Latest news with #BBB
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Scarlett Johansson, Sheryl Crow, Zayn Malik Urge Congress Not to Cut Food-Assistance Programs
Scarlett Johansson, Zayn Malik, and Sheryl Crow have signed an open letter urging Congress not to decimate funding for food and medical assistance programs that help millions 'live more healthily and with dignity.' The letter, spearheaded by Feeding America, specifically addresses massive cuts to programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) baked into Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Act. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives, and it's expected to be voted on in the Senate soon. More from Rolling Stone Scarlett Johansson Responds to Viral Red Carpet Kisses With Jonathan Bailey: 'We're Friendly People' Trump Lashes Out Over Leaked Report Finding Iran Strikes Weren't Totally Effective 'The Onion' CEO on That Brutal 'New York Times' Op-Ed: 'Expect Us in Weird Places' Feeding America's letter noted that if the BBB is approved by the Senate and signed into law as is, it could take '9.5 billions of meals a year through SNAP off the table' and boot 'hundreds of thousands of people off Medicaid and into food insecurity.' The letter continues, 'This is unacceptable and wrong. It is not how people in this country treat each other when facing hard times. We call on Congress to reject cuts to these vital programs that help millions put food on their tables and provide access to health care.' The House version of the BBB, which passed in May, directly cuts $128 billion in state funding for SNAP, and could potentially trim another $92 billion through the implementation of red tape and work requirements that would knock people out of eligibility. Additionally, the nearly $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid could deprive more than 10 million Americans of health insurance and regular access to doctors. In their letter, Feeding America said that an estimated 15.5 million children and 7.2 million seniors rely on SNAP and Medicaid to 'make ends meet.' (These cuts are part of the BBB's larger efforts to cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks, primarily for the wealthy, while more money is pumped to things like the military-industrial complex, Big Tech, immigration enforcement, and private prisons.) 'Food is a beautiful way humans show care, compassion and love to those around us,' Feeding America said. 'It's a fundamental part of the human experience and a basic right we all deserve. Ongoing high grocery costs mean food is out of reach for so many families, and many of our neighbors simply do not have enough to eat. They don't know where their next meal is coming from or if that meal will be enough to nourish and sustain them.' Along with Johansson, Malik, and Crow, the letter was signed by Matt Damon, Michelle Williams, Liev Schreiber, Kristin Chenoweth, Don Johnson, David Arquette, Connie Britton, Alan Cumming, Liza Colón-Zayas, Rosario Dawson, and Minka Kelly. Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
The Hill
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Pro-Trump PAC targets Massie in first ad
The pro-Trump PAC MAGA Kentucky rolled out its first ad targeting Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) on Friday, marking the first spot in a $1 million ad buy as the lawmaker feuds with President Trump. The 30-second ad, titled 'What happened to Thomas Massie?' hits the GOP congressman over his opposition to Trump-supported legislation to fund border security and cut taxes, as well as his opposition to the president's recent military intervention in Iran. 'After Trump obliterated Iran's nuclear weapons program, Massie sided with Democrats and the Ayatollah,' the ad's narrator says, as an image of Massie flashes on screen with other images of Ayatollah Khomeini, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Massie quickly responded to the ad in a post on X, appearing to to refer to measures in Trump's legislative agenda that the Senate parliamentarian opposed, including blocking Medicaid funds to be used for gender-affirming care. 'The BBB now allows funding sex changes for minors!' Massie said, referring to Trump's 'big, beautiful bill. 'This ad slams me for voting against the BBB, but the Senate just stripped the 'ban on sex changes for minors' from the BBB. By the ads' twisted logic, those who support the Senate's edits now support sex changes for minors.' The ad is one of the first major steps Trump's political operation has taken in its effort to oust Massie from Congress. Earlier this week, Trump's co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita launched MAGA Kentucky PAC amid Trump's growing feud with Massie. 'MAGA KY was formed for the specific purpose of firing Thomas Massie – His constituents will soon learn that he prefers the politics and policy of AOC and the radical left – over President Trump,' LaCivita told NewsNation, The Hill's sister cable network.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
💶 Valencia secure €322 million, funds for the new Mestalla wrapped up
The club has secured the necessary funding to continue the construction of its new stadium, which is expected to be one of the largest in Europe. Valencia CF has announced the acquisition of 322 million euros to finance the construction of the Nou Mestalla, a project aimed at creating one of the largest stadiums in Europe. This step allows the resumption of works that began in 2007 but were halted in 2009 due to financial problems. Advertisement The new agreement includes the issuance of 237 million euros in bonds, with a repayment period of 28 years and an average amortization of 20 years, backed by a BBB credit rating, which indicates solid credit quality. In addition, a credit of 85 million euros has been obtained, to be repaid in five years, which will be covered by the income generated from the sale of the current Mestalla stadium's land. In the statement, Valencia highlights that "this operation has a solid credit rating of BBB (Investment Grade), granted by a rating agency that has been involved in the financial evaluation of top-level sports venues built in Europe in recent years." The Nou Mestalla is designed to be a modern stadium with great capacity, which could position it as a benchmark in European football. Furthermore, the project is expected to boost the local economy by generating jobs and attracting visitors. The club has indicated that it will provide regular updates on the progress of the construction. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 Manuel Queimadelos Alonso - 2010 Getty Images
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
India's riskier corporate bonds are booming as investors chase yields
Mumbai: India's riskiest category of investment-grade corporate bonds is drawing record interest from wealthy investors and alternative funds, as falling benchmark yields push savvier buyers further down the credit spectrum in search of higher returns. Yield on India's benchmark 10-year government bond has declined 36 basis points over the past three months to 6.27% as of Tuesday — far below the double-digit yields available in lower-rated corporate bonds. Issuances of corporate bonds rated BBB+, BBB and BBB-, the lowest tier of rating still considered investment-grade before slipping into junk status, have surged sharply in recent quarters. According to Prime Database, 450 such bonds were issued in the fiscal year ending March 2025, up from 244 in FY24, 120 in FY23 and 75 in FY22. Through June 19 in the current fiscal year (FY26), 76 additional issuances have already come to market. The funds raised have followed a different trajectory. Issuers in this segment raised ₹17,653 crore in FY25, after ₹22,219 crore in FY24, ₹4,944 crore in FY23 and ₹8,634 crore in FY22. In FY26 so far, ₹5,845 crore has been raised. Also read | Corporate bonds off to a slow start. Bank bonds may come to the rescue. The gap between issuance volumes and amounts raised partly reflects the impact of large outlier deals. In FY24, Goswami Infratech Pvt. Ltd, part of India's Shapoorji Pallonji Group, raised ₹14,300 crore through a single private placement at a steep 18.75% coupon, accounting for nearly two-thirds of that year's total BBB-category fundraising. 'The overall issuance of BBB corporate bonds increased both in number and volume from FY24 to FY25 if we take out a large private financing transaction," said Vishal Goenka, co-founder of IndiaBonds, referring to the Goswami deal. Investors are drawn to these securities for the significantly higher yields they offer relative to AAA-rated debt. A spread of 600-700 basis points is not uncommon, translating into yields as high as 14-15%. 'Rates on BBB issuances are driven by the underlying company's fundamentals, the end use of funds or the purpose of financing, and the ability to raise money from banks on mutually acceptable terms," said Bhushan Kedar, director of fixed income research at Crisil Intelligence. 'Institutional participation in AIFs is increasing as savvy debt investors chase high yields," Kedar added, noting that alternative investment funds face fewer capital lending restrictions than banks. Platforms broaden access to riskier debt A key driver behind this expansion is the rise of online bond platforms, which have opened up access to this segment for wealthy individuals and smaller institutions. 'There is evidence of increased activity and issuance in the BBB segment over the past 3 months, aligned with the broader corporate bond market growth and diversification seen in 2025," said Arjun Parthasarathy, founder and chief executive officer of INRBonds, one such platform. 'There is demand for good high-yielding issuers with strong fundamentals and potential for rating upgrades." Recent deals reflect this momentum. In June 2025, Varthana Finance Pvt Ltd (BBB rated) raised ₹25 crore at a 12.3% coupon. In March, True Credits Pvt Ltd (BBB rated) raised ₹10 crore at 18%, and LEAP India Pvt. Ltd (BB+ rated) raised ₹200 crore at 9.5%. Indifi Capital Pvt. Ltd (BBB rated) raised ₹60 crore at 13.5% in February 2025, according to Bloomberg data. Read this | Indian equities, bonds, currency show resilience amid Trump's tariff tantrum Platforms like INRBonds, IndiaBonds, and Bondbazaar have simplified access to primary issuances and secondary trading. Precise data on investor composition is scarce, but market participants say high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and AIFs have been increasingly active in recent BBB-rated issuances, alongside select institutional investors. Even so, market participants caution that such returns carry meaningful credit risk. 'These yields are more quasi-equity in nature and should be compared with equity returns, especially given the associated credit risk," Suresh Darak, founder of Bondbazaar said. Darak noted that investors are mitigating some of that risk by focusing on shorter maturities. 'Issuers' financial visibility is more predictable over shorter timeframes, making short-tenor instruments (1–1.5 years) from lower-rated issuers relatively less risky from a credit perspective," he said. Even as liquidity has improved and policy rates softened, spreads for lower-rated issuers remain wide. 'The spread is also a function of perceived credit risk. Hence, even with lower policy rates, a meaningful narrowing of the spread depends on liquidity availability and banks' willingness to lend to lower-rated entities," Darak added. And read | Gold bonds: Investors stay put despite making a killing While comprehensive data on the share of BBB-rated bonds in India's overall corporate bond market is limited, market participants say activity in this riskier segment has grown meaningfully in recent years.
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Homeowners Are Finding Out The Importance Of Choosing a Qualified Pest Control Company
Homeowners Are Finding Out The Importance Of Choosing a Qualified Pest Control Company in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Williamsburg and Norfolk. 'Many customers are now looking for a BBB Accredited company with positive reviews along with a at least 800 online reviews.'— George Pilkington VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, UNITED STATES, June 23, 2025 / / -- Why Choosing a Qualified Pest Control Company Matters More Than Ever Local, Accredited, and Trusted: What Homeowners Should Look for in a Pest Control Provider As homeowners increasingly seek safe, effective solutions for unwanted pests, industry experts are emphasizing the importance of choosing a qualified, reputable pest control provider. Not all companies are created equal — and selecting the right one can mean the difference between a quick fix and long-term peace of mind. When evaluating pest control companies, homeowners should consider several key qualifications: 1. BBB Accreditation: A Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation is a mark of trust and credibility. It shows the company adheres to high ethical standards and resolves customer concerns in a timely and professional manner. 2. Strong Google Reviews: A consistent rating of 4.7 stars or higher with genuine, positive customer feedback speaks volumes about a company's service quality, responsiveness, and results. 3. 25+ Years in Business: Experience matters. A company that has been in operation for over two decades has weathered market changes, evolved with technology, and demonstrated long-term commitment to quality service. 4. Local and Family-Owned: Choosing a local, family-owned pest control provider supports the community while ensuring personalized, attentive service. These businesses are more likely to treat customers like neighbors — because they are. 5. Weekly Employee Training: Safety and effectiveness go hand in hand. Companies that provide weekly training for their technicians ensure that employees stay up-to-date on the latest safety protocols, treatment techniques, and pest control technologies. This ongoing education not only protects the technicians but also guarantees safer, more reliable service for homeowners. 'Pest control is more than spraying and walking away,' said George Pilkington, owner of Universal Pest & Termite. 'It's about trust, knowledge, and protecting families from unwanted pests in a safe, effective way.' With summer bringing increased pest activity, homeowners are urged to act quickly — but wisely. Working with a qualified, experienced pest control company ensures the safety of both property and loved ones. Brought to you by Universal Pest & Termite. Founded in 2000, Universal Pest & Termite is a trusted, family-owned pest control provider serving Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, hampton, Williamsburg, York County and surrounding areas in Virginia. Accredited by the BBB and backed by decades of experience, the company offers environmentally conscious pest control and termite control solutions with a commitment to quality and community. Exterminating Companies George Pilkington Universal Pest & Termite, Inc. email us here Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
