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SoFi (SOFI) Launches AI Investing And Small Business Loans In Product Push
SoFi Technologies (NasdaqGS:SOFI) has launched Composer by SoFi, an AI-powered investing platform designed to help members build and automate customized investment strategies. The company has also introduced SoFi Small Business Loans, a digital-first lending product aimed at giving entrepreneurs faster access to capital with no fees. These product rollouts expand SoFi's presence in AI-driven investing tools and small business lending within its broader financial services platform. SoFi...
Sony will cease production of discs for new PlayStation games in 2028
New games sold for PlayStation consoles will only be available digitally and won’t be sold on discs effective January 2028, Sony has announced. The move applies to all PlayStation games released from that point on, including those made by Sony and those released by third parties. The PlayStation group calls the change “a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” according to a PlayStation blog post reviewed by Game File in advance of its publication. As movies, TV and music have shifted from physical media to an age of downloads and streaming, Sony’s move could speed the demise of physical media in a gaming. The industry has offered consumers games via cartridges, cassettes, floppy discs, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays across a 50-year stretch. Sony has been reporting to investors in recent years that PlayStation games have been increasingly purchased as downloads, not as discs. The most recent figures show nearly four in five purchases of full games for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were purchased digitally in the past year. Stats like that may cause today’s news to carry an air of the inevitable. But Sony’s declaration for 2028 is still likely to produce a shock, as the biggest gaming platform on the planet that uses game discs leaves them behind. Discs going away, but the fate of game boxes is unknown Sony is committing to still selling games in physical retailers even after they drop discs in 2028. Just how those games will be sold—in boxes with codes inside, as cards marked with digital redemption codes—is unclear. Digital games will also continue to be sold in the online PlayStation Store. New games released for PlayStation consoles prior to January 2028 will be unaffected by the policy change, Sony says. That means the PS5 games of 2027, be they a new Madden, a new God of War, a new Call of Duty, a new Sly Cooper (one can dream?), would still potentially be offered on disc. PlayStation 6 implications Sony’s timeline for a transition to a no-disc era will also spin up more speculation about the timing and configuration of Sony’s next-generation console, the probable PlayStation 6. “This pretty much guarantees that PS6 won’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest,” Piers Harding-Rolls, senior games research analyst at Ampere Analysis tells Game File. Harding-Rolls also concludes from today’s news that “the base version of a PS6 will not include a physical media drive,” as Sony looks to keep costs down on the device. Sony itself is saying nothing about the PS6 today: not its timing, nor how it might or might not support internal or external disc drives in order to run disc-based PS4 and PS5 games, should the console be backwards compatible. The many signs this was coming Industry support for games being released on physical media has been waning. As has consumer interest in them. PC games effectively went all-digital years ago, thanks to the popularity of playing games through Steam and other digital storefronts. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that kept much of the global population home helped shift shopping patterns toward downloads. Sony’s own data shows PlayStation game downloads being an uncommon consumer choice a decade ago and now becoming the norm. On consoles, physical media has been in such decline that Sony and Microsoft both launched their current gen Xbox Series and PS5 consoles in 2020 with cheaper versions that lacked disc drives. In early 2024, Phil Spencer, then head of Xbox, told me that ““[w]e ship games physically and digitally, and we’re really just following what the customers are doing.” He added that the game industry had become an outlier in still supporting disc-based entertainment, even as movies and TV have bailed on discs in favor of downloads and steaming: “Gaming consoles themselves have kind of become the last consumer electronic device that has a drive. And this is a real issue, just in terms of the number of manufacturers that are actually building drives and the cost associated with those. And when you think about cogs that we’re going to go put in a console—and as you have fewer suppliers and fewer buyers—the cost of the drive does have an impact.” Last year, the Nintendo’s Switch 2, which uses cartridges rather than discs, introduced the concept of game-key cards, which are physical media that contain no game, just a prompt for a download. Even disc-based games aren’t what they once were, now frequently containing just stubs of games rather than the whole thing. The website Does It Play has tested over 3000 games and found that, for example, that the disc version of this year’s hit 007: First Light, only contained the game’s first mission, with the rest needing to be downloaded. Beyond all that, last week brought the news that Grand Theft Auto VI, likely the biggest game launch this decade, will debut for PS5 and Xbox Series without a disc-based version. Today’s big news comes to you for free. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and ensure more of my work is possible, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Discs helped define PlayStation However the trends in entertainment may be going, it is still remarkable to see PlayStation ditch discs given their importance in PlayStation history: In the late 1990s, the first PlayStation’s support for games on relatively cheap CD-ROMs instead of traditional game cartridges allowed the upstart console to outmaneuver cartridge-based systems from Nintendo and Sega, as it drove down game prices down in the process. (The cheaper disc format even prompted Final Fantasy VII maker Square to taunt Nintendo in a magazine ad, saying that if the game was “available on cartridge, it’d retail for around $1200.”) PlayStation devices often doubled as machines for watching movies and TV on the latest disc-based formats. In the late 2000s, for example, Sony’s pricy PS3 gained traction as a go-to device for playing then-novel Blu-Ray discs. In 2013, Sony effectively roasted the digital game-sharing restrictions proposed by rival Microsoft for its upcoming Xbox One console by showing how games could be shared for the then-upcoming PS4. In a 21-second clip that has over 20 million views on YouTube, one PlayStation executive simply handed a game box—presumably with disc inside—to another, who said “thanks.” Sony’s possible motivations The PlayStation announcement today cites “consumer preferences” and a shift away from discs among “the broader entertainment industry,” but does not delve into the decision-making process that brought Sony to this point. Sony is not discussing the economics of this move (I asked!), but there are a number of potential factors: Abandoning discs will spare Sony the cost of manufacturing and shipping them, which analysts and industry veterans I spoke to said could account for $1 or so of a game’s retail price. For first-party games, that’s direct savings for Sony, though the amount is limited by the winnowing percentage of people who were even buying the disc-based versions. For third-party games, Sony could pass the savings on to partners or just retain the better profit margin for themselves. As the 2024 comments from Phil Spencer alluded to, leaving discs behind could mean leaving disc-drives behind, allowing Sony to produce consoles more cheaply. Switching to digital-only for games could diminish the risks of copies of new games leaking. It would also seemingly make second-hand sales of used games impossible, pushing more people to buy their own copies of games. These economic benefits for Sony could be boons for the games industry overall, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls tells Game File. Among other things, it could free publishers and retailers from having to worry about securing an inventory of game discs when trying to sell games, he noted. “If there is a way to streamline the business of games retail, I generally think it’s a good thing for the industry as it removes unnecessary costs,” Harding-Rolls said. “This will help offset pressure on margins from other directions – development and staffing costs for example.” Should the industry shift from game boxes that contain discs to smaller, cheaper game cards, Harding-Rolls said, that reduces pressure on publishers and retailers. “The advantage of everything going digital for the industry is that sales can be tracked much more easily and there is less commercial risk for publishers wanting to continue selling via retail,” he said. The shift to no discs will also likely impact game development timelines, as developers will no longer face the same urgency to have a build ready to submit to PlayStation for the production of a disc, as industry experts noted around GTA VI’s no-disc news last week. Instead, projects may gain weeks of development time, in the event delivery deadlines for platform approval move closer to release date. Preservationists’ likely worries While millions of gamers have shifted to digital, there are