering even greater everyday functionality to users. This includes an enhanced listening experience in Apple Music; easier navigation with preferred routes and Visited Places in Apple Maps; new ways to make and track purchases with Apple Intelligence in Apple Wallet; customized playback experiences with Apple Podcasts; a refreshed boarding pass in Wallet; the introduction of Digital ID; and more.
“Apple’s services are integral to many parts of a user’s day, and we’re excited to bring features that pack even more power and fun into their everyday moments,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “These updates will help users better navigate and explore the world around them with Apple Maps, offer an enhanced Apple Music experience, elevate how they shop with Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, and so much more.”
“AI and machine learning are a core part of what makes Apple’s services feel so personal and intuitive to our users around the world,” said Jeff Robbin, Apple’s vice president of Services Engineering. “They love the ease and simplicity that intelligent features like natural language search and App Store review summaries have brought, and we’re excited to continue adding thoughtful, tailored experiences to Apple’s services — including AutoMix, which mixes songs like a DJ in Apple Music, the option to use Enhance Dialogue to isolate voices and make them sound clearer in Apple Podcasts, and more.”
Apple Music Introduces AutoMix, Upgrades to Lyrics, and More
Apple Music delivers an elevated listening experience with AutoMix, which mixes one song into the next, just like a DJ. Using AI to analyze audio features, it crafts unique transitions between songs with time stretching and beat matching to deliver continuous playback and an even more seamless listening experience.
This fall, Apple Music brings Lyrics Translation, which lets users understand the meaning of their favorite songs, and Lyrics Pronunciation, which enables users to sing along when lyrics are in another language. The new features use machine learning to translate lyrics — with fine-tuning from language experts — to ensure the emotion, cultural context, and lyrical intent are fully preserved.
With Sing, the sing-along experience reaches a whole new level, allowing users to transform iPhone into a handheld microphone for Apple TV and have their voice amplified as they belt out their favorite songs with friends. And with real-time lyrics and visual effects that light up the screen, Sing reaches a new level of fun.
Additionally, users can pin their favorite music to the top of their Library in Apple Music for easy access.
Apple Maps Gets More Intelligent and Personalized with Preferred Routes and Visited Places
Apple Maps makes everyday life easier with new enhancements that help users navigate their preferred routes and keep track of places they’ve previously visited, all while protecting user privacy.1 iPhone can now use on-device intelligence to learn and understand the routes users take between the places they frequently visit, like home and work. The Maps widget then shows users a preview of their commute so they know what to expect before they leave, and commute notifications alert users of significant delays and offer alternate routes, even before their journey begins.
With Visited Places, users can allow iPhone to intelligently detect the places they visit and spend time in — like restaurants or shops — and they’ll automatically be saved to Maps. Users can search for places they’ve visited, and easily share them with family and friends. Visited Places are built with privacy in mind; they’re protected with end-to-end encryption, cannot be accessed by Apple, and can be easily removed with just a swipe.
A Customized Playback Experience with Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts delivers more customization to the listening experience, including a wider range of playback speeds and Enhance Dialogue. Users will be able to find the perfect listening speed for them, with speed options from 0.5x to 3x, and save their preferred setting for each show. Using real-time audio processing and machine learning, users can turn on Enhance Dialogue to hear speech more clearly over background sounds.
New Ways to Track Orders with Apple Intelligence and Apple Wallet, and Make Purchases with Apple Pay
Apple Wallet now uses Apple Intelligence to automatically identify, summarize, and display order tracking details from emails sent from merchants or delivery carriers. This works across all orders, giving users the ability to see their full order details, progress notifications, and more, all in one place.
Additionally, Apple Pay expands the ability to pay with rewards and installments to in-store purchases for added flexibility and choice. Users can view and pay with rewards — as well as access installment loan offers from eligible credit or debit cards — when making an Apple Pay purchase in person with iPhone.
The ability to access installments from credit and debit cards, including from pay-over-time providers, when making an in-store Apple Pay purchase will roll out in the U.S. with Affirm, Cash App Afterpay, Klarna, Synchrony, and U.S. Bank; in the UK with Monzo and Klarna; and in Canada with Klarna. The ability to redeem rewards for in-store purchases with Apple Pay will be available beginning in the U.S. with Synchrony and U.S. Bank.2
Send and Receive Money in Group Chats with Apple Cash
Apple Cash provides a convenient way for users to request, send, and receive money directly within group conversations in Messages, making it easier to settle up after dinner or pay friends back for concert tickets.3 Users can send money to an individual or request money from everyone in the group.
More Convenient Travel with a Refreshed Boarding Pass Experience and Digital ID in Wallet
In Apple Wallet, a refreshed boarding pass experience delivers rich, relevant information straight to users’ fingertips with Live Activities that offer real-time updates about their flights. For added convenience, users can also share their flight’s Live Activities so friends and family can stay up to date on their journeys.
Refreshed boarding passes also allow users to conveniently access Maps to navigate airports and explore local recommendations, all in one place from their pass; quickly use Find My to track important items and report lost baggage; view key services on an airline’s app, such as seat upgrades and standby lists; and more. Refreshed boarding passes will be available starting with Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Jetstar, Lufthansa Group, Qantas, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Australia.
Digital ID offers a secure and private new way for users to store and present their ID information using their iPhone and Apple Watch. Users can seamlessly create and add a Digital ID to Apple Wallet using a U.S. passport.
With REAL ID implementation in effect, at launch, Digital ID provides another way for users to conveniently and securely present an ID in person at select TSA checkpoints for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. Digital ID is not a replacement for a physical passport, and cannot be used for international travel and border crossing in lieu of a U.S. passport. Like all IDs in Apple Wallet, this new solution takes advantage of the privacy and security features already built into iPhone and Apple Watch.
Additionally, Verify with Wallet on the Web enables users to seamlessly and securely present their eligible driver’s license or state ID in Wallet to websites for age and identity verification, starting with Chime, Turo, Uber Eats, and U.S. Bank, as well as the Arizona MVD, Georgia DDS, and Maryland MVA.
Ready-Made Custom Plans Unlock Consistent Routines in Apple Fitness+
Custom Plans in Apple Fitness+ make it simpler than ever to follow a personalized schedule, automatically creating plans based on users’ workout and meditation preferences, including their top activities, durations, trainers, music, and more.
To keep users motivated, Stay Consistent provides a premade schedule of activities that matches their current routine. With Push Further, users receive a plan that increases the time of each day’s workout sessions — or even adds another day — making it perfect for those looking to challenge themselves. For anyone new to Fitness+, Get Started provides a ready-made plan built from selected interests or popular activities, giving users a helpful starting point. Additionally, Custom Plans are now centrally located in a dedicated Plans page.
A New Daily Puzzle Brings a Fresh, Friendly Challenge to Apple News+
Apple News adds Emoji Game to Apple News+ Puzzles, joining Crossword, Mini-Crossword, Quartiles, and Sudoku. Emoji Game brings to life one of users’ favorite ways to communicate in a fun and engaging way, with players challenged to use emoji to complete three phrases, with the goal of solving the puzzle in as few moves as possible. Users can share puzzles, track stats and streaks, and compete with others through Game Center leaderboards. Emoji Game features a daily puzzle available in the U.S. and for English-speaking users in Canada, and can be accessed from the Following tab in the News app.
Apple’s services make everyday activities more personal, productive, and enjoyable, and these new features and additional intelligent updates continue to deliver thoughtful, tailored experiences to users across the globe.
Availability
The Apple Intelligence features detailed require supported devices, which include all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad and Mac models with M1 and later that have Apple Intelligence enabled and Siri and device language set to the same supported language: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese (simplified). More languages will be coming by the end of this year: Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (traditional), and Vietnamese. For more information, visit apple.com/apple-intelligence. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all languages or regions, and availability may vary due to local laws and regulations. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.
Preferred routes and Visited Places are not available in all regions.
Available on cards from participating banks and card providers in certain markets. Subject to eligibility and approval. In the U.S., Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Any card used in Apple Pay is offered by the card issuer.
Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc., is a service provider of Green Dot Bank for Apple Cash accounts. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Learn more about the terms and conditions. Only available in the U.S. on eligible devices.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Adam Behr, Senior Lecturer in Popular and Contemporary Music, Newcastle University
There’s immense variety in popular music careers, even beyond the extremes of one-hit wonders and the long-haulers touring stadiums into their dotage. There are those who embody a specific era, burning briefly and brightly, and those whose legacy spans decades.
Straddling both of those, and occupying a distinctive space in popular music history, is Sylvester Stewart, better known as Sly Stone, who died at the age of 82 on Monday June 9.
A pioneer of funk whose sound spread far beyond the genre, his band Sly and the Family Stone synthesised disparate strands of American popular music into a unique melange, tracking the musical and social shifts as the 1960s wore into the 1970s.
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A musical prodigy and multi-instrumentalist from a young age, Stone was born in Texas in 1943 and raised in California, in a religious Pentecostal family. He had put out his first single aged 13 – a locally released gospel song with three of his siblings, who would later join him in Sly and the Family Stone.
A record producer and DJ by his early twenties, he imbibed the music of British acts like The Beatles and Rolling Stones, and applied his eclectic tastes and musical versatility to producing local psychedelic and garage rock acts in the emergent San Francisco scene.
By the time commercial popular culture had flowered into a more exploratory “counterculture” in 1967’s Summer of Love, the ebb and flow of personnel across local bands had coalesced into a line-up including the Stone siblings – Sly, Freddie, and their sister Vaetta, with their other sister Rose joining in 1968. Pioneering socially, as well as aesthetically, Sly and the Family Stone had diversity at its core – a mixed sex, multi-racial and musically varied band.
This was notable for a mainstream act in an America still emerging from the depths of segregation, and riven with strife over the struggle for civil rights. While their first album in 1967 A Whole New Thing enjoyed comparatively little traction, 1968‘s Dance to the Music presaged a run of hits.
Their sonic collision of sounds from across the commercial and social divide – psychedelic rock, soul, gospel and pop – struck a chord with audiences simultaneously looking forward with hope to changing times, and mindful of the injustice that was still prevalent.
Singles like Everyday People, Stand, and I Want to Take You Higher, melded a party atmosphere with social statements. They were calls for action, but also for unity: celebratory, but pushing the musical envelope.
While the band wore its innovations lightly at first, their reach was long. Bassist Larry Graham was a pioneer of the percussive slap bass that became a staple of funk and fusion. And their overall sound brought a looser, pop feel to the funk groove, in comparison to the almost militaristic tightness of that other funk pioneer, James Brown.
