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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Support for commodities trading

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Frankie Yick and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 14):
     
    Question:
     
         In January of this year, the London Metal Exchange (LME), a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, announced that it would include Hong Kong as an approved delivery point within its global warehousing network and accept applications from warehouse operators for approval. Last month, LME announced that it had approved applications to establish four LME-licensed warehouse facilities in Hong Kong. Furthermore, it has been reported that other warehouse operators are applying to become approved warehouses for the storage of LME-registered brands of metals. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it knows the following information about the four warehouses that have been approved by LME and those that are applying to become approved warehouses: (i) locations, (ii) storage capacities, and (iii) the timing of formal commencement of service; whether the authorities have estimated the number of warehouses and storage capacity needed to develop Hong Kong as a metal delivery point, and what the respective differences are as compared to the current supply and capacity of warehouses;
     
    (2) as it has been reported that, to encourage more warehouse operators to apply to become approved warehouses of LME, the Government has stated that it will provide assistance on technical matters as appropriate, whether it knows the requirements for becoming an approved warehouse of LME; what assistance the Government has provided to address technical issues faced by warehouse operators; and
     
    (3) regarding the creation of a commodity trading ecosystem, apart from developing approved warehouses, what further measures the Government has put in place to facilitate the robust development of local commodities trading-related services, so as to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international financial, shipping and trade centre?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Our country is the world’s largest consumer of industrial metals. Developing relevant commodity trading will drive the development of a financial, shipping and trade centre in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address proposes the creation of a commodity trading ecosystem which can be a starting point for attracting relevant enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong, turning our city into an operation centre for international commodity trading, storage and delivery, shipping and logistics, risk management, and more.
     
         In consultation with the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) and (2) The London Metal Exchange (LME), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the HKEX, included Hong Kong as an approved delivery point within its global warehousing network in January this year, and began accepting applications from warehouse operators to become approved warehouses. The LME announced the approval of the first four approved warehouses to be established in Hong Kong in April this year. The total storage area and types of metal that can be stored in each warehouse are set out in the table below.
     

    Warehouse location Total storage area (square metre) Types of metal that can be stored
    Cheung Sha Wan 500 aluminium alloy, primary aluminium, copper, nickel, lead, tin and zinc
    500
    Tsing Yi 4 100 aluminium alloy, lead, tin and zinc
    Yuen Long 4 062 aluminium alloy, primary aluminium, copper, nickel, lead, tin and zinc

     
         The LME-approved warehouses are required to comply with relevant technical requirements, such as loading standards for metals. The four warehouse facilities have passed LME’s initial inspection and are compliant with relevant standards in terms of transportation and logistics. Preparations including system connections are underway, and the facilities are expected to commence operations gradually as soon as July this year.
     
         Before making the decision to include Hong Kong as an approved delivery point, the LME had assessed the feasibility of establishing warehouse facilities in Hong Kong, including the sustainability of business operations, cost, technical requirements, etc. In selecting suitable sites for the warehouses, the operators had to hold in-depth discussions with the relevant warehousing industry players and landowners, which mainly involved the circumstances of individual facilities (such as loading capacity and infrastructure requirements) and other business considerations. In the course of discussion, technical issues involving planning permissions, lease conditions, etc. were identified. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) in collaboration with relevant bureaux and departments has been maintaining communication with relevant industry players, and held meetings to provide relevant information and guidance.
     
         The LME has indicated that there are other operators applying to become approved warehouses, and it is expected that more warehouses will be approved subsequently. Based on the implementation of the relevant market mechanism, the development of metal delivery destinations and warehouses will be determined by market supply and demand. There is no specific quantitative target.
     
    (3) In terms of base metals, besides facilitating the LME to establish approved warehouses in Hong Kong, to attract more trading and delivery, the HKEX will host LME Asia Week in May this year, inviting international and Mainland metal manufacturers, traders, buyers and sellers to participate in in-depth discussions and exchanges on industry topics, including the introduction of the latest LME approved delivery points, including Hong Kong.
     
         In terms of financial trading of other types of commodity, the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address proposes to use gold as an entry point to develop the relevant commodity ecosystem. Specifically, it is the Government’s goal to promote the development of world-class gold storage facilities, thereby attracting more investors and users from different economies, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia, to store gold in Hong Kong. On the basis of increased storage, we expect increased demand for associated support services in insurance, testing and certification, logistics, etc, while in parallel expanding related transactions including collateral, loan and hedging, hence creating a comprehensive ecosystem in a progressive manner. This will drive all-round multi-currency trading, clearing and delivery, as well as the development of the regulatory system, covering transactions using offshore Renminbi (RMB), thereby establishing a holistic gold trading centre with an industry chain. The FSTB established the Working Group on Promoting Gold Market Development (Working Group) in December 2024, comprising leaders of the financial industry, representatives of regulatory bodies and market participants, to comprehensively review all aspects relating to financial transactions of gold. The Working Group will formulate a plan this year to enhance storage facilities, optimise trading and regulatory mechanisms, expand exchange products, and conduct market promotion.
     
         At the same time, the Qianhai Mercantile Exchange, a subsidiary of the HKEX, operates our country’s only offshore spot trading platform for soybeans, thereby laying the foundation for the expansion of RMB-denominated commodity products, channeling off-shore RMB liquidity to the commodities market, promoting RMB internationalisation, attracting relevant traders to expand their business in Hong Kong, and establishing an ecosystem for the commodity.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A block with public, business and scientific-industrial facilities will appear in Vnukovo

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the Novomoskovsky administrative district of the capital, a site will be reorganized under the program of integrated development of territories (IDT). The corresponding draft resolution posted on the Moscow Government website. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “Under the KRT program, a land plot of 5.94 hectares will be reorganized in the Vnukovo area. It is planned to create a modern space with public, business, and scientific and production facilities there. Investments in the comprehensive development of the territory are estimated at 8.7 billion rubles, and the annual budget effect is 289.5 million rubles. The implementation of the project will create about 720 jobs,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The territory is located on Desantnaya Street near the Airport platform of the Kyiv direction of the Moscow Railway and Borovskoye Highway.

    “According to the project, it is planned to build objects of various functional purposes on the site, including technology parks, office and shopping centers with cafes, restaurants and shops. The territory of the business quarter will be improved, landscaped, and a convenient street and road network will be organized. It is also planned to place a parking lot on the site,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    According to the program of integrated development of territories, multifunctional city blocks are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 302 such projects with a total area of about 4.2 thousand hectares are at various stages of development and implementation in Moscow. This work is in progress on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/153800073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sánchez on Republican tax bill: Don’t buy the bullshit

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) delivered an opening statement during the Ways and Means Committee’s markup of the Republican tax bill.

    Video of her opening statement is available HERE and the text follows:

    “Well, here we go again.

    Republicans are once again choosing billionaires and big corporations over working families. This bill that we are marking up today is an insult to every hardworking American. It sends a very clear message: that you’ll pay more, and you’ll receive fewer services – just so that billionaires can pocket another tax cut that they really don’t need.

    American families, in case you have noticed, are struggling. Under President Trump and Republican leadership, they have seen nothing but chaos. They’ve watched Elon Musk gleefully take a chainsaw to vital programs that they rely on, like Social Security, Medicare, and the VA. Travel is less safe at airports because they are left in disarray due to the cuts to our air traffic control systems.

    Prices for everyday necessities – like food, clothing, diapers, and formula – keep rising because of Trump’s tariffs. Premiums for health insurance, car insurance, and housing are going up, making it harder and harder for families to make ends meet.

    And now, rather than providing real relief, Republicans want to look at this chaos, put it into law, and call it ‘one beautiful bill.’ All to pay for more tax cuts for the rich while adding [trillions] to our national debt.

    Nearly $20 trillion in debt over the next ten years by Republicans’ own members’ own estimates. Not our estimates – their estimates. Americans are worried about their future. Consumer confidence is at a record low. People are afraid of losing their jobs, their health care, student aid, and food assistance.

    And this bill today compounds that pain. 14 million people will lose health care coverage under this plan. And for what? Again, so billionaires can get even richer while we all drown in debt. This is outrageous. Billionaires already have more money than they could ever spend. They can afford to pay their fair share.

    What’s equally disturbing is you’re not being honest about the fact that you are meting out crumbs to the most needy while you are helping the most wealthy. And don’t buy the bullshit that tax cuts for the rich create more jobs or better wages. It’s been the excuse under every Republican administration in the last half-century to pass more and more tax cuts to the rich.

    And it has failed to deliver on that promise each and every single time. The wealthy just got richer while the working families got harmed. All while piling on more debt that families will have to pay off.

    I’m outraged that this committee is focused on doing more for the richest in this country while destroying the means of survival for the poorest. And this bill doubles down on that assault on those seeking the American Dream by stealing tax benefits and services to working people who are paying taxes!

    It would deny the Child Tax Credit to 2 million U.S. citizen children. Even worse, it would deny Medicare coverage to those who’ve worked and paid into the system. How dare Republicans say they are for the working class when they’re making it harder for those struggling to get by?

    Enough is enough. My constituents are fed up. They’re sick and tired of Republican tax cuts that only benefit the ultra-wealthy. Our tax code needs to be about fairness. It needs to be about balance. It should support families, not the rich. But this bill does the exact opposite.

    To my Republican colleagues, I say: please just stop this insanity. You have to lie about what is in this bill; otherwise, probably, your constituents would be rioting in the streets. Here is an idea: how about you think about putting your constituents first for once, rather than the people who donate to your campaigns?

    But I guess that is asking a little too much from people who have completely lost their moral compass. I will be voting ‘no’ on this bill. I hope some on that side of the aisle see the light and do the same.”

    ###
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: ABN AMRO Bank posts net profit of EUR 619 million in Q1 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ABN AMRO Bank posts net profit of EUR 619 million in Q1 2025

    14 May 2025

    Key messages

    • Solid results: Net profit of EUR 619 million, with a return on equity of around 10%
    • Good business momentum: Mortgage portfolio grew by EUR 1.7 billion and corporate loans by EUR 0.9 billion
    • Resilient net interest income despite impact from lower short-term interest rates
    • Continued fee growth: Increase of 8% compared to Q1 2024, with contributions from all client units
    • Cost discipline: Underlying costs declined 5% compared to Q4 2024; guidance for full-year 2025 unchanged
    • Solid credit quality: Impairments of EUR 5 million, reflecting net additions for individual files offset by model-related releases
    • Strong capital position: Basel IV CET1 ratio of 14.7%
    • Capital Markets Day to be held in November

    Marguerite Bérard, CEO:
    “As we reflect on the first quarter of 2025, I am honoured to address you as the new CEO of ABN AMRO. I value the trust placed in me by the Supervisory Board to lead our bank in the years to come. In the coming period, my priority will be to lead a strategic review of our activities, while building upon our solid foundations and strong market positions. We will focus on enhancing our profitability, optimising our capital position, right-sizing our cost base and achieving meaningful growth. The outcome of this review will be presented at a Capital Markets Day in November this year.

    The Dutch economy continues to demonstrate resilience, with GDP growth in recent years above the Eurozone average, low unemployment and good housing market performance. Thanks to this robust foundation, the economy is well-positioned to navigate the current uncertainties around trade tensions and geopolitical developments. In these challenging times, ABN AMRO performed well, delivering another quarter of solid results and growth in our loan books. This reflects our strategic focus on key growth areas, our credit quality and our ability to adapt to changing market conditions.

    In the first quarter of 2025, we showed solid results with a net profit of EUR 619 million and a return on equity of around 10%. This performance was underpinned by resilient net interest income, continued high fee income and limited net impairments. After a few quarters of rising costs, we managed to reduce our underlying costs in Q1 compared to the previous quarter. To deliver on our guidance of keeping underlying costs broadly flat compared to last year, cost discipline remains a priority. Therefore, we enforced increased controls on consultant expenditures and external hiring.

    Though challenging for colleagues, as we all need to adjust, it will help us reassess capacity needs and optimise our resources. By collaborating and using our creativity and talents, I believe we can deliver on our strategic ambitions while becoming a more agile organisation.

    Our strong capital position, with a Basel IV CET1 ratio of 14.7%, allows us to continue investing in our strategic priorities while maintaining financial stability. In Q1, we submitted the final application to move models to less sophisticated approaches which is now reflected in our capital ratios. The simplification will bring stability and predictability to our capital position. The largest part of our balance sheet remains under advanced models, specifically mortgages, banks and financial institutions. Portfolios that required significant modelling and data efforts will be moved to the standardised approach.

    Our continued efforts to improve customer experience resulted in an increase in our Net Promoter Score for Personal & Business Banking during the first quarter of 2025. Clients especially praise our efficient and good customer services, proactive contact, and the convenience of our digital services. This was also recognised by the 2024 Digital Leaders Study, which ranked ABN AMRO among the top performers. Tikkie, with 10 million active users, is a good example of our innovative offering. During King’s Day this year, Tikkie processed a record number of almost 700,000 transactions. We also introduced the Index Mandate, an actively-managed product that invests in underlying passive instruments. With this product we aim to attract younger clients and help them begin with portfolio management.

    We remain dedicated to sustainability. In the first quarter we launched the free online Green Building Tool which helps provide commercial real estate clients with insights into opportunities to save energy and improve their energy label. We realise that making the switch to a sustainable society is not always straightforward for our clients. A survey among over 350 business clients at our decarbonisation conference revealed challenges in the energy transition, including high capital expenditure, complexity and cost impacts. We aim to support our clients towards a low-carbon future by providing financing and expertise. One example of how we can help them is our recent agreement with the EIB Group to support Dutch SMEs with favourable financing conditions. This collaboration will enhance economic growth and the sustainability efforts of our clients. It includes the largest risk-sharing agreement with the EIB Group to date, totalling EUR 1 billion.

    ABN AMRO believes that everyday represents a new beginning for our customers, and for whom we stand ready to support. I am looking forward to my ‘new beginning’, collaborating with all my colleagues to deliver results for our stakeholders in the years to come.

    This press release is published by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and contains inside information within the meaning of article 7 (1) to (4) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation).

    Note to editors, not for publication:
    ABN AMRO Press Office: Jarco de Swart, E-mail: pressrelations@nl.abnamro.com, phone number: +31 (0)20 6288900.
    ABN AMRO Investor Relations: John Heijning, E-mail: investorrelations@nl.abnamro.com, phone number +31 (0)20 6282282.