still people who associate game discs—and only game discs—with actual ownership of PlayStation games. That portion of the gaming community spoke up last week about wanting to buy a version of GTA VI that they could hold in their hands, could lend to a friend and could potentially pop into a well-preserved PS5 console three decades from now and still see it run. Such gamers didn’t want to worry that they’d merely purchased a digital copy that could lose access to the game if, say, the company behind the game someday turns of the servers that transmit downloadable copies. Digital copies of games are inherently less long-lasting, because consumers aren’t actually buying a game (on a disc), just buying access to the game. The fine print in online gaming shops notes this, as does a recent law that went on the books in California in 2025. That lasw requires game publishers doing business in the state to refrain from words like “sell” when offering digital copies of games, unless they explicitly tell consumers that what’s being sold isn’t the game itself but a potentially revocable license to access it. A Sony spokesperson noted to Game File that “[w]ith all digital content, including games, movies, and music, players are purchasing a personal license for non-commercial use.” Regarding the fears of PlayStation games being lost to time in an all-digital era, the rep also noted that Sony remains “committed to delivering experiences from past generations to the new platforms our players are using.” They noted that PlayStation has used emulation and remasters to keep offering its classic games to modern gamers. It’s true that many consumers have become accustomed to not having physical copies of new music albums or movies, but the relative precariousness of digital copies of games is in fact being highlighted today by…. Sony’s other big announcement: the upcoming closure of the PS3 and PS Vita online stores Sony said today that it will be closing the online marketplaces for its PlayStation 3 console and PS Vita handheld in most countries in July 2027 (sooner elsewhere: August 2026 for the PS3 store Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua; late 2026 for PS3 in other Latin American countries and the Middle East). “We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming,” Sony said in its announcement, saying the move “was not an easy decision for us to make.” Sony said that PS3 and Vita marketplaces “are no longer able” to support modern commerce systems, prompting a “need” to close the shops and focus on more modern PlayStation platform stores. The news may spark some deja vu. Sony announced back in March 2021 that it planned to take the PS3, Vita and PlayStation Portable marketplaces offline that summer. The move would have caused some 2,000 digital-only games to become unavailable for new purchasers, according to a VGC analysis at the time. Fans complained loudly. By April 2021, Sony walked back the PS3 and Vita shop closures, with then PlayStation boss Jim Ryan saying “it’s clear that we made the wrong decision here.” This time around, Sony is giving a longer notice period in most regions. The closure of those stores is still likely to cut off access to new purchases of digital-only PS3 and Vita games. The current PlayStation 5 marketplace sells PS5 and PS4 games, as well as a selection of PS1 and PS2 games. It does not sell PS3 games, because games for that platform can’t run on the system (some are offered via a PlayStation Plus streaming option). Vita games also aren’t sold via PS5. Sony says digitally purchased PS3 and Vita games will be downloadable after the stores’ shutdowns “for the foreseeable future.” Sony’s move contrasts with Microsoft’s Xbox platform, which continues to sell and support games from all four Xbox console generations. But it puts it in line with Nintendo, which disabled purchases in the marketplace for its Wii console (a contemporary of the PS3) in 2019. Nintendo discontinued purchases in the online shop for its 3DS portable (a contemporary of the Vita) in 2023. The big questions about Sony’s 2028 post-disc era Will Microsoft follow suit, ending support for new disc-based games on Xbox platforms and therefore all game consoles, too? Whether Microsoft does or not, will third-parties that can no longer release games on discs for PlayStation, simply ditch the disc options across the board? Given the GTA VI no-disc experiment launching this November, will more game publishers decide to forgo disc-based offerings even in 2027? How will no-disc PS5/6 games be packaged and sold in brick-and-mortar retail stores? What becomes of game sharing in an all-digital era? Will Sony modify its current set-up, which currently allows some sharing of digital games across a pair of consoles, to allow more casual lending? (See for example, Nintendo’s year-old system of letting players lend a digital game to another player in a “family group” for up to 14 days.) Will there be a version of a PS6 with a disc drive? Or will a drive be offered as an add-on? And how will gamers who want to retain access to PS4/PS5 disc-based games react to whichever configurations Sony chooses to offer? What will the final disc-based PlayStation game be?
Republic Business Credit Provides $2MM E-Commerce ABL Facility to Emerging Retailer
Republic Business Credit funded a $2 million e-commerce asset-based lending facility for an Amazon third-party seller of consumer goods. The facility includes
Blending Creativity and Business with Emma Richey
Storytelling-based business owner Emma Richey chose to specialize in finance and securities analysis with the Oregon MBA to challenge herself analytically and pivot careers.
Pathway Lending hosts business planning workshop for small business owners & veterans
Join Pathway Lending on Tuesday, June 23rd, for a free business planning workshop called Plan for Profit.
Finastra Sells Core Banking Business to Focus on Payments and Lending
Private capital asset manager Pollen Street plans to acquire Finastra’s global core banking software business, Universal Banking (UB), and support UB as
Registration open for 2026 HousingIowa Conference in Des Moines
Registration is now open for the 2026 HousingIowa Conference, hosted by the Iowa Finance Authority and scheduled for Sept. 9-10 in Des Moines. The conference expects to bring together nearly 1,000 professionals from housing, development, lending, government and community sectors. The event will feature national speakers, policy experts, and industry leaders addressing key issues in…
K-Beauty's New Frontier: Microbiome Science Hits U.S. Retail Shelves
South Korean brand Lactomedi’s nationwide CVS launch signals a major shift in feminine care, blending K-Beauty innovation with advanced microbiome science.
MISMO Updates Business Glossary To Support AI, eMortgages
MISMO has released an updated version of its Business Glossary, expanding standardized definitions across key areas of mortgage lending as the industry continue
Guitarist Marisa Anderson ‘reimagines the landscape of American music’
Marisa Anderson’s latest album, “The Anthology of UnAmerican Folk Music,” explores songs from countries once labeled as enemies of the U.S., blending traditional instruments with her guitar, keyboards and accordion to create a unique, boundary-crossing sound.
Why more people are going gray (on purpose)
Yelp reports a surge in searches for gray hair blending and gray specialists.
How Social Gaming Platforms Are Expanding Across the US Digital Entertainment Market
Contributor content. Social gaming is reshaping U.S. entertainment, blending mobile access, community features and real-time interaction into everyday digital experiences.
How small-business loans got caught in Trump's immigration crackdown
For decades, immigrants who are legal permanent residents in the U.S. could get loans through the Small Business Administration, a core pillar of small-business lending. Not anymore.
This Is the Dangerous Trap Making Businesses Bland, Forgettable and Easy to Ignore
Here's how years of shared best practices, optimization and AI-driven efficiency have made differentiation and loyalty harder to sustain.
Op-ed: City Council small business hearing was political theater
Instead of addressing the city’s well-documented small business challenges, the Council chose to stage a spectacle about federal lending policy it cannot change.
Lawsuit targets Chicago broadcasters over ads for financial planner accused of fraud
Three Chicago broadcasters have been accused of fraudulently lending their institutional credibility to a man running what state officials called a “Ponzi-like scheme.”
First Business Bank Funds $25MM Asset-Based Credit Facility for Nut Processing Company Refinancing
First Business Bank’s asset-based lending team closed a $25 million asset-based credit facility, consisting of a revolving line of credit and real estate term
Evoke Entertainment Secures $35 Million Production Financing Facility to Accelerate Expanding Film & Television Slate
Institutional capital partnership strengthens independent studio's ability to finance and produce content across film, television, and streaming platforms Stan Spry CEO Stan Spry, CEO Evoke Entertainment LOS ANGELES, June 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evoke Entertainment has secured a senior secured production financing facility of up to $35 million backed by a leading institutional private credit fund with extensive experience in media, entertainment, and asset-based lending.The revolving produc
Trump faces a new inflation warning from the bond market, adding to his midterm challenges
The world is getting more uptight about lending money to President Donald Trump’s government.