Where Brown’s leadership of his group was overt, exemplified by his staccato musical directions in the songs, and the call and response structure, Stone’s band had more of an ensemble feel. Musical lines and solos were overlaid upon one another, often interweaving – more textured rather than in lock-step. It was a sound that would reach an almost chaotic apogée with George Clinton’s Funkadelic later in the 1970s.
The party couldn’t last. As the optimism of the 1960s gave way to division in the 1970s, Stone’s music took a darker turn, even if the funk remained central. The album There’s A Riot Going On (1971), and its lead single It’s Family Affair contained lyrics depicting social ills more explicitly. The music – mostly recorded by Sly himself – was sparser, the vocals more melancholic.
The unity of the band itself was also fracturing, under pressure from Stone’s growing cocaine dependency. The album Fresh (1973) featured classics like In Time and If You Want Me To Stay, but they were running out of commercial road by 1974’s Small Talk, and broke up soon after.
Periodic comebacks were punctuated by a troubled personal life, including, at its nadir, reports of Stone living out of a van in Los Angeles, and arrests for drug possession. By the time he achieved a degree of stability, his star may have faded, but his legacy was secure.
Stone embodied the contradictions of American popular music – arguably even America itself: brash and light-hearted on the one hand, with a streak of darkness and self-destructiveness on the other.
The handclaps and joyous shouts harked back to his gospel roots, but his embrace of electric instruments aligned soul with rock and pop. He was a funk artist who played at the archetypal hippie festival, Woodstock, and a social commentator whose party sounds were shot through with urgency.
He paved the way for the likes of Prince and Outkast, but also informed jazz and fusion. Jazz pioneer Miles Davis acknowledged Stone’s influence on his own turn towards electric and funk sounds in the late 1960s and early 1970s on landmark albums like Bitches Brew.
Sly Stone’s joyful provocations may not have lasted at the commercial centre, but his mark was indelible. His struggles were both personal and social, but his sense of groove, and of a collective voice, demonstrated the value of aligning traditions with new ideas – a musical America that was fractious, but still a family affair.
Adam Behr has received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today applauded House passage of the Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act. Congressmen Cohen and Tim Burchett (TN-2) introduced the measure in February, and it passed unanimously out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in April.
Congressmen Cohen and Burchett also introduced and the House passedin January their TVA Salary Transparency Act, restoring a disclosure requirement for senior TVA management.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
“I was pleased to work with my friend Tim Burchett in bringing greater transparency to TVA, a major public utility our constituents and American taxpayers rely on for electric power. Bringing the light of day to the TVA Board’s meetings is what the public expects and deserves.”
WILMINGTON, Del., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Onfolio Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ONFO, ONFOW) (OTCQB: ONFOP) (“Onfolio” or the “Company”) today announced the official launch of its Referral Partner Program to support the rapid growth of its Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) business. The program offers recurring income and long-term upside to professionals who refer clients to Pace Generative LLC, Onfolio’s GEO subsidiary, which helps businesses gain visibility in AI-generated answers from tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, and Perplexity. For Onfolio, the program should help to capture the demand and scale revenues significantly faster.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is a fast-emerging discipline that positions businesses inside AI-generated responses, rather than simply helping them rank in traditional search engines. When prospective clients ask tools like ChatGPT, “Who’s the best cosmetic surgeon in Miami?” or “Which estate planning firm in NYC is most reputable?”, GEO helps to determine whether a business is mentioned in that real-time answer.
“With the way people now search for trusted services, the brands that show up in AI answers will win the next decade,” said Dominic Wells, CEO of Onfolio. “Our mission is to ensure that great companies don’t get left behind – and our referral partners will be essential to helping us scale that impact.”
“AI is now the first stop for answers,” Wells continued. “If a company isn’t cited, it’s not just ranked lower, it’s invisible. GEO addresses that. And our referral program allows trusted professionals to help their clients while building a new revenue stream for themselves.”
For more information about Pace Generative LLC, visit www.pacegenerative.com. For more information about our referral program, visit www.pacegenerative.com/partner or contact Michael Carwile at partners@pacegenerative.com
About Onfolio Holdings Inc.
Onfolio acquires, operates, and scales a diversified portfolio of digital companies. The Company focuses on businesses with strong cash flows, long-term growth potential, and experienced leadership—or those that can be effectively managed by Onfolio’s in-house team. By targeting under-optimized businesses with untapped potential, Onfolio adds value through operational expertise, strategic guidance, and advanced technologies. For more information, visit www.onfolio.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “plans,” “explores,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “continues,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” and similar expressions. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding expected operating results, such as revenue growth and earnings, and strategy for growth and financial results. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing new customer offerings, changes in customer order patterns, changes in customer offering mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, delays due to issues with outsourced service providers, those events and factors described by us in Item 1.A “Risk Factors” in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, other risks to which our Company is subject, and various other factors beyond the Company’s control. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Company Contact: Investor Communications Onfolio Holdings Inc. Investors@Onfolio.com
AUSTIN, Texas, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AutoScheduler.AI, a leader in Agentic AI Warehouse Orchestration, announces the company has been shortlisted for a Supply Chain Visibility Award for the Supply Chain Excellence Awards USA. AutoScheduler was chosen for increasing pick rates, reducing dock congestion, improving productivity, and optimizing operations for a global consumer packaged goods (CPG) company with an extensive portfolio of beloved food and beverage brands.
“The global CPG company has hundreds of distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and thousands of vehicles in its distribution network. As the company continued to grow, it faced increasing operational challenges, especially around warehouse visibility, cost control, and overall efficiency,” says Keith Moore, CEO, AutoScheduler.AI. “The AutoScheduler warehouse orchestration platform orchestrates all critical activities inside and around facilities, leading to greater efficiencies and improved operations. We are proud to be shortlisted for this prestigious award.”
As its scale and complexity grew, the global CPG faced increasing operational challenges, particularly in areas such as warehouse visibility, cost control, and overall efficiency. Complex data systems hindered decision-making and daily operations. Rising costs and a lack of unified optimization tools made controlling expenses difficult. AutoScheduler.AI deployed its warehouse orchestration platform which utilizes advanced algorithms to optimize labor, tasks, and resource allocation, thereby reducing costs and improving efficiencies.
AutoScheduler integrated seamlessly with the client’s existing systems, consolidating data, automating workflows, and optimizing operations for maximum efficiency. Other benefits included:
Eliminating data silos and providing leadership with a single, real-time view of operations.
Predicting future bottlenecks and disruptions, allowing leadership to address potential issues before they impact operations proactively.
Balancing activities across the warehouse environment based on what happens inside the warehouse every few minutes.
Identifies inventory, capacity, and shipping constraints that will cause future challenges and then dynamically schedules shipments to ensure that when an inbound or outbound shipment arrives, the dock staff can act on it.
Full-scale orchestration enables AutoScheduler to create opportunities, such as shipping directly from the production line or scheduling additional cross-docks.
Proactively creates lower-touch opportunities, such as cross-docking, to help streamline operations.
Streamlines planning processes, reducing the time required to plan operations and freeing up leadership to focus on strategic decisions while day-to-day operations are automatically optimized.
AutoScheduler’s client experienced a 30% increase in pick rates, faster load readiness to reduce dock congestion, increased product flow, increased productivity, decreased detention and dwell times, and reduced costs. AutoScheduler aggregates multi-site data and, using predictive analytics, enables supply chain top officers to rank the sites, quickly identify areas across the network that are out of tolerance or at risk, and take corrective action to mitigate risk before chaos occurs.
The Supply Chain Excellence Awards, judged by a panel of top supply chain professionals, recognize innovation, supply chain excellence, outstanding business performance, and overall achievements for both supply chain service providers and users. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in Miami at a glamorous black-tie event hosted by The Supply Chain Excellence Awards USA.
About AutoScheduler.AI AutoScheduler.AI empowers your supply chain with its Agentic AI-based warehouse orchestration platform that integrates with your existing WMS/LMS/YMS or any other solution to drive value across the supply chain by improving throughput, cutting labor costs, and ensuring customer service goals are met. AutoScheduler automates critical tasks for the warehouse like labor scheduling, task sequencing, and dock management, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Our Agentic AI-based platform makes better decisions to create an adaptive, living supply chain. For more information, visit: http://www.AutoScheduler.AI.
HENDERSON, Nev., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nika Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB:NIKA), based in Colorado, focused on cures for life-threatening diseases, today announced that Dimitar Savov, CEO, will present live at the Life Sciences Virtual Investor Frum hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on June 11th, 2025
DATE: June 11th TIME: 1:00 PM ET LINK:REGISTER HERE Available for 1×1 meetings: June 12th-17th between 09:00am ET and 11:30am ET
This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.
It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.
On May 19, 2025, NIKA published a market analysis for the countries of Ukraine, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, UAE, where NIKA has exclusive distribution agreements and has estimated a total of around €656 million in potential revenue.
NIKA’s partner company, Nika Europe, has made the second $195,554 payment for the vial production line and is currently finalizing the details of the clean rooms design in order to start construction. The production facility is expected to be completed in H2, 2025.
On April 11, 2025, Nika Pharmaceuticals, Inc. published a report on the therapeutic effect and potential economic impact of ITV-1, which can be found here.
On July 11, 2024 Nika Pharmaceuticals, Inc. signed an exclusive distribution agreement for the Republic of Nigeria. Under the terms, NIKA will receive €1,980 per each set of ITV-1 with two sets necessary for each treatment, which could result in €7.9 billion revenue.
About Nika Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nika Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NIKA) is a pharmaceutical company, specializing in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cancer, Diabetes, and all diseases, for which strengthened cell immunity is of vital importance. NIKA’s intellectual property includes six drugs in injection form – two of which have successfully undergone clinical trials with good treatment results – four drugs in tablet form, and eleven dietary supplements. NIKA’s goal is to not only achieve corporate profits, but to provide better and easier access to life-saving medicinal drugs and useful dietary supplements. Find more on www.nikapharmaceuticals.com.
Forward-looking Statement:
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Certain statements, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “forward- looking statements.” These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,”” estimates,” “intends,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain.
About Virtual Investor Conferences® Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.
Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.
CONTACTS: Nika Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Name Clifford P. Redekop Title Corporate Secretary Phone (702) 326-3615 Email cliffredekop@gmail.com
Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com
SAN FRANCISCO, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vyla, a technology platform built to drive transparency, efficiency and collaboration across the food ecosystem, today announced the appointment of Peter Frey as chief executive officer. Yoav Levsky, co-founder and chairman, and Tim Taylor, who has served as chief executive officer, will continue to play active roles at the strategic and governance level of Vyla.