    Operating results

    (in millions) Q1 2025 Q1 2024 Change Q4 2024 Change
    Net interest income 1,560 1,589 -2% 1,668 -7%
    Net fee and commission income 507 469 8% 500 1%
    Other operating income 79 139 -43% 72 10%
    Operating income 2,145 2,197 -2% 2,240 -4%
    Personnel expenses 725 656 10% 743 -2%
    Other expenses 584 600 -3% 871 -33%
    Operating expenses 1,309 1,257 4% 1,614 -19%
    Operating result 836 940 -11% 626 34%
    Impairment charges on financial instruments 5 3 52% 9 -44%
    Profit/(loss) before taxation 831 937 -11% 618 35%
    Income tax expense 212 263 -19% 220 -4%
    Profit/(loss) for the period 619 674 -8% 397 56%
    Attributable to:          
    Owners of the parent company 619 674 -8% 397 56%
               
    Other indicators          
    Net interest margin (NIM) (in bps) 154 162   167  
    Cost/income ratio 61.0 % 57.2 %   72.0 %  
    Cost of risk (in bps)¹ 1 -1   1  
    Return on average equity² 9.9 % 11.6 %   6.2 %  
    Earnings per share (in EUR)3, 4 0.69 0.76   0.43  
    Client assets (end of period, in billions) 346.9 347.1   344.4  
    Risk-weighted assets (end of period, in billions)5 141.5 144.2   140.9  
    Number of internal employees (end of period, in FTEs) 22,267 20,887   21,976  
    Number of external employees (end of period, in FTEs) 3,312 3,931   3,670  
    1. Annualised impairment charges on loans and advances customers for the period divided by the average loans and advances customers (excluding at fair value through P&L) on the basis of gross carrying amount and excluding fair value adjustments from hedge accounting.
    2. Annualised profit/(loss) for the period, excluding payments attributable to AT1 capital securities and results attributable to non-controlling interests, divided by the average equity attributable to the owners of the company excluding AT1 capital securities.
    3. Profit/(loss) for the period, excluding payments attributable to AT1 capital securities and results attributable to non-controlling interests, divided by the average outstanding and paid-up ordinary shares.
    4. For Q1 2025, the average number of outstanding shares amounted to 833,048,566 (Q4 2024: 833,048,566; Q1 2024: 860,275,379).
    5. As of 1 January 2025, the figures in the table are prepared in accordance with CRR III (Basel IV) regulations. The figures up to 31 December 2024 are prepared in accordance with CRR II (Basel III) regulations.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is the ‘glass cliff’ phenomenon – and why do women often find themselves on the precipice?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie-Anne Hammermeister, PhD Candidate in the School of Humanities and Communication, University of Southern Queensland

    GoodStudio/Shutterstock

    Speaking to the media after being named leader of the Liberal Party, Sussan Ley was asked if this appointment was an example of the “glass cliff effect”.

    Ley said “I don’t accept that”. She went on:

    I do say it sends a signal to the women of Australia that the Liberal Party has elected its first woman leader but my agenda is much more than that.

    Most of us are familiar with the concept of the “glass ceiling”, a metaphor used to describe the invisible barriers which prevent women from succeeding in senior leadership – and Ley could be seen as breaking the glass ceiling of the Liberal party.

    But the “glass cliff” applies to women who are elevated to positions of leadership in a time of crisis, meaning they are perceived as having a high probability of failure and will take the fall for their organisation.

    The glass cliff evokes imagery of a woman being at the top of a mountain cliff. Being on the cliff is a dangerous position: there is a high chance of falling – or being pushed off.

    Times of misfortune

    Against the historical backdrop of male-dominated leadership, the metaphor was coined to reflect women’s experience of leadership selection in times of organisational misfortune and crisis.

    The “glass cliff” has sometimes been invoked in misogynist ways to downplay the strengths of women in leadership, saying they have been put in a position of leadership with the express belief they will fail. But it does describe a commonly seen phenomenon which is important to observe and understand.

    There are many prominent examples of women who have been associated with the phrase.

    British Prime Minister Liz Truss was elevated to the role at a time of significant uncertainty, and was in the position for just 45 days.

    US Presidential candidate Kamala Harris was given minimal time to campaign and establish herself as a genuine opponent to Republican candidate Donald Trump.

    Former Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, who was appointed when the tech company was failing and share prices were down before being unceremoniously dumped via a phone call.

    ‘Think female’

    Some academics believe that these women aren’t placed in the position of the glass cliff to be the fall guy, but instead these appointments relate to women’s perceived ability to handle organisational crises. They propose an alternative phrase: “think crisis – think female”.

    This phrase suggests women leaders perform better than men in a crisis, partly due to the assumption that women will garner more support than men in such times.

    It is based on stereotypes of women’s perceived ability to build and repair relationships and reputations.

    Both phrases link women leaders and crises. But the glass cliff explains how women are elevated into positions of leadership in turbulent times and are blamed when organisations fail.

    Professional risk

    The phenomenon of the glass cliff is a professional risk for women in leadership.

    Organisations may prey on the career ambitions of outgroup women, knowing that they are more likely to accept any leadership position, even a precarious one, in order to advance their career.

    The privilege of the ingroup men, on the other hand, means they are protected from taking on a leadership position with risk and volatility.

    Women leaders taking on these roles in turbulent times are also exposed to greater scrutiny from internal and external stakeholders, including individual performance criticism.

    If a woman leader then fails, her performance is seen to reinforce gender stereotypes about women’s leadership competency.

    Further complicating this context are gendered stereotypes that assume women leaders have exceptional people skills, meaning senior women in high-risk leadership roles receive less support and fewer resources than their male counterparts.

    The glass cliff presents a double bind for women leaders. If women leaders behave in stereotypically feminine ways they are seen as weak or indecisive. By contrast, if they behave counter to this they are labelled as harsh and aggressive.

    Either way, the glass cliff awaits.

    The glass cliff phenomenon draws our attention to the way in which women are set up to fail in high-risk risk leadership roles. But the metaphor also reveals the ongoing gender discrimination and stereotype bias women experience in taking on professional leadership roles.

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

    – ref. What is the ‘glass cliff’ phenomenon – and why do women often find themselves on the precipice? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-glass-cliff-phenomenon-and-why-do-women-often-find-themselves-on-the-precipice-256072

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: What humanitarian aid do entrepreneurs send to the SVO zone in the spring?

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow store owners are collecting humanitarian supplies to send to the special military operation (SVO) zone. The parcels contain medicines, first aid supplies, and clothing for the changeable spring weather. In addition, through volunteers and charitable foundations, money is transferred to servicemen to buy necessary goods.

    Thus, employees of a grocery store and a shopping center in the Mozhaisk district regularly transfer funds to volunteers to purchase medicines. Three supermarkets in the Kuntsevo district send medicines, regular and thermal underwear, and warm shoes to the fighters. All parcels to the SVO zone are delivered by a local resident – a participant in the special operation, who returns to the capital for the duration of his vacation.

    The owner of a small retail outlet in the Levoberezhny district donated food products, camouflage nets and medicines to the Luhansk People’s Republic through a charitable foundation.

    Employees of shopping centers in the Bibirevo, Severnoye Chertanovo and Butyrsky districts collected medicines and first aid supplies for military personnel.

    The shopping center in Teply Stan became the record holder for the amount of medicines, food products and grocery goods sent to the cities of the Luhansk People’s Republic – its tenants and employees transferred more than 4.5 tons of humanitarian aid.

    Hats, jackets and socks

    Entrepreneurs send clothes, shoes, insoles and socks, including those with thermoregulation, to the SVO zone. These products provide comfort in any weather conditions.

    Such humanitarian aid was collected by employees of a shoe store in Golyanovo, a fixed-price store in Severnoye Izmailovo, and four shopping and entertainment centers in Kurkino and Mitino. The parcels also included insulated rubber boots.

    One of the largest humanitarian aid shipments was sent to the combat zone from Ochakovo-Matveevskoye – a local trading house gave the military personnel more than two thousand T-shirts and vests.

    Tons of winter and demi-season clothing were handed over to the participants of the special operation by employees of a shopping mall in Novogireyevo, a textile store for the whole family in Strogino, and four retail outlets in Yuzhny Chertanovo.

    Owners of capital shops also care about residents of new regions. For example, tenants of a shopping centre in the Chertanovo Severnoye district collected children’s clothes and clothing for pregnant women from the Donetsk People’s Republic.

    Owners of Moscow shops, shopping malls, car dealerships and other service establishments, as well as Moscow restaurateurs, have been sending humanitarian aid to the combat zone since the first days of the Second World War. The parcels contain products that have a long shelf life: canned meat, fish and vegetables, tons of various cereals – from rice and buckwheat to pearl barley, pasta, as well as sweets (cookies, candies, chocolate) and much more.

    Entrepreneurs also donate building materials and even military equipment, including quadcopters and entire convoys of vehicles.

    More information about the activities of the capital’s Department of Trade and Services can be found in the official telegram channel.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/153726073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: More than 190 events will be held by Moscow museums as part of the Days of Historical and Cultural Heritage campaign

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On May 17, as part of the Days of Historical and Cultural Heritage campaign, more than 190 thematic events will be held at Moscow museum sites. Admission will be free, with prior registration.

    At 12:00 and 14:00, the State Darwin Museum will show a video tour “The Diversity of Life on Earth”. Visitors will travel around the globe and get acquainted with its inhabitants. Without leaving the museum, participants will dive into the depths of the sea, visit evergreen tropical forests and hot savannah, climb mountains and feel the cold breath of the ice kingdom of both poles of the Earth.

    At 13:00, a lecture will be held in the gallery “Na Peschanoy” of the association “Exhibition halls of Moscow” “The Empty Shoebox: How Something Becomes a Work of Art”. Visitors will be told about the famous shoebox, which Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1993. Guests will learn why the object became a work of art and what meanings are hidden in it.

    At the same time, a lecture will be held in the portrait gallery of the Big Stone Greenhouse of the Kuskovo estate “Masterpieces of Western European ceramics from the 15th to early 20th centuries in the museum’s collection”Listeners will learn how ceramic traditions developed in different countries over more than five centuries, and will see vases, dishes, and sculptural compositions.

    At 2:00 p.m., city residents are invited to a lecture “The Cultural Life of Pre-War Moscow as Perceived by Georgy Efron”It will take place in the Marina Tsvetaeva House-Museum and will tell about the life of the poetess’s son and his impressions of the capital.

    At 16:00 Gogol House invites you to a walking tour “Arbat Star. The Path to Victory”Participants will learn about the history of Arbat Square.

    In addition, at 4:00 p.m. in the music room of the Scriabin Museum there will be chamber music concert. Students and teachers of the A.N. Scriabin Music College (Elektrostal) and the 1st Moscow Regional Music College (Kolomna) will perform works by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Niccolò Paganini, Gabriel Fauré, Francis Poulenc and Alexander Scriabin.

    At 16:30 in the Moscow State Art Gallery there will be a lecture by the People’s Artist of the USSR Alexander Shilov “Moscow through the centuries”Participants will learn how the urban landscape has developed over the years and what Moscow looked like in paintings in different eras.

    The Alexander Shilov Gallery will also host a quest “In Search of a Mysterious Masterpiece”. It will start at 17:30. Guests will have to solve the mystery of one of the artist’s paintings by completing tasks and answering questions.

    At 17:00 in the Moscow Museum of Modern Art on Petrovka (building 25) there will be meeting with the artist and poet of the second generation of nonconformists Vladimir Bashlykov. He will read his poems and conduct a tour of the exhibition “Silence Will Turn into Words” — a large retrospective exhibition of his own works created from the 1970s to 2024.

    The Krasnokholmskaya Gallery of the Moscow Exhibition Halls Association is organizing a lecture at the same time. “Glitch Art. The Art of Being Wrong”Participants will learn how mistakes and failures became a method for creating unique works of art.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/153773073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three old eclectic style buildings in Moscow have been recognized as architectural monuments

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Three capital houses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries have been included in the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage Sites. Among them are the mansion of E.F. Lopatina on Maly Karetny Lane (building 11, building 1), the mansion of A.V. Demidov on Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya Street (building 17, building 1), and the mansion of N.V. Urusova on Denezhny Lane (building 16, building 1). Previously, they had the intermediate status of identified cultural heritage sites.

    The two-story residential building with a basement and attic in Maly Karetny Lane was built in 1889 by order of peasant Ekaterina Lopatina and according to the design of architect Yakov Makhonin. In 1912, the property on which this house is located was acquired by Yakov Alshvang, a first guild merchant and hereditary honorary citizen. He developed part of the territory of his property as a production zone and opened a sewing factory. After 1917, the experimental technical sewing factory No. 5 named after Profintern (VSNKh) was located here.

    The house of Ekaterina Lopatina is classified as an eclectic architectural style. Rich stucco decor has been preserved on the main facade of the building. Its high window openings are decorated with triangular and bow-shaped sandriks on brackets, they are decorated with stucco in the form of wreaths and garlands. On the facade, you can see a soffit cornice with denticles (teeth) that rest on brackets with lion masks and mascarons. The front entrance is decorated with a cast-iron canopy. A gate with a wicket adjoins the main facade.

    Another mansion, recognized as an architectural monument, is located on Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya Street. It has two floors with a semi-basement. The building was erected in 1912, also in the eclectic style, according to the design of the architect Konstantin Razumov for the textile manufacturer Alexander Demidov.

    This house has a complex architectural form. In its appearance, you can see features of both neo-Gothic, such as a pediment with a gable end, and Art Nouveau: mosaic inserts, reliefs, panels, decorative metal elements. The main facade of the house faces the Garden Ring.

    The interior decor in neoclassical style with eclectic elements has been well preserved to this day: wood paneling, ornamental paintings, coffered ceilings made of bog oak in the lobby and dining room, bas-reliefs, stucco and carved stone decor, artificial marble finishing. Built-in furniture in individual rooms has also been preserved.

    Another example of eclecticism, which also received a new protected status, is a one-story mansion with a semi-basement floor on Denezhny Lane. It was built in 1899 as a residential building for Natalia Urusova according to the design of the architect Karl Treiman.

    The historical design of the building’s facades in the neoclassical style has been well preserved. The interiors of the house are made in the eclectic style: stucco and drawn plaster decor, tinted ornamental reliefs with plant motifs, relief dessus-de-portes (decorative panels above the doors), stucco cornices, lampshades and rosettes, panel parquet. In addition, the building has preserved the historical front marble staircase with marble columns at the base and a metal railing made in the form of a complex pattern, as well as stoves and a marble fireplace. The protected status also applies to the openwork metal fence of the mansion, designed by architect Stanislav Kuchinsky.

    Metropolitan Department of Cultural Heritage carries out consistent work to identify cultural heritage sites and their inclusion in the register. Over the past 14 years, more than 700 buildings have been included. The status ensures state protection – such objects cannot be demolished. Their owners and tenants do not have the right to carry out any work without the consent of the city. In addition, they must do everything possible to preserve these buildings.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Textiles as Philosophy: How the Triennial in Tsaritsyno Weaves Stories

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Fabric of Art: How the Triennial Participants Were Selected

    The triennial is a competition program that takes place every three years. This year, the triennial reveals a theme with a poetic and multi-layered name: “Diversity of connections. Threads, breaks, connections.” Hence the interesting division into sections and halls, which in itself is figurative and excites the imagination of the visitor

    “The first hall is dedicated to the breaking and restoration of connections, the second one explores the connection of opposites. The third hall represents the biological connections of man with nature, and the fourth one is addressed to the internal connections with oneself,” lists Anna Karganova, the curator of the triennial.