Trump is facing a new inflation warning from the bond market, adding to his midterm challenges
The world is getting more uptight about lending money to President Donald Trump’s government
Trump is facing a new inflation warning from the bond market, adding to his midterm challenges
The world is getting more uptight about lending money to President Donald Trump’s government.
Disney magic helps SoCal children's hospital with MRI scans for young patients
Children often require sedation to conduct MRI scans, but one SoCal hospital is using Disney magic to make scans less intimidating by blending medical imaging with familiar characters.
Report Shows People With Medicare Feeling Pinch of Rising Health Care Costs
As affordability concerns remain top of mind for many Americans, a timely KFF report examines Medicare beneficiary finances and health care costs, lending context to these anxieties. Recent KFF polling found that as health care costs continue to grow and cost-of-living increases stress household budgets, paying for care and coverage tops the list of consumer financial concerns. In total, 64% of households […]
Exciting Beer And Science Events Planned Through 2027 At Fulton Brewing
Get ready for the 'Lab Partners' collaboration between Fulton Brewing and the Science Museum, blending craft beer and science education starting June 11 at the North Loop taproom.
Chelsea State Bank Grows Business Lending Services
Airdate: May 21st, 2026 Baseball D2 Districts Northwest vs Western, 5-26-26 | Photo GalleryMay 26, 2026Softball D2 Districts Williamston vs Western, 5-26-26 | Photo GalleryMay 26, 20262026 Selby Track & Field Classic ResultsMay 26, 2026End of Year Report with Napoleon Superintendent Pat DillonMay 26, 2026Chelsea State Bank Grows Business Lending ServicesMay 26, 2026Walton Insurance Group…
Kiva Oregon Raises Funds to Keep Zero-Interest Rural Business Loans Flowing
Rural-focused lending hub has deployed more than $600,000 in zero-interest, zero-fee loans to Oregon small business owners.
Bari Weiss: Think For Yourself, Not By Yourself
When we launched The Free Press, the plan was simple: Tell the truth plainly, and let readers come to their own conclusions. I thought there would be a sizable enough group of people who would pay the cost of one coffee a month to read high-quality news and opinion journalism. But what happened next surprised even me. Yes, you came for the stories—for the investigations, essays, debates, interviews, podcasts, and arguments. But over the past few years, you also found one another. I’ve watched strangers become friends in the lobby before our debates. I’ve seen people trade numbers after live recordings of Honestly, launch businesses after Free Press dinners, fall in love after our meetups—even get married (!?), and say some version of the same sentence over and over again: I thought I was the only one. We live in the most connected age in history, and yet, millions of people feel isolated, alienated, politically homeless, and starved for real conversation. We have followers and no neighbors. Algorithms instead of interlocutors. Our social media feeds are like troughs, but what we really need is a table to gather around. The Free Press is a publication, yes, but it is also a gathering place for independent minds. So today, I’m thrilled to share our new investment in you. We are launching a new world of community experiences for our paid subscribers, designed to bring _Free Press_ers together online and in real life. Introducing Our Community Launch The Free Press Forum Our new digital home for paid subscribers, the Forum, is now live. This is where _Free Press_ers can meet, debate, recommend, organize, joke, argue, and converse like civilized people. Imagine that. This is not social media as you know it. No bots. No algorithmic rage bait. No performative nonsense. Just smart people talking to one another. Inside the Forum, you’ll find conversations on the things our readers already care about most: the issues of the day, recommendations (books, music, travel), work and networking, parenting, dating, and where to find your people—online and in real life. Jump in! Introduce yourself and join the first conversations in the Free Press Forum here. You’ll also find announcements from us (paid subscribers are first to hear!) and our writers, hosting regular Ask Me Anythings (AMAs)—live conversations where subscribers can ask questions, push back, and continue the discussion beyond the page. This Thursday, subscribers can chat with our brilliant reporter, culture vulture, and co-founder Suzy Weiss. Friday, I’ll be lending you Nellie Bowles, queen of TGIF, to answer subscriber questions live. Read more about The Forum directly from Nellie here. The Free Press Supper Club The best part of being a _Free Press_er is meeting other _Free Press_ers. So we’re inviting you all to dinner to do just that. It’s part salon, part blind date, part old-fashioned dinner party. Here’s how it works: You answer a short questionnaire. We match you with a small group of _Free Press_ers in your city. We send you to a great restaurant. You show up for supper. The rest is up to you. Your next best friend, co-founder, or future spouse may already be waiting at the table. Learn more and sign up here for our first Supper Club in 12 cities in three countries taking place on June 18. Don’t see your city? Raise your hand if you’d like a Free Press Supper Club near you. Yes, St. Louis—we hear you. The Free Press Retreats and Excursions We’re also building something new for 2027: immersive experiences for Free Press readers who want to continue the conversation trailside, poolside, or around a fire long after dessert. The Free Press Retreat will be an intimate long weekend built around big ideas, outdoor adventure, great meals, and the kinds of discussions that happen when curious people spend meaningful time together. Bring your spouse, your parents, your children—or come on your own. Free Press Excursions will take us farther afield: curated trips with Free Press writers and contributors exploring places that help explain the world we live in, from the battlefields of Gettysburg and Normandy to the Vatican in Rome. We’ll share more details this summer. If you’d like an early look when these experiences open for registration, show your interest here.**A Note to Our Subscribers** These new offerings exist because of our paying subscribers. If you’re already one: Thank you. You built this. And you keep us going. If you’ve been reading us for free and wondering whether to join, this is a very good time. For a short while only, we’re offering a rare 20 percent discount for you to join our community as a paid subscriber. You’ll unlock everything we publish, plus exclusive access to our members-only Forum, Supper Clubs, and more insider perks. Thinking for yourself shouldn’t mean thinking by yourself. See you there. —Bari
CIOs tackle hybrid roles, blending business outcomes with IT
Tech leaders are taking on dual-role mandates as businesses look to consolidate silos and capitalize on AI, according to executive search experts.
Carver State Bank expands to Atlanta and Birmingham, strengthens small business lending
Carver State Bank is expanding into Atlanta after acquiring a branch in Georgia’s capital city. Bank president and CEO Robert James says the move builds on the bank’s Birmingham expansion and growing focus on small business lending, underserved communities, and strengthening Black-owned banking across the Southeast.
Semiconductor decoupling. Powell's politics. Industrializing Ogaden. Free trade and the Magna Carta.
Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. Feliks Topolski, 1907-1989 8th Army’s Front, Italy 1944 Semiconductor decoupling Source: FT One thing that Jerome Powell deeply understood is that chairing the Fed under current conditions is a deeply political job. “Powell has successes and mistakes to his name. But he stands out as having thought more carefully about the Fed’s democratic legitimacy than any chair since Paul Volcker,” said Paul Tucker, a former deputy governor at the Bank of England, referring to the Fed chair who successfully fought the great inflation of the 1970s and early 1980s. … While Powell was at the Treasury in the early 1990s, he watched Alan Greenspan build relationships within the government. That convinced Powell he needed to follow the former Fed chair’s lead and spend more time in Congress than his predecessors Yellen and Bernanke. “The accountability for the Fed runs through Congress,” said Claudia Sahm, a former Fed official who is now chief economist at New Century Advisors. “That’s not just about having people on speed dial — it’s answering questions, explaining policy and getting feedback.” Source: FT Ethiopia’s PM Abiy and Nigerian business tycoon, with Chinese engineering, are driving industrialization in Ogaden/Somali region of Ethiopia. - Michael Masri’s reporting for Africa Report if fascinating. Ethiopia has launched a cluster of large industrial schemes in the Somali region, laying foundation stones for a urea plant and an oil refinery in Gode while opening the first two phases of the Ogaden LNG project. Abiy Ahmed framed the push as part of a broader strategy to link energy, agriculture and industry. “These projects embody more than industrial growth,” he said. “They represent our shared responsibility to harness opportunities, strengthen co-operation and promote peace.” The Gode urea plant, backed by Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), is designed for 3m tonnes a year. Dangote owns 60%, while EIH holds 40%. Officials say Dangote’s equity totals about $2.5bn, while the state provides land and implementation oversight. Gas from the Calub fields will be piped 108km to the site. Construction is slated for 40 months, with operations targeted for 2028. Ethiopia imports most of its fertiliser, spending more than $1.2bn a year for 1.5m–2m tonnes. Usage was roughly 1.7m tonnes in 2023, almost half of it urea, and demand for 2024–25 is put above 2.4m tonnes. If delivered on time, the Gode plant could cover domestic needs and allow exports to neighbours. Brook Taye, chief executive of EIH, called the venture “a significant milestone in the journey toward industrial self-sufficiency”. Dangote told the groundbreaking crowd that the complex would be integrated with gas supply and a polypropylene unit to support local inputs. He pointed to Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), with a capacity of more than 5,000MW, and noted his group’s cement operations and expansion plans. The Gode refinery is being developed by Golden Concord Group of China. It is designed to process 3.5m tonnes a year of crude and condensate from the Hilala field, with associated storage. Backers say it will ease foreign-exchange pressure from fuel imports and anchor further industrial activity, including a proposed steel smelting site in Dire Dawa. GCL’s chair, Zhu Gongshan, cast the project as “a key step in Ethiopia’s path to energy sovereignty”, underscoring the Beijing–Addis ties. Financing details are still being finalised, but the refinery is central to the government’s energy-security narrative. Source: The Africa Report Dangote’s Ethiopian vision: Dangote began with cement. His crown jewel, Dangote Cement, dominates Nigeria’s market and has 10 operations in other nations in Africa. The formula has been consistent: identify sectors with chronic shortages – cement, fertiliser, sugar – commit massive local investments, and scale up to serve regional demand. Ethiopia was a natural extension of that model. In 2015, Dangote launched the Mugher Cement Plant outside Addis Ababa at a cost of $600m, with an annual capacity of 2.5 million tonnes. The investment gave him a firm foothold in one of Africa’s fastest-growing construction markets. But success came with risks. In May 2018, violent unrest led to the killing of Dangote’s country manager and temporary shutdowns at Mugher. While other investors might have retreated, Dangote doubled down. Today, he is preparing to spend $400m to expand Mugher’s capacity to 5 million tonnes, alongside a new grinding unit near Addis Ababa. Cement is just one market Dangote is targeting. Ethiopia’s enormous state-controlled sugar industry, long plagued by inefficiency and debt, has struggled for years to reform. Its Omo Kuraz Sugar Development Project, touted as one of the continent’s largest initiatives, continues to face delays and mismanagement. … The most ambitious venture of all is the planned fertiliser production complex in Gode, Somali region. Publicised on 28 August 2025, the Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) deal plans one of the world’s largest single-site urea manufacturing plants. The project costs an estimated $2.5bn and has an estimated capacity of 3 million metric tonnes annually, a rate that would not only render Ethiopia independent, but even a net exporter of fertiliser. EIH, the state wealth fund of Ethiopia, will hold 40%, while 60% is held by Dangote Group. … For Dangote, Ethiopia is a trifecta: Cement demand is projected to grow by 10% annually, its sugar consumption is growing with rapid urbanisation, and fertiliser demand is all but insatiable, given that farming supports the livelihood of 70% of Ethiopians. Source: The Africa Report The stakes for Abiy are high: For Addis Ababa, the $4bn fertiliser project in Ethiopia’s Somali region is no longer simply a manufacturing investment. It is increasingly being framed as a strategic state project tied to food sovereignty, import substitution and the government’s broader attempt to build economic resilience under mounting fiscal pressure. “Becoming self-sufficient in food is our main agenda,” Abiy says during the visit. “Land is needed; we have it. Water is needed; we have it. Human resources are needed; we have it.” The scale is enormous even by African industrial standards. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce three million metric tonnes of urea annually, potentially making it one of the continent’s largest fertiliser complexes. Ethiopian officials say the project now includes a 110km gas pipeline, a 120MW power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant. For a government grappling with chronic foreign exchange shortages, ballooning import bills and pressure on agricultural productivity, the numbers matter politically as much as they do economically. The decision to anchor the project in Gode is deliberate. Long viewed as peripheral to Ethiopia’s industrial economy, the Somali region is now being repositioned by the federal government as a future irrigation and agro-industrial corridor. Officials argue that the area’s vast land reserves and access to water could eventually support large-scale commercial farming capable of reshaping Ethiopia’s food economy. The government is simultaneously building housing infrastructure for about 5,000 residents near the plant, while officials project broader industrial expansion along the corridor. Abiy goes further, comparing the long-term revenue potential of the Gode development zone with Ethiopia’s flagship state enterprise. “The investments we are making in this Gode area, combined, will generate high revenue for Ethiopia, at par with Ethiopian Airlines,” he says. Source: The Africa Report Feliks Topolski 1907-1982 Topolski’s Chronicle, ‘Nazi Revival’, Vol. 8, Is. 1-2, 1960 HEY READERS, THANK YOU for opening the Chartbook email. I hope it brightens your day. I enjoy putting out the newsletter, but tbh, what keeps this flow going is the generosity of those readers who clicked the subscription button. Photo by Jakub Dziubak on Unsplash If you are persuaded to click, please consider the annual subscription of $50. It is both better value for you and a much better deal for me, as it involves only one credit card charge. Why feed the payments companies if we don’t have to. Subscribe Grim vision of drone warfare by Sylvie Kaufmann For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe The state of the art in Colbert-studies. Jean-Baptiste Colbert was Louis XIV chief minister from 1661 to 1683 and traditionally seen as an architect of absolutism and mercantilism. Alexander Hamilton later cited him as an inspiration in 1782. Now his legacy is disputed. Daniel Dessert, the chief critic, sees Colbert as the orchestrator not so much of an absolutist state as of an elite cabal. Would be great to have a good English-language review of this important debate. Source: lhistoire Didn’t know that the Magna Carta included free trade provisions Fighting for the right to the beach in Oregon in 1967: Source: Research Gate RAF Station – British and Polish Flags, c. 1940-45, The Ingram Collection Feliks Topolski, 1907-1989 ink and wash If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe
BANKING: Wallace, Hildebrandt - Los Angeles Business Journal
BANC OF CALIFORNIA HIRES FOR GROWTH IN PAYMENTS AND SMALL BUSINESS LENDING Banc of California has welcomed two bankers to support its growing commercial
Bank lending to UK businesses falls to lowest level in nearly 30 years
Weak economic growth and tighter regulation hit credit for small and medium-sized companies
Should You Lend Money to Friends? More People Are Open to the Arrangement.