Frey, a founding member of Vyla and former chief operating officer, played a central role in shaping the company’s shared data platform and advancing its mission to improve visibility, efficiency and collaboration across the global food system. Under his leadership, Vyla has launched a growing suite of software applications, including Ascend Mobile and DairyInsight, designed to help dairy producers, processors and retailers unlock insights, improve operations and meet rising expectations for traceability and accountability.
“Peter understands this mission better than anyone,” Taylor said. “From day one, he’s helped shape Vyla into a platform that’s not just solving technical problems, it’s reshaping the way the food supply chain operates.”
“We’re here to transform the technology upon which the entire food chain relies,” said Frey. “The work ahead is challenging, but it’s also incredibly meaningful, and I’m proud to lead this team into the future.”
Vyla’s platform enables stakeholders across the dairy supply chain to collect, integrate and act on data from every stage of production — from herd health and feed to sustainability indicators and market trends. By improving connectivity across farms, suppliers, processors and retailers, Vyla helps accelerate measurable outcomes and drive business growth.
The company’s momentum has been further strengthened through partnerships with global organizations, including Nestlé, Danone and Grande Cheese, who share Vyla’s goal of transforming agriculture through collaboration and technology.
For a full executive bio and headshot, view the media kit here.
About Vyla
Vyla is an enterprise software company serving the food ecosystem with data aggregation, connecting technologies and decision analytics. Founded in 2020 and catalyzed by Nestlé, Land O’Lakes and Lely Group, Vyla is building a collaborative and connected agricultural industry. Its cloud-based platform helps producers, processors and retailers accelerate progress by integrating data across key performance areas, enabling more informed decisions and measurable outcomes. For more information, visit www.vyla.com.
American Rebel (NASDAQ: AREB) CEO Andy Ross to Headline Patriotic Concert at Fort Campbell | American Rebel Light “Tall Boys” to be Served at the Army 250th Birthday Celebration
Nashville, TN, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB), through its American Rebel Beverages subsidiary and America’s Patriotic Beer, American Rebel Light Beer (www.americanrebelbeer.com) proudly announces that it is hosting the Week of the Eagles Concert as part of the 101st Airborne Division’s Week of the Eagles Celebration, marking the 250th birthday of the United States Army on June 14, 2025. As America’s Patriotic Beer, American Rebel Light Beer will be served at all concession stands, and the Company’s CEO and Patriotic-rock artist Andy Ross will headline a special patriotic concert at the event.
COMBAT TACTICAL DEMOSTRATION, LIVE MUSIC, AND AMERICAN PRIDE
The day kicks off with an intense live air assault demonstration led by the Screaming Eagles at the Sabalauski Air Assault School, showcasing their elite tactical expertise. Following this powerful display, American Rebel presents a high-energy concert featuring Andy Ross, bringing an electrifying mix of patriotism and music to honor our troops. This exclusive event is free and open only to Active Duty service members, their families, and Veterans with base access, celebrating the dedication, service, and sacrifice of America’s military.
“The 101st Airborne Division is the tip of the spear—our frontline defenders of liberty,” said Andy Ross, CEO of American Rebel Holdings, Inc.” There’s no greater honor than standing on that stage, guitar in hand, to say ‘thank you’ to these heroes on the 250th birthday of the Army.”
Todd Porter, President of American Rebel Beverage and a U.S. Army Veteran who served with the 101st during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, added: “This isn’t just sponsorship—it’s a homecoming. Celebrating the Screaming Eagles and the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army is a true privilege. It’s about family, sacrifice, and standing strong together as Americans.”
CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF ARMY EXCELLENCE
Founded in 1775, the U.S. Army has served as the backbone of our nation’s defense. The 101st Airborne Division—known worldwide as the “Screaming Eagles”—played pivotal roles in WWII (D-Day, Market Garden, Battle of the Bulge), and every major conflict since, including Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
At the heart of the action is The Sabalauski Air Assault School, Fort Campbell’s elite training ground where Soldiers earn the prestigious Air Assault Badge—a symbol of tactical excellence and warrior toughness.
A LEGACY OF VALOR: 101STAIRBORNE DIVISION
The 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles, has a legendary history of valor and excellence. From D-Day to Desert Storm, Vietnam to Afghanistan, they’ve remained the U.S. Army’s premier air assault force. Today, the Sabalauski Air Assault School at Fort Campbell trains elite warriors who embody tactical precision and readiness.
Event Information – Annual Week of the Eagles, Special Celebration United States Army’s 250thBirthday.
The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell proudly announce our annual Week of the Eagles, June 9th-15th, 2025, with a special celebration marking the United States Army’s 250th Birthday.
For two and a half centuries, the U.S. Army has stood as a beacon of strength, service, and sacrifice— “This We’ll Defend”. The Screaming Eagles, who have played a vital role in the nation’s defense since World War II, will honor the Army’s legacy with a week of commemorative ceremonies, competitions, and tactical demonstrations.
Location: Sabalauski Air Assault School – 6883 Assault St, Fort Campbell, KY 42223
Air Assault Demonstration: 10:00AM (prior to the concert)
Concert Time: Immediately Following the Air Assault Demonstration
Beverage Service: American Rebel Light Beer “Tall Boys” available at all beer-selling concession locations
“This milestone serves as a reminder of the Army’s unwavering dedication to protecting and defending our great nation,” said Col. Martin Meiners, spokesperson for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell. “There is no better way to celebrate the Army’s 250th Birthday than through our annual celebration known as the Week of the Eagles.”
RAISING A TALL BOY FOR THE TROOPS
American Rebel Light Beer, America’s Patriotic Beer, will be available throughout the event—allowing attendees to enjoy a crisp, all-natural light lager while celebrating our nation’s military might. With no corn, no rice, and no additives, American Rebel Light Beer delivers bold flavor and all-American values in every sip.
MWR: Supporting Our Troops & Their Families
The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) program plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for service members and their families. At Fort Campbell, MWR provides:
Fitness & Sports Programs: Access to gyms, swimming pools, organized sports leagues, and outdoor recreation.
Entertainment & Leisure: Bowling alleys, movie theaters, gaming centers, and arts & crafts workshops.
Travel & Tickets: Discounted tickets for amusement parks, concerts, and travel packages through Information, Tickets & Travel (ITT).
Outdoor Recreation: Hunting, fishing, camping, and boating opportunities, often with rental equipment available.
Libraries & Education: Military libraries offer books, digital resources, and study programs for service members and families.
Child & Youth Services: Programs for children, including daycare, summer camps, and youth sports leagues.
Single Service Member Programs: Special events and activities tailored for young, single service members to foster camaraderie.
MWR ensures that Soldiers and their families have access to essential services, recreation, and community-building activities, strengthening their resilience and well-being while they serve our nation.
About American Rebel Light Beer
American Rebel Light Beer is America’s Patriotic, God Fearing, Constitution Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.
American Rebel Light is more than just a beer—it’s a celebration of freedom, passion, and quality. Brewed with care and precision, our light beer delivers a refreshing taste that’s perfect for every occasion.
Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and Indiana and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. For more information about the launch events and the availability of American Rebel Beer, please visit americanrebelbeer.com or follow us on our social media platforms.
Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.
American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.
For more information about American Rebel Light Beer follow us on social media @AmericanRebelBeer
American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer.. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit www.americanrebel.com and www.americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit www.americanrebel.com/investor-relations.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of our continued sponsorship of high profile events, such as the 2025 Week of the Eagles Concert is proudly hosted by American Rebel Beer and Fort Campbell MWR (Sponsorship does not imply DOD endorsement), success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
MIAMI, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MCQ Markets, an emerging leader in the automotive alternative asset investment space, is proud to announce the official launch of its new entity, McQueen Garage. A dynamic new division designed to operate as a high-velocity auto trading platform providing investors exposure to high-performing, investment-grade luxury and exotic vehicles using the Dogecoin Blockchain.
In its first major milestone, McQueen Garage successfully completed the sale of a 2021 Maybach S580, generating an 8.8% return in just five days. The Black/Silver Metallic S580, with just 12,904 kilometers on the dash, showcases how expertly selected collector vehicles can rival traditional asset classes in returns, especially during periods of economic uncertainty.
McQueen Garage was developed in response to growing investor demand for short-hold, high-return automotive trades. Like its parent platform, MCQ Markets, the division focuses on liquidity-driven strategies that leverage the performance of collector cars, an asset class that has outpaced more conventional markets. According to Knight Frank, the collector car index has surged 185% over the past decade, exceeding returns from the S&P 500, fine art, wine, watches, and even real estate.
Backed by a team with a verified 60.13% ROI on past automotive trades, McQueen Garage operates on a wholesale model, sourcing and selling vehicles within days rather than months or years. The company is targeting $40 million in total trades over the next 12 months.
As MCQ Markets as a whole moves toward digital asset integration, McQueen Garage is accepting Dogecoin as a form of payment. This aligns with MCQ Markets’ broader vision to tokenize iconic cars. Plans are underway to launch a tokenized auto fund in Q1 2026, which will bring liquidity and accessibility to the world of car collecting through blockchain technology.
“With McQueen Garage, we’re unlocking a new era of speed, liquidity, and return potential in car trading,” said Curt Hopkins, CEO of MCQ Markets. “Backed by the Dogecoin Blockchain, what we’re creating is more than a garage, it’s a gateway to the future of automotive investing.”
Through its main platform, MCQMarkets.com, the company continues to offer fractional ownership in rare, investment-grade vehicles such as their sold-out Lamborghini Countach and the newly listed 2012 Lexus LFA, which is one of only 500 units ever produced. Originally priced at $375K, a recent LFA sale reached $951K, a staggering 154.57% value increase.
MCQ Markets is empowering a new generation of investors to diversify through luxury vehicles and invest alongside renowned racing legends Romain Grosjean and Patricio O’Ward.
To explore live offerings and learn more about MCQ Garage and MCQ Markets, visit www.MCQMarkets.com.
About MCQ Markets MCQ Markets is redefining luxury asset ownership by making exotic automobiles attainable through its innovative fractional ownership model. The platform serves both passionate enthusiasts and seasoned investors, democratizing luxury ownership and allowing more individuals to invest in assets that were previously out of reach. For more information, please visit: https://on.mcqmarkets.com/pr
Investments contain a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the MCQ Markets offering circular before deciding to invest, a copy of which is available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website, linked here: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2025795/000149315224023512/partiiandiii.htm. The mentioned individual, Lindsay Brewer, is a paid ambassador of MCQ Markets, receiving equity-based compensation.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Redpoint Ventures, a leading venture capital firm with a diverse portfolio of successful companies including Twilio, Looker, Nextdoor, Ramp, Stripe, NuBank, HashiCorp, Snowflake, Netflix, Hims, and more, is proud to announce the 3rd Annual Redpoint InfraRed Summit in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) at the AWS Builder Loft.
