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The Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't set a minimum credit score for VA loans, but lenders typically do. VA loan borrowers need to meet minimum service requirements set by the VA, as well as minimum credit requirements set by their lender. VA lenders that accept low credit scoresAs you prepare to apply for a mortgage, look for lenders that have low minimum credit score requirements or are willing to work with borrowers who have rocky credit histories. If you currently have no credit score, you may be able to use non-traditional credit with certain lenders to prove your creditworthiness. Lowering your credit card balances will also decrease your credit utilization ratio, which can increase your credit score.

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[1/4] U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron walk next to a vehicle as they meet for dinner at Fiola Mare restaurant in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, U.S., November 30, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinWASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron will celebrate more than 200 years of U.S.-French relations on Thursday but simmering in the background is a dispute over new American subsidies that has riled Europe. Biden is hosting Macron at the first state visit since the U.S. leader took office in early 2021. Macron and his wife, Brigitte, arrived in Washington on Tuesday for his second state visit to the United States since taking office in 2017. Macron is the first foreign leader to be given a state dinner at the Biden White House, a sign of his importance to Washington despite some differences with the Biden administration.

☆ U.S. Inflation Reduction Act 'super aggressive,' Macron tells lawmakers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron addressed U.S. lawmakers from both political parties on Wednesday and pushed back over new American subsidies that are riling European leaders, according to a participant in a closed-door meeting. In a meeting with U.S. lawmakers at the Library of Congress, Macron said the act was "super aggressive" toward European companies, one participant told Reuters. [1/3] French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris hold a briefing during a visit to NASA headquarters in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2022. France joined the United States and several other nations in ruling out destructive, direct-ascent anti-satellite missile testing after Russia struck one of its own satellites in orbit last year, creating debris and drawing scorn from the United States and its allies. The United States, which last demonstrated such a missile in 2008, first announced its ban on the tests in April.

You must be eligible to join Navy Federal Credit Union to get a mortgage Dash icon A dash. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightThe bottom line: Navy Federal Credit Union is one of our best VA mortgage lenders. Compare rates On Rocket Mortgage's website Compare rates On AmeriSave Mortgage Corporation's website Compare rates On New American Funding's websiteNavy Federal Credit Union Mortgage: Overall Lender RatingFeature Insider rating (out of 5) Loan types 4 Affordability 5 Customer satisfaction 4.8 Trustworthiness 4 Total 4.45Navy Federal Credit Union Mortgage: Pros and ConsPros Cons VA and conventional mortgage optionsNo-down-payment mortgage optionCan apply with alternative credit dataEasy online application processCompetitive rates Unable to apply for a FHA mortgage, USDA mortgage, construction loan, or reverse mortgageNeed to meet eligibility requirements to become a Navy Federal memberCan't see personalized rates before applying for preapprovalNavy Federal Credit Union Mortgage Interest Rates and FeesWhen you select "Mortgages" on the Navy Federal website, you'll scroll down to see sample rates for its loan options. Is Navy Federal Credit Union Mortgage Trustworthy? Navy Federal Credit Union FAQIs Navy Federal good for a mortgage?

That taught me a lesson: There's no sense in replacing things I own that still work. How much we've saved by keeping old itemsEven in pre-inflation days, replacing something I already owned with a newer model added up. The same goes for my old mixing bowls, cookie sheets, and dining room set. But as I grew older, I realized what an important lesson my parents taught me. But every time I'm tempted to replace something I already own for a slightly "better" model, I remind myself of my parents' old blue trash can and put away my debit card.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. the person said, adding that the calls would connect but Chinese officials wouldn't pick up. Based on a long-standing practice, faxes continue to be exchanged between two semi-official organisations that handle routine affairs: Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. The council told Reuters that while Chinese officials do not reply directly, they have handled Taiwanese requests when needed or responded through public statements. China this year labeled Tsai's administration "evil" while Taiwan called China "incredibly absurd".

☆ Factbox: Top takeaways from the Biden-Xi meeting in Bali
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Xi too was explicit about Taiwan, calling it the "first red line" that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. The White House said Biden and Xi agreed to "deepen constructive efforts" to address issues such as climate change, health and food security. But according to the White House statement, Biden and Xi "underscored their opposition to the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine". Biden told reporters after the meeting there was no need for concerns about a new Cold War between the United States and China. At the same time, Biden warned Xi that such actions by North Korea would result in bolstered U.S. and allied military capabilities in Northeast Asia.

☆ How Diverse Are the Candidates in the Midterm Elections?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Maggie Astor | Eleanor Lutz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

The House of RepresentativesThere are at least 403 people of color, women or nonbinary candidates running for seats in the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Incumbent Democrat Republican White men women Black men women Hispanic men women Other and multiple race men womenThere are 11 Senate candidates who are Black this year. Democrat Black candidates Republican Ga. Raphael Warnock Ala. Will Boyd Ark. Incumbent Democrat Republican White men women Black men women Other and multiple race men womenThere are 25 women nominated for governor — 16 Democrats and nine Republicans. Democrat Black candidates Republican Ala. Yolanda Flowers Ark.