    There are only eight halls for the competition program and another five for the non-competition program.

    The selection of participants for the fifth triennial took eight months — from February to October 2023. Artists from Russia and abroad (Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan and other countries) sent 175 works. After a careful selection, the jury included more than 80 works in the competition program: seven large-scale installations for the park area, 32 modern textile objects and 43 traditional tapestries. Most of the works are exclusive, the artists created them specifically for the triennial.

    “This year the competition is held in four nominations. These are “Best Work in Traditional Tapestry Technique”, “Best Art Object in the Interior”, “Best Art Object in the Park”, “Best Student Work”. Therefore, most of the works presented at our exhibition were created specifically for it,” the curator explains.

    Not just wool and linen: experimenting with materials

    The main condition is handwork. The material can be textile, traditional, or completely unexpected. Reinforcement mesh, aluminum wire, jute rope, plastic fishing line, polyethylene, paper and dried flowers create new connections, forms and interweavings. This is a laboratory. For example, Natalia Kosovets in the “Collection of Memories” wove a hand-collected herbarium into the canvas, preserving the warmth of sunny days.

    Programming language, forest and cotton

    In his monumental six-meter “Jacquard”, Argentinean Julian Pesse reflects on how humans and mechanical mediators interact in creativity. “This is a reference to Joseph Marie Jacquard, who invented the Jacquard loom and revolutionized weaving. The work of the Argentine artist is the result of experiments at the intersection of textile art, printing and the binary number system,” reflects the curator of the triennial Anna Karganova. Joseph Marie Jacquard’s device was the first programmable machine, hence the binary number system. The work is black and white: the two colors mean 1 and 0 in the programming language.

    Belarusian artist Khristina Vysotskaya in her work “Souls of the Forest. Connections” presents the forest as a living space where trees are connected to each other. She draws an analogy between the forest ecosystem and the single digital and information field in which modern man exists.

    “This installation reveals a world where trees are connected by invisible threads. It is a symbol of energy and information. Materials: cotton, wool, acrylic, yarn, metal,” adds the curator.

    18 thousand nails and a web of meanings: installation by Olga Kiseleva

    From the non-competition program, it is worth noting the large-scale project “The Network We Live In”. The installation resembles a fishing or hunting set, but refers to different meanings. The network in the modern world is a means of communication: the World Wide Web, social networks. The archaic network has a double meaning: for the victim, it is captivity and death, and for the hunter, it is a guarantee of survival and caught prey. The digital network has the same duality: it connects people on different ends of the planet and separates those sitting next to each other. It serves for career growth and development and for creating dependence at the same time. The viewer will find the answer to the question: what network are they in and what does it mean to them.

    The installation of the exhibit became a test and an experience of self-knowledge. In Olga Kiseleva’s work, we implemented a special meditative process of creating the installation. It consists of sequentially tying and pulling threads through a special structure. Each thread is fixed on nails. It took 18 thousand of them! ” Anna Karganova shares.

    Microstories: When Small is the Beginning of Big

    The Micro — Intersection Point project has collected over 100 miniature works. The exhibits here are no larger than 20 by 20 centimeters, and most often — 10 by 10 centimeters. This is a laboratory for experiments. What the artists cannot yet embody in a large format, they do in miniature. It is worth paying attention to Tatyana Fedotova’s work Dance with Matches — a round dance of textile matches: life as a dance and a dangerous game.

    Textile Guardians of the Park: Dialogue between Art and Nature

    The exhibition extends from the Bread House building onto the street, into the park, emphasizing that it is also part of the exhibition space of the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve. Opposite the Bread House stands Pavel Elfimov’s “Mammonteus” — a woven figure of a fantasy prehistoric animal made of coarse jute rope. A few steps away stands the flexible and touching “Accordionist” by Elena Molchanovskaya made of artificial rattan. The central square is decorated with “Star Called Sun” by Natalia Klimova — an art object made of metal, plywood and colored ribbons. In this work, the artist explores the ancient beliefs of our ancestors.

    Near the Bolshoy Bridge, attention is drawn to “Creation” by Tatyana Patina and Maria Bondarenko – a monumental hand pulling threads from the ground. The foundation of the historical Mylnya was transformed by the work of Katerina Lime-Blossom “hints of integrity” – writing with a small letter is not a typo, but an idea. The interweaving of yarn connects the past and the future.

    The Milovida pavilion features the installation Under Water by Evgenia Evart. It is made from recycled plastic. The artist studies water as the basis of life and draws attention to the fact that plastic pollutes water bodies everywhere. Fish made from plastic bottles, swimming on polyethylene waves, express the author’s anxiety.

    On the surface of the Upper Tsaritsyn Pond, Alexandra Ostrovskaya’s “Portal II” sways. The landmark is the island with the Mermaid Gate. During the time of Catherine the Great, plays were staged here, and folk festivals were held here, and the artist suggests that this could be the portal connecting worlds and eras.

    The optimal route through the park exhibition: start your tour from the Greenhouse Gate (entrance no. 9), moving along the natural relief of the park. Each work occupies a well-thought-out place in the landscape, revealing itself to the viewer in a certain sequence.

    Parallel threads

    A parallel program has been prepared as part of the triennial: some of it is for professionals, but most of the events are for everyone. Guests can expect lectures, master classes, and creative meetings. Of particular interest are the excursions. The schedule will be available on the museum’s website and in social networks. And in the fall, an inclusive project will start — special master classes in hand weaving for teenagers with mental disabilities.

    No longer a craft

    The curators note that over the 14 years of the triennial’s history, the artists have become significantly “younger,” which indicates a growing interest in textile art among emerging artists.

    “For quite a long time, textiles had the status of something handicraft. And if we take the development of the triennial, the types of works that we exhibit have changed very much. Now there are a lot of spatial works, a lot of compositions with high relief, there are textile sculptures. And all this suggests that we have moved very far away from the traditional perception of textile art. And this is great, in my opinion,” concludes Anna Karganova.

    The triennial can be visited from May 16 to November 30. To see the exhibition in the Bread House, you will need a ticket, but you can walk around the park freely.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: THOMPSON WELCOMES HOME FOURTH DISTRICT DACA RECIPIENT DENIED ENTRY BACK INTO U.S.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

    Washington – Last week, U.S. Representative Mike Thompson (CA-04) sat down with a constituent and DACA recipient from California’s Fourth Congressional District who was denied entry back into the U.S. for weeks after a trip to Mexico due to a clerical error by U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services. The constituent, who is identified only as Jane Doe to remain anonymous, sat down with Rep. Thompson to discuss the harrowing incident and how Thompson and his team were able to intervene to bring her home. Watch the video HERE. 

    “Through no fault of her own, Jane was wrongfully denied re-entry from Mexico into the United States due to a paperwork error made by U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services. It’s sad that the federal government can make an error that causes a legal resident of the United States — in this case, my constituent — to have to miss three weeks of work, stay in a foreign country, and leave her family without their sole breadwinner for weeks. It took my office, my staff, and myself to intervene to get her home,” said Rep. Thompson. 

    “Constituent services are an important part of my job and my staff and I are dedicated to helping all of our constituents on any matters they have with the federal government.” 

    “When I was stranded in Mexico, I reached out to Congressman Thompson, him and his team listen to my story, they supported me and provided me with help to solve my situation. If not for them, I don’t think I would be here today. Thank you for everything,” said Jane Doe. 

    BACKGROUND 

    On March 26th, Jane Doe contacted Representative Thompson’s Washington, D.C. office to ask for help from the Congressman and his team. 

    Jane had traveled to Mexico legally after being granted an I-131 petition which allows a DACA recipient to leave the country and return for a justified reason. Jane filed her paperwork on time and without errors, and was granted the petition before leaving for her trip.  

    At the conclusion of her trip, Jane was denied entry onto the plane to fly home to the North Bay. Border patrol officials pointed out that the paperwork sent to Jane by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) listed the wrong dates for her return, despite Jane filing for the correct dates.  

    Thompson’s office intervened to inquire with the USCIS San Francisco office as well as Customs & Border Control. Thompson and his team worked through USCIS to have Jane’s documents reissued and coordinated to have them couriered to Jane in Mexico. She was able to fly home on Saturday, April 27th.   

    Fourth District residents who face issues with passports and visas, veterans’ benefits, IRS issues, agricultural issues, small business assistance, immigration, Medicare and Medicaid, or any other problem navigating the federal government are encouraged to contact Rep. Thompson’s nearest office for support: 

    • Napa: (707) 226-9898
    • Santa Rosa: (707) 542-7182
    • Woodland: (530) 753-3501
    • Washington: (202) 225-3311

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Time-honored brands in Shanghai benefit from refined departure tax refund policy

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

    Shanghai’s tax authority has revealed a shopping rush for foreigners during the May Day holiday, with vintage brands showing renewed charm.

    Official data showed the eastern Chinese city’s sales under the departure tax refund policy soared by 150 percent year-on-year, and refund amounts jumped 170 percent from May 1 to 5.

    The surge follows China’s latest revisions to its management measures for tax refunds on shopping by overseas tourists. Notably, the refund eligibility threshold has been more than halved from 500 yuan (about 69 U.S. dollars) to 200 yuan, a move that has galvanized participation from traditional food and retail sectors.

    Century-old Shanghai food brands such as Taikang Foods and Shao Wan Sheng have already registered as refund stores, while time-honored heavyweights like Cantonese cuisine shop Xinghualou, tea house Huang Long Tai, and First Foodhall, a one-stop shop for those looking for Chinese snacks and bites, are fast-tracking their entry into the program.

    “Tax refunds not only offer price advantages to global customers but also bridge our heritage brands with the inbound tourism market. We aim to convert ‘refund opportunities’ into ‘brand loyalty,’ revitalizing these century-old names,” said Lu Yanqing, an executive at Shao Wan Sheng.

    The policy’s impact is palpable in commercial hubs like Nanjing Road, a magnet for international tourists, where Jingdezhen porcelain shops saw holiday sales climb 38.7 percent. Cultural icons such as jade, silk and inkstones are also drawing foreign shoppers, with the Shanghai Silk Department Store Co., Ltd. generating 120,000 yuan in tax-refund sales via 30 transactions since the beginning of the year.

    By blending convenience with cultural appeal, the policy is redefining “Chinese aesthetics” as a portable global commodity.

    Efforts to expand refund-enabled outlets have transformed Nanjing Road into a tax-free shopping corridor, now home to 45 refund stores spanning food, apparel, healthcare, eyewear, jewelry and art. Among them are landmarks like Caitongdetang Pharmacy, Lao Feng Xiang Jewelry, and Duoyunxuan auction house, alongside vintage retailers such as New World City and Shanghai No.1 Department Store.

    In Hongkou District, high-end qipao brand Manloulan has joined the initiative, leveraging the policy to fuse Shanghai’s cultural heritage with global tastes.

    “Our Shanghai-style qipao collections integrate intangible cultural craftsmanship with international aesthetics, resonating strongly with overseas clients. Since becoming a refund store, foreign customers now account for 40 percent of our traffic, partially driving a 35-percent sales growth in first quarter,” shared Qiu Liming, president of the brand.

    Digital upgrades further enhance the experience: shoppers can pre-fill refund forms by scanning QR codes, while electronic invoices can be integrated into the departure tax refund system automatically, slashing the processing time.

    “This efficiency boosts Shanghai’s position as a leader in tourist-friendly tax refund services,” noted Zhang Xiaochun, Manloulan’s financial manager.

    “We’ll continue refining services to ensure overseas travelers benefit from tax refunds and feel the vibrancy of China’s consumer market,” a Shanghai tax bureau official said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Loans For Bad Credit: Upstart’s Guaranteed Personal Loans with No Credit Needed for Scores Below 580

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN CARLOS, Calif., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — When you’re struggling with bad credit, it can feel like your financial options are extremely limited. The thought of applying for a loan can be intimidating, especially when so many lending institutions seem to turn you down because of your credit history. However, having a bad credit score doesn’t mean you’re out of options.

    In fact, there are specialized loans designed specifically for individuals in situations like yours. These loans can help you get the funds you need for medical emergencies, debt consolidation, home improvements, or even a new car.

    Click here to apply for a personal loan for bad credit and explore your options now!

    Many lenders now offer flexible terms and more accessible criteria to help those with less-than-perfect credit scores. With careful research, you can find trustworthy lenders that provide practical solutions without falling into high-interest traps or predatory lending practices.

    The key is knowing where to look, and understanding the features of the best loans for bad credit. These loans are not necessarily as bad as they may sound; in fact, many of them come with transparent terms, reasonable rates, and, importantly, a chance for you to rebuild your credit over time.

    In this article, we’ll explore the best loans for bad credit in 2025. We’ll break down what makes a loan suitable, how to apply for one, and which lender we recommend based on thorough research.

    Upstart – Our No. 1 Pick for Bad Credit Loans

    After reviewing a wide range of lenders that cater to bad credit borrowers, Upstart stands out as the best choice. Upstart is an innovative online lender that uses AI to evaluate applicants, making it more accessible for people with low credit scores or limited credit histories.

    Unlike traditional lenders, Upstart doesn’t solely rely on your credit score. Instead, it considers additional factors such as your education, employment, and income to assess your loan eligibility.

    While many traditional lenders would reject you based solely on your credit score, Upstart takes a more holistic approach. It offers flexibility and faster approval processes, making it our top pick for individuals looking for loans despite having a bad credit score.

    Click here to apply with Upstart—no credit score requirement and fast approval!

    Loan Amounts, APR Range, and Repayment Terms

    Upstart offers personal loans ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, with APRs varying between 6.70% and 35.99% depending on the borrower’s creditworthiness and the loan terms. These terms are competitive, and the rates are generally lower than many other bad credit loan providers, although higher than standard loans for those with excellent credit.

    Upstart’s repayment terms are fixed at 36 or 60 months. While this may seem limited compared to lenders offering a broader range of terms, it allows borrowers to plan their repayments over manageable time periods. This is particularly helpful for individuals looking for a structured and predictable payment schedule.

    Click here to compare loan terms and find the best rate for you now!

    Why It’s the Top Pick

    There are several reasons why Upstart has earned the top spot for best loans for bad credit in 2025:

    1. Lower Credit Score Requirements: Upstart accepts borrowers with credit scores as low as 300. For college students or recent graduates, there’s no credit score requirement at all.
    2. AI-Driven Loan Decisions: The platform’s AI technology considers multiple factors beyond just credit score, such as education, employment, and income, improving the chances of approval for those with bad credit or thin credit files.
    3. Fast Funding: Upstart provides funds as soon as the next business day after approval, which is ideal for borrowers who need fast access to cash.
    4. No Prepayment Penalty: Borrowers can repay their loans early without incurring any penalties, which is a significant advantage for those looking to reduce the interest paid over the life of the loan.