This premier event brings together industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries in the cloud infrastructure space to discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of technology, including keynote speakers Matt Garman, CEO of AWS, and Garry Tan, President and CEO of Y Combinator.
Building on the success of previous initiatives, this year’s summit continues Redpoint’s commitment to highlighting excellence and innovation in cloud infrastructure.
In conjunction with the Summit, Redpoint is also thrilled to unveil the 2025 InfraRed 100, their annual list recognizing 100 of the most transformative companies in cloud infrastructure. These innovators are driving new advances in scalability, security, reliability, and performance across the cloud ecosystem. Now in its third year, the InfraRed 100 serves as both a barometer of emerging trends and a celebration of the founders and teams shaping the future of cloud computing.
“We’re honored to bring together leaders from across the industry at the third annual InfraRed Summit with AWS and to share this year’s InfraRed 100, highlighting companies advancing cloud infrastructure in meaningful ways,” said Scott Raney, Managing Director at Redpoint. “We’re especially grateful to Matt Garman and Garry Tan for their leadership and insights at the event, and we look forward to recognizing the companies and entrepreneurs shaping the future of this critical sector.”
About Redpoint Ventures Redpoint has partnered with visionary founders to create new markets and redefine existing ones since 1999. We invest in startups across the seed, early and growth phases, and we’re proud to have backed over 615 companies—including Snowflake, Looker, Kustomer, Twilio, 2U, DraftKings, Duo Security, HashiCorp, Stripe, Guild, HomeAway, Heroku, Netflix, and Sonos—with 183 IPOs and M+A exits. Redpoint manages $8.0 billion across multiple funds. For more information visit: http://www.redpoint.com/.
Contact Tony Keller Principal OUTVOX tkeller@outvox.com
WESTLAKE, Texas, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Goosehead Insurance, Inc., (NASDAQ: GSHD), a rapidly growing, independent personal lines insurance agency, has appointed Angie Kervin as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). With more than two decades of experience leading human capital strategies across large, distributed workforces, Kervin will spearhead Goosehead’s efforts to enhance its HR capabilities, further solidifying its position as an industry leader.
“Angie’s deep expertise and track record of driving innovation and excellence position her perfectly to lead our HR efforts,” said Mark Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Goosehead Insurance. “Our ability to attract, develop and retain exceptional human capital has always been a cornerstone of our success. Angie’s strategic vision and leadership will further enhance this advantage, helping us push boundaries and foster a dynamic, forward-thinking culture that drives growth and excellence at every level.”
Kervin is an accomplished HR leader, having served most recently as Executive Vice President and CHRO at Vestis. She previously held numerous progressive leadership roles during her tenure at Vestis/Aramark Uniform Services, including Senior Vice President and CHRO, and Vice President, Human Resources. Earlier in her career, Kervin gained valuable experience managing large-scale HR initiatives at Kohl’s, Sports Authority, Party City and Footaction USA, all of which have prepared her to lead human capital strategies tailored for high-growth companies like Goosehead.
“I am thrilled to join Goosehead Insurance and contribute to the company’s continued success,” said Kervin. “I look forward to working with the team to create and implement human capital strategies that will grow and nurture top talent while supporting Goosehead’s commitment to innovation and client excellence.”
Positioning Goosehead for Continued Growth
Kervin’s appointment reflects Goosehead Insurance’s commitment to aligning its people strategy with its ambitious business goals. The CHRO role will focus on:
Developing innovative HR programs to attract, develop and retain top talent.
Strengthening the high-performance culture with an emphasis on our principles of meritocracy and servant leadership.
Leveraging advanced technologies and data-driven decision-making to enhance workforce productivity.
Building on and enhancing Goosehead’s HR infrastructure to support aggressive, long-term growth in personal lines insurance.
“Angie embodies the innovative spirit and operational excellence that drive Goosehead forward. Her leadership is well-suited to accelerate our ability to meet today’s workforce challenges while staying positioned at the forefront of the insurance industry,” added Miller.
Kervin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of North Texas and is thrilled to return to Texas with her family as she takes on this exciting new chapter.
About Goosehead Goosehead (NASDAQ: GSHD) is a rapidly growing and innovative independent personal lines insurance agency that distributes its products and services through corporate and franchise locations throughout the United States. Goosehead was founded on the premise that the consumer should be at the center of our universe and that everything we do should be directed at providing extraordinary value by offering broad product choice and a world-class service experience. Goosehead represents over 200 insurance companies that underwrite personal and commercial lines. For more information, please visit goosehead.com or goosehead.com/become-a-franchisee.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which represent Goosehead’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and may include statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or Goosehead’s strategies or expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “projects”, “potential”, “outlook” or “continue”, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements.
Factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, conditions impacting insurance carriers or other parties with which Goosehead does business, the loss of one or more key executives or an inability to attract and retain qualified personnel and the failure to attract and retain highly qualified franchisees. These risks and uncertainties also include, but are not limited to, those described under the captions “1A. Risk Factors” in Goosehead’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in Goosehead’s other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the Securities Exchange Commission’s website at:www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Goosehead or to persons acting on behalf of Goosehead are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Goosehead does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.
LOS ALTOS, Calif., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Descope, the drag & drop external IAM platform, proudly announces its recognition on the Redpoint InfraRed 100 for the second time. This prestigious list highlights the 100 up-and-coming private companies in Cloud Infrastructure, showcasing the future leaders set to revolutionize the market.
Redpoint Ventures, a top-tier venture capital firm with a diverse portfolio including companies such as Snowflake, Twilio, Looker, Nextdoor, Ramp, Stripe, Nubank, HashiCorp, Netflix, Hims, and more, launched this list in 2023 to showcase the exceptional builders in the industry who are creating industry-transforming companies. Descope was also named to this inaugural InfraRed 100 list.
To commemorate this achievement, the Descope team will join Redpoint at Nasdaq with other InfraRed 100 leaders to discuss the evolving landscape of cloud infrastructure.
“Being included in the InfraRed 100 list again is a great honor, especially alongside such a distinguished group of cloud infrastructure companies. We founded Descope on our belief in a passwordless future and our belief that cloud infrastructure will drive the future of tech and be a foundation for many years to come. We extend our gratitude to Redpoint for this recognition and congratulate all the companies on the list!” said Slavik Markovich, Co-Founder and CEO of Descope.
Descope launched from stealth in February 2023 with $53M in seed funding and a developer-oriented authentication platform. The product has since grown to a complete external IAM platform while retaining its developer focus. Descope helps hundreds of organizations like GoFundMe, Databricks, GoodRx, Navan, and You.com create secure and frictionless identity journeys for their end users, business customers, partners, APIs, and AI agents.
The company was also recently named to the Rising in Cyber list for the second year in a row, and was also recognized as a SINET16 Innovator in 2024.
For the complete list of companies included on this year’s InfraRed 100 list and to read the full InfraRed industry report, click here.
About Descope
Descope is a drag & drop platform to help organizations manage all their external identities. Our no / low code external IAM solution helps organizations create, modify, and secure authentication and authorization journeys for end users, business customers, partner applications, and APIs / AI agents. Hundreds of businesses use Descope to improve customer experience, prevent account takeover, and get a 360 view of their customer and machine identities.
About Redpoint Ventures Redpoint has partnered with visionary founders to create new markets and redefine existing ones since 1999. We invest in startups across the seed, early and growth phases, and we’re proud to have backed over 615 companies—including Snowflake, Looker, Kustomer, Twilio, 2U, DraftKings, Duo Security, HashiCorp, Stripe, Guild, HomeAway, Heroku, Netflix, and Sonos—with 183 IPOs and M+A exits. Redpoint manages $8.0 billion across multiple funds. For more information visit: http://www.redpoint.com/
Media Contact
Erica Anderson Offleash for Descope descope@offleashpr.com
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In reality, the competition is the latest chapter in FIFA’s long-running quest – going all the way back to 1960 – to create a global championship that would determine which club really is the best in the world.
As always, the litmus test for success will come from the fans. So far, things are not going well on that front. Falling prices on Ticketmaster bode ill for the competition. Just days before the games were due to begin, FIFA slashed prices for the opening match: MLS club Inter Miami against Egypt’s Al-Ahly. Reports suggest that less than a third of tickets at the 65,000-seat venue for the opener, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, had sold – despite the likely presence of soccer superstar Lionel Messi.
Of course, the declining number of tourists coming to the U.S. since the second inauguration of Donald Trump – and the president’s recently announced travel ban affecting 19 countries – hasn’t helped encourage fans of the global game to the U.S., even if none of the competing clubs come from one of those countries.
FIFA vs. UEFA
So, given all the problems and controversies, why is FIFA so invested?
As someone who has long researched the nexus of soccer, money and power, I see the World Club Cup as part of a struggle between UEFA, the European governing body that runs the Champions League – currently seen as the pinnacle of soccer club competition – and FIFA, which wants to supplant the Champions League with its own competition.
UEFA’s power stems from hosting the world’s biggest clubs. Only one club from outside Europe appears in soccer data website Transfermarkt’s list of the 50 most valuable squads – with Palmeiras from Brazil squeaking in at 50.
Top players in their prime rarely quit Europe to play on another continent – the high-profile names that opt to play in the U.S. or Saudi leagues tend to be veterans cashing in on their name.
Meanwhile, the world’s soccer talent flocks to European clubs. It’s not just that big clubs like Real Madrid, Liverpool or Bayern Munich that can pay top dollar for the star players – less storied clubs like Brentford, Real Sociedad or VfB Stuttgart have the wherewithal to fish in the global player market.
The wealth and status of these clubs form the muscle behind UEFA. And the jewel in the UEFA crown is the Champions League, an annual competition that brings together the best clubs in Europe.
A game of two halves
While UEFA also has its own national competition, the Euros, its pull is nowhere near as great as FIFA’s World Cup.
This division – with FIFA dominating the international team competition and UEFA the club competition – dates back to the 1960s and the early years of mass television.
When the 1966 World Cup was hosted by England, it was one of the very first global sports events, watched by an estimated audience of 400 million people worldwide.
The 1970 World Cup, a legendary event in the eyes of boomer soccer fans, established the four-year ritual that surpasses even the Olympics as a global sporting event.