☆ Ukrainian suicide drone boats packed with bombs are threatening Russia's once feared Black Sea fleet, and it may not be able to stop them
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine last week appeared to attack Russia's Black Sea Fleet using a swarm of naval and aerial drones. Russia labeled the attack a "terrorist act" and briefly suspended a deal on grain shipments. Experts told Insider the attack demonstrates that nowhere is safe for Russia's naval assets. Russia has not, to date, taken such steps to protect its Black Sea Fleet, a force which has participated in the missile barrages of Ukraine and lost its flagship in another stunning Ukrainian attack. Nothing powered by a jet ski engine is going to be able to match the speed and range of a Russian ship at sea; when Ukraine sunk the cruiser Moskva, the former flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, it did so with a cruise missile.

☆ Andrew Young, McGraw Hill link for new HBCU scholarship program
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A new scholarship program for students at historically black colleges and universities bears the name of former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young. Young, along with Georgia legislators, civil rights leaders, students and others gathered Friday on the steps of the Woodruff Library at Atlanta University Center to celebrate the creation of the new Andrew Young HBCU Scholarship program. McGraw Hill Education, an arm of McGraw Hill publishing, put an initial $50,000 into the program, which will fund 10 first-year students next fall who plan to attend an HBCU. The idea behind the scholarship program came from Matt Daniels, the chair of the law and human rights division at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. And it’s certainly a good investment for us.”Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

☆ Analysis: U.S. and allies turn to deterring war with North Korea as options for preventing nuclear tests dwindle
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Now that the North's nuclear weapons are mature and deployed, the United States and its allies are looking to simply dissuade the North from military action. South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said last week the focus of efforts to deal with North Korea should be shifted from curbing nuclear weapons development to deterring their use. The newly released U.S. Nuclear Posture Review says Kim Jong Un's regime would be annihilated if it ever attacked with nuclear weapons. Another major drill began on Monday with hundreds of South Korean and U.S. warplanes, including a rare deployment of American F-35B fighters. "They're doing it because they want to send a message to North Korea, hey, we mean business," he said.

☆ U.S. plans to deploy B-52 bombers to Australia's north, ABC reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States is planning to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to an air base in northern Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) reported on Monday, amid heightened tensions with Beijing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia engages with the United States on defence alliances "from time to time." Australia's Northern Territory is already host to frequent military collaborations with the United States. Last year, the United States, Britain and Australia created a security deal that will provide Australia with the technology to deploy nuclear-powered submarines, riling China. This year, the U.S. deployed four B-52s to its Andersen Air Force base in Guam.

SYDNEY, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States is planning to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to an air base in northern Australia, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday, amid heightened tensions with Beijing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia engages with the United States on defence alliances "from time to time." Australia's Northern Territory is already host to frequent military collaborations with the United States. Last year, the United States, Britain and Australia created a security deal that will provide Australia with the technology to deploy nuclear-powered submarines, riling China. This year, the U.S. deployed four B-52s to its Andersen Air Force base in Guam.

The North said South Korea had resumed using propaganda loudspeakers at the border in violation of the agreement. For now, South Korea says it is not calling the CMA off, but is urging North Korea to abide by its measures. North Korea has also not officially abrogated the deal, and the South's ministry of defence told Reuters that inter-Korean military hotlines are operating. This year South Korea and its U.S. allies have responded to a record number of North Korean missile tests with stepped up military drills. Those have been met with more tests and drills from North Korea, including rare warplane sorties near the border.

☆ U.S., EU launch formal group to discuss conflict over EV subsidies
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - U.S. and European Union officials will formally launch a task force next week to discuss new American laws that Europeans fear will discriminate against foreign electric car makers, according to a statement on Tuesday. Among the law's provisions are requirements that EVs be assembled in North America to qualify for tax credits. The law also ends subsidies for other EV models and requires that a percentage of critical minerals used in those cars' batteries come from the United States or an American free-trade partner. The task force would "promote deeper understanding" on the "opportunities and concerns for EU producers," Watson said, and comes after high-level meetings between Biden administration officials and allied countries angered over the new law. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

A fixed-rate mortgage locks in your interest rate for the entire life of your loan. To determine how much interest you'll pay and whether your rate will change later, you'll choose between two types of mortgages: a fixed-rate mortgage or adjustable-rate mortgage. Fixed-rate mortgagesWith a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate remains the same for the entire life of the loan. Adjustable-rate mortgagesWith an adjustable-rate mortgage, commonly referred to as an ARM, rates and monthly payments remain the same for a set period of time, then change periodically. Calculate your monthly mortgage paymentUse our free mortgage calculator to see how different rates could affect your payments over the years.