Friendship and money don’t always mix. But many Americans feel comfortable discussing financial issues with their friends and lending them money.
Johns Hopkins Bound: The Park Vista Senior Blending Science and Service
Senior Spotlight: Kevin (Park Vista ’26). Key Club leader with 1,600+ service hours, headed to Johns Hopkins for BME. Congrats!
Eric André just dropped an insane classical album — and it's actually pretty brilliant
Eric André, host of the prank-filled "Eric Andre Show," conducted the Colburn Orchestra at a surreal concert blending genuine musicianship with comedy, promoting his new album "Film Scores for Films That Don't Exist."
BUSINESS MONDAY: Spotlight on Bizen Gourmet Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Great Barrington
The Berkshire institution is celebrating 30 years of blending authentic Japanese cuisine, ancient pottery traditions, and a philosophy rooted in craftsmanship, care, and community.
Walmart Introduces Two New High-End ONN Android Tablets Blending Premium Features with Affordable Pricing
In a move that continues its strategy of delivering strong value in consumer electronics, Walmart has rolled out two fresh additions to its popular ONN lineup of Android tablets. The new 8.1-inch Core Tablet in Silver and the larger 13-inch Pro Tablet in Black position themselves as high-end options accessible to everyday consumers, combining modern […]
Olivia Rodrigo's baby-doll dress is an homage to '90s counterculture. One historian says critics are missing the point.
That Rodrigo loves a babydoll dress isn't revelatory. Her wardrobe has long been rooted in the dichotomy of blending traditional femininity with a raw, rebellious edge.
The Long Fight for Small Business Lending Transparency Is Not Over » NCRC
Small businesses play a vital role in the US economy, but their ability to access credit has been a longstanding obstacle to their viability. Additionally, the CFPB's recent final revised rule implementing Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act that effectively cuts small business lending reporting requirements could lead to more lending disparities for women and BIPOC entrepreneurs.
Small business retirement wave could unlock a major planning opportunity
Contrarian Thinking report says rising deal flow, SBA lending and AI are reshaping Main Street ownership.
LHU student revolutionizing stream restoration with rock-powered science
Natalie Brown kneels beside a humming wet lab setup at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, calipers in hand, measuring the promise of Pennsylvania’s streams. The master’s candidate in biology regularly tests how everyday rocks could supercharge freshwater mussel recovery in the West Branch Susquehanna River, blending her geology roots with cutting-edge experiments. Her work is directly supporting […]
Michigan Science Center opens giant cardboard maze inspired by Detroit
A life-sized cardboard maze inspired by Detroit opens May 9 at the Michigan Science Center, blending art, engineering and play.
Biofuels Are Big Business Again. Three Ways To Ride It.
High oil prices and favorable blending rules are lifting demand for ethanol and other biofuels. Three stocks that can keep moving up.
Why an AI Insurance Unicorn Opened a 24/7 Café to Win Customers
The newly valued unicorn is blending café culture with customer acquisition as it scales.
CFPB Scales Back Small Business Lending Rule, Easing Burden On Smaller Lenders
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized a scaled-back version of its small business lending rule under Regulation B, sharply narrowing which lenders must comply and what data they must collect.Published May 1 in the Federal Register, the rule revises the Bureau’s Section 1071 framework under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which requires lenders to collect and report data on small business credit applications.
Why Competitive Politics Can Pull Development Finance Away from Need
By Keyi Tang As development finance tightens, the most important question may not be who is lending, but how domestic politics shapes where the money goes. When a foreign-financed road is opened, the picture is clear that this project will connect farmers to markets, lower transport costs and bring neglected communities closer to opportunity. But […]
National Australia Bank's first-half cash earnings miss estimate
National Australia Bank reported weaker-than-expected first-half cash earnings on Monday as a higher credit impairment charge and a charge related to its software capitalisation policy offset robust growth in business lending volume.
CFPB Eases Reporting Rules for Small Business Lenders
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has reduced the small business data collection and reporting requirements under the Equal Credit
CFPB finalizes a scaled-back small business lending rule
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a new version of a small business lending rule that took 17 years to get over the finish line. Banks are still lobbying for the rule to be repealed.
Regions Bank Names Veteran Banker Amy Barrentine as Head of Regions Business Capital
Barrentine brings over 30 years of industry experience to lead teams delivering asset-based lending solutions to clients. Regions Bank on Thursday announced Amy Barrentine has been elevated to serve as head of Regions Business Capital , a specialty finance team within the bank’s Corporate Banking Group . Regions Bank announced veteran banker Amy Barrentine has been elevated to serve as head of Regions Business Capital, a specialty finance team within the bank’s Corporate Banking Group. An important competitive differentiator for Regions Bank, Regions Business Capital develops tailored services for companies at all stages of their life cycles. From managing periods of rapid growth, to navigating performance volatility, strategically leveraging acquisitions, to managing shareholder distributions, and more, Barrentine’s team specializes in helping clients build responsible growth and achieve clear goals. Examples of solutions provided by the team include: Asset-Based Lending :
Arch Capital Management Launches to Provide Flexible Working Capital, Factoring, and ABL Facilities
MIAMI, April 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arch Capital Management (“Arch”), a new working capital and asset-based lending platform, today announ...
Stagecoach returns to the desert, driving local business and blending genres
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - Stagecoach is back in the Coachella Valley, bringing thousands of country music fans to the desert and delivering a major boost to local businesses. From hotels and restaurants to pop-up bars and local shops, the festival is one of the region’s biggest economic drivers. Business owners say the busy weekend can
Hialeah native helps drive baseball’s entertainment-driven evolution
There’s a new wave of professional baseball blending sports with entertainment.
Small Business Grant recipients announced
ELKINS – Woodlands Development & Lending is proud to announce recipients of its Spring Forward Small Business Grant Opportunity. Officials received more than 80 proposals for this quick-turnaround, $500 grant and were able to make 22 awards to small businesses located throughout the Mon Forest Region of West Virginia. Local food establishments, recreation outfitters, small […]
PopStroke’s Growth Redefines Golf Entertainment, With Wall Street Ties
PopStroke is one of the fastest-growing concepts in the golf-adjacent entertainment space, blending putting courses with a strong social and F&B component.
Annual Business Plan Competition Showcases Student Ingenuity
A subscription-based platform designed to streamline commercial production for small businesses; an “academic hospitality” concept blending culturally authentic dining with late-night st
Could AG Todd Rokita's 'powerful' endorsement sway these primary races?
The conservative attorney general is lending his endorsement to several candidates this cycle, including those going up against incumbents.
Image: Barcelona finalise next artist for El Clasico shirt
Barcelona are once again blending football with global music culture, and this time, the spotlight is on Olivia Rodrigo.According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan giants have already decided the featur...
Create Credit Union lending chief shares tips for small business owners seeking loans
Small business owners who wait until a cash crunch hits to think about financing can put themselves in a tougher spot than they need to be, according to Josh Ha
Magic Johnson's transition from basketball to business
NBA icon Magic Johnson delivered a high-energy, deeply personal talk at Wake Forest University’s Face-to-Face Speaker Forum on Tuesday night, shifting seamlessly from storytelling to a masterclass in business, discipline and community impact. Interviewed by college basketball commentator Jay Bilas, Johnson commanded the stage — and eventually the aisles — blending humor, sermon-like energy and […]
Acclaimed astrophysicist and electric slam poet blend science and storytelling in upcoming UCSC lecture
The second annual Landesman Lecture features UC Santa Cruz professor Enrico Ramirez Ruiz in conversation with slam poet Jasmine Schlafke—blending science, poetry and storytelling to explore our deepest origins and shared humanity. The lecture series is made possible by UC Santa Cruz faculty retirees, Edward (Ed) and Miriam Landesman.