At this time, UEFA’s Euros were barely a competition at all. The 1968, 1972 and 1976 editions – played in Italy, Belgium and Yugoslavia, respectively – each had only four teams and only four or five games.
UEFA had by then established its role in club competition. The European Cup, as the Champions League was then called, started in 1955.
Ferenc Puskas of Real Madrid scores his team’s sixth goal during the European Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on May 18, 1960. Keystone/Getty Images
Witnessed by a crowd of 128,000 at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, the more important statistic was the estimated 70 million television audience in Europe.
The 1968 final at London’s Wembley Stadium, when Manchester United overcame Benfica in honor of the “Busby Babes” – Manchester players who died in a 1958 Munich air disaster while traveling home from a European Cup game – saw a TV audience of 270 million.
A history of failure
The ambition to create a club world cup to rival the European Cup goes back to the 1950s. Soccer powerhouses Brazil and Argentina in particular promoted the idea that the top clubs in Europe should face off against the top South American teams.
The resulting Intercontinental Cup ran from 1960 to 2004, with the top teams from UEFA and CONMEBOL, the South American soccer federation, taking part.
But played in midseason, it barely made an impression on the fans.
In 2000, FIFA created the Club World Championship, with eight teams drawn from the five international federations.
It also attracted little love, and the 2001-to-2004 editions had to be canceled for lack of financial backing.
In the early years, it seemed like an excuse to emulate the Intercontinental Cup, and the first three winners were South American. However, since 2006, all the winners bar one – Brazil’s Corinthians in 2012 – have been European.
Europe is ‘on the beach’
Then, in 2017, Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, announced plans to expand the competition and move it to the summer. With 32 teams, the competition will look more like the World Cup and will receive a lot of TV coverage.
The fact that it will be free to watch will help. So too will the presence of Messi.
Yet the overwhelming feeling going into the competition is that, like its predecessors, the revamped FIFA club competition is destined for failure.
With the European domestic leagues all completed and the Champions League final – the unofficial marker of the end of the soccer season – having taken place on May 31, players and fans appear to be “on the beach,” to use a favorite phrase of soccer commentators.
Ultimately, FIFA’s revamped World Club Cup faces the same issues that beset its forerunners: European teams are overwhelmingly tipped to win.
Rather than the global soccer “solidarity” that FIFA hopes, the competition sets to reinforce the dominance of European clubs – and of Europe’s governing body when it comes to club competition.
Stefan Szymanski does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The new musical film Juliet and Romeo arrives on screen with lavish visuals, saccharine pop songs and a reworked Shakespearean plot that tries to dazzle. With its vivid colour palette and dreamy masquerade aesthetic, this is Verona as filtered through a Eurovision lens: glittering, melodramatic and frequently overwrought.
Writer and director Timothy Scott Bogart and composer Evan Kidd join a lineage of Romeo and Juliet adaptations that blend music with spectacle. Who could forget Harold Perrineau’s drag rendition of Young Hearts Run Free as Mercutio in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)? More recently, the stage show & Juliet (2019) used the iconic songwriting of Max Martin for a jukebox musical meets feminist retelling of the tragedy. So where does Juliet and Romeo fall in comparison?
Let’s begin with the fair, before turning to the foul. Shot on location in the real Verona, Juliet and Romeo makes excellent use of its scenery, with inventive sets and clever staging that breathe some vitality into its world.
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Verona’s jewel tones, candlelit street parties and endless twisting streets grant the film its fairytale quality. There’s a tactile richness to the production design that occasionally feels immersive, evoking a heightened world somewhere between Shakespeare’s imagined Verona and a perfume advert. The array of fight, dance, and crowd scenes are well-choreographed and the camera often moves with an energetic theatricality that hints at what the musical could have been.
Unfortunately, the music doesn’t keep pace. While the pop soundtrack is relentlessly inoffensive – think bubblegum ballads and power choruses – it lacks the lyrical bite or emotional weight needed to sustain a tragedy.
With sugary harmonies and banal lyrics, these numbers evoke more Eurovision than Elizabethan drama – not inherently a bad thing, but in this case, it results in emotional flatness. For example, a number like Better Than This, led with verve by Martina Ortiz Luis as Veronica, stands out slightly with its charming melody and joyful choreography. It’s a moment of brightness that briefly lifts the energy. But even that slips into the overall sameness of the score. At its best, the music is cutesy; at its worst, it’s filler.
The trailer for Juliet & Romeo.
The character work is similarly uneven. Juliet (Clara Rugaard) emerges as the most compelling figure – wry, self-aware, and played with just enough spunk to avoid cliché. Romeo (Jamie Ward), by contrast, is a forgettable boy-band archetype, rebelling weakly against a domineering father (Jason Isaacs channelling medieval Lucius Malfoy) and contributing little beyond brooding charm.
Derek Jacobi’s gravitas is squandered on narration and playing the hapless Friar Lawrence. Juliet and Romeo opens with a flurry of historical exposition delivered by Jacobi: medieval Italy, papal politics, the splintering of city-states, and the threat of “mighty Rome” coming for Verona. It’s an ambitious – if unnecessary – reframing that sets up a late-stage twist that gestures toward a sequel.
The supporting cast is also a mix of intriguing choices and tonal confusion. Mercutio’s (Nicholas Podany) subplot, involving his own forbidden love and tense relationship with an adoptive Montague patriarch, hints at deeper parallels to the central couple, but is never fully developed. The apothecary (Dan Fogler), bafflingly, gets a solo about alchemical experiments that feels lifted from a mid-tier Disney sequel. Meanwhile, the nurse (Sara Lazzaro), usually a comedic gem, is stripped of humour entirely.
The Mask I Wear from Juliet & Romeo.
A standout number comes from Rebel Wilson’s Lady Capulet and Verona’s women, who lament in The Mask I Wear about the constraints of femininity in well-arranged harmony. Yet the song’s emotional resonance is blunted by underwritten character arcs. The women sing beautifully, but we barely know why they’re angry.
In the end, Juliet and Romeo is a musical that strains to be meaningful but never earns its emotional crescendos. It gestures toward political intrigue, feminist revision and star-crossed romance, but settles for spectacle. Still, with its sparkling visuals and glossy score, for fans of unapologetic musical fanfare, there’s some joy to be found in the glitter.
Emily Rowe 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.
President Donald Trump’s promise to eliminate taxes on tips may sound like a windfall for service workers — but the fine print in Congress’ latest tax bill tells a more complex story.
The idea started getting attention when Trump raised it during a 2024 campaign stop in Las Vegas, a place where tipping is woven into the economy. And the headlines and press releases sound great — especially if you’re a waiter, bartender or anyone else who depends on tips for a living. That may be why both Democrats and Republicans alike broadly support the concept. However, like most of life, the devil is in the details.
I’m a business-school economist who has written about tipping, and I’ve looked closely at the language of the proposed laws. So, what exactly has Trump promised, and how does it measure up to what’s in the bills? Let’s start with his pledge.
The promise of money that’s ‘100% yours’
Back in January 2025, Trump said, “If you’re a restaurant worker, a server, a valet, a bellhop, a bartender, one of my caddies … your tips will be 100% yours.” That sounds like a boost in tipped workers’ income.
But when you look at the current situation, it becomes clear that the reality is far more complicated.
First, the new tax break only applies to tips the government knows about — and a lot of that income currently flies under the radar. Tipped workers who get cash tips are supposed to report it to the IRS via form 4137 if their employer doesn’t report it for them. If a worker gets a cash tip today and doesn’t report it, they already get 100% of the money. No one really knows what percentage of tips are unreported, but an old IRS estimate pegs it at about 40%.
What’s more, the current tax code defines tips only as payments where the customer determines the tip amount. If a restaurant charges a fixed 18% service charge, or there’s an extra fee for room service, those aren’t tips in the government’s eyes. This means some tipped workers who think service charges are tips will overestimate the new rule’s impact on their finances.
How the new bills would affect tipped workers
The “Big Beautiful Bill” would create a new tax code section under “itemized deductions” This area of the tax code already includes text that creates health savings accounts and gives students deductions for interest on their college loans.
What’s in the new section?
First, the bill specifies that this tax break applies just to “any cash tip.” The IRS classifies payments by credit card, debit card and even checks as “cash tips.” Unfortunately for workers in Las Vegas, noncash tips, like casino chips, aren’t part of the bill.
While the House bill limits the deduction to people earning less than US$160,000 the Senate bill caps the deduction to the first $25,000 of tips earned. Everything over that is taxed.
Second, the current House bill ends this special tax-free deal on Dec. 31, 2028. That means these special benefits would only last three years, unless Congress extends the law. The Senate bill does not include such a deadline.
Third, the exemption is only available to jobs that typically receive tips. The Treasury secretary is required to define the list of tipped occupations. If an occupation isn’t on the list, the law doesn’t apply.
I wonder how many occupations won’t make the list. For example, some camp counselors get tips at the end of the summer. But it’s unclear the Treasury Department will include these workers as a covered group, since counselors only make up a proportion of summer camp staff. Not making the list is a real problem.
And while the new proposal gives workers an income tax break, there’s nothing in either bill about skipping FICA payments on the tipped earnings. Workers are still required to contribute slightly more than 7% in Social Security and Medicare taxes on all tips they report, which won’t benefit them until retirement. This isn’t an oversight — the bill specifically says employees must furnish a valid Social Security number to get the tax benefits.
There are a few other ways the legislation might benefit workers less than it seems at first glance. Instituting no taxes on tips could mean tipped employees feel more pressure to split their tips with other employees, like busboys, chefs and hosts. After all, these untipped workers also contribute to the customer experience, and often at low wages.
The specifics of any piece of legislation are subject to change until the moment Congress sends it to the president to be signed. However, as now written, I think the bills aren’t as generous to tipped workers as Trump made it sound on the campaign trail.
Jay L. Zagorsky does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
In almost the same way the rope aboard the Pequod “folds the whole boat in its complicated coils,” so too have the details of the 14th International Melville Society Conference around UConn’s Mary K. Bercaw Edwards.
Who knew planning a weeklong event at UConn Avery Point for 150 Herman Melville scholars from lands as far away as those along the route in the hunt for Moby Dick would imitate passages from the English professor’s favorite chapter in the novel by the same name?
The whaling line, Melville writes of the rope, is both “magical, sometimes horrible.”
But once the scholars arrive and the opening plenary address begins on Monday, June 16, Bercaw Edwards says she’ll settle in and enjoy what the week has to offer as the UConn campus and southeastern Connecticut show off their maritime heritage.