☆ The fate of the world economy may depend on what happens to a company most Americans have never heard of
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

The fate of the global economy may rest on the shoulders of one company: TSMC. That's because there could be trillions of dollars' worth of economic activity tied to that one company: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world's biggest chipmaker. Ann Wang/ReutersThe semiconductor industry has its roots in the US, as much of the research and development is done on US soil. According to a 2021 report from the Semiconductor Industry Association, in 1990 the US produced 37% of the world's chip supply. These days, the US is responsible for only 12% of global chip production.

☆ The Columbus, Ohio, Warehouse Boom: How warehouses brought stifling dust and diesel fumes — and a chance for refugees to grab the American dream
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

What binds them, despite different nationalities, immigration stories, and languages, are warehouse jobs. As Columbus' warehouse development begins encroaching into residential areas, a consensus is gathering here — as it has elsewhere — that warehouses make for poor neighbors. Tariq Tarey for InsiderIn Canal Winchester, Halstead's efforts to put the question of warehouse development before voters were stymied. The town council bypassed her group's referendum by declaring a state of emergency to approve the warehouse development. There aren't clear lines between the winners and losers of Columbus' warehouse boom.

☆ 'Making $10k a month is not that hard': How TikTok influencers are luring followers with deceptive promises of side-hustle riches
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Eve Upton-Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

And some of the dollar amounts passive-income influencers are touting in their posts are eye-popping. Even when the stakes are somewhat lower, passive-income influencers fail to give viewers the full picture. While this method cuts out some of the upfront costs, making money on digital products is still incredibly difficult. Making money as an entrepreneur takes hard work, skill, and a bit of luck — but that message doesn't sell as well. What does sell is the new American dream of making money in your sleep — and side-hustle promoters are more than happy to keep selling it.

☆ The U.S. defense industry faces surging demand and a supply chain crunch
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Brad Howard | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The war in Ukraine and rising tensions over Taiwan have caused demand for high-tech, American-made weapons to surge. And with the ongoing supply chain crunch and inflation continuing to rise, military industry watchers question whether the U.S. defense sector can keep up. Even with the largest defense budget in the world, the U.S. military is not immune to supply chain challenges. "Next year's national security budget will likely be nearly a trillion and a half dollars," said Julia Gledhill, an analyst at the Center for Defense Information at the Project On Government Oversight. Watch the video above to find out more about the challenges the U.S. defense industry faces, and the potential solutions to break through supply chain bottlenecks and budgetary constraints.

☆ After a general's clash with Fox News' Tucker Carlson, soldiers worry the US Army 'has gone full MAGA'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Steve Beynon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"Intentionally or not, this whole thing showed women that we are not worth defending," one noncommissioned officer told Military.com. To some, scrutinizing Donahoe's defense of women online is being seen as the service bending the knee to right-wing media. … The Army has gone full MAGA," the general said, referencing former President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, Make America Great Again. Other Army leaders backed the sentiment, including Grinston, who said on Twitter, "Women lead our most lethal units with character. Department of DefenseDonahoe was an avid user of social media at a time when most military leaders were wary of some of the risks of being active in the military community online.

☆ US breast cancer death rate drops 43% in three decades, but racial disparities remain, American Cancer Society report finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The breast cancer death rate in the United States has dropped significantly, but Black women continue to be more likely to die from the disease despite having a lower incidence of it, according to a new American Cancer Society report. The study published this week in the CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians finds that in total, the death rate dropped by 43% within three decades, from 1989 to 2020, translating to 460,000 fewer breast cancer deaths during that time. When the data were analyzed by race, Black women had a lower incidence rate of breast cancer versus White women, but the death rate was 40% higher in Black women overall. In contrast, breast cancer death rates have declined steadily since their peak in 1989, the researchers found, falling 1.9% annually from 2002 to 2011 and then 1.3% annually from 2011 to 2022. The ongoing racial disparities highlighted in the new American Cancer Society report came as no surprise to Dr. Samuel Cykert, professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, who has conducted research on racial disparities in cancer treatment.

Oct 7 (Reuters) - Deciding who gets hurt by sweeping new U.S. curbs on selling technology to China will come down in part to what constitutes a "supercomputer," experts told Reuters. Around the world, the semiconductor industry on Friday began to wrestle with wide-ranging U.S. restrictions on selling chips and chip manufacturing equipment to China. Shares of chip equipment makers drooped, but industry experts said a new U.S. definition of a supercomputer could be pivotal to the new rules' impact on China. The new definition is unlikely to change as industry technology improves. "The issue is that the definition of a supercomputer will change over time," he said by email.

REUTERS/Francois LenoirWASHINGTON/BRUSSELS, Oct 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday signed an executive order to implement a European Union-United States data transfer framework announced in March that adopts new American intelligence gathering privacy safeguards. Judges with experience in data privacy and national security will be appointed from outside the U.S. government. European privacy activists have threatened to challenge the framework if they did not think it adequately protects privacy. Austrian Max Schrems, whose legal challenges have brought down the previous two EU-U.S. data flow systems, said he still needed to analyze the package. "At first sight it seems that the core issues were not solved and it will be back to the CJEU (EU court) sooner or later," he said.

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