    Click here for fast, flexible funding—apply now to get the loan you need with no credit score requirement!

    What Is a Bad Credit Score?

    A bad credit score typically refers to a credit score below 580. Scores in the 580-669 range are considered “fair” credit, and scores below 580 are considered poor. A bad credit score indicates that the borrower has a history of financial difficulties, such as missed payments, defaults, or high debt-to-income ratios—all factors that affect the types of loans available to you.

    Understanding your credit score and how it impacts your loan options is key when searching for the best loans for bad credit.

    Credit scores are determined by several factors:

    • Payment History: Whether you’ve paid your bills on time.
    • Credit Utilization: The percentage of your available credit you are using.
    • Length of Credit History: The age of your credit accounts.
    • Recent Inquiries: How often you’ve applied for new credit.
    • Types of Credit Used: The variety of credit accounts you hold.

    While a bad credit score can significantly affect your ability to get approved for loans from traditional lenders, platforms like Upstart are more flexible and are willing to consider other factors beyond just your score.

    Example Scenario: Who This Is Best For

    Consider Sara, who has a credit score of 550 due to missed payments on her credit cards in the past. She needs $8,000 to cover medical bills after a sudden emergency. Sara has been rejected by her bank and a few other lenders due to her credit history.

    However, with Upstart, she was able to complete a simple online application, was matched with a lender that offered her a 36-month loan with an APR of 18.99%, and received the funds the same day. By making timely payments, Sara is not only able to take care of her medical bills but is also improving her credit score.

    What Are Bad Credit Loans?

    Bad credit loans are financial products designed to help individuals with poor credit histories access funds when needed. Traditional banks and financial institutions typically rely heavily on your credit score to approve loans, but bad credit loans offer a more inclusive approach.

    These loans may come with higher interest rates due to the risk involved, but they provide an opportunity for borrowers to obtain financial assistance and rebuild their credit.

    There are several types of bad credit loans:

    • Personal Loans: Unsecured loans typically offered by online lenders, which can be used for various purposes such as consolidating debt or covering emergency expenses.
    • Secured Loans: Loans that require collateral, such as a car, home, or savings account, to secure the loan. These loans may offer lower interest rates compared to unsecured loans.
    • Payday Loans: Short-term loans often offered by payday lenders. These loans can have extremely high-interest rates and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
    • Peer-to-Peer Loans: Loans that are funded by individuals rather than traditional financial institutions. These loans may come with more flexible terms and lower interest rates.

    Eligibility & Application Process to Get a Loan with Bad Credit

    One of the significant advantages of applying for a loan with Upstart is its inclusive eligibility criteria. Unlike traditional lenders, Upstart doesn’t require a high credit score or an extensive financial history.

    This makes the application process more accessible for borrowers who may have been rejected by other financial institutions due to bad credit or a thin credit file.

    Click here to start your application and get matched with the best loan offers in minutes!

    Minimum Credit Score

    Upstart is uniquely flexible when it comes to credit score requirements. There is no official minimum credit score to apply for a loan. While Upstart does consider your credit history, it doesn’t make it the sole deciding factor. This is especially beneficial for borrowers who may have a credit score in the lower range or no credit history at all.

    Upstart uses an innovative AI-driven model that considers other important factors, such as income, employment history, education, and debt-to-income ratio. These factors are weighed alongside your credit score to assess your ability to repay the loan, which allows for higher approval rates and more tailored loan offers.

    This broader approach to evaluating loan applications means that borrowers with bad or limited credit histories have a real opportunity to secure the funds they need without the pressure of needing to “fix” their credit first.

    Required Documents

    The application process with Upstart is entirely digital and streamlined for ease. There’s no need for you to visit a branch or upload numerous documents. The entire process can be completed online in just a few minutes. You will need to provide basic information, which typically includes:

    • Full name and contact details
    • Proof of income or employment (self-reported is acceptable)
    • Bank account details (for loan disbursement)
    • Valid identification (to verify your identity)

    In some cases, Upstart may request additional documentation or verification, but this is typically done electronically after the initial application is processed. The platform strives to make the process as hassle-free as possible, ensuring you can apply and potentially receive approval without unnecessary delays.

    Approval Time and Disbursement

    One of the standout features of Upstart is its speed. After submitting your short application, the approval process is often instant, meaning you’ll know within minutes whether you’ve been approved for a loan.

    If you’re approved and matched with a lender, funds are typically disbursed the same day, and in many cases, as quickly as within 1 business day. For borrowers facing urgent financial needs, such as medical bills or car repairs, this fast turnaround is a game-changer.

    Overall, Upstart’s streamlined and efficient application process, along with quick approval and disbursement times, makes it an excellent choice for individuals who need access to funds without the long waiting periods associated with traditional lending methods.

    Click here to apply and get your loan funds within 24 hours!

    How to Apply Online

    Applying for a loan with Upstart is simple:

    1. Visit the Upstart website and select your loan amount.
    2. Fill out the online application with basic personal and financial details.
    3. Review your loan offer, including APR, terms, and repayment schedule.
    4. Accept the loan terms and sign the agreement.
    5. Receive your funds directly into your bank account.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros:

    • Low credit score requirement (as low as 300)
    • AI-driven loan approvals that consider factors beyond credit score
    • Fast approval and funding (as quickly as 1 business day)
    • No prepayment penalties
    • Flexible loan amounts ranging from $1,000 to $50,000

    Cons:

    • Origination fees may be as high as 12%, depending on your credit history
    • Limited repayment terms (only 36 or 60 months)
    • No cosigner option available for better rates

    Why It’s Hard to Get Loans with Bad Credit

    Securing a loan with bad credit is challenging primarily because traditional lenders, such as banks, rely heavily on credit scores to assess the risk of lending money. A low credit score signals to lenders that you have a history of financial instability, such as missed payments, defaults, or high debt-to-income ratios.

    As a result, these lenders consider you a high-risk borrower, which leads to either outright loan rejection or approval under unfavorable terms, such as higher interest rates, shorter repayment periods, and substantial fees. This makes it difficult for individuals with bad credit to access loans that offer fair terms.

    Moreover, even when loans are available, they often come with exorbitant interest rates and fees, making it hard to pay off the loan and ultimately worsening the borrower’s financial situation. Payday loans, for example, offer quick access to cash but often come with annual percentage rates (APRs) that can exceed 400%.

    These high rates trap borrowers in a cycle of debt, forcing them to take out additional loans to repay the original one. Unfortunately, many people with bad credit are stuck in this cycle, as traditional financial institutions continue to prioritize low-risk applicants with good credit scores, leaving those with poor credit without accessible and affordable loan options.

    Fortunately, platforms like Upstart are challenging this model by offering more inclusive loan products that consider factors beyond just credit scores, such as education, employment, and income.

    This innovative approach not only helps borrowers with bad credit gain access to loans but also provides a fairer lending process that avoids the pitfalls of predatory lending. By focusing on a broader range of eligibility criteria, Upstart makes it easier for individuals with bad credit to secure a loan without being punished by high fees or interest rates.

    Click here to see your personalized loan options with Upstart—Get approved with no credit score requirement!

    What to Look for in a Bad Credit Loan

    When applying for a loan with bad credit, it’s important to focus on these key features to ensure you’re getting one of the best loans for bad credit:

    Fair Interest Rates

    Look for loans with reasonable interest rates, ideally below 36% APR, to avoid predatory lending. High rates can make it harder to pay off your debt and lead to financial stress. Compare APRs from multiple lenders to find the best deal.

    No Prepayment Penalties

    Choose a loan that doesn’t penalize you for paying off the loan early. No prepayment penalties give you the flexibility to pay down your debt faster and save on interest if you come into extra money.

    Soft Credit Checks

    Look for lenders that offer soft credit checks during the prequalification process. This won’t affect your credit score and allows you to compare loan offers without committing or harming your score.

    Fast Disbursement

    Opt for loans that provide quick funding, ideally within one business day. Fast disbursement is crucial for handling urgent expenses like medical bills or car repairs.

    Clear Terms

    Ensure the loan terms are transparent with no hidden fees. Reputable lenders will clearly outline the APR, repayment schedule, and any associated costs, allowing you to make an informed decision.

    By focusing on these features, you can secure a loan that fits your financial needs without falling into a cycle of debt.

    Ready to get started? Apply now with Upstart and get fast, flexible loan options with no hard credit check!

    How to Find Personal Loans for Bad Credit

    To increase your chances of securing a personal loan with bad credit, follow these steps:

    1. Know your credit score
    2. Research lenders who specialize in bad credit loans
    3. Prequalify with soft credit checks
    4. Compare APRs and fees
    5. Understand terms and conditions
    6. Be ready to offer collateral if necessary
    7. Avoid payday lenders
    8. Consider a co-signer for better rates

    Where to Find Bad Credit Loans

    There are several types of lenders that offer bad credit loans:

    1. Online Lenders: Platforms like Upstart offer fast, convenient loan applications.
    2. Credit Unions: Often provide lower rates for members with bad credit.
    3. Peer-to-Peer Lending: Borrowers can get funds directly from individual investors.
    4. Community Banks: Smaller, local banks may have more flexible lending terms.
    5. Nonprofit Lenders: Some nonprofit organizations offer low-interest loans to those with bad credit.

    FAQs About Bad Credit Loans

    Q: Is it possible to get a $3,000 loan with bad credit?
    Yes, many online lenders, like Upstart, can help you secure a $3,000 loan despite bad credit.

    Q: Can I get a loan with a 500 credit score?
    Yes, lenders like Upstart still consider borrowers with scores around 500.

    Q: Who can give me money right now?
    If you need immediate funding, online lenders like Upstart can approve your loan and disburse funds within one business day.

    In Conclusion: The Best Loans for Bad Credit in 2025

    For individuals with bad credit seeking flexibility, quick funding, and a streamlined approval process, Upstart presents a strong option. Whether you need to consolidate debt, cover medical expenses, or manage an emergency, Upstart’s AI-powered platform connects borrowers with lenders offering competitive rates and suitable loan terms—ideal features to look for when searching for the best loans for bad credit.

    For example, if your credit score is around 550 and you’re seeking a larger loan, Upstart’s unique approach could help match you with lenders that understand your financial situation and offer more accessible terms.

    Ultimately, Upstart distinguishes itself as one of the best loans for bad credit, offering a quicker approval process, fairer rates, and a chance to improve your financial standing through responsible borrowing. For those struggling with bad credit, exploring platforms that prioritize more than just your credit score could open doors to better loan opportunities, making Upstart a noteworthy option to consider in 2025.

    Check your loan options today and see how you can get the funds you need. Apply now for a quick and easy process.

    Project name: Upstart
    Full Company address: Upstart Operations Dept.
    P.O. Box 1503
    San Carlos, CA 94070
    Company website: https://www.upstart.com/
    Postal code: 94070
    Contact person: Max Fraser |
    Email: support@upstart.com

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. All loan terms, interest rates, and approval criteria mentioned are subject to change and may vary based on individual circumstances. Upstart and other lenders featured may have different eligibility requirements and terms. Always review the full terms and conditions before applying for any loan. We recommend conducting your own research and consulting with a financial advisor to ensure you are making the best decision for your personal financial situation. Loan approvals, rates, and disbursements are not guaranteed and depend on the lender’s assessment of your application.

    Photos accompanying this announcement is available are:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d76d325-baad-4314-825d-6171fa9491b2

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79f17a59-e4d8-4160-8e10-44d2e983deb4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cohen Welcomes Choice of First American Pope

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today welcomed the choice of Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago as the first American pope to be known as Leo XIV, and made the following statement:

    “I am very pleased to welcome the first American pope in history, a man from Chicago, my mother’s hometown. He has the potential to follow in Francis’ footsteps, caring for the sick, the poor and the disabled. I hope to see him visit Memphis. It was Cardinal Archbishop Samuel Stritch of Chicago who told Danny Thomas to build St. Jude in Memphis.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foster Demands Trump Administration Comply with Supreme Court Order, Reverse Wrongful Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) joined 141 of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal U.S. resident who was wrongfully detained and deported to El Salvador last month. In the letter, the Members requested an immediate update on the administration’s plans to ensure Mr. Abrego Garcia’s safe return to the United States.

    “The Supreme Court ordered the Trump Administration to facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia’s return, yet we have seen no meaningful action or heard of any plans indicating their effort to comply. Mr. Abrego Garcia is a legal resident of the United States, and he is entitled to due process under the law,” said Foster. “The administration’s failure to correct this unlawful deportation is both morally indefensible and an overstep of their authority. The administration must act immediately to bring him home and ensure this never happens again.”

    The letter reads: 

    Dear President Trump: 

    We write to you with grave concern about Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Beltsville, Maryland, who was wrongfully detained and deported to El Salvador last month. We respectfully request an immediate update on his wellbeing and detailed plans on how all relevant executive agencies plan to ensure his safe return to the United States. 

    As you know, on March 12, 2025, Mr. Abrego Garcia was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with his 5-year-old son in the backseat of his car. Mr. Abrego Garcia was then deported, along with alleged Venezuelan and Salvadoran gang members, to El Salvador. It is our understanding that he is currently being held in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. 

    While Mr. Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador, he had legally been granted withholding of removal in 2019 by a United States immigration court based on his fear of persecution by gangs in El Salvador. He has no criminal record and has been residing in Maryland with his U.S. citizen wife and family. 

    Your administration has admitted that Mr. Abrego Garcia’s removal was an “administrative error.” As such, the Supreme Court of the United States ordered, in a unanimous ruling, that your administration must “facilitate” Mr. Abrego Garcia’s “release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.” This would mean his return to the United States. Despite these clear instructions, the federal district court judge overseeing Mr. Abrego Garcia’s case has indicated your administration has made no effort to comply with the Supreme Court’s order.

    As President, you have the authority to get Mr. Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. from El Salvador despite your administration’s insistence otherwise. If there is evidence of any wrongdoing by Mr. Abrego Garcia, he is entitled to a chance to contest such allegations. Mistakenly removing a U.S. resident that has protection from deportation legally granted to him by an immigration court and then making no effort to get him back not only places Mr. Abrego Garcia’s life in danger, but also violates the basic principles of due process and the rule of law. 

    The U.S. government must comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling and do everything in its power to get Mr. Abrego Garcia back to his family in the United States as quickly as possible. We appreciate your urgent attention to this matter and we look forward to receiving your response.