“It’s going to be an amazing conference. The talks look outstanding, and everyone is so excited to be in this location,” Bercaw Edwards says.
Titled “Oceanic Melville,” the conference follows a 2022 gathering in Paris and other global destinations through the years including Poland in 2007, Israel in 2009, Italy in 2011, and Japan in 2015. The first was held in Greece in 1997, with gatherings planned generally biennially.
The latest exhibition, “Oceanic Melville,” at the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art features artwork inspired by Herman Melville’s novel “Moby-Dick,” including artist Robert Del Tredici’s mixed media print, “Torn Body, Gnashed Soul.” The exhibition at UConn Avery Point is open through June 19. (Kimberly Phillips/UConn Today)
Bercaw Edwards says The Melville Society, an international organization dedicated to the study of the author, asked her to arrange a conference at Avery Point in part because of its proximity to Mystic Seaport Museum just 15 minutes down the road where the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world, is on display.
The Morgan was launched in 1841 from New Bedford, Massachusetts, built seven months after and 7 miles away from the Acushnet, the whale ship on which Melville served as a crewmember in the Pacific Ocean before writing “Moby-Dick,” making the Morgan as identical as possible to the Acushnet.
While several days of panel discussions and other academic talks (some are open to the public) on topics ranging from Melville in popular culture to Melville and his animals are the centerpiece of the conference, Bercaw Edwards says a daylong trip to the Museum, where she works in the summer, and the chance to get up close with the Morgan is a highlight.
“They’ll see us raise sails, lower and raise the whale boat. They’ll get to pull on the halyards, which will give them a visceral feeling of what it’s like to set sail,” she says of conference attendees. “We’re also going to give them an opportunity to actually row in whale boats.”
Participants’ day at the Museum also will include the daily activities available to the public, including a concert by staff musicians playing and singing the songs mentioned in “Moby-Dick” and a 35-minute play with three actors using Melville’s words to tell the story of Ahab and the whale.
“Monstrous: Whaling and its Colossal Impact,” the Museum’s newest exhibition that opened in late May and runs through Feb. 16, 2026, by happenstance coincides with the conference.
The exhibition has been built around Mexican American artist Jos Sances’ scratchboard mural, “Or, The Whale,” a 51-foot-long artwork the same size as a juvenile sperm whale. Bercaw Edwards says Sances created the piece after reading and finding inspiration in “Moby-Dick.”
“Sances is a screen printer and a scratchboard artist who’s from Mexico and lives in California – and then he read ‘Moby-Dick’ and was driven to make this mural,” she says. “With his background, there was nothing that would have drawn him naturally to reading a book by a white New England author, but he did just like so many others do.”
‘Deep and Important Questions’
From the perspective of Pequod crewmember Ishmael, “Moby-Dick” tells the story of Captain Ahab’s trek across the globe for vengeance against the albino sperm whale Moby Dick, which took off his leg during a previous encounter.
Some chapters are incredibly dense with precise details about whaling and sailing, while others are so action-packed the story moves quickly. It’s considered among the greatest American novels and for many English majors might be considered their very own white whale.
“Quenchless Feud (Ahab)” from artist Jos Sances is on display as part of “Oceanic Melville” at the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art at UConn Avery Point. (Kimberly Phillips/UConn Today)
Bercaw Edwards says she’s oftentimes amazed that today’s audiences are so interested in something written in 1851 – that’s nearly 175 years ago – especially given that it’s authored by a dead, white male and features the killing of whales.
“It seems as politically incorrect as it can possibly be, and yet it feels as if it’s still on the ascendancy,” she says. “It’s a long, dense, tough book, and yet it’s immensely popular. There are graphic novels, movies, plays, concerts, memes, and T-shirts about it.”
She says she once witnessed a colleague who writes about Melville in popular culture mention the word “tattoo” during a talk, and afterward a throng of people gathered around to show him the Melville-inspired artwork on their biceps, forearms, and calves.
“It’s just amazing to me that Melville is so popular. I think it’s because he asks all kinds of deep and important questions: Is there truth? Is there justice? Is there anything beyond our human existence? How do we go about life? And he doesn’t give us any answers. Every time you think ‘OK, that’s the answer,’ he undercuts it. He wants you to realize there are no answers, but he’s asking these great questions. I think that’s part of why it’s still eternal,” she says.
Never mind the beauty of Melville’s writing.
“At the end of Chapter 1, Melville writes, ‘It is but well to be on friendly terms with all the inmates of the place one lodges in.’ I’ve always loved that. We should all get along,” Bercaw Edwards says. “I also love, ‘Ignorance is the parent of fear.’ People are afraid of things they don’t know. It’s so true.”
Pequod third mate Flask fears butter – yes, a stick of butter – Bercaw Edwards continues, noting the humor in the book. He feels as if he’s not entitled to the spread: “So when they’re all eating with Ahab – Starbuck, Stubb, and Flask – they’re always really quiet because they’re kind of nervous around Ahab, and Flask, of course, never dares to take butter. Then Melville writes, ‘For Flask is a butterless man.’”
Reading ‘Moby-Dick’
Every time “Moby-Dick” appears on a syllabus in one of Bercaw Edwards’ classes, she says she gives it a fresh read, no specific routine around it, no tableside requisite cup of black tea to share with Ahab.
She’s delighted in its humor during her at least 35 times rereading it through the years – so many instances that she finds herself quoting it as she goes along. And when she gets to her favorite chapter – number 60, “The Line” – she knows she’ll get the best Melville has to offer.
“He’s describing the whale line, which is attached to the harpoon and thrown into the whale. He has really basic information about the line, about rope, and then it’s infused with all kinds of humor,” she says, quoting his description of hemp: “Hemp is a dusky, dark fellow, a sort of Indian; but Manilla is as a golden-haired Circassian to behold.”
Melville then builds to what Bercaw Edwards calls a “metaphysical lift,” explaining that the whale-line surrounds the boat, crisscrossing it and traveling by each of the crewmembers. He then notes that we’re all surrounded by ropes, and no one knows when it will take you to eternity.
“It’s set up like a sermon,” she says of the chapter. “Sermons pick apart a line from biblical text. This does the same thing. It just does it with real line rather than a line of text.”
Then again, Bercaw Edwards can relate to Melville and journeys around the world better than most.
As her friends shifted into high school upperclassman status at 16 years old, she and her family went to sea, she says. The family of five – Mom and Dad, sister and brother, and her – sailed around the globe on a journey that took 3½ years.
“When I went to college, I knew I wanted to be an English major, but I was thinking I would study Henry James,” she says of the American British author. “Then my professor suggested that with my sailing background I should be a Melville scholar – and now I can’t imagine anything else. All my scholarship has been on Melville, with a little on Joseph Conrad and Jack London, but always centered on Melville.”
She acknowledges, though, that for some, reading “Moby-Dick” might be daunting, to which she offers four words of advice: Visit Mystic Seaport Museum.
Seeing the whale boat demonstrations and getting onboard the Morgan to imagine sleeping in its belly every night for between two and five years oftentimes help people get through those challenging whaling chapters.
She further recommends listening to the story as an audio book.
“When people hear it read aloud, they’ll often see how funny it is. I mean, it’s full of humor, and that’s often lost when people get stuck on the fact that this is The. Great. American. Novel,” she says.
From July 31 to Aug. 1, Mystic Seaport Museum will host its 40th annual “Moby-Dick” Marathon reading of the book to coincide with Melville’s Aug. 1 birthday. Readers gather onboard the Morgan and take about 24 consecutive hours to get through the 135 chapters.
“One of the things I always notice is people listening and then they start to laugh and feel embarrassed, like they’re not supposed to. This is The Great American Novel, but of course we’re supposed to laugh,” she adds.
Public Events and AVS Exhibition
With grant funding from Connecticut Humanities and the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, several events during The Melville Society conference will be open to the public, Bercaw Edwards says.
The opening plenary talk at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, June 16, “Other Seas: Sailing Without Ahab,” will come from St. John’s University English professor Steve Mentz, who’s figured prominently in the field of blue humanities. He will discuss how humans engage with water, along with the history and theory of water-centric thinking.
“The Pod” from artist George Klauba is on display as part of “Oceanic Melville” at the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art at UConn Avery Point. (Kimberly Phillips/UConn Today)
Then, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, “Does the Whale Diminish? – Will He Perish? Cross-Disciplinary Currents in Conversation” will offer a panel discussion with Anne Cohen from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, conservation biologist and author Joe Roman, and Portuguese marine researcher Rui Prieto.
The closing plenary address at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, also is open to the public. It features Lenora Warren from Cornell University, one of the leading scholars about Melville and race. Her talk, “Melville’s Ghosts,” dovetails with the day also being Juneteenth.
At the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art at Avery Point, the exhibition “Oceanic Melville” comes together thanks to curator and gallery director Jeanne Ciravolo, along with Bercaw Edwards and Robert K. Wallace from Northern Kentucky University.
Ciravolo says she mentioned during a campus faculty meeting more than a year ago that she enjoys making the gallery’s exhibitions interdisciplinary experiences and afterward Bercaw Edwards asked if she was interested in working together on a show to dovetail with the conference.
“I absolutely was,” Ciravolo says. “I’m a reader. I once thought I’d be an English teacher, but I became an artist, so to have the opportunity to marry literature plus art is very unusual for me and special.”
About two dozen framed artworks on loan from The Melville Society, which houses its collection at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts, are part of the show, along with several artists’ books, Ciravolo says, noting that most of the pieces relate to “Moby-Dick.”
This includes three full-color pieces from artist George Klauba, prints from sculptor and graphic artist Leonard Baskin, and an abstract piece, “Skin’s Path/Moby Dick,” from artist Aileen Callahan, a charcoal on paper that depicts the damaged skin of a whale that’s been beaten with time.
“The idea is to always get a mix of things, a variety of style and media, into the gallery,” Ciravolo says, explaining she and Bercaw Edwards visited the New Bedford Museum to pour through The Melville Society’s full collection, as well as the Museum’s Elizabeth Schultz Collection, and select the most powerful artworks from watercolor to printmaking.
“The scholars who are coming are going to appreciate seeing these artworks,” Ciravolo says. “I love that it will be a generative experience for them and that the public will have the chance to see this very interesting show. We’re here on Long Island Sound, near the whaling center of New England, so it’s a perfect place for this.”
The AVS Gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. in the Branford House at UConn Avery Point. It will have extended hours from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 17, during the Melville conference for both participants and the public. The “Oceanic Melville” exhibition is open now through Thursday, June 19.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MetaVia Inc. (Nasdaq: MTVA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming cardiometabolic diseases, today announced that Hyung Heon Kim, President and Chief Executive Officer will present a company overview live at the Life Sciences Virtual Investor Forum hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, taking place June 11-12, 2025.
DATE: Wednesday June 12, 2025 TIME: 1:00 – 1:30 pm ET LINK:REGISTER HERE Available for 1×1 meetings: June 12, 13, and 16
This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.
It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.
To schedule a meeting with management outside of this event, investors can contact Michael Miller at mmiller@rxir.com.
Recent Company Highlights
May 2025: Closed a private placement, which resulted in aggregate gross proceeds of $10 million priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules.
May 2025: Presented data from the 16-week Phase 2a clinical trial of DA-1241 in patients with presumed MASH in a late-breaking poster presentation at EASL Congress 2025. In this trial, DA-1241 significantly decreased plasma ALT levels, with a mean reduction of 22.8 U/L at 16 weeks, the Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) Score improved by 23.0 dB/m, indicating reduced liver fat content, while an improvement in FibroScan-AST (FAST) score and NIS-4, supports beneficial effects on liver health.
April 2025: Reported additional, positive top-line results from the 4-week MAD Part 2 of its Phase 1 clinical trial of DA-1726 for the treatment of obesity further demonstrating its best-in-class potential. DA-1726 demonstrated a clear dose-responsive trend in body weight reduction across the 8 mg to 32 mg range, indicating potentially greater efficacy at higher doses and longer duration of use. Additionally, body mass index, which shows body weight adjusted for height, showed a difference between the treatment group and the placebo group, which was even more pronounced, further supporting the dose-dependent effect of the drug on weight-related outcomes. Of note, DA-1726 did not show any clinically significant increases in heart rate or QTcF changes up to 32 mg at 4 weeks of administration.
April 2025: Announced positive top-line results from the 4-week MAD Part 2 of its Phase 1 clinical trial of DA-1726 for the treatment of obesity. DA-1726 demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability, with positive clinical activity. The cohort receiving 32 mg of DA-1726 with no titration demonstrated a maximum reduction in body weight from baseline ranging up to -6.3%, and a mean body weight reduction of -4.3% at Day 26 (p=0.0005). Four out of six subjects on the 32 mg dose experienced mild gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events (AEs), most of which were resolved after 24 hours of occurrence. There were no treatment-related discontinuations or serious adverse events (SAEs).
About MetaVia MetaVia Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming cardiometabolic diseases. The company is currently developing DA-1726 for the treatment of obesity, and is developing DA-1241 for the treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). DA-1726 is a novel oxyntomodulin (OXM) analogue that functions as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) and glucagon receptor (GCGR) dual agonist. OXM is a naturally-occurring gut hormone that activates GLP1R and GCGR, thereby decreasing food intake while increasing energy expenditure, thus potentially resulting in superior body weight loss compared to selective GLP1R agonists. In a Phase 1 multiple ascending dose (MAD) trial in obesity, DA-1726 demonstrated best-in-class potential for weight loss, glucose control, and waist reduction. DA-1241 is a novel G-protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) agonist that promotes the release of key gut peptides GLP-1, GIP, and PYY. In pre-clinical studies, DA-1241 demonstrated a positive effect on liver inflammation, lipid metabolism, weight loss, and glucose metabolism, reducing hepatic steatosis, hepatic inflammation, and liver fibrosis, while also improving glucose control. In a Phase 2a clinical study, DA-1241 demonstrated direct hepatic action in addition to its glucose lowering effects.
About Virtual Investor Conferences® Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.
Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.
SINGAPORE, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the launch of the sixth phase of its Crypto Gem Hunt program. Amidst a crypto market characterized by persistent volatility, with Bitcoin fluctuating between $100,000 and $110,000, market sentiment remains largely influenced by macroeconomic policies, regulatory developments, and speculative behavior. Against this backdrop, HTX’s Crypto Gem Hunt leverages rigorous data analysis and a meticulous selection process to spotlight seven standout projects. These projects are strategically positioned for growth and demonstrate strong community engagement. The selected assets span some of today’s most dynamic sectors—including RWA/DeFi, AI, Meme, LSD, and SocialFi—and feature both promising new entrants and well-established projects that have recently outperformed broader market trends.
New Listings Shine Across a Well-Balanced Sector Mix
In May, HTX listed 23 new assets, including six stablecoins, an approach that underscores its commitment to staying at the forefront of the stablecoin trend and expanding its asset offerings. Notably, USD1 made its global debut on HTX. The token, issued by World Liberty Financial (a company backed by the Trump family), focuses on building a DeFi lending ecosystem in the United States. USD1 quickly gained traction as one of May’s most discussed projects on social media and received an S rating.
Besides USD1, two other new assets in Crypto Gem Hunt #6 have stood out:
SYRUP (Maple Finance), a key player in the RWA/DeFi sector, experienced an impressive 117.7% surge following its listing on May 8, earning an A rating. SYRUP is the native token of Maple, a decentralized lending protocol that allows users to deposit USDC, receive syrupUSDC, and earn yield. All loans are collateralized by digital assets, ensuring both strong security and sustainable returns.
KAITO, an innovator in the InfoFi/AI sector, recorded a remarkable 263.6% increase since its listing on HTX on February 23, securing an A rating. KAITO is building an AI-driven crypto information network that streamlines content distribution among creators, users, and capital. By empowering the content ecosystem, KAITO is positioning itself at the forefront of the convergence between crypto and AI.
Despite continuous shifts in market dynamics, a select group of earlier-launched projects are demonstrating remarkable resilience. Backed by strong product fundamentals and vibrant community support, they’ve recently returned to the spotlight with evolving narratives and renewed momentum, capturing the attention of both investors and users.
Two Meme projects from last September, MOODENG and NEIROCTO, serve as notable examples:
MOODENG, built on the Solana (SOL) chain, surged an incredible 961.5% and received an A rating. Inspired by the famous pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand, MOODENG’s unique design, strong community, and viral momentum propelled it to a nearly tenfold increase post-launch.
NEIROCTO (First Neiro On Ethereum) is community-driven and carries on the spirit of Doge. Since its launch on September 7, 2024, it has seen a peak increase of 235%. Through consistent operational efforts and content-driven initiatives, NEIROCTO has cultivated a highly engaged Meme community.
ETHFI (ether.fi), launched in March 2024, emerged during the boom of the LSD sector and has since recorded a 258.7% increase. With rising interest in LSD solutions within the Ethereum ecosystem, ETHFI shows strong growth potential and a solid track record.
MASK (Mask Network), launched in 2021, is a SocialFi project that recently gained 187.3%. Acting as a bridge between Web2 (traditional internet) and Web3 (decentralized internet), MASK integrates decentralized applications into mainstream social media via a browser plugin. Recent feature updates and community efforts have significantly contributed to its price recovery.
HTX Crypto Gem Hunt Empowers Users Across Market Cycles
To date, HTX has launched six rounds of its Crypto Gem Hunt program. The latest selection features not only high-growth new assets from emerging sectors but also established projects that have recently delivered strong performance. Together, these assets offer users a well-balanced portfolio—combining defensive stability with high-upside potential.
Looking ahead, HTX Crypto Gem Hunt will continue to empower users through professional, intuitive asset discovery supported by robust data and forward-looking analysis.
About HTX
Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.
As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.
Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by HTX. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.
Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.
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CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Subscription brands are pulling away from digital advertising. According to a new industry-wide study from Bango (AIM: BGO), 48% of subscription leaders report diminishing returns from traditional direct acquisition methods like paid search and paid social media. A further 53% warn that direct marketing is becoming “unsustainable” as customer acquisition costs spiral.
The report — Gravity Shift: Subscribers, bundles, and the acquisition black hole — captures responses from more than 200 senior executives at subscription-based businesses, spanning sectors from AI productivity apps to streaming services, retail, and finance. It reveals a stark reality: the performance marketing model that powered subscription growth over the last decade is under serious strain.
“Direct marketing used to be a reliable engine for growth. Now it’s a black hole,” said Anil Malhotra, CMO at Bango. “When nearly half your industry says ROI is vanishing, alarm bells should be ringing. It’s time to rethink how subscriptions go to market.”
Key findings:
88% of subscription brands expect direct acquisition costs to rise in 2025, with nearly one in three forecasting increases of over 25%.
80% are cutting back on at least one paid channel, including:
Paid search ads (33%)
Display advertising (30%)
Paid social ads (29%)
46% of leaders describe direct marketing spend as a “black hole” for their budgets.
53% believe direct channels are no longer a sustainable path to growth.
What’s driving the pullback?
Executives cited rising ad costs, algorithm changes, data privacy limits, and subscriber fatigue as the most pressing challenges. Compounding this, many brands report hitting the ceiling on their ability to profitably scale one-to-one acquisition.
“Netflix spends nearly $3 billion a year on marketing. That’s simply not feasible for the rest of the market,” said Giles Tongue, subscription expert at Bango. “Most brands don’t have the scale to absorb that kind of spend, especially when the returns are eroding. Direct-to-consumer marketing is hitting diminishing returns, and leaders are now looking for smarter, more sustainable ways to grow.”
Where the money is going
Rather than doubling down, brands are reallocating budget toward indirect acquisition strategies, such as bundling, partnerships, and aggregator platforms. According to the report:
82% of brands plan to increase investment in indirect channels this year.
90% are already bundling — or plan to — in 2025.
72% say indirect routes bring in higher quality subscribers than direct channels.
Among the fastest-growing channels: partnerships with telcos, banks, device platforms, and social media platforms. Over a quarter of brands (27%) are joining “Super Bundling” platforms like Verizon myPlan and myHome to reach new audiences without high upfront acquisition costs.
Bango’s recent consumer data also supports the shift: 62% of U.S. subscribers would prefer to manage multiple subscriptions through a single bundle, and 44% already get at least one subscription free as part of a packaged deal. Among younger users, these numbers are even higher — 55% of 18–24-year-olds now receive a bundled subscription they previously paid for directly.
Tongue added: “We’re seeing a clear shift from the subscription economy to the bundle economy. Consumers don’t want to manage ten separate subscriptions — they want value, convenience, and flexibility. The brands that win in this next phase will be the ones that package their offerings in ways that reflect how people actually want to buy.”
Implications beyond the subscription market
The findings come at a critical time for digital advertising giants like Google, Meta, and TikTok — whose earnings rely heavily on performance ad spend. If subscription leaders are a bellwether, Bango’s findings suggest we could be entering a post-performance marketing era, where distribution partnerships replace ad impressions as the metric that matters.
Bango expects the pivot to indirect acquisition and bundling to drive a wave of commercial opportunity for its Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™) platform. Bango’s DVM currently powers many of the world’s leading Super Bundling platforms, including Verizon myPlan and myHome, and supports acquisition for major services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Uber, YouTube, and Xbox. With 90% of subscription leaders now investing in bundling, the DVM is well placed to capitalize on the wider industry adoption and accelerated growth of indirect marketing through 2025 and beyond.
Bango enables content providers to reach more paying customers through global partnerships. Bango revolutionized the monetization of digital content and services, by opening-up online payments to mobile phone users worldwide. Today, the Digital Vending Machine® is driving the rapid growth of the subscription economy, powering choice and control for subscribers.
The world’s largest content providers, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft, trust Bango technology to reach subscribers everywhere.
Bango, where people subscribe. For more information, visit www.bango.com
Lebanon (Agenzia Fides) – A new “ecumenical” television and radio station is intended as an instrument of shared witness for the churches and ecclesial communities of the Middle East. The new channel, MECC TV, began its experimental test broadcasts today, June 10. It is a new media initiative of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), which celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 1974.The initiative was presented at a press conference yesterday, Monday, June 9, in Beirut, at the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat.During the press conference, MECC Media Relations Officer Lea Adel Maamary emphasized that the primary role of Christian media “amidst dangers and surprises is to give its people strength” and to help preserve the historical and ecclesiastical heritage of individual Churches. Jordanian priest Rifaat Bader, initiator and editor-in-chief of the news portal “abouna.org,” who also participated in the conference, emphasized that the ecumenical initiative, which aims to unite Christians in proclaiming the Gospel through the media, is taking shape at a time when the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which formulated the common creed still recited by the various denominations today, is being celebrated.Professor Michel Abs, Secretary General of the MECC, pointed out in his contribution as an academic and analyst of social processes that, in modern times, the manipulation of information can go so far as to constitute a real crime, while the sharing and dissemination of information for the common good “represents a human, national, and religious duty.”Founded in Nicosia in 1974 and currently based in Beirut, the Ecumenical Council of Churches of the Middle East aims to facilitate cooperation among the Christian communities of the Middle East on issues of common interest and to contribute to overcoming denominational differences.Approximately 30 members of several “ecclesial communities” – the Catholic, the Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Evangelical – are members of the Council. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 10/6/2025)
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NEW YORK, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced MTL Cannabis Corp. (CSE: MTLC; OTCQX: MTLNF), a company engaged in the cultivation and production of cannabis products for recreational and medical purposes, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. MTL Cannabis Corp. upgraded to OTCQX from the OTCQB® Venture Market.
MTL Cannabis Corp. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “MTLNF.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.
The OTCQX Market is designed for established, investor-focused U.S. and international companies. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Graduating to the OTCQX Market from the OTCQB Market marks an important milestone for companies, enabling them to demonstrate their qualifications and build visibility among U.S. investors.
Our upgrade to the OTCQX® Best Market marks a significant milestone for MTL Cannabis Corp. as we expand our presence and accessibility in the US market,” said Michael Perron, CEO of MTL Cannabis Corp. “This step underscores our commitment to reaching a broader investor base, increasing liquidity, and positioning MTL Cannabis Corp. as a key player in the global cannabis industry.”
About MTL Cannabis Corp. MTL Cannabis Corp., through its subsidiaries, engages in the cultivation and production of cannabis products for recreational and medical purposes in Canada.
About OTC Markets Group Inc.
OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market, and Pink® Open Market.
Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.
OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATS™ are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.
To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.
LOS ANGELES, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — InStride, a leading provider of strategic education and skilling solutions, today announced continued growth, accelerated by its new and transformative approach to workforce development. Recently named by TIME and Statista as one of the World’s Top EdTech Companies of 2025, InStride has advanced its offerings to address critical talent challenges through education and skilling solutions designed to be career-aligned, industry-relevant, and tailored to its corporate partners’ needs. In partnership with some of the most influential organizations in the Fortune 250, InStride provides nearly one million eligible employees access to over 2,500 education opportunities, helping prevent $73 million in student loan debt to date.
“Education benefits have come a long way from basic tuition reimbursement,” said Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride. “We’ve reimagined them as strategic levers for HR teams to attract and retain talent, upskill their workforce, fill critical roles, and ensure their people are ready for what’s next. Over the past six years, we’ve built programs that address such challenges and have seen the difference they can make for people and businesses alike.”
Each of the following innovations was designed to make strategic education solutions more relevant, flexible, and effective—for the people using them and the companies supporting them.
Award-winning, expanded offerings
A broader, more flexible learning network Gone are the days of a one-size-fits-all workforce development. InStride’s expanding portfolio of 2,500+ educational offerings with leading universities, such as Arizona State University, creates flexible pathways aligned with workforce demands. Formats include English-language programs, specialized healthcare certifications, and stackable credentials, all tailored to how people learn and grow.
Career Education Paths InStride’s award-winning Career Education Paths connect learning directly to career outcomes, increasing program completion rates. Honored by Fast Company and EdTech Breakthrough Awards, these structured paths are designed using Lightcast to map learning to 40+ specific roles across technology, healthcare, and corporate services. The result: higher engagement and a reliable pipeline of skilled talent.
Dependent education benefits InStride enables businesses to extend education benefits to employees’ dependents. This allows employees at participating companies to use their benefits for spouses and children who gain access to career-aligned courses, certifications, and degrees, which enhances employee loyalty and retention as workers feel a deeper commitment to companies investing in their families. In turn, dependent benefits create a ripple effect beyond the workplace, helping to uplift communities by expanding access to education and opportunity for future generations.
Supporting a skills-first approach InStride helps companies build talent strategies grounded in employee skills and capabilities. This includes helping companies identify the skills needed for key roles, map career paths, and uncover gaps between the skills employees have and the ones their businesses need. With that foundation in place, companies can make more informed hiring and promotion decisions—and use targeted learning programs to help employees build the skills to grow into critical roles.
Pioneering, scalable, customizable solutions
Hybrid clinical cohorts Healthcare systems can’t rely solely on external hiring. InStride’s hybrid clinical cohorts address staffing shortages in healthcare by combining online coursework with in-hospital training. With structured learning models to boost completion rates, they create pathways to in-demand roles like medical assistants, surgical technologists, and clinical lab specialists. This empowers employers to develop talent from within, which has proven to reduce staffing shortages and improve career mobility for existing employees.
Industry-first franchise workforce education model InStride’s hub-and-spoke franchise education model allows franchisees to opt into and manage corporate education programs while customizing them for their workforce, providing centralized tracking and reporting tools for improved oversight. This balance between corporate structure and local flexibility helps franchise businesses retain and develop talent while maintaining a consistent workforce strategy. This approach has delivered impressive results, with over 50% of franchisees at one partner adopting the program in its first year and achieving a one-third higher retention rate for participating employees compared to non-participants.
Custom solutions for accelerated capability building To help businesses build specialized professional skill sets, InStride introduced Capability Accelerators, which provide custom academies tailored for specific roles including first-line managers, manufacturing and healthcare leaders; cohort-based learning with applied, real-world training featuring expert coaching and AI-enhanced tools; and university-backed content that blends academic insights with practical, job-relevant learning.
“We remain committed to building solutions that meet real workforce needs,” said Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride. He says of the company’s future development: “We’re now investing more in AI that truly transforms individual careers and organizational success. We always start with our partners’ business goals in mind—and by intelligently analyzing employee data like job roles, skills, and aspirations, we’re better able to connect talent to the right education opportunities and personalized coaching support. That precision is what drives meaningful outcomes.”
About InStride
InStride solves corporate talent challenges with strategic education and skilling solutions. By breaking down barriers to learning, fostering career growth aligned with organizational goals, and simplifying program management, InStride delivers lasting impact. Partnering with forward-thinking companies like Labcorp, Adidas, and SSM Health, InStride drives meaningful social and business outcomes by providing access to life-changing education. Visitinstride.comor follow InStride onLinkedInfor more information and up-to-date news.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — eTRNX Network, the next-generation blockchain ecosystem built for emerging markets, has officially concluded Phase 1 of its Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) with resounding success. With listings across major IEO platforms-P2PB2B, Dex-Trade, and BitStorage—the project has captured global investor attention by delivering on its promise: real-world blockchain utility, not just market speculation.
As Phase 2 of the IEO approaches completion, early participants still have a chance to secure positions before the next wave of utility rollouts, token unlocks, and exchange listings.
Finance Without Borders, Barriers, or Banks
While most DeFi projects chase hype, eTRNX focuses on substance-building an ecosystem that democratizes access to income-generating assets and powerful financial tools. Designed to serve populations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, the project delivers:
Tokenized REITs: Own fractions of global real estate and earn automated monthly rental yields via smart contracts.
AI-Powered Portfolio Management: From automated asset rebalancing to risk detection, eTRNX puts institutional-grade AI in the hands of everyday users.
Multi-Chain Utility: Operating across Tron, Stellar, and Solana for ultra-fast, low-cost, and borderless transactions.
Staking with up to 30% APY: A deflationary model that rewards long-term holders while helping to stabilize token velocity.
Decentralized Governance: 1 token = 1 vote. Token holders shape the future of the protocol via treasury proposals and upgrades.
Phase 1 Success, Phase 2 Closing Fast
With the completion of Phase 1 IEO of eTRNX tokens thousands of early backers onboarded, the project’s Phase 1 IEO marked a significant milestone in its roadmap. Strategic partnerships are in development for token utility, staking platforms, and REIT infrastructure deployment.
Now, with Phase 2 nearly 50% filled, investors can still access the project at an early valuation before the next pricing stage activates.
Join the IEO Before It Ends
Participate across the following launchpads:
What’s Coming Next?
Deployment of the eTRNX Tokenized REIT marketplace Launch of smart investment dashboards with AI integration Multichain wallet support and cross-border payment gateway Community governance framework + first treasury proposals
eTRNX is committed to solving real-world financial access problems using blockchain technology, AI, and an inclusive, compliance-aware ecosystem architecture.
About eTRNX Network
eTRNX Network is a blockchain-based financial infrastructure platform offering fractional real estate ownership, tokenized money market funds, and AI-automated investing tools. Built to empower underserved global communities, the project merges transparency, scalability, and long-term value in a multichain architecture.
Stay Connected for Official Updates
For the latest news and release schedules, join the official channels:
Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Eternex Network. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.
Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.