STUDY: Tennessee has second-highest failure rate for businesses in their first year
It’s not easy to keep a business going in Tennessee, according to a new study from LendingTree.
STUDY: Tennessee has second-highest failure rate for businesses in their first year
It’s not easy to keep a business going in Tennessee, according to a new study from LendingTree.
DC leads the nation in first-year business failures
Washington, D.C. is the toughest place in the country to launch a new business right now. One in three businesses will fail in the first year, according to a new survey from Lending Tree.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Library: Where entrepreneurs go to grow
Sponsored by East Baton Rouge Parish Library When it comes to powering local entrepreneurship, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library and The Alliance are building one of the region’s most dynamic engines for small business growth. Their collaborative Small Business Engine Series has evolved into a practical, boots-on-the-ground resource for aspiring and established business owners alike, blending […]
Move Over Anbernic, the GAMEMT E5 ModX Might Be The Weirdest Handheld of the Year
The GAMEMT E5 ModX may be one of the strangest handhelds we’ve seen in a while, blending controller, vertical, and horizontal gaming in one device.
The Trump administration wants banks back in the mortgage business. Banks have other ideas.
Regulators hope getting banks to lend more to homebuyers will unlock more lending and give more insight into brewing risks. Analysts are skeptical.
JPMorgan expands lending to close gaps in housing, small business access
JPMorgan Chase is launching the “American Dream Initiative” to expand access to homeownership, small business growth and financial stability, The Wall Street Journal writes. The effort comes as CEO Jamie Dimon warns the U.S. economy risks stagnation without stronger investment and policy support. The nation’s largest bank plans to add 3 million new small business […]
JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon plans small business lending, hiring push to shore up American Dream
JPMorgan Chase said on Tuesday it plans to lend $80 billion to US small businesses over the next decade and add 1,000 bankers as part of a multiyear push to go after more Main Street customers.
'Pieced Together': Art show features traditional, unique quilt designs
A new exhibit called “Pieced Together” at Skull City Studio showcases 28 quilts by 14 artists, blending traditional American quilting with diverse and lesser-known styles to highlight the craft’s creativity
JPMorgan to increase small-business lending, hire more credit officers
JPMorgan Chase is planning a significant increase in loans to small businesses in coming years as part of a plan aimed at boosting growth in local U.S. economies.
JPMorgan to Hire 1,000 Bankers, Boost Lending in Small Business Push
CEO Jamie Dimon said the initiative was part of an effort to revive an American dream he views as “slipping out of reach for too many people.”
JPMorganChase Just Earmarked $80 Billion for Small Business Lending. Here's How to Get Your Share
The JPMorganChase program is part of a new Jamie Dimon-backed program called the American Dream Initiative.
Artificial Detective: Breaking Down the Gameplay Behind This Incredible Xbox Partner Preview Reveal
Artificial Detective puts you on the case of solving humanity’s disappearance. We spoke to its creators on how they're blending hacking, stealth, and companion abilities in this upcoming decopunk action-adventure.
Callodine Specialty Income Fund Adds Entertainment Lending and Aviation Finance Strategies
Callodine Group (“Callodine” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the addition of Corrum Capital Management (“Corrum Capital”) as a sub-advisor to the Ca...
Zions Bancorporation to Acquire Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Business Line from Basis Investment Group
/PRNewswire/ -- Zions Bancorporation, N.A. (NASDAQ: ZION) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the agency lending...
New dispute emerges around Subnautica 2’s early access release
Lawyers for the ousted—and now partially reinstated—leadership team of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica 2, are crying foul over news that the game will be released into early access in May. The release announcement earlier this week was made improperly, potentially “damaging the game and sowing additional confusion among the Subnautica community,” the lawyers said in a letter sent on Tuesday to Vice Chancellor Lori Will of Delaware’s Court of Chancery. In their letter, the lawyers also floated the idea of asking Will to find Krafton in contempt of the court’s ruling. The letter was sent just one day after Will’s bombshell ruling that publisher Krafton had breached its contract with Unknown Worlds’ executive team, when it fired them last June. The new issue isn’t necessarily the May early access timeframe, but how the news was announced. The letter and Krafton’s response have not been previously reported. A quick recap of prior events: Subnautica 2 is an unreleased, underwater survival adventure and the most-wishlisted game on Steam. Last year, longtime Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill, along with studio co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, were fired by Krafton. They swiftly sued, saying the publisher had terminated them to avoid paying out up to $250 million in potential performance-based bonuses. The studio leaders had hoped to earn that with an early access release of the game, which Krafton had blocked. The publisher argued in court that Subnautica 2 wasn’t ready, which the ousted execs disputed. On Monday, Will ruled that Krafton had violated its contract, firing the execs to avoid the performance payouts, and that it had to reinstate Gill and give him full authority over any early access release for Subnautica 2. On Tuesday, IGN reported on a new memo issued that day to Unknown Worlds staff by Steve Papoutsis, the executive Krafton had put in charge of Unknown Worlds after the 2025 firings. In the note, Papoutsis said that Subnautica 2 had passed a key development milestone “last week” and that he and Krafton had determined the game “is ready for Early Access release in May.” This news appeared to catch the lawyers for Gill, Cleveland and McGuire by surprise. On Tuesday night, they sent a letter to Will expressing “serious concerns” about whether it would be possible to forge an agreement with Krafton consistent with the judge’s order. Papoutsis’ memo was a problem, they wrote. He didn’t have the authority to declare anything about Subnautica 2’s release. As of 9am ET on Monday, March 16, the effective date of Will’s order, Papoutsis wasn’t CEO of Unknown Worlds. Gill was. And, per Will’s order, only Gill could make Subnautica 2 release decisions. They continued: Krafton self-servingly announced the launch without any regard to its impact on the game, the team, or the community—let alone this Court’s Opinion. Announcing the release of a game is momentous, and it is typically accompanied by significant marketing activity, fanfare, and community coordination. And most importantly, the announcement is carefully designed to maximize excitement for the game. That entire process was supposed to be driven by Mr. Gill. However, in defiance of the Court’s Opinion, Krafton has now taken that away, further damaging the game and sowing additional confusion among the Subnautica community. The lawyers speculated that Krafton had “intentionally leaked” Papoutsis’ memo and then issued an official statement to confirm the leak. Game File is a reader-supported publication. My reporting is only possible through support from readers like you. To support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe On Wednesday, lawyers for Krafton defended their client in their own letter to vice chancellor Will, saying nothing they did violated her order nor showed contempt: Papoutsis’s message was simply celebrating the UW employees’ efforts toward a past event: Krafton’s pre-Opinion determination that Subnautica 2 was ready for Early Access release. There was nothing improper about conveying the results of the milestone review or thanking the development team for their dedication and talent. They added that Gill could still make his own call about Subnautica 2’s release: In his role as CEO, Gill will be able to assess independently his views on the state of Subnautica 2 and the appropriate release schedule; nothing in Papoutsis’s message alters Gill’s authority or discretion. Vice chancellor Will has not responded to the letters and doesn’t necessarily have to. Both parties were previously ordered by Will to confer this week and submit a proposed judgment consistent with her ruling. The letter from Gill’s attorney’s this week doesn’t indicate whether he would or would not support a May release for Subnautica 2. But it could limit his options. And, if Gill’s lawyers are right, the lack of marketing fanfare around the leak of the May date could dull the launch of the game. Any harm to Subnautica 2’s launch is an extra sensitive issue given the context of the legal dispute: millions of dollars of payouts are on the line, tethered to the scale of the game’s initial performance. In her ruling on Monday, Will noted that there was obvious “bad blood” between Gill’s side and Krafton but that the two would need to work together: “They can—and must—act in good faith to navigate their remaining contractual relationship.” Item 2: A new kind of couch co-op game A highlight of GDC each year is the Alt.Ctrl showcase that features games played with extremely experimental controllers. Perusing this year’s offerings last Friday, I found a game controlled with giant scissors, another with big toothbrushes and one that amounted to dumpster diving. My favorite was Pivot, a co-op game about collectively maneuvering a couch. It was developed by students at the University of Utah’s masters of arts and engineering games program. Players lift and tilt the physical couch in order to control the position of a virtual one. That virtual one is moving through an obstacle course on-screen, while being pursued by a giant skull. Developer Nishant Verma told me at GDC that the couch is made of styrofoam (this became more evident as I watched!) and that the name was a riff on an episode of the sitcom Friends. Item 3: In brief… 🚫 Ubisoft is laying off more than 100 workers at its Red Storm studio, as the North Carolina location known for decades for its Tom Clancy games, ceases in-house game development, VGC reports. 👀 On Monday, Nvidia’s revealed its DLSS 5 AI-driven graphics technology that purports to improve game graphics… and it has been roasted about it by the media and the online gaming public for the remainder of the week. The tech changed the faces of characters in footage from Resident Evil Requiem, Hogwarts Legacy and EA Sports FC, drawing accusations of giving carefully art-directed games the generic look of AI “slop.” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had said on Monday that “DLSS 5 is the GPT moment for graphics—blending handcrafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism while preserving the control artists need for creative expression.” By mid-week, Huang was telling Tom’s Hardware that the new tech’s critics were “completely wrong” because game-makers could still “fine-tune the generative AI” to suit their game’s aesthetics.
How YouTuber Caleb Hammer built a big business on debt call-outs
Caleb Hammer, who built a large audience by blending personal drama with money advice, has parlayed that into a lucrative subscription business.
BFW Introduces AP® Business with Personal Finance Program to Help Students Build Real-World Skills
NEW YORK, March 18, 2026--BFW Publishers Introduces AP® Business with Personal Finance textbook for new course launching 2026/27, blending AP rigor with career-relevant skills.
Student-loan repayment: Colleges are entering private lending
Trump's cap on student-loan borrowing for advanced degrees has prompted colleges to create new lending programs to fill financing gaps.
CBA Launches Small Business Curriculum as Part of Advanced Education Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) recently launched the newest addition to its banking education curriculum, Talking Business with Small Business (TBWSB) – a curriculum focused on small business lending – as part of its Advanced Education programs. The curriculum leverages a tabletop simulation for branch managers to better understand…
Blending Psychology with Entertainment: Mentalist Dan Cain Gives Us a Mind-Blowing Demonstration
Mentalist Dan Cain joins us to discuss his career that blends psychology and entertainment, as well as giving us a mind-blowing demonstration.
Behind the scenes, powering communities: How FHLBank Chicago keeps local lending moving
In this Crain’s Quick Take, Andrea Walker-Leidy sits down with Michael Ericson, President and CEO of Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, to unpack the often-overlooked system that helps local financial institutions continue lending through all economic conditions.
Cooking up science engagement, a fermentation experiment
By blending hands-on cooking with scientific experimentation, a study from a team at North Carolina State University demonstrates how culinary creation can spark scientific discovery and deepen public engagement with researchers.
Private credit jitters hit Blackstone's BCRED
The retail investor-oriented fund saw $1.7 billion in net outflows amid growing concern over the non-bank lending sector.
Brittany Passion Recognized for Blending Entertainment Leadership and Mental Health Advocacy
Actress, casting director, and mindset coach expands impact across film, television, and trauma informed empowerment work
Fintech firm Newity raises $11 million to bring small business loans onchain
Newity has raised $11 million in new funding led by CMT Digital as it explores taking its small business lending platform onchain.
Today's podcast episode: The Consumerization of Small Business Lending: Federal and State Regulations Accelerate
On today’s Consumer Finance Monitor podcast, we are releasing an episode about a timely and wide-ranging discussion on one of the most significant and
Singapore Alternative Lending Business Market Report 2026-2029: BNPL and Embedded Finance Market Intensifies as Atome, Grab PayLater and Shopee SPayLater Compete with Bank-Led Instalment Expansion
Key market opportunities in Singapore's alternative lending include BNPL standardization favoring accredited providers, embedding SME credit within digital ecosystems, tightening digital acquisition standards, and expanding private credit funding pathways. These shifts could enhance regulatory compliance, market reach, and investment potential. Singaporean Alternative Lending Market Singaporean Alternative Lending Market Dublin, Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Singapore Alternative Lendin
The Future Of Business To Business Banking: Fintech 50 2026
These fintech startups help businesses manage money with cards, lending and expense tools that simplify cash flow and cut back-office work without banks.
Spokane planetarium offers cosmic shows, blending education and entertainment
SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane Falls Community College is offering a captivating opportunity for families to explore the wonders of the cosmos.
IE Business School Launches ‘Global BBA’ That Rotates Students Across 4 Continents
The Global BBA moves students from Madrid to Dubai, Singapore & New York, blending academics, corporate projects & international exposure.
Business Restructuring Review
In This Issue: The Year in Bankruptcy: 2025 A brief chronicle of the year's notable developments in corporate bankruptcy and restructuring, including business bankruptcy filings, significant court rulings, and legislative developments. [read more …] U.S. Bankruptcy Court Denies Chapter 15 Recognition of Maltese Liquidation Absent Evidence of Meaningful Activities Supporting Finding of COMI or Establishment in Malta In In re Geden Holdings, Ltd., No. 25-90138, 2025 WL 2484883 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Aug. 28, 2025), stay pending appeal denied, No. 25-90138, 2026 WL 97993 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Jan. 13, 2026), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled that, for purposes of recognition under chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code, although a foreign debtor may have had its center of main interests ("COMI") or an establishment in Malta when a liquidation proceeding was commenced for it in a Maltese court in 2017, the absence of any meaningful activity by the debtor's liquidator from that time until the liquidator filed a chapter 15 petition in the United States more than five years later meant that the debtor had neither a COMI nor an establishment in Malta on the chapter 15 petition date. The court accordingly denied the petition for recognition. [read more …] The Ninth Circuit's Expansive Reading of "Financial Accommodations" that Cannot Be Assumed or Assigned in Bankruptcy It is generally well understood that agreements to extend credit or provide financing to a debtor cannot be assumed or assigned in bankruptcy. Even so, the provision of the Bankruptcy Code that precludes assumption or assignment—section 365(c)(2)—also extends to "financial accommodations," a term that is not defined in the Bankruptcy Code and has been the subject of relatively few bankruptcy and appellate court rulings. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit examined the meaning of the term in In re Svenhard's Swedish Bakery, 154 F.4th 1100 (9th Cir. 2025). The court of appeals ruled that a deeply discounted settlement of pension plan withdrawal liability is a "financial accommodation" that cannot be assumed or assigned, thereby extending the reach of section 365(c)(2) well beyond conventional lending arrangements. [read more …] Pennsylvania District Court Applies "Hypothetical Test" in Determining that Patent License Agreement Is Assignable in Bankruptcy In Crivella Holdings Ltd. v. Mesearch Media Technologies Ltd., No. 2:25-cv-333, 2025 WL 2443400 (W.D. Pa. Aug. 25, 2025), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania affirmed a bankruptcy court ruling denying a software licensor's motion for relief from the automatic stay to terminate the license agreement. The court found the license was assumable in bankruptcy under the Third Circuit's hypothetical test as a result of language in the agreement stating that it could be assigned to a "successor in interest" of the debtor without the licensor's further consent, thereby overriding federal patent law's general prohibition against the assignment of patents. [read more …] New York Bankruptcy Court Denies Motion to Terminate Chapter 15 Recognition and Dismiss Chapter 15 Case In In re Oi S.A., No. 23-10193 (LGB), 2025 WL 2806591 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Oct. 1, 2025), the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York considered whether chapter 15 recognition of a debtor's Brazilian restructuring proceeding should be terminated and the case dismissed due to the debtors' financial deterioration and inability to satisfy its restructuring plan obligations after entry of the recognition order. The court denied the motion, concluding that recognition of the Brazilian proceeding and a court-approved restructuring plan for the debtors should not be terminated under section 1519(d) of the Bankruptcy Code—according to the court, the sole authority for revocation of chapter 15 recognition—because, among other things, the restructuring proceeding was still pending, the debtors might still need relief authorized under chapter 15, and the debtors' prospects for reorganizing under a hypothetical chapter 11 case were uncertain at best. It also found that no provision of the Bankruptcy Code authorizes the dismissal of a chapter 15 case. [read more …] Newsworthy Effective January 1, 2026, Jones Day welcomed Isel M. Perez (Miami), Andrew M. Butler (New York), Sid Pepels (Amsterdam), and Anna C. Bretting (Munich) to the partnership in the Business Restructuring & Reorganization Practice. Sid Pepels (Amsterdam) has been nominated for the Future Leader Award by the Global Restructuring Review, an organization that acknowledges and honors excellence within the global restructuring and insolvency sector. This award is designed to recognize exceptional contributions made by both individuals and firms in the field. The 2026 edition of Chambers UK recognized Ben Larkin (London) in the practice area Restructuring/Insolvency and Adam R. Brown (London) in the practice area Restructuring/Insolvency: Litigation. The 2026 edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific ranked Roger Dobson (Sydney) in the practice area Restructuring/Insolvency. An article written by Corinne Ball (New York) titled "Backstop Fees for Lenders in Chapter 11 Plans: Absent Market Test, Equality of Treatment Now Required in Fifth Circuit After 'ConvergeOne'" was published on November 12, 2025, in the New York Law Journal. An article written by Oliver S. Zeltner (Houston) titled "Delaware Bankruptcy Court: No Legal Authority for Chapter 11 Plan Gatekeeping Provision" was published on November 20, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. An article written by Daniel J. Merrett (Atlanta) titled "First Impressions: Eleventh Circuit Rules that Annulment of Automatic Stay Does Not Violate U.S. Supreme Court's Prohibition of Nunc Pro Tunc Orders" was published on November 21, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. An article written by Genna Ghaul (New York) titled "Iowa District Court: Avoidance Claims Cannot Be Encumbered by Pre-Bankruptcy Liens" was published on November 20, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. An article written by Dan T. Moss (Washington/New York), Corinne Ball (New York), David S. Torborg (Washington), and Ben Rosenblum (New York) titled "New York Bankruptcy Court Rejects Challenge to Barnet Rule Permitting Foreign Debtors to Obtain Chapter 15 Recognition With Only Minimal U.S. Assets" was published on November 21, 2025, by Lexis Practical Guidance. The M&A Advisor has recognized the Silvergate Capital Corporation Bankruptcy case as the Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year (over $5 billion) during its 20th Annual Turnaround Awards. Jones Day is listed among the professionals for the representation of Exploration Capital, which was led by Joshua M. Mester (Los Angeles). Lawyer Spotlight: Sid Pepels Sid Pepels, a partner in Jones Day's Amsterdam Office, litigates and advises clients on commercial and international insolvency matters, with a focus on complex restructurings and insolvencies. He has advised and litigated high-profile cases, including: the cross-border WHOA (Wet Homologatie Onderhands Akkoord) proceedings concerning Vroon Group and Diebold Nixdorf; proceedings on behalf of expropriated SNS Reaal bond holders against the Dutch State; the bankruptcy of Intertoys, the leading Dutch toys retailer; the restructuring of Oi, the Dutch finance vehicle of the Brazilian telecom giant; and Blokker, the leading Dutch home appliances retailer. Sid holds a Ph.D. in European insolvency law and regularly publishes in academic journals on topics of cross-border insolvency. He has been recognized in The Legal 500 Netherlands and was noted by his peers for being client-minded and a creative thinker with a "strong grasp of the law and strong interpersonal skills." Sid was also nominated for the "Future Leader" award at the Global Restructuring Review Awards 2025. He is a board member for the Netherlands Association for Comparative and International Insolvency Law and a NextGen member of the International Insolvency Institute.
National Australia Bank Profit Rises on Business, Home Lending
National Australia Bank Ltd.’s profit climbed in the first quarter amid business banking growth and strength in home lending.
SBA’s New Citizenship Rule Reshapes Small Business Lending
A new SBA rule limits loan eligibility to citizen-owned businesses, removing green card holders and altering access to federally backed small business capital.
Commonwealth Bank’s Profit Tops Estimates as Business Loans Grow
Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s first-half profit topped estimates, buoyed by growth in its flagship mortgage business and a push in lending more to companies.
Is the PPPLF Still Encouraging Small Business Lending?
The Federal Reserve designed its Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility to ease liquidity issues and support small business lending during the pandemic. The liquidity facility allowed banks to pledge Paycheck Protection Program loans as risk-free collateral during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis shows that, although the program has essentially ended, the positive effects on small business lending have persisted, particularly among small banks with lower liquidity, in keeping with the intent of the program.
A 'Shark Tank' alum needed cash to pay tariffs. This shadowy lending world was ready
How about $350,000 within hours? The pitches flood small businesses: "No hidden fees, No BS." These financial lifelines are barely regulated and can turn into trip wires.
Pep Guardiola, Liam Rosenior and the risks and rewards for football figures talking politics
Lending their voice to non-football issues is not always a straightforward decision for managers and players - it can lead to a backlash
China Consumer Loyalty Business Report 2026: A $35.65 Billion Market by 2030 from $18.46 Billion in 2025 - 88VIP, JD.com, Meituan Black Card, and WeChat Infrastructure Anchor Platform-Led Models
The Chinese loyalty market presents prime opportunities in embedded, platform-driven loyalty models and membership-based systems across various sectors. Integration into super-app ecosystems, leveraging data-driven personalization within regulatory constraints, and blending offline-to-online experiences are key growth avenues. Chinese Loyalty Market Chinese Loyalty Market Dublin, Feb. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Loyalty Market Size & Forecast by Spend Value Across 100+ KPIs by Progra