    A copy of the letter can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: EPA Grants Davids’ Request, Issues Emergency Fuel Waiver to Lower Gas Prices

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Sale of E15 fuel lowers costs at the gas pump and supports Kansas’ agricultural professionals

    This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fulfilled Representative Sharice Davids’ request by issuing a national emergency fuel waiver to allow the sale of E15 – fuel blended with 10.5 to 15 percent ethanol – during the 2025 summer season in Kansas.

    Ethanol, made from locally grown crops, is a more affordable alternative to unblended gasoline. This waiver, which has been granted multiple times in recent years, will help lower gas prices for Kansans, support local farmers, and strengthen domestic supply chains.

    “I’m glad the EPA responded to my call to help lower costs for Kansans at the pump,” said Davids. “This emergency waiver will provide some immediate relief, support our local ag producers, and reduce reliance on foreign oil. It’s the right step for now — and I’ll keep working on long-term solutions to bring costs down.”

    For multiple years, Davids has urged the EPA — and sponsored federal legislation — to guarantee the sale of this E15 not only during the summer but also year-round. This would reduce our reliance on foreign oil, build U.S. energy security, and support Kansas agriculture and manufacturing.

    Davids previously visited East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE), a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, as part of her Farm Bill listening tour. EKAE, which received federal funding to assist with business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, has around 40 full-time employees and relies heavily on Kansas corn producers to supply the crops needed to make the biofuel.

    Davids has taken additional actions to lower gas prices for Kansans by:

    • Voting for the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act, which allows retailers the ability to sell higher ethanol-blended fuels year-round,
    • Leading the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that expands access to lower-cost, homegrown fuel,
    • Helping to pass legislation that promotes sustainable aviation fuel, a liquid fuel that achieves significant emissions reduction compared to fossil-based jet fuel,
    • Supporting legislation that expands biofuels infrastructure, opening up new market opportunities for sustainable fuel sources and lowering energy costs for Kansas families,
    • Pushing the President to suspend the federal gas tax, providing immediate relief to Kansans at the gas pump.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Cornyn Celebrates Unanimous Passage of Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) celebrated the Senate unanimously passing his Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act, which would codify President Trump’s Executive Order renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge near Houston to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Refuge. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks prior to him calling up the bill for passage are below, and video can be found here.
    “Jocelyn Nungaray was a 12-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered just north of Houston last June.”
    “To commemorate Jocelyn’s life, I’ve introduced the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act, which would permanently rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas in her memory.”
    “This bill would actually codify President Trump’s executive order and ensure that future generations will remember Jocelyn for years to come.”
    Background:
    On June 17, 2024, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was brutally murdered in Houston, Texas. Two illegal aliens who were allegedly members of the Tren de Aragua gang have been charged with her murder. Jocelyn loved animals and, given the close proximity of her hometown of Houston, it is fitting that the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge be renamed in her honor.
    Located along the Texas Gulf Coast, the 39,000-acre refuge is a sanctuary for migratory birds and diverse wildlife. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System and plays a vital role in coastal conservation, public recreation, and environmental education. Now, it will also stand as a solemn tribute to Jocelyn’s memory and a symbol of the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting American communities. On March 4, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14229 to officially change the name from Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge. On March 7, 2025, the refuge was officially renamed after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s implementation order was signed.
    Introduced by Sen. Cornyn earlier this month, the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act would ensure that this renaming cannot be overturned by a future administration by codifying the refuge’s new name into law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Tribal Loans for Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval Direct Lenders with No Credit Check – IOnline Payday Loans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHERIDAN, Wyo., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Securing stable financial assistance when your credit score is not up to par can be challenging. That is where Best tribal loans for bad credit come into play, providing quick, convenient, and easiest tribal loans to get for individuals with less-than-ideal credit histories. IOnline Payday Loans simplifies it for borrowers to find licensed tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval services so that funds can be obtained even without a conventional credit check.

    >> Click Here to Apply Tribal Loans >>

    Whether you are looking for tribal payday loans, Tribal installment loans direct lenders no credit check, or easiest tribal loans for bad credit, this guide has all the information you need to get fast approval and instant cash.

    >> Click Here to Apply Tribal Loans >>

    What Are the Best Tribal Loans for Bad Credit?

    Best tribal loans for bad credit are personal loans offered by lenders that are associated with Native American tribes. They are governed by tribal law, which makes them a viable option for borrowers who are having trouble with traditional lenders.

    The most important benefit is their no credit check and direct lender guaranteed approval, which is usually available even with bad credit scores. IOnline Payday Loans provides US borrowers with access to quality providers of tribal loans with no credit check direct lender services, and it is therefore one of the simplest tribal loans to obtain.

    >> Click Here to Apply Tribal Loans >>

    These loans are ideal for emergencies, surprise bills, or urgent expenditures, with speedy online applications and rapid disbursal of funds. Some lenders even offer tribal installment loans for bad credit, direct lenders, offering borrowers flexible repayment terms.

    Types of Tribal Loans: No Credit Check, Instant Approval

    When searching for the Best tribal loans for bad credit, it’s important to be aware of the various types of loans that you can select and choose the one that best meets your personal financial needs. Through IOnline Payday Loans, lenders can get access to a vast range of tribal loans no credit check products, with many providing instant approval and guaranteed approval with direct lenders.

    These loans are specifically formulated to deliver quick monetary assistance for unforeseen circumstances, emergencies, or individual needs without going through the bother of standard credit verification.

    Let us see the most popular forms of tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval no teletrack available online, in detail:

    1. Tribal Payday Loans No Credit Check

    Tribal payday loans no credit check are quick, short-term, small loans that should be paid back through your next check. They are among the simplest tribal loans to obtain since they do not have many requirements for eligibility and no old credit checks. Perfect for emergencies, they provide guaranteed tribal loans with bad credit options for people in need of immediate financial assistance.

    2. Tribal installment loans for bad credit direct lenders

    For those who want more flexible repayments over time, bad credit tribal installment loans direct lenders offer the best option. They provide the convenience of borrowing more with the relaxed nature of tribal loans no credit check strategies, dividing repayment into easy installments. They’re best suited for larger-than-usual expenses such as medical expenses or repair of a car.

    3. $500 Tribal Installment Loans Direct Lenders Only

    As the name indicates, these loans provide a virtually guaranteed approval rate for borrowers with low credit scores. $500 tribal installment loans direct lenders only are not based on hard credit checks and usually dodge conventional reporting mechanisms like Teletrack. With IOnline Payday Loans, these loans give a guaranteed and quick funding solution.

    4. Tribal loans no credit check direct lender

    These loans involve working directly with a tribal lender, ensuring faster processing and straightforward terms. A popular option for borrowers looking for easy tribal loans for bad credit, these loans eliminate intermediaries, improving approval rates and offering quicker access to funds.

    5. Easy tribal loans for bad credit

    Easy tribal loans for bad credit are designed to be fast and convenient. With straightforward eligibility and instant decisions, these loans are approved and funded within 24 hours. Ideal for paying for sudden or unexpected bills, they are easily accessed through IOnline Payday Loans.

    All these loans work together towards making IOnline Payday Loans one of the Best tribal loans for bad credit lenders in the US today, providing convenient, quick, and affordable financial assistance to those that need it the most.

    How to Apply for Tribal Loans No Credit Check

    It has never been easier to apply for the Best tribal loans for bad credit, thanks to online lending sites like IOnline Payday Loans making the process simple and easy. One of the greatest benefits of tribal loans no credit check is that you do not need to fret about your credit history hurting your chances. Tribal loans are specifically made for fast, easy approvals with little paperwork and convenient online applications.

    Below is a step-by-step guide on how to get tribal loans with direct lender guaranteed approval, no credit check:

    1.   Select the loan amount and repayment period

    First, use the online form to select the amount you require for the loan (up to $5000) and select the payback duration that is suitable for you, between 3 to 12 months. Ensure your repayment schedule is comfortable so as not to complicate matters.

    2.   Organize the necessary information

    Provide the necessary details such as your income, contact information, and banking details. The more accurate the information, the quicker the process will go. Rest assured, your data is confidential and will only be shared with the lender.

    3.   Submit your application

    After filling out your details, submit the application. You’ll receive an approval decision within minutes, usually within 2 minutes, so you won’t be left waiting long.

    4.   Get matched with a lender

    Most applicants are automatically matched with a tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval. Even with bad credit, you’ll be connected with a third-party lender willing to offer assistance.

    5.   Review loan offer

    Once you have been matched, you will be offered loans with specific terms. Loan offers will state the repayment terms and charges, and you should read them carefully so that they meet your requirements.

    6.   Sign loan agreement

    After you are satisfied with your loan proposal, you will e-sign the loan agreement. The lender will proceed to process all the information and prepare the funds for disbursement.

    7.   Get funds

    In the majority of instances, once your loan has been approved, you can have access to cash as soon as the next working day. Your lender will inform you of all information regarding how money will be paid.

    Why Are IOnline Payday Loans the Best Choice for You?

    IOnline Payday Loans is one of the most dependable sources for tribal loans no credit check available. They offer fast, safe, and easy loans, so they are an ideal option if you need a loan but have bad credit. The following are the reasons you should choose IOnline Payday Loans:

    1.   No credit checks

    Unlike other lenders who always place too much emphasis on your credit score, IOnline Payday Loans offers personal tribal loans no credit check that mean your bad credit will never prevent you from receiving your loan. Bad credit, or NO credit, will never hinder you from the bad credit guaranteed tribal loans approval.

    2.   Fast approvals and quick funding

    The approval process at IOnline Payday Loans is quick and effective. Approval decisions are made in minutes for most applicants and they will receive their funds the same day or perhaps the following business day. This is an excellent option for fast funding when you need cash quickly, such as a medical bill or other unforeseen expense.

    3.   Flexible loan amounts and repayment terms

    With IOnline Payday Loans, you can tailor your loan to your specific needs. Choose a loan amount of up to $5000 and decide on repayment terms between 3 to 12 months. This flexibility ensures that you’re only borrowing what you need, with manageable terms that work with your budget.

    4.   Simple, easy-to-use online application

    The application process is straightforward and quick. With just a few simple steps, you can apply online from the comfort of your own home. There’s no complicated paperwork or long wait times, just a fast and easy way to access tribal payday loans when you need them most.

    5.   Secure and transparent process

    At IOnline Payday Loans, your privacy is very important. The online platform is secure and confidential to ensure that you never have to worry about your personal or financial information being shared with anybody. Additionally, as per the Law of Truth in Lending, all the Loan Terms are explained to you before you sign on the dotted line. There is no deception in the borrowing process offered by IOnline Payday Loans.

    Ultimately, the features offered by IOnline Payday Loans makes it one of the best options for tribal loans no credit check, and guaranteed tribal loans bad credit. If for any reason you need money quickly, whether it is an emergency or a lack of respect or just want the least hassle possible while obtaining a loan, IOnline Payday Loans can offer you exactly what you need with trust.

    IOnline Payday Loans Application Process

    The application process for IOnline Payday Loans is designed to be straightforward, especially for those seeking tribal loans no credit check. Follow these simple steps to get started:

    Step 1: Select loan amount

    The first step is choosing the loan amount that you need. Whether you need a small sum for an emergency or a larger amount for a more significant expense, tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval ensures you’re matched with the right option based on your needs.

    Step 2: Organize documents

    Prepare the necessary documents such as proof of identity, income, and residency. Since tribal payday loans do not require extensive documentation, this step is simple and quick to complete.

    Step 3: Fill out the application form

    Fill out the easy online application form. The form will ask for personal details and the amount you wish to borrow. This step is quick and designed to minimize your time spent on the process.

    Step 4: Check eligibility

    Once you submit the form, the system will automatically check your eligibility for easy tribal loans for bad credit. Since the approval process is not based on your credit score, you’re likely to be eligible even with a poor credit history.

    Step 5: Get matched with a lender

    If you’re eligible, you’ll be matched with a tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval no teletrack that fits your loan request. This step ensures that you get the best possible loan terms for your situation.

    Step 6: Sign & receive funds

    Once you’re matched with a lender, review the loan offer, sign the agreement, and receive your funds. With tribal loans no credit check direct lender, you can expect fast processing and immediate disbursement, often the same day.

    Following these steps ensures that applying for Best tribal loans for bad credit is as smooth and hassle-free as possible.

    Eligibility Criteria for IOnline Payday Loans

    To apply for IOnline Payday Loans, certain eligibility criteria must be met to ensure you are a suitable candidate for their tribal loans no credit check. These requirements are designed to make the application process accessible and secure for applicants, regardless of their credit history.

    • Age: You need to be at least 18 years old. This requirement ensures that you are legally able to enter into a loan agreement and pay back the loan throughout the loan term.
    • U.S. Residency: Loan applicants must be legal U.S. residents to be eligible for tribal payday loans. Because the loan is only available to U.S. residents, this is important.
    • Steady Income: You must provide proof of steady income. This can include a paycheck from full-time work, yourself as a business owner, disability payments, or any reliable source of income. Tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval usually needs this as evidence that you can pay back the loan.
    • Bank Account: You will need a valid checking or savings account to receive your funds through direct deposit and for loan payments to be made. This allows for more accurate and quicker transfer of funds.
    • No Credit Check: One great feature of easy tribal loans for bad credit is that there is no credit check. Even if you have bad credit or do not have credit, qualifying for guaranteed tribal loans bad credit is still available.

    The eligibility requirements for tribal installment loans for bad credit direct lenders are uncomplicated. This makes tribal installment loans an attractive way to borrow for anyone that has trouble getting traditional lenders to work with them and their credit score. The eligibility requirements are straightforward and the process allows for quick and easy access to funding without the long waiting, overwhelming obstacles of application, and blurry lines of a credit check.

    Wrapping up

    To sum up, IOnline Payday Loans is definitely one of the best options for tribal loans no credit check if you need fast and reliable financing. Tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval supports individuals looking for easy access to funds quickly, even if they have poor credit. The process is simple, ensuring the great chance to get approved for one of the easiest tribal loans to obtain.

    Whether you are looking for tribal payday loans or an easy tribal loan for an emergency or other needs, you can trust you will receive fast and efficient service with IOnline Payday Loans. If you are looking for easy tribal loans for bad credit, it is worth it to look into this option.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Will I actually be able to get guaranteed tribal loans bad credit?

    Yes, you will be able to get guaranteed tribal loans bad credit with IOnline Payday Loans even if you have bad credit. The process is very simple, and uses a common sense approach to ensure everyone gets a chance; and the best part is that you will not need to submit a credit score, and approval is much faster than traditional loans.

    Will applying for my tribal loan affect my credit score?

    No, your credit score would not be affected by applying for a tribal payday loan with IOnline Payday Loans. Since the decision is based on criteria other than your credit score, you won’t have to be concerned with your score and the loan application and approval.

    Are these loans available in every state?

    IOnline Payday Loans is available in most states, however, loan availability may depend on state regulations. We recommend checking the website or contacting customer support for confirmation on tribal loans no credit check availability.

    Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about Ionline payday loan services and should not be considered financial advice. Ionline Payday Loans does not guarantee loan approval, and loan terms may vary by applicant and lender requirements. Loans are available to U.S. residents only.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a448455-0257-4c6f-9380-aed09399ca89

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Non-compliant electrical products

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 14):
     
    Question:
     
    Under the Hong Kong legislation, electrical products supplied in Hong Kong are required to carry a certificate of safety compliance, and energy labels are required to be shown on certain prescribed products supplied in Hong Kong. In the case of regulated electrical equipment, suppliers of such equipment are even required to register with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) as registered suppliers and pay a recycling levy (the levy) to the EPD for the regulated electrical equipment distributed by them. However, it is learnt that quite a number of electrical products purchased online in Hong Kong through cross-border e-commerce platforms have not complied with the requirements of the aforesaid legislation, thus posing potential safety hazards to Hong Kong consumers and causing unfairness to local law-abiding merchants. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the measures taken by the authorities to intercept the import of non-compliant electrical products into Hong Kong in each of the past three years;

    (2) as it has been reported that some cross-border e-commerce platforms intend to set up physical shops in Hong Kong, whereby goods are displayed for customers to experience in person, and customers may conduct transactions on online platforms and have the goods delivered directly by manufacturers outside Hong Kong, whether the authorities have studied if such selling approach has circumvented the existing laws of Hong Kong or if there are grey areas; if it has studied, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; 
    Reply:
     
    President, 
    (1) Since 2019, a Cross-border E-commerce Working Group (the Working Group) was established under the Cooperation Arrangement on Electrical and Mechanical Products Safety and Energy Efficiency between the EMSD and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. The Working Group focuses on controlling the risks arisen from cross-border e-commerce platforms, including the reporting of unsafe electrical products supplied through these platforms. Upon receiving notifications, the Mainland Authority will conduct follow-up actions according to the case merits, including proactive measures like order interception and product delisting to prevent unsafe electrical products from entering Hong Kong. The EMSD also co-organises annual policy and regulation briefings with the relevant Mainland Authority to explain to cross-border e-commerce platform businesses, electrical product manufacturers, and testing personnel the relevant laws and instructions for the supply of electrical products in Hong Kong, enhancing their understanding of regulations related to exporting household electrical products to Hong Kong. To date, 12 such briefings have been conducted.
     
    Besides, the EMSD has conducted sample checks on 16 types for 180 household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong in the past three years. It also engages third party testing and certification bodies to conduct testing on the relevant safety standards. Around 160 prescribed products were also checked for compliance with the energy efficiency information on the energy label over the same period. If the relevant products are suspected to be in violation of the Regulation or the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, the EMSD will conduct follow-up investigations.
     
    The EMSD also conducts inspections at retail stores supplying household electrical products, local e-commerce platforms, and their suppliers. Prosecutions will be carried out against non-compliant products. In the past three years, around 14 000 inspections were conducted, uncovering about 230 cases of violations of the Regulations or the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, which have resulted in fines totalling at around $500,000.
     
    (2) and (3) Regarding the situation described in question (2), the EMSD has maintained communication with cross-border e-commerce platforms in the Mainland to remind them that household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong must comply with the local legal requirements. The EMSD will continue to monitor the operations of these platforms in Hong Kong, consult the Department of Justice regarding potential violations of the Regulations and the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, and take further actions including prosecution as necessary.
     
    Regarding the recycling levy arrangement, the EPD has noted recent operational models of certain cross-border e-commerce platform may involve the distribution or sale of regulated electrical equipment in Hong Kong. The EPD has approached the relevant platform to understand the situation and explain the relevant regulations. The platform concerned has also submitted to the EPD the applications for supplier registration endorsement of removal service plan. The EPD will continue to monitor the operational models of these platforms in Hong Kong and follow up on suspected violations.
     
    The EPD and the EMSD have established a communication mechanism since 2024 to exchange intelligence on suspected offences relating to the Regulation, the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme and WPRS. A joint enforcement operation was conducted in July 2024, resulting in prosecutions for violations that led to convictions and fines totalling at $22,500 in February 2025. Meanwhile, the EPD regularly inspects suppliers, sellers, and collectors under the WPRS, and has conducted over 1 600 inspections in the past three years, with summons issued to prosecute 28 non-compliant cases.
     
    (4) Over the past three years, the EMSD has not received any reports on unregistered electrical workers installing household appliances arranged by cross-border e-commerce platforms. The EMSD will communicate with cross-border e-commerce platforms about the situation, and will follow up and investigate in accordance with the Electricity Ordinance as necessary.
     
    (5) Having considered the relevant regulatory arrangements in other regions and the need to balance the actual enforcement situations with the prevailing business environment, the Government currently has no plan to amend the relevant regulations to cover the purchase of imported electrical products from cross-border e-commerce platforms and products imported in person. The EMSD will continue to take enforcement actions under a “risk-based” approach, and enhance public awareness of electrical products safety and energy efficiency through education and promotion. The EPD and the EMSD will continue to monitor market developments, review the implementation of the relevant regulations and enhance the enforcement arrangements in response to changing business models.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams Statement on President’s Budget Proposal

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Senior Member of the House Agriculture Committee and the House Education & Workforce Committee, released a statement on President Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

    “The president’s budget proposal is reckless and cruel, and would strip services away from millions of Americans,” said Congresswoman Adams. “It includes tens of billions of dollars in cuts to Title I schools, the NIH, and rental assistance—programs that we know work—in exchange for bigger tax breaks for billionaires. Fortunately, Congress, not the White House, sets the budget, and if this bill ever comes before us, I will vote against it.”

    The president’s proposal includes unprecedented cuts that would rob millions of Americans of their food and housing security, healthcare, and educational opportunity.

    “A budget is a reflection of the values you hold, and this budget speaks plainly to who the president is,” Adams continued. “He values making it harder for you to access Medicaid and Social Security. He values tax cuts for his friends over making sure Americans have a place to sleep at night. He values putting money in the pocket of Elon Musk while cutting services to you. He’s laid his values out before us, and I will continue to fight to ensure those values never become law.” 

    His proposed cuts include:

    • $4.5 billion in cuts to Title I schools and K-12 programs.
    • $1.6 billion in cuts to TRIO and GEAR UP, two critical programs for students from low-income households and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
    • $980 million in cuts to the Federal Work-Study Program.
    • $729 million in cuts to Adult Education Programs.
    • $18 billion in cuts to the National Institute of Health.
    • $3.6 billion in cuts to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, slashing their budget in half.
    • $674 million in cuts to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
    • $1 billion in cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
    • $26.7 billion in cuts to State Rental Assistance Block Grants.
    • $425 million in cuts to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, a critical food assistance and domestic farm program that aids older Americans and food banks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams Statement on President Trump’s First 100 Days, Immense Harm to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), released a statement on President Trump’s first 100 days in office and the immense harm him and Republicans in Congress have brought to the residents of NC-12, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the country.

    “After 100 days under President Trump, his term can only be defined by economic hardship, divisive, partisan politics, and letting millions suffer for bigger tax breaks for billionaires,” said Congresswoman Adams. “The last three months have been disastrous, and my constituents have made it clear to me that they are overwhelmingly worse off thanks to this administration. But my Republican colleagues have no issues supporting President Trump’s cruel, unconstitutional actions anyway.”

    “While Republicans cower to the White House, Democrats will continue to work for every single American,” Adams continued. “I will keep fighting their reckless agenda in committee and on the House floor. I will continue listening to my constituents so I can advocate for their needs. And I will continue to work with our partners in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to ensure our community will take care of our neighbors, even when this administration won’t.”

    Harm to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community

    The Trump Administration has directly harmed hundreds of thousands of people in North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District and in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. As Republicans look to pass their partisan budget bill, the harm will only grow.

    Education

    “Education isn’t a privilege, it’s a right and we will not let Republicans take it away from our children,” said Adams. “We are seeing this unconstitutional attempt to dismantle the federal Department of Education fought in court and I will continue to fight these cuts in Congress. Now, more than ever, we need to protect the educational future of our students.” 

    Hunger

    • Elon Musk’s DOGE has made major cuts to food security programs, including $30 million to North Carolina’s Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.
    • Now, Republicans in Congress are attempting to cut $230 billion in SNAP funding, the largest food security program in the country.
    • 160,000 Mecklenburg County residents receive aid from SNAP and the program carries with it $500 million in economic impacts.
    • This bill would also cut funds to the Free Student Lunch Program which 40,000 CMS students use for a reliable meal.

    “You can’t be healthy if you’re hungry,” said Adams. “At a time when people are struggling to make ends meet, Republicans want to cut food security programs from the people who need it most. Our children, our elderly, our disabled, and our working families all rely on SNAP to put food on the table. Democrats will not allow our constituents to starve.”

    Healthcare

    “We cannot let Republicans treat lifesaving healthcare programs like Medicaid as if they’re just budget line items,” said Adams. “2.6 million North Carolinians rely on Medicaid for their health and wellness, providing affordable, accessible care to our most vulnerable. Make no mistake, Americans will die if Republicans cut Medicaid, all so they can give tax breaks to billionaires.” 

    Housing

    • As Charlotte-Mecklenburg faces an affordable housing crisis, the Trump Administration is cutting funds for critical rental and housing assistance.
    • The Republican Continuing Resolution cut rent subsidies and homelessness response grants by more than $700 million.
    • Funding for affordable housing developments remains frozen, throwing these developments into uncertainty.
    • Charlotte’s largest homeless shelter is facing uncertainty and unease due to the Trump Administration’s cuts on housing.

    “While rental and housing costs continue to rise, Republicans want to cut an essential lifeline to affordable housing,” said Adams. “Housing security impacts everything: physical and mental health, job and economic stability, and food security. Yet, the Republican plan is to increase evictions while slashing housing and homeless support. That’s unacceptable. While I fight these cuts in Congress, I’m working with partners at the state, county, and local level to ensure we can continue providing fair housing for the people of my district.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Van Hollen, Tillis, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Calling on DHS to Reinstate Disaster Mitigation Program Critical to Local Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter with over 80 of their colleagues urging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which supports local efforts to protect and harden our communities from natural disaster. The BRIC program provides grants for hazard mitigation planning and projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to communities, tribal nations, and territories requesting assistance. The lawmakers’ letter emphasizes the urgent need to continue investing in pre-disaster mitigation and community resilience and calls on the Administration to work with Congress to improve the program’s accessibility and efficiency.
    “We are writing to urge the Administration to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant (BRIC) program within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). BRIC funds are spurring communities across the country to strengthen their resilience to extreme weather, and forgoing these critical investments will only make it harder and more expensive for communities to recover from the next storm,” the lawmakers began.
    “The BRIC program was established by Congress in the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law by President Trump with bipartisan support. In the years since, this program has catalyzed community investments in resilient infrastructure, saving federal funds by investing in community preparedness before a disaster strikes,” they continued. “According to research, one dollar invested in disaster mitigation can save up to $18 in response and recovery expenditures.”
    “We urge the Administration to take swift action to reinstate the BRIC program, and to work with Congress to identify and implement reforms to strengthen our nation’s resilience for decades to come,” the lawmakers concluded.
    In addition to Senators Murray, Van Hollen, Tillis, and Murkowski, the letter was led on the House side by U.S. Representatives Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.-11), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas-29), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01), and Ed Case (D-Hawaii-01). The letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33), Donald Beyer (D-Va.-08), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.-08), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.-13), Greg Casar (D-Texas-35), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-33), Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.-03), Donald Davis (D-N.C.-01), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.-03), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.-22), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), Chuy García (D-Ill.-04), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Bill Keating (D-Mass.-09), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.-02), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Northern Marina Islands), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Sarah McBride (D-Del.-01), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.-08), Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.-03), Dave Min (D-Calif-47), Blake Moore (R-Utah-01), James Moylan (R-Va.-09), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Richard Neal (D-Mass.-01), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash-04), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.-03), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.-07), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.05), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), John Rutherford (R-Fla.-05), Linda Sánchez (R-Calif.-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-08), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.-07), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii-02), Norma Torres (D-Calif-35), David Valadao (R-Calif-22), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), Eugene Simon Vindman (D-Va.-07), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-24), and Robert Wittman (R-Va.-01).
    The full letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Administrator Richardson,
    We are writing to urge the Administration to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant (BRIC) program within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). BRIC funds are spurring communities across the country to strengthen their resilience to extreme weather, and forgoing these critical investments will only make it harder and more expensive for communities to recover from the next storm. We acknowledge that the BRIC program, like all grant funding programs, has room for improvement, and we urge you to couple the reinstatement of the program with an opportunity for Congress and FEMA to improve the application review and funding distribution process to more effectively reduce the costs disasters pose to our communities, economies, and livelihoods.
    The BRIC program was established by Congress in the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law by President Trump with bipartisan support. In the years since, this program has catalyzed community investments in resilient infrastructure, saving federal funds by investing in community preparedness before a disaster strikes.
    According to research, one dollar invested in disaster mitigation can save up to $18 in response and recovery expenditures. BRIC funds are making communities safer in the next storm through projects like upgrading and protecting wastewater and drinking water plants after the facilities suffered repeated flooding, or bridge upgrades and road drainage improvements to improve driver safety. Because of its benefits, the demand for BRIC grants continues to increase, and our states and communities benefit from the reliability of the funding cycles.
    The BRIC program also plays an essential role in helping Tribal Nations and rural communities strengthen their defenses against natural disasters and safeguard critical infrastructure. Through BRIC, Tribes and rural communities can access dedicated funding to strengthen community resilience by investing in hazard mitigation projects—such as flood protection, fire prevention, and infrastructure hardening—that are otherwise difficult to finance in rural or remote settings. Importantly, FEMA supports Tribal sovereignty by allowing Tribes to apply directly for funding, reserving a dedicated Tribal set-aside, and providing direct technical assistance—ensuring Tribes can lead their own planning and mitigation efforts. These investments not only strengthen community resilience but also honor the federal trust responsibility to support the safety, self-determination, and well-being of Tribal Nations.
    At the same time, we acknowledge that the BRIC program should be evaluated for opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce the complexities for recipients to access the critical resources. The benefits of the program should not be concentrated in or limited to jurisdictions with dedicated offices and the staff necessary to navigate the grant application requirements. Additionally, the program should be updated with a strategic approach that empowers states and local governments to address degraded and vulnerable infrastructure based on their localized priorities and understanding of risk.
    We urge the Administration to take swift action to reinstate the BRIC program, and to work with Congress to identify and implement reforms to strengthen our nation’s resilience for decades to come.
    Respectfully,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Hears Testimony of Trump Defense Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Adam Telle, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Richard Anderson, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs during their Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) confirmation hearing. Sen. Tuberville spoke with Mr. Telle about how the Army Corps of Engineers can improve dams and waterways in Alabama so that businesses can continue utilizing them to efficiently transport goods. Sen. Tuberville spoke with Mr. Anderson about improving morale in the Air Force, and how he will support President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s mission for the Air Force Academy, if confirmed. 
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble. 

    ON ADDRESSING ALABAMA’S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, gentlemen. Mr. Telle, I enjoyed visiting you in my office, recently, about Alabama’s inland waterways. And last year, we had three of our locks fail in one year. That’s unacceptable.
    Our waterways infrastructure is operating past [its] expected lifespan and will continue to break. We’re having huge problems. Businesses depend upon our waterways to move goods, all the way down to the Port Mobile. What’s your plan to cut bureaucratic red tape and rapidly repair critical infrastructure across the system? Even though we just passed—a couple years ago—trillions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure money. We didn’t see any of that.”
    TELLE: “Senator Tuberville, thank you for the question. And as someone who grew up on the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa County, one of your waterways, I understand their importance. They deliver American commerce to the globe. It’s true in Alabama and it’s true throughout the country. It’s unacceptable that our infrastructure is not meeting our current demands. We have got to work across government agencies to make sure we remove red tape, coordinate, [and] communicate with you [and] stakeholders here in Congress who have the ability to help deliver some of these projects. And I look forward to working with you on the locks and other navigation and flood control infrastructure within Alabama.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. We do have a lot of red tape within the [Army] Corps of Engineers—I’ll let you know that. I look forward to working with you. I’ll [let you] know that we gotta get stuff done. We just can’t sit back…”
    TELLE: “Thank you, Senator. Couldn’t agree more.”
    ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE AIR FORCE:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. Anderson, thank for your service. As [a] career officer in the Air Force, I’m sure you’ve had your share of both good and bad base facilities, housing units, [and] commissaries. And I believe that what happens outside of work is just as important as work itself. [Your] quality of life, family, stability, and all those things that go along with it.
    Do you believe that having a lower quality of life leads to decreased morale, readiness, and retention?”
    ANDERSON: “Absolutely, Senator.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. And how do you plan on working with your colleagues in the Air Force staff to address all these issues, because we do have problems?”
    ANDERSON: “Senator, you are correct. […] If confirmed, I intend to delve into this issue immediately. My intention is to remain at the headquarters for a period of time in order to come up to speed on these issues, and then to get into the field, if confirmed, and to see these things firsthand. I’ve read about them, and I look forward, if confirmed, by this Committee [to] working with you and with all members of the Committee in addressing these [issues].”
    ON NEW ADMISSIONS POLICY AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. You know, last week, Secretary Hegseth signed a memorandum requiring our service academies to adapt admission standards based solely on merit. Thank God. You know, […] recently, the President put me on the Air Force Academy Board [of Visitors], which I’m looking forward to. I’m also Chairman of the Subcommittee that oversees our academies. I welcome that change in policy. Under the previous administration we saw our nation’s premier leadership laboratories cower to woke ideologies.
    If confirmed, you will have oversight over the Air Force Academy. How do you plan on ensuring that this memorandum is thoroughly put [into effect at] our Air Force Academy?”
    ANDERSON: “Senator, based on my reading of the public media, the Air Force and specifically the organization that I hope to lead, if confirmed, has already moved aggressively on this. My understanding is that there is a certification required back by the end of the month from the superintendent of the academy. But if confirmed, I intend to delve into this completely to ensure fullest compliance with the Executive Orders, direction of the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Air Force as well as the existing law.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. [I] look forward to working with you too, on some things I have in mind for the Academy that possibly we could change. Number one, […] saving money, but also enhance some leadership in the Academy there. I think that we can all get together and make it better. It hasn’t changed in years. We could still go by the same old models. And again, we’re looking for leadership. That’s what the Air Force Academy and all of our academies. Represent, you know, for our military.
    I do have some more questions, but I’m out of time, but I’ll give them to you for the for the record.
    Mr. Chairman.”
    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 USA: Wagner Advances American National Security Interests During Visit to Europe and Middle East

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Washington, D.C. – House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Subcommittee on Open-Source Intelligence Chairman Ann Wagner (R-MO) recently returned from a congressional delegation (CODEL) to Europe and the Middle East. The purpose of the CODEL was to hear from key U.S. allies on the security challenges they are facing and strengthen U.S. global alliances through strategic engagements. Chair Wagner and the delegation were hosted at a series of meetings with high-ranking country leaders. 

    In the United Kingdom, Chair Wagner met with the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Foreign Secretary. They discussed shared security concerns with the U.S., including the desire to end the war in Ukraine and address Iran’s persistent fueling of terrorism throughout the world by way of its proxies: Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah. 

    In Jordan, the delegation met with His Majesty King Abdullah II and his key high-ranking officials to discuss their top national security concerns and how they view changes in the region. 

    Lastly, the delegation visited Israel during Holocaust Remembrance Day and joined a powerful remembrance ceremony. Chair Wagner met with family members of the hostages taken on October 7th by Hamas terrorists and reinforced the U.S. support for Israel’s efforts to return the hostages. Additionally, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and discuss his continued efforts to return the Israeli hostages, defeat Hamas, and achieve stability in the Middle East. 

    “I held an informative meeting in London with intelligence officials on our shared mission to stand up against the ongoing threats Russia, China, and Iran pose to innocents worldwide.  Our nations comprise a vital partnership where we share intelligence that keeps us ahead of our adversaries so we can confront threats before they reach us here at home. While in London, I was also able to have a productive meeting with St. Louis companies with business overseas where we spoke on our mutual economic interests.  As Chair of the Open-Source Intelligence Subcommittee, in addition to my duties as Co-Chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, I especially appreciated meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel to underscore our commitment to helping Israel destroy Hamas, deter Iran, and ensure greater stability in the Middle East.  The threats facing the United States are real and they have the potential to threaten the very stability of our world that keeps our children safe,” said Chair Wagner. ” Our allies know the United States is a key partner for economic and security matters, but it was also encouraging to hear them recognize that the United States cannot shoulder the burdens of the world alone. Under the leadership of President Trump, nations across the globe are stepping up to protect our shared interests and defend against our adversaries.”

    View pictures from Chair Wagner’s CODEL here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Calls Out Democrats for Trying to Distract from President Trump’s Wins

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    “To my Democrat colleagues, instead of wasting our time objecting every time President Trump breathes, maybe you should get outside of D.C. and go connect with the American people. I can promise you they don’t give a rip about an airplane.”
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) went to the Senate floor to object to Senate Democrats’ attempts to distract from the numerous wins President Trump has delivered for the American people in the past 72 hours.
    Read excerpts from the speech below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

    “Reserving the right to object. As usual, our Democrat colleagues are losing their minds over this situation. But let’s just talk about the facts.
    First of all, this is not a done deal. It’s not happened yet. It’s all talk. But, if reports are accurate, the government of Qatar is considering gifting the United States Department of Defense with an American-made Boeing 747—I’ll repeat that—an American-made Boeing 747 plane for temporary use as Air Force One. It is not for the President’s personal use and he will not be using it after he leaves office. It is customary and totally normal for foreign countries to give our government gifts. The DOJ has already said that this does not violate any law.
    So, why are my colleagues and the woke media having a full-blown meltdown over this situation? Perhaps this is because in the past 72 hours, President Trump has delivered so many wins you can’t count them all. 
    On Sunday, he negotiated a deal with China, [resulting in China] dropping tariffs [by] 50%. On Monday, he secured the release of the last remaining American hostage in Hamas. Edan Alexander has been through hell the past 584 days, and it took President Trump to bring him home. Today, President Trump just announced hundreds of billions of dollars in new investment from the Middle East. And on Thursday, he is forcing a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky to end this brutal war in Ukraine.
    You’d think the media would be celebrating all these wins, along with my colleagues, but as usual, the Trump Derangement Syndrome is getting in the way. I’m convinced that the media and some of my colleagues would rather President Trump lose on everything and our country lose on everything than [see President Trump] be successful. 
    Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, we are all Americans. Sometimes I think we forget that. And we should all be able to celebrate any time a president delivers a win for the American taxpayers.
    And by the way, we are $37 trillion dollars in debt. If another country wants to give us a free plane, saving the taxpayers of this country $400 million dollars, the only thing we should say is ‘thank you.’
    Democrats are rudderless right now. They’re looking for something to hang their hats on. They see that President Trump has done more in four months than President Biden did in four years. So, they wanna make a plane gift from Qatar the next so-called ‘perfect phone call.’
    To my Democrat colleagues, instead of wasting our time objecting every time President Trump breathes, maybe you should get outside of D.C. and go connect with the American people. I can promise you they don’t give a rip about an airplane. They care about their lives and this economy and the things that have been destroyed for the past four years that President Trump is trying to put back together.
    For these reasons, Mr. President, I object.”
    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: A year and a half of annual real wages growth

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    New data released by the Australia Bureau of Statistics shows that annual real wages have grown for 18 months in a row under the Albanese Labor Government.

    Under Labor, more Australians are working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn.

    We’re really pleased with today’s figures which show annual real wages have now grown for six quarters in a row, after going badly backwards under the previous Liberal government and falling for the five quarters in the lead up to the 2022 election.

    Australians voted for higher wages at the election, and that’s what today’s numbers show.

    The wage price index grew 0.9 per cent in the March quarter 2025, to be 3.4 per cent higher through the year.

    Real wages grew 1.0 per cent through the year to the March quarter 2025.

    This is the strongest rate of annual real wage growth in five years.

    Annual real wages have grown by more than 0.8 per cent for three quarters in a row, which is the longest consistent run of real wage growth in almost ten years above that rate.

    Since we’ve come to Government average annualised nominal wages have been growing at 3.7 per cent, much higher than the 2.2 per cent under our predecessors.

    The Government’s policies are driving strong and sustainable wage growth for workers.

    We’re acting to boost wages, close the gender pay gap, deliver workplace relations reforms and secure pay rises for some of the lowest‑paid workers in our community. Our support for the lowest paid workers means minimum wage earners are now earning $143.30 per week more than when we came to government.

    At the same time, we’ve overseen the creation of more than 1 million jobs in our first three years, a record for a Parliamentary term and stronger employment growth than any major advanced economy.

    This means under Labor real wages are up, unemployment is low, inflation is down, interest rates have started to fall, every taxpayer is getting a tax cut and living standards are growing again in our economy.

    This is the result of the remarkable progress Australians have made together in the economy over the past three years.

    We know the job isn’t finished because Australians are still under pressure and we know we will be faced with more global economic volatility and unpredictability over the next three years, not less.

    Getting wages moving again is one of the ways we can help households right around Australia prepare for more uncertainty and instability in the global economy.

    We know that productivity growth is the key for strong and sustainable wages growth in the long term and that’s why our five‑pillar productivity agenda across technology, human capital, energy, care and competition is so important.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: In Ways and Means Committee Showdown, Rep. Gomez Fights Republican Tax Scam

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

    Gomez to Republicans: “Are you for the babies—or the billionaires?”

    Watch Rep. Jimmy Gomez’s remarks blasting the “biggest wealth transfer in American history” HERE.

    WASHINGTON, DC – During a House Ways and Means Committee markup, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) delivered a sharp rebuke of the Republican tax plan, which slashes Medicaid and food assistance programs to finance trillions of dollars in tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.

    “I didn’t think that Republicans could get any worse. But they are. At this very moment… the American people are a witness to the biggest transfer of wealth in the history of our country,” said Rep. Gomez.

    “In the Energy and Commerce Committee, just down the hall, Republicans will vote to slash billions from Medicaid—health care for the working class—in order to hand out trillions in tax breaks to the billionaires, ultra-wealthy, and the largest corporations. It’s literally stealing from the poor to give to the rich,” added the Congressman.

    Rep. Gomez outlined the real-world consequences of the proposed cuts, warning that they would fall hardest on the most vulnerable. He also called out what’s missing from the Republican plan: any meaningful effort to lower the cost of child care, provide paid family leave, or make housing more affordable. “We could be doing all of that right now. But this bill does none of it,” Rep. Gomez said.

    Rep. Gomez wrapped up his remarks forcing his Republican colleagues to reckon with the stakes of their vote. In a series of pointed questions, he laid bare the moral choice at the heart of the debate: “Are you for the babies or the billionaires? The seniors or the billionaires? The working man or woman trying to get by—or the billionaires? Your words are cheap. It’s your vote that matters.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: SCIO briefing on financial policy package to stabilize the market and expectations

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

    中文

    Speakers:

    Mr. Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBC)

    Mr. Li Yunze, minister of the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA)

    Mr. Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC)

    Chairperson:

    Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

    Date:

    May 7, 2025

    Shou Xiaoli:

    Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, we are glad to have invited Mr. Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBC); Mr. Li Yunze, minister of the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA); and Mr. Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). They will brief you on the financial policy package to stabilize the market and expectations, and answer your questions.

    Now, let’s give the floor to Mr. Pan for his introduction.

    Pan Gongsheng:

    Good morning. It’s a pleasure to meet with you all again. I would like to sincerely thank you all for your continued interest in and support for the reforms and developments in the financial sector, as well as the work of the PBC.

    Since the beginning of this year, the PBC has earnestly implemented the guiding principles of the Central Economic Work Conference and the deployments of the Government Work Report. We have implemented a moderately loose monetary policy, strengthened counter-cyclical adjustments, comprehensively used various monetary policy tools, served the high-quality development of the real economy, and created a favorable monetary and financial environment for promoting the continuous recovery and improvement of the economy.

    From the perspective of effectiveness, various macro-financial data has been relatively positive since the beginning of this year, and monetary credit has shown the operational characteristics of “increased quantity, decreased price and optimized structure.” At the end of the first quarter, the social financing scale increased by 8.4% year on year, and loans increased by 7.4% year on year. If adjusted to include the impact of local special-purpose bonds that replaced loans from local government financing platforms, the loan growth rate would exceed 8%. The M2, a broad measure of money supply, maintained stable growth of around 7%, significantly higher than the nominal economic growth rate. At the same time, the cost of social financing remained low, and the growth rates of inclusive loans to micro and small businesses, medium- and long-term loans to the manufacturing sector, and loans to sci-tech small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were all faster than the overall loan growth rate, further optimizing the credit structure.

    From the perspective of the financial market, the performance in the first quarter was positive. The stock market operated generally smoothly, trading was relatively active, and the Shanghai Composite Index remained around 3,300 points. The bond market self-corrected, driven by improved economic confidence. The onshore and offshore RMB exchange rates against the U.S. dollar appreciated slightly by about 1% compared to the end of last year, and cross-border capital flows were relatively balanced.

    Since April, despite facing relatively large external shocks, the domestic financial system has remained stable, and the financial market has shown strong resilience. After the Shanghai Composite Index fell on April 7, it quickly rebounded and stabilized. Currently, the 10-year government bond yield is hovering around 1.65%, and the RMB exchange rate against the U.S. dollar depreciated slightly before rebounding to around 7.2 yuan.

    Currently, the global economy is full of uncertainties. Economic fragmentation and trade tensions are intensifying, disrupting global industrial and supply chains, causing turmoil in international financial markets, and weakening global economic growth momentum. Not long ago, I attended the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, where central bank governors and heads of international financial organizations from various countries expressed deep concern about this. The PBC will conscientiously implement the central decisions and deployments, promote high-quality economic development, unswervingly advance high-standard opening up, actively participate in international financial governance and cooperation, and maintain a rules-based international economic and financial order. At the same time, we will coordinate financial opening and security, explore and enhance the central bank’s role of macro-prudential management and financial stability regime, and firmly maintain the stable operation of China’s foreign exchange, bond and stock markets.

    On April 25, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting to analyze and study the current economic situation and economic work. In order to implement the guiding principles of the meeting and further implement a moderately loose monetary policy, the PBC will intensify macro regulation and introduce a package of monetary policy measures, mainly consisting of three major categories with a total of 10 specific measures.

    The first category is quantitative policies, aimed at increasing medium- and long-term liquidity supply, through measures such as lowering the reserve requirement ratio, and maintaining ample market liquidity. The second category is price-based policies, which will lower policy rate, reduce the rates of structural monetary policy tools, such as the central bank’s relending rates to commercial banks, and lower interest rates on provident fund loans. The third category is structural policies, which will improve existing structural monetary policy tools and create new policy tools to support such areas as technological innovation, consumption expansion and inclusive finance.

    These three major categories of measures include 10 specific policies:

    First, we will lower the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 0.5 percentage point, which is expected to provide about 1 trillion yuan in long-term liquidity to the market.

    Second, we will improve the reserve requirement system by temporarily lowering the reserve requirement ratio for auto finance companies and financial leasing companies from the current 5% to 0%. 

    Third, we will lower the policy rate by 0.1 percentage point, specifically reducing the seven-day reverse repo rate in the open market from the current 1.5% to 1.4%. This adjustment is expected to lead to a corresponding decrease of approximately 0.1 percentage point in the loan prime rate (LPR).

    Fourth, we will reduce the interest rates of structural monetary policy tools by 0.25 percentage point. This includes various special structural tools and relending rates for supporting agriculture and small businesses, all decreasing from the current 1.75% to 1.5%. These rates represent the cost at which the central bank provides relending funds to commercial banks. The interest rates on pledged supplementary lending (PSL) will be reduced from the current 2.25% to 2%. PSL is a tool through which the central bank provides funds to policy banks.

    Fifth, we will lower the interest rates on personal housing provident fund loans by 0.25 percentage point, reducing the rate for first-time homebuyers with loan terms over five years from 2.85% to 2.6%, with rates for other terms adjusted accordingly.

    Sixth, we will increase the relending quota for technological innovation and technological transformation by 300 billion yuan. This will raise the total from the current 500 billion yuan to 800 billion yuan. This relending tool is already in place, and the quota has now been increased by 300 billion yuan, bringing the total to 800 billion yuan. The tool will continue to support the “two new” policies, which refer to large-scale renewal of equipment and the trading-in of consumer goods.

    Seventh, we will establish a 500 billion yuan relending facility dedicated to service consumption and elderly care. This measure aims to encourage commercial banks to increase credit support for these sectors.

    Eighth, we will increase the relending quota for agricultural and small businesses by 300 billion yuan. This complements our relending rate reduction, helping banks expand lending to agricultural enterprises, small and micro businesses, and private enterprises.

    Ninth, we will optimize the two monetary policy tools that support the capital market. We’re merging the 500 billion yuan swap facility for securities firms, funds, and insurance companies with the 300 billion yuan relending facility for stock repurchases and increased holdings, resulting in a total quota of 800 billion yuan.

    Tenth, we will establish a risk-sharing tool for sci-tech innovation bonds. The central bank will provide low-cost relending funds that can be used to purchase these bonds. The central bank will collaborate with local governments and market-based credit enhancement institutions, utilizing diverse credit enhancement measures, such as joint guarantees, to share part of the default risk. This initiative aims to support the issuance of low-cost, long-term sci-tech innovation bonds for technology innovation enterprises and equity investment institutions.

    These 10 specific policy measures across three major categories will be gradually disclosed on the PBC’s website and implemented. Next, the PBC will continue to earnestly implement the various deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, implement a moderately loose monetary policy, and continuously adjust monetary policy based on domestic and international economic and financial conditions, as well as the operation of financial markets. We will also strengthen coordination with fiscal policy to promote high-quality economic development. Thank you.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Zheng hungry to break her routine against familiar foe

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

    The same restaurant, same risotto and same aggressive game — China’s superstar tennis ace Zheng Qinwen has regained her winning form in Rome by sticking to her routine in the Italian capital.

    And she sure hopes the momentum helps her pull off a different result at her seventh attempt at scaling a brick wall that, to date, has consistently proved a course too high.

    Zheng Qinwen returns a shot during the women’s singles round of 16 match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Bianca Andreescu of Canada at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

    Three-time major winner and world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka awaits Zheng in an intriguing quarterfinal clash at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The reigning Olympic champion is chasing a first win in her seventh encounter with the mighty Belarusian, while trying to reach the final four for the first time at the WTA 1000 tournament, following two straight quarterfinal exits.

    Although having lost to Sabalenka six times in a row, all on hard courts, Zheng is motivated to buck that trend in their first battle on clay, counting on her newfound confidence on the tricky surface.

    “She’s an overwhelmingly attacking player. You need to hang in there, absorbing her first flurry of hits, until she makes some mistakes and allows you a chance,” Zheng explained her tactics for facing Sabalenka after beating Canada’s Bianca Andreescu in straight sets in the round of 16 on Monday.

    “Nobody hits every shot in with force. It’s quite hard, especially on clay. I need to play solid and defend well consistently, and attack when the opportunity comes.

    “She’s in a great form, and is the most consistent player, so far, on the tour this year. I am looking forward to playing her on clay, though.

    “Each surface requires a different style, and I’d really like to gauge my game on clay against her. Maybe I need to push harder in my first serve, trying wider, and, perhaps riskier, angles to dictate the play.”

    Known as an aggressive attacker in her own right, Zheng’s firepower has, multiple times, proved not powerful enough when facing Sabalenka hitting on all cylinders, a pattern underlined by the fact that the top-seed has broken Zheng 26 times, while conceding just six of her own service games, in their six previous encounters.

    Zheng’s last deep run at the WTA 1000 level was stopped by Sabalenka in quarterfinals at the Miami Open, where she dispatched the Chinese world No 8 in straight sets and went on to win the second of her three titles so far this year.

    A tough battle is guaranteed, for sure, and Zheng knows the only way to survive is to stay mentally strong, tactically sharp and physically poised.

    The balance between hitting hard and staying patient will be the key, she added.

    “I have to manage myself (mentally), not get too excited or be too aggressive,” said Zheng, who hasn’t advanced further than the quarterfinal stage at any event so far this year, with three last-eight appearances in Charleston, Miami and Indian Wells.

    “I need to find the right balance on clay, because from my experience in Madrid, I played a little bit too rushed. So, I told myself, whatever happens I have to stay solid, always be ready, and when I have the chance, go for it.”

    Hampered by a nagging right elbow injury that has affected her game since the Australian Open, Zheng has experienced an up and down season so far, with her second-round defeat to Russia’s unseeded Anastasia Potapova in Madrid last month casting a shadow on her prospects for Roland Garros, where she became a household name in China by winning Asia’s first Olympic tennis singles gold medal at Paris 2024.

    The sense of familiarity and warm reception she received in Rome seem like a timely respite, as Zheng regrouped, delivering three convincing wins, highlighted by the 7-5, 6-1 submission of Andreescu, the resurgent 2019 US Open champion.

    Zheng saved two set points in the 10th game of the opening set, having trailed 5-4 with Andreescu serving after letting a 3-1 lead slip away. But, Zheng quickly pulled herself together to finish the match by winning nine of the last 10 games.

    It also marked Zheng’s 20th career victory over major winners on the WTA Tour.

    “I still kind of lost my focus and made unnecessary mistakes midway through the first set, but, what I did best today was not panic. I stayed composed there, and fought back one point at a time,” said the 22-year-old Hubei province native.

    “Gradually, I felt much better, and the cheers from the crowd helped me close it out.”

    Apart from chants of “bravo Zheng” shouted her way, she also attributed, at least part of her feel-good campaign in Rome, to the delights of a local restaurant she visits every night.

    “I keep a strict diet, but at the same time I enjoy Rome,” Zheng told Channel Tennis after her second-round win against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic on Friday.

    “I go to the same restaurant every night. They have very good seafood, like the lemon fish and risotto. I think I can maintain my diet, but enjoy at the same time.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Guardians of the Gulf: meet the summer biosecurity champions

    Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

    Over the sun-soaked days of summer, a dedicated crew in bright blue shirts was hard at work at marinas, boat ramps, and community events across Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland.

    These were the biosecurity champions – nineteen passionate people on a mission to protect the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana and its precious islands from invasive pests.

    Armed with knowledge, smiles, and a deep love for nature, the champions clocked over 2,000 hours over the season, connecting with nearly 15,000 boaties, fishers, divers, and curious beachgoers.

    Their goal?

    To stop hitchhiking pests like rats, plague skinks, and Argentine ants from sneaking onto the Gulf’s predator-free islands, home to rare species like saddlebacks, blue penguins, and kiwi.

    “It’s been an awesome summer out at local marinas and boat ramps, chatting with boaties and the local community about our beautiful Hauraki Gulf and the biosecurity risks it faces!” said Anna Moir, a returning champion.

    “People really want to help once they know how important it is. I’ve felt empowered and proud to be part of the fight to protect our little slice of paradise.”

    Their message was simple but powerful: check, clean, and close your gear. Whether it’s a chilly bin, dive bag, or a kayak hatch, any place a pest can hide needs to be checked before heading to an island; even things like firewood, pot plants, or muddy shoes can carry biosecurity threats.

    The champions were vital in spreading the word about new Controlled Area Notices (CANs) and educating the public on marine pests like exotic caulerpa. They brought biosecurity to the forefront at big events like the Auckland Boat Show and the Moana Festival where people not only learned but got excited about helping out.

    For Lewis Luo, a first-time champion, the role was more than just a summer job.

    “This role has given me a wonderful feeling of community. I feel privileged to work alongside such a talented and like-minded team to help protect our wonderful Hauraki Gulf.”

    Inspired by his experience, Lewis is now planning a career in environmental protection.

    Thanks to funding from the Natural Environment Targeted Rate (NETR) and support from Biosecurity New Zealand, this was the largest group of champions yet. And judging by the smiles, stories, and new awareness sparked this summer, it won’t be the last.

    Want to be part of something meaningful next summer? Join the Biosecurity Champions and help ensure our islands remain pest free for generations to come.

    Your bright blue shirt could be the start of something big.

    Everyone is encouraged to stay informed and play an active role as a Biosecurity Champion.

    Contact us: biosecurity@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz if you have concerns or want to report a pest sighting.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Defense Officials to Fischer: If DOD is Forced to Vacate Spectrum Frequencies, U.S. Would Assume High Level of Risk for Homeland Defense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, during a hearing on the Senate Armed Services’ Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) questioned Commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command Gen. Gregory Guillot and Director of Missile Defense Agency Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, who confirmed that if the Department of Defense (DOD) were forced to vacate frequencies in the lower 3 or key portions of the 7/8 GHz spectrum bands, the United States would assume an extraordinarily high level of risk for homeland defense.
    Click the image above to watch a video of Fischer’s questioning
    Click here to download audio
    Click here to download video
    TRANSCRIPT:Fischer: General Guillot, I’ve appreciated our past conversations about the need for increased domain awareness, for we cannot shoot what we cannot see. As we look towards Golden Dome and the future of missile defense, what additional improvements need to be made with respect to domain awareness?
    General Guillot: Madam Chair, I think that what I call the domain awareness layer of Golden Dome is the most critical that we need to have first, for the reasons that you just mentioned. Any chance of using advanced interceptors or defeat capabilities would not be possible if we can’t detect and track these threats. I think that it’s a seabed-to-space approach. We need to have undersea sensors to detect submarines that can now get closer to North America than they could before, based on improved stealthiness of those ships. And then a ground layer that can see much further out because of the advanced standoff weapons that our adversaries can now employ. We need an air layer, like the E-7, to close the kill chain with fighter aircrafts or surface-to-air systems, and then a space layer. The space layer would both track airborne moving targets or aircrafts, but also systems like the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) that could track hypersonics, as well as the warning capability that we need to detect the launches to begin with.
    Fischer: Is there anything you can tell us in this setting about Golden Dome and the options that may be available on the sensors and the radar systems that would be used?General Guillot: Madam Chair, I don’t know what the Golden Dome will look like, but I suspect that it would be able to use a lot of the systems that are already in place and currently in development, which would give us a full capability in probably something closer to zero to five years, as opposed to something, you know, a decade out into the future. A couple of those systems would be the HBTSS that I just mentioned for the hypersonics, space-based AMTI, which we have a number of prototype systems on orbit now, over-the-horizon radars which are also operational in, not in the United States, but elsewhere. And then for instance, the E-7 which many other countries operate.
    Fischer: So given that, how much risk would Golden Dome incur if the department was forced to vacate the lower 3GHz or a portion of the 7-8GHz spectrum that it now has?
    General Guillot: Madam Chair, it’s my assessment that we would assume an extraordinarily high level of risk if we lose control of those portions of the spectrum. Many of the systems that we rely on every day today, much less in the future, for Homeland Defense, reside in that spectrum range.
    Fischer: Thank you. General Collins, can you provide us with an update on the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, or the HBTSS system?
    Lt. Gen. Collins: Yes, Madam Chair, thank you. So, the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor is a prototype program that the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) pursued to prove out the technology such that from space we could close the kill chain on a hypersonic weapon. And the focus of that was to prove out that the space system could have the accuracy, the track quality, and get that data into the command-and-control system fast enough to be able to close that fire control loop. Those two systems, launched in February of last year, have gone through two test bed launches where we had a test bed target launch fly a hypersonic profile, and we have collected data from the sensors during that. So far, we have proven out the timeliness, latency of the fire control loop with those systems, as well as the sensitivity of those systems to close the loop. We’re going back with some algorithm updates into the payload to improve on the track quality. But we see that closing as well. It’s been a very successful prototype program, and all along, we’ve worked in parallel with the Space Force and Space Development Agency. They now have our HBTSS-like requirements as part of their proliferated warfighting space architecture. And in the tranches to come in the following years, they will slowly be building up an operational hypersonic tracking layer for us.
    Fischer: Thank you. Perhaps in another setting we can talk about a more definitive timeline when that would be available. Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –