NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Why China “Sees the Future”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    If you came to Shanghai, which would you choose: Disneyland or Huawei’s Lianqiu Lake R&D Center?

    Not long ago, Thomas Friedman, a columnist for the American newspaper The New York Times, faced such a dilemma. In the end, he decided that Huawei’s research center was “the real world of the future” and went to Lianqiu Lake.

    What makes this research center so attractive? It is located in the pilot area of the Yangtze River Delta Ecological Integrated Development Demonstration Area. Its total investment exceeds 10 billion yuan, and it can accommodate tens of thousands of researchers and developers.

    According to Friedman, the favorable environment is “designed to attract the best Chinese and foreign talent in science and technology.” At a time when the global economy faces many uncertainties, the vitality and creativity of the center are especially attractive.

    It is not only Huawei that attaches importance to research and development and creates a favorable environment. In recent years, more and more companies have gradually moved towards the production of high-end products, intelligent products, and green products through technological innovation. In 2024, China’s total R&D expenditure exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan, the second highest in the world.

    In the face of increasingly fierce competition in science and technology, all industries are increasing investment in science and technology, intensifying research and development, demonstrating confidence in modernization and the future.

    It is this trend of transforming from the “world’s factory” to the “global innovation hub” that makes people pay more attention to the importance of China in the global innovation system.

    So it is not hard to understand Friedman’s sentiments: “Basically, the Lianqiu Lake R&D center is Huawei’s response to the US’s attempts to strangle the company.” China is actively innovating, boldly creating, openly accepting new things, and putting more effort into breakthroughs in advanced technologies and improving industrial quality.

    At the same time, foreign companies are also gaining confidence in China. From negotiations to signing a contract, it takes only six months; from the start of construction to completion, it takes only one and a half years… The speed of construction of Carlsberg’s production base in Foshan’s Sanshui District gives the company the opportunity to expand its business.

    The market is here, and in the face of the “small courtyards with high walls” policy, strength and will are important. By turning pressure into motivation, China is choosing to be more open, united, and energetic. Yiwu City in Zhejiang Province is a good example to watch. Those who have talked to Yiwu entrepreneurs have noticed that they do not complain, but discuss ways to solve problems.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 05.12.2025 Sen. Cruz Introduces the Invest America Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today introduced the Invest America Act. The bill establishes a private tax-advantaged account with a $1,000 seed investment from the federal government for every American child at birth. 
    Meanwhile, the bill made a major advance when the U.S. House of Representatives today released a version of Senator Cruz’s bill in the House Ways and Means Committee budget package. 
    Sen. Cruz said, “The Invest America Act will trigger fundamental and transformative changes for the financial security and personal freedoms of American citizens for generations. Every child in America will have private investment accounts that will compound over their lives, enhancing the prosperity and economic participation of the vast majority of Americans. When people years from now talk about the changes created by Republican efforts this Congress, this is one of the landmark achievements they will talk about.”
    Brad Gerstner, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Altimeter Capital, said, “Invest America accounts are central to the Main Street Agenda — pulling every kid off the sidelines and putting them squarely in the game. When everyone realizes they can be an owner, it unites our country around free-market principles and unleashes the next generation of American success. This progress would not be possible without Senator Cruz’s leadership.”
    Michael Dell, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Dell Technologies, said, “Invest America accounts put every child in the front row of our economy. When the power of compounding meets the energy of young minds, we’re not just growing portfolios—we’re fostering the next generation of builders, dreamers, and doers who will keep America leading the world.”
    BACKGROUND
    Each Invest America account will be open to contributions from individuals, family members, friends, and businesses up to $5,000 annually. The account investments can be placed in a broad, low-cost fund that tracks the S&P 500, growing tax-deferred until the individual reaches age 18. Distributions after age 18 would be taxed at the capital gains rate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEADER JEFFRIES: “DONALD TRUMP AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO ENACT ONE OF THE LARGEST HEALTHCARE CUTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s The Weeknight where he emphasized that Democrats will continue pushing back on the reckless Republican scheme to rip away the healthcare and nutritional assistance of the American people. 

    ALICIA MENENDEZ: Joining us now, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

    SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Well, sir, I know we’re going to get to the tariffs in a second, but first your reaction to what we’re seeing now from the bill that Republicans in the House of Representatives have put out from the Ways and Means Committee writ large. This is the bill, if you will, and there are lots of thoughts going around about it. But your reaction, sir. Is this what you expected from your Republican colleagues?

    LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, good evening. Great to be with everyone. Donald Trump and House Republicans promised that they were going to lower the high cost of living in the United States of America. They, of course, have failed to do that. Costs aren’t going down. They’re going up. So that’s a broken promise. Instead, they are trying to enact one of the largest healthcare cuts in American history, if not the largest. At this point, it looks like $715 billion in cuts to Medicaid that will devastate children and families and seniors and everyday Americans with disabilities. Hospitals could close. Nursing homes could shut down. And the reality is, because of this House Republican bill, if it were to pass and become law, people will die. And this is all being done in service of trying to provide a massive tax break to MAGA billionaire donors like Elon Musk, and give almost nothing to everyday Americans that Donald Trump and House Republicans promised they would focus on when they lied repeatedly on the campaign trail last year.

    MICHAEL STEELE: You know, Mr. Leader, on Saturday, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget noted the deficit impact of this bill is well above the Ways and Means allowable increase of 4 to 4.5 trillion, so lawmakers are going to need to make adjustments, including offsets and so forth. You have NBC news noting Speaker Johnson convened a video call on Monday with members of both the tax writing Ways and Means Committee and the SALT Caucus, group of blue state Republicans, to sort of address that. So you have the reality, sir, that they can’t control the numbers the way they like in order—because of the fact that, to your point, they’re going to have to make some steep cuts in areas that they’re saying they’re not going to make those cuts. And then you have unresolved other issues among the more middle of the road, conservative, moderate Republicans on SALT and other issues. How do you see this playing? How does this get shaped in the House ultimately? Particularly the Democrats decide to go, all right, you guys put your bill on the table and see what happens.

    LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, there’s a great deal of uncertainty. You have House Republicans fighting with House Republicans, House Republicans fighting with Senate Republicans. They don’t know whether to take orders from Donald Trump or Elon Musk or both. The whole thing is in disarray. They’ve decided to go it alone with this one big ugly bill and try to jam these far-right extremist policies down the throats of the American people. And, you know, we’ll see what happens this week. We’re going to continue to press our case as Democrats that we are defending the healthcare of the American people. Republicans, of course, are trying to undermine it. And this is not inconsistent with what they’ve repeatedly tried to do, which is take away healthcare from the American people. What’s egregious about this situation is that it’s all being done in service of trying to reward the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. And then to make matters worse of course as you indicated, Michael, they are further adding to our nation’s debt and deficit. These people aren’t fiscally responsible. They’re fiscally irresponsible. They need to stop lying and pretending that the case is otherwise to the American people.

    ALICIA MENENDEZ: So they released this sweeping tax plan today, except they’ve not actually dealt with, as Michael referenced there, the real friction point here, which is SALT. Let me read you just a little bit of the reporting. A legislative text currently calls for the SALT deduction cap to be hiked to $30,000, and applies only to those who make up to $400,000 a year. One House Republican close to the process told NBC News there would be enough GOP votes to sink the bill if that SALT figure remains in the final product. I want you to game this out with me. If those, you know, Republicans who say that SALT is a deal breaker because they represent districts where that is a deal breaker for their voters, let’s say they fold. Let’s say they decide not to hold the line, they vote with Trump on this tax plan, on this budget. Do you currently believe you can flip their seats?

    LEADER JEFFRIES: Yes. And you know, these Republicans who have been, you know, allegedly advocating to address the situation with State and Local Tax Deduction are all phonies. Understand that in 2017, it was Republicans through the GOP Tax Scam that imposed the tax cap, the SALT cap, $10,000 on everyday Americans and as a result, have cost people in states across the country, in places like New York, in New Jersey, in Connecticut, in Illinois, Pennsylvania and California, amongst others, thousands of dollars a year in additional cost. That is because of what Republicans did in 2017. And so, if nothing were to happen with respect to the State and Local Tax Deduction provision this year, then the cap would go away, and it would provide thousands of dollars of additional income to everyday Americans. And so, the notion that Republicans are going to try to get away with a $30,000 per year cap—that’s not helping middle-class Americans across the country. And these so-called swing seat Republicans in these blue-leaning states will be held accountable next year, and many will lose.

    SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Before we get to the tariffs. Mr. Leader, there is reporting from March 31 in the Guardian that talks about how Republican districts were the ones that have benefited the most from these clean energy spending bills. This is from the bills that were passed in the Biden administration, the tax rates Republicans who now control Congress have to decide if they will eliminate, the IRA’s grants and, more crucially, the tax credits that have spurred a boom in clean energy activity in their own districts. A total of 78% of the spending has gone to Republican-held suburban and rural districts across the U.S. That’s according to data from Atlas Public Policy. In this current bill that we now know about, and scanning through it, there are reductions here that will hit those Republicans in those districts. There’s also a severe cut to Medicaid that the—and I’m just going to read here—the Congressional Budget Office on Sunday night said that 8.6 million people would go uninsured if the health portions of this package become law. Do you have four Republicans, five Republicans or any of the, you know, 12 Republicans, frankly, that have signed letters indicating that they are concerned about the deficit or the Republicans that have signed letters indicating that they’re concerned about cuts to Medicaid, who are willing to vote with you against this bill? What does your whip count tell you?

    LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, you know, that remains to be seen, whether these Republicans who have taken all these public positions, because they are on the run in the communities they represent all across the country. The American people are unhappy with them and the failure of Republicans to be a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch. They’re just functioning as a rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme policies. But this is going to be the ultimate test. Now, with respect to the clean energy tax credits, and you correctly point out Symone, that many of the provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, standing up a clean energy economy, creating clean energy jobs and also cheaper energy, have benefited red districts and red communities and red states across the country. So, to vote to repeal these things is a vote to undermine the very constituents that you represent. Now, there were 21 Republicans who signed a letter saying don’t touch the clean energy tax credits. Where are those 21 Republicans right now? All it takes is a fraction of them to actually keep their word as communicated to the people that they represent, and the bill will fail. And so, you’ve got challenges with respect to fiscal irresponsibility, challenges as it relates to Medicaid, challenges as it relates to State and Local Tax Deduction, challenges as it relates to the clean energy tax credits. All you need are three or four Republicans in either the House or the Senate to just keep their word to their constituents, and this bill will fall. We’re going to continue to strongly oppose these egregious provisions that don’t help the American people, they hurt the American people, and press our Republican colleagues to have some courage and some backbone for their constituents and do the same.

    MICHAEL STEELE: So there’s an interesting—the politics here is very interesting, so I love Symone’s question because it really just kind of reframes some realities that I think Democrats are going to have to work through. And one of them, and what you’re starting to hear on the streets right now is that the Republicans are doing this little Artful Dodger kind of game where they’re, you know, they’re now talking about, oh, we’re going to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans. And Trump is floating that out there. And, of course, you’ve got a whole lot of reminiscent playback to ‘read my lips, no new taxes’ from George Bush 41. But now, you have the president also on Monday issuing an executive order asking drug makers to voluntarily reduce the prices of key medicines in the United States, but the order cites no obvious legal authority to mandate lower prices with this executive order. Trump also opted not to propose measures that could have more teeth, such as calling for his administration to work with Congress on legislation or writing regulations to change how government health programs pay for some drugs. That’s not the point, right? The point is, hey, I’m cutting drug prices. So do you see politically, the Republicans, not so much legislatively doing anything with teeth, but rather framing political narratives that make it more difficult for Democrats, as Symone offered up a little bit before, to go after some of those seats that could be on the chopping block otherwise.

    LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, they’re certainly going to try, but the reality is the core promise that Donald Trump and Republicans made to the American people was that they were going to improve the economy, and they inherited one that was moving in the right direction. The big challenge was the high cost of living in the United States of America. It’s a challenge that we need to tackle. They promised that costs would go down on day one, that they would address inflation. Costs haven’t gone down, they’re going up. Inflation is going up. And a lot of it has to do with Trump’s reckless mismanagement of the economy, particularly as it relates to the on-again, off-again tariffs and the mess that he has made with respect to the American economy. And so, fundamentally, no matter how much Republicans try to distract from that reality, they will be held accountable for their failure to keep their word, for their failure to lower the high cost of living and, in fact, to actually increase costs and make life more unaffordable for everyday Americans. And as you pointed out, with respect to this so-called executive order, it has no force of law. And so, it’s not a serious effort to lower costs. If there was a serious effort, we’d actually have seen up until this point, more than 100 days into this administration, a single bill that was actually designed to address the high cost of living in the United States of America. Instead, we get legislation to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

    ALICIA MENENDEZ: Leader Jeffries, you referenced tariffs so I’ll allow this to be the last question. China took a tough stance on the threat of increased tariffs from the U.S. They managed to bring that threat down without any real concessions. If you are the Chinese, what have you learned about the Art of the Deal?

    LEADER JEFFRIES: China punked the administration and the administration backed down. That’s no surprise because we’ve seen that happen over and over and over again.

    ALICIA MENENDEZ: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you so much for being with us.

    Full interview can be watched here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM meets foreign guests participating in fourth ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum

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

    Chinese FM meets foreign guests participating in fourth ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, May 12 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday met respectively with some foreign ministers and representatives of the participating countries of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing.

    When meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Wang said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel held a fruitful and important meeting in Moscow, charting the course for further progress in China-Cuba relations.

    China will continue to support Cuba in its just struggle to safeguard national sovereignty and dignity and oppose blockade and sanctions, and advance the building of the China-Cuba community with a shared future to achieve new progress continuously.

    Rodriguez expressed heartfelt gratitude for China’s firm support to Cuba in opposing the blockade and sanctions, as well as its valuable assistance in helping Cuba overcome economic difficulties.

    Cuba will continue to steadfastly uphold the one-China principle and work with China to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their meeting in Moscow, Rodriguez said.

    When meeting with Uruguayan foreign minister Mario Lubetkin, Wang said that China is willing to work with Uruguay to deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Uruguay comprehensive strategic partnership with stronger political mutual trust, higher-level mutually beneficial cooperation and closer multilateral collaboration.

    Lubetkin said that Uruguay highly appreciates the series of global initiatives proposed by President Xi, supports free trade and is willing to jointly practice multilateralism, adding that the Uruguayan side firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports the “one country, two systems” policy.

    When meeting with Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer Salcedo, Wang said that President Xi and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte paid mutual visits last year, noting that China is willing to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership to continuously reach new heights.

    The two heads of state jointly announced the opening of Chancay Port, which has become a symbol of promoting solidarity and cooperation among developing countries and accelerating their development and revitalization, Wang said, adding that China is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with Peru in various fields.

    Schialer said that Peru firmly abides by the one-China principle, looks forward to deepening all-round cooperation with China in politics, economy, trade, science, technology, culture and so on, and is willing to jointly build Chancay Port Industrial Park, further promote free trade cooperation between the two countries, and speed up the negotiation and signing of double taxation avoidance agreements.

    During the meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, Wang said that President Xi held a fruitful meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Moscow, pointing out the direction for the development of bilateral relations in the next stage.

    China firmly supports the solidarity and self-strengthening of regional countries and is willing to work with Venezuela and other Latin American countries to oppose hegemonic and bullying moves and safeguard international justice, Wang added.

    Noting that Venezuela is satisfied and proud of the establishment of an all-weather strategic partnership between Venezuela and China and the important achievements in cooperation in various fields, Gil said that China plays an important role in safeguarding international rules such as the UN Charter, and Venezuela firmly supports China’s just position.

    When meeting with Guyanese Foreign Minister Hugh Todd, Wang said that China is willing to work with Guyana, guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, explore cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy and green economy, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in healthcare, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

    China will encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Guyana, and help Guyana upgrade its industries and achieve economic self-reliance, Wang added.

    Noting that Guyana regards China as a reliable good friend, Todd said that Guyana is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and welcomes more Chinese investment, Guyana appreciates China’s leadership in improving global governance and is willing to jointly adhere to multilateralism and safeguard international law and international rules.

    When meeting with presidential adviser of Nicaragua Laureano Ortega Murillo and minister for foreign affairs of Nicaragua Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker, Wang said that China is willing to work with Nicaragua to consolidate high-level mutual trust, continue to provide assistance within its capacity to Nicaragua, and give priority to implementing cooperation projects conducive to Nicaragua’s accelerated independent development.

    China supports its enterprises to invest and do business in Nicaragua, and believes that Nicaragua will continue to adhere to friendly relations with China and provide a favorable business environment, Wang added.

    Laureano said that Nicaragua firmly adheres to the one-China principle and opposes unilateral acts of imposing excessive tariffs, noting that Nicaragua firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative and the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi which contribute to global peace, security, stability and development.

    When meeting with Colombian foreign minister Laura Sarabia, Wang congratulated Colombia on taking over the rotating presidency of the China-CELAC Forum, saying that China has always viewed China-Colombia relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective and is willing to take the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to carry out cooperation on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative.

    Sarabia expressed her gratitude to China for its support of Colombia’s peace process and efforts to explore diversified development. She said that Colombia is willing to join the Belt and Road Initiative and promote more tangible results in bilateral cooperation and looks forward to China increasing investment in Colombia.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Laureano Ortega Murillo, presidential adviser of Nicaragua, in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. Wang met with Laureano Ortega Murillo and Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker, minister for foreign affairs of Nicaragua, here on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Laureano Ortega Murillo, presidential adviser of Nicaragua, and Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker, minister for foreign affairs of Nicaragua, in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Laura Sarabia in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Laura Sarabia in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Hugh Todd, minister of foreign affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Hugh Todd, minister of foreign affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer Salcedo in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer Salcedo in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-US trade talks offer relief, reassurance to global economy

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

    A press briefing is held by the Chinese side following the China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    In the just concluded China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs in Switzerland, China and the United States engaged in candid, in-depth and constructive communication across multiple areas, reaching a series of important consensuses and making substantive progress.

    This marked a crucial step toward resolving differences through equal dialogue and consultation, laying the foundation and creating the conditions for further bridging gaps and deepening cooperation.

    With a combined economic output accounting for over one-third of the global total and a bilateral trade volume representing about one-fifth of global trade, China-U.S. trade ties play a pivotal role in the world economy. Amid a sluggish global recovery and heightened geopolitical tensions, the importance of keeping communication channels open between the two sides is clear. The substantive progress achieved reflect joint efforts to manage differences and find common ground in a complex global environment.

    China has always taken a consistent and constructive approach to its economic relationship with the United States, seeking to bring bilateral ties back to a stable and healthy trajectory through dialogue and consultation. Encouragingly, the United States has shown a willingness to engage in that process.

    But there is no ignoring the damage already done. Over the past month, unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States have taken a significant toll, not only on the Chinese and U.S. economies but also on the global economy. Domestically, U.S. businesses and consumers are paying more, while U.S. inflationary pressure continues to rise.

    The global impact is even more concerning. These tariffs have disrupted the stability of global industrial and supply chains and undermined the rules-based multilateral trading system. International institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank have repeatedly warned that protectionism poses a major threat to the global economic recovery. In this context, the recent round of China-U.S. talks has provided a much-needed signal of stability and certainty.

    The positive outcomes of the latest talks reaffirm that for major countries, equal and constructive dialogue — not confrontation — is the only effective way to address differences. Given the distinct national contexts and priorities, disagreements are to be expected. What matters most is that such differences are managed with mutual respect for each other’s core interests and through sustained dialogue.

    No country will surrender its legitimate development rights to unreasonable demands. It is through equal dialogue and consultation can both sides clearly state their concerns, clarify misunderstandings, and explore the root causes of friction.

    It is in the United States’ own interest to maintain a stable, sustainable and mutually beneficial economic relationship with China. Decades of mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, services and two-way investment have brought concrete gains to businesses and people on both sides. Despite recent tensions, this foundation of shared interests remains strong.

    China has consistently maintained that economic and trade disputes should be addressed through rational and respectful dialogue rather than through pressure or threats. Unilateral coercion does not resolve problems; it only heightens tensions, increases risks and undermines the long-term interests of both sides.

    The convening of the China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs marked a positive step forward in China-U.S. economic and trade relations, helping to lay a foundation for continued dialogue and future negotiations.

    While we are glad to see the resumption of dialogue, we are also fully prepared for the long-term, complex and arduous nature of resolving differences between the two counries.

    The two sides need to maintain the current momentum of dialogue, control differences, accumulate consensus and strengthen trust through equal consultation.

    What is more important, both sides should approach this most consequential bilateral relationship in the world with a longer-term perspective and broader vision, keeping in mind the fundamental well-being of their peoples and the bigger picture of global peace and prosperity.

    Strengthening cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and managing differences with mutual respect is not only the responsibility of China and the United States, but also the shared expectation of the international community. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Celebrates Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs at Small Business Administration’s Annual Awards

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    **Annual National Small Business Week awards recognize achievements and contributions of SBA-assisted individuals and businesses**
    (Manchester, NH) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), today celebrated Granite State small business owners and entrepreneurs at the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) annual National Small Business Week awards at the Manchester Historic Association’s Millyard Museum. The annual awards recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and businesses that have been supported by the SBA. Click here to view photos from the event. 
    “I was glad to attend today’s ceremony to celebrate the extraordinary Granite State small businesses being recognized. At the same time, I’m very concerned by the Trump administration’s proposed budget which would eliminate so many of the programs that support these businesses dealing with tariffs and economic uncertainty,” said Senator Shaheen, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. “We need to protect and fund SBA’s entrepreneurial development programs so that we can keep all of our small businesses robust in the state and ensure that we continue to grow and provide good jobs for the workers of New Hampshire.” 
    “I was grateful to join small business owners from across our state this morning to celebrate the incredible contribution that small businesses make to our communities,” said Senator Hassan. “As small businesses face rising costs and the chaos and uncertainty of ongoing tariffs, I will continue to work to support the SBA and its efforts to lower costs for New Hampshire small businesses. I applaud today’s award winners and am grateful for all of the small business owners who choose to work in New Hampshire and call our state home.” 
    “I want to share my heartfelt congratulations with this year’s award winners and honorees,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “Small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy, but they’re more than that. They make up the fabric of our state and the character of our communities. I know how challenging things can be, even in the best of times, and I will always do everything I can to support our small businesses and create an economic environment that will help our businesses grow and cut costs.” 
    “New Hampshire small businesses are the backbone of our communities and our economy,” said Congresswoman Goodlander, a member of the House Committee on Small Business. “This morning in Manchester, it was an honor to join the Small Business Awards Ceremony to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and innovation of incredible entrepreneurs across our state. I am proud to advocate for New Hampshire’s small businesses in Congress and to bring their voices to the Small Business Committee.” 
    The Granite State recipients of the 2025 Small Business Awards include: 
    New Hampshire Small Business Person of the Year: Dr. Tanya Lawson, Inbloom Health + Medispa, Londonderry 
    Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year: Russ Collins, Home Innovations Corp., Derry 
    Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year:  Karen Jenovese, Swim NH LLC , Concord 
    Financial Services Champion of the Year for NH and NE: Rick Dassatti, SCORE Granite Region, Manchester 
    Small Business Manufacturer of the Year: Josh Velasquez, Shire’s Naturals, Peterborough  
    Home-Based Business of the Year: Hailee Grisham Hampton, Hurry Slow Hat Co., Littleton 
    Young Entrepreneur: Sabrina MacDowell, Pampered Pup LLC, Candia 
    Micro-Enterprise: Bret Lincoln, Lincoln Fencing, Epping 
    Senator Shaheen is helping lead efforts in Congress to mitigate the harmful impacts of President Trump’s policies on small businesses and consumers. Just before President Trump took office, Shaheen introduced the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act which would limit the president’s ability to leverage sweeping tariffs that increase costs for consumers and families. In recent months, Shaheen has traveled across the Granite State to visit businesses including Chatila’s Bakery, C&J, DCI Furniture, Mount Cabot Maple, American Calan Inc. and NH Ball Bearings to hear directly from Granite Staters impacted by the administration’s trade war. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Greater Bay Area Plus ASEAN: Hong Kong Explores New Development Space

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    “Hong Kong and ASEAN countries have strong economic and trade relations, and the Chinese community in Southeast Asia is closely connected with the Greater Bay Area.” Cai Guansheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong, described Hong Kong’s unique position as follows: “The left hand is the Greater Bay Area, the right hand is ASEAN.” He added: “Companies from other cities in the Greater Bay Area can team up with Hong Kong entrepreneurs and enter the global market together.”

    Since early April, the US has been wielding its tariff baton without authorization, and Hong Kong, a free port, has been subjected to groundless attacks. In the past few years, Hong Kong has been actively integrating into China’s national development strategy by participating in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; on the other hand, it has been strengthening trade and economic ties with overseas markets, including ASEAN countries, using its unique advantages to overcome the crisis and explore new opportunities for growth.

    Building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is Hong Kong’s Major Opportunity

    Against the backdrop of the US tariff abuse, Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Li Jiachao stressed that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has a population of about 87 million and a regional GDP of over 14 trillion yuan. “The state is the greatest opportunity and the greatest certainty for Hong Kong,” he said.

    HKSAR Secretary-General Chen Guoji added that the Hong Kong government actively supports local companies and talents to tap into the boundless business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, and encourages Guangdong enterprises to leverage Hong Kong’s comprehensive advantages and professional services to accelerate their entry into the global market.

    Expanding Trade Share with ASEAN: Finding New Partners and Markets

    In addition to actively integrating into the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong is actively exploring the ASEAN market, taking advantage of the “one country, two systems” system, free and open economy, and advantageous geographical location. All this allows it to play an important role in rebuilding global supply chains. Hong Kong and ASEAN countries have broad cooperation opportunities and common interests,” Li Jiachao said.

    According to data released by the HKSAR government, ASEAN countries’ share of Hong Kong’s market has grown from 7.4% in 2018 to 8.7% in 2024, second only to China’s hinterland. Since 2019, ASEAN has overtaken the United States to become Hong Kong’s second-largest export market.

    Accelerated adoption of various measures and expansion of development prospects

    In addition to strengthening trade ties with China’s hinterland and ASEAN countries, Hong Kong has taken a range of measures, including firmly adhering to free trade policies, promoting industrial transformation and upgrading, actively pursuing scientific and technological innovation, and advancing international financial cooperation.

    Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary Chen Maobo recently said that many multinational enterprises are investing in Hong Kong, viewing it as a bridge between China’s hinterland and the world. Hong Kong has always adhered to the rule of law, an internationalized and friendly business environment, an inclusive culture, and provides access to the world’s most dynamic consumer and innovation market – China’s hinterland.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fast Posterior Sampling in Tightly Identified SVARs Using ‘Soft’ Sign Restrictions

    Source: Airservices Australia

    Tags

    asset quality, balance sheet, banking, banknotes, bonds, business, business cycle, capital, cash rate, central clearing, China, climate change, commercial property, commodities, consumption, COVID-19, credit, cryptocurrency, currency, digital currency, debt, education, emerging markets, exchange rate, export, fees, finance, financial markets, financial stability, First Nations, fiscal policy, forecasting, funding, global economy, global financial crisis, history, households, housing, income and wealth, inflation, insolvency, insurance, interest rates, international, investment, labour market, lending standards, liquidity, machine learning, macroprudential policy, mining, modelling, monetary policy, money, open economy, payments, productivity, rba survey, regulation, resources sector, retail, risk and uncertainty, saving, securities, services sector, technology, terms of trade, trade, wages

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Bad Credit Loan Providers with Guaranteed Approval & No Credit Check Required

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Charleston, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    In This Article, You’ll Discover:

    • How to find the best bad credit loan providers with guaranteed approval and no credit check required in 2025
    • Why MoneyMutual stands out as a leading online loan marketplace for emergency borrowing
    • What specific features make a no credit check loan safe, fast, and accessible
    • The exact steps to apply for a bad credit personal loan using MoneyMutual’s three-step system
    • Real-world borrower scenarios that highlight how these loans solve urgent financial challenges
    • A detailed comparison of MoneyMutual vs. other major providers in the bad credit loan space
    • Legal risks, APR concerns, and repayment ethics every borrower should know
    • Disclaimers, pricing caveats, and security policies to ensure readers make informed financial choices

    TL;DR: Best Bad Credit Loan Providers with Guaranteed Approval & No Credit Check Required

    For borrowers with poor or no credit history, accessing traditional financing can feel impossible. This article explores the top options for bad credit loans with guaranteed approval and no credit check required, focusing on MoneyMutual as a trusted and fast-access loan matching platform.

    The content explains how MoneyMutual connects users with a broad network of third-party lenders offering emergency loans, short-term funding, and installment loans for bad credit, all through a simple, secure application. It also compares MoneyMutual with other major platforms, outlines borrower risks, and includes legal disclaimers to ensure ethical borrowing.

    If you’re seeking fast, discreet, and flexible financing, especially when time and credit are working against you, this article breaks down everything you need to know.

    Introduction

    Why Getting a Loan with Bad Credit Feels Impossible

    For millions of Americans, trying to get approved for a loan with bad credit feels like hitting a brick wall. Whether it’s due to unexpected medical bills, a layoff, or an emergency expense that spiraled into debt, many people are locked out of traditional financial options. Banks often demand high credit scores, extensive paperwork, and collateral—leaving those with less-than-perfect histories out in the cold.

    That’s where specialized bad credit loan providers with guaranteed approval and no credit check required step in to meet real-world needs. These platforms have grown in popularity by offering flexible lending solutions, fast approvals, and fewer barriers to access.

    The Rise of Fintech Loan Marketplaces

    Modern digital platforms have revolutionized how consumers access credit. Platforms like MoneyMutual now make it possible for borrowers to connect with a wide network of short-term lenders in a matter of minutes—all without requiring a traditional credit score. With the rise of AI-powered lender matching, soft credit checks, and same-day funding, borrowers now have more control over how and when they get the money they need.

    Unlike legacy banks, these platforms focus on what matters most: speed, privacy, and approval—even if your credit score is low or non-existent. This makes them a go-to solution for people looking for emergency loans, cash advances, and installment loans for bad credit.

    Understanding the Real Pain Points of Borrowers

    The Financial Fallout of Poor Credit

    A bad credit score doesn’t just limit your borrowing power—it alters your entire financial trajectory. For many, it starts with a single unexpected event: a job loss, a medical emergency, or a missed credit card payment. Over time, these moments accumulate, pulling credit scores down and increasing the cost of living. With each drop in score, doors begin to close: housing becomes harder to secure, traditional bank loans become off-limits, and even getting a phone contract becomes a challenge.

    Borrowers facing poor credit often report feeling ashamed, anxious, or judged by traditional institutions. The systems in place weren’t designed with flexibility in mind. Banks and credit unions rely on rigid FICO models and automated rejection tools that fail to account for personal stories or financial recovery efforts.

    This leaves many with a dangerous lack of options when a financial emergency arises.

    The Emotional Toll of Financial Exclusion

    Financial hardship doesn’t just hurt your bank account—it impacts your mental health, relationships, and career. Studies have shown that those living paycheck to paycheck are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. Being denied repeatedly—whether it’s for a loan, a car lease, or even a small overdraft—creates a cycle of despair that can feel impossible to escape.

    Consumers often ask:

    • “Where can I get a loan if no one checks my credit?”
    • “Is there a fast way to get cash without being humiliated by my score?”
    • “Are there emergency loans for bad credit that actually approve people like me?”

    These are real questions from real people who need help—not judgment.

    Hidden Fees and Predatory Alternatives

    Unfortunately, those with bad credit are frequent targets of predatory lending schemes. Some payday loan storefronts and online scams promise instant cash but hide crippling interest rates in the fine print. Others demand upfront “processing fees” before vanishing entirely. This makes trust and transparency absolutely essential when searching for personal loans with no credit check or guaranteed approval loans.

    Reputable lending platforms like MoneyMutual aim to address these dangers by offering a free-to-use portal that matches users with trusted lenders—without hidden fees or obligations.

    Disclaimer: Loan approval is not guaranteed, and actual terms will vary by lender. Always read lender terms carefully before accepting a loan offer.

    When Life Doesn’t Wait: Real-Life Loan Triggers

    To better understand the needs of borrowers with bad credit, let’s explore some of the most common reasons people seek fast funding:

    • Medical Emergencies: Uninsured ER visits, prescriptions, or urgent procedures
    • Auto Repairs: Getting to work depends on fixing your vehicle
    • Rent and Utilities: Avoiding eviction or late fees in a cash-flow crunch
    • Family Crises: Funeral travel, helping relatives, or covering school costs
    • Unexpected Layoffs: Income gaps that savings can’t cover

    In these moments, people don’t have time for weeks of paperwork or judgment. They need quick loans for bad credit that offer same-day funding with minimal friction.

    Why Borrowers Turn to No Credit Check Loans

    Here’s why no credit check loans have become increasingly popular in 2025:

    • Speed: Applications take minutes. Some lenders fund within 24 hours.
    • Accessibility: Most require only basic information—no hard credit inquiry.
    • Discretion: Online applications avoid the embarrassment of in-person denials.
    • Control: Borrowers can choose from offers that fit their needs without obligation.

    This approach aligns with the growing demand for digital lending networks that respect borrowers’ time, privacy, and dignity.

    Bad credit? No problem. Apply now through MoneyMutual and get matched with lenders in minutes—no fees, no pressure, and no credit check required.

    How MoneyMutual Solves These Problems

    A Fast, Free, and Inclusive Loan Marketplace

    MoneyMutual was built with one mission in mind: to help people access short-term financial support when traditional lending systems fail them. With over 2 million users served and a trusted reputation in the bad credit loan space, it’s become one of the most popular online loan marketplaces in the United States.

    Unlike direct lenders that issue loans themselves, MoneyMutual acts as a secure digital bridge between borrowers and a network of vetted lenders. Their model is streamlined, transparent, and free to use.

    There are no hidden fees for submitting your information, and you are under no obligation to accept any loan offer presented through the platform.

    Disclaimer: MoneyMutual is not a lender and does not make credit decisions. Loan approval and terms are determined by individual lenders based on their own policies.

    Three Simple Steps to Getting Matched

    Here’s how the process works:

    Step 1: Submit Your Request

    You fill out a short form that includes basic information such as your name, address, source of income, and desired loan amount. No hard credit check is performed at this stage, so your credit score is unaffected.

    Step 2: Get Matched with Lenders

    MoneyMutual’s AI-powered loan-matching system searches through its network of lenders to find those most likely to approve your request. This process happens in real time, saving hours—or even days—compared to manually applying to multiple lenders.

    Step 3: Review and Accept an Offer

    If you’re matched, you’ll be redirected to the lender’s website to review the terms. You can then choose whether to accept the loan offer. Funds may be available as soon as the next business day if approved.

    This same-day funding capability is especially valuable for people facing urgent expenses like rent, medical bills, or car repairs.

    What Sets MoneyMutual Apart?

    Compared to other options in the bad credit loan marketplace, MoneyMutual excels in several critical areas:

    • No Upfront Fees: There is no cost to use the platform to connect with lenders.
    • Soft Credit Inquiries Only: The platform itself does not conduct a hard credit check.
    • 24-Hour Turnaround: Many lenders offer next-day funding.
    • Wide Network: Dozens of lenders available, increasing your chances of approval.
    • User Privacy: All information submitted is encrypted and handled securely.

    These strengths make it one of the best loan platforms for bad credit borrowers who need quick cash loans without jumping through bureaucratic hoops.

    Disclaimer: Loan amounts, interest rates, repayment schedules, and funding speeds may vary by lender. Always verify these details on the lender’s official website before proceeding.

    Target Borrower Profile

    MoneyMutual focuses on accessibility for a broad range of borrowers, including:

    • Individuals with credit scores below 600
    • People with no credit history at all
    • Self-employed individuals or gig workers
    • Borrowers who have been denied by banks or credit unions
    • Anyone who earns at least $800/month in verifiable income and is 18 years or older

    By catering to underserved demographics, MoneyMutual fills a critical gap in the lending space. Its process aligns with modern expectations for digital lending platforms—efficiency, transparency, and user control.

    No Strings Attached

    Just as important as what MoneyMutual offers is what it doesn’t. There’s no pressure to accept a loan if you’re not satisfied with the terms, and you’re free to walk away at any point. This is essential in a market where predatory lending is still common.

    MoneyMutual’s business model depends on satisfied users and trusted partners, which encourages them to maintain high transparency and ethical standards.

    Need cash fast but your credit score is low? Get started with MoneyMutual—free to use, no hard credit check, and funds may arrive in 24 hours!

    Core Features That Make MoneyMutual a Standout Choice

    Built for Speed, Security, and Simplicity

    When comparing online loan services, not all platforms are created equal. Some overpromise and underdeliver, while others bury high fees in the fine print. MoneyMutual distinguishes itself by offering a fast, secure, and transparent way to access short-term loans—even for those with poor or limited credit histories.

    Let’s break down the standout features that make MoneyMutual a preferred platform for millions of users seeking bad credit loans with guaranteed approval and no credit check required.

    No Upfront Fees, Ever

    One of the most reassuring aspects of MoneyMutual is that it’s completely free to use. You won’t be charged to fill out the form, get matched with lenders, or review loan offers. This eliminates the common red flag of “processing fees” or “application charges” that some predatory services use to exploit vulnerable borrowers.

    Instead, MoneyMutual earns compensation from participating lenders after a successful match—never from the consumer.

    Soft Credit Pulls Only

    A hard credit inquiry can lower your credit score, especially if you’re already on shaky ground. MoneyMutual protects users by limiting itself to soft credit checks when determining lender matches. This means you can explore your options without damaging your score—a critical advantage for borrowers actively working to rebuild their financial standing.

    Once you’re matched with a lender, that lender may conduct a hard pull before finalizing a loan. However, you’ll be notified of this step and can choose whether to proceed.

    Disclaimer: While MoneyMutual does not perform hard credit checks, individual lenders may do so if you move forward with a loan offer.

    Wide Network of Vetted Lenders

    Rather than relying on a single lending institution, MoneyMutual connects you to a broad network of third-party lenders. This increases your chances of approval and lets you compare multiple offers, interest rates, and repayment plans—all in one place.

    The platform is especially useful for those searching for:

    • Installment loans for bad credit
    • Emergency cash loans
    • No credit check personal loans
    • Short-term financial bridge funding

    This variety empowers users to make informed decisions rather than settling for the first available offer.

    Same-Day or Next-Day Funding Potential

    In emergency situations, speed is everything. With many lenders in MoneyMutual’s network, funds can be deposited in as little as 24 hours following loan approval. For urgent needs like rent payments, medical bills, or auto repairs, this can make all the difference.

    Just be aware that timing varies by lender, banking hours, and the time of day your application is processed.

    Disclaimer on Funding Timeframes: Next-day funding is typical but not guaranteed. Funding schedules depend on individual lender policies and bank processing times.

    High Standards for Privacy and Security

    Data security is non-negotiable in the digital age, especially when sharing sensitive financial information. MoneyMutual uses 256-bit encryption and strict internal protocols to ensure your data is protected from unauthorized access.

    Borrowers can feel confident that their information will not be misused or sold to unrelated third parties.

    Easy-to-Meet Eligibility Requirements

    You don’t need perfect credit, a high income, or collateral to qualify for matches. The basic requirements include:

    • Be at least 18 years old
    • Provide proof of $800/month income or more
    • Have a checking account in your name
    • Be a U.S. resident

    These accessible standards make it easier for individuals who are self-employed, freelancers, or rebuilding their financial lives to get approved.

    Don’t let bad credit hold you back. Use MoneyMutual to request up to $5,000 online—get matched with lenders who say YES without the hassle.

    Step-by-Step Application Walkthrough

    A Simple, Guided Process with No Confusing Paperwork

    One of the most appealing aspects of using MoneyMutual is how quick and straightforward the application process is. Unlike traditional banks that require long forms, in-person visits, or excessive documentation, MoneyMutual streamlines the journey into three efficient steps designed to connect borrowers with lenders in minutes—not days.

    Below is a full breakdown of what to expect when using the platform to apply for bad credit loans online with no credit check required.

    Step 1: Submit Your Basic Information

    Start by visiting the official MoneyMutual website and clicking on the “Get Started” button. You’ll be prompted to fill out a form requesting basic personal and financial details, including:

    • Full legal name
    • Email address and phone number
    • Date of birth (must be at least 18)
    • Estimated monthly income (minimum $800/month)
    • Employment status
    • Bank account information (to receive funds)

    No documents need to be uploaded at this stage, and you won’t need to provide a credit score.

    Important Note: MoneyMutual does not perform a hard credit check during this process. Submitting your information will not impact your credit score.

    Step 2: Get Matched with Lenders

    Once your form is submitted, MoneyMutual runs your details through its AI-powered matching algorithm to identify lenders that fit your profile. The matching system evaluates key factors such as income, employment status, and loan amount request to determine eligibility across the platform’s lender network.

    Within moments, you may be redirected to one or more offers from third-party lenders. You’ll be able to review each offer in full detail—including repayment terms, loan amount, interest rates, and fees.

    This stage is risk-free and comes with no obligation.

    Disclaimer: Not all applicants will receive a loan offer. Availability depends on the accuracy of the information submitted and individual lender criteria.

    Step 3: Choose an Offer and Finalize the Loan

    If you see an offer you like, click to proceed to the lender’s official site. Here, you may be asked to verify a few additional details or consent to a soft or hard credit inquiry depending on the lender’s policy.

    Once approved, you’ll receive a loan agreement that outlines all terms and repayment details. Be sure to review the following carefully:

    • Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
    • Loan term (in days, weeks, or months)
    • Payment schedule and amounts
    • Any applicable fees or penalties

    If you accept, your funds may be deposited as soon as the next business day.

    Disclaimer on Pricing and Terms: Always confirm the final loan offer on the official lender website, as rates, fees, and conditions vary. Pricing is subject to change at any time and may differ based on your location and lender’s terms.

    Stuck with poor credit and urgent bills? Get your loan request in now through MoneyMutual—fast, secure, and no obligation to accept.

    Comparing MoneyMutual to Other Top Providers

    A Crowded Market — But One Clear Leader

    With the growing demand for bad credit loans with guaranteed approval and no credit check required, a wide range of platforms have entered the market claiming to offer quick cash with minimal requirements. However, while the offers may sound similar, not all services deliver on their promises.

    MoneyMutual has emerged as a standout option in this increasingly competitive space due to its consistent performance, user-friendly experience, and borrower-first model. To help you understand why it ranks so highly, let’s compare it to other leading platforms in the market: BadCreditLoans.com, CashUSA, and PersonalLoans.com.

    How MoneyMutual Measures Up

    Unlike other platforms, MoneyMutual does not perform a hard credit check during the matching process. That means borrowers can explore options with confidence, knowing their credit score won’t be negatively impacted. Competing platforms like BadCreditLoans.com and CashUSA often work with lenders that require at least a soft or even hard inquiry before extending an offer, which can be a deterrent for borrowers already dealing with poor credit.

    When it comes to income requirements, MoneyMutual is more accessible. Users need only verify a monthly income of $800 to get started, while other platforms often require $1,000 or more in consistent income. This difference can make or break someone’s ability to qualify when dealing with gig work, part-time jobs, or fluctuating freelance income.

    Speed of funding is another area where MoneyMutual excels. Borrowers frequently report receiving funds within 24 hours of accepting a loan offer. Competing services may require 1 to 3 business days to finalize the funding process, depending on lender policies and banking hours.

    Loan amount ranges are competitive across all platforms. While some providers like PersonalLoans.com may offer higher caps—up to $35,000—they also cater more toward individuals with fair to good credit and require more extensive paperwork. In contrast, MoneyMutual focuses on short-term emergency loans ranging from $200 to $5,000+, often with fewer barriers to approval.

    The overall application experience is smoother with MoneyMutual. It takes less than five minutes to fill out the form, while competitors often have longer applications that may require supporting documents or multiple stages of verification.

    Why MoneyMutual Is Still the Top Choice

    MoneyMutual leads the pack by offering:

    • No application fees
    • Soft credit pull only
    • Fast approvals and funding—often within 24 hours
    • Lower income threshold for eligibility
    • A seamless, under-five-minute application

    These features make it one of the best platforms for no credit check loans and emergency cash solutions in 2025.

    Disclaimer: Approval criteria, loan terms, interest rates, and funding speeds vary by lender. Always verify loan details directly with the lender before accepting any offer.

    Where Other Platforms Compete

    It’s worth noting that platforms like PersonalLoans.com may be better suited for individuals seeking larger amounts or more structured installment loan options. CashUSA and BadCreditLoans.com also offer debt consolidation loans and longer-term repayment plans, which could be helpful for some borrowers with slightly better credit standing.

    However, for fast, short-term relief with minimal requirements, MoneyMutual continues to be a top-ranked option, especially for borrowers who prioritize ease of use, speed, and accessibility over loan size or long-term structuring.

    Get the cash you need—without the judgment. Apply with MoneyMutual in under 5 minutes and see your matched offers instantly!

    Real-World Case Studies & Testimonials

    Real Borrowers. Real Situations. Real Solutions.

    Behind every loan application is a personal story. When facing financial hardship, what borrowers often need most—aside from funds—is a service they can trust. While MoneyMutual doesn’t publicly list individual reviews on its site, many borrowers have shared their experiences across third-party platforms and forums. These narratives help illustrate how no credit check loans with guaranteed approval can make a difference in real-life situations.

    Here are three fictionalized, yet representative, borrower profiles that reflect the kind of users turning to MoneyMutual in times of need.

    Case Study 1: Emergency Car Repair for a Delivery Driver

    Name: Angela R.

    Location: Columbus, OH

    Situation: Angela works for multiple food delivery apps to support her household. When her car’s transmission failed unexpectedly, she faced several days of missed income. Traditional lenders declined her due to a credit score below 580.

    Solution: Angela found MoneyMutual and submitted a request during her lunch break. She was matched with a lender offering a $1,100 short-term loan and approved without a hard credit inquiry. The funds were deposited the next day, allowing her to pay for the repair and return to work.

    “I didn’t have time to wait around. I needed the money fast and didn’t want to explain my credit score to a bank. This platform came through.”

    Case Study 2: Keeping the Lights On After a Layoff

    Name: Marcus T.

    Location: Fresno, CA

    Situation: After being laid off unexpectedly, Marcus faced immediate pressure to cover rent and utility bills. He had no savings, and unemployment benefits hadn’t yet kicked in. With past medical debt lowering his credit, his bank declined his personal loan application.

    Solution: Marcus used MoneyMutual to submit a quick loan request. Within 10 minutes, he received an offer from a lender who was willing to fund $950 with weekly installments. The money helped him avoid service disconnection and late rent fees.

    “MoneyMutual gave me options when I felt like I had none. It didn’t fix everything—but it bought me time, and that meant everything.”

    Case Study 3: Medical Bills Without Insurance

    Name: Sierra H.

    Location: Jacksonville, FL

    Situation: Sierra had an emergency dental issue and no insurance coverage. The out-of-pocket cost for the procedure was over $800, and she needed to secure funds quickly to proceed with treatment.

    Solution: Through MoneyMutual’s platform, she found a lender that offered a $1,000 loan with bi-weekly repayment terms. She accepted the offer and was able to pay for the procedure without delaying care.

    Disclaimer: Loan terms, rates, and approval are determined by individual lenders. These case studies are illustrative examples based on common borrower use cases and do not guarantee outcomes.

    Key Takeaways from Borrower Experiences

    Across all three cases, borrowers turned to MoneyMutual because they:

    • Needed fast funding without delays
    • Had low credit scores or no credit history
    • Wanted a discreet and simple online experience
    • Valued the ability to review loan terms before committing

    These experiences reflect the growing demand for emergency loans for bad credit, where speed, trust, and flexibility matter more than anything else.

    Facing rent, repairs, or bills? Submit your free loan request with MoneyMutual today—no upfront fees, no hard credit pulls, just fast matches.

    Business and Purchasing Details

    MoneyMutual Is a Connector, Not a Lender

    One of the most important things to understand when using MoneyMutual is that it is not a direct lender. Instead, it functions as a free-to-use loan matching service that connects borrowers with a network of third-party lenders. You won’t receive a loan directly from MoneyMutual, but the platform plays a key role in speeding up the process of finding legitimate offers from trusted providers.

    This structure gives borrowers a wider range of choices while reducing the time and effort it would normally take to apply with multiple lenders individually.

    Disclaimer: MoneyMutual does not guarantee loan approval, set interest rates, or manage repayment terms. All financial agreements are between the borrower and the third-party lender.

    How MoneyMutual Makes Money

    MoneyMutual does not charge consumers to submit loan requests or receive matches. Instead, it earns a referral fee from lenders in its network when a user accepts a loan offer. This business model allows the platform to remain 100% free for borrowers, with no hidden fees or obligations.

    This also incentivizes MoneyMutual to maintain a trusted and reputable lender network—as both borrower satisfaction and lender success directly affect their platform’s performance.

    Loan Offer Terms and Structure

    After submitting your information, you may be matched with lenders offering:

    • Loan amounts typically ranging from $200 to $5,000+
    • Short-term repayment plans (sometimes from 2 weeks to a few months)
    • Interest rates that vary significantly based on state regulations, lender criteria, and your financial profile

    Because these are third-party offers, each loan will come with its own set of terms and conditions. Before accepting, be sure to read:

    • APR and total cost of the loan
    • Repayment schedule
    • Fees, including late penalties or rollover charges

    Disclaimer on Pricing: All interest rates and fees are determined by individual lenders. Pricing is subject to change at any time. Always check the lender’s official website for final terms before accepting an offer.

    Return Policies, Cancellations, and Repayment

    Since MoneyMutual is not the lender, it does not handle returns, cancellations, or payment disputes. Once you agree to a loan, you must coordinate directly with the lender regarding:

    • Early payoff options
    • Payment method changes
    • Missed payment assistance
    • Cancellation before funding (if allowed)

    Lender-specific policies will be detailed in the loan agreement you receive before signing. If you’re unsure about anything, it’s a good idea to contact the lender directly using the contact details provided during the offer stage.

    Customer Service and Contact Info

    While MoneyMutual doesn’t offer loan-specific support, it does have customer service available for platform-related inquiries. You can reach them by visiting the official site and submitting a message through their contact form.

    Always keep a copy of your loan agreement and correspondence with the lender in case you need support later on.

    Your credit score doesn’t define your future. Apply now with MoneyMutual and access emergency loans from real lenders who listen.

    Risk Factors, Legal Disclaimers, and Borrowing Ethics

    Know the Risks Before You Borrow

    While MoneyMutual makes it easier to access bad credit loans with no credit check and guaranteed approval, it’s essential for borrowers to understand the risks that come with these types of loans. Because they are often short-term and high-interest, they can become burdensome if used irresponsibly or without a clear repayment plan.

    Loans arranged through MoneyMutual are most often intended to be emergency financial tools, not long-term financial solutions. Misusing them can lead to a cycle of debt, especially when high-interest rates are combined with frequent rollovers or renewals.

    High APRs and Short Repayment Windows

    One of the biggest concerns in the bad credit loan space is the potential for very high annual percentage rates (APRs). Lenders may charge significantly more than traditional banks because they are taking on what they perceive as higher risk.

    APR ranges vary, but it is not uncommon to see rates above 100% for short-term loans. Repayment schedules are usually tight—sometimes as short as two weeks to one month—especially for payday-style offers.

    Disclaimer: Loan APRs and repayment terms are set by individual lenders. Always review the full loan agreement before accepting. Pricing, fees, and conditions may change. Visit the lender’s official website for the most accurate and current information.

    If you miss a payment or are late, lenders may assess additional fees or automatically renew the loan with added interest. This is why it’s crucial to understand all loan terms upfront and never accept a loan if you’re unsure you can meet the repayment schedule.

    Legal Compliance and State Restrictions

    It’s also important to know that not all lenders work in every U.S. state. For example, MoneyMutual explicitly notes that its services are not available to residents of New York and Connecticut due to local lending laws. Other restrictions may apply depending on your location, so it’s essential to read eligibility requirements carefully.

    MoneyMutual itself complies with federal and state regulations by acting solely as a loan referral service, not a lender or broker. However, the third-party lenders you connect with are responsible for ensuring their loans meet legal standards.

    Disclaimer: Lending laws vary by state. Borrowers should always ensure that any loan offer they receive complies with state and federal regulations. When in doubt, consult with a licensed financial advisor or legal professional.

    Ethical Borrowing: Best Practices

    To use platforms like MoneyMutual responsibly, borrowers should:

    • Only borrow what they truly need
    • Create a repayment plan before accepting any loan
    • Avoid “stacking” multiple short-term loans from different lenders
    • Use loan funds for essentials (housing, food, medical, transportation)
    • Keep copies of all loan documents and communications

    Borrowing ethically means not using short-term funding as a long-term crutch. When used wisely, these loans can serve as a bridge over temporary hardship—but they should never be viewed as income replacement.

    If You Can’t Repay

    If you’re struggling to repay your loan, contact the lender immediately. Many lenders offer hardship plans or restructuring options if you’re proactive. Ignoring your payments can lead to collections activity, credit score damage, and further financial stress.

    MoneyMutual does not handle repayment disputes, but most lenders will include customer service contact details in the loan agreement. Utilize those resources as soon as issues arise.

    Life happens. When it does, MoneyMutual helps you get up to $5,000 fast—even with bad credit. No cost to apply, no pressure to commit.

    Conclusion: Why MoneyMutual Is the Top Choice for 2025

    A Trusted Option in a Crowded Field

    In a world where financial emergencies can strike without warning—and where traditional banks often shut the door on those with bad credit—MoneyMutual continues to prove why it’s one of the most trusted online loan marketplaces for Americans in need.

    Whether you’re facing a sudden medical expense, trying to keep the lights on during a layoff, or simply need a short-term financial cushion, the ability to access no credit check loans with guaranteed approval in minutes—not days—is a powerful lifeline.

    MoneyMutual is built for this exact purpose: to offer realistic, fast, and flexible lending access for borrowers who’ve been shut out by the traditional system.

    Why Borrowers Keep Choosing MoneyMutual

    Let’s recap what makes MoneyMutual a leading platform in 2025:

    • No upfront costs to use the service
    • Soft credit checks only—no impact on your credit score during the request stage
    • Lightning-fast approvals, often with next-day funding
    • Low income requirements, starting at just $800/month
    • Secure, encrypted platform that protects your data
    • A wide network of lenders, improving your chances of getting matched

    These features make it not only accessible but also practical for those who need fast, discreet, and legitimate financial solutions.

    Designed for Real People with Real Needs

    Unlike lenders that make promises they can’t keep, MoneyMutual operates as a transparent, consumer-first platform. It doesn’t trap users in deceptive fee structures or aggressive repayment models. Instead, it provides borrowers with real choice and real control.

    And with a clean, mobile-friendly interface and under-five-minute application process, it’s one of the easiest ways to explore emergency loans for bad credit—especially when you need to act fast.

    Disclaimer on Pricing: Loan amounts, interest rates, and repayment terms vary by lender. Always check the official lender site for final pricing details. Terms and conditions are subject to change at any time.

    Final Word: Know Before You Borrow

    While MoneyMutual offers unmatched ease and speed, it’s still important to review each loan offer carefully, ask questions if needed, and only borrow what you can afford to repay. Using short-term loans responsibly can help you regain control of your finances without falling deeper into debt.

    If you’re ready to take control of your financial emergency and explore safe, reliable options for bad credit loans with no credit check, MoneyMutual is one of the best platforms available in 2025.

    Visit the official site today to get started and explore your options in minutes.

    Need a no credit check loan today? Start with MoneyMutual’s free, secure form and connect with lenders ready to fund you—fast.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

    The best bad credit loan providers with guaranteed approval offer fast applications, soft credit checks, and access to a network of lenders. MoneyMutual is a top-rated platform because it connects borrowers to vetted lenders in minutes with no upfront fees and high match success rates—ideal for emergency loans with no credit check.

    Note: While MoneyMutual facilitates fast matches, approval and funding depend on individual lender requirements.

    Can I get a personal loan with no credit check at all?

    Yes, some lenders in the MoneyMutual network offer personal loans with no credit check, meaning they base approval on income and employment instead of credit history. These loans are designed for borrowers with poor or no credit who need fast access to cash.

    Disclaimer: While MoneyMutual does not conduct hard inquiries, some lenders may do a soft or hard pull before disbursing funds. Review terms carefully before accepting any offer.

    How fast can I get a bad credit loan through MoneyMutual?

    MoneyMutual’s loan request process takes just a few minutes, and many users receive funding from matched lenders within 24 hours. This makes it one of the fastest options for bad credit loans with guaranteed approval in 2025.

    Reminder: Speed of funding depends on the lender, banking hours, and time of application. Same-day funding is not guaranteed.

    Are these no credit check loans safe and legitimate?

    Yes, when used through a reputable platform like MoneyMutual, these no credit check loans are legitimate. The platform works with trusted third-party lenders and uses bank-level encryption to protect user data. It does not charge consumers to use its services or collect upfront fees.

    What’s the catch with guaranteed approval loans for bad credit?

    There is no “catch” when using a credible platform, but it’s important to note that guaranteed approval typically refers to high match potential—not automatic loan funding. Lenders may still have specific requirements such as minimum income or verified employment. Interest rates may be higher due to the risk profile.

    Important: Always read the full loan terms. Borrow only what you can afford to repay.

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

    Yes. Many borrowers use installment loans for bad credit to consolidate other high-interest debts. If approved, you can apply your funds to credit card bills, overdue utilities, or payday loan balances—helping you regain financial control.

    Is MoneyMutual really free?

    Yes. MoneyMutual is 100% free to use. You won’t pay anything to submit a request or get matched with a lender. Any repayment obligation comes directly from the loan terms set by the lender—not the platform itself.

    What if I can’t repay my loan on time?

    If you’re concerned about repayment, contact the lender immediately. Many lenders offer hardship programs or flexible scheduling. Ignoring payments may result in late fees or collection efforts. Always read the loan agreement in full to understand your responsibilities before signing.

    Denied by banks? You’re not out of options. Use MoneyMutual now to find real lenders who approve real people—no matter your credit score.

    • Company: MoneyMutual
    • Address: 2510 E. Sunset Rd. Ste 6, #85 Las Vegas NV, 89120
    • Email: customerservice@moneymutual.com
    • Phone Support: 844-276-2063

    Legal Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure

    This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. The information presented is based on publicly available data and third-party sources believed to be accurate at the time of publication; however, no guarantees are made regarding the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the content.

    Loan products, interest rates, terms, and availability are determined by third-party lenders and are subject to change without notice. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own due diligence and consult with a licensed financial advisor or legal professional before making any financial decisions.

    The platform referenced in this article, MoneyMutual, is not a direct lender and does not issue loans or make credit decisions. Instead, it serves as a loan connection service, matching users with independent lenders. The acceptance of a loan offer, the terms of repayment, and any resulting financial agreements are exclusively between the borrower and the lender.

    This content may include references or links to affiliate programs. If a reader clicks a link and subsequently takes an action—such as completing a loan inquiry or accepting a financial offer—the publisher may earn a commission at no additional cost to the reader. This compensation has no influence on the content’s objectivity, and all opinions presented are strictly editorial.

    By reading this article, users acknowledge that:

    • They are responsible for independently verifying all loan details before accepting any offer.
    • The article is not offering personalized financial guidance.
    • The publisher, contributors, and syndication partners are not liable for any actions taken based on the information provided, nor for any loss or damages—financial or otherwise—that may result.

    All trademarks, logos, and brand names mentioned are the property of their respective owners. References to third-party products or services are for identification purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.

    Always refer to the official website of the loan provider for the most accurate and up-to-date product terms, pricing, and eligibility requirements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Baldwin, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Safeguard Transit Operations Against Chinese Influence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Gary Peters (D-MI) today introduced the Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit (STOP) China Act, which would protect domestic transit operations and supply chains from malign Chinese influence by preventing any appropriated funds to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from being awarded to grantees for the purchase of Chinese government transit buses or rail cars:
    “It is China’s mission to infiltrate and dominate every aspect of American society, including our transit systems, and we cannot let them succeed,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By preventing American tax dollars from being used to purchase Chinese government transit buses or rail cars, our legislation would help protect U.S. transportation infrastructure from the CCP.”
    “When we invest American taxpayer dollars, we should be supporting our Made in America economy and American workers, not opening our checkbook to adversaries like China,” said Sen. Baldwin. “I’m proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to support our workers and companies, keep the United States safe, and close a loophole that Chinese companies are exploiting to win government contracts and undercut American workers.”
    “At every opportunity, the Chinese Communist Party works to exploit America and put our nation’s critical infrastructure at risk,” said Sen. Scott. “We cannot allow an adversarial regime access to supply chains and transit that we rely on every day, and we definitely cannot allow U.S. tax dollars to fund any projects that allows such access. We must prioritize Americans’ safety, American jobs, and American manufacturing, and put an end to our dangerous dependence on a regime that openly seeks our downfall.”
    “Domestic transit vehicle manufacturers shouldn’t be victim to Chinese companies exploiting loopholes and engaging in unfair trade practices that harm business and pose significant national security concerns,” said Sen. Smith. “I’m glad to support the STOP China Act to close the loopholes and help Minnesota’s strong transit manufacturing industry continue to succeed.”
    “Companies in Communist China circumvent U.S. laws so that they can continue to receive taxpayer-funded contracts from American public agencies,” said Sen. Ricketts. “This bill will close that loophole. It will help protect domestic supply chains and American manufacturers. We must ensure taxpayer dollars never fund America’s adversaries.”
    “China’s attempts to exploit critical American infrastructure with taxpayer funds will not be tolerated,” said Sen. Blackburn. “The STOP China Act would prevent hard-earned American dollars from purchasing Chinese-made vehicles in our transit infrastructure, protecting our national security and supporting American manufacturing.
    “China is actively working to undermine American workers and our economic success, particularly in the transportation industry, by flooding global markets with artificially cheap vehicles, from electric vehicles to buses,” said Sen. Peters. “This bipartisan bill would help level the playing field for Michigan manufacturers, suppliers, and workers as we continue to lead the world in mobility innovation by preventing taxpayer dollars from being used to support companies owned and operated by the Chinese Community Party.”
    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) cosponsored the legislation. Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-01) and John Garamendi (CA-08) are leading companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    Background:
    Congress passed the Transportation Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act, which prohibits companies with ties to China’s government from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to build U.S. rail cars and buses, as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. However, China has taken advantage of other government funds in the law to continue competing for transit business in the U.S. The Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit (STOP) China Act would prevent any appropriated funds to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from being awarded to grantees for the purchase of Chinese government transit buses. It would also require the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the U.S. Attorney General, to produce a list of prohibited entities headquartered or affiliated with China.
    The legislation is endorsed by Alliance for American Manufacturing, Steel Manufacturers Association, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Steelworkers, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and Transport Workers Union of America.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Applications for auto trade-in subsidies exceed 10M in China

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

    The total number of applications for auto trade-in subsidies in China exceeded 10 million by Sunday, under a mass renewal program initiated in 2024, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

    Of that total, applications made in 2025 amounted to 3.23 million, with consumers scrapping nearly 1.04 million cars and purchasing 2.19 million new vehicles with auto trade-in subsidies. New energy vehicles (NEVs) accounted for more than 53 percent of all auto trade-ins since the beginning of the year.

    The program aims to expand domestic demand and shore up the Chinese economy through equipment upgrades and trade-ins of consumer goods.

    China’s auto market maintained robust growth from January to April, with sales rising 10.8 percent to 10.06 million units, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said on Monday.

    Notably, NEVs posted strong growth. NEV production surged 48.3 percent year on year to nearly 4.43 million units in the first four months, with sales up 46.2 percent year on year to 4.3 million units. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Community-run food co-ops can reduce food insecurity and boost healthy diets, research shows

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katherine Kent, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Wollongong

    alicja neumiler/Shutterstock

    As grocery prices continue to rise, many Australians are struggling to afford healthy food and are looking for alternatives to the big supermarket chains.

    The recent supermarkets inquiry, run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, confirmed Australia’s grocery sector is highly concentrated, with limited competition and rising retail margins. In regional and remote areas, consumers often face higher prices and fewer choices.

    One option growing in popularity around the country is the community food co-operative, or “food co-op”.

    Food co-ops are local not-for-profit or member-owned groups where people join together to buy food in bulk, usually straight from farmers or wholesalers. These co-ops can take different forms, including shops, neighbourhood-based hubs, or box delivery models. They typically offer a range of foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, dairy products, eggs and pantry staples.

    By co-ordinating their orders, members can reduce food costs, limit packaging waste, and avoid supermarket markups. Co-ops can also help lower transport emissions by reducing long supply chains.

    We’ve been researching the benefits of food co-ops. We’ve found this model could reduce food insecurity and increase people’s intake of fruit and vegetables.

    How are food co-ops run?

    Some co-ops are owned and run by their members. Any surplus or profits are generally reinvested into the co-op or shared through lower prices, improved services, or support for local community initiatives.

    Other co-ops are managed by not-for-profit organisations focused on improving food access for whole communities.

    More recently, digital platforms and apps have made it even easier for people to start or join co-ops and connect with local growers.

    Regardless of the model, co-ops are guided by values of co-operation, fairness and community benefit, rather than profit.

    Digital platforms have made it easier to get involved in food co-ops.
    Cottonbro studio/Pexels

    What does the research say?

    We recently published a study which adds to a growing body of evidence showing food co-ops can play an important role in improving diet and reducing food insecurity.

    Food insecurity is when someone doesn’t have reliable access to affordable, nutritious food. It can mean skipping meals, eating less fresh produce, relying on cheap processed foods, or experiencing ongoing stress about being able to afford groceries.

    We surveyed more than 2,200 members of Box Divvy, a community-based food co-op operating across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Within this co-op, members join local “hubs”, pool their orders for groceries through an app, and collect their food from a nearby coordinator.

    To measure food security, we used an internationally recognised survey that asks about things such as running out of food or skipping meals due to cost.

    Before joining the co-op, more than 50% of surveyed members were classified as “food insecure”. This is well above the national average (estimated to be around 22%). It suggests many people turning to food co-ops are already under significant financial pressure.

    After joining, food insecurity dropped by nearly 23%. The rate of severe food insecurity – where people skip meals and regularly experience hunger – more than halved.

    These changes were accompanied by improved diets. We asked participants to report how many serves of fruit and vegetables they usually ate in a day. On average, members increased their vegetable intake by 3.3 serves per week and their fruit intake by 2.5 serves.

    The benefits were even more pronounced for people experiencing severe food insecurity, who tend to have poorer diets overall. They ate 5.5 more serves of vegetables and 4.4 more serves of fruit per week while using the co-op.

    These are meaningful improvements that bring people closer to meeting national dietary guidelines. This matters because eating more fruit and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.

    Our study found people ate more fruit and vegetables after joining the co-op.
    Davor Geber/Shutterstock

    Other research has reflected similar findings. A 2020 Sydney-based study found co-op members were more likely to meet the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables than non-members.

    Another study of The Community Grocer, a Melbourne-based social enterprise, found their weekly markets offered produce around 40% cheaper than nearby retailers and improved healthy food access for culturally diverse and low-income customers.

    Internationally, a Canadian study of a community-based food box program – similar in structure to some co-ops – reported higher fruit and vegetable intake among regular users. It found a decline in intake for those who stopped using the service.

    In Wales, disadvantaged communities that used co-ops reported better access to fresh produce. Similarly in New Zealand, co-op participants reported better access to healthy food.

    In qualitative research, people who have experienced food insecurity say co-ops offer a more dignified alternative to food relief by offering choice and control over what’s on the table.

    Food co-ops can offer a cheaper alternative to shopping at large supermarkets.
    Denys Kurbatov/Shutterstock

    Where to next?

    Despite clear benefits, food co-ops remain largely overlooked in Australian policy. This is at a time when national conversations about price gouging and supermarket power highlight the need for viable, community-based alternatives.

    Meanwhile, food co-ops also face operational challenges. For example, regulatory requirements can vary significantly between local councils and states. This makes it difficult to establish, scale or replicate successful co-ops.

    Government support could help co-ops grow where they’re needed most. Some measures might include:

    • seed funding and small grants to establish co-ops in low-income communities
    • subsidised memberships or vouchers for eligible households
    • investment in digital tools and logistics to support efficient operations, particularly in rural and remote areas
    • simplifying regulatory processes.

    As the Feeding Australia strategy develops under the Albanese government, there’s an opportunity to consider how community models such as food co-ops could complement broader national efforts to improve food security and strengthen local food systems.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Community-run food co-ops can reduce food insecurity and boost healthy diets, research shows – https://theconversation.com/community-run-food-co-ops-can-reduce-food-insecurity-and-boost-healthy-diets-research-shows-256100

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Payday Cash Advance Loans Online – Nearest Direct Lenders Only

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Baton Rouge, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    In This Article, You’ll Discover:

    • How do payday cash advance loans online work, including eligibility, application steps, and repayment structure
    • The growing demand for nearest direct lenders only, and why online platforms outperform traditional lenders in speed and accessibility
    • How MoneyMutual connects users with trusted payday lenders online without upfront fees or obligations
    • What pain points do payday loans solve, such as emergency bills, rent gaps, or urgent repairs
    • A breakdown of loan amounts, terms, interest rates, and standard disclaimers every borrower should review
    • Security protocols that ensure your information is protected throughout the online payday loan process
    • Alternatives to payday loans and responsible borrowing tips to avoid long-term debt traps
    • Key steps to identify and avoid payday loan scams in the digital lending space
    • Comprehensive answers to frequently asked questions about online payday loans for bad credit, no-credit options, and more.
    • All legal disclaimers and affiliate disclosures to help readers make informed, secure, and risk-aware lending decisions

    TL;DR Summary

    This article provides an in-depth guide to securing the best payday cash advance loans online through a trusted, secure platform that matches users with the nearest direct lenders only. It explains how short-term payday loans work, who they are for, and the key steps involved — from application to funding.

    With a special spotlight on MoneyMutual, readers will learn how to safely access fast cash loans online, even with poor credit. The article covers loan amounts, eligibility criteria, repayment terms, interest considerations, scam prevention tips, and responsible borrowing alternatives. A detailed FAQ section supports readers with direct answers to common questions, while built-in legal disclaimers and affiliate disclosures protect all parties involved in the content syndication process.

    This resource is intended to help borrowers make informed, compliant financial decisions when exploring emergency funding options online through reputable direct payday lenders.

    Introduction: Navigating Financial Emergencies in the Digital Age

    The Rise of Financial Stress in Today’s Economy

    In today’s unpredictable financial climate, many Americans are facing sudden hardships they didn’t see coming. Whether it’s an unplanned car repair, a medical bill, or a rent increase, more people than ever are struggling to bridge the gap between paychecks. Traditional banking solutions — like personal loans from credit unions or big banks — are often inaccessible to those with less-than-perfect credit scores. And when time is of the essence, waiting days for a decision simply isn’t practical.

    This has created a surge in demand for quick, accessible financial relief, which is where online payday cash advance loans come into play.

    What Are Payday Cash Advance Loans?

    Payday cash advance loans are short-term lending options designed to offer fast financial assistance to individuals dealing with urgent expenses. Typically repaid by the borrower’s next paycheck, these loans are meant to cover temporary financial shortfalls without the need for traditional credit checks or long approval windows.

    Because of the immediate nature of the solution, online payday loans from direct lenders have become increasingly popular. These lenders offer a streamlined application process and quick decision-making, providing borrowers with the funds they need, often within a single business day.

    Why Online Is the Future — And the Present

    Online lending platforms now dominate the payday loan space. The convenience of applying for a loan from the comfort of home, without needing to fax documents or physically visit a store, has fundamentally changed how people access emergency funding.

    Introducing MoneyMutual as a Trusted Resource

    MoneyMutual is not a direct lender — instead, it’s a highly reputable platform that connects borrowers with a network of verified direct lenders. With over 2 million customers served and a longstanding online presence, it helps streamline the borrowing process by matching users with lenders who are more likely to approve their applications based on income and basic eligibility.

    You’re not committing to a loan by using the site — you’re exploring your options securely, quickly, and at no cost to you. Whether you’re facing a financial emergency or trying to avoid late payment fees on an essential bill, MoneyMutual offers a fast, simple way to connect with legitimate lenders online.

    Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Borrowers should fully understand the terms of any payday loan agreement before signing. Always compare multiple offers, and remember that payday loans come with higher interest rates and shorter repayment windows than traditional loans.

    Understanding the Financial Pain Points That Drive Payday Loan Demand

    Living Paycheck to Paycheck: A Common Reality

    Millions of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. For many, even a minor disruption — like a missed day of work or an unexpected utility bill — can spiral into a financial crisis. Traditional budgeting doesn’t leave much room for emergencies, and savings accounts are often nonexistent.

    When there’s no financial cushion, short-term cash flow problems become long-term stressors, forcing individuals to make tough decisions: skip rent, delay a car repair, or miss a utility payment. This is where payday loans serve a purpose — not because they’re ideal, but because the need for immediate funds is real and pressing.

    Credit Score Barriers and Bank Loan Rejection

    Mainstream lenders like banks and credit unions often reject applicants with poor or limited credit histories. Even borrowers with stable incomes can be turned away simply because of a credit score below 600.

    With online payday loans for bad credit, lenders focus less on FICO scores and more on your ability to repay the loan through a consistent income stream. This is one of the core benefits of platforms like MoneyMutual, which connects users to the nearest direct lenders only — lenders who are willing to work with nontraditional profiles.

    Emergencies Don’t Wait — And Neither Should Solutions

    From emergency medical visits to car trouble or child-related costs, financial emergencies demand immediate attention. Unfortunately, these expenses often arise at the worst possible time — right before payday, or when other bills are stacking up.

    When traditional options are too slow or unavailable, cash advance loans online become one of the few accessible tools available to manage the situation.

    Disclaimer: Payday loans are not a long-term financial solution. They are designed to provide emergency funding and should not be used for regular or recurring expenses.

    The Emotional Toll of Financial Instability

    Financial stress isn’t just about money — it deeply affects emotional well-being. Anxiety, sleeplessness, and strained relationships are just a few of the symptoms borrowers report when caught in ongoing money troubles.

    Having a fast, private, and secure option like MoneyMutual can offer relief, not just financially, but emotionally, by helping users take action and regain a sense of control over their situation.

    Need fast cash for bills or car repairs? Apply with MoneyMutual now and get matched to trusted lenders in minutes—no credit check required!

    The Solution: Online Payday Cash Advance Loans Explained

    What Is a Payday Cash Advance Loan?

    A payday cash advance loan is a short-term financial solution that allows borrowers to access quick funds, typically ranging from $100 to $5,000 — with the understanding that repayment will occur on their next payday. These loans are often used to cover urgent, unexpected expenses such as rent, medical bills, utility shutoff notices, or car repairs.

    Unlike traditional personal loans, payday loans are generally easier to qualify for and are processed much faster, often within hours or the same day. The most significant feature? You don’t need perfect credit to qualify.

    How Online Payday Loans Work

    Online payday loans have transformed the lending landscape. With a simple internet connection and a few minutes of your time, you can fill out a single form that gets distributed to a network of direct lenders, skipping the tedious paperwork and in-person meetings required by traditional lenders.

    Here’s a typical breakdown of the online payday loan process:

    1. Submit Your Application: You provide basic personal, financial, and employment information. No hard credit check is typically required at this stage.
    2. Get Matched Instantly: If you meet the minimum eligibility requirements (such as age, income, and banking status), your request is routed to potential lenders in real time.
    3. Review Your Loan Offer: Once matched, you can review the loan amount, interest rate, repayment date, and any applicable fees.
    4. Receive Your Funds: Upon acceptance, funds are usually deposited into your bank account within 24 hours, often sooner.

    Disclaimer: Each lender’s approval criteria and funding timeline may vary. Always read the terms carefully before accepting any loan agreement.

    Why Online Payday Loans Stand Out as a Quick-Fix Financial Tool

    When time is of the essence, online payday loans shine. They’re tailored for speed, accessibility, and convenience:

    • Speed: Most applications take under 5 minutes to complete, and decisions are nearly instant.
    • Accessibility: Borrowers with bad credit, limited credit history, or prior denials may still qualify.
    • Convenience: The entire process can be completed without leaving your home.

    That’s why MoneyMutual has become a trusted choice for those seeking the best payday cash advance loans online — it simplifies the process by bringing together borrowers and vetted lenders in a single, secure platform.

    Direct Lenders vs. Loan Aggregators

    It’s important to understand the distinction between direct lenders and loan brokers (aggregators). Direct lenders provide the funds themselves and communicate directly with the borrower about terms, repayment, and service.

    Platforms like MoneyMutual connect borrowers only with direct lenders, ensuring a streamlined, transparent experience with no unnecessary middlemen.

    Facing a financial emergency? Get up to $5,000 fast with MoneyMutual—no fees, no obligation. Apply today and access funds as soon as tomorrow!

    Spotlight on MoneyMutual: How It Works & Why It’s Trusted

    What Is MoneyMutual?

    MoneyMutual is an online lending marketplace — not a direct lender — that connects borrowers to a network of trusted, licensed lenders who specialize in short-term cash advance loans. Since its inception, it has served over 2 million customers, building a strong reputation for fast, accessible financial matchmaking for those facing urgent monetary needs.

    Its platform is designed to help users find the nearest direct lenders online without going through tedious research or risky third-party referral sites.

    Key Benefits of Using MoneyMutual

    • Free to Use: There are no fees tosubmit your loan request through MoneyMutual. The service is 100% free for borrowers.
    • Fast Matching: Within minutes of submitting your information, you could be matched with one or more qualified lenders.
    • Secure Platform: MoneyMutual uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your sensitive personal and financial data.
    • Wide Eligibility Range: The platform supports a diverse range of lenders willing to work with bad credit, no credit, or even recent financial setbacks.
    • No Obligation: You are never required to accept a loan offer. You can simply walk away if the terms don’t suit your needs.

    Disclaimer: While MoneyMutual does not make lending decisions, it enables users to explore multiple offers from licensed lenders. Borrowers should carefully review loan terms, interest rates, and repayment periods before accepting any offer.

    Step-by-Step: How MoneyMutual Works

    Submit a Secure Loan Request

    You’ll start by filling out a short online form on the official MoneyMutual website. It takes less than five minutes and requires basic information like:

    • Full name and contact info
    • Monthly income (minimum $800/month required)
    • Employment status
    • Active checking account details
    • Age and U.S. residency status

    Get Matched With Lenders

    Once your information is verified, MoneyMutual uses its algorithm to match you with direct lenders that fit your profile. This ensures you only receive loan offers you’re more likely to qualify for — saving time and stress.

    Review and Accept Terms

    You’ll be redirected to the lender’s website to view the complete loan offer, including:

    • Loan amount (typically up to $5,000)
    • Interest rate and fees
    • Repayment schedule
    • Late payment or rollover terms

    If you like the terms, you can accept electronically and move forward with the disbursement.

    Receive Funds

    Once accepted, funds are often transferred to your checking account within 24 business hours, depending on the lender’s processing timelines.

    Disclaimer: Funding times may vary. Not all users will qualify for same-day deposit. Always confirm details with your matched lender.

    Why Users Trust MoneyMutual

    • Featured in national media for its transparency and simplicity
    • Over 2 million borrowers served since launch
    • User reviews highlight its ease of use and effectiveness during emergencies
    • Compliant with Online Lenders Alliance (OLA) best practices

    MoneyMutual stands out by removing friction from the borrowing process — streamlining the way individuals in financial distress get connected to real solutions.

    Bad credit? No problem. See if you qualify for a payday loan in minutes with MoneyMutual. It’s free, secure, and takes less than 5 minutes to apply.

    Eligibility and Application Process: What You Need to Qualify

    Who Can Apply for a Payday Loan Through MoneyMutual?

    One of the biggest advantages of using MoneyMutual is the minimal barrier to entry. You don’t need perfect credit or a lengthy financial profile. Instead, lenders prioritize your ability to repay the loan based on your current income and banking status.

    Here are the basic eligibility requirements to get started:

    • Be at least 18 years of age
    • Earn a verifiable income of at least $800/month
    • Have an active checking account
    • Be a U.S. resident

    If you meet these four criteria, you are eligible to submit your request through MoneyMutual and be connected with direct payday lenders willing to review your application — even if your credit is less than perfect.

    Disclaimer: Meeting basic eligibility requirements does not guarantee a loan offer. Each lender has their own underwriting criteria and may evaluate additional factors.

    The Online Application Process: Step by Step

    1. Visit the Official Website

    Head to MoneyMutual.com to begin your loan request. Always confirm you’re on the official site to avoid phishing attempts.

    2. Fill Out the Secure Form

    Provide accurate information about your employment, income, banking details, and contact info. This step usually takes less than 5 minutes.

    3. Submit Your Information

    Once submitted, your request will be evaluated and passed through MoneyMutual’s lender network in real time.

    4. Get Matched With Potential Lenders

    If you’re a fit, one or more lenders may extend loan offers. You’ll be directed to their sites to review terms.

    5. Accept the Loan Terms

    You can read through the offer details — loan amount, APR, repayment date, fees — and accept if it suits your needs.

    6. Receive Funds

    Funds may be deposited into your bank account within 24 hours, depending on the lender and when you accept the offer.

    Disclaimer: Application to funding timelines may vary. Submissions made outside business hours or on weekends may be delayed.

    What Happens If You’re Not Approved?

    Even if no lender offers you a loan initially, there’s no penalty. You can reapply when your income increases, your banking situation improves, or additional lenders join the network.

    MoneyMutual is not a decision-maker — it’s a tool that opens the door to a broader pool of online payday loans from direct lenders who each have their own criteria.

    Tips to Improve Your Approval Odds

    • Use a checking account that’s been open for more than 90 days
    • Make sure your income is verifiable (e.g., through pay stubs or direct deposit history)
    • Avoid typos or errors in your application — incorrect banking info is a common delaycause
    • Apply during weekday business hours for the fastest turnaround

    Get emergency funds fast—apply now through MoneyMutual’s secure platform and connect with verified payday lenders today.

    Loan Details and Considerations: Terms, Limits & Important Disclaimers

    How Much Can You Borrow Through MoneyMutual’s Lender Network?

    Borrowers using MoneyMutual may be eligible to receive loan offers ranging from $100 to $5,000, depending on the lender’s policies, your income level, and the state in which you reside. Many first-time borrowers may qualify for smaller amounts, with larger loans potentially available for returning or higher-income applicants.

    Disclaimer: Loan amounts are determined by individual lenders based on your profile. Not all borrowers will qualify for the maximum amount.

    Understanding Payday Loan Terms and Fees

    Unlike traditional bank loans, payday loans are short-term financial instruments, usually due in full on your next payday. Repayment timelines typically range from 7 to 30 days, although some lenders may offer extended repayment options through installment structures.

    Expectations around repayment may include:

    • Full repayment by next payday
    • Interest rates (APR) that vary by lender
    • Flat service fees or rollover penalties (where allowed by law)

    Disclaimer: Interest rates and fee structures vary based on the lender and your location. Always read your loan agreement in full before signing.

    Interest Rates: What You Should Know

    Payday loans often carry higher APRs than conventional loans due to their short duration and increased risk profile. While this is a standard feature of cash advance lending, it’s critical that borrowers understand how rates translate into actual repayment amounts.

    For example, a $500 loan with a 15% fee due in two weeks would require a repayment of $575 — not including any late fees if payment is missed.

    Disclaimer: Always verify the actual interest rate, total repayment amount, and any penalty fees before accepting a loan. Terms can vary by lender and are subject to change.

    Flexible vs. Fixed Loan Structures

    Some lenders in the MoneyMutual network may offer installment payday loans, which allow repayment over a longer period with fixed payments. This may be more manageable for borrowers who can’t repay the full amount on their next paycheck.

    Other lenders may stick to the classic lump-sum payday loan, which requires repayment in full on your next pay date. Always consider your cash flow when choosing a loan structure.

    Loan Renewal and Rollovers

    Not all lenders allow renewals or rollovers (extending the loan for an additional fee). In states where it’s permitted, borrowers may have the option to defer payment — but this can significantly increase the overall cost of the loan.

    Disclaimer: Rollover availability depends on local laws and the lender’s internal policies. Use with caution, as repeated rollovers can lead to a cycle of debt.

    Pricing Disclaimer

    Prices, interest rates, and repayment terms vary based on individual lender policies.

    Bills piling up? Don’t wait. Submit your free payday loan request through MoneyMutual and get matched with real lenders fast—no upfront fees.

    Advantages of Using MoneyMutual: Speed, Access, and Trust

    Fast Access to Emergency Funds

    One of the most compelling benefits of using MoneyMutual is how quickly borrowers can access funds. In emergencies where time is critical — like overdue rent, medical co-pays, or urgent car repairs — waiting days or weeks for a traditional loan simply isn’t an option.

    With online payday loans from direct lenders, users may receive funds in as little as 24 hours, depending on when their loan is approved. For many, that speed makes the difference between stability and spiraling into further financial hardship.

    Disclaimer: While many users report fast deposit times, funding is not guaranteed within 24 hours and varies by lender, business hours, and banking partners.

    Available for Borrowers With Bad or No Credit

    Unlike traditional banks that prioritize credit scores, MoneyMutual’s lender network evaluates applicants primarily based on income and checking account history. This creates an accessible path for people with:

    • Low or poor credit scores
    • No credit history
    • Past financial difficulties
    • Recent employment changes

    By connecting users to direct payday lenders open to nontraditional credit profiles, MoneyMutual empowers more people to access emergency funding with fewer obstacles.

    Secure and Confidential

    Trust and security are central to MoneyMutual’s brand. The platform uses AES 256-bit encryption to ensure that all personal and financial information is protected during transmission. Plus, the site never stores your sensitive banking details after the match is complete.

    Privacy is respected throughout the process. Only lenders who are actively considering your request gain access to your data — not random third parties.

    No Hidden Fees or Application Charges

    Submitting a loan request on MoneyMutual.com is 100% free. You are under no obligation to accept a loan if the terms don’t work for you. The platform earns compensation only from participating lenders, not from borrowers.

    • No upfront fees
    • No credit pull required to request a match
    • No obligation to proceed if you don’t like your options

    Strong Reputation and User Satisfaction

    With over 2 million customers served and consistent online visibility, MoneyMutual has developed a reputation for reliability in the payday lending space. Borrowers often cite the following as reasons they return:

    • Ease of use and intuitive interface
    • Fast loan matching with real-time decisions
    • A wide selection of reputable lenders
    • Clear, upfront loan terms

    Disclaimer: User experiences may vary. Reviews are individual and not a guarantee of future outcomes.

    Need cash before payday? Apply today with MoneyMutual to access short-term loans up to $5,000 with no hidden fees or obligations.

    Responsible Borrowing & Alternatives: What to Know Before You Commit

    Using Payday Loans the Right Way

    While payday cash advance loans can be a valuable tool during emergencies, they should always be used with care and only for short-term financial gaps. Payday loans are not designed to cover ongoing expenses or long-term financial issues, and borrowers should avoid rolling over or stacking multiple loans at once.

    Here are situations when a payday loan may be appropriate:

    • A one-time, unexpected bill before payday
    • A temporary lapse in income
    • A time-sensitive car or medical expense
    • Avoiding costly overdraft or late fees

    Disclaimer: Payday loans are not intended to be long-term financial solutions. Overuse can lead to debt cycles and additional financial stress.

    Recognizing the Risks

    Though convenient, payday loans carry higher interest rates and shorter repayment windows, which can be difficult for some borrowers to manage. If you’re unsure about your ability to repay on time, it’s crucial to explore alternatives or speak with a financial counselor.

    Potential risks include:

    • High APRs (annual percentage rates)
    • Additional fees for late payments
    • Limited ability to extend or restructure terms
    • Risk of overdrawing your bank account if repayment is automated

    Disclaimer: Always review the full loan agreement, including the APR, fee schedule, and payment terms before proceeding with any cash advance offer.

    Alternatives to Payday Loans

    Before deciding to borrow, consider exploring other options that may provide similar relief without the same level of financial risk. Here are a few alternatives:

    Credit Union Personal Loans

    Credit unions often provide small-dollar loans at more affordable interest rates — and may be more flexible about credit history.

    Employer Pay Advance Programs

    Some companies offer early access to earned wages through apps or in-house payroll programs — usually with no interest.

    Community Assistance or Nonprofits

    Local community organizations may help cover utility bills, rent, or medical expenses for those in need.

    Borrowing From Family or Friends

    Though not ideal for everyone, borrowing a small amount from someone you trust may help avoid fees and interest altogether.

    Setting Yourself Up for Success

    If you do move forward with a payday loan through MoneyMutual, protect your financial well-being by:

    • Borrowing only what you need
    • Ensuring you can repay on time
    • Reading all loan disclosures
    • Avoiding renewals or rollovers when possible
    • Tracking your repayment date carefully

    MoneyMutual encourages borrowers to understand their financial situation fully before agreeing to any short-term loan. While the platform is designed to provide rapid relief, financial education and planning remain essential to long-term stability.

    Skip the stress. Apply with MoneyMutual and get matched with trusted direct lenders offering fast cash—even with poor credit.

    Responsible Borrowing & Alternatives: What to Know Before You Commit

    When a Payday Loan Makes Sense

    Payday loans can be a useful tool in certain situations — especially when unexpected expenses arise and other financial options aren’t available. For instance, they may be appropriate when:

    • You have a one-time emergency expense
    • You’re confident you can repay the loan in full by your next payday
    • You’ve exhausted alternatives like credit cards or savings
    • You need a small loan fast to avoid late fees, overdrafts, or service interruptions

    But payday loans should be viewed as temporary financial tools, not long-term solutions. Repeated use or reliance on short-term loans can lead to a cycle of debt that becomes harder to escape over time.

    Disclaimer: Payday loans are not designed for long-term financial relief. Borrowers are encouraged to explore all available options before committing to any high-interest lending solution.

    Red Flags and Risk Factors

    Before accepting a payday loan, it’s important to understand the risks:

    • High APRs: Short-term loans often carry annual percentage rates far higher than traditional bank loans
    • Debt Trap Potential: If you can’t repay on time and rollover options aren’t available, your debt can grow quickly
    • Limited Consumer Protections: Payday lending regulations vary by state; not all lenders offer the same safeguards

    This is why MoneyMutual encourages users to review loan terms carefully and only proceed with offers they understand and can afford to repay.

    Alternatives to Payday Loans

    If a payday loan doesn’t feel like the right fit, there are other options that may be worth exploring:

    Credit Union Personal Loans

    Credit unions often offer smaller-dollar personal loans with lower interest rates than payday lenders, especially for members with modest credit scores.

    Employer Cash Advance Programs

    Some employers provide short-term paycheck advances with no interest. It’s worth checking if such a benefit exists in your workplace.

    Nonprofit and Community Programs

    Local nonprofit organizations or faith-based groups sometimes offer emergency financial assistance or zero-interest loans to qualifying families.

    Family or Friends

    Although not ideal for everyone, borrowing from someone you trust may avoid interest entirely. Be sure to put repayment terms in writing to avoid misunderstandings.

    Financial Counseling Support

    If you find yourself frequently using payday loans, it may be a signal to seek support from a certified financial counselor. Many nonprofit credit counseling agencies provide:

    • Budgeting assistance
    • Debt management plans
    • Financial education resources

    These services can help break the dependency on high-interest lending and put you on a path toward financial stability.

    Disclaimer: Counseling services are not affiliated with MoneyMutual. Borrowers should research providers independently before engaging with any financial advisory service.

    Time-sensitive bills? Get matched in minutes to licensed lenders who can deposit funds in 24 hours. Apply with MoneyMutual now!

    Avoiding Scams and Ensuring Safety: Stay Protected When Borrowing Online

    Why Scam Awareness Is Critical in the Online Lending Space

    With the rise of online payday loan platforms comes an unfortunate increase in scam operations posing as legitimate lenders. These bad actors often exploit financial desperation by promising fast cash, then demanding upfront fees, harvesting personal information, or locking victims into predatory agreements.

    Knowing the difference between a real offer and a fake one is essential — especially when you’re in a vulnerable financial position. Using a reputable connector platform like MoneyMutual helps eliminate much of this risk by only working with licensed, vetted direct lenders.

    Common Signs of Payday Loan Scams

    Here are key red flags that may indicate a payday loan scam:

    • Upfront feesrequired before you receive the loan
    • Requests for gift cards or crypto as a payment method
    • Unsecured email addresses or suspicious-looking websites
    • High-pressure tactics, like “offer expires in 30 minutes”
    • Asking for sensitive information via text or unverified email

    Legitimate lenders will never ask you to send money to receive money or pressure you into a contract without giving you time to review the terms.

    Disclaimer: Always verify the legitimacy of a lender by checking reviews, licenses, and official contact channels. When in doubt, do not proceed.

    How MoneyMutual Keeps Borrowers Safe

    MoneyMutual prioritizes consumer protection with several key safety measures:

    • Encrypted data transmission using AES 256-bit SSL encryption
    • No upfront payment required to request a loan match
    • No guarantee of approval, which protects users from false promises
    • Only licensed lenders are part of its internal network
    • No follow-up contact unless initiated by the lender directly

    In fact, MoneyMutual explicitly states that it will never contact you to request repayment, collect money, or guarantee a loan. If someone does so while claiming to be from MoneyMutual, you’re likely dealing with a fraudster.

    What to Do If You Encounter a Scam

    If you believe you’ve been targeted or scammed, take action immediately:

    • Do not send any money or provide further personal info
    • Contact your bank to freeze or monitor your accounts
    • Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
    • Call the Online Lenders Alliance (OLA) Consumer Hotline
    • Document the communication (screenshots, emails, texts) in case law enforcement follows up

    MoneyMutual can connect you with trusted payday lenders online within minutes. It’s free to apply, takes less than 5 minutes, and could put up to $5,000 in your bank account by tomorrow. Don’t wait—secure your short-term cash loan now and breathe easier.

    Conclusion: Making an Informed Decision About Emergency Lending

    Recapping the Journey: From Financial Stress to Smart Solutions

    Financial emergencies can feel overwhelming — especially when your savings are low, your credit score is struggling, and bills are stacking up fast. In those moments, having access to a reliable, fast, and secure lending network can make a significant difference.

    That’s exactly where MoneyMutual excels: by offering a streamlined, no-cost way to connect users to trusted direct payday lenders online — all within minutes, and with no obligation to accept a loan unless the terms work for you.

    Whether you’re facing a sudden medical bill (non-life-threatening), urgent car repairs, or unexpected child care costs, short-term cash advance loans offer temporary relief — provided they are used responsibly.

    Final Thoughts: Responsible Borrowing and Smart Alternatives

    As emphasized throughout this article, payday loans are not a long-term financial solution. They should be treated as a short-term resource when no other lower-cost options are available. Repeated reliance can lead to more financial strain if repayment is missed or deferred.

    However, when used wisely and in moderation, these loans can provide a critical financial lifeline during difficult times.

    Remember:

    • Always review the full loan agreement before signing
    • Never agree to terms you don’t fully understand
    • Use payday loans to solve urgent problems, not to fund ongoing expenses
    • Compare offers when possible and ask questions if anything seems unclear

    And most importantly: if you feel unsure, seek guidance from a financial counselor or nonprofit advisory service to understand all your options before moving forward.

    Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Individual circumstances may vary. Always consult a financial professional for personalized guidance.

    Pricing and Offer Reminder

    Disclaimer: Loan offers, interest rates, and terms are determined by the individual lender and may vary. Always verify final pricing, fees, and repayment conditions directly through the official MoneyMutual website, as terms are subject to change at any time.

    Whether it’s overdue rent or a surprise medical bill, MoneyMutual is your trusted source for short-term payday loans online. Apply now to connect with lenders who are ready to fund your loan quickly and privately — even if you have bad credit.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What is the best payday cash advance loan online?

    The best payday cash advance loan online is one that offers fast approval, direct deposit, and clear repayment terms, even if you have bad credit. MoneyMutual connects you with a network of trusted direct lendersofferingshort-term loans up to $5,000, with no upfront fees and fast processing — often within 24 hours.

    Can I get a payday loan with bad credit?

    Yes, many online payday lenders for bad credit prioritize your income over your credit score. Through platforms like MoneyMutual, borrowers with low or no credit history can still qualify for emergency cash loans by meeting simple criteria like regular income and an active bank account.

    How fast can I get cash from a payday loan?

    If approved, you could receive your cash advance in as little as 24 hours. Timing depends on the lender’s processing window, the day/time you apply, and your bank’s deposit policies. Many direct lenders offer same-day payday loans when applications are submitted during business hours.

    Are online payday loans from direct lenders safe?

    Yes — as long as you use verified platforms like MoneyMutual, which only connect borrowers to licensed direct payday lenders. MoneyMutual uses AES 256-bit encryption and complies with Online Lenders Alliance (OLA) best practices to ensure your data is protected and your lender is legitimate.

    What are the eligibility requirements for an online payday loan?

    To qualify for most online payday cash advance loans, you must:

    • Be at least 18 years old
    • Have a steady income of at least $800/month
    • Own an active checking account
    • Be a U.S. resident

    These basic criteria give you access to the nearest direct lenders online without traditional credit checks.

    How much can I borrow with a payday cash advance?

    Loan amounts typically range from $100 to $5,000, depending on the lender and your financial profile. Some borrowers may qualify for higher amounts on future loans if repayment history is strong and income supports larger requests.

    Is there a fee toapply for a payday loan on MoneyMutual?

    No, MoneyMutual is completely free for borrowers. You can fill out one secure application and get matched with lenders without paying anything upfront. There is no obligation to accept any loan offer presented to you.

    Do payday loans affect my credit score?

    Most online payday loans from direct lenders don’t involve hard credit checks and therefore won’t impact your credit score. However, missed payments or defaulting could be reported to collection agencies and may indirectly affect your credit over time.

    Can I get a payday loan online without a credit check?

    Yes, many lenders in the MoneyMutual network offer payday loans with no hard credit check. These loans are based on income and bank activity, making them accessible for those with poor credit or limited credit history.

    What happens if I can’t repay a payday loan on time?

    Failing to repay your payday loan on time can lead to late fees, increased interest, and potential collection activity. Some states allow rollovers, but this can increase your total debt.

    Money short before payday? Get help now. Use MoneyMutual to request a loan today—quick, private, and free to use

    • Company: MoneyMutual
    • Email: customerservice@moneymutual.com
    • Phone Support: 844-276-2063

    Legal Disclaimer

    The information contained in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or professional advice. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the content, no guarantees are made with respect to its reliability or applicability to individual circumstances. The publisher and its syndication partners disclaim all liability for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on this content, including but not limited to typographical errors, inaccuracies, outdated information, or omissions.

    THE OPERATOR OF THIS WEBSITE IS NOT A LENDER, does not arrange, facilitate, or broker loans to lenders, and does not make short-term cash loans or credit decisions. It is not an agent, representative, arranger, facilitator, or broker of any lender and does not endorse, recommend, or promote any lender or financial product. No fees are charged to consumers for the use of this website or the content herein.

    This publication does not constitute an offer or solicitation to lend. Submitting personal information through this site is not a guarantee of loan approval. Any loan offer is solely between the user and the participating lender. Lending decisions, terms, amounts, interest rates, and repayment periods are determined exclusively by individual lenders based on their own underwriting criteria and applicable regulations.

    Cash advance loans should only be used to meet short-term financial needs and are not intended as long-term financial solutions. Not all lenders can provide loans up to $5,000, and cash transfer times vary depending on the lender and financial institution. This lending service may not be available in all states and is not available in Connecticut, New York, or to New York borrowers due to applicable state laws. Users are advised to contact their lender directly for information related to their loan, terms, or specific questions.

    Some participating lenders may perform credit checks or obtain consumer credit reports through traditional bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) or alternative sources to assess creditworthiness. Credit inquiries and the sharing of personal data are conducted in accordance with each lender’s privacy policy and applicable legal standards.

    Neither the publisher, nor its content distribution partners, are responsible for lending practices, data use, approval rates, or any decisions made by participating lenders. Users are strongly encouraged to read all terms and conditions, review lender disclosures carefully, and consult with a financial advisor before accepting any short-term loan offer.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    This article may contain affiliate links. If a user clicks on one of these links and takes action — such as submitting a loan request or completing an application — the publisher may receive compensation from a third-party partner or advertiser. This compensation comes at no additional cost to the user and helps support the production of informative, accessible content.

    The presence of affiliate links does not influence the objectivity or integrity of the content. All product mentions and service evaluations are based on publicly available information and editorial judgment. Users are under no obligation to engage with any offer or service mentioned, and are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence before making any financial decision.

    The publisher and its syndication partners do not endorse any specific lender, financial institution, or lending product. Any loan arrangement or agreement is solely between the user and the lender. Always read all terms, conditions, and disclosures provided by the lender before proceeding.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trackinsight Releases 2025 Global ETF Survey: ETF Industry on Overdrive: Shifting Gears, Breaking New Barriers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Trackinsight, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and S&P Dow Jones Indices, is proud to announce the launch of its sixth annual global ETF survey report: ETF Industry on Overdrive: Shifting Gears, Breaking New Barriers.

    Hong Kong, May 13, 2025 – Trackinsight, a global leader in ETF research and analytics, today announced the release of its Global ETF Survey 2025 Report, ETF Industry on Overdrive: Shifting Gears, Breaking New Barriers, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and S&P Dow Jones Indices.

    The global ETF engine is accelerating—and this year’s report captures every twist, turn, and acceleration along the way.

    Drawing on insights from over 600 professional investors managing more than $1.1 trillion in ETF assets globally, and powered by Trackinsight’s extensive database of over 12,000 ETPs, the report delivers a comprehensive and forward-looking analysis of the ETF landscape.

    What’s inside?

    • Regional analysis covering major developments in Europe, Asia, and North America.
    • Key trends across active management, fixed income, thematic investing, ESG strategies, cryptocurrencies, and the accelerating rise of income- and options-based ETFs.
    • Over 80 bold predictions for ETF market for 2025 and beyond from influential industry leaders.

    “ETFs didn’t just make investing easier—they sparked a global revolution. Today, they are powering a new era of clarity, innovation, and opportunity for investors everywhere. ETF Industry on Overdrive captures this extraordinary acceleration—and offers a glimpse into the future of our industry,” said Philippe Malaise, CEO of Trackinsight.

    Key Survey Respondents’ Insights:

    • ETF Adoption: Respondents primarily turn to ETFs for diversification, cost efficiency, and ease of trading. When selecting products, they prioritize performance, fees, liquidity, and the reputation of the provider, while ESG considerations tend to be secondary.
    • Active Management: Use of active ETFs is rising, driven by lower fees compared to mutual funds, greater transparency, and the potential for outperformance, particularly in equities and fixed income. While concerns about track records and consistent performance remain, nearly 70% of respondents plan to increase their allocations to active ETFs over the next six months.
    • Fixed Income: Corporate and government bond ETFs are the top choices, with respondents showing a balanced preference between active and passive strategies. 80% of respondents also plan to boost their exposure to actively managed fixed income ETFs in the coming months.
    • Thematic: Respondents use thematic ETFs mainly for diversification and to make long-term strategic investments, particularly in disruptive technology and digital infrastructure. Liquidity, cost, and risk-return profiles are the key selection factors, and more than half of respondents intend to increase their allocations to thematic ETFs.
    • ESG: Investments in ESG ETFs are largely driven by personal convictions and environmental priorities. However, greenwashing and transparency concerns remain major challenges. There is a strong preference for active ESG strategies, with more than half of respondents planning to increase their ESG ETF allocations — especially among European investors.
    • Cryptocurrency: Crypto ETFs generally represent a small portion of portfolios, used mainly for diversification and long-term value appreciation. Respondents cite ease of access, regulatory protection, and security as key reasons for favoring ETFs over direct ownership, and nearly 60% plan to increase their allocations.
    • Income and Options-Based Strategies: Dividend and fixed income ETFs continue to be primary tools for generating income, with growing interest in options-based strategies like covered calls and buffered products. Around 60% of respondents expect to increase investments in options ETFs alongside broader income-focused allocations.

    “2025 is the year of active ETFs,” said Travis Spence, Global Head of ETFs at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. “In an environment defined by persistent market uncertainty, our newest Trackinsight Survey shows a decisive shift toward active strategies. Investors are seeking greater precision, adaptability, and risk-aware performance—and active ETFs are meeting that demand in core equities and fixed income. Over 90% of investors surveyed are planning to increase or maintain allocations to active ETFs.

    “The role of financial indices within the ETF industry continues to evolve and are increasingly used as a powerful tool of innovation for institutional investors.” said Robert Ross, Chief Commercial Officer at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

    In addition to the full study, Trackinsight have released a condensed digest summarizing key insights from the 2025 Global ETF Survey—also available at trackinsight.com.

    About Trackinsight

    Trackinsight, a subsidiary of Kepler Cheuvreux, is a global platform for professional ETF investors, delivering top-tier data, tools, research, and expertise for advanced fund selection and portfolio optimization.

    Media Inquiries

    Trackinsight
    Please contact Rony Abboud, at rony.abboud@trackinsight.com

    J.P. Morgan Asset Management
    For media inquiries in APAC, please contact Kathleen Wang at kathleen.w.wang@jpmorgan.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Barrasso Push for Pro-Growth Tax Reductions, Lower Prices for Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator John Barrasso in introducing The Growing America’s Small Businesses and Manufacturing Act. This legislation will boost investment in further developing America’s manufacturing capabilities and help small businesses, farmers, and producers purchase the equipment and supplies they need to build their operations and support their employees. 
    Specifically, this bill will reduce the tax burden for business owners purchasing equipment—including machinery, farming equipment, energy infrastructure, building upgrades, commercial vehicles, mining equipment, and more. This allows business owners to invest more into employee salaries, materials, and other critical business expenditures. 
    “I’ve said it many times—small businesses are the heart and soul of the American economy,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Enabling Alabama’s over 420,000 small businesses to thrive is one of my top priorities here in Washington. Small businesses face an uphill challenge with heightened regulation and insane prices. Reducing taxes for these business owners will go a long way in lifting the burden they often face when purchasing crucial equipment needed to keep their doors open.”
    “Wyoming’s small businesses are what keeps our economy going strong. We want to make sure they have every opportunity to succeed,” said Sen. Barrasso. “Right now, they face an uphill battle with high prices and a mountain of new regulations. The Growing America’s Small Businesses and Manufacturing Act will go a long way in helping Wyoming’s farmers, ranchers and small businesses expand their operations, better compete and hire more workers.” 
    Sens. Tuberville and Barrasso are joined by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Lankford (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Todd Young (R-IN) in cosponsoring the legislation.
    National Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of Independent Business, Restore American Investment Now (RAIN) Coalition, Business Roundtable, USTelecom, American Forest & Paper Association, American Exploration & Production Council, National Restaurant Association, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, Small Business Investor Alliance, American Car Rental Association, National Tooling and Machining Association, Forging Industry Association, American Mold Builders Association, Independent Electrical Contractors, Industrial Fasteners Institute, Precision Machined Products Association, Non-Ferrous Founders’ Society, North American Die Casting Association, and Precision Metalforming Association endorsed the legislation.
    Read full text of the legislation here. 
    BACKGROUND:
    The Growing America’s Small Businesses and Manufacturing Actdelivers two pro-growth tax proposals that will boost investment in capital-intensive industries like manufacturing, energy production, and agriculture.
    Expanded Business Interest Deduction:
    The first reform addresses the additional limitation on business interest deductions that went into effect in 2022, restoring business flexibility and investment potential.
    The bill revises the limitation from 30% of a business’s Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT), back to 30% of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization, and depletion (EBITDA).
    This protects businesses from being punished for investing in new machinery, capital equipment, mining, drilling, and research and development (R&D).
    Enhanced Small Business Expensing:
    The second provision expands Section 179, which allows taxpayers to deduct the cost of certain business assets in the year they are purchased rather than depreciating them over time.
    Under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the maximum deduction amount was increased to $1 million from $500,000, helping small businesses acquire the equipment needed to expand operations.
    The bill builds on this success by lifting the deduction cap to $2.5 million, accelerating small businesses’ access to capital.
    The provision covers a wide range of eligible expenses, including machinery, mining tools, farming implements, energy production equipment, commercial vehicles, building upgrades, and other critical investments.
    MORE:
    Tuberville, Colleagues Celebrate Small Businesses During Small Business Week
    Tuberville, Crapo Introduce Legislation to Level Playing Field for Alabama Sporting Equipment Businesses
    Tuberville Reintroduces Legislation to Repeal Corporate Transparence Act, Protect Small Businesses
    Tuberville Fights to Give Small Businesses a Tax Break
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Backing businesses during Light Rail Stage 2A and across the ACT

    Source: Australian National Party

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 12/05/2025 – Joint media release

    The ACT Government has today announced a targeted business support package to assist local businesses impacted by construction works for the Light Rail to Commonwealth project in and around London Circuit.

    The package includes practical and financial support informed by what we’ve heard from the businesses and designed to help during the disruption, with a focus on easing cost pressures and encouraging visitation to the area.

    Minister for Transport Chris Steel said the support recognises the real challenges facing businesses as the city delivers a once-in-a-generation infrastructure upgrade.

    “Light Rail is transforming our CBD as a vibrant and well-connected place to do business. However, we know that with construction of this part of the line there is an impact on nearby business particularly hospitality businesses,” Minister Steel said.

    “This package builds on the business partnership plan we have already put in place to support businesses during the construction.

    “The best thing that Canberrans can do right now to support businesses in the city is to get out and visit them. The businesses are open and we are encouraging Canberrans to support them through the measures announced today.”

    Light Rail Stage 2A business support measures include:

    • Effective immediately, free parking Wednesday to Sunday evenings from 5:30 pm, at nearby public car parks:
      • Theatre Lane Car Park (opposite Sydney Building)
      • City Hill Car Park (Section 116)
      • Canberra Olympic Pool Car Park (City southeast)
      • Note: The existing parking hours at Hobart Place are already aligned with these times
    • Outdoor dining permit fee waivers from 1 July 2025 for businesses directly impacted by construction activities
    • New CCTV cameras to be installed and upgraded around London Circuit to support safety during night-time trading
    • A campaign launching mid-year to promote that London Circuit is open for business, spotlighting local venues and retailers
    • Delivering place making improvements including additional lighting delivered by the City Renewal Authority
    • Business Capability Building Program offering free tailored advice

    This targeted package will be supported from 1 July by expanded liquor licence fee reductions available to all ACT hospitality businesses up to a 350-person capacity, building on significant reductions introduced in 2024 and delivering on ACT Labor’s commitment to the night-time economy.

    An automatic 50% liquor fee reduction will be expanded to cafes, restaurants and general licences up to 150-person capacity, previously the 50% discount was only applicable to cafes and restaurants up to 80-person capacity.

    A 50% liquor fee reduction will be expanded to venues showcasing artists between 151 to 350-person capacity, available upon application, in addition to the existing fee reduction of 80% for venues up to 150-person capacity.

    Minister for Night-Time Economy Tara Cheyne said supporting the city’s entertainment and hospitality sector is a key focus of the package.

    “Canberra’s city centre is home to some of our most loved bars, restaurants, and performance venues,” Minister Cheyne said.

    “By providing fee relief, enhancing public safety, and backing local activations, we’re helping ensure these businesses remain destinations of choice, even during construction.”

    “These initiatives are designed to encourage locals and visitors alike, to support our incredible hospitality sector. For these businesses, there is no substitute for patronage. I encourage Canberrans to get out across the city to explore and enjoy your favourite bars, restaurants and shops.”

    Minister for Business Michael Pettersson said the package was developed in consultation with traders and industry representatives.

    “We’ve listened to the concerns of local business owners and tailored this package to respond to what they need most,” Minister Pettersson said.

    “This is a practical response designed to ease pressure and maintain confidence in the city centre during construction.”

    Business owners in the London Circuit area will be contacted directly with further information on how to access support, and the Government will continue engaging with stakeholders as the project progresses.

    Visit the Light Rail to Woden website for more information.

    – Statement ends –

    Chris Steel, MLA | Tara Cheyne, MLA | Michael Pettersson, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Growing NZ – now and for the long term

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Tēna koutou kātoa. Greetings everyone. Thanks for coming.

    Thank you Sharesies for making the space available.

    You are exactly the sort of business we need more of to create opportunities for the next generation – Sharesies was started by smart people, who identified a gap in the market, harnessed technology and went about changing the way in which many New Zealanders invest.

    In just a few years you’ve grown from a tiny operation employing a handful of people to a business worth more than half a billion dollars, employing more than 200 people and expanding its reach to Australia. Hopefully, over time you’ll go further. 

    That’s a good news story for the people who work here, for the communities your incomes support, for the customers you serve and for our economy as a whole.  

    Sharesies is also an inspiration to other Kiwi entrepreneurs, including many in New Zealand’s booming Fin-Tech sector, which grew more than 20 per cent in the past year.

    I want to see more successes like this in New Zealand. When New Zealand entrepreneurs and startups do well, they create more and better paying jobs, more tax revenue to support government services, and more opportunities for us all.  

    That mission: driving economic growth and creating the conditions for business success, is at the heart of this year’s Government Budget.  

    Let me be clear, I don’t want growth just for growth’s sake, it’s much more than numbers on a chart for me. I want growth so that our kids, and future New Zealanders can enjoy the better choices, opportunities and standard of living we all aspire to and that too many Kiwis are missing out on today.

    On Thursday next week I’ll set out the full details of our Budget.  It will detail the Government’s specific spending and revenue choices, key new infrastructure investments, the path for borrowing and debt and our plans for strengthening the fundamentals of the New Zealand economy. I’m looking forward to delivering it.

    In a recent speech I detailed the difficult context in which the Government is delivering this year’s Budget.  New Zealand has gone through a tough few years of high inflation, high interest rates and little to no real growth. The Government has been running big deficits and accumulating debt and just as our economic recovery has gotten underway global events have conspired to make things harder.  

    That’s just reality. We can’t wish it away. Nor should we use it as an excuse to shy away from making choices now that will set New Zealand up better for the longer-term. 

    Today I want to talk a bit more about that longer-term picture and detail one specific Budget initiative that shows the Government’s commitment to sustained and long-term growth. 

    Because Budgets shouldn’t just be about the short term – who is getting what. Yes, there are a number of initiatives in the Budget designed to address the immediate issues of the here and now.   

    I am acutely conscious of the cost of living challenges many Kiwis are facing today and the hard yards so many people have gone through over these past few years. It’s essential that our Budget sustains the government services and supports they rely on, even though money is tighter than ever. Our Budget is built on a series of careful choices to ensure that’s possible, that we provide the funding needed for health, education, other vital public services and essential social supports.  

    But, as a responsible Government, we also need to be thinking ahead and addressing the structural challenges confronting our country. Our Budget also takes careful steps to do that, and that’s what I want to speak a bit more about today.  

    There are three key long-term challenges for New Zealand that  I spend a lot of time thinking about: They are productivity, social mobility and the ageing of the population.

    These are issues we need to be awake to now, lest we make life much harder for the people who follow us.  

    Let me make a few remarks about each of these challenges.

    I’ll start with productivity. Productivity is a key indicator of economic performance.  

    The most common measure of productivity is labour productivity which measures output per unit of time worked. 

    In New Zealand labour productivity has averaged just 0.3 per cent a year over the past 10 years. That is low by historic standards and low in comparison with our international peers.

    There’s no doubt Kiwis work hard, and in fact we work relatively big hours. Our challenge historically has been that we just don’t generate as much for that effort as those in some other countries. 

    Our labour productivity levels rank near the bottom of OECD countries, well behind those in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

    This rankles me. Not just because I’m competitive by nature, but because I think New Zealand has so much intrinsically going for it when compared to those countries. New Zealand can and must do better in the productivity race. 

    Why does low productivity matter? Because productivity determines how competitive our businesses are. The more competitive businesses are, the more people they can hire and the more money they can pay in salaries and wages. That in turn determines how fast our country can grow, and the revenue we have available for investing in the things that matter – like cancer drugs, education programmes, hospitals and Police.

    What are the causes of New Zealand’s low productivity rates?

    Treasury identifies three key problems. 

    First is low capital intensity, that is the machinery, tools and technology available per worker. More capital per worker typically means higher productivity and wages. The increase in New Zealand’s capital intensity has slowed over time from 1.9 per cent per year between 1997 and 2008 to 0.7 per cent between 2012 and 2023. Basically, our workers have less access to the machinery, innovation and technology that would allow them to be more productive. Our Budget will take steps to address that. 

    Second is low rates of foreign direct investment. This restricts the access Kiwi businesses have to the capital they need to grow and the world-leading know-how they need to thrive.  It slows uptake of innovation and best practices. Our Budget will take steps to address those issues too.  

    Third is export intensity. By international standards relatively few New Zealand businesses derive large portions of their income from exports. This reduces the scale of New Zealand businesses, competition and opportunities to learn. 

    The good news is, despite all the global shenanigans playing out, New Zealand is in the midst of an export-led economy recovery. Dairy farmers, horticulturalists, meat producers, all are doing well. In recent years New Zealand entrepreneurs have broken new ground in fields like space, film and accounting software. 

    Our Government is ambitious to build on this export success – with a stretch goal of doubling New Zealand’s exports by 2030.  Our Budget will take further steps to drive that work forward. 

    The thing with all these underlying productivity challenges is that there’s no quick fix, or easy road to success. It’s about doing lots of things well, over successive Budgets, keeping our eyes on the big prize while we deal with the here and now. 

    Budget initiatives in this area won’t make your household budget bigger today, but, over time, they are essential to growing the household budgets we have in future. 

    The next thing big challenge I want to talk about is social mobility. It’s a very Kiwi concept. The idea that no matter what background you come from, ours should be a country where with hard work and good choices you can have the opportunity to succeed.  

    That’s why our Government is putting so much emphasis on improving education achievement in our schools. Getting back to the basics of reading, writing and maths. And financial literacy too! Those skills are tickets to the game of life. We owe it to each and every Kiwi kid to make sure they leave school with those critical skills. 

    A desire to improve social mobility is also why our Government is revitalising the social investment approach developed by my predecessor Bill English. 

    Successive governments have spent huge sums trying to tackle the entrenched disadvantage that blights lives, pushes up costs for other New Zealanders and fuels criminal offending. 

    In addition to core social supports, government agencies collectively spend around $7 billion per year buying social services designed to deliver better lives for those with particularly challenging lives.

    However, despite the best intentions of all involved, this expenditure cannot be described as a success. There are some fantastic examples of lives being turned around, but the overall picture is grim. Too many Kiwis are trapped in cycles of inter-generational disadvantage.  We are spending more on ambulances at the bottom of the cliff than fences at the top. 

    Data now give us a very good ideal of those at greatest risk. We also know that intervening early increases the prospect of success. There are some incredible community and iwi organisations who know what to do, but too often they’re held back by the frustrations of government bureaucracy and short-termism. 

    We can do much much better here.  

    Shifting a young New Zealander off a life of welfare dependency and, potentially criminal offending, greatly reduces future costs for everyone else. But even more importantly it gives that New Zealander a chance to lead a fulfilling, productive life. We want that for all our kids.

    Later this week I’ll announce an initiative in this year’s Budget that is designed to do just that.  

    The third big challenge I think about is demographic change, more specifically the ageing of our population. 

    Kiwis are living longer – this is something to celebrate, but it also has an economic consequence as we seek to ensure people have the income and financial security they need in retirement. 

    There’s two things I think about here: one is KiwiSaver and the other is Government Superannuation. Let me make a few comments about each. 

    I’m delighted to see how many Kiwis are embracing KiwiSaver as a way of saving – for a first home and to supplement their income in retirement. 

    KiwiSaver membership is high – with more than 3 million members, representing around 96% of the working age population.  Fund balances differ but most working Kiwis choose to make regular contributions to their funds, matched by contributions from their employers.  

    KiwiSaver has become an increasingly important tool for people choosing to buy a first home – with around 42,000 people using their KiwiSaver funds for this purpose in the past year.

    It’s also an increasingly important supplement to support people’s incomes in retirement.

    The other good news story here is that the Reserve Bank estimates around 40 per cent of all KiwiSaver balances are invested in New Zealand-based financial products and assets.

    I want to acknowledge the work Sharesies has done to promote KiwiSaver uptake and your efforts to improve Kiwis understanding of how it can support their financial security.

    I share your mission.  I want to see KiwiSaver balances continue to grow and our Budget will contain steps to support that mission. 

    Let me now turn to New Zealand Superannuation.

    In 2000, there were about 6.5 people of working age (15 and over) for every superannuitant. Today there are about 4.7 people of working age for every superannuitant. By 2050 there are expected to only be about 3.6 people of working age for every superannuitant. 

    At the same time, superannuation costs are increasing both in dollar terms and as a proportion of GDP.  Gross expenditure on super in 2000 was $5.1 billion or 4.4 per cent of GDP. By 2050 it is expected to be $71.7 billion or 6.5 per cent of GDP.

    This leaping cost will play out in this year’s Budget.  New Zealand Superannuation costs will rise from $23.2 billion this year to $29.0 billion in 2028/29.  

    Put this together with the cost of healthcare, which increases every year, and it’s clear we need to be earning more as a country to support this growing cost.  

    In the coming years, increasing superannuation costs will be partially offset by withdrawals from the Superannuation Fund which was established to help smooth superannuation costs between generations.  

    We are now approaching the time when the Super Fund is big enough to ensure that withdrawals, rather than contributions, are the normal outcome each year. 

    This is not a Government decision, it is driven by a formula in the relevant Act. 

    In something of a milestone event, the first withdrawal is forecast to happen in 2028 – a very modest withdrawal of $32 million. 

    In the short term there will be some bouncing around between withdrawals and contributions.  

    But from 2031 onwards, projections show that withdrawals from the Super Fund are expected in every year. 

    Withdrawals help cover the costs of Superannuation, so taxpayers don’t face the full cost each year. 

    This does not mean that the Super Fund will get smaller. Far from it. The Fund currently has $80 billion of investments. On reasonable assumptions, Super Fund returns will outstrip withdrawals, and the Fund will continue to get bigger every year. 

    This brings me to the announcement I want to make today. 

    As part of its investment activity, the New Zealand Super Fund has invested $300 million in a venture capital fund called Elevate. 

    The fund was established in 2020 to support high-growth tech-based startups in New Zealand. 

    The fund was created to fill a funding gap at the so-called Series A/B stage of startup funding – the point at which startups typically need $2–$20 million to scale beyond early seed funding.

    The Elevate fund operates as a fund-of-funds. That is, it invests not directly in startups, but in private venture capital funds which must also attract private co-investment.

    In doing so, it supports the commercialisation of science and technology and helps export-focused startups to attract global investment. It also helps to attract global investment to New Zealand by showing there is a pipeline of companies reaching the Series C stage.

    The short-term goal is to increase startup funding. The long-term goal is to help build a self-sustaining venture capital market in New Zealand in which returns from previous investments fund future investments. 

    The results from Elevate’s first five years of operation are positive. 

    It has committed $221 million across nine funds and attracted $536 million of private capital – a ratio of 2.4 dollars of private equity for every $1 committed by the fund. 

    This has led to $440 million being invested in 123 startups across sectors like software, clean-tech, and med-tech.

    There have been some significant successes. I’ll give you a couple of examples. 

    First, Dawn Aerospace which is developing reusable spaceplanes and non-toxic satellite propulsion systems to make space access more sustainable and affordable. 

    In 2022, the Elevate fund helped close a $22m funding raise for Dawn with a number of local Venture Capital funds. 

    This was instrumental in bridging the gap to a larger fundraising round of over $100m. 

    Since then, Dawn has expanded operations to France in 2023 and established a European facility in the Netherlands, all whilst still being run out of Christchurch.

    26 satellites, 122 thrusters and 3 launchers later, Dawn Aerospace is at the cutting edge of its sector with an ever-growing global presence and domestic economic impact.

    Second, Halter which has created a smart collar for cows that uses GPS, sound, and vibration to guide livestock, allowing farmers to manage grazing, shifting, and monitoring from a phone. 

    The collar is transforming day-to-day farm operations. 

    With the help of Elevate backed funds, Halter raised $32m in a Series B funding round in 2021. 

    In the time since, Halter has tripled its workforce to meet growing demand in markets including Australia and the United States.

    It has since attracted further Series C fundraising and is continuing with its plans to revolutionise farming.

    In time, the Elevate fund is expected to become self-sustaining with the returns from previous investments funding future investments. 

    However, the fund is not yet self-sustaining. 

    Therefore, I am announcing today that the Government is committing an extra $100 million to the Elevate venture capital fund at Budget 2025.

    This will be funded through a combination of the 2025 contribution to the NZ Super Fund of $61 million, topped up with an additional $39 million from the Budget 2025 capital allowance.

    This follows the approach taken by the previous government when the Elevate fund was established. The initial government contribution was funded from the Crown’s contribution to the Super Fund. 

    The Government wants to see more companies like Sharesies capitalise on New Zealand talent and grow from small beginnings to create opportunities for other New Zealanders and contribute to the New Zealand economy.

    Let me finish on an optimistic note. 

    The international order is undergoing profound change. We are seeing a shift from rules to power, from economics to security and from efficiency to resiliency. 

    None of this is good news for a small, remote nation that relies on trade for prosperity. 

    But New Zealand is blessed with abundant natural resources, safe, secure, borders, strong institutions and decent, smart, resilient people. Our best years are ahead of us.  

    The job of government is to unlock that potential, for New Zealanders today and for New Zealanders in the years ahead. Next week’s Budget will be the next step in that process.

    Thank you for listening. 

    I understand we have time for a few questions if you have any. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Politics and Unions – Unions barred from Budget 2025 lock-up – CTU

    Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (CTU)

    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has sent an open letter to the Government objecting to its decision to block the NZCTU and other unions from attending the Budget lock-up on 22 May.

    “We object in the strongest possible terms to the Government’s decision to bar the NZCTU from the Budget 2025 lock-up. The NZCTU represents over 300,000 workers across the private and public sectors and is the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

    “Workers will be significantly impacted by the decisions made by government at Budget 2025, and it is important that the NZCTU can accurately report on Budget decisions to ensure working people are properly briefed.

    “This Government appears to believe the banks, international financial institutions, and consulting houses are more important than working people, and it seems that is why the representatives of working people have been denied access.

    “Last week the Government made the highly controversial decision to unilaterally gut the pay equity claims process. It is therefore unsurprising that it doesn’t want working people to understand the rationale and impacts of its Budget decisions this year,” said Wagstaff.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As insurance gets harder to buy, NZ has 3 choices for disaster recovery – and we keep choosing the worst one

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ilan Noy, Chair in the Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    The number of climate change-related extreme weather events) is on the rise, making it harder for many people to buy affordable home insurance.

    The industry has already signalled it is pulling out of some places in Aotearoa New Zealand, leaving the government and homeowners to question what happens next. This is not something that should be ignored, or met with ad-hoc, unplanned responses.

    Since insurance is required for residential mortgages, the retreat of insurance companies will have significant consequences for property prices and local economies.

    With the retreat of insurance companies a future certainty in some communities, the government must decide how to respond. In our new research), we developed the “trilemma” framework, outlining the policy trade-offs governments face in adapting to climate change.

    Deciding between trade-offs

    We found effective adaptation policy needs to achieve three goals:

    • incentivise risk reduction
    • be fiscally affordable
    • increase equity and wellbeing and reduce hardship.

    But any policy can satisfy only two of these three goals. The government has to make trade-offs.

    When it comes to responding to the retreat of private insurance, the options include:

    • doing nothing and letting “the market” adjust (with sharp price declines for affected properties)
    • replacing private insurance with a publicly-funded alternative
    • offering government-funded defences (for example, stopbanks) or buyouts to properties that can no longer be insured.

    Each one of these options involves giving up on at least one of the three policy goals.

    The Insurance Retreat Trilemma outlines the choices faced by governments when private insurance companies pull out of high-risk areas.
    Author provided, CC BY-NC-ND

    A world without private insurance

    Let us consider “Macondo”, a hypothetical community in a flood-prone area where insurance has “retreated”.

    Do nothing

    The “do nothing” option is when the government does not take a policy position on flood or storm insurance. This option has little to no cost for the government and, as long as people don’t expect buyouts, would incentivise risk reduction. But it leaves homeowners completely exposed to the increasing risk.

    In “Macondo”, some homeowners will have reduced the risk for their own properties (raising their houses, for example). Others won’t be able to do so and remain completely at the mercy of the elements.

    Those whose houses have been deemed uninsurable would have their mortgages automatically put into default. Some may have to sell their home at a much lower price and may remain indebted even after the sale.

    Local councils might offer to invest in defences for the community by building stopbanks, but that is less likely for poorer and smaller local councils.

    When an extreme weather event does happen, causing significant losses, the uninsured who own their homes may be unable to repair or rebuild and will be left destitute.

    Public replacement insurance

    In 1945, New Zealand’s government introduced public insurance for some natural hazards with the Earthquake and War Damage Commission. This later became the Earthquake Commission (EQC), and more recently, the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC). The commission was established as private insurers withdrew earthquake cover in the 1940s and landslip cover in the 1980s.

    The government could choose to extend NHC policies to fully cover weather events such as floods and storms (NHC now provides only partial cover for damage to land from these hazards). Or it could establish a different public insurance scheme to cover these hazards.

    When designed well, this option makes fiscal sense. For example, after 2010-2011 Christchurch earthquakes EQC cover for residential properties didn’t carry extra costs for the government.

    Public replacement insurance could also make recovery fairer for everyone. But providing a blanket safety net through a public insurance scheme would discourage risk reduction. With the greater sense of financial safety may come a higher appetite to build on more risky sites, and spend less to defend existing homes. This would result in even more exposure and more damage.

    In the wake of insurance retreat, successive governments have opted for a combination of publicly-funded defences with generously provisioned buyouts.
    Kerry Marshall/Getty Images

    Publicly-funded defences and buyouts

    Successive governments across a range of disasters have opted for the ad-hoc approach. This inevitably turns out to be a combination of publicly-funded defences with generously provisioned buyouts.

    This combination of defences and buyouts may be the most politically appealing in the short term, but it is also the least affordable and the least efficient option. This option leads to reduced risk (especially if buyouts are used) and can lessen hardship and even inequities.

    This policy was used in Westport after its damaging floods in 2021 and 2022. Similarly, the Auckland Anniversary Flood and Cyclone Gabrielle triggered large investments in buyouts and in new flood defences that will end up costing billions.

    Unfortunately for the affected residents in both cases, the process was not done preemptively following a carefully designed process. Instead, the response to each event was designed on the fly, was lengthy, and full of frustrating uncertainties, missteps, and missed opportunities.

    Proactive response needed

    Currently, every successive government in New Zealand chooses to do nothing and then switches to a defence and buyout choice when disaster strikes. This is the worst of all the trilemma policy options.

    A more proactive policy, even if well-conceived, cannot achieve all three of the goals we listed. But at least the choice between these trade-offs would be clear and transparent. It would also avoid all the inefficiencies created by the reactive policy choices our elected governments make now.

    We are grateful for the contribution of science writer Jo-Anne Hazel to this analysis.

    Ilan Noy has received research funding from the New Zealand Natural Hazards Commission (formerly the EQC).

    Belinda Storey has received research funding from the New Zealand Natural Hazards Commission (formerly the EQC).

    – ref. As insurance gets harder to buy, NZ has 3 choices for disaster recovery – and we keep choosing the worst one – https://theconversation.com/as-insurance-gets-harder-to-buy-nz-has-3-choices-for-disaster-recovery-and-we-keep-choosing-the-worst-one-255713

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 05/12/2025 Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Safeguard Transit Operations Against Chinese Influence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced the Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit (STOP) China Act, which would protect domestic transit operations and supply chains from malign Chinese influence by preventing any appropriated funds to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from being awarded to grantees for the purchase of Chinese government transit buses or rail cars:
    “China’s attempts to exploit critical American infrastructure with taxpayer funds will not be tolerated,” said Senator Blackburn. “The STOP China Act would prevent hard-earned American dollars from purchasing Chinese-made vehicles in our transit infrastructure, protecting our national security and supporting American manufacturing.
    “It is China’s mission to infiltrate and dominate every aspect of American society, including our transit systems, and we cannot let them succeed,” said Senator Cornyn. “By preventing American tax dollars from being used to purchase Chinese government transit buses or rail cars, our legislation would help protect U.S. transportation infrastructure from the CCP.”
    “When we invest American taxpayer dollars, we should be supporting our Made in America economy and American workers, not opening our checkbook to adversaries like China,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to support our workers and companies, keep the United States safe, and close a loophole that Chinese companies are exploiting to win government contracts and undercut American workers.” 
    “At every opportunity, the Chinese Communist Party works to exploit America and put our nation’s critical infrastructure at risk,” said Senator Scott. “We cannot allow an adversarial regime access to supply chains and transit that we rely on every day, and we definitely cannot allow U.S. tax dollars to fund any projects that allows such access. We must prioritize Americans’ safety, American jobs, and American manufacturing, and put an end to our dangerous dependence on a regime that openly seeks our downfall.”
    “Domestic transit vehicle manufacturers shouldn’t be victim to Chinese companies exploiting loopholes and engaging in unfair trade practices that harm business and pose significant national security concerns,” said Senator Smith. “I’m glad to support the STOP China Act to close the loopholes and help Minnesota’s strong transit manufacturing industry continue to succeed.”
    “China is actively working to undermine American workers and our economic success, particularly in the transportation industry, by flooding global markets with artificially cheap vehicles, from electric vehicles to buses,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan bill would help level the playing field for Michigan manufacturers, suppliers, and workers as we continue to lead the world in mobility innovation by preventing taxpayer dollars from being used to support companies owned and operated by the Chinese Community Party.”
    U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.) cosponsored the legislation. Congressmen Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) and John Garamendi (D-Calif.) are leading companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    Background:
    Congress passed the Transportation Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act, which prohibits companies with ties to China’s government from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to build U.S. rail cars and buses, as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. However, China has taken advantage of other government funds in the law to continue competing for transit business in the U.S. The Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit (STOP) China Act would prevent any appropriated funds to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from being awarded to grantees for the purchase of Chinese government transit buses. It would also require the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the U.S. Attorney General, to produce a list of prohibited entities headquartered or affiliated with China.
    The legislation is endorsed by Alliance for American Manufacturing, Steel Manufacturers Association, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Steelworkers, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and Transport Workers Union of America.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Peters Launches Build America Caucus

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    Abundance-Oriented Caucus to Focus on Peters’ Priorities: Unleashing American Energy, Building More Housing, Investing in Science

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50), along with a bipartisan group of Congressmembers, launched the Build America Caucus as a founding member. The caucus will support the abundance movement: to ensure government delivers for Americans by tackling the self-imposed red tape that has led to a constricted and costly energy system, out-of-control housing costs, decades of infrastructure delays, and lagging investments. The caucus will also reinforce America’s lead in, and need to support, scientific discovery. The American people have lost faith in government’s ability to get things done, and instead often see government as an obstacle to timely results. The Build America Caucus will work to restore the public’s trust by advancing substantive legislation to cut red-tape and lower the cost of living.  

    Rep. Peters’ remarks at the caucus launch below:  

    “America prides itself on accomplishing big things:  winning world wars, sending man to the moon, or discovering the next medical breakthrough.  

    “During World War II, San Diego factories built a bomber an hour, a bomber an hour.  

    “We did it because the need was urgent. So, we found a way.  

    Our challenges have not gone away — our capacity to achieve great things has. 

    “Homelessness is on the rise, our electrical grid can’t meet future demand, and our competitors like China are supplanting our role as the scientific powerhouse of the world. 

    “We know we must build more housing, expand our grid, and invest in basic scientific research. Yet, we let NIMBYs from both sides hold projects hostage. We let so-called “environmental” groups mire transmission and clean energy projects in decades of litigation. And this administration slashes scientific funding and deters the best minds in the world from coming here. 

    “Today, we launch the Build America Caucus, the pro-growth abundance caucus, to think bigger and take real action to solve these problems, not just pay lip service. People are frustrated with all the delay, gridlock, and government-imposed red tape. Too often, we as lawmakers see that problem as the system we work in, instead of the system we have the power to change.  

    “I am working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to rework the 50-year-old environmental laws that are ironically used to stop clean energy projects. This isn’t easy. We came close last year with the Energy Permitting Reform Act in the Senate, but it came with immense opposition from those who think the status quo is acceptable. We know that it is not. 

    “This caucus will stand ready to face the pressure from all sides on strong bipartisan efforts like this, as a commonsense majority that tunes out the noise so that we can get shit done.  

    “There are many political fights in D.C., but when I go back home, what I hear about over and over is the cost of living. The cost of housing, and electricity, and childcare. They are counting on us to put politics aside to make their lives better. That’s exactly what the Build America Caucus plans to do.”  

    Background:  

    Representative Peters has long championed the movement to make government more efficient, build more housing, update outdated laws to deliver reliable and affordable energy to power our economy, and invest in scientific innovation.

    Rep. Peters’ legislation in this space includes:

    The Building Chips in America Act* 

    The BIG WIRES Act 

    The SPEED and Reliability Act 

    The FASTER Act 

    The Advanced Reactor Fee Act*  

    The Build More Housing Near Transit Act 

    The Fix Our Forests Act 

    *Now law 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Peters & Colleagues Reintroduce Landmark Legislation to Restore Patent Protections

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Kevin Kiley (R-CA-03) and U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE) reintroduced legislation to restore patent eligibility for inventions that are essential to the life sciences and technology industries. Their Patent Eligibility Restoration Act will help support American businesses and universities from foreign actors that stand to steal their innovations.  

    “For more than two centuries, a U.S. patent has guaranteed inventions will be protected from theft, helping the U.S. become the innovation capital of the world. San Diego, in particular, is the proud home of a thriving life sciences and technology ecosystem that has benefited from these protections,” said Rep. Peters. “Over the last 15 years, however, several Supreme Court decisions have created confusion about what exactly is eligible for a patent. Innovators, consumers, and even the judges who adjudicate patent law have called on Congress to provide clarity on what can be patented. I look forward to working with Congressman Kiley, Senator Coons, and Senator Tillis to advance our Patent Eligibility Restoration Act and protect American innovation.” 

    “American innovators have been at a disadvantage in recent years because of the U.S. patent system,” said Rep. Kiley. “Convoluted Supreme Court rulings and tests on subject matter eligibility have made it increasingly difficult for inventors to receive patents, leading to foreign companies overtaking our own. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bi-partisan Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will dramatically reverse this trend, and unleash a tide of economic growth and job creation here at home.” 

    “When American innovators know their ideas are eligible for patent protection, they take the risks that push us into the future – whether that’s the next medical test or the latest AI technology,” said Senator Coons. “PERA restores clarity to the law on what can be patented and what cannot – guidance that federal courts have been requesting for years and that the Supreme Court has refused to provide. Congress must step up to provide America’s inventors with the stable legal foundation they need to produce the cutting-edge technologies that power our economy.” 

    “Clear, reliable, and predictable patent rights are imperative to enable investments in the broad array of innovative technologies that are critical to the economic and global competitiveness of the United States, and to ensuring the national security of our great country,” said Senator Tillis. “Unfortunately, a series of Supreme Court decisions have rendered patent eligibility law unclear, unreliable, and unpredictable, resulting in U.S. inventors being unable to obtain patents in areas where our economic peers offer patent protection. This is particularly concerning in the economically critical areas of biotechnology and artificial intelligence. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, while addressing inappropriate judicially created eligibility limitations by creating clear rules for what is eligible. We cannot allow foreign adversaries like China to overtake us in key areas of technology innovation due to the current state of patent eligibility law. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders on this important matter. Passing patent eligibility reform is one of my top legislative priorities.” 

    Background: 

    Throughout our history, patent law has generally recognized three limited judicial exceptions to patent eligibility: abstract ideas, natural phenomena, and laws of nature. Since 2010, the Supreme Court has handed down several rulings that vastly expand those three initial exceptions. As a result, new medical diagnostics, like those pioneered by the biosciences community in San Diego, are almost entirely excluded from patent eligibility. 

    There is widespread bipartisan agreement in Congress and across recent Administrations that reforms are necessary to restore the United States to a position of global strength and leadership in key areas of technology and innovation, such as medical diagnostics, biotechnology, personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, 5G, and blockchain. 

    PERA would replace vague judicial exceptions like “abstract ideas” and “laws of nature” with a clear statutory framework for determining patent eligibility. This change will give inventors and courts predictable guidelines, reducing confusion and inconsistency in patent determinations. 

    By broadening patent eligibility to include areas like AI and medical diagnostics, PERA brings U.S. patent law in line with our international competitors. This alignment will help prevent innovation and investment in these areas from drying up in the United States and flowing to countries with more accommodating patent systems. 

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Meet the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: An Engineering Marvel of New Slim Hardware Innovation

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today has revealed the full specifications of the Galaxy S25 Edge, a category-defining slim smartphone joining the Galaxy S series. Crafted with style and strength in mind, Galaxy S25 Edge strikes a new balance of premium, pro-level performance in a resilient titanium frame only 5.8mm thick.1 S25 Edge delivers on the S series legacy, integrating an iconic Galaxy AI-enabled2 camera and unleashing a new realm of creativity in an effortlessly portable device.
    “Galaxy S25 Edge is more than a slim smartphone. The superior engineering that brought this revolutionary smartphone to life illustrates a commitment to overcoming barriers that helps Galaxy deliver truly unexpected premium experiences for people around the world,” said TM Roh, President and Acting Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “S25 Edge not only marks a breakthrough for its category, but it also accelerates important innovation across the mobile industry.”
    Exceptionally Sleek and Strong Design
    With a thin 5.8mm chassis and weighing in at just 163 grams, Galaxy S25 Edge is a remarkable feat of engineering that reimagines nearly every element of smartphone design for an even more compact and convenient experience. This refined design bridges form and function, taking slim smartphones to the next level while staying true to the Galaxy S series’ unified design.
    Alongside its streamlined silhouette is an exceptionally resilient device. The optimally curved edges of the sturdy titanium frame offer enduring protection for everyday use.  The latest Corning® Gorilla® Glass Ceramic 2, a new glass ceramic offering that delivers engineered resilience, is used for the front display to yield both vibrancy and strength on Galaxy S25 Edge.
    Dynamic Creativity with a Pocketable 200MP Camera
    The slim and light design of Galaxy S25 Edge makes it easier than ever for users to capture memorable moments and express their creativity anytime, anywhere. The 200MP wide lens upholds the Galaxy S series’ iconic camera experience including Nightography. Thanks to its ultra-high resolution, users get sharp photos while maintaining clear shots with the large pixel size — capturing images with over 40% improved brightness3 in low-light environments. The 12MP ultra-wide sensor features autofocus, powering crisp, detailed macro photography for even more creative flexibility.
    Galaxy S25 Edge benefits from the same ProVisual Engine that was optimized for Galaxy S25 with pro-grade enhancements, like ensuring sharp details for clothes or plants, and natural, true-to-life skin tone in portraits.4 Galaxy AI-powered editing features,5 including fan-favorites like Audio Eraser6 and Drawing Assist7 are all brought over from the Galaxy S25 series, pairing advanced creative and editing tools with a never-before-seen slim form factor.
    Peak Performance Expertly Configured in Ultra-Slim Housing
    Galaxy S25 Edge is built to deliver premium performance, starting with the Snapdragon 8 ® Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy, the same processor available in all Galaxy S25 series devices globally. Customized by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., the chipset powers Galaxy S25 Edge’s on-device AI processing capabilities and offers reliably fast performance all day.8 Galaxy S25 Edge also features a reconfigured vapor chamber that is now thinner, yet broader for steady heat dissipation.
    Matching the Galaxy S series’ renowned performance standards, Galaxy S25 Edge features advanced, efficient AI image processing with ProScaler,9 which delivers a 40% improvement10 in display image scaling quality, while incorporating Samsung’s customized mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) — improving power consumption, so you can enjoy peak performance for longer.
    A Trusted Companion with Galaxy AI
    Integrating Galaxy AI at nearly every touchpoint, Galaxy S25 Edge offers our most natural and context-aware mobile AI experiences. Users get personalized, multimodal AI capabilities with peace of mind that their data is secured.
    Mirroring the broader Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S25 Edge integrates AI agents that work seamlessly across multiple apps, serving as a true AI companion to get things done more easily. Galaxy AI also gets better at integrating with daily routines. Now Brief11 and Now Bar12 include third-party app integrations for greater convenience and helpful reminders during everyday commuting, dining, and more.
    Thanks to Galaxy’s deep integration with Google, Galaxy S25 Edge brings Gemini’s13 latest advancements to more users. For example, with Gemini Live’s14 new camera and screen sharing abilities, users can show Gemini Live what they see on their screen or in the world around them while simultaneously interacting with it in a live conversation.
    Experiences powered by Galaxy AI on Galaxy S25 Edge aren’t just convenient — they’re designed with privacy at the core. On-device AI processing ensures data is kept secure by Samsung Knox Vault,15 continuing Samsung’s unwavering commitment to ensure hyper-personalized mobile experiences while prioritizing privacy.
    Rooted in craftsmanship and driven by performance, Galaxy S25 Edge delivers pro-level photography, personalized AI experiences, and more. It goes beyond a slim form factor to challenge expectations for what a smartphone can be.
    Your Digital Essentials Always by Your Side
    Galaxy S25 Edge opens access to Samsung’s wide range of features and services to help you live your best life
    Samsung Health offers extensive fitness and health tracking, sleep coaching, personalized guides, and wellness tools to help you reach your goals without a subscription fee.
    Samsung Wallet is a convenient way to keep and use many of your most essential digital items securely on your phone including payment cards, digital keys, boarding passes, mobile driver’s license, student ID, and more.
    Galaxy S25 Edge will enable users to take advantage of Samsung Wallet’s soon-to-be-released Tap to Transfer feature. This enables quick6 and convenient peer-to-peer (P2P) payments by using the debit card stored in Samsung Wallet to send money directly to friends and family members’ bank account. No additional apps needed, and transfers are seamless between digital wallets — all it takes is a tap to transfer.17
    Availability
    Galaxy S25 Edge is available for pre-order starting today, May 12, at Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung.com, and from carriers nationwide, with general availability starting on May 30, 2025.
    Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,099.99 for the 256GB storage option and $1,219.99 for 512GB. It comes in stylish Titanium Silver, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Icyblue colors options.
    Preorder now through May 30 on Samsung.com or the Shop Samsung app to receive up to $800 in total savings. Claim a $50 credit just by pre-ordering,18 plus if you select the 256GB storage model, you will receive the 512GB model at no additional charge19 — that’s a value of $120. For extra savings, trade-in an eligible device and receive up to $630 in credit towards your purchase of Galaxy S25 Edge.20
    For more information about Galaxy S25 Edge and the Galaxy S25 series, please visit: Samsung Newsroom, SamsungMobilePress.com or Samsung.com.

    Galaxy S25 Edge
    Display6.7-inch* QHD+  
    Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display   
    Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz)    
    Vision booster  
    Adaptive color tone  
    *Measured diagonally, Galaxy S25 Edge’s screen size is 6.7-inch in the full rectangle and 6.5-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
    Dimensions & Weight75.6 X 158.2 X 5.8mm, 163g
    Camera12MP Ultra-Wide Camera    
    • F2.2    
        
    200 MP Wide Camera    
    • OIS F1.7, 2x optical quality zoom, up to 10x AI zoom
           
    12MP Front Camera    
    • F2.2
    Memory & Storage12 + 512GB   
    12 + 256GB   
    *Available storage capacity is subject to preloaded software.
    Battery3,900 mAh
    *Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3786mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.   
    Charging*  Wired charging*: Up to 55% charge in around 30 mins with 25W Adapter**   
    Fast Wireless Charging ***   
    Wireless PowerShare****   
    *Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and AFCPD.
    **25W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables.
    ***Wireless charging compatible with WPC.
    ****Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24+, S24, S23 Ultra, S23+, S23, Z Fold4, Z Flip4, S22 series, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 series, Z Fold2, Note20 series, S20 series, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds FE, Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch6, Watch6 Classic, Watch5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. During PowerShare, it may affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.   
    OSAndroid 15
    One UI 7
    Network and Connectivity5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 7***, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth® v 5.4
    *Requires optimal 5G network connection. Check with your carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors.   
    **Availability of LTE model varies by carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on carrier, and user environment.   
    ***Wi-Fi 7 network availability may vary by network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection. Will require a Wi-Fi 7 router.
    Water ResistanceIP68
    *IP68 Rating: Water and dust resistant based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of your device is not permanent and may diminish over time. Water and dust resistance of the S Pen may also diminish over time because of normal wear and tear.
    1 Excluding camera lenses.
    2 Galaxy AI features by Samsung are free through 2025 and require Samsung account login.
    3 Compared to Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+.
    4 Results may vary depending on light condition and/or shooting condition including multiple subjects, being out of subject, or moving subjects.
    5 Galaxy AI features by Samsung are free through 2025 and require Samsung account login.
    6 Compatible with common video formats accessible in Gallery; helps minimize six sounds (Voice/speech, Music, Noise, Crowd, Nature, Wind) utilizes AI; results may vary.
    7 Drawing assist feature requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.
    8 Based on average battery life under typical usage conditions. Average expected performance based on typical use. Actual battery life depends on factors such as network, features selected, frequency of calls, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns. Results may vary.
    9 Available on Galaxy S25 Edge, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Galaxy S25+ only; requires screen resolution setting to QHD+.
    10 13 Compared to Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 on Galaxy S24 series based on PSNR (Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio) test.
    11 Displays daily select information from select apps (some apps may require internet connection and/or consent to access data). Personal data intelligence must be enabled.
    12 Requires WIFI connection and Samsung and Google accounts.
    13 Product functionality may be dependent on your app and device settings. Requires internet connection. Results may vary depending on visual matches. Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC.
    14 Results for illustrative purposes and may vary. Check responses for accuracy. Compatible with certain features and with certain accounts. Internet connection required. Available on select devices, languages, and countries. Only available to users 18 years and older.
    15 Galaxy AI Personal Data Engine secures select data from select apps on device in Knox Vault. Galaxy AI features by Samsung are free through 2025 and require Samsung account login.
    16 Actual funds availability varies depending on receiving financial institutions. Service provided by Green Dot® ©2025 Green Dot Corporation.  All rights reserved. Green Dot Corporation NMLS #914924; Green Dot Bank NMLS #908739.
    17 Requires a contactless enabled Visa or Mastercard debit card from a participating U.S. bank. Fees and limits apply. Your financial institution or mobile carrier may charge you. See Samsung.com for details.
    18 5/12/25 – 5/30/25, pre-order the latest Galaxy S25 Edge device on Samsung.com or in the Shop Samsung App and receive a $50 Samsung Credit (“Reservation Gift”) when you pre-order and purchase the device. Pre-order and purchase required. The Reservation Gift cannot be applied to the pre-ordered device(s) and must be used at the time of pre-order purchase towards purchasing additional eligible products on Samsung.com, or in the Shop Samsung App. Reservation Gift will be applied automatically when you use the same email address during Reserve and Pre-order Periods. Reservation Gift is a one-time use e-certificate; when first used, any value not used is lost and must be used at the time of purchase. The Gift is non-transferable and limited to 1 per Qualifying Purchase. If you return or cancel your purchase, the discount will be forfeit.
    19 5/12/25 – 5/30/25, while supplies last, purchase a Galaxy S25 Edge 512GB (“Qualifying Purchase”) for the price of the next lowest storage level (“Gift”) at samsung.com or the Shop Samsung app. Portion of storage/memory occupied by existing content. The discount will be automatically applied at checkout. The Gift is non transferrable and limited to 1 per Qualifying Purchase. If you return or cancel your purchase the discount will be lost.
    20 For a limited time only, on Samsung.com/Shop Samsung App, or purchase a new qualifying Galaxy device (“Qualifying Purchase”), send in your qualifying trade-in device to Samsung through the Samsung Trade-In Program, and if Samsung determines your trade-in device meets all eligibility requirements, you will receive a trade-in credit specific to your qualifying trade-in device to apply toward your Qualifying Purchase. Device models that currently qualify for trade-in and trade-in credit amounts associated with those models are available on Samsung.com and the Shop Samsung App; eligible models and amounts may change at Samsung’s sole discretion. To be eligible for trade-in, your qualifying device must meet all Trade-In Program eligibility requirements, which include, but are not limited to, that the device powers on, holds a charge, and does not power off unexpectedly; has a functioning display; has no breaks or cracks in the screen (unless a cracked screen offer applies); has no breaks or cracks in the case; has no liquid damage (whether visible or not); has no other defects that go beyond normal wear and tear; is not on a black list; has a verified FCC ID; has been reset to factory settings; has all personal information removed; has all software locks disabled; and is owned by you (leased devices are not eligible). Anticipated trade-in value will be applied as a credit at time of purchase, but, if you do not send in your trade-in device within 15 days of receipt of your Qualifying Purchase, you will be charged back for the trade-in credit applied to your purchase, or if you send in your trade-in device within 15 days of receipt of your Qualifying Purchase but Samsung determines your device does not meet all eligibility requirements, you will be charged back for the trade-in credit applied to your purchase minus $25. Participation in this program does not excuse you from contracts with your carrier or retailer (or any related payments or fees) for the device that was traded in. Limit 1 trade-in per Qualifying Purchase. Samsung reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time. The Trade-In Program cannot be combined with any other Samsung, carrier or retailer promotions, discounts, or offers unless specifically provided for in the terms and conditions of such offers. Additional terms, including terms that govern the resolution of disputes, apply.
    * All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates to Reflect Discussions with the People’s Republic of China

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby determine and order:
    Section 1.  Background.  In Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits), I declared a national emergency arising from conditions reflected in large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits, and imposed additional ad valorem duties that I deemed necessary and appropriate to deal with that unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security and economy of the United States.  Section 4(b) of Executive Order 14257 provided that “[s]hould any trading partner retaliate against the United States in response to this action through import duties on U.S. exports or other measures, I may further modify the [Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States] to increase or expand in scope the duties imposed under this order to ensure the efficacy of this action.”In Executive Order 14259 of April 8, 2025 (Amendment to Reciprocal Tariffs and Updated Duties as Applied to Low-Value Imports From the People’s Republic of China), and Executive Order 14266 of April 9, 2025 (Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates To Reflect Trading Partner Retaliation and Alignment), pursuant to section 4(b) of Executive Order 14257, I ordered modifications of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) to raise the applicablead valorem duty rate for imports from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) established in Executive Order 14257, in recognition of the fact that the State Council Tariff Commission of the PRC announced that it would retaliate against the United States in response to Executive Order 14257 and Executive Order 14259.Section 4(c) of Executive Order 14257 provided that, “[s]hould any trading partner take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements and align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national security matters, I may further modify the HTSUS to decrease or limit in scope the duties imposed under this order.”  Since I signed Executive Order 14266, the United States has entered into discussions with the PRC to address the lack of trade reciprocity in our economic relationship and our resulting national and economic security concerns.  Conducting these discussions is a significant step by the PRC toward remedying non-reciprocal trade arrangements and addressing the concerns of the United States relating to economic and national security matters.
    Pursuant to section 4(c) of Executive Order 14257, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to address the national emergency declared in that order by modifying the HTSUS to suspend for a period of 90 days application of the additional ad valorem duties imposed on the PRC listed in Annex I to Executive Order 14257, as amended by Executive Order 14259 and Executive Order 14266, and clarified in the Presidential Memorandum of April 11, 2025 (Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as Amended), and to instead impose on articles of the PRC an additional ad valorem rate of duty as set forth herein, pursuant to the terms of, and except as otherwise provided in, Executive Order 14257, as modified by this order. 
    Sec. 2.  Suspension of Country-Specific Ad Valorem Rate of Duty.  Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 14, 2025, all articles imported into the customs territory of the United States from the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macau, shall be, consistent with law, subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 10 percent subject to all applicable exceptions set forth in Executive Order 14257 and the Presidential Memorandum of April 11, 2025.  This ad valorem rate of duty of 10 percent reflects (i) the modification of the application of the additional ad valorem rate of duty on articles of China (including articles of Hong Kong and Macau) set forth in Executive Order 14257, by suspending 24 percentage points of that rate for an initial period of 90 days, and the retention of the remaining ad valorem rate of 10 percent on those articles pursuant to the terms of said order; and (ii) the removal of the modified additional ad valorem rates of duty on those articles imposed by Executive Order 14259 and Executive Order 14266.
    Sec. 3.  Tariff Modifications.  In recognition of the intentions of the PRC to facilitate addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257, the HTSUS shall be modified as follows:Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 14, 2025: (a)  heading 9903.01.25 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting the article description and by inserting “Articles the product of any country, except for products described in headings 9903.01.26–9903.01.33, and except as provided for in heading 9903.01.34, as provided for in subdivision (v) of U.S. note 2 to this subchapter . . . . . . ” in lieu thereof;(b)  heading 9903.01.63 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting “125%” each place that it appears and by inserting “34%” in lieu thereof;(c)  subdivision (v)(xiii)(10) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting “125%”, and by inserting “34%” in lieu thereof; and(d)  heading 9903.01.63 and subdivision (v)(xiii)(10) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS are hereby suspended for a period of 90 days beginning at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 14, 2025.
    Sec. 4.  De Minimis Tariff Decrease.  To ensure that the reduction in duties pursuant to section 2 of this order is made fully effective and the purpose of Executive Order 14257, as amended, is not undermined, I also deem it necessary and appropriate to:(a)  decrease the ad valorem rate of duty set forth in section 2(c)(i) of Executive Order 14256 of April 2, 2025 (Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports), as modified by Executive Order 14259 and Executive Order 14266, from 120 percent to 54 percent;(b)  retain in effect the per postal item containing goods duty of 100 dollars in section 2(c)(ii) of Executive Order 14256, as modified by Executive Order 14259 and Executive Order 14266, that has been in effect since 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 2, 2025, unless and until otherwise modified by a subsequent executive action, notwithstanding the increase contemplated effective June 1, 2025, pursuant to Executive Order 14256, as modified by Executive Order 14259 and Executive Order 14266; and(c)  modify the HTSUS, effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 14, 2025, as follows:(i)   subdivision (w) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting “120 percent”, and by inserting “54 percent” in lieu thereof; and(ii)  subdivision (w) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting “, and before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2025.  For merchandise entered for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2025, the applicable specific duty rate is $200 per postal item containing such goods.”
    Sec. 5.  Implementation.  The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, as applicable, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing, and the Chair of the United States International Trade Commission, are directed to take all necessary actions to implement and effectuate this order, consistent with applicable law, including through temporary suspension or amendment of regulations or notices in the Federal Register and adopting rules and regulations, and are authorized to take such actions, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA, as may be necessary to implement this order.  Each executive department and agency shall take all appropriate measures within its authority to implement this order.
    Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.(d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Commerce.  
                                   DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,    May 12, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: HighPeak Energy, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Results – AMENDED

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT WORTH, Texas, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HighPeak Energy, Inc. (“HighPeak” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: HPK) today announced amended financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, provided an updated 2025 development outlook and increased production guidance. Please note that in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows table, the amount of Repayments under Term Loan Credit Agreement for 2025 was amended from (120,000) to (30,000). The amended release follows:

    First Quarter 2025 Highlights

    • Sales volumes averaged approximately 53.1 thousand barrels of crude oil equivalent per day (“MBoe/d”), representing a 6% increase from the fourth quarter 2024.
    • Net income was $36.3 million, or $0.26 per diluted share and EBITDAX (a non-GAAP financial measure defined and reconciled below) was $197.3 million, or $1.40 per diluted share. First quarter 2025 adjusted net income (a non-GAAP financial measure defined and reconciled below) was $42.7 million, or $0.31 per diluted share.
    • Lease operating expenses averaged $6.61 per Boe, excluding workover expenses, representing a 3% decrease compared to the fourth quarter 2024.
    • Generated free cash flow (a non-GAAP financial measure defined and reconciled below) of $10.7 million, reduced long-term debt by $30 million and paid $0.04 per share in dividends.
    • Realized increased drilling and completion efficiency gains, which translated to drilling and completing four additional wells during the first quarter.

    Recent Events

    • Narrowed 2025 production guidance range and increased the midpoint.
    • On May 12, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per common share outstanding payable in June 2025.

    Statement from Jack Hightower, Chairman and CEO:

    In March, we discussed our four pillars of success for 2025 which include: 1) improving corporate efficiency, 2) maintaining capital discipline, 3) optimizing our capital structure, and 4) delivering shareholder value. I would like to take this opportunity to update our shareholders on where we stand and the progress we have made to date.

    Improving Corporate Efficiency
    HighPeak delivered another strong quarter of results, beating production guidance and consensus estimates, while also realizing higher levels of operating efficiencies in our development program. We drilled over 25% faster than our previous expectations, which translated to drilling and completing four additional wells during the first quarter. We are running smoother and more efficiently than ever before, while continuing to keep development costs in line with internal expectations.

    Maintaining Capital Discipline
    Due to the global economic uncertainty and its impact on oil prices, we have moderated our development program by laying down one rig for four months, May through August. Despite the pause, we remain on track to drill and complete the same number of wells in our 2025 guidance because of the gains made through operational efficiencies.

    As detailed on our March conference call, the majority of our 2025 infrastructure capex was first-quarter weighted. Factoring in drilling and completing four additional wells, we accomplished an outsized portion of our planned annual development activity during the first quarter. Going forward, we expect our quarterly capital expenditures to be materially lower and the total for the year to fall within our 2025 guided capex range. Although our operations are running much more efficiently, this is not the proper time to accelerate development activity from our original plan. Additionally, we have complete flexibility from a land and operations perspective to reduce the budget and leave a rig down for longer than the current plan if conditions warrant.

    Optimizing our Capital Structure
    We remain committed to optimizing our capital structure and remain poised to execute our plan once the market has stabilized. We are in a healthy financial position with no near-term debt maturities and are taking proactive steps to keep our balance sheet strong as we navigate this turbulent market.

    Shareholder Value
    Given the current global macro-economic backdrop, this is a time to remain nimble and prudent, which our high-quality asset base allows. As large owners of the Company, management is fully aligned with shareholders and has a long-term outlook on value creation. While markets may be volatile, it is important to remember the fundamental value of our asset base is still strong.

    First Quarter 2025 Operational Update

    HighPeak’s sales volumes during the first quarter of 2025 averaged 53.1 MBoe/d, a six percent increase over the fourth quarter 2024. First quarter sales volumes consisted of approximately 72% crude oil and 86% liquids.

    The Company averaged two drilling rigs and one frac crew during the first quarter, drilled 16 gross (16.0 net) horizontal wells and turned-in-line 13 gross (12.9 net) producing wells. On March 31, 2025, the Company had 28 gross (28.0 net) horizontal wells in various stages of drilling and completion.

    The Company updated its 2025 production guidance range to 48,000 – 50,500 Boe/d.

    HighPeak President, Michael Hollis, commented, “Our strong first quarter production is allowing us to narrow our guided range and increase the midpoint. This speaks to our strong well performance and the high quality of our long lived oily inventory. As seen in the last few commodity price cycles, HighPeak is realizing deflationary cost pressures on both the capex and opex fronts. With our increased operational efficiency, we are doing more with less and at a lower overall cost.”

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    HighPeak reported net income of $36.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, or $0.26 per diluted share, and EBITDAX of $197.3 million, or $1.40 per diluted share. HighPeak reported adjusted net income of $42.7 million for the first quarter of 2025, or $0.31 per diluted share.

    First quarter average realized prices were $71.64 per Bbl of crude oil, $24.21 per Bbl of NGL and $2.34 per Mcf of natural gas, resulting in an overall realized price of $53.84 per Boe, or 75% of the weighted average of NYMEX crude oil prices, excluding the effects of derivatives. HighPeak’s cash costs for the first quarter were $11.94 per Boe, including lease operating expenses of $6.61 per Boe, workover expenses of $0.83 per Boe, production and ad valorem taxes of $3.17 per Boe and G&A expenses of $1.33 per Boe. As a result, the Company’s unhedged EBITDAX per Boe was $41.90 per Boe, or 78% of the overall realized price per Boe for the quarter, excluding the effects of derivatives.

    HighPeak’s first quarter 2025 capital expenditures to drill, complete, equip, provide facilities and for infrastructure were $179.8 million.

    Hedging

    Crude oil. As of March 31, 2025, HighPeak had the following outstanding crude oil derivative instruments and the weighted average crude oil prices and premiums payable per Bbl:

                          Swaps     Collars, Enhanced Collars
    & Deferred
    Premium Puts    		  
    Settlement
    Month    		   Settlement
    Year    		   Type of
    Contract    		   Bbls
    Per
    Day    		   Index   Price per
    Bbl    		     Floor or
    Strike
    Price per
    Bbl    		     Ceiling
    Price per
    Bbl    		     Deferred
    Premium
    Payable
    per Bbl    		  
    Crude Oil:                                                  
    Apr – Jun   2025   Swap     5,500   WTI Cushing   $ 76.37     $ —     $ —     $ —  
    Apr – Jun   2025   Collar     7,989   WTI Cushing   $ —     $ 64.38     $ 88.55     $ 2.00  
    Apr – Jun   2025   Put     9,000   WTI Cushing   $ —     $ 65.78     $ —     $ 5.00  
    Jul – Sep   2025   Swap     3,000   WTI Cushing   $ 75.85     $ —     $ —     $ —  
    Jul – Sep   2025   Collar     7,000   WTI Cushing   $ —     $ 65.00     $ 90.08     $ 2.28  
    Jul – Sep   2025   Put     9,000   WTI Cushing   $ —     $ 65.78     $ —     $ 5.00  
    Oct – Dec   2025   Collar     5,000   WTI Cushing   $ —     $ 60.00     $ 72.80     $ —  
    Jan – Mar   2026   Collar     5,000   WTI Cushing   $ —     $ 60.00     $ 72.80     $ —  
     

    The Company’s crude oil derivative contracts detailed above are based on reported settlement prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange for West Texas Intermediate pricing.

    Natural gas. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had the following outstanding natural gas derivative instruments and the weighted average natural gas prices payable per MMBtu.

    Settlement Month   Settlement
    Year    		   Type of
    Contract    		   MMBtu
    Per Day    		   Index   Price per
    MMBtu    		  
    Natural Gas:                          
    Apr – Jun   2025   Swap     30,000   HH   $ 4.43  
    Jul – Sep   2025   Swap     30,000   HH   $ 4.43  
    Oct – Dec   2025   Swap     30,000   HH   $ 4.43  
    Jan – Mar   2026   Swap     19,667   HH   $ 4.43  
     

    HighPeak added the following natural gas swaps in April 2025.

    Settlement Month   Settlement
    Year    		   Type of
    Contract    		   MMBtu
    Per Day    		   Index   Price per
    MMBtu    		  
    Natural Gas:                          
    Jan – Mar   2026   Swap     10,333   HH   $ 4.30  
    Apr – Jun   2026   Swap     30,000   HH   $ 4.30  
    Jul – Sep   2026   Swap     30,000   HH   $ 4.30  
    Oct – Dec   2026   Swap     30,000   HH   $ 4.30  
    Jan – Mar   2027   Swap     19,667   HH   $ 4.30  
     

    Dividends

    During the first quarter of 2025, HighPeak’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share, or $5.0 million in dividends paid to stockholders during the quarter. In addition, in May 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share, or approximately $5.0 million in dividends, to be paid on June 25, 2025, to stockholders of record on June 2, 2025. 

    Conference Call

    HighPeak will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time for investors and analysts to discuss its results for the first quarter of 2025. Conference call participants may register for the call here. Access to the live audio-only webcast and replay of the earnings release conference call may be found here. A live broadcast of the earnings conference call will also be available on the HighPeak Energy website at www.highpeakenergy.com under the “Investors” section of the website. A replay will also be available on the website following the call.

    When available, a copy of the Company’s earnings release, investor presentation and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may be found on its website at www.highpeakenergy.com.

    About HighPeak Energy, Inc.

    HighPeak Energy, Inc. is a publicly traded independent crude oil and natural gas company, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional crude oil and natural gas reserves in the Midland Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit our website at www.highpeakenergy.com.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    The information in this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this document, the words “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “continue,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “future,” “potential,” “estimate” or the negative of such terms and similar expressions as they relate to HighPeak Energy, Inc. (“HighPeak Energy” or the “Company”) are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. The forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry in which the Company operates. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, they involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, in many cases, beyond the Company’s control. For example, the Company’s review of strategic alternatives may not result in a sale of the Company, a recommendation that a transaction occur or result in a completed transaction, and any transaction that occurs may not increase shareholder value, in each case as a result of such risks and uncertainties.

    These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the results of the strategic review being undertaken by the Company’s Board and the interest of prospective counterparties, the Company’s ability to realize the results contemplated by its 2025 guidance, volatility of commodity prices, political instability or armed conflicts in crude or natural gas producing regions such as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine or Israel and Hamas, product supply and demand, the impact of a widespread outbreak of an illness, such as the coronavirus disease pandemic, on global and U.S. economic activity, competition, OPEC+ policy decisions, potential new trade policies, such as tariffs, could adversely affect the Company’s operations, business and profitability, inflationary pressures on costs of oilfield goods, services and personnel, the ability to obtain environmental and other permits and the timing thereof, other government regulation or action, the ability to obtain approvals from third parties and negotiate agreements with third parties on mutually acceptable terms, litigation, the costs and results of drilling and operations, availability of equipment, services, resources and personnel required to perform the Company’s drilling and operating activities, access to and availability of transportation, processing, fractionation, refining and storage facilities, HighPeak Energy’s ability to replace reserves, implement its business plans or complete its development activities as scheduled, access to and cost of capital, the financial strength of counterparties to any credit facility and derivative contracts entered into by HighPeak Energy, if any, and purchasers of HighPeak Energy’s oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production, uncertainties about estimates of reserves, identification of drilling locations and the ability to add proved reserves in the future, the assumptions underlying forecasts, including forecasts of production, expenses, cash flow from sales of oil and gas and tax rates, quality of technical data, environmental and weather risks, including the possible impacts of climate change, cybersecurity risks and acts of war or terrorism. These and other risks are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no duty to publicly update these statements except as required by law.

    Reserve engineering is a process of estimating underground accumulations of hydrocarbons that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data, the interpretation of such data and price and cost assumptions made by reserve engineers. Reserves estimates included herein may not be indicative of the level of reserves or PV-10 value of oil and natural gas production in the future. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions could impact HighPeak’s strategy and change the schedule of any further production and development drilling. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered.

    Use of Projections

    The financial, operational, industry and market projections, estimates and targets in this press release and in the Company’s guidance (including production, operating expenses and capital expenditures in future periods) are based on assumptions that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. The assumptions and estimates underlying the projected, expected or target results are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic, regulatory and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the financial, operational, industry and market projections, estimates and targets, including assumptions, risks and uncertainties described in “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” above. These projections are speculative by their nature and, accordingly, are subject to significant risk of not being actually realized by the Company. Projected results of the Company for 2025 are particularly speculative and subject to change. Actual results may vary materially from the current projections, including for reasons beyond the Company’s control. The projections are based on current expectations and available information as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no duty to publicly update these projections except as required by law.

    Drilling Locations

    The Company has estimated its drilling locations based on well spacing assumptions and upon the evaluation of its drilling results and those of other operators in its area, combined with its interpretation of available geologic and engineering data. The drilling locations actually drilled on the Company’s properties will depend on the availability of capital, regulatory approvals, commodity prices, costs, actual drilling results and other factors. Any drilling activities conducted on these identified locations may not be successful and may not result in additional proved reserves. Further, to the extent the drilling locations are associated with acreage that expires, the Company would lose its right to develop the related locations.

    HighPeak Energy, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
    (In thousands)
        March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		  
    Current assets:              
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 51,619     $ 86,649    
    Accounts receivable     78,356       85,242    
    Inventory     8,706       10,952    
    Prepaid expenses     8,301       4,587    
    Derivative instruments     5,620       7,582    
    Total current assets     152,602       195,012    
    Crude oil and natural gas properties, using the successful efforts method of accounting:              
    Proved properties     4,140,881       3,959,545    
    Unproved properties     71,359       70,868    
    Accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization     (1,293,949 )     (1,184,684 )  
    Total crude oil and natural gas properties, net     2,918,291       2,845,729    
    Other property and equipment, net     3,141       3,201    
    Other noncurrent assets     19,047       19,346    
    Total assets   $ 3,093,081     $ 3,063,288    
                   
    Current liabilities:              
    Current portion of long-term debt, net   $ 120,000     $ 120,000    
    Accounts payable – trade     66,473       74,011    
    Accrued capital expenditures     53,240       35,170    
    Revenues and royalties payable     27,993       26,838    
    Other accrued liabilities     22,065       22,196    
    Derivative instruments     8,275       5,380    
    Operating leases     821       719    
    Advances from joint interest owners     —       316    
    Total current liabilities     298,867       284,630    
    Noncurrent liabilities:              
    Long-term debt, net     902,844       928,384    
    Deferred income taxes     242,337       232,398    
    Asset retirement obligations     15,058       14,750    
    Operating leases     581       670    
    Commitments and contingencies              
                   
    Stockholders’ equity              
    Common stock     13       13    
    Additional paid-in capital     1,166,786       1,166,609    
    Retained earnings     466,595       435,834    
    Total stockholders’ equity     1,633,394       1,602,456    
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 3,093,081     $ 3,063,288    
     
    HighPeak Energy, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (in thousands)
        Quarter Ended March 31,
    		  
        2025   2024
    		  
    Operating revenues:            
    Crude oil sales   $ 246,424     $ 282,369    
    NGL and natural gas sales     11,024       5,395    
    Total operating revenues     257,448       287,764    
    Operating costs and expenses:            
    Crude oil and natural gas production     35,562       30,271    
    Production and ad valorem taxes     15,152       14,402    
    Exploration and abandonments     264       498    
    Depletion, depreciation and amortization     109,325       130,850    
    Accretion of discount     244       239    
    General and administrative     6,345       4,685    
    Stock-based compensation     177       3,798    
    Total operating costs and expenses     167,069       184,743    
    Other expense     —       1    
    Income from operations     90,379       103,020    
    Interest income     810       2,392    
    Interest expense     (36,988 )     (43,634 )  
    Loss on derivative instruments, net     (7,927 )     (53,043 )  
    Income before income taxes     46,274       8,735    
    Provision for income taxes     9,939       2,297    
    Net income   $ 36,335     $ 6,438    
                 
    Earnings per share:            
    Basic net income   $ 0.26     $ 0.05    
    Diluted net income   $ 0.26     $ 0.05    
                 
    Weighted average shares outstanding:            
    Basic     123,913       125,696    
    Diluted     127,213       129,641    
                 
    Dividends declared per share   $ 0.04     $ 0.04    
     
    HighPeak Energy, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (in thousands)
        Quarter Ended March 31,
    		  
        2025
    		   2024
    		  
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:            
    Net income   $ 36,335     $ 6,438    
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:            
    Provision for deferred income taxes     9,939       1,688    
    Loss on derivative instruments     7,927       53,043    
    Cash paid on settlement of derivative instruments     (3,071 )     (5,148 )  
    Amortization of debt issuance costs     2,034       2,053    
    Amortization of discounts on long-term debt     2,426       2,453    
    Stock-based compensation expense     177       3,798    
    Accretion expense     244       239    
    Depletion, depreciation and amortization     109,325       130,850    
    Exploration and abandonment expense     4       274    
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:            
    Accounts receivable     6,886       (14,414 )  
    Prepaid expenses, inventory and other assets     (1,314 )     (4,722 )  
    Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other current liabilities     (13,860 )     (5,113 )  
    Net cash provided by operating activities     157,052       171,439    
    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:            
    Additions to crude oil and natural gas properties     (179,819 )     (147,698 )  
    Changes in working capital associated with crude oil and natural gas property additions     25,172       1,705    
    Acquisitions of crude oil and natural gas properties     (2,517 )     (2,171 )  
    Proceeds from sales of properties     570       —    
    Other property additions     —       (59 )  
    Net cash used in investing activities     (156,594 )     (148,223 )  
    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:            
    Repayments under Term Loan Credit Agreement     (30,000 )     (30,000 )  
    Dividends paid     (4,957 )     (5,050 )  
    Dividend equivalents paid     (531 )     (530 )  
    Repurchased shares under buyback program     —       (8,764 )  
    Debt issuance costs     —       (7 )  
    Net cash used in financing activities     (35,488 )     (44,351 )  
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (35,030 )     (21,135 )  
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     86,649       194,515    
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 51,619     $ 173,380    
     
    HighPeak Energy, Inc.
    Unaudited Summary Operating Highlights
        Quarter Ended March 31,  
        2025   2024  
    Average Daily Sales Volumes:              
    Crude oil (Bbls)     38,222       39,959    
    NGLs (Bbls)     7,724       5,147    
    Natural gas (Mcf)     43,096       27,733    
    Total (Boe)     53,128       49,729    
                   
    Average Realized Prices (excluding effects of derivatives):              
    Crude oil per Bbl   $ 71.64     $ 77.65    
    NGL per Bbl   $ 24.21     $ 24.94    
    Natural gas per Mcf   $ 2.34     $ 1.33    
    Total per Boe   $ 53.84     $ 63.59    
                   
    Margin Data ($ per Boe):              
    Average price, excluding effects of derivatives   $ 53.84     $ 63.59    
    Lease operating expenses     (6.61 )     (6.30 )  
    Expense workovers     (0.83 )     (0.39 )  
    Production and ad valorem taxes     (3.17 )     (3.18 )  
    General and administrative expenses     (1.33 )     (1.04 )  
        $ 41.90     $ 52.68    
     
    HighPeak Energy, Inc.
    Unaudited Earnings Per Share Details
        Quarter Ended March 31,  
        2025   2024  
    Net income as reported   $ 36,335     $ 6,438    
    Participating basic earnings     (3,542 )     (605 )  
    Basic earnings attributable to common shareholders     32,793       5,833    
    Reallocation of participating earnings     47       1    
    Diluted net income attributable to common shareholders   $ 32,840     $ 5,834    
                   
    Basic weighted average shares outstanding     123,913       125,696    
    Dilutive warrants and unvested stock options     1,146       1,786    
    Dilutive unvested restricted stock     2,154       2,159    
    Diluted weighted average shares outstanding     127,213       129,641    
                   
    Net income per share attributable to common shareholders:              
    Basic   $ 0.26     $ 0.05    
    Diluted   $ 0.26     $ 0.05    
     
    HighPeak Energy, Inc.
    Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDAX, Discretionary Cash Flow and Net Cash Provided by Operations
    (in thousands)    		  
        Quarter Ended March 31,  
        2025   2024  
    Net income   $ 36,335     $ 6,438    
    Interest expense     36,988       43,634    
    Interest income     (810 )     (2,392 )  
    Income tax expense     9,939       2,297    
    Depletion, depreciation and amortization     109,325       130,850    
    Accretion of discount     244       239    
    Exploration and abandonment expense     264       498    
    Stock based compensation     177       3,798    
    Derivative related noncash activity     4,856       47,895    
    Other expense     —       1    
    EBITDAX     197,318       233,258    
    Cash interest expense     (32,528 )     (39,128 )  
    Other (a)     550       1,558    
    Discretionary cash flow     165,340       195,688    
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities     (8,288 )     (24,249 )  
    Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 157,052     $ 171,439    
    (a)     Includes interest income net of current tax expense, other expense and operating portion of exploration and abandonment expenses.
     
    HighPeak Energy, Inc.
    Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operations and Free Cash Flow
    (in thousands)
        Quarter Ended March 31,  
        2025   2024  
    Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 157,052     $ 171,439    
    Add back: net change in operating assets and liabilities     8,288       24,249    
    Operating cash flow before working capital changes     165,340       195,688    
    Additions to crude oil and natural gas properties     (179,819 )     (147,698 )  
    Changes in working capital associated with crude oil and natural gas property additions     25,172       1,705    
    Free cash flow   $ 10,693     $ 49,695    
     
    HighPeak Energy, Inc.
    Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income
    (in thousands, except per share data)
        Quarter Ended
    March 31, 2025    		  
        Amounts   Amounts per Diluted Share  
    Net income   $ 36,335     $ 0.26    
    Derivative loss, net     7,927       0.06    
    Stock-based compensation     177       0.00    
    Income tax adjustment for above items *     (1,741 )     (0.01 )  
                       
    Adjusted net income   $ 42,698     $ 0.31    
                   
    * Assuming 21% statutory tax rate              
     

    Investor Contact:

    Ryan Hightower
    Vice President, Business Development
    817.850.9204
    rhightower@highpeakenergy.com

    Source: HighPeak Energy, Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release; Budget should not be paid for by working women

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The Government must do three things in Budget 2025 if it is genuinely going to turn things around for New Zealanders.

    “First, it will need to properly fund our frontline public services,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

    “Second, it will need to provide a credible answer to how the Government is going to fund all of its promises, and that should not be at the expense of working women.

    “Third, they need to show they have a plan to invest in our future. To rebuild our ageing schools, hospitals, public homes and infrastructure. To create jobs, upskill our workers, and raise wages and living standards.

    “Because fundamentally, good economic management is about people. Shifting numbers around on a page while making life harder for everyday working Kiwis is not a sign of success.

    “Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis say there is no alternative. But there is always an alternative – choosing billions in tax breaks for landlords and tobacco companies are not the choices Labour would have made.

    “Borrowing $12 billion for tax cuts while cutting jobs, cutting investment, and cutting hope for future generations are not choices Labour would make.

    “A good, responsible manager of New Zealand’s economy would not fund their Budget by cutting women’s pay,” Chris Hipkins said.

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Chris Hipkins: Pre-Budget speech

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    So as we gather here for an early conversation about next week’s Budget, it’s also a good time for us to have some hard, and honest, conversations about the crossroads our country finds itself at.

    We’re at a moment that demands honesty. A moment that demands leadership. And above all, a moment that demands hope.

    I want to say upfront that paying for your Budget at the expense of women, cutting their chance at fair pay, is the opposite of all of those things.

    I think the reaction over the past week has been swift, strong and utterly justified.

    Women all over this country rightly felt like pay equity was something they had fought for, in some cases devoting their lives to it. It was hard fought, and we were making progress.

    Let’s be clear – this Government is gaslighting all Kiwi women.

    Telling them they aren’t cutting women’s pay on one hand, while cancelling 33 active claims representing hundreds of thousands of women with no due process on the other.

    Claiming it wasn’t to pay for their Budget, then admitting their changes will see billions slashed from that same Budget.

    I think one of the many reasons this is resonating so strongly is because for many Kiwis, the promises they were sold at the last election have turned to dust.

    They were told the economy would be stronger. But it’s slower.

    They were told the cost of living would come down. But prices have gone up.

    They were told families with kids would get an extra $250 a fortnight to help with the cost of living, yet only a handful, if that, are getting it.

    They were told a new government would get things moving, and yet building projects have ground to a halt and 13,000 people working in construction lost their jobs.

    They were told the country would be united. But it’s more divided than ever.

    And at every turn, when people ask ‘why can’t we invest in our schools, in our hospitals, in our future?’ the government is giving them the same answer:

    “There’s no alternative.”

    Well, let me be clear: there is always an alternative. There are always choices.

    And this government is making the wrong ones.

    A $3 billion tax break for landlords while cutting funding for pay equity for women.

    A rollback of our world-leading smoke-free laws while giving tobacco companies over $200 million in tax breaks.

    Borrowing $12 billion for tax cuts while cutting jobs, cutting investment, and cutting hope for future generations.

    They are choosing austerity. Nicola Willis doesn’t like that word, but it is absolutely true. Choosing decline. Choosing division.

    But we in Labour are choosing a different path. A better path. A fairer path. One that puts people at the heart of our economy and decency back at the heart of our politics.

    Because we’ve done it before, and we can do it again.

    There are challenges ahead. Challenges like the rise of artificial intelligence and the changing nature of work that’s going to prompt.

    The climate crisis, and the energy transition that’s going to demand.

    An ageing population, in need of care and dignity.

    The widening gap between rich and poor, between city and region, between young and old.

    And the creeping polarisation that seeks to divide us, when what we need most is to come together.

    What’s this government’s response now to these challenges?

    Deregulate here. Privatise there.

    If it moves, sell it. If it breaks, blame someone else.

    This is a government more interested in finding someone else to blame than solving the problems facing the country.

    They’re trying to solve the challenges of the 21st century with ideas from the 19th.

    They have no plan for the future. Just slogans and spreadsheets.

    But we do have a plan. A serious, credible, ambitious plan one that is rooted in fairness, decency, and community. One that believes in people. One that backs New Zealand.

    Labour is the party that governs for all, not just a few.

    Let’s start with the economy—because you can’t build anything if your foundations are crumbling.

    The current government loves to repeat the myth that New Zealand is drowning in debt.

    Let’s look at the facts. Before COVID-19 arrived, our net core Crown debt was around 18%. After the pandemic, it peaked at 40%. That’s an increase—but it’s broadly in line with what National borrowed during the Global Financial Crisis, when they increased debt by 20%.

    And if you include our assetts—like the New Zealand Super Fund—our net debt falls closer to 25%. That’s still one of the lowest levels in the developed world.

    You wouldn’t sell your house because of a mortgage you can easily manage. And we shouldn’t sell our public assets because of debt that’s low by international standards.

    And net debt isn’t the full story either. The government’s net worth more than doubled over the past decade —from $81 billion in 2014 to $191 billion in 2023.

    We need a more mature conversation about government debt and assets than the one that we are having at the moment.

    Borrowing more money to support a higher number of people on unemployment benefits because you’ve slashed government investment in areas like infrastructure and housing simply isn’t sustainable.

    Now is exactly the time for government to make the investments we need in infrastructure, housing, health, and our environment so we are creating jobs and get New Zealand moving again.

    Anchor projects funded by government have helped us get through major economic shocks before, like the rollout of broadband during the GFC. They create jobs, stimulate the economy, and leave a positive legacy for the future.

    Yet all we’ve seen from this government so far is big talk about a pipeline of future projects that’s yet to eventuate. In fact, the opposite has happened. They spent less last year than the year before.

    All the big talk about infrastructure is actually resulting in less investment in it.

    Talking about economic growth without actually having a plan to deliver it just doesn’t cut it.

    Labour will get New Zealand back to work, just as we’ve done before.

    We didn’t get everything right in government, but let’s put a few facts on the table.

    GDP per person grew by $18,000 under the last Labour government—more than under either the Clark or Key governments, despite the fact we were in office for 3 years less than both of those predecessor governments.

    And wages? Under Bolger and Shipley, ordinary hourly pay grew by $3.30 over nine years. Under Clark, $7.22. Under Key and English, $6.29. Under Ardern and Hipkins? $9.98.

    We grew the economy faster. We lifted wages faster. We created more jobs. Unemployment was lower.

    So when the government tells you there is no alternative to cuts—don’t believe it. There is.

    But it’s not just about numbers. It’s about values.

    If we are genuinely going to turn things around, and provide New Zealanders with hope and the opportunity of a better future, this year’s Budget will need to do three things.

    First, it will need to properly fund our frontline public services like health, education, aged care and police.

    National promised New Zealanders before the election frontline public services wouldn’t be cut, yet hiring freezes in health, cuts to specialist teachers, and cruel cuts to disability support all serve as vivid examples that just wasn’t true.

    Second, it will need to provide a credible answer to how the government is going to fund all of its promises, and that should not be at the expense of working New Zealand women.

    They’ve committing billions in infrastructure investment, for example, but still haven’t said how they will pay for it all.

    Third, they need to show they have a plan to invest in our future. To rebuild our ageing schools, hospitals, public homes and infrastructure. To create jobs, upskill our workers, and raising wages and living standards.

    Because fundamentally, good economic management is about people. Shifting numbers around on a page while making life harder for everyday working Kiwis is not a sign of success.

    How can we look our kids in the eye when we give $3 billion tax break to landlords—while cutting funding for food banks?

    How can we justify increasing returns for landlords while we cut the pay of those who clean our hospitals and protect our schools?

    We can’t. We won’t and we shouldn’t.

    Labour is not anti-wealth. We are anti-poverty. And we are pro-opportunity—for everyone.

    We believe in a fair tax system, and you’ll hear more from us on that soon. Not to punish success, but to ask those who have benefitted most to contribute their fair share—to the schools that taught them, the roads that connect them, and the hospitals that care for their families.

    Because you can’t build a strong economy on a weak society.

    We want to build a country where our kids don’t feel they have to leave New Zealand to build a life for themselves.

    Where our elders can live with dignity.

    Where no child goes hungry.

    Where our businesses thrive.

    Where being a nurse, a teacher, or a farmer isn’t a path to burnout—but a path to pride.

    We want New Zealand to be a place where our best and brightest don’t just want to stay—but they can stay. Because there is opportunity here. Hope here. A future here.

    We know the future will test us. Artificial intelligence is going to change how we work. Climate change is going to challenge how we live. New technologies will transform jobs and our industries.

    But these aren’t reasons to fear the future. They are reasons to shape it.

    And that’s exactly what Labour will do.

    We will invest in green energy and the industries of tomorrow.

    We will reform our education system so that we prepare young people for the jobs of the future—not the jobs of the 19th century.

    We will make sure that new technologies benefit everyone, not just the few.

    We will build homes—not sell them off.

    We will protect our environment—not carve it up and privatise it.

    And need to focus on uniting this country—not driving division.

    Because diversity is not a weakness. It is our greatest strength.

    Whether you are Māori, Pākehā, Pasifika, Asian, or new to this land—you are all Kiwis.

    Whether you’re a nurse in Palmerston North, a teacher in Ōtaki, a small business owner in Timaru, a cleaner in South Auckland, a builder in Rotorua, or a farmer in Wairoa – your contribution matters.

    Whether you’re young or old, rich or poor, gay or straight or transgender, Labour sees you. Labour hears you. Labour is fighting for you.

    Because what unites us is far greater than what divides us.

    We are a nation of workers and dreamers, of creators and carers.

    We believe in fairness. In decency. In community.

    And we believe the role of government is not to sit on the sidelines—it’s to step up, to help, to serve.

    This government is making different choices. Choosing a lucky few, over the rest of us.

    And those choices show us, more than anything, what kind of country this government wants to build.

    But I ask you: is that the country we want?

    A broken health system.

    Children going to school hungry.

    People sleeping in cars.

    And a generation—our kids—growing up believing they may never own a home, never raise a family, never build a future here.

    Or do we want a New Zealand where everyone gets a fair go?

    Where the dignity of work is restored, the promise of opportunity renewed, and the bonds of community rebuilt?

    We’re not here to manage decline. We are here to build the future.

    A future where prosperity is shared.

    Where no one is left behind.

    Where we choose hope over fear.

    Where we say to the next generation: yes—you can dream here. You can build here. You can stay here.

    We’ve done it before.

    And with your support, we’ll do it again.

    Let’s build a better way. Together.

    Kia kaha. Kia māia. Kia manawanui.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Opposes House GOP’s Steep Cuts to Medicaid Could Leave Thousands of RIers Without Health Coverage

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) says House Republicans are proposing “catastrophic cuts” to federal Medicaid funding that goes to states to help provide health coverage.  In Rhode Island, the federal-state program pays for about 1 in 4 Rhode Islanders’ health care and has become a key underpinning of the state’s economy.
    On Sunday night, House Republicans released a plan they worked out behind closed doors to slash Medicaid.  The New York Times reports the House Republican plan “would cause millions of poor Americans to lose Medicaid health coverage and millions more to pay higher fees when they go to the doctor.” 
    Senator Reed pointed out that the so-called savings in the bill will simply increase costs on families, communities, and states – stripping health care away from millions in order to give tax breaks to billionaires.
    “The Republican prescription is less health care for vulnerable Americans, more people without insurance seeking uncompensated emergency room care at higher costs, and higher prices and premiums for those who still have health insurance and must pay more out of pocket.  I strongly oppose the Republican plan to strip health care from millions of people, adding stress to seniors on fixed incomes and Americans with disabilities who can’t work,” said Senator Reed. “The Republican plan would leave nursing home residents, children, our economy, and health care system worse off.  I will work hard to prevent these catastrophic cuts to Medicaid.”
    The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold a mark-up Tuesday of its share of the budget reconciliation package that Republicans are using to pass President Trump’s billionaire-first tax agenda.  They plan to cut $880 billion over a decade to help offset the increased deficit spending that would result from tax giveaways to special interests and the wealthiest Americans. 
    Nationwide, Medicaid provides health care services for more than 72 million people. Among those who qualify for care are the low-income elderly, those with disabilities, and about half of all children.  Approximately 44 percent of births in Rhode Island are covered by Medicaid.
    According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) — the nonpartisan federal agency that advises Congress — the Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans’ bill will cut at least $715 billion and result in at least 8.6 million more Americans going uninsured as a result of cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
    In an additional analysis, CBO determined 5.1 million more Americans will go uninsured as a result of Republicans refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, as well as full implementation of the Marketplace Integrity Rule.
    Reed notes that the Republican cuts to Medicaid would also hit doctors, hospitals, and the economy hard, and could cause hospital closures in many communities or exacerbate a shortage of health care providers.
    Reed also called out Republicans over phony assertions that eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse and adding a work requirement for Medicaid recipients would achieve the reductions in spending they seek.  Adding a work requirement’s administrative oversight adds to the very spending that cost-cutters pledged to eliminate, according to the health research non-profit KFF.
    “This all comes down to numbers and priorities: Republicans’ number one priority is a bigger tax cut for the wealthy at the expense of vulnerable people.  Under the Trump plan, if you look at the numbers, the bottom 20 percent of households by income lose their health care in exchange for around $130 a year.  Meanwhile, the transfer in wealth goes to those in the top tax brackets, with the super-rich netting an extra $275,000 annually.  The vast majority of Americans want to ensure a sound health care system for all, but the Trump priority is to jam through a bigger tax cut for billionaires, even if it breaks the health care system and denies coverage to millions of Americans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Statement on Qatar Gifting Luxury Plane to President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after President Trump announced that he would accept a luxury plane as a gift from the Qatari royal family to be used as Air Force One, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:
    “For President Trump to even consider accepting a luxury plane as a gift from Qatar, a foreign government with its own strategic interests, is an appalling breach of ethical standards. Such a gesture represents a blatant conflict of interest and undermines the integrity of American leadership. The President would also be in clear violation of the Emoluments Clause, a provision in the U.S. Constitution that prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts or financial benefits from any foreign state without the consent of Congress.
    “Even more alarming is the suggestion that this aircraft could be used as Air Force One, which would pose immense counterintelligence risks by granting a foreign nation potential access to sensitive systems and communications. This reckless disregard for national security and diplomatic propriety signals a dangerous willingness to barter American interests for personal gain. It is an affront to the office of the presidency and a betrayal of the trust placed in any U.S. leader to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appointments – GUARDIANS APPOINTS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Source: New Zealand Super Fund

    The Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, manager of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, has appointed Paula Steed to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer.

    Ms Steed, who joined the Guardians in 2021, is currently the Guardians’ General Manager, Technology. She was previously General Manager Strategy and Shared Services and was Acting CEO between December 2023 and April 2024.

    Guardians CEO Jo Townsend says that the new role will be responsible for the Guardians’ technology, corporate strategy and shared services functions.

    “Combining these business units will help break down operational silos and create a clearer line of sight between our strategic priorities and their execution,” Ms Townsend said.

    “Paula’s skill set makes her the ideal person to take on this role.”

    Ms Townsend said it was important the Guardians continued to focus on efficiency and scalability, given the NZ Super Fund’s value is projected to double over the next 10 or so years.

    Before joining the Guardians, Ms Steed had a 25-year career in financial services and banking, including various executive finance and general management roles with AMP, ANZ and ASB